What is a low carb diet? Well, it doesn’t take a scientific mind to realize that people, and Americans especially, have difficulty choosing the right foods and an adequate quantity of those foods. To put it lightly, our diets are awful. We are obese with elevated cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and are crippled by arthritis and cancer. Although many maladies are dependent on one’s genetic makeup and can hardly be avoided, a lot can be said for eating wholesome foods to help fortify your body.
One of the most popular diets on the market these days are the low carb diets, such as Atkins, South Beach, or the Zone. Low carb diets typically advocate portion control and a concept called insulin control. When one eats a highly refined, sugary twinkie, the bloodstream is inundated with glucose within 7 minutes and not too much later, the pancreas releases excessive amounts of insulin to transport the blood glucose to where it needs to go. This causes your blood sugar levels to plummet and for the excess glucose to be stored as fat. This, of course, leads to obesity and heart disease.
So, instead of eating processed, sugary foods, one needs to eat what are called “complex carbohydrates”. These cause a more gradual climb in blood sugar levels and therefore provide more energy that lasts longer. This ingrained pattern of eating junk food out of laziness is what the low carb diets are trying to get rid of. Instead, they are advocating an restriction on starchy pastas, potatoes, and breads, while advocating an increased consumption of good protein sources and fresh vegetables and fruits. According to research, by ingesting more protein, one’s metabolism has to work harder to break it down for use as energy, thus raising the metabolic rate. So, not only will you be burning more calories, but by limiting the intake of starchy carbs, one is protecting themselves from the complications of type II diabetes. So, low carb, high protein diets seem to make sense but is there scientific merit to their claims?
Yes, when one lowers their intake of starchier and more refined carbs, there are numerous health benefits that come with the territory. First of all, research has proven that people can lose substantial weight on a low carb diet without restricting calories. Low carb, high protein diets can help lower triglyceride levels, increase HDL cholesterol levels, reduce blood glucose levels for diabetics as well as non-diabtetics, improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure, improve concentration due to regulated blood glucose levels, and lower blood insulin levels. Others have made unsubstantiated claims that low carb, high protein diets left them with fewer headaches, lessened PMS symptoms, healthier looking skin, and even better joint motion.
There is a lot to be said for low carb diets, but if this sounds like the plan to help initiate your path to weight loss, consult your physician or a dietitian before setting out on a diet that, if misunderstood, could certainly be life threatening. Good luck.
Want free weight loss support for your low carb diet? Find low carb diet tips and join our free weight loss support group.
Yo-yo dieting, skipping meals, eating fat-free foods, no exercise and low thyroid all have one thing in common - they promote a low metabolism. Your basal metabolism rate (BMR) is the rate at which your body burns food when you are at rest. When you hear people refer to their slow metabolism, they are really saying that they have a low BMR. Metabolism is the reactions that take place inside our cells to create energy. All the food we eat is broken down to produce the energy needed to maintain body temperature, to breathe, to move our muscles and keep our weight in check. A peak operating metabolism can burn up a lot of fuel (food) and create plenty of energy. Conversely, a slow metabolism will store fuel as fat. We can rev up our fat burning furnace quickly with clinically researched metabolism boosting foods and nutrients.
Breakfast
Eating a protein rich breakfast can increase your body’s ability to burn fat by 25 per cent, and that fat-burning action will last for up to eight hours. When you skip meals, your metabolic rate slows to conserve energy because you are starving your body. When you do eat, the body stores the food as fat because the body thinks you are in a famine. The answer: eat a protein based breakfast every day, such as eggs, a chicken breast, a protein shake or protein powder mixed into plain organic yogurt. Protein enhances your metabolism and stops hunger pangs.
Fat for Fat Loss
Yes, eating fat can help you lose fat, but the fat you eat must be good fat. Fatty acids from fish or flaxseed oil (omega-3 fats) and conjugated-linoleic (CLA) acid help burn fat. Recent research shows that the hormone leptin is low in those who do not get enough good fats. Leptin is a hormone that regulates appetite, the size of our fat cells and how quickly those cells burn fat. Fatty acids enhance Leptin, decrease our appetite and burn fat faster. Make sure you eat fish a couple of times per week, use extra virgin olive oil, put ground flaxseed on your food, and, if you dislike fish, take fish oil capsules daily.
