The Abs Diet for Women

Flat abs. Everybody wants them. From celebs to the girl next door. When you think of the term abs, up pops Jennifer Anniston's washboard flat ones, Jessica Biel's, toned, yet feminine ones, Uma Thurman's rippling ones ... Phrases like six-pack abs, washboard flat abs, ripped abs ... bounce off your mental imagery. Tight abs, you think with green-eyed cynicism, belong on magazine covers, on athletic fields, on genetic aberrations, on those desperately lipectomized souls, and on people who treat a bowl of macrobiotic assortment of shredded leaves and grated veggies as ambrosia.

And just as you look down at that unconditioned, droopy belly of yours, with a sigh of resignation, there comes along another diet plan, promising you those washboard flat abs you've been secretly hankering for - The Abs Diet for Women - devised by David Zinczenko, the Editor of Men's Health, which is a follow-up of The Abs Diet.

According to Mr. Zinczenko, belly fat has the potential to kill you. Most of us have a tendency for storing fat in our bellies, and that is the region where the health problems of excessive weight usually start. While some people store the fat under the belt line, others have it above it. At any rate, abdominal fat doesn't simply hang around there on the belly, doing nothing. Functioning like a distinct organ, it releases harmful substances in the body. Abdominal fat is responsible for many of the health problems that strike us because it lies in the vicinity of vital organs like the liver and the heart, putting pressure on them.

The abs diet for Women is a weight loss plan that lasts for six weeks, specifically geared for women. It not only promises to help women to lose pounds, but also to flatten the abdominals, along with firming up the body. The primary component of the diet is the principles of eating, making particularly sure that the person following it has meals often enough so that her metabolism is kept revved up and ensuring that the correct, fat burning diet powerfoods are eaten, so that the dieter feels satiated all day. Deviating from its predecessor, This diet provides guidelines for counting calories, grappling with hormonal problems which hamper weight loss, and following a vegetarian diet.

So, what are the rules of the diet? To eat six small meals a day, which are evenly spaced, and to base the meals on the groups of food that are given below, which form an acronym spelling ABS DIET POWER:

A = Almonds and other nuts
B = Beans
S = Spinach and other green vegetables

D = Dairy, low-fat
I = Instant oatmeal
E = Eggs
T = Turkey and other lean meats

P = Peanut butter, all-natural
O = Olive oil
W = Whole grains
E = Extra protein, whey
R = Raspberries and other berries

According to the diet plan, by centering the meals around these Powerfoods, the body will be fueled with the required nutrients - good carbs, protein, fiber, good fat - paying particular attention to protein, because this is what builds that lean muscle which will help in burning fat faster.

This theory of the consumption of fiber-rich food and muscle-building protein at frequent intervals which is supposed to burn belly fat and rev up the metabolism is based on innumerable scientific studies cited by the author which show that more food plus more muscle is equal to less flab.

According to some medical experts, it is a sound diet overall. It could even motivate some women to make healthy lifestyle changes, since the women's abs diet also incorporates an exercise regimen which has to be followed along with the diet. Not only is the diet a balanced plan incorporating wholesome and healthy food, but also, the intake of calories, which is about 1,400-1,600 cals per day, is quite reasonable.

However, experts also caution against believing the claim made by the diet plan of getting flat abs within six weeks. Even if the diet is adhered to stringently, flat abs can never be guaranteed, because it is dependent on many other factors such as a person's body shape, activity level, as well as genetics. Although eating more meals when on a diet may sound like a great idea, some people find the idea of eating six meals a day too daunting a task. And another factor that the abs diet for Women does not seem to address directly is one of the well-known diet breakers many women dieters succumb to, the craving for sweets.

However, if you think the abs diet seems to resonate with you, and feel that eating more meals in order to weigh less makes sense, perhaps this plan may work for you. As in all diet plans, it's always a good idea to consult medical opinion before starting on one.

