The major complaint of those who use the Atkins diet is the intestinal problems that are associated with reducing carbohydrates. These problems can include constipation and diarrhea. These symptoms can happen to anybody at some point, but those who follow a low-carb diet are especially prone.

Most commonly dieters will experience diarrhea during the early days of induction. This is a result of the body getting rid of excess carbohydrates. It also marks the beginning of the ketosis process. So in actuality, experiencing diarrhea at the beginning of the diet is a good thing. It indicates that you are on the road to becoming a fat burning machine.

Constipation is a side effect of lack of fiber in the low carb diet. Whole grains, legumes and fruit are the normal sources of dietary fiber, and they are all restricted on the Atkins diets initial phases.

However, you shouldnt be scared off from the low-carb way of life because of these issues. There are simple solutions that can prevent and help with these symptoms and allow you to continue with staying on the diet plan.

The first tip is to make sure to include the proper amount of low-carb vegetables in your daily diet. In the induction phase, you can eat up to 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. This is roughly equal to 3 cups of salad vegetables. Some people are tempted to use their carbohydrate grams on cheese or artificially sweetened soda. Eating acceptable vegetables is a vital part of maintaining intestinal health while following the Atkins plan. Its also important to drink a minimum of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day and get exercise. Both of these steps can help with intestinal programs.

If you are experiencing constipation specifically, then there are many methods for relief. When you switch from a diet full of processed and refined sugar products, your body will need some time to adjust to this new way of eating. Youll need to make sure to up your fiber intake with acceptable vegetables and fruits (certain fruits are allowed after the initial induction phase). You can also try a fiber supplement like sugar-free Metamucil.

Make sure you are eating enough fats and oils. Constipation can be a result of too little fat in your diet. Adding tablespoon of olive oil or flax oil to salads or other vegetables can help your intestinal health. Also, try to incorporate a variety of vegetables in your salad. Pale iceberg lettuce does not have much fiber in it. Try dark green lettuces or have a serving of dark green steamed veggies (broccoli, asparagus or spinach are good choices).

If these tips dont work, try cutting out all salt from your diet for a couple of days. This includes pickles, mustard, diet soda, ham, bacon and bottled salad dressing. This will decrease your fluid retention and sometimes helps with bowel movements.

Diarrhea should not be a problem after the first week of the Induction plan. However, on rare occasion, it does persist longer. First, analyze your diet. If you are eating low carb protein bars or other sugar free products, eliminate them. They may contain sweeteners like glycerine, sorbitol and malitol which are known to cause diarrhea and gas. Homemade low carb desserts may also be a cause of problems. Most of them use maltodextrin, an artificial sweetener used in baking. Maltodextrin is made from corn and can cause problems for some people.

If you are not used to eating raw vegetables everyday, this may be a cause of diarrhea. Understand that your body will adjust to the vegetables and the intestinal side effects wont last forever. Make sure you are chewing your raw vegetables thoroughly. Also, using lightly steamed vegetables rather than raw can be a solution to this problem.

Intestinal problems are common during the first portion of the Atkins diet. Keep in mind, however, that these problems will go away within the first few weeks of the new way of eating. If the problems persist, try the previously mentioned tips to get relief.

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You need to be so careful when trying to decide what weight loss medicine to use. You can never be sure if the ones out there are safe for you or if they will even be effective. In fact, there may be some out there that are completely unsafe for you to use.

If you are determined to go the route of using a weight loss medicine to help you lose weight then do yourself the greatest favor of all and talk to your doctor about what they might recommend for you to take. Your doctor should be able to help you choose one that has at least been approved by the FDA, like Alli.

You can get Alli, is the very first over the counter medication used to aid in weight loss. Alli is a half strength version of the prescription weight loss drug Orlistat and is taken three times a day with meals. Make sure those meals are low in fat because Alli blocks the fat you eat from being metabolized by the body.

What this means is that the fat you eat does not get broken down and is passed directly through you digestive system. This may not seem like a big deal but if you do not watch the fat content of what you eat you will most likely experience the side effects of the drug.

Side effects include possible anal leakage, or at least an oily discharge, diarrhea and excess gas. It is in your best interest to change your diet to a low fat one. A thirty day supply of Alli will cost you about $50.

Your doctor may recommend one of the FDA approved weight loss drugs that you need a prescription for. Two of the most popular are Meridia and the full strength Orlistat called Xenical.

Before you ask for one of these though, be sure that your insurance carrier will cover the cost, they are expensive. A thirty day supply of the Meridia will run you over two hundred dollars and the Xenical will go almost double that at three hundred-eighty dollars.

