pharmacy health

What Causes High Triglycerides - Important Facts You Should Know

2009-09-19T12:38:00.001-07:00

You've probably heard It 100 times. Eating fatty cuts of meat is bad for your heart! We've heard this all of our lives but many of us have done little to change our bad eating habits. Did you know that this is what causes high triglycerides to a large extent?

High amounts of saturated fat in your diet is the primary cause of both high LDL cholesterol readings and triglycerides. Simply put, triglycerides are the form that fat takes as it travels through the bloodstream to be deposited as fat until it is needed for energy production.

The human body really is an amazing machine. But when we allow too many of these fats in our bloodstream it will eventually lead to heart disease. This is why it's so important to understand how to reduce triglycerides.

Before I go any further, it is essential that you understand what causes high triglycerides other than high-fat foods. If you find that you have experienced a sudden increase in triglycerides even though you have been eating a low-fat high fiber diet, it is important that you speak to your doctor about it.

High triglycerides can be cause by diabetes. It can also be due to certain medications that you are taking. Even coffee, especially when prepared in a french press, has been shown to increase triglycerides for some individuals.

Having said this, the vast majority of individuals can reduce triglycerides with some very simple changes in their diet. I found that one of the most helpful and easy thing to do was to begin focusing my meals around ground turkey, boneless, skinless chicken and fish.

When properly seasoned, I actually found these foods to be more enjoyable than the typical high-fat beef and pork that I was used to eating.

However, if you are ready to seriously work at reducing high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, you will also need to include large servings of cholesterol lowering foods, which include vegetables, fruit and nuts. Eating fish or taking fish oil supplements has also been shown to help reduce triglycerides.

Understanding what causes high triglycerides is the first step to balancing out your triglyceride readings. Now it's time to take action. I encourage you to visit my website to learn about other natural tools you can use to support healthy lipid readings.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Causes-High-Triglycerides-Important-Facts-You-Should-Know&id=2934349
nexium

Lower Cholesterol by Diet - Overlooked Ideas For Reducing High Cholesterol

2009-09-19T12:31:00.001-07:00

Have you found yourself facing high cholesterol levels and the need to bring them down? If so, then it is important for you to understand that working to lower cholesterol by diet has been shown to be just as effective, and sometimes more so than using statin medication to reduce your high cholesterol levels.

This has been proven in the lives of thousands of individuals in our country. I recently read an article in U.S. News & World Report about a doctor who found that he was able to get excellent results by combining a cholesterol lowering diet with increased amounts of exercise, when he found he could no longer tolerate the side effects of statin medication.

As a matter of fact, doctors throughout our country are encouraging their patients to look into diets to lower cholesterol because of how frequently their patients are experiencing these side effects.

If you've decided to lower cholesterol by diet, there are basically two things you will need to do:

1.) Reduce the amount of saturated fats that you're consuming, and

2.) Increase the amounts of cholesterol lowering foods that you consume each day.

I personally found it helpful to use a structured diet plan such as the South Beach diet to reduced by high cholesterol readings. Many diets like this provide excellent, heart healthy recipes that make it easy to follow for the long-term.

It is important to realize that diets to lower cholesterol do not specifically need to be designed as a cholesterol lowering diet. It has been shown that when you lose weight, your cholesterol readings will come down proportionately.

As long as the diet plan you choose emphasizes a substantial reduction in the amounts of beef and pork, and an increase in the amounts of vegetables, nuts and whole grains, you will find that it is an effective tool for reducing high lipid readings.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Lower-Cholesterol-by-Diet-Overlooked-Ideas-For-Reducing-High-Cholesterol&id=2940853
hoodia

Discover the Different Omega 3 Rich Foods

2009-09-19T12:24:00.001-07:00

The omega 3 is often referred to as the fat of life, since it plays an essential role for the human health. It is a type of acid that our body needs, but at the same time is unable to produce. Thus we have to take them from other sources, like the omega 3 rich foods.

The food that we consume daily is more often than not suitable for all the needs of our body. We miss plenty of vitamins and essential acids simply because we eat food that is chemically processed and all the nutrients are practically altered.

This happens as well with the omega 3 intake, that is way too less for our necessities. The best from the omega 3 rich foods is the wild fish that contains large quantities of such oil. It is recommended to eat plenty of it as often as possible, but you need to keep in mind that the oceans are polluted and the level of toxins in these fish can be very increased. Thus, you need to consume them responsibly.

Some other foods that can be classified in this category are the leafy greens such as kale and spinach, strawberries, flaxseed, almonds and walnut. You can also find the acids in some types of meat, like chicken and beef. The eggs are as well a source of omega-3 acids, but you need to pay attention to their provenience. Try to choose only the eggs that come from hens that are correctly fed.

If you consider it is too complicated to take the necessary amount of omega 3 from the sources described above, you can always try the dietary supplements that will offer you all the necessary intake and all you have to do is to take a tablet every day. This way, you will make sure that you will enjoy a healthy life for the tears to come.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Discover-the-Different-Omega-3-Rich-Foods&id=2942011
diet hylpropion news

Eating For Profit - How Food Impacts Your Bottom Line

2009-09-19T12:17:00.001-07:00

I must confess that I was teaching what I'm about to share before I practiced it myself. As they say, "teach what you need to learn"; that was certainly true for me. I'm pleased now to share this with you from a place of real, bonafide experience. What I'm about to tell you has changed my life in a more profound way then just about anything else I've ever learned.

I've had a long history of "mental illness" as they call it. Mild bi-polar, depression, and add just to name a few. I've been diagnosed with all of them at one time or another. For the most part, I've been grateful to all of this mental trauma, because it has caused me go to these deep dark places inside and helped me really search for peace. I remember Eckart Tolle said that the ones of us who are in more pain are closer to enlightenment, because we have a reason to seek it. I'd say that's about right.

Being an entrepreneur will call forth strength and wisdom you have inside like nothing else can. It will also "force" you to integrate parts of yourself: Your left and right brain; your mind, body and spirit; your inner child and your true self, just to name a few. You will need all of these parts of yourself working with you to be truly successful: meaning that you have money, free time, and you're living with passion and purpose.

I believe this is why 90% of businesses can't make it off the ground, because they're lacking integration. Most entrepreneurs just want to do their craft without any attention to detail or the marketing of their craft - and I'm sorry, that just doesn't work well. Some want to inspire others, but they don't take care of themselves. Integration takes practice and perspective, but today I'm going to share one essential piece of this puzzle that has changed my life in a way I can feel physically, emotionally, and mentally faster than anything I've ever done.

What I'm writing to you about today is nutrition. As I'm writing this, I'm stopping to take a bite of my delicious lunch salad that includes: swiss chard, rosemary, basil, spinach, kale, parsley, arugula, spring greens, tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, leeks, cucumber, olive oil, lemon, and this "salad booster" seasoning that I get in the raw food section of Whole Foods with seven different super foods in it. Now, just imagine how I feel after eating that?

Since I'm inclined to have wacky brain chemistry, I started to take an interest in how food affects that. Food is so important and vital to good brain chemistry, being happy, having an optimistic attitude and having energy. I can now say from experience that I feel more like "myself" than ever before in my life. It's truly amazing.

How does this effect your bottom line? THINK ABOUT IT. What do you need to make more money? You need energy, an uplifting attitude, clarity, and focus, right? Of course! If you are starting your day with a cup of coffee and a bagel, you're not headed that way.

This is not what you want when you have your own business. You want to start your day with cleansing your body, moving your body, and good first meal that will set you up for a whole day of inspired action and groundedness.

Here are some pointers I suggest:

1. Drink 20 - 30 oz of water when you first wake up. Try some water with a little bit of lemon, honey, and aloe vera juice to jumpstart your body's cleansing processes.

2. Exercise for at least 20 minutes every day. If you take a day or two a week off from "exercise" then sit and do some stretching and deep breathing.

3. Start the day off with a healthy shake. It has been shown that protein in the morning can help your focus all day, but you also need vitamins and minerals and healthy fats. No better way to do this than with a shake. It's also SUPER easy on your digestion which will keep you high energy for 3 - 4 hours. I have a fantastic recipe I use for mine (stay away from slim fast & related products, they're full of refined sugar, that's a no-no.)

I'll share my recipe with you, enjoy:

1 can of coconut juice (Amy & Brian's)

Some water (enough to blend everything good)

1 oz of mangosteen juice (or mangosteen/noni blend) (big thing costs about $20 but lasts a while)

1 teaspoon of raw cacao nibs

1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses

1/2 teaspoon of ground flax seed

1 teaspoon of raw coconut oil

2 teaspoons of hemp protein powder

1/2 teaspoon of bee pollen (please read about this when you buy it - you have to build up to that over a week or two, and careful of allergies)

Fruit:

1/2 cup (or so) of fresh blueberries

More berries are good, fresh is good but I like some frozen fruit for texture. I use a frozen berry blend (raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, and strawberries)

1 teaspoon green super-food powder (includes Spirulina, blue/green algae, etc

This will give you more nutrition than the average person gets in a month. Every single one of these foods is amazing! Care for your body, it's an essential key to your happiness, health, and wealth!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Eating-For-Profit-How-Food-Impacts-Your-Bottom-Line&id=2930694
nexium

Benefits of a Low Sodium Diet

2009-09-19T12:10:00.001-07:00

When shopping for food, most of us look at the calorie, fat, carbohydrate and protein content.

But what about sodium?

It is recommended that that we consume 1500-2500mg of sodium daily, yet the average person's intake is a soaring 4000mg! It's obvious that we are not aware of the sodium content in our favourite foods.

Sodium is essential in small amounts, It helps to maintain the correct level of fluids in our bodies, assists with transmitting nerve impulses, and influences the contraction, and relaxation of muscles.

However, a diet high in sodium is known to cause: High blood pressure, with all of the medical risks associated with the condition, and bloating, caused by water retention.

A diet low in sodium prevents heart disease and from a weight loss/maintenance prospective, keeps bloating at a minimum, avoiding the dreaded "water weight."

It's important to be able to spot the sodium. Read labels to find out if the serving is too high. In addition to a quick check, read food labels for the following ingredients:

- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Disodium phosphate
- Sodium alginate
- Sodium nitrate or nitrite

Avoid a high sodium intake by cooking with less salt and even more importantly, avoiding frozen and processed foods. Frozen dinners are packed with sodium for flavour and a longer shelf life. It's amazing how much can be in these frozen entrees. I really love the President's Choice Blue Menu vegetable lasagna, until I read that my share of the tray equals over 1000mg of sodium! This is a meal advertised as healthy! It only goes to show, that packaging is deceiving, and we need to be more vigilant with our grocery shopping.

Shop Smart!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-of-a-Low-Sodium-Diet&id=2941406
nexium

Healthy Meal Recipes - Let's Enjoy a Healthier Dinner

2009-09-19T12:03:00.001-07:00

It matters little that whether you are cooking for your family or for a get together, all you want while you cook is a sign of pleasure on each face as they are finished with their lunch or dinner. For that you surely need some assistance and this is what makes healthy meal recipes so very important. You get some great ideas about some delicious dishes that can be cooked quickly and served fast.

Here's a healthy meal recipe that is easy to cook and sweet to eat.

It takes only 30 minutes with no added sugar and is low in calories.

Mixed berries and Semolina pudding

1 | milk
A pinch of salt
150 g semolina
20 g butter
2 eggs, separated
20 g extra cold butter
1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
750 g berry mix (frozen)

(1) Boil the milk after adding salt and butter to it.

(2) As the milk starts heating up, cook the fruit according to the instruction cited on the package.

(3) Stir the semolina as the milk starts boiling. Trim down the heat slowly to allow it to simmer for around 10 minutes. The mixture turns thick gradually. Keep stirring to avoid burning.

(4) Include the left over butter and little beaten egg yolks. Add cinnamon also to the pudding. Mix it well, beat the egg whites to stiff, and then cautiously place them under the pudding. Mix some of the fruits, spread berries on the top for decoration, add a bit of cinnamon and it's ready to serve.

With the economic slow down of recent times eating out all the time is getting difficult for most of us. Moreover, foods containing high calorie, fat and sodium or meals packed, boxed, or frozen for a long time are giving real tough time to many of us. Easy healthy meal recipes offer you a scope to enjoy fast flavorsome meals at home.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Healthy-Meal-Recipes-Lets-Enjoy-a-Healthier-Dinner&id=2941971
nexium

Meal Planning Software - A Smarter Technique For Healthy Eating

2009-09-19T11:56:00.001-07:00

We have had long discussions over nutrition and diet for years. Yet there are number of people not really satisfied with the dietary plans and health products they get in the market. So, meal planning software has truly hit the floor at the right time. It is because if you are not happy with a particular food chart it doesn't mean that the chart is worthless. On the contrary the diet chart that you have picked up is possibly wrong for you. In order to make any diet effectual, a proper planning is indispensable.

The recipes we find out via internet or books are required to be stored in a place and utilized properly. This is the reason why meal planning software is so very important today. There are quite a few software programs that are hugely used these days. Thousands of people across the world are taking advantage of these software packages.

Meal planning software programs are of great assistance in quiet a few ways like:

It offers you advanced meal planning: you get to enjoy highly developed meal planning that not only assure a proper diet to you and your family but at the same time help you in budget management.

It means more calculated shopping: Spending your valuable time wandering all around the market choosing what you should buy and how much you should spend is wastage of time and energy. With meal planning software you have everything set in a way that makes grocery shopping spontaneous.

Software means greater efficiency: it allows you to arrange your meals far sooner and use all that you have in store. This certainly assures less waste and stops food going bad for improper planning.

It is the answer to rising food costs: There are number of software programs suitable to various needs and circumstances. Hence finding out the chart proper for you and your family is never a difficult task. As the cost of food is mounting high meal planning software is a great way to help you fight rising food costs.

If you are one of them who have a packed schedule, family responsibilities, moreover work alone for most of the times at home then using meal planning software should fall at the frontline of your priority list. The fact is a proper planning can truly bring some magical changes to your life.

Today, with technological developments we have come far regarding the internet applications, software developments and the bulk of websites that we visit everyday to discover and create new things. One among them is new recipes that assure us taste, health and shape.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Meal-Planning-Software-A-Smarter-Technique-For-Healthy-Eating&id=2941919
hoodia

Adding Cultured Foods Into Your Diet - Improving Digestive Health

2009-09-19T11:49:00.001-07:00

Cultured foods are in the news often discussing the benefits provided for intestinal health. Many alternative practitioners see the care of one's intestines as a key to achieving optimal health.

Yogurt is the cultured food that most people are familiar with due to exposure in commercials. It is reported that one's ldl cholesterol level can be lowered with regular consumption. One important point to note is that it's best to ingest yougrut that does not have added sugars or fruit. This negates the value of the yogurt. Instead, add bananas or mixed fruit yourself to counteract the bland taste of yogurt. Natural antibiotics are present in yogurt and fermented milk-based products. It can be the base of a delicious fruit shake mixed with crushed ice and a little juice.

Another fermented food which benefits the digestive process is cottage cheese. Not only does this provide good, friendly bacteria but it's also a nutritious source of calcium and protein.

A third source of cultured foods is whey. Whey can be added in with soups and juices. The poem "Little Miss Muffet" is about eating one's curds and whey.

Kefir is a fourth food that is useful for digestive health. It is available for health food stores and in certain supermarkets. It is a beverage that is made from grains. Many people are not familiar with kefir but it has been used by many who frequent health food stores for years.

Bacterial imbalances can result in ibs and chronic constipation problems. It also is the root of a variety of modern diseases according to naturopaths.

A Pennsylvania study study found that meditation is a useful tool to improve digestive health. Our bodies relax when we meditate and the ph of saliva is increased becoming more alkalinic. The body also produces more saliva when relaxed.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Adding-Cultured-Foods-Into-Your-Diet-Improving-Digestive-Health&id=2941859
diet hylpropion news

Want More Antioxidants? Find Out What Foods Contain Lycopene

2009-09-03T12:32:00.001-07:00

Introduction

The question regarding what foods contain lycopene has a fairly simple answer because there are several sources for this nutrient. While tomatoes are among the commonest, they are not the richest, and the available amount also depends on the processing. So if one is going to get this from their diet, knowledge of what foods contain lycopene is helpful in deciding the best source.

Sources

The list of what foods contain lycopene includes several fruits and vegetables among which are: rosehip, gac, pink grapefruit, tomatoes, wolfberry, pink guava, seabuckthorn, watermelon, red bell pepper and papaya.

While gac - a native fruit of south east Asia - is the richest source with a concentration of between 2000 -2300 micrograms per gram, it is not found much elsewhere. It is however a promising source for commercial production.

Tomatoes - with a raw concentration of between 9 and 42 micrograms per gram account for the commonest source of dietary intake for most people. When all their processed forms are included, they account for 85% of the dietary intake in the United States.

It may seem strange, but the more that tomatoes are processed, the more available this nutrient becomes. This is contrary to what we generally find with most fruit and vegetables for example we lose vitamin C with cooking. In contrast, products like tomato paste, tomato puree, ketchup, juices etc contain more bioavailable compound than raw tomatoes.

So crushing and cooking tomatoes increases the availability. In fact the compound in tomato paste is four times more available than that in fresh tomatoes.

The compound is described as lipophilic which means it loves oils and fats in which it dissolves. On the other hand it literally hates water and is not soluble in it. Dishes that are rich in oil such as pizza and spaghetti sauce greatly increase the absorption from the digestive system into the blood stream.

Most leafy fruit and vegetables (with the notable exception of gac) are low in fats and oils. If one needs to maximize the absorption from these sources then they need to supplement with some oil and fat.

Can one get it from supplements?

As we have seen, bioavailability may be an issue and we need oil to maximize absorption. We have also seen that there are different concentrations in different sources. So while diet is a good source, getting a known amount and ensuring that it is maximally absorbed can be a challenge.

A nutritional supplement may help to get around this. The best is often a multi-ingredient nutritional formulation rather than a single substance nutraceutical which lacks the support of other compounds and co-factors that maximize effectiveness.

I am aware from personal use of a product that contains at least 90 ingredients including resveratrol, green tea, policosanol, multi-vitamins, ginko biloba, trace elements and many others. Clearly the cancer fighting properties of resveratrol and green tea when added to the powerful antioxidant effects of lycopene make such a combination hard to beat.

So although we know a bit about what foods contain lycopene, there is much more. If you would like to know more especially about the multi-ingredient supplements that can help you realize the full benefits of lycopene, then please visit my website today.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Want-More-Antioxidants?-Find-Out-What-Foods-Contain-Lycopene&id=2856181
sexuality health

The Importance of Adequate Protein Intake While Training

2009-09-03T12:26:00.001-07:00

Many folks aspire to building muscle while lifting weights for several reasons like improved confidence, improved strength, general well being and fitness or for sport specific purposes. Whatever the explanation for needing to add muscle there's one part of building muscle that is important and that's eating.

Eating adequate food so your body has substance is extraordinarily critical but the most significant food type for somebody lifting weights is protein. The technical and academic reason is that protein is a nitrogenous organic compound composed from polymers of amino acids.

A protein strand is composed of up to 20 different amino acids each joined together by peptide bonds to guarantee they stay stable. For the layman this means it's necessary in the diet of all living animals as it supports the repairand bulding of tissues.

Without protein you would not be in a position to live as it supports many of the body's processes. In weightlifting protein makes up a major part of the muscle so helping the muscles cells reconstruct bigger and stronger after a session, sufficient protein intake from eating is required to start the repair and growth process. The average man wants around 65 grams of protein every day except for somebody wanting to build muscle this increases. To make the most out of your training session and see a massive increase in muscle density the ideal quantity of protein needed is 0.75 grams to one gram of protein per pound you weigh (1.65 to 2.2 grams of protein for every kilogram). To put this into proportion a person who weighs 205 pounds (93 kilograms) would need to take 154 to 205 grams of protein a day. This protein intake shouldn't amount to over about thirty percent of the total daily food consumption (proteins, carbs and fats). Some folks supplement their protein intake with protein shakes but these should really only be used as an addition to your diet not a meal replacement.

Experience shows it is advantageous to eat little and frequently when wanting to create muscle mass as this ensures a regular flow of proteins into the body to support the building and repair of some surely massive muscle gains. Many weightlifters eat five to six meals per day at two and a half hour intervals for optimum benefits.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Adequate-Protein-Intake-While-Training&id=2847638
nexium

The 10 Commandments For Optimal Health & Fat Loss

2009-09-03T12:20:00.001-07:00

Maintaining a state of optimal health is essential if you want to build a better body. If the natural balance of health within the body is thrown off, your fat loss efforts will suffer. Nutrition for fat loss, fitness, and health all go hand in hand.

It's impossible to look great when you feel awful if that makes any sense. But if you want to feel great you must keep your body healthy. In order to remain healthy you need to eat whole foods that are left in their natural unaltered state because they are pure, whole, and rich in nutrients. These nutrients will keep your body functioning at its peak, as well as keep you healthy and lean.

Good health is not a gift from above, but rather your chance to show your appreciation of life by doing everything in your power to sustain a high level of well being. Good health is earned and it is always worth working hard for.

There is nothing in life that is more valuable than good health, and there is no reason to go through life suffering with preventable disease and being overweight.

There is also no shortcut or cheap substitute for achieving good health, so if you have been neglecting your nutrition I have laid out a few simple guidelines/rules to follow that will help you create a new sense of well-being, boost your energy levels, and get your health back on track.

The 10 Commandments for Optimal Health and Fat Loss:

1. Food should be natural, fresh, pure, and whole.

Whole foods that are left in their natural, un-altered state are the highest in nutritional value. These foods will help you build a body that is healthy, strong, and fit.

2. Maintain an 80% alkaline and 20% acid ratio.

Proteins and starches are acid, vegetables and fruits are alkaline. Just about all of the metabolic wastes of the body are acids so we need to eat alkaline forming foods like fruits and vegetables to neutralize these acid wastes. Acid wastes are especially dangerous because they are believed to cause a variety of health problems and chronic diseases.

3. Be active.

Your body was designed to move around and be active so it is important that you challenge your muscles every day. If you do not have time to make it to the gym, just do a few pushups at work or take a brisk 15 minute walk during the day. If you are sitting at home watching tv, why not jump rope or do some abdominal exercises instead of laying there collecting dust?

I like to think of my body as an expensive sports car and treat it as such. I don't put crap fuel in it, I always perform routine maintenance, and when I am not on the race track I take it around the block every so often to keep it running smoothly. Your body is the biggest "investment" that you have so be sure to take care of it. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, try to always make the best use of them.

4. Eliminate the three silent killers: white sugar, white flour and refined salt.

These are the top three foods to avoid if you ever want to be healthy and fit. Table salt can elevate blood pressure, increase your risk of stroke and harden the arteries. Too much table salt can also cause you to retain excess water and carry unwanted pounds. Be sure to only eat foods that contain the "organic" sodium that occurs naturally in them and avoid refined table salt at all costs.

Refined foods like white flour and sugar provide no nutritional value and are full of empty calories. Eating these foods also puts an extreme strain on the liver and can stop fat loss in its tracks. Avoid all foods made with white flour and sugar and eat natural raw foods like fruits and vegetables instead. Natural foods in their raw form have the highest nutritional value of all foods and are chock full of the best vitamins, minerals, fiber, and live enzymes.

5. Drink plenty of water.

Since our bodies are over 70% water, drinking water is essential for optimal health. Water helps prime the body for fat loss, as well as flush out harmful toxins. Not drinking enough can lead to a water imbalance in the body, which can increase your risk of disease. Be sure to drink between 64 and 128 ounces of water daily.

6. Eat in moderation.

Eating the same foods in excess can cause nutritional deficiencies because this means that other foods are not used in sufficient variety in the diet. Many bodybuilders and amateur lifters are guilty of this and fall into the chicken, broccoli, and sweet potato every day trap.

In order to burn fat and remain healthy it is important to eat enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats daily. However, each macronutrient should be eaten in the correct amount at each meal. This prevents overeating and helps maintain a balanced combination of foods in the diet.

7. Never fry foods or use heated oils to cook food.

Foods that are cooked in oils and/or fried are cooked at high heat. This high heat food preparation process is dangerous because it lowers nutritional value and makes food almost impossible to digest. Cooking using heated oils and frying is also a contributing factor to heart disease, hardening of the arteries, and high cholesterol.

8. Eat plenty of fiber.

If you wish to remain healthy, you cannot understate the importance of dietary fiber. Fiber improves digestion, keeps bad cholesterol levels down, and provides satiety which will keep you feeling fuller longer. If you are trying to keep calories low and lose weight, eating enough fiber is very important. Good sources of fiber include, but are not limited to: apples, pears, raspberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, spinach, kidney beans, navy beans, and almonds. Eat between 20-25 grams of fiber daily.

9. Let nature work its magic to heal.

We tear our bodies down when we exercise. In order to recover and keep our bodies steadily burning fat and building muscle we must eat properly, get enough sleep, and supply the body with the nutrients that it needs to repair tissue.

10. Keep variety in your diet.

Any diet is boring without variety, but even more importantly, when we lack nutritional variety we can't supply the body with all of the nutrients that it needs to remain in optimal health. Maintaining variety in your diet guarantees your body gets all of the nutrients it needs to remain healthy. Most diseases are associated with a nutritional deficiency of some sort so it is very important that we add variety to our diet so that we get the full spectrum nutrients that we need to remain healthy.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-10-Commandments-For-Optimal-Health-and-Fat-Loss&id=2855517
sildenafil

The 4 Key Mistakes of Contemporary Bodybuilding Diets

2009-09-03T12:14:00.001-07:00

It has become a normal thing to find a body builder who trains ever so hard, always in the gym and pumping the mightiest of weights, but with minimal muscle packs to show for it. It is not rare these days top find a body builder who has been in the gym for year but looks like he or she has just started on the muscle building venture. In most times, the problem here is dieting.

If you have yourself training very hard and are still dissatisfied with the results or that your rate of growth is far too minimal, then it is wise to look into your dieting program and establish whether any of the following blunders are present. If any of them is there, then you know why the bulk up process is marred, take up corrective action and live your true potential in bulk and strength.

Getting too hungry at times. You should never allow yourself to get too hungry before you eat something. The forth coming meal should be eaten before the stomach starts to bite. This requires that you set up particular meals times, make time to prepare and eat the food and then to plan the meals before hand to avoid moments when the meal is late. When you get far too hungry, you tend to eat much more than is ideal in one meal and then again, you expose your body to moments when there ids no nutrients in the body to be used in the growth and energy supply.

Feeding on processed foods. Processed carbohydrates like breakfast cereals, whiter breads, fruit juices and candies among other common foods have very high levels of simple sugars which are unhealthy. High quantities of simple sugars are converted to body fats very fast especially if your body does not need them immediately. Again, they prompt a production of high kevels of insulin which converts them into other forms of energy to the extent that the blood sugar gets far too low than is ideal. Complex curbs are better and this should be sourced from starchy natural carbohydrate foods.

Excluding Vegetables from the diet. Many body builders forget or disregard the role of veges in the diet. It is not about loving them or not but about there importance as part of the diet, in providing vital nutrients and minerals while also amplifying the rate of nutrient digestion and absorption. Leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, asparagus among other must be included in your daily diet. For one, vegetables are rich in vitamins and fiber. Better still, they are very hard to digest as compared to proteins and therefore enable you to burn much more calories during the digestion processes.

Skipping breakfast. So many body builders make the mistake of ignoring breakfast. The break fast might actually be the single most important meal of the day and it is during this time that you should eat most of your complex curbs and proteins since you will have the rest of the day to digest them, again, the breakfast wakes up a metabolism system that had gone to sleep and therefore amplifies your appetite for the rest of the day.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-4-Key-Mistakes-of-Contemporary-Bodybuilding-Diets&id=2854842
insurance

The Sneaky Food Label Secrets You Need to Know

2009-09-03T12:08:00.001-07:00

Do you want the bad news or the good news first?

Why don't we get the bad news out of the way? That 20 oz. bottle of Sprite you just gulped down has twice the calories as is listed on the bottle. You didn't just drink the 110 calories listed on the label, but over twice of those calories! Does your stomach feel a little more bloated after reading that?

Now for the good news, this can be avoided by learning how to properly read nutritional labels. A closer inspection of that Sprite bottle reveals that it is 2.5 servings, not 1. That means when you drink the entire bottle, the calories, sugar, sodium, etc are almost triple the numbers listed.

Is it any wonder why there are so many overweight people in our society with sneaky tactics like this used by the manufacturers? On thousands of nutritional labels, you will notice what is packaged is not always just one serving. Many times it can be multiple servings, which can easily be the reason for your expanding waistband.

Another sneaky tactic used by manufacturers is "no sugar added". Many times people believe that the product is then unsweetened, which is not usually the case. This is almost always code that you will find aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, or another similar sugar substitue. Since sugar is a natural product and its substitutes are chemical based, it is always best to go with a low sugar based product.

When buying whole grain foods, never go by what is listed on the front. Many products will claim they are "made from whole grains", which can be deceiving. You must always check the label and be sure that "whole wheat flour" is listed as the first ingredient. If you see it is made of "enriched flour" or "wheat flour", then it is made from white flour, which you want to avoid.

Unfortunately, the manufactures are legally allowed to list their nutritional values in such a manner. So as with most things in life, it is up to you to understand exactly what you are putting in your body by closely inspecting each nutritional label.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Sneaky-Food-Label-Secrets-You-Need-to-Know&id=2855283
diet hylpropion news

Fish Oils - Omega-3 For the Nutritionally Challenged (Last of 4)

2009-08-29T04:23:00.001-07:00

After dealing with the Essential Fatty Acids, that brings me to that good ol' food supplement, Cod Liver Oil, and other fish oils. Yeah, they're good for you. They contain two non-essential Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which your body does need.

Recent research in UK schools has shown that, because of a junky diet, a lot of kids have problems absorbing and converting what little of the essential fatty acid ALA they eat. So for them, fish oil supplements give a noticeable nutritional boost, and improve their health and concentration better than, say, supplementary flax oil, which is 40%+ ALA. Eating saturated and trans-fats (as in a lot of fast foods and margarines) blocks your take-up of ALA and most people are also vitamin and mineral deficient, so this result isn't surprising.

But if your levels of vitamins C, B3 and B6, magnesium and zinc (the cofactors for utilizing ALA) are fine, your body can make as much EPA and DHA as you need from ALA. My advice is to quit fish oil supplements. They taste foul, because they're usually rancid by the time you get them, and they're not worth the cost. Instead, eat oily fish once or twice a week. Eating the skin also doubles your oil intake. That'll ease the strain on your ALA requirement.

The fish needs to be EPA and DHA rich, so farmed fish is rarely useful -- it's fed on junk food, not small fish and the sea creatures like shrimp and other plankton that feed on the algae, that give fish their good oils. The best fish to use is caught wild in waters as close to the poles as possible. Salmon, trout, herring and mackerel are typical species. Tuna isn't good -- it lives in warmer seas and has little of the Good Oils. Some parts of other sub-arctic fish are Good Oil rich -- that's why Cod Liver Oil is good. But it's usually rancid when you get it and Not Nice!

Do you really need fish oils?

If you are short of those five nutrients above and won't eat or supplement to get them, your body will find it hard to make your own EPA from ALA. In that case, you must have fish oil, or the new and currently limited-distribution algal-derived EPA/DHA oils, which are made from tank-bred algae of the kinds the fish feed on -- ideal for vegetarians. Though that'll leave you still ALA-deficient. Flax oil is the better choice.

I'll end this whole series with a quickie advice wrap-up.

You need ALA. Flax oil in your diet is the best source by far. A tablespoonful or two a day is good. You probably eat too much Omega-6 LA. Cut down till LA is no more than three times your ALA. Some fresh, wild-caught sub-arctic oily fish is a great supplement, though not vital if you eat plenty of ALA with its cofactors.So, which is for you? Bad Health -- ignore it all and pig out? Pop fish oil capsules (Ugh!) Or balance your diet and get ALA from flax oil?

diet hylpropion news

Why Buy Organic?

