The Market Outfit

Fannie May ascribe their unbelievable expansion to quality and good service. This much loved chocolate shop first opened its doors in 1920 in the Windy City, and over almost a century of trade it has become one of the most popular sweet shops in the United States.

Fannie May’s gift of combining the freshest ingredients in exactly the right manner made them so popular they grew to about 48 branches in just 15 years. Many people aren’t aware that the staff were so committed to the standard of its sweets they chose to close their doors instead of changing their recipes during wartime rationing. Quite a number of these secret recipes are being made use of and sold today.

Of course all the candies come attractively boxed. Don’t forget to order a decorative gift box if the chocolate is for someone else, it will add something extra. The size of a chocolate gift is entirely your decision, ranging from simply one perfect chocolate treat to a tower loaded with various flavors of chocolate truffle, nuts and even luxury pretzels. If you would like to order unique centers that’s easily done, even so a great choice of premade gift boxes are on offer too.

Fannie May now have branches not merely in America but in numerous other countries worldwide. So you can order on the internet and have your present sent anyplace. There are a few items that are not recommended for shipping during very hot weather, even so this chocolate maker will happily have gifts delivered anytime and will guarantee the freshness of the chocolates when they arrive. Even if you are on a sugar-free diet or you suffer from an allergy, there’s chocolate that is suitable. Fannie May’s have low sugar candies and various other treats too. Should you need a large amount of personalized gift boxes or wedding favors, Fannie May can assist you there as well. Give them a call or contact Fannie May online with the details.

You can see the reason why Fannies May’s products are such a success story. And, with candies like each sort of chocolate, nut, and vanilla centers, the hardest task is going to be narrowing down the large array of options!

A famous internet flower store has turned its attention to the gift industry, designing a one-stop shop for gifts be they to colleagues, friends, or family. So where should you look? 1800Baskets.com. A global vendor of baskets, this internet store makes it easy for you to get your chosen gift just where it needs to go.

No matter what you want them for — a special event or holiday — the 1800Baskets.com gift baskets are filled with impressive treats. A particular specialty is gourmet cuisine. A typical basket boasts elements such as meat, fruit, cheeses and crackers for the creation of tasty dishes which are sure to delight. Consider the wine included in the majority of baskets and you’ll soon see how they earned their distinction. There’s no need to worry if you’d rather choose something on the sweeter side, as alternatives abound. You might get a basket including only sweets, or instead use them as part of a wider selection boasting some of everyone’s favorites. Cakes are sure to provide that sweet taste the recipient longs for and will offer some added variety. Should the recipient prefer to reduce their consumption of refined sugar while they nonetheless crave a sweet treat, this hamper store offers a number of different fruits in a selection of containers and arrangements. Between the tropical baskets — pineapples, citrus fruits, pears, etc — cheese and fruit baskets, and the more focused baskets of pears you have a broad range of alternatives. And of course there are non-edible options, such as the spa set primed with treats for your bath.

Don’t you think the festive season merits a specialized line? 1800Baskets.com would say it does. So in attractive boxes and baskets they assemble mints, trinkets, crackers, treats, wine and many more to help celebrate. The look ranges from austere baskets ideal for workmates and official events to full-blown Santas that your children will love. Naturally, Christmas isn’t the only big date each year, so you needn’t sweat it — they offer specials for birthdays, weddings, signing a contract, anniversaries, and many other special events.

gourmet gift baskets introduce novel ways to brighten your friend’s day. Without leaving your desk you can choose an order, certain it will get to its destination still in excellent condition and in high quality.

