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Natural and Organic London Spa Treatments

The Scin spa in Notting hill offers gorgeous, relaxing, rejuvenating natural and organic spa treatments to leave your skin looking delicious and your soul feeling refreshed. For the perfect present (or well deserved treat to yourself) you can purchase gift vouchers for specific treatments or leave it up to your special person to decide what treatment they want with their voucher. The vouchers can also be used to purchase gorgeous natural and organic skincare from the Scinboutique website.

Spa offers a number of face massages and facials using the highest quality natural products; The Organic Aromatherapy Facial and Fast Fix Organic Facial use Circaroma products. The Fast Fix Facial, Customised Standard Facial, Eye Focus Facial, De-stress Facial, Ultimate Facial and Intensive Eye Treatment all use Dermalogica products.

Spa offers a range of utterly relaxing massages to rub away any aches or pains or just help you chill out; Scalp, Face and Shoulder Massage, Back and Scalp Massage, Back Massage, Foot Massage, Full Body Massage, Face, Scalp and Body Massage and the Deep Tissue Back Massage, featured in The Times Magazine 8th December, 2007; “Our Spy had a Deep Tissue Back Massage, which was thorough and penetrating, as a good Deep Tissue Massage should be. The session lasted 60 minutes and was entirely dedicated to the back our spy left completely knot free”. For mum to be there is the Organic Pregnancy Massage carried out on a treatment couch specifically to support and mould the bump.

Hydrotherapy is a warm water bath treatment which increases circulation and relaxes muscles; similar to a jacuzzi this treatment is ideal prior to all massage. To pamper your entire body Scin offers a complete back treatment, Buttock and Thigh Treatment, Body Moisturisation and exfoliation. The Spa can also bust away that unwanted cellulite using the Lipocell System; a powerful suction massage that aims to reduce the appearance of the fat cells that cause stubborn cellulite. Lipocell will also improve the contours of the body, drain toxins and is great for poor circulation.

There are a variety of different Manicures and pedicures on offer; the simple Pedicure or Manicure, Quick Fix Toenails, File and Polish and Polish only. For a golden, natural glow all year round we offer a Bali Sun Full Body Spray Tan and Exfoliation, Spray Tan.

At Scin, Notting Hill we offer lip waxing, eyebrow waxing or plucking, underarm waxing, leg waxing, arm waxing, back waxing, chest waxing, and bikini waxing (ranging from standard and g-string to Brazilian and Hollywood waxing). We have the option to use either Hot wax or the more common Strip wax. Hot Wax is becoming more popular for bikini waxing as the wax only adheres to the hair and not the skin and so is less painful for waxing the sensitive areas. Scin offer Eyebrow Tinting and Shaping, and Eyelash Tinting and Perming, which are all excellent ways of adding definition and accentuating the eye area. “Scin’s hair zapping….the place to go for fantastic and affordable waxing treatments, starting from as little as £12″. Time Out’s Summer Beauty Special, 2007.

Hannah Walker is a specialist in natural and organic skincare writing for www.scinboutique.com

Back Pain and Easy Treatments

Most back pains are brought about by muscle strains and almost all people experience it at least once in their lives. The constant traumas on the back such as turning, bending, and bearing weight can result to back pains. Fortunately, back pains can be relieved by some simple home treatments, regular exercises and drugs prescribed by the doctor.

Detailed below are common causes of back pain as well as its treatment and prevention. But if you are suffering from back pain, it is always best to visit your physician. Seeking professional help is always better than self-diagnosis. Remember, if the pain you are experiencing is coupled with weakness, numbness and/or radiates down to your leg, see a doctor immediately.

Back Pain Causes

Back pain, particularly lower back or lumbar spine pain is brought about by muscle strains. Nearly everyone suffer from it a moment or two in their lives. The muscles sustaining the spinal column are used perpetually. The spine frequently turns, straightens, bends, and bears weight. These continuous traumas on the back lead to back pains and strains. It is the lower back that is usually impaired as it sustains the body’s weight and is therefore prone to reflex stresses.

While most causes of back pain is triggered by muscle strain, there are also other non-muscle sources of back pain. Sciatica, not a disorder but a spreading pain brought about by a dense or swelled sciatic nerve, is one example. Kidney-related illnesses can also cause back pain. Osteoarthritis is also a usual source of pains for those aged more than 65 years.

Bending down for long periods and habitually arching the shoulders affect the spines that often result to a chronic back pain. Chronic back pains are classified as those recurring for more than three months, and should be checked by a specialist.

