Tuesday, July 21, 2009

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Sunday, July 12, 2009

Benefit of Meal Replacement Shakes

They are conveniently packaged in powder form and can be mixed into an easy-to-drink shake in a matter of minutes.
  • Meal replacements are very low in simple sugars.
  • Meal replacement product like meal replacement shakes helps to suppress hunger and thus prevent the temptation to snack on "empty calorie" foods that are high in fat and sugar. However, the majority of people find it difficult to adhere to this rigid schedule.
  • People who don't eat nutritious whole foods could also benefit by substituting a meal replacement shake for a typical high-fat, high-calorie meal.
  • At a cost of less than two dollars per serving, they are, without question, a cost-effective way to get a quick meal.
  • They are a healthful, well-conceived food source that provides a convenient, cost-effective way to supplement your diet. They can be a very attractive nutritional option with wide ranging applications.
Word of Caution:
  • There is a prevailing misconception that they have powerful, steroid-like effects and will miraculously transform you into a muscular Adonis. However, despite the hype, muscular size can only be increased through intense anaerobic exercise. Although they can help in the muscle building process when combined with a dedicated weight-training regimen, simply adding meal replacement to your diet will have no effect on building larger muscles!
  • since the protein is animal-based in nature, these products would be inappropriate to those on a strict vegan diet, but not apply to meal replacement bars
  • Their overuse can lead to a disparity in dietary ratios as well as a deficiency in vital nutrients.
  • Moreover, when consumed in excess, the high protein content can sometimes be damaging to your system, potentially leading to kidney ailments and other maladies
  • In final analysis, while meal replacements are not a panacea, they certainly can play a role in your nutritional scheme.
Related Posting:

Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight loss

Relying on ready to drink meal replacement shakes as part of a healthy diet or weight loss program is pretty common these days but do you know which products are best for you? Get the nutritional 411 on some of the most popular weight loss shakes and find out which ones are best and why.

The Worst Shake EVER!

Let’s get stared with one of the worst yet most popular products on the market, Ultra Slim Fast. The commercial and website promote one shake for breakfast, a meal replacement bars for lunch and a sensible dinner plus a slim fast bar and fruit for snacks. Unless you’re interested in ingesting about 78g of sugar from their products alone don’t even think about trying this diet. It’s a low calorie plan and if you’ve been spending time on this site you know what low calorie dieting does to your metabolism and why. The 8oz shake is 220 calories, 1 g fat, 46g carbs of which 35g are sugar, and 7g of protein. Anyone wishing to lose fat, and not just weight from water and muscle mass needs to steer clear of this product. There are much better options out there and the price difference (which is not that much more) is worth it considering this is for your health.

Decent Shakes

Ensure Lite 8oz shake is 200 calories, 3g fat, 33g carbs of which 18g are sugar, and 10g of fat. Zone Perfect 8oz shake is 260 calories, 8g fat, 29g of carbs of which 22g are sugar, and 11g protein. These two options are decent because they offer a higher amount of protein, and a little less carbs. The zone shake also offers more fat, which will help you feel full longer. The problem is the sugar content is still too high for products that are supposed to help you lose weight.

Great Options for Carb Watchers

Myoplex Low Carb 11oz meal replacement shake is 120 calories, 3.5g fat, 2g carbs of which 1g is sugar, and 20g protein. Atkins 11oz shake is 170 calories, 9g fat, 4g carbs of which 2g are sugar, and 20g protein. These are great products for people trying to moderate their carb intake and up their protein intake. They don’t really provide enough calories to be considered a meal so be sure to use them as snacks or pair them with a piece of fruit if you are not eating again for a while. The Atkins shake has more fat which is not a problem if you’re watching your fat intake from other sources plus it will help you feel full longer.

Great Option for Highly Active People

Metrx 11oz shake is 170 calories, 2.5g fat, 20g carbs of which 8g are sugar, and 20g protein. This is one of the best meal replacements around because it offers a decent number of calories with very little fat and a good amount of protein. The difference with this shake is even though the carbs are higher than myoplex or atkins the sugar content is considerably low. A great option for more active people who have moderate to high carb needs.

Be smart when you’re buying meal replacement and do the same comparisons if you’re buying powders or bars. Anything with too much sugar or too few calories can cause you to eat more and defeats the whole purpose of buying the product in the first place.

Related Posting:
About Meal Replacement Shakes

About Meal Replacement

Meal replacements came into prominence several years ago, when a company called Met-Rx introduced a unique formula that was unlike anything else on the market. This revolutionary product was billed as a means to build muscle and reduce body fat. They go by many names: Myoplex, Rx-Fuel, Met-Rx, etc. They are ideal for bodybuilders, dieters and those who are time pressed.

Essentially, these products are a high protein, low fat, moderate carbohydrate food source that is rich in vitamins and minerals. They are designed to provide a maximal amount of nutrients in a format that is not inclined to promote significant body fat storage. Per serving these powders usually contain 250-300 calories, 35-45 gm of protein, 20-25 gm of carbohydrates, and 2-4 gm of fat. They also have between 50-100% of the RDAs for most of the major vitamins and minerals. Protein sources typically consist of whey, calcium caseinate, milk protein isolates, sodium caseinate, and egg albumin, which are all derived from milk and egg. Carbohydrate sources usually consist of maltodextrin (short glucose chains), corn syrup solids, or sucrose (table sugar). Fat comes in the form of partially hydrogenated oils such as canola or coconut oils.

