Ah-choo! Oh, that awful achy feeling when every muscle and bone in your body just hurts. You can’t sleep, you have no appetite and you certainly can’t afford to be under the weather for even just a few days. Cold and flu season will be upon us again and there is no better time to protect yourself than right now with a strong immune system.
What is the immune system? Very simply, our immune system is like a shield that protects our body from the germs, bacteria and viruses that can cause illness. The weaker the immune system, the more vulnerable we are to getting sick. The stronger the immune system, the more we protect ourselves from getting sick. This isn’t to say that we won’t ever catch a cold, but with a strong immune system, we will also be better able to fight off any illness faster.
So, how do you build a strong immune system? There are several things we can do to make sure our immune system stays healthy and becomes strong.
The first is nutrition. You know the saying, “garbage in, garbage out?” It’s the same thing with our bodies. Bad eating habits result in poor nutrition, which cannot give our bodies the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs in order to stay strong. There’s nothing wrong with a cheeseburger or ice cream on occasion, but moderation is the key.
Unfortunately, even the best nutritional habits are challenged to provide the body with all it needs to build a really strong immune system. Nutritional supplementation, such as vitamins, minerals and immune boosters are important to help fill in the blanks that even the best nutrition can’t.
Exercise is another great way to help build a strong immune system. You don’t have to join a gym or hire a personal trainer to exercise. Ever notice how much better you feel after a nice long walk? Regular bike rides; walks, gardening, and yes-even housework are all great forms of exercise that will help contribute.
There are also certain things to avoid. Excessive stress and smoking are just two things that can really compromise and weaken the immune system. I know from experience when I was in a high-stress work environment, I felt terrible and became sick more frequently.
Building and maintaining a strong immune system is not something that happens overnight and that we can forget about in just a few short months. It is something that we must continue to strive for our entire lives. We will be less apt to get sick. We will be able to fight off illness better and we will be able to lead a much higher quality of life for the long term.
Get started today and create real smart health for today and tomorrow.
About the author:
Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who specializes in personalization and customer care for all of her clients. She exchanged her suits, hose and heels to work from home in her "jammies" and is on a mission to empower others to do the same.
She can be reached at: http://www.Immune-System-Boosters.com
Saturday, March 1, 2008
How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver
On average 3,000 adults die per year as a result of accidentally inhaling and choking on food. When food gets stuck in your throat, it blocks your trachea making it very difficult to breathe. Because the airway is blocked, it may take less than a minute to die after the food is consumed. It is important to act fast in these situations and a slight hesitation could mean the difference between living and dying. The Heimlich maneuver is a standard component of all first aid courses and is an effective technique which all individuals should learn.
When someone is choking the Heimlich maneuver is performed to dislodge the obstruction which is blocking the trachea. By compressing the abdomen just below the level of the diaphragm, the air is forced out of the lungs removing the obstruction which was blocking the air flow. At this point, the material which was blocking the trachea will be brought back up into the mouth.
Now that you’re aware of how important it is to know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, here is a brief explanation on the steps involved in the process:
1. Ask the person if they are choking. Performing the Heimlich maneuver when not necessary can be harmful and can also waste time in getting the victim the correct form of help.
2. Stand behind the victim, make a fist with one hand and place your thumb towards the victim below the rib cage and above the waist.
3. Wrap your arms around the victim, placing your other hand on top of your fist.
4. Thrust upwards from 6-10 times. These thrusts should be relatively hard but not so hard that they can damage the victim further. Do not give up if the first attempt fails. It is very unlikely that it will be effective the first time, keep trying even if it takes 5 or more attempts.
Before you attempt to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a choking victim, you should be aware of the precautions involved in this technique. Improper application of the Heimlich maneuver can potentially cause damage to the ribs, chest and internal organs of the victim. If you are not completely sure of how to perform this maneuver, take a first aid class which will outline the exact techniques involved.
It is also important to note that when performing the Heimlich maneuver on children the amount of force exuded is considerably less than the amount for adults. Children are not as strongly built as adults and for this reason the amount of force should be decreased so they are not put in any additional danger.
Please be aware that these are just guidelines and they are in no way meant to be taken in replace of a first aid or CPR course. I strongly suggest taking first aid courses to ensure you have the confidence required to successfully perform this maneuver should your assistance be required.
