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What is it?

It Works! is a line of products for weight loss offered via supplements, wraps, cleansers and a greens drink. The combination of all these is intendedto provide well-rounded weight loss benefits.

This system provides a cleanser to help remove toxins, a green powder to detoxify and improve digestive health, a weight loss pill for boosting metabolism, and a wrap that tightens and tones the body. These 4 products are said to be the company’s best for overall results. The highest rated diet plan that our experts have found was the 18Shake Diet. It offers a metabolism boosting diet pill and an appetite suppressing meal replacement for combined weight loss benefits. To learn more information about the 18Shake Diet click the link provided.

Do You Know the Best Diets of 2016?

It Works! Ingredients and Side Effects

Here are some of the ingredients found in the system:

BHT
Stearyl Alcohol
Malic Acid
Citric Acid
Blue Green Algae (Spirulina)

Dandelion Root Extract
Spirulina
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Sodium Benzoate
Urea

Acai Fruit
Green Tea Leaf Extract
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract
Gymnema Leaf Extract
Capsicum Fruit Extract (Capsimax)

BHT: Food additive used to preserve and stabilize ingredients. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has placed it in its “Caution” category due to fears of potential harmful effects.

A clinical study performed that was featured in the US National Library of Medicine found that:

“BHT could be a promoter of thyroid carcinogenesis”

“modify two-stage chemical carcinogenesis in the forestomach, liver, kidney, urinary bladder, and thyroid”

These studied show it could be potentially dangerous to overall health.

Blue Green Algae (Spirulina): Found in salt water and some fresh water lakes, this ingredient is a source of vitamins and minerals.

This ingredient needs to be thoroughly tested to make sure it does not have potentially dangerous toxins. Web MD mentions:

“Contaminated blue-green algae can cause liver damage, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, thirst, rapid heartbeat, shock, and even death”

Therefore it needs to be tested to ensure it is extracted from clean waters. It’s not required by Federal law to make sure that this ingredient is actually extracted from a safe source. The makers of It Works! fail to mention whether or not they source this ingredient from a clean source.

They also add 2 versions of it in their system.

Our experts have rated the top ranked diet plans for weight loss in the link provided here.

Dandelion Root Extract: Herb used to increase urine flow and reduce inflammation. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health mentions:

“There is no compelling scientific evidence for using dandelion as a treatment for any medical condition”

Not enough real science is available to help show if this ingredient is truly effective.

Sodium Benzoate: Preservative found in foods and cosmetics. When this ingredient is mixed with ascorbic acid a form of vitamin C which is found in It Works! products, it can form a carcinogen known as benzene. This can lead to serious damage to health.

The Mayo Clinic has also said that this ingredient can promote ADHD. Live Stronh.com also adds:

“may lead to asthma attacks”

This preservative has been shown to be potentially damaging in many ways.

Urea: A compound that is found in urine and other body fluids. It is often used as a fertilizer. It can be potentially damaging and is known to irritate the respiratory tract, skin, and eyes.

Green Tea Leaf Extract: This common tea contains antioxidants as well as caffeine. It is often used to increase metabolism and boost mental clarity. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health mentions:

“There are not enough reliable data to determine whether green tea can aid in weight loss”

There are also concerns about its safety:

“There have been some case reports of liver problems in people taking concentrated green tea extracts”

This ingredient is also a source of caffeine, which can promote many side effects including:

Rapid heart rate, anxiety, and mood swings.

Headaches, ill feelings, and nausea.

Insomnia, inability to relax, and depression.

Caffeine is not considered an effective ingredient for weight loss due to tolerance which reduces its overall effects.

Bitter Melon Fruit Extract:This plant is used to helpreduce blood sugar levels. Web MD adds:

“The safety of long-term use is not known”

Follow the link provided to see a comprehensive listing of the very best weight loss diets.

EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as
18 Shake ffor better results.

It Works! Quality of Ingredients

Some ingredients found in these products have been shown to be potentially harmful. There is also fear that the body wrap isn’t actually useful as Web MD mentions:

“They can temporarily make you feel a little thinner… But that’s water weight loss. It’s a temporary phenomenon”

This water weight is not actual fat loss.

There are many cheap ingredients including several preservatives which can cause damage to the body. Relying on these kinds of additives for weight loss is potentially unsafe to overall health.

Their diet pill also relies on a caffeine source which is known to be only short lasting and not incredibly effective for weight loss. Overall there are many unwanted additives.

The Price and Quality of It Works!

The price for a month’s supply of the diet pill, a blender bottle, 4 applications of the body wrap, 15 days of the green blend, and 2 days of the cleanse. The retail price is $245 for average customers.

This is an extremely high price for products that contain potentially harsh ingredients. There are preservatives, cheap additives, caffeine, and as you’ll see in the “Customer Opinions of It Works!” it has been reviewed poorly.

There are questions about the effectiveness of the wraps, the few portions for each product, no signs of vitamins and minerals from the greens powder, and the diet pill has a lot of ineffective ingredients. For a list of the highest rated diet plans click the link provided.

Business of It Works!

