The only thing you need to know about losing weight

There are a million diets out there, but if you want to lose weight the only thing you need to focus on is eating less. Obvious but true, and now Dr. Frank Sacks, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, has published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that confirms what – if you have any sense – you already know. No one diet is better than any other, just find one you like and take in fewer calories than you are currently consuming. You just need to get the ratio right between the calories you burn up, and the calories you take in and the ideal diet plan would be to have 750 fewer calories each day than you are expending.

The Professor tested out various heart-healthy diets and asked the participants to also exercise 90 minutes a week. They all lost on average around 13 lbs.after six months of dieting, or about 7% of their starting weight, regardless of which diet plan they followed. As ever I am astounded that anyone would pay good money to prove something we all know – and may not like, but that’s another issue – but the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute handed over the funds for the study and they were delighted with the findings. However, most of the participants couldn’t sustain that 750 calorie mark and most by the end of the trial consuming only 225 calories less than they expended.

The researchers concluded that this target was too high, and a gradual reduction is better, and I entirely agree with them. A small reduction in calorie intake that is gradual and sustained will see the best results and a weight loss of just 5 percent can make a substantial difference to your health. So whatever diet you choose just eat less, and exercise more = boring, but effective.

Chamomile tea helps diabetics control blood sugar

Chamomile, also known as manzanilla, is believed to contain more antioxidants than nearly any other natural dietary source. It is a long-established herbal remedy for relieving stress and anxiety, improving sleep, and many other common complaints.

Now it seems it may also be able to help diabetics control their blood sugar and prevent serious complication. Just by having a cup of chamomile tea with meals could help prevent the progress of hyperglycemia and diabetic complications is the conclusion of a study jointly undertaken by the University of Toyama in Japan and Aberystwyth University in Wales.

Chamomile appeared to reduce the activity of an enzyme called aldose reductase, which plays an important role in sugar metabolism. Aldose reductase helps turn glucose into sorbitol, a different sugar. In diabetics, the build up of sorbitol has been directly linked to neuropathy and blindness, as this sugar moves across cell membranes less freely than glucose and thus has a tendency to build up in nerve and eye tissue.

Chamomile tea isn’t everyone’s favourite – I can’t stand it myself – but this might be worth a try. Some of the best teas with chamomile are from the American company Celestial Seasonings as they have a depth of flavour that others seem to lack, but experiment and see what you like – adding a squeeze of lemon might help too.

Astrological health profiles – Libra

Libra 24 September – 23 October

Librans are the good guys of the health world as generally you have sensible eating habits and enjoy using your body which means you find it easy to keep fit. However, you don’t get a totally free pass and there are some health issues you need to watch out for:

* Kidneys can be a problem area for you, and poor elimination of bodily wastes and toxins can cause headaches and fluid retention. Drink lots of water.

* Co-ordination and balance problems can be a symptom of other physical or emotional issues.

* Relationship is very important to this sign and stress and illness can be brought on by discord or loneliness.

* Your environment is very important to you, and a tense atmosphere or dirty surroundings causes extreme stress.

So sort those relationships out so you aren’t getting stressed, and make your surrounding beautiful and nurturing. Make that daily 1.5 litres of water part of your routine and have a regular massage as that will also help expel any toxins your body is holding on to.

Oregano for pain cramps and fever

Oregano may not be your first thought for treating any of these conditions, but this traditional Mediterranean herb that you probably add to your pasta sauces has a long been used to treat colds, fevers, sore throats, and coughs as well as menstrual pain. Medical studies have shown it has anti-microbial properties which helps it fight bugs such as MRSA and it helps digestion and soothes your stomach.

If you don’t fancy using the herb neat, which isn’t all that pleasant, then tea experts Whittards have put it into a herbal tea blend, along with apple pieces, rosehips and lemongrass which give a pleasant, rich flavour. Plus you get the added health benefits of added vitamin C from the other ingredients. Buy it for £3.90 for 125g from their shops or via their website at www.whittard.co.uk

Nuts for health

If you are looking for a fast food that is full of health benefits then make sure you add nuts to your daily diet. I know nuts have a bad reputation in terms of putting on weight, but if you choose sensibly you get all the benefits without the drawbacks – basically eat your nuts untreated and unsalted.

Spanish researchers who were looking at the benefits of a Mediterranean type of diet found that by adding nuts into the mix cut certain heart risks substantially. Adding the nuts helped the subjects reduce fat on their stomachs and improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If you want to follow their example, greatest health improvements in the study were shown by those who ate 3 walnuts, 8 hazelnuts and eight almonds but remember they must be untreated so no roasted, salted, or flavoured versions – just the whole nut as nature intended.

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