About the author:
Steve Larson is a volunteer firefighter who is passionate about saving lives. This led him to take a freelance writing position for http://www.firstaid101.com – which offers information about first aid and first aid products - and includes information on creating special things like a ' target='_blank' class='navigation'>http://www.firstaid101.com/first-aid/first-aid-kits.aspx">first aid kits.
p
When someone is choking the Heimlich maneuver is performed to dislodge the obstruction which is blocking the trachea. By compressing the abdomen just below the level of the diaphragm, the air is forced out of the lungs removing the obstruction which was blocking the air flow. At this point, the material which was blocking the trachea will be brought back up into the mouth.
Now that you’re aware of how important it is to know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, here is a brief explanation on the steps involved in the process:
1. Ask the person if they are choking. Performing the Heimlich maneuver when not necessary can be harmful and can also waste time in getting the victim the correct form of help.
2. Stand behind the victim, make a fist with one hand and place your thumb towards the victim below the rib cage and above the waist.
3. Wrap your arms around the victim, placing your other hand on top of your fist.
4. Thrust upwards from 6-10 times. These thrusts should be relatively hard but not so hard that they can damage the victim further. Do not give up if the first attempt fails. It is very unlikely that it will be effective the first time, keep trying even if it takes 5 or more attempts.
Before you attempt to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a choking victim, you should be aware of the precautions involved in this technique. Improper application of the Heimlich maneuver can potentially cause damage to the ribs, chest and internal organs of the victim. If you are not completely sure of how to perform this maneuver, take a first aid class which will outline the exact techniques involved.
It is also important to note that when performing the Heimlich maneuver on children the amount of force exuded is considerably less than the amount for adults. Children are not as strongly built as adults and for this reason the amount of force should be decreased so they are not put in any additional danger.
Please be aware that these are just guidelines and they are in no way meant to be taken in replace of a first aid or CPR course. I strongly suggest taking first aid courses to ensure you have the confidence required to successfully perform this maneuver should your assistance be required.
About the author:
Steve Larson is a volunteer firefighter who is passionate about saving lives. This led him to take a freelance writing position for http://www.firstaid101.com – which offers information about first aid and first aid products - and includes information on creating special things like a ' target='_blank' class='navigation'>http://www.firstaid101.com/first-aid/first-aid-kits.aspx">first aid kits.
p
How to Naturally Improve Your Vision
What is 2020 vision?
20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.
20/20 does not necessarily mean perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance. There are other important vision skills, including peripheral awareness or side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability and color vision that contribute to your overall visual ability
How to Naturally Improve Your Vision without Glasses or Surgery:
Discover the natural vision improvement method that touts a great success rate in reversing and improving bad vision. Thousands now have better vision without glasses or laser surgery
I already heard about this method many years ago, and I was really impressed with this theory. Then, all of a sudden I could not find the information anymore. Now I have found it again. And it makes so much sense. So, I have done further investigation into this theory. I love researching helpful information. I would like to share this with you.
The catch is dedicating 25 minutes a day to the exercises and techniques. The program is very easy-to-follow and is laid out in a step-by-step, minute-by-minute format. Once you receive the package you can begin the exercises within 10-15 minutes.
How He Beat It: Optical calisthenics
Twenty-six-year-old Orlin Sorensen dreamed of flying combat missions like his grandfather, but his 20/80 eyesight kept him below standards for naval flight training (20/30, no glasses or surgeries allowed). Commercial airlines, however, aren't as strict -- for several years, Sorensen flew for Horizon Air while wearing glasses. Then came September 11, leaving the airline industry decimated and Sorensen flying a lot less. "I was bummed, but I decided to try to turn my life around," he says.
He used the time to put a curiosity to the test: Can a man improve his vision by "exercising" his eyes? Inspired by World War II fighter pilots who used vision-training exercises, and by a 1920 book by Dr. William Bates (The Bates Method for Better Eyesight without Glasses), Sorensen stockpiled information until he had enough exercises to begin his own program. "I trained my eyes to do things they don't normally do," Sorensen says. "I treated the program like physical exercise." He "worked out" 25 minutes a day, 6 days a week, for 30 days, doing exercises like slowly rolling his eyes in a full circle. The results? The navy measured his vision at 20/30, he no longer needs glasses.
A wholistic orientation to health. Mr. Bates Theorym.
Bates also developed a theory that people with abnormal vision used their eyes differently than people with normal vision, then created a system designed to help people to relearn the right vision habits and to unlearn the wrong habits. Advocates of the Bates Method claim that relearning and improving the right vision habits which they assert are inseparably connected to normal vision. They assert that the Bates Method is a natural method that improves movement, relaxation, and circulation of the whole visual system.
