Article 1:      How MCT's Burn Fat                                

In the early 1900's doctors noticed that many people had a problem digesting normal dietary fats. The solution came in the form of an oil naturally found in coconuts and palm kernels. Doctors were astonished how easy this oil was to digest. And upon closer examination they found that both coconut and palm kernel oil contained a substance called  MCT or medium chain triglyceride.

Although MCT is essentially a fat molecule, it actually behaves like a carbohydrate or sugar molecule which is the preferred source  of fuel for the body. In fact, the body will tap into carbohydrates for fuel long before it even  reaches into our fat or protein stores.

When we consume normal dietary fats, they go through a series of complex process and systems before we can use them as fuel or store them as energy in the form of fat. MCT's, however, by-passes these entire processes and systems and are instead quickly shuttled to the liver which rapidly metabolizes them to produce energy.

So even though technically MCT oil is a form of fat, it's consumption quickly leads to its rapid conversion into energy. This is unlike normal dietary fats that are slow to digest and more easily stored as fat. Furthermore, unlike fats and carbohydrates that stimulate insulin, MCT does not increase insulin levels.

This is probably the main reason it is quickly sent to the liver and metabolized, as  low insulin levels stimulate energy usuage rather than energy storage. Thus, if your calorie intake remains the same, substituting MCT for your regular source of dietary fats will encourage weight loss as the body will burn this energy instead of storing it as it certainly would with regular fats and oils.

I have used MCT's with great success as it's not only a great source of non-fattening energy before a workout, it's also stimulates thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is basically a process where the body increases it's normal metabolic rate of burning fat to produce energy in the form of body heat. So you burn fat, just by drinking it. Once I found out about this, I stopped consuming carbohydrates before and after my workouts. Instead I began to use MCT's with my protein before and right after all my workout sessions during my cutting phase.

One thing I should mention about MCT's, some people experience stomach problems including acid reflux and diarrhea but this can simply be avoided by starting off slowly with 1 teaspoon a day and gradually increasing it until you meet your desired goal. Also MCT's do have taste which needs getting used to, which I never found to be a problem since it's benefits far outweigh its taste.

Written by Robin D. Ramnarine :  Published 2009 in goarticles.com

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Article 2:      Eating Less Food Does Not Equal Weight Loss  

Unless you have a glandular problem, and most people use this as an excuse, losing weight all comes down to
calories. Simply eating less however, is only part of the solution. What you eat is also extremely important.
If your calorie intake is low and you still can't burn fat and lose weight, it's most likely your metabolism has slowed  to conserve calories.

The body does this to protect itself and acts very much it did over a million years ago. It goes into the famine mode, as it assumes that food is in short supply and slows your metabolism to conserve energy especially in the form of fat. In fact, scientific studies have shown that under dietary restriction the body rather use your muscle's protein rather than tap into it's fat stores. But this can be abated by consuming the right foods and in the right proportions.

For example, if Mr.X eats several high carbohydrate/ low protein meals a day, he will either lose no weight or LESS weight than Mr.Y who consumes several moderate protein/ low carbohydrate meals a day even if both their calorie intake is EXACTLY the same! It's not only how much, but what you eat. I know you might be asking what about those ads showing people consuming lots of foods and eating 6-7 times a day!

Well if you look carefully at the bottom of the screen for the fine print you see these meals provide a low calorie intake of around 1200-1400 calories a day, and those meals are well balanced. Also most of these ads never mention exercise, because it not a requirement of weight loss.

Dietary restriction is most effective way to lose weight and keep it off. But you must do it the right way, you can't just cut back on calories by eating  less and expect to begin burning fat right off the bat.

The bottom line here is this, if you provide the necessary calories in the right proportion your body needs to support a given body weight you will lose weight; so if you weigh 220lbs, but want to weigh only 120lbs, then only eat enough to support a 120lb body weight, this way your body will have no choice but to tap into it's fat stores to make up the calorie deficit you created when you began limiting your calorie intake

Written by Robin D. Ramnarine :  Published 2009 in ezinearticles.com