Let’s introduce you to 1800Baskets — an innovative web store designed to handle your gift-giving requirements from the noted Internet store 1800Flowers. And there’s more — they’ll deliver worldwide, so wherever the recipient is, you’ll be sure to get their gift to them without trouble. Packed to the brim with a selection of trinkets, the gift baskets designed here can enrich any special event on your schedule. Customers will delight in the foodstuffs included in these gift baskets. Bringing together fruit, meat, crackers, and cheeses, they produce dishes which will delight the diner. Of course, it isn’t just food; as you probably know, meals are only made better by the drinks that accompany them — and hence 1800Baskets.com will generally accompany their baskets with one or more bottles of excellent wine to round things off. If you’d prefer something sweeter, they still have several gift baskets you might choose from. You might opt to buy a basket which only contains bonbons, or instead they might be part of an assortment. Cakes also provide that sweet taste the recipient desires.

In addition, they offer gift baskets designed for people who like sweet tastes but don’t use refined sugar. Between the tropical boxes — citrus fruits, pineapples, pears, et cetera — cheese and fruit baskets, and the more focused boxes of pears you’re presented with a whole spread of options. There are non-edible products, like the spa set containing toiletries. Much as you’d expect from any gift company, much of its output is designed for the festive season. A selection of trinkets, wine, chocolates, treats, crackers, and other delicious items are collated in decorative boxes and baskets. These vary in style, including a formal feel, ideal in gifts for business associates, or you could buy them in the form of Santa Claus or a fir tree for friends. The thought focused on Christmas is also given to all major holidays, to say nothing of more personal events — birthdays, signing a contract, weddings, funerals, even closing a business deal.

Sending their products to wherever you ask worldwide, they can guarantee with certainty to supply the very best. Without having to leave your study you may choose your order, sure that it will get to its destination still in superb condition and in absolute compliance with even the utmost conceivable demands on quality.

When it’s time to send an exciting present to a loved one, colleague, family member, or friend, 1800Flowers has provided a revolutionary new web store: 1800Baskets. A trouble-free means of gift ordering and delivery, 1800Baskets.com operates globally.

Full to the brim with a varied selection of gifts, the gift baskets assembled by this group can enrich any special event you might be shopping for. A notable specialty is luxury food. Meats, cheeses, fruit, and crackers are combined with skill to end up with delectable platters fit for all. These luxury foods are often accompanied by fine wines comprising a complete creation sure to put a smile on the lips of all concerned. So what, you might inquite, about recipients with a sweet tooth? Well, other baskets are created especially for this target group. You can order cookies exclusively or mix them with other nibbles so family, associates, and so forth can each have their favorites. Treats including cakes can be just as toothsome and can generate a little variety which will liven up your basket.

Of course, even those of us with a sweet tooth can be conscious of health issues etc. For this reason, they have introduced a variety of baskets which will yield a sweet taste which don’t use processed sugar. Such arrangements include gift selections of a single fruit like pears, tropical baskets, and baskets of cheese & fruit, ensuring there’s something for all. There are, of course, non-edible products, chief among them the spa basket offering toiletries.

Who can deny that the holiday season merits a specialized approach? 1800Baskets.com would say it does. So in special beautiful boxes they assemble mints, trinkets, chocolates, crackers, wine and many more to help celebrate. Decide on the aesthetic that works best for you — is it a family-friendly Santa Claus, or is it an austere basket better suited to the office? They’ve got you covered. Naturally, Christmas is hardly the only important date each year, so don’t panic — you can also get deals connected to closing a business deal, weddings, signing a contract, anniversaries, and many other special occasions.

Sending their products to all, wherever you ask worldwide, 1800Baskets.com pledge with confidence to send out only the very best. You can send a box to anyone, and with 1800Baskets’ top quality, and service, you will know that what you see is exactly what will actually arrive.

Our food, water and air contain an astonishing mixture of chemicals, some of which are toxic to the body even in little amounts, and most of which are grueling to our body’s natural detox capability. In addition to doing a few body detoxes a year, you can preserve a trim and healthy body by nudging your normal everyday diet toward a clean, natural diet. In addition to supplying year round body detoxification, a cleansing diet will help you maintain better health, higher energy and mood, and a proper weight. Many people have experienced long-term weight loss with a diet detox.