Theory of accommodation/focusing
Accommodation is the process by which the eye changes focus between objects that are far and objects that are near. Bates maintained that the eye focuses, not by the action of the ciliary muscles on the crystalline lens, but by varying elongation of the eyeball caused by the extraocular muscles.
Benefits from practicing Natural Vision Improvement can include:
• Increased clarity of sight
• Increased mental clarity
• Enhanced depth perception
• A more relaxed way of being
• More connection with the world around you
• A sense of greater balance and harmony
• Greater awareness
• Greater connection with yourself
• Better eye health
• Better balance and coordination
Almost half a million Americans underwent corrective vision surgery in 1999 (more than double the number who attempted it the year before), and complications that may arise from these procedures are still uncertain, as the science is so new and untested.
Diet and Vision
I have heard the following statement over and over again. I have also experienced it myself.
I began eating a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, non-gluten grains, fish, chicken and no dairy. After a few weeks on this diet I began noticing a sharpening in my vision. I have noticed this in the past; an improvement in diet correlating with improvement in vision.
Early studies have indicated that "good" eicosanoids such as PGE1 reduce macular degeneration. One of the best ways to increase PGE1 is to follow the Zone Diet and consume extra fish oil either as fish or fish oil supplements.
Many optometrists are expanding their traditional role to include other areas that affect eye health, such as nutrition. Research has shown that nutrition can impact the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which are the two leading causes of blindness and visual impairment among millions of aging Americans. Nutrition may be particularly important given that currently, treatment options after diagnosis for these eye diseases are limited.
About the author:
My name is Ruth Bird. I have been married for 27 years to my husband, Chris. Chris has been battling the monster, MS, for a number of years. People and Pet Health Care are my passions. Contact me here http://www.mimfreedom.com
Vision Improvement: http://seebetter.blogspot.com/
20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.
20/20 does not necessarily mean perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance. There are other important vision skills, including peripheral awareness or side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability and color vision that contribute to your overall visual ability
How to Naturally Improve Your Vision without Glasses or Surgery:
Discover the natural vision improvement method that touts a great success rate in reversing and improving bad vision. Thousands now have better vision without glasses or laser surgery
I already heard about this method many years ago, and I was really impressed with this theory. Then, all of a sudden I could not find the information anymore. Now I have found it again. And it makes so much sense. So, I have done further investigation into this theory. I love researching helpful information. I would like to share this with you.
The catch is dedicating 25 minutes a day to the exercises and techniques. The program is very easy-to-follow and is laid out in a step-by-step, minute-by-minute format. Once you receive the package you can begin the exercises within 10-15 minutes.
How He Beat It: Optical calisthenics
Twenty-six-year-old Orlin Sorensen dreamed of flying combat missions like his grandfather, but his 20/80 eyesight kept him below standards for naval flight training (20/30, no glasses or surgeries allowed). Commercial airlines, however, aren't as strict -- for several years, Sorensen flew for Horizon Air while wearing glasses. Then came September 11, leaving the airline industry decimated and Sorensen flying a lot less. "I was bummed, but I decided to try to turn my life around," he says.
He used the time to put a curiosity to the test: Can a man improve his vision by "exercising" his eyes? Inspired by World War II fighter pilots who used vision-training exercises, and by a 1920 book by Dr. William Bates (The Bates Method for Better Eyesight without Glasses), Sorensen stockpiled information until he had enough exercises to begin his own program. "I trained my eyes to do things they don't normally do," Sorensen says. "I treated the program like physical exercise." He "worked out" 25 minutes a day, 6 days a week, for 30 days, doing exercises like slowly rolling his eyes in a full circle. The results? The navy measured his vision at 20/30, he no longer needs glasses.
A wholistic orientation to health. Mr. Bates Theorym.
Bates also developed a theory that people with abnormal vision used their eyes differently than people with normal vision, then created a system designed to help people to relearn the right vision habits and to unlearn the wrong habits. Advocates of the Bates Method claim that relearning and improving the right vision habits which they assert are inseparably connected to normal vision. They assert that the Bates Method is a natural method that improves movement, relaxation, and circulation of the whole visual system.
Theory of accommodation/focusing
Accommodation is the process by which the eye changes focus between objects that are far and objects that are near. Bates maintained that the eye focuses, not by the action of the ciliary muscles on the crystalline lens, but by varying elongation of the eyeball caused by the extraocular muscles.