Depression and stress are also frequently associated to back pains. Stress can cause our muscles to tighten, lessening blood flow to the tissues that commonly triggers pain. To alleviate pressure and relieve stress, it’s good to relax and exercise regularly.

Back Pain Treatments

A. Home Treatments

Generally, back pains can be alleviated if given the proper attention with rigid home remedy. Taking pain relievers and/or paracetamol can help relieve the pain. Be careful however with prolonged use as this can be habit-forming. A bed rest lasting for not more than two days is fine. Resting for an extended period will only worsen your back.

Some of the more common home remedies include the application of cold or hot compresses on your back, but these are temporary reliefs. Again, it is still best to consult your physician.

Engage in regular physical activities to reduce the chances of back pains. Exercise, after all, is still the best way to relieve stress.

B. Exercise and physical therapy

Physical therapists have their patients undergo some ultrasound tests before treatment. Some of the approaches they use in therapy include ice and heat application, muscle-release approach and electric stimulations on the tissues and muscles to alleviate back pains. As patients get better, the therapists instruct their patients with proper exercises to enhance posture, toughen the abdomen and back, and promote flexibility.

C. Drugs and Medications

Ordinary pain killers are sometimes not adequate. Your physician may recommend a muscle relaxant and non-steroids anti-inflammation medicines like Vitamin-B complex to facilitate the relief of back pains. Low-dose anti-depressants like tricyclic antidepressants are effective in easing chronic back pain, aside from relieving depression.

For more information on Chronic Back Pain and Back Pain Diagnosis please visit our website.

Staying Fit With the Use of Exercise Machines

People have been looking for ways to lose excess weight. The sad part is that they just aren’t sure how to go about in doing it. There have been numerous methods and diet fads that came and went; some have succeeded on their goals while others remain clueless on what to do.

Why Exercise Machines

Losing weight with the help of exercise machines is one of the greatest options in working out. This is an effective method because you can change the workouts as you try different machines. This means you have the power to change the routines any time you want. A lot of people can quickly get bored by merely running, walking or doing the usual aerobics.

Hitting the gym is one great way to enjoy the different exercise machines that are available. A gym membership may come in handy as you get access to every exercise machine that the gym has.

The use of exercise machines means you can target to trim down different areas of your body. Machines give great cardio workouts and you can also target different groups of muscles and tone them according to your desire.

Most fitness centre’s goal is for their clients to lose weight. The need to lose weight has become an overwhelming source of business for these fitness gyms that the industry continues to thrive each and every year. Along with these fitness centres, the manufacturers of exercise machines as well as their dealers are enjoying increasing sales each year.

Getting to Know Some of the Machines

If you’re all geared up to exercise and improve your workout, these are the exercise machines that you would be seeing in most fitness centres (remember that exercise machines are categorized according to type of workout that they provide):

• Cardiovascular or cardio exercise machines are those machines that help to improve heart health and burn fat. Cardio exercise machines accomplish these by raising your heart rate. Examples of cardio exercise machines are: treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, and stair climbers. Most of these exercise equipments have display screens that monitor your heart rate as you workout. Other data such as the number of kilometres or miles that you have travelled are also displayed. Some machines even display the total amount of calories that you have burned during the workout session.

• Strength training machines on the other hand, are more varied. Examples are free weights, weight machines, and other types of machines. Free weights come in various sizes, shapes and weights. There are round weights which can be attached at the end of certain barbells. There are also handheld barbells and medicine balls.

Weight machines often have a stack of weights that are attached to a pulley which you can lift through pulling or pushing some parts of the exercise machine. These machines are safer to use and are user-friendly. You could easily adjust the amount of weight that you want to train with without having to carry heavy, round weights and placing them at the end of barbells. With these machines, you just select a pin and choose the amount of weight that you want to lift.

There are some exercise machines that do not include weights such as chin up bars (targets the biceps and triceps), crunch machines (exercises the abdominals), elastic bands, etc.

Losing weight with the use of exercise machines does work but you have to couple it with a will to accomplish the goals that you have set—this combination works wonders.

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

Competitive Bodybuilding and the Most Famous Bodybuilders of Our Time

Bodybuilding is a method of maximizing muscle hypertrophy and a person who does bodybuilding is called a bodybuilder. Most people identify bodybuilding with competitive bodybuilding which is a type of sport. During such competitions, the bodybuilders display their tanned and oiled bodies to a panel of judges. These judges, in turn, give points based on the aesthetic appearance of the bodybuilder’s muscles.

