Benefits of MCT OIL
MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) = MCT OIL
MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) is something I used religiously while on my HCG plan. It is a good fat and helps with digestion aka regularity. When you are on a food plan that might cause constipation the MCT can help keep things going. When I was using it at that time I also added apple cider vinegar and drank it like a shot. So I am back to doing that now. I know it is used in the bulletproof coffee but I’m not much of a coffee drinker. When I would get hunger pains it definitely calmed those down too. Like many things that are good for us we sometimes stray from them. I recently was reading an article and it helped me remember the benefits of MCT and realized I needed to get back to using it regularly. I was happy to find a brand with convenient travel packs. Trying to transport a bottle of MCT oil would be a hassle and if it broke or spilled just think of the mess. Since getting MCT back into my routine I think having the added GOOD fat in my system has helped in more ways than I expected. Put it this way not just putting lotion and oil on your skin but allowing the MCT to lubricate from within is a great idea.
Along with the benefits I am experiencing I am excited about the benefits I have read it has that are probably going on inside my body and I don’t even realize it…Like heart health, the antioxidant benefits and I like the idea that it can help my metabolism. Remember I read an article recently so all this is fresh in my brain and I figure I should share with those who may not know.
Medium-chain fatty acids possible benefits:
• Maintain a healthy weight — since they both make you feel full
• Specifically reduce stored body fat and they can also raise your metabolic function
• Have more energy
• Think more clearly
• Experience better digestion/regularity
• Help balance hormone levels
• Improve your mood
• Fight bacterial infection and viruses
• Absorb fat-soluble nutrients from various foods
Where to Buy MCT Click Below:
My vlog on the benefits of ACV AND MCT
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar-Give it A Shot
Also known as ACV
Apple cider vinegar has been hailed as a cure-all dietary supplement, with health benefits ranging from relief from allergy symptoms to helping the body burn fat and lose weight. There are testimonials from people who believe that drinking apple cider vinegar has helped, ME being one of them but is there any evidence to back up these claims?
While a few studies have been conducted on the possible health benefits of apple cider vinegar, the “experts” say the number of people in these studies is typically small, and the evidence is not yet convincing. They say “One or two small studies is not enough to prove a benefit.”
Sorting Out Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
- Weight loss. The idea that has been floating around is that apple cider vinegar somehow speeds up fat loss. So far there is no scientific evidence based on the small group studies to suggest that apple cider vinegar can affect metabolism, which is the way an individual breaks down food and burns calories.
- Feeling full. A 2006 study found that people who took doses of vinegar while eating bread reported feeling more full than people who ate bread alone. While this study is considered proof by those who believe in the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, it is important to note that it only tested 12 individuals, and the authors concluded that much more research was needed before firm conclusions could be drawn. This study did not suggest that the way these people burned calories was affected.
BUT let me say from personal experience… I drink just one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar when I feel hungry which is usually when dinner time hunger pains/pangs(however you like to call them)) start to kick in. That uncomfortable sensation goes away almost immediately! Plus I don’t really care about eating like I did before I had the “shot.”
My Challenge to you – Try it yourself for one week on whatever diet plan you are currently doing and just see what happens 😉
- Cholesterol. A successful study that was done on rats but has yet to be replicated in humans. The study found that rats on a diet with an acetic acid supplement had lower cholesterol levels than rats without the acetic acid supplement. Acetic acid is one of the ingredients in apple cider vinegar and many other kinds of vinegar. For those who believe in the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, this study is promising. But there are other things to consider before assuming that the findings will be true in humans — primarily that there are key differences between the metabolism of rats and humans. The study authors recommend that the next trial be on hamsters, which break down fat in a way that is more similar to humans.
- Diabetes. A few studies have found that apple cider vinegar helped in the management of diabetes; however, these studies are also limited by their small size. One study, which found that taking vinegar at bedtime reduces blood sugar levels the next morning in people with type 2 diabetes, examined only 11 people. Another study found that taking cider vinegar might have some effect on insulin sensitivity in some diabetes patients, but that research, too, was limited by the small number of people being studied.
