Vitamin B12 and Weight Loss

Cobalamin or as it is better known, is one of the vital nutrients our bodies need in order to work properly. It is necessary to perform many of the body's more important tasks, including the making of DNA during cell division and the healthy formation of red blood cells.

B12 is known as the "energy vitamin" because it gives a real energy boost. It is used to remedy fatigue and it speeds up the metabolism. Red blood cells are also responsible for producing hemoglobin, the part of the blood that takes oxygen from the lungs and transports it to all the different parts of the body.

It has many functions and uses but does it help people lose weight?




What is the link between Vitamin B12 and weight loss?

Vitamin B12 Injections and Weight Loss

Some people might go to a clinic to get shots. These shots are administered directly into the muscle, allowing for better absorption. People who get these shots mainly suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome or a deficiency. They might also claim that taking these shots help them to lose weight.

However, injections by themselves do not directly induce weight loss, nor are they intended to. So why do people who get them lose weight?

There are many factors to take into consideration.

B12 causes the metabolism to speed up, which in turn increases weight loss. People who go to get injections tend to be more conscious of their health and are already on a vegetarian, or other weight loss diet.

Shots give a tremendous boost of energy. This generally helps people to maintain their diets, and motivates them to exercise and increase physical activity. Vitamin B12 also helps to fight stress and depression, symptoms which are sometimes associated with weight gain.

While the shots can be a great benefit to some, particularly those with a B12 deficiency, there can be some negative side effects when taken excessively or along with certain other substances. There is also a risk for those who have certain pre-existing conditions. It's important to consult a physician before undergoing injections.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Deficiencies can become a serious health threat. The body can normally stock up many years supply of vitamin B12, so it more often materializes when the body is unable to properly absorb vitamin B12 because of illness or old age. Incidentally, deficiencies can cause weight loss, among other symptoms. Extreme cases can even result in permanent nerve damage if left untreated.

A person diagnosed with a B12 deficiency will need to take supplements. These are most often taken as capsules or via intramuscular injections. Although vitamin B12 does not directly cause weight loss, it is still an essential nutrient that is needed by the body. It is important to get a sufficient amount of it and doing so will ensure better health, all around.

Vitamin B12 and Dieting

When undergoing any new weight loss program it is important to make sure that the diet is well balanced and contains all of the essential nutrients. This of course includes vitamin B12 and other essential nutrients.

Food sources rich in B12

Meat, Poultry, Milk and other dairy products, Eggs, and Fish

Since the only reliable source of vitamin B12 are from animals those practicing a vegetarian or vegan diet will have to get theirs from supplements. If a person doesn't get enough they may develop a deficiency.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Susan_Bell/479366

4 Great Paleo Diet Breakfast Ideas

Are you looking for great Paleo diet breakfast ideas that will enable you to lose weight easily? This diet which was made famous by Loren Cordain is extremely popular these days because it is very effective to enable people to achieve weight loss. It requires you to copy the diet that paleolithic man was supposed to have followed.

Since you are not permitted to eat grains if you are on this diet you will find it very difficult to have a good breakfast. After all, you might have become used to eating cereal or bread at the start of the day. The following Paleo diet breakfast ideas will enable you to lose weight without feeling that you are going through a lot of discomfort.




- Eggs make a very filling meal at any time of the day and are absolutely perfect for breakfast. You can increase the nutrition content of the meal by cooking a variety of vegetables in your eggs. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms and potatoes can be cooked along with the eggs in order to make the meal filling and delicious.

- Eat plenty of fruits at breakfast (except for dried fruits) in order to get a nutritious and healthy start to the day. You can keep varying the kinds of fruit you eat so that you have plenty of variety.

- Lean meat is also an important part of the paleo diet. Therefore, you should try to add a bit of lean meat to your breakfast menu.

- Use almond meal, coconut flour or dried pea powder to make all sorts of foods that resemble conventional breakfast foods. For instance, you can easily make muffins, breads and waffles using these ingredients instead of wheat flour. You can also make a very satisfying breakfast using Quinoa.

You will be able to make delicious and healthy breakfasts every day by eating different combinations of the foods mentioned here. For instance, you will not have a satisfactory breakfast if you eat only fruits. In fact, you should try your hand at making different breakfast casseroles containing meats, vegetables and eggs.

Now that you have plenty of Paleo diet breakfast ideas you will easily be able to stick to your weight loss diet without feeling that you are depriving yourself of good food. You will be able to lose weight in a safe and gradual manner as long as you stuck to this diet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Noah_Gavin/1328691

Three Exercises For the Best Chest Workout

It seems that every bodybuilder has a favorite best chest workout routine for building up the chest muscles. The fact is that the chest muscles are made of the same type of fibers that all other muscles in the body are made from, and they respond to the same basic exercises that other muscle groups respond to - heavy compound exercises using free weights. The exercises that I use, and recommend for all of my clients are the Incline Barbell Bench Press, the Flat Bench Press, and the Cable Flies described below.

Exercise #1: The Incline Barbell Bench Press 

For working the upper pectorals, the best chest workout is found in the compound movement of the incline barbell bench press. For building muscle mass, the repetitions should be maintained in the eight to ten range, but should always be paced to stop before you reach the point where you can no longer lift the bar. The incline can vary between ten to forty degrees. If you try more than forty degrees, you'll find that it's your shoulders that are doing all of the work. It's the pecs that you're after.

Trainers advise that you perform this exercise as the first one in your workout if only to prevent you overdoing it with the following exercise on the flat bench. The flat bench works on the lower pecs, and sort of bypasses the upper pecs. Doing the incline exercise first guarantees that the upper pecs get the attention that they deserve. It's the upper pecs that define that aesthetically pleasing look of a well developed chest.




I recommend the use of a barbell instead of dumbbells because the motion is more stable and enables you to focus upon lifting with your chest. Also, as you increase the amount of weight that you lift, you'll have better control with the barbell.

You should perform three sets of from eight to ten repetitions each.

Exercise #2: Flat Bench Press 

The flat bench press is probably the best chest workout for mass development, and the most recognized exercise in the world. Every movie scene that takes place in a gym focuses upon someone doing a bench press. Its popularity, however, in no way diminished its importance to the development of the chest muscles. Make sure that you lift with intensity, and that you maintain good form while you're lifting. Form is very important - important enough for you to spend extra time to research this exercise thoroughly to make sure that you are doing it in a manner that is most effective.

You should perform three sets of from eight to ten repetitions each.

Exercise #3: Cable Flies 

The best chest workout exercises would be woefully incomplete without cable flies to round them out. These exercises isolate the chest and cause a deep burn and stretch. If you're wondering why cable flies and not dumbbell flies, it's because it is more difficult to drop the heavy dumbbells when lying flat than it is to release the cables while you're standing up. Cables also have the advantage of working and stressing your chest continuously throughout the entire range of motion of the exercise.

You should perform two sets of from ten to twelve repetitions each.

The three exercises described above, are the best chest workout exercises you can perform. When done in concert in a single workout, they can do a lot for developing a massive sculpted chest, which is why you do these exercises in the first place.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jack_A_Bush/600750