Benefits from practicing Natural Vision Improvement can include:
• Increased clarity of sight
• Increased mental clarity
• Enhanced depth perception
• A more relaxed way of being
• More connection with the world around you
• A sense of greater balance and harmony
• Greater awareness
• Greater connection with yourself
• Better eye health
• Better balance and coordination
Almost half a million Americans underwent corrective vision surgery in 1999 (more than double the number who attempted it the year before), and complications that may arise from these procedures are still uncertain, as the science is so new and untested.
Diet and Vision
I have heard the following statement over and over again. I have also experienced it myself.
I began eating a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, non-gluten grains, fish, chicken and no dairy. After a few weeks on this diet I began noticing a sharpening in my vision. I have noticed this in the past; an improvement in diet correlating with improvement in vision.
Early studies have indicated that "good" eicosanoids such as PGE1 reduce macular degeneration. One of the best ways to increase PGE1 is to follow the Zone Diet and consume extra fish oil either as fish or fish oil supplements.
Many optometrists are expanding their traditional role to include other areas that affect eye health, such as nutrition. Research has shown that nutrition can impact the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which are the two leading causes of blindness and visual impairment among millions of aging Americans. Nutrition may be particularly important given that currently, treatment options after diagnosis for these eye diseases are limited.
About the author:
My name is Ruth Bird. I have been married for 27 years to my husband, Chris. Chris has been battling the monster, MS, for a number of years. People and Pet Health Care are my passions. Contact me here http://www.mimfreedom.com
Vision Improvement: http://seebetter.blogspot.com/
How to Make Your Own Rose Hips
I was enjoying a long (very long) hike over the weekend that brought me in contact with a wide variety of plants and animals. While taking a breather at a ranger station, I was admiring a plant which had what looked to be cherry tomatoes or some kind of red berry sprouting from its branches. The ranger said I was looking at a rose bush and the red fruit it was producing went by the name of rose hips.
“Rose Hips” I shrieked. I had known of the supplement for years but had never seen a real live rose hip. I was informed that rose hips form after the rose bloom has died. Almost any rose variety will produce hips but the ranger informed me that the Rosa rugosa formed the tastiest variety if you planned on eating them. Further research confirmed that Rosa rugosa is the bush of choice for tasty rose hips.
Why Eat Rose Hips?
Probably the best reason to eat or drink rose hips is the incredible source of vitamin C that it provides. Studies have shown vitamin C to be helpful with fighting infection, colds/flu, sore throat, fatigue and stress to name a few. Hips provide almost 20 times the amount of vitamin C found in Oranges.
How do I Grow Rose Hips?
As I have mentioned, there seams to be a consensus that Rosa rugosa is the best plant to use for growing rose hips. Let the blooms die on the bush (resist the temptation to cut the beautiful blooms, the more you cut the less hips you will produce) and the hips will begin to form. They will start out green and begin to turn red similar to the way a tomato ripens. Harvest them when they become completely red but not overripe, this usually occurs after the first frost.
Preparing the Hips
You can use rose hips either fresh off the vine, dried, or preserved. To dry the fruit spread the hips out on a clean surface. Allow them to dry until the skin begins to feel dry and slightly shriveled. At this point, split the hips in half and take out all of the seeds and tiny hairs in the center. Remember not to use aluminum pans or utensils as this will destroy some of the vitamin C.
After the seeds are removed you can let the hips dry completely. Don’t wait to remove the seeds until hips are completely dry or you will have trouble with de-seeding.
Store the dried hips in sealed plastic bags. Freeze for long term use or put in the refrigerator if you plan on using over a two or three month period. Hips can be eaten as a semi-sweet snack at anytime. You can also make tea and preserves; I have listed two recipes below to get you started.
What about Supplements?
Rose hip supplements are available at most health food and vitamin stores. For me, the fun is in making your own hips. If you just want vitamin C there isn’t really a whole lot of difference between taking regular vitamin C supplement and vitamin C with rose hips (except the price, hips will cost a bit more).
Recipes
If you are fortunate enough to have roses at your home, here are some recipes you might want to try:
Hip Tea Recipe
Place 4-6 hips (prepared as noted above) in the bottom of a non-aluminum pan
Add 2 cups of cool water
Allow water to come to a boil
Let simmer for about 30 minutes (less if you like a weaker tea)
Strain and add sweetener to taste
Hip Marmalade
Prepare hips as noted above and soak in cool water for several hours
Bring hips soaking in water to a boil for about 20 minutes
Strain out water
Add one cup of brown sugar or granulated sugar per one cup of the strained water
Boil the sweetened water until it becomes thick and syrupy
Add the previously boiled hips and continue boiling until hips are tender
Pour into jars and seal
Enjoy!!
