http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/3-reasons-why-folding-treadmills-are-the-best-treadmills-for-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/3-reasons-why-folding-treadmills-are-the-best-treadmills-for-home.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Have More Room with Space Saving Ability
When you decide to buy a treadmill, the first thing you'll need to determine is the space you have for it. Most people do not have a lot of space or simply don't want it to be a permanent feature in the room. Non-folding treadmills can take up as much as 4 feet by 6 feet of floor space. The sheer footprint of the treadmill alone requires that it becomes a permanent fixture - nevermind how difficult they are to move.

Folding treadmills are obviously the better choice if space is a concern. They will almost cut the footprint in half when folded up. While they can still be difficult to move, they are easier to move than non-folding models. Most folding treadmills will have wheels so that you can roll it to the side when you're done with your exercise routine. This is one of the main reasons why they are so popular. You can simply fold them up to reduce the amount of space they take up and even move it aside if you want.

Stability for an Enjoyable Workout
In the past, folding treadmills were much less stable than their stationary counterparts and as a result were not the best treadmills. They would shake violently during your workout and didn't provide a quality exercise experience. In addition, since they were made to fold up, they were often not as durable because the frames were built differently. Luckily, those days are gone. With advancements in technology, folding treadmills have become just as sturdy as the non-folding variety. Stability is not an issue anymore and neither is the durability of the machines. In fact, most folding treadmills have the same frame as the non-folding variety with just some added modifications.

Save Money
If you're looking for a sturdy treadmill, whether it folds or not, you should be concerned with the price you pay. Anything less than $1,000 will not be sturdy enough to provide a great workout. If you plan to do a lot of running, you'll want to find a model in the $1,500 to $2,000 price range.

Folding treadmills have a slight price advantage over the non-folding machines. You'll be hard-pressed to find a quality non-folding treadmill for less than $1,500. High-quality folding treadmills, on the other hand, start at around $1,000.

Warranty
The warranty on your treadmill is very important regardless of what you decide to buy. It indicates the quality of your exercise equipment. If the company offers a long term warranty on the key components, such as the motor and frame, this is a clear sign that they are confident in their product. There are companies that offer lifetime warranties on the motors and frames of their machines. Contrast that with other companies who only offer 90 day warranties on the entire machine! Which do you think is the higher quality product?

As you can see, there are clear advantages to folding treadmills. They take up less space giving you more room, can be easier to move, are just as stable and durable as their non-folding counterparts, and are less expensive. If you are thinking about buying a treadmill but don't have a lot of space or money, then folding treadmills should be on the top of your list!

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Are you looking for the best treadmills for the home? Read reviews of the top folding treadmills you can buy today at http://besttreadmillsonline.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/supplements/hoodia-diet-pills-a-look-back-at-the-hoodia-industry-in-2007.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/supplements/hoodia-diet-pills-a-look-back-at-the-hoodia-industry-in-2007.html Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600
The prices of hoodia diet pills reduced significantly in 2007 and it looks as if they will continue to be relatively low in 2008. Hard to believe, isn't it? Since they were introduced on a mass scale in 2004, we have seen double digit increases in the prices but in 2007 and 2008 prices have actually come down.

Instead of paying almost $60 for a bottle of premium high-quality hoodia diet pills, as was the price earlier in 2007, you can now get that same bottle for just a little over $43 with various discounts and sales. That is significant price drop and it great news for dieters.

How has this happened? The introduction of cultivated hoodia gordonii has contributed to the slump in price. Originally all authentic hoodia diet pills were made from wild grown hoodia gordonii. The supply of wild grown hoodia was very scarce so the price of it was very high – almost $300 per kilo. Today, wild grown hoodia has been replaced with cultivated, or commercially farmed, hoodia so supplies have increased slightly. The result has been a slight decrease in the price of raw hoodia. The prices currently fluctuate around $200-$250 per kilo.