Even though these drugs are approved by the FDA they still can have significant side effects that you need to watch out for. Meridia can cause your blood pressure to raise. If you already have a problem with your blood pressure then your doctor may not recommend this weight loss drug to you. Other side effects include headaches, insomnia, and constipation.

Xenical has pretty much the same side effects as Alli but since this weight loss medicine is double the strength of Alli then the side effects may be more pronounced and therefore could become debilitating if your diet is not adjusted even before you start taking it.

So, at the risk of repeating myself, talk at length with your doctor if you want to take a weight loss drug to help you low the weight you want to lose. Your doctor will steer you in the right direction and help you make the best decision for your situation.

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There are so many supplements and remedies that claim they can help people lose weight that if you try to sort it all out and narrow it down to the one you might like to take, it can make your head spin. You best bet is to enlist the help of your doctor and get him or her to prescribe one of the few FDA-approved weight loss medications available.

Most FDA-approved weight loss medications do require a prescription from your doctor so talk to them first to see what they recommend. There is one medication that is FDA approved that you can get OTC, or over the counter, and that is the medication called Alli.

Alli is intended for people over the age of 18 and contains the fat blocking compound called orlistat. Orlistat prevents the absorption of fats from your diet by stopping the enzyme lipase from breaking the fat down. The fat is then passed directly through your digestive tract and may cause unpleasant side effects like anal leakage, oily spotting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and excess gas.

Due to this fact, Alli should be taken along with a diet low in fat. The lower your fat intake the less you will suffer from these unpleasant side effects. It would stand to reason that if you consume less fat in your diet then you will lose weight.

Orlistat also comes in a prescription medication called Xenical which is twice the strength of Alli with 120 mg of the fat blocker. Therefore, Xenical should only be used if you are extremely overweight and only under your doctor’s supervision. With the dosage being double what it is in Alli you will most likely experience serious digestive side effects and will also most likely need some supplementation because decreased fat absorption will also take with it vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy.

Meridia is another prescription medication used for weight loss that works by affecting the area of the brain that controls satiety. This area of the brain is one of the feel good areas that elevates your mood and decreases your appetite. Side effects of Meridia include and increase in blood pressure so it must be used with extreme caution or not at all if you already have high blood pressure.

Other side effects include restlessness, dizziness, tremors, and insomnia. Meridia is mainly used to decrease the feeling of hunger and should be taken along with a healthy diet and moderate daily exercise.

There are two other weight loss medications available that should only be used in extremely obese people and only for a jumping off point for those who need to see results quickly. They are called Adipex-P and Sanorex and are both highly addictive.

Capable of some serious side effects like hallucinations, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, seizures, tremors and changes in insulin production. Both should be used under very strict supervision by your doctor due to the fact that they can also interact with other prescription or over the counter medications you are already taking.

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If you’ve been looking for a way towards a high octane diet, you’ll find fiber to be exactly what you need. Even though research has shown fiber to be powerful, many people aren’t taking this nutrient seriously.

To help you fuel your health with fiber, here are 10 facts to help.

1. Fiber fights diseases. A diet high in fiber can help to prevent colon cancer and heart disease. High fiber helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by binding it in the digestive tract. For thousands of years, fiber has been used to stop constipation.

2. Fiber can actually help with overeating. All high fiber foods will take longer to chew and digest, making you feel satisfied longer

3. Most popular foods don’t have enough fiber. If you like the more popular foods, you probably need to increase your intake of fiber.

4. Grains offer the most fiber. Dietary fiber is actually plant matter that we cannot digest. The best sources are whole grains and concentrated grain products.

5. Kids need fiber as well. Children that are older than 2 years of age should consume a daily intake of fiber. Kids are most receptive to fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and even fortified breakfast cereals.

6. More fiber needs more water. In order to keep fiber moving through your digestive tract, you’ll need to consume a lot of water. With your diet of fiber, you’ll need eight or more glasses of water every day.

7. Fiber cannot be cooked out. When you cook your fruits and vegetables, don’t worry about cooking the fiber out, as it stays. The fiber found in fruits and vegetables aren’t just in the skin or in the peel.

8. You can get enough fiber. If you eat more than 50 grams of fiber in a day, you can get diarrhea and bloating, which can interfere with your body’s absorption of other key minerals.

9. Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet doesn’t have to be hard. Even though you may think so, getting the amount of fiber you need isn’t very hard to do. All you have to do is eat the right foods and you’ll be well on your way to a fiber
rich lifestyle.

As one of the key ingredients to healthy eating, fiber is something you don’t want to skip. Fiber can serve many different purposes, which were covered above. If you aren’t getting enough fiber in your diet – you should do something about now instead of waiting until it is too late.

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