The ideal way to convert to a cleansing diet for weight loss and health is to consume more fresh fruits and vegetables and limit your consumption of fatty foods, processed foods and sugary foods. Here are some rules for which foods to include in your cleansing diet:

2-5 servings of fresh fruit daily. Go light on bananas and dried fruits. Dried fruits should be soaked overnight.

2 salads every day, one at lunch and another at dinner.

2 servings of chicken, fish or tofu for your protein. Lean beef now and then.

4 oz. of vegetable juice several times a week. The best veggies are cucumber, celery, carrot, beets and parsley. If you don’t have time or equipment to juice your own vegetable juice, purchase it fresh in a healthy quantity, portion it into 2 oz portions and freeze for future consumption.

Sea vegetables (seaweed) every day. Granular dulse and kelp are convenient to use. They can be used as a salt substitute.

And, of course, drink more water. Try to increase your consumption to a gallon a day of fresh, spring water. Some of your daily intake can include a few glasses of unsweetened herbal tea. No sweetened drinks. They do not hydrate, they only add more content to your body’s detoxification system.

The Diet industry is a multi-billion dollar market. All year thousands of brand-new diet products hit the market claiming to be the solution to all of your weight troubles. The vast majority of these diet products are garbage. No sugars, maple syrup / lemonade / cayenne pepper cleanse, cabbage soup - all rubbish.

They may aid you shed a few pounds, but the instant you even consider of consuming anything that isn’t part of their diet program, you gain back all of the weight and then some. Dieting fads don’t work! We all wish some marvelous pill to melt the fat away, but there is no such thing. So how does the diet industry continue to prosper and expand? Who buys in to all of their gimmicks and advertising ploys? Women!

That’s right ladies - you are the number one demographic that keep the diet industry raking in the dough. It’s true - don’t attempt to deny it. Every time you’re at the market, you casually stroll down the weight management and dieting department and discretely eye the untested products. Despite intelligence and common sense, a part of you still questions, “Was that really how Anna Nicole lost all that weight?”

The answer is NO! There is no magical pill, powder, or dieting book. The first step to reaching your goal is to stop kidding yourself and get real. Total Body Solutions can aid you to get the real deal. The root to your weight problem doesn’t lie in the diet section - its hiding in the back of your cupboard.

Break out those running shoes from the rear of your cupboard ladies! The only proven and capable way to lose weight and keep it off is exrcise.I know it isn’t the response you want to hear, but you know its true. It may not be the easier resolution, but it is the only real solution.

Burning Off calories through exercise and being in a caloric defecit throughout the day is the only real way to drop pounds permanently. It takes hard work and commitment, but don’t all nice things? Personal trainerswill help you achieve the answers that you want in the most efficient means possible.

Juicing is a very popular health trend these days and lots of people are wondering what type of juicer they should buy that will get them the healthiest juice but still fit with their lifestyle. Well, the category of juicers that will get you the healthiest juice are most certainly masticating cold-press. However, several people do not want to buy these types of juicers because they require a bit more time to juice and their parts are not meant to be cleaned in the dishwasher. Well, there is a solution to that issue! Samson Juicers are masticating cold-press juicers, but it takes less than 3 minutes to clean them! No more worrying about a sloppy, time consuming clean-up!

What Exactly Are Cold-Press Juicers?

Cold-press is simply a classification for juicers using motors that run at speeds between 80 to 200 RPMs. They chose the name cold-press because at those speeds, juice does not overheat and stays cold. This is a good thing because when juice gets heated up oxidation occurs and allows enzymes to break down and lose nutrients. Since cold-press juicers avoid oxidation, they can produce the most nutrient-rich juice. (This also takes place when juice is exposed to air, which is why you should always drink your juice immediately after juicing and keep any leftovers in an air-tight container!)

Why Are Mastication Juicers Better Than Centrifugal Juicers?

