Whey protein is a great way to not only burn calories and gain muscle at the same time, but it also has health benefits that can help you boost your immune system and prevent diseases. It’s very effective because the body can absorb it faster than food or any other supplement. It is also much easier on your stomach because it digests very quickly. Whey based protein powder is quickly becoming the go to supplement for anyone looking to shed some kilos and gain some lean muscle.

Whey based protein is the best way to add protein to your diet without adding any unwanted calories. It usually holds 80 to 90 percent protein, which is a great source for your body to build muscle. It also reduces your hunger, which is proven by Australian researchers who made an experiment by giving 28 obese men four different drinks. Those who consumed the ones with 50 grams of whey had significantly reduced levels of ghrelin (a hormone which tells your brain you’re hungry) lasting up to four hours later.

By using whey based protein with a high glycemic index before meals you can expect improvement in your blood sugar levels as it helps the production of insulin thus preventing extreme spikes in blood sugar. Because of these reasons whey based protein powder has become one of the top sources for anyone serious about their health. What’s more, according to a research study published in the World Journal of Diabetes whey can also be used for managing diabetes symptoms.

Adding whey to your diet can also boost your immune system, since it increases the synthesis of glutathione which in turn boosts the efficacy of other antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C, ALA and CoQ10. It has also shown antimicrobial activity which is known to have a positive effect on the immune system. According to a research from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition whey protein also helps the body recover after exercise, which is important for avoiding impaired immunity, oxidative stress and excessive inflammation.

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Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener found in many types of fruit and vegetables, and it is also naturally produced in our bodies. Although the type of Xylitol that is sold commercially has been synthesized, it is still classified as a natural substance due to its chemical composition which is the same as the naturally occurring substance. In its white crystalline powder form, xylitol is an odorless sweetener with almost the same sweetness as sugar, but it has 40% less calories and no aftertaste whatsoever. In fact, it has a very pleasant cooling sensation when it dissolves in the mouth.

Few Historical Facts on Xylitol

• Xylitol was discovered in 1891 by the chemist Emil Fisher.
• During World War II, a shortage of sugar occurred in some European countries and xylitol was used as an alternative.
• It was in 1975 when the first Xylitol chewing gum was produced and distributed both in the United States and Finland.
• Nowadays, you can easily find Xylitol Australia wide in many products including toothpastes, mouthwashes, mints, diabetic food and pharmaceuticals. You can also find xylitol in a white crystalline powder form, which is ideal for sweetening your coffee, tea, and for baking cakes as well.

How It Works

Xylitol contains five unique carbon structures that can help prevent many types of bacteria including streptococcus mutants, resulting in less plaque and less bacterial build up on the teeth. And this is actually the reason why Xylitol is considered highly effective in preventing or reducing dental caries. Xylitol is also known to increase the production of saliva in the mouth. Saliva contains phosphate and calcium, which is absorbed by the teeth, aiding the re-mineralization process.

Benefits

• Blood Glucose & Insulin – Because Xylitol is absorbed by our body more slowly than sugar (in fact it’s not even completely broken down in our system) it does not mess with blood sugar levels. Xylitol is considered a great sugar substitute for diabetics as it causes no effect on insulin and little effect on glucose levels.
• Ear Infections – Xylitol contains anti-bacterial properties which have been mentioned in many studies as agents that have the ability to decrease ear infections.
• Collagen – This is the most common protein in the body since it is found in large amount in our skin and connective tissues. Some studies in rats show that Xylitol can elevate the production of collagen, helping prevent the effect of aging on the skin.

You can find xylitol Australia wide in specialized online stores and in local health food stores as well.

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It is true that you cannot completely avoid sugar, not because of your weak will, but because living solely on fruits, healthy supplements and even on a diet with no sugar whatsoever, is one very expensive lifestyle. But, there is a solution to this problem and it is called stevia. I recently bought a few healthy stevia packs after hearing from a colleague at work about its enormous benefits it has on the overall health.

What is stevia?

If you are picturing stevia as something grose with milky texture, stop right there! It is nothing similar. Stevia is a natural sweetener and is derived from the stevia plant which is a known sweetleaf. Its sweetness is largely derived from compounds in it called glycosides, from which Reb A is used mostly commercially.

Stevia comes in various ways: raw ground, powdered and as an extract. My healthy stevia packs contained powdered stevia which undergoes water processing and other possible filtering before it gets into that condition. The raw ground form is still green when you get it and no additional processing besides mechanical grinding has been done on it. Moreover, extracts that undergo a procedure in which the oils are extracted, are also available for commercial purposes.

What makes it such a healthy sweetener?

As a child, I was frequently told that sugar is bad for my teeth and my overall health. My mom was always freaking out when I’d take a piece of cake or candy because of my excessive hyperactivity later. Nowadays, I recall those moments and I realize that even today that is still the case! I still get hyperactive after a dose of sugar, which is one of the main reasons I decided to switch to stevia.

Here’s the thing with stevia:

1. it contains literally no sugar, no calories and no other macronutrients in it, which is what attracted me to it in the first place and made me buy like 3 healthy stevia packs;

2. it contains no sugar and it is still 300 times sweeter;

3. some studies have shown that it increases insulin sensitivity;

4. in comparison with aspartame and sucrose, stevia has shown to reduce postprandial insulin in the body;

Now that you have the basic facts, the next step is to do an evaluation of your overall health and see if stevia is the right thing for you. I have no doubts that it will suit you, since we all know how hard it is for your pancreas to process white artificial sugar and use it as energy source. Therefore, you know it and I know it – your decision to get off of it is more than justified and supported!

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How Much Damage Does Sugar Really Do To The Body?

Should we simply reduce its intake or stay away from it completely (and use natural sugar alternatives only), even if it means reading the labels on everything at all times? Well, in fact, this is not quite far from the truth; with so many negative aspects, sugar has become (or, it has always been) number one enemy to our bodies. So, it should be perceived exactly for what it is – a damaging invader of our blood vessels, vicious villain to our teeth, trigger that pushes our hearts closer and closer to their expiration date and juggles with our insulin levels.

Knowing all of this, naturally, a question comes to one’s mind: Why Don’t We Simply Snap Out Of It?

Easily said than done. We all know that apart from damaging, sugar is quite addictive too. Even those people who have the will of Sisyphus, cannot avoid it at all times. Apart from being present in everything sweet, sugar has a sneaky fondness of many other food items too, such as ketchup, crisps, certain sauces and many more. In fact, it is not the substance that is to blame, but the industries that are failing to address this common issue. However, we can address it ourselves by turning to natural sugar alternatives, stop using sugar as a sweetener and avoid food and drinks that contain it as much as possible.

Furthermore, it has been proven that sugar imposes itself as one of the main reasons for heart disease, since it causes obesity and weakens the heart muscle. Only when a person starts using natural sugar alternatives do they realize how addictive, how energy draining sugar was. Yes, it may give you some initial boost, but what you are actually feeling is just the substance marching its way to the fairgrounds where all of your vital organs are at its disposal for slow and steady destruction.

Loving yourself starts with taking better care of your body and mind as a whole. Therefore, since sugar messes with both, it is high time we all decide to stop cooperating with the enemy and protect our health.

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