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Nutrition and Your Mental Health

2009-11-23T13:46:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Health911!

2009-07-10T12:42:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Health911!
We have expanded our site to include a health products advertising section in addition to our very popular ever-growing list of folk remedies and health protocols.
We are aware that you consider your health as your most valuable asset. Our goal is to provide the information that will help you maintain excellent health or regain it if you have a health condition. While modern medicine is marvelous for some medical problems it does not address the body's ability to heal itself. This site will be your guide for natural healing and wellness.

Kristal Fishing Reels - Fishing the Bahamas

2009-06-16T09:47:00.003-07:00

Kristal Fishing Reels - Fishing the Bahamas

2009-06-16T09:47:00.001-07:00

Conch cleaning Abaco Bahamas

2009-06-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Eagles- Hotel California (1976) Live

2008-06-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

Fuerteventura 2008

2008-01-05T01:46:00.001-08:00

Rick Ross - Hustlin' Jingle Ball Bahamas

2007-12-30T01:48:00.000-08:00

Eurovision 2006 - Poland

2007-12-24T12:40:00.001-08:00

Exercise Without End

2007-11-29T10:12:00.002-08:00

Exercise Without End
by Brittani Tingle
These machines can go on and on. But should you?

We have what you’d call a love-hate relationship with the treadmill—love the calorie burn; the monotony, not so much. So when we found out that new takeoffs on the treadmill were showing up at clubs like Bally Total Fitness and Spectrum Athletic Clubs in California, we were skeptical. A climbing wall that never allows you to get more than two feet off the ground? A ladder to nowhere? A rope that you pull … and pull … and pull? How much fun could that be? We dispatched staffers to find out. And their reports have us wondering whether we should dump the treadmill for good.

Jacobs Ladder
What it is: A freestanding, 16-rung ladder tilted at a 40-degree angle. Gives you a full-body aerobic workout as you climb and burns nearly 800 calories an hour.

Tester’s take: “I really felt the burn in my butt. And I wasn’t bored like I thought I’d be, probably because the workout is so challenging. It takes a lot of balance and concentration.”

Get more info.

Treadwall
What it is: A 10-foot tall, motorless climbing wall that rotates on a belt like a treadmill (and takes up about the same amount of floor space), so you never get more than a couple of feet off the ground. Gives you a full-body workout and burns about 650 calories an hour.

Tester’s take: “Great for my hand-eye coordination. And I loved that you can vary the difficulty by changing the angle of the wall. Not much of a view from the top, though.”

Get more info.

Rope Pull
What it is: Much like the rope-climbing drill from grade school gym class (except you never leave the ground), this piece of equipment has you sit or kneel while pulling on a circulating length of rope. Works various upper-body muscles and burns about 650 calories an hour.

Tester’s take: “I want one for my living room! This gave me an unbelievable upper-body workout and was surprisingly easy on my shoulders.”

Read this BEFORE you get a flu shot

2007-11-29T10:12:00.001-08:00

Read this BEFORE you get a flu shot
by Sarah Clachar
The vaccine may not be as good—or as safe—as you think.

Nobody wants to get the flu this year. The dreaded, head-pounding, body-aching, feverish, nauseating, cough-fest packs equal parts misery and inconvenience.

But nobody wants to get a shot that might be unnecessary or ineffective, either. So, while some experts worry aloud about a 1918-like flu pandemic, most of us—well aware of the risks of getting the virus, from being sneezed on at the office to living with a toddler—are not lining up to get the shot. In fact, only a third of us even bother. The truth is, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and most mainstream docs are pushing the flu vaccine, the latest science suggests it just doesn’t work very well. So, should you or shouldn’t you? Here, the answers to your flu-shot questions.

How effective is the shot?
The flu shot is only as good as the educated guesses of a group of vaccine researchers across the globe. Every February, they try to predict which flu viruses will work their evil during the next fall and winter. Their three top choices are put into the vaccine. The CDC claims that vaccine will be 70 to 90 percent effective against just those strains of flu. “We hope that these smart scientists who get together with the vaccine producers make the right call,” says immunologist Randy Horwitz, MD, medical director of the University of Arizona’s School for Integrative Medicine. But sometimes they don’t, partly because the virus mutates from year to year. In 2003–2004, the CDC admitted that it completely missed the virulent Fujian flu strain that hit hard that winter.

In 2005–2006 season, in which the CDC said the match between the vaccine and the virus was good, a strain not included in the vaccine hospitalized 31 children in Houston. Also, two recent studies found that the shot may be less effective for people with weaker immune systems, so its effectiveness can depend on how well your body responds to the vaccine.

Will it make me sick?
Even if it doesn’t work, it can’t hurt to get the shot, right? For most people that may be true. Millions of vaccinations are administered each year, but since 1991, only about 26,000 adverse events have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). Most of those were fever, rash, headaches, hives, or, very rarely, seizures. The most common side effect is swelling at the injection site on your arm. And any bad reactions, thought to be your immune system’s way of gearing up after the exposure to dead virus particles in the vaccine, typically ease after a few days. (Manufacturers are required to verify that each batch of vaccine used for injections contains no live flu viruses. But people with egg allergies shouldn’t get the shot because the vaccine is manufactured using eggs.)

Still, some researchers aren’t comfortable with the safety data. Tom Jefferson, MD, coordinator of the Vaccines Field for the Cochrane Collaborative, an international group of researchers, reported last year in ?the British Medical Journal that he had found only six limited studies on safety after reviewing 206 studies on the vaccine. That, he says, is a surprisingly small number considering the widespread use of the vaccine and its mixed bag of ingredients.

?
Osteopathic doctor Sherri Tenpenny, author of Vaccines—The Risks, the Benefits, the Choices: A Resource Guide for Parents, cautions that only small populations and short-term info are used to measure safety. Adverse-events reporting, for instance, is done for only 2 to 14 days after an ?injection—and it’s voluntary.

Here’s another concern: Except for about 8 million doses, the flu vaccine contains a preservative, thimerosal, that is 49 percent mercury, a known neurotoxin. While the latest research seems to disprove any link between thimerosal vaccines and autism in children, the debate still rages, and several states have prohibited the use of thimerosal in children’s vaccines. Yet supplies of mercury-free flu vaccine are limited due to man-ufacturing capacity. If you want to avoid thimerosal, you may have to make a special request to your health-care provider in advance.

Is the nasal vaccine better than the typical shot?
Hard to say, but the latest news on FluMist may leave you skeptical. Earlier this year the manufacturer, MedImmune, had trouble getting an OK to market the vaccine for kids under 5. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration found ongoing problems at the company’s plant in Great Britain—bacterial and fungal contamination as well as the use of a disinfectant banned by the European Union. Eventually, the company fixed the problems and, in September, received approval for the under-5 set.

Unlike the shot, this vaccine contains live but weakened viruses. When inhaled, these viruses can survive in the nose and throat long enough to trigger the immune reac-tion that fights off flu, but will be killed by the higher temperatures in your lower respiratory tract. The CDC does not believe these viruses can mutate into a form that can survive. The nasal vaccine is only approved for healthy children ages 2 to 17 and adults ages 18 to 49 who aren’t pregnant. (Pregnant women and people with chronic conditions can get the shot.) The nasal vaccine does not have any thimerosal.

Who really needs a shot?
The flu kills. Each year nearly 40,000 people in the United States die from flu complications like pneumonia and heart failure. And more than 200,000 are hospitalized due to flu. The people at highest risk have lowered ?defenses: children ages 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, people older than 50, and anyone with a chronic condition like asthma, diabetes, and heart or blood disorders. The CDC recommends they all get vaccinated.

But what if you’re healthy and are not in a high-risk group? Should you get vaccinated as a charitable act to help prevent spreading the flu to those who’re less healthy? Or to prevent a few weeks of potential misery? If you live or work with high-risk people, maybe you’ll decide that the shot is worth it. You can also gauge your other lifestyle risks. We all know that spending a lot of time in busy public places—like the subway or a gym—boosts your risk of catching the flu. Anyone walking around with the virus can breathe it in your direction. And kids in day care or school are more likely to be exposed to the flu than anyone else. Just the simple act of living with them heightens your risk.

Is there a shot shortage?
You may remember the panic over vaccine shortages in 2004, when a major flu-vaccine manufacturer, Chiron, was unable to deliver 50 million doses of the vaccine due to bacterial contamination. Some experts speculate that the shortage encouraged people to stay away from the vaccine in the following years. But Curtis Allen, spokesperson for the CDC, says a shortage is unlikely this year. Manufacturers are promising a record number of doses (132 million), although they won’t all be available at once.

Is there a shot shortage?
When’s the best time of year to get vaccinated? Now, before the flu season really kicks in from December to March, experts say. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to build up enough antibodies to protect you.

Aren’t I more likely to catch a cold than the flu?
For sure. There are more than 200 cold viruses, they mutate a lot, and virtually everybody comes down with one from time to time. Although the worst colds might feel like the flu, lots of people say they have the flu when they really don’t. Two years ago, only 13 percent of people who were tested after reporting flulike illnesses actually had the real thing.

Should I really worry about a flu epidemic?
Nobody really knows. The 1918 pandemic seemed to start like any old ?flu season, but within a few months the virus had mutated into a monster that killed healthy adults within a day. Like most flus, it may have originated in birds. That’s why experts worry that today’s avian flu may ?turn into a global epidemic. But, un-like the 1918 strain, it hasn’t spread ?readily from person to person. And while the regular flu shot won’t protect you against avian flu (it’s a different strain of the virus), consider this: Researchers are finding that millions of people have been infected with avian flu without suffering serious complications.

Is Exercise Advisable For People With Asthma?

2007-02-04T04:51:00.002-08:00

by: Karina Jacobsen

Many people mistakenly think that those with asthma cannot and should not exercise. Contrary to this common belief, it is indeed possible, and even recommended that asthmatics get in shape and exercise. Exercise and asthma can go together quite well if proper precautions are undertaken.

Defining Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease. Its symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Symptoms can be mild or life threatening. It is thought there is a genetic link to asthma as well as environmental triggers.

An asthmatic episode can be set off by allergens, exercise, and respiratory infections. Dust mites and roaches are known to aggravate asthma and a big part of the management of the disease is cleaning the living environment to get rid of these pests.

Controlling Asthma

Follow these tips to help reduce asthmatic episodes:

1. Reduce pet dander by bathing your pets once a week.
2. Do not smoke. Do not let anyone else smoke in your house.
3. Monitor pollen and mold counts. Stay indoors when levels are high.
4. Wash bedding at least once per week in hot water. Pillows included.
5. Decrease chances of picking up viral illnesses by washing hands often.
6. Take a flu shot every year.
7. Protect your airways by covering your mouth and nose with a scarf in cold weather.
8. Identify your personal triggers and learn how to avoid them.

Exercising with Asthma

Your doctor will probably advise you not to abandon sports or exercise because you have asthma. You will just need to be cautious and smart about how you play.

Remember to have your inhaler and medications close by. If you have been wheezing the day of exercise or the night before, then go easy until you can determine how your airways will react.

Exercise Induced Asthma

There is a condition known as exercise induced asthma (EIA). With EIA, asthmatic symptoms will occur after approximately 10 minutes of exercise and occurs more frequently in dry and cold air.

Even with exercise induced asthma, you still have a wide variety of sports to participate in such as swimming, biking, and team sports.

The most important aspect of controlling your asthma during exercise and otherwise is to know your triggers and be consistent in your treatment. Asthma attacks are often easier to prevent than they are to reverse, So be consistent with medications and trigger avoidance. Consult with your doctor on a regular basis and take responsibility for managing and preventing your symptoms.

Manual Lymph Drainage

2007-02-04T04:51:00.001-08:00

by: Sharon Hopkins

What is Manual Lymph Drainage?

Manual Lymph Drainage was developed by the Danish physical therapists Doctors Emil and Estrid Vodder, in the 1930’s. This technique developed as a result of their studies on the lymph vessel system. Manual Lymph Drainage is a series of light, rhythmic manipulations that stimulate lymph flow and fluid movement.

How does Manual Lymph Drainage work?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a light, rhythmical massage in which the practitioner uses a range of specialized and gentle rhythmic pumping techniques to move the skin in the direction of the lymph flow. This rhythmical massage stimulates the lymphatic vessels. The lymphatic vessels in our body play a key role in delivering nutrients, antibodies and other immune constituents to the tissue cells of the body and remove toxins, cell waste and dead particles. When the lymphatic vessels are not functioning at their optimum due to blockages, the body’s immunity drops, and it is susceptible to a number of ailments such as allergies, headaches, sinusitis, low energy and frequent infections.

Manual Lymph Drainage helps in removing these blockages and restores the lymphatic system to its normal state. It also works on the nervous system, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and improves sleeping patterns.

A typical session of Manual Lymph Drainage lasts for approximately one to one and a half hours. During the first consultation the therapist will assess the patient’s condition and recommend the number and frequency of future sessions. Manual Lymph Drainage can also be used in conjunction with more traditional forms of medicine to provide faster relief. Most patients who have undergone this therapy have found the experience to be very relaxing with little or no discomfort.

Benefits of Manual Lymph Drainage?

Manual Lymph Drainage is both a preventive and a remedial treatment. It provides a major boost to the immune system. It has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of conditions such as oedema, sinus congestion, abdominal bloating, migraine headaches and rheumatoid arthritis. It also promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains and lessens pain. Manual Lymph Drainage is also used in the treatment of skin conditions such as acne, to heal wounds and burns, and to reduce scars and stretch marks. It has a profoundly relaxing effect on the nervous system and is a great stress buster.

Manual Lymph Drainage is used in combination with other therapies for the treatment of primary and secondary Lymphedema. It is very effective in the treatment of swellings brought about as a result of problems in the circulatory system.

How To Treat Acne With New Ideas

2007-02-04T04:49:00.000-08:00

How To Treat Acne With New Ideas
by: Len Cecchetto

New Treatments To Treat Acne

If you're suffering with acne there is hope. Science is working all the time to find new treatments. New acne cures and remedies are always being researched. This is good for anyone who suffers with terrible affliction, because with science persuing what causes acne and how to get rid of it...you'll be happy knowing that there will be new treatments coming out all the time. If you have acne, you ' re not alone. An estimated $100 million bequeath be spent this year by nation looking for an acne treatment that really factory. A major measure of that amount leave earnings for over the counter acne treatment cremes, lotions, soaps and ointments.

Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, zits - whatever you entitle them, they ' re one of the main symptoms of acne, a illness that affects the oil glands in your skin and causes eruptions and lesions that can affect your facade and your self - confidence.

If you suffer from acne, don t worry, there are good cures for this skin condition. If the cause of acne has been determined, a solution is certain. With science constantly looking for ways to cure acne, you can rest easy knowing the experts are coming up with the best remedies all the time. Anyone with or who has had acne can tell you, how many times a day they've cleaned their faces with anti-bacterial facial wash and still faced new pimples the next day.

The real and main causes of acne are hormone imbalance, water retention and toxins. Let's talk about hormones. Hormones are chemicals that are produced by glands in the body and circulate in the bloodstream that control numerous body functions including sebum (skin oil) production and regulation. The hormones that are responsible for acne are called androgens. This is because androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands (glands in the skin that secrete oil to the surface of the skin.)

Here are some natural remedies

If you're looking for a natural remedy for your acne, then how about 'Tea Tree Oil'. A native of Australia, the native Aborigianals have been using this powerful antibacterial for thousands of years. Just dab a bit on and watch your spots disappear.

Warning: Don't overuse it or you'll irritate your skin!! If you're looking for a natural remedy for your acne, then how about 'Tea Tree Oil'. A native of Australia, the native Aborigianals have been using this powerful antibacterial for thousands of years. Just dab a bit on and watch your spots disappear.

Warning: Don't overuse it or you'll irritate your skin!!

Some natural cures

In order to cure your acne you must to be able to get your hormones into synchronism by feeding your body the key nutrients that aid hormone adjustment in the glands and also bolster the liver which is the other hormone regulatory system. Retinol is the form of vitamin A most often worn as an acne treatment. When it's practical to the skin, it's a mild irritant that encourages your body to shed old cells and create new ones. It plant on the same principle as many forms of acne treatment that use dermabrasion or laser to exoliate and promote new skin cells.

Many dermatologist now join both retinol and benzoyl peroxide when treating acne. Most often, they'll prescribe one acne treatment to be worn in the morning and the other at night. In order to cure your acne you must to be able to get your hormones into synchronism by feeding your body the key nutrients that aid hormone adjustment in the glands and also bolster the liver which is the other hormone regulatory system

Be Careful! What You Put in Your Mouth Could Be Causing Headaches, Neckaches, TMJ, IBS, Panic Attacks, and More

2007-01-12T13:08:00.005-08:00

by: J. Wes Tanner, MD

Many people self-destruct by unknowingly ingesting medicine, food, and/or beverages that aggravate the migraine syndrome. The migraine syndrome may consist of headaches, neckaches, TMJ, IBS, panic attacks, fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia, and vertigo. People that are subject to the migraine syndrome have bodies that are sensitive to light, sound, smell, food, and/or stress. This sensitivity to food, beverages, and/or medicine can cause physical and mental symptoms. The purpose of this article is to enlighten people who may have a body sensitive to certain substances that they may put in their mouths.

There are a number of other medicines with which people subject to the migraine syndrome should be aware of potential problems. This is a list of medications with the possible side effect of aggravating migraines: commonly blood vessel dilators (nitroglycerin, angina meds, Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra), occasionally hormones (oral contraceptives, estrogens, medicines to manipulate estrogen), some blood pressure medicines, Tagamet, Zantac, sulfa antibiotics, and rarely antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—SSRI’s and Wellbutrin). However, many antidepressants and blood pressure medications are used to decrease stress and prevent migraines. Most medications have an extremely low potential for aggravating migraines. But as I tell my patients, if the odds of having problems are one in a million and you are the one who has problems—it is 100% for you. Another common problem is rebound. Rebound symptoms occur when pain medications are taken too often and result in ultimately causing pain instead of the desired effect of relieving pain.

It is not just pills you take orally that can give you problems. You may need to be careful of certain foods and beverages. If anyone has had a “hangover headache,” then that person was having a migraine! “Hangover headaches” are migraines. That may be the only time that migraines bother that person, but probably there are other manifestations of the migraine syndrome. Alcohol can be risky, but knowing a bit more can be helpful in avoiding reactions. There are other chemicals which may be risk factors. Tyramine is a chemical found in Chianti wine, aged cheeses, sour cream, yogurt, smoked fish, and yeast extracts. Many of my migraineurs (people that get migraines) can drink white Zinfandel in moderation without consequences. Red wines, vermouth, champagne, brandy, and beer are the usual offenders. A headache expert told me that he avoided red wine for years in fear of triggering one of his migraines. Finally, he kept a diary and found out that he could enjoy red wine with his dinner. Sulfites are found in wines and also used as a preservative, especially at salad bars. Sulfites are used to preserve beer, cider, apple juice, mashed potatoes, and dried apricots. Remember: triggers are additive; therefore, what is a trigger one time, may not be at another time. If you are tired, had a stressful day, time of the month, or bright lights at work, you may be a set up for the migraine syndrome.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a name with which many of you are unfortunately very familiar. Chinese restaurants are notorious for using MSG in food preparation; however, MSG is used in most processed foods. Reading labels is essential but do not just look for the words monosodium glutamate. MSG may be called hydrolyzed, or hydrogenated, vegetable or plant protein, natural flavoring, calcium or sodium caseinate, or Kombu extract. Look especially at seasoned salt, instant foods, canned soup, bullion cubes, frozen dinners, pizza, and potato chips. Sodium nitrite is used as a preservative in meats; for example, hot dogs, sausages, lunch meats, and dried, cured, or smoked meats.

Aspartamate (NutraSweet, Equal), an artificial sweetener, can trigger headaches. However, if aspartamate is consumed regularly, then it may seem “normal” to be suffering from the migraine syndrome. Two to three months of abstinence from aspartamate is worth a try. Sucralose (Splenda) was supposed to be migraine safe, but I can tell you that in my family it spells disaster. Caffeine can help migraines or cause them. If consumed daily, then the absence can cause headaches. Sometimes foods or beverages are not liked by someone, and the person does not know why. Often the object of dislike turns out to be a trigger, and the migraineur has been wisely but unknowingly avoiding problems. I have often said, “Cigarette smoke and NutraSweet are major causes of fibromyalgia.”

I have included a list of possible dietary triggers.

Dietary Triggers

Alcohol: especially red wine, vermouth, champagne, brandy, beer

Caffeine: coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks

Dairy: aged cheeses, sour cream, whole milk, buttermilk, yogurt, ice cream

Breads: sourdough, yeast, some types of cereals

Vegetables: some types of beans (lima, lentil, soy), sauerkraut, onions, peas

Snacks: nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, pickles, seeds, sesame

Meats: fish, meats with nitrates, organ meats, dried or cured or smoked meats

Fruits: most citrus fruits, bananas, avocados, pineapples, raisins, papaya, passion fruit, red plums, raspberries, plantains, figs

MSG: seasoned salt, canned soup, frozen dinners, pizza, potato chips

Desserts: chocolate, licorice, molasses, cakes and cookies made with yeast

Soups: soups containing MSG or made from bouillon cubes

Seasonings: soy sauce, some spices, garlic or onion powder, meat tenderizer

Hunger: missing meals, dieting, fasting

For more information, go to http://www.migrainesyndrome.net.

About The Author

J. Wes Tanner, MD is a family practice and headache specialist who has been treating people for about 30 years. He has extensive experience in treating migraines and fibromyalgia with excellent success. In "Doctor, Why Do I Feel This Way?", Dr. Tanner exposes the secrets and myths about fibromyalgia and the migraine syndrome. To find out more, go to http://www.migrainesyndrome.net.

Temperance or Gluttony and Drunkenness

2007-01-12T13:08:00.003-08:00

by: Veronique Belmar

Beware of the Claimer of Souls

Beware of appetite and don’t debase yourselves because of it. Be temperate in what you eat and in what you drink or become a glutton and a drunkard. Gluttony and drunkenness numbs the moral sensibility to such an extent that crime and wickedness becomes a delight. Good principles no longer exist as a result of eating and drinking to excess.

Ask yourselves these questions: am I a slave to appetite? Am I loosing my moral standing because of it? Am I able to say “no” to my friends, family, and partner when encouraged to indulge in food, drink, sex, drugs and cigarettes? Just take a little time and reflect on your life. If after pondering on your life you find that the questions above relates to you, then, you need to put the lid on your life with the words “NO ENTRY” and protect yourself from the jackals or forfeit your health.

However, can you change your body into a new body when it is wreck with disease? Is not prevention better than cure? And yes, indeed, the body can take a lot of abuse before it breaks down. But one day it will say “enough is enough I cannot carry on any longer. I tried keeping you in good health but you just kept abusing and abusing me and now I am afraid you have to pay the price; sorry guys, I did warn you”!

Furthermore, a story was told of a man who abused his body in order to gain wealth. For example, when the man got his wages he placed most of it into his Bank Account. He said to himself and to others that after ten years that he would be a rich man, then, he would eat and drink and have a good time. But little did the man know that he would die with malnutrition long before he got rich. After his death his family (brother and sisters) inherited all his wealth and squandered it. They had no respect for his money because they always encouraged him to stop abusing his body but he did not listen to their counsel. We can see here how intemperate one can be, we either don’t do enough or we do too much.

Did you Know?

Did you know onions have been regarded as a cure for many ailments? There is evidence that they reduce cholesterol and help to clear colds.

Did you also know that a sprig of parsley is an excellent breath freshener and also a source of vitamin A and iron?

Did you know that one portion of fresh broccoli (100gr/4oz) provides vitamin C (just over half the recommended daily intake) and also provides vitamin B and iron?

Did you know that eating, drinking and clothes carried to the extreme are a crime and a sign of last day events?

And did you know that irregularity in eating, drinking, and the way we dress, depraves the mind and corrupts the heart and brings the noble attributes of the soul in slavery to the animal passions.

Did you know that perverted appetite reduces ones vitality, bringing suffering and decay?

Because intemperance in eating and in drinking numbs ones sensibilities, sacred things have been placed on a level with common things? Once again, ask yourself this question: am I a slave to gluttonous appetite?

Remember that there is danger in eating and drinking: beware, restrain, and deny unnatural appetite. Remember also, that if you create a perverted appetite you violate the laws of your being, bringing disease and suffering to it.

Copyright 2006 Words of Life and Health

About The Author

Veronique Belmar write books on Health, Biblical Prophecies, Children's Books, Poetry, and many more. At the age of ten she was interested in eating healthily and taking part in different sporting activities, and at fifteen her favourite books were based on health and lifestyle literatures. Because of her involvement in these literatures, she discovered the importance of health, lifestyle, what to eat and what not to eat. Also, how to live an honourable life, in order to be happy, healthy and prosperous; and now she is able to tell, and help others care for their health and happiness. Veronique Belmar is author of both Life and Health Joy (http://www.lifeandhealthjoy.com) and of Words of Life (http://www.wordsoflifegh.com).

Electric Tooth Brushes- for effective Superior Cleaning

2007-01-12T13:08:00.001-08:00

by: John Gibb

Electrical Tooth Brushes help in keeping your teeth and gums healthy and clean. The dental health depends on how you brush your teeth and the type of Brush you use for the same.

Brushing is one’s daily habit and it should be done compulsorily and must be done in a proper way. Certain points should be noted while brushing like the amount of time taken and tools involved. Let’s review about the fact whether electrical Toothbrushes are good for proper cleaning of teeth.

The results have proved that great number of People who brush with a manual Toothbrush find it difficult to consistently Brush using adequate technique when compared to electric Toothbrushes. The modern electric Toothbrushes are tools which can create an effective brushing action. All a person must do is focus on brushing long enough with an electric Brush as the skill level that is needed to brush properly with an electric brush is minimal.

When electric Toothbrush is compared to manual tooth Brush, manual toothbrush requires certain things such as manual dexterity and some diligence, which are often in short supply. A good electric Toothbrush will probably clean more thoroughly than brushing by hand in those cases where the skills needed for manual brushing are deficient. So if more time is spent in brushing with electric Toothbrush rather than manual Toothbrush then they will probably get more cleaning accomplished.

The subject of one research shows the superiority of modern Electric Toothbrushes over manual Toothbrushes. This study evaluated the plaque removing efficiency of three different electric Toothbrushes vs. brushing by hand over various time periods ranging from 30 seconds up to 6 minutes. The study found that the use of all three electric Toothbrushes was more effective than brushing manually, for all of the time periods evaluated.

They also determined that more dental Plaque was dislodged with an electric Toothbrush in 2 minutes of use than a manual Toothbrush used for 6 minutes. The use of an electric Toothbrush is superior to the use of a manual one as per the clinical research. Ability to remove dental Plaque and a concurrent reduction of gingivitis are the criteria that are usually used to make this determination of the brush.

Several studies review the superiority of electric Toothbrushes over manual ones. The certain studies review that manual brushing is superior than electric brushing whereas some studies review that electric brushing is superior to manual brushing. Most of the studies have come to the conclusion that electric brushing is superior to manual brushing. Hence use electric brushing in order to reduce your pressure and get an effective cleaning.

About The Author

John Gibb is the owner of electric toothbrush sources, For more information on electric toothbrushes check out http://www.Electric-ToothBrush-guidance-and-info.info

Child Nutrition

2007-01-12T13:07:00.003-08:00

by: Jonathon Hardcastle

Like an adult, every child needs appropriate amounts of calories, proteins, minerals, and vitamins to grow. The new Food Guide Pyramid Guidelines outline the amount of grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and meats or beans people should eat daily. Children between the ages of four and six can usually have serving sizes recommended for adults, while younger children, who have smaller stomachs and lower nutritional needs, need smaller amounts of food. But apart from consuming the right quantity, parents should keep in mind that exposure to a wide variety of healthful foods early in a child's life can set the stage for more variety later. Since children are often reluctant to try new foods and would be happy eating the same foods every day, the role of the parent is that of a guide towards a healthy and nutritional food lifestyle.

First of all, it is important for growing children to get the full range of important nutrients, especially protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. Although appetite variations are considered by experts as normal and might increase during times of rapid growth, or diminish during periods of slow growth, the general rule of thumb is that a 3 year old needs not more than 1,300 calories daily, a 10 year old around 2,000 and an adolescent may require as many as 2,800 depending on the height, weight and daily activity level.

- Fruits and Vegetables: Have always available in the fridge, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that your kids can chew in case they are suddenly hungry or in-between lunches. Remember to keep fruit juice on one service daily since the sugar this drink contains has a lot of ‘hidden' calories. Broccoli, carrots, and vegetables with bright colors, usually attract children's attention and help them fill their stomachs with something healthy instead of a bag of fried potato chips.

- Dairy products: Foods that are rich in calcium are essential for children and adults helping them build and maintain strong bones. Low fat milk and fat-free dairy products should be served daily and kids have to eat cheeses with 2-6 grams of fat per ounce. The needed calcium can also enter your child's organism if he or she consumes orange juice and eats yogurt. Treats made with frozen yogurt and fruits, or milkshakes made with low-fat milk are always welcomed and provide the necessary sweet taste children usually crave.

- Grains: In fact, your child's diet should be based on grains and starches. Whole grain products also contain iron that kids need and whole-wheat bread or pasta can give them the necessary grains for their bodies to function properly.

- Liquids: Remember to serve your child plenty of water and low-fat milk. Avoid sugary sodas and high-fat ice-cream milkshakes.

- Portions: Always serve appropriate portions and weight your kids often. Sugary foods or those containing high-fat ingredients should be generally avoided. Offer healthy snacks, like vegetables, fruits or a ball of whole-grain cereal and allow them to eat crackers with cheese and low-fat chocolate milk.

Finally, you have to check if your child is gaining the normal amount of weight as it grows up and that it exercises often. Outdoor activities and a healthy diet plan are enough to provide your kids with the necessary amount of energy they need and build strong bodies.

About The Author

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://yournutritionsource.net/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://cookingforfun.net/ and http://forcouplessake.com/.

Choosing Organic And Raw Foods

2007-01-12T13:07:00.001-08:00

by: Miranda Thompsen

Everything old is new again. Long ago food did not contain so many preservatives and chemicals and crops were not routinely sprayed with chemicals and fungicides. As the public is becoming aware of the negative effect of chemicals on them and the environment, organic foods are gaining in popularity.

Organic foods are those which are grown minus the chemicals but with the assistance of environmentally friendly and healthier alternatives. Organics are not limited to only fruits and vegetables but also include dairy products, baked and prepared goods as well. Another items that is available in organic forms are fruit juice. This is especially important as fruit juices often contain a higher concentration of chemical due to the number of fruits necessary to produce the juice. Buying organic fruit juice is a healthier alternative.