Although there is not currently good scientific evidence for a health benefit of apple cider vinegar, this may change in the future. Researchers are still involved in some exciting research about apple cider vinegar, and the future is likely to bring better information.
Here is my last two cents worth – With both apple cider vinegar and lemon juice (I will do a post about what I think about lemons on another post) let’s simplify this thing down. A natural CLEANING solution that works very well is vinegar. Yucky build up on windows, household items and even your hair has been cleaned away by something as simple as vinegar. Who is to say that can’t hold true for helping clean out the “YUCK” in your body. Usually cholesterol, some allergies and excess fat or waste are attributed to an accumulation of sludge that you should want to strip out of your system.
I’m going to throw in one more “cent”.
It is my opinion that the real deal meaning the actually liquid and not pills or capsules saying it has apple cider in them is the most effective.
Ok- I have ran out of pennies for today…Be Well and Be Happy!
Is Sugar Toxic to Your Body?
HCG Craving Buster of the Day
This blog post isn’t about a supplement though one L-Glutamine capsule poured under the tongue can help with sugar craving
The video link below provides information that helps you and me both to think before we act on a craving. Thus one day closer to the goal we have set for ourselves because we decide to make the right food choices that keep our body and mind healthy!
Video shows how sugar not only causes heart disease and diabetes, but also feeds tumors and is as addictive as Cocaine to your brain
Mike’s comments:
I think everybody needs to watch this video from a recent 60 Minutes episode to see just how harmful to your health sugar really is. I don’t think most people understand the seriousness of this. People seem to blindly eat and drink loads of sugar each day (Americans consume a whopping 1/3 lb of sugar per DAY on average) without thinking about how this internally affects your body and your biochemistry.
As you can see in the video, it should be no surprise to anybody that studies clearly relate excess sugar consumption to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
You might argue that some natural sugars have always been in the human diet, so why is this an issue. Well, yes humans have always eaten small amounts of natural sugars from fruit as part of the ancestral diet, but we’ve never historically been exposed to the massive amounts of added sugars that we see in today’s world of sweetened drinks, candies, cakes, cookies, as well as added sugars in everything from condiments to dressings to tomato sauces.
As you can see in the video, the average American eats a sickening 130 lbs of sugar per person per year, or 1/3 lb per day! That’s just nasty if you ask me, and shows how little most people respect their body, or even think about what they’re putting in their body on a daily basis.
The video also mentions that in one controlled study, they replaced 25% of the daily calories of the subjects with sugary drinks, and took continual blood tests. The tests showed that by replacing 25% of their daily calories with sugary drinks, the subjects increased their dangerous small dense LDL particles in their blood which causes arterial plaque and heart disease. Yes, in fact, sugar and carbs in general contribute more to heart disease than fats do.
We also need to realize that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a relatively new invention in the human diet and is something that your body does not know how to properly handle. HFCS didn’t really become part of the human food supply until the 1970’s and now it’s found it fairly large quantities in almost every processed food on the grocery shelves. As the video points out, HFCS consumption is clearly linked to increased heart disease and stroke risk.
One statement I don’t agree with in the video above is that sugar and HFCS are “the same”. While I agree that they are both terrible for your health and both toxic, there are certainly big differences in how the body processes HFCS vs table sugar or other forms of sugar. I cover this in full in this article about HFCS here (opens a new window).
Also take note that the video mentions how sugar feeds tumors and can make cancer worse.
In addition, sugar activates reward centers in your brain, similar to drugs like cocaine, thereby making sugar addictive. The part of the video where they do brain scans on him while he sips a sugary soda is interesting indeed.
One other thing to mention about this video… I don’t fully agree with how they lump honey and real maple syrup in with table sugar or HFCS. Although honey and real maple syrup are mostly sugar, and should be minimized overall, both of them at least have additional micronutrients and antioxidants that sugar or HFCS simply don’t have.