2009-08-28T23:22:00.001-07:00

Organic foods are better for your health and contain fewer toxins; they are the smarter grocery shopping alternative. Does the price tag turn you off? Sometimes in life we must make important choices, choices that involve where we really want to put our money. Why not invest in your health? It's a surefire winner. Nonetheless there are always great tips to get you the organic foods you need not want but, where it can still be easy on the pocketbook.

Organic products according to the USDA are foods whose ingredients cannot have been made using most synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetic engineering. There are so many reasons to eat organic foods such as to protect our future, to prevent soil erosion, to save energy, to protect our waters, and to keep toxins off of your food, thus out of your body.

Studies have shown that foods with hormones, pesticides have long term negative effects. There are so many diseases today that we have lost count. Many new ones arise on a daily basis. Do you want to be a new statistic in the ill department? We don't know all of the facts, but we do know that healthier is better so making the right decisions today can save your life tomorrow.

Purchasing organic products from local farmers can create abundance in your community and create a feeling of unity. You're entrusting your local farmer with your health and that's a huge responsibility. As I always say use caution with everything. Do your homework. Get involved. Organic products create change not just in your home, but your community.

Remember to:

Do your research. There are many great store brand organic goods now available.
There are many agriculture programs where you can buy a small share.
Join a Sam's club or Costco.
Buy large amounts when they are in season.
Grow your own and involve the family.
Shop online.
Use the old fashioned method of clipping coupons.
Adjust your grocery budget.

Good luck on your organic journey. Remember to ask questions, visit the message boards and blogs. Have fun with your nutritional changes and make informed decisions.

hoodia

3 of Our Favorite "Superfoods" That Really Are Super!

2009-08-28T23:16:00.001-07:00

Although I spent 25 years in the restaurant business, the time spent certainly did not make me an expert on nutrition. Regardless, I still get asked a considerable amount of questions on the subject with it's relation to food, as I am considered to be an "expert" on the subject by many of my peers simply because I was a chef for so long. I was having a conversation recently with a dinner guest and was asked about "Superfoods".

'Andrew, What the heck are "Superfoods"?' Here is some interesting and valuable info I found on the subject. Superfood is a term sometimes used to describe food with high phytonutrient content that some may believe confers health benefits as a result. For example, blueberries are often considered a superfood (or superfruit) because they contain significant amounts of antioxidants, anthocyanins, vitamin C, manganese, and dietary fiber. With that said, let's take a closer look at the Allium Family of "Superfoods".

The Allium Family - Considered by many experts to be a "Top 10" family of Superfoods.

Allium is the onion genus, with about 1250 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. They are perennial bulbous plants that produce chemical compounds (mostly cysteine sulfoxide) that give them a characteristic onion or garlic taste and odor, and many are used as food plants. Allium is classified in family Alliaceae although some classifications have included it in the lily family (Liliaceae).

Today we will focus primarily on: Garlic, Onions and Leeks, which also includes Chives, Shallots and Scallions.

Garlic, onions, leeks and chives contain flavonoids that stimulate the production of Glutathione. Glutathione is a tripeptide (A tripeptide is a peptide consisting of three amino acids joined by peptide bonds) and is considered to be the liver's most potent antioxidant, protecting cells from toxins such as free radicals. Glutathione enhances the elimination of toxins and carcinogens, putting the Allium family of vegetables at the top of the list for foods that can help prevent cancer.

Here are just a few benefits from members of the Allium family:

Garlic

* Lowers total cholesterol (but raises HDL-"good"-cholesterol)

* Lessens the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

* Lowers blood pressure

* Reduces the risk of blood clots (cause of the majority of strokes and heart attacks)

* Destroys infection-causing viruses and bacteria

* Reduces the risk of certain cancers, in particular, stomach cancers

* Produces more "natural killer" cells in the blood to fight tumors and infections

* Helps fight against neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's

* Enhances detoxification by reducing toxins

For optimum effect, eat garlic raw. Cooking can destroy some of the allicin compound, which is the active constituent.

Onions

* Inhibit the growth of cancerous cells

* Increase in HDL cholesterol (especially when eaten raw)

* Reduce total cholesterol levels

* Increase blood-clot dissolving activity

* Help prevent colds

* Stimulate the immune system

* Reduce the risks of diabetes

* Have antibacterial and antifungal properties

* Reduce the risk of certain cancers

* Help relieve stomach upset and other gastrointestinal disorders

Onions contain two powerful antioxidants, sulphur and quercetin. Both help neutralize the free radicals in the body, and protect the membranes of the body's cells from damage.

Leeks

Leeks have all of the healthy properties of the Allium family as described above. However leeks also contain these nutrients:

* Vitamin B6

* Vitamin C

* Folate

* Manganese

* Iron

* Fiber

This particular combination of nutrients makes leeks particularly helpful in stabilizing blood sugar, since they not only slow the absorption of sugars from the intestinal tract, but help ensure that they are properly metabolized in the body. So, get out there and eat your garlic, onions and chives. Just remember to keep a breath mint handy! Besides, who doesn't like garlic and onions? I cannot even imagine a world without them!

Excerpts taken from and credit given to: Wikipedia and "Dr. Perricone's 10 Superfoods"

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The Common Polyunsaturate - Linoleic Acid - The Omega-6 EFA (Second of 4)

2009-08-28T23:10:00.001-07:00

LA is the key Omega-6 fatty acid. It's easy to get from a wide range of vegetable sources, so if you're already health-conscious you probably get more than the minimum you need for health -- in fact, you may get too much for good health!

Go for almost anything natural marked as polyunsaturated and you'll almost certainly be eating an LA-rich food. Foods particularly rich in it are any containing these oils:
Corn Cottonseed Grapeseed Hemp Soybean SunflowerThey're all 50%+ LA. Just don't go fanatic and overdose! Oils are bad for you in large amounts. You need only about a tablespoon of LA a day, under 20 grams, which is 2 tablespoons of the oils above. And a lot of other oils and manufactured foods you'll be eating contain a little LA -- it all adds up. Also note that if you eat much more Omega-6 than Omega-3, you'll run the risk of Omega-3 deficiency as your extraction enzymes are swamped with the Omega-6. See the next article in this series for more.

Refined oils

If the oil is refined (it will say if it's not, and most of these oils must be refined to extract the oil or kill bad flavors) then expect there to be less LA and more toxic refinery by-products. Keep away from cottonseed oil; from the huge use of pesticides cotton needs, there are toxic elements in it: not much, but enough if you value clean foods. Corn oil is only 4% in the cob. It has to be solvent extracted: do you like eating dry cleaning fluid? It's hard to totally remove it.

Using LA-rich oils

You can use the oils any way you like except for frying (sort of OK if it's refined), as this destroys a lot of the essential fatty acids. Try adding it to soups, stews, hashes and curries, or using it in a salad dressing. Coconut, olive and palm oil are mostly mono-unsaturated and have little LA; they're better for frying.

Now you have to look at your diet and try to decide if you're eating too little or too much LA for good health, and make your own correction. In common Western diets, it could be either, though most people overdose on Omega-6.

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Fats in Your Diet

2009-08-28T23:04:00.001-07:00

With all the hype about cholesterol and cutting out fats from our diets, people tend to forget that there are some fats we need. So it is important to distinguish between the healthy fats, the ones we should minimize and the ones to be totally avoided. Our diets should contain Omega-6 EFA's and Omega-3 EFA's. However the usual American diet has too many Omega-6 EFA's and a deficiency in Omega-3 EFA's. The ideal ratio of Omega 6 to Omega s is 2:1 or 4:1. However, in most cases the standard American diet has a ratio of 14:1 or 20:1.

Omega-6 EFAs are important in your diet and can be obtained from nuts, peanut butter, avocados, sesame seeds, and olive oil. However, the problem is that most people get an excess of Omega-6 EFAs but they don't get enough of Omega-3 EFA's. That creates the imbalance that is detrimental to one's health. This can be particularly significant in the case of people who have inflammatory type health problems such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, eczema, and acne. The imbalance of Omega 6 to Omega 3 promotes inflammation. Whereas proper intake of Omega 3 has anti-inflammatory effects.

Some research has suggested that people with rheumatoid arthritis can improve their condition by eating over two servings a week of salmon, mackerel, or sardines that are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. And it also suggests that taking the fatty acids in capsule form can be beneficial as well. Other research has substantiated that the omega-3 fatty acids offer protection against atherosclerosis, and abnormal heart rhythms. These are among the top ten leading causes of death in people forty-five years and older in the United States.

The fats that should be minimized are the saturated fats derived from animal sources. The ones that absolutely should be avoided are trans fats or partially hydrogenated fats. In addition to increasing the risk of stroke and heart disease they are also associated with type 2 diabetes. To eliminate trans fats from their diets, people have to be food detectives. Very often a label will read 0 grams of trans fats.

However, the list of ingredients will include a partially hydrogenated oil. All partially hydrogenated oils are trans fats. And they are unhealthy in any amount.

Omega 3 has been useful in strengthening the immune system and promoting the health of the cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive system. Omega 3 is found in fish and particularly in the fatty fish such as sardines, salmon and mackerel. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil is a rich source of Omega 3. Flaxseeds also have a high lignan content. Lignans are powerful antioxidants that protect our bodies from damage by free radicals. Omega 3 has also proved to be beneficial in weight loss. For instance, if a person snacks on flaxseeds, the fiber helps to slow the emptying of the stomach. That delays the onset of hunger. The result is that the person feels full but has consumed fewer calories. And researchers have also discovered that when muscle cells are deficient in Omega 3, there is an increased risk of obesity.

diet hylpropion news

Snacking Yourself to Death

2009-08-28T22:58:00.001-07:00

Did you know snacking could eventually be a matter of life or death? Good nutrition has everything to do with the way we snack. This is especially with baby boomers and seniors. As we age our appetites may increase from all kinds reasons, including hormones, mood swings, stress, and medications. We might feel like snacking a lot more. On the other hand, our appetites may decrease. From hormones, mood swings, stress, and medications. Or perhaps we're too busy. Or are bored and not busy enough. Or our senses change too. Maybe there's less money. Or a disinterest in cooking. Problems with teeth. On and on. Maybe we just don't feel like eating a full meal anymore, and what used to be appealing, isn't. Snacking happens. But what we choose to snack on is the real clincher.

As we age we may tend to eat smaller meals, even forget to eat sometimes, or just snack throughout the day. This, of course, can cause big-time elderly nutrition problems. Malnutrition, in fact, is one of the main reasons seniors who live alone or who feel isolated are admitted to the hospital. But it's not just elderly. Snacking has almost replaced regular meals, and nowadays people tend to snack on all the wrong stuff. Snacking has become practically a national pastime, and in conjunction with other pastimes as well...watching TV, sitting at the computer, grabbing something on the fly, going to a game, visiting friends, going to a party, club meetings, talking on the phone, even nibbling at work if we work. Snacking is pretty much taken for granted.

Yeah, yeah. We're heard or read all the hype on bad carbs, bad fats, bad sugars, bad calories, bad snacking. And we all know how these ingredients can seriously impact our health, and lead to death-causing diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, plus cancer. But we still do bad snacking. It's just simply really convenient. And our taste buds are conditioned out of habit to want such foods. These are emotional reasons, of course, and defy the logic of healthy eating vs. death threat eating. But habit and emotions are not logical. Despite all the information out there, people still ask, why is nutrition important.

It's obvious, especially to baby boomers and seniors whose bodies are changing and possibly developing health issues, that we need to take a close look at our snacking and re-think our options. Even small changes can help.

Here are a couple of easy and yummy healthy snack recipes to help get you started. I'm sure you've heard of free radicals in our bodies and how they cause disease. And that antioxidants in certain foods combat these free radicals. But who wants to eat all that broccoli, spinach and garlic. So ... make a really great trail mix snack that has a ton of the antioxidant foods in it. You can get these ingredients in the natural food section of your store. Any combination of them will do. You can find a lot of them in the bulk food bins. And really try to get ingredients without added sugar!

Antioxidant Trail Mix: -- Walnuts, pecans, filberts, pistachios, dried cranberries, dried goji berries, dried red cherries, dried blueberries, raisins. Mix it together, put it in a canister, and munch away! You may even find an already-made antioxidant mix in the bulk bins. Some natural food companies sell them.

Deluxe Grilled Cheese -- It's important to use a hearty whole grain bread and low-fat cheese. Very lightly butter the two pieces of bread as usual for making grilled cheese. Or olive oil can be spread on instead if you prefer. Add two slices of the low-fat cheese of your choice. Add a slice of tomato, a few spinach leaves or romaine lettuce, a sliced ring of red pepper, and optional avocado slices. Try a few pieces of walnuts or pecans (big in antioxidants) for a little crunch - it's great! You can also spread on a little salsa. Or include a slice of lean meat. Grill the sandwich in a pan on both sides, as usual. Serve with pickles and whole-grain tortilla chips.

hoodia

Shocking News - Super Foods That Burn Body Fat, Some May Surprise You

2009-08-28T22:52:00.000-07:00

Looking for a way to help your body burn off that stubborn Belly Fat ? You might be surprised to learn that there are actually some foods that can help Fire up your metabolism, burn body fat and help you lose weight.

Today you can see The effects of the Standard American Diet {SAD} more than ever. With obesity becoming a national health crisis and the medical problems associated with being over weight challenging our health care system having a sound nutritional plan is critical to helping maintain a healthy body weight.

Eating the right combination of these Super Foods can help turn up your metabolic furnace and burn off excess body fat. A solid nutritional plan should have a balanced approach and include a wide variety of foods. The right combination of protein, carbs and fats, and yes FATS are essential will help your body turn fat into fuel.

1. Lean protein- Plan meals that include Lean Beef {Grass Fed}, chicken and wild caught fish. Lean protein takes longer for your body to break down and will help you feel full longer. Protein is also an important building block for your body to repair cellular damage caused by everyday bodily functions.

2. Eggs- Both whole eggs and eggs whites are an excellent food to help your body burn fat. Eggs are high in Omega 3's and can actually help to raise your GOOD cholesterol and help to balance proper cholesterol ratios.

3. Avocados- These are LOADED with healthy fats, fiber and vitamins and minerals. To FIRE UP your metabolism include a couple of slices of avocados on your salads and sandwiches. Avocados are great for making dips that can spice up just about any meal.

4. Olive Oil- Another fat that helps your body turn fat into fuel. Get a good Virgin Olive oil to use for all types of cooking. Remember, moderation is the key when incorporating fats in your nutrition plan.

5. Apples- Apples are another of natures Super Foods, they are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. They are inexpensive, quick to prepare and can be used as a side dish, garnish or cut up and mixed into cereal or top your salad with a few apple slices.

Make no mistake about it, eating the proper balance of foods will turn on your body's natural ability to burn excess fat and change your body into a fat burning machine!

sildenafil

The Perils of a White Trash Diet

2009-08-28T22:46:00.001-07:00

According to the latest statistics from the United States' Center for Disease Control (CDC):
66% of adults age 20 years and over are overweight (including obese) 32% of adults age 20 years and over are obese 17% of adolescents age 12-19 years are overweight 19% of children age 6-11 years are overweight

Those are really horrifying statistics. We have become an oversized bunch of people, but we lie to ourselves to try to find peace with it by saying things like: "I'm comfortable with the way I look," "I'm not as big as she is," or joke about it by saying "I'm shakin' what my Momma gave me." I have news: your Momma did NOT give you that. But she may have given you some bad eating habits.

There's no magic bullet behind weight gain, and there's a myriad of reasons for why we may suffer from it more or less than those around us. But there is some simple advice and nutritional knowledge I can give you that can help you. Since most people don't like to read loooooong articles, I'm just going to keep this as simple as I can:

1. Stop Eating White Trash!

White trash is typically refined sugar, white bread, white buns, bagels, white rice, white flour, tortillas, white potatoes, white corn, etc. But I like to expand this definition to include what foods I'd expect to find at a typical American BBQ (I call it the "White Trash BBQ"): hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, macaroni salad, fried chicken, potato chips, fries, baked beans (sugar!), corn on the cob (metabolizes down as sugar and starch!), and then - of course - the pies, cakes and muffins for dessert. And the beer and sodas to wash it all down with.

The first glaring mistake with these white trash foods is that many of them are not "food" at all. They're refined and processed, taking nutrients out in some cases (to preserve shelf life), adding synthetic nutrients back in, adding nitrates and nitrites as preservatives, sugars, corn syrup, etc. While many of us will avoid butter or real Mayonnaise in the attempt to lose weight, we still will eat these other non-food offenders all the time. At least our bodies know how to handle a "real fat" or "real food" such as butter. With adulterated food products, our body has difficulty knowing what to store and what to burn.

The second glaring mistake with the white trash foods is that most of them metabolize high on the Glycemic Index and elevate your blood sugar, thereby triggering insulin to be released in your body; in turn telling your body to store any excess as fat or to create new fat cells. This response occurs BEFORE you ever get to the gym. So next time you think you'll be burning it off at the gym later on, remember that your body is busy storing it hours earlier.

Since your body isn't getting the right nutrients from "whole" foods (unadulterated, non-processed, non-canned, non-processed), it holds onto every bit that it can.

2. Know the health-history of what animal you're eating.

Do you know if you salmon was farmed, pumped with antibiotics and fed corn-feed and given pink food coloring? Many farmed salmon are. The vast majority. Are your chickens injected with saline to plump them up or (again) fed with corn feed and caged so they can't move (so they gain weight quickly), and pumped with hormones and antibiotics? Be sure... sometimes they're raised without the antibiotics, but they're pumped with them en route to the meat processing plants.

Same with beef. It's still America's favorite meat. But the vast majority of cows are kept in pens and fed only corn feed - AGAIN with the corn. They're kept confined so they gain weight quickly. They continually feed on what is NOT a part of their natural diet. They are brought to full weight within 1 year (by making them obese) so they can be slaughtered BEFORE they die from the ulcers they receive on the corn feed diet (which, as I said, is not a part of their normal way of eating).

So we eat obese and sickened animals. It's no wonder that we are sick and obese ourselves!

The reason why this is so important also, is because of toxins and how they relate to fat cells and obesity. I was working in a Women's Fitness center recently, and EVERYONE there wanted to lose weight. But their eyes would cross if I told them they had a glaring gallbladder problem. So I know that to get people to listen, the "weight is the bait" -- and so I'm going to tell you now why you should care about the health of the animal you're eating.

Simply and succinctly put, toxins are stored in fat cells. Those two things are married. So if you can de-toxify yourself, you will have an easier time losing weight. Women - pay attention to this: we carry a higher percentage of fat in our bodies naturally. So we are even MORE susceptible to toxin storage. And again, it creates the vicious cycle of difficulty and/or inability to lose weight. Meats have a higher percentage of fat, and are therefore more important to pay attention to when considering its origins.

It is also widely believed (by myself included) that these stored toxins are largely responsible for many of the cancers in our reproductive organs.

I'm not a vegetarian myself, but I do advise people to take caution when buying their meats. This is a huge reason why we have such a sickened society. We demand cheap foods, but we are most definitely getting what we pay for. Believe me, I'm very budget conscious myself these days and I can't always buy the highest, elite quality of food. But I HAVE decided to cut down a bit on meat so that I can eat better qualities of it.

THE GOOD NEWS

As more and more people in the USA are exposed to the truth about the food supply, the vendors listen and give us what we want. We have more access to Organic foods than ever; we have Farmer's Markets, we have the internet so these things like "unhealthy farming practices" are no longer a secret for very long. We can go to our local Trader Joe's and request grass-fed beef. We can easily find "cage free/allowed-to-graze" chicken. The more people demand it, the more the economics of supply and demand will bring the prices to a more affordable range.

But awareness is key, and we must make the changes ourselves AND tell our families and friends... that way, we not only encourage each other and gain support, but we create the kind of demand for healthier foods that will help our bodies be able to metabolize better.

*********

In conclusion, those are 2 simple things you can do immediately for your health and the health of all your loved ones: eating foods in their natural states (more vegetables of all kinds & colors - not white trash!), and being conscious of the health of the animal who's meat you're eating.

Guarding your diet on both those fronts addresses two KEY issues behind difficulties in losing weight for just about absolutely everyone: insulin and toxins. I guarantee you that if you follow those two tips, it's worth more than all the calorie counting, food weighing and lap-band surgeries in the world.

diet hylpropion news

Eat Healthy - Nutritional Labels - How to Read, Analyze and Understand - Part 1

2009-08-28T22:40:00.001-07:00

The first step in ensuring that your family and you maintain a healthy way of eating is to be able to read, analyze and most importantly, to understand the nutritional labels on the food products you purchase. Reading and analyzing nutritional labels might be a hassle and an embarrassment (for some) when you have to do it in a supermarket at the beginning but, once you're use to it...believe me it's not as bad as it sounds!!

I will be referring to the sample nutritional label of Macaroni & Cheese (courtesy of US FDA) throughout this article thus it might be easier if you could print out the word document prior reading further.

1) SERVING SIZE AND SERVING PER PACKAGE

This is the top most section of a nutritional label, and is the first thing you'll have to look at to understand the label. It's important to know the difference between Serving Size and Serving Per Package.

Serving Size is a standard measurement. It is always presented in familiar units such as in cups, pieces, bottles and etc followed by the relevant metric values such as grams, milligrams, litres and etc.

On the other hand, Serving Per Package refers to the specific's food content in terms of the Serving Size...is it 2 times the Serving Size or 4 times the Serving Size? Well, let's look at the nutritional label above. This is a sample label of a Macaroni & Cheese Frozen Food package. Now...it says that the Serving Size is 1 cup (228g). And the Serving Per Package is 2 times the Serving Size. So...what does this mean? It tells us that the whole Macaroni & Cheese package is 2 times the Serving Size i.e the package if actually 2 cups or 456g (228g x 2) in weight.

The nutritional information and the amount of calories presented in Sections 2,3 and 4 of the nutrition label (refer to the above label) are based on the Serving Size of 1 cup or 228g of Macaroni & Cheese. Therefore, if you were to consume the entire pack of this Macaroni & Cheese....you'll be consuming twice the calories and nutrients displayed in the label.

Serving Size is essential when you compare different foods. For example...let's say there was another frozen food package Chicken Pie, and you're in the midst of deciding which would be a healthier choice for dinner...you'll have to use the Serving Size as your comparison basis. Compare the calories and nutrients of 1 cup of Macaroni & Cheese with the calories and nutrients in 1 cup of Chicken Pie!! If the Chicken Pie contains more nutrients and less calories per cup than the Macaroni & Cheese...then it's obvious that you should purchase the Chicken Pie.

2) CALORIES AND CALORIES FROM FAT

Section 2 of the nutritional label displays the Calories Information of ONE Serving Size of the food. This tells you how much of energy will you obtain from the consumption of one serving of the food.

Calories from fat tells the portion of calories which is contributed by fat. For example, from ONE cup (228g) of Macaroni & Cheese...you'll obtain 250 calories. And of that, 110 calories are contributed by fat. Can you imagine that? Almost half the calories are from fat...and that's only if you consume 1 cup of Macaroni & Cheese. If you ate the whole package i.e 2 cups of Macaroni & Cheese...you'll be putting 220 calories from fat into your system!!

3 & 4) AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS

Section 3 and 4 of the nutritional label displays the nutrient information. Section 3(yellow coloured) shows the types of nutrient which should be consumed in moderate, while the nutrients listed in Section 4 displays the nutrients that should be consumed in abundance.

Generally, we take in the nutrients in Section 3 beyond what our body needs and consume very little nutrients in Section 4. This may cause heart diseases, malnutritions and etc.

We'll talk about the recommended intake of each nutrient and its effect on the body in another article. For now...let's just try to learn the nutritional label first...

According to the above label...1 cup (228g) of Macaroni & Cheese contains 12g of total fat, 3g of trans fat, 30mg of cholesterol and 470mg of sodium. If you ate the entire pack, you would have taken twice these amounts...i.e 24g of total fat, 6g of trans fat, 60mg of cholesterol and 940mg of sodium.

As you can see, the values of the nutrients displayed in Section 4 are not in metric values but are in percentage of the daily value. Therefore to analyse the metrical value of these nutrients, you will need to first familiarize yourself with the meaning and impact of daily values.

5) FOOTNOTE

The asterisk (*) beside the Daily Value in the nutritional label brings us to the footnote. Well, the footnote basically exist to inform you that the Daily Values (in percentages) beside the nutrients displayed in Section 3 and 4, are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. This statement (highlighted in yellow) appears in all food products and is the same for any kind of food. According to research, most of us are only required to consume 2,000 calories a day!!

However, you'll not find the amounts circled in red in all nutritional labels...they are commonly omitted from small nutritional labels. These are the Daily Values (DV) for each nutrient listed and are based on the public health experts' advice. Daily Values are the recommended levels of nutrients intakes on a daily basis. We'll discuss more on the recommended level of nutrients in the next article.

For example, it says that the DV of sodium for a 2,000 calorie diet is 2,400mg. This basically means that you are only recommended to consume 2,400mg of sodium in a day. And this is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt!! I'm sure that's a shock!!

The DVs of those who need more calories a day...such as construction workers, tractor drivers and etc..will however be higher.

6) DAILY VALUES AND %DAILY VALUE

How does daily values and %daily values relate to each other? Well...based on the above nutritional label, the recommended daily value of nutrients are equivalent to 100% daily value. Let's take the Daily Value of total fat for instance. It says that the DV of total fat is 65g, making 65g the 100% of total fat that you can consume a day.

Now...look at the DV (%) displayed beside each of the nutrients in Section 3 & 4...and search for the total fat nutrient. What do you see? One cup of Macaroni & Cheese contains 12g of total fat...which if described in a percentage...would be 18% (12g/65g x 100%). That's how you obtain the DV(%) of 18% for total fat.

Let's try another nutrient...cholesterol. The recommended DV for cholesterol is 300mg. Now look at how much of cholesterol will you consume if you ate one cup of Macaroni & Cheese...30mg...thus when this is described in percentage...it would be 10% (30mg/300mg x 100%). Voila!!

Now...how do you analyse the daily value and daily value(%) when deciding your purchase?

Simple...since you are informed that the recommended amount of total fat to be consumed in a day is limited to 65g...try not to exceed this amount!! If you consumed one cup of Macaroni & Cheese...you would have taken 18% of the daily total fat, leaving you with only 82% to consume. That's about 53g of fat which you would easily exceed through consuming other fried foods, rice, pasta and desserts!!

It's even worse when you eat the whole package of Macaroni & Cheese...you'll be consuming twice the total fat...i.e 36% of your daily total fat limit, which only leaves a room of 64%.

These information allows you to plan your meals in a healthier way. If you decide to enjoy something fatty for lunch, you can decide to eat low fat food during your dinner to stay within the total fat daily value. You don't need to let go off your favorite foods to be healthy!!

We'll exercise reading and understanding nutritional labels in the next article. Together with that I'll discuss about the importance of knowing the ingredients of the food products. Please feel free to comment on my articles at my blog.

diet hylpropion news

Healthy Eating When You Don't Like to Cook - Top Ten Healthy Eating Tips With Nothing to Prepare

2009-08-28T22:34:00.001-07:00

In these healthy eating tips, there is nothing to cook, clean, or prepare. Improve your health and wellbeing when you add these no-work healthy foods into your regular diet.

We know that healthy eating means more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods protect against cancer and other illnesses through vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber, and phytochemicals ("plant chemicals"). What are some easy ways for busy people to eat healthy foods with no compromises?

1. Almost all fresh fruit is ready to eat. It is easy to carry to work or in the car. Just rinse beforehand (an apple) or peel as you eat (a banana).

2. Prepared raw vegetables are readily available in many supermarkets. Prewashed bags of salad, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower florets, pea pods, and medleys are common. Supermarket delis frequently have plates of prepared raw vegetables, including carrots, celery, radishes, green pepper and others, and supermarkets nearly always carry premade salads.

3. Dried fruit is a healthy substitute for candy. Raisins, prunes, dates, and figs are as sweet as candy; unlike candy, dried fruit contains vitamins, minerals, fiber, and unique phytochemicals. I suggest organic dried fruit, which does not contain allergy-causing sulfites and is grown and shipped without pesticides.

4. Nothing is more convenient than bread. Supermarket bread made from white flour, high fructose corn syrup, and trans fats can't be considered healthy, but additive-free whole grain bread is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Healthy bread is whole-grain "real" bread from the natural food store or a specialized bakery.

5. Healthy fats are unfortunately not the fats commonly found in bakery, chips, and other processed food. However, it is easy to buy and use healthy fats. On salads: unrefined flax seed oil or extra virgin olive oil. On veggies: butter, unrefined coconut oil, or nut butters. Don't forget the avocado, a delicious and very healthy fatty fruit.

6. Nuts in the shell are as fresh as nature intended. Their healthy protein and fat make a terrific energy-boosting snack.

7. At juice bars, you can get freshly made fruit and vegetable juices. Freshly made juice retains all its vitamins, including vitamin C, unlike canned and bottled juices, which lose nutrients during processing.

8. Wheatgrass juice is available at many juice bars and also in frozen and powdered forms. This dark green juice, pressed from the young blades of wheat and barley, is a nutrition powerhouse.

9. Special juices widely available in bottles include pomegranate, blueberry, acai, goji, and mangosteen. Look for 100% juice products without sweeteners, added flavors, or additives. (Dilute with water or other juices if desired.) These "superjuices" contain so much concentrated nutrition that even small amounts are refreshing, satisfying, and highly nutritious.

10. And, finally, drink plenty of water.

You may find immediate benefits from healthy foods. In addition, you can be assured, when you discover your own favorite tastes, that healthy eating is its own reward.

nexium

Living and Raw Food Diets

2009-08-28T22:28:00.001-07:00

Evidence has shown that unheated plant-based foods are known to carry more of a food's essence within them. They contain a wider range of essential food nutrients with live enzymes that aid food nutrient absorption. The usual raw food selection include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts, grains, legumes, herbs and spices as well as seaweeds, microalgae and fresh juices. Also included are dehydrated or dried fruits, vegetables and herbs. They were found to support the needs of human bodily functions better than their cooked version.

The mere act of heating food destroys many of its helpful enzymes. As the heat goes up to 106 degrees, food enzymes start to degrade. While all cooked foods still carry important food nutrients, they are practically devoid of the beneficial food enzymes which happen to support virtually all of the important functions of our body's systems. Furthermore, the act of cooking the food causes changes to the molecular structure of food, which renders it to become toxic. In this light, the level of nutrients sourced from raw foods is enormously higher than the nutritive values they deliver when they are cooked.

The Raw Food Diet Philosophy

A diet based on raw foods also known as raw diet is presented as an effective solution to man's addiction to cooked and processed foods. The convenience and ease of preparation of cooked dishes and processed foods managed to gradually make them become staples of modern diet. Give the busy schedules that most working people are living these days, the turn for more convenient meals and food options is inevitable. With that, people have lost grip of the importance of nutrition, putting convenience and ease on their meal planning priority.

The result of this sudden shift to fast foods, instant foods and cooked foods is evident on the medical reports that we read on the newspaper and internet. The medical community ranks obesity, heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of deaths. In fact, these diseases share common grounds. Aside from genetics, these diseases are more commonly caused by bad food choices.

Raw and living foods make up 75% of the food eaten by man. All of the known diets followed by man involve raw foods in hope of enjoying the benefits delivered by food enzymes. Food enzymes are considered life force. To its number of significant health benefits, the most important would be their role in aiding food digestion, which ultimately results to more energy, strengthened immune system and generally a full life.

Living foods naturally have fewer saturated fat or trans fat and low in sodium compared to a typical Western diet. They promote better digestion thanks to live food enzymes; it sufficiently meets the recommended daily vitamins and minerals as well as caloric allowance needed by the body. Since they more efficiently deliver many of helpful plant chemicals such as phytochemicals and their antioxidant and anti-cancer components, they help improve the conditions of people who have heart and cholesterol problems. As a result, raw food-ist or people who follow raw diet reduce their risk of developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems.