A Professional Bodybuilder versus a Natural Bodybuilder

A bodybuilder can only be tagged as a professional once he has earned a professional card from the IFBB and has also won qualifying contests as an amateur. As a professional, a bodybuilder will have the right to compete in contests such as the Arnold Classic and the Night of Champions.

When the contestant gets an award on the said competitions, he will be able to compete at the Mister Olympia competitions. This is revered to be the highest competition that any bodybuilder can ever join.

Natural contests for bodybuilders include the NPA or Natural Physique Association and the NANBF or North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation. Contests under this category always require tests for use of illegal substances such as anabolic steroids, diuretics, and pro-hormone. Tests can be done with the use of urine samples yet, most of the time, only polygraph tests (or lie detector tests) are carried out.

Famous Bodybuilders

• Arnold Schwarzenegger—bodybuilder turned politician, Arnold had his first barbell in the year 1960. At 14, he decided to choose bodybuilding over his football career and his decision paid off. He was only 17 when he officially started his competitive bodybuilding career. And the rest, as they say, is history as he was also able to conquer the world of show business.

• Jay Cutler—won the much-coveted Mr. Olympia title in 2006. During the competition, he announced that he only weight 286 pounds with only 3% of body fat. This is not a surprise as he started working at his family’s construction business as early as the age of 11. But it wasn’t until he was 18 years old that he began to do some serious training. The very first contest he won was in 1992 for the Gold’s Gym Worcester Bodybuilding Championships (second place). He was able to bag 3 consecutive years of the Arnold Classic (2002-2004) before he went on to compete in Mr. Olympia.

• Lee Labrada—is now better known as a fitness guru as he promises to deliver lean muscles with his Labrada Nutrition, Inc. Labrada has won 22 major titles before he competed in Mr. Olympia. Currently, he is a book author and the CEO of his own company.

• Rich Gaspari—was famous bodybuilder from the 80’s even up until the 90’s. Gaspari also started his own supplement company back in 1991. He also bagged many major awards before going away with the second place for Mr. Olympia in 1987.

These famous men have conquered other fields after they have proven themselves as worthy bodybuilders. Looking at their track records, it would be safe to say that healthy people not only live healthy but also wealthy lifestyles!

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

Is it Possible to Eat More and Still be Physically Fit?

The modern man is a busy man, with today’s hectic lifestyle, it is a bit hard to find time in the gym just to stay fit. Fortunately, there is a diet plan which could help eliminate weight without going through strenuous routines. Here are some great tips on balancing all of the nutrients in your diet so that you don’t have to spend hours inside the gym each day:

Good Ol’ Carbs

Still the best sources of carbohydrates are vegetables, whole grain cereals, beans and fruits. These foods are rich in minerals, vitamins, fibre and phytonutrients. Most people are fooled by thinking that white rice, white bread, pastries and sugared foods can be good sources of carbohydrates—nothing can be farther from the truth.

A better way of stocking on carbohydrates (and not gain weight in the process) is by:

• Eating a breakfast of whole grain cereals (can be taken hot or cold).

• Eating sandwiches that have loads of mayonnaise or catsup is a no-no, why not gulp down whole grain breads for your lunch instead?

• Eat brown rice, whole wheat pasta, wheat berries, and other whole grains for dinner.

• Consuming beans since they are a good source of slowly digested carbohydrates and essential proteins.

• Having a lower carbohydrate diet by consuming only vegetables and fruits every day.

Feeling Fuller

The idea to losing weight is to not eat each and every time. The stomach is emptied every 4 hours and, therefore, it can ask for more food as the partly-digested food goes down to the small intestines. People often have the tendency to eat full meals or snacks (which are equivalent to full meals) each time that they feel hungry. This can be avoided by eating your meals at 5 different intervals yet with equal, small amounts. This means that you don’t have to stuff yourself to the brim every mealtime. Eating more meals at smaller portions has been proven to be an effective method of losing weight.

For those who can’t endure such a method, then you can eat in moderation but just make sure that you couple your diet with a good amount of exercise. In other words, eat as much as you need and then work it out in the gym.

The role of protein has always been given emphasis when it comes to staying fit. There are animal and plant sources of protein and it’s best to have a stock on both. Poultry products, fish, lean meat, and soybeans are all great sources of protein. You can eat a good portion of protein and not gain weight. This is why most athletes are even encouraged to eat more protein-rich foods and to cut down on other types of foods.