The company can be contacted via the following:

Phone Number:(800) 537-2395

Address:4005 Newpoint Place Suite 200

Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043

They operate what’s known as a multilevel marketing company. This allows for regular people to become salesmen. There is a warning on their Better Business Bureau page due to the following:

“pattern of complaints from consumers alleging that they received the wrong products”

In trying to resolve this issue consumers found:

“after trying to cancel with the business, they continue to receive additional products”

Still, customers had to suffer with paying for these products:

“additional charged being taken that the business has not informed them of… business continues to bill after cancellation, and consumers are not informed that there is a $50.00 cancelation fee”

This has been a constant issue mentioned by several customers. There are currently 331 complaints listed on the Better Business Bureau. Most issues have to do with billing and problems with the actual products as well as service. To see a comprehensive list of the highest rated diet plans click on the link provided here.

EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.

Customer Opinions of It Works!

Here are some direct quotes from users:

“My thoughts about It Works! Is that it doesn’t work!”

“I actually GAINED 3 pounds instead of losing anything”

“their products are way over priced and do not work for crap”

“Total waste of money. Also experienced dizziness after drinking each cleanse”

People often complained about a lack of weight loss and that they felt that many parts of the system are useless. Many criticized the wrap as having no effect. The cleanser was a source of side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and ill feelings. The diet pill also leads to anxiety, mood swings, headaches, and other symptoms.

There were mostly complaints and customers also added how this plan was incredibly expensive for what’s offered. To see a list of the highest rated diet plans click the link here.

Conclusion – Does It Works! Work?

It Works! does have some useful ingredients such as raspberry ketones and gymnema, but there are many preservatives and potentially harmful additives included. The entire system has flaws with the green drink not listing the vitamins and minerals, the diet pill containing caffeine, the wrap which is not proven to affect weight loss, and the cleanser which can promote side effects. Customers have also complained that they felt this system was greatly overpriced, and that it failed to lead to any noticeable weight loss.

Our experts have found that the most effective diet plan is the 18Shake Diet. It offers a combination of anappetite suppressing meal replacement which can keep hunger from returning for a minimum of 2 to 3 hours, and a diet pill for well-rounded weight loss results. Customers mention on their official website through testimonials just how effective the diet is for weight loss. There are also no preservatives, stimulants, fillers, binders, or any unnatural ingredients.

The 18Shake comes backed with a full 30 day money back guarantee. Returns are allowed without having to provide a reason and with no questions asked. Learn more information about the 18Shake Diet click on the link here.

I did not read to my children before they were born, although I got asked a lot if I did. I was too busy reading about all the ways I could mess them up when they came out. I did not read to them the second they were born, nor the first few days, because I was concentrating on the whole “Oh my God, I have to keep this human alive” aspect of parenting. But pretty soon after we got home I decided we would start our Nightly Reading Tradition. I had romantic visions of exactly how it would go: It would be our special family time. It would be the part of the day we all looked forward to. It would be made up of cherished memories my children would look back on fondly. I had imagined it so many times. (You know where this is going, right?)

I had a special “reading blanket” which was soft and cozy and big enough for the three of us (yes, I dragged my husband into this, even though he warned that if he was lying down odds were high he was going to fall asleep). I settled down with the baby and after several minutes trying to situate myself to hold a book and a newborn without dropping either I started reading. Almost immediately he started crying. Then wailing. Then howling. After checking to see if he was hungry wet or tired I thought maybe he just didn’t like the book, so I tried another. Crying, wailing, howling. This went on for a few nights. Then a few weeks. Then I started crying.

I was a children’s book publisher who had a baby who hated to read.

I tried reading in the morning, the afternoon, before nap, after nap (who am I kidding, that kid never napped). No go. When I read, he screamed. If you’ve ever Googled “my baby hates to read,” you know you are not alone. And if you do some reading on the subject (to yourself) you will be reassured to know that talking, singing, or reading to your child all help build literacy. In other words, even if your baby hates to read, if you are talking to him, having conversations with him, pointing out things while you change a diaper or walk in the stroller, you are aiding the quest to build literacy skills. So don’t panic.

That doesn’t negate reading. The simple act of reading a book to a child is showing them the most basic things like how to hold a book, how to turn the pages, and that we read from left to right. All of this is good modeling, even if your baby is too busy turning red from crying to pay perfect attention.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that babies are read to starting at birth. If you are skeptical about this, I don’t blame you. If you’ve read to a baby, particularly one who doesn’t seem to enjoy it, you doubt the effectiveness. But many studies, including a pretty prominent one, have shown in fairly clear terms that there are differences in kids who are read to and those who aren’t, and the latest research shows that those differences start showing up as early as 18 months. Kids who are read to have more expansive vocabularies and can identify objects of words they know. So, yes, now in addition to feeding schedules, sleep schedules, and possibly learning to shower in 5.4 seconds you need to get in some reading time. The good news is that reading to babies doesn’t have to involve an hour’s commitment.  As a matter of fact, it shouldn’t. Short books are perfect, and even a few minutes a day is enough, especially for an infant.