More than 500 studies support CLA’s unique abilities. In 2000, it was reported that even without a change in diet or lifestyle overweight participants had a 20 per cent decrease in body fat and an increase in lean muscle mass. Minimum dosages of 4000 mg per day are necessary to obtain fat loss.
Metabolism Boosting Herbs
If you are one of those people who have reduced your calories, are dedicated to exercise and still can’t lose weight you will want to add the clinically-researched herbs that kick-start your metabolism. Thermogenic herbs rev up and reset your rate of metabolism making fat loss more effective.
Green Tea
Sipping a cup of green tea or swallowing green tea capsules can help aid fat loss. In one study overweight participants took three capsules per day containing 200 mg of green tea extract. Participants experienced increased fat loss without accelerating heart rate. Switch from coffee to green tea to achieve a faster metabolism. Drinking three cups of green tea provides about the same caffeine as one cup of drip coffee.
The secret to weight loss also lies in your kitchen cupboards. Hot, spicy foods also jump start your metabolism. Have you noticed how curried foods make you sweat? This is one of the symptoms of an increased metabolism. Switch from black pepper to cayenne pepper for faster weight loss. Add ginger to foods and eat hot salsa to enhance your fat-burning furnace.
Fat-burning foods and supplements support a healthy diet and exercise program to quickly reset your metabolic rate safely.
Wray Burns is author & owner of www.weight-loss-that-works.com a website aimed at providing help & information for people looking to lose weight and improve their fitness.
Introduction
Obesity is the most common health problem facing children today. It has been suggested that obese children have increased problems with self-esteem and depression when compared to the normal pediatric population. Research in exercise and depression is persuasively showing how exercise may be elemental in treating low self-esteem. Moderate exercise seems to be the most effective intensity in reducing depression and increasing levels of self-esteem. This literature review will illustrate what other researchers have found and concluded in a.) finding a relationship between self-esteem and obesity, b.) the effects of exercise on self-esteem, c.) studies on motivation among children, and d.) the need for more research.
Finding A Relationship
In order to establish a relationship between obesity and self-esteem, a Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale was administered to 550 14 and 16 year old girls. Self-esteem scores were categorized by weight and weight by height. Scores on the Quetelet Index for Obesity were correlated with self-esteem scores. Mean self-esteem of the low-and-middle weight by height group was higher than the mean of the high weight group. In analyzing weight alone, the self-esteem of the middle-weight group was significantly higher than the self-esteem of the high-weight group. The correlation of the obesity index and self-esteem indicated that as weight increased, self-esteem decreased (Martin, Housley, & McCoy, 1988).
In another study, the relationship between obesity and self-esteem was examined cross-sectionally and prospectively over three years in a cohort of 1278 adolescents in grades 7 to 9 at baseline. Cross-sectional analysis revealed an inverse association between physical appearance self-esteem and body mass index in both males and females. In females, body mass index was inversely associated with global self-esteem, close friendship, and behavioral conduct. In males, body mass index was inversely associated with athletic and romantic appeal. These results suggest that low self-esteem may be an important factor in preventing or reversing obesity (French, Perry, Leon, & Fulkerson, 1996).
A study by Strauss supports data from Martin, Housely, and McCoy. Straus’s data demonstrates that negative weight perceptions are particularly common among young adolescent white females, which reveals that young obese adolescent females show the lowest levels of self-esteem. Nevertheless, negative perceptions of obesity also exist among adolescent boys. The data also demonstrates significant social consequences of decreasing self-esteem in obese children. Obese children with decreasing levels of self-esteem showed significantly elevated levels of loneliness, sadness, and nervousness. Although these efforts are not unique for obese children, they are nevertheless quite important because nearly 70% of white obese females demonstrated decreasing levels of self-esteem by early adolescence (Strauss, 2000).
