Top 25 Reasons to Use Coconut Oil [Infographic] from PhysiciansReference.com
In the book, Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats, Mary G. Enig, PhD asserts that in order to enjoy optimal health and to lose weight, the body needs healthy fats, including a certain amount of saturated fat. Dr. Enig writes:
"Among saturated fats, coconut is queen because of its special properties."
Other well respected functional medicine physicians and nutritionists support the consumption of coconut oil not only for a myriad of health benefits but also to boost metabolism and speed up weight loss.
For example, Dr. Mark Hyman's 10-Day Detox Diet (see: The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet: Activate Your Body's Natural Ability to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast), does not permit refined and processed vegetable oils like corn, soybean, canola and sunflower. Instead, the Detox Diet calls for consumption of extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil (coconut butter) as the primary sources of healthy fat.
In addition to promoting weight loss and general good health, coconut oil also has excellent moisturizing and healing properties when applied topically.
This infographic illustrates the top 25 reasons to use coconut oil to aid in physical, emotional and mental health and well-being, promote weight loss, and as a completely natural and healthy hair, nail and skincare beauty product.
In his book, Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty!, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj explains why and how persistent dehydration leads to various chronic diseases, illnesses and ailments (including overweight and obesity) and cites 46 vital reasons why our bodies need adequate amounts of water every day.
Much of what Dr. Batmanghelidj so thoroughly explains in his book is reflected and summarized in this fantastic infographic entitled "Why Dehydration is Making You Fat and Sick".
It is thought that chronic dehydration is linked to fatigue, high blood pressure, asthma, allergies, high cholesterol, digestive disorders, bladder and kidney problems, constipation, joint pain or stiffness, premature aging, excessive weight gain and obesity.
Research suggests that drinking plenty of clean, fresh water (while forgoing sodas, commercially prepared fruit juices and caffeinated beverages) helps to relieve pain and aids in the healing various illness and diseases.
General good health is essential to maintaining a healthy weight. Drinking enough water is further thought to have a direct impact on preventing weight gain and promoting weight loss.
Many health experts now advise drinking about 8 ounces of water immediately upon waking and again right before sleeping, about 16 ounces of water before and after each meal and throughout any exercise or physical activity session.
Some health professionals advocate drinking lemon water first thing in the morning as being one of the best ways to detox the liver, kidneys and other organs. Lemon water is thought to cleanse and purify the blood, eliminating poisonous bile from the body and flushing out other toxins that have accumulated during sleep.
It should be noted that each individual's daily water requirement is different and depends of various factors, including weight, activity level, diet, medication and climate. For more information about your body's water requirements, see this Daily Water Chart.
As consumers become more aware about how, where and from what the various foods we buy is actually produced, there is a growing concern about ingredient purity and general food safety.
Nowadays, more people are beginning to carefully read and scrutinize food labels, not just to find out the calorie content and key nutritional information about a particular food or food product, but to also ascertain whether it contains any toxic or harmful ingredients or has been grown or produced in a way that is thought to be injurious to human health.
In response to this growing consumer awareness and demand for natural, healthier, clean food, we are now seeing a trend in labeling all different kinds and types of foods as "natural", "all natural" or "100% natural".
Unfortunately, the "natural" claims found on many food labels are misleading or outright false. Furthermore, the loose interpretation and commonplace use of the term "natural" has led to confusion about which foods are actually clean and free from artificial and toxic ingredients, hormones, antibiotics, etc.
Many holistic health experts recommend ignoring the "natural" claims altogether and looking more carefully at other labeling terms, such as "organic", "free-range", "cage-free" and "no hormones added" after becoming familiar with the legal definitions of these terms. This infographic illustrates and summarizes what most of the more common clean food labeling language means.
Related:
Know Your Food Labels: What Are You Really Eating?
Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on weight loss products.
These include the latest fad diets with severe calorie restrictions, unnatural food combinations, supplements, injections, exercise equipment and programs of every type and description. Most, if not all, promise quick and painless significant weight loss. And, while many people do have some initial success following the latest dieting trend, nearly everyone gains the weight back.
More recently, functional medicine physicians, nutritionist and other holistic health experts are suggesting that successful and long-term weight loss is as simple as eating healthy, natural whole foods.