Many regular grocery stores are devoting shelf space to organic food and specialty chains focusing on only organic, health and environmentally friendly foods are opening as well. The price of these healthy alternatives is often a bit higher than standard food products as it is can be more difficult to produce a large crop of organically grown fruits or vegetables while keeping insects or critters at bay. Therefore, naturally grown produce farms are usually smaller affairs. The increase in price is a small one though when it comes to what you are putting into your body and the environment. Also, as more people decide to purchase organic, it is likely the farms and companies that produce these foods will be able to invest in providing a larger variety of foods.

Raw foodists prefer organic foods over any other. Raw foodists avoid consuming all needless chemicals in all forms. By consuming organic items the raw foodist can be assured it is free of chemicals. Raw food and organic food are not the same thing. Those who chose to eat organic foods, and avoid chemical pesticides, don’t necessarily avoid eating cooked, processed or frozen food, as does a raw foodist. For both the raw foodist and organic consumer, some items, such as grain, are still hard to find in an organic form.

It is always a good practice to wash all produce prior to eating, whether they are organic or not. For today’s consumer choosing healthier eating, or seeking to help the environment, whether it be through organic or going raw lifestyles, there are more alternatives.

About The Author

Miranda Thompsen is a staff writer at http://www.diet-gazette.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.aging-guide.com.

Electric Toothbrush Applications

2007-01-12T13:06:00.005-08:00

by: John Gibb

Electric Toothbrushes can help to motivate a person to brush as we see that really bad brushers do not have enough motivation to brush well. But with an electric Tooth brush he will brush longer, more frequently, or both. A person might take a greater interest in brushing because they see evidence that their Electric toothbrush is cleaning their teeth much more effectively than when they brush with a manual Toothbrush.

An electric Toothbrush can be an effective aid in the fight against Gum disease. The use of an electric toothbrush, either high-end rotary or sonic, has been shown to improve the oral health of those persons who have periodontal disease, and the use of the Electrical tooth brush has made much improvements to their disease conditions.

It should be noted that the gingivitis causing bacteria live in the gaps between the teeth and the gums. Using an electric tooth brush at higher speeds these will be flushed out thereby giving more opportunities to improvements in the Dental diseases.

Electric toothbrushes can help to remove or minimize tooth staining. Using of electric toothbrushes minimizes tooth staining. Nowadays everybody wants to have white teeth. But it must be noted that the color of your teeth is determined by the intrinsic color of your teeth and the extrinsic staining of the teeth.

The scrubbing effect of an electric toothbrush, over time and with continued use, can dislodge some or possibly even all of the surface stain found on a tooth and therefore have a whitening effect. In order to have better results your electric toothbrush must be allowed to scrub for a few extra seconds each time you brush in those areas where staining tends to accumulate.

The extrinsic staining or the "surface stain." also determines the coloration of your teeth and you can find that this type of discoloration has been removed after you have had a professional dental cleaning. Extrinsic staining lies on the surface of a tooth.

You may find that in some areas the staining that has formed is too heavy or tenacious to be completely removed by your electric toothbrush and can only be removed by having a professional dental cleaning. The abrasive effect of the dentist's or hygienist's hand tools and cleaning pastes can scrub this surface stain off.

However, once removed it would be expected that the use of an electric toothbrush would be able to eliminate or at least significantly minimize the gradual return of staining to these areas.

About The Author

John Gibb is the owner of electric toothbrush sources, For more information on electric toothbrushes check out http://www.Electric-ToothBrush-guidance-and-info.info

Electric Tooth Brushes The Necessary Accessories

2007-01-12T13:06:00.003-08:00

by: John Gibb

Electric Tooth Brushes are great for your dental health. Like any other electronic item it also requires some basic accessories to work with.

Electric toothbrush timers.- are the features included in the Electric Tooth Brush to give their users an idea of how long to brush. Usually people don't brush effectively is because they do not brush long enough. And this will take care of this problem. The Tooth Brush timers can measure Brushing duration, indicating the total available time remaining out of the brushing time. The other types are more specific in pointing out the brushing time for each of the quadrants of your Mouth.

The Electric toothbrush power settings provide for an option that sets the power of the brushing action of the brush to either a “high” or “low” level or the user can set the same as per his requirements. The latest Electric Tooth Brushes have options for brush heads and they allow different types and shapes of Brush heads to be used as per the user’s preferences.

The brush Head is another accessory and usually you get the required brush head along with the Brush and in case the head supplied with the Brush is not suitable then you can buy it as an accessory. When the Tooth brush is to be used by all your family members then you must have a Brush head storage provision as well as means for color coding them.

The brush heads have to be replaced at least 3 to 6 months once if not worn out earlier, and the additional brush heads can be bought as accessories. Electric Toothbrush pressure sensors have been incorporated into the design of Brushes as a safety feature. If the brush user applies too much force the brush will automatically stall or stop. If you find that brushing with excessive force has been a problem for you in the past this may be a feature that is important for your situation.

The charging apparatus for the Electric Toothbrush is a must and it comes along with the Tooth brush with some models and for others we have to buy as separate item. Some of the items come with indicator gauges into the design of their toothbrushes so to help you evaluate the degree to which the battery's charge has been depleted, so you'll know when to recharge it.

About The Author

John Gibb is the owner of electric toothbrush sources, For more information on electric toothbrushes check out http://www.Electric-ToothBrush-guidance-and-info.info

Do Tanning Beds and Pregnancy Mix?

2007-01-12T13:06:00.001-08:00

by: Larry Scott

Women of child-bearing age are concerned about tanning beds and pregnancy, and who can blame them? Bringing a new life into the world is serious business, and every mother wants her baby to be born healthy.

While there is no definitive evidence that tanning beds and pregnancy don't mix, there are some common sense concerns that you need to be aware of:

1 - One real concern for pregnant women is that of becoming overheated or dehydrated while using a tanning bed. Overheating is associated with spinal malformations in unborn babies, and dehydration can lead to premature labor.

2 - Especially during the later months of pregnancy, lying on a flat tanning bed can create significant pressure on the lower back and reduce the blood flow to your heart and to the baby.

3 - The UV rays that give you a great tan can also lead to a folic acid deficiency. This type of deficiency can lead to neural tube defects, especially during the first trimester.

4 - During pregnancy, your skin may be more sensitive to the UV rays, leading to hives, a rash, or chloasma, which are dark splotches on your skin.

5 - Not all pregnant women get stretch marks, but those who do will tell you that tanning can make the stretch marks appear more prominent.

A better answer for expectant mothers may be to take advantage of spray on tanning booths or self-tanning products. These products that are applied to the skin have not been found to have adverse affects on a growing fetus and do not elevate a woman's body temperature.

For many, a terrific tan equates to looking healthy, but when it comes to pregnancy, it is better to sacrifice the convenience of tanning beds than to take a chance on harming your baby. Look for alternative means of tanning or treat yourself to a massage or pedicure to compensate for the stress-relief you may normally feel when using a tanning bed.

About The Author

Larry Scott is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Tanning-Beds-Here.com. He provides more tanning bed tips and free spray tanning booth information at http://www.tanning-beds-here.com where you can research at any time, day or night, on his website.

Isolating The Right Solution For Your Hair Loss

2007-01-12T13:05:00.001-08:00

by: Linda Williams

If you are suffering from hair loss, you will find a variety of available treatment options. You may also find many myths about what is and is not effective. Knowing what you to look for, as well as identifying the right treatment for your hair loss causes, will assist you in choosing the right treatment the first time.

The first step is to you educate yourself through a variety of information sources. You will find websites in addition to local resources to provide you with information about the different causes of hair loss and their effects. Identifying your particular hair loss causes is the first step in determining the best solution for your condition. By educating yourself as to why you are losing your hair, you be better equipped to identify a successful solution.

Another step that you can take is to visit with your healthcare provider to discuss your hair loss. They determine if you have disease-related hair loss or if it is caused by pre-determined genetics. If you are unsure why you are losing your hair, it is best to consult an expert who can examine your scalp area, as well as your medical history, in order to determine the causes. This will provide you with the the right diagnosis for the causes of your hair loss.

After you have examined these options, you will need to determine what will fit your individual needs and requirements. For example, if you have allergies, are on other medications, or are uncertain about side effects, you may not want to use some available medications to treat your hair loss. You may want to discover if minerals, nutrients, or other available natural solutions will provide you with effective results. This will be determined, in part, on your bodyily reactions, but may also be determined by how much hair loss has already occurred and the severity of the necessary measures to stop the hair loss.

You can also handle your hair loss through the use of cosmetics. If you don’t expect your hair to grow back or if don’t want to expend your time, energy, and money on other solutions, you may want to find a new hair style or look into possible cover ups for your hair. You can consider not doing anything for your hair loss. If you are certain your hair loss is genetically determined, you can take care of your balding areas by applying sunscreen or keeping them out of the sun and accept the resulting change in your looks. While many men may feel uncomfortable balding, there are others who feel it is very fashionable.

If you are coping with thinning, balding or complete loss of your hair, it may be necessary to investigate several available treatment possibilities. This will provide you with the necessary tools and information to help successfully treat your hair loss. There are a variety of sources for the necessary information to make an informed choice.

About The Author

Linda Williams contributes to several online magazines, including http://bosiv.com and http://nedod.com.

Healthy Tips

2007-01-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

by: Bernard Dozier

Enjoying life to the fullest and aging gracefully without the burden of disease depends primarily on the healthy choices we make for our bodies TODAY.

Here are tips that will aid you lengthen your "good" years:

Eat Breakfast

Research suggests that eating breakfast early in the day may reduce the risk of weight gain and perhaps heart disease and diabetes.

Avoid fats and carbs from items like sugar, potatoes, and white bread. Choose foods that are heart-healthy and include fruits, whole-grain cereals, bread, reduced-fat cheese, and low fat or skim milk.

Beat the Sugar High

For those that have a sweet tooth, staying away from sugar is a constant struggle. On one hand it is just so much easier and faster to grab that doughnut on the way to the office! On the other hand, sugar becomes like an addiction that is very hard to break.

If you happen to like sugar a little more than you should and you need that sugar fix each day, an enormous way to get control and to curb the sugar craving is by using a natural substance called 5-HTP. You can find it in most any natural health food store. (5-hydroxytryptophan)

There are no magic pill for weight loss, but if appetite, and not willpower, is your downfall, then 5-HTP may do the trick.

5-HTP is a direct precursor to "serotonin". It causes feelings of fullness and eliminates cravings for carbohydrates and balances the serotonin levels in your brain. This safe, effective herbal compound can also lift your spirits, which makes it great for mood swings, anxiety and depression. The recommended dosage is 50-100 mgs per day.

Rotate Your Exercise Routine

Varying your exercise routine can help slow down the aging process. By changing routines you avoid boredom, and most importantly the danger of injury caused by overusing a particular muscle, bone, or joint.

Try rotating between aerobic exercises such as walking, dancing, jogging, swimming, cycling, and skating.

Add strength training exercises a couple of times a week and gently stretch your muscles at least two or three times a week to help prevent weakness, stiffness, bone loss, and falls.

Take Charge!

Taking charge of your own medical history and lifestyle is your right! You don't have to become Dr. Know-it-all, but researching specific areas of health that pertain to your own conditions is a smart move.

Researching the natural remedies in addition to what your doctor advises giving you more choices, as well as natural healing options. Getting a second opinion from additional health care professionals is important as well.

You have the right to all your medical records and eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions. You are entitled to all copies of lab results, immunization records, and imaging studies. Keep them filed at home in an organized manner. Keep a record of up-to-date medications and doses for your files as well as carrying this list with you at all times.

By feeding your body and mind the best foods and nutrients possible not only will you have more energy, your body will be stronger and your mind sharper. The tips in this report are the first steps on the route toward a healthier life.

Healthy Tips

About The Author

Bernie Dozier writes articles on many topics including Health, Hebal, and Beauty http://herbal-health-beauty.com/.

Experience Aromatherapy

2007-01-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

by: Jonathon Hardcastle

Commonly associated with complementary and alternative medicine, aromatherapy-a word originally introduced in 1928 by a French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, to describe the therapeutic action of the plants' aroma-is generally used today to boost a person's physiological or psychological state. Since the ancient Chinese civilization, as far back as 4,500BC, the Greek alchemists and the Egyptians practitioners, some centuries later, or contemporary aromatherapy fans, essential oils have been distilled by boiling and steaming from the plants, to be added to cosmetic products, medicine and food. These essential oils (EOs), which today are mostly extracted in labs from a variety of plants with special chemical treatments, are used by contemporary massage therapy practitioners or the vast public. Researchers have found that aromatherapy products increase the positive outcomes one may experience after inhaling and exhaling the released aromatic essences as these EOs are dissolved in water or are applied directly over skin.

Most people have been introduced to aromatherapy, as part of their massage therapy, or as a "luxury" process they are experiencing once in a while when treating themselves during a relaxing bath. The main branches of aromatherapy include, home aromatherapy, which takes place when one is self treated with the aid of perfumes and cosmetic products, clinical aromatherapy, which is an essential part of pharmacology and pharmacotherapy, ad finally, aromachology, which is a distinct term for the study of the effects of odors on one's mind and psychological state. But, regardless of the frequency one selects to perform an aromatherapy act, the fact still remains that the art of aromatherapy harnesses the potent pure essences of aromatic plants, flowers and resins to work on two powerful of human senses-smell and touch-to restore the balance between body and mind.

Aromatherapy has to be experienced a holistic type of therapy that works on a person if the "patient" is open to receive its unique characteristics. Used in treatments against stress, or to reduce minor ailments and negative emotional states, aromatherapy should not be considered as a substitute of conventional medical treatment, but rather a complementary method one has to attain a positive result for his or her health in less time. For instance, if somebody suffers from back aches traditional medical treatment should not be avoided just because an aromatherapy session has been scheduled. Especially for serious medical conditions, such as cancer, heart conditions, asthma, high blood pressure, neural disorders, and post-operative states, aromatherapy cannot be applied as the sole method of treatment to help a patient recover or fight the health situation. Nevertheless, an aromatherapy massage can go a long way.

Due to their high concentration levels, aromatic essential oils are measured in drops and used in a variety of ways. Scented candles, body and facial creams, or house-keeping products like room sprays, disperse their fragrance in the air and help people feel better. Whether one wishes to feel more relaxed or increase his or her energy levels, experiencing an aromatherapy massage through the use of essential oils is a therapeutic treatment for both mind and body that can work miracles on a person's nervous system. Improving a person's immune system and balancing emotions, essential oils penetrate the body via the skin and have a tremendously welcomed feeling of comfort. Thus, experience aromatherapy and let your body reach your type of "nirvana"-internal balance and peace.

About The Author

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://4alternativehealth.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://forahealthyman.com/ and http://worldof-science.com/.

What are Antibodies?

2007-01-08T13:20:00.006-08:00

by: Joe Manny

What are Antibodies?

Antibodies, also called immunoglobulins are large y-shaped proteins which function to identify and help remove foreign antigens such as viruses and bacteria.

Antibodies are created by plasma cells which are derived from the B-cells in the immune system.

Every different antibody recognizes a specific foreign antigen. This is because the two tips of its "Y" are different to each antibody are allow different antibodies to bind to different foreign antigens. When the antibody binds to a bacteria, it tags the microbe or virus for attack by the immune system such as killer T-cells. Sometimes, antibodies can directly neutralize the foreign body. The production of antibodies by B-cells is the main function of the humoral immune system.

Due to the amazing specificity of antibodies, they have some important practical applications in both medicine for the detection of HIV and other viruses in blood, and in research to purify and detect proteins in the study of molecular biology.

For all your Antibody needs and for more antibody information, please visit Antibody Station.
http://www.antibodystation.com

You may ONLY use this article, if you maintain the author's information and website address.

About The Author

Joe Mann is a contributor for Molecular Biology at Molecular Station. You may ONLY use this article, if you maintain the author's information and website address.
http://www.molecularstation.com

Weight Loss and How To Snack Cleverly

2007-01-08T13:20:00.005-08:00

by: Eva Moffat

Copyright 2006 Eva Moffat

Weight Loss and Snacking - can they go together?

Snacking in itself is not bad for you, but it’s your choice of what food you eat to tide you over until your next meal that can be the baddie.

If you snack on junk food, that is usually full of unhealthy fat, you will be more likely to have a weight gain rather than a weight loss.

Here are 7 ways you can snack and not mess up your weight loss programme:

• Healthy Snacks, give them a fair try
• Keep away from Trans Fats
• Read the small print on the labels
• Energy Bars are not all they are cracked up to be
• You don’t have to have a snack just because the clock says it’s time
• High fat snacks ….. run a mile
• Ignore the TV ads that tempt you to eat unwisely

Healthy Snacks, Give Them A Try

If you must snack, go for the healthy alternatives. In the fridge or your lunch box have some ready prepared fruit and vegetables. You could peel a carrot, slice it up into bite size pieces and chew on it slowly. You will be amazed at how quickly this will satisfy you. And as mother used to tell you, ‘Eating carrots will help you see in the dark.’

Or have a nice crispy apple. Wash it but don’t peel it. Most of the goodness is in the skin.

Low fat biscuits can also help to keep you on track.

Have foods that are baked or grilled rather than fried.

Keep Away From Trans Fats

Trans Fats (bad fats) are the fats that raise your Cholesterol.

Cholesterol is the fat that clogs up your arteries, and as the blood is unable to flow smoothly, it can have the effect of giving you high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause heart problems or strokes.

Foods containing Trans Fats could be found in Microwave Snack foods. If you see ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ listed on the label, alarm bells should be ringing in your head.

Read The Small Print On The Labels

Get out your magnifying glass, be like Sherlock Holmes and play detective.

Study the labels on the food you buy. Forget about the adverts telling you how wonderful they are, rather check for yourself what’s in it.

What you are looking for is the Nutritional Value. The label should tell you:

• How many calories are in each portion?
• Grams of fat per portion
• Saturated Fat
• Trans Fat
• How much calcium is in each portion
• Protein
• Sugar
• Salt

Work out for yourself, how much salt you are eating each day. It has been found that we should not be eating more than 6 grams of salt each day. You may be shocked to find that you are having more than your daily recommended amount of salt in one meal, so you could be over your limit if you eat more than one meal a day.

Also if the label says it contains Trans Fat. Do yourself a big favour and put the packet/tin back on the shelf and your heart will thank you for it.

Be sure to check how the manufacturers work out what they consider a portion. Often their portions are for birds and I mean the feathered type.

Energy Bars Are Not All They Are Cracked Up To Be

Those bars that are said to be packed with energy and power, should be scrutinised for what’s in it.

It’s a common belief that sugar gives you energy. But too much sugar can mean you end up with higher blood sugar levels than your body can cope with.

Maybe the label tells you that the bar is low in Carbohydrates, that’s fine, but what it doesn’t tell you, is that it is also low in fibre and probably higher in fat.

Be afraid; be very afraid, if it tastes good … it’s likely to be loaded with sugar.

So ideally, the perfect energy bar for you should contain the following.

• At least 3 grams of Fibre
• At least 5 grams of Protein
• Lower amounts of fat
• No saturated fat
• And fewer than 20 grams of sugar.
• Low in salt

You Don’t Have To Have A Snack Just Because The Clock Says It Is Time

If you have got into the habit of having a snack at 11.00 in the morning and again at 3.00 pm, do you really need it?

Say you had a high protein breakfast or lunch you should manage to get through to your next meal without the need to snack.

Yet if you had a high carbohydrate meal (either breakfast or lunch) you probably will be peckish, so a snack will prevent you from going into starvation mode.

Why is a High Protein meal better than a High Carbohydrate one?

The High Protein meal will be digested more slowly, so filling you up gradually over several hours.

While the High Carbohydrate meal fills you up instantly, but you will be feeling hungry much sooner. As High Carbohydrates are normally full of Calories, then having a High Carbohydrate snack as well, thus taking in even more calories, that weight loss plan you have been following is now about to fly out the window.

So if the clock tells you it’s snack time, only have a snack if you are really hungry. Then have a High Protein snack, it’s much less Calories in it.

High Fat Snacks … Run A Mile

High Fat snacks can encourage you to overeat.

Pennsylvania State University Researchers did a test on some rats, they fed the rats a High Fat diet; this resulted in the rats overeating. The researchers compared these results with rats fed a Low Fat diet.

The conclusion the Researchers came to was that there is a Hormone that is secreted then sends a message to the brain saying, ‘Stop eating now, you’re full up’. But on a High Fat diet, this Hormone was suppressed, and so the rats just went on eating. .

Ignore The TV Ads That Tempt You To Eat Unwisely

While you are watching TV, especially during Prime Time, have you noticed the number of adverts for snack foods? And of course these snacks are made up of junk foods; high in fat and salt.

As we know, these advertisers are paying thousands of pounds to get their adverts put in these prime spots. So the TV viewer is suddenly convinced that they are in need of a snack. Sure enough, when next at the Supermarket, he/she will deliberately seek out that advertised product. The mentality is …… if it’s advertised on the TV it must be good.

The advertiser has won again. And you lose your weight loss goals.

About The Author

Eva Moffat has helped many people with their Weight Loss problems over the years. Now it is your turn to be helped. For more of Eva’s practical help, visit Eva’s Weight Loss Site http://eva-moffats-free-weight-loss-info.blogspot.com

The Essence of Oils

2007-01-08T13:20:00.003-08:00

by: Michelle Sweeney

We have all heard of bergamot, palmarosa and ylang ylang as these are essentials oils found in massage oils, candles and bath products in practically every gift store you visit. But have you actually stopped to think why they are used and what the benefits of these products actually are? Of course they smell great, otherwise we wouldn’t purchase them but many of the common essential oils which have been distilled from plants are known to provide many proven therapeutic benefits and are often overlooked.

Essential oils are absorbed through the skin and depending on which plant the oil originated from will determine what effect it has on you. Having a knowledge of some of the basic benefits of these oils will certainly aid your shopping trips as you will be more aware of which oils will create a calming effect or which oils are more likely to stimulate or rejuvenate you. You can then use this knowledge to your advantage and buy the products most likely to suit your needs.

Bergamot

Bergamot has a refreshing and relaxing fragrance. Its delicate, sweet aroma can also be used to freshen a room and its scent is often found in beauty products and perfumes. If you are experiencing any anxiety or tension, bergamot is ideal to be used in the bath or as a massage oil and it can also be used as a treatment for loss of appetite. The antiseptic qualities of bergamot also lends itself to the treatment of acne and oily skin.

Ylang Ylang

Ylang ylang is an exotic and sensual oil with a deeply relaxing fragrance. It has a balancing and calming effect and is ideal for use in a massage oil or soothing bath salts. It is good for both oily and dry skin and has a rejuvenating effect on skin and hair. Ylang ylang is a good essential oil to be used if you are suffering from any anxiety, depression or stress.

Clary Sage

Clary Sage has an inspiring nutty aroma that is both balancing and relaxing. It has antiseptic properties that are most beneficial for dry skin but unlike the other three essential oils mentioned above, its aroma can seem quite intoxicating so it should be used in small amounts. Clary Sage can be used for a wide variety of complaints including mild depression, sleeplessness, minor aches and pains, asthma, labour pains, stress, gas and coughs.

Palmarosa

Palmarosa is refreshing and uplifting and has a sweet floral fragrance with a hint of rose. It helps to aid clear thought, does wonders for dry skin and is often found in soaps, perfumes and cosmetics. Palmarosa has many therapeutic properties and the essential oil can help to calm the mind and aid physical and nervous exhaustion. It is also thought to aid the digestive system and intestinal infection and is an ideal oil for acne, dermatitis, eczema and athlete’s foot.

Jasmine

Jasmine is a warm, sensual oil that is ideal for post-natal recovery and skin care and is suitable for all types of skin. Jasmine oil facilitates delivery in childbirth by strengthening contractions so for this reason alone it should not be used when pregnant. Jasmine is a great soother for the nerves and produces a feeling of confidence and euphoria. It is also effective for coughs, laryngitis, muscle pain and sprains. Jasmine oil works great when added to a base cream for dry or greasy and sensitive skin, as well as assisting with stretch marks and scars.

Patchouli

Patchouli is an earthy woody oil which uplifts the spirit and clears the mind. It can be helpful towards treating fungal infections, water retention, cellulite and scar healing. It is also found to be helpful with stress related conditions and addictions as well as skin and scalp problems such as acne, eczema and dandruff. This oil works well in an oil burner to help relieve stress or in an oil base to help with skin or scalp conditions.

Once you have determined the oil best for your needs then you can shop for products such as bath products, massage oils and candles which feature the scent in the list of ingredients. Or you can opt to buy the pure essential oils and either use a traditional oil burner to disperse the scent or try one of the other suggested methods listed below.

Pillow Drops

Perfume your pillow with 2-3 drops of your oil of choice. Choose an oil that will help you relax or one that will help cure sleep disorders.

Scented Baths

Add 5-10 drops of your oil of choice to your running water. Soak in the bath for 10-15 minutes to reap the benefits.

Skin Oil

Dilute your oil of choice in a carrier oil – 1% blend of oil for face and 3% blend of oil for body. This is a great way to nourish the skin and get the direct benefits of the oil into your body.

Room Sprays

Blend 10 drops of essential oil in seven tablespoons of water to make a room spray with your desired essential oils. Shake the mixture well before filling the spray bottle.

Determining the right scents can certainly create or break a mood. What you don’t want is to create an intimate evening with relaxing oils and have your partner fall asleep on you so a bit of research into the subject will certainly give you the edge!

About The Author

Michelle Sweeney is the owner of Tonic Gifts (http://www.tonicgifts.com.au), the online gift store specialising in quality and affordable gifts for all occasions.

The AGA Cooker. A UK Icon.

2007-01-08T13:20:00.001-08:00

by: Allison Thompson

The AGA cooker has become an icon of the UK because of the solid performance and cast iron reputation which it has built up over the last 70 years. It is in fact the undisputed queen of the British kitchen and has become a firm favourite with people in the USA.

The Aga was invented by a Swede by the name of Nils Gustaf Dalen (physicist), who one the Nobel Prize in 1912 for the automation of lighthouses. Unfortunately due an industrial accident he was left blind and spent lots of time at home and was convinced that his wife’s conventional cooker was inefficient and the next decade was spent in trying to improve it. This gave birth to the Aga, with the first model being patented in 1922 and was named after Dalen’s company Akteibolaget Gas Accumulator (AGA). However in 1928 the company relocated to the UK.

The Aga is unique because it cooks the food using radiant heat which is able to lock in the natural juices and tastes of the meals placed inside it.

You will find any home that has an Aga in the kitchen has become the heart of the house as the family are usually drawn to the warmth that radiates from it.

Aga’s are powered using a single burner and run either on propane, natural gas or oil but some models now come available with electric ovens. Because your Aga is always on you will find that time is saved not having to wait for the oven to preheat before you begin cooking and if you really want you could put a meal in it before dashing off to work and knowing it will warmed and ready (but never burnt) when you return home.

Another benefit of an Aga is that when having a dinner party or entertaining you can cook the complete meal simultaneously and no the finished items will be perfect in every way.

The four-oven Aga is the flagship of the Aga family and it has separate ovens for baking, roasting, simmering and warming things in. Each oven maintains a different temperature for their various tasks. This Aga also comes with a hotplate which can be used for warming plates as well as the option of having a gas cooker top. It is made from cast iron and coated with vitreous enamels and they are available in 14 different colours ranging from black or white through to aubergine or claret. It is also said that the life span of one Aga is 100 years!

Certainly the Aga cookers which are now sold widely both in the USA and Canada have become a big part of the way we live our life’s nowadays and in some cases have been handed down from generation to generation. Even celebrities have become owners of this versatile and beautiful item such as Ben Kingsley, Sharon Stone, Paul McCartney, George Michael and Billy Joel to name but a few.

So go out and bring home an Aga Cooker today and you will gain a trusted and valued ally for the rest of your life.

About The Author

Allison Thompson a work from home mum who runs a small real estate company in the Andalucian Region of Spain. She has set up several sites on matters relating to all aspects of property, home improvements and home appliances. This site has been specifically set up and dedicated to all things relating to Aga's. If you would like to learn more about this ultimate item for your kitchen please visit http://www.aga.kitchens101.info.

Muscle Building Exercise

2007-01-08T13:19:00.006-08:00

by: Albert Finnellia

The greater effort you put into something the better results you will have. For a long time this has been a universally accepted maxim that has applied to many varied parts of life and from a historical perspective has usually been regarded as the standard in muscle building exercise. The more time you spend fine-tuning yourself using muscle building exercise, the more athletic you will become. Therefore it only makes sense that the longer you spend in the gym with muscle building exercise, the stronger and more muscular your body will become. Contrary to what you might think, the answer with respect to muscle building exercise is a resounding no! It is in this area of bodybuilding that popular wisdom goes straight down the plughole.

When we look at the muscle building exercise from its roots, it is very clear why this is so.

All processes that occur within the human body are centered around keeping you alive and healthy and this applies doubly to muscle building exercise. Through thousands of years of evolution the human body has become a finely tuned organism that can adapt efficiently to virtually all conditions that are placed upon it. Our body sends signals when we are hungry or thirsty, we get suntanned when high volumes of Ultra Violet rays are present, we build calluses to stop our skin from wearing and so forth. So what happens when we break down the body's muscle tissue in the gym using muscle building exercise? To put it simply, the muscles get bigger and stronger. By battling against resistance over the muscle's existing capacity we have posed a threat to the musculature. The body sees this as potentially harmful therefore as a intuitive adaptive response the muscles will increase in size (hypertrophy) effectively protecting the body against this threat. As we constantly intensify the resistance from week to week using muscle building exercise the body will keep on growing and adapting.

It appears to be simple and ultimately it is. However, the crucial thing to appreciate in relation to all of this is that the muscles can only grow healthier and stronger if they are given proper time to recover between muscle building exercise. If not given proper time to recover, the process of muscle growth simply cannot occur.

Your target in the gym needs to be to use muscle building exercise with the minimum amount of volume needed to give an adaptive response. When you have pushed your muscles over their existing capacity and have started your thousand year old evolutionary alarm system, you have done your job. Any further pressure to the body with muscle building exercise will merely intensify your time to recover, degrade the immune system and force your body into catabolic overdrive.

Most people do muscle building exercise far too often and with far more sets than they need to. High intensity muscle building exercise is much more stressful to the body than many people think. Many people structure their muscle building exercise programs in a manner that actually counteracts their gains and stops them from making the progress that they need. There are some guidelines to help you to achieve maximum gains using muscle building exercise:

Do muscle building exercise no more than three days every week.

