New Year, New You

With the start of the New Year everyone's looking to dedicate themselves to better diet and exercise habits in hopes of having a healthier, sexier bod. While some diets will advocate bland food and low calorie intake to achieve quick weight loss goals, a new menu scheme doesn't have to be devoid of flavor.

While many people get bogged down with all the "no's" of a new diet, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious alternatives that will still leave you with plenty of variety. Many health professionals are recommending high protein breakfasts and low carb diets to jump-start your metabolism and provide your body with all the right kinds of calories. Dr. Oz's new Two-Week Rapid Weight-Loss Plan for example, focuses on this very concept- starting with a protein-packed smoothie for breakfast and meat and vegetables at lunch and dinner to keep you satisfied throughout the day. If such shifts drastically alter your current diet, implementing small changes one at a time might be a good way to work towards implementing permanent healthy lifestyle habits. For instance, start with ensuring a high-protein breakfast as a staple of your every day routine. It's true what they say, breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day.

Websites like Eat Yourself Skinny and Fit, Fun & Delish! provide tons of great recipes for clean eating without skimping on flavor. With options like Egg White Zucchini Muffins (left) and Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps (above) you won't even miss the heavy fast food alternatives.

Taking dietary supplements such as Garcinia Cambogia Extract or Green Coffee Bean Extract can help to increase your metabolism and inhibit fat absorption from unused carbohydrates into the body. Sorvita Health Products offers plenty of information on many different dietary supplements from muscle builders to weight loss inducers. Sorvita also often offers coupons for their supplements on a regular basis to make their prices the best around. As with all healthy weight loss programs, these supplements are not miracle pills but helpful aids in a balanced plan of diet and exercise. These supplements are very helpful though, especially for the bored or emotional eaters and those of us who weren't blessed with super speedy metabolisms.

The Many Health Benefits of Triphala, a Traditional Herbal Remedy and Weight Loss Aid

Triphala Capsules

Triphala is a traditional herbal remedy in Ayurvedic medicine.  It is the mixture of three dried and powdered fruits - amla, myrobalan and belleric myrobalan which are medicinal plants. Triphala has been taken for centuries in India for a wide range of health benefits:

• Digestion - Triphala helps in digestion by stimulating the mucosal lining of the stomach and the intestinal tract.Due to this it effectively relieves constipation and can be used to regulate the proper functioning of the stomach and colon.It also helps in the cleansing of the bowels and is one of the best body detoxifiers.
• Acts as an appetizer - This is due to the ability to help in the proper digestion of food.
• Flatulence - It helps in dissolving toxic acids in the stomach and is therefore given to people with acidity, hyper acidity or acid influx.
• Gout - Has anti-inflammatory properties which help in curing or lessening the effects of gout.
• Assists in weight loss -This is due to the component amla which is known to break up the accumulation of fat in the body.
• Boosts the immune system - Triphala contains antioxidants which boost immunity and help fight bacteria that cause diseases.
• Reduction of blood pressure - Triphala has spasm releasing properties that helps in the reduction of high blood pressure and as a result aids easy flow of blood through arteries.It reduces plaque formation in the arteries and therefore reduces the risk of heart related problems.
• Cholesterol - Maintains the right cholesterol balance by promoting good cholesterol and inhibiting bad cholesterol in the body.
• Alleviates anemia - It helps in the production of red blood cells and aids in anemic situations.
• Rejuvenates tissue - Helps rejuvenate tissue as well as nourish tissue in the body.
• Respiratory system benefits - It increases immunity in the body and as a result helps to counter allergies.Has mucolytic actions and assists in expelling excess mucus that can accumulate and cause infections.
• Benefits to the eyes - Increases vision and is a powerful eye tonic for curing eye related problems.
• Headache relief - Recommended in chronic and acute headaches and even migraine due to the anti-inflammatory properties.
• Fights fatigue - Triphala fights fatigue by eradicating the lactic acid that is formed in the body.
• Urinary tract benefits - It helps in the treatment of urinary tract infections including dysuria where there is painful urination.
• Skin benefits - It can be used as a skin tonic and for various skin ailments due to it's antioxidant properties. It also prevents signs of aging like wrinkles and premature graying of the hair.
• Benefits on the liver - Stimulates the liver to function optimally and helps in the secretion of bile juices.It is also a blood purifier.