That is, foods that are naturally low in fats and calories, that are nutritious and appetite satisfying, and contain dietary fiber.
This infographic entitled "8 Secret Weapon Foods for Weight Loss" illustrates some of these foods including:
✿ Mushrooms ✿ Apples ✿ Eggs ✿ Soups ✿ Hot Chili Peppers ✿ Oatmeal ✿ Bran Cereal ✿ Low Calorie Desserts
How to Cleanse the Body Naturally
[Infographic] by Lauren Coutts
Our bodies become toxic for many reasons. Conventionally grown produce (pesticides), packaged and processed foods (preservatives), cosmetics, personal hygiene and household cleaning products (industrial chemicals) are good examples of our daily exposure to a whole host of toxins. We eat, drink, breathe in and absorb toxins through our skin all the time - in our modern society, it is virtually impossible to avoid environmental toxins.
Exposure to environmental toxins has been linked to an overproduction of unchecked free radicals which, in turn, is implicated in premature ageing, weight gain and obesity, and various degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease.
Research indicates that one of the best defenses against free radical damage are antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that are found in various plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Certain foods (such as cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage) are rich in phytochemicals that are thought to be especially beneficial to fighting free radicals.
In recent years, the idea of "cleansing" or "detoxing" has been been popularized by commercially created formulas, diets or programs - mostly in connection with weight loss. Many people have the idea that they need to periodically cleanse or detox and resort to extreme measures that can be dangerous.
Although an "intensive" periodic detox, like Panchakarma which is done under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic practioner, can be very beneficial, it is important to realize that exposure to toxins and consequent overproduction of free radicals is an ongoing, daily event. Therefore, an effort to detox or cleanse should be a continual effort.
There are many natural ways in which to natural cleanse your body on a daily basis, as this infographic illustrates and explains:
Refrain from smoking, drinking excessive alcohol and decaffeinated beverages and eating too much sugar.
Exercise on a regular basis.
Drink plenty of clean water throughout the day and warm lemon water first thing in the morning. To determine how much water you need to drink, see this water chart.
Manage stress levels through meditation, journaling or discussing your problems with a friend, family member or within a trusted support group.
Eat foods rich in dietary fiber like kale, broccoli, almonds, beans and legumes, berries, apples, chia and flaxseed.
Avoid acid-forming foods like dairy, beef, pork, shellfish, peanuts, sodas and white or wine vinegar.
Take extra care of your liver by regularly consuming certain herbs, spices and foods like milk thistle, ginger, garlic, lemon, chorella, turmeric and dandelion root.
5 Proven Ways to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Infographic by EatoHealth.com
Dieting in the U.S. is at an all time low, according to data compiled and released by The NPD Group, a leading global information company that has been tracking Americans' eating habits for nearly 30 years.
Currently, only about 20% of American adults report that they are on a weight loss diet, as compared to the 31% who reported being on a diet in 1991.
According to The NPD Group, their data suggests that dieters are giving up on diets more quickly than in the past. Their data also suggests that while Americans still want to lose weight, they are changing their attitudes about being overweight. That is, fewer Americans are viewing being overweight as unattractive.
The waning interest in dieting might also be attributed to confusion about weight loss foods, programs and strategies brought about by so much conflicting information and claims.
Also, many of the most popular fad diets are very extreme, leaving out entire food groups and/or severely restricting intake of calories. Good examples of these are Atkins, Raw Vegan Food, and the HCG Diet.
For the majority of people, these types of diets are too difficult to follow and maintain over the long-term. Additionally, the effectiveness and even safety of some of these diet plans has been the subject of much controversy.
So, its easy to see why Americans are getting tired of following a specific diet program or not buying into the latest weight loss craze.
The good news is that its very possible to lose weight and maintain that weight loss by making some relatively simple lifestyle changes.
This infographic illustrates five common weight loss challenges and provides solutions, tips and information for each. They are:
1. Limit calories and fat
2. Eat five small meals a day, starting with breakfast
HCG Diet Weight Loss - Rapid and Long Lasting [Infographic]
A friend of mine recently lost 18 pounds in one month on the HCG Weight Loss Diet. Results like these are not uncommon. Many individuals who have tried the diet have reported losing as much as one pound a day.