But what do you do if your baby hates it? And can babies hate reading? Keep going, and probably not. Your baby probably doesn’t hate books or reading. It’s not a predictor, at a few weeks or months, that you have a reader or don’t. It’s normal for babies to cry and, later, for them to crawl around or not pay attention while you are reading. Keep going. I would imagine a musician isn’t too pleased to show up for a concert without an audience, but my hope would be the musician would still enjoy playing, even if no one was there. So keep playing. Hum along to the book, make up verses, use your best dramatic reading voice. Try to engage your child.  And if that doesn’t work, just entertain yourself. At some point the baby will become curious as to what you are doing.

I found some good read aloud books. I liked rhymes, mostly so I could play around with them and change them up. I also found an illustrated book with one of my favorite poems. Is there a poem that resonates more with a new parent that ends with “and I have miles to go before I sleep?”

At some point reading together became my favorite time of day, even if I technically didn’t seem to be reading to anyone who was listening. I wasn’t worried about him eating, I wasn’t worried about getting him to sleep. I wasn’t even worried, for those few minutes, that one day he would end up on a national talk show with someone leaning in and saying, “So let’s talk about how your mother failed you.” It was just our time to read a story. Maybe he sensed this. Maybe eventually he decided he liked books.  I can’t even remember when it switched but at some point he stopped howling. He quieted down. He nestled his head against my arm and gazed at me. I would open a book, we’d snuggle up and read a story together.

It was exactly how I’d imagined it.

Books I read out loud (to an audience of me) that had rhyme and rhythm right for a baby, plus one just for me:

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LMNO Peas

by Keith Baker

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From A to Z—and Acrobat Peas to Zoologist Peas—every letter is exciting in this Classic Board Book edition of LMNO Peas!Get ready to roll through the alphabet with a jaunty cast of extremely cute and busy little peas in this Classic Board Book edition of Keith Baker’s hit concept book. This fresh and fun alphabet book features bright colors, bouncy rhyming text, and silly pea characters who highlight the wide variety of interests, hobbies, and careers that make the world such a colorful place!

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Thump, Thump Rat-a-Tat-Tat

by Gene Baer

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A distant marching band grows larger and louder as it nears, and then softer and smaller as it goes away again.

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Baby Cakes

by Karma Wilson

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This delightful baby game starts with a kiss on the nose and a smooch on the toes and ends with a tight hug night night. Share with your favorite little Baby Cakes. It’s the perfect way to end any day.

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Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

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Susan Jeffers has added more detail and subtle color to her sweeping backgrounds of frosty New England scenes. There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his “promises to keep” exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter.

The post My Baby Hates to Read (But Probably Not Really) appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.

The days are getting shorter, the air crisper, and pumpkins are turning up in strange corners of the supermarket. There’s no getting around it—winter is coming. It’s time to get your living space together now before it’s seriously time to hunker down. Whether it’s color-coding your bookshelf or finding the perfect new throw blanket for your favorite reading chair, spruce up your digs with these books about reading-friendly organization. Whatever you need, these 10 books will make your hearth happy and clutter-free.

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Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips

by Stephanie Winston

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60-second solutions to help you get organized — and get on with your life Are you overwhelmed by the clutter in your files and on your desk? Are you tired of being clobbered by clothes and hangers every time you open the closet door? Do household chores take twice as long as they should? Does the very thought of getting organized intimidate you — because you don’t know how, it takes too long, and you’d rather be doing anything else? Then this is the book for you. Featuring clear, quick-to-read lists and a meticulously detailed index, Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips pinpoints how to: * Do away with disarray in closets, cupboards, and cabinets * Lighten the load of household chores * Eliminate desk mess and paperwork pileups * Make short work of bill paying and taxes * Take maximum advantage of precious “found time” For perfectionist and procrastinator alike, Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips will prove indispensable.

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Complete Book of Home Organization

by abowlfulloflemons.net and Toni Hammersley

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Have you ever wished you had the time and tools to organize your house in a clutter-free, design-conscious, Pinterest-worthy way? From storage solutions and cleaning tips to secret space-saving methods and expert strategies, The Complete Book of Home Organization is packed with the tips and shortcuts you need to effectively organize your home.From small spaces and apartment solutions to how to tackle a big, messy home with a 15-week total home organization challenge, this book covers it all. The Complete Book of Home Organization spells out everything you need to de-clutter your house, store your belongings, and keep your home—and life—in tip-top shape. With high-quality design, intricate detail, and a durable flexicover—this manual is the perfect gift! Organize the 30 main spaces of your home, including the living and dining spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms, guest areas, baby and kids’ rooms, utility spaces and garages, entryways and offices, patios and decks, closets and pet areas! Keep track of your pantry, holiday and craft supplies, weekly menu planning, keepsakes, and schedules. From the basement to the attic, this book covers every nook and cranny. With step-by-step instructions, detailed illustrations, and handy checklists, say goodbye to a messy home and wasted storage space!