About the author:
Mike Brooks has been a life long follower and proponent of the fitness lifestyle. Through his avid research, Mr. Brooks has come to the realization that being healthy is a choice and encompasses not only proper diet but also a fitness regimen that includes the mind, body and soul. Mike Brooks is the publisher and editor-in-chief for the health information site http://www.Ultimatehealthreport.com.
How To Lose 20 Pounds REALLY, REALLY Fast
Back “in the day” when I used to be a full time personal trainer and I met with clients in person at my New Jersey Health Club, the first thing I would always ask my clients during the initial consultation was:
"Tell me exactly what you want... and I'll show you how to get it."
Typical reply from client:
"I want to lose 20 pounds fast."
My reply:
"Are you SURE that's what you want? If I can show you how to lose 20 pounds REALLY, REALLY fast, will that make you happy?"
They nodded their head affirmatively as their eyes lit up in anticipation of the quick weight loss secrets I was about to reveal...
Their face went white when - with a totally straight face – I pulled out a hacksaw and started walking towards them.... menacingly.
Not sure whether to laugh or to run away in sheer terror, they said,
"What the heck are you doing?"
"You said you wanted to lose 20 pounds fast. This is the easiest, surest, most effective way I know to take 20 pounds off you FAST! In fact, I figure that right leg of yours might even weigh 25 pounds!"
I kept walking closer and started to get into sawing position, wielding my fast, effective and guaranteed weight loss tool...
"Bear with me because this IS quick, but sometimes it takes a few minutes for me to cut through the bone."
By this time, my client and I are either completely cracking up, or I have seriously scared the living you know what out of them, or they just think I'm a complete lunatic... (it depends on whether I was able to keep a straight face or not).
Finally, the light bulb goes on, and my client would see where I was going with this:
"Okay, smart alec," I get it... I don't want to lose WEIGHT, I want to lose FAT."
Sometimes I would be having so much fun, I would just keep on playin'...
"But why not? This is easy, fast and guaranteed - just what everyone wants these days... it's even better than taking a pill! Come on... let me hack it off! You'll be my next testimonial: 'I lost 20 pounds in 5 minutes!' Imagine what that will do for my business!"
"Very funny. I told you, I get it, I get it! I want to lose FAT, not muscles and bones. I need my leg!
Naturally, of course, I didn’t always have to pull out my trusty blade. Every once in a while... about as often as a total solar eclipse... a client answers my question like this:
"What do I want? Tom, I want to lose 20 pounds of body fat in the next 12 weeks. I want to do it slowly, safely and healthfully and then keep it off permanently. I want all the fat around my hips and thighs completely gone and I want a firm flat stomach. I want muscle all over my body while still looking feminine. I'd like to see myself at about 16% body fat and maintain all my muscle or gain a few pounds of lean mass if I can, especially in my arms. This is important to me because I want to set a good example for my kids, I want to be healthy and live to at least 90 and I want my husband to look at me and say, "I love your body, honey," and I want to be able to *honestly* say back to him, "me too!"
It is on these rare occasions that I know there is still intelligent life on this planet.
If you could answer the question, "What do you want" with the degree of clarity that this woman did, I don't think you would ever have any difficulty reaching your health and fitness goals... or any other goal in your life, for that matter.
This answer is what you call a very "well-formed" goal, backed up with lots of emotional motivation-inducing "reasons why."
"I want to lose weight" is a poorly-formed goal.
"Weight" is not the same as "fat." Weight includes muscle, bone, internal organs as well as lots and lots of water.
If you only get ONE thing from this article, get this:
WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IS TO BURN THE FAT, WHILE KEEPING THE MUSCLE!!!!
FAT LOSS is what you want, not weight loss.
If your body was 100% rock-solid muscle, with absolutely nothing that jiggled (unless it was supposed to), would you care how much you weighed?
I bet you wouldn't!
SO STOP WORSHIPPING THE SCALE AND START MEASURING YOUR BODY COMPOSITION!
By measuring your body fat, you take the guesswork out of your health and fitness plan and you get an accurate picture of what's really happening in your body as a result of your diet and exercise program.
Instead of worrying about whether you are losing muscle, or wondering if you are losing fat, you can measure it and KNOW for sure. (I always get a good chuckle when someone tells me they're worried about losing muscle when they don't even measure how much muscle they have!)