The traditional diet (often called the "Simeons Protocol") involves consuming only 500 calories a day while getting injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a pregnancy hormone.
Advocates of the diet say that the HCG tricks the body into burning fat and resets the metabolism without the need to exercise and without leaving one feeling hungry or weak.
Critics say that the diet is basically a starvation diet and that the extreme weight loss is due to the severe calorie restriction, not the effectiveness of HCG. They also warn against potential loss of lean muscle mass and other possible side effects and negative health consequences.
HCG injections are normally prescribed by physicians, making it cost-prohibitive to many individuals. However, due to the massive popularity of this diet, HCG has become widely available in a much more affordable over-the-counter (OTC) droplet, pill and spray form. Questions have arisen over the effectiveness of the OTC droplets, pills and sprays.
According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, there is still no evidence that the HCG droplets work; he has seen evidence only in support of the injectable prescription drug version. Read what Dr. Joseph Mercola says about the safety and effectiveness of the HCG diet.
Interestingly, some dieters have evidently experimented with doing the 500 calorie a day diet without the HCG and vice-versa, taking the injections or the droplets without doing the diet. In these cases, the results reported were mixed.
This infographic illustrates some of the key aspects of the diet and why HCG is a necessary component of the protocol. Much more detailed information is available online and in various books on the subject. Various other (less calorie restrictive) versions of the original Simeons Protocol are now also being promoted. Because this diet involves a prescription drug and a severely restricted caloric intake, it is my feeling that anyone considering this diet must first do their own research and homework and then only undertake the diet under the supervision of a qualified health professional.
Health, wellness and nutrition experts generally advise for individuals to try to meet their nutritional requirements from food rather than from supplements.
However, in our world of nutritionally bankrupt commercially grown, packaged, processed, frozen, fast and junk foods, this may prove to be very difficult.
Even certain individuals who otherwise consistently eat healthfully may not be getting all of the daily recommended vitamins, minerals, fatty and amino acids and other nutrients. An example of this are vegans, who do not consume any animal products, and may become deficient in Vitamin B-12 and may be challenged to get all of their Omega-3s.
Other individuals who follow certain weight loss diets, such as low-carb, high-protein diets like Atkins, Dukan, Protein Powder or Ketogenic diets and/or severely restrictive calorie intake diets like the HCG diet, are in danger of not consuming enough dietary fiber and not getting essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals that are found in fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes and other carbohydrates.
For these reasons and due to other factors, sometimes the only way to ensure that one has all of the bases covered is to take appropriate supplements.
This infographic entitled "Supplements vs. Food Visual Guide" illustrates the amounts or portions of various foods that are equivalent to certain dosages of various supplements.
It should be noted that the supplement dosage amounts set our in the infographic do not necessarily correspond to the recommended daily amounts (RDA) guidelines.
Furthermore, the RDA differs from individual to individual, depending on many factors including age, sex, sedentary level, medications, as well as pregnancy, lactation and post menopause in the case of women.
Nonetheless, this infographic aptly demonstrates the potential important role of supplements in health, particularly for certain individuals, and is a fun and informative way to compare food and supplements equivalents.
Snake Oil Superfoods? [Interactive Infographic] from Information is Beautiful
For anyone who is interested is scientific evidence supporting possible health and healing benefits of certain foods, herbs and spices that are regarded as "Superfoods", this infographic is a fun and informative way to explore the strength and solidity of such evidence.
The infographic entitled "Snake Oil Superfoods" is interactive and allows the user to filter the search and results by both health conditions and types of foods.
Health conditions include ageing, diabetes, digestion, infections, mental health and weight control. Types of foods include animal products, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, herbs and spices.
To use the interactive feature of the Infographic, visit this page: Information is Beautiful - Snake Oil Superfoods?
Garcinia Cambogia vs. Green Coffee Bean Extract [Infographic] from HealthPost
Both garcinia cambogia and green coffee bean extract have been touted in weight loss circles as the ultimate fat burners - helping one to lose weight more easily and faster than just dieting and exercising alone.