In addition, another aspect that the video fails to mention is that it’s not just added sugar that causes all of these negative effects in your body, but also fast-digesting carb sources like breads, pastas, bagels, muffins, rice, and other grain-based foods that spike your blood sugar just as quickly as regular table sugar. For example, each piece of bread you eat is basically equivalent to eating about 20 grams of sugar since the response to your blood sugar and triglyceride levels is essentially the same.
The bottom line is that food manufacturers want you to be addicted to sugar and continue to buy all of their junk foods and sugary drinks which destroy your health. But it’s time to take control of your health for yourself and not support these giant businesses who only care about their corporate profit and not about how they are destroying your health.
HCG Questions Answered – Fat Releases,Hunger,Exercise,Expectations
HCG and Diet Tricks for other Diet Plans too!
A very sweet HCGer wrote –
Thanks so much for all this wonderful info. You are so amazing to take the time to share your experience, advice and recommendations for us fellow and newbie HCGers… I have a couple of questions for you since this is the first time I am doing this on my own.
Question – I have had good results of 11.6 lbs in 22 days… But here are my concerns maybe you can provide some insight on. I am doing injections 5000iu and started off at 150 but a week and 1/2 into it, I lowered it to 125. Some days I will do anywhere from 125-145… I will only slightly increase it if the day before I was a bit hungrier than I am comfortable with, or if my cravings are outa this world, so I have only done this about 3 times after starting 125. Um other than that? i am not sure what is going on.
My Answer – I think lowering to 125 was a good idea. The days you feel you need to increase I wonder why you don’t move up only by lets say 5 to 130. Spiking to 145 could very well be too much. You are mixing with 10 ml Bac water right?
As far as cravings – Have you tried other tricks instead of increasing your dose to cut the cravings or hunger pangs?
AVC/MCT drink shot
L-Glutamine (poured under the tongue)
Or even just ACV – Apple Cider Vinegar
Question – I was expecting a much bigger loss, although 11.6 is great! I am seeing WAY bigger losses for so many other people so I am getting a bit discouraged… =( and since I am doing about 30ish days,I was thinking about increasing to 46 days, but don’t know if it is worth it at the rate I am going…
My Answer – You haven’t said your start weight or your goal so if you don’t have a lot of abnormal fat the amount you have released in 22 days is awesome.
People talk about a pound or more a day. As we know women release less than men can. I know when I was expecting a pound a day, men on HCG would comment back that half a pound for women was more realistic. Darn those guys – Lol.
Question – I have also noticed my body losing inches, but not really around my tummy area, or upper arms which are the HUGEST problem areas for me. I only am noticing a great difference in my thighs, hips and buttocks, (mainly the last). Do you think this is normal? I am starting to think maybe my HCG is not potent or I may be doing something wrong…
My Answer – My arms were the last to show a significant loss in inches. Since Dr.S called his protocol “Pound & Inches” I bet you look as though you have lost 22 pounds as far as how much you have shrunk. Where you are losing first, have patience it will all proportion in the long run since this is all based on releasing the abnormal fat.
Question – I have cut out melba/grissini out and sometimes only eat one fruit. I am following Dr. S original protocol, so I do not know why these results seem to be “not normal” or fairly low… Do you think I may just have too high expectations?
My Answer – Early in my rounds I didn’t care about the grissini either and I would skip fruit a lot of times. BUT it wasn’t to try to increase my releases. I wasn’t hungry so I didn’t care about it.
If you are experiencing hunger you should at least add the fruit back in. Definitely keep your protein consumption, which is important.
Question – Also, what do you feel about exercising, like ab work and arm/leg toning? As for the exercise, I was going to the gym for about 3-4 weeks prior to beginning HCG… but cut it out when I started
My Answer – Since your body was use to the exercise then it stopped your body probably thought “what the heck happened?”. If it was me at this point I wouldn’t go full blown back into the routine you had been doing before (I don’t know what that was, cardio, weights etc). But start back to walking to get your heart going 😉
What you didn’t ask about but I want to add is –
Are you drinking the proper amount of water?
Here comes TMI – are your bowel movements consistent?
Have you done a Detox Bath?
When you eat your protein are you not consuming too much beef?
I mainly go for fish and chicken.