The other contributing factor to the price decline is that the popularity of hoodia has dropped significantly since its peak in 2005. When hoodia gordonii was introduced to the mass market in 2004 it was all the rage in the weight loss industry but after 2005 the demand for it dropped. With a slight increase in supply of raw hoodia and a decrease in demand the price of hoodia supplements could only go one direction – down!

As mentioned, the type of hoodia found in supplements in 2008 and in the foreseeable future will be different than in year's past. Up until recently, wild grown hoodia gordonii was the primary source of hoodia used in diet pills. With the wild supply all but gone for now, almost all supplements with hoodia contain the cultivated, or farmed, variety.

Some claim that wild grown hoodia is more potent, and therefore more effective, then the cultivated version. Others say there is no difference. Regardless of what the truth is, the implications could be that despite purchasing 100% authentic hoodia diet pills, their effectiveness could be less than they used to be. Dieters taking hoodia supplements will want to keep this in mind. If they find the supplements purchased today aren't as effective as they used to be, they may need to increase their dosage.

Overall, things look good in 2008 for those interested in hoodia diet pills. The prices have come down and will likely remain that way throughout the year. The only negative is that today's supplements may not be as effective as those in the past. That's not to say they don't work, it simply means you may need to take more to get the same effect.

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Is wild grown hoodia gordonii really more potent than cultivated hoodia? Visit http://hoodiaandweightloss.com to find out which hoodia diet pills are the most potent.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/supplements/do-diet-pills-and-supplements-really-work-for-weight-loss.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/supplements/do-diet-pills-and-supplements-really-work-for-weight-loss.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600
It's hard to read magazines or watch television without coming across an advertisement for some weight loss pill. You can even find them in your email inbox or as banner advertisements on your favorite websites. There are so many different brands and products that it can be hard to tell which are good.

In reality, some of these weight loss products can actually be harmful to you and your health. They may have side effects that aren't even listed on the packaging. This is because most of these diet pills are classified as supplements. These don't have the same kinds of strict rules that normal over-the-counter and prescription medications do. They can say that their pills help you lose fat and gain muscle, whether or not it actually does.

The kinds of side effects that can occur with diet pills vary. Some may cause digestion issues, such as diarrhea or constipation. Others may have more permanent or deadly side effects, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, or death. Since it can be hard to figure out which pills are best, some people avoid them altogether. Still, there are steps that you can take to make sure that you find the right weight loss pill for you.

First, always consult a physician before taking any diet pills or weight loss supplements. Your doctor can help you determine which diet supplements are best for you to help you lose weight. Second, read the labels. Avoid diet pills and supplements that contain numerous ingredients or "mysterious" ingredients you've never heard of. Third, do your research. Look for websites or books that aren't owned by the diet pill company. This is the best way to get the real information about the product. Finally, make diet and exercise your primary methods to weight loss. While some diet pills may aid in your weight loss, they will do very little in terms of long-term weight loss by themselves.

Although some companies insist that you can use their product without exercise or eating right, these claims are usually false or exaggerated. For those diet pills and supplements that actually work, they only help partially. Take hoodia, for example, a popular diet supplement that helps suppress your appetite; it will help curb your hunger, but you still need to exercise and eat right for significant weight loss results.

Alli is another weight loss aid that comes to mind. Alli has become a very popular over-the-counter medication for weight loss. This product blocks fat absorption in your stomach and intestines. Like hoodia, Alli can be an effective weight loss aid but you still need to watch your calories and stay fit while you are on this medication for optimal results.

Weight loss pills are not the end all be all when it comes to losing weight. Instead, they should at most be used as a helpful addition to your weight loss plan. As experts and doctors have told us for some years, the only true way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you eat. This is most easily done by eating right and exercising. If you feel you need that extra push, diet pills and supplements may help, but be sure you consult your doctor before taking them and do your research to find the ones that will work best for you.