Benefits

The benefits of raw diet are practically boundless. The diet would bring in more benefits with organic food selections. Being easier to digest and chemical-free has its advantages. For one, it optimizes the energy sourced from food given that it needs minimal bodily effort to be digested. In delivering more of the essential nutrients and amino acids that are vital to healthy growth, the diet helps alleviate many of the common illnesses such as allergies, digestive disorders, weak or weakened system and high cholesterol. It also promotes faster and proper healing in promoting cell rejuvenation and regeneration, which also prevents cancerous cells from turning healthy cells into malignant cells. In addition, raw diet also supports natural body detoxification processes.

Caution

While raw diet is extremely healthy, it is not ideal for children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with anemia or those who are at high risk of developing osteoporosis. In following raw diet, there is a possible risk of for calcium, iron, Vitamin B12 and protein deficiency. To prevent nutrient deficiencies, careful attention must be given in selecting the living foods to complete the body's needed nutrient levels. With that, one needs to be committed to be healthy while on raw diet. Getting more exposure on other food sources is advised. This way, you can add variety to your usual raw and living foods selection.

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Save Money - 4 Great Tips For Packing an Easy & Healthy Lunch

2009-08-28T22:22:00.001-07:00

One of the happy side effects of a down economy is creativity. In our efforts to make our dollars stretch these days, many folks are finding fun and healthy alternatives for everyday living. A quick drive to the store has been replaced with a bike ride. Families are spending time together playing in the park or watching movies at home. And now our midday meal is getting a healthy makeover as well. The packed lunch is back and better than ever. Today's healthy lunches are packed with flavor, color and texture and are easy on our debit cards. Here are some healthy ways to move beyond the sandwich and carrot sticks.

Vary the Veggies

Carrots are great, but switch it up with some jicama sticks. Jicama is a wonderful treat in a lunch bag. Cut into sticks the size of french fries, jicama can be drizzled with a little lime juice and a touch of cayenne. Think about adding some lightly salted edamame to your lunches. If you want a super speedy veggie for your lunch, go for a frozen vegetable medley. Today's lunch bags have reliable seals and separate compartments, so get creative. Toss together your favorite frozen veggies and some seasonings and you're done. It's ready to microwave when you get to work.

Wrap Stars

Sandwiches are great, but not every day. Think about a wrap instead. Tortillas are a wonderful complement to a variety of fillings: cream cheese and jalapenos, leftover beans and rice, or simply lunchmeat and cheese. But don't limit yourself to tortillas. Try making a wrap with large lettuce leaves or rice paper. Fill a rice paper spring roll with meat, veggies, rice noodles and teriyaki sauce. Then you have a lunch to look forward to!

Souper Savers

Thrifty cooks know that soups are one of the healthiest, low-cost menu items in their repertoire. Leftover meats and veggies find new life in tasty soups and stews. A good, leak-proof thermos will keep your brothy delight warm and wonderful for your midday meal. This is one of the easiest lunch options when paired with a whole-wheat roll.

The Best Lunch Bag

The best lunch can go awry in an unprotected plastic baggie. Look for a quality lunch bag that fits your tastes. If soup and a roll is your favorite, you'll need a reliable thermos. For variety, sealable compartments are great to have. To make sure you'll want to keep using your lunch bag, choose one that's easy to clean. As in most things, the right tool makes the job easier.

Take out lunches are typically expensive, greasy and full of questionable ingredients. A healthy homemade lunch is one of those thrifty solutions that is actually better than its "convenient" counterpart. Be creative and have fun. Have a happy lunch!

insurance

Very Cherry Expectations

2009-08-26T04:21:00.001-07:00

The cherry has never been accused of not having a purpose. No matter what form they take - fresh, frozen, dried powdered or concentrated they have been enjoyed throughout the ages. For ancient Romans the cherry was a source of food; Native Americans used the cherry as a source for artistic colorings and natural pain relief.

Over the past decade, the tart cherry, especially the Montmorency tart cherry, has become more than a source of nutrition and pleasure. As more food scientists look at the cherry they are learning how this ruby red fruit helps to fight inflammation in the body and fight gout and arthritis pain in joints.

Need for Color:

Naturally occurring compounds in tart cherries, especially the Anthocyanins may prevent joint pain due to gout and arthritis. Over 300 different types of Anthocyanins have been discovered to date. According to research, the Anthocyanins naturally found in the cherry are like Cox-1 and Cox-2 inhibitors. These naturally occurring antioxidants may offer the same benefits of the OTC drugs like aspririn.

Need for Sleep:

Even small amounts tart cherries contain naturally occurring Melatonin. According the Dr. Russell Reiter from the University of Texas, San Antonio, the cherry is natures leading source of melatonin. Melatonin helps to regulate the body's sleep pattern and help with sleepiness at night and wakefulness during the day.

One's Enough:

One glass of cherry juice concentrate or a daily serving of tart cherry capsules can help to relieve joint pain due to gout and arthritis. For gout sufferers the anti-oxidants in the Montmorency cherry help to dissolve the uric acid crystals that form in the joints. The cherry helps to block the pain signals to the brain due to the natural occurring Anthocyanins. So helping yourself to a daily serving of the cherry is an excellent way to get its natural health benefits. Traverse Bay Farms offers a complete selection of tart cherry products including cherry juice concentrate, tart cherry capsules and dried cherries.

So if you are interested in fighting joint pain and getting a good night's sleep a daily dose of tart cherry may be exactly what you are looking for.

hoodia

Drinking Water Safety - Why Should I Be Worried?

2009-08-26T04:14:00.001-07:00

Drinking water safety has to be one of the most important concerns for you and your family. You provide water with the evening meal instead of squash or pop. You give the children water in their containers for school. You are looking after your family's health right? Well you might actually be doing them a dis-service and making them ill by the water you are giving them.

It doesn't really make sense to say that water is bad for you, when all the professional advice is to drink more water. Well I'm not saying that water is bad for you but what I'm saying is that we need to be very careful with the type of water that we are drinking.

Unfiltered Water

Drinking water faucets - be it from all the taps in your house, or from a water faucet outside carry hundreds of nasty particles that enter the body each time we drink, or eat food that is cooked in un-filtered water.

A special water conference held in America earlier this year invited the top professors and scientists to discuss the concerns about our drinking water safety and they confirmed the urgent need to clean it up.

The cost of this operation would be phenomenal and so the only real avenue left open to you and me is to make sure that we filter our water before we drink it.

Filtered Water

All household water has some kind of filtration but you would be very surprised to find out just how many unknown substances are still floating around by the time it reaches the entry point of your home. One such compound is rocket fuel. How dangerous is that?

The only way to ensure pure water is to filter it yourself. There are different types of filters. Some work better than others and there are also different types of filtration units.

What you want is a unit that will give you clean pure water without stripping it of the essential mineral salts such as calcium.

I will not use drinking water faucets outside anymore. I always carry my own glass or stainless steel water container full of my own filtered pure healthy water.

Now you know the difference between the adverse health problems that you can get from unfiltered water and the health benefits from filtered water it is time for you to make a choice.

If you want to get on the healthy track and have total peace of mind then there is only one way for you to go. Drinking water safety.

To learn more about the types of filters available and which ones work best and why, visit my website today - www.clean-safe-filtered-water.com without delay. It is you and your family's health that is at stake here.

sexuality health

Benefits of 5-A-Day Fruits in Our Daily Diet

2009-08-26T04:07:00.001-07:00

The Mediterranean diet has long been considered to be the optimum diet for the human heart given it includes plenty of fresh fruit. WHO guidelines recommend that each of us should aim to eat at least five portions of different fruit or vegetables on a daily basis. A portion of fruit constitutes a single fruit such as an Apple, a small cup of fruit such as grapes or raspberries, or a glass of pure fruit juice. It is okay to include dried, tinned and frozen fruit as part of your five a day but be careful with tinned fruits given they are frequently sweetened with syrups and in many cases contains less vitamin C. Wherever possible purchase fruit that has been canned in its own juices without the addition of extra sugars.

Fruit itself is an excellent source of antioxidants examples which are bioflavonoid and vitamin C all helping to protect us against degenerative diseases, heart disease and cancer are good examples. Fruit is also low in calories and is therefore an exceptional foodstuff for anybody attempting to lose weight.

Fresh fruit and fruit juices provide most of our regular intake of vitamins C, with citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and tangerines being the most important sources. Other providers of vitamins C in our diets include kiwifruit, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, mangoes and papayas. Fruits with a deep yellow or orange flash good examples are apricots, mangoes and cantaloupe melons, obtain their colour from an yellow orange pigment known as beta carotene, otherwise known as the plant form of vitamin A.

This, it is understood, helps to protect us against free radicals and some have suggested even cancer. The majority of fruits are also rich in potassium which is especially true of bananas and dried fruits. Potassium works to regulate our blood pressures and it also works in tandem with sodium to regulate the body's fluid balance. Other reasons why fruit is so valuable in our diets is because it contains both soluble and insoluble fibres. Insoluble fibres help to prevent constipation and are also connected with a reduced risk of colon cancer whereas soluble fibres have been shown to help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Citrus fruits and indeed dried fruits such as dates, figs, raisins and apricots are also particularly good sources of fibre in our diets. There are many benefits to including the proportions of fruit in your diet including vitamins C, antioxidants and potassium with the only notable drawback is that fruit juices can contribute towards tooth decay. That said, this is a small price to pay for a healthy body utilising a balanced diet of fruit.

sildenafil

Low GI Food Ideas

2009-08-26T04:00:00.001-07:00

Losing Weight The Intelligent Way

By now you've heard every type of diet from the cabbage diet to the wool sox diet and they all stink. Every fad comes and goes whilst the participants end up heavier than they did proir to their enlightening.

Diets Suck

Yeah they do and you know they suck. Frankly I've only ever seen a couple of eating plans that I ever could stick to for life and they weren't healthy ones. What I love about the whole Low Glycemic thing is that the foods are sensible and the whole way you go about it is intelligent - So long as you are.

Low Glycemic (Low GI)

Basically if a food is low in GI then it doesn't have much of an impact on your blood sugar, which means it won't give you sugar lows and energy deficits.

Another great aspect of these great Gi Foods is that they are all tasty, healthy and natural foods - Which I believe are the best things that you could put into your body.

Fat Burning

Without going into the finer details, when you eat bad carbs you release insulin to stabilise your blood sugar - Insulin stops fat burning dead in it's tracks. Your body burns roughly 30% of it's calories as body fat, but when you eat High Gi insulin releasing foods, then forget fatburning - In fact kiss it goodbye.

When you consume a low Gi rich diet, your body is always burning it's stores of fat for energy as your insulin is kept under control.

Some Great Low GI Foods

Grapefruit
Soy beans
Apples
Plums
Oats
Peaches
Cherries

These little gems are some of the best foods in the world and the good news is they can keep your energy levels in check and advance your weight loss efforts sensibly.

Some high fat foods will have low gi's but it worth noting that fat slows down carbohydrate processing in the body so it can be misleading.

An example would be a block of butter (high fat) mixed with a cup of sugar and being called a low GI food - Which it would be, but only because it's loaded with fat.

It's best to stick to low gi natural foods such as grains and fruits as these can't be tampered with to trick you like some low gi chocolate bars that are only low gi because they are fatty.

Choose low glycemic carbohydrates and enjoy them as the majority carbohydrate source in your diet, the best thing is that they really are quite enjoyable foods.

hoodia

The Unique Benefits of Flax Seed Oil

2009-08-26T03:53:00.001-07:00

Flax seed oil can assists in weight loss and in an overall improvement in your health. As oppose to many other supplements, it is natural and when taken in reasonable doses has no long term detrimental side effects. So, if you are having trouble reaching your fitness goals, supplementing with the oil may be just what you need.

As for why it is effective, it first helps to know about two specific types of essential fatty acids: Linoleic acid and Alpha-linolenic acid.

Linoleic acid is an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid that is found in all of the typical oils used in cooking and also in most of the foods that you eat. As such, it is abundantly found in any typical diet.

Alpha-linolenic acid, on the other hand, is an omega-3 fatty acid. The oils and foods that contain this fatty acid is not part of the typical diet, and not surprisingly, is deficient in most diets. Since flax seed oil is rich in omega-3, this is where the oil comes into play.

Why Omega-3 is needed?

As stated above, omega-3 is an essential fatty acid. One of its greatest importance has to do with brain cells. This fatty acid is essential in the development of brain cells in small children, as well as for the continued healthy functioning of brain cells in adults.

Besides being important for cells in your brain, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help block the storage of fat, act as an anti-catabolic and anti-inflammatory, improve insulin sensitivity, and increase beta oxidation, which is important for fat burning.

Flax Seed Oil

Given the benefits of omega-3 and the fact that it is an essential part of your diet, a first-rate source is desirable, which is why flax seed oil is so important.

Flax seed oil is one of the richest sources of omega-3, having six times more of the fatty acid than soybean oil. Also, the oil is highly unsaturated, which means that it is easily damaged when exposed to light, heat or oxygen. To prevent this, the oil is packaged in black plastic bottles and is kept in the refrigerator section of natural food stores.

And because heat damages the oil, it is not good for frying or sauteing. Some typical ways of using the oil is as a base for salad dressing, mixing it with dips, or simply taking a spoonful daily.

So, to experience the health benefits that omega-3 provides, add flax seed oil to your diet. Doing so may be just the ticket you need to take your health to the next level.

sildenafil

How to Find the Best Fish Oil Capsules

2009-08-26T03:46:00.001-07:00

In this day and age you have to be very careful when you're out there trying to find the best omega-3 DHA supplement. In this article you'll learn exactly how I found the best fish oil capsules. I've done many years of research into different supplements, and it took me awhile to find the supplement that I now use daily.

How to Avoid Contamination and Poisoning

The first thing you want to look for in the best fish oil capsules is the amount of contamination, because if you buy just any supplement out there, you might be buying something that has already gone rancid and is full of toxic metals.

This has the exact opposite effect that you want. Rancid oils will promote disease, inflammation and free radicals in your body. The good news is that you can find the best fish oil capsules by looking at the certificate of analysis that the company provides for their DHA omega-3 fish oil supplement.

If the company that you are intending being to buy from doesn't give out this information, you should run to another company that is more transparent and trustworthy. The best products will have independent government approved laboratory data on their supplements.

How to Find the Best Sources of Fish

Recent studies show that a fish called Hoki that lives just off the coast of New Zealand contains one of the highest levels of DHA and is one of the reasons why health conscious people are buying supplements that contain as much Hoki as possible.

There are not yet many companies out there that blend Hoki with high-quality tuna oil. When Hoki and tuna oil are combined they seem to have a synergistic effect. Scientists do not yet know why this happens and they've decided to call it the X-factor.

When these two oils are combined the anti-inflammatory properties double. This means that you will be getting two times the health benefits than before if you can find the best fish oil capsules that contain both Hoki and tuna oil.

hoodia

Colour, Sunshine and Sleep

2009-08-26T03:39:00.001-07:00

What do "Colour, Sunshine and Sleep" have in common?

Nothing is more effective then lifting your mood with sunshine, a natural anti-depressant! Sunlight is our main provider of light, heat and energy. Light consists of the seven colour energies: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. These colours have each a different wavelength and vibrational frequency, which hold various attributes and affect us differently. Science has proven that certain colours can calm the mind while others stimulate mental activity.

Light is colour nutrition for the body and our general well-being. Colours physically affect organs, glands and hormones; therefore they influence our mood and feelings.

Did you know that it's important for your wake/sleep pattern to be out in the daylight a minimum of 2 hours per day? And that you absorb light as a nutrient through your eyes? Synthesis and secretion of melatonin (the sleep hormone) is dramatically affected by light exposure to the eyes. Daylight stimulates the Pineal Gland in the brain, which is responsible for the wake/sleep cycle. Make sure not to cover your eyes all the time with grey sunglasses, as you'll be missing out on important nutrition. If you are "stuck" indoors, invest in a full spectrum light bulb to make up for it. Just make sure it's a good quality with equal parts of the 7 rainbow colours. Deep sleep is the best way to keep your body healthy. Melatonin stimulates the immune system and also plays a role in slowing down the aging process.

sexuality health

Low Fat Turkey Burgers

2009-08-26T03:32:00.001-07:00

Low fat turkey burgers go as well on the grill as they do fried in a skillet.

When cooking low fat turkey burgers in a skillet they can be fried in olive oil. Olive oil is a major component of the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to have health benefits.

Best Weight Loss Plan

Some of the best weight loss plans may include ground turkey recipes.

The healthy benefits of ground turkey dishes include being a source of lean protein. Your body needs protein for many of its daily functions. Everything from muscle regeneration to being used in the vital phase II functions of the liver's detoxification process demand a steady supply of high quality protein from your diet.

Turkey also offers nutrients such as selenium and some of the B vitamins. Like the olive oil it can be cooked in, turkey should be consumed on a regular basis. However, the typical American diet does not include enough of either of these excellent foods.

You should work on changing that situation and reap the benefits these simple foods have to offer.

Well Balanced With Raw Vegetable Recipes

When low fat turkey burgers are combined with raw vegetable diet components the result is a highly nutritious meal. It is an easy meal to assure a balanced diet. These food items may also be included in weight reduction plans.

Such healthy diet plans often lead to some great weight loss success stories.

The ability to eat a healthy diet plan while enjoying comfort foods you are familiar with is an excellent idea. These are great options to make healthy kids meals and foods teens will love.

Consuming familiar yet healthy foods may be one of the best diets for overweight teens. Teens and kids can be notoriously picky eaters. A raw vegetable recipe can be served with low fat turkey burgers to satisfy the pickiest eaters you have at your table.

This meal will offer you an opportunity to serve teenagers and kids good healthy food that has a sophisticated taste to satisfy you. It is a great beginning to formulating healthy diets for overweight teens.

That's a good thing!

Try this simple low fat turkey burger recipe.

Low Fat Turkey Burger With Whole Grains

1 lb. Ground turkey burger
1 egg
1/2 cup uncooked oats
1/8 cup diced sweet onion
1/8 cup finely diced bell pepper (green, red, or both)
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together. Form into burgers and grill or fry in olive oil until the juice runs clear. These burgers can be served on a whole grain roll or on a plate without bread.

Condiments And Accoutrements Make The Burger

The recipe above is a great tasting dish. However, the fact remains that low fat turkey burgers are rather bland by themselves. It may be fairer to say they have a delicate flavor.

Regardless of how you describe it there is not much flavor from the ground turkey meat itself.

That's OK.

Fat is often the ingredient that gives various foods their flavor. By virtue of their composition low fat turkey burgers are low in fat and therefore lack in any strong flavor. Since the low fat content is one of the reasons we eat them we can't complain too much.

On the other hand, delicate flavored meat allows us to be creative with condiments and other accoutrements. The flavors of whatever you put on your burgers really stand out without interference from strongly flavored meat.

This is where you can allow your imagination to run wild!

Strong Imagination Equals Great Taste

There's a whole new world of taste sensations beyond the ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise condiments traditionally heaped upon turkey burgers.

Let's try to stimulate your creative thinking with a few suggestions for turkey burger toppings.

Have you ever considered mixing 3/4 mayonnaise, 1/4 olive oil, and horseradish to taste? This makes a wild yet tasty burger condiment. Let's explore the nutritional side to this condiment.

The olive oil reduces the amount of mayonnaise you use which is a good thing because most mayonnaise contains trans-fats. In addition to reducing your trans-fats intake, the olive oil offers many healthy benefits. It is an important component of any heart smart diet.

Some food manufacturers have mayonnaise with olive oil added. It is available in many grocery stores. This is very convenient for you so give it a try.

Two fantastic accoutrements to top your low fat turkey burgers with are low-fat cheddar cheese and jalapeno pepper slices. They go well together or separately.

Low Fat Turkey Burger Parmesan

This is a great dish. It should be considered as a staple on your family's healthy diet menu.

After cooking your turkey burger, ladle marinara sauce (sauce from a jar is fine) that has been heated in a saucepan. Sprinkle low-fat mozzarella cheese over the sauce covered turkey burger. The cheese will melt slightly from the heat rising from the marinara sauce.

You can make the burger recipe offered at the beginning of this article then top it with marinara sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese. This will give you a tasty burger that is made that much better by the addition of the sauce and cheese. It's a divine entr?

Try serving your low fat turkey burger Parmesan with a huge salad of leafy greens, julienne carrots, and grape tomatoes to ensure you are getting your raw food enzymes.

These natural health foods transform a simple burger into a real meal.

To add a touch of elegance serve it with crusty whole grain bread and a hearty red wine. Your guests will be very impressed.

Low fat turkey burgers are good to eat and they're a very good health food.

Serve them often.

insurance

Pumpkins Are Not Just For Halloween

2009-08-26T03:25:00.001-07:00

Most people think of Halloween when they hear the word pumpkin. If this is the only time you buy a pumpkin, you are missing out on a very nutritious food. The Native Americans used the pumpkin as both a food and a medicine. The first settlers from Europe added pumpkin to their diets.

The pumpkin flesh is extremely high in carotenoids, it is this plant compound that gives pumpkins their orange color. Carotenoids are really good at neutralizing free-radicals, as they are powerful anti-oxidants that can protect cell membranes from damage. It doesn't end there pumpkins are also high in other plant compounds lutein and zeaxanthin, which scavenge free-radicals in the lens of the eye. Helping to protect against the formation of cataracts and reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a serious eye problem than usually results in blindness, very important as we get older. Pumpkins are also a rich source of other nutrients, like iron, zinc, and fiber.

Whole pumpkin - when I cook pumpkin, I cook a whole pumpkin stuffed with some of my favorite recipes, and I place the whole thing in to the oven. This saves me cutting peeling and chopping it. I get a smallish to medium pumpkin, cut the top off and scoop out the middle. I put a cooked mixture inside, for instance I cook a mixture of vegetables and beans in a green Thai curry sauce with coconut milk. I place the cooked veggie curry, or chicken and veggie curry, inside the pumpkin and replace the top. I place the whole stuffed pumpkin in a medium heated oven for about two to three hours depending on the size of the pumpkin. Once the pumpkin is cooked remove from the oven and serve with the top off, it looks really good.

Pumpkin pie has been a traditional favorite at Thanksgiving. Pumpkins make great soups or a vegetable to accompany a main meal.

The flesh of the pumpkin has a mild laxative affect, being useful in cases of dyspepsia and constipation. Pumpkin juice has been used to help heal ulcers and reduce high acidity levels in the body, common these days. This juice needs to be drunk three times a day, half an hour before meals. It is also useful in cases of insomnia, as it has mild sedative properties. Pumpkin is also indicated in cases of hormonal imbalances and menopausal discomfort. Big pumpkins might be great at Halloween for caving up, but not that good for eating as they can be a bit tougher.

Traditional external use of pumpkin was recommended for treating burns, inflammatory conditions, abscesses, insect stings, and softening the skin, the crushed pulp was used, and changed daily until healing was complete.

Pumpkins seeds also contain phyto-sterols, essential fatty acids (EFAs). These EFAs have many benefits that protect blood vessels, nerves, protect all tissue, including the skin, and they can help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. The pumpkin seeds are high in protein, one ounce of seeds provides about seven grams of protein. Contain copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc. They also contains vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes healthy, your skin, mucus membranes, and stimulates the T cells of the immune system to help fight off infection. The seeds also contain vitamin E, has excellent free-radicals properties, protecting the circulatory system. The seeds are also renowned for helping protect the prostate.

Studies into the health benefits of pumpkin seeds have revealed they contain a plant chemical (phytocompound) called cucurbitacins that can prevent the body from converting testosterone into a much more potent form of the hormone called dihydrotestosterone, this is thought to be the reason the seeds protect the prostate health. Keep the seeds in the refrigerator.

Salad dressing - these three fresh ingredients are very easy to find at the local markets - parsley, garlic, pumpkins seeds, and cilantro - grind these three ingredients together add a little extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice, use as a salad dressing. The herbs and spices that go well with pumpkin in general are parsley, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamoms.

Pumpkin and ginger soup

1 pumpkin small/medium, peeled and chopped

4 tablespoons coconut oil (found in your local health store)

1 or 2, garlic clove depends on your taste

3 small leeks or onions

3 celery stalks, diced

3 quarts vegetable stock, optional

1 piece grated fresh ginger - size depends on how you like ginger

1 (15 ounce) coconut milk can or fresh

Chopped cilantro

Salt and Pepper to taste

Sweat the garlic, onions and/or leeks in the coconut oil, then add the other ingredients and bring to the boil, lower the temperature and simmer until cooked. Then puree in a blender and then and the cilantro and serve with a decorative swirl of natural yogurt. Enjoy.

nexium

Traps of the Modern Day Diet

2009-08-26T03:18:00.001-07:00

We get many emails asking us about the latest weight loss products and diet fads. It is important to understand WHY these products and fads don't work and why, in many cases, they can actually be quite dangerous.

It is also important to explain that our eating patterns have evolved over many hundreds of years and to also explain the radical changes that have been incorporated within the last 100 years to give you a better understanding of what a healthy diet must consist of.

Our eating patterns have slowly evolved over thousands of years and as the human race spread across the entire planet, new foods were discovered and added to our diets. The human body has adapted to incorporate these changes.

The foods we ate were natural and seasonal. Chock full of vitamins and minerals and in most instances, consumed fresh. After thousands of years of practice, this is what our bodies are still used to.

In modern times, with the advent of supermarkets and the pace of our hectic lifestyles, we now favor convenience over nutrition. Foods now come pre-prepared, pre-packaged and ready to eat.
Preservatives must be added to the food in order for it to last on the shelf. Artificial colorings and flavorings are then added to make the foods look and taste appetizing.

In terms of human evolution, these artificial additives have been added to our diets very recently so it is still not clear as to what effects they may have on us in the long term.

Anecdotal evidence points towards a trend between these chemicals and health problems like attention deficit disorder (ADD) and learning difficulties in children, allergic reactions and even cancer.

Over the last twenty years, the fast food culture has lead to an epidemic of obesity. In an effort to enhance flavour, the salt, sugar and fat content of many foods is now in some cases two to three times what it once was.

While the link between obesity and excess sugar and fat consumption is obvious, it is now becoming apparent that salt is a major contributor to obesity as well.

This is most likely due the fact that the more salt we consume, the thirstier we become and instead of drinking water, many of us prefer to reach for the soft drink to quench our thirst. Soft drink, loaded with sugar, is also full of artificial colors and flavors.

So why do we eat it?

You wouldn't dream of running your car on anything besides what it was designed to run on. We all know that it would definitely affect the performance of the car and eventually lead to damage.

Our bodies are no different. Just because we can eat something, it doesn't mean that we should! With the link between diet and health more obvious than ever before and more and more people telling us about what we shouldn't be eating isn't it more important for us to understand what we should be eating. We have to eat something right? What is the healthy alternative?

Ever heard 'Eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables...' what does this mean? Why should we eat plenty of fruits and vegetables?

Once we realize that we are in control of what goes into our mouths, and begin to make informed choices about what we eat these choices will begin to have a positive effect on every aspect of our life.

insurance

Acai Berry Extract - Useful Facts About Extracts of Acai Berry

2009-08-24T23:43:00.001-07:00

Acai berry extract is one of the most important parts of acai-products because this fruit is highly perishable; which means that the moment it is being harvested, the fruit starts to lose its nutritional values. Therefore, most people usually freeze dry the extracts in order to preserve its nutrition. Other companies immediately process them in order to produce high quality products with most of its nutritional contents still well preserved.

This aspect is where most various products differ; the way the fruit is being handled and stored in order to preserve its nutrition. This implies that not all products with acai berries are equal in quality; and not all products can claim the same nutrition that acai berries offer compared to its original fresh acai berry extracts.

Therefore, when choosing various types of products which boast of containing acai berries; it is best to check the companies that manufactured them. Make sure that they are well famous on producing high quality products because they maintain high standard of manufacturing processes.

Apart from that, you should also investigate what types of acai berry extract is besing used for your product. It is best to know that there are two main types of acai berries: the purple colored berry like grapes, and the white colored acai fruit. The former is the best variety because it contains high nutritional values compared to the white variety; which has only little nutrition. Hence, make sure that the purple colored variety is being used in the product you are purchasing.

These are some few of the many facts that you should know about this amazing fruit. At this point, you are already well informed about some useful information about acai berry extract which should help you make the right choice when choosing the best product for you.

The Top Ten Super Foods - Why You Need Them

2009-08-24T10:35:00.001-07:00

What is a Superfood? A superfood is chock-full of nutrients, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and rate very high on the ORAC scale. The ORAC Scale or (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) is a labratory test that measures the antioxidant capacity of foods. Antioxidants prevent free-radical damage to our tissues thereby causing aging, disease and illness.

Free-Radicals are highly reactive, unstable molecules that are produced during a range of biochemical reactions. You can think of free-radical harm much like nuclear destruction of the human body. Free-Radicals have been implicated in everything from cancer and aging to neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidants, however, are chemical scavengers that bind to these harmful oxidants and neutralize them. Antioxidants are an extremely important component in protecting us from this damage.

Superfoods, because they are so nutrient dense, are much like insurance. Superfoods are whole foods that have not been refined or processed. By incorporating these whole foods into your diet, you are ensuring optimum health. Here are the Top Ten Superfoods for your optimum health:

1. Wild Salmon - Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D and E. Salmon is an anti-inflammatory that promotes optimal health. Inflammation is responsible for many chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Aim for 2-3 servings per week.

2. Nuts - All nuts are highly beneficial for excellent health, in particular, walnuts. Walnuts are very high in omega-3 fats. A handful of nuts a day is going to provide you with the protection you need.

3. Berries - All berries contain plant nutrients called phytochemicals and flavonoids that may help prevent cancer. The most potent berries (according to the ORAC Scale) are Acai berries, Goji berries and Blueberries. There is much well-documented research on the health benefits of these berries.

4. Green Tea - Great tea contains high concentrations of catechin polyphenols particularily EGCG which is a powerful antioxidant. Not only is it beneficial in weight loss, it has also shown to be protective against heart disease and cancer.

5. Beans - Beans such as Black Beans are high in phytochemicals and cholesterol-lowering fiber. The high fiber content is also helpful for weight loss.

6. Maitake and Shitake Mushrooms - These mushrooms contain a polysaccharide called Beta 1,3 Glucan and Beta 1,6 Glucan which boosts the immune system by stimulating white blood cells. They may prevent normal cells from turning into cancer cells. The Japanese government has approved Maitake as a cancer fighting treatment.

7. Umeboshi Plum - The powerful acidity of this pickled plum has a very healthful alkalizing effect on the body. It neutralizes fatigue, stimulates healthy digestion, and promotes the elimination of toxins. One Umeboshi plum a day is considered an excellent preventive.

8. Sea Vegetables - The lignans and phytochemicals in sea vegetables have been found to inhibit cancer cell growth. The sea vegetable also promotes healthy thyroid function, prevents cardiovascular disease, has an anti-inflammatory action and are high in Iodine, vitamin K, Magnesium and B vitamins.

9. Yogurt - The beneficial bacteria in yogurt or yogurt products such as Kefir promote digestive health. It has also been shown that this same bacteria can strengthen the immune system. Yogurt also increases gamma interferon a protein that helps the white blood cells fight disease.

10. Garlic - Garlic's health benefits are numerous. Garlic can help lower cholesterol, help lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and control blood sugar. Garlic is an anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and an antioxidant.

By mindfully choosing healthful foods such as these Superfoods, you are promoting not just Optimum Health in your life but creating a better quality of life as well.

To your good health!