Steak was eaten if I decided to do a mini steak day. I use to like doing that one day a week during my rounds.
And are you sure that you are eating the correct veggies for P2 and also not mixing types of veggies.
The last question is for those that are using the original protocol.
I know there are variations floating out there. I need to still look into those further before I can have a “say” about them.
Journal what you are eating everyday and see if you can see a common thread. For example there are some HCGer’s that even though oranges are on P2 find that every time they decide to eat an orange they didn’t have a release or they might even have a slight gain. The argument I’ve heard is “an orange has the same calories as an apple”
But you know what? The 2 fruits do different things in and for your body.
Example – apples are a natural diuretic which is why Dr. Simeon came up with “apple day”. It wasn’t for the patient to release fat. It was so mentally the patient would “feel better” because they would see the scale numbers go down. It was simply water weight that made the difference. This is also why though we are suppose to drink plenty of water while on P2 – if we do an apple day he said to keep water consumption to a minimum.
Now remember everyone – I am not a Doctor, I am a fellow HCGer that likes helping others with their journey! 🙂
HCG Questions Answered – ” Why am I hungry?”
HCG Sublingual Question
Question – On youtube an new HCGer asked –
Hi, Can you tell me what to do: I am doing sublingual and I am on vlcd day 3 and i am still very hungry. I am taking .5ml of the mixture 2xs per day. Can you tell me what to do? thanks!
MY ANSWER –
I have only done injections but this is what I know-I still had hunger till I was further into my 1st week. Another thing is there is what I call “the sweet spot.”That is when you know you are at the right dose because the hunger is gone. More doesn’t always mean better either. If your dose is too high or too low that can cause hunger. I know, what the heck right? Mamaclok did a whole FAQ vlog on youtube, she is the best at Sub. I feature her video here on my website because I know she knows her stuff.
Here is the link to Karen’s (youtube channel name mamaclok) video – Sublingual FAQ
HCG- Question – APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, MSM, MCT – When to do what?
Understanding the ACV, MCT, MSM Usage
QUESTION – Do you do the acv/mct shots and the acv/msm shots? If so how often and how much of each?
My ANSWER – If I use MCI when not o P2 I’m getting that and ACV when I make my salad dressings etc.I also swig the msm liquid when I am applying my “skin recipe” on my face.So I’m getting the same ingredients without them being in a drink shot.
HCG Recipes – Know Your Sugar Substitutes
Making HCG Chocolate Recipes with Xylitol or other Sugar Substitutes
Stevia
Best Healthy Sugar Alternative
Though it is 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar, stevia is not a sugar. Unlike other popular sweeteners, it has a glycemic index rating of less than 1 and therefore does not feed candida (yeast) or cause any of the numerous other problems associated with sugar consumption. Read more about stevia at Organic Lifestyle Magazine (OLM). Please note that Stevia and Truvia are not the same thing.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol sweetener found in the fibers of fruits and vegetables which can cause bloating, diarrhea, and flatulence with initial consumption. It’s said to be safe for pregnant women, and is said to possibly treat ear infections, osteoposis, respiratory infections, candida, and is it even helps fight cavities. In fact, in Finland, virtually all chewing gum is sweetened with xylitol.
Agave Nectar
A sweet syrup made from the Blue Agave plant, Agave Nectar is obtained by the extraction and purification of “sap” from the agave plant, which is broken down by natural enzymes into the monosaccharides (simple sugars): mainly fructose (70-75%) and dextrose (20-26%). Read more about agave nectar at OLM.
Fructose
Though fructose has a low glycemic index rating, fructose consumption should be limited. Fructose is linked to heart disease as it raises triglycerides and cholesterol. It is devoid of nutrition.
Brown Rice Syrup
Though it is said to have a low glycemic index (25), it is not recommended for diabetics, since its sweetness comes from maltose, which is known to cause spikes in blood sugar.
Raw Honey
A Healthy Sugar Alternative in moderation
With antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, carbohydrates, and phytonutrients, raw, unprocessed honey is considered a superfood by many alternative health care practitioners and a remedy for many health ailments. Choose your honey wisely. There is nothing beneficial about processed honey. Read more about honey at OLM.