Other nutritious foods that have low calories can be enjoyed with a bottle of water that will keep you full for hours! Eating more is definitely allowed, as long as you know which foods to eat. Also, coupling your diet with the simplest exercise program (such as brisk walking) is very effective.

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

Fitness and Nutritional Needs For Aging Women

Midlife, for most women, means having to face the painful reality that life will be a downhill slope from there. The focal point of life for most women is at age 39 (yet most women consider middle age to occur only at 40). It is often at this stage that women experience menopausal symptoms and start gaining layers of fat on their bodies. These are the reasons why women have different nutritional needs during these years.

Fitness for Aging Women

For women who are starting to age, the strongest influence on body fat distribution is still genetics. Yet there are many ways to counter obesity or rapid weight gain during the process of aging. Here are some great ways:

• Women, at this stage, should be encouraged to maintain (if not add more) physical activities. Arthritis should not be a deterring factor to perform any kind of chores or sports activities. It is also preferable that an aging woman would have at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity each day. Walking is a good way to spend these 30 minutes and so is aerobic exercise. Aerobics burn calories and causes fat loss (plus it is not as strenuous as other types of workouts).

• For more calorie-burning moves and muscle toning, it’s also good to try weight training. Weightlifting can help reduce body fat by burning calories. Lifting different weights increases an older person’s metabolic rate to its youthful level. Weightlifting is also important in building bone tissues—which is a great way of fighting osteoporosis.

Nutritional Requirements for Aging Women

• Women who are over 40 years of age should have a daily consumption of 3-4 servings of low fat dairy food. This is to have a sufficient provision of calcium which is a very important mineral for aging persons. The non-dairy sources of calcium include fish, fortified breakfast cereals, some types of nuts, green vegetables, and beans. If calcium supplements are prescribed by a physician, then the best absorption rate is at 500-600mg once or twice each day. For those who have inadequate sun exposure, Vitamin D supplements may be a necessity.

• A serving of lean protein to each meal would help an aging person feel full longer. Fish is a good source of protein and weight loss is better achieved by consuming fish rather than meat.

• Aging women should have more fibre on their diets. Fibrous foods stop hunger pangs and they even cause toxins to be flushed out of your system. Aside from flushing toxins out of your system, fibre also keeps your energy levels high and your blood sugar at its normal level.

• After the menopausal stage, the iron requirements for women decrease (this is because iron is no longer lost due to menstruation). Thus, the iron requirement for postmenopausal women would be the same as the requirement for adult men which is 8.7mg/day.

• Vitamin C is highly important for aging women because it protects the immune system by increasing white blood cell production and increasing interferon levels (necessary in keeping viruses away from healthy cells). Vitamin C is also best at fighting certain types of cancer.

Women have different nutritional and physical needs as they age; yet they can still maximize their energy by being physically active and eating a well-balanced diet.

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

Why Fitness Can be Achieved With the Use of Saunas

What do you notice when you buy any fitness tool or exercise machine? Aren’t there mandatory guidelines on how to properly utilize the machine? If people know the benefits of saunas, there would never be a single human being on earth who would still purchase these exercise tools.

Sauna Melts Body Fat

If you are considering to immediately jump into the nearest sauna, halt. There are a few things that you must know before you can actually go there and melt your body fat away. Going to the sauna would require that you consult the advice of a professional fitness trainer. If you prefer not to talk to anyone regarding your new fitness plan, then you can go online and make a thorough research of sauna and its benefits. It all boils down to one thing—you must set up a workout regimen that works for you as you also undergo sauna sessions.

Sauna session means having to endure heat that is several notches higher than your regular body temperature (or your room’s heated atmosphere at that!). Saunas could be heated to as much as 170 degrees and this could be really hot for some people.

Within seconds of entering the sauna, you will immediately have sweat trickling from your body. It’s advisable that you wipe off your sweat as often as you could so that the body would adapt by trying to cool off, this results into more sweat and fat being lost. Just imagine being fit after only a few sauna sessions!

Each bucket of sweat that you shed is equal to lost weight. People who regularly go on saunas have testified that they lose as much as 4 pounds on just a single session! This could happen to just about anybody. Do not get the idea that sauna is all about losing water weight. It could also make you lose all those unwanted flab that you have long been working on—now that’s fitness at its peak.

Why a Sauna?

Your skin is the largest excretory organ in your entire body. When you go through a sauna session, you would be forced to work up some sweat and your body will soon be cleansed of all its impurities. When these impurities (or toxins) are taken out of your system, your system, in turn would become more efficient.