Instead of being confused by all the "opinions" from weight loss and exercise "experts" who are all telling you something different, you can MEASURE your body composition and based on the results, you can KNOW for sure whether your program is working.
A very wise man once said,
"A single measurement is worth a thousand opinions."
So, how do you measure body fat?
There are many methods. Thanks to technology, there are some methods today that are so accurate, they can tell you whether your left pinky has more fat than your right pinky! Unfortunately, many of them are either too expensive or they are inaccessible, being found only in hospitals or research facilities.
Instead of boring you with a lecture about all the various body fat testing methods, let me give you three quick and easy, practical suggestions:
Suggestion 1: Have a trainer or fitness professional measure your body fat if this service is available at your local health club. Sometimes, there's a charge - usually $15 - $25, although some clubs offer the service for free to all their members.
Suggestion 2: Purchase an Accu-measure skinfold caliper. The Accumeasure was designed to allow you to measure your own body fat in the privacy of your own home (you don't need someone else to measure you). Do a google or yahoo search to find a reseller.
Some people wonder if this is really accurate. Truth is, it's not quite as accurate as a multi site skinfold test from an experienced tester, but it's better than nothing. Besides, what's most important is not the "accuracy" per se, but the reliability and consistency of your measurements so you can track your progress. Skinfold calipers in general are not accurate or inaccurate, it's the person doing the test that is accurate or inaccurate.
Suggestion 3: If you have a spouse, roommate, or friend who can measure your body fat, you can purchase a “Slim Guide” body fat caliper. The Slimguide is the best inexpensive (about $20), caliper available for multi-site testing, but it wasn't designed for you to measure your own body fat like the Accu Measure. Other models of body fat calipers (if you want to splurge), range from $150 to $450. (At our health clubs, I use the electronic "SKYNDEX" caliper with the 4-site "Durnin formula.")
The calipers come with instructions, or you can use these formulas, which I have used and found to be very accurate:
4 Site formula for men (abdomen, suprailiac, thigh, tricep)
% fat = .29288(sum of 4 skinfolds) - 0.0005(sum of four skinfolds squared) + 0.15845(age) - 5.76377
4-Site Formula for women (abdomen, suprailiac, thigh, tricep)
% Fat = (.29669)(sum of 4 skinfolds) - (.00043)(Sum of four skinfolds squared) + .02963(age) + 1.4072
Source: Jackson A S, Pollock, M (1985) Practical assessment of body composition. Physician Sport Med. 13: 76-90.
Body fat percentages vary based on age and gender, but 20-25% body fat is average for women (15-19% is ideal), while 15-20% is average for men (10-14% is ideal).
Once you know your body fat percentage, then weigh yourself and record your weight and body fat on a progress chart. You can also calculate your lean body mass (muscle and other fat free tissue) very easily just by crunching some numbers:
For example, if you weigh 200 pounds and you have 10% body fat then you have 20 pounds of fat (10% of 200 = 20). That means you have a lean body mass (LBM) of 180 pounds. Now we're talking! With this data, you can get a really clear picture of how your exercise and nutrition program are affecting your physique.
Losing weight is very easy. Losing fat - and keeping it off without losing muscle - is a much bigger challenge. If you simply wanted to lose weight, we could just chop off your leg. Or, (slightly less painful), I could show you how to drop 10 - 15 pounds over the weekend just by dehydrating yourself and using natural herbal diuretics. Bodybuilders and wrestlers do it all the time to make a weight class. But what good would that do if it’s almost all water and you’re just going to gain it all back within days?
You don't have to "throw away your scale" like many "experts" tell you to. By all means, keep using the scale, the tape measure and even photographs and the mirror - the more feedback the better, but body fat is where it's at.
By the way, I recently bought a chain saw and a shiny new axe from Home Depot, and I've been practicing my "American Psycho" and Jack Nicholson, "The Shining" impersonations... so if you want to come to my office any time soon for personal consultation, you'd better have the right answer to my question, "What do you want?"
About the author:
Tom Venuto is a certified personal trainer, natural bodybuilder and author of the ##1 best selling diet e-book, "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle. You can get info on Tom's e-book at http://www.burnthefat.com. To get Tom's free monthly e-zine, visit http://www.fitren.com
"Tell me exactly what you want... and I'll show you how to get it."
Typical reply from client:
"I want to lose 20 pounds fast."
My reply:
"Are you SURE that's what you want? If I can show you how to lose 20 pounds REALLY, REALLY fast, will that make you happy?"