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Keep This Toss That: Unclutter Your Life to Save Time, Money, Space, and Sanity

by Jamie Novak

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Quick answers to the one key question everyone needs to answer in order to get organized and save their time, money, space, and sanity: “Should I keep or toss this?”Are you afraid to open your kitchen cabinet because you know food storage containers are going to come pouring out like an erupting volcano? Do you spend hours searching for the email you need? Will you regret it tomorrow if you give away all your old concert T-shirts? And how many tote bags will you really use? Keep This, Toss That answers all of these questions and much more. Featuring dozens of illustrated Keep/Toss Checklists, the book shows you exactly what you need—and what you can safely toss, regret-free (even if you’re a sentimentalist or saver)—in every room of your house, for each hobby or activity, and even online. It also includes: • quick tips on clever storage solutions • tools and utensils that can do double duty • advice on how to customize the lists to suit your house, your family, and your lifestyle. Answering the one key question you need to get organized and live happily with just the stuff you love, Keep This, Toss That is the one organizing book you must have.

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Unclutter Your Life

by Katherine Gibson

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Are you ready to move into a bright clutter-free future? From noise pollution to financial messes and stressful relationships, clutter affects ALL aspects of our lives–not just our physical spaces. If you¹ve tried feng-shui and other organizing techniques and you still can’t find clarity in your life, this down-to-earth guide will show you how to evict the clutter culprits and cultivate peace of mind in your home and soul.

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Secrets of an Organized Mom

by Barbara Reich

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Mothers are the queens of the castle and usually the organizers-in-chief. Secrets of an Organized Mom is a trusted resource not to be dismissed as organizing guru Barbara Reich offers a life-changing program for your life and home.

Mothers can feel like life is running on a never-ending loop. Just when one problem or responsibility is overcome, another trips us up. But help is on the way: Barbara Reich has all the strategies for staying ahead of the curve—and she’s wrapped them up into four easy steps that can be applied to any organizing project: 1. purge, 2. design, 3. organize, and 4. maintain.

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At Home with Madame Chic

by Jennifer L. Scott

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Approach life at home the Madame Chic way: a beautiful, illustrated toolbox of tips and ideas for organizing, entertaining, and savoring a stylish life.When she arrived at Madame Chic’s Parisian apartment as a foreign exchange student, Jennifer Scott was a casual California girl who thought sweatpants were appropriate street attire. Madame Chic took Jennifer under her wing and tutored her in the secrets of how the French elevate the little things in life to the art of living.

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Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying

by Melissa Michaels

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Your home is where life happens. Melissa Michaels, New York Times bestselling author of Love the Home You Have and the best-selling book and blog The Inspired Room, knows how it feels to become overwhelmed by stuff.

In spite of the messes and clutter that accumulates in daily life and the inevitable life-changes that bring so much disorder in the house, a home should be a sanctuary.

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Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter: Simplify Your Life One Minute at a Time

by Erin Rooney Doland

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Whether you have thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes, or fifteen minutes, this organizing daily devotional offers tips, checklists, weekend projects, quizzes, and encouragement that will help you find the time, motivation, and permission to let go of sentimental clutter, set up storage solutions, and establish routines that make sense for your life.

Filled with practical advice and small, doable projects that were created with your busy life in mind, Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter is a loyal resource, as well as a workbook, that you can rely on for straightforward, inspiring advice and tips you can return to time and time again.

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Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul

by Ruth Soukup

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STUFF. It’s everywhere. Lurking in corners and closets, spilling onto counters and coffee tables, creating havoc everywhere we look. And it’s not just the physical clutter that weighs us down. Oh no, it is the stress of overbooked schedule, and the weight of a life that sometimes feels oppressive and totally out of whack.

New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup feels your pain–she has been there too. Through personal stories, Biblical truth, and practical action plans, she will inspire and empower each of us to finally declutter not just our home, but our mind and soul as well. Unstuffed is real, honest, and gets right down to the question we are all facing–how can we take back our lives from the stuff that is weighing us down?

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The Mindset of Organization: Take Back Your House One Phase at a Time

by Lisa K. Woodruff

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Most organizational books on the market profess to have a one-size-fits-all solution to home organization. Common anthems are to: go paperless, get rid of everything that doesn’t spark joy and capsulize your wardrobe. While some find success using these methods the majority of American women are facing decades of delayed decisions piled high in unmarked boxes and shoved in storage rooms bursting at the seams. Fifteen minute a day organization tips and color coordinated plastic boxes are no match for the memories and clutter contained in those rooms. What is needed is a complete mindset shift. It’s time to look at home organization in a whole new way.

The post 10 Books to Help Get Your Home Reading-Ready and Cozy appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.

What is it?

Almased is a weight loss meal replacement protein powder made with non-GMO soy to help provide essential amino acids and enzymes. It’s said to be an easy to digest, stimulant free, and clinically studied formula.