Triphala is typically taken in a powdered form, frequently in a tea.  It does however, have a very strong taste which many in the West find objectionable.  For those wanting the health benefits of this ancient remedy but want to avoid the taste, Triphala is available in capsule form which can be swallowed easily with water.  It is a very inexpensive dietary supplement which is widely available from online retailers like Amazon.

If you are interested in giving Triphala a try for yourself, be sure to find a product manufactured and tested in the USA in an FDA inspected facility.  Some foreign forms of the herbal mixture have been found to contain additional harmful elements due to poor quality control.

The Health Benefits of Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus Terrestris is a natural herb mostly found in China, India and North America. Its active ingredients are: tribulosin, harmine, kaempferol 3-glucoside and kaemoferol.  Its major active compounds are known as steroidal saponins; which are of two distinct types: spirostanol glycosides and furostanol glycosides which are found in the plant’s leaves.  In different regions of the world, the leaves are used as a dietary supplement for a variety of health benefits:

• Erectile Dysfunction - Tribulus Terrestris  is used to heighten sexual behavior as well as increasing intracavernous pressure due to its effect in increasing testosterone hormone. It has the ability to relax the smooth muscles and this increases the rate at which blood flows to the genitals. It is also used in the treatment of impotence and low libido in men. 
• Increased Exercise Performance - Due to its effect on testosterone levels, Tribulus Terrestris  is very efficient for increasing endurance and strengthening body muscles. It works against fatigue and lack of energy and hence it’s highly recommended for athletes and those involved in high amounts of physical activity.
• Liver Tonic Functions - Tribulus Terrestris has an efficient effect on liver as it aids in the regulation of hormones and accelerates the rate of conversion of fats into energy.
• Boosting Luteinizing Hormone - By increasing levels of this hormone, Tribulus Terrestris provides the body with the materials to produce testosterone, which in turn increases libido and natural fertility.
• Antioxidant - Due to its ability to show anti-tumor and anti-microbial properties, Tribulus Terrestris is taken to lower cholesterol levels in the body.
• Angina Pectoris - A recent study has shown that Tribulus Terrestris  can minimize the attacks of Angina pectoris.
• Boosting the circulation system - By helping to lower cholesterol levels, Tribulus Terrestris is believed to increase the ability of the heart to pump blood to other body parts and hence nutrients and oxygen are supplied efficiently. 
• Increasing Body Mass -  Because of its potential capability to trigger increased production of testosterone hormone, the testosterone produced increases the body mass as well as promoting nitrogen balance.
• Improving Sperm Motility - Sperm motility is the sperm’s ability to penetrate an ovum. Tribulus terrestris is very effective in the restoration of acrosome reactions and motility.
• Reduce Stress, Nervousness and Insomnia -  Tribulus terrestris promotes: good mood, balances the nervous system especially when combined with other related supplements, combats stress, and promotes deeper sleep as well as improving recovery from sports during sleep.

People from all over the world take Tribulus Terrestris primarily for hormonal balancing or sex drive enhancement.  Furthermore, body builders frequently take it to maintain testosterone and estrogen levels and for increasing their body mass.

Given the potential health benefits it may be time for you to give Tribulus Terrestris a try.  The supplement is fairly inexpensive and readily available from online retailers like Amazon.

Potential Side Effects of Garcinia Cambogia Extract HCA (Hydroxycitric Acid)

One of the new breakthroughs in natural weight control options comes in the form of weight loss supplements such as Garcinia Cambogia extract.  Garcinia Cambogia is a sour tasting fruit that is native to India and South East Asia. It has long been used as an appetite suppressant and medicinal agent in this region. Even though its popularity is increasing in other parts of the world, many individuals are concerned about the side effects of Garcinia Cambogia.