Coconut Palm Sugar
Originally made from the sugary sap of the Palmyra palm , the date palm or sugar date palm (Phoenix sylvestris). It’s also made from the sap of coconut palms. With a relatively low glycemic index, Cocnut palm sugar is the new rage among health nuts. It’s often called “coconut nectar sugar” or “coconut sugar”.
Apple Juice
Fresh apple juice is good for you, though we recommend eating fresh raw whole apples. Concentrated apple juice (sometimes used as a sweetener) is closer to refined sugar than fresh apple juice.
Barley Malt Syrup
Barley Malt Syrup is considered to be one of the healthiest sweeteners in the natural food industry. Barley malt is made by soaking and sprouting barley to make malt, then combining it with more barley and cooking this mixture until the starch is converted to sugar. The mash is then strained and cooked down to syrup or dried into powder.
Amasake
This is an ancient, Oriental whole grain sweetener made from cultured brown rice. It has a thick, pudding-like consistency. It’s not easy to find in the U.S., but it is a great alternative to refined table sugar.
Sugar Cane Juice
Healthy Sugar Alternative in moderation
Sugar cane juice has many nutrients and other beneficial properties and is said by some health practitioners to be almost as medicinal as raw honey.
Organic Sugar
Organic sugar comes from sugar cane grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. It is usually darker than traditional white sugar because it contains some molasses. (It has not been processed to the degree white sugar is processed).
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is made by boiling sap collected from natural growth maple trees during March & April. It is refined sap and is therefore processed. It has a high glycemic index, and though it is much more nutritious then refined table sugar and high fructose corn syrup, there are better choices.
Evaporated Cane Juice
Evaporated cane juice is often considered unrefined sugar, but juicing is a refining process, and evaporating refines further. Though better than turbinado, cane juice (unevaporated) is a better choice as a sweetener.
Black Strap Molasses
White refined table sugar is sugar cane with all the nutrition taken out. Black strap molasses is all of that nutrition that was taken away. A quality organic (must be organic!) molasses provides iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc, and is alkalizing to the body.
Turbinado
Turbinado sugar is partially processed sugar, also called raw sugar.
Raw sugar
Raw sugar is not actually raw sugar. It is processed, though not as refined as common white table sugar. Therefore, given a choice between raw and white, choose raw. There are many different variations of raw sugar with many different names depending on how refined it is.
Cola (and most other sodas)
Though cola has a lower GI ranking then some might expect, there are many other reasons to avoid cola, or any type of soda. There is nothing beneficial to the human body inside a can of soda (not to mention we should avoid drinking out of aluminum cans!).
Alternatine:
Corn Syrup
Corn syrup has very little nutrition and should be avoided.
My how we have evolved with food awareness. My dad would put peanut butter and karo syrup on top of his pancake. Yikes…Sugar,Fat and Carb loaded can you get?
Refined, Pasteurized Honey
The nutrition is gone, and there is often high fructose corn syrup added to processed honey. Refined pasteurized honey is no better than white table sugar.
Refined Table Sugar
Conventionally grown, chemically processed, and striped of all beneficial properties, many health advocates believe that refined sugar is one of the two leading causes (high fructose corn syrup is the other) of nearly every health ailment known to man (or woman or child). Not only does it have a high GI ranking, but it also is extremely acidic to the body causing calcium and other mineral depletion from bones and organs (sugar is alkaline but has a very acidic effect on the body).
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Many health advocates believe that high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar are the two biggest contributors to health ailments in our society. High fructose corn syrup is a combination of sucrose and fructose.
Glucose (AKA Dextrose)
White bread was the benchmark, but for consistency glucose now holds the rating at 100.
This Last One
In my opinion – If you want to lose fat or keep the fat off avoid this one like the plague!
(sounds simple but a lot of prepackaged food have it)
Maltodextrin
Foods that have maltodextrin often say “Low Sugar” or “Complex Carbohydrate”, but this sweetener should be avoided!