Additional studies need to focus on whether positive family or social interactions can alleviate the negative psychosocial effects of adolescent obesity. Strauss concludes that children with obese mothers, low family incomes, and lower cognitive stimulation have significantly higher risks of developing obesity, independent of other demographic and socio-economic factors. In contrast, increased rates of obesity in black children, children with lower family education, and non-professional parents may be mediated through the confounding effects of low income and lower levels of cognitive stimulation (Strauss & Knight, 1999).
Effects of Exercise
The case for exercise and health has primarily been made on its impact on diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. However, there has been increasing research into the role of exercise in improving mental well-being, including global self-esteem.
Sufficient evidence now exists for the effectiveness of exercise in the treatment of clinical depression and low self-esteem. Additionally, exercise has a moderate reducing effect on state and trait anxiety and can improve physical self-perceptions and in some cases, global self-esteem. There is also good evidence that aerobic and resistance exercise (weight training) enhances mood states, and weaker evidence that exercise can improve cognitive function (Fox, 1999).
One study which supports the fundamentals of CHAMP is revealed in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. In the study, 37 males and 28 females participated in a 10-week exercise program. Participants were selected from existing classes forming weight training, aerobic exercise, and activity control group. Results revealed change in physical self-perception, strength, and body composition. Improvements in physical self-perceptions and fitness occurred independent of the exercise group. Correlations among the measures revealed relationships among physical self-perceptions, body satisfaction, global self-esteem, and fitness (Caruso & Gill, 1992).
Study of Motivation
In order to study motivation among obese children, a study used a body video distortion method to compare their body image with the body perception of non-obese peers. A standardized series of body size estimations were used: cognitive (what subject “think” they look like), affective (what they “feel” they look like), and optative (what they “wish” they looked like). Forty-one obese children (16 boys and 25 girls; average 12 years old) and 42 age-matched control subjects compared percentages of deviation from the accurate body image. The results showed that obese children were more accurate in estimating their real body width, but desired to reduce their body size by about 25% (Probst, Braet, & De Vos, 1995).
The significance of exercise as a healthy related behavior has brought forth the need to address motivational problems associated with its adoption and maintenance. In this respect, exercise psychology research would appear to provide potential for guiding significant public health initiatives. Cognitions about self-perceived quality of life vary across the stages of change, with those who are least prepared to adopt regular exercise reporting the lowest levels of quality of life. These finding suggests that cognitive-motivational messages designed to emphasize quality of life benefits associated with exercise may be useful intervention strategies for people who are less motivationally ready for change (Laforge & Rossi, 1999).
To remedy the localized problem of motivation, CHAMP has incorporated the use of one-on-one fitness specialists who act not only as instructors, but as mentors also.
In general, research has demonstrated that engaging in exercise and physical activity significantly enhances mental health and can increase self-esteem. Extensive
meta-analysis states that exercise has a positive impact on enhancing mood, self-concept, and self-esteem. In addition, feelings of depression, anger, and anxiety tend to dissipate after exercise (Greenberg & Oglesby, 1999).
Need for More Research
Many questions still exist regarding the combination of specific modes of exercise with different intensities and their resulting productivity. Studies show that resistance training is beneficial, but not much is known on intensity and duration.
The relationship between self-esteem and obesity has not received a great deal of empirical evaluation using strong research methodologies. Thus, it is not clear:
• whether self-esteem is consistently related to obesity,
• whether the relationship is global or specific to physical appearance, whether the relationship differs by demographic variables such as age, gender, or race/ethnicity, or
• whether self-esteem moderates weight changes during weight loss treatment programs (French, Story, & Perry, 1995).
More studies need to be done to clarify whether increases in self-esteem are related to enhanced weight-loss. Many studies are methodologically weak primarily due to small and select samples and lack appropriate comparison groups.
Although some inconsistencies still exist and much research remains to be done, the pursuit of exercise therapy to treat obese children is well underway. All of these research efforts work towards improving the future of preventative medicine and better the well being and lifestyle of children suffering from obesity and low self-esteem.