I dont like to say that one type of juicer is better than another because it really depends what you would like the juicer for! However, masticating juicers definitely produce more nutrient-rich juice. To begin with, there are no cold-press centrifugal juicers out there because they all run at such high speeds (oxidation!) Additionally, the mastication process is much more natural than the centrifugal process- it slowly chews at fruits and veggies to get out the juices instead of rapidly grinding them into tiny particles at high speeds. Therefore, if you are looking to juice for health reasons, you want a cold press mastication juicer.

How is it Possible To Clean A Samson Juicer in Under Three Minutes?

YES! Samson Juicers take less than 3 minutes to clean up! Ive timed it and I can do it in 45 seconds (Im not joking!). This is possible because you only need to twist off the entire housing and place is under the tap , instead of taking apart all the pieces in the housing and cleaning them separately! This way, the tap washes off the gears and the housing while theyre still sitting in place. This also makes re-assembly much easier! You will have to scrub the screen, but thats unavoidable if you are going to use a screen. However, it comes with a very helpful scrubbing brush to help!

Check out a Samson Juice Extractor at www.PurelyJuicers.com you will get free shipping! Here

If you would like some healthy recipes, go to the Cooking Cousins’ blog at http://www.CookingCousinsRecipes.com

1. Enjoy what you eat

Whether someone is following the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, the advice contained in Tom Venuto’s e-Book, “Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle” or even a program of their own design, success depends on enjoying what you eat. When you don’t enjoy your food, you resist it. Resistance creates stress and stress is counter-productive to fat loss. It is important to look at eating as a part of your life, not a chore that interrupts your life.

The question ultimately becomes, “How do I learn to enjoy healthy foods?” Most people did not enjoy their first cup of coffee or can of beer. What happened is that in their environment, external pressures - stress, fatigue, peer pressure - created a desire to enjoy that steaming hot espresso or to be able to chug down a draught of beer with the best of their buddies. Eventually, a strange thing happened - when the coffee cup was repeatedly associated with more energy or productivity, or simply the pleasure of settling down to read something while draining the cup, or when the beer became associated with fun times and great parties, they “acquired a taste.”

You can acquire a taste for healthy foods. It is important to understand how you operate, to determine if it makes sense to go “cold turkey” or transition. Many people cling to diets that allow “free days” or “gorge fests” because they never really learn to enjoy the healthy food - they need the psychological crutch of getting comfortable again (if comfortable means bloated and nauseous from overeating junk food) and live from “free day” to “free day.” Is this you? If so, you might start transitioning and looking for an alternative. Instead of a free day, how about this: have a few free meals and then focus on enjoying the food that you consume throughout the week. Experiment with new recipes. Don’t like raw vegetables? Try steamed. Don’t like them plain? Spice them up. As you lose weight and gain energy, focus on the connection between your healthy foods and your new physique. Before long, you might even “acquire a taste” for healthy foods.
2. Believe in what you are doing
Belief is an important component of any lifestyle. If you don’t believe what you are doing will work, why should you continue to do it? Often times, the lack of belief is not in the program you are following, but rather in yourself. Food is an addiction that is no different than addiction to cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs. To overcome this addiction, the first place to look is within you. Without faith, you are going to allow fear to maneuver you into a position to binge, overeat, and sabotage yourself.

When you don’t believe, you simply “do.” It is a frustrating concept, especially for analytical people, because they want to have a simple set of rules. It is easy as an analytical person to get into your comfort zone. Find an equation that spits out a number of calories. Get a “ratio” of foods - 40% protein, 40% carbs, 20% fat, right? Then you have that exact formula and you are ready to go. Unfortunately, if it were that simple, more people would be sharing their success story (and their formulas) with everyone else.

The fact is that it is not the calorie or the formula or the ratio that determines your success. It is you. Whether you are on a high protein, low fat, no-sugar, or other program, your success will be determined by the level of your belief. I have witnessed people achieve success using many different nutrition styles, and the common element that linked their success was belief. If you asked them, “Will you lose your weight,” they would reply, “Absolutely.” If you cannot state that without confidence, it is time to find something you can believe in … and more often than not, it will not be a new program, but you. Believe in you.