Unlike many of today's popular "meal replacement shakes" and weight loss beverages like slimming tea, meal replacements are very low in simple sugars. Because simple sugars are rapidly assimilated into your blood stream, they tend to cause a corresponding surge in your insulin levels. This oversecretion of insulin produces a spillover effect that is directly associated with increased fat storage. In fact, sugar-based products can actually promote greater body fat levels than high fat foods, making them highly undesirable for maintaining a lean, healthy physique. Instead of simple sugars, meal replacements like protein shakes use maltodextrin as their primary carbohydrate source. This wheat-based derivative is complex in nature and thus enters your blood stream in a "time released" manner. This helps to stabilize insulin secretions, minimizing the potential for excess fat deposition.

These products obtain their protein from high-quality whey and egg sources rather than cheaper alternatives. By nature, whey and egg proteins are maximally absorbed into your body. This allows a greater amount of protein to be utilized for important functions such as tissue growth and repair-a critical factor if you are a serious athlete.

As a rule, meal replacement are best utilized as an adjunct to a well-balanced nutritional regimen - not as a substitute for natural foods. They fill a specific dietary niche, but by no means are a complete source of nutrition. Hence, their overuse can lead to a disparity in dietary ratios as well as a deficiency in vital nutrients. Combining meal replacements with natural foods is the best way to satisfy all of your nutritional requirements, ensuring an optimal intake of nutrients.

In practice, it is best to eat a hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner, using shakes as "interim" meals. It is widely recognized that a diet consisting of small, frequent meals (five or six a day) spaced out every two to three hours provides optimal nutritional utility. Eating in this fashion increases metabolic function, regulates blood sugar levels and stabilizes various hormonal processes, allowing your body to operate at peak efficiency. Furthermore, it helps to suppress hunger and thus prevent the temptation to snack on "empty calorie" foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar. Since meal replacements are convenient and easy to prepare, they facilitate your ability to consume quality nutrients at regular intervals without expending a great deal of effort.

On the other hand, meal replacement products like meal replacement shake or meal replacement bars will not directly build your muscles or make you stronger. There is a prevailing misconception that they have powerful, "steroid-like effects" that will miraculously transform your body from fat to fit. However, despite the hype, muscular development can only be achieved through intense strength training. Although consuming adequate dietary protein will aid in the muscle building process when combined with a dedicated weight-training regimen, simply adding meal replacements to your diet will have no effect on building better muscles!

Advantages and Disvantages of Meal Replacement Programs

Effective weight loss strategies are needed to help overweight and obese people lose weight and maintain weight loss in the long term. Meal replacements for weight loss are available in the community and have become popular for helping many people successfully start losing weight.

Advantages of Meal Replacement Programs

Many people like meal replacement products because they are convenient, they take away the need to think about food during the day. The meals are strictly portion controlled. Meals are usually designed to be filling, reducing hunger between meals. Furthermore meal replacement diets are advantageous as the amount of calories in each portion has already been calculated. This makes it easier to keep energy intake down leading to greater success with weight loss.

Disadvantages of Meal Replacement Programs

Many people who enjoy cooking or preparing food may find the program too disciplined. In addition there is a limited amount of variety available when consuming whole foods. The flavors can also be limited and many people who are lactose intolerant may find that some sachets/shakes are milk/skimmed milk based.

Two common Meal Replacement Products inclusive of:
Meal Replacement Shakes
Meal Replacement Bars

Meal Replacement First Talk

Specially formulated meal replacements have been used in Australia for a long time as treatments against the rising rates of obesity and disorders associated with obesity. In many research studies conducted in Australia by the CSIRO and researchers overseas, meal replacement programs have been associated with successful weight loss.

To lose weight we need to take in fewer calories than our body needs. When this happens, we draw on our fat stores to provide us with the extra energy we require to function properly. In the long term, this means we lose fat, and in turn lose weight. These programs work by replacing meals like meal replacement shakes per day with specialised formula food, which are a complete meal. Meal replacement programs combine a meal replacement regimen with additional health supports such as physiotherapists.

The program is a combination of LCD (Low Calorie Diet) and the natural process of ketosis. Ketosis happens after 48 hours when body detects that it doesn't have getting enough carbohydrates to operate as it usually does. The body therefore 'switches over' to a different method of providing fuel for itself - your fat stores.

Formulated meal replacements take various forms, including powders, meal replacement shake, soups, meal replacement bars and biscuits. Some products are designed to replace all meals whilst others are designed to replace only one or two meals per day. The formulas contain adequate vitamins and minerals.

Meal replacement products are always very low in fat and often have added fibre. A good meal replacement program provides extensive educational material and recipes to educate people about healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

Major health organizations with an interest in helping the public to lose weight now suggest meal replacements are a suitable option for some people. Organizations such as the National Obesity Forum, the British Dietetic Association and Dietitians in Obesity Management UK believe meal replacements offer an alternative to other more conventional dietary treatments and may prove beneficial for some people. Meal replacements have been shown to be part of a successful therapeutic approach to weight loss especially when used in combination with lifestyle and diet education and professional support.

The first line of therapy for weight loss is a healthy diet (which provides appropriate energy) and regular physical activity. For people who have not achieved success with these first line therapies, meal replacements are an option to add to their regime. A healthy diet plan including meal replacements may result in the success they have been striving for. As well as cutting calories in a controlled way, many nutrition experts also think meal replacement diets are effective because they offer a structured plan and are the ultimate convenience food as they require little or no preparation or cooking. Furthermore, they take away the 'pressure' of deciding what to eat for two meals each day, yet still allow an element of choice for one meal.

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