The claimed is that due to its potent appetite suppression, it can prevent hunger for up to 4 hours. Other benefits are regulated blood sugar levels and no cravings for food. It also has a low glycemic index at 27, which means it won’t raise blood sugarsignificantly. They also offer a full meal plan which includes 3 shakes a day and the eating of certain foods to help prevent weight gain. In reviewing countless meal replacementsour experts have found the best overall is 18Shake. It’s a meal replacement shake made with high quality whey protein to help suppress appetite, and it includes a full range of vitamins and minerals. More information about the benefits of 18Shake can be seen in the link featured here.

Do You Know the Best Diet Shakes of 2016?

Almased Ingredients and Side Effects

Soy Protein Isolate
Honey
Skim Milk Yogurt Powder
Potassium Chloride
Magnesium Carbonate

Calcium Citrate
Vitamin C
Niacin
Color Additive
Riboflavin

Vitamin E
Zinc Oxide
Ferrous Fumurate
Manganese Sulfate
Calcium Pantothenate

Vitamin B2
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B1
Vitamin A
Folic Acid

Potassium Iodide
Sodium Selenite
Biotin
Vitamin D3
Vitamin B12

Soy Protein Isolate: Defatted and dehulled soybeans which are processed in a way that make them 90% protein by weight. It contains all the essential amino acids which are needed when one is replacing meals.

Soy has natural compounds in them such as phytoestrogens, which according to the University of Maryland Medical Center:

“chemicals that act like the hormone estrogen”

This can increase the amount of estrogen hormone one has for both men and women.

The same medical group also has this to say about soy:

“Isolavones may lower the amount of iodine in the body, which can lead to underfunctioning of the thyroid, called hypothyroidism”

This can damage the thyroid and lead to weight gain. Eating Well also has the following to say about this issue:

“Soy is high in isoflavones compounds that may inhibit the body’s ability to make thyroid hormones, which play a role in controlling everything from metabolism to body temperature”

There have been other issues with soy as well due to its natural compounds. Soy contains phytates, which according to study by the Nestle Research Centre:

“Even relatively small quantities of residual phytate was strongly inhibitory”

“phytic acid is a major inhibitory factor of ironabsorption in soy-protein isolates”

This means it can reduce the amount of iron in the body, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Yet another issue with soy is due to the goitrogenic effects.  A clinical study by the National Center for Toxicological Research in Arkansas concluded:

“soy products may cause harm in the human population via either or both estrogenic and goitrogenic activities”

Goitrogens are substances which can damage the thyroid. So it has a combined effect with the isoflavones to promote unwanted issues related to thyroid health.

For a list of meal replacements that made the top 10 list, follow the link provided here.

Honey:Sweetener that is made up primarily of fructose and glucose. There are many different varietals and grads of honey available; some are less likely to contain any added ingredients. It has no essential nutrients and can lead to weight gain in high amounts.

There’s a total of 15 grams of sugar in just one serving of Almased which all comes from honey. This is a high amount, and t the recommended 3 servings a day, this can provide 45 grams of sugar. The Heart organization advised the following standards:

Men: 36 grams per day

Women: 24 grams per day

This means at the full recommend dosage, women will receive 21 extra grams, and men receive 9 extra grams. The organization adds:

“Added sugars contribute zero nutrients but many added calories that can lead to extra pounds or even obesity, thereby reducing heart health”

There are many issues that can arise when one has excess sugar. Even natural sources like honey are still broken down by the body in the same way, so it should be taken in moderation.

Skim Milk Yogurt Powder:Dehydrated form of yogurt made fromfat reduced milk. It’s unknown if sit still retains the healthy probiotics which yogurt provides. The processing technique typically can destroy many health compounds if it’s not done carefully.

Color Additive: This can mean either an artificial good coloring or a natural extract made to provide a color. It has no nutritional value and is only included to provide a certain tint of color.

For a list of the highest rate mealreplacements out now, click the link provided.

EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this supplement with a proven meal replacement such as 18Shake for better results.

Almased Quality of Ingredients

There is a high amount of protein at 27 grams per serving, however, this comes fromsoy protein which has been criticized due to its numerous possible health damaging effects.

It also has a high amount of sugar at 15 grams. This can make weight loss harder, as sugar is known to increase appetite and turn into fat. It also has a high amount of calories at 180 per serving. At the 3 advised shakes, this amounts to 540 calories, this is asignificant amount which can make weight loss more difficult. When looking to lose weight it’s important to limit calories as much as possible.

There are many flaws to this meal replacement that make it a poor quality shake. Our experts have rated the best meal replacements in a comprehensive top 10 list.

The Price and Quality of Almased

No direct sales are offered, but the company does recommend certain vendors. One container sells for $27.92 on Amazon.com.This amounts to 10 servings making the daily price at 3 shakes a day $8.38.

This is a pricy mealreplacement as the key ingredients are cheap honey, skim milk yogurt powder, and non-GMOsoyprotein. These key ingredients can be sourced for a reduced price elsewhere.

Business of Almased

Almased, USA is the name of the company, and they can be reached via the following:

Phone Number: (877) 256-2733

Email: info@almased.com

Since the company does not allow for direct sales, any returns have to be handled with whoever sold you it. However this all depends on whether or not the seller allows for a money back return, it’s unlikely they would.