References
Biddle, S & Fox, K. (1989). Exercise and Health Psychology: Emerging Relationships. British Journal of Medicine and Psychology, 62(3), 205-216
Caruso, C. & Gill, D. (1992). Strengthening physical self-perceptions through exercise. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 32 (4), 416-427
Fox, K. (1999). The influence of physical activity on mental well being. Public Health Nutrition. 2(3). 411-418
French S, Perry C, Leon G, & Fulkerson J. (1996) Self-esteem and changes in body mass index over 3 years in a cohort of adolescents. Obesity Resource, 41(1). 27-33
FrenchS, Story M, & Perry C. (1999). Mental Health Disorders. Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Report. 4(1). 10-12
Hunter S, Larrieu J, Ayad F, & O’Leary P (1997). Roles of Mental Health Professionals in Multidisciplinary Medically Supervised Treatment Programs for Obesity. Journal of the American Medical Association (2), 97-113.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web February 24, 2000: http://www.sma.org/smj/97/iune2.
Laforge R & Rossi J. (1999). Stages of regular exercise and health related to quality of life. Preventative Medicine. 28(4). 349-360
Martin S, Housley K, & McCoy H. (1988). Self -esteem of adolescent girls as related to weight. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 67(3). 879-884
Probst M, Braet C, & De Vos P. (1995). Body size estimation in obese children: a
controlled study with the video distortion method. International Journal of Obesity Related to Metabolic Disorders. 19(11), 820-824
Sheslow D, Hassink S, Wallace W, & Delancey E. (1993). The relationship between self-esteem and depression in obese children. (Abstract). Annual New York Academy of Science. Oct. 29 L699), 289-291
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Strauss, R (2000). Childhood obesity and self-esteem. Pediatrics, 105(1), 15. Retrieved February 19, 2000 from the World Wide Web: http://www.pediatrics.org
Strauss, R & Knight, J (1999). Influence of the home environment on the development of obesity in children. Pediatrics, 103(6). 85. Retrieved February 19, 2000 from the World Wide Web: http://www.pediatrics.org
John Izzo, BS, NASM-CPT, is currently the Fitness Director of the YMCA of Greater Hartford (CT) and Master Lecturer for WITS. He holds multiple certifications in personal training and has an extensive successful background in weight management and athletic improvement among clients. For more info, please contact: john12774@hotmail.com
The evergreen juniper will grow in two different sizes. It may grow as a tall bush, if it is standing upright,or, it may just be a shrub, which stays close to the ground. It has beautiful, bright, yellow flowers, along with needles, and blue berries, which turn black upon maturity. It is the ripened berry which is the source of juniper pure essential oil. The aroma is a nice, pleasant, spicy, pine-like scent, often associated with gin. Funny thing, it is actually added to gin for flavoring.
What Causes Junipers Pure Essential Oil’s Therapeutic Effect
The main constituents in juniper essential oil are pinene, terpinen, and terpineol. It is these 3 main constituents, which help to make the oils useful for stimulating circulation, fighting skin irritations, and for muscle pains.
Juniper helps with many Conditions
First, juniper can act as a toner for oily skin. It also helps to protect against additional infection or inflammation. In order to make the solution for this application, just combine 1 drop of juniper oil, with 1/2 cup of witch hazel, and 1/2 cup of cool water, and shake well. Then just apply to skin with cotton pads soaked with mixture. Do not scrub the mixture in, just pat the skin with cotton pads, especially if you already have inflammation or irritations.
Second, it has been known to help with joint pain. All you need to do is massage the oil mixture in to areas, which are affected by sore joints or arthritis. To make the mixture, mix 4 drops of juniper oil, 4 drops of lavender oil, and 2 drops of rosemary oil with a carrier oil of your choice, such as safflower oil.
Haemorrhoids have also been known to be helped with juniper oil. This one is really simple to do, and allows you the extra benefits of just relaxing in a nice warm bath. Just mix 1 drop of juniper oil and 1 drop of Roman-chamomile oil in a warm sitz bath. Then relax for 5 minutes to allow the properties of the oils to take action. Remember, do not take baths longer than 20 minutes, as the effectiveness is reduced.
Another condition known to be affected by juniper essential oil is cellulite. Juniper essential oil’s stimulating effect helps to firm the connective tissues of the skin, thus pulling the skin tighter, and not allowing for the dimples spots to appear. Blend 2 drops of juniper oil, 2 drops of cypress oil and 2 drops of orange oil in approximately 2 tablespoons of your preferred carrier oil, such as safflower oil. Before showering, you need to massage the affected area with a skin brush. This will help get the circulation going in the area. Then, shower just as normal. After you are done showering, massage the affected area upon with the blend.