If you are not the type who would go out and visit sauna clubs, then you could opt for a sauna exercise suit. This is a kind of plastic suit that you wear to make you sweat. Fitness can be achieved by this very simple process and the results can be doubled as you exercise while being in a sauna suit.

It is best to consult the advice of a medical or fitness professional before engaging yourself into any of these activities. It is important that experts would be able to establish that you are perfectly healthy to take on this fitness method.

All in all, sweating out is a great way to get rid of nasty toxins inside the human body. The benefits are abundant, whether you choose to sit around with your friends in saunas or to wear a suit inside your home - fitness is the ultimate goal.

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

Longevity and Age Defiance Through Proper Nutrition

Man will age with time—this is an inevitable part of life. Yet many still hope that using creams on their faces or ingesting the right kinds of food would turn back time (at least for a few years!). There are many foods which promote longevity and healthy aging. There is no magic involved and you would be surprised that most of these foods are readily available at the local supermarket.

Olive Oil

This oil has been around for centuries as the Greeks in Crete have consumed this particular oil for centuries. There have been hundreds of studies that would confirm that olive oil has many health benefits. People who use olive oil in cooking or making dishes have lower rates of heart disease as compared to people who consume a different kind of oil. Olive oil is specifically rich in mono-saturated fats and polyphenols. These protect the human body from heart illnesses and other heart-related problems.

Fish

If you are conscious about aging, then you have to make sure that fish is a part of your diet. Fish promotes a healthy heart because it has a high content of omega 3 fats. These fats prevent the build up of cholesterol as well as prevent the occurrence of an abnormal heart rhythm. Many people who are fond of eating fish are observed to be safe from numerous heart illnesses. In fact, native Inuits who are people from Alaska (whose regular diet is mostly fish), have managed to steer clear of heart diseases.

Blueberry

Another age healthy food is the blueberry. Blueberries are known to be good at maintaining healthy balance and concentration as people age. This berry is also capable of reducing inflammation and oxidation damage (this occurrence is associated with age-related memory deficits and also reduction of motor function).

This means that a person who eats a lot of blueberries would have an improved and healthy memory, has good coordination, and has many more characteristics that are often associated with the younger generations.

High Fibre Foods

Having a well-balanced nutrition is tantamount to having a healthy digestive system. Fibre does much in promoting a healthy digestive system and also a person’s overall health.

There are many vegetables and fruits that are high in fibre. To name a few, these are: mangoes, avocadoes, carrots, beans, apples, citrus fruits, whole grain cereals, nuts, and many more. Before buying any food from the supermarket, make sure that you read the label and that the contents include at least one of the fibrous foods.

Food is a vital part of nutrition and that is why it is important to look for foods that are high in fibre since fibre takes care of sweeping your body’s toxins out of your system.

Recommendation

Older people suffer from conditions such as constipation or incontinence, memory gap, and being less agile. Eating all the age-defying foods that were mentioned would not only make you younger, but they would make you feel younger also.

If you don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, then it’s time to make a change. People who suffer from many illnesses are those who do not have a healthy diet—this is common knowledge yet many still do not give heed.

If your time is what makes you grab instant food, then you can still load up on fibres and other nutrients by eating fruits and power bars instead. Grabbing an apple is much easier than heating up an instant meal in your microwave oven! Keep a chart of foods that are easy to buy and prepare. Before you know it, your eating habits have changed for the better.

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

What Are Fitness Programs and How Can They Help Improve Your Health?

Being physically fit is crucial to staying alert both mentally and physically. Being fit enables you to keep certain diseases at bay.

Fitness Programs

Fitness programs are the schedules that are set which would allow an individual to infuse exercise into his daily routine. There are various reasons for the creation of a fitness program and the most common are: to lose weight, to gain strength, to lose body fat, for therapy, or simply to stay fit.

Anyone who want to be more fit and stronger should have fitness training. There are different types of fitness training programs and they are:

• Cardiovascular training more often referred to as cardio workouts

• Strength training

• Weight management

• Muscle definition fitness programs

• Flexibility training

• Pre and Post-natal training programs

• Injury recovery programs

• and Nutrition

All these can be incorporated on a single fitness program that would result into healthier body, improved coordination and strength and resistance to illnesses. Fitness training also increases metabolism, flexibility and improves muscle tone, etc.

Sports-Based Training Programs

There are some types of fitness training programs that are incorporated in sports. Here are some examples: rugby fitness training, football fitness training, soccer fitness training, swimming, golf fitness programs, basketball trainings, boxing fitness trainings and many more. There are also special programs that are made especially for kids.