Lori L. Shemek, Phd, CNC, CLC

The Unknown Benefits of Whey Protein

2009-08-24T10:21:00.001-07:00

Many people know the immediate benefits of whey protein. Whey is extremely effective as a protein supplement for gaining muscle mass and losing weight and body fat. It is extremely low calorie (average 120kcal per serving) and yet contains 25g of high quality protein. However Whey also has many other health benefits for your body. The most significant of these is whey's benefit to your immune system.

Whey protein can provide a significant health boost to your immune system. The immune system is your body's primary defence mechanism in fighting off disease and infection. The immune response is how your body deals with any harmful foreign toxins, bacteria or viruses that enter the body. With environmental toxins abound and with constant threat of some new deadly virus spreading it is vital maintain a healthy immune system and keep it full of healthy antioxidants. Whey protein is actually one of the best available supplements to boost the body's natural antioxidants and immune defences. It may be a surprise to know that whey protein is a key ingredient in many baby formula products.

The reason is that it is high in antioxidant producing branch chain amino acids. Did you also know that whey has really similar qualities to our mothers milk. It is precisely because of this that whey can boost your immune health. The unique branch chain amino acids contained within the whey have been scientifically proven to be a key part of the body's primary antioxidant Glutathione. Glutathione is known as the strongest natural antioxidant known to science and is found in almost every living cell on the planet. By increasing the levels of glutathione in the body whey significantly reduces the level of damage that harmful free radicals can do. A side effect of the boost in immune system provided by whey is that you may experience increased recovery from illness and disease, and you may also find that your skin, hair and nails condition improves significantly. All of this from whey protein!

Acid-Alkaline Foods - Have the Right Food Choices to Keep Yourself Healthy and Strong

2009-08-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

There are many foods that have been available in the market. And these foods are not all good for us. Choosing the right foods for us is very essential. Acid alkaline foods should be our basis in choosing them.

Alkaline diet has been popular for the wonders it brings to the body. It is a kind of diet wherein the basis is the maintenance of balanced pH condition inside your body.

Alkaline foods are the ones that are good for your body. On the other hand, acid foods are bad for your health.

How do we know what are the acid and alkaline foods?

Acid foods consist of red meats, pasta, rice, sweets, frizzy, alcohols, caffeine and others. Pork, beef, chicken, turkey and lamb are the examples of red meats that are harmful for our health.

Alcohols are very bad for our livers. They cause liver cancer. Cigarettes do not do good for our health too. They cause lung cancer.

Many people, even at their early ages, really want to drink alcohols and enjoy smoking. They keep on doing these things because they are not yet experiencing the bad effects that can be gotten from these stuffs.

However, time will come that your health will suffer because of the accumulation of nicotine from cigars and chemicals from alcohols that are detrimental to our health.

We must know how to prevent ourselves from these unwanted habits. It really is true that avoiding yourself from these kinds of stuff is hard. So, the best thing we can do is to substitute them with drinking root beer or eating chewing gums.

You just need time to practice preventing these things until they are totally gone out of your system. Not only this, you should avoid eating processed foods and using artificial sweeteners.

As times pass by, people are getting used to accumulating so much unwanted chemicals from processed foods. We are deceived that we will lose weight when we use artificial sweeteners. This is not true.

Losing weight is easily obtained by eating alkaline foods. Alkaline foods are really beneficial in losing weight, having a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a good, young looking personality.

Not only this, but you can also have a more stable emotional condition and better mind capability. We tend to be emotional when we don't feel good. It is when we feel aches and pains.

People are aware that fruits and vegetables are good. These are alkaline foods. Alkaline foods include fruits such as avocado, lime, lemon, apple, banana, watermelon and papaya. Vegetables such as squash, broccoli, cauliflower and potatoes with peels are alkaline forming foods too.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency Are Found in Many Common Diseases

2009-08-24T10:07:00.001-07:00

There are so many possible symptoms of vitamin D deficiency that this condition has largely been overlooked. With all the warnings we get about staying out of the sun, our primary source of vitamin D, deficiencies have reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Studies show that 30-80 percent of the population may be deficient in vitamin D.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency are Found in Many Common Diseases

Vitamin D deficiencies may be generally be characterized by muscle pain, bone fractures, low energy and fatigue, lowered immunity, symptoms of depression and mood swings, and sleep irregularities.

Low vitamin D levels are found in many diseases. Vitamin D deficiencies have been associated with a long list of chronic illnesses. Since most of these problems are very complex, and take many years to manifest, the connection between them and vitamin D deficiencies have remained unexamined for a very long time. While many of these health issues may also have other causes, low vitamin D levels are a common factor found in all of them. Here is a list:

type-1 diabetes
heart disease
colon, breast and prostate cancers
low blood calcium levels
chronic bone, muscle, or joint pain
chronic fatigue
colds and flu
asthma
obesity
rheumatoid arthritis
infertility
high blood pressure
acne
decline in physical and mental function
gingivitis, periodontal disease and cavities
depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
multiple sclerosis
inflammatory bowel disease
tuberculosis

Now, none of these are necessarily evidence of vitamin D deficiencies. However, since vitamin D plays such a pivotal role in strengthening your immune system, it's easy to see that a compromised immune system due to low vitamin D levels could easily lead to any of the above conditions.

The Most Recognized Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency.

Soft Bone Disorders. The most familiar health problems resulting from low levels of vitamin D are soft bone disorders, called rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults, and osteoporosis in seniors. Soft bone disorders indicate an inadequate supply of calcium to strengthen bones, which is usually a direct result of inadequate vitamin D supplies.

Rickets is a childhood disease characterized by stumped growth and deformed long bones, especially in the legs and arms. The role of diet in the development of rickets was determined by Edward Mellanby in the early 20th century, which led to the discovery of vitamin D. This condition can have very severe effects on the development of the bones.

Children with rickets may have fragile bones that are easily fractured. They may also develop bowed legs, pelvic bone deformities, spine curvatures and protruding breastbones. Children with rickets may experience bone pain in their legs, pelvis and spine.

Rickets may also result in poor muscle tone, which may lead to muscle weakness. Rickets may delay the formation of some teeth. It may also increase the risk of cavities, and decrease the amount of enamel on the teeth.

Osteomalacia is a bone-thinning disorder that occurs exclusively in adults and is characterized by muscle weakness and bone fragility. It does not usually result in bone deformities in adults. Adults with osteomalacia may experience bone pain in their legs, pelvis and spine. They are more at risk of breaking bones in their legs, spine and ribs.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by reduced bone mineral density and increased bone fragility. Bones affected by osteoporosis are more at risk of fracturing. These fractures occur with just a slight amount of stress, much less than in healthy people not affected by osteoporosis. Typical fractures occur in the spinal column, hip and wrist.

Steps to Take if You Have Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

If you do suffer from any of the above problems, you would be wise to get more vitamin D right away, starting with regular sunbathing. In an average temperate climate, you would need two or three hours a week in the summertime. If you don't already get this much exposure, you are probably vitamin D deficient, whether or not you have any obvious symptoms.

If you live north of 30 degrees latitude (draw a line from Atlanta to Los Angeles), the sun's rays aren't strong enough for about half of the year to produce any vitamin D. This is when you need to take supplements, since food sources are not abundant enough to provide optimum levels of vitamin D.

If you have severe symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, seek a professional medical consultation and get a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test to confirm your vitamin D levels. Be aware that most of today's doctors received little or no training in medical school in diagnosing symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. They also do not routinely test for vitamin D deficiencies, as they should.

The latest science indicates that an optimal vitamin D blood level is between 50-70 ng/mL. A doctor who is not familiar with current studies might think anywhere from 20-50 ng/mL is normal, but these standards are outdated.

Why Taking Probiotics Is Good For You

2009-08-24T10:00:00.001-07:00

The manner at which we eat and rush our meals accompanied with the kinds of foods we eat says a lot about the way many of us eat and our state of health. Estimates have depicted that in the near future - approximately 40 years from now, more than half of the youth in their early twenties now may have been diagnosed with cancer of the colon.

Another set of surveys shows that almost people who have poor feeding habits tend to become older and sick more often as against people who feed properly with balanced diets. Studies and Research have shown that Asians tend to age slower and live healthier as opposed to westerners. The reasons of this aren't esoteric. Asians age slower simply because they eat better and take better care of themselves.

This is therefore the reason that Probiotics with the many brands were produced and invented. Probiotics essentially serves keeping the digestive system whole by stabilizing the number of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract. The benefits of Probiotics are as follows

1. Detoxification. if you have had the thought of going on in several colon cleansing programs, then any available type of probiotics in the should assist you. Therefore, it is possible to purify your body , be cleansed, eliminate the constipation which was probably induced as a result of too much fecal matter decomposing in your colon, revive the skin radiance, completely eliminate that pimples and scabies and feel like you have shaved off ten years from your age.

2. Be able to take for foods and foods that you are allergic to. For several reasons, Probiotics are known to help people get back in shape and enjoy the foods they have long wanted to but could not because they were reacting negatively to them. So, if you have some sort of allergy particularly dairy and dairy products are concerned,

3. Enhance your vitality and vigor. This is basic common sense. Assuming you flush your body and get rid of out every junks and filth in the body, you are certain to feel fitter, get increased energy and enhance your staying power. You are likely to have increased energy levels because the body cells are more healthy, the air you inhale is cleaner and like a well organism body functions at the optimal level

4. Replace every missing bacteria. If you have taken a course of antibiotics recently, need Probiotics will help replenish all lost bacteria in the body. When an individual takes antibiotics, the bacteria equilibrium often gets distorted or unbalanced as a result of the new bacteria into the body to fight infections. Go on a course of Probiotics and you are less likely to suffer any repercussions of bacterial loss.

5 Assuming you want to lose weight and reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body, this supplement has the ability to do so. There's really nothing difficult about it. Since it makes you feel agile and active, there is a tendency that you will burn more calories by going out more and exercising which is triggered by the use of Probiotics supplements.

6. Your bowels and stomach will be in great state because of the acids produced and PH sustained.

Juicing Can Reverse The Effects of an Unhealthy Lifestyle

2009-08-24T09:53:00.001-07:00

Spending your life glued to a couch watching TV and eating junk food is bad for you; everybody knows that. Despite knowing it, a large percentage of us still do it! Over time, the body takes on excess fat, becomes cumbersome to exercise and starts to develop serious health problems that might be the forerunners to Diabetes and Heart Disease.

In addition to the more serious diseases that are life threatening, a poor diet combined with a non existent exercise regime can cause skin disorders; muscle cramps; bad teeth; gum infections and a susceptibility to fungal infections.

Taking charge of your health and overhauling your eating habits can turn your life around. To start with, ditch the routine of sitting in front of the television eating potato chips every evening. Make the effort to do something energetic between finishing work and crashing onto the sofa for the evening. There is nothing wrong with watching TV but when it becomes the only thing you do for entertainment, something is really wrong.

The initial stages of change can be a little painful as you will have probably caused a lot of damage to your body by allowing it to vegetate for so long. By introducing raw foods to your diet, you can supply it with a great source of extra energy to see you through the difficult part of renovating your lifestyle.

Firstly, invest in an efficient and good quality juicer. Do not make the mistake of thinking a juicer is the same as a blender; those things that whiz up your soup at high speed. The kind of juicer you need will be the kind that operates at a slower speed, allowing it to break down all the wonderful nutritious stuff like wheat grass.

Buy some fresh and organic fruit and vegetables and read up on how you might combine them to make some meal accompaniments or even substitute meals entirely, particularly breakfast and lunch. Remember, organic foods have not been treated with preservatives and need to be kept properly wrapped and stored. Never use ingredients that have been kept for too long.

Start with flavors you enjoy and do not try recipes that are too complicated while you are learning the ropes. Over time you will learn which flavors blend to give you the kind of juice you enjoy. Introduce a small amount of daily juiced wheat grass to your diet and feel your energy levels rise! For the best results, grow your own wheat grass at home, either in a vegetable patch or in containers indoors. Wheat grass is full of beneficial nutrients that detoxify the body; it is a powerful anti inflammatory agent and also can help to stave off infections.

After only a few days, the raw food introduced to your diet will produce remarkable changes by giving you increased energy levels and help you tackle the next stage of your plan to overhaul your lifestyle and eliminate the results of being a couch potato.

Dieting Can Be Made Easier by Juicing to Produce a Raw Food Option

2009-08-24T09:46:00.001-07:00

The thought of starting a diet can be the worst part of it. Those awful days before starting a new eating routine fills most dieters with dread - no more burgers; no more French fries; platefuls of unappetizing salads without dressing.

Taking a different approach to dieting can improve matters considerably. Looking upon the new eating plan as the start of a brand new life can make the process both interesting and beneficial.

The major drawback to dieting and the one which derails most dieters is hunger. Hunger is just terrible. It eats away at your resolve, makes you irritable and tetchy, causes dizziness and trembling and generally sabotages everything. Overcoming hunger is the key to successful dieting and if you can add some energy to the equation you will have a better chance of sticking with a new food regime.

A raw food element is the way forward. Raw foods consumed in quantity will provide an enormous reserve of energy to keep you going throughout the day without having to snack to stave off hunger pains. The problem is: how do we consume enough raw food to make a difference? The answer is juicing.

Juicing raw foods in quantity each day can make the difference you are looking for. The kind of breakfast people eat before leaving for work has the effect of making them feel full for a short period of time. Raw foods juiced into a delicious drink provides far more nourishment and also supplies a level of energy sufficient to last until at least lunchtime and even then, a light lunch will suffice.

Sounds great doesn't it? Make sure the ingredients you are juicing are organic and fresh and keep them appropriately stored to ensure your juice is healthy. Get a good quality cold press masticating juicer so you can take advantage of the nutrients found in foods that require low speed juicing such as wheat grass. Do not try juicing your food in a standard blender; a blender is not designed to break down the kind of foods you will want to juice. Good quality cold press juicers carry a lengthy guarantee so they last for years.

Whatever food path you have chosen to follow, juicing provides a wonderful structure for a daily consumption of nutrients and vitamins that might be missing in your diet. Adding supplements to your juicing recipes can further enhance your chances of successful dieting and by the time you have reached the second week you will wonder how you ever survived without your daily raw food intake.

People who try to consume raw foods whole rarely manage to attain a sufficient amount to make a real difference to their energy levels. Have you ever tried to consume a carrot; a stick of celery; an apple; a cup of pineapple and a handful of spinach? It would take an hour to eat it and probably another hour lying down in a darkened room to get over the experience. Drinking a glass of juice takes ten minutes: it is also delicious.

How to Build Abs - Diet For Men and Women to Get Flat Stomach

2009-08-24T09:39:00.001-07:00

Foods for a Flatter Belly

So you want to get a flatter belly, what do you do? There are so many ways available that centers on how to build abs. But one thing is for sure: you can't get abs unless you lose weight. Men can have really muscular arms even while sporting a beer belly. But it's impossible or you to have abs when you're overweight. So the most logical thing to do if you're on the heavier side is to put the abdominal exercises on hold while you modify your diet.

Water

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of water in one's diet. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water in a day can help you curb your hunger pangs which you will most probably be having once you start with your diet. Water is also perfect for cleansing your insides and getting your nutrients to your different body parts.

Calcium

New studies have shown that calcium helps increase the rate of fat metabolism. It also inhibits your body from producing and storing fat. You can integrate calcium into your diet by make low calorie smoothies made out of low fat milk and assortment of fruits. Don't go crazy on the sugar. It'll only defeat the purpose which is how to build abs. You can also opt for low calorie natural yogurt if smoothies aren't really your thing.

Protein

When you're on the process of losing weight, your muscles are quite vulnerable. There is a huge possibility that you may be losing weight because you're burning your muscles instead of fats. This often happens when you starve yourself or eat little to nothing to lose weight. The reason behind this is that it's easier for your body to burn lean muscle than fat. Burning muscle will be counterproductive to our goal which is how to build abs. The solution: avoid starving yourself by filling your plate with lean meat and other proteins as well as fiber. Feed and develop your muscles by capitalizing on a protein-rich diet.

Keep an eye on your food portions. It's very easy for us to eat way too much of a good thing which is bad because then the calories still add up.

Superfoods - How Super Are They?

2009-08-24T09:32:00.001-07:00

Do you sometimes have a suspicion that you aren't as healthy as you might be? Do you worry that your health might begin to suffer if you don't change your lifestyle? Then you're in good company. These are common responses in food health questionnaires.

And it might make you very likely to buy something containing a superfood to hedge your bets and salve your conscience -- after all, making actual changes in your diet will seriously shake your comfort zone, won't it?

Should we eat superfoods?

What's a superfood? It has no legal definition, but in general use, it means a product especially rich in phytonutrients: plant chemicals especially good for nutrition. In the EU, anything advertised as a superfood must now have research backing for the claims.

I recently re-read a Readers Digest article from 1975. It rubbished the idea that some 'miracle' foods might have 'magical' properties, mentioning, for example, honey and brown rice. The article instead recommended taking expert advice based on long-standing scientific research. Is that right? Are what we now call 'superfoods' a waste of money, or even dangerous?

If you want to look it up, the article is in the April 1975 UK edition of RD and was by Elizabeth Whelan, condensed from the June 1974 Glamor (Cond?ast).

I reckon that, as usual, moderation is the name of the game here. In one country after another for decades, people in the West have been shown in medical surveys to be on average badly nourished -- which means that a majority are affected. Although for every health nut there's a real slob at the other end, most of us are a culture of ill-fed, junk food addicts. I suggested why in previous articles. And the idea that we might eat some 'special' food that would put right all the ills of overindulgent piggery is just as cracked now, yet just as common, as in 1975. The difference is that today's usual diet is even worst than a third of a century ago, so maybe people are more desperate for the miracle cure that some superfood peddlers advertize.

Most of us are short of essential nutrients

What are people short of? Over three quarters of us are low in chromium, copper, magnesium, vitamin B6 and Omega-3 oils. Worse, over half of us are also deficient in calcium, iron, selenium, zinc and vitamin A. And shockingly, a quarter of us also lack enough phosphorus, manganese, silicon and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B12, C and E -- all essential nutrients. That's one in four of people you know short of 19 essential nutrients out of a total of maybe 43 -- nearly half, then -- and you, dear reader, are odds-on to be lacking in five to ten of them.

Where do you think you rank here? The worst quarter? Or the healthiest? And what would you do if you had tests and proved the deficiency? Do you think it matters? Well, you should, because there's no possible doubt that nutrient deficiency is at the root of the rise in most of the modern diseases.

Rather a lot of people are now looking to improve their prospects by a radical change of diet along the lines nutritionists have recommended for decades, but even more turn to well-advertised (and pricey) fixes like superfoods and pills (sometimes pills of superfoods) and hope the problem will go away. The scale of public nervousness is obvious if you look in any health magazine or newspaper health section and see the adverts there for nutrient and superfood supplements.

Superfoods really are just that -- super.

They are richer in some of the essential nutrients than other foods. So there is no reason not to eat them, unless they take up too much of your diet for balance. (The main pitfalls here are excess of vitamins A and D, and high levels of fat and sugar, even natural ones.) You might think, then, that I shouldn't be casting doubt on them. Well, I'm not -- yet there are some warnings needed even though superfoods are certainly a better idea than simply popping supplement pills.

So, what to beware of?

I'll pick out three examples to show you that the old motto 'buyer beware' is still #1 when you're shopping or watching ads.
What's better for you -- 10g (1/4oz) of dried Goji berries, world's best food for vitamin C content, or 150ml (6oz) of fresh orange juice at the same price? The juice wins out handsomely -- far healthier. So be balanced. More of an ordinary food can outperform a superfood and cost less! How much of a superfood is in the product? I recall a top brand fruit smoothie with three super berries: Blueberry, Acai and Goji. Great -- except it was mostly apple juice and banana. A fine smoothie, but not worth the premium price if you want to be healthy. Use a little more of a cheaper product to get the same benefits, plus more nutrition at less cost. Read the labels! Advertisers extol the virtues of their superfood, then list its impressive health benefits. Most of these claims will be just as true for a lot of less exalted alternatives. Of course, this is what advertising is for -- to puff the product. So, don't be taken in by claims. Read them with scepticism and compare them with ordinary pure foods before you buy. On the whole, superfoods command a premium price while they're the latest fad, then become just 'food' when their replacement comes along. At that point, they may be good value.

Was the 1975 article right? I reckon, yes. And adding a few superfoods to your diet to avoid thinking about your slobbish lifestyle is just plain crazy.

Have you got a favourite superfood? Why is it better than any other rival? Let me know and we can argue a little.

De-stress With Acai Berries

2009-08-24T05:29:00.001-07:00

Do you ever feel stressed? Is your stress difficult to cope with? Then check out the Acai berry. There are many products on the market that claim to relieve stress, many of these are at best useless and a worst dangerous. Research shows that Acai works to reduce after a mere day and with no side effects. This is due to its high concentrations of polyphenols and antioxidants.

If you follow the Acai diet you'll find that you feel less stressed, the diet will also strengthen your immune system. It also reduces the risk of contracting many serious diseases, including cancer. Even If you have difficulty sleeping then Acai could help. Don't underestimate the benefits that this little berry has, many people the world over have expressed their adulation after having implemented the Acai into their diet.

Now one thing that you must ensure do is buy your Acai related products from a reputable source. This'll guarantee that you get the best berries which will in turn produce the fastest and most effective results.

So if you always feel tense or worried about anything then look no further. Try Acai berries and live healthier, fell happier and sleep sounder. You will find more Acai diet information on the website, be sure to subscribe to the Acai diet blog.

The Acai diet is the most important thing to be known to the people and for the knowledge of the people they need to look at the Acai berry diet information so full awareness of scams and diet requirements is had before embarking on an Acai diet. The Acai is called the super food because of the great benefits it provides to mankind and also due to the essential nutrients that it contains.

Acai Berry - Keeping You in Perfect Shape

2009-08-24T05:22:00.001-07:00

If you wish to lose weight and look healthy then try the Acai berry. This fruit contains everything that your body needs in order to function properly. The Acai looks like any other black grape except that it is considerably smaller. It contains all the vitamins and minerals that your body needs.

Acai which looks like a black grape is much smaller in size but it is termed as the super fruit by the researchers because of the various benefits that it offers to the people. Many different people follow the Acai diet for many different reasons. Some people want to shed a few pounds from their bodies. Others, notably athletes, consume Acai berries to improve their stamina. See Acai diet information to find out more.

Research the market well

Subscribe to the Acai diet blog where you will find a wealth of information about the Acai . You should ensure that you buy your Acai supplements from a reputable store. Acai berries are available online. We recommend that you check out where you can subscribe to a free trail and on top of that they will deliver the Acai berry supplement to your door.

Remember that there are many supplements on the market which are not made from actual Acai berries. So it is very important that you shop wisely to make sure that you buy the best quality product at the best possible price.

Even celebrities across the world go for consuming Acai diet in order to remain slim and fit at the same time. But it is also important that buy the best brand when you go for purchasing Acai berry supplements. This would help you in getting the best results and that too within a very short period of time. The Acai fruit has no side-effects and so you need not worry. Try genuine Acai pills and tablets today, and witness the incredible effect that it will have on your health.

Benefits of Pure Organic Acai Berries

2009-08-24T00:09:00.001-07:00

The humble Acai berry is the talk of town right now. You would be amazed to know that Acai is packed full nutritional as well as medicinal properties that'll keep you fit and healthy for life. This is why researchers have dubbed it a 'super fruit.' It is has received recognition from the word over as a miraculous fruit, what's more it causes absolutely no side-effects. Doctors in fact prescribe the Acai diet to patients suffering from such potentially life-threatening health problems as cancer and diabetes.

Acai helps in improving the metabolism of the body and gives you a perfect and young skin. What's more when you go for consuming Acai diet; you would find that you get a good night sleep. It also goes a long way in treating harmful diseases like cancer, diabetes...etc.

Acai berries contain antioxidants that can help you live a longer and healthier life. Acai berries also contain high levels of fatty acids and proteins which could do wonders for your health. Extracts of the Acai can be found in the form of pills and powders which can help keep your heart healthy. Some people eat Acai berries because they combat signs of aging. Please consult Acai diet information to know more.

Many different people eat Acai berries for a variety of different reasons. If you are overweight and keen to shed a few pounds then the Acai is for you. Regular consumption of Acai berries can also reduce stress meaning that you'll not only feel happier but you'll be healthier.

So, there are lots to try this tiny fruit however make sure that you purchase Acai products from a reputable source. Subscribe to the Acai diet blog and you'll find everything you need to know. Don't forget to check out the acai berry diet related website as well.

High-Dose Vitamins - Are They Dangerous?

2009-08-23T21:38:00.001-07:00

Are you a vitamin freak? Do you take huge doses of vitamin supplements every day? Then this article is not for you. Even when studies like the one published in Denmark in April 2008 conclude that high vitamin intake could make you die, you'll look the other way. OK, go die! For everyone else...

Alarming research

Here's what the Danish experts said. They looked at the collected effects of vitamins A, C and E on nearly a quarter million sick and healthy people worldwide, who took part in 817 trials between them over the last few decades. Looks like a pretty comprehensive survey to me -- of mostly ordinary people: bad-health, sickly people, of course; we are talking about the West!

It seems that taking doses of vitamin A or beta-carotene could make you 7% more likely to die. It's 4% for vitamin E and no problem for vitamin C. They found no evidence that any of them were useful as antioxidants, contradicting what a lot of doctors say.

Interesting. The 1975 Readers Digest article I keep mentioning suggested that it was vitamin C, not A or E, which could be dangerous: Nobel Prize-winner Linus Pauling thought in the 1970s that this might be so. (If you want to look it up, the Readers Digest article is in the April 1975 UK edition and was by Elizabeth Whelan, condensed from the June 1974 Glamor )

So, what are the facts as they apply to us real people?

We need our vitamins

To begin with, be warned that too little of any of the 49 essential nutrients will affect your health -- and that includes vitamins. Most of them it's almost impossible to avoid getting enough of, though over 3/4 of people are deficient in five essentials, and 1/4 of us in eighteen. Let's put it this way: you're very likely to be short of something!

So, my first suggestion is that if you are at all worried that you're short on an essential nutrient, go out and buy the cheapest multi-vitamin-and-mineral pills you can find. One a day will give you about the minimum healthy dose of each essential except the EFAs, and will do as band-aid till you're eating healthily. The extra you might get of some essentials is a long way within safety margins.

Too much of a good thing?

Then let's look at overdosing. Natural overdosing is very rare, but possible if you're stupid in your eating habits. The adult recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C is 1/17 gram -- that's the minimum for health. Monkeys eat a lot of fruit. They could get 10 grams a day of vitamin C eating some fruit. They're healthy. People -- with 10 times the body weight -- have been known to eat 60 grams a day trying cold cures. That's over 1000 times the RDA. What happened? They just got the runs.

On the other hand, the long-term toxic dose of vitamin A is only about 20 times the basic need. So, popping high doses of beta-carotene, or drinking gallons of carrot juice daily is not recommended. You'll find your hair dropping out first, then your liver packs up working. Fancy cirrhosis? Huge amounts of vitamin A can be a quicker kill than alcohol! Your best source of vitamin A is sunlight on your bare skin, then fresh vegetables next, not high-dose pills.

It's a similar story with vitamin D, though not so bad: the toxic dose is about 60 times the RDA. But vitamin E is still reckoned non-toxic. So, I reckon that high dose vitamins are fine if you want them, as long as you're sensible. Though they're not essential. And you need to avoid large doses of A and D, the toxic ones. Keep off polar bear and shark liver, and -- health freaks like me take note -- limit your carrot juice to half a pint a day.

What do I do?

I take daily high-dose vitamin C (8 times the RDA) and B complex, all in one pill. I reckon they're harmless and the benefits might be good, though they're not medically proven. My vitamin B1 is 18 times the RDA and it's said to make your skin stink to some mosquitoes. I think that's so -- I'm not bitten by the kind that makes my legs swell up as long as I'm popping those pills.

I HATE mozzies!

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Meat-Free Exercise Recovery Super Foods

2009-08-23T21:32:00.001-07:00

Most men who push the weights understand that red meat encompasses significant muscle building proteins along with vitamins which many other foods do not have. However, guidelines provided by the world Cancer research fund state that we should all not eat any more than 500g per week of cooked red meat given it's a link to cancer and more specifically, bowel cancer. This is not a particularly well known fact and here we look at some alternative foods not containing red meat to help you recover and replenish your bodies after tough workouts.

1. Low-fat Greek yogurt

This is great food to replenish vitamins and protein in your body. With approximately 8g of protein, 4g of carbohydrates, and nil fat per 100g, making these Greek style yoghurts packed with calcium and B vitamins perfect for improving your energy levels and helping the growth of your muscles.

2. Soya

The meat substitute Soya, has all the amino acids required for muscle repair. Additionally, higher in magnesium which is shown to play a pivotal role in the capability of the heart and arteries to function to full capacity, soya also has a degree of isoflavones within its compounds helping to prevent a deterioration of bone tissue.

3. Sunflower seeds

Contained within Sunflower seeds are the beneficial vitamin E which is perfect for replenishing your body after exercise. Vitamin E plays a key role in maintaining healthy muscles and red blood cells. This super vitamin can only be retained by your body for very short periods therefore requires topping up frequently.

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High Alkaline Food - How to Look and Feel Younger With Alkaline Food

2009-08-23T21:26:00.001-07:00

Do you want to bring back the beauty that you have had when you were younger? Do you feel so disappointed about what others tell you about you looking old? The answer to those problems is eating high alkaline food.

High alkaline foods are usually fruits and vegetables. They are really very good for our health. These foods fight unwanted free radicals that thrive into our body.

These free radicals are the culprit in our premature aging. And this can be depicted in our face, skin, and the way we act. We all want to live a youthful life. And eating high alkaline food is the best thing to do.

Foods that are highly alkaline help maintain a healthy immune system because it washes away toxins. These toxins are harmful and can bring some illnesses. When you accumulate so many toxins inside your body, you become unhealthy.

Some signs of these being unhealthy are rough skin, wrinkled face, dry skin and hair, lumpy and sluggish body. If you seem to be like this, you look older.

However, these are easily prevented and healed with the proper diet. Alkaline diet can boost your skin, face and whole body. You can even have a perfect mind. Furthermore, your emotional stability is enhanced.

In effect, youthful lifestyle is obtained. It is because if you have youthful well being, you are totally healthy in all aspects of life.

High alkaline food includes fresh fruits and vegetables. Lemons are considered alkaline foods though they are acidic in their natural state. It is because they produce alkaline ash when metabolized inside our body.

Some tubers and sprouted seeds are good for our body too. They are also alkaline foods.

Acid foods are the enemies of our healthy body. These foods consist of processed foods, alcohols, frizzy, sweets, red meats and others. Avoid smoking cigars and drinking alcohols now.

You should always remember that a balanced blood pH must be maintained. The blood pH range is alkaline, 7.35-7.45. That is why we should aim for the high alkaline food intake.

If you want to really look and feel young all the way, you should avoid accumulating too much acid food. Go for fruits and vegetables. We know that these are the ones that are good for us.

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The Benefits of Eating Fish

2009-08-23T07:05:00.001-07:00

It is no secret that fish contain many important nutrients including valuable proteins and for this reason should be a major part of our diet. Often considered as an underrated food, the declining fish consumption the world over is certainly not due to its lack of beneficial ingredients. Even a small portion of fish around 100g, would supply between a third and a half of your protein requirements each day. Fish are also very rich in vitamins B which helps to maintain a healthy nervous system and iodine which our thyroid glands require to function efficiently.

Salmon or herring which are considered to be a fatty fish do contain almost twice as many calories as compatible white fish. The difference compared to saturated animal fats however is that fish oils are highly beneficial to the human system and researchers discovered that individuals who consume oily fish at least once a week are far less prone to suffer from heart disease or stroke.