Juniper is also great for pets. If your animal has dry scaly skin, then when you give the animal a bath, just add 4 drops of juniper essential oil to the bath water. This will greatly improve the condition of their skin. Also, to cleanse where your animal is sleeping, just blend 5 drops of juniper essential oil and 10 drops of lavender essential oil on a spray bottle with water. Then spray the mixture where your animal sleeps and lounges. Nice thing is, this mixture is also pleasant for the aroma of your house as well. If your animal has fleas or ticks, then just as 2 drops of eucalyptus oil to the spray bottle blend.
Juniper pure essential oil has many benefits and healing properties, for both you and your animal and its pleasant pine scent makes a staple for many homes. So, pine-up, and start enjoying a healthier all natural life.
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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Aromatherapy
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Do you know the name of that one disease which has spread in the U.S.A. like an epidemic? Are you aware of the fact that the maximum number of people suffering from this disease in the world are in no other country but U.S.A.? It might sound very surprising but it is true that obesity has tightened its grip on none other than the Americans. YES! The disease is Obesity, the very mild and harmless looking disease, which has often escaped the attention of the people. Because what people thought to be a simple case of overweight gradually took a bad shape in the form of obesity. The bulging paunch, the expanding waistline, the heavy fleshy face with eyes nearly closed or appearing like just two beads on a big sphere, these are the images of an obese which make others break into laughter suddenly. But obesity is much more than what just meets the eye.
Obesity is not only just about overeating and a flabby body. Infact Obesity is the gateway to a whole range of health problems. Actually obese people should not be an object of laughter but to be worried and cared for. We first have to understand that which kind of people fall into the category of obesity. Obesity is generally calculated according to the BMI index of a person’s body. BMI stands for the body mass index of a person. BMI is calculated on the basis of the weight of a person in pounds divided by the square of his height in meters. If a person’s BMI is 30 or more than 30, then he can be called an obese person. Obese people are prone to developing several cardio-vascular diseases, including high cholesterol leading to cardiac arrest, hypertension or high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and pain in the various joints of the body, to name just a few. Apart from developing these serious kinds of diseases obese people have difficulty in carrying on their every day activities. They cannot adjust or make themselves comfortable while moving in a public transport. And to top it all they have to undergo humiliation and a psychological pressure of being laughed at, jeered and what not. There are so many people who are stressed and have acquired depression because of their obesity. Infact obesity is such an alarming physical condition that you should definitely not ignore it.
People who are obese tend to have unusual cravings for food. Food becomes the only medium to satisfy their various mood swings. If they are in deep sorrow, they would resort to unnecessary eating to divert their mind from their sorrows and troubles and on the other hand if they are extremely happy then also their best companion seems to be only the food. Their eating habits become so irregular that they fail to realize that all what they eat goes on storing under their skin as unnecessary fat. This addition of the layers of fat to their already existing flab further worsens the condition. Thus obese people need to realize that eating is certainly not the only solution to ward off your sorrows or to share your happiness with.
It is not that obese humans are in love with their state. Infact if asked or surveyed, more than three-fourth of them would be ready to do just about anything to get rid of their obesity. With the mushrooming of health clinics and gymnasiums every where around there is no dearth of such people who are minting money at the cost of obese or over weight people. These health clinics have surely commercialized the treatment of weight reduction. Pick up the newspaper and you would get a glimpse of those several upcoming fitness centers who promise of weight reduction in the stipulated period. And the most important thing is, these overweight or obese people are made the scape-goats of any kind of new treatment that they find out. The most amusing thing about these health clubs who promise to reduce your obesity is that they charge absolutely astronomical rates sometimes, and its only when your weight is considerably high that you can gain because the higher your weight is the more benefit you will reap by getting discount in their charges.
But people who are seriously obese must have realized by now that just by forceful skipping of meals they are losing simply the percentage of water in the body and hence gaining nothing as far as their motive of weight reduction is concerned. No sooner you leave this your weight gain is surely going to return with a bang!