Do not let your muscle building exercise last for longer then 60 minutes.

Perform between 5-8 sets of muscle building exercise for large muscle groups (thighs, back, chest) and between 2-4 sets of muscle building exercise for smaller muscle groups (biceps, shoulders, calves, triceps, abs).

Push all sets to the brink of muscular failure and concentrate on moving forward in either weight or reps each seven days. If you really train hard and keep a consistent schedule, doing muscle building exercise more often or for a longer time than this will be counterproductive to your gains.

Muscle building exercise, like all good things in life, should be done in moderation!

About The Author

Albert Finnellia is a fitness coach working in the USA. He runs http://www.muscle-building-exercise.com/ which at the moment focuses on Muscle Building Exercise.

Baby Boomers Ultimate Anti-Aging Concepts: 5 Radical Tips

2007-01-08T13:19:00.005-08:00

by: Richie Mont

Many of us “Baby Boomers” are each beginning to feel our age, and we’re starting to live it too. Every morning, clock radios everywhere announce the start of another day. As a typical boomer rolls out of bed, an old ache, pain, and/or little worry makes its presence known, just like the day before. The same beverage -- coffee, tea, or maybe even caffeinated soda -- is ingested in an attempt to energize the same tired face reflected in the morning mirror.

By the time we hit our 50’s, we may have feelings that our lives are not as they could be. Yes, there are pills, and many varieties of the “quick fix”’ (also called the “Life Makeover”) -- everything from creams to diets and Bo-tox injections, perfect-sounding and easy “fountains of youth,” for ourselves. Let’s face it , most of us are looking for ways to slow the ticking of our biological clocks.

I’m here to tell you that in order to really slow that clock down, we must get “radical” in our approach to controlling our processes; getting radical means that we can, in the words of Star Trek character Jean Luc Picard, “make it so”. We can literally make our own clocks tick more slowly.

Getting radical is a process that occurs within ourselves. First of all, it’s the power of our intentions and the measure of our wills. It’s saying to ourselves -- with conviction -- “I want this to be!” Next, it’s believing, strongly, that we can! When we commit ourselves to these beliefs, we are then capable of achieving many remarkable accomplishments of mind and body. All we have to do is to challenge ourselves and our perceptions of who we are. The five radical tips follow:

1. Firewalking: How does walking on fire relate to youthing? An art that’s been practiced in many cultures for thousands of years, firewalking is about mind/body transformation. Its goal is to” question” the laws of nature. The experience becomes a powerful metaphor for anti-aging -- which I refer to as youthing -- and it’s a very radical way of challenging ourselves to stretch beyond what we think is possible. I have participated in dozens of firewalks, and the experiences taught me more about myself, and about questioning nature’s laws as they applied to me, than I’d ever thought possible. Oh -- and I walked on fire.

2. Breathwork. This is a simple yet profound yogic breathing technique that has a cleansing and healing effect at all levels of our awareness -- physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental. It’s the quickest method available that can aid us in healing from previous traumas, negative belief systems, and unwanted “baggage” that many of us unconsciously carry around with us.

3. Fasting. As I write this, I have just completed a four-day fast. (How could I talk my talk without walking it?) Fasting is perhaps the most powerful tip for youthing. Many of us, especially in the U.S., literally eat ourselves to death. Note: there are many types of fasts and many reasons for fasting. It’s wise to check with your health care practitioner before fasting.

4. Physical Immortality. Now here is an idea whose time has arrived. Let’s imagine this concept: “Life without death is pure life.” When we do this, we’re unraveling our personal death urge, which dwells somewhere inside us in that place where pain, aging, and negativity also dwell. While I realize this is a radical idea, relax. We really don’t have to buy into this idea; in order to let the concept work its magic, we just need to be open to it.

5. Hypnosis. As Deepak Chopra has written in AGELESS BODY TIMELESS MIND: ”Aging seems to be something that’s happening to you, when in fact it is something your body has largely learned to do. It has learned to carry out the programming fed into it by you, the programmer” (Harmony Books, 1993). Hypnotherapy is simple, very effective, and can be fun, depending on its purpose; and whether a hypnotherapy session is done in person or by phone, it sets the stage for stretching beyond set limitations. Hypnosis is the art of placing the conscious self in a state of heightened suggestibility. During this time the unconscious self is very open to change and can literally set aside any limiting beliefs that may have been interfering with one’s ability to change.

It’s a proven fact that our bodies are constantly creating new and healthy cells to replace old and damaged ones, and every new cell gets its “replacing” instructions from the DNA contained in the old cell. So, it stands to reason that if our DNA programs our new cells with the healthiest and youngest information possible as a blueprint for development, the body’s cell memories will change. This process is called “Cell Transformation”. The question arises: Can hypnosis really be a powerful tool to us in order to literally tell our bodies cells to be younger? From my experience, I believe the answer is yes.

My conclusion is that over 14 million hits on Google for “mind/body connection” can’t be wrong. From my own personal experience I am pleased to report that indeed my quest for youth is paying off. Now at the “calendar” age of 55, except for a few silver hairs I both look and feel not much over 35 years young.

Richie Mont writes for http://www.clinika.org where you can find out more about wrinkle creams and other topics.a

About The Author

Richie Mont writes for http://www.clinika.org where you can find out more about wrinkle creams and other topics.

Didrex: Faster Remedy in Severely Affecting Obesity

2007-01-08T13:19:00.003-08:00

by: Joseph Jones

‘Obesity is the cause of many physical and psychological troubles’ even a child knows this thing very well. Medical science associates obesity with some severely affecting diseases. Everyone who is suffering from obesity tries to get rid of it. Many people in their heart nourish the dream of getting slim and trim figure but only those are successful who get the right way of eliminating obesity.

The root cause of the obesity is the excessive intake of calories and accumulation of these extra calories in the body beneath the skin in the form of fat. Your metabolic system would have burnt it but you didn’t provide it an opportunity. To provide your metabolic system an opportunity you must have done proper physical work. Instead of doing physical work, you continuously supplied more and more calories everyday; these calories turned you bulkier.

Suppress your appetite to cut the supply line of extra calories and do proper exercise to burn fat accumulation; loosing weight is that much simple. Unfortunately once the body is adapted to high amount of food you will feel great difficulty in switching over to normal amount of food. If you put extra efforts in suppression of appetite results can be harmful to your stomach. Anorectic drugs like

Didrex can help you in suppression of appetite without doing extra efforts and without causing any harm to your stomach.

Didrex has Benzphetamine Hydrochloride as its active ingredient. This active component acts on the central nervous system and neurotransmitters related with it. The result of its action is minute increment in the rate of heart beats and blood pressure which lowers down appetite upto a sufficient extent. This breaks the supply line of extra calories and your metabolic system can easily burn out accumulation of harmful fat.

Drugs like Didrex which produce feeling of satisfaction in the brain are known as sympathomimetic medicines. Didrex is a short-term oral prescription drug which is generally prescribed for a few weeks only. Within those few weeks its results are sufficient to prove its efficacy. Didrex produces better results when it is accompanied with proper diet and moderate exercise.

Breast feeding mothers, pregnant ladies and women planning to bear child also should not use Didrex. Didrex may have some mild side effects like dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, abdominal disorder, and restlessness. These side effects are short lived and disappear within few days. Didrex should not be used by patient of high blood pressure and heart diseases.

Dosages of Didrex are decided by doctor according to the physical condition and medical history of the obese. Generally 50mg pills of Didrex are prescribed by the doctor. One pill daily should be swallowed with plain water one hour before the breakfast Chewing, crushing and breaking of Didrex tablet can produce some harmful effects in the chemical composition of the tablet, so it must be avoided.

Didrex is easily available through online order; the delivery of these pills is generally made at your door step. Some online pharmacies can also arrange online doctor’s prescription for anti-obesity diet drug Didrex.

About The Author

Joseph Jones received training as a healthcare scientist. He has been working in the same field and writes informative articles for weight loss subject. To find Phentermine, online Phentermine prescription, buy phentermine, Didrex, phentermine diet pills, cheap phentermine diet pills, Obesity, weight loss pills visit http://www.onlinephentermine.net.

Waxing Hair Removal - Tips For Best Results

2007-01-08T13:19:00.001-08:00

by: Mike Jones

To avoid the skin appearing darker after waxing, be careful not to expose the treated area to the sun for 48 hours after treatment.

Alternatively use a good sun blocker cream on newly treated areas.

Be sure to test a small area of skin first to make sure there is no acute sensitivity or allergic reaction to the process.

Hair should be at least 1/8 inch long. If it isn't wait until it reaches this length.

Be sure to wash the skin thoroughly and dry it well beforehand to remove any lotions or oils which may prevent the wax from adhering closely to the skin.

Heat the wax carefully so as not to overheat and thus burn the skin when applying. Test on a small area first.

The consistency should be soft rather than runny.

If pain and discomfort is a main concern use a pain reducing gel or cream available from pharmacists. These solutions should be applied 30 to 60 minutes before waxing so the skin is numbed beforehand.

Apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of the hair growth, preferably holding the spatula or tongue depresser at a 45 degree angle as you spread the wax.

When applying the cotton strip over the wax, rub in the same direction as the hair growth leaving about 1/3 of the strip free to allow for a firm grip for a fast back pulling action.

Pull the skin taut before pulling the cotton strip away.

Pull back with a rapid movement close to the skin. Do not pull up or out, rather pull back. One fast, smooth, pull back is much more effective than a series of light pulls which only increase the pain and leave patchy areas.

Clean the skin with a warm moist towel afterwards to remove excess wax.

Avoid showering and making the hair wet prior to hair waxing. Hair absorbs the water making it soft and less likely to adhere well to the wax. Tough hair is easier to pull off.

Avoid wearing tight clothing over freshly waxed areas to minimize the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs.

After 24-48 hours exfoliate the skin (with a Loofa sponge for example) to prevent the dead skin from accumulating in areas that can become ingrown such as the bikini line, upper thighs, underarms and calves.

If acne is a problem, wait until the skin has healed before hair waxing to avoid further irritating this sensitive condition.

***Extra Tips For Facial Hair***

For facial hair use wax at a lower temperature than the rest of the body.

Use one hand to hold the skin taught.

Spread the wax very thinly.

Only treat small areas at a time.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: To make waxing hair removal much easier and less frequent, always apply a hair inhibitor after each waxing session. Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/kalo.htm

Waxing Hair Removal: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

2007-01-08T13:18:00.001-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Waxing Hair Removal: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

How does hair waxing work?

A wax combination is spread thinly over the skin. A cloth strip is pressed on the top and then ripped off with a quick movement removing the wax along with the hair and dead skin cells leaving the skin smooth.

What's the difference between hot waxes and cold waxes?

Good hot waxes melt just above body temperature so they can be easily spread thinly over the skin. As they harden they trap the hair in the wax so it is removed by the roots when the wax is ripped off.

Cold waxes are available in pre-coated strips which can be pressed directly onto the skin. The hair sticks to the wax and is then removed with the quick pull back action. (Cold waxing is also known as Persian waxing)

What is the effect on the skin?

As dead skin cells are removed in this process the skin can feel quite smooth afterwards. The hair waxing action does cause the skin to sting and many find a soothing skin healing cream to be helpful afterwards. Some persons find the skin reacts with redness and bumps which disappear after a few hours.

Are there any health precautions to keep in mind with hair waxing?

Some physicians do not recommend hair waxing for persons suffering from diabetes or who have varicose veins or poor circulation as they are more susceptible to infection.

Users of Retin-A, Renova, Differin or Accutane are advised not to use hair waxing on the face as these medications tend to weaken the skin and tearing of the skin may occur when the wax is removed.

Hair waxing should not be done on areas of skin affected by warts, pimples, moles or rashes or on skin that is irritated, chapped or suffering from sunburn. Never apply wax to peeling, broken skin or varicose veins. Never apply wax to the nipples when removing hair from the breast area.

On what body areas can hair waxing be used?

It is wise to test a small area first but generally waxing can be used on most parts of the body. The exceptions are the male genitals, nipples, inside the ears and nose, eyelashes.

How long before hair reappears?

Generally between 3 and 8 weeks. Less hair regrows and it is generally finer. Eventually some hair never regrows.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: To make waxing hair removal much easier and less frequent, always apply a hair inhibitor after each waxing session. Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/kalo.htm

Sugaring Hair Removal - How To Get The Best Results

2007-01-08T13:17:00.005-08:00

by: Mike Jones

To remove the hair by the root it must be at least 1/4 inch or 6 mm long. Longer hair should be trimmed to this length.

Hair must be clean and dry before starting hair removal sugaring.

Remove all creams and oils, towel dry and then apply talcum powder to ensure the skin is completely dry.

Apply the sugaring paste in the direction of the hair growth.

When pressing the cotton strip on top of the paste, leave a small section at the end free so it will be easy to hold when pulling back.

If using a spatula to apply the paste use the edge not the flat side. This will help ensure a very thin layer is applied.

Pull the strip back sharply against the direction of the hair growth. Do not lift the strip up or out away from the skin.

Hold the skin firmly with one hand while you pull the strip back sharply with the other hand.

Treat small areas at a time when hair removal sugaring on sensitive parts of the body.

When heating the paste, either by microwave or oven, be absolutely sure the paste is just warm to the touch not hot. Otherwise burns to the skin may result.

If using hot water to warm the paste container, be sure not to allow water into the paste. Sugar paste is water soluble and will be spoiled if the container is not sealed properly and water gets in.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: As sugaring paste pulls the hair out from the roots, hair inhibitors can have a maximum effect in disabling the hair follicle and slowing down and preventing future hair growth. Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/kalo.htm

Shaving: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions

2007-01-08T13:17:00.003-08:00

by: Mike Jones

What are the pros and cons of wet shaving?

PROS: Quick, inexpensive, an especially close shave, refreshing and reinvigorates the skin with use of shaving lotions.

CONS: Stubble reappears quickly, risk of cuts and nicks to the skin, risk of ingrown hair if the blade is not sharp.

What should I look for in choosing a razor?

Some razors such as Schick and Wilkinson-Sword, have comfort or lubricating strips near the cap above the blades.

Some contain aloe and are made from water soluble polymer or PVP which allows for a smooth glide over the skin reducing friction.

Twin blades allow for a very close shave and many come with flexible heads allowing the razor to follow the contours of the body.

Look for razors with safety guard wires over the blades to minimize the risk of cuts and nicks and skin irritation. Blades with a platinum chrome finish maintain their sharpness.

Which is the best direction - with the hair growth or against it?

Shaving in the same direction as the hair growth is the most comfortable.

Shaving against the hair growth certainly gives a much closer shave. Many use a combination of both.

Many dermatologists warn however that shaving against the hair growth can cause ingrown hair and irritation and it can make the skin sore and sensitive.

How many times can I use one blade?

This depends greatly on the individual and the thickness or coarseness of the hair. Some prefer to change a blade after using it once or twice, others after 3 or 4 times while many expect between 5 to 7 uses.

The key is to change it regularly and always use a sharp blade. If you feel it dragging on your skin it's time to change it!

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendations:

For the very latest in shaving accessories click here:
http://www.about-hair-removal.com/RD/shaving-supplies.html
http://www.1bodycare.com/kalo.htm

Razor Burn - Seven Tips On How To Prevent It

2007-01-08T13:17:00.001-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Razor burn is caused by hair that is pushed back into the follicle. It can become inflamed and then develop into an ingrown hair.

Use these seven suggestions to minimize the risk of razor burn:

#1 Use a clean, sharp razor each time

#2 Always shave in the direction of the hair growth

#3 Shave after your shower

#4 For some using a shaving oil or gel rather than a cream helps avoid clogging the pores (For others a cream works better -experimentation may be needed)

#5 Avoid passing the razor over the same area numerous times

#6. If razor burn appears, apply an aloe-vera based cortisone cream twice a day to soothe the skin and reduce redness.

#7. Use Ingrown Hair Treatment to treat or prevent ingrown hairs when shaving and eliminate razor burn.

Additional shaving tips:

Avoid shaving when first getting up after sleep as body fluids make the skin puffy making it more difficult to shave the hair. After 20 or 30 minutes the skin becomes more taut so the hair shaft is more exposed making it easier.

Don't stay in the bath too long before shaving. The skin will shrivel after eight minutes or so making it difficult to get a smooth, close shave.

The more repeat strokes over an area of skin the greater risk of irritation. To remove stray hairs which are not removed after one or two passes with the razor, use a pop-up trimmer.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. Mike’s recommendation: To prevent and eliminate ingrown hair use Ingrown Hair Treatment. Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/iht.htm

Pubic Hair Removal - Tips When Waxing

2007-01-08T13:16:00.005-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Avoid showering and making the hair wet prior to waxing. Hair absorbs the water making it soft and less likely to adhere well to the wax. Tough hair is easier to pull off.

Be sure to test a small area of skin first to make sure there is no acute sensitivity or allergic reaction to pubic hair removal using waxing.

Hair should be at least 1/8 inch long. If it isn't wait until it reaches this length.

Be sure to wash the skin thoroughly and dry it well beforehand to remove any lotions or oils which may prevent the wax from adhering closely to the skin.

Heat the wax carefully so as not to overheat and thus burn the skin when applying. Test on a small area first.

The consistency should be soft rather than runny.

If pain and discomfort is a main concern use a pain reducing gel or cream available from pharmacists. These solutions should be applied 30 to 60 minutes before waxing so the skin is numbed beforehand.

Apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of the hair growth and peel back with a rapid movement close to the skin.

Do not pull up or out, rather pull back.

Clean the skin with a warm moist towel afterwards to remove excess wax.

Avoid wearing tight clothing over freshly waxed areas to minimize the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs. 24-48 hours after pubic hair removal waxing, exfoliate the skin (with a Loofa sponge for example) to prevent the dead skin from accumulating and causing hair to become ingrown.

Best Positions

Option 1. Sit in a chair with your feet up above your waist and legs spread apart.

Option 2. Sit with one leg propped above your waist and the other leg resting on the floor.

Option 3. Lie on your back with legs wide apart and raised in the air so that all the waxable areas are spread taut.

Option 4. Lie on your side with the bottom leg straight out and the top leg bent at the knee and tucked behind the straight leg.

Option 5. Bend the knees and keep the legs wide apart so the genital areas are easy to work on. Put a mirror on the ground if necessary for better control.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: As waxing pulls hair out from the root, follow up with Kalo Hair Inhibitor Lotion. This solution penetrates the hair follicle and disables the mechanism of hair growth, thus making pubic waxing much easier over time.

Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/kalo.htm

Pubic Hair Removal - Tips When Shaving

2007-01-08T13:16:00.003-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Never use the old-fashioned switch-blade razor. It is quite unsuitable for pubic hair removal and can be dangerous.

Choose a female razor, obtainable from Wilkinson Sword or other well known razor manufacturers, rather than an ordinary safety razor. The design makes it much more difficult to cut yourself.

Opt for a more expensive good quality razor rather than a cheap throw away which is more likely to cause nicks, soreness and razor burns in this sensitive area.

If the pubic hair is thick and long use small scissors to trim down the hair to about a quarter of an inch. This will avoid blunting and clogging the razor too quickly.

Wet a large, washcloth and lay it over the entire pubic area for two or three minutes.

Alternatively, take a long hot bath or stay in the shower for a while making sure the pubic area receives a lot of water. Pubic hair is coarser than head hair and needs more time to soften when carrying out pubic hair removal.

Apply plenty of shaving foam or gel over the area and leave for a few minutes to soften further. Ordinary soap is not suitable as it does not lock in the moisture to the hair the way a shaving preparation cream or gel does.

Experiment with different brands if you find some cause skin irritation. They contain various chemicals and you need to find one that suits you.

Pull the skin straight with your free hand and shave without applying pressure.

Shave upwards against the direction of the hair growth.

Make sure there is shaving foam on the skin each time you make a stroke with the razor.

Shaving bare skin can cause razor burn and can be especially painful in pubic hair removal.

Rinse the razor every couple of strokes as it will clog easily.

Rinse off and see any areas that may have been missed and again apply gel to that area and shave.

Massage unscented Vitamin E oil into the pubic area after shaving.

To stop or reduce itching after shaving rub an ice cube over the area.

Alternatively, rub a little baby oil into the pubic area.

If you suffer from itchiness or blood spots, let the hair grow back for a week before shaving again.

Keep the shaven area well moisturized between shaves by using a skin moisturizer or baby lotion. This will reduce the uncomfortable effect the stubble may cause between shaves.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: Apply Kalo Hair Inhibitor after each shaving session to significantly reduce hair growth. The hair that grows back becomes finer and softer making hair removal easier.

Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/kalo.htm

Prevent Ingrown Hairs When Shaving Or Waxing

2007-01-08T13:16:00.001-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Prevent Ingrown Hairs When Shaving Or Waxing - When Shaving...

Shave after the hair has been wet for at least 5 minutes. Hair that is wet and full of moisture can be cut easily. Hair that is not well saturated can be very strong and tough. As the razor passes over, the hair is pulled up from the follicle. After it is cut it retracts below the skin surface with the resultant risk of it growing into surrounding tissue.

Shave in the direction of the hair growth. Cutting with the grain not against it will prevent hair being cut too short.

Prevent ingrown hairs by avoiding repeat strokes over the same area. Repeated strokes can also result in hair being cut too short.

Shave with the skin in a relaxed condition. Do not stretch the skin too taught. A little pressure may be necessary but excessive stretching can again result in hair being cut too short.

Use Tea Tree Oil twice a day in conjunction with a loofah bath or shower. Tea Tree Oil has a bacterial ability to kill infection and prevent pustules forming. (Avoid the eye area)

When Waxing

To pull out the hair cleanly without breaking it follow these recommendations: Apply a thin layer of wax in the direction of the hair growth, preferably holding the spatula or tongue depresser at a 45 degree angle as you spread the wax.

When applying the cotton strip over the wax, rub in the same direction as the hair growth leaving about 1/3 of the strip free to allow for a firm grip for a fast back pulling action.

Pull the skin taut before pulling the cotton strip away.

Pull back with a rapid movement close to the skin. Do not pull up or out, rather pull back.

One fast, smooth, pull back is much more effective than a series of light pulls which only increase the pain and leave patchy areas.

After 24-48 hours exfoliate the skin (with a Loofah sponge for example) to prevent the dead skin from accumulating in areas that can become ingrown such as the bikini line, upper thighs, underarms and calves.

Prevent ingrown hairs by not wearing tight clothing over freshly waxed areas to minimize the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: To prevent and eliminate ingrown hair use Ingrown Hair Treatment. Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/iht.htm

Plastic Surgery - Where's The "Plastic"?

2007-01-08T13:15:00.006-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Don't be looking for the Dupont Company sales rep the next time you visit a Plastic Surgeon's office because, despite popular belief, there's no "Plastic" in Plastic Surgery. The name is taken from the Greek word "plastikos" which means to "mold or shape."

Initially plastic surgery procedures were limited to facial and body reconstruction caused by accidents, trauma, illness or birth defects. As people began to see the purely cosmetic possibilities, many surgeons expanded their services to include facelifts, rhinoplasty (nose jobs), breast augmentation and liposuction.

It's important to know the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery, especially if you're planning on having your insurance company foot the bill for your procedure.

Cosmetic surgery is performed solely to improve a person's outward physical appearance and self-esteem by correcting naturally occuring conditions that the patient is unhappy with. Cosmetic surgery may be performed by either a Plastic Surgeon or a Cosmetic Surgeon. Cosmetic surgery is generally not covered by health insurance.

Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed to correct or reduce the effects of congenital defects, accidental trauma injury, infections, tumors, and other health-related conditions. It's primary purpose is rarely to simply improve appearance except for extreme cases involving major facial or bodily damage resulting from automobile accidents, etc. Plastic Surgery may only be performed by a Plastic Surgeon.

In most cases insurance does pay for plastic surgery although there are some cases where your claim may be reduced or denied completely. That's why it is always important to coordinate the planned procedure with your health insurance provider BEFORE you get the procedure.

Often times the difference between whether or not your insurance company will cover the bill is the REASON for the procedure. If, for example, you are having your nose reshaped because you're unhappy with your profile -- no deal. You're on your own. However, get that same nose job because your doctor has diagnosed a chronic breathing problem that results in the potentially dangerous condition known as "Sleep Apnea" and you could end up with a new nose courtesy of your health insurance provider!

If you are planning to visit a Plastic Surgeon, keep the following items in mind:

Your plastic surgeon should be "Board Certified" by the American Board of Plastic Surgery;

If your doctor will be using anesthesia then make sure that only a licensed Anesthesiologist administers the medicine and make sure that the facility where the procedure is being performed is accredited by at least one of the following organizations:

American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities(AAAASF)

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)

Although making sure that all of these certifications are present is no guarantee of a trouble-free experience, NOT having these certifications means that both the doctor performing plastic surgery, as well as the people who run the facility, have a serious lack of regard for your health and well being! You should NEVER use an uncertified plastic surgeon or facility. The risk is simply not worth it.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. Check out his Plastic Surgery Research Library here: http://www.bodyfaq.com/plastic-surgery-library

Nails & Cuticles - Eight Care Tips

2007-01-08T13:15:00.005-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Nail care is very important! Why?

When it comes to making a good impression, well kept fingernails rank highly. Poorly kept nails are almost immediately noticed and can greatly impact a person's image and the all important first assessment when meeting someone for the first time.

Use these eight care tips to ensure your nails serve as a good advertisement and help build a positive image:

1. Healthy looking nails should be smooth, curved, void of any spotting, and should not have any hollows or ridges.

2. Make sure your nails are completely dry before you file them.

3. Shape your nails with a fine emery board, do not use any type of metal file.

4. When filing, try to keep the shape of your nails oval not pointed, thus making the nails less susceptible to breakage.

5. The cuticle acts as a seal between the finger and the nail. Gently exfoliating the dry, rough, cuticle skin layers by actually sloughing off the dead outer layers exposes new and vibrant skin.

6. This new healthy skin protects the nails matrix which is the growth center of the nail and should be treated with care.

7. Don't over manicure your cuticles. Over-grooming the cuticle damages the cuticle and causes it to thicken and overgrow.

8. Never use metal or sharp instruments on your cuticles.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience Mike’s recommendation: The Milagro Nail Care System. Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/milagro.htm

Liposuction - What You Should Know

2007-01-08T13:15:00.003-08:00

by: Mike Jones

If you're thinking that liposuction is a great way to lose weight, forget about it. Liposuction isn't about weight loss at all. It's all about sculpturing and contouring the body to remove excess fat deposits that aren't willing to go away with diet and exercise no matter how hard you try. It's about looking good in that swimsuit AFTER you've lost all the weight that you're going to lose.

Women love liposuction, but men dabble in it too. Women tend to have it done on their abdomen, thighs, knees, hips, chin or neck while men usually treat their neck, chest, abdomen, and "love handles."

In all but a very few isolated instances liposuction is strictly cosmetic which means your insurance company won't be footing the bill for your new belly or butt. Your insurance company MAY get involved, however, if your treatment is prescribed for certain medical conditions including enlarged male breasts in men and certain fat deposits, such as "buffalo hump" which is caused by a hormone imbalance.

Liposuction is a procedure whereby fatty tissue is literally sucked from under the skin using a hollow wand which is attached to a suction device. Local anesthetics and other compounds including saline, and epinephrine are administered to control swelling and bleeding.

Once the patient is prepared the doctor inserts the wand, called a "cannula" through small incisions which are made in the skin. They push and pull the wand through the fatty cells causing them to break up and to be suctioned off along with other body fluids. That's about as complicated as liposuction gets from the actual procedural point of view.

There are several different types of liposuction procedures in use. Each procedure is based upon the amount of fluid which is (or isn't) injected during the procedure. "Dry Liposuction" uses no fluid and is rapidly falling from favor. Next is "wet" where the doctor injects six to eight ounces of ephinephrine, and "superwet" which uses the most fluid. Basically, the more fluid that is injected during the procedure, the less blood that is lost.

While the liposuction procedure is relatively safe when performed by a Cosmetic or Plastic Surgeon, it is not without its risks and side effects up to, and including, death in very rare instances (about 20 out of 100,000). Infections have been reported in some cases as well as "seroma" which is a pooling or oozing of body fluid.

Swelling, bruising and locally painful areas are almost a guaranteed side effect of liposuction and you can expect to lose a week or more from work during recovery. In almost all instances the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and you'll be home the same day.

An unexpected side effect of liposuction is that the fat can return and, often times, it returns to a different area from where it was removed. This is believed to be caused by drops in leptin levels. Leptin is a hormone that is made in fat. When the levels drop it signals the body to take in more food so that it can increase its fat levels to what it "thinks" is normal. This condition is most likely to occur in people who were overweight to begin with yet still sought liposuction as a hopeful "cure".

Any doctor can perform liposuction with as little as 30 minutes "training" on the equipment. However, since there is so much at stake, and the health risks are real, you should only consider treatment by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon who has additional specialized training in liposuction.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. Check out his Plastic Surgery Research Library here: http://www.bodyfaq.com/plastic-surgery-library

Understanding How Hair Grows

2007-01-08T13:15:00.001-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Understanding How Hair Grows - The hair system is known as the pilosebaceous system.

It consists of four main parts:

1. Follicle - the hair canal 2. Papilla - the organ that feeds hair growth 3. Sebaceous Gland - the associated oil gland 4. Hair - shaft or structure which has hardened (keratinized)

Follicle A hair follicle is an indention in the skin.

The inside of each follicle therefore is much like the skin's surface being an inward fold into the skin with a mechanism for producing a hair.

The lower portion of the follicle has an expanded shape and is called the follicle bulb where there is an area of actively dividing cells called the hair matrix.

This is the source of hair production. The follicle and the hair it produces continue through repeated cycles of growth and rest.

Papilla At the base of the follicle lies a tiny structure made of skin-related cells called the dermal papilla which feeds the newly formed hair cells from its blood supply.

These newly formed hair cells grow continuously and die continuously, forming a hardened or keratinized structure - the hair shaft.

The hair shaft continues to grow outward from the follicle base.

Sebaceous Gland The sebaceous glands or oil glands are located close beneath the surface of the skin over the entire body.

There are a large number concentrated in the facial area. The oily material secreted is called sebum.

Sebum lubricates the hair shaft and the skin.

Hair The papillary region is often referred to as the "hair root," the portion which grows below the surface of the skin which is contained within the follicle canal.

The hair shaft is the portion of the hair that grows above the skin surface.