Only authentic hoodia gordonii has the potential ability to suppress appetite. Unfortunately, the majority of the hoodia supplements and products on the market today contain very little of it – if any at all! Supplements are unregulated so it's buyer beware. You can't assume a product contains authentic hoodia just because it says it does.

There are several things to look for to ensure that the diet product you are buying contains authentic hoodia. The two most important are CITES certificates and independent lab test results. You'll find these documents on the websites of those companies who sell authentic hoodia diet products. If you can't find these, it is very likely that the product doesn't contain authentic hoodia gordonii. I could not find these documents on any website that sells or promotes hoodia pops. That is a major red flag.

The other issue is the amount of hoodia in hoodia pops. Most experts agree that most people will need 2,250-3,000mg of hoodia gordonii per day in order for it to effectively suppress appetite. Again, after looking through several websites selling hoodia pops, I could not determine how much hoodia is in them. This is another red flag.

Based on my research and experience with hoodia products for over a year now, these lollipops likely have less than 200mg of hoodia gordonii per sucker – and that's being generous. The amount is likely much lower than that. And again, this is assuming that the hoodia is authentic in the first place, which we don't know for sure. This small amount of hoodia isn't nearly enough to effectively suppress appetite. You'd have to suck on several lollipops all day long to get enough hoodia to effectively suppress appetite!

Having said all this, there is a chance that these hoodia pops could suppress appetite work in the short term. These lollipops may have a placebo effect. If you are told they work, you might actually convince yourself that they do! Thus, you may convince yourself that you feel full after you suck on them. However, this placebo effect doesn't last forever. The other possibility is that the simple act of having something in your mouth may keep you occupied and keep your mind off food.

The bottom line is Hollywood and its celebrities may think hoodia pops help with weight loss, but I'm not convinced. In my opinion these are just overpriced lollipops with a lot of hype. There is no harm in trying them yourself, but just don't expect much!

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Are you looking for a boost in your weight loss efforts? Hoodia diet pills may help. Visit http://hoodiaandweightloss.com to learn more about hoodia gordonii and what it might be able to do for you.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/the-supposed-hoodia-oprah-connection-exposed.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/the-supposed-hoodia-oprah-connection-exposed.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
I've seen some claims that hoodia was "seen on Oprah" or that "Oprah uses hoodia," but I haven't seen any evidence to support these claims. I've never heard of hoodia being featured on her television show nor have I read anything that supports the claims that she has used it. In fact, if you go to her website and search for the term, "hoodia" or "hoodia Oprah" you don't get any search results. Until I can find concrete evidence that she talked about it on her television show or that she uses it, I don't believe there is any Oprah hoodia connection as far as her television show is concerned.

There is a minor hoodia connection, however, in Oprah's magazine, O, that many websites reference as proof that Oprah endorses it. The article all these websites refer to was published in the July 2005 issue of her magazine titled, "Diet Pills: The Next Generation." I wasn't able to find an archive copy of the article anywhere online so I purchased the issue on eBay to find out what exactly Oprah Winfrey supposedly said about hoodia. I was very surprised what I found out.

When I turned to the article I saw a large picture of a San tribe member holding a piece of the hoodia gordonii plant. I immediately thought there was probably a significant connection after all. However, after reading the entire article there was absolutely no hoodia Oprah connection. The article wasn't even written by her and there were no quotes from Oprah about hoodia.

The article opens with the first two paragraphs briefly talking about the history of hoodia and the popularity of hoodia diet pills. However, the article doesn't talk very highly of hoodia supplements. In fact, here is a direct quote from the article, "So far, however, there’s little proof that the supplements are even mildly effective: Most contain only small, probably insignificant levels of Hoodia extract…" This is hardly a ringing endorsement for hoodia supplements – let alone a specific brand of hoodia!

The rest of the article goes on to talk about how pharmaceutical firms are racing to come out with the next miracle weight loss supplement. There is no mention of hoodia at all beyond the first two paragraphs. As you can see, there is no hoodia Oprah connection at all – at least not through her magazine.

