Advice on losing weight

If you enjoy your food, but want to become thin and also improve your overall physical condition, then, as most people know, you should follow a meticulously prepared wholesome dietary regime. Theoretically, this needs to involve 5 standard portions of grains, cereals and vegetables every day and also contain the optimum fusion of important nutrients.

Some lower carbohydrate diet guidlines:
* Eat regular meals Most low carb recipes are, you won't be surpised to learn, low in carbohydrates. Your body needs energy, and carbs are a highly efficient source of energy. A lower carbohydrate diet requires more care in monitoring you energy intake, as the energy provided by fat or protein is less efficient.

* Food labels can be misleading Watch out for food packaging that boasts to be 'low carb' - check the nutritional information on the back of the package. Many are only a little decreased and in some instances still greater than a competitors usual brand. Also, beware of 'low sugar' and 'low fat' labels - 'low sugar' doesn't always mean 'low carb' - usually the carbs are the same.

Lycopene super foods
(includes apricot, red bell peppers & rosehip)

The nutrient lypcopene is a naturally occurring chemical compound and a member of the same group of phytochemicals as carotene. Lycopene is accountable for the red color of quite a few natural foods.

Usefully, unlike most other nutritional compounds, this useful phytochemical does not degrade if cooked, but is noticeably increased in efficacy by cooking.

. Lycoprene's most valuable health contribution is that it is an antioxidant and appears to be an asset in the battle to lower the risks of developing cancer.

This useful phytochemical is the most potent fighter of singlet oxygen, which is correlated with skin aging. It's also believed to slow down the growth of atherosclerosis.