Generally speaking, two types of hair are produced by the follicle:

vellus terminal

Vellus hair is like "peach fuzz" and it is normally found on a woman's cheek or a young child. It is soft, downy and colorless. The follicles producing vellus hair are shallow, and the hair shaft produced is relatively short. Vellus hair is normal in women and is not treated with permanent hair removal techniques such as electrolysis.

Terminal hair is deeply rooted, coarse, and colored. Terminal hair begins as the peach fuzz type but later develops color and some degree of coarseness at which point it becomes the terminal type.

Terminal hair grows from the scalp, eyebrows, underarms, pubic area, and other parts of the body.

It is terminal hair which many people regard as unwanted and therefore try to remove from certain body areas.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: Nisim International, leaders in hair science for over twenty years, have developed products to handle all hair problems, including removing unwanted body hair, speeding up head hair growth, stopping hair loss, and eliminating ingrown hair.

Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com

Ingrown Hair - Seven Causes & Eight Effects

2007-01-08T13:14:00.001-08:00

by: Mike Jones

CAUSES

1. Skin suffering from lack of moisture

2. Stiff beard hair

3. Embedded oil in the hair follicles

4. Build up of dead skin cells in the pores and on the surface of the skin can cause ingrown hairs - some are more prone to this than others due to genetics

5. Coarse curly hair growing in a curved hair follicle

6. Improper shaving technique with a blade such as too close a shave

7. Hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing, electrolysis, often irritate the hair follicle.

Dead cells can accumulate at the site of the irritation and form papule which can also contain pus while the skin heals.

While this process continues any hair in the area can get trapped under the formation and is prevented from exiting the skin properly. Ingrown hair is the result.

EFFECTS

1. Constant tenderness

2. Trapped, ingrown hairs cause inflammation which result in the body forming papule - a small, raised, abnormality on the skin commonly known as a bump giving rise to the term 'razor bumps'

3. The body can also respond by producing a pustule - a blister on the skin containing pus

4. An infected pustule can become ruptured resulting in bleeding

5. Itching

6. Tingling

7. Pain - mild or severe

8. Hard, prominent, irregular scar tissue in the skin in chronic cases

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: To prevent and eliminate ingrown hair use Ingrown Hair Treatment. Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/iht.htm

by: Mike Jones

2007-01-08T13:13:00.004-08:00

by: Mike Jones

One of the most time consuming and frustrating parts of bodybuilding is not building muscles, it's removing unwanted hair.

For any competing bodybuilder, hair removal is a must but it's also growing in popularity among casual bodybuilders.

Before looking at recommendations for specific body areas it should be stated that laser hair removal or electrolysis are regarded as the only permanent hair removal methods.

Although the most effective, they are also the most expensive! For full information on laser hair removal and electrolysis, visit this Laser Research Library: http://www.about-hair-removal.com/Laser-Library

Here is checklist of body areas and recommended hair removal methods for each:

Upper Lip, Chin, Mustache and Beard -

Men: Shaving.

Women: Waxing or sugaring.

Back of Neck -

Men: Shaving, clipping.

Women: Waxing or sugaring

Chest -

Waxing, shaving, depilatories.

CAUTION: Some find the shaving option unacceptable due to the irritation it causes when stubble reappears shortly afterwards. There can also be an acute problem with ingrown hairs in some cases. Once the shaving option is taken for chest hair removal it will need to be done regularly.

Nipples -

Tweezing. Stretch the skin slightly, grip the hair close to the root, and pull gently, firmly and evenly. Yanking the hair may cause it to break off thus increasing the risk of ingrown hair.

Shoulders, Back, Arms, Hands, Tummy -

Waxing, sugaring, depilatories. Waxing or Sugaring is the best method for all these areas. Taking a shower directly after waxing the back helps eliminate the possibility of acne breakouts and skin redness.

Underarms -

Shaving is safe in this area. Hair under the arm grows in all directions so a side to side stroke as well as up and down strokes may be necessary to catch all the hairs. Do not apply deodorants or antiperspirants right after shaving as this can cause acute irritation and soreness. Waxing or sugaring are also safe.

Do not use depilatories to avoid the risk of chemical burns on the sensitive skin in this area.

After the skin in this area has become accustomed to shaving, applying a thin layer of Vaseline petroleum jelly instead of a shaving foam or gel will give a really close shave.

Pubic Area and Bikini Line -If the hair is long it can be cut down with scissors. Then use a waxing or sugaring solution. Careful shaving is also possible.

Genitals - Male -

Hair growing on the shaft of the penis and on the testicles can be removed by shaving using a new wet razor. Great care is needed to avoid cuts.

Genitals - Female -

Waxing or sugaring is generally best. Shaving will only cause stubble to appear after a few days and it may cause skin irritation and painful bumps.

Anus and Perineum -

The Perineum is the area of skin rich in nerve endings located below the anus. In men it extends to the base of the testicles, in women to the vaginal opening. The anus is a mucous membrane. Depilatories should not be used as they can result in serious damage. Shaving produces stubble which may cause irritation as the sides chafe and rub together. Waxing or sugaring are the best methods.

Legs, Feet, Toes -

Shaving the legs is popular but the hair grows back after a short time. Waxing or sugaring are preferred although you have to wait until there is about a quarter of an inch of growth.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: Hair inhibitors can increase the effectiveness of all the methods mentioned above (with the exception of depilatories). By significantly reducing hair growth hair removal sessions become less frequent.

Click here for details: http://www.1bodycare.com/kalo.htm

Hair Loss In Women - The Role of DHT & Sebum

2007-01-08T13:13:00.003-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Hair Loss In Women - The Role of DHT & Sebum - According to some estimates, Hair loss in women affects one in four women in the U.S.A. alone.

It can be very distressing for a woman, not least because it is so misunderstood and often fails to elicit sympathy from those closest to her. Hair loss in women is usually not so severe as hair loss in men.

Although the numbers of men and women experience hair loss or thinning hair is roughly equal, the degree of thinning is usually less for women.

Male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness are terms used to describe the hair loss and both conditions are known as androgenetic alopecia.

This term means hair loss caused by sensitivity to male hormones which exist in both men and women. DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is one of the main enemies in the Hair loss in women war.

DHT is a combination of testosterone and androgen receptors mixed with sebum and dirt particles. DHT has a disastrous effect on the hair follicle so it begins to shut down and the hair eventually falls out. (Sebum is a fatty substance secreted from the sebaceous glands most of which open into hair follicles.)

Sebum buildup in the follicles attacks the hair bulb, the rounded area at the end of a hair strand which is rooted in the follicle. Sebum causes the hair bulb to shrink so the hair is not as well rooted.

After the hair falls out the new hair strand growing in that follicle is weaker and thinner and the process is repeated until the hair follicle is so damaged it dies.

Many products on the market therefore try and address this problem by effectively cleaning out the Sebum and dirt from the hair follicles.

Women often notice their own hair loss much sooner than it becomes visible to others. By the general feel, texture, and body of their hair, they realize it is getting thin.

Often, just behind the hairline, they notice a roundish shaped area that gets very thin. This rings alarm bells and those women then search out the best treatment.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: The NewHair Biofactors system stops hair loss within 1 week guaranteed! This hair care range from Nisim International, leaders in hair science for over 20 years, also assists in the growth of new hair. Click here for full details: http://www.1bodycare.com/newhair.htm

Hair Loss In Women - Six Causes

2007-01-08T13:13:00.001-08:00

by: Mike Jones

Six Causes of Hair Loss In Women are:

#1. Hair loss in women is often connected to pregnancy. Three to six months after delivering a child, many women notice a degree of hair loss as the hair goes into a resting phase because of the physiological impact of the pregnancy on the body.

#2. A woman's body can also be greatly affected by intensive diets and losing a lot of weight in a short period of time.

#3. Severe illnesses and infections can put great stress on the body thus triggering the hair into a resting phase which result hair shedding. Often the body recovers naturally within 3 to 9 months and the hair begins to regrow until it almost resembles its original condition.

#4. Hair loss in women can be aggravated further by improper use of chemical hair treatments such as dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, and permanent waves. Generally, healthy hair can undergo these treatments without showing signs of stress, if they are not done too often. However, if hair is breaking or if it becomes brittle it is best to stop these procedures until the hair has grown out.

#5. The constant pulling of hair with styles such as ponytails and braids can sometimes cause Hair loss in women. Avoid pulling the hair tight with these styles.

#6. Rough combing and brushing of the hair and vigorous rubbing with a towel after shampooing can cause it to break, adding further to the problem of Hair loss in women. Wide toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips are recommended to minimize hair breakage.

About The Author

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: The NewHair Biofactors system stops hair loss within 1 week guaranteed! This hair care range from Nisim International, leaders in hair science for over 20 years, also assists in the growth of new hair. Click here for full details: http://www.1bodycare.com/newhair.htm

Hair Loss Treatment: Do It The Natural Way!

2007-01-08T13:12:00.006-08:00

by: Jeanette Pollock

Hair loss treatment can be done inexpensively by doing it the natural way. You may not have the money to afford any surgery. Simply pay attention to your diet and make use of natural plants for hair loss treatment.

Your Diet Matters in Hair Loss Treatment

You may have forgotten that the hair is composed of protein therefore it is a must that you take in sufficient protein in order to maintain a healthy hair. To be able to sustain a healthy hair growth, nutrients are needed as they do take care of the hair and the scalp. The numerous nutrients which you need to take in are protein, B-complex, Vitamins A and C, omega-3 fatty acids, and cysteine, which is another amino acid. Any deficiency with these nutrients is likely to cause hair loss. Vegetarians should not forget that they should integrate foods rich in protein in their diets such as the beans, wheat, brown rice, corn, nuts, or seeds. The cysteine is another amino acid which makes up the protein. It can be found in foods rich in sulfur like the meat, fish, egg yolks, onion, nuts, garlic, kale, raspberries, and cabbage. This amino acid is also a renowned detoxifier.

The vitamin B, most especially the biotin, aids in maintaining the health of hair. Among the best sources of the vitamin are the egg yolks, milk, meat, brewer’s yeast, soybeans, saltwater fish, and whole grains. You should remember that taking in the uncooked egg whites deplete the biotin content in the body so therefore eating it must be avoided. The use of saccharin which is commonly found in most toothpastes and taking in of antibiotics also produce an adverse effect on your body’s biotin absorption.

Then, make sure you take in enough Vitamin A. The best sources are broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, fish liver oil, yellow squash, spinach, sweet potatoes, peaches, and cantaloupes. Vitamin C is another very important component that ensures a healthy hair. It can be found from the citrus fruits, green vegetables, and berries.

The Omega-3 fatty acids are needed for a good circulation that will feed the hair roots. It also supplies the body with enough motivation to get on with the production of the hormones. Its best sources are the tuna, salmon, and flaxseed.

Plants that Help out with the Hair Loss Treatment

Among nature’s components which help out in hair loss treatments are the aloe vera, jojoba, henna, capsicum, lemongrass, and Dong Quai. What are these? What good do they bring as hair loss treatments?

The aloe vera promotes the balancing of the scalp’s Ph and then heals from the inside. It also cleans the pores. The jojoba treats eczema, dandruff, seborrhea, and psoriasis. It works well as a moisturizer so hair loss can be minimized. The henna works as a natural conditioner, repairs, stops hair breakage, and restores the silkiness and shine of the hair. The capsicum treats hair loss by as much as 50% and heightens the flow of blood. The lemongrass stabilizes the oil in the scalp and gives out enough nourishment for the hair. The Dong Quai possesses phytoestrogens that minimizes the buildup of the DHT.

It never fails to secure the natural hair loss treatments via the use of herbal plants and maintaining a proper diet. Your hair is your crowning glory. Hence, learn to take care of it.

About The Author

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of InsideHairLoss.com. Visit Jeanette's website to learn more about http://www.insidehairloss.com!.

What Are The Natural Healthy Properties Of Flaxseed?

2007-01-08T13:12:00.005-08:00

by: Rachel Gillespe

Flaxseed oil, which was cited by Hippocrates as a medicine, is recently making a comeback in popularity as modern man has discovered the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids. Nutty flavored flaxseed oil is highly concentrated with this heart healthy unsaturated fat. Some of the benefits of Omega 3 acids include its positive effect on high blood pressure, the immune system, inflammatory disorders, and some cancers. Flaxseed oil has also proven beneficial in treating in treating eczema.

Both the seed and oil variety of flax are heart healthy due to the Omega 3 fatty acid. This type of fat is important to the development of cell membranes and the regulation of blood pressure. It also has a positive effect on lowering the body’s bad cholesterol levels and might even lower the chances of blood clotting thus preventing heart attacks.

Flax seeds themselves have even more health benefits than the oil. These seeds have a hard shell and are slightly bigger than sesame seeds. The seeds contain fiber, protein, minerals, B vitamins and lignins. Lignin, a phytonutrient, is believed to have anti cancer properties, especially, estrogen linked varieties such as breast cancer. Lignins are also noted for their antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal abilities.

Flaxseeds are high in fiber which can be taken regularly as a natural laxative and help prevent colon cancer and ease the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This type of fiber is also believed to be beneficial for those struggling to maintain their blood sugar levels.

Women may also benefit from adding flaxseeds and flaxseed oil to their diet as there are some studies that suggest it assists in promoting natural ovulation as well as having a positive effect on hormones which eases pre-menopausal symptoms.

After reading about some of the benefits the flaxseed offers one may be interested in ways to incorporate them into their diet. First, keep in mind that the seeds need to be ground to experience their health effects; otherwise they just quickly pass through and exit the body. Also, flaxseed oil, like all other oils high in essentially fatty acids is not meant for cooking with. The heating process has a negative effect. Simply add the oil to foods once prepared such as vegetables and pastas.

As mentioned, the flaxseeds can be ground much like flour and therefore can be baked into many foods, including breads, muffins, and pancakes. As the flaxseed has increased in popularity it can also be found in ready to eat cereals and bars. Or, one can simply grind the seeds and toss them on salads, vegetables, etc.

One caution is that some people may be allergic to flaxseeds.

About The Author

Rachel Gillespe is a staff writer at http://www.womens-digest.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.wellness-digest.com.

Excessive Flatulence ... The Unnecessary Social Embarrassment

2007-01-08T13:12:00.003-08:00

by: Sara Ding

When you find that you have excessive flatulence, it is time to sit up and start watching what is it that you are eating that is causing excessive flatulence.

Passing of wind/gas is a very natural thing, but excessive flatulence is quite another thing. A normal healthy person passes wind at an average of 14 times a day. About half of this gas is swallowed air. 40 percent is carbon dioxide produced by bacteria in the intestines which is odorless.

The remaining 10 percent wind are a mixture of numerous other gases including the by-products of microbesthese are responsible for the offensive odors.

While it is normal for one to pass wind, too much wind can cause abdominal discomfort and can be a social embarrassment. The best way to control flatulence is to watch what you eat.

After eating flatulence-causing foods, the gas will be expelled between five and seven hours. So, to check what you could have eaten that might have caused excessive flatulence, work back that number of hours.

Symptoms of Flatulence/Wind

Excessive intestinal gas may cause abdominal discomfort, bloating, distension, and belching. In infants, excessive gas (colic) is usually accompanied by abdominal pain. It is not uncommon for patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia) to be particularly stressed by these symptoms.

Causes of Flatulence/Wind

Milk and dairy products (except yoghurt) are the number one causes of flatulence. Lactose intolerance and allergic reactions to milk can increase gas output by about eight times.

Another notorious gas producer are beans that contain a compound called oligosaccharide. Eating beans like dried beans or baked beans, soya beans, peas, legumes, etc. will increase the amount of gas by more than ten times.

Carbohydrates from starchy foods like wheat, oats, potatoes and pasta are also gaseous, though not as much as the others mentioned above. A high-fiber diet may also produce gas, stomach cramps and other intestinal discomforts. Introduce fiber to your diet gradually, especially those that you don't usually take, over a period of days.

Other foods that cause gas: cruciferous vegetables (those in the cabbage family like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower), onions, turnips.

Diet Suggestions

For adults, refraining from milk and dairy products (except yoghurt), and wind-causing foods should be one of the first steps to take when flatulence begins to be a nuisance. Add a little anti-gas foods like ginger, garlic or spices, when you cook your pot of beans or gaseous vegetables.

If baby is colicky, the lactating mother should also avoid the gas-causing food as mentioned above. Breast-feeding mothers should get extra calcium from sardines, salmon, and dark leafy vegetables like kale, algae (spirulina and chlorella).

For faster relief of excessive gas, activated charcoal prescribed by your physician can help reduce the gas and the unpleasant odor caused by hydrogen sulfide created in the bowel.

How you eat or don't eat is another contributing factor to a gassy stomach. If you tend to skip meals, you may encounter a bloated feeling, because of the gas forming in your intestines. Eat small amounts even if you don't feel like eating.

Finally, avoid gassy and carbonated drinks. Do not use a straw when you drink as it would cause you to take in more air. Habits like chewing a gum will also cause excessive gas.

About The Author

Sara Ding is the author of http://www.juicing-for-health.com, a site that takes you by your hand, step-by-step, to a healthy fresh fruits and vegetables juicing for many common ailments.

Consume Super Foods for Super Health and Disease Prevention

2007-01-08T13:12:00.001-08:00

by: Frank Mangano

We all know that when it comes to nutrition, all foods are not made the same. Whole wheat flour is better than white flour, almonds are more nutritionally sound than peanuts, and grilling is a much healthier alternative form of cooking than frying.

When it comes to what we put in our bodies, we ought to be aiming for what the Man of Steel eats on a regular basis—super foods.

Super foods are not new to the marketplace. In fact, you may have lots of super foods in your pantry or refrigerator at this moment. What is new, however, is the realization of just how “super” these foods really are for our health and well-being through independent studies by health experts.

Super foods by definition are foods that are nutritionally dense, high in fiber and are believed to fight disease and increase longevity. And not surprisingly, most super foods are the ones you’ll find in nature that don’t require any kind of processing or refining. Take berries, for example. Every berry is considered “super” but a study done on blueberries and strawberries properties elicited some exciting results for berry lovers.

The study, published in the journal of Neurobiology and Aging, used 60 different rats and divided the rats into three groups. One group was fed strawberry extract, and the other was fed blueberry extract. The third was the control group and was not fed any berry extract. The rats were then released to run through a water maze, but not before they were exposed to a radioactive iron source which was meant to simulate age-related cognitive decline. After the run through was completed, results revealed that the control group showed significant impairment in learning ability, while the groups of rats that ate berry extract showed a resistance to cognitive decline.

While scientists who performed the study say more testing needs to be done, this study suggests that consuming berries protects the brain from radiation damage and decline in learning ability.

It’s believed that the chemical responsible for blueberries’ superpower is anthocyanin—what gives blueberries their color and may also play a role in their antioxidant activity. Blueberries, according to the USDA Human Research Center, are ranked #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fruits and vegetables (Antioxidants help rid the body of cancer-causing free radicals).

Berries aren’t the only super foods with super properties. Just as Superman’s powers aren’t relegated solely to super speed or super strength, each super food brings with it its own special power:

Avocados—Avocados do have a considerable amount of fat in them, but the right kind of fat. Like olive oil, avocados have healthy amounts of monounsaturated fat which help lower “bad” cholesterol levels (LDL) while raising the “good” ones (HDL). Avocados are also great to combine with other foods as its properties help the body absorb nutrients from other nutrient-dense foods (like lycopene found in tomatoes, for example).

Beans— The old school days song of beans being good for your heart is true, thanks to the high amounts of betaine found in them. In addition, beans also have high amounts of lutein, which won’t bring x-ray vision, but will help in protecting your eyes from sunlight.

Dark Chocolate—Believe it or not, chocolate, the dark variety, can help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow. The special power dark chocolate has lies in its flavonoids, a type of anti-oxidant. Even though flavonoids are found in apples, tea, onions and peanuts, research indicates that dark chocolate has the highest level of flavonoids. That doesn’t mean you should go out and eat it to your heart’s delight, but you no longer need to attach “guilty” with the “pleasure” you’ll get out of eating moderate portions of dark chocolate each week.

Oats—Eating raw oats isn’t exactly an appetizing meal, but they’re quite appetizing in oatmeal. Oats are a great source of vitamins and minerals, have a low glycemic index level, are high in fiber, low in sugar and have been proven to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

This is just a partial list of the super foods that can bring you a life of abundant health. Remember: Eating exorbitant amounts of almonds or blueberries does not equal more health. As with all things, moderation is key.

Copyright 2006 Frank Mangano

About The Author

Frank Mangano is a natural health expert and best selling author who teaches you how to dramatically improve your health naturally, without expensive and potentially dangerous prescription drugs. To learn more, visit one of the most comprehensive and reliable sources of natural health information on the web: http://www.naturalhealthontheweb.com.

The Best Alternative Arthritis Pain Reliever For You

2007-01-08T13:11:00.003-08:00

by: Dean Iggo

If you are fed up with your current arthritis medications, you may be looking for an alternative arthritis pain reliever. Because you need something that will ease your suffering and provide you relief from your incessant symptoms, you may need something that will speed the healing from this horrible health condition. That is something the current drug industry just cannot offer you, no matter how hard they try. The best bet at this point is to find an alternative arthritis pain reliever.

Many different quacks out there claim that they can give you a cure to help you deal with your rheumatoid arthritis or your osteoarthritis. The unfortunate truth, though, is that they just want to sell you a product so they can line their pockets with more money. You need a product that really works. You need something that has gone through drug trials and had research studies completed about it. You need something that will make a difference when you get out of bed each morning. You need honey bee venom treatments.

What Are Honey Bee Venom Treatments?

In countries that respect alternative medications, including alternative arthritis pain relievers, honey bee venom therapy has been used for years to treat lots of different conditions, including many forms of arthritis. At one time, it involved the process of placing an actual bee near the inflamed joint and having it sting the patient. Luckily now, though, the patient can just be injected with purified bee venom in the problem area. This alternative arthritis pain reliever contains phospholipase A and melittin which seems to stop the inflammation of most joints. The clinical trials for this alternative arthritis pain reliever show that it helps most suffers. Talk to your doctor before you begin this treatment, as it could be deadly if you are allergic to bee stings. For more alternative arthritis pain reliever products, visit some of the other articles on our website.

About The Author

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of http://www.treating-arthritis.com a website providing the best arthritis treatments as well as unbiased reviews of popular arthritis remedies and gout treatment products.

What Exactly is the Mediterranean Diet?

2007-01-08T13:11:00.001-08:00

by: Ray Darken

By its name alone, the Mediterranean diet attracts a lot of current and would be dieters due to its exotic name. But what is it exactly? One concern of the Mediterranean diet is that it allows 40% fat consumption compared to the 30% of the American Heart Association. Let's go into more detail as it seems a waste to just let it go without giving it a fair reading.

The Mediterranean diet evolved from the respective diets of countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin. Among the countries surrounding the basin are the south of France, southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus. Originally introduced by American doctor Ancel Keys, the diet failed to gain popular recognition until the 1990's. Based on scientific data, people around the Mediterranean basin had lower rates of cardiovascular disease compared to Americans who, for all intents and purposes, consumed the same relative amount of fat. One possible explanation is the presence of olive oil and red wine. Olive oil lowers cholesterol levels in the blood while red wine contains flavonoids. Flavonoids are anti-oxidants that also help the body when dealing with allergenic material, viruses and cancer causing agents.

Another contributing factor to a European's better health could be the fact that they tend to walk more than Americans do. Questions have also been raised as to whether the Mediterranean diet contributes enough iron and calcium to the diet. Green vegetables and goat cheese have been found to contribute these nutrients respectively.

The thing about the Mediterranean diet is that its foods are often rich and tasty thanks to olive oil. Normally, margarine and hydrogenated oils lack the flavor that olive oil gives out. Another part of the diet is regular but moderate consumption of red wine. Saturated fat consumption is low as opposed to high amounts of monounsaturated fat and dietary fiber. This is due to the fact that the diet includes big servings of fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, olive oil and fish.

In comparing the food pyramid of the United States against the Mediterranean diet, people of the Mediterranean consumed fruits, vegetables and grain just as Americans do. The main difference lies in the fact that Americans consume more red meat. Consumption of cold water fish is also prominent in the Mediterranean diet. This results in reduced risks of heart disease, cancer and improved immune system functions. Compared to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) pyramid, the Mediterranean diet contains little saturated and trans fat that raise cholesterol in the blood. The USDA's pyramid does not differentiate from healthy and unhealthy fats.

Characteristically speaking, the Mediterranean diet has high consumption of olive oil. Breads, cereals, fruits and vegetables likewise have a high rate of consumption in the diet. Fish and poultry as well as wine are moderately consumed while eggs and red meat are rated as very low in consumption.

The problem with most diets is that they tend to be extreme. Some diets, like the vegetarian diet, limit a person to just eating fruits, tofu, yogurt and vegetables. Other diets would require high protein intake while severely limiting intake of the other food groups. Like a user friendly computer, the Mediterranean diet does not go to extremes to achieve a desired result. The diet allows for consumption of tasty foods. This allows the dieter to actually enjoy the gastronomic delights normally prohibited by other diets. A solid testament to this fact rests on the presence of wine in the diet.

The most surprising aspect of the Mediterranean diet is that fat is regarded as a healthy dietary component. Keep in mind that it is the fat that gives food most of its flavor. Two substances, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats, are considered to be healthy and are not restricted in the diet. Olive oil, canola oil and nuts are good sources of monounsaturated fat while fish, vegetables and nuts contain the healthy omega-3 acids. Saturated fats and trans fat, on the other hand are considered to be unhealthy as they contribute to heart disease. Red meat, butter cheese and milk are sources of saturated fat while processed foods contain hydrogenated oils from which trans fat comes from.

From what has been written so far, and from all the sources and references where this article was taken from, the Mediterranean diet comes highly recommended by health professionals. The Mediterranean diet maintains a healthy but tasty, smorgasbord of delicious foods with which you can maintain a healthy diet without the need to sacrifice flavor and variety. While we appreciate the people who struggle and strive to come up with healthy diets, good food carries more weight in our stomachs.

About The Author

Ray Darken often writes for and works closely with The Mediterranean Diet. If you'd like more news and broader access to diet and nutrition information try Diet Reviews & Tips. If this link isn't working, you can paste this one into your browser http://diet-reviews-and-tips.com/

Choosing the Proper Acne Alternative Treatments

2007-01-05T13:31:00.001-08:00

by: Dean Iggo
Choosing the right regimen of acne alternative treatments can mean a lifetime of clear skin without the difficulty of obtaining yet another medicine from your doctor that either won't work or will cause such severe side effects that you will believe the acne is better than the treatment. Millions of people suffer from acne on a worldwide basis. There are a number of homemade and herbal remedies that we in the western world don't even consider because they are not a prescription medication. However, acne alternative treatments are the only thing that will cure your acne problems without side effects. Acne Alternative Treatment 1 Choosing a diet that is reliant upon unprocessed fruits and vegetables can help to cure your acne. You will need no less than five servings of some type of vegetable and one serving of some variety of fruit every day for the diet treatment to work. If you eat a lot of trans fats, you will have to cut them out of your diet. Increase your intake of foods that contain omega-3 oils. Be sure to take in at least eight glasses of water each day with your new diet. Acne Alternative Treatment 2 Increase your intake of vitamin and nutritional supplements. Taking five thousand international units per day of Vitamin A has been shown in a variety of studies to decrease acne in many people. Zinc can help prevent acne before it starts if taken in mild doses. Vitamin B6 can reduce skin sensitivity and help stop acne breakouts as well. Acne Alternative Treatment 3 Using herbs like sarsaparilla, yellow dock, burdock, and cleavers has been shown to dramatically reduce acne outbreaks. If a blemish erupts while using these herbs, dab it with tea tree oil for overnight results. These are best taken in their natural form for full effectiveness. The best way to do this is through tea.
About The Author
Dean Iggo is the webmaster of http://www.quick-acne-treatments.com a website providing the best acne treatments as well as unbiased reviews of popular acne remedies and scar removal products.

Zone Diet Meals "How To Choose A Plan That's Right For You"

2007-01-05T13:30:00.005-08:00

by: Karen Gates
If you like pumpkin pie than you’ll like zone diet meals. In fact, if you like a lot of things you’ll like a zone diet. That is because you can eat almost anything you want, as long as it’s in the right proportions. Unlike weight loss diets that focus on cutting one thing like calories or carbohydrates, zone diet meals use a strict proportional guide of 40/30/30. This means 40 percent of the calories you take in should be from carbohydrates, 30 percent from proteins, and 30 percent from low fat foods. You can probably already see how confusing and time consuming it would be to carry on this kind of diet. And it is if you’re just doing it on your own. But as the scientific community began realizing how effective zone dieting can be many companies caught on and have produced some great products that make it much easier for you to diet zone style. Depending on how much time you have or how much money you’re willing to spend (you usually have to choose one or the other) there are programs that go from giving you a cookbook or diet meal plans and let you run with it to delivering fresh, gourmet meals to your door at 5 am every morning. Do It Yourself and We’ll Help Most of these companies work similarly to the Weight Watcher’s plan. You eat what you want from a zone diet cookbook and instead of counting points, you’ll be counting food blocks of protein and carbs. The founder of the zone diet system, Dr. Sears, currently sells this type of system. If you join his program you’ll receive all the resources you need like a shopping list generator, personalized meal planner and even a nutritionist that will answer your questions via the internet. This works for dieters who enjoy cooking and only want to worry about one meal for their whole family. The cost is usually much lower (for example $4 a week for Dr. Sear’s service compared to $25 a day for a lower end delivery program). But it will take a considerable amount of time to research, cook and keep track of everything you need to to make a zone diet meals. Snacking Zone Style You can purchase snack bars and shakes that follow the zone diet rules. If you decide to go this route remember that you need to use the right recipes when you aren’t using the supplements to be able to lose weight. Since you can only replace one or two meals a day with snack bars or shakes, a good company will show you how to do this and even provide free recipes. If not, you can find recipes online through search engines. Diet Food Delivered If you don’t have a lot of time, don’t like to cook, get groceries and don’t want to research all the nitty gritties of a zone diet (and believe me there are plenty) there are many companies that provide your zone diet food delivered. It is easy to spend a lot of money on these plans so you’ll want to look at several to see where you’ll get the most value. The Formula Zone has family plans so you don’t have to think about something different to make for dinner. And some plans allow you to customize the meals for your tastes. The DineWise Diet program offers plan flexibility so you can even decide how many calories you want to take in every day. When you are looking for a good home delivery program, make sure you check to see if their website offers advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle beyond the foods you eat, if there are extra delivery charges, and what kind of flexibility they have when you need to skip some meals to go out of town. Customer service is also key because the company you choose will have a large part in your life. If you’re struggling with diseases like Diabetes that effect what you need to eat or like to stick to a vegan, vegetarian or kosher diet, than you might consider zone dieting as an option. Many companies make meal plans specialized for these circumstances so you don’t have to compromise to go on a diet.
About The Author
Karen Gates offers free information on hundreds of different weight loss methods. She also provides honest and unbiased dieting and weight loss product reviews. Go to Best Weight Loss Program also found at http://www.BestWeightPrograms.com.