For example, Dr. Mehmet Oz did a three part video series on garcinia cambogia and a five part video series on green coffee bean extra. Other diet, fitness and nutrition experts have also spoken out in favor of the potential weight loss and other health benefits of both garcinia cambogia and green coffee bean extract supplements.
Certain studies suggest that taking either of these while on a healthy diet and fitness plan promote loss of additional pounds.
This wonderful infographic, entitled "Garcinia Cambogia vs. Green Coffee Bean Extract", compares these two fat burners by explaining and describing each of their historic use, active ingredient, mechanism of action, potential benefits, time frames for results, clinical trial results and how and when best to take each for maximum effectiveness. It also contains precautions for certain individuals.
Top 10 Superfoods for Exceptional Health [Infographic] from HealthPost.co.nz
As more research into the health benefits of various foods emerges, so grows the list of superfoods.
Superfoods are powerhouses of many nutrients (antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals) that are essential to optimal health.
Nutrition experts advise regularly eating superfoods to prevent and potentially heal an array of ailments and chronic diseases. And, the inclusion of certain superfoods (like flaxseed) in one's regular diet has also been linked to prevention of weight gain and successful weight loss.
This infographic spotlights the following 10 foods that are included by many wellness practitioners at the top of the list for their exceptional health benefits:
In addition to explaining the source, nutritional ingredients and offering "super tips" on using these foods, the infographic also provides information on the potential benefits of each of the 10 foods in the areas of:
✿ Immune Function ✿ Digestive Health ✿ Heart Health ✿ Lung Health ✿ Mental Health ✿ Sexual Health ✿ Fatigue and Energy ✿ Weight Loss
Is Your Diet Toxic? [Infographic] from TimetoCleanse.com
The top functional medicine physicians and holistic health experts agree: toxicity is a major contributing factor in weight gain, as well as the inability to lose weight. The general advise is to detox on a regular basis by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and fiber - all of which are thought to block the absorption of and/or help remove various harmful environmental toxins from the body.
Unfortunately, many nutrition experts believe that conventionally grown produce is part of the problem, not the solution.
Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are generally grown in soil that is depleted in naturally occurring minerals and are laden with a toxic cocktail of chemicals - herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and industrial fertilizers.
Consequently, conventionally grown produce is not only significantly less nutritious but often contains relatively large amounts of chemicals and toxins, many of which have been shown to be allergenic, carcinogenic and otherwise harmful to human health. Long term exposure (even in very low doses) to some of these toxins has been linked to nerve damage, cancer and birth defects.
Additionally, it is suspected that genetically modified crops (GMOs) are not safe for human consumption and yet it is estimated that up to 75% of foods sold in typical U.S. grocery markets contain GMO ingredients.
In view of these facts, it is easy to see how eating lots of conventionally grown produce can be harmful to one's health.
In a detox protocol calling for consumption of mostly fruits and vegetables, such as a juice cleanse, ingesting lots of conventionally grown produce can mean ingesting lots nutritionally bankrupt food and plenty of pesticides - this, of course, defeats the entire purpose of a cleanse which is to rid the body of toxins, regain health and lose some weight and excess fat!
As this very excellent infographic entitled "Is Your Diet Toxic?" points out, there are a number of things you can do to obtain the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, to safeguard your detox or cleanse efforts and to otherwise protect yourself.
The first step is to become an informed consumer. Be aware of how food is grown and processed both here at home and in other countries that import food to the U.S.
Understand the difference between conventionally grown and organically grown. Choose locally grown, organic produce that is currently in season whenever possible - especially when it comes to the so-called "dirty dozen" (peaches, celery, strawberries, sweet bell pepper, spinach, nectarines, cherries, lettuce, apples, pears, imported grapes and potatoes).
Learn to read labels and avoid packaged (including packaged salad), processed, canned and frozen foods, many of which often contain hidden GMOs. Be aware that the term "all natural" is virtually meaningless.
Look for the specific country of origin of the food (i.e., where it was grown or processed) and be weary of labels that say "packed by", "distributed by", "manufactured for" - labels like these give no indication of where the food really came from.