As earlier said, obesity is not just being overweight but a disease in itself. Just as you need a treatment for any other disease and you need to consult a general physician for your sickness, similarly obesity also needs a proper medical attention.
There are a wide range of weight loss medicines present which are available only after a thorough research done on them. These medicines help you in your efforts of losing weight. No doubt that dieting and exercising is going to bring your weight somewhat down but simply reducing a few pounds or kilograms is hardly going to make much of a difference to you. For satisfactory and a considerable weight loss you will have to resort to the medication as well which works in coordination with your diet plan as well as exercising. There are several weight loss medicines as such like Adipex, Bontril, Phentermine, Didrex, Meridia etc.
Before getting tired and finally giving up there is no harm in trying these medicines. These medicines work scientifically by stimulating your central nervous system in such a manner that it automatically controls your craving for food.
You can once again envy yourself by looking at your image in the mirror. All that it would require is a strong and determined will power, and a proper combination of a diet plan, exercises and of course weight loss medicines.
The author has been writing for various e-zines and websites. For further information on obesity and its medication visit http://www.phentermine-effects.com. For any feedback mail her at tracy.whitney@gmail.com
Aromatherapy Goes ‘High Tech’
New methods of essential oil extraction are entering the mainstream of aromatherapy, offering new choices in oils never before available. With the new labels of ‘CO2′ and ‘SCO2′, along with the traditional ’steam’ and ‘hydro’ distillations, ‘absolutes’, and ‘cold pressing’, a little education for the aromatherapy enthusiast can go a long way in essential oil selection. Is one process better than another? Does one produce a nicer smelling oil, or one with greater aromatherapeutic value? It turns out that essential oil production, like winemaking, is an art form as well as a science. The value of the newer processing methods depends greatly on the experience of the distiller, as well as the intended application of the final product. Each method is important, and has it’s place in the making of aromatherapy-grade essential oils.
Steam and Hydro Distillation
Steam distillation, the most common method of essential oil production, involves the flow of steam into a chamber holding the raw plant material. The steam causes small sacs containing essential oil to burst. The oil is then carried by the steam out of the chamber and into a chilled condenser, where the steam once again becomes water. (Hydro-distillation is a similar process where the plant material is boiled, with the resultant steam being captured and condensed). The oil and water are then separated; the water, referred to as a ‘hydrosol’, can be retained as it will have some of the plant essence. Rose hydrosol, for example, is commonly used for it’s mild antiseptic and soothing properties, as well as it’s pleasing floral aroma.
A number of factors determine the final quality of a steam distilled essential oil. Aside from the plant material itself, most important are time, temperature and pressure, and the quality of the distillation equipment. Essential oils are very complex products; each is made up of many, sometimes hundreds, of distinct molecules which come together to form the oil’s aroma and therapeutic properties. Some of these molecules are fairly delicate structures which can be altered or destroyed by adverse environmental conditions. So, much like a fine meal is more flavorful when made with patience, most oils benefit from a long, slow ‘cooking’ process.
The temperature of the extraction chamber cannot be too high, lest some components of the oil be altered or destroyed. The same is true of the chamber’s pressure. Lavender, for example, should not be processed at over 245 degrees F and three pounds per square inch of pressure (3 psi). Higher temperatures and/or pressures result in a ‘harsh’ aroma - more chemical than floral - and lessen the oil’s therapeutic effects. Also, the extraction period must be allowed to continue for a certain period of time in order to flush ALL the oil’s components from the plant, as some are released more quickly than others.
Despite the drawbacks of aggressive processing, high temperatures and pressures are often used to produces large quantities of oil in a short period of time. These oils are usually destined for use in cosmetic and processed food manufacturing, but are sometimes sold to final consumers as essential oils for use in aromatherapy. These oils will be less expensive, but are of limited therapeutic value, and the difference is apparent when the aromas are compared side-by-side.
Absolutes
Some plants, and particularly flowers, do not lend themselves to steam distilling. They are too delicate, or their fragrance and therapeutic essences cannot be completely released by water alone. These oils will be produced as ‘absolutes’ - and while not technically considered essential oils they can still be of therapeutic value. Jasmine and Rose in particular are delicate flowers who’s oils are often found in ‘absolute’ form.