Weight Loss Food Triggers

2007-01-05T13:30:00.003-08:00

by: Dr. Leslie Parchment
The concept of “Food Triggers” in health science is not new. Simply put, a food trigger can be any food that causes or “triggers” a reaction or change in the body. Food triggers work by the interaction of the body with the macro nutrients (Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats) in the foods. Because of their genetics and biochemistry each individual reacts to food macro nutrients differently. Many people are familiar with and affected by food triggers like milk, peanuts, cheese, and wine that cause allergic reactions and migraine headaches; but fewer people are familiar with food triggers that can generate weight loss. Simply stated, a Weight Loss Food Trigger is any food or combination of foods that help generate weight loss in an individual. When we speak of a food helping generate weight loss, we are really speaking of how your body utilizes the proportions of the macro nutrients in the foods you eat. Although the biochemistry involved in the metabolization (break down) of these macro nutrients is similar between individuals, how they are utilized in the body can be very different between individuals. Despite fad diets and media hype; ALL of the macro nutrients are essential to life and NONE are more important than the others. Any healthy diet will include ALL the macro nutrients although not necessarily in equal proportions. Common to all the macro nutrients is carbon and all the macro nutrients are all ultimately metabolized through a set of chemical reactions called the Krebs Cycle to generate heat and energy. Scientists measure the relationship between how macro nutrients are metabolized in the body through a process known as Calorimetry. Calorimetry is commonly done at hospitals, research facilities and elite fitness facilities reserved for professional and Olympic athletes. It involves the athlete riding a sophisticated cycle or treadmill while attached to mouth breathing and electronic body monitors. It measures oxygen inhaled versus the products of metabolized macro nutrients exhaled with the mouth monitor. Nutrition research results reveals that changes in the proportions of macro nutrients ingested can effect changes in weight. Thus, weight loss is not only dependent on how much you eat but also the proportion of macro nutrients you eat. Further, the specific proportion of macro nutrients necessary to generate weight loss (Weight Loss Food Trigger) is different for each individual. Until now, the only way to calculate a weight loss food trigger would be by an expensive and week long stay at a hospital, research facility or elite fitness facility. Now, commercially available software allows anyone to calculate their own weight loss food triggers in the privacy of their own home. Macro nutrient information that would be derived from Calorimetry can be approximated indirectly by using Body Index calculations. Body Index calculations include things like: Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR); Body Mass Index (BMI); Lean Body Mass (LBM); and Body Fat Percentage (BF). This software automatically, monitors and looks for a relationship between your Body Indexes, Food Intake, and weight to find your weight loss food trigger.
About The Author
Dr. Parchment began her medical career with clinical medicine specializing inInternal Medicine for almost fifteen years. http://www.mycaloriescount.com/parchment.html.

Xango Mangosteen Health Beverage

2007-01-05T13:30:00.001-08:00

by: Lukas L Rethke
Xango Mangosteen Juice The Mangosteen is a fruit that grows in tropical regions all over the world but is indigenous to southeast Asia. Known as the Queen of Fruits, it has been used in herbal medicine for many centuries by different cultures around the globe. The rind or pericarp contains xanthones that are proven to be 100 times more powerful as an antioxidant than Vitamin A, C & E. There are over 40 different xanthones in the Mangosteen fruit. Each xanthones has a different health benefit. Xango can be used to treat inflammation, arthritis, IBS, sleep disorder, mild depression, diabetes, infection, cancer just to name a few. Xanthones have over forty research papers written about them, and plenty of medical doctors use Xango as a supplement in their practice. Please see the website to hear what the doctors are saying and do your own research at www.pubmed.com. Xango is the only company that incorporates the entire fruit into their Mangosteen juice dietary supplement. The trick is to make it taste good while maintaining the medicinal benefits of the pericarp. While the pericarp is the part that contains most of the xanthones, it is also very bitter. The other Mangosteen drinks use only an extract or just the inner fruit. The word Xango is a combination made up of two words. The first part Xan comes from xanthones, and the go comes from Mangosteen. If you would like to learn more, try a bottle or sign up as a distributor for only $35 and get the product at wholesale price go to the website http://www.xmangosteendistributor.com Drink to better health and to more wealth.
About The Author
Lukas L Rethke I am a hard working, self employed Bobcat skid loader operator (mini tractor for moving dirt) in the construction industry who grew up on a farm in the very north eastern corner of South Dakota. When I spent the summer of ‘95 in Northern Colorado, I was hooked, and have been here ever since. I have a whapping 5 weeks of post high school education, and have no regrets about it. In my spare time I like to spend time with friends and family, go snowmobiling, do some reading or surf the web

Weight Loss: Little Changes Can Bring Big Results

2007-01-05T13:29:00.003-08:00

by: Cathy Barela
If you are struggling with weight loss, you probably are feeling overwhelmed by how to get back to your desired weight. By taking little steps towards your goal, you may achieve results much faster than you think. Most people give up and continue their sedentary lifestyles and eating the wrong types of foods because they feel it is impossible to get back in shape. Just as we have to learn how to walk before we can run, the same is true with weight loss. By staring with little or baby steps and you might surprise yourself at what a difference it can make in losing weight. In order to lose weight, the body needs to speed up its metabolism. There are easy ways to do that without strenuous exercise. One thing that speeds up the metabolism is by getting oxygen to the brain and getting your circulation flowing. A simple way to start an exercise program that doesn’t take too much effort or time at all is by stretching. Take five or ten minutes in the morning and do simple stretches. Breath out all of the air you have inside you and hold your breath for 3-5 seconds, if you can. While you are doing this, stretch one arm. Then let the air out. Do the same with your other arm, your back, and legs and any other area of your body you feel like. It is an incredible feeling. You will feel great You will be stretching muscles that you didn’t even know you have This gets oxygen to the brain very quickly and you will feel the circulation in your entire body. It is important, of course, to drink lots of water if you are planning on losing weight. If you’re not used to drinking water, start with 4 glasses a day. You may be surprised how quickly you get used to the taste and want even more. It is recommended that we drink 64 oz. a day but it might take some time to work up to that. By keeping a big jug in the fridge it may remind you to drink it. If you start small you can work yourself up to more as you see fit. Eating the right kinds of foods is vital to weight loss. By eating the right kinds of foods at certain intervals during the day, your food will become fuel that burns, instead of becoming stored up fat. When you alternate certain foods during the day, you may see a remarkable improvement of weight loss. It is so easy and the results are truly amazing. You will never be starving yourself as you watch the pounds melt off your body. These are very simple, little weight loss tricks that can bring incredible results. The important thing is to do something each day, no matter how insignificant it may seem. By following these steps, you will have so much more energy and notice a tremendous change in your overall health and well being!
About The Author
Cathy lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves the mountains, music, sports, outdoors, writing and helping people accomplish their goals. For THE way to get back to your desired weight click here: http://smarthealth4u.blogspot.com

Try Acuvue 2 Contact Lenses for Exceptional Comfort

2007-01-05T13:29:00.002-08:00

by: Larry Scott
If you're looking for a contact lens that is known as one of the best selling contacts on the market, look to Acuvue 2. This is one of the newest and most innovative lenses produced by Johnson & Johnson, a leading manufacturer of corrective lenses. The versatility of this brand of contacts makes it a perfect choice for new users who may not yet have developed a preference for daily wear or extended wear contacts. In the past, contact wearers had to choose between extended wear lenses that could be worn 24-hours a day or daily wear lenses. With Acuvue 2, you can have both. If you wear the Acuvue 2 contact lenses during the day only, taking them out each night, a single pair will last you two weeks. However, if you prefer to put them in and forget about them for an extended period of time, you can even sleep in them and only need to replace them with a new pair once a week. As an added incentive, Johnson & Johnson designed the Acuvue 2 contact lenses with ultraviolet (UV) blocking technology. Keep in mind that prolonged exposure to the UV rays transmitted by the sun or tanning beds can harm your eyes and has even been linked to the development of cataracts. On average, Acuvue 2 blocks out 82% of UV-A radiation and 97% of UV-B radiation. This protection only applies to your cornea, so it is advised that you still wear sunglasses to protect your entire eye. For individuals who like the option of changing their eye color while correcting their vision or who have no need for corrective lenses, Acuvue 2 also comes in a colored version called Acuvue 2 Colours. This lens comes in ten dazzling colors: * Sapphire Blue * Deep Blue * Ocean Blue * Aquamarine * Jade Green * Hazel Green * Emerald Green * Pearl Gray * Warm Honey * Chestnut Brown If you're concerned whether Accuvue 2 is right for you, consult with your optometrist who can examine your eyes and advise you on the right lenses for your specific vision needs.
About The Author
Larry Scott is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Contact-Lenses-Here.com. He provides more tips about contact lenses and free colored contact lenses information at http://www.contact-lenses-here.com where you can research at any time, day or night, on his website.

Weight Loss: Little Changes Can Bring Big Results

2007-01-05T13:29:00.001-08:00

Depression Screening – A Cruel Fraud; Exposing “National Depression Screening Day

2007-01-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

by: Mary Collins
Why is Depression Screening a fraud? Too many people have been screened and labeled with a false diagnosis (1). Far too many have died from the use of psychiatric drugs which were prescribed after they agreed to be screened. Antidepressant drugs carry FDA-mandated warnings stating that taking them could cause increased suicidal thinking and behavior (2). Many psychiatric drugs are known to cause violence, hallucinations, addiction, heart attacks and sudden death. (3) And yet, thousands of people do not know these facts. They have been deceived so well, convinced by a billion-dollar marketing campaign that feelings equal disease and that psychiatric treatment helps. This October 5th is National Depression Screening Day, an event concocted by psychiatric interests and drug companies to find more customers for their drugs. Richard Hughes and Robert Brewin, authors of The Tranquilizing of America, warned that although psychotropic drugs may appear to 'take the edge off' anxiety, pain, and stress, they also take the edge off life itself...these pills not only numb the pain but numb the whole mind. In fact close study reveals that none of them can cure anything and all have side effects, some horrific. Yet due to their addictive and psychotropic properties, many believe that they cannot deal with life without them. When people are screened for depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or any other psychiatric disorder, they are being given a false diagnosis. These “disorders”, more than 350 of them, are cataloged in a book crafted and published by the American Psychiatric Association, the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. This psychiatric “billing bible” has been widely discredited by the field of Medicine. These “disorders” are not discovered or researched from proven facts, tests, or any scientific data; they are simply voted on by psychiatrists and then used to label those who answered questions a certain way on fraudulent screening tests. On May 11, 2006, Dr. Julian Whitaker, MD was interviewed by Pam Killeen from the Crusader (4). Dr. Whitaker stated, “Psychiatry is not science; it’s observations of human behavior, without any scientific backup. For example, diagnosing someone with a ‘chemical imbalance’ is a fabricated diagnosis. They have no evidence whatsoever of any chemical imbalance. They can’t measure it; they can’t find it. So, there’s no chemical imbalance that’s measurable.” Dr. Whitaker also said, referring to the list of “mental disorders”, “...psychiatric evaluations aren’t based on science – period! They’re just made up, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is growing with more and more fabricated ‘mental illnesses’. Pretty soon, we’re not going to find a normal person anywhere in the country…unless they’re drugged.” The dictionary defines depression as “sadness; gloom; dejection”. It is an emotion, a feeling, not a disease. Psychiatry has preyed upon people’s emotions, turning these feelings into a fabricated illness to get more people into profitable psychiatric treatment. Depression is really only a symptom of a physical disease or some other condition, such as loss of a loved one, brain tumor, vitamin deficiency (5). People who submit to screening on Oct. 5th are taking a great risk because they are not being tested by medical doctors for any possible physical condition or genuine disease that could contribute to certain behavior. Depression is listed as one of the symptoms of several physical diseases or conditions. Someone who is screened and told (fraudulently) that their symptoms are caused by a depression “disorder” are not then likely to seek out true medical care. This could prove very dangerous since an undiscovered physical disease left unhandled could be fatal. Screening = a clever, fraudulent scheme for marketing drugs People who are opposed to mental health screening are outraged because the survey used in screening has been written by psychiatrists with financial ties to drug companies, thus creating a booming psychiatry-pharmaceutical industry. Signs of Suicide, a similar program to TeenScreen has been developed and promoted by a corporation called Screening for Mental Health (SMH), Inc. On this site http://www.signsofsuicide.org/ is evidence that pharmaceutical companies have given MILLIONS in grants to the SMH in order to forward the program testing of adults and children for suicide risks, depression, eating disorders, alcoholism in schools, colleges, and the workplace, and the military. Pharmaceutical companies want to support screening programs because they stand to make Billions on the sale of drugs to the people who will be screened. Eli Lilly alone poured in $2,157,925.00 (amongst others) into Screening for Mental Health Inc. from 2001 to 2004. Good News for Depression The good news about help for depression has been hidden. Without support of the billion-dollar psycho-pharmaceutical industry, the facts on depression are not written on the front pages of the news, or on TV. People should be informed of the very successful and scientific methods that are being used now to help people with these problems. In Dr. Whitaker’s aforementioned interview with Pam Killeen, she asked this very direct question: “If a patient suffering with a mental illness comes to see you, what type of improvements could they experience?” Dr. Whitaker: “In my practice, we see a lot of people who see their energy levels increase, or their happiness ratio increase, when they get healthier. Just increasing and improving health will do wonders for the majority of people who have been labeled as being mentally ill. This goes for people who are experiencing fatigue, who may be depressed. Very often, we find that they have hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, or lack exercise. We help them solve these areas of depletion in their lives. We help them increase the quality of their lives and they feel better. We see it all the time. I have had nearly 40,000 people come through my clinic, and I have never started anyone on an antidepressant medication.” There is growing opposition to mental health screening and all the groups involved with this fraud. One of these speaking out against the crimes committed from this method is Ms. Theresa Rhoades. She created an online petition after her daughter was screened and then falsely diagnosed with “mental disorders” without her knowledge. It is addressed to School Board Members and State and Federal Legislators. You can read and sign it at http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html. References: (1) Edmund Drummond, M.D., “The complete guide to psychiatric drugs, (John Wiley and Sons, Inc. NY, 2000) pp15-16 as quoted in “Does mental illness really exist” by Lawrence Stevens (2) Dear Healthcare Professional: Important Prescribing Information [for Paxil]. By John E. Kraus, M.D., GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 2006 - available at www.fda.gov. (3) Prescription Drugs — The Reason behind the Madness By Dr. Julian Whitaker, M.D. Health and Healing: Tomorrow's Medicine Today November, 1999 (4) CRUSADOR ENTERPRISES, www.HealthLiesExposed.com. (5) The website for the American Psychiatric Association states the following “Also, a medical condition (e.g., a brain tumor or vitamin deficiency) can cause depression, so it is important to be evaluated... to rule out general medical causes”.
About The Author
Mary Collins is a 72-year-old grandmother living in New Hampshire. She attained a BA in English Literature with a minor in History in 1954 from Millsap's College in Jackson, Mississippi and was involved in education for over 20 years. You can contact her here: marycollins_16_2@rushpost.com

Understanding Acne Vulgaris

2007-01-04T11:31:00.004-08:00

by: Jason Rickard
There are several types of acne and all of them are not a sight to behold for some. Acne can be a real nuisance, especially if covers your face. Aside from what you know as pimples it would also be a good idea acquaint yourself with acne lesions so that you can take proper action once you they start to appear. Acne vulgaris is a certain type of pimple much like whiteheads, blackheads, papules, nodules, pustules and cysts. Whiteheads are white bumps that start to appear on your face whenever oil, dead skin cells and bacteria are trapped in your pores. These are the ones that you would be tempted to pop. Popping a whitehead is sometimes unnecessary since they disappear quickly and have short life spans. They are also referred to as “closed comedones”. If you see reddish and inflamed bumps, they are papules, another kind of acne vulagris. This acne has no head so you cannot just pop them out. Squeezing papules is not an option. Doing so can cause scarring and can lead to infection. Acne that is similar to the characteristics of a whitehead is a pustule. You would notice a circular and reddish flesh that surrounds the head. The head would usually have a yellowish or whitish center. Pustules can be squeezed out, just be sure to have professionals do that for you. A more severe case of acne vulgaris is the appearance of cysts and nodules. Nodules one acne types that is thought of as the most difficult to treat. It can take up to one to three months before it could completely disappear. These are large bumps that can lead to scarring. This kind of lesion should not be popped out at any cost because they can cause serious skin damage. If it gets infected it would take longer for it to heal. The gruesome version of a nodule is a cyst. Aside from the reddish flesh that surrounds its head, it also contains pus. Cysts are large acne that have a diameter of around 5mm. These are the painful type of acne and can cause serious infection when squeezed out by a non-professional. At the first appearance of cysts or nodules, it would be best to consult your dermatologist so that swelling and scarring can be prevented.
About The Author
Jason Rickard is the owner of http://www.yourfavouriteshop.com - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit http://www.hapahapa.com for more articles.

What Every Man Needs To Know About Prostatitis - Inflammation Of The Prostate

2007-01-04T11:31:00.003-08:00

by: James Witman
Prostatitis simply means an inflammation of the prostate gland. The symptoms are uncomfortable at best; more often they are extremely painful and can also be dangerous. Symptoms may include pain and swelling in the area of the prostate, fever, chills, pain in the lower back, burning or painful urination, a need to urinate frequently and get up in the night, dribbling, fatigue and body aches, and pain with ejaculation. Prostatitis can severely affect the quality of life. Rigorous activity, sports, exercise-even sitting for any length of time in an office, theater or at a sporting event may become too painful to tolerate. And as for sex - it's simply not an option. The statistics are alarming. It's estimated that over 50% of all men will suffer from prostatitis some time in their lives. And what's worse is prostatitis is no respecter of age. It can strike any adult male - and with painful consequences. According to the American Foundation for Urologic Disease, 25% of all office visits by young and middle-aged men for genital and urinary problems are the result of prostatitis. It hits men in the prime of life and also is considered to be the most common of all diseases among middle-aged men. Adding to the problem is the fact that contemporary medicine really doesn't know much about prostatitis. The Prostate Foundation has termed it "the bastard child" of urology. Though it is the most widespread disease of the prostate, it's also the least understood and the least researched. As a consequence, it is frequently misdiagnosed. Physicians sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between the symptoms of prostatitis and benign prostate enlargement (BPH). A Harvard University study showed that urologists seeing patients with the same symptoms diagnosed them with prostatitis if they were under 50 and with BPH if they were over 50. In addition, there are four types of prostatitis, the most common of which is unfortunately the one that is the most baffling. Prostatitis can be either acute or chronic. That is to say that it can have a sudden onset and be relatively short-lived, or be an ongoing and aggravating problem. Acute prostatitis is likely to occur intermittently. It can cause fever, bladder discomfort, frequent and burning urination, and blood or pus in the urine. It can also result in infertility. Chronic prostatitis is ongoing and usually increases with time. Its symptoms may include frequent urination, blood in the urine, a burning sensation, discomfort in the prostate area and lower back, painful ejaculation and even impotence. Nonbacterial prostatitis is the most common form of the disease, but because it is also the least understood, it's the most difficult to treat. Nonbacterial prostatitis is frequently a chronic, painful condition found in men of any age. Symptoms may disappear and then return suddenly. Though no evidence of bacteria is found, semen and other prostate fluids contain cells that the body produces to fight infection. Doctors often treat nonbacterial prostatitis with antibiotics and drugs that relax the muscles of the prostate gland, but these treatments have not been proven to be effective. In fact, they often do not work at all and can have unpleasant side effects as well. The good news is, there are several herbal remedies that have been shown in clinical studies to help fight and in many cases - conquer prostate problems, including prostatitis. These herbs include pygeum africanum, saw palmetto and nettle root extract. To learn more about treating prostatitis and other prostate health conditions, please visit our web site at http://www.prostatehealthtips.com
About The Author
James Witman is an expert in nutrition and prostate health. He has written many articles related to http://www.prostatehealthtips.com/prostatitis.html and other health conditions that affect men. To learn more, please visit his website http://www.prostatehealthtips.com.

Walking Meditation Is Meditation In Action

2007-01-04T11:31:00.001-08:00

by: Sarah Thomas
It isn’t always necessary to sit in silence with crossed legs in order to meditate or benefit from the meditation. Walking meditation is an excellent example of this. Walking meditation requires the use of focus much in the same way as other types of meditation. The difference is that the focus is placed upon the walking experience. With walking meditation therefore, we are mindful of the experience of walking; the movement of our legs, the movement of our arms. We focus upon the rhythmic motions of walking. Walking meditation also differs from traditional meditation in that we are aware of and participating in our surroundings. Whereas with the usual types of meditation, one withdraws into silence and closes the eyes. Obviously we can’t do that with walking meditation because we need the eyes open to see where we are going and to watch for dangers and obstacles. So while we are focusing on the rhythm of our walking movement, we are also aware of the sights, sounds, and sensations around us. It is actually easier for many people to focus and meditate in this environment, and therefore are more successful with walking meditation than with the more traditional sitting forms of meditation. It is easier to be aware of and focus upon your body while it is in motion; the experience can be powerful and a source of deep enjoyment. A few different types of walking meditation have evolved; however walking outdoors is the most common. To give walking meditation a try, find an open space like a park or empty parking lot where you can walk safely for about 20 minutes without the worry of encountering traffic or crossing busy streets. How to do walking meditation Once you have selected the ideal location for your walking meditation, follow the guidelines below: Begin by Standing Begin to focus upon your body with the simple act of standing. Notice how your body feels and be aware of the constant little adjustments your body makes in order to maintain balance. Feel the weight of your body pressing through your feet and onto the earth. Walk and Focus Once you have placed your full awareness onto your body, begin the walk. Walk with your usual stride and pace, not too hurriedly. There is no need to try and change the way you walk, all you need to do is be aware of your body walking. Keep your focus upon your body and feel it moving. Be aware of your feet as one raises and then the other. Become aware of all the tiny little sensations in your body from the feeling of your feet inside of the shoes, to your knee as it bends to lift your leg. Stay relaxed, relax your eyes and just let the scenery flow past you. Your goal is to be relaxed and bring your focus onto your body. Become Aware of Feelings Once you are fully aware of your body, switch your focus onto the feelings or sensations that pass through your body; not necessarily emotional problems, but rather the overall tone of your feeling of the moment. Are you happy? Bored? In a hurry? Pass no judgment on the feeling and don’t analyze it. Your goal is to just become aware of it and then move your awareness on. Balance the Inner and Outer Alternate your awareness between the inner, your feelings, and the outer, your body. Play with the awareness, and focus upon them in equal balance. When you are able to do this, your mind reaches a state of stillness and clarity. Your mind becomes calm. Your goal is to balance your awareness of the inner with the outer. End by Standing After you have completed the above steps and brought your awareness into a balance of the inner and outer, bring your body to a natural stop and once again experience yourself standing. Bring your awareness to the feelings in your body as you stand in place. When you are ready, bring the walking meditation to a close. Selecting the appropriate location for your walking meditation will be an important consideration as you can imagine. It is not necessary to find a place of solitude, but you do need to find a location where you will be safe if your full awareness is not upon the environment around you.
About The Author
Sarah Thomas is an established freelance writer. You can find more of her writings at http://www.meditationteam.com and http://www.anxietysos.com.

Blood Pressure and Medications

2007-01-04T11:30:00.004-08:00

by: Ray Kelly
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, chances are you will be prescribed some kind of medication. However, you should be aware of the fact that drugs are not the only solution to the problem. For instance, changes in diet, exercise, and stress levels can also have an impact on blood pressure. Before we discuss specific types of medications, it is important to know what factors contribute to blood pressure levels: Heart Rate The heart rate affects the rate of blood flow through the blood vessels. As the heart rate rises, the blood pressure will also increase. Blood Volume This refers to the measure of blood in the body. As the level of blood volume increases, the blood pressure will also rise. Cardiac Output This is the rate at which the heart pumps blood. You can determine it by multiplying the heart rate by the stroke volume. Stroke volume depends on a number of things, including the overall strength of the heart muscles and the actual physical size of the vessel. Resistance This is the ease with which the blood moves through the vessels of the body. This can be affected by the smoothness of the vessel walls themselves. Viscosity This refers to the thickness of the blood, which can be affected by medication. Medication Types There are a number of different kinds of medication for high blood pressure. For instance, a Diuretic reduces the amount of water and sodium in the blood, reducing the pressure on the walls of blood vessels. Beta Blockers lower blood pressure by inhibiting the body’s fight/flight response. Ace Inhibitors reduce blood pressure by preventing the hormone Angiotensin from forming. Meanwhile, Angiotensin Antagonists block Angiotensin’s effects on the cells of the heart and blood vessels. Calcium Channel Blockers reduce the overall level of calcium in the heart, reducing blood pressure. Alpha Blockers lower blood pressure by limiting the nerve impulses sent to the blood vessels, while Alpha-Beta Blockers combine the effects of Alpha-Blockers and Beta-Blockers. Meanwhile, Nervous System Inhibitors relax blood vessels, as do Vasodilators. Talk With Your Doctor Be sure to consult with your family physician to determine which type of medication is right for you. It is essential that you receive the right drugs in order to get your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure can lead to a host of illnesses which can shorten your life. By effectively combining medication with exercise and a sensible diet, you should be able to reduce your blood pressure, ensuring a long, healthy life.
About The Author
Ray Kelly is the trainer that guided Adro Sarnelli to his series win on The Biggest Loser Australia. Check out his web sites at: http://www.free-online-health.com/australias-biggest-loser.htm or http://www.raykellyfitness.com.

The Basics of Yoga Pilates

2007-01-04T11:30:00.003-08:00

by: Anita Setalip
While Yoga exercises are quite old, the Pilates method of exercising was invented by Joseph Pilates in the 20th century. Yoga Pilates is a combination of the two exercise routines and can be very helpful especially when the principles of Pilates are applied properly to a Yoga workout. There are over five hundred exercises that can be performed by combining Yoga and Pilates and they do not require any expensive or elaborate equipment. Every pose of Yoga can benefit from some of the breathing and posture enhancing skills contained within the Pilates regimen. The basics of Yoga Pilates simply state that it is important for everyone using this form of exercise to completely know the movement to and away from the center while revolving around it. Yoga Pilates, like Yoga and Pilates individually, are only concerned with a bettering of the individual's health. Regular use of these exercises will be beneficial physically as well as mentally. After a few work outs you will begin to notice the increase in flexibility and strength. The increase in muscle strength also means that you will be less susceptible to injuries. A great advantage of the Pilates Yoga exercise is the improvement in body balance. Better balance leads to better posture, which in turn will result in fewer body aches and joint pains. In addition you will discover a more relaxed state of mind. The breathing techniques taught as basics of Yoga Pilates are great helpers to help the mind calm down and relax. People who practice these exercises also experience deeper sleep. Yoga and Pilates are both supportive of each other and they both involve body posture and breathing. Pilates increases the body's flexibility while increasing the core muscle strength and helping to achieve more disciplined breathing. Yoga is the most ideal form of recreational exercise that makes use of precisely those qualities to further enhance the body and at the same time provide more relaxation benefits to the mind. In a combination of Yoga Pilates, the body continually gains strength, flexibility, balance, and control through Pilates while the Yoga routines make use of this increase to enhance body and mental performance in other ways. Find out more at http://www.pilates-class.com
About The Author
You can find more great Pilates information at http://www.pilates-class.com. Check out some of the comments by top pilates instructors.