However, Garcinia Cambogia side effects are rare and when they happen, they are mild. The side effects reported by some users of this diet supplement include digestive tract discomfort, nausea and headaches. Studies performed by the manufacturers of this diet supplement or by universities that review the efficiency of various diet supplements have not established any long term safety issues associated with taking Garcinia Cambogia.

Documented side effects

• High dosage side effects - Some side effects of Garcinia Cambogia occur when the diet supplement is consumed in high doses. For instance, a person who takes large amounts of Garcinia Cambogia may experience side effects like diarrhea, vomiting and intestinal or stomach pain. 
• Blood sugar effects - Hydroxycitric acid, which is the active ingredient in this diet supplement, can lower the levels of blood sugar. This is the reason why people who suffer from diabetes should not take this diet supplement without consulting their doctor first. 
• Allergic reaction - Some people can experience allergic reactions to Garcinia Cambogia. Symptoms of such reactions include skin rash, itching, tingling in the mouth or throat, hives, wheezing, chest tightness, swelling of the face, hands or throat and difficult breathing. An allergic reaction to this diet supplement should be regarded as a medical emergency. 
• Testicular shrinkage - This side effect can only happen if a person takes an extremely high dose of the supplement such as 1167 milligrams per kilogram of body weight or 90 grams per day. It is not practical to consume a diet supplement at such a high dose. The standard dosage of this weight loss supplement is 250 to 1000 milligrams per day. 

People who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or dementia should not take this diet supplement. Pregnant or lactating women and children should also not take it. The drug interactions that can occur when taking Garcinia Cambogia as distributers indicate include interference with nitrates, antiarrhythmics and calcium channel blockers. Others include potentiating cardiac glycosides, increasing the risk of suffering from arrhythmia if the diet supplement is combined with terfenadine or depolarizing muscle relaxants and increasing the risk of suffering from hypokalemia.

Advantages of taking Garcinia Cambogia to Lose Weight

The advantages of taking Garcinia Cambogia extract are many and they outweigh the possible Garcia Cambogia side effects. It functions as a dual action fat buster by suppressing appetite and preventing the body from storing carbohydrates as fat. This diet supplement helps control food cravings allowing you to ingest fewer calories.

Garcinia Cambogia extract is very helpful for emotional eaters because it helps increase serotonin levels. This helps alleviate the symptoms of depression and stress and balance out mood swings. In this way, people who look for solace in food when they are stressed no longer have do that and it will be easy for them to control the causes of overeating. This diet supplement also helps manage the levels of cortisol in the body.

Garcinia Cambogia is clinically proven to transform the biochemistry of the body's internal systems responsible for creating new fat cells. It helps slow down or completely stop the process of body fat storage. Since HCA burns off carbohydrates and blocks fat storage, the diet supplement is believed to play a role in lowering cholesterol.

Garcinia Cambogia is inexpensive and is readily available in local supermarkets, drug stores and online stores. Apart from taking it to lose weight, you can also take it for the sole purpose of suppressing appetite. Most physicians recommend that people should take 500 to 1000 milligrams per dosage of this diet supplement 30 minutes to 2 hours before meals 3 times per day. The recommend maximum dosage per day is 3000 milligrams.


The best way to use this diet supplement to achieve your long term weight loss goals is to reduce the number of calories you consume eat day and engage in physical activity that can help you burn some calories.

What Is Garcinia Cambogia Extract?

Supplements VS Food

While the importance of a good diet can not be overstressed, supplements are an important part of a complete nutrition program.


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Sorvita Health Products Publishes Resources on Hazards of Popular HCG Weight Loss Program

Sorvita Health Products Publishes Resources on Hazards of Popular HCG Weight Loss Program: Sorvita Health products published information on the company’s website about the dangers of the controversial HCG weight loss plan. In an effort to educate consumers on the hazards of this diet, Sorvita published an article on the history and risks involved, as well as information on alternative choices.