Peptic Ulcer Diet

Microbial infection and long term usage of certain medication causes the formation of open sores or abrasions on the lining of small intestine or stomach. Such a condition is known as peptic ulcer. A patient of peptic ulcer has to suffer from a lot of discomfort and maladies. The most common symptom is abdominal pain with a burning sensation, which often aggravates after eating. Pain is felt even in empty stomach, probably due to the presence of gastric juice, which can be brought down with the intake of antacids and milk. Other signs and symptoms of peptic ulcer are heartburn, belching, nausea, vomiting, indigestion and loss of appetite and weight.

Many people suffering from peptic ulcers, can eat everything with no significant discomfort. However, there are some who develop excessive acid production, heartburn and irritation after eating certain foods. If you happen to be among such unfortunate peptic ulcer patients, you need to know about the foods that are safe for you.

Peptic Ulcer Diet: Dos and Don'ts
Following are some peptic ulcer diet 'do and don't' guidelines.

• Do not eat foods in bulk. They add an extra workload on your digestive system. Try to eat 5-6 times a day and keep the amount of food small. This will avoid the periods of hunger and will also curb overeating.
• Rest and relax, both before and after every meal. Try to eat slowly and chew the food well. This will ease their digestion.
• Include a rich source of protein at each meal. Such foodstuffs can be milk, eggs, meat and cheese.
• Do not eat anything at least three hours before bedtime.
• Avoid foods that are fried and spicy. Also, decrease the intake amount of caffeine containing drinks, like coffee and tea.
• Do not take carbonated drinks, chocolate and tomato based products, as they work towards increasing acidity.
• Quit smoking and cut down on the consumption of alcohol.
• Take the antacids as recommended by the doctor. Generally, they are taken 1-3 hours after every meal and prior to bedtime.
• Avoid magnesium containing antacids as they may cause diarrhea.

Peptic Ulcer Diet: Foods

Cereals
Whole grain cereals are mostly safe to eat with peptic ulcer. Generally, whole-grain, seedless breads, tortillas, bagels, English muffins and hot dog buns form a part of the diet for peptic ulcer. You may also take enriched rice, noodles, pastas and spaghetti macaroni without any discomfort. You may have French toasts, pancakes, muffins and waffles with low fat content once a while. Their increased amount may cause some uneasiness. Very coarse cereals such as bran, wild rice, breads with seeds and bread products with nuts and dried fruits are not meant to be included in the diet for peptic ulcer disease.

Fruits
2-3 daily servings of fresh, frozen and canned fruits are tolerated to some extent. Fruits like papaya, watermelon and apples can be eaten on a regular basis. Citrus fruits such as grapes, pineapples, oranges and tangerines are not advisable for patients with peptic ulcer, as they increase acidity and thus further worsen the condition.

Vegetables
3-4 daily servings of fresh, canned and frozen vegetables except tomato, can be taken without much concern. If you feel some discomfort with the intake of a particular vegetable, omit that from you peptic ulcer diet. Some vegetables are gas forming in nature. Hence, they are not included in this diet. A few examples of such vegetables are cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, onion, cauliflower, cucumber and sauerkraut.

Dairy Products
Milk causes a neutralization effect during the initial hours of its intake. Therefore, it is good for patients with peptic ulcers. Various dairy products like plain mild cheese, low fat cottage cheese and no fat yogurt are recommended for intake. Certain flavors of milk and its products are a big no-no, in diet for peptic ulcer. These are chocolate milk, buttermilk, evaporated whole milk and cream and strong flavored cheese.

Meat and its Substitutes
All lean, tender pork, beef, lamb and poultry without the skin can be taken safely. Even fresh, canned and frozen fish packed in water are considered safe for consumption. 3-5 egg yolks can be taken a week. Highly seasoned and heavily marbled meat, poultry and fish are not meant to be included in peptic ulcer diet.

The above given peptic ulcer dietary approach has helped a number of patients to recover from both acute and chronic ulcers. Therefore, construct your daily meals from the foodstuff suggested above, to help your body treat peptic ulcer. Make sure that whatever you eat, you take approximately 80 grams of proteins, 250 grams of carbohydrates and 65 grams of fat, with about 3245 mg of sodium and 3000 mg of potassium. Your daily calorie intake should not exceed 2000 calories. Follow this peptic ulcer diet strictly, to fasten the recovery process of peptic ulcer.