Most of us have heard of Omega 3 which are the fatty acids contained in fish helping to protect us against heart and circulation issues. It is also thought to lessen the risk of thrombosis and is also believed to help enhance the flow of blood through our small blood vessels. This recent research has suggested that consuming oily fish helps to relieve some symptoms of psoriasis due to the large amounts of vitamins D in oily fish, the likes of herring or mackerel. The evidence showed that Omega 3 fatty acids are required for the development of our eyes and brains and is particularly relevant in pregnant mothers who should be looking to include fish within their diet.

Oily fish, a good example being herring and mackerel, should be cooked and eaten as fresh as possible given they can go off very quickly and if not consumed at their best have been known to cause tummy upsets and skin rashes. The optimum method of cooking fish is through either steaming, grinning or baking and given it's health enhancing properties should be forming a much greater percentage of our diet to promote healthy bodies and general well-being.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-Eating-Fish&id=2792597
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Some Real Facts of the Acai Berry

2009-08-23T06:59:00.001-07:00

The Acai berry has got many advantages but still many people do not know about these and so to provide the people with all the information about the Acai there are many Acai diet blogs that are really helpful to people. Moreover there is a lot of disinformation about Acai products on the internet.

When some of the products are gaining ground so it is very common that there will be certain criticism, and it could be argued that this has happened to Acai. So we have to face the truth and move forwards. But in order to get the product known to all the people in the correct way the people should be provided with the correct Acai diet information and it should not tell false stories to the people.

The Acai facts have to be known to the people well before they actually start taking the product. Dieters-to-be should know everything about the product and so for that they visit the Acai blog at least once before using the Acai berry. The Acai has been crowned as the best super food available in the market today and so in order to make it a habit of adding the Acai diet you need to be informed about the product so that you have no complaints afterwards which might bring any problem to your health.

The endorsement of the Acai is often done with great spectacle and show, and one of it's main proponents in recent times has been Oprah Winfrey. This endorsement makes it very popular but it is not like other endorsements where the product is tried to be sold through very well known people.

Oprah doesn't necessarily endorse just one product in an attempt to gain money from selling it, but to highlight the possibility of using an Acai Berry diet for the benefit of viewers. Acai diet blog is the best place where you can get all the necessary information on this product.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Some-Real-Facts-of-the-Acai-Berry&id=2796684
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Reasons to Drink Acai Berry Juices

2009-08-23T06:53:00.001-07:00

Coming from the Amazonian rainforests of Brazil this little, grape-like fruit has been known to work wonders and is thus gaining importance fast. You might have seen people drinking Acai juice and you may have asked yourself; why would anyone drink Acai berry juice? Well here are some of the reasons why:

Firstly, Acai juice helps protect your body against many dangerous diseases. This is mainly due to the presence of phenols which helps the body protect itself against disease. This is the main reason why doctors recommend patients to try Acai berry when they suffer from chronic health maladies such as diabetes.

Secondly, it helps strengthen the immune system. Acai contain anti-mutagenic chemical compounds that help prevent cellular degeneration.

Thirdly, Acai juice is very good for your eyes. It helps combat glaucoma and muscular degeneration. Acai berries contain high levels of antioxidants. People follow the Acai diet in order to keep themselves healthy and free from disease. You should consult Acai berry diet information where you can find out more about this incredible fruit.

Fourthly, Acai helps in the digestive process. It eases the pain of acid reflux and other common health complaints. If you wish to know more about the benefits of Acai berries, then please visit the Acai diet blog.

So, you have seen some of the reasons why there has been a huge demand for Acai berries. People who consume Acai on a regular basis appear younger, making it a popular drink amongst all ages. So you can look and feel younger by drinking Acai juices. Make sure that you purchase genuine Acai berries in order to receive the best quality product at the best possible price. Do you require more information on Acai berries? Visit any of the acai berry related website.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Reasons-to-Drink-Acai-Berry-Juices&id=2796761
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What Are the Health Benefits of Lycopene?

2009-08-23T06:47:00.001-07:00

By the time you finish reading this article, you will be more aware of the many health benefits of lycopene.

So, what exactly is it?

It is a compound found in certain fruits and vegetables. It belongs to the group of substances known as carotenes and is the pigment responsible for giving vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit, their red color.

What are the health benefits?

It has been found to possess many benefits, and also has strong antioxidant properties. Because it is a potent antioxidant, it can be extremely effective in fighting free radicals which can damage cells in the body. This can help to reduce the risk of cancer and strokes.

Indeed, several studies have suggested that a diet high in lycopene may be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer.

The beneficial effect of antioxidants on heart disease has been well documented. In a recent study, it was found that men with a high concentration of lycopene in their body were only 50% as likely to have a heart attack compared to men with lower concentrations.

Research has shown the following other suggested benefits of lycopene:

Helping to prevent kidney disease and aging problems such as degeneration of the nervous system and cellular damage from the aging process. Helping with problems such as diabetes. More recent research has suggested that, like beta-carotene, it may play an important role in keeping vision healthy by preventing cataracts and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Another small study has suggested that it can help reduce the instances of exercise-induced asthma among some people. Another benefit is that it may be able to help keep skin looking fresh and youthful. Skin burned by UV rays, tanning and premature aging can be combated with the antioxidants contained in it which helps to reduce the damage to skin by regenerating new skin cells.

Where can I get it?

Lycopene is not produced naturally in the body. It must be obtained through a person's diet. Tomato products, such as tomato juice, ketchup, spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce for example are, by far, the major sources in the typical western diet. In fact, these foods provide over 80 percent of the compound consumed in the U.S. Other fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and pink grapefruit also provide this anti oxidant, but in smaller amounts.

So, eating a lot of tomatoes will help. However, this nutrient can also be taken in supplement form but this might not be the answer as it may not provide all of the benefits associated with eating tomatoes. The overall benefits could be due to the mix of different vitamins that are contained in tomatoes.

For this reason, a good multi-nutritional supplement may be better as they contain ingredients that address many of the causes of cellular aging, of which free radical damage is only one. Please remember that with all supplements, make sure that you follow the instructions on the packet.

So, look for a good multi-nutritional supplement that contains lycopene rather than buying a single ingredient supplement. Not only will you be more likely to benefit, but you may also get better value for money.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-the-Health-Benefits-of-Lycopene?&id=2792128
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Safe Artificial Sweetener - Or Bio-Warfare Chemical?

2009-08-23T06:41:00.001-07:00

It was once on a Pentagon list of bio-warfare chemicals submitted to Congress - now it's found in over 6,000 products...sold in 100 countries...and consumed by 250 million people worldwide...including you.

It's the artificial sweetener aspartame that graces the ingredient list of scores of sugar-free products: Equal®, NutraSweet®, diet soda, chewing gum, breakfast cereal, yogurt, frozen desserts, and even chewable vitamins, to name a few.

Considering that it earned a spot on the bio-warfare chemical list, you might be wondering why the FDA approved aspartame as a sweetener in the first place.

Well, initially it didn't. Flawed data...brain tumor findings in animal studies...and the lack of studies on humans to determine longer-term effects were more than enough reason for the FDA to hesitate releasing aspartame on an unsuspecting public.

But G.D. Searle - the producer of aspartame - spent tens of millions of its own dollars to conduct the necessary approval tests on aspartame. Unlike the independent studies that had no stake in the product, Searle's studies unsurprisingly found no adverse health effects.

That's when Donald Rumsfeld - the CEO of Searle and part of Reagan's transition team - got involved. Despite the legitimate concerns and the obvious neurotoxicity of the substance, aspartame was successfully pushed through to market in 1983.

A Chemistry Lesson
Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol.

This combination of chemicals is 180 times sweeter than sugar - and a thousand times more dangerous.

Take a close look at them, and you'll see what I mean ...

Aspartic Acid:

The aspartic acid in aspartame is an "excitotoxin." What it does is kill certain neurons in your brain by triggering excessive amounts of free radicals. So it basically "excites" or stimulates the neural cells to death.

The problem is...75% or more of the neural cells in a particular part of your brain have to be killed before you notice any symptoms. And then it's too late.

Here are just a few of the chronic illnesses that have been linked to long-term exposure to excitotoxins:

-Multiple sclerosis (MS)
-Parkinson's disease
-Alzheimer's disease
-Epilepsy
-And memory loss.
-The risk of harm from excitotoxins like aspartic acid is greater to infants...children...pregnant women...and the elderly.

Phenylalanine:

The second chemical in aspartame - phenylalanine - is an amino acid normally found in the brain. So you would think that this substance would be perfectly safe to consume.

But when you ingest aspartame - especially along with carbohydrates - it can lead to excessive levels of phenylalanine in the brain - causing levels of serotonin to decrease and triggering emotional disorders, such as depression.

Methanol (Wood Alcohol):

The methanol in aspartame is a deadly poison, no two ways about it.

When it enters your body, it breaks down into formaldehyde, which is extremely toxic.

Just think about it...formaldehyde is used for embalming fluid. So when the methanol in aspartame converts to formaldehyde in your body, it actually "embalms" your living tissue - and damages your DNA as a result.

This deadly neurotoxin causes gradual and eventually severe damage to your entire neurological and immune system and can cause permanent genetic damage at extremely low doses.

Both the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified formaldehyde as human carcinogen.

And clinical studies confirm their decision ...

A 1998 study published in Life Sciences showed that formaldehyde accumulates and remains in body. The researchers concluded that the regular intake of aspartame may result in the progressive accumulation of formaldehyde in your liver, tissues, muscles, brain, cornea and retina - and result in damage to DNA that may eventually produce cell death and mutations.

In a May 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers reported a 37% increased risk of dying from cancers of the blood and lymphatic system - like lymphoma and leukemia - for workers exposed to formaldehyde vapors.

In 2005, the renowned Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences reported a three-year study on 1,800 lab rats found that aspartame causes significant increases in lymphomas/leukemias - even at dose levels currently considered acceptable for humans. They verified their findings with a second study in 2007 - where rats developed so much formaldehyde in their bodies from aspartame consumption that their skin turned yellow.

Their conclusion: The formation of formaldehyde could be the link between aspartame and lymphoma and leukemia.

Because of its obvious neurotoxicity, the EPA recommends you limit your consumption of formaldehyde-producing methanol to 7.8 mg/day.

The problem is this...a one-liter aspartame-sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. And heavy users of aspartame-containing products consume as much as 250 mg of methanol daily - or 32 times the EPA limit.

Aspartame's Effect on Your Health
There are over 900 published studies on the health hazards of aspartame in the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

It's been found that this toxic cocktail can lead to a wide variety of ailments with long-term use, including ...

-Brain tumors
-Birth defects
-Diseases like lymphoma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue
-Emotional disorders like depression and anxiety attacks
-Epilepsy/seizures
-Migraines
-Numbness
-Hearing Loss and ringing in the ears
-Blindness, blurred vision and other eye problems
-Stomach disorders

But short-term use can lead to some problems for you as well.

There have been more reports to the FDA for aspartame reactions than for all other food additives combined - a whopping 80-85% of all food complaints. Less than a year after aspartame was granted approval, the FDA had recorded 600 consumer complaints.

As of 1995, when the FDA stopped accepting aspartame toxicity reaction reports, there were around 10,000 documented reports of adverse reactions to aspartame, including death. Since it's estimated that only about 1% of people who experience a reaction report it, it's safe to assume that at least one million people have had some kind of reaction to this chemical.

Migraines are the most frequently reported problem. Other commonly reported symptoms of an aspartame reaction include:

-Change in vision Convulsions and seizures
-Sleep problems/insomnia Change in heart rate
-Hallucination Abdominal cramps/pain
-Memory loss Rash
-Nausea and vomiting Fatigue and weakness
-Dizziness and poor equilibrium Diarrhea
-Hives Joint pain

How to Tell if You're Having An Adverse Reaction to Aspartame

If you're experiencing any of the health issues listed above, you might be having an adverse reaction to aspartame.

Here's how to find out for sure...

Eliminate all artificial sweeteners from your diet for one to two weeks. If you commonly consume aspartame in caffeinated drinks, do it gradually to avoid unpleasant caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
After one to two weeks of being artificial sweetener-free, start consuming significant quantities of aspartame again - at least three servings a day.

Pay attention to how you feel over the next one to three days - especially comparing your health to when you weren't eating artificial sweeteners. If you don't notice any difference in how you feel, you probably are not having an aspartame reaction.

The thing is this...just because you can tolerate aspartame for now without any problem does NOT mean your health won't be damaged in the long term by this substance.

For your health and the health of the ones you love, try to reduce the amounts of aspartame consumption - and substitute a more natural, safer alternative like stevia for your sugar-free needs. Your body will be glad you did!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Safe-Artificial-Sweetener-Or-Bio-Warfare-Chemical?&id=2743128
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Are Natural Foods Dangerous? Or Are Preserved Foods a Greater Risk?

2009-08-23T06:35:00.001-07:00

A 1975 Readers Digest article on food that prompted this series posed the question whether 'natural foods' - those with no additives - were safer than those with additives. Its answer was a clear 'No'. It pointed out that eating deteriorated natural food was dangerous, mentioning moulds and other growths in spoiled foods being linked with cancers.

If you want to look it up, the article is in the April 1975 UK edition of RD and was by Elizabeth Whelan, condensed from the June 1974 Glamor (Conde Nast).

The article went on to extol the benefits of vitamin reinforcement and to approve of preservatives, mentioning nitrates and nitrites to avoid botulism and BHT & BHA as protection against stomach cancer. Essentially, then, it was suggesting that people who ate untreated food would be exposing themselves to unnecessary risk.

Were the expert reports mentioned in the article correct?

Food additives, then as now, were seen as being in several categories by most people, so I'll deal with them that way. First, let's look at the natural mineral preservatives.

Salt and Nitrates

Nitrite and nitrate preservatives go with salt - sea salt and rock salt. These are all well-proven to give people high blood pressure when more than a little is eaten, leading to arterial damage and heart stress. Some people are naturally more prone to this hypertension - maybe one in five -- but you won't know if it's you till it happens. On the other hand, as a preservative, they diminish the risk of food poisoning and disease from poorly stored foods. So maybe heart trouble in later life is the lesser risk if you're prone to let your food spoil then eat it! That's the issue the 1975 article majored on. If we avoid the dangers of high salt intake, I see no problem using salts for preserving foods like bacon and fish, and eating them in moderation - especially if a lot of the salt is soaked and washed out before cooking.

Vitamins

Vitamins, both natural extracts like C and artificial analogues, are a healthy additive to foods if used in safe quantities. They are preservatives and antioxidants as well as good for health. No disagreement with 1975 here.

Artificial Antioxidants

Finally, the article extols the virtues of BHA and BHT antioxidants, only in use for a couple of decades in 1975, and just coming into widespread use. For me, this is the main point in the article that I take issue with. The author mentions recent (1970s) research showing that they could reduce the rate of stomach cancer. Probably, yes - compared with the food spoiling from having no antioxidants.

But the issue here is not that; it's between using BHT/BHA or leaving the natural antioxidants in the food. In the 70s, the 'natural' movement was regarded as a bunch of foodie cranks; 'hi-tech' and 'modern' were the keywords, and that meant processed foods with a long shelf life and bursting with flavor - from plenty of added salt, sugar, flavour-enhancers and hydrogenated fat. Oh, and highly colored with modern azo and coal tar dyes.

My other articles tell you why that is a very bad idea. Today, food-conscious people are concerned to keep food more natural and, by choice, to leave nature to do the preserving. UK bread, for example, has used natural antioxidant Vitamin A instead of BHA for over two decades. I see this trend as only beneficial to the public health - and I hope to see it become the major public attitude.

Is Natural Best?

But there's more! BHT, Butylhydroxytoluene (E321), has been shown to lessen some cancer risk - but encourage others. It may cause metabolic problems and pose other risks, so five countries have banned it and it has been voluntarily removed from foods in many others.

It has been replaced by BHA, Butylhydroxyanisole (E320), which is regarded as rather safer. Many reputable authorities deprecate even this, though, and the organic/wholefood movement hates it as representing the principle of making food unsafe to improve storage, then adding a chemical to make it safe again. I agree - natural antioxidants are best. But BHA is better than eating spoilt foods.

And Your Opinion?

What do you think? Would you rather get your food fresh and do your own food safety work, or have it dosed with preservatives so that if you leave it a few weeks in the fridge, it'll still be safe to eat?

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Natural-Foods-Dangerous?-Or-Are-Preserved-Foods-a-Greater-Risk?&id=2743399
diet hylpropion news

Raw Vegetable Recipes - How to Easily Add Healthy Foods to Your Favorite Meals

2009-08-23T06:29:00.001-07:00

Raw vegetable recipes are the mainstay of a raw vegetable diet.

Teenage obesity would be a thing of the past if the typical American diet were based more upon raw vegetables than on fast foods.

The reality of the situation is that overweight boys and overweight girls do not eat enough raw health food. Therefore, they are left eating fast food and fast food is bad for you.

Period.

The fact that a healthy dinner should be your lightest meal of the day means that raw vegetable recipes are a natural for this evening meal. The less food on your stomach when you hit the sack for a long night sleep the less fat your body will store when you are inactive.

That makes sense.

Avoid A Spasm Of Enthusiasm

When you are making dietary changes, whether it is to eat a raw vegetable diet for weight loss or you just want to eat a healthy diet plan to improve your physical well being, please take your time.

If you enthusiastically pledge to consume nothing but a raw vegetable diet when you normally eat mostly cooked foods your efforts will be in vain.

By slowly introducing new foods into your normal diet you will acclimate your tastes to a new way of eating.

This is similar to the route you should take when beginning an exercise program.

Always discuss you plan with your doctor then begin slowly. Steadily increase your exercise regimen (or in this case, increasing your raw vegetable consumption) to allow your body and mind to adapt to your chosen lifestyle changes. Any sudden change in your established exercise or eating behaviors will be short lived.

Therefore, it is perfectly permissible to have some cooked foods included in your raw vegetable recipes. This raw vegetable recipe can be made beforehand and served with a nice healthy lunch or in the evening with your evening meal.

Raw Vegetables And Sweet Dressing Salad

Ingredients:
6 slices of bacon
1 head of broccoli, broken into florets
1 head of cauliflower, broken into florets
2 carrots, julienne cut
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
1 cup Kraft mayonnaise with olive oil
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup crystalline fructose

Fry bacon until crisp in a skillet. Drain fat and crumble. Set aside.

Whisk the crystalline fructose, cider vinegar, and mayonnaise with olive oil together in a bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl toss the bacon, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, onion, and celery until well mixed.

Pour the sweet dressing over the vegetables.

Toss gently to coat the vegetables. Salad will taste better if allowed to sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving. It will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Toss again just before serving.

Ingredient Rationale Making The Recipe Healthier

The ingredients are what make your raw vegetable recipes healthy or not. If you add excess fat, sugar, or salt then your dish loses some of its healthy attributes.

The raw vegetables are OK because they give you raw food enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. It is what you put on the raw vegetables that will make or break the healthy aspect of your salad.

That is why you should use crystalline fructose instead of sucrose (table sugar). It is a healthier sugar because it is digested and absorbed by the body in a more "body friendly" manner.

The mayonnaise containing olive oil is healthier than a product containing trans-fats or a lot of saturated fat. The bacon has saturated fats but it is an allowable addition in moderation because it offers flavor to the dish.

There are always compromises that must be made in all aspects of life. This is one of those compromises.

Remember, you have to have flavors you are relatively familiar with so you can make a gentle transition into healthier eating. The last thing you want is to be offended by a recipe with a disagreeable flavor. That could cause you to abandon your attempts to establish a healthy diet plan.

Raw Vegetable Recipes Complement Good Meats

Any raw vegetable recipe of your choosing is an excellent accompaniment to meat-based entrees. Making those entrees healthier by applying the tenets of the Mediterranean diet will further move you toward healthier eating habits.

Meats are not inherently bad for you because they supply protein and essential fatty acids, which your body needs. However, your body only needs a piece of meat approximately the size of a pack of playing cards to satisfy your daily needs.

Most Americans eat much more protein than they need. Combining raw vegetables with each meal, reducing the amount of protein you consume, and replacing sugary, fat-laden desserts with fresh fruits or nuts will put you on the path to establishing a healthy diet plan.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Raw-Vegetable-Recipes-How-to-Easily-Add-Healthy-Foods-to-Your-Favorite-Meals&id=2791859
sildenafil

Natural Toxins in Natural Foods

2009-08-23T06:23:00.001-07:00

We all know the saying there are always exceptions that prove the rule. The general rule is that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is exceptionally good for you, but there are a few exceptions to this rule that might surprise you. Some natural foods contain compounds that hinder your health.

For instance - oxalic acid is found in rhubarb, spinach, parsley, strawberries, cranberries, beets, and Swiss Chard. Oxalic acid binds with minerals like calcium, iron and zinc in the digestive tract hindering their absorption. If you are prone to kidney stones I suggest you go easy on the above mentioned foods, as kidney stones are often made up of oxalates, coming mainly from the diet.

Phytic acid also hinders absorption of minerals and is especially high in wheat. Grains like brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, barley, oats are much better for you. Wheat bran is really high in phytic acid and can cause a mineral deficiency. So remove one problem grain from your diet and add the five healthy grains.

Sulfur rich foods can cause some people digestive problems like wind, discomfort and pain these foods include cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, and onions. If your digestive system blows up with these foods, never eat them raw, cook lightly with seeds like dill, caraway, or fennel as these seeds aid the digestive system to cope better. Sulfur is an important part of our body's make-up and has long been used as part of a healing program for arthritis. Sulfur has been prized since ancient times for healing throughout history by bathing in sulfur springs - often recommended for rheumatic or skin problems, high blood pressure, neuralgia or digestive disorders and so much more.

If you have digestive problems then maybe the answer is to soak your feet in Epsom salts, it is magnesium sulfate and the feet (being highly absorbent) will allow the body to soak up what it needs, by-passing your digestive system.

The deadly nightshade family contain traces of a poison known as Solanaceae. The foods most people eat that are from this family are tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines also known as eggplants, and any color peppers. The alkaloids in these vegetables can and do acidify the blood. Alkaloids have been known to subtly remove calcium from the bones and deposit it in soft tissue, and for some it can be a contributory factor to kidney stones, osteoporosis, arthritis, aches and pains in general etc.

Then there are foods that contain goitrogens, these compounds block the body from using iodine, this could negatively affect the thyroid function, if the function is already weak or compromised. Found in foods like soy and products made from soy, mustard, and cabbage. If you suspect your thyroid is struggling - cut down on soy products. The little you might have in the way of mustard is not worth worrying about.

Tannins also hinders the absorption of minerals like iron, calcium etc. Where would you find substantial amounts of tannins? In black tea. If you are going to drink black tea then cut down the amount you have or don't drink tea with your meal.

So what does this all mean? If you have a problem like osteoporosis, you should think about the amount of foods you are consuming that have been mentioned above. Give your body the best chance possible to absorb and utilize minerals. So if you are eating loads of wheat and wheat bran consider cutting down or giving up wheat altogether and add the other grains to your diet. If you suspect you have a thyroid problem avoid all soy and soy products. If you are someone who is full of aches and pain, it would be worth asking yourself if you eating too many foods from the dead nightshade family? If you have a propensity to form kidney stones you need to write down everything you eat, to see if you are eating too many of the above mentioned foods.

If you don't have any of the above problems, just make sure you are not eating these foods too often, moderate the amount you eat by varying your diet with other natural foods. One of our biggest problems these days is that most people in reality like to stick to just a few foods. There are no longer seasons, in the supermarkets, generally foods are available all year round. In the past this would have ensured people ate what was in season and would have to change their eating habits regularly. It isn't unusual for people to consider that pasta one day, pizza the next, and a cheese and tomato sandwich is eating a variety of foods. When in reality they are all variants of wheat, tomato and cheese.

The key is to eat more variety of natural foods and eat the above mentioned foods less often. Many people have said to me in the past if they cut down or remove these foods from their diet they will have nothing left to eat!! This is the point - their diet has become so limited. There's a whole world of food out there, a vast variety these days. We know from statistics that most people eat very few fruit and vegetables except potatoes and tomatoes, yet there is an exciting array of fruit and vegetables out there.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Natural-Toxins-in-Natural-Foods&id=2742962
diet hylpropion news

Why is There a Need to Balance Omega 3 and 6 in the Body?

2009-08-23T06:17:00.001-07:00

We are then aware of the benefit that we could get from omega 3, but, are you wondering why it seems to be associated with Omega 6? Omega 3 and 6 are both fatty acids, that are essential in keeping the structure of the cells in the body intact and in a correct state. Both omega 3 and 6 are regarded for its capability to produce an intended result in the communication process that happens in the brain.

Omega 3, having the capability to create neural pathways, have to be obtained by the body in adequate amounts, if the body is not that capable of acquiring substantial amounts of omega 3, it would then give way to omega 6 to take over the whole communication process from the brain, to other parts of the body.

Studies have found that these neural cells that are being created by omega 6, are very distinct at a greater extent from those that were created by omega 3. The outcome of this may lead to brain dysfunctions and other emotional imbalances. That is why, it is very important our brain and body has omega 3 and 6 balanced.

Or, might as well go for acquiring more food and supplements that are rich in omega 3, since omega 3 has the most positive effects in our body than that of omega 6. You would be able to benefit from the positive effects of health improvement, through eating food that rich with omega 3 such as nuts, dark green vegetables, flax seed, some fruits and fish.

Fish oil is the best source of omega 3, and that is what health supplements - high in omega 3 fatty acids - are made from. Fish oil can be very beneficial to one's health , however, they are not processed the same way. Since, people have been aware of the contamination of aquatic resources, with heavy metals and chemicals, we now become hesitant of eating fish, and consuming any of its products.

This shouldn't be an issue if the product that you will be using is made of pharmaceutical grade fish, which has gone through molecular distillation. Molecular distillation is a process of removing the contaminants from the end product that would be used for the mixture of the supplements. Here, you can be sure that what you are taking into your body is a safe and effective product to provide you the adequate omega 3 nutrients that your body needs.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-is-There-a-Need-to-Balance-Omega-3-and-6-in-the-Body?&id=2791521
sexuality health

14 Foods to Burn Fat Fast!

2009-08-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

Eat these 14 foods to eat that will help you burn stubborn fat quickly.

Oatmeal. Oatmeal is shock full of fiber making it a perfect weight loss food. Because of the fiber, it's transit time through the body last longer keeping hunger at bay longer too. Steel cut oaks are delicious and chewy. Top it off with cinnamon and agave syrup for a super healthy breakfast.

Fresh Vegetables and Fruits. One reason it's better to get your vitamins from real foods instead of pills is because of the fiber. Fibrous foods clean house in your colon sweeping it clean and keeping it healthy.

Grapefruit. Grapefruit in particular has a very low glycemic rating. This means it doesn't raise your blood sugar. The galacturonic acid and pectin rich fruit breaks down fat cells. Also, grapefruit causes an alkaline reaction in your body neutralizing your ph levels.

Eggs. Nature's most near perfect food is the egg. Eggs are rich in B12 which helps your body metabolize fat. They are a great lean protein to eat for snacks or any meal. Eggs will also keep you satiated for a long time.

Apple Cider Vinegar. Two tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar a day mixed in some warm water with agave syrup or honey for sweetener will boost metabolism and flush out unwanted fat cells.

Fish. Fish like salmon and sardines all contain Omega-3 fatty acids which help you burn fat faster. Omega 3's reduce the leptin hormone levels in your body causing you to burn more fat more quickly. Cold water fish have less mercury levels and are safer to eat than warmer water fish. Sardines don't live long enough to absorb mercury so are excellent to eat -bones and all!

Avocados. Heart healthy avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats that are super heart friendly. Full of fiber, a couple slices of avocado will satiate your tummy for a while.

Dairy. Many people don't know calcium not only keeps your bones strong, it also helps you lose weight! Low fat dairy products like cottage cheese and yogurt make awesome snacks.

Beans. Beans are rich in fiber and protein, low fat and will satiate you for a while. Canned beans make for quick nutritious meals for the whole family.

Peanut butter. Peanut butter reduces belly bloat if you don't over do it. It's rich in niacin and the protein keeps you full longer.

Lean Protein. Protein is more difficult for your body to digest than carbohydrates. It also makes you feel full longer so you don't eat as many calories. Good sources of lean protein aer fish, eggs, chicken and turkey.

Apples. Apples are rich in fiber and pectin which help the body flush out fat cells. Team them up with some peanut butter for a healthy nutritious snack.

Peppers. Cayenne, habaneros and jalapenos all contain the chemical capsaicin. Capsaicin is said to speed up your metabolism by 25%!

Green Tea. The chemical found in green tea, EGCG speeds up the metabolism and helps you burn fat.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?14-Foods-to-Burn-Fat-Fast!&id=2729577
diet hylpropion news

3 Keys to Drinking More Water - Get Your Ounces in With Less Effort

2009-08-19T23:27:00.001-07:00

If you are anything like most people, drinking an enough water every day seems impossible to do. You may start out with good intentions, but somehow the water never seems to make it to your mouth. So here are three keys to keeping your body properly hydrated. All are very simple and easy to do.

1. Get a large container that you can keep the water in. If you have a large container, you won't have to worry about going back and forth to the water cooler or the refrigerator to get refills. It's so easy to get caught up in whatever you are doing that you never make it back to the water cooler at all. But if you have a large container, you don't have to worry about frequent trips.

2. Add lemon juice to your water. This is a big help for those who don't like the plain taste of water. Water does not have to be boring. A squeeze of lemon juice can give your water the kick it needs to make the flavor more interesting and desirable for you to drink.

3. Replace any other beverages that you drink daily with water. This will increase your water intake and help your system by eliminating things like sodas, juices, and coffee from your diet. As a bonus, drinking only water helps the body eliminate wastes and can aid in keeping your skin clear and moisturized.

You may not be accustomed to drinking 8 or more glasses of water a day, but these tricks will help make the transition easier. You'll also enjoy the benefits of clearer skin and a boost in your energy level due to the increased waste removal. Why not get started drinking water now? You could be on your way to looking and feeling better than you ever have.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?3-Keys-to-Drinking-More-Water-Get-Your-Ounces-in-With-Less-Effort&id=2730861
hoodia

Fat Soluble Vitamins & Water Soluble Vitamins - What Your Body Really Needs

2009-08-19T23:21:00.001-07:00

Aside from the vitamins we take as food supplement, our bodies also produce vitamins that are needed to perform several functions. In general, vitamins are grouped into water-soluble and fat soluble vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluable while Vitamins B and C are soluble only in water. No matter whether a vitamin is soluble in water or fat or whether they come from food supplements or food taken, what really matters is the amount that you will get in relation to what the body needs. In this way, you can stay away from insufficient vitamin supply.

Each vitamin group has its own role and function in the body. Fat soluble vitamins are absorbed through the large intestines for proper absorption process. However, for the reaction to occur there is a need for some dietary fat. The body may not start with the needed reaction if it is not taken with certain fat. Once the vitamins are absorbed by the body, they are then stored in the liver. After which, they will just be called upon once needed by the body. Now, for us to have a clear-cut distinction of what fat soluble and water soluble vitamins does to our body, let's now have a detailed discussion of each type.

Fat Soluble Vitamins A, D, E and K are the vitamins comprising fat soluble types. Vitamin A is regarded as the vision vitamin. It helps the eyes to focus under low visibility conditions and at the same time have a clearer focus and distinction on colors and backgrounds. It is also vitally needed in the growth of tissues through the help of a special protein called transport protein. It assists the vitamins stored in the liver to be transported to the tissues where it is needed.

Vitamin D is needed for calcium o be absorbed by the body. It helps to manage and regulate the presence and amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Sufficient amount of Vitamin D in the body can keep the boned health even if the person does not drink milk and other dairy products.

Vitamin E is also considered as an antioxidant like Vitamin C and Glutathione. It plays a vital function in protecting the fatty acids and red blood cells from being damaged.

And lastly, to assist the body in changing food into energy, Vitamin K is must needed. It protects the clotting ability of the blood through the blood clotting proteins that it supplies. It is also needed to keep the bones healthy.