The FDA sent them a warning letter for making false claims about the health benefits. The warning letter stated:

“Almased product is not generallyrecognized as safe and effective for the above references”

This included claims thatit can help with blood sugar, cholesterol, and many other unproven health claims. There are a total of 14 health benefits which the FDA has said are not true.

For a comprehensivelist of the highest rated meal replacements, follow the link provided.

EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results with meal replacement shakes diet our experts recommend to use it at least 5 months. Save your money buying a few bags of meal replacement product.

Customer Opinions of Almased

Here are some reviews from users:

“caused dangerously high estrogen levels”

“caused cramps and hormonal imbalances”

“had moderate to severe cramping and then went into a full period”

“I threw it up every time. The after taste is awful”

The official Amazon.com page has a current 598 negative review fromusers. This included complaints that people noticed side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, uncontrollable bowels, increased blood sugar, difficulty with stomach problems, and other issues.

Some also had medical performed and wound up less healthy after use. There were a few people who noticed a significant increase in estrogen, and for the women who had this test they did so because they couldn’t get their periods anymore.

People also criticized the taste, many felt it was much too sweet and that it did not blend well.

The top 10 list featured here has a listof the best meal replacement shakes for weight loss.

Conclusion – Does Almased Work?

Almased does provide a high amount of protein, and it does contain a well-rounded nutritional profile. However, the fact it contains only soy based protein means it has many compounds which can potentially cause increased estrogen and hormone imbalances. Many customers say that the taste is unpleasant, it’s difficult to mix, and that they noticed increased blood sugar levels and hormone issues. People who were tested said they went to the hospital after they noticed some negative changes. For these people there was an increase of things like cholesterol, blood sugar, and estrogen levels. The company also fails to offer a money back return policy.

Our experts have found the most effective meal replacement is 18Shake. It has only whey protein at 15 grams for hours of appetitesuppression. There areno added fillers, binders, colors, or any artificialadditives. Customers have mentioned on their official website that it has a good taste, it mixed with ease, and it helps provide weight loss benefits.

18Shake is also fully backed by a 30 day money back return policy. It’s offered with no questions asked with no risk. To learn more about 18Shake click the link here.

What is it?

Instant Knockout is a weight loss diet pill made for athletes to help burn fat while still keeping energy high. It’s claimed to have cutting edge fat burning additives that come from pure ingredients.

It’s also said to help burn fat while preventing lean muscle loss or causing hunger. They also say it’s safe to use and is only made with pure natural ingredients. There’s a commercial offered online which shows people working out. It’s also said to have been created especially for MMA fighters to help them cut weight. By reviewingmany different weight loss diet pills our experts found the best was Sletrokor. It has only naturalplant extracts with no added stimulants or artificialadditives. You can learn more information about the benefits of Sletrokor in the link provided here.

Do You Know the Best Weight Loss Pills of 2016?

Instant Knockout Ingredients and Side Effects

Here are the full ingredients listing for Instant Knockout:

Pyridoxine HCI
Cyanocobalamin
Zinc Oxide
Chromium Picolinate

Green Tea Extract Leaf
Green Coffee Extract
Cayenne Powder
Glucomannan Konjac Root

Caffeine Anhydrous
Black Pepper Extract
Silicon Dioxide
HPMC

Magnesium Stearate
FD&C Red 40

Green Tea Extract Leaf: Antioxidant rich extract taken fromthe camelia sinensis plant. It’s used to reduce inflammation, improve immune function, and increase mental focus. Web MD adds:

“Green Tea us POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth log-term or in high-doses”

“side effects can range from mild top serious and include headache, nervousness, sleep problems, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, irregular heartbeat, tremors, heartburn, dizziness, ringing in the ears, convulsions and confusion”

There have also been issues having to do with an increased risk for heart attacks with the use of green tea extracts in diet pills.

Green Coffee Extract:Unroasted coffee beans which are high in antioxidants. It can potentially cause side effects that range from:

Upset stomach, anxiety, and agitation.

Increased heart rate, nervousness and headaches.

Ringing in the ears, vomiting, and vomiting.

Restlessness, mood swings, and depression.

There are claims this ingredient can help with weight loss, but it’s suggested the only reason for this is due to the added caffeine .This additive can lead to tolerance issues which reduced any of the metabolism boosting effects of caffeine.

Glucomannan Konjac Root:Thickener and gelling agent taken fromthe konjac plant. It’s often advised to drink large amounts of water to prevent digestive issues. Web MD also adds:

“These can sometimes cause blockages of the throat or intestines”

It’s used to help suppress appetite and provide weight loss benefits. However, there have been mixed reviews on this effect.

Caffeine Anhydrous: There’s a total of 350 mg per serving of this ingredient. This common stimulant is known to increase mental focus, raise metabolism and boos energy. At 350 mg it almost meets the standard advised limit for health effects.

It’s advised to limit oneself to 400 mg maximum in order to prevent side effects. Because of this high amount of caffeine it’s advised to not take Instant Knockout within 5 hours of bedtime.