Related: Know Your Food Labels - What Are You Eating? Food Labeling and What You Should Know How to Remove Toxic Apple Wax Eating Organic vs. Conventional Eating What Does Organic Really Mean? Should Genetically Modified Foods Be Banned? Clean Food Labels
Infographic Source and more information at Time to Cleanse - Is Your Diet Toxic?
Top Foods That Chelate The Body of Heavy Metals Infographic from NaturalNews.com
In our modern, outwardly clean and even sterile homes, offices and shopping centers, many of us often do not give much or any thought to the potential risks of heavy metal toxicity.
In fact, toxic heavy metals are present all around us - in our food, water, air, cosmetics and personal hygiene products, medicines, household cleaners, gardening supplies, furniture and furnishings and various other items that we come into contact with on a daily basis.
Heavy individual metals and metal compounds (such as arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminum) accumulate in the body over time and have been linked to an array of ailments and chronic diseases - everything from fatigue, depression and mental fogginess to heart disease, certain cancers, birth defects, dementia, and neurological and immune system disorders.
Conventional treatment, called Chelation Therapy, involves the use of chelating drugs and usually requires intravenous infusion of a prescribed medicine, together with infusions or ingestion of certain vitamins and minerals.
Fortunately, research and studies suggest that certain foods and herbs may play a key role in both minimizing exposure to as well as removing heavy metals, pesticides, environmental pollutants and metabolic waste from the body.
These foods and herbs include the following, as this Infographic illustrates:
✿ Fruits and vegetables containing pectin such as apples, bananas, grapes, carrots and radishes
✿ Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage
Always buy locally grown, organic fruit, vegetables, herbs and other foods. This is especially mandatory if you are using these foods to detox, cleanse or chelate the body of environmental toxins. If organically-grown produce is not readily available in your area, consider growing your own - garlic, onions and herbs like parsley and cilantro are relatively easy to grow both outdoors and indoors on the window sill.
Health Benefits of Seeds - "Seeds Small but Mighty" [Infographic] by BodyUnburdened.com
If you don't already consider seeds to be a superfood, you should.
Seeds, in general, are nutritional powerhouses that offer a wide range of health and healing benefits and are recommended as part of a healthy diet by doctors such as Mehmet Oz, Joel Fuhrman, Joseph Mercola and many others.
For dieters, seeds are considered an effective natural weight loss tool due to their high content of dietary fiber and ability to satisfy hunger.
In various studies, six seeds have been identified as being particularly valuable in restoring and maintaining optimal health, as this infographic illustrates and describes:
7 Healing Herbal Teas [Infographic] from
PositiveMed
Herbal Teas for Health & Healing
Tea has been recognized as having healing benefits by many cultures the world over for thousands of years. Now, an ever growing body of modern scientific research suggests that certain teas do, indeed, have amazing health and healing benefits.
For example, green tea (which is rich in antioxidants and other health protective compounds) is associated with promoting weight loss and lowering the risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease.
In the world of holistic, alternative and herbal medicine, certain compounds in various teas have been identified as being beneficial to human health.
Thus, specific teas are used to treat or prevent specific ailments and medical conditions.
Infographic
This infographic illustrates the uses of the following seven relatively common herbal teas:
Top 10 Flax Seed Health Benefits [Infographic] from Just Add Good Stuff
According to many well-respected functional medicine and other physicians, nutritionists and wellness experts, seeds (such as flax, chia, sesame and sunflower) are an important part of a healthy diet and approximately one to two tablespoons should be eaten every day.
Nutritionally dense and rich in essential oils, antioxidants and important vitamins and minerals, seeds provide an array of protective health benefits, including lowering the risk for heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.
Flax and other seeds are also linked to natural weight loss due to their high dietary fiber content, detoxification effect and potential to make one feel full and satisfied - thereby preventing overeating.
Flax seeds are an excellent source of healthy, plant-based protein and essential fatty acids and, hence, are an exceptionally good choice for individuals following a plant-based diet, including vegetarians and vegans.
This wonderful infographic gives us much useful information about flax seeds, including top health benefits, nutrition facts, a few recipes and suggested uses, as well as buying and storing guidelines.
, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj explains why and how persistent dehydration leads to various chronic diseases, illnesses and ailments (including overweight and obesity) and cites 46 vital reasons why our bodies need adequate amounts of water every day. 
