===============================================
Ivan's Newsletter
August 1, 2006 -- Issue 011
===============================================

Hi,

This issue includes...

1) Calcium for fat loss?

2) Control your blood sugar levels with cinnamon

===============================================
1) Calcium for fat loss?
===============================================

I am sure that you, like everybody else
in this sport, have tried at least one "fat
burner" in the past. Did it work? If yes,
which of the many substances was effective?

I personally don't like the fat burner cocktails
that are out on the market these days. Too much
stuff in them, most of which you don't need.

That's why I always searched for a single
substance that is proven to play an important
role in the process of using the fat for energy.

Well, I'm not sure if I told you before but
I don't use fat burners when getting ready
for a competition. I use a few dietary substances
to help in the process, CALCIUM among them.
In fact I always make sure I eat adequate levels
of calcium. I mean year round.

I bet you didn't know that calcium can
help burn the unwanted fat...Here is how:

See, if the calcium levels are low, the body
starts producing a substance called calcitriol.
What this substance does is it tell the body to
start preserving the calcium.

What it also does is it signals the fat cells
to increase in size by storing more fat in
themselves.

On the other hand high calcium levels signal
the fat cells to release fat, which the body
then uses for energy. In technical terms high
calcium levels initiate the process called
lipolysis or the breakdown of fat.

But what's even more important high calcium
levels decrease the fat accumulation in
people who systematically eat more calories
than they burn. In individuals, who consume
less calories, it stimulates the fat breakdown
and accelerate fat loss.

What's the dose you need? In order to achieve
these effects you will need 1,000 - 1,200mg
calcium a day.

Calcium, coming from dietary sources like dairy,
is shown to be more effective than calcium in
supplement form. 3 - 4 servings of low-fat
or fat-free dairy food a day is all you need.

If you can't get your calcium from dietary
sources, a good calcium supplement is a must!

There. Now you know why it is important not to
stop eating yogurt and cottage cheese when
training and dieting for fat loss. Just make
sure they are fat-free or at least low-fat.

Read the full article on calcium as a fat
burner click here.

===============================================
2) Control your blood sugar levels with cinnamon
===============================================

Another fact that you probably didn't know about:
Cinnamon lowers blood sugar levels after
eating carbohydrate foods that elevate the
blood glucose.

Scientists isolated the substance MHCP that falls
in the group of the polyphenols. What this substance
does is it mimics the action of insulin by
activating the same receptors in the cells that
insulin activates.

MHCP is shown to work synergistically with insulin
in the body.

In trials it lowered the blood sugar levels with 20%
on average in both - diabetics and non diabetics.
The doses of cinnamon used were 1 - 6 grams.

Cinnamon is effective in any form - sticks, powder,
capsules. It will be enough if you throw a dash or
two in your smoothie or oat meal.

Keep in mind, however, that this shouldn't be an
excuse for eating calorie-dense foods, thinking
that the added cinnamon will save you from getting
fat...I wish it was that strong..

===============================================
Copyright 2006 by IvanNikolov.com.
All rights reserved.
===============================================