This ingredient can also promote side effects that include:

Nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

Headaches, mood swings, and feelings of depression.

Rapid heart rate, insomnia, and feelings of anxiety.

Cardiovascular symptoms, feelings of terror, and difficulty concentrating.

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Caffeine is known to cause issues in certain people who are sensitive. It’s also not advised to take caffeine in any other sources, as this can increase the likelihood of experiencing unwanted symptoms. Sources such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and others are advised to be limited or entirely avoided.

FD&C Red 40:Artificial food coloring made to help provide a red tint. It was once banned by countries in parts of Europe including France, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland due to health concerns.

A US based organization has tried banning this additive due to clams it can produce unwanted side effects. It’salso said to lead to effects such as ADHD, increased risk for cancer, and hyperactivity.

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Instant Knockout Quality of Ingredients

The additives found within are commonly added to other diet pills. These additives are known to potentially cause side effects, and the good minerals can also be easily replaced with whole foods.

Due to high amounts of caffeine it makes it a potentially unsafe diet pill. There are many potential issues which may arise due to the use of these additives. It’s also not a guaranteed weight loss solution, as the body creates a tolerance to caffeine on a short period. No amount of added caffeine can help boost the effects.

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The Price and Quality of Instant Knockout

A one month supply sells for $59. Sales are offered direct fromthe official website.

The major issue with the ingredients is that there is a significant amount of caffeine. There are also common ingredients which hare used in many other diet pills. It’s not unique in what it adds. There’s fiber, stimulants, antioxidant extracts, minerals, and chili extract.

The overall quality is poordue to the common ingredients which can be sourced for cheaper. Much of what is offered can be replaced by whole foods such as green tea and minerals taken from whole foods.

You’ll also see in the “Business of Instant Knockout” that there have been issues with the lack of a money back return policy.

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Business of  Instant Knockout

Thecreator of the diet is Roar Ambition;their contact information is listed as:

Address: 27 Old Gloucester Street

London, WC1N 3AX, UK

People have also given the company bad reviews, here are some customer service reviews:

“customer service from their parent company is terrible”

“After several months of emailing and trying to get them to honor their 90 day money back guarantee, I was offered a refund for one bottle”

“The lied and didn’t honor what they said they would”

“I can’t get my money back”

There is a claimed 90 day money back guarantee, but users mention that this was not allowed. Many complained that the company does not honor this, and that they are difficult to deal with. For a comprehensive top 10 ranked diet pills list, follow the link here.

People who attempted to make a return often mention that they followed the return policy standards, but that they are impossible to reach. Those who emailed and called for month’s mention that they fail to provide any support. Even with repeat messages, some have said they have been ignored.

EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results, our experts recommend using weight loss pills for at least 3 months. Save your money by buying a few bottles at once.

Customer Opinions of Instant Knockout

Here are some quotes taken fromcustomer reviews:

“Don’t waste your time! I tried Instant Knockout for a week and because of its extreme amount of caffeine, I felt continuously dizzy and lightheaded”

“Complete rip off, No added benefits other than having to pee 10 times a day”

“I am totally dissatisfied with the product… NO RESULTS except the feeling that I was eating cleaner”

“I saw no energy boost what so ever and my appetite is exactly the same… trust me don’t waste your money”

Overwhelmingly people experienced side effects and a lack of weight loss. People also mentioned how they experienced major side effects such as fatigue, lightheadedness, feelings of anxiety, insomnia, lack of sleep, and ill feelings. These are the same symptoms that one can experience with high amounts of caffeine.

People found it extremely uncomfortable and they had to stop taking them.

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Conclusion – Does Instant Knockout Work?

Instant Knockout has many common additives including fiber, pepper extract, green tea, cayenne, minerals, and high amounts of potentially harmful caffeine. This can promote many unwanted side effects, and customers mention it’s an ineffectivemixture. Most of the complaints have to do with the lack of weight loss and rate of symptoms. People have also claimed that it is not backed by a full 90 day guarantee as what’s claimed. There have been issues with customer service and a lack of weight loss benefits. Theadditives added are also cheap and commonly found in many other diet pills. This is the reason why there are a majority of negative reviews.

Our experts have rated diet pills and concluded the best overall solution for weight loss is Sletrokor. This all naturalstimulant free plant based extract is a potent blend of ingredients made to improve mood, increase metabolism, burn calories, and provide well rounded weight loss benefits. Testimonials and customer reviews are also featured on the official website, people mention it’s a potent solution to help promote weight loss.

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Libations and literature have a long and proud history together, from the well-greased mechanics of Ernest Hemingway’s writing process to the timeless summer pairing of a beer and a book. If you have a taste for a hard stuff as all as the poetic, our friends at Glommable offer up several new cocktails of their own invention, crafted specifically to appeal to the refine palates of book lovers:

1. Waiting For Merlot
A cocktail specifically designed to be sipped while you wait for the red wine to breathe. Equal parts dark rum, ginger ale, and existential dread.

2. Infinite Zest
Pour 1.5 ounces of vodka and six ounces of tonic water into a highball glass with ice. Top with seventeen lemons’ worth of grated peel.