Water Soluble Vitamins

One of the stand-out differences between fat soluble and water soluble vitamins is that water soluble easily dissolves in water so the body needs constant supply of such. Any excess is taken out of the body through urine Included in this group are Vitamins B, C, H and Biotin.

Vitamin B is responsible for several vital processes in the body. One of which is the process of changing carbohydrates to glucose. In this way, energy is provided to the body. Vitamin C is noted as a good antioxidant to help boost our body's immune system as well as to prevent free radicals that can damage your body's cells and tissues.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Fat-Soluble-Vitamins-and-Water-Soluble-Vitamins-What-Your-Body-Really-Needs&id=2730757
nexium

Get the Best Benefits of Organic Foods

2009-08-19T23:15:00.001-07:00

Today a person has the chance to change the way that they eat unlike in the past. You might try to do so, become healthier and eat healthier but often you will have desire but not action. We are creatures of habits and it is said that it takes 90 days to create or break a habit. Now is a good time to take a good look at your current eating habits. This is why the benefits of organic food should be considered in your life more than ever before.

Why is this? Because even though you might try to become healthy and change your way of living, it is extremely difficult to do so in many circumstances. However, the availability of Organic Foods unlike we have see in the past has made it easier to make wise choices while shopping in both Local Grocery stores as well as in local Health Food Stores.

With the advent of more and more organic foods onto the scene it becomes easier to hold to your desire to live a healthier lifestyle and create that healthier lifestyle by making wise choices. Today, we have the luxury of having locally access to organic foods better than any time in the past. Why? For the simple reason that public awareness has created a movement in some ways that now allow your healthy eating habits become even healthier when they come in the form of organic foods due to the amazing availability of these food unlike in the past.

The benefits of organic foods are many and you need only to scratch the surface to start finding them. Different types of growing arenas have enabled organic foods to be as abundant and locally assessable as ever before. As you search you will realize there are benefits of organic foods, some of which you might not even have thought about.

What are some the benefits of organic foods? Well, to begin with, organic foods are produced in such a way that there are no chemicals in the growing process or in the case of animals, the rearing process. In many cases companies involved with organic foods discuss the growing of crops with the farmers and the ways to grow quality products with only organic pesticides. These companies are so involved with the process that they try to purchase the land adjacent to the organic farms so that there is no local run off of other non organic farming onto the organic farming soils next door.

No chemicals are introduced into the mix and only natural fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides are used.

Farm animals are reared with only organic feed and you can be assured that organic meats or milks that you consume are set at an organic standard.

One of the other benefits to organic food one rarely thinks about is the genetically modified organisms. These are foods which have had their genetic structure modified in some way or other. Until recently, we didn't even consider this as an issue, however with the advent of modern science and the unraveling of the genetic code, a new world of genetic engineering has been unfolded. This has far reaching implications as you can imagine.

While this might seem to yield many benefits in the field of agriculture. Science has not had time enough to truly know what the disadvantages are of modifying the genetic structure of living organisms. We can modify mother nature and we may gain immense benefit yet at the same time we need to be aware of what that change may bring. The benefits of organic food have been thought for years to far outweigh that of non-organic food. Until the jury comes back on the benefits vs. risks of organic foods vs. non organic foods the belief is that organic foods are still for the most part better healthier and more nutritious.

There is one problem with organic foods and that is the high cost. Your monthly food bill will go up proportionately with the amount of organics you purchase and this might be a significant consideration regarding making choices to enjoy the many benefits of organic food or not, until such time as they become less expensive!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Get-the-Best-Benefits-of-Organic-Foods&id=2730583
nexium

Easy Ways to Cut Everyday Calories

2009-08-19T14:23:00.001-07:00

It seems that we are constantly going from one diet fad to the next. The media says one thing is good for you one day and then a month later say it is bad for you. If you are like the thousands out there who are fed up with diets then there are things you can easily do with normal food to cut calories.

One thing you can do is to cut out all of your empty calories. Empty calories are things that bring your body little to no benefit. This would be your coffees and high calorie soft drinks. If you want to cut these out then you can even do it on a lesser scale. On average we go out to eat two to three times a week. If you were to just drink water with those meals instead of those high calories soda drinks and teas you could be cutting out up to 1,000 calories a week depending on how much you drink.

Another thing you can do is to analyze each thing you eat. If you want to cut calories then you can add less condiments to your foods. You could take out the cheese on a hamburger and save hundreds of calories a year. The awesome thing about this is the calories you cut add up fast. It can even be shocking just to see how your body will transform in a short amount of time just by cutting the fat a little bit in your diet.

nexium

Eating Fish Can Make You Healthy

2009-08-19T14:17:00.001-07:00

Eating fish is something that has been taken for granted by a lot of people when it comes to eating healthy, getting the proper amount of nutrients and having a lot of food varieties. In our modern world, people have been used to eating too much meat and those starchy foods that you can buy in fast foods out there. And another thing, meats that are sold in the market usually come with unhealthy fats. There is nothing really wrong eating these kinds of foods(fatty and starchy) but problem comes when you get yourself too much into it. In case you did not know, if you are concerned about keeping yourself from gaining unhealthy weight then you should know that eating too much meat and starchy foods can not only make your body get harmful toxins but it also stores unwanted fats in your body.

A solution towards moderating your consumption of meat can be eating fruits and vegetables but eating fish is something you can consider if you want to have more variety on the foods that you eat and get new healthy nutrients in your body. Well, you see, fish contain healthy nutrients such as omega-3 and protein. Omega 3 can help clear out your bloodstream of harmful toxins and stimulates healthy blood circulation. This can be helpful to people who have clogs in their veins and have high bad cholesterol level. And if you want to have a clean source of protein then this is your best bet.

Most people are bothered with not knowing about fish recipes to cook. A good start for you is to get yourself a little fish recipe book or you can just ask some of your friends who know how to cook fish to teach you a recipe or two. You can even focus on learning recipes that focus on specific types of fish like a sea bass or something. Another thing you can try is to check out the internet for free recipes. Most of them are easy to follow so you do not have to worry about getting confused on ingredients and instructions. If you want, you can even choose the easiest fish recipe you can find and you will still produce a delicious food. You can also have an fish cooking expert guide you as you cook your first fish or sea bass recipe. As you progress, just keep in mind that if you want to become healthy then eating fish can surely help you.

sexuality health

Want Your Kids to Eat Healthier All the Rest of Their Lives? They Can, Starting Today!

2009-08-19T14:11:00.001-07:00

My mom never bought a cooking magazine. She owned a few cook books, usually assembled by the ladies of one of the local churches. These collections were the best of the best. My mom didn't experiment much with new recipes. She had a fabulous collection in her head that she rotated and repeated and we grew up eating home cooked meals nearly every day. These days there are so many recipes to choose from it can be truly overwhelming to get your little collection together if you haven't already got it or if you choose to eat a little healthier than they did back in the '50's!

Once I discovered the food section in our local newspaper, The Chicago Tribune, my experiments began. Soon, I was spending my waitressing money on The Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book of the Month Club. Most nights the kitchen looked like something out of that very funny scene in the foodie movie, "Mostly Martha." When the Italian chef finishes creating his feast she begins hyperventilating when she sees the condition of her kitchen!

For this reason some parents would prefer their teens stay out of the kitchen, but if they aren't going to be completely dependent upon packaged, processed food designed for profit, as opposed to flavor and health, they need to learn a few basic skills.

When two high school seniors asked me to teach them how to cook I created a class for them. They asked a few friends to join and Camp Cucina was born the summer of 2004. In five days the students learn a little repertoire of recipes that are so simple after the first few times they will know them by heart, just like my mom did. Every recipe is so fabulous they want to make them again and again. In fact, some of my favorite stories come from parents who share stories with me about how their child contributes to get togethers by making something they learned that week.

This is truly the secret to getting anyone to eat healthier. No matter what the label says the truth is if the ingredients were processed by a machine, who knows when, using God knows what, it's probably really not all that healthy for you. Instead of spending your precious dollars on packaging and processing you can buy the highest quality ingredients. With a little bit of coaching and a handful of tried-and-true recipes you will prefer to eat at home rather than endure the hassles of eating out! Not to mention the expense. With the exception of a really high end restaurant, most anything most people eat out can be made even better at home for 10-20% of the cost.

About ten years ago a dad stopped me after school to question how I got his first grade daughter to eat vegetables. I was surprised by this because her mom packed home made lunches and always contributed something really yummy to the school potlucks. It wasn't until 7 years later when one of the teens in my cooking class admitted she would never eat this bowl of Tortilla Soup had it been served to her in a restaurant. She then asked for seconds. She made the soup that day, along with a few others her age who had discovered the joy of preparing and sharing a meal together!

diet hylpropion news

The Importance of Optimum Nutrition For Good Health

2009-08-19T14:05:00.001-07:00

Many people believe they are healthy simply because they are not showing signs of any major disease or illness, but they probably don't feel anywhere near as great as they could do. Good health is much more than just the absence of disease, good health should extend beyond that to include a good level of physical fitness, being emotionally balanced, having high levels of physical and mental energy and a feeling of vitality.

The food that people eat, and the nutrients their bodies absorb and utilise from that food, has a dramatic effect on how their bodies are able to function. Much of the food we are faced with on the supermarket shelves is highly processed, lacking in essential nutrients and high in sugar, salt, fats or possibly all three. These types of food provide very little in the way of nutrition. They are far removed from types of food humans would have eaten during their evolution, and so we have not been 'designed' to eat these products. We cannot expect our body to be in the best of health if we feed it food of poor nutritional value.

When we consider the complexity of the body, for example, the millions of biological and chemical reactions which take place within it each day, the cells that are constantly being broken down and rebuilt and the fact that all the processes within the body rely on a constant supply of water, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals, it is easy to see how important optimum nutrition is if we want to be in a good state of health. A deficiency of a mineral required in just a very tiny amount each day can have devastating effects on the body and its state of health.

Also, modern life brings other challenges for the body to deal with. We lead stressful busy lives and come into contact with numerous environmental toxins in the air and in the water. We ingest pesticides in the food we eat, drink alcohol and visit smoky pubs and clubs. This daily onslaught has very damaging effects on the body and means that the food we eat not only has to keep the complex everyday processes of our body ticking over but also has to create defenses against all these toxins and deal with the increased levels of stress hormones and free radical damage.

With poor nutrition, over time, there will be a build up of these 'anti-nutrients' within the body and a breakdown of the body's normal functioning which may eventually lead to illness and disease. So, although someone who currently eats a poor diet does not have any clinical signs of an illness, the fact that they may be feeling low in energy or stress or have recurrent minor infections shows that their body is not functioning at it's best and that situation needs to be addressed before their health declines further and they succumb to a more serious illness.

On the other hand, continually eating well and providing the body with the nutrition it needs, means that the body will be functioning well and the person should be feeling well. The body's defenses will be continually being built up and are much more able to deal with stresses and toxins. Optimum nutrition gives you a feeling of good health today and minimizes the likelihood of serious illness in later life.

diet hylpropion news

The Effects of Exercise Training and Competitive Sports on Vitamin Needs

2009-08-19T13:59:00.001-07:00

An athlete in regular training and competition will have a requirement for a higher intake of vitamins compared to a sedentary individual. Exercise, even of the moderate kind, places extra stresses and demands upon the body and metabolic processes are increased, all requiring the use of vitamins taken in from food and drink. Heavy exercise and competition increase vitamin requirements further.

During training, the athlete is taking in and utilizing much more oxygen as part of the energy production process than when at rest. Increased use of oxygen results in a higher level of free radicals which need to be disarmed by the antioxidant enzymes (which are created from vitamin B2 and a number of minerals) and the antioxidant vitamins, A, C and E. Without a good supply of antioxidant vitamins, the athletes' body is likely to incur a high level of free radical damage. As well as potentially causing disease, free radial damage has also been connected with post exercise muscle soreness, therefore, a lack of these vitamins might mean that the athlete finds it harder to recover from training and competition. Athletes training outdoors are also at risk of free radical damage from pollution in the air.

Training increases the physical stress on the body which depletes the body of vitamin C and the B vitamin complex. Also the energy production process requires all the B vitamins and biotin, either directly or in the creation of enzymes needed for energy production. All these vitamins are water-soluble and cannot be stored in the body, without an adequate daily supply, the athlete would soon be lacking in energy and finding training difficult.

Red blood cells are vitally important for energy as they transport oxygen around the body, making them essential for good athletic performance. Iron is required for red blood cell formation and good intake of vitamin C aids absorption of iron from food. Vitamin B12 is also required in the formation of red blood cells. Low levels of red blood cells, or anaemia, can reduce VO2max and impair performance so athletes need to ensure a good intake of these nutrients.

During training, damage to muscles occurs and stress is placed on ligaments, tendons and bones. The body has to repair damaged structures and strengthen them against the possibility of future damage. Vitamin B6 and folic acid help in this process as they are needed for amino acid metabolism. Vitamin C is also important for repairing and strengthening tissues as it is needed for production off collagen found in skin, bones and connective tissues.

In order to ensure the athlete's body is functioning optimally, able to withstand heavy training and competition, able to recover well from training and be generally healthy with a strong immune system, they would need to ensure a high intake of vitamins. It is highly likely that the athlete will need these vitamins at levels higher that the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), which is just designed to prevent deficiency diseases.

An athlete is likely to be eating more food than the average sedentary person and therefore likely to be consuming more vitamins, but the extra consumed may not be enough to cover the extra requirements as a result of their training. Also, many antioxidant vitamins are obtained from fruits and vegetables, and as these foods are high in fiber it would be difficult for an athlete to consume much more of them than should be consumed by a sedentary person, as the bulkiness of these foods may leave them too full to consume the higher carbohydrate foods required to fulfil their energy needs.

Therefore, it is recommended that the athlete eats mostly nutrient rich foods in the form of unrefined carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and quality protein and that they also look at backing this up with a vitamin supplement. When choosing a supplement, they should look at the Suggested Optimal Nutrient Intakes (SONAs) which have recently been established. These give levels of vitamins which more closely match what is needed for optimal health and are more likely to cover the needs of an athlete.

diet hylpropion news

These Are Not Flat Stomach Foods - What Foods to Avoid If You Want to Lose Stomach Fat

2009-08-19T13:53:00.001-07:00

There are many so called "flat stomach foods" and also foods you need to avoid. Just because you want to lose weight and get a flat stomach, doesn't mean you need to stop eating. Skipping meals is the worst thing you can do and actually causes your body to store more fat. Let me say that there are no miracle cures for a flat stomach. It takes hard work and dedication. That said, there are some foods that you should avoid and try to wean yourself off of. These foods contain lots of sugars, artificial sweeteners, salt and processed fats. They cause you to crave bad foods and become addicted to the additives in them. Here is a list of foods that are opposites to the good flat stomach foods and should be avoided. These include:

* Processed Meats - including sausage, deli meat and hot dogs. Grass fed beef, chicken and fish are better choices.

* Sweetened Soft Drinks - including Diet Sodas with artificial sweeteners. Drink unsweetened tea or water with meals.

* Salt - use natural herbs and spices when cooking

* Donuts, Cakes, Cookies - These are a no brainer, but the sugars make you crave them. Opt for fresh fruits whenever possible or if you must eat something sweet, make it dark chocolate in small quantities.

* Fried Foods and Processed Starch Foods - including boxed potatoes, macaroni & cheese and flavored packaged rice.

By avoiding the above foods you can train your body to stop craving them and start enjoying natural foods. After a while, you will become used to the natural flavors of unsweetened coffee, tea and plain water. You will no longer crave foods loaded with salt. Meats and veggies will taste better with natural herbs for flavoring. So scratch off the above foods from your list of flat stomach foods and learn to eat healthier and better.

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Foods For Healthy Skin & Antioxidant Skin Creams Work Hand in Hand

2009-08-19T13:47:00.001-07:00

Eating food for healthy skin is a great choice. It's good for the rest of your body, too. But, you should also be aware of the value of a good skincare cream. If it contains the right ingredients, it can provide "direct" nourishment.

The skin's outer layers are composed completely of dead keratinized cells. They are produced by stem cells, located within the dermis layer, along with the melanocytes (produce the pigment melanin in response to sun exposure) and the elastic fibers.

When we are young, the stem cells are producing 24 hours a day. The entire outer layer (called the epidermis) is replaced in four weeks or less. Thousands of dead cells are sloughed off every day, as new ones make their way to the surface. As we get older, all of that slows down.

Since, the cells in the epidermis are dead; you might think that they don't need nourishment. But, in order to provide protection for the deeper layers and the inner body, which is their purpose; they need all of the nutrients found in the foods used for healthy skin.

There are no blood vessels in the epidermis. So, it gets its nutrition through a process called diffusion. The nutrients are "passed up" from the deeper layers. As you might think, that process is somewhat inefficient and becomes even less efficient with age. So, the purpose of a nourishing skincare cream is to supplement what makes its way up from below.

Any nutritional deficit will lead to problems with the skin's health or appearance. Essential fatty acid deficiency causes dryness and flakiness. Vitamin C deficiency causes weakened fibers, sagging, easy bruising and bleeding. But, if there is a protein deficiency in your diet, the normal replacement of the epidermis cannot be accomplished.

One food for healthy skin that is recommended by popular diet doctors is salmon. There is even one dermatologist that says eating it every day will reduce wrinkles. Who knows whether or not that's true. But, there is one thing that we know for sure. Salmon is a good source of protein, essential fatty acids and several antioxidants.

When it comes to providing direct nourishment, antioxidants are a must. All skincare creams should contain them. Many of them do, but few contain a high enough quantity to be effective.

Some of the most potent antioxidants are not present in the basic foods for healthy skin. For example, coenzyme Q10 is a very important antioxidant that is quickly depleted by overexposure to sunlight, one of the causes of wrinkles, sagging and other signs of age. However, coenzyme Q10 is not present in things that most people eat. The highest concentrations are found in heart and other organ meats.

Luckily, we don't have to eat those things. We can take a good supplement that contains COQ10 and there are excellent skincare creams that contain it. Studies have shown that use of COQ10 creams repairs sun damage, reverses wrinkles, reduces roughness and improves the skin's moisture content. Those are things that food for healthy skin might do, over time. But, a good cream will do it in no time.

sexuality health

Muscadine Grape Seed

2009-08-19T13:41:00.001-07:00

The benefits of the Muscadine grape seed are nothing less that miraculous. There have been numerous studies on the muscadine grapes that show very promising results. But do you know the history of the Muscadines?

The first European settlers of the New World where first introduced to the Muscadine grapes and their health benefits from Native Americans. This wild-growing grape was found in wooded areas of the southeastern United States in abundance. It has been theorized that over 400 years ago the first settlers planted what we now call "The Mother Vine" which is found in North Carolina.

Independent laboratory tests show that muscadine grape seeds contain very high levels of natural antioxidants. The Muscadine grape seeds combination of Resveratrol, Resveratrol Metabolites and other phenolic compounds, such as Ellagic Acid, OPCs, and Quercetin, is what makes the Muscadine grapes such an important daily regimen. These grapes are a must for your overall health because of their ability to fight off free radicals.

So what are free radicals? Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd number of electrons. Free radicals break down healthy human tissues. This process is called oxidation, which is the same process that causes iron to rust or causes an apple to turn brown.

So where do free radicals come from? Smoking, stress, sunlight, pesticides, herbicides, pollution, drinking water with chlorine in it, medications, food additives, x-rays, and airborne emissions just to name a few. Today we live in the most polluted environment in history and it does affect our health and well being.

Inflammation is a big problem for many people. There are five symtoms of inflammation: pain, swelling, redness, tissue warmth, and loss of function. Inflammation on a large scale in the body happens when the body's defense system turns against itself. This is called systemic inflammation. Joint health, heart health, blood lipid health, healthy blood sugar levels, immune system support, healthy cell function, bone health, sexual health, gastrointestinal health, healthy brain function are just a few health conditions that science has linked to inflammation. Scientific studies have discovered that the combination of over 100 powerful phenolic compounds found naturally in Muscadine grape seeds are highly anti-inflammatory.

I'm sure just about everyone has heard about the health benefits of Resveratrol, which is found in red wine. Science has concluded that the Resveratrol in red wine is beneficial for brain and mental health, and cardiovascular health. The Resveratrol concentrations, however, in Muscadine grapes are much higher than those of wine grapes. The higher concentration of Resveratrol in Muscadine grapes are also beneficial for certain conditions affected by a decrease in natural estrogen, including menopause.

Muscadine grapes are also anti-aging. The OPCs, Ellagic Acid, and Resveratrol and its derivatives are known to have many biological activities accociated with our health. Our bodies make special enzymes to neutralize many of the free radicals that we are attacked with daily. However, as we get older our bodies produce fewer of these enzymes. The many antioxidants that are in the Muscadine grapes are used by the body to neutralize free radicals and that reduces the amount of damage our bodies suffer as we get older.

There is an ever-growing evolution back to nature in our search for cures and prevention. Numerous well-designed studies have concluded that nature has provided mankind with a wealth of powerful healing forces that work in harmony with our bodies, enhancing the healing process and promoting overall good health.
One of those powerful forces are found in Muscadine grapes the "Smarter Grape".

sexuality health

Living Gluten Free Casein Free - The Case Against the Staples of Standard American Diet

2009-08-19T13:35:00.001-07:00

When I was growing up, food allergies were rare. Some people could not have shellfish, but it was unheard of to have a life threatening reaction to peanuts. Today nut free schools are commonplace, thousands of gluten-free products are showing up in local Wal-Marts, and everyone knows someone who is avoiding sugar, dairy, soy or some other food that is common in the Standard American Diet (SAD).

Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, barley, triticale, spelt, and/or cross contaminated in oats. Casein is the protein found in all animal dairy products. Casein is also found in many processed foods.

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that causes the body to attack the small intestines when wheat/rye/barley and/or spelt products are consumed. These grains contain the gluten protein. The journal Gastroenterology noted in 2005, "Celiac Disease is one of the most common lifelong disorders worldwide." Symptoms vary widely and can include: fatigue, mood disorders, diarrhea/constipation, poor growth (in children), hair loss, neurological problems (seizures, impaired concentration and/or memory), anemia, mouth ulcers, abdominal pain, bloating, infertility, anxiety, depression, bone pain, weakness, liver disorders and/or malnutrition issues such as osteoporosis. Many who suffer from autoimmune disorders have gluten intolerance without intestinal symptoms. I gave up gluten, then reintroduced it a few weeks later. Within hours it felt like I had been hit by a truck.

At the age of 11, I became tired and very pale. I was diagnosed with mononucleosis and severe anemia (a shortage of red blood cells), which almost required a blood transfusion. Diagnosis: none. Treatment: take 6 iron tablets daily. After this episode I had chronic strep infections almost every two weeks for the next 7 years until I had my tonsils removed at age 18. I had almost constant antibiotic use during this time. In my 20's I discovered a goiter, had symptoms of low thyroid function (hypothyroid) and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, which is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in America. It is considered an autoimmune thyroid disease which eventually results in malfunction of the thyroid (which regulates metabolism, body temperature, and generally making the whole body run the way it should). Then I started down a road of chronic fatigue, depression and a constant state of feeling unwell. I have also had eczema every since I can remember, suffered from a terrible premenstrual syndrome and started to have very heavy, painful periods.

Finally, 4 years ago, I saw a Denver gynecologist who is an integrative doctor utilizing alternative and conventional therapies with a focus on health. For those who don't know (men), women often use gynecologists as their primary care physician. I told her about my mood issues, female troubles, poor thyroid and constant fatigue. She did a test for anti-gliandin antibodies (antibodies which indicate gluten intolerance) and they were sky-high.

I finally had a diagnosis! Over the course of 20 years, I had seen too many doctors to count. This is common for those who are suffering from a gluten and/or dairy intolerance. Multiple trips to different doctors, lots of testing, no results, no diagnosis and no help. The median time for diagnosis is estimated at between 8-11 years with a patient seeing at least five different physicians. Finally, I had an answer and some relief from many of my symptoms, mainly the fatigue and depression.

I tell my story because it is the story of many Americans. Millions of Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases, depression, fatigue, neurological problems, mood disorders, poor digestion and/or irritable bowel syndrome (what a diagnosis! - those who have it already know their bowels are irritable). The underlying problem is a food intolerance (or multiple food intolerances) leading to malabsorption of nutrients needed for cellular repair and maintenance. At age 11, my anemia was a symptom of the food intolerance. Because gluten intolerance is insidious in the ways it shows up, it is difficult to find unless you know what to look for. Since it is not confined to the gut, testing for it can lead to false positives and false negatives.

Modern conventional medicine continues to view gluten intolerance or celiac sprue as an intestinal disease. Reviewing the studies regarding this issue, we find it is a systemic, inflammatory problem that can manifest itself in any part of the body.

Health care practitioners who treat those who have autism will mandate a gluten and casein free diet as part of an overall treatment plan. Why? Wheat and dairy are considered the staples of life - why take that away? There are many reasons why so many people cannot tolerate gluten and casein. Some can no longer break down the protein(s). Intestinal inflammation can ensue, causing a "leaky gut," a permeable intestinal wall leaks out these undigested proteins, and for those with autism, and possibly other disorders of the brain, these peptides get lodged in the brain. Brain inflammation is found in many with mood and neurological disorders. Alzheimer's has been characterized as a brain on fire. See a brain scan here: http://www.loni.ucla.edu/~thompson/AD_4D/dynamic.html.

Some of the reasons these staples are wrecking havoc are: over consumption of gluten/flour products, premature introduction of grains into the infant diet, hybridization of wheat, artificial processing of flour, inappropriate preparation of grains, pasteurization and homogenization of dairy products, all of which causes damage to the enzymes that breaks down gluten or casein.

There are long term consequences to gluten intolerance, as it can over stimulate the immune system, causing systemic inflammation in the body. Intestinal lymphoma , autoimmune disorders and premature death can result from a chronic state of inflammation if an affected individual continues to consume gluten despite having intolerance . This happens because so many people are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed or fail to comply with a gluten free diet

What's the solution? If you suspect that gluten and/or casein (these two culprits tend to work together) are the cause of your ill health, I advocate a trial abstinence from both of these proteins. The abstinence period should last at least 3-4 months, and then reintroduce each one, separately. Gluten and casein are different from other food intolerances in that they can have a lag time of up to 4 days to show any symptoms. If you find that abstaining from gluten improves your symptoms, you should continue a gluten-free diet. LivingGlutenfreeCaseinfree.com offers a 4 week menu plan to help get started with a gluten-free diet.

hoodia

Digestive Health - Tips and Spices to Avoid Common Complaints

2009-08-19T13:29:00.001-07:00

Digestive complaints have become a common issue for many Americans these days, both children and adults from all walks of life are suffering the consequences of our fast paced world and need for instant gratification. The hustle and bustle of everyday life has left many families reaching for fast and processed and packaged foods on a daily basis. These man-made foods are loaded with chemicals, are fattening, and leave the consumer wanting more... they are highly addictive. They weaken the digestive tract, which affects all other digestive organs: stomach, intestines, liver, kidney and pancreas.

A healthy digestive system is imperative for good health, as is good food. Poor eating habits has prompted those burdened with digestive complaints to seek the help of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Microwaves have also taken the place of stoves and ovens in many homes. The foods cooked in them, are far from natural or healthy. If the food were healthy to begin with, the microwave tends to overcook and destroy any nutrients the food may have had. Other factors that contribute to an unhealthy digestive tract include:

· Eating too fast and not chewing adequately
· Poor food combining - eating too many foods at one time.
· Excess water (or beverage) taken with meals
· Excessive use of raw foods, without proper knowledge of a highly raw diet.
· Overeating - this is a common problem. Many literally inhale their food.

Flatulence and indigestion are primary indications of an unhealthy digestive tract. Bloating, acid reflux, upset stomach, cramps, constipation, diarrhea, and bad breath can also be signs and symptoms of an imbalance.

A balanced diet of whole natural foods will result in optimal health throughout the body. Protein is needed to repair damaged tissues and cells, it also helps stimulate and maintain the body's metabolism. Healthy unsaturated fats and oil help our body absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. Eating natural foods (closest to nature) will provide our body with ample amounts of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients. Our body can and will assimilate these types of foods. Natural foods are also digested and eliminated more easily and sooner, which is crucial for a healthy digestive tract. In order to attain and maintain a healthy digestive system, limiting refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar) is imperative. As is adding quality protein and fat diet to the diet.

A healthy and balanced diet (protein, fat and carbohydrates) can cost less and help lessen cravings for processed foods and bring about optimal digestive health. Once a person understands what healthy foods are, preparing them is simple and doesn't take a lot of time.
Kitchen spices used in home cooked meals are a great and easy way to help prevent and alleviate digestive problems. There are many herbs and spices that can prevent and relieve gas. Aside from giving food flavor, the following is a list of some of the more common spices and their role in digestive health:

Basil -- great for indigestion
Bay leaves -- great for indigestion
Black pepper -- stimulates digestion
Caraway -- for indigestion/gas
Cardamom -- for indigestion/gas
Cayenne -- for indigestion
Chives -- helps digest rich foods
Cinnamon -- digestive aid
Cloves -- for digestion/flatulence
Fennel -- used to treat gas
Garlic -- improves/cleanses digestion
Gentian -- increases digestion
Ginger -- excellent for indigestion
Horseradish -- stimulates digestion
Marjoram -- for upset stomach
Mustard seed -- mild laxative
Rosemary -- for indigestion/gas
Sage -- helps digest fatty meats
Turmeric -- increases bile flow

These and many more herbs can be used in teas, purchased in capsule or tincture form, and used in recipes. The following recipe was taken from Herbal Recipes For Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar (2008). It is helpful for reducing gas and bloating. The recipe does not give exact measurements; you may consider mixing equal parts of the following:

· Anise seeds
· Cardamom seeds
· Cumin seeds
· Dill seeds
· Fennel seeds

Gladstar recommends chewing them at and between meals. One teaspoon may be plenty for some. Starting with a small amount will give you a better idea on your personal recommended dose. If no relief of bloating or gas is obtained, you may consider taking more next time. Also, your dose may depend on the types of foods eaten.

"Foods that are either too easy or too hard to digest can cause physical weakness" The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.

Improving your diet, drinking enough water (between meals), eating slowly, exercising, and eating less will help to improve your digestion and prevent further problems from arising.

Digestive enzymes can also be taken to help break down foods such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Pre and probiotics are for the good bacteria in our digestive tract. Yogurt is a good example of a food that supports digestive health. The friendly bacteria that form during the fermentation of yogurt helps most anyone, even those with lactose intolerance can benefit. Please know, not all yogurts are created equally, so you'll want to read labels.

Eating sensibly can help reverse and prevent a weakened digestive system and imbalance throughout your body. An unhealthy digestive tract not only affects other organs, it lowers your immune system causing you to age prematurely from head down, inside and out. It's been said... death starts in the colon. Optimal health does as well.

sildenafil

Selecting the Right Dentist

2009-04-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Whether we like it or not most of us have to visit the house of a dentist once in a while. Thus to select the right dentist is of paramount importance.

Cosmetic dentistry is one of the specialized fields where you need good dentists with degrees in that specific area. All those who are staying in United Kingdom should look for dentists who have degrees in this area and have considerable experience. Before you select a dentist, you should take a look at all your problems. There are doctors who are proficient in a number of fields while others specialize in one particular area and will not be able to accommodate all cosmetic requirements.

Some patients need a bleaching procedure, while others will need extensive procedures which may involve even the gum. So before selecting the dentist, you should check his or her credentials and take a look at the area in which he is an expert. Some dentists specialize in cosmetic dentistry, while others are capable of handling all kinds of treatments of which cosmetic dentistry is only a part. In case of cosmetic treatments, you should have realistic expectations. You cannot expect magic from the doctors. They will try to rectify the problem as much as possible, but they cannot do magic.