They nodded their head affirmatively as their eyes lit up in anticipation of the quick weight loss secrets I was about to reveal...
Their face went white when - with a totally straight face – I pulled out a hacksaw and started walking towards them.... menacingly.
Not sure whether to laugh or to run away in sheer terror, they said,
"What the heck are you doing?"
"You said you wanted to lose 20 pounds fast. This is the easiest, surest, most effective way I know to take 20 pounds off you FAST! In fact, I figure that right leg of yours might even weigh 25 pounds!"
I kept walking closer and started to get into sawing position, wielding my fast, effective and guaranteed weight loss tool...
"Bear with me because this IS quick, but sometimes it takes a few minutes for me to cut through the bone."
By this time, my client and I are either completely cracking up, or I have seriously scared the living you know what out of them, or they just think I'm a complete lunatic... (it depends on whether I was able to keep a straight face or not).
Finally, the light bulb goes on, and my client would see where I was going with this:
"Okay, smart alec," I get it... I don't want to lose WEIGHT, I want to lose FAT."
Sometimes I would be having so much fun, I would just keep on playin'...
"But why not? This is easy, fast and guaranteed - just what everyone wants these days... it's even better than taking a pill! Come on... let me hack it off! You'll be my next testimonial: 'I lost 20 pounds in 5 minutes!' Imagine what that will do for my business!"
"Very funny. I told you, I get it, I get it! I want to lose FAT, not muscles and bones. I need my leg!
Naturally, of course, I didn’t always have to pull out my trusty blade. Every once in a while... about as often as a total solar eclipse... a client answers my question like this:
"What do I want? Tom, I want to lose 20 pounds of body fat in the next 12 weeks. I want to do it slowly, safely and healthfully and then keep it off permanently. I want all the fat around my hips and thighs completely gone and I want a firm flat stomach. I want muscle all over my body while still looking feminine. I'd like to see myself at about 16% body fat and maintain all my muscle or gain a few pounds of lean mass if I can, especially in my arms. This is important to me because I want to set a good example for my kids, I want to be healthy and live to at least 90 and I want my husband to look at me and say, "I love your body, honey," and I want to be able to *honestly* say back to him, "me too!"
It is on these rare occasions that I know there is still intelligent life on this planet.
If you could answer the question, "What do you want" with the degree of clarity that this woman did, I don't think you would ever have any difficulty reaching your health and fitness goals... or any other goal in your life, for that matter.
This answer is what you call a very "well-formed" goal, backed up with lots of emotional motivation-inducing "reasons why."
"I want to lose weight" is a poorly-formed goal.
"Weight" is not the same as "fat." Weight includes muscle, bone, internal organs as well as lots and lots of water.
If you only get ONE thing from this article, get this:
WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IS TO BURN THE FAT, WHILE KEEPING THE MUSCLE!!!!
FAT LOSS is what you want, not weight loss.
If your body was 100% rock-solid muscle, with absolutely nothing that jiggled (unless it was supposed to), would you care how much you weighed?
I bet you wouldn't!
SO STOP WORSHIPPING THE SCALE AND START MEASURING YOUR BODY COMPOSITION!
By measuring your body fat, you take the guesswork out of your health and fitness plan and you get an accurate picture of what's really happening in your body as a result of your diet and exercise program.
Instead of worrying about whether you are losing muscle, or wondering if you are losing fat, you can measure it and KNOW for sure. (I always get a good chuckle when someone tells me they're worried about losing muscle when they don't even measure how much muscle they have!)
Instead of being confused by all the "opinions" from weight loss and exercise "experts" who are all telling you something different, you can MEASURE your body composition and based on the results, you can KNOW for sure whether your program is working.
A very wise man once said,
"A single measurement is worth a thousand opinions."
So, how do you measure body fat?
There are many methods. Thanks to technology, there are some methods today that are so accurate, they can tell you whether your left pinky has more fat than your right pinky! Unfortunately, many of them are either too expensive or they are inaccessible, being found only in hospitals or research facilities.
Instead of boring you with a lecture about all the various body fat testing methods, let me give you three quick and easy, practical suggestions:
Suggestion 1: Have a trainer or fitness professional measure your body fat if this service is available at your local health club. Sometimes, there's a charge - usually $15 - $25, although some clubs offer the service for free to all their members.
Suggestion 2: Purchase an Accu-measure skinfold caliper. The Accumeasure was designed to allow you to measure your own body fat in the privacy of your own home (you don't need someone else to measure you). Do a google or yahoo search to find a reseller.