3. To the Light Beer
Virginia Woolf’s favorite shandy. Pour eight ounces of your favorite light beer and six ounces of seawater into a conch shell using a steady stream of consciousness. Mix well.

4. The Adventures of Huckleberry Gin
Take some gin. Put a huckleberry in it. Pretty simple, folks.

5. Anna Caipirnha

Brazil’s national cocktail with an old-school Russian twist. Combine lime juice, cane sugar, and cachaça in a whiskey tumbler, and slowly mix in two cups of borscht.

6. A Raisin in the Punch
A modern take on the traditional rum punch. Start by stirring together one cup fresh lime juice, two cups grenadine syrup, three cups Jamaican white rum, and two cups fresh orange juice. From at least ten feet over the punch bowl (using a ladder, if necessary) and paying careful attention to go one at a time, drop in five hundred raisins. If two raisins accidentally fall in together, please start over, or the cocktail will not taste as it should.

7. Treasure Island Iced Tea
Set sail for adventure with this summertime delight! Shake together one ounce each of vodka , white rum, gin, and tequila, as well as one half-ounce of Triple Sec and two tablespoons of lime juice. Pour into a glass and top with cola, as well as two peg legs, a cubic meter of sand, and one pound of parrot flesh.

8. The Sound and The Brandy
Pour four ounce of well-aged armagnac into a snifter. Hire a mean and terrible man to scream into the glass for fourteen minutes. Enjoy at room temperature.

9. The Jungle Juice
Like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, this cocktail highlights the strong, if a little unorthodox, flavors of a man who accidentally falls into a big vat of boiling lard. Scoop a healthy spoonful of the lard into a tin cup and mix liberally with whatever grain alcohol you have on hand.

10. Pale Ale Fire
A warm cocktail perfect for the winter months, and the only proper way to enjoy an India pale ale. Select a complex, spicy, and high-proof IPA. Pour it into a glass. And set it on fire.

The post 10 Cocktails Perfect For Any Book Lover appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.

I’m an erotic romance novelist. I earn money writing the books that make you blush. When people find out, they respond in any number of ways: some are disdainful, some scandalized, some intrigued. I’ve been asked a lot of questions about what it’s really like to write what I write, so here are a few things you might not know about my life as an erotic romance writer.

Just because I write about a sex act doesn’t mean I’ve done it. I get variations on this question a lot: “So, like, do you do all the things you write about?” The question is generally coming from a place of mixed curiosity and voyeurism. Because sex is not just physical, but mental, I’m easily able to write about sex acts I haven’t done before. Don’t assume I’ve done everything I write about… but then again, don’t assume I haven’t, either. Yeah, I probably have done it. But that’s not necessarily true of all erotic romance authors, and we get sick of being asked about our sex lives. It’s even creepier when the question asker then turns to my husband and gives him a wink wink, nudge nudge.

Yes, writing sex turns me on…but not all the time. My goal when writing is to arouse the reader. This means that on a first draft, I’m looking to be as sexy as I can be for my first reader—myself —and that has some obvious physical effects. On my numerous edits and rewrites, though, the sexy feelings are gone. I’m instead looking for characterization, narrative consistency, word choice, and to stop repeating the words “felt” and “sensation” so damn much.

Research doesn’t happen in the bedroom. Very little of my research involves me asking my husband to pretend to be my main character and replicate the scene from pages 73-78. I have asked him to help me practice a particular bondage knot so I can accurately describe it, but that’s as far as the “sexy research” goes. Oh, and I attend kink conventions now and then, too, so those are fun “sexy research.” Most of my research is spent on far more mundane topics, though: studying the hierarchical organization and day-to-day activities of the jobs I’m writing about, or doing Google Street View walkabouts of places I’ve never visited, or examining IKEA floor maps, to name a few.

I could lose my day job over my writing. I write under a fake name not because I’m embarrassed by what I write, but because I teach high school. While I teach in a very liberal and sex-positive part of the country, if I were “out” about my writing, it would be difficult for me to continue my work. There’s nothing illegal about what I write, which is fiction between consenting adults, but teachers are expected to maintain puritanical standards of moral conduct in their own personal lives. I’m a consummate professional with my students, but I always fear being “outed” and the impact of the reveal on my career.

It’s work, but it’s worth it. Writing a sexy letter to a lover is fun. Write a titillating erotic scene is fun. Writing an entire novel with character development, deliberate and arousing sex scenes, and a satisfying arc and resolution is a lot of work. I can’t just sit at my keyboard and crank out a novel in an evening or two, send it off for publication and be done with it. Just because there’s sex in a book (sometimes a lot of sex) doesn’t mean the book hasn’t been deliberately crafted and painstakingly edited, draft after draft. Even though the books are a lot of work, they’re so rewarding to write. Getting a book from idea to publication is incredibly satisfying. That finished product makes all the struggle worthwhile, even if I’m not just spending my spare time practicing new sex positions. Well, maybe I am… but not for book research.

The post 6 Things You Might Not Know about Life as an Erotic Romance Writer appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.