3. Practice moderation

Moderation is the key to everything. Many people operate in an either/or mode - either they are following a program perfectly, or they are simply going wild with their eating habits. A true lifestyle plan will be easy to follow because you won’t have to worry about counting calories or weighing foods. Why? Because you are operating from a zone called moderation. This zone is tough for many people to find, and sometimes it requires going through a strict dietary regimen in order to create the control you deserve to have over food, instead of allowing food to control you.

Moderation simply means permission to enjoy without excess. When you want a glass of wine, you pour one and savor it. You do not suddenly feel guilty and then punish yourself for having it. If you are having a slice of pizza or ice cream, you don’t create a license to eat until you are stuffed. Instead, you have a slice or two and enjoy it. If you are full, you are done. If not, then you might share a dessert with your spouse or someone else at the table.

Those who are successful at keeping their weight off don’t overeat and they don’t create limits. Some people truly enjoy healthy foods and eat these all of the time. Others have a balance they create. What is common is that they do not become a victim when they cannot eat a certain food - if a special occasion arises, they are happy to enjoy a piece of cake. The key is that they are in control and don’t overdo it … and when it is done, they don’t allow guilt to override their success.

4. Be flexible with new ideas

Change is tough. Change is scary. If change were easy, there would not be millions of dollars in books about how to face change being sold. Change in your nutrition or health is no different than change in other areas of your life. Embracing a new style of eating can feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar. I know - I have been there and done that myself.

The key to success, however, is not to become so boxed into your comfort zone that you cannot open to new ideas. For example, I had been conditioned to combine protein and carbs at every meal, that when my wife suggested I attempt food-combining (a concept where you do not eat proteins and starches together - for more information, read “Fit for Life” by Harvey Diamond or “Total Health Makeover” by Marilu Henner) I simply resisted. “No way - that’s not right! I’ve learned that …”

Eventually, however, I came to my senses. No matter how much I have read or learned, the reality is experience. You can argue with me all day long about what color the sky is - but if it is blue in my reality, then that is the reality I will embrace. Everything productive in my life has come from being able to embrace change and try out new things. I discard what doesn’t work, and embrace what does. This ability to not fear the unknown allowed me to try food-combining even though it did not fit into my existing reality. What I found was an eating method that gave me more energy and helped me feel more comfortable. By stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying something new, I was able to integrate more freedom into my eating plan.

Don’t be afraid to try new programs, new dishes, and new recipes. Don’t pre-qualify your decisions by going to research and reading about calories and studying the fat content. Instead, just try it. Keep a journal. Record your feelings in the journal. Observe how your body reacts. Create a dialogue with food that works for you rather than living in someone else’s system. Don’t fear change - change is required to move from overweight or obese to healthy and lean!
5. Learn to hear your body
Most of us tune out our body’s protests. It is a requirement in modern society. When we are constantly stuffing our bodies with foods that damage and harm us, our bodies cannot continue to sensitize us to the pain or we would be in a constant state of suffering. So instead, the brain tunes out the signals like background noise. We no longer realize the harm that we are doing to ourselves. We confuse cravings with hunger. We think we want sugar when our body is screaming for healthy fats. It creates a state of constant stress that we are not conscious of, and it impacts the core of our health.

This is why I believe it is great to quiet and calm things down. Don’t be afraid to juice fast for a few days. Try a “5-day high-fiber cleanse” to reconnect with your own health. Don’t listen to your friends who will scream “starvation” and swear you are going to lose pounds of muscle. Muscle doesn’t disappear overnight, and starvation is when you have NO food, not when you go on a modified fast that provides nutrients but gives you the ability to break out of a cycle of cravings and self-abuse that modern, processed foods create.