Thank you Lara for your help with this post 😉
Now a FUN way to end this post!
L-Glutamine – Help for Cravings
L-Glutamine for Weight Loss
A fellow HCGer who was starting a new round mention the the first few days are difficult because of cravings.
For some including me it takes a few days for the hcg level to kick in so hunger and cravings aren’t an issue.
Back when I started my first round someone posted that L-Glutamine helps with cravings, especially sugar cravings.
Simply pour the contents of L-Glutamine capsule under your tongue 😉
Detailed information on LGlutamine
Benefits of L Glutamine
L Glutamine Facts
L- Glutamine Benefits
Before discussing the benefits of l glutamine, which are substantial, we would like to just highlight a few l glutamine facts.
Glutamine is an amino acid (building blocks of protein) found in the muscles of the body. In fact, it is the most abundant free amino acid.
Technically, glutamine is classified as a semi-essential amino acid, which means that under normal circumstances the body can manufacture it on its own to meet the physiological demands.
However, there are times that glutamine becomes an essential amino acid due to metabolic stress situations like trauma (including surgical trauma), cancer, burns, and sepsis. Under such conditions, it is important that there is an adequate intake of glutamine to meet the increased demand created by these situations.
With that being said, let’s move to more l glutamine facts and L- glutamine benefits.
L Glutamine Facts: Health Benefits of L Glutamine
General Info
# Serves as a source of fuel for cells lining the intestines
# It’s involved in more metabolic processes than any other amino acid.
# Some experts point out that glutamine can pass through the protective blood-brain barrier and, because of this, it is known as brain fuel.
# Aids in protecting the body from ammonia toxicity.
# Appears to be necessary for normal brain function.
# Essential for maintaining amino acid balance in the body during times of severe stress.
# It’s used by white blood cells and contributes to normal immune-system function.
L Glutamine Facts: Health Benefits of L Glutamine
General Health Benefits
# Promotes the maintenance of a healthy digestive tract.
# May promote mental alertness and improve mood and memory.
# May boost immune function and fight infection.
# May decrease sugar cravings and the desire for alcohol.
# Helps to prevent the kind of muscle loss (wasting) that can accompany prolonged bed rest or illnesses such as cancer and AIDS who may be incapable of manufacturing their own supply of glutamine. Side Note: It’s important to note that stress an injury (including surgical trauma) cause the muscles to release glutamine into the bloodstream. In fact, some experts state that during the time of stress as much as one third of glutamine present in the muscles may be released. As a result, stress and/or illness can lead to the loss of skeletal muscle if not enough glutamine is available. Therefore, one of the benefits of L glutamine is to ensure enough of it is available in the body to help prevent muscle loss (wasting).
The Role of L Glutamine Supplements
L glutamine as a supplement may be helpful for the following:
# Gastro-intestinal disorders
# Depression
# Irritability
# Withdrawal support for alcoholics
# Protection of liver tissue against damage from cancer chemotherapy and drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
# Prevent the kind of muscle loss (wasting) that can accompany prolonged bed rest or illnesses such as cancer and AIDS
# Athletes (may help protect the immune system from overtraining stress)
Glutamine Food Sources
Glutamine-rich foods include: beef, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, raw parsley, raw spinach as well as soybeans and other legumes.
Are there any side effects and precautions?
The Benefits of L Glutamine
Glutamine supplement is considered safe when used in accordance with proper dosing guidelines. At the time of this writing, the most commonly experienced side effects while taking glutamine include: constipation and bloating.
However, anyone with cirrhosis of the liver, kidney conditions, Reye’s syndrome, or any type of disorder that can result in an accumulation of ammonia in the blood are advised to avoid supplemental glutamine.
In addition, because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications it is crucial that you always speak to a knowledgeable healthcare provider before taking any dietary supplements, including glutamine. This advice is also recommended for anyone suffering from a health condition.
Pregnant and nursing women should only take an amino acid such as glutamine after consulting your physician.
ACV-MCT Shot – The How and Why
Benefits of MCT and ACV
How to prepare a ACV/ MCT shot and the benefits of taking it once a day.
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