Fitness Training Centres

A fitness trainer is an individual who has been tasked to design the right type of fitness program. He should be able to cover all aspects of training such as aerobic and anaerobic endurance, strength, flexibility, speed and also agility. Most of these fitness trainers are based on fitness training centres and you can get in touch with them by enrolling in these gyms.

Nowadays, many fitness training centres also have sophisticated exercise equipments to suit all the fitness needs of their customers. They also have medical specialists and therapists who can discuss your fitness program and why it is the best type of program that will address your fitness needs. These fitness gyms can also customize your workout routines and nutrition plan.

All on Your Own

If you are the type who would rather work it all out on your own, there are ways to lose unwanted weight without having to deal with a fitness trainer. Here are some tips:

• You can choose to purchase exercise equipments and have them installed in your home. This means that you could exercise in the privacy of your own living room and at any time you want.

• You can choose to buy some exercise videos that you can play over and over again. The latest craze such as Pilates, Taebo, kickboxing, and many more can be bought in video formats and you can do all the kicking, punching and crunching inside your own room. If you aren’t into videos, you can also purchase books and manuals on fitness programs.

Whether you choose to have a personal trainer, to work out in fitness gyms, or to just stay at home and sweat it out in the privacy of your home, the goals are all the same—and that is to achieve a leaner and healthier you.

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

Reading Labels is an Important Part of Nutrition

Nowadays, almost all of the products that are purchased like food and drinks have labels containing necessary nutrition information. The necessary nutrition facts include servings per container, serving size, calories per serving, calories from fat, total fat, polyunsaturated fat, potassium, sodium, cholesterol content, dietary fibres, carbohydrates, protein content and sugars.

Additional facts on nutrition include mineral content which are solid homogenous and inorganic substances that are found in nature. Vitamin-content is also an important part of each label.

Additional ingredients may also be included on the list. Most of these nutrition data are based on a 2,000-2,500 calorie diet.

Breaking the Common Notion

Scientific knowledge and nutrition are the bases for nutrition facts. Most consumers are confused over carbohydrates and calorie-content on foods. Some have the notion that carbohydrates cause weight gain when in fact, carbs are meant to fuel the body by powering up each cell. Carbohydrates are made up of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. Carbohydrates are found in foods such as vegetables, milk, honey, fruits, syrups, sugars, and grains.

Tips on Reading Labels

It would surprise you that reading food labels also involves basic computations such as subtraction, addition, multiplication and division. Knowing how to read labels on foods will enable you to make a knowledgeable decision as to whether or not a certain product would be beneficial for you.

It is always best to read food labels from top to bottom. The top portion often lists the amount which makes up a single serving. The next figure lists the total servings that are included in the package. Moving down the list, you would notice that you will see the exact amount of calories, fat, sodium and other nutrients. To the right of these nutrients, you would find the percentage of daily value that is required for these nutrients.

Not all of these percentages apply to you (or even to a majority of people) so don’t get too concerned over the percentages. What you should be looking for are the vitamins and minerals that the product contains.

When you are concerned about weight loss, you must be concerned about the number of calories that each product would contribute. The sodium content is the next thing that you should be worried about (eating too much sodium would make your body store extra fluid, thus, you will look bloated).

Understanding Daily Values

Daily values are an important part of the nutrition label. They are the best guide that you can have toward healthy eating and they can replace the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances. Daily values are listed for 2,000-2,500 calorie consumption each day. If you are required to eat less, then your personal daily value may be lower (if you are required to eat more, then your daily values should also be properly adjusted).

The percentage of daily value is a good tool to check a food’s nutrient content. According to the USFDA, the American Heart Association, and the American Diabetes Association, these are the nutrient daily values for 2,000 and 2,500 calorie consumptions:

Total fat

Less than 65 grams for 2,000 calorie diets

Less than 80 grams for 2,500 calorie diets

Saturated fat

Less than 20 grams

Less than 25 grams

Cholesterol

Less than 300 milligrams for both diets

Total carbohydrate

Less than 300 grams

Less than 375 grams

Sodium

Less than 2,400 milligrams for both calorie diets

Fibre

25 grams

30 grams

Understanding the contents of labels would be tantamount to knowing the value of nutrition that you would be consuming so take time to read the next time you purchase any type of food.

Supplement Centre is a leading store for Body Building and Sports Nutrition products from leading brands such as Prolab, Muscletech and Optimum Nutrition

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