Learn to eat when you are ready, not when it is time. This doesn’t mean that if your preferred style of nutrition is consuming six meals per day that you stop. What this means is that you get in tune with your body. If you are not hungry when it is time for meal two, go back and adjust meal one so that it doesn’t fill you up so much. If you are starving by meal two, change meal one so that you are satisfied - increase the portion size, add healthy fats, or introduce new foods.

By learning your body, you can break out of the cycle of measuring and weighing foods. You come into contact with yourself, and learn to flow. When you feel it is time to eat, you eat. You don’t eat a pre-allotted amount of calories. Instead, you listen to yourself. Think about whether you feel like having a lot of protein. If the thought turns your stomach, focus on salads, or fruit, or whole grains. Find what feels comfortable and then eat enough to satisfy you without leaving you stuffed. Practice this for a few weeks and you’ll find that you can think yourself into the shape you desire without having to obsess over calories.

These are the five keys to successful, healthy living that I have observed. The people I know who have conquered their weight and are comfortable in their bodies used different methods. Some are vegetarians, some advocate low carbohydrate diets and others feel that high protein is important. Despite these differences, however, ultimately the plan they settled into addressed these five key points and allowed them to live in their health rather than having to work on their lack of it.

To learn more about yourself and how you can conquer the mental barriers you erect to sabotage our own progress to good health, read www.losefatnotfaith.com - this e-Book goes beyond the mainstream to focus on personal development and the success mindet. It will empower your transformation through inspiration and easy-to-understand information about nutrition and training.

Jeremy Likness, the CEO of Natural Physiques (a division of Golden Summit Inc) is a Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Performance Nutrition. He has coached clients around the world to lose fat, gain muscle, and live healthy after losing over 65 pounds of fat himself. He is the author of the internationally-selling e-Book, “Lose Fat, Not Faith” that has been sold in over a dozen countries. Visit Jeremy at http://www.naturalphysiques.com and join him on his weekly coaching call at http://www.become-your-best.com.

Vitamins are a major necessity for a healthy life. Vitamin D may reduce the risk of injuries from falls by more than 20 percent in otherwise healthy men and women age 60 and over. Vitamin D has long been known to strengthen bones but new studies indicate it also improves muscle strength. The combination makes injuries less likely when people fall. Vitamin D is helpful whether it is consumed in fortified foods, dairy products, or supplements.

There are 13 known vitamins and each have different roles within the body.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A occurs in two principal forms in nature: retinol, which is found only in animal sources, and certain carotenoids, the best known of which is ‘beta-carotene’ found in carrots and other yellow to red plants. Beta-carotene can be converted to retinol in the body, and it may have a role in protecting against heart disease and cancer.

Vitamin A is essential for vision and adequate growth. Deficiency symptoms include night blindness, hyperkeratinosis of the skin, and xerophthalmia - an eye condition, which if untreated can lead to permanent blindness. Vitamin A deficiency is still widespread in many developing countries.

Vitamin A is found in pumpkins, kumara (sweet potato), apricots, squash, nectarines, peaches, and mangos. It is also found in spinach, broccoli, watercress, asparagus and peas.

The B Group Vitamins

The B group vitamins work as a team to convert food to energy. Vitamin B1 is vital for releasing energy from starchy and sugary foods, while vitamins B2, B6, and niacin help release energy from foods including protein and fats.

If you increase your energy intake, particularly by eating more carbohydrates, your body may need extra vitamin B.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid, together with iron and vitamin C are of major importance to sportsmen and women as they are used in the formation of red blood cells which transport oxygen to the muscles.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine)

Vitamin B1 is essential for the release of energy especially from carbohydrates, functioning of nerves, brain and muscles.

The best source of this is vitamin is from dried brewers yeast. Other good sources include pork, poultry, cereals, nuts and beans.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

Vitamin B2 is found in all plant and animal cells. It is necessary for the release of energy from food and for healthy vision and skin.

Yeast and liver contain the highest amount of this vitamin. It is also found in other meat, eggs and dairy food.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

This vitamin is required for protein and fat metabolism, red blood cell formation, and the nervous system.

