Oprah Winfrey

It has been a struggle for black celebrities to achieve equal status, the exception being Oprah Winfrey. She is often cited in polls as the most powerful and influential show business person and she is the only black billionaire in the world. This is a remarkable achievement, given her start in rural poverty and a dysfunctional family. Despite her difficult childhood, Winfrey rose to fame and fortune.

Born in Mississippi, she began her career as a news anchor for a local station and then became involved as a co-host on a talk show. This led to the Oprah Winfrey Show, which received its first national broadcast in 1986. She never looked back and the show became the most watched talk show in the history of television. It influenced other talk shows that followed over the years. Winfrey used her position to foster better attitudes with regard to race and sexual identity.

As one of the richest people in the world, she is also one of the most philanthropic, having raised money for many causes. She gives her own money away and it's said that she donates more money than any other American celebrity. Winfrey set up college scholarships for students who would not have been able to go to college if not for this financial assistance.

One of the most talked about segments of her talk show is Oprah's Book Club. Winfrey recommends a classic or new book to her viewers and the result can be astonishing. These books, even from first time and obscure authors tend to shoot up the best seller list after her inclusion of them in the show.

In addition to being a talk show host, Oprah Winfrey revealed an outstanding talent for acting in two impressive roles. In 1985, Steven Spielberg cast her as Sofia in The Color Purple. The film was adapted from the best selling book by Alice Walker and it was a story that was dear to Winfrey's heart. Her performance gave her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards. Oprah Winfrey went on to involve herself in another novel about the struggle for racial equality in 1998. She produced and starred in a film adaptation of Toni Morrison's Beloved.

The future looks bright for this star with continuing success for her production company, Harpo Productions. Oprah Winfrey has used her position of wealth and fame for the good. She is an excellent role model for anyone who wants to make something of themselves against the odds.

Natural Remedies for Losing Weight - Bitter Orange

It seems that Bitter Orange(Citrus aurantium aka sour orange, bigarade orange and Seville orange) is the "other" ephedra, and as such has similar side effects.  Natural remedies for losing weight that have Bitter Orange in them are marketed as Ephedra Free when in reality their chemical make up is almost a mirror image of the ephedrine in Ephedra.  This is just one reason why you need to be carefully reading labels and researching ingredients on any product you are considering for your weight loss journey.

Bitter Orange contains synephrine and octopamine, chemicals that may cause high blood pressure, and heart disturbances.  This herbal can also inhibit the metabolism of many drugs meaning it would increase the amount of the drug in your body and the risk of adverse side effects.  You have to stop and ask yourself if risking your health if worth it under these circumstances when you can lose weight by merely changing your diet and exercising. 
Bitter orange as well as bitter orange peel is not recommended for use in isolation - for instance, in traditional Chinese medicine, it is prescribed in support with other herbs by experienced herbalists.  The flower of the bitter orange is used for poor appetite, chest and stomach pain, and vomiting. Homeopathic practitioners use the peel and flower for headaches and pain.  Only the peel has proven medicinal value, mainly for digestive problems. 
It does appear that the several compounds in Bitter Orange will stimulate metabolic rates, but no clinical trials have actually proven this.  It may be that Bitter Orange is effect when combined with St. John's Wort and Caffeine.  However, this means three stimulants all at once.  Even in the best of circumstances, taking three known stimulants in one preparation is not a good idea.  Most natural remedies for losing weight that use Bitter Orange made from concentrated extract of the peel contain anywhere from 1 to 6 per cent synephine.  Unfortunately, this could vary up to amounts of about 30 per cent or more depending or what part of the plant was used and how it was processed.

Bottom line?  Use extreme caution when taking any herbal remedies that contain so many stimulants.  Always ask your Doctor or an experienced herbalist about these preparations before taking them.

Fast Weight Loss Tips

Are you interested in losing weight?   If you are, are you in a hurry to do so? While it is advised that you do not rely heavily on fast weight loss, also commonly referred to as rapid weight loss, there are many individuals who do.  If you are interested in losing weight, as quickly as possible, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the many ways that you can go about achieving a fat weight loss or rapid weight loss is by reducing the foods that you eat. When reducing your food consumption, it is important that you only reduce your consumption a little bit.  Unfortunately, many individuals who want to achieve fast weight loss think that they need to stop eating altogether, even if it is for two or three days.  That is something that you do not want to do.  Once you resume eating again, you will likely gain all of your weight back, almost automatically.  It is also important to mention that starving yourself is dangerous to your health.

In conjunction with reducing your food intake, it is advised that you reduce the amount of sweets or junk food that you eat. For fast weight loss, you will want to completely eliminate junk food from your diet, even if it is only for a short period of time. This means that if you want a snack, you should grab an apple or an orange instead of a chocolate bar or a bag of chips. With candy and other sweets being high in calories, you may see a significant decrease in your calorie consumption by eliminating them from your diet.

Exercise is another way that you can go about achieving fast weight loss. The thing about using exercise to achieve fast weight loss is that it is a little bit tricky. With exercise, you may not notice a significant weight loss right away.  For instance, it typically takes most individuals at least a week or two to notice an improvement in their appearance with the use of exercise. With that in mind, the more overweight you are, the sooner you may see a decrease in your weight, often quickly.

In keeping with exercise to lose weight, exercise is important to losing weight, as it helps to limit your calorie intake.  When you burn off calories, with the use of exercise, your body absorbs less calories. This is what makes it possible for you to lose weight.  Although your first though may be to start exercising as much as possible, right away, you may want to refrain from doing so.  If you aren't usually physically active, it is best to start out slow.  This should significantly reduce your risk of injuries.

Another one of the many ways that you may be able to achieve fasts weight loss or rapid weight loss is with the use of a cleanse.  These cleanses are commonly referred to as colon cleanses or weight loss cleanses.  Cleanses work by removing toxins and extra weight, actually waste, from your body.  It has been said that most individuals have at least seven or eight pounds of waste stored in their bodies.  A weight loss cleanse or a colon cleanse should help remove those toxins from your body.

Should you decide to try a colon cleanse or a weight loss cleanse, to help you achieve a fast weight loss, it is important that you read all directions given to you. Some cleanses have a strict diet that you must follow. For the fastest weight loss, you may want to examine liquid cleanses, instead of those in pill formats, as they often produce the quickest results.

The above mentioned fast weight loss tips may help you achieve fast weight loss, even if it is only a small weight loss. As a reminder, it is important to proceed with caution. While it is more that possible for you to achieve your fast weight loss goal, it can also be dangerous to you and your health.