What I'm surprised is that Oprah's legal department hasn't come down hard on these websites that use her name and her magazine as an endorsement for hoodia. Often times these websites twist the magazine article so far that they make it sound like Oprah herself endorsed their brand of hoodia in her magazine. The next time you see claims that Oprah endorses hoodia or that there is some kind of hoodia Oprah connection, you'll know the truth.

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If you're curious about the hoodia Oprah connection in her magazine, you can read the entire excerpt of the article, word-for-word, by visiting http://hoodiaandweightloss.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/youve-heard-all-the-hype-but-does-hoodia-work.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/youve-heard-all-the-hype-but-does-hoodia-work.html Tue, 26 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600
To answer the question we need to understand what hoodia does once it's ingested. In theory, hoodia works by tricking the brain, specifically the hypothalamus, into thinking you have consumed large amounts of food. As a result, the brain tells you that you are full. The active ingredient in hoodia, P57, is responsible for this trick.

When you eat, the food in your body is broken down into sugar. When the sensors in the hypothalamus recognize the sugar in your body, it shuts down your desire to eat. P57 is 10,000 more powerful than blood sugar (glucose). Without eating any food, P57 can trick your brain into thinking you have consumed large amounts of food when in fact you haven't eaten a thing!

In theory this sounds great but does hoodia work like this in the real world? Phytopharm, an UK based pharmaceutical company, put the theory to the test in the 1990's. The study comprised of 18 morbidly obese volunteers. Half of them were given authentic hoodia gordonii supplements and the other half were given a placebo for 15 days.

Those who were given hoodia diet pills ate 1,000 less calories each day than they had previously to the study. These volunteers made no other lifestyle changes, did not increase their exercise regimen, and were unaware of the effect hoodia was having on their appetite. They experienced a natural reduction in appetite with no effort on their part.

While this study seemed promising, experts were quick to point out that the study was too small and wasn't peer-reviewed to provide any conclusive answers to the question, does hoodia work. Unfortunately, there have been no large-scale, peer-reviewed studies to address the question.

Most of the evidence we have today about the effectiveness of hoodia is anecdotal, and that evidence is mixed at best. Some swear by it while others say it doesn't do anything for them. Experts say that those who don't experience the appetite suppressing qualities of hoodia diet pills may not be getting enough hoodia gordonii - if any at all.

It's important to take a close look at the hoodia diet pills themselves. Only supplements that contain 100% authentic hoodia gordonii have the potential to suppress appetite. You may be surprised to know that the majority of the hoodia diet pills sold today contain very little hoodia gordonii - if any at all!

Hoodia weight loss supplements, like all supplements, are unregulated. Companies that sell hoodia supplements can virtually say anything they want about their products. It’s up to you, the consumer, to do your due diligence before buying. Be sure to check the ingredients label of any hoodia product you are considering before buying.

Another way to determine if hoodia diet pills contain authentic hoodia gordonii is to look for a CITES certificate. These certificates are required by companies before they can export hoodia gordonii from South Africa. Companies that have them will display their CITES certificates on their websites.

You have to pay close attention to them, however, as some unscrupulous companies will put fakes on their websites. These are usually easy to spot. Fake certificates are usually blurred or will have parts of it whited out. Real certificates are easy to read because all the information is clearly visible.

So in the end does hoodia work? Probably, but there are only a few studies that say yes conclusively and they are small in scope and aren't peer-reviewed. In addition, the anecdotal evidence is mixed. Some dieters swear by it while others say it doesn't work for them. The best way to answer the question is to try it yourself and see what results you get. Just be sure the hoodia diet pills you are taking contain authentic hoodia gordonii or you can be assured that it won't work!

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Travis Van Slooten is an accomplished webmaster and publisher of http://www.hoodiaandweightloss.com where he provides a wealth of information on hoodia and weight loss.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>