The best sources of this vitamin are liver of beef, pork and chicken. Other sources include cereals, fish, nuts, bananas and wheatgerm.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

Vitamin B12 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells, a healthy nervous system, and is essential for growth.

This vitamin is stored efficiently by the body so a deficiency can take years to develop. Since it is found primarily in animal products, vegetarians are at risk from deficiency unless they take supplements. In its most extreme form, deficiency can lead to megaloblastic anaemia and irreversible degeneration of the spinal cord.

Vitamin E is found in animal meat, particularly liver, kidney, heart and brain. It is also present in yeast extract.

Biotin

This is needed for the manufacture of fatty acid and glycogen, protein metabolism and growth. It is found in egg yolk, liver, wholegrain cereals, and nuts.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Vitamin C is required for the production of collagen, the ‘cement’ substance that gives structure to muscles, vascular tissues, bones and cartilage. Deficiency causes a weakening of these tissues (scurvy), resulting in capillary bleeding.

Together with beta-carotene and vitamin E, vitamin C forms the trio of antioxidant vitamins now believed to help prevent degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Vitamin C is also commonly used as a natural antioxidant, i.e. it is added to foodstuffs to protect colour, aroma or nutrient content, not for its action as a vitamin.

It is essential for the immune system and there is some evidence to show that extra vitamin C may reduce the severity of respiratory infections.

Vitamin C helps iron absorption. Its role in red blood cell formation also helps to transport essential oxygen to exercising muscles.

It promotes healthy body cells, blood vessels, bones and tissues (e.g. tendons and ligaments). It is also necessary for the manufacture of adrenaline.

Vitamin C is not stored within the body so make sure your diet contains a regular supply. It is found naturally in citrus fruits, blackcurrants, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, mango, sweet peppers, parsley, broccoli, kumara, and cauliflower.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is required for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the diet, and is needed for healthy bone growth. It also plays an important role in the proper functioning of muscles, nerves, and blood clotting.

Vitamin D is produced by the action of sunlight on the skin. It is found in wholemilk, margarine, oily fish, and fortified cereals.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is vital to the formation and normal function of red blood cells and muscles.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which helps to protect cells from damage by free radicals.

Polyunsaturated fats in our diets are protected from damage by vitamin E. Polyunsaturated fats, which are found in vegetable and fish oils, are essential for the normal function of cells in the body.

Together with beta-carotene and vitamin C , vitamin E forms the trio of antioxidant vitamins now believed to have a preventive effect on degenerative diseases such as heart disease or cancer.

The largest sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils including peanut, soya, palm, sunflower etc. Other sources include nuts, seeds, whole grains and leafy green vegetables.

Folic acid

Folic acid plays an important role in the metabolism of desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), the carriers of genetic information in all living things. It is necessary for the formation of red blood cells and regulating growth cells.

Severe folic acid deficiency in humans results in megaloblastic anaemia. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects when consumed in adequate amounts by women before and during early pregnancy. For this reason, the enrichment of cereal products with folic acid is compulsory in the USA.

Folates are found in a wide variety of foods. The richest sources are liver, dark green leafy vegetables, beans, wheat germ and yeast. Other sources are egg yolk, fortified cereal, milk and dairy products.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is needed primarily for the blood-clotting mechanism which prevents bleeding to death from cuts and wounds or internal bleeding.

The best plant sources of vitamin K are green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage and lettuce. Other sources include tomatoes, potatoes, oats, egg yolk, asparagus, butter and cheese.

Niacin

In the body, niacin is responsible for using the energy provided by food. Niacin is essential for growth and is involved in the production of hormones in the body.

Yeast, liver, poultry, lean meats, nuts and legumes contribute the largest amounts of niacin in food. Milk and green leafy vegetables contain smaller amounts.

Pantothenic acid

Pantothenic acid belongs to the group of B vitamins. It plays a key role in the maintenance and repair of all cells and tissues, the metabolism of fats and carbohydrate, and healthy skin and hair growth.