Do You Experience Sleeping Problems

2007-01-04T11:30:00.001-08:00

by: Kadence Buchanan
You must remember when being a child that due to the excitement you felt before a planned trip, it was impossible for you to sleep. Unfortunately, your sleeping problems are not today the outcome of an expected and desired journey. Problems at work or in the house keep your mind occupied and your body restless. Although you know how important it is for you to sleep during nighttime, you are convinced that you are incapable of entering the stage of dreams, especially when the thought that you must sleep and you cannot crosses your mind. Surpassing your present worries by simply counting sheep may help some but not you. You better come up with a better plan before visiting a doctor's office. First, take a deep breath and try to understand that sleep is your body's time to heal. A healthy body and mind can help you overcome all those persistent problems you have to face during the day. Stop putting on a fight and realize that bed time is your chance to reboot your body's batteries and revive your mind. Try to relax and always remember that this is a goal you can attain all by yourself. Check the room's temperature. The cooler it is the better are the chances you will be able to sleep sooner. Do not try to freeze to death so as to expedite the process, but rather keep the temperature at a totally comfortable level so as to avoid feeling hot, since this is proven to mess your sleeping patterns. Keep the room dark by closing blinds and curtains. The darker the room is the less possible might be for you to feel the difference between open and closed eyes. Invest in a comfortable and back supporting mattress. If your bed is too soft or too hard, you will probably experience greater difficulties in falling asleep and you will be waking during the night trying to find a better and more comfortable position, for your legs, back or neck. Consider buying earplugs and an eye mask. Earplugs can isolate you from the sounds outside -or even inside- your house and an eye mask will help you block out any excess light. Sometimes, simple things like adjusting the room temperature by turning on the AC or the fan and let a soft music theme play in the background -if you prefer listening to something pleasant- can help. Additionally, some people suggest you should try to meditate, while others advice you to drink milk or herbal tea made from chamomile. Keep in mind that experts agree that you should avoid consuming any large portions of food or alcohol or caffeine-based beverages, since the digestion process will take hours before it is complete and alcohol or caffeine are very effective stimulators that can mess your sleeping patterns and keep you awake for hours. Most importantly, try to maintain a fixed sleep schedule every night, as this routine will help you fall asleep faster so as to get the appropriate amount of rest. In case none of these suggested tips can help you establish again healthy sleeping habits, you should consider visiting a doctor. Some sleep disorders, like insomnia, require special treatment and medication.
About The Author
Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://healthandourworld.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://letsdropsomeweight.com/ and http://foodandourlives.com/

Sleep Apnea Medical Treatments

2007-01-04T11:29:00.003-08:00

by: Darren Mallory
If your airway is blocked or only partially blocked, medical procedures can correct these problems. Some problems that can be corrected include enlarged tonsils or enlarged adenoids these can be fixed. If you have a small jaw, or only a small opening in the back of your throat, or if you have a broken nose, or a deviated septum, you can have, these conditions corrected leaving sleep apnea to be a thing of the past. Polyps and cysts can be removed, correcting the breathing problems without interrupting your lifestyle much. Recovery times from all of these surgeries are short, and will improve your ability to sleep well. A tracheostomy is a procedure that will cut a hole in the neck, a very small hole, and will insert a tube so you can breath well. The value is closed during the day so you will breath normally but at night, opening the valve and opening the tube allows you to breath well, and sleep well taking the stress off your heart. This is not a procedure that is done all the time, it is one that is done if you are really sick, and if you can't have any other procedure done to aid you in you problems with sleep apnea. Another correct method is the uvulo palato pharyngoplasty which is also short for UPPP. This is the flesh; the extra lining that is at the back of your throat. Having this removed is going to ease the sleep apnea conditions for some people. This is not the choice of surgery for all, as the extra flesh in the throat may not be the problem for you. Your family doctor will be the best to tell you if this surgery is something that you should be thinking about to correct your breathing airway problems. Yet another corrective measure is the manibular myotomy wish is a conditional treatment for the jaw. By dividing the muscle surrounding the jaw, and then cutting the bone and inserting additional bone in that area, the jaw is then extended. This can pull the tongue forward a small amount, aiding in the treatment of severe sleep apnea for patient who are seeking a treatment for this condition. Again, not all people who are suffering with sleep apnea will require this type of corrective surgery. To get a good nights sleep please visit: http://www.disorders-sleep.info Author Darren Mallory C/O http://www.akashop.com
About The Author
Darren Mallory - 31 Year Old Online Marketing Manager

Hereditary Hemochromatosis-It can be Treated

2007-01-04T11:29:00.001-08:00

by: Peter Whittington
Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is the most common genetic disorder of persons of northern European extraction. The most common gene involved in causing Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is the HFE gene. Most patients with hemochromatosis have two copies of the HFE mutation C282Y. In persons of northern European extraction approximately 1 in 10 persons carries one copy of C282Y. Even one copy of C282Y can be associated with too much iron in the liver, high cholesterol, diabetes and the skin disorder porphyria cutanea tarda. Approximately 1 in 200 to 300 persons of northern European extraction carry two copies of C282Y. In some northern European populations eg Ireland, Iceland and Brittany the percentage of persons carrying one copy of C282Y is higher. Predictably countries settled by northern Europeans eg Australia, South Africa and Canada have high rates of hemochromatosis. HH is characterized by excessive absorption of dietary iron and a consequent progressive increase in total body iron stores. Iron accumulates in the parenchymal cells of the liver, the heart, pancreas, anterior pituitary and skin. This accumulation of iron in body tissues causes disease. In severe HH the disorder manifests as potentially life threatening conditions such as septicaemia, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, diabetes, heart failure and heart arrhythmias. Arthritis is common and a severe arthritis involving numerous joints may occur. Ovarian and testicular failure secondary to iron deposition in the anterior pituitary and possibly the hypothalamus may occur. Rarely hypothyroidism may occur. If HH is not treated liver disease may be fatal. The morbidity and mortality of HH can be reduced by early diagnosis and treatment by phlebotomy or blood letting. There is frequently a delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. This is because early symptoms such as fatigue and arthralgia are non-specific. Hereditary Hemochromatosis fits the criteria set by the World Health Organization for population screening for a disease: 1. The homozygous genotype is common and is potentially fatal if not treated 2. The disease has a lengthy latent period with asymptomatic iron accumulation followed by a period of iron overload with reversible organ injury 3. Treatment during the latent period and the period with reversible organ injury restores the life expectancy to normal. (Treatment is safe, effective and cost effective) 4. HH can be detected by measurement of the transferrin saturation (TS). It is very important to make an early diagnosis of HH because patients who have not developed cirrhosis and are treated by phlebotomy have a normal life expectancy. When the diagnosis of hemochromatosis is made it is important to adjust the diet so that too much iron is not being absorbed because of an improper diet. The biggest considerations are not to take medications which contain iron, consume too much alcohol or Vitamin C. The ingestion of black tea has been shown to decrease the absorption of iron. African tea which is becoming popular may contain iron so too much should not be consumed. Don’t take milk thistle which has often been touted as good for the liver as it can cause severe problems in those with hemochromatosis. Don’t eat raw shellfish. They may be contaminated with Vibrio vulnificans which thrives in an iron rich environment. There have been fatalities in the northern hemisphere. Cooking inactivates this organism.
About The Author
Peter Whittington maintains the sites http://www.health-fitness-for-all.com and http://www.ironic-health.com. http://Health-fitness-for-all.com is a site specializing in health and fitness articles and http://ironic-health.com is a site devoted to hemochromatosis He can be reached at peter@health-fitness-for-all.com

10 Essential Steps to a Natural Diet

2007-01-04T11:28:00.002-08:00

by: Frederic Patenaude
Learn how to transition to a healthy diet now (Part 1). In this article, I'm going to go back to some basics. I will be giving you specific, concrete action steps you can take right now to transition to a healthy, hopefully raw or mostly raw diet. Even if you're a seasoned raw-foodist, I'm sure you will find some key insights in this article that will help you refine your diet and improve your program. These steps are in no particular order. STEP #1 - *Workout and Exercise* It's not possible to be healthy without being fit. We know that, at least intuitively, even if we tend to forget the importance of fitness in a healthy lifestyle, by focusing too much on the importance of diet. But more importantly, your physical condition has a major impact on your digestion, assimilation, and overall “nutrition.” For example, your ability to uptake sugar, called “insulin sensitivity,” is greatly influenced by your level of fitness. If you are sedentary, insulin sensitivity is greatly reduced. Therefore, sugar is not carried as rapidly as it should to the cells. This can lead to or worsen blood sugar problems of all kinds. If you've read my book “The Raw Secrets. ” You are aware of the importance of hunger in health. One problem is that most people do not eat when they are truly hungry, and mistake “appetite” for hunger. Once they learn how to make the distinction, they soon realize that they are rarely if ever truly hungry! By exercising on a daily basis and eventually engaging in cardio-respiratory activities (jogging, cardio machines at the gym, cycling, etc.) every day, you will awaken that forgotten sense of hunger. So exercise is very important, and the lack of a fitness program may be one of the reasons why you have difficulty eating a healthy diet. STEP #2 - *Eat Fruit Before Each Meal* One of the easiest ways to transition to a raw-food diet is to start eating fruit before every meal, including lunch and dinner. The idea is to eat fruit when you are the most hungry, which is at the beginning of the meal. Eat as much fruit as you desire then, and you will find that you will eat much less of the meal itself! This is what I call an “automatic transition strategy.” Just start getting the raw-food in by eating fruit before each meal - just what your mom told you not to do when you were a kid. But now that you're a grownup and that the Standard American Diet didn't work for you, you need to go back to your natural instincts and satisfy your natural sweet tooth by eating as much fruit as you want before every single meal. STEP #3 - *Learn to Make 7 Raw Food Recipes That You Enjoy* It's been found that most people know about 7 to 10 good recipes very well, and just rotate them throughout the months, adding in other stuff occasionally for variety. Or look at when you buy a recipe book. You might try many recipes but eventually you'll only retain a few that you'll continue making for the years to come. So what I want you to know now is to find 7 simple raw-food recipes that you really like, that are easy to make and that are properly combined. (INSIDER TIP: My recipe book “Instant Raw Sensations” is just about that: ) Ideally, I'd like you to know: About 2 dressings About 2 great salads 2-3 smoothies you really enjoy 1-2 more gourmet recipes Those 7 or 10 recipes should be things you can make often, with ingredients that are easy to find, and some of them should have an instant appeal to your friends and family. You'll find that once you know what those recipes are, and you can make them without opening a book, that you'll be wondering a lot less often “What should I be eating now?” STEP #4 - *Get Rid of Cheese and Dairy* Improving your diet isn't about the things you ADD IN. It's mostly about the things we LEAVE OUT. I know this reality is hard to take, but even if you eat all these fruits and vegetables, drink those fresh juices and make those huge smoothies, you won't really feel great until you remove those offensive foods from your diet that are hurting you. There's one thing you need to say goodbye to forever, and it's milk and cheese. In a previous article, I talked about the top-5 worst foods, and cheese was one of them. Really, I see it all the time. People have this thing for cheese. They still eat it occasionally, and they still are addicted to it. (Actually, cheese contains some compounds in it that make it addictive for real, not just in your imagination). If there would be just one category of food you could remove from your diet and feel much better for it, it's got to be cheese and milk. STEP #5 - *Eat Fruit in the Morning or Skip the Morning Meal* The morning meal is the easiest to switch to raw. Most people find that once they start listening to their body, they are actually not truly hungry in the morning. I've watched how many children generally don't eat in the morning if they are left to themselves and not being force-fed. My suggestion is that you can skip the morning meal altogether or replace it with a smoothie or some fruit. I know that this goes against all the advice you've heard about “never skipping meals” or that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” What I'm telling you know is that this advice isn't based on any solid facts. The “breakfast” is when you break the “fast” of the night, and this doesn't have to be at noon. In fact, the French word for breakfast means “lunch”, because for thousands of years the French didn't eat in the morning. When they started doing so, they had to come up with a new word for that meal so they called it “small breakfast” (petit dejeuner). Skipping the morning meal or eating some fruit will help you get in touch with your true sense of hunger, which will make it easier to eat raw. Plus, it will be good for a while to help you detox and lose some weight (if that's an issue for you). As you start exercising more, you will eventually get hungry in the morning, believe me!
About The Author
“Frederic Patenaude, is the author of the book "The Raw Secrets". Sign up for his weekly "Raw Vegan Tips,” and as a bonus, get your free "raw recipe of the week". Visit http://www.rawvegan.com while this bonus is still offered."

How To Effectively And Gently Pop A Pimple

2007-01-04T11:28:00.001-08:00

by: Jason Rickard
Popping a pimple without professional assistance still remains controversial. Squeezing a pimple on your own may or may not cause scarring. Some people attest that it hastens the healing of their acnes and no scars appear. As always, there is a different solution for every skin type and acne type. You really don’t need some professional surgical tools to pop a zit. It is something you can do at home on your own time. If you are one of those people who want to rely on self-treatment rather than getting someone else do the pop their pimple for them and do away with the high dermatologist’s fees, here are some tips on how to gently and effectively squeeze pimples in your facial area. •Never try to pop a pimple beneath the surface of your facial area. Whiteheads and pustules can be squeezed but papules and blackheads should remain untouched. Be sure to pop acnes that appear to have “heads”. •Before trying to squeeze a pimple, take a bath or wash your face to soften it and to remove dirt or make up on your skin. •Make sure that your hands are clean. Wash them thoroughly to prevent possible infection. •Have two sterilize gauze pads ready. Get each one of them for both of your hands and apply gentle pressure on the pimple. •Use the gauze pads to remove the pus. Never use your fingernails or your bare fingers. After the white stuff has been squeezed out gently remove it with a clean tissue. •See to it that the white stuff of your pimple can be easily taken out with a gentle squeeze. If you have a hard time doing so, do not force to pop them out as they may be still imbedded deep in your skin and trying to squeeze them out would just cause scarring. •If you have a pimple that is hard to squeeze out, make a salt solution by mixing half a cup of warm water and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Apply the solution to the affected area using sterile gauze for about five to ten minutes. They would usually come off easily when you try to pop them again after several days.
About The Author
Jason Rickard is the owner of http://www.yourfavouriteshop.com - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit http://www.hapahapa.com for more articles

The Truth About Heroin And Methadone Withdrawal

2007-01-04T11:27:00.003-08:00

by: Marcel Gemme
Heroin and Methadone are similar in that they are both opiates and are highly addictive both physically and emotionally. Heroin users are going through everyday life numbing there physical, mental and emotional experience so as to not have to face the facts of everyday life, or to escape the pain of something that has happened in their life. Biologically, Heroin is a derivative form of Morphine, which comes from the opium poppy. Being addicted to Heroin is not the same as being addicted to Cocaine or Methamphetamines. Heroin is a narcotic substance like the others, but is not a stimulant. It is a painkiller. That is the truest description of the drug. Heroin kills mental, emotional and physical pain. When a person withdrawals from heroin, he/she will suffer extreme physical duress. Most heroin users are not actually getting high when they use the drug; they are just getting “normal” or “well” because heroin withdrawal sets in after about 5 hours of not using the drug. Because the painkiller has powerfully numbed all your synapses and bodily functions to such a marked degree, the withdrawal is in turn a “waking up” of all the numbed physical and emotional sensations. It is very painful. This includes violent nausea, hot and cold sweats, extreme shaking, vomiting, a skin crawling sensation and insomnia that can last for 5-10 days. Because of the large number of morphine and heroin addicts, the government sanctioned a medical “solution” to the heroin problem. Methadone was created as a prescription administered synthetic opiate to give to addicts so that they would no longer have to do crime to get heroin. And so that they could monitor their use through a physician and be able to wean down methadone consumption to eventually get off the drug for good. Methadone is even more addictive then heroin unfortunately, and most methadone patients use heroin or cocaine on the side. Taking a meth pill or drinking a glass of methadone has not addressed the reason a person gets high or the fixation to the method of their drug life style. This is called “chipping” The Methadone program is less the 10 percent successful in getting people off opiates. Most people end up on methadone for life. In addition, the biggest downfall is that methadone is an even more highly addictive substance to the body and much more difficult to withdrawal from. The regular heroin withdrawals are amplified with a severe pain in the joints and muscles cramping, fatigue, violent outbursts, shaking and a burning sensation of your skin. Insomnia is much more prolonged. Methadone withdrawal is typically a 7-14 process. The affects of sleeplessness (depending on your dosage) can continue for two weeks after your last methadone dose. Methadone withdrawal can also produce hallucinations. It is not medically recommended that a person quit a large dose of methadone cold turkey, as there have been fatalities caused from this. Heroin and Methadone addiction can be treated and most individuals completing a long term in patient program do markedly well in life after the emotional and physical affects of the heroin or methadone addiction fade away.
About The Author
Marcel Gemme has been in the field of addiction for over 4 years. He is a certified chemical dependency counselor. http://www.heroin-addiction.ca

Living With Endometriosis

2007-01-04T11:27:00.001-08:00

by: Shelley Ross
After you have been given a diagnosis of endometriosis and understand the four stages in which the disorder progresses, it is time to discover ways to cope with the condition. For many women, the thought of having endometriosis can cause one of the most ultimate horrors – fear of becoming infertile. In addition to this terrible possibility, endometriosis brings with it a variety of painful and disturbing symptoms. Pain, the most common symptom of endometriosis, can severely hinder your quality of life. However, there are ways to manage the condition to lessen its impact on your life. The pain and other symptoms of endometriosis can be managed in a variety of ways. The first and most important is to control your stress levels. Stress puts undue pressure on the body. It causes your systems to function less effectively, allowing endometriosis to worsen. In addition, if you are a smoker, you should consider giving up the habit. It may be a difficult task, but it is important that you keep your body functioning at peak capacity. There is no proven link between smoking cigarettes and the onset of endometriosis, but cigarette smoke impairs the body’s ability to fight off diseases and opportunistic infections. Another way to keep your body performing at top speed is to detoxify. Many women have a high level of toxicity in their system that they may not be aware of. There are many products available at health food stores and even large supermarkets that will enable your body to purge harmful chemicals and toxins. Detoxifying is a great way to increase your energy level and fight against fatigue – another symptom of endometriosis. Drinking 8 or more glasses of water each day is a good start to the detoxification process. This will enable your body to get back to working the way nature intended. Furthermore, keeping fit is an important step to take if you want to feel better. Exercise is important for a variety of reasons. First of all, it allows your body to run at peak ability. The better your physical conditioning the higher chance you have of warding off disease and halting the progression of endometriosis. In addition to exercising, you should concentrate on balancing your emotional health as well. Consider techniques such as meditation and yoga to relieve stress and help you stay calm and relaxed. Pampering yourself with the occasional massage or day spa treatment can also help you reduce stress levels. Acupuncture and acupressure are also good choices to keep you relaxed and stress-free. There are also support groups available to sufferers of endometriosis. Support groups generally meet once per week and allow people to talk about their experiences. These groups can be very helpful and provide someone with a sense of unity. Women without endometriosis will not be able to understand the disorder, so it is important to meet with people who share your experience. Coping with endometriosis is not an easy task. The condition will cause changes in your life and, since it is incurable, it is important that you work to stop the progress of the disease. Keep track of the way your body feels on different days, track your symptoms, eating habits, bowel movements, and cross-reference these variables with your menstrual cycle. Use your mind and your body to battle endometriosis and you may just turn the tide and keep the symptoms at a manageable level.
About The Author
Shelley Ross has an interest in Endometriosis. For further information on Endometriosis please visit http://www.treatendometriosis.com/endometriosis.html or http://treatendometriosis.com/blog/2006/09/27/living-with-endometriosis/

What You Need To Know About Health Insurance Benefits

2007-01-04T11:26:00.004-08:00

by: Jonathon James
When evaluating potential job offers, health insurance benefits are most likely one of the first issues you inquire about, second only to salary. Indeed, if you have a large family or a history of medical problems, this may be the first thing you ask about. Of course, health insurance benefits will vary by health insurance plan, so if you are unsure about any aspect of your health insurance options, it's important to get help from either your Human Resources department at work or a health insurance broker if self-employed or unemployed. It's easy to make the mistake of assuming that features or benefits exist when they don't. If your assumptions are wrong, you could be left facing insurmountable medical bills. This is especially true for low cost, cheap health insurance. In a perfect world, all individual or family health plans would pay for every health issue that may arise—pregnancy, blood transfusions, sick and well care, minor and major surgery, hospital stays, etc. But the truth is health insurance benefits typically are limited and they seldom will cover 100% of the costs, which is why it's so important to read the policy's fine print. You've got to know exactly what is and is not actually covered. The majority of valid health insurance policies provide a minimum level of coverage that typically includes major medical expenses such as hospitalization and emergency/urgent medical care. Some of the most sought after additional benefits include annual physical exams, referrals to and treatment by specialists as needed, hospitalization and emergency care, prescription drug coverage, laboratory work including blood testing and x-rays, maternity benefits, prenatal and well-baby visits, vision benefits, and dental care. Health insurance benefits less commonly include mental health care and treatment, rehabilitation services for drug and alcohol abuse, home health care, hospice care, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. One thing to keep in mind as you evaluate various health insurance benefits is that the primary purpose of any health insurance policy is to protect you from a major financial loss - not to protect you from spending "small" sums of money on office visits. These small expenses can be a burden, but they generally will not break you. To conclude, with something as important as health insurance and the impact it can have on you and your family, be careful not to make any assumptions. Granted, a typical health insurance policy is not exactly a “beach read”, but in the long run it pays to have a clear understanding of your actual benefits. At a minimum, you need to have someone from your Human Resources department or your broker if you are purchasing your policy as an individual, go through and summarize each section of the plan. Again, this may not be your idea of a good time, but in the end it just may save you a bundle.
About The Author
Jonathon James has been working in the health insurance industry for nearly twenty years. For additional tips and information about affordable health insurance, please be sure to visit http://LearningAboutHealthInsurance.com

Setting Fitness Goals

2007-01-04T11:26:00.003-08:00

by: Jonathon Hardcastle
Many people make the mistake of setting their fitness goals too high when they embark on an exercise program. This leads them to abandon their plans out of frustration and impatience. Setting manageable goals is key to maintaining a fitness program over time. If you have been completely sedentary you need to start out your fitness regimen by working towards small and realistic goals. These can be as simple as walking around the block once a day for a week, and adding another block each subsequent week until they reach the 30 minutes recommended by health professionals. A few sessions with a personal trainer can help you set reasonable goals for weight-bearing exercise like weight training. In the beginning focus on overall conditioning rather than building muscle. Check with staff at your gym or fitness center for recommendations about what exercise classes are right for your current fitness level. When you're just starting out, it's easy to make rash promises like exercising every day. It's hard for even people in top condition to make time each and every day for training. Start off three or four days a week and build up from there. If you're taking up a new sport like swimming, skiing or golf, consider taking lessons with a professional so that you develop good habits from the beginning. If you've been getting moderate exercise your goals can be a little more ambitious. If you're walking the recommended 30 minutes per day, why not add hand weights to your routine? This might also be the time to consider adding more weight to your lifting or taking an intermediate fitness course. You may also be ready to speak to a personal trainer about beginning to work on building specific muscle groups. Once you've attained a high level of fitness, then it's time for some serious goal setting. Plan to run a marathon or participate in a 5K walking event. There are many of these events run to benefit charity, giving a double benefit of both funds raised and health benefits to participants. When preparing for an event of this nature, return to your early habit of setting small, realistic goals. Add miles to your run on a weekly basis until you are able to complete the full distance. Speak with your trainer to establish a regular schedule of weight-bearing exercise that will help improve your stamina and flexibility.
About The Author
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://yourfitnesssource.net/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://wonderfulworldoffood.com/ and http://baseballstuff.net/.

Asthma Relief And Prevention

2007-01-04T11:26:00.001-08:00

by: David Davis
Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by breathing difficulties. People with asthma have hyper-responsive, extra sensitive airways. During the course of an asthma attack, irritated airways react by narrowing and constricting. This causes increased resistance to airflow and obstructs the flow of air through the bronchial passages to and from the lungs. There are two main types of asthma treatment medicines: * Long-Term Control Medicines: also called preventers, are taken daily, usually over long periods of time, to control chronic symptoms and to prevent asthma episodes or attacks. The effects of these medicines are generally felt after taking them for a few weeks. Long-term control medicines are necessary for people with persistent asthma. * Quick Relief Medicines: also called relievers, give rapid, short-term treatment and are taken when you have worsening asthma symptoms that can lead to asthma episodes or attacks. These medications are effective within minutes. Drugs, such as those resembling two of our hormones, can help alleviate asthma symptoms. These two hormones are adrenaline, called epinephrine in the United States, and the steroid hydrocortisone. There are also other medications that help treat asthma. Though drugs can remove all of the symptoms for a mild asthma sufferer, more severe or long-standing cases of asthma generally do not get such good results. Adrenaline, also called epinephrine, is pumped into our bloodstream in cases of sudden fright or in an emergency. It is the quick-acting hormone created by the adrenal glands located near our kidneys. It causes a racing pulse, a thumping heart, and readies your body for emergency action. In asthma, these adrenaline-type medicines quickly alleviate symptoms of asthma for a short time, and are called relievers. Hydrocortisone is manufactured by the outer part of our adrenal glands, called the 'cortex'. It is also partly an “emergency hormone” but it works much more slowly, in a completely different way to adrenaline, and lasts for a longer duration. Medicines which resembling hydrocortisone gradually allow the lining of air tubes in an asthma sufferer to resemble regular, healthy airways. This results in asthma that is less severe and a lesser likelihood of asthma attacks. Therefore, these steroids medications are called preventers. There are additional asthma 'preventers', but the steroids are the most effective. Most asthma sufferers should take both preventers as well as relievers. Usually the most effective way to administer these medicines is to inhale them. That is, you breath them in, through your nose or mouth. The reasons you inhale them are: * the medicine works more rapidly, * because you need a smaller dose of the medicine, and * you won't suffer the same number of side effects. The speed with which the medicine is effective is particularly important with the adrenaline-like, fast-acting relievers. Quick relief medicines are used only acutely, at the time of an attack or impending attack. One kind of quick relief medicine is a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Bronchodilators take effect by relaxing the muscles that have constricted around the airways. They help rapidly open up airways and make breathing easier. Occaisionally, they are called "rescue" or "relief" medicines because they can cease an asthma attack very rapidly. These medicines act fast but their effects only last for a short duration of time. It is recommended that one take quick relief medicines when one initially begins to feel asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Asthma sufferers should always be in possession of one of these inhalers in case of an attack. In the case of severe attacks, your physician may administer steroids to treat the inflammation. Long-term control medications include : * Long-acting beta-agonists are one kind of long-term control medication. They are bronchodilators, not anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines are used to aid in controlling moderate to severe asthma as well as in preventing night-time symptoms. Long-acting beta-agonists are taken in conjunction with an inhaled corticosteroid medicine. * Cromolyn and nedocromil are two long-term control medicines utilized in the treatment of mild persistent asthma. * Leukotriene modifiers (such as zafirlukast, montelukast, and zileuton) are long-term control medicines administered either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate persistent asthma or severe persistent asthma. * The most effective, long-term control medication for asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid. The reason for this is that this medicine reduces the swelling of airways that increases the chances of asthma attacks. Inhaled corticosteroids (or steroids for short) are the preferred treatment for controlling mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. They are safe when taken as directed by your doctor. Inhaled medicines go directly to the affected lungs. There are many types of inhalers that are used by different methods. Therefore, it is important to know how to correctly use your inhaler. In some cases, steroid tablets or liquid are used on a short-term basis to rein in asthma symptoms. The liquid or tablet varieties may also be utilized in the treatment of severe asthma. * Theophylline is a long-term control medication used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate persistent asthma. People who take theophylline should have their blood tested regularly checked to ensure proper dosage. If you cease taking long-term control medicines, your asthma will likely recur. Optimally, one should use the least amount of medicine required to manage asthma symptoms.
About The Author
David Davis contributes to several web sites, most recently http://fozic.com and http://great-healthy.com.

Morton's Neuroma

2007-01-04T11:25:00.004-08:00

by: Dr. Marc Mitnick
Interdigital neuroma more commonly known as Mortons neuroma is an entrapment of a nerve that passes into the toes of the foot. The nerve gets entrapped or “pinched” by the metatarsal bones, which are the bones just behind the toes. Typically this type of foot pain is the result of wearing shoes that are too narrow or in the case of women, high heel shoes. Other factors that will cause this condition can be the specific architecture of a person’s foot structure as well as occupational hazards such as those who work low to the ground forcing them to kneel down for long periods. An example would be someone who spends long hours planting flowers in a garden; the ball of the foot is being constantly overstretched. This condition can be very painful. Typically, a person will be walking in shoes (although the condition can be painful out of shoes as well), and will develop a sharp pain just behind the third and fourth toes. This pain may then radiate into the toes and manifest itself as overt pain, numbness, tingling or burning. This is the most common location for Mortons neuroma, but this condition can also affect the other toes as well. On occasion this pain may also travel backwards further into the foot. Many people will relate that they can feel a “clicking” in the affected area. This is actually the nerve moving up and down between the pressures of the adjacent metatarsal bones. People find that if they remove their shoes and rub the area for a couple of minutes, the pain will subside, only to return once they start walking again. There are a number of treatments for this condition depending on the severity. Sometimes, just identifying the certain pair of shoes that sets off the pain and no longer wearing them will eradicate the problem. Anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful, but this should be considered temporary relief and should not be considered for long-term treatment, as there are potential systemic problems with taking this type of medication for long periods of time. A foot specialist (podiatrist) may recommend an orthotic device, which is a sophisticated arch support, custom made to the foot structure of the patient’s foot. The purpose of which is to control the abnormal structural components of the foot, which is contributing to the condition. Many times a neuroma spacer pad can be build into the orthotic which then attempts to spread apart the adjacent metatarsal bones and thereby remove the pressure on the nerve, thus reducing pain. I generally reserve this type of treatment for patients who are not candidates for other types of treatment as I consider it a “stop gap” measure. Injection of the area can also be very helpful. Some doctors will inject cortisone in an effort to reduce inflammation of the nerve. Others may recommend injecting denatured alcohol, which attempts to sclerose, or deaden the nerve. Both can be very effective. My preferred treatment is multiple injections of denatured alcohol. Any where from one to seven injections repeated on a weekly basis are necessary. I have found the success rate to be in the 80-85 percent range. When all else fails, surgical excision is usually recommended. This is an out patient procedure where the entrapped nerve is removed. As with any surgery there are potential complications and your doctor should explain these to you. The two biggest complications are misdiagnosis of the neuroma, the nerve is removed and the patient still has pain. The second, more common complication is not resecting enough of the nerve and being left with what we call a stump neuroma. These can be particularly painful and frustrating for the patient. For more information on various types of foot pain, please visit: http://www.foot-pain-explained.com
About The Author
Dr. Marc Mitnic is a practicing podiatrist with over 25 years of clinical experience in the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower leg.

Acid Reflux And Bad Breath

2007-01-04T11:25:00.003-08:00

by: Kathryn Whittaker
Say you are at a party and all of a sudden you get that stinging feeling in your throat. You scrunch up your face, look around the room and walk to a place where nobody can see you as you try to swallow away that biting liquid. Your loosen your collar, swallow some more of your wine, and try to get back into the conversation. Yet, when you do get a circle and join in the conversation, people start to back away from you, pretend to scratch their nose, and claim to be needed elsewhere. You can’t help but wonder if your recent bout of heartburn is related to your recent unpopularity? One way that you can check if you have bad breath (if your best friend isn’t at the ready), is to lick the inside of your wrist and let it dry for a few seconds and then smell it. If there is an odor, then your breath isn’t as fresh as it should be. If you are experiencing bad breath, or halitosis, then part of your problem might be either related to, or a direct result of acid reflux/GERD. Most experts, medical and naturopathic alike will tell you that bad breath is caused by what you eat, lack of saliva swishing around in your mouth, stress, dehydration, and stomach activity, i.e. acid indigestion. Since many people experience acid reflux in their sleep, chances are good that morning breath isn’t just a lack of saliva activity, but is related to GERD. Most commentators speaking on bad breath list acid reflux as a major cause, in addition to the items mentioned above. It makes sense really. It stands to reason that acidic liquid rising up from your stomach is not going to smell pretty, and if that is getting up to your throat, through a loosening in the collapsible valve at the tip of your stomach, it’s going to make your breath smell pretty foul. Not only that, but many of the factors that contribute to bad breath, are also causal factors for acid reflux. The foods that you eat are a major contributor to bad breath, like spicy or garlicky foods, which are also a major contributor to acid reflux. Stress is also a cause for both upsets. It stands to reason then, that by counteracting the causal factors of GERD, you will also reduce your chances of having bad breath, not only in striking what may be the heart of your problem, but you’ll combat one or both of these ailments as well. Contrary to popular belief, making changes to your diet and stress levels aren’t as difficult as some of the makers of pharmaceuticals would like you to believe. They would prefer you to think that a few changes in your diet, or a simple exercise plan will mean re-vamping your life entirely, but this is simply not the case. Long term solutions are just that—long term. So, make the changes, but make them slowly, incorporating them into your life in small steps so that the changes don’t seem too drastic, making them easier to swallow (so to speak) and more likely steps that you will stick with.
About The Author
Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Acid Reflux. For further information on Acid Reflux please visit http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/acidreflux.html or http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/blog/2006/09/27/acid-reflux-and-bad-breath/.