Before you go for the surgery, you can have a heart-to-heart talk with the dentist stating your expectations and asking them frankly about the outcome of the procedure. If you have a missing tooth, you can go for tooth replacement surgery which is known as implants. Dental implants are safe and they are precise surgeries. The implants will act like an anchor and will support the replacement tooth or the crown of the tooth. This surgery can be dome on patients from different age groups. If you cannot wear a removable denture, then you can go for tooth implant.

Implant surgeons are specialized doctors. Before they operate on the teeth, they will look at the conditions and see if teeth implants are possible or not. Tooth implants have direct impact on oral health, so before you go for surgery, you should check the credentials of the surgeon. Some of the things that will be of primary importance are his experience, profile, success rate and the qualification of the doctor. It is a highly skilled job and you should never take any risks. Implant surgeons are trained in the field of cosmetic dentistry. He or she must understand the needs and demands of the patients before they take any decision. One of the best known dentists is Dr. Steve Legal. He will help you will all sorts of problems especially cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry is one of the specialized fields where you need good dentists with degrees in that specific area. All those who are staying in United Kingdom should look for dentists who have degrees in this area and have considerable experience. Before you select a dentist, you should take a look at all your problems.

A Podiatrist Can Take Care of Your Foot Problems

2009-04-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

Where do you go when you have problems with your feet? Do you visit a Podiatrist or a general doctor? If you're like most people, you go to your general doctor. But a Podiatrist may be a better option when it comes to treating your feet.

Most people never even think to visit a Podiatrist. When something goes wrong with their body, they either try to fix it themselves or they visit a general doctor. But there are many conditions in which a Podiatrist would be the best person to visit.

Common foot and ankle problems can be easily treated by a general physician. Some can even be treated at home. Things like ingrown toenails and athlete's foot are common ailments that don't require the help of a Podiatrist. But your foot is more complicated than you realize. Plenty of things can go wrong that a general doctor may not be well equipped to handle.

Your general doctor may not know much about Achilles tendonitis, but it's a common and painful foot problem that a Podiatrist would recognize right away. Have you noticed that the arch in one of your feet has fallen? Your general doctor probably can't help you with that either. In fact, your doctor doesn't even examine your feet during a routine exam.

This is why Podiatrists exist. They are there to help with the two body parts most often ignored - your feet. If you go to your general doctor with foot problems, they'll probably just tell you to find a Podiatrist anyway.

Healthy feet are important. Most people don't realize the amount of stress they put on their feet. Take a moment to think about it. Your feet take the brunt of your weight every single day. You often squeeze them into shoes that are too tight. And some people spend time walking or running on hard surfaces every day.

Be kind to your feet and find a local Podiatrist. Don't go limping to a general doctor for your foot care. Chances are a local Podiatrist is the best option for you.

The Next Step

Click the links below to get more information about finding a Podiatrist. Having a convenient Podiatrist close to home is important for both you and the care of your feet.

Burns

2009-04-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

What are the different types of burn?

Heat (or thermal) burns caused by contact with flames, hot liquids or appliances

Chemical burns caused by corrosive chemicals

Electrical burns caused by contact with electrical current or lightning

Sunburn caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun.

What determines the seriousness of a burn?

There are three categories of burn:
1. Superficial burn - a burn that affects only the outer surface of the skin. This type of burn is pink or red, with mild swelling and some pain. Usually, medical help is necessary only if a superficial burn covers a large area.
2. Partial thickness burn - a burn that damages, but doesn't completely destroy the full depth of the skin. It appears dark red and causes swelling, blisters and severe pain. Immediate medical attention is needed.
3. Full thickness burn - a burn that damages or destroys all layers of skin, hair follicles, muscle, nerves and other tissue. Immediate medical attention is needed.

What should I do if someone has been burned?

Whenever possible, put on a pair of disposable, preferably sterile gloves before touching someone with a burn. If disposable sterile gloves aren't available, use another type of barrier (such as a thickly folded dish towel or clean handkerchief), and wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching the person.

Never apply lotions, creams, ointments (including burn ointments).

Stop the burning process and immediately flood the affected area with cold water.

Do not touch the affected area or burst any blisters

Remove anything that may constrict the affected area if it swells.

Do not remove any material that is stuck to the burn.

Superficial burns

Stop the burning process by removing the person from the heat source

Hold the affected area under cold, running water until the pain is reduced and if necessary, add ice cubes to the water so it remains cold: never apply ice cubes directly to a burn.

If the burn is small, leave it uncovered, otherwise cover it with clean, non- fluffy material (such as cling film) so that it won't become infected.

Chemical burns

If the burn has been caused by a chemical:

Remove the chemical by flushing with large quantities of water for at least 20 minutes

Cover the area with a sterile gauze or other clean, non-fluffy material (such as cling film)

Take the person to hospital, along with a sample of the chemical, if possible

Electrical burns

When a person comes into contact with an electrical current, they usually suffer a shock and perhaps burns. These burns occur at the places where the current has gone in and out of the body. Any person who has come into contact with electricity may be in a critical condition, and at risk of a heart attack.

High-voltage injuries

If a person has been in contact with a high-voltage electrical current (1000 volts or more), such as power lines or overhead cables, you should stay at least 20 metres away until you have been told officially that the electricity has been turned off.

Low-voltage injuries

Disconnect the attachment plug from the electrical socket. If this is not possible, stand on a dry object and push the victim away from the source of the current using a dry broomstick.

Never touch a person who is in contact with a faulty appliance until the power has been turned off.

Sometimes electrical burns are hard to see - the skin may show little damage but the tissue underneath may be badly burned.

How can I prevent burns and electrical shocks at home?

Cover unused outlets with plastic covers

Keep all electrical appliances away from water

Do not overload electrical circuits with extension cords

Install smoke detectors and check them regularly

Store the fire extinguisher in an accessible place, and make sure everyone knows where it is and how to use it

Different Types of Burn and protect them from them...

Hemorrhoids Remedy - Effective Solution and Remedy to Hemorrhoids

2009-04-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

As someone who has dealt with the pains and frustrations of having hemorrhoids, I can tell you I know it is not fun. A hemorrhoids remedy is as simple as you make it, and I am here to show you some steps I took that have been greatly effective towards reduction in symptoms as well as permanent resolution.

-Remove caffeine from your diet. Avoid the coffee and soda that you drink and replace it with an equal amount of water. It is recommended that you drink 64 ounces of water daily. This will help with passing stools as well as improve your general health. This is also an effective way of keeping the hemorrhoids from coming back in the future!

-Sleep with your legs raised. This will reduce the stress and tension from the hemorrhoids while you sleep and can be extremely effective at resolving the problem. This is a really great tip because you will wake up noticing the improvement. Just place a pillow or a blanket under your feet and you are good to go!

-Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eating these healthy products will make your digestive system run smoother as well improve your health and keep the hemorrhoids away once they are gone. You know what they say - "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" - well it's true!

-Take a warm bath daily. This will provide you relief to the irritating symptoms of itching, swelling, and pain. Try to take a warm bath with no soap added at least once daily, but you can take it however many times you would like. Just make sure to dry the anal area well after because moisture can be harmful to the treatment process.

Following just a few quick, easy, and private at home steps you can be well on your way to the hemorrhoids remedy! Make sure that you are consistent with your practices and you should see the problem gone in now time. Take action now, feel the relief right away!

Bunions

2009-04-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

What are bunions?

A bunion is inflammation of the soft tissues around the outer edge of the big toe at the joint where it is attached to the foot. The medical term for this type of inflammation is 'bursitis' and refers to the bursa or sac near the joint. Bunions are associated with various diseases of the joints including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis but usually there is no obvious underlying illness.

What causes bunions and who is at risk?

A bunion occurs as a result of a deformity in the big toe known as 'hallux valgus'. This is when the bone inside the foot which joins the big toe becomes displaced outwards and the joint rubs against the inside of footwear.

Hallux valgus, and bunions, occur almost exclusively in women. This may be because unknown genetic and anatomical factors predispose women to developing the condition, but is probably because women tend to wear ill-fitting shoes. High-heeled shoes, for example, put abnormal strains on the bones and muscles of the foot, and shoes which are tight around the foot force the big toe into a hallux valgus position. Once in this position, the big toe joint will rub against the inside of the tight, ill-fitting shoe causing inflammation in the bursal sac: bursitis or bunion.

Hallux valgus is much more common with increasing age, although it may occur in the young, but as hallux valgus increases with age so does the development of bunions.

Hallux valgus occurs commonly in osteoarthritis which is due to wear and tear of the joints. As a result of disease in the joint, the big toe can more easily become hallux valgus.

What are the common symptoms and complications of bunions?

Pain

Redness around the big toe joint

Swelling over the big toe joint

Difficulty in walking

If osteoarthritis is the underlying cause, there may also be pain in the joint, made worse by non-supportive footwear

How do doctors recognise bunions?

The diagnosis is made simply by the history of the complaint and a clinical examination of the toe. An X-ray may be taken to confirm this.

What is the treatment for bunions?

Hallux valgus is often preventable and treatable by wearing well-fitting footwear.

Self-care action plan

Wear well-fitting shoes

Avoid high-heeled or tight shoes

Get advice from a podiatrist on footwear

Padding over the bunion may help

Medicines

Painkillers such as paracetamol or the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, will often help relieve the pain and inflammation. However, they will not reverse the progression of the condition and should only be considered as temporary relief while adequate footwear is tried.

Surgery

If a change in footwear does not help, you may referred to an orthopaedic surgeon. The most common operation performed for bunions is called an excision arthroplasty. The surgeon will cut way the part of the big toe joint that is sticking out and causing the trouble.

What is the outcome of having bunions?

Bunions are so easily prevented and treated by wearing appropriate footwear that, in the absence of an underlying condition such as osteoarthritis, they should rarely require surgery. If a hallux valgus deformity does require surgery however, the operation is very successful.

A bunion is inflammation of the soft tissues around the outer edge of the big toe at the joint where it is attached to the foot.

Working at Home and Your Health

2009-04-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

Working at home has lot of advantages. You are able to give more time to your family. You are able to save on gas. The commute is stress free. No need to buy expensive work clothes.Keeping that in mind, we do have a slight disadvantage in the area of health. People who work at home usually get less exercise than people who work out of home. We also put a lot of strain on our eyes and our back.

Recently a friend of mine had to undergo minor eye surgery for blurry vision caused due to eye strain. The doctor informed that 90% of people with his symptoms were in the IT field. Neck pain, back pain, Carpal tunnel syndrome are also common in people who work on the computer. Lot of sitting, not much movement can also cause loss of muscle mass, which can decrease a person's ability to keep weight off, since muscle is more effective at metabolizing calories than fat. So what can you do to help yourself remain healthy while working at home? Below are some tips to help you get started now.

Eat: Make sure to take a break for lunch and a small snack. Eat away from your computer and concentrate on your food.

Move: Walk for a little while even if it is for 5 minutes during your break. Get 30 minutes of walking at least 3 times a week.

Sit up straight: Make it a point to be aware of your posture. If it helps, put a sticky note on you desk to remind you of this. Buy a lumbar support to help you maintain a proper posture and support your lower back. Do not cross your legs (it restricts the blood flow). While sitting your feet should rest firmly on the floor with your thighs parallel to the ground.

Rest your eyes: For every hour you work, take a break for 5 minutes to rest your eyes. Leave your work desk and go look out the window. Exercise your eyes in the following way. Close your eyes. Put your palm over them and slowly move your palm in circles. After work, if possible, relax your eyes by putting a wet cloth over them for 5 minutes. Keep your monitor directly in front of you and at least 20 inches away in a position that you do not have to look up. It should be positioned such that there is no glare coming off the screen. Ideally the ambient light should be 3 times brighter than your screen light.

Take care of your neck: When you take your 5 minute break, rotate your neck too.

Keep yourself hydrated: Drink lots of water. Keep a bottle of water on your desk where you can see it. Drink out of it frequently.

Snack healthy: Keep healthy snacks within your reach at your desk. Ziploc bags with nuts and dried fruits are great energy boosters.

These are really easy tips that you can do everyday. It will help you stay healthy and hopefully avoid eye, neck and back problems.

Eating disorders - anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

2009-04-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

What are eating disorders?

Everyone needs food to survive. But for some people, food can become an overwhelming and destructive force that can completely dominate their thoughts, feelings and actions.

What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia?

Anorexia is an illness that occurs mainly in teenage girls, although increasingly boys suffer from it too. People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin and are terrified of gaining weight. As a result, they starve themselves (especially avoiding high-calorie foods), and exercise obsessively until they become extremely thin and well below the normal weight for their age and height.

Bulimia usually affects women in their early to mid-twenties. People with bulimia are also terrified of gaining weight, but they can usually keep within a normal weight. This is because they eat very large amounts of fattening food (called 'bingeing'), but then get rid of that food by vomiting or by taking laxatives.

Why do people get these eating disorders?

A fear of not being able to cope or feeling overwhelmed are common among people with anorexia or bulimia. Denying themselves food may be one way to establish some control in their lives. Others may resort to food to block out disturbing feelings. People with bulimia are often unsure of themselves, lack confidence in their abilities or suffer from depression. Binge eating may be one way to cope with these unhappy, unsettled feelings.

Today's 'thin is beautiful' image may be a contributing factor. The waif-like ideal promoted through the media can put pressure on women of all ages to diet.

What health problems are caused by anorexia and bulimia?

Anorexia can cause many serious health problems. Usually women stop having their menstrual periods. Dry skin and thinning hair on the head are common, although fine hair may grow on other parts of the body. If severe anorexia isn't treated, the person may die.

However, continually vomiting and/or taking laxatives causes other health problems, which include a puffy face and swollen fingers, muscle weakness, stomach pains, long-term constipation and tooth decay as, over time, the stomach acid brought up by vomiting dissolves the tooth enamel.

How are these eating disorders treated?

The first treatment step is to bring the person back to, or near, an acceptable weight. This means making sure the person has regular meals with the family and eats enough calories to gain weight.

With bulimia, the priority is to re-establish a consistent pattern of eating, with three meals a day at regular times. Keeping a diary of eating habits and learning about healthy eating and sensible weight control are often helpful..

How can family and friends help?

Unwanted pressure or criticism from others usually makes matters worse. If possible, accept their behaviour instead of confronting them with it. Unless it's a life-threatening situation, try to let the person make his or her own choices and let the person know that love and support is consistently there.

Is it possible to get over an eating disorder?

Yes - it can be a long and difficult process. Sufferers may need to have psychotherapy for months or years, and relapses can occur in times of stress. Approximately 50% of people with anorexia who are treated in hospital continue to have symptoms for many years.

Everyone needs food to survive. But for some people, food can become an overwhelming and destructive force

Cure For Hemorrhoids - How to Cure Hemorrhoids Now

2009-04-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

If you're like I was when I was affected by hemorrhoids, you want to find a cure for hemorrhoids as soon as possible. Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to get the problem resolved now. Don't put treatment off another day!

-Exercise lightly every day.. You can take a 20 - 30 minute long walk around the neighborhood two days a week and that will be sufficient.

-Use an icepack on the affected area up to five times daily.. Apply off and on for 15 - 20 minutes each time.

-Take a warm bath with the affected area submerged in water.. Make sure the water is warm, not hot. Hot water can further damage the tissue in the recovery process. This will reduce pain, irritation, and itching.

-Increase your fiber intake.. Fiber can be found naturally in many foods, whole grain products are good to eat as they are high in fiber which will soften stool and help with bowel movement.

-Inflamed hemorrhoids respond well to ice pack treatment.. The application of an ice pack can help with the swelling, pain, and itching of hemorrhoids. The best way to do this is to fill a bag with water and let it freeze. Once you have a frozen icepack, apply it to the area that is affected for 15-20 minutes. Repeat this process up to five times a day.

-Avoid drinking soda as well as any other product containing caffeine.. Coffee, soda, and energy drinks can all prolong the hemorrhoids and work against curing them. Also alcoholic beverages will delay the recovery of hemorrhoids. Beer, wine, and liquor should be avoided until the hemorrhoids are clear. Lastly, you should avoid eating any citrus fruits. Fruits like lemons and limes will actually be working against the treatments you are doing to cure the hemorrhoids.

A cure for hemorrhoids is simple and the methods have been proven to work by scientists. I can tell you from personal experience that these are some of the tips that helped me along the way. The best thing you can do is stop procrastinating and start putting some of these tips into action to get your hemorrhoids out of the way as soon as possible... so avoid the pain, itching, and embarrassment and get your hemorrhoids cured now!

Breathe Easy - Combat Asthma and Allergies in the Home

2009-03-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

Living with an asthmatic and allergy sufferer you learn that there are certain do's and don'ts around that house that can make life significantly easier for those suffering these unfortunate ailments. The advice and tips offered in this article will not only help allergy sufferers and asthmatics, but will help promote a more healthy environment for everyone in the home.
While we can't always control what we're exposed to outside the house, we do have considerably more control over our own homes. Areas that can be improved upon range from design features to simply choosing more appropriate cleaning products. Even the smallest of positive changes around the home will help to improve the quality of the air we breathe.

Paints
Solvent-based paints are the worst kind for allergy sufferers, and for the general health of all concerned. These paints emit toxins long after they are dry and the odour is apparently gone. They contain VOC's - Volatile Organic Compounds.
Acrylic (or water-based) paints tend to give off far less fumes and toxic odours than their oil-based counterparts. Low volatile organic compound emission paints are also a good choice.
Although the finish isn't quite as pristine, use an acrylic gloss for doors, windows and trimmings rather than the traditional oil-based ones. Take advantage of organic oils for finishing wood products instead of chemical-based stains.
The Resene and Wattyl paint companies have excellent ranges of quality, environmentally-friendly, hypo-allergenic paint products to choose from.

Floor Coverings
Dust and allergens tend to accumulate best on flat surfaces, and there is no greater flat surface in the home than the floor.
The best choice of floor coverings for asthma sufferers and general good health is to tile the floors. The less rugs and carpet around the better, as these tend to be chronic dust collectors no matter how clean you are or how often you vacuum.
Parquetry and cork flooring is also another good choice. Wooden floors are natural and look beautiful. However, they should be coated and sealed with a product that isn't solvent-based, or any class 2 carcinogenic Toluene Diisocyanate, TDI products. A good selection of paint to choose from is the Berger Breathe Easy paint range.
Conversely, having all hard and bare floors can be rather clinical and anything but cosy, especially in the winter months. If rugs or carpets must be used, then rugs with a tight weave and short pile are less likely to trap as much dust and dirt. Wool carpets are definitely a healthier choice than their synthetic counterparts.

Furniture Materials
When it comes to allergies and healthy choices, we sometimes tend to forget about furnishings, their coatings and the materials they are made of.
Naturally occurring materials are often the best choice. Fabrics made of cotton, wool, hemp and leather. Materials that are non-chemically treated. Although not a naturally occurring substance, vinyl is a favourable choice as it doesn't emit toxins and has no open weave in the material in which to collect dust and pollutants.
Wooden furniture should be coated in natural oils rather than varnishes and solvent-based stains. Metal furniture or furniture with metal framing is also a feasible choice. Metals such as stainless steel and chrome are the optimum choice. Avoid bare metals and wrought iron, or any metal that requires rust treating.
Glass surfaces for table tops and coffee tables are free of toxins, don't trap dust, are non-pollutant and easy to keep clean with natural products such as water and vinegar.
The bedroom is very important room to take into consideration when striving for a low allergen home. So much time is spent in this room.
Regularly shake the dust out of blankets and adopt a frequent wash cycle for bed linen.
Good quality, hypo-allergenic bedding can be somewhat more expensive, however it's definitely worth the money in the long run when it comes to feeling healthy. Latex mattresses and pillows are a far better alternative to synthetic fibres and padding. Apart from the health benefits, they also tend to be more comfortable and maintain their shape and composure over a long period of time. In the long run, quality bedroom furniture will prove more cost-effective as it will last longer. And who can measure the cost benefits of ones health?

Air Purifiers
The home is constantly being invaded by pollens, dust mites, mildew and various other dust-related, airborne pollutants. These pollutants in the air can prove very detrimental to the health of asthmatics, and can be a cause of irritation to everyone.
Air purifiers are an excellent way to filter out much of these pollutants and airborne impurities. There are several quality models on the market that are also energy-efficient to run.
They operate by not only filtering out the dust and pollen particles from the air. Integrated into the purifier is also a system of naturally occurring substances that actually break down the pollutants as they cleanse the air before returning the purified air to the room.
A decent air purifier is moderately priced considering the health benefits it provide. Asthma sufferers should definitely have one in their bedroom, and probably one in the living area as well.

Ventilation
A good, constant supply of fresh air is imperative. Kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with air vents in the ceiling to expel the build up of cooking odours and steam.
Open plan homes tend to offer the best ventilation. If your home isn't very open, then try to have the doors and windows open as much as possible. However, having the doors and windows screened is important. Screens don't just keep out annoying flies and pests, they also tend to work as dust filters. It's important to keep the screens clean. Vacuum them regularly. A small portable car vacuum is often handy for this purpose.
Ceiling fans are good for stirring up the air and keeping us cool, but they are also chronic dust havens. The fan blades must be cleaned frequently, probably once a week in summer. This will go a long way in preventing fans from spreading dust around the house. The same rule also applies to pedestal and desk fans.
Filters an air conditioners should also be cleaned on a regular basis.
An added point: Under no circumstances should anyone smoke inside.

Curtains and Blinds
Window dressing is another good source of dust and pollutant accumulation. If you suffer from allergies, avoid horizontal blinds at all costs, especially the wooden variety. All those flat surfaces to collect dust. Not to mention the headache to keep them clean. Vertical blinds are a far better option.
In the case of conventional curtains, select cotton or hemp materials and wash them regularly to remove pollutant build-up. Roman blinds not only look stylish in modern homes, but many of them are made from allergen-free materials these days.

Plants
House plants are the most natural way to purify the air we breathe in the home. Plants convert carbon dioxide back into oxygen. Like a natural air purifier, they trap and absorb many pollutants. Not only do they promote good health, they look great as well.
Some good indoor plants to consider:
§ Aglaonema
§ Bird of Paradise
§ Dracaena
§ Kentia Palm
§ Philodendron
§ Poinsettia
§ Rhapis Palm
§ Spathiphyllum
§ Yucca
§ Zanadu
It's probably a good idea to avoid freshly cut flowers. The pollens they release are a nightmare for hay fever and allergy sufferers and asthmatics. Obviously there will be occasions when flowers are an expected gift. In this case, be sure to dispose of them before they start to decay and drop buds and pollen everywhere.

Pets
Unfortunately pets can often be a great cause of allergies in us humans. If you are an asthmatic or allergy sufferer and you have a pet that you are allergic to, then you have a problem.
Generally though, sufferers won't own a pet that they are obviously allergic to. Pet hair from cats and dogs can be an irritation though. Therefore pets must be groomed with regular washes, and even more regular brushing to eradicate some of that moulting problem.

Cleaning Products
The products used to clean the furniture, glass and floors in our homes is a very important point to consider when striving to obtain and maintain a healthy internal living environment.
A good rule of thumb is to select products made from naturally occurring, organic ingredients. Solvents, acids and bleach should be avoided as much as possible.
Using vinegar mixed with water to clean glass surfaces is a great way to keep the air pure. Steam cleaning carpets and floors is another healthy alternative to vacuuming and detergent-based carpet cleaning. A good quality vacuum cleaner with excellent filtration is very important, as some vacuum cleaners tend to blow some of the dust sucked up back into the air, creating an even worse situation.
The simplest method of all for dusting is to use a damp cloth so the dust is collected (without the aid of chemicals), rather that stirred up into the air.
A very useful website for cleaning products for asthma sufferers is:
www.allerguard.com

Other Useful Tips
Regularly clean the lint filters in washing machines and clothes dryers. When using a clothes dryer, keep the doors to the room it is situated in closed while the dryer is operating to minimise the spread of dust and lint.
Always use non-allergen air fresheners. There is a good range of these on the market today as manufacturers' awareness of allergies and the environment is at an all-time high.
Scent-free, hypo-allergenic tissues is also a healthy and smart choice.
With regards to wardrobes and walk-in robes, always keep the doors shut when not in use. This will help to avoid a build up of pollutants on clothing, not to mention keeping them cleaner and smelling fresher.
One final tip. Try to avoid cluttering surfaces with too many ornaments and knick knacks. These not only aid dust built up, they also make it more difficult to keep these flat surfaces clean. The 'less is more' principal is a good one to keep in mind when it comes to asthmatics and allergy sufferers.
We can't avoid every pollutant and speck of dust in the world, but applying just a few of the principals in this article will go a long way to helping everyone breathe easier in the home.

The advice and tips offered in this article will not only help allergy sufferers and asthmatics, but will help promote a more healthy environment for everyone in the home.

About The Author:
Born in Sydney, Australia, Darren G. Burton has been writing for more than 20 years. He has written numerous full length works of fiction and non-fiction. In addition to his books, he has had many articles and short stories published in major Australian and international publications.

His books are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/lm/RO1QERSQNC2HN/
http://ambienceproductions.com.au/books.htm
http://stores.lulu.com/sherlock77

Need to Stop Sweat Becoming a Problem?

2009-03-27T23:02:00.000-07:00

Sweating is an unpleasant, but necessary part of life. Sweating helps your body to cool down and control its temperature and for most people this only noticeably happens when the weather is really hot or they are doing something really active. There are some unlucky people who sweat lots even when they are in cold rooms and not doing anything remotely active. When you sweat like this and it is starting to interfere with your life you need to stop sweat from becoming an even bigger problem for you.

It can be hard when you have a problem with sweating to pluck up the courage to go to your doctor's about it, but your doctor will have seen it all before. Often your doctor will be able to advise you of the best way to stop sweat being such an issue in your life. If you feel that you would like to find a way to stop sweat at home that is fine too.

One way of doing this can be to make changes in your diet and avoid food and drinks that for many people make them sweat more. This could be highly spiced foods, salt, sugar, alcohol, caffeine or even processed foods - everyone is different and can find different sweat inducing food and drinks. You might also want to consider losing a few pounds as excess weight can really add to your sweating problem and make it ten times worse. Many people who sweat too much, find that losing weight can really help them to overcome their problem, and make them feel much better in the process. These are just a few of the ways that you can try to stop sweat from taking over your life and becoming a very real and very embarrassing problem for you in your daily life.

Myth - It's Not Possible to Grow Taller After You Reach Adult Hood

2009-03-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

There is a common myth amongst adult aged people that once you reach your adult age, it is not possible to increase your height because your body is done growing.

I want to clear this myth up by saying that it actually is possible to increase your height even if you are considered a full grown adult. There are certain stretching techniques and exercises that can aid in increasing your overall body height by as much as 4 inches. While 4 inches is on the extreme, growth of 1-2 inches is quite common and is an attainable goal.

For these techniques to work however, the person needs one thing: A motivation or desire to grow taller. I'm not saying that if you simply repeat in your head a thousand times that you want to grow taller, that you magically grow taller. I'm saying that if you work hard on doing these exercises each day for a 15-20 minute period, you can expect to see some good results within 2 to 3 months.

Stretches and Exercises

There are roughly 20 exercises that you can do that will increase your height. These exercises include many stretches and workouts for your lower back and abdominal muscles. These groups of muscles are in charge of keeping you upright. If you have not strengthened the right areas, you will slouch which will shave inches of your max height.

Stretches like the Scorpions Tail and the Standing Pencil stretch (that's what I call it) work by increasing the space between each vertebrae in your spine. While the space that it created is slight, multiplied throughout the length of your spine will increase your height by at least an inch total. Doing these stretches will also improve the general health of your back as well. You will be less likely to pull muscles or cause injury if you work on these stretches every day. Check out the free ebook guide located at the bottom of this article for explanations and examples of some height increasing exercises and stretches.

Bad posture = less height + bad back!

I would say that 90% of people have no idea what good posture actually is. It is not simply standing up as straight as you can. It takes a lot of conscious effort over years of time for you to properly understand what good posture is for YOU. You can not get this by simply reading a book or looking at pictures, rather you need to work towards it. Bad posture...even minor, can cause you to lose inches of your maximum height. There are many posture exercises you can do that will help you increase your height.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Myth-Its-Not-Possible-to-Grow-Taller-After-You-Reach-Adult-Hood&id=2104440
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7 Food-Types to Avoid if You Suffer From Constant Heartburn and Acid Reflux Disease

2009-03-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

If you have experienced Constant Heartburn and Acid Reflux Disease you know the pain and discomfort associated with these conditions.

A healthy lifestyle can greatly improve your condition by making simple nutritional changes to your diet. Avoiding foods that trigger these conditions and increasing the intake of specific food items can help reduce the incidences of acid reflux. Simply changing to a healthy diet is not the answer. It is a very specific group of foods that can cause these reactions. By pinpointing these food groups and avoiding them as much as possible, you will experience relief.

What you eat contributes to the delicate inner balance in your body. There are known food groups that directly aggravate various GERD conditions. These foods should be consumed in minimal amounts or avoided if possible. Understanding your food-choice options is the first step in reducing the pain and suffering that comes from acid reflux conditions. Let's examine these 7 groups:

1. Caffeine & Coffee: Beverage products that contain caffeine increase the acidity levels in your body and should be avoided. Coffee is the big culprit and by simply limiting yourself to 1 cup or possibly 2 cups per day will help. Definitely do not consume coffee before bedtime.

2. Alcohol: Another beverage of choice should also be avoided Alcohol which can irritate the stomach and relax the LES muscle increases acidity and contributes to acid reflux.

3. Fatty Foods: Foods that take a longer time to digest such as high fat foods are a big problem for acid reflux sufferers. Because they do not move through the body easily and take longer to be eliminated they increase the changes of GERD symptoms. The only exception is the omega-3 fatty acids food group, which comes primarily from fish and fish oil, and are in fact powerful anti-inflammatory agents.

4. Chocolate: This one hurts - most people's favorite food - Chocolate. Unfortunately chocolate contains a lot of fat and caffeine and can increase acidity and worsen digestion. If you absolutely have to have some try to stick with dark chocolate and organic varieties if you can get them. Even with that I would limit yourself to just a few small pieces a week.

5. Milk Products: From the Milk family - Milk and milk-based products should be avoided before bedtime due to the large proportion of calcium.

6. Mint Products: Strong mint products such as peppermint and spearmint can also worsen acid reflux symptoms. You should avoid foods that contain strong mints, including mint-based herbal teas.

7. Acidic Foods: Foods with high acidity such as oranges and tomatoes can also promote acid reflux symptoms. Also cruciferous vegetables which include: onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and brussel sprouts as they act to promote the opening of the esophageal sphincter, thus increasing acid reflux.

Making these dietary changes coupled with a healthy motivation to alter your lifestyle, can help you overcome esophageal reflux disease symptoms and improve the quality of your life and well-being. You can choose to cure and prevent the recurrence of Constant Heartburn and Acid Reflux Disease by making simple dietary and lifestyle changes.

Those who have experienced Constant Hearturn ad Acid Reflux Disease know the pain and discomfort. Understanding and avoiding 7 Food Types will help overcome these common conditions.

Ann Monahan is a marketing entrepreneur who promotes and features natural health solutions. To learn more about these Heartburn and Acid Reflux natural solutions visit: End Constant Heartburn and Acid Reflux Disease - http://www.endconstantheartburn.com.

Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/7-Food-Types-to-Avoid-if-You-Suffer-From-Constant-Heartburn-and-Acid-Reflux-Disease/784442
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Essential Oil through History

2009-03-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

The ancient art of aromatherapy is becoming more popular in modern times for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. For thousands of years people have recognised the beneficial properties of certain plants and natural substances to human health and well being.

One of the earliest known cultures to use essential oil products were the ancient Egyptians. It is thought that a number of plant extracts and natural oils were used in the process of embalming mummies. The oils were used for several reasons in everyday life for these people; they were used for religious as well as for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Aromatic plants have probably been used for a variety of purposes by human beings long before recorded history. In China, Persia and many other countries, the concept of using plant extracts and oils is also recorded many hundreds of years ago.