Pantothenic acid requires vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid and biotin in order to function properly.

It is found in vegetables, liver, yeast extract, kidney, eggs, nuts and bread.

http://www.starherb.com

Although the issue can be debated, bodybuilding physiques have come a long way over the past twenty years. Besides the increased muscle mass, the other primary characteristic that separates today’s bodybuilders with their counterparts of 20 or 30 years ago is body fat percentage. Back in the sixties and seventies breaking the 10-percent barrier was considered phenomenal. But the average pro bodybuilder these days is stepping onstage with body fat percentages down in the 2 to 3 percent range. As much as we’d like to say that better nutrition and more advanced cardio machines are the reason, we can’t. Just as steroids lead to dramatic increases in muscle growth, so too have many bodybuilders turned to modern pharmacology to “rip” their physiques and promote fat loss; and often the drug of choice is Cytomel.

The first thing we should point out is that Cytomel is not an anabolic steroid but a synthetic thyroid hormone. It has been designed to resemble the natural thyroid hormone tricodide-thyronine (T3). In a healthy person the thyroid produces two hormones, L-thyroxine (T4) and L-trilodine~thyronine (T3). Since Cytomel is a synthetic version of T3, it causes much the same effects in the body as if the thyroid were to naturally increase T3 levels

Physicians use Cytomel to treat thyroid insufficiency (hypothyroidism); the symptoms of which are rapid weight gain, chronic fatigue, and numerous metabolic disorders. Bodybuilders use Cytomel to stimulate their metabolisms, particularly to promote lipolysis or fat burning. Initially Cytomel was only used a few months before a bodybuilding contest to promote fat loss, but now days many bodybuilders use the drug to stay “hard” year round. Many bodybuilders also report that low dosages of Cytomel increase the effectiveness of steroids. As with Growth hormone and insulin, there seems to be some sort of synergistic effect taking place.

How effective is Cytomel?

It may shock you to hear that many of the huge, rock hard pro bodybuilders who are featured in the muscle magazines, practically live on junk food! Their over-stimulated thyroids literally burn calories like a furnace. The next time you hear that some pro bodybuilders are still eating 5000 calories a day in the weeks before a contest, you’ll understand why.

Besides bodybuilders, Cytomel is also popular for fat loss among female fitness contestants. Since females normally have slower metabolisms than males, it is much harder for them to obtain the extremely low body fat percentages that seem to be rewarded for at contests these days. Drastically cutting food and calories often leaves the individual drawn and emaciated-looking. But all this can be avoided by using Cytomel.

Fat loss - but at what risk?

It may sound like the perfect solution to fat loss, but its not. Bodybuilders and fitness competitors who abuse Cytomel over a long period of time are at great risk for developing chronic thyroid problems. As a result, the individuals might become dependent on thyroid medication for the rest of their lives. This is similar to male bodybuilders taking steroids, the higher the dosage, and the longer the cycles, the greater the risk of shutting down natural hormone production.

Other side effects of Cytomel include:

heart palpitation

trembling

irregular heartbeat

agitation

shortness of breath

excretion of sugar through the urine

excessive perspiration

diarrhea

weight loss

trembling of hands

nausea

headaches

increased perspiration

We are not going to continue to preach to you about the evils of Cytomel. But be aware that the drug can produce the previous side effects. With the science of supplementation becoming so advanced there are now products that promote fat loss just as effectively as Cytomel. Bodybuilders report that most of these steroid alternatives will produce muscle building and fat burning effects that are similar to steroids. These safe legal analogs have been designed with the purist pharmaceutical grade ingredients to maximize your bodybuilding potential. Check them out!

The previous information has been created by experts to help you increase your knowledge base about bodybuilding training and drugs. Be knowledgeable. Be informed. Make the right choice!

Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and steroids. Are you
looking for more of his Cytomel articles?

http://www.bodybuilding-news.net © Bob Howard 04/21/06