Avoid Building Muscle - The Wrong Way Part 1

2007-01-04T11:25:00.001-08:00

by: Vince DelMonte
How would you feel if you discovered that almost everything you were doing with building muscle was dead wrong? Imagine all the time, money and effort you have spent in the gym was contributing to building muscle – the wrong way! Everything you have read on building muscle has left you with little to show for your hard earned efforts... There are dozens of muscle building mistakes that we all fall victim to which results in bringing you progress to a complete halt. Don't be too hard on yourself, because like all things in life, building muscle is a learning process. That does not mean you must forfeit years of personal trail and error when we can learn the mistakes of seasoned trainers who walked before us. Here are the first three biggest and baddest ways to building muscle the wrong way. Erase these mistakes from your thought process and you will be one step closer to earning beach body worthy status: Building Muscle The Wrong Way #1 – Skipping Out On Your Cardio Before you disagree take note that I was once a long distance triathlon and running champion so my cardiovascular standards and perceptions of 'fit' are much higher than your local trainers or expert bodybuilding author. It drives me crazy when I hear fitness experts preaching that weight training is just as good for keeping your heart and lungs in prime condition. Who are they kidding? Weight training, designed for bodybuilding, is almost useless for stimulating your cardiovascular system. Bodybuilding style weight training for your cardio is just about as good as spending the day playing video games. Sure, I know your leg training workouts and super sets make you feel like you sprinted up the street for 100 m but this is far cry from a optimal cardio system. Do not buy into the latest fad that cardio will kill any chance of building muscle. Cardio must be in your program even if your goal is maximal muscle gain and you are the skinniest of skinny. Aerobics plays a vital role in building muscle and has been shown to speed up recovery from weight training by transporting oxygen and blood flow to the muscles. The circulatory system is developed because more oxygen is pushed through your blood resulting in a greater number and size of blood vessels. Since there is a greater cardiovascular density of blood vessels, your circulatory system has more 'supply routes' to shuttle oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues, including muscles, and shuttle away waste products that can slow muscle growth, repair and recovery. In the end, this means you will create a more optimal environment for building muscle! Building Muscle The Wrong Way #2 – Overtraining The Biceps And Triceps I'll bet any money that you would do almost anything for a set of sleeve-stretching set of arms. Any money that you would do almost anything for a pair of bulging biceps and rock-hard triceps! Interestingly, every time I 'm at my gym, I see small and weak dudes spending a full hour doing every bicep and tricep exercise imaginable. They do set-after-set, week-after-week with nothing to show but the same skinny noodle arms. What they fail to realize is that for maximum muscle growth and strength, the biceps and triceps require very little direct stimulation! Do me a favour and take a close close at the size of your thigh. Now compare the size of your thigh to the size of your bicep. Does it make sense to spend the same amount of time training arms versus your legs when your legs are over 4x as big? Of course not! Now compare the overall size of your back to the overall size of your arms. Now compare the size of your overall chest to the size of your overall arms. You should now realize that a larger muscle group should be trained differently than a smaller muscle group. Focus the majority of your training on the large muscle groups – that is chest, back, shoulders and legs. Focus on increasing the strength and size in these big muscle groups and rest assured, building muscle in your arms will become easier. Now hear me out. I'm not saying that direct arm training is a waste. I'm simply leading you to discover that less is often more when training small muscle groups such as your bi's and tri's. Building Muscle The Wrong Way #3 – Not Focusing On Getting Stronger I can't count how many times I have down a fitness consultation with a young new trainee and bring up the idea of including a strength cycle early in the program and he instantly fires back, “But I don't care about how much I can lift, I just want to get ripped and muscular.” I get his short attention span back by stating, “Building muscle will almost always follow if you simply focus on getting stronger, I mean getting really stronger.” Unfortunately, training to get stronger seems to no longer be apart of the average trainees training regime. Since the fitness industry has become more commercialized with balls, balance pads, fancy selectorized equipment and ridiculous infomercials, people have neglected the necessary time building requirements to build a solid foundation for long term success. Including bodybuilders. Consider that the stronger you become the more sets and reps you will be able to lift for more specialized movements. The better your technique. The faster your recovery. The longer and harder you will be able to train. And rest assured, when you get stronger from week to week, the muscle mass will follow! Don't believe me? Next time you go to your gym check out who the biggest guys are. Don't be surprised if they are also the strongest. Have you ever seen anybody will a small frame who can deadlift four plates, squat three plates, bench press two plates or curl 1 plate (per side respectively). I didn't think so.
About The Author
Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building : Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com/. He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly, without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

Allergy Skin Tests As A Method Of Diagnosing Allergy In Children

2007-01-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

by: Radoslaw Pilarski
Similarly like in the case of adults, skin tests can be performed in children of any age, but we know from experience that the skin of a child up to the 3rd year is very sensitive and reacts strongly to allergens, often in such a way that makes it difficult to make correct diagnosis. One of the most common allergen upsetting small children and infants is the food (ingested allergene). It affects the child’s skin more seriously than inhaled allergens. It may lead to an incorrect readings of tests performed in small children. The skin tests carried out on older children are much more reliable. A positive skin reaction occurs if a person is allergic to a particular allergen and if the mast cells of the skin contain the appropriate IgE antibody to this substance. During the skin tests, the mast cells of the skin undergo a process of degranulation in which histamine is released. It is the histamine which causes skin changes such as erythema or bumps. The mast cells of a child’s skin contain smaller amount of antibodies and this may be the reason why we cannot observe a stronger reaction to the allergen. Skin tests performed in an allergic child may turned out to be negative, when the child is administered antihistamines. Different medicines can also slightly influence the results of the tests. That is why it is necessary to know what medicines has been administered to the child by the child before scheduling the skin tests. The following medicines should not be taken by the patient during the period preceding the skin tests: * first-generation antihistamines (Clemastine, Fenergan, Diphergan, Hydroxyzinum) – for 3-4 days * cetirizine (Zyrtec) - for 3-4 weeks * loratadin (Claritine) - for 2-3 weeks * astemizol (Hismanal) – for 4-6.weeks * ketotifen (Zaditen, Pozitan) – for 2 weeks, There are three main types of skin tests: * puncture, scratch test ("prick test", percutaneous). * intradermal test (intracutaneous), * patch test (epicutaneous) Patch tests are performed by a dermatologists if a contact allergy is suspected or other reactions typical to occupational allergy. The results can be obtained in 48 or 72 hours. Children are diagnosed using scratch tests. Such tests are considerably easy to perform and correlate well to the specific IgE antibodies in serum and to the appropriate inhaled provocative test under the influence of the same allergen. Skin reaction can be observed in 5-10 minutes after placing the allergen onto the surface of the skin.The test is carried out by placing a small amount of the suspected allergy-provoking substance on the skin. Next, the skin is gently scratched through a small drop of the allergen. The scratched place should not bleed. The results of the test can be collected in 15-20 minutes or even earlier if the blisters extend rapidly and form protrusions, which indicates an occurrence of pseudopodia. The best place to perform a skin test is the inner part of the forearm or one’s back. Children should be diagnosed by performing the tests on their forearm unless there are no visible skin changes. The skin tests can be considered to be done correctly if a positive control test (1 per cent solution of histamine) and a negative control test are carried out. The last one uses saline extra phenol added to the suspension of allergens as a preservative. If the results of the positive control are negative, the tests cannot be regarded reliable. In such a case, the reaction of the skin is inhibited by antihistamine medicines. Such tests should be repeated after some time, having carefully examined the methods of the child’s treatment within the last period of time. Sometimes, the reaction with the solution of sodium chloride can turn out to be positive. It may happen if the reagent has been contaminated or the child displays some symptoms of dermographism. The extent of the reaction is determined by measuring the diameter of the blister using a special transparent scale. This is the most accurate testing method. A control histamine testing will produce a 5-7mm blister. In order to confirm a positive result of the test, the diameter of the allergene-provoked blister should not be smaller than 3mm. All tests carried out without positive and negative control testing are unreliable. Another method of determining the results of tests is marking the examined places with (+) or (-). If the diameter of the blister is at least 5mm, the histamine test result is marked with a triple pluses +++. In this method, which is not recommended, the smallest positive place is labelled with ++, which corresponds to a blister allergic reaction of 3mm. The blisters usually disappear after several minutes or after an hour. In some cases, after 4-6 hours, a delayed reaction may occur. During intradermal tests, a small amount (0,05-0,1 ml) of a special allergen solution is injected into the skin. The readings should be made after 15-20 minutes. This test is more painful and it produces more false positive results. Skin tests, which are the basic methods of diagnosing allergies, cannot be carried out on patients suffering from severe allergic reactions (e.g. an allergic shock resulted from a contact with allergen mentioned in the case history). In such situations, a safe method of diagnosis consists in isolating characteristic IgE in the blood. In some very rare cases, during performing the skin tests an anaphylactic reaction to an allergen may occur. Although such reactions are usually harmless, it is necessary for an allergist to have an anti-shock medical kit at hand in order to help the patient if necessary. Copyright (c) 2006 Radoslaw Pilarski
About The Author
Radoslaw Pilarski is a PhD candidate working on anticancer properties of Uncaria tomentosa - http://www.uncariatomentosa.com - at PAS, Poland. mLingua Worldwide Translations, Ltd. - http://mlingua.pl - provides professional language translations.

Understanding Aromatherapy Oil and Essential oils

2007-01-04T11:21:00.004-08:00

by: Jane Sims
Aromatherapy is well-known throughout the world as a holistic therapeutic natural practice that involves the use of essential oils for balancing and harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit, thus promoting a great change for everyday pleasure and well-being. This has been practiced for centuries with the notion that the aromatherapy oils can be effective in treating illness and disability, which is then supported by a number of successful studies. On its most basic, the aromatherapy oils are highly concentrated and powerful. They are taken or extracted from plants, leaves, roots, flowers, twigs, buds, rhizomes, bark, heartwood, seeds, fruits, and resins. And, they are greatly found in special secretory glands or cells within the plant life. The aromatic substances of the aromatherapy oils are essentially formed and stored in particular organs of certain plants, and these come as a by-product or maybe due to its metabolism. According to certain studies, the aromatherapy oil has its very own blueprint that is definitely distinct. It is the blending of these blueprints with the energy of the sun, air, soil, and water that gives each aromatherapy oil its own fragrance as well as beneficial healing qualities. Similar species of plant can produce aromatherapy oil with varying healing properties, which greatly depend on whether the plant was grown in damp or dry earth, at low or high altitude, or even in cold and hot climates. However, the International Organization for Standardization has further claimed that the aromatherapy oils are products made by distillation with either steam or water or by way of mechanical processing of citrus rinds or even by dry distillation of natural materials. According to them, it is after the distillation that the aromatherapy oil is physically alienated from the water phase. The aromatherapy oils, as opposed to the vegetable oils that are expressed from nuts and seeds, are not actually oily. Some of the aromatherapy oils are viscous, while there are others that are fairly solid and somewhat watery. Certain records have noted that there are generally 3000 varying aromatherapy oils worldwide with only about 300 typically employed. They are now considered as the most concentrated form of botanical, as the aromatherapy oils provide a concentrated dose of the nature’s vast pharmacological active ingredients in just a single drop of aromatherapy oil. Certain studies conducted in this field of healing practice have actually found out that it generally takes at least one pound of any available, potential plant to produce one drop of aromatherapy oil. And, one hundred percent pure unadulterated aromatherapy oils are known by a notable range of substances that only the Mother Earth could generate.
About The Author
Jane Sims's Aromatherapy blog offers all kinds of latest fluff information on Aromatherapy. Please visit his her blog for more information on http://www.aromatherapy-oil-blog.blogspot.com.

Look Your Best with a Good Night's Sleep

2007-01-04T11:21:00.003-08:00

by: Kamau Austin
Today, our lives have become so busy there seems to be hardly any time for us to devote to sleep. Given that many of you are driven, goal-oriented, and over-achievers, spending a third of your lifetime sleeping can seem like a waste of time. But sleep remains an indispensable part of human life and function. Sleep is the body's miracle of restoration and its importance to your well-being shouldn't be discounted. Simply stated: you need a good night's sleep for both overall health and beauty. Lack of sleep can lead to serious health problems, a weaker immune system, and mental stress. You could also experience related problems like memory impairment and a lack of quality sleep makes you look tired, less attractive and rundown. You may have filled your daily routines with so many activities that both your body and mind are unable to cope with such high pressure. Ultimately, without quality sleep to recharge your body and mind, you may begin to show signs of stress. Sleep deprivation seems to be a common problem. Sadly, over scheduled and stressed out adults are passing their lack of priorities for a good night's sleep down to their children. A recent report by The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a respected nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing sleep problems and disorders and to researching and educating the public on the importance of sleep concluded: "The 2006 NSF Sleep in America poll of 1,602 households across the U.S. indicates that 11-17-year-olds have lengthy to-do lists, and sleep often gets pushed to the bottom of those lists, putting teens at risk for health and mood problems and difficulties in school. In fact, many teen respondents said they often arrive late for school, fall asleep in class or are too tired to exercise. To top it off, parents may be in the dark about the sleep debt their children are accruing." Sleep is Essential Sleep, like food and water, is an essential requirement in our lives. If you deprive yourself of a good night's sleep, then you may be inviting trouble. There are some importance advantages to getting a good night’s sleep: * Sleep goes a long way in determining how you look and feel. * It enables you to be more alert and energetic. * It helps you to concentrate more on your work at home, the office, or school. * When you sleep well, both your body and your mind are refreshed; sleep removes most signs of tiredness and helps to keep you lively and full of energy. There are also some significant disadvantageous to missing out on your sleep: * When you build a sleep debt, your body becomes tired in the daytime and forces you to take naps. * While twenty- or thirty-minute power-naps may be beneficial, relying on those naps can become a bad habit. Most employers aren’t too happy to find you asleep at the computer. Sleeping on the job almost always leads to a reprimand or dismissal. * Lack of sleep makes you more irritated and prone to depression, mood swings and forgetfulness. The Beauty of a Good Night's Sleep You can enhance your health and overall appearance by getting a good night's sleep. Researchers are working rigorously to establish the precise connection between sleep and beauty, but there is already strong evidence that: * Lack of sufficient sleep creates eye problems like dark circles under your eyes. * While creams, lotions, masks, and other cosmetics can help alleviate unsightly eye problems, remember to also alter your lifestyle and get more sleep. * "Your eyes are the windows to your soul." They reflect your inner health and highlight it to the outside world. In other words, getting enough sleep helps make you feel better both inside and out. By now you shouldn't be surprised to learn that many of your eye problems are caused by a poor sleeping habits. This article illustrates how getting a good night's sleep can sometimes help you avoid unsightly and distracting facial features like dark circles under your eyes. If, however, after obtaining a good night's sleep, you still experience dark circles around your eyes, there are some treatments that offer help. These over the counter treatments will help in the fight for clearer skin under your eyes. For example, I have read good things about Eyederma(tm). Eyederma(tm) was formulated to be a powerful ally in diminishing dark patches and circles under your eyes. When a good night's sleep and a professional evaluation don't clear up the dark patches under your eyes, consider checking out Eyederma(tm). You can obtain Eyederma(tm) which is now available from reputable eTailers like Amazon.com and www.bodestore.com.
About The Author
Written by the V-Team courtesy Kamau Austin Publisher. The V-Team writes articles for the health and fitness enthusiast. Their timeless health and fitness tips are at the Fit After Forty Blog. See more useful news and tips about reducing dark cycle around the eyes with Eyedermaat http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com/blogs/fitnessblog.htm.

Basic Tanning Bed Supplies

2007-01-04T11:21:00.001-08:00

by: Larry Scott
Getting a dynamite tan in the privacy of your own home may sound simple -- buy a tanning bed, plug it in, and tan -- but don't forget to buy the right tanning bed supplies as well. No matter what brand of tanning bed you buy, you will need to purchase certain basic tanning bed supplies, including: * Tanning bed cleaners * Eye goggles * Tanning lotion * Extra bulbs Even if you are not sharing your tanning bed with anyone, it is important to properly clean the bed after each use to remove body oils and tanning lotion from the surface. A dirty surface can refract the ultraviolet (UV) light and can lead to uneven tanning and may even harm the bed's finish. Eye goggles are necessary to protect your eyes from unintentional harm from the UV rays. Just like when tanning outdoors, prolonged exposure can actually burn your eyes. Tanning lotions serve a dual purpose. First, they are designed to aid in the tanning process by allowing your skin to tan darker with less exposure to UV rays and by adding much needed moisture to your skin. Last, it is a good idea to keep a full set of extra bulbs on hand. While most tanning bed bulbs are guaranteed to provide a certain number of hours of consistent tanning, occasionally, a bulb will burn out at the most inopportune time. By having bulbs on hand, you won't have to miss a tanning session while picking up or ordering new ones. Additionally, it is always a good idea to replace all of the bulbs at the same time. The tanning bed lights tend to lose efficiency with use, so changing bulbs randomly can lead to uneven tanning. An optional tanning bed supply you may want to invest in is tanning bed pillows and stickers. For many, laying on a flat surface for a prolonged period of time can lead to backaches. A pillow can relieve some of the pressure and make your tanning experience more enjoyable. Tanning stickers are a great way to keep track of how much of a tan you have received over time, and they are an inexpensive extra that can be fun and even decorative. By purchasing the right tanning bed supplies you can make your tanning experience more enjoyable and prolong the life of your bed.
About The Author
Larry Scott is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Tanning-Beds-Here.com. He provides more tanning bed tips and free tanning bed accessories information at http://www.tanning-beds-here.com where you can research at any time, day or night, on his website.

Vitamins That Are Good For Getting Pregnant

2007-01-04T11:20:00.001-08:00

by: Helene Kvist
With the rise in older couples trying to become pregnant, there has also been a marked increase in fertility issues. Women's bodies are at their prime during their early twenties on up to the thirties, but after that, pregnancy can seem an elusive challenge. However, with hormone therapies, women have more choices than ever. But for those women who want a more natural approach, recent research has shown that there are also vitamins good for fertility. Fertility problems have grown by 25% in the past ten years and scientists are baffled. However, holistic experts believe that some of these problems are due to a lack of nutritious diets as well as other environmental factors. As a result, the body can not support itself through the process of becoming pregnant; resulting in irregular ovulation times, fewer viable eggs, and even problems with the male's sperm. To combat this, couples may want to consider supplementing with vitamins good for fertility, and increase their overall chances of a pregnancy. Women who are looking for vitamins good for fertility will not need to go to their doctor for prescriptions, but rather, they can head to their local grocery store or health food market for the right supplements. Vitamins that they will want to include are: folic acid (400mcg), flaxseed oil (1000mg), zinc (30mg), selenium (100mcg), vitamin E (200mg), vitamin C (1000mg), vitamins B6 (50 mg) and B12 (50 mcg) as well as manganese (5 mg). Taking these supplements on a daily basis is effective for creating ideal conditions in the body to aid in conception as well as prevents birth defects. But men are not excluded from fertility responsibility. Though women are given most of the credit for helping with fertility, a man who takes vitamins good for fertility can also ensure that his sperm are ready for the all important moment of conception. Men should consider taking the same vitamins and minerals as their female counterparts, minus the folic acid, as well as add two amino acids to their routine: L-carnitine (100mg) and L-arginine (300mg). This combination of vitamins and supplements assists the overall sperm count to be more appropriate for conception. The general course of supplementation of vitamins food for fertility should be started before couples actually begin their attempts to become pregnant. This will allow their bodies to make any necessary repairs as well as possibly correct any fertility issues that may have been caused by a lack of vitamin storage in their bodies. Most physicians and obstetricians recommend that couples undergo this kind of treatment process before turning to more conventional methods of fertility treatment for at least three months before beginning to attempt to conceive. Undoubtedly, there is skepticism over the use of vitamins good for fertility as many physicians believe that troubles with conception are medical in cause. However, many of the reasons for these medical causes are being shown to be the result of a lack of proper body function because of poor nutrition. For example, women who are restrictively dieting can reduce their vitamin stores, which can then lead to problems with menstruation, hormonal control, and thus conception. It stands to prove that increasing one's focus on nutrition will help to reverse these issues. There are also many supplement combinations of vitamins good for fertility on the drug market today; many of which are available in drugstores or through online markets. Women and men should be careful to choose only reputable supplements as well as check with their doctors if they have outstanding medical conditions that might require medication advice. These supplement programs may need to be continued for a while until the actual pregnancy begins, but restoring the body to health is one of the best gifts that a mother can give to their unborn child. Copyright (c) 2006 Helene Kvist
About The Author
Helene Kvist makes it easy to understand what to do to make your body highly fertile and more likely to conceive and become pregnant. Learn the essential keys to a successful pregnancy. To receive the Powerful Pregnancy Report visit: http://www.my-fertility.com/.

Caring for Acne Prone Skin – Things to be Careful Of

2007-01-04T11:19:00.005-08:00

by: Adam Brzostowski
Caring for acne prone skin is a real challenge for anybody, but it really can be done, and could be easier than you thought. The first step is very simple and well known. Proper hygiene is key, but be careful not to overdo the washing. Clear your face and other affected areas twice a day. Do not over do it because you could actually cause some irritation to the skin, and make acne worse. Then, make sure that you are eating proper food, and getting good nutrition. The body needs nutrition to have a strong immune system and combat infections, and acne produces small infections. For this reason, consume a lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and lean meat. Limited amounts of dairy products, and cutting back on fatty foods and sugars can help also. And if you do not think you are getting enough vitamins, ask your doctor to recommend an adequate supplement. There is no substitute for great health, and if you add regular exercise to the mix, then your body becomes stronger, healthier and better able to fight this nuisance. Next important step, forget all of the myths you know about acne. There is no known connection between chocolate, fried foods, sex, or stress. Hormones along with clogged pores and microbe that create the blemishes lead to acne. Also forget about popping pimples in the mirror. This can just drive the bacteria deeper inside your skin and lead to a worse infection later. If you are a man, be careful shaving. Shave around blemishes, even if you are leaving a little patch of beard. That is definitely better than walking around with bandaids on your sore face. If you are a woman, realize that makeup causing acne is a myth, but clogging pores is not, so use a makeup that does not clog pores, and if possible one that contains a medicines that kills germs and will help cut back on acne. Numerous men find that using an electric shaver during maturation is safer and does a better job. In addition, find a proper facial wash with an active ingredient that can eliminate microbe and help you combat acne. There are many good ones on the market. Numberless over the counter remedies contain Benzoyl peroxide, which is the pretty common over the counter acne fighter and for a lots of people it works great. Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria, and even better, microbe do not develop a resistance to this treatment. It keeps on killing the germs on and on. This product can reduce inflammation of the skin and suppress excess oil production. Tea tree oil is a natural substance available in health food stores that works much the same way as Benzoyl peroxide. Many people think that it is easier on the skin, so it might be worth a try. Salicylic acid is also a popular cure. It softens the skin and helps to unplug pores and discard dead skin cells. Used in conjunction with Benzoyl peroxide or tea tree oil, numerous people find it helps greatly. Also helpful is sulfur, which works a lot like Benzoyl peroxide. It also helps to get rid of bacteria and unclog pores. Add to the mix glycolic acid, an ingredient that is also used in anti aging products. It helps to get rid of dead skin cells and is believed to stimulate the production of new cells. This process may help unplug stopped up pores. Unplugging the pores will stop the spread of acne no matter what our skin type is. Doctors frequently prescribe antibiotics to help those who are vulnerable to acne. Your doctor may think that tetracycline can help, or he or she may prescribe a similar drug. These oral antibiotics are proficient, but on the down side the germ they exterminate, can develop a resistance. Current antibiotics are also helpful and in the opinion of many healthcare experts are better to use than oral antibiotics. They will eliminate the bacteria directly in the pores. Topical erythromycin works well. Also Benzaclin, Duac and Benzamycn perform well. Antibiotics should not be overused, but for numberless people they do provide relief from the suffering of acne. If you have skin amenable to acne, it takes extra care, but it can be beat.
About The Author
Adam Brzostowski is the owner of Ance Fight, a website that explains everything you need to know about Acne. Come and visit our site and see what you can learn about Acne. http://www.theacnefight.com

Caring for Acne Prone Skin – Things to be Careful Of

2007-01-04T11:19:00.004-08:00

Resolving Issues On Fast Weight Loss

2007-01-04T11:19:00.003-08:00

by: Nathalie Fiset,M.D.
In a world where almost everything moves in a fast-paced environment, people no longer pay attention to “slowly-but-surely” strategies. Everybody wants everything in express, fast, easy, hassle-free, and convenient manner. Even in losing weight, people who are suffering from obesity or those who are morbidly obese want fast weight loss solutions to their problem. FAST WEIGHT LOSS AND EMOTIONAL EATING Experts say that fad or fast diets are not recommended because these cannot pave the way for permanent weight loss and control. But there are studies that show that fast weight loss has some short-term benefits like being a powerful motivator in losing weight for good. Some physicians also say that is it okay to have a fast weight loss if the person’s health wouldn’t be undermined or affected. Fast weight loss can be effective if it’s only used for initial weight loss because this can lead to having balanced diet and doing regular exercise or physical activities. Fast weight loss can even motivate a person to follow a reasonable eating plan and sensible eating pattern so he/she would not regain the weight lost. Although some fast weight loss strategies are allowed, it still doesn’t change the fact that engaging into it without preparation is hazardous to health. One of the reasons why people become obese is emotional eating. Some of the key factors that trigger emotional eating include anger, depression, and anxiety that lead to eating more food that a regular diet allows. Experts say that if a person can manage emotional eating, the possibility of losing weight fast and safe is greater. Here are some tips in combating emotional eating: - It pays to determine your own mood especially before eating. Doing this will give you a mindset that eating is just a part of solving whatever that is bothering you. - Analyze and monitor your emotions daily. Checking your emotional levels daily can help you trace the reasons why you indulge to emotional eating and can help you solve these emotions before taking any meal. This can also help you fight the urge to overeat when you get emotionally upset. - Try to develop new hobbies that will take your mind off food and eating. By keeping yourself busy in other things, you can avoid eating large amount of food on a regular basis. - Work out a meal plan that you can stick with everyday. By having a concrete reminder of the foods you should and should not eat for the day, you can develop a healthy eating plan that can help you lose weight fast and safe. - Do regular physical activities such as walk or jogging regularly. Physical exertions can help your body burn unnecessary and unwanted calories. - Exert more effort to form closer friendships and emotional bonds. Having a company that can give you moral support in your endeavor will help you fight emotional complexities. - Discover and rediscover a better spiritual health. Analyzing your emotions through spiritual health can be enough motivation to keep up with your weight loss agenda. - Stick to water therapy. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily can keep your body refreshed and well hydrated so you won’t easily get irritated or upset. - Choose you treats. Comfort foods such as junk foods should be replaced with healthier alternatives such as fruits or low fat products. - Learn to forgive yourself. When you blow your diet, forgive yourself. Feeling guilty and depressed will only make matters worst. Instead of dwelling on your self-will, try to be positive by telling yourself you can do better tomorrow. THE ROAD TO SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS Fast weight loss might be a good way to jumpstart a weight loss plan, but it’s significant to keep the long term weight loss goals. In reality, there’s really no such thing as a quick fix or fast when it comes to weight loss. You must bear in mind that if you want to be happy, healthy, and achieve your desired weight for good you better start changing you eating and lifestyle habits.
About The Author
Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: http://www.sayyestolosingweight.com http://www.aperfectharmony.com or http://www.a-1hypnosis.com.