In Greece, Hippocrates (c. 460 -370 BC) was a believer that holistic treatments were greatly beneficial, and aromatherapy massages are said to have been used at this point. At this time people from many other countries and cultures are thought to have been making use of naturally derived extracts for all sorts of reasons.

During the Dark Ages monks were often the only people who could freely practice herbalism for much of the time. Others who attempted to make cures and remedies were often accused of witchcraft and faced dire consequences. The once respected village wise women were often shunned by a people who had been told terrible stories by witch finders and lived in fear of spells and curses. Aromatic plants were still used to prevent insect bites and as perfume. There is some debate as to how hygiene conscious people were in this era, but perfume was probably desirable in either scenario. By the Renaissance herbalism had been revived to an extent, and the ancient knowledge kept alive by the minority through the Dark Ages became popular once again.

Despite this amazing history of the use of extracts from plants in essential oil, the term 'aromatherapy' was not coined until 1937. The man behind this word was Rene Maurice Gattefosse, he was interested in the properties that were displayed by plant extracts and how this may benefit medicine. He performed a number of experiments to test ancient theories regarding the therapeutic value of different plants. During the Second World War, Dr Jean Valnet is said to have used therapeutic essential oil in the treatment of wounded soldiers, which helped to save the lives of many.

Austrian born Marguerite Maury began diluting essential oils in vegetable oil 'carriers' in the 1950s. She used these mixed oils for massage and found that a number of her patients reported they slept better and experienced less pain after the massage.

Although many people today are unaware of much of the knowledge about herbalism that has been passed from one generation to the next since time immemorial, there is a growing interest in the subject. People are still able to benefit from natural remedies through aromatherapy and massage.

For further information, please visit http://www.essentialoilsonline.co.uk

If you are looking for Essential oils, then take a look at our exclusive range on the website - the perfect way to a healthier you.

We are dedicated to providing high quality Essential Oils and aromatherapy supplies at competitive prices and all of our essential oils are 100% pure and unadulterated, many of which are Pure English Essential Oils, locally grown and distilled.To explore our range of Essential Oils, please visit our website at http://www.essentialoilsonline.co.uk

Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Essential-Oil-through-History/784367
sexy

Cures For Bacterial Vaginosis - 3 Days to Permanent Relief

2009-03-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

It is observed that the long-term oral or intravaginal treatment does not prevent the recurrence of the disease.
Therefore, it is a common belief that there are no cures for bacterial vaginosis. Apart from the women suffering from the disease, the male partners also got the treatment with antibiotics. However, this did not stop the disease from recurring in the affected women. In such a discouraging situation, you can get the answer in alternative treatment.

The main symptoms of the disease are the increased white discharge from the vagina, which coats the vaginal periphery with disgusting smell. Because of the growth of bacteria, which causes the disease, there is a diminution of the level of hydrogen peroxide, which normally constitutes the vaginal flora. That causes the unpleasant smell. The STD risk factors considerably increase with multiple sex partners or a new sex partner. Again, there is a more serious factors involved like premature delivery or sudden abortion in a pregnant woman.

The prescription drugs hardly ever go to the root of the problem, putting the sufferer at greater health risks. Moreover, the side effects of such drugs make the treatment unpleasant without any permanent relief. Therefore, natural cures for bacterial vaginosis are here to help you relieve the complaint finally. The good news is that the ingredients of these cures are readily available everywhere and are so cheap and most of which are already available at your home. Moreover, these cures are safe and effective. These cures give permanent relief by restoring the equilibrium between the bacteria causing the disease and the bacteria, which help your immune system to maintain health.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Cures-For-Bacterial-Vaginosis-3-Days-to-Permanent-Relief&id=1997412
newshealth

Bacterial Vaginosis Natural Treatment - 3 Days Cure

2009-03-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

In general, women are not aware of the bacterial vaginosis natural treatment. Therefore, they suffer longer under the treatment of their physician which only temporarily alleviates the symptoms. In 50% of the cases, there are no symptoms, which mean that women suffering from this disease even do not consult their physician.

In 70% of the cases, it is mistaken for yeast infection. The disease has already run its course and become chronic by the time it is diagnosed. Even if it were diagnosed early, long term recurrence is distressingly common even after oral or intravaginal treatment. No data on vaginal or oral preparations is available for the treatment or prevention of the recurrence of the disease.

Your doctor who knows what is best for you, very often prescribes antibiotics to combat the rash in the vagina, excessive oozing of fluid and fishy smell with many side effects and no permanent relief. The disease returns with more severity in 30% of the cases after the treatment is stopped by your physician i.e. its symptoms get worse each time it recurs.

On the other hand, bacterial vaginosis natural treatment has no side effects and it is the only safe and fast way to cure the disease. You start feeling the relief on the very first day and in a few days the disease is permanently gone. It goes to the root of the problem and eradicates the bad bacteria which caused the disease and tends to promote the growth of good bacteria to help your immune system to stop the growth of bad bacteria again. It repairs the imbalances in your vital dynamis, i.e. the vital force in your body to fight the disease by removing the causes of the disease permanently.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Bacterial-Vaginosis-Natural-Treatment-3-Days-Cure&id=1933815
newshealth

Asthma Attack - What Three Things Happen Before You Know You Are Having One

2009-03-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

Asthma attacks are very common in the US. 30,000 people go through this potentially serious and many times scary event every day. And about four hundred people die every year from asthma.

So what causes an asthma attack or even what is asthma? The airways between your mouth/nose and lungs are overly sensitive to one or more things when you have asthma. These things are called your asthma triggers and can be anything such as dust mites, molds, pollen, smoke, certain foods, weather, weather changes, stress etc.

Coming into contact with any of these triggers causes bad things to happen to your airways. This is the first step toward having an asthma attack. Here are the 3 bad things that can happen:

1. Your airways have linings on the inside which become swollen and very irritable. This leaves less room for air to get back and forth to your lungs when you breathe. It also causes you to cough.

2. The muscles around the outsides of your airways start to get real tight. They try to squeeze your airways shut. This makes your airways smaller, which means that there is even less room for air to get through to your lungs.

3. The insides of your airways start to fill with what I call gunk or what others might call mucus or phlegm. This starts to plug up your already small airways which makes it even harder to breathe. Every time you cough, some of this gunk comes out.

Every asthma attack you have can be different. So sometimes those 3 bad things can be very mild and other times they can be very severe. They might also happen very slowly one time and very quickly another time.

How long those things last can also be different every time. Getting away from your triggers might stop them, but sometimes they can last for days.

Those 3 things are all happening to your airways or breathing tubes. Once they start to get bad enough, then you will start to have what are called your typical asthma symptoms. When we think of an asthma attack, we normally think of these things on the following list:

1. Coughing - with your now irritated and sensitive airways, you will be coughing quite a bit. And all that gunk or mucus will be coming up when you do cough.

2. Wheezing - this is sort of a whistling sound, usually when you breathe out. This is from your airways being much smaller than normal.

3. Tightness in the chest - this can sometimes be painful also. It is from the muscles around your airways getting so tight.

4. Shortness of breath - you just can't take a normal breath while those 3 things are happening.

When those 3 things happening to your airways are bad, then these asthma symptoms will also get bad. When these symptoms get real bad you might not be able to breathe at all. The medications in your emergency asthma inhaler try to reduce your symptoms so that you can breathe normally again.

Asthma symptoms are pretty much the same for all asthma types except for cough variant asthma. With this type of asthma, your only symptom will be a very bad cough. And this cough will be a dry cough with none of the gunk being present.

It can also be a very loud cough that is sometimes referred to as a barking cough. And the worst thing is that this cough can sometimes last for weeks. Because there are no other asthma symptoms present, this type of asthma often goes undiagnosed.

Knowing what is happening during an asthma attack should help you to keep from panicking. Getting stressed out can make your symptoms even worse. It is important to do what you can to help someone who is having an attack to try and stay as relaxed as possible.

If you notice that your asthma inhaler isn't helping you breathe and your other symptoms aren't getting any better either, then you might be having an acute asthma attack. If that happens, then it is very important that you seek immediate medical attention. Don't wait and hope that it will get better. An acute asthma attack is so serious that without immediate medical attention death can result.

Find out what an asthma attack really is and what causes it. Learn about the things that start happening in your body before you know that you are having an attack. You will also learn what asthma symptoms and asthma triggers are.

You've learned that an asthma attack can be a very serious and sometimes life threatening situation. You've also learned what is happening to your airways during an attack.
Your next step is to find out how you can use natural asthma treatments and remedies to put an end your asthma attacks for good.
Bob Hughes has put together a website where you can learn everything you need to know about asthma including the natural treatments to cure your asthma at:

sexy

Do I Have to Be Tall to Jump Higher?

2009-03-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is the most common question asked by aspiring basketball players. And the most common and perhaps the most flawed answer given is "Yes". And I say RUBBISH to that.

Let's go through this logically. If you are 6 foot tall, then to reach up to grab a book from the top shelf of a 7 foot bookshelf won't be hard. Yes, you may have to stretch your hand up a few inches, but it certainly won't be taxing. But the important thing to note is that you are not jumping, you are merely stretching. If you are 5 foot tall, then you may have to jump to get to that book on the top shelf. Let's explore this further - I'm sure you have heard of James LeBron and Spud Webb?

James LeBron - standing at 6'8'' and 250 lbs, has a 41 inch vertical.

Spud Webb - He was one of the shortest players in the NBA, standing only 5'7", yet he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1986. He had an amazing vertical of 42 inches!

So we have a 5'7" player with a longer vertical than that of a player of height 6'8"! I think you get the picture now. You don't need height to jump higher.

Definition 1: Vertical leaps require force to push you off the ground. Note, not HEIGHT but FORCE.

If we were to explore through this further, we would arrive at the following conclusion: Jumping high can be attributed to:

1. POWER
2. SPEED
3. TECHNIQUE

Importantly, one requires all three to condition into an all rounded athlete.

POWER: Focus on strength training, specifically AROUND the quads and calves. Squats hops, depth jumps, thrust ups, deadlifts and reverse toe raises and such are examples. What we're trying to do here is to strengthen the shin and hamstring muscles. Note - we're not strengthening the muscles that we normally associate with increasing our vertical jump like the calf muscle or quad muscles, but on the contrary, the muscles around these. The reason for this is the major jumping muscles will not produce their max capable power unless their opposite muscle is strong enough to handle it.
It is very important to have a dedicated schedule over a period of a few weeks just on strengthening your muscle groups.

SPEED: Focus on cardiovascular exercises here, specifically high intensity cardio like sprints. Another good exercise is jumping rope. Not only does it give you some cardio exercise but it uses some of the muscles needed for jumping.

When all your muscles are stronger they complement each other and with the combination of your new found speed, you will begin to really feel the difference.

TECHNIQUE: Now you need to focus specifically on exercises that purely focus on the vertical - dynamic step overs, split scissor jumps. Work on your footwork, get the right balance between your power and speed.

Continue focussing on your POWER, SPEED and TECHNIQUE until you get to your optimal vertical. Good luck.

sensations

Endometriosis Part 119-Endometriosis and Vitamin E

2009-03-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. As we know, nutritional supplements play a very important role in treating all kinds of diseases. In this article, we will discuss how Vitamin E helps to treat endometriosis.

I. Definition
Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, it can be stored in our body and we don't require to take it regularly. It is best known for its powerful antioxidant property.

II. The effects of Vitamin E in women with Endometriosis
a) Immune system
Since vitamin E is an antioxidant, it helps to increase liver function in fighting the forming of free radicals, abnormal cells and cancers. In endometriosis, it prevents the growth of abnormal endometrial to form implants and adhesion in other parts of the body excluding the endometrium.

b) Cell protection
Since vitamin E protects the fatty acid against degradation in the human body, it helps to prevent against the oxidation in cell membranes and cellular regions resulting in protecting against the breaking off of the capillary wall causing heavy blood flow during menstruation.

c) Red blood cells
Deficiency of vitamin E in women with endometriosis were also found to have anemia. It is caused by the faster than normal aging of red blood cells because of oxidative destruction of red blood cells.

d) Nervous system
Since we already known that vitamin E is essential for increasing the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen in the circulation system, it helps to nourish the brain cells fighting against symptoms of endometriosis such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

e) Hormone imbalance
Deficiency of vitamin E also interferes with normal functions of thyroid and pituitary glands causing the increase of levels of fatty acids resulting in endometrial menstrual cramps which in turn result in the over-production of certain prostaglandin hormones.

Since vitamin E is an antioxidant, it helps to increase liver function in fighting the forming of free radicals, abnormal cells and cancers. In endometriosis, it prevents the growth of abnormal endometrial to form implants and adhesion in other parts of the body excluding the endometrium.

For the best tips to find a best endometriosis selh help treatment program
http://bestendometriosistreatment.blogspot.com/
http://theendometroisisguide.blogspot.com/

newshealth

How to Get Taller Naturally - Top 7 Useful Tips on Growing Taller Naturally

2009-03-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

Do you wish you could get taller? Well, if you are still going through puberty it can be done. But, what if you are an adult? You can still add 1-2 inches of height, but you need to know some important things. It's not possible to lengthen your bones after the growth plates are closed, unless you go through surgery. The only thing you can do is to use special exercises and fix the curvatures in your spine, which rob you of extra height.

Here are 7 proven tips to get taller naturally:

Get a good night's sleep: during sleep your body produces human growth hormones. You need to go to bed early and at the same time every night.
Include certain foods in your diet: some examples are: milk, because it contains calcium, eggs and fish because they are high in protein and also legumes.
Eliminate foods that stunt your growth: avoid refined sugar, coffee, simple carbohydrates like white bread and of course junk food.
Start taking supplements: supplements that include amino acid glycine can stimulate the release of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), especially if you take them before working out.
Eat small meals instead of large ones: eating large meals causes the production of large amounts of insulin, which inhibits the release of HGH.
Change the way you dress: this will not actually make you taller, but will give the illusion of height. Start wearing clothes with vertical pinstripes and clothes of the same color. Also, correct your posture and sit up straight with your head up.
Do a lot of exercises: swimming, hanging and sprint bursts can help you grow faster, but you really need to incorporate special stretching exercises into your daily workouts. These exercises will make your bones healthy and strong and will enhance your growth.

newshealth

What Type Of Supplements You Should Take To Gain Weight

2009-03-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

In the world of gaining weight, people are always in debates what are the best supplements to gain weight fast, easy, and healthy. There are those who stick to the traditional routines such as workouts and proper diet while there are also those that rely on more conventional ways such as the use of weight gain supplements to ensure that they are getting what they need to gain some more weight.

Experts say that both ways -the traditional and the conventional ways-could work if a person really wants for gain weight. However, certain guidelines must be followed religiously to ensure that there will be no complications in the future.

Why use weight gain supplements?

Before, the only people that are into weight gain supplements are those who are so much into body building. In fact, majority of the best supplements to gain available in the market were made especially for those that make bodybuilding as a life and as a career. These supplements are being used by the bodybuilders especially if they have upcoming competitions. But, as time went by, people-even those who are not into body building-have been trying various gain weight supplements because they believe that gaining weight is one of the easiest way to achieve a firm and sexy body. So, what they do is take up some of the best supplements for weight gain and enroll to a gym or fitness center that offer rigorous workouts.

Through regular workout and physical activities, people who have gained weight can lose some the way they want it to be.

If you are one of those who are looking forward to gaining weight to achieve the society's ideal physique, then you should try using weight gain supplements. Weight gain supplements are those that being use by people to complement or boost their weight gain. These may come in forms of beverages, tablets, and the like.

In the market today, some of the best supplements to gain weight include weight gainers which are usually protein shakes that provide sufficient supply of calories in the body, spectrum flaxseed oil which is high in Omega 3 good for having enough supply of essential fatty acids (EFAs) in the body, multi-vitamin and mineral packs that helps converts the food to vitamins and minerals readily absorbed by the body's tissues and hormones, creatine which enables the reuse of the body's stored energy and shows results as soon as possible.

Glutamine that helps increase a person's muscular volume by enhancing the immune system, liver tablets came from high grade beef liver which is an excellent source of protein and healthy fats, and testosterone boosting supplements that works well for people who are way beyond hormonal production.

Before buying

Experts say that that best supplements to gain weight are those types that can help a person reach the target calorie intake everyday. To avoid using products that can cause you side effects in the future, make sure that you:

- Read the label of the supplement thoroughly to ensure that you know that ingredients from what you are about to take.

- Consult your physician about it before you finally buy and use it to make sure that you know how much of these supplements should you take.

- Conduct a research what to look for in a weight gain supplement and where to find the best supplements to gain weight on the market today.

sensations

Is There Evidence That Water Fountains Provide Health Benefits?

2009-03-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

Some people believe that water fountains are practical decorations that yield a host of health benefits. Some believe that wall fountains may fight disease, others insist that a well-placed fountain can enhance cognitive function. but is there any truth in this? Sure, fountains are charming and effective decorations, and they certainly add character to a home, but how beneficial can they really be?

The problem with these claims is that there is not a lot of hard evidence to support them. The unfortunate thing is that very few impartial studies have been conducted over the years, and those that do often get very little publicity or merit in the scientific community. Some experiments have been conducted, however, that show that there is in fact a correlation between wall fountains and personal health. Water fountains may not exactly cause better health, but something about them at least seems to improve a person's overall well being. Let's examine some of the "health claims" regarding water fountains.

Some people laud the importance of "negative ions," which are produced by water fountains, and say that these particles improve general respiratory function and strengthen your body's immune system against certain diseases and mental issues." These negative ions are in fact not ions at all. They are actually a number of negatively charged oxygen and/or nitrogen molecules that are surrounded by water molecules. Studies have shown that these "ions" don't actively clean the air, nor do they produce any great benefits. However, the negatively charged particles in negative ions tend to attract (and subsequently bond to) bioaerosols and dust particles in the air. This dampens these potentially harmful particles, weighing them down until they literally drop to the floor. This does limit the antagonistic effects of common air pollution, which theoretically could lead to improved breathing and air cleanliness. While direct evidence is a little lacking, anecdotally negative ions actually do seem to improve air cleanliness, especially in contained spaces. An indoor wall fountain may subtly enhance the breathability of the air in your office or at home.

It has also been suggested that a wall water fountain "enhances concentration" and reduces stress. Again, there have not been many scientific studies to confirm this, though anecdotes abound. Naturopathic medicine, which emphasizes natural cures for common ailments, implies that sitting by a waterfall, or even an active water fountain, may be effective treatment. Some evidence exists that implies some water fountains may facilitate clear thinking and general mental satisfaction, although listening to a fountain while breathing in the fresh air may not immediately enhance your cognitive capabilities. As previously suggested, these "ions" do have a proclivity for removing malicious airborne agents and bioaerosols from your air, and simultaneously producing more oxygen particles. This means that your brain will be allowed more oxygen with every breath you take, which in turn may mildly improve awareness. In terms of stress relief, I feel that wall fountains are absolutely effective at relaxing a busy mind. Natural sounds have a soothing affect on the mind, in a similar fashion to classical music or gentle lullabies. It is not uncommon for business owners to put wall fountains in their office, as this seems to slightly improve employee morale and alleviate stress. I believe that this correlative relationship is fairly assuring, even if it is evident that no "causal" relationship actually exists.

So it seems that, while the boasts and claims made by fountain manufacturers and online salespersons may not be completely without veracity, they do tend to be deficient in formal scientific proof. But there does seem to be an anecdotal precedent for a correlative relationship between water fountain ownership and overall improved health. It may not totally prevent disease, and it certainly isn't a cure, but a good wall fountain may help improve your health and peace of mind in a general way (plus, they look really great).

newshealth

How to stop sweating so much

2009-03-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Stop sweating so much

If you've ever been embarrassed by excessive sweating, I have two things to say to you:

1. You are not alone

2. And you've definitely come to the right place!

If you are reading my article then you are probably in the same situation that I was just over two years ago now.

I developed a real problem with sweating too much. I was at school at the time and it made so many situations extremely embarassing for me, I began to worry more about my excessive sweating than about what really mattered, my education.

This problem became so bad that in almost every situation I found myself in, I was regretting being there due to my embarassing problem.

Here is the list of things I tried to stop sweating so much

1. Wearing a T shirt under my shirt.

2. Trying all sorts of deodorants, including very specialist ones from the chemist.

3. Talking to my Doctor. He could not help one bit.

4. Investigating surgery.

5. And finally, Hypnosis!

I was distraught, thinking there was no cure to my problem, knowing I would never properly enjoy myself again, until....

About two years ago, I was browsing for a solution to my problem when I came across a website claiming they could reduce my sweating by 95% in two weeks, with a completely natural method.

Same usual story, that never usually delivers. But hey, I had tried everything else and I was not about to pass up another opportunity to get my life back together.

After paying, I waited for a couple of minutes to receive my order and began to follow the instructions.

Okay, so Day 1, I did not notice any change, but by Day 5/6 I was noticing a huge difference in my body, I was no longer sweating so much, of course I was still sweating, but only when I considered it to be normal, e.g. soccer club.

By the end of the two weeks I felt ready to carry on my life as normal, and that is exactly what I have done. I cant begin to explain how much my life improved from then on. All the happiness in my life that I used to take for granted was back. I no longer worried about sweating because it was no longer a problem of mine.

Stop sweating so much and enjoy your life

I seriously suggest to anyone who is reading this and that can relate to my experience that you follow the link below and buy this product, "Stop Sweating and Start Living" for about $30, I promise it'll be worth it.

http://www.stopexcessivesweating.info/

sensations

How to Lose Lower Belly Fat

2009-03-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

There are reasons why you and I continually fail with weight loss and diets. Any weight loss plan can if not implemented correctly lead to your metabolism slowing as your calorie intake is reduced. The key to successful weight loss can be found in the many muscles of your body. Weight loss plans and diets fail due to a plethora of reasons from hormone imbalances as a result of diets to muscle loss and plain dissatisfaction with the diet. In fact I continually find that after a few weeks of following a weight loss plan or the new 3 day diet fad I become increasingly frustrated up until the point where I convince myself that one day of binging will not hurt. This more often than not becomes a weekend then a week with the result that before long that 3 day diets a distant memory and I have put back on any weight that I had lost. Now the real reason diets fail is that as we reduce our calorie intake the human body has a natural mechanism to conserve energy in the form of fat. This comes from ancestral times when food was scarce and humans could go days without eating much food. Now when food is plentiful, especially in developed western societies, this mechanism does nothing but hinder our weight loss plans. So put your free online calorie counter to one side for a minute and look at what you need to do to make your weight loss dreams a reality.

If you rely on you free online calorie counter to much and your diet lasts many months eventually your body will start to break down muscle tissue and use this for fuel. As muscle needs calories to exist the resulting muscle loss as a result of your long term diet will mean you need to further reduce your calorific intake and your obsession with the free online calorie counter will continue.

So how do we ensure that our weight loss dreams start to be realized?

Firstly you must go into your weight loss plan with your eyes wide open. If you are like me and in excess of 305lbs this may be to set a target weight loss of 50 lbs. I would be a lot wealthier if I had a dollar for the number of times I have started a diet over the years with the unrealistic idea that in 12 months I will look like Brad Pitt. So set realistic goals and when you reach these goals, set another goal - small steps add up to a long journey.

The second point I would try to understand in your attempt to lose belly fat is to see the weight loss plan as a long term plan. Not a 3 day diet, a month diet or a 12 month diet but a rest of your life plan. Changing your lifestyle for the long term is the real key to losing belly fat. The third point I would say is the most important to your long term weight loss plan and all round healthier lifestyle. Increase your activity levels, walk to work, take the kids swimming; anything to increase the amount of cardiovascular exercise you undertake. If you have not been doing any exercise for many months' even years, pay for doctor a visit to ensure it is safe to do exercise then join a gym of walking club; whatever is your choice. If you start doing exercise that builds muscle like weight training as you muscles develop they will require more and more calories to survive and you will find that before long you will be burning more calories than you consume. If we do this for life we will lose belly fat and our weight loss dreams will soon become reality.

sensations

The Best Vaporizers

2009-03-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

If you're searching for the perfect herbal vaporizer, this article will serve as an invaluable resource. Below you'll find descriptions of the top five vaporizers based on performance, convenience and functionality. Your path to obtaining the best vaporizer around is off on the right foot.

iInhale Portable Vaporizer

The iInhale portable vaporizer goes a long way toward dispelling the myth that portable vaporizers aren't as powerful / effective as stationary vaporizers. The iInhale is revolutionizing the portable vaporizer market by providing rich vapor delivery and excellent herb conservation. Able to fit in the palm of your hand, the iInhale weighs less than most cell phones and is powered by a small amount of butane gas with no risk to your health. Needing no cords or batteries, this is one of the most versatile vaporizers available. It doesn't get any more convenient than this. You can take the iInhale just about anywhere and experience up to 2 continuous hours of premium vaporization.

Easy Vape Digital Vaporizer

Old school meets new school with the Easy Vape digital vaporizer. The Easy Vape incorporates the classic box look with a cutting edge LCD screen for digital temperature read-outs and status messaging. What does that mean to you? It means that the Easy Vape offers a "hands free" vaporizer experience that informs you exactly when the vaporizer is ready for optimal use. Lightweight and durable, the Easy Vape is made with high quality polycarbonate components and the latest in ground glass technology. This is an excellent choice for those looking for a stylish vaporizer with outstanding performance.

Remote Controlled Extreme Vaporizer

This vaporizer has a remote control; it doesn't get much better than that. With the remote control you can adjust the temperature, adjust the fan speed for optimal inhalation rate, and power the vaporizer on and off (it also has an automatic power off function for added safety and convenience). The Extreme Vaporizer also doubles as an aroma therapy machine! Complete with balloon kits, tube mouthpieces, an aromatherapy bowl, cyclone bowls and more, the Extreme Vaporizer is in a class of its own. If you're looking for a multidimensional high end vaporizer, this is an outstanding choice for you.

Volcano Digital Vaporizer

The Volcano Digital Vaporizer is arguably the nicest vaporizer on the market. This advanced vaporizer offers the ultimate in high end performance and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of vaporizer science. The digital temperature display (in both Fahrenheit and Celsius) makes determining vapor readiness a breeze. Compatible with both an easy valve & solid valve system, the Volcano is viewed as one of the easiest vaporizers to use. The detachable Volcano balloon allows you to take your vapor anywhere. Able to hold multiple hits, the balloon can also store your vapor for up to 8 hours. The Volcano usually comes with a ton of handy components, including an herb grinder. A new Volcano also comes with a 2 year limited warranty which goes a long way toward feeling comfortable with your purchase. The Volcano is usually a bit more expensive than other vaporizers, but in all honesty, it's worth every penny.

I hope this article was helpful in making the right vaporizer purchase. Happy vaporization everyone!

sexy

Six Steps to a Healthier You - Fresh Air and Sunshine - Part 3

2009-03-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Our kids go to schools and attend classes where the windows are closed and the lightening is artificial. We keep the windows in our homes closed. We cover them with blinds and drapes and curtains. We stay inside and read or watch TV or surf the net. When we go camping, we stay in self-contained RV's, often with the windows closed. We seem to have gotten afraid of fresh air. If we get too cold, we might catch cold. We think we'd better stay inside just in case. How do we make some changes?

Getting back to basics is a good idea in so many areas of our lives, including getting more fresh air and sunshine.. Years ago our grandparents and their parents worked hard outside every day, rain or shine. After all, the cows had to be fed and milked, and the other animals care for, no matter the weather. Grandpa and Grandma got lots of fresh air and sunshine. I dare say that they didn't have too much time to get depressed or be stressed out about the evening news, or worry about what their neighbors were wearing or driving or where they were vacationing.

It is important that we remember how much better we'd feel if we got more fresh air and sunshine. Scientific studies have been done showing how natural sunlight improves our immune system. People who live in areas where there is a plenty of sunshine each day are less prone to depressions and nervous disorders. Scientists have also shown that the effect of natural sunshine directly on our skin helps the body produce Vitamin D, an essential nutrient for good health. If you're having trouble sleeping at night, fresh air, sunshine, physical exercise during the day might be just the answer.

I don't recommend going back to "the good ol' days," not entirely. But we can take a lesson from those who went before. You might not be planning to buy a cow, and unless you're already a farmer you probably won't start plowing fields any time soon. So what can we do? How can we get more fresh air, more natural sunlight, more benefits from these two?

Here are a few suggestions:

-plant and care for a garden

-get in the habit of going for a walk

-take your dog for a walk

-take your neighbor's dog for a walk

-open the windows in your home

-as much as possible, sleep with the window open at least enough to let in some fresh air

-exercise outdoors whenever you can

-walk to work

-go for an outdoor walk on your lunch break

I'm sure you can think of more. Make a conscious effort to increase the time you spend in the outdoors, in the natural, health-giving fresh air. Start a new habit. Think back on this past week. How much time did you spend outside? Did you get enough fresh air? Did you feel the sunshine on your skin? If not, start now to do better and be healthier. Set a goal to spend at least twenty minutes outside. Then when we get together for next week's healthy article on relaxation, you'll be well on your way. As always I wish you health, harmony, and happiness.

sexy

Missing Doctor Visits Increase HIV/AIDS Mortality Rates

2009-03-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

When beginning any course of treatment for a chronic yet manageable disease such as HIV and AIDS it is important for one to follow their HIV specialists advice, maintain a regular schedule of appointments, and strictly adhere to the pharmaceutical treatment regimen. These three practices establish early on a life-time of disciplines that one will require to effectively manage living with the HIV/AIDS virus.

If ever there was doubt as to the importance of regular visits with one's HIV/AIDS health care practitioner, those doubts can now be put to bed. A study has recently surfaced which has identified a causal link between missed doctors' visits, and an increased mortality rate.

This analysis focused retrospectively within a group of HIV clinical patients who had established their initial outpatient treatment for HIV infection at the University of Alabama HIV/AIDS Clinic. All of the 543 study participants were evaluated between 2000 through to 2005. Patients who missed visits within the first year after initiating outpatient treatment were shown to have twice the rate of long-term mortality when compared with those patients who maintained regular visits, and attended all of their regularly scheduled appointments.

The results of the analysis showed that among those 543 HIV patients participating in the study, 60% of them missed a visit within the first year. The mortality rate in those patients who missed visits within the first year was 2.3 deaths per 100 person years. In contrast, the mortality rate for those who attended all scheduled visits and appointments with their HIV/AIDS practitioner was 1 death per 100 person years. Other factors such as age, overall health, and CD4 counts were all taken into account when comparing the risk factors and determining the overall mortality rate.

One thing is clear when reading the results of the study, and that is that mortality rates increase when skipping or missing regularly scheduled appointments. However, it is worthwhile to note the study's authors posit that the nearly doubling rate of mortality is not a direct consequence of missing those appointments, but rather, are identifiers of those HIV patients who are more likely to exhibit behaviors which can lead to increased mortality earlier in life.

This study has red-flagged behaviors that HIV/AIDS practitioners can watch for early on in the treatment of new patients. When beginning any course of treatment for HIV/AIDS, following the advice of your doctor/specialist is essential. By simply following the instructions provided and HIV/AIDS specialist, by strictly adhering to regularly scheduled appointments, and adhering to the pharmaceutical regimen as prescribed, one can effectively reduce their risk of premature mortality in half.

The original study was published in the Chicago Journals, Clinical Infectious Diseases by Dr. Michael J. Mugavero

If ever there was doubt as to the importance of regular visits with one's HIV/AIDS health care practitioner, those doubts can now be put to bed. A study has recently surfaced which has identified a causal link between missed doctors' visits, and an increased mortality rate.

Treating HIV and AIDS can be expensive. Which makes adhering to treatment guidelines challenging at times. If you are finding that you are spending too much of your money on medicine to treat and control HIV/AIDS, then come visit AIDS-Drugs-Online.com. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you choose the generic alternative which will help you save money, and allow you to live life for you, not to pay for your medicine!

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