The processing of an absolute first involves the hydrocarbon solvent extraction of a ‘concrete’ from the plant material, a semi-solid mixture of typically 50% wax and 50% volatile oil. The concrete is again processed using ethyl alcohol (the same alcohol found in beer, wine, etc.) in which the wax is only slightly soluble. The volatile plant oil separates into the alcohol and this mixture is removed. The alcohol is then evaporated and the result is an almost pure plant extract - depending on the care taken in the evaporation process, sometimes 2% or less of the ethyl alcohol may remain. The use of solvents in the extraction process notwithstanding, absolutes can have incredibly deep and complex aromas.
CO2’s and SCO2’s
And now for the most modern technologies, Carbon Dioxide and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide extraction. Both methods involve the use of carbon dioxide as the ’solvent’ which carries the essential oil away from the raw plant material. The lower pressure CO2 extraction involves chilling carbon dioxide to between 35 and 55 degrees F, and pumping it through the plant material at about 1000 psi. The carbon dioxide in this condition is condensed to a liquid. Supercritical CO2 extraction (SCO2) involves carbon dioxide heated to 87 degrees F and pumped through the plant material at around 8,000 psi - under these conditions, the carbon dioxide is likened to a ‘dense fog’ or vapor. With release of the pressure in either process, the carbon dioxide escapes in its gaseous form, leaving the essential oil behind.
These carbon dioxide methods have a couple of advantages: Like steam distillation, there are no solvent residues left behind, and the resultant product is quite pure. Like solvent extraction, there is no heat applied to the plant material or essential oil to alter it in any way. The oil produced is very accurate with respect to the original state of the plant. The CO2 methods also are the most efficient, producing the most oil per amount of plant (one of the reasons for the high cost of essential oils is the low yield of oil from most plants - one ton of Rose petals produces less than 1 pound of oil, for example). The efficiency of CO2 extraction is particularly important when rare or endangered plant species are involved, such as Indian Sandalwood - less of the precious plant is needed to produce an equivalent amount of oil.
Cold Pressing
Finally, there is the ‘cold pressing’ of citrus oils from the peels of fruit, as is done with Bergamot, Orange, Lemon, and the like. This method involves the simple pressing of the rind at about 120 degrees F to extract the oil. Little, if any, alteration from the oil’s original state occurs - these citrus oils retain their bright, fresh, uplifting aromas like that of smelling a wonderfully ripe fruit.
Which is Best?
CO2’s, with some obvious advantages, are not always the best choice for a particular need. They still are the most expensive, despite their higher yields. The resultant product differs slightly compared to one produced another way - the oils produced by steam distillation of some plants may sometimes be found to have a more agreeable aroma. Patchouli, for example, seems to benefit from the steam distillation process by becoming a little warmer and richer. Many other essential oils are quite effectively produced via steam distillation, with little alteration from the original plant state. However, oils from other plant species do seem more ‘complete’ with CO2 processing, with Frankincense and most of the ’spice’ oils being good examples where a little something special is present in the aroma - these oils are likely of greater therapeutic value than their traditionally made counterparts.
Producing essential oils of aromatherapeutic grade is skill requiring years of experience. It takes the work of a dedicated artesian at every step, from growing and harvesting to fine-tuning the distillation process, to produce a truly fine oil. The making of a fine essential oil relies far more on knowledge and experience than it does on the particular extraction method. There are, however, legitimate reasons to select one distillation method over another - some plants simply require a particular process to produce a fine oil, and the oil needed for a particular application may only be made by one process. In the end, as is often the case in aromatherapy, your own sense of smell can tell you which oil will work best for you.
Misty is a Naturopath and yoga instructor with a professional practice in Boulder, Colorado. She is a great fan of aromatherapy grade essential oils and bach flower essences, and regularly employs them with her clients.
There are many subscriber programs available both online and in
the real world for dieters. In order to help choose one or just
learn more about them in order to help round out your daily life
and coordinate your activities, foods - - i.e. perfect diet
lifestyle, here are some of the membership programs available.