Unintended Consequences And The Standard American Diet

2007-01-04T11:19:00.001-08:00

by: Ronald Brown
In India, the government offered a bounty on rats. The intention was to eradicate a noxious pest. One unanticipated result was the establishment of rat farms, where rats were bred and harvested for the bounty. In Florida, a worker at a dog kennel noticed lots of snakes on the premises. He systematically killed them all. Then the rat population increased dramatically. These are examples of the Law of Unintended Consequences, which states that any human action--whether or not it produces the desired result--is likely to produce an entirely different result (possibly in conflict with the original intention.) Typically, such results are completely unexpected. Often, they are just as completely undesired. Let’s review some of the changes which the Standard American Diet has pioneered: American food has been stripped of virtually all of its essential nutrients. Sugar and fat seem to be the major ingredients in virtually every American food. (About 45 percent of the caloric value of our diet comes from fat, and we use about 100 pounds of sugar per person per year.) Our consumption of hydrogenated fat is the highest in the world. We have virtually eliminated vegetables from our diet. We have drastically reduced the variety of foodstuffs we eat. We no longer rotate our diet with the change of the seasons. We consume about six pounds of synthetic food additives per person per year. Our widespread use of denatured flours, refined sugars, devitalized fats and oils, and synthetic food additives has been in effect for about one hundred years. Speaking in individual terms, this is a long time. In terms of the human race, it is a very short time. These dietary changes are quite radical when compared to human dietary tradition. And they don't seem to be good for you, either. As the American diet has changed, so has our health. Americans now lead the world in obesity, diabetes and heart disease. In fact, consumption of the Standard American Diet constitutes a chronic metabolic insult. Ours is the only civilization in history which has single-handedly managed to break its food. How did this come to pass? We did it ourselves. There doesn't seem to have been any kind of evil conspiracy, or divine intervention. It just kind of happened, as the result of many un-coordinated, short-sighted decisions--made with the very best of intentions by people who were only trying to improve the lot of suffering humanity. Here is a timeline of this nutritional revolution: 1755: William Cullen produces ice by causing water to evaporate in a vacuum container. 1765: Spallanzani suggests preserving by means of hermetic sealing. 1795: Francois Appert designs preserving jar for food. 1802: Thomas Moore invents the refrigerator. 1802: World's first successful beet sugar factory begins operation. 1805: First important shipment of ice from New England is made by Frederick Tudor. 1810: Francois Appert wins prize for developing practical canning process. 1810: First tin can is patented. 1811: Work started on the National Road. 1812: British sailors eating canned soups and meat. 1818: Peter Durand introduces the tin can in America. 1819: Canning firms operating in New York City. 1820: William Underwood opens a canning factory in Boston. 1820: More than 9000 miles of surfaced roads in the United States. 1825: Thomas Kensett patents tin-plated cans. Before 1830: Flour sieved through bolting cloth. 1834: Jacob Perkins invents first mechanical refrigerator. 1839: Glass bottles yield to tin cans. 1840: 4,500 miles of canals carry U.S. goods. 1843: Norman Rillieux patents his multiple-effect evaporator for sugar cane. 1853: National Road turned over to the states. 1855: Patent issued in England for dried milk. 1856: Gail Borden receives patent for condensed milk process. 1858: John L. Mason perfects the mason jar. 1860: More than 88,000 miles of surfaced roads in the United States. 1861: T.S. Mort builds first machine-chilled cold storage unit. 1861: 3,500 steamboats operating on western rivers. Civil War: Both armies use canning to supply troops. Civil War: northern plains begin using hard spring wheat. 1862: Beginning of transition from subsistence to commercial farming. 1864: First salmon cannery in the United States. 1864: Louis Pasteur invents pasteurization (for wine). 1865: Thaddeus Lowe invents ice machine. 1865: Patent for dried eggs issued. 1866: America's first refrigerated railroad car is built in Detroit. 1869: Hippolyte Mege-Mouries develops oleomargarine. 1870: Karl von Linde uses ammonia as refrigerant, begins its manufacture. 1870's: Introduction of roller milling for wheat. 1874: H. Solomon introduces pressure-cooking methods for canning foods. 1874: Refrigerator cars are used regularly to ship meat from Midwest stockyards to the east. 1874: Margarine introduced to the United States. 1877: Joel Tiffany patents a successful refrigerator car. 1877: Frozen mutton shipped from Argentina to France. 1878: Gustav de Laval invents the centrifugal cream separator. 1878: Full-scale egg dehydrating plant in operation. 1879: 40 tons of frozen mutton shipped from Australia to London. 1880: Canned fruits and meats first appear in stores. Late 1880's: Mechanically refrigerated cars running on railroads. 1890: The Babcock test makes dairymen honest. 1892: First cans of pineapples. 1895: Lewis B. Halsey begins commercial production of pasteurized milk. 1897: American Sugar Company is formed. 1900: Dairy products a full-fledged industry. 1903: The great corporation is the basic unit of American industry. 1910: Steel-roller flour milling is commonplace. 1915: Ford produces his millionth car. 1919: 265,000 miles of railroad lines in America. About 1920: Mechanical refrigerators for homes appear. 1920's: Solvent extraction replaces expeller-pressed process for oils. 1927: Airplanes first used to dust crops with insecticides. 1930: Thomas Midgley invents Freon. 1930's-now: Small farms yield to giant food companies. 1930's: The first packages of frozen food, developed by Clarence Birdseye, appear on the shelves of 10 grocery stores in Springfield, Mass. Post-WWII: Restructured foods. 1990's: Recombinant DNA biologically engineered foods. In June, 2002 the Journal of the American Medical Association recommended that every American use a daily multi-nutrient supplement to address the issue of deficient diets. What makes this unusual is the fact that mainstream medicine has fought tooth and nail with the forces of vitamin and mineral supplementation for decades. Previously, supplementation had been characterized by them as a mostly harmless waste of money. Perhaps there may be some hope, after all.
About The Author
Ronald Brown is a retired hotel night auditor. At the age of 21, he worked as a computer programmer. Ten years later, he was selling boiler chemicals In Mexico. In the early ’70s, he became interested in biochemistry, and followed its study as a hobby. Visit his website: http://www.WeBeatDiabetes.com.

Consuming More Calories After Intestine Cancer Leads To A Longer Life

2007-01-04T11:18:00.004-08:00

by: John Stone
A French study by some of its most noted scientists has surprised the professional medical world. Their studies have dismissed the well accepted theory that a diet plentiful in calories plays a factor in promoting the generation of cancer in the intestines. Through their stringent observations over a five year period of cancer patients with intestinal cancer they found that a calorie rich diet also helps to actually increase the chances of outliving an intestinal cancer that has been removed through an operation. French researchers in a study with 148 cancer patients proved this connection. Those patients who lived a calorie conscious lifestyle before their cancer diagnosis had a clearly higher mortality rate risk than their suffering counterparts after the operational removal of the tumor. A negative for the saying a balanced nutrition. The medical profession from the Marie Christine Boutron Ruault of the Paris Institute studied and evaluated the data of 97 men and 51 women who had their intestinal cancer removed through operations. The researchers particularly studied the eating habits of the patients before they were diagnosed with cancer. This was apart from the age, sex and situation of the tumor within the intestine and was found to be crucial for the chances for survival of the patients. According to the facts of the researchers 50 of the patients nourished themselves on a calorie rich diet, 48 patients lived an approximate balanced diet and 50 patients were extremely calorie conscious. Within five years the mortality rate after the intestinal cancer operation within those who had a balanced diet was 46 per cent and/or 22 patients which proved to be the highest. With the patients who led a calorie conscious lifestyle nutrition the ratio was 36 per cent, which corresponded to 18 deaths. Those who clearly ate too sumptuously lived the longest, only six patients or 12 per cent from this group died as the consequences of the intestinal cancer. Special food which could have affected the mortality rate or alcohol and tobacco consumption was not taken into account and did not seem to play any substantial influence. The results of this study were surprising to many researchers due to a calorie rich diet long being regarded as jointly responsible for the emergence of intestine cancer but it now quite possibly could be the exact opposite. Intestinal cancer ranks among the most frequent cancer forms in the western industrialized countries. Usually it is discovered too late which makes the chances of survival very slim. Over half of the patients diagnosed with intestinal cancer die within five years after the initial diagnosis. Further studies are required in this field to combat this deadly form of cancer, but due to the length of the term of each research study it may be a few more years yet before the human race can finally hope to rid itself of this killer known as intestinal cancer disease. http://www.cancer-treatment-help.com
About The Author
John Stone writes exclusively for cancer-treatment-help.com. http://www.cancer-treatment-help.com

Myths That Turn Your Stomach Sour: Acid Reflux Facts

2007-01-04T11:18:00.003-08:00

by: Joe Hanoa
When it comes to heartburn and acid reflux disease, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. So many people believe old wives tales about heart burn. While taking antacids may help relief your heartburn today, it won’t cure the problem. The only way to reverse the damage caused by acid reflux is by adopting a healthful diet and understanding the myths surrounding acid reflux. Enjoy spicy foods One myth is that you can prevent acid reflux by avoiding spicy foods. But researchers from Stanford University found avoiding spicy foods or drinking milk will not relieve heartburn. The only changes that seem to work include elevating your head while you sleep and eating smaller meals. Eating more often When people first hear they are supposed to eat more often, they rejoice. But eating more often does not mean eating more food. It just means you should have small meals spread out throughout the day. When it comes to acid reflux, eating large meals takes a toll on your digestive system. Small meals demand less hydrochloric acid for digestion. Make sure you eat a balanced meal including some complex carbohydrate with lean protein and healthy fats such as olive oil. High-fat meals require more stomach acid which can aggravate heartburn. While some experts say coffee, tea and alcohol do not play a role in acid reflux, it’s still a good idea to limit alcohol. Adhering to the phrase “everything in moderation,” can mean the difference between being thin or obese. Avoid beer and soda pop if you suffer with acid reflux. Diet soda is the most acid-forming beverage on the market. Avoid it like the plague. Besides, researchers have shown many times drinking diet soda will actually make you gain weight instead of lose it. Tips for preventing heartburn To prevent heartburn, go for a brisk walk after dinner. Give yourself a good hour before lying down after a meal. Also, if you can, elevate your head while sleeping. When you overindulge, try using an antacid, which is sold without a prescription, to alleviate the discomfort associated with heartburn. Just make a vow to adopt better eating habits and stop smoking. Some of the long-term risks associated with GERD include ulcers, asthma and cancer of the esophagus. Realize antacids are not candy. Some of the side effects include diarrhea and constipation. Use them only rarely and focus on lifestyle changes.
About The Author
Joe Hanoa is the proud owner of GERD, a website that will explain everything you need to know about Acid Reflux. We invite you to visit our site today and see what we have to offer.

Today's Personal Care Products - Health and Beauty

2007-01-04T11:18:00.001-08:00

by: TK Healey
Personal care products help us to improve hair, skin, health and fitness. These items can improve are lives and the way in which we live them. These products have come a long way over the years and definitely make our personal hygiene chores a lot easier. Hair removal products have always been an interest for both men and women. Women want those smooth silkily legs without having to shave with a razor blade everyday. One of the first hair removal products I can remember was nair. “Who wears short shorts”, commercial ad comes to mind. Nair is a lotion that dissolves the hair. What sophisticated products do we have today for hair removal? Well for one the electric razors have come a long way. They claim to leave your skin smooth and soft and to give you closest shave ever. I lost track I think we are up to 7 blades now. The ePen is a home electrolysis system which permanently removes unwanted hair. The ePad extra large body pads remove hair quickly and painlessly. There is also an abundant of products to stop thinning hair. You don't have to join a hair club for men or go to the doctors and pay for hair transplants when there are so many products you can use right at home. There are special shampoos, conditioners, hair brushes and treatment solutions to try. These products claim you will get thicker, fuller and healthier looking hair. What products do we have that fight signs of aging? A product called frownies gently re-educates the underlying muscles to give you a more relaxed and natural, appearance to help with the removal of wrinkles and frown lines. There is also numerous skin care lotions, creams, and sprays to apply to your skin. Some of these brand products are Youthful Essence, Sheer Cover, Aloette, NuGlow and this is just a real small sample. Whether you are looking for the soothing relaxation and tension easing experience of a personal massager, or want to get a great looking tan, there are many great products designed to make this all possible in the comfort of your home. These products help to promote wellness in your life and improve your looks! We all want to feel and look our best. Looking good can also mean feeling good!
About The Author
TK Healey chief editor for http://SurfTilYouDrop.com ® a consumer based website focusing on As Seen On TV products. Visit this page for unique Personal Care Health and Beauty Products.

Anti Aging and Genomics for Women's Health

2007-01-04T11:17:00.001-08:00

by: Chris Robertson
Anti aging products have been around for years, from creams to pills to bath oils - they're all designed to make women look and feel younger. What many women don't realize is that the aging process begins right after we're born! Each time the skin is exposed to the rays of the sun, some slight aging occurs. Unfortunately, it takes years for the evidence of aging to show up for most women. Ten or twenty years of sun bathing can equal lots of wrinkles and skin discoloration once a woman reaches her 40s or 50s. The anti aging products on the store shelves then become very attractive, but many will not work after reaching a certain age. That's why a new cutting edge science in Genomics is getting noticed in the anti-aging market. It's a new natural discovery that defies aging through cell rejuvenation. What is Genomics? Genomics is the study and experimentation of genomes, or an organism's complete DNA makeup, that is found in virtually every cell of the human body. In studying genomics, scientists have discovered ways to encourage cell repair and healthy cell development as the body produces new cells every day. This process is ongoing so having healthy cells is pertinent to good women's health. Through cutting edge science in genomics and a devotion to help women with anti-aging, natural products have been developed to help prevent aging and maintain beauty for many years. Through cell rejuvenation, the body is capable of healthy aging. Food and Aging If we need natural ingredients found in foods to have healthy cells, why not just eat a more healthy diet? Eating healthy is important in slowing the aging process, but it's usually not enough unless you eat raw vegetables from your own garden! Many fruits and vegetables are grown in nutritionally-depleted soil, shipped to the grocery, cooked in oil and served on the platter. Through this entire process, the foods are losing important minerals and nutrients women need for healthy living. Taking an anti-aging supplement provides nutrients and minerals needed to replace those lost in foods. Good Bone and Joint Health Another area of concern for women is bone and joint health. Proteins help to keep bone and joint tissue healthy and strong. With arthritis and osteoporosis being so prevalent among older women, it's wise to start working on good bone and joint health at a young age. Products are available to help restore minerals that are lost in the bones and joints during the aging process. Anti-aging research through genomics is still fairly new, but many women are already seeing results when using natural, genomics-based anti-aging products.
About The Author
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com To learn more about subjects like anti aging please visit the web site at: http://www.agelesslife.com/lawsonc For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Health and Beauty directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/Health_and_Beauty

Be Fabulous After Forty

2007-01-04T11:16:00.004-08:00

by: Kamau Austin
A popular saying proposes, "The face is a reflection of the mind." Another saying claims, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” Beautiful eyes are an especially hot focus for women since eye contact is essential in personal attraction and interaction. Most people would agree that women, more than men, are noticed and praised for their beauty and vibrant sparkling eyes enhance your beauty. Don't underestimate the importance of good-looking eyes. As a beauty-conscious woman, you may spend fortunes on your make up, but a lively and beautiful pair of eyes can win recognition and attention. It doesn't matter how much you spend on makeup if your eyes are droopy, dull, or tired. Treating your tired eyes should be your top priority. The first step is to understand why your eyes look tired. The basic structure of the skin near your eyes is thin and very delicate to enable your eyes to move easily. It is natural for this skin to shrink and lose suppleness as you age. This, in turn, makes your eyes look tired and aged. Tired-looking eyes can give away your age and sometimes even make you look older than you actually are! Solutions for Tired-looking Eyes Permanent or long-lasting solutions go a long way in helping you remain fabulous even after forty. When seeking a cream to help revitalize eyes, look for these crucial ingredients. * Hyaluronic acid, or HA, in Triple Effects Eye Serum plays the role of a fabulous "molecular sponge." How? It provides optimum moisture and adds thickness to the skin near your eyes; it minimizes dark circles. * Jojoba esters, also found in Triple Effects, are natural oils and well-known skin moisturizers. Jojoba is rich in vitamin E and is naturally. It protects your skin from damaging and harmful molecules, enhances blood circulation in the area near your eyes, and prevents pooling and clears congestions. * Witch hazel is a conventional astringent that soothes naturally. It tightens pores, reduces and prevents clogging, and combats swelling which would spoil the appearance of your eyes. * Chamomile, also included in Triple Effects, is a natural soother like witch hazel; it eases swollen and puffy skin near your eyes and is rich in several anti-stress nutrients. It is an ingredient what can help you regain your glowing and youthful skin. * Acetyl Hexapeptide 3 (AH3) show tremendous results when applied on the areas surrounding your eyes where wrinkles appear. Wrinkles are a result of the frequent muscular contractions involved when your face shows numerous expressions. AH3 is based on a complex amino acid formula. Seeking out all the above treatments could be time consuming and challenging. Therefore, the simple way to topically treat dark circles or patches under your eyes is by using feature rich treatments like Eyederma(tm). Eyederma(tm) was formulated to diminish dark circles and enhance thinning skin around the eyes; it restores them back to a more youthful state. Eyederma(tm) can be obtained from the Bodestore at http://www.bodestore.com and amazon.com Age is not a barrier to beauty. Even if you are over forty, you can remain young with glowing skin and bright eyes. You just need to be conscious of choosing the right make-up formula that will enhance your appearance. For example, you can choose a cream or eye mask that serves most, if not all, of your needs to lessen eye imperfections. Remember: if you are going to use a variety of creams for treating eye problems as part of your beauty regimen, ensure the products complement each other. This can be challenging. You would, therefore, avoid the side-effects that different products are likely to cause. To be safe, use a single, simple solution like Eyederma(tm). You can always look your best at any age. Take good care of your eyes and choose the right combination of make-up so your eyes look fabulous, bright, shining, young, and filled with life and exuberance!
About The Author
Written by the V-Team courtesy Kamau Austin Publisher. The V-Team writes articles for the health and fitness enthusiast. Their timeless health and fitness tips are at the Fit After Forty Blog. See more useful news and tips about reducing dark cycle around the eyes with Eyedermaat http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com/blogs/fitnessblog.htm

Good Bye Acne: Hello Beautiful Skin!

2007-01-04T11:16:00.003-08:00

by: Cathy Barela
Acne is the most common disease in the world. Although the most common outbreaks usually occur during the ages of 14-25 years if age, many people get acne well into their adult years. Over 20,000,000 people have acne in the U.S. alone. Having acne can make you feel self-conscious and want to avoid social contacts at all costs. If you are suffering from acne, you have probably gone from one medication to the next hoping to find the miracle cure. There are so many creams, lotions and over the counter, so called remedies, that are supposed to work wonders in clearing up this dreaded skin problem. Maybe you have spent hundreds of dollars at the dermatologist’s office only to find the prescriptions that were given to you did little, if anything at all, to clear up your acne. Creams, soaps, and gels can irritate the skin and even cause rashes on your face. Antibiotics will kill the bad bacteria in our bodies. The only problem with that is that antibiotics also kill the good bacteria as well. Many people think that by taking antibiotics over a long period of time, it will definitely do the trick, when in reality, it is doing far more harm than good We need the good bacteria in our bodies to offset the infections and diseases that may occur. It is vitally important to have good bacteria in your body at all times. There are many theories about the causes and cures of acne. I suffered from acne for many years until I found the most amazing cure and have never had an outbreak since By starting from the inside out, you may clear up your acne at an amazingly fast speed My skin has never looked better and my over all health has drastically improved too. If you are suffering from acne, it doesn’t have to be that way. By getting the RIGHT information you can have beautiful and youthful and be proud to go anywhere in public without the embarrassment of acne.
About The Author
Cathy Barela lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves the mountains, music, sports, outdoors, writing and helping people accomplish their goals. For more information about getting rid of acne click here: http://SayGoodByeToAcne.blogspot.com

Eating Healthy Can Help With Insomia

2007-01-04T11:16:00.001-08:00

by: Abby Johnson
Everyone has experienced at some time or another difficulty in falling asleep. Sometimes it is for one night or can be an ongoing problem. Tossing and turning all night isn’t anything new to most people occasionally but none the less it is a terrible feeling when you just start to fall asleep and it’s time to wake up. It can seem like a very long day with no rest behind you. Good sleep habits are known to be healthy for you in the long run. Insomnia has varied causes and one of them can be your eating habits. The food you eat does play a part in how your body prepares itself to sleep. Different foods will cause different reactions in your body. A good way to help you understand how foods play a part in insomnia is to write a journal. All you need to do is write down everything that you eat during your day and the times that you are eating it. Also write down how you slept, was it a sound, peaceful sleep? Was it a restless night? Include the length of time you slept also and then you will see a pattern forming from your daily intake of food and the quality and amount of the sleep that you had. This will guide you into being able to avoid certain foods that don’t agree with your sleep pattern and include more of the foods that seem to produce better results for you. Everyone is different but there does seem to be some foods that are universally known to help induce and promote good sleep quality. This list can help you identify some of these but keep in mind that your body chemistry is unique, only research will help you find the best diet for you. Milk really does help you sleep. So that old saying about a glass of warm milk before bed is definitely true, milk does have a chemical in it that helps you sleep. Fruits seem to have a way to help promote a sound sleep. Lemons seem to be the most effective fruit. Breads, preferably whole grain breads seem to have the most positive effect. But all bread products including, bagels and muffins are included. As stated before every individual has a different body chemistry and finding what works for you may take some trial and error. Sometimes the natural sugar in foods will cause some people to toss and turn but in others it may not have that same effect. Of course we all know that consuming caffeine or processed sugars late in the day are not very good choices for promoting a good night sleep. Keeping a journal will help you identify what works for your body chemistry, what may help you get a good restful sleep and what to avoid. Controlling your insomnia with a good diet is the healthiest and most natural way to a better nights sleep.
About The Author
Abby Johnson is a staff writer at http://www.retirementplanningdigest.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.lifestylegazette.com.

Adult ADD: What Everybody Should Know... About How To Focus Attention

2007-01-04T11:15:00.003-08:00

by: Tellman H. Knudson
Focus is a very interesting thing. It’s kind of confusing for a lot of people. Sometimes people have focus when they don’t know that they’re focused. Some people just can’t seem to focus. Some people find that they’re focusing on the wrong things, and not the things they want to focus on. It’s difficult to measure. Focus is a concept. It’s very difficult to say, “I’m focused" right? Versus, “I’m not focused,” because it’s very, very subjective. Where’s the focus scale? How much does it weigh if you’re very focused? The concept is very personal. One person’s focus is another person’s distraction, and you really need to take these ideas into consideration when you’re talking about putting these principles and techniques into practice. It’s good to develop a skill to turn focus on and off on demand, but you really want to be developing your natural areas that you’re able to focus in on like crazy. I'm talking about hyper-focus, when you really get into that zone where you literally can work on a project, be thinking about something, be reading a book, be watching a TV show, or be engrossed in a conversation about a topic, where you’ll forget to eat or where you’ll completely miss an appointment because you’re so focused on what you were into or working on. When you’re working with this principle, technique, or concept, you have to remember that it’s a conscious choice in the beginning. Let’s talk about doing dishes. I hate doing dishes and just can't focus on the task. I have hated doing dishes from the time I was a very small child. My parents will tell you plenty of stories about me getting distracted away from doing dishes. To this day, I still don’t enjoy doing dishes, and I do my absolute best to outsource it to whoever is eating dinner with me at the time. But sometimes you just have to do the dishes. So, how do you get the dishes done? I’m going to give you some tricks, and please remember, what we’re talking about here isn’t dishes specifically. It's focus. What we’re talking about is your own dirty dishes. Whatever it is that’s like dirty dishes for you—maybe it’s your homework, if you’re in school; paying the bills is a very common one; getting your taxes organized in advance. There are some basic things that you can do to focus, that you can modify and plug in to whatever it is that you have to do on a regular basis, that you just don’t want to do. Before I do the dishes, I make myself a nice pot of coffee. The second thing I do when I want to get a household chore done at high speed (because I’m a distance runner and love running), I actually get into my running clothes, shoes, shorts, and shirt, and do the dishes at high speed while dressed up like a runner. It’s kind of a funny sight, but it works. It works really well. Or, whatever religion you are, you can somehow incorporate that into what you’re doing. There are lots of very powerful ways to simply connect things that interest you, and include them in what you’re doing to focus and make what you hate to do less like work. It’s very interesting the way this works. If you’re diagnosed or not diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, it doesn’t matter. We’re talking about your mental habits. If you need more help focusing, put some of these practices and concepts into action. A linear person focuses on one thing. Their emotions get balanced. They’re able to think ahead, plan ahead, and do things in sequence. That’s pretty good for focusing on one task at a time, such as doing the dishes. It’s a very monotonous, step-by-step kind of thing. The ADD-type person focuses on one thing, and generally what happens, unless you’re able to hyper-focus, as we discussed earlier, your brain literally shuts down. The part of your brain that is in control of doing things in sequence, planning ahead, and doing things in order literally shuts down. The activity in your brain just goes “plop,” and what happens is your brain starts looking for other things to stimulate it so it can stay active, except it’s going on randomizer now, meaning it will just soak up whatever’s coming into your senses. The point here is if you feed your senses with things that are related to what you’re trying to accomplish, you’ll stay focused on accomplishing that thing. There are all sorts of different ways that you can play with this in your life.
About The Author
Tellman Knudson, certified hynotherapist and CEO of http://OvercomeEverything.com, helps others to become focus fanatics. See much more about focus and ADD/ADHD at http://InstantADDSuccess.com ( http://instantaddsuccess.com )

Weight Watchers. Their Life Story.

2007-01-04T11:15:00.001-08:00

by: Kerris Samson
Weight Watchers was founded by Jean Nidetch in the middle of the 1960’s and her goal was to offer service and assistance to those who were looking to lose weight. She therefore offered to these people different products which helped them when dieting and thus lose the weight. Her early success in this field has now turned into a successful world wide company which operates in more than 30 countries and goes by the trademark name of “Weight Watchers”; however this can be translated into the local language of any given country if required. Weight Watchers is made up of two different programs that a dieter can follow being either the Core program or the Points program. Each program that a dieter chooses to follow is supported by a group that helps when needed most such as during group discussions and accountability (ensuring that the dieter is reaching their target weight). The Points program is a program which puts a numerical value on a person’s burning of energy and their actual calorie intake. Each serving of food that they consume is given a number of points and conversely different styles of exercise undertaken by a dieter will be given a negative point(s). So during a certain week each dieter will have a certain number of points that they must try to hit in accordance with the overall weight loss they wish to attain and their actual current weight. Certainly is this respect this is where the Weight Watchers program is so very different from either the South Beach or Atkins Diets as a person on this program is not limited to what foods they can eat, but rather to how much of that food they are allowed to consume. For example, should someone wish to each more of one food that has a high points value, then they must carry out the appropriate exercise and watch the other foods that they eat throughout the rest of the week to counterbalance it. Certainly the amount of exercise that a person takes whilst on a Weight Watchers program is correlated to just how much exercise that person wants to do. So if they decide that they do not want to exercise or exercise only a little, then they can not eat as many points compared with someone who is exercising regularly, and such people can eat those foods which have a higher point’s value. Unfortunately this type of diet is not to everyone’s liking as it makes the person accountable for what they are doing and does not allow any room for cheating. So if someone wishes to cheat on this diet, they will not be harming anyone else but themselves and their chance to lose the weight. The most annoying thing about this diet is the record keeping, a lot of people find this cumbersome as they have to make sure that they record every single food item they have eaten throughout the day and make sure that they give a point value to each item of food, if they do not then it means that they will not necessarily succeed in their overall goal of removing the unwanted weight.
About The Author
Kerris Samson a work from home mum, living in Spain who with her husband Mark has set up a number of sites dedicated to all matters relating to living a more healthy lifestyle on such subjects as Wheatgrass, Detox Diets and Programs and now a site dedicated to Weight Loss and especially Weight Watchers. If you would like to learn more please visit http://www.recipes.kitchens101.info.

Grilled Chicken Contains Cancer-Causing Agent

2007-01-04T11:14:00.003-08:00

by: David Liu
Grilled chicken from seven national restaurant chains contains a dangerous carcinogen called PhIP, prompting the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) to file a lawsuit against the restaurants, the PCRM announced September 28. The lawsuit was filed under California's Proposition 65 in The Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles to compel McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, and TGI Friday's to warn unsuspecting consumers of the carcinogen. PhIP was found in every sample of grilled chicken from these restraurants. "Grilled chicken can cause cancer, and consumers deserve to know that this supposedly healthy product is actually just as bad for them as high-fat fried chicken," says PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D. "Even a grilled chicken salad increases the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other forms of this lethal disease." 2-amino-1methyk-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), along with three other heterocyclic amines (HCAs), known as 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (MeIQ), and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoxaline (MeIQx) are listed by the National Toxicology Program in the Report on Carcinogen as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) including PhIP are formed by condensation of creatinine and amino acids in animal muscle during the cooking of meat. A high level of the cancer-causing agents can be formed in a cooking process at high temperature for a long time. HCAs are readily absorbed and distributed in the body. They are metabolized by both phase I and phase II enzymes and become toxic forms, arylnitrenium ions, which ultimately bind to DNA, leading to HCA-induced DNA adducts. PhIP and other HCAs are more toxic than commonly known carcinogens such as benzo-(a)-pyrene. Studies have already found that among others, intake of PhIP and other HCAs may increase risk of colon, breast and prostate cancer in humans, three most common cancers in the United States which are commonly associated with meat consumption. To reduce HCAs in cooked meat, meat should be prepared under 392 F or 200 C. Direct heat should not be used to cook meat. Consumers may also use some spices to inhibit the formation of toxic forms of PhIP in the body. Garlic is one of known spices that counteract the cancer-causing effect of PhIP. In a study presented at the annual meeting of American Association of Cancer Research held on Oct 31, 2005, Ronald D. Thomas, Ph.D. at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and colleagues reported that garlic compound diallyl sulfide (DAS) antagonizes PhIP-induced alterations in the expression of phase I and phase II metabolizing enzymes in human breast epithelial cells. "We treated human breast epithelial cells with equal amounts of PhIP and DAS separately, and the two together, for periods ranging from three to 24 hours," said Thomas. "PhIP induced expression of the cancer-causing enzyme at every stage, up to 40-fold, while DAS completely inhibited the PhIP enzyme from becoming carcinogenic." Another way consumers may try to prevent PhIP-induced cancers is to avoid consumption of meat. Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a retired nutrition professor from Cornell University said in his book "China Study" that consumption of animal protein is linked with elevated activities of enzymes that convert many non-toxic chemicals such as aflatoxin into cancer-causing agents. Dr. Campbell and others have found meat consumption is linked with increased risk of many cancers. © 2004-2006 by http://foodconsumer.org
About The Author
David Liu, Ph.D. a freelance writer for http://foodconsumer.org. Foodconsumer.org offers individuals and not-for-profit organizations free license for the republishing of its articles.

You've Lost That Weight But How Do You Stay Slim?

2007-01-04T11:14:00.001-08:00

by: Judith Ruff
It is a sad fact of life that the population as a whole is getting fatter. More and more people are finding it necessary to lose weight, either for cosmetic, social or medical reasons. It can be an uphill struggle and it is well documented that some slimmers are more successful than others. However, if you are one of the lucky ones and reach your ideal weight you cannot rest on your laurels, because for many the hardest part is still to come! Keeping the weight off. For many people this can be even harder than losing the weight in the first place, and before they know where they are the pounds have sneaked back on and they are back at square one. An unfortunate few even find themselves behind square one, weighing more than they did when they started. Either way this is a very depressing and demoralising situation to find yourself in, and many lack the strength and determination to start again. In my experience successful weight loss is achieved by a combination of good diet and regular exercise. Of these it is often the diet that is hardest to control. It is so easy to be tempted from the straight and narrow by a tasty treat, or forced off the road altogether by some crisis that makes you start comfort eating. For me there are few things more reassuring than chocolate when I'm having a problem. So even when you've lost weight temptation is always there. The best way to remove this temptation is to make your home a 'treat-free' zone. A bit like smokers trying to kick the habit remove all cigarettes. This way if you feel tempted the cupboard will only be full of good things so you shouldn't come to much harm if you give in and eat something. If this sounds a bit too drastic to do all at once, you could try banishing all the treats to the back of the most inaccessible cupboard in the kitchen. This way if you're tempted you might be put off by the effort needed, or if you're not, at least you'll burn off a few calories climbing on to the chair and emptying the cupboard to reach your crisps! That's OK as far as your own home is concerned, but you have to go out sometime, and the world is full of temptation. Shops, supermarkets, even your friends homes, are a minefield. Chocolates, crisps, fizzy drinks at every turn. Unfortunately there's no magic solution to this, it's down to you. You just have to be strong. Make a shopping list before you set off and stick to it. Eat before you go shopping. Tell your friends you're on a diet, if they're true friends they'll respect this and help you. Gradually this new regime will become your way of life. In time the old, bad habits will fade and your new healthy routine will become normal. Keeping the weight off by this method is easier than slipping back into your old ways and having to start all over again. Your body will become less dependant on junk food and you might even find yourself looking forward to an apple instead of a chocolate bar. The chances are it will never be easy, but with willpower it can be done.
About The Author
Judith Ruff invites you to visit her weight loss site at http://slimmingworldguide.com Be sure to join our friendly forums.