South Beach Diet - Online at www.southbeachdiet.com , the
South Beach Diet , developed by a cardiologist named Dr. Arthur
Agatston, boasts being not about low-fat or low-carb. But rather
they teach you about the right carbs and the right fats.
Subscribers receive daily tips, recipes, guidance from Dr.
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A handy online Shopping List Generator is also available for
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eDiets - Online at www.ediets.com , eDiets offers a wide
range of dietary planning by combining well known company
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email, ezine news, helpful articles, recipes, menus and tips.
eDiets also offers options. You can add an online personal
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Mix and match, upgrade or downgrade options at any time. They
focus on offering a combined health, nutritional and lifestyle
for helping with the perfect diet plan.
Atkins - Atkins offers a paid subscription program,
customized through eDiets.com above. And they offer a no-cost
version with less features through their website at
https://atkins.com/myatkins/index.html . Their free version
features a personal journaling section, recipe box, shopping
list and file cabinet. Set health and fitness goals in your
journal and monitor your progress. Have a handy place to keep
your recipes. As you need to buy ingredients, simply click and
add them to your shopping list. Save favorite tips, articles,
Atkins information and more in their file cabinet area.
Slimfast - Similar to Atkins, Slimfast offers a paid
subscription program that is customized through eDiets.com. And
they offer a no-cost version through their website at
http://www.slim-fast.com/membership.asp . Some of the goodies
offered for free membership are individualized meal plans,
personalized fitness program, food & exercise journals, weight
charts, automatic notification of promotion & coupon offers,
shopping lists, buddy program, “Ask a Dietitian,” live chats,
success stories, a ergular newsletter and a Body Mass Index
(BMI) calculator that uses height and body weight factors.
Weight Watchers - Online at www.weightwatchers.com ,
Weight Watchers offers a few choices. They have a couple
different food plans; monitor points or simply go with food
choices. Then opt for a real-world membership with weekly
meetings where you learn about healthy food choices and
activities, hear inspirational leaders/ speakers, pick up tips
and program information, recipes and menus and have confidential
weigh-ins. How meetings work is that you attend once a week for
about an hour from a huge list hosted all over. You pay a small
fee when you attend (beginning around $9 - $10 per week with
special packages / plans available, depending upon the area).
Find a meeting place online by entering your zip code or call
800-282-8908 (24/7).
Or opt for cyber-planning with Weight Watchers online tools. For
a little less money per month, around $5 per week, you get
recipe and meal ideas in a click, a points tracker and calendar,
progress charts, restaurant guide and other resources. And
connect with their online community 24/7 instead of driving
around town juggling meetings in your schedule. Jenny
Craig - Available online at www.jennycraig.com for around
$11 a month (or choose package deals). Online they feature
eTools, a new product that is tailored to go hand-in-hand with
the original real-world Jenny Craig Program. You can purchase
foods from them or use their recipes / cookbooks. With the
eTools, member also receive an online journal, they can track
and mark off meals from daily menus, monitor exercies /
activities, calculate number of calories burned, include your
feelings about your weight loss. These eTools also offer access
to plan and print an unlimited number of Menu Plans.
There is also a Recipe Box with additional Jenny Craig recipes
from their quarterly cookbooks. There are free message boards
available for all members (eTools or not). Some may offer
“member-only sections” in the future. For programs in your area
and pricing information, call: 800-597-JENNY.
The Weight Down Workshop - Gwen Shamblin’s Bible-based
weight loss program is online at www.wdworkshop.com . Not a diet
plan, the Weigh Down Workshop does not incur costs for
consultants, foods or exercise plans. One program, “Exodus Out
of Egypt” costs around $118 in fees (plus $7 for shipping and
handling) that include your attendance at 12 weeks of class
lessons, plus a set of 12 audiocassettes with workbook, access
to toll-free advice, encouragement and help. The program teaches
you to spend and eat less of regular foods you find about
anywhere. Find a real-world workshop by completing an online
form or by calling their toll-free number: 888-829-7500. For
online support, information, packages and payment information,
call them toll-free: (888) 751-5767. They have several plans
available and people have to call to get descriptions and
pricing.