Some people wonder if this is really accurate. Truth is, it's not quite as accurate as a multi site skinfold test from an experienced tester, but it's better than nothing. Besides, what's most important is not the "accuracy" per se, but the reliability and consistency of your measurements so you can track your progress. Skinfold calipers in general are not accurate or inaccurate, it's the person doing the test that is accurate or inaccurate.
Suggestion 3: If you have a spouse, roommate, or friend who can measure your body fat, you can purchase a “Slim Guide” body fat caliper. The Slimguide is the best inexpensive (about $20), caliper available for multi-site testing, but it wasn't designed for you to measure your own body fat like the Accu Measure. Other models of body fat calipers (if you want to splurge), range from $150 to $450. (At our health clubs, I use the electronic "SKYNDEX" caliper with the 4-site "Durnin formula.")
The calipers come with instructions, or you can use these formulas, which I have used and found to be very accurate:
4 Site formula for men (abdomen, suprailiac, thigh, tricep)
% fat = .29288(sum of 4 skinfolds) - 0.0005(sum of four skinfolds squared) + 0.15845(age) - 5.76377
4-Site Formula for women (abdomen, suprailiac, thigh, tricep)
% Fat = (.29669)(sum of 4 skinfolds) - (.00043)(Sum of four skinfolds squared) + .02963(age) + 1.4072
Source: Jackson A S, Pollock, M (1985) Practical assessment of body composition. Physician Sport Med. 13: 76-90.
Body fat percentages vary based on age and gender, but 20-25% body fat is average for women (15-19% is ideal), while 15-20% is average for men (10-14% is ideal).
Once you know your body fat percentage, then weigh yourself and record your weight and body fat on a progress chart. You can also calculate your lean body mass (muscle and other fat free tissue) very easily just by crunching some numbers:
For example, if you weigh 200 pounds and you have 10% body fat then you have 20 pounds of fat (10% of 200 = 20). That means you have a lean body mass (LBM) of 180 pounds. Now we're talking! With this data, you can get a really clear picture of how your exercise and nutrition program are affecting your physique.
Losing weight is very easy. Losing fat - and keeping it off without losing muscle - is a much bigger challenge. If you simply wanted to lose weight, we could just chop off your leg. Or, (slightly less painful), I could show you how to drop 10 - 15 pounds over the weekend just by dehydrating yourself and using natural herbal diuretics. Bodybuilders and wrestlers do it all the time to make a weight class. But what good would that do if it’s almost all water and you’re just going to gain it all back within days?
You don't have to "throw away your scale" like many "experts" tell you to. By all means, keep using the scale, the tape measure and even photographs and the mirror - the more feedback the better, but body fat is where it's at.
By the way, I recently bought a chain saw and a shiny new axe from Home Depot, and I've been practicing my "American Psycho" and Jack Nicholson, "The Shining" impersonations... so if you want to come to my office any time soon for personal consultation, you'd better have the right answer to my question, "What do you want?"
About the author:
Tom Venuto is a certified personal trainer, natural bodybuilder and author of the ##1 best selling diet e-book, "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle. You can get info on Tom's e-book at http://www.burnthefat.com. To get Tom's free monthly e-zine, visit http://www.fitren.com
How To Have A Healthy Heart
Keeping our hearts healthy is important, but how do we do it? Fortunately the answers to this are very clear.
Being overweight, particularly if you carry the weight around your waist, puts unnecessary strain on the heart. To find out if you have a problem you need to know your height to weight ratio (WHR). To work this out measure round your waist in centimetres and divide it by your hip circumference. The measurements need to be in centimetres, so if your measuring tape is in inches, multiply each measurement by 2.5 before dividing one by the other. If the figure you end up with is greater than 0.9 for men and 0.8 for women then your fat distribution is likely to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Research has shown that many overweight people with angina, raised blood cholesterol and high blood pressure found their condition improved greatly, even after losing only some of their excess weight. Many of those who kept their weight off were able to reduce their medication or even stop it entirely.
Exercise is important for your heart too. If you take regular exercise, it will speed up your basal metabolic rate. This means that you will burn more calories, not only when you are exercising but for some time afterwards as well. People often imagine that they have to exercise hard to have an effect, but it’s enough just to take exercise that leaves you warm and breathing heavily, but still able to hold a conversation.
Did you know that each day most of us take between 3,000-4,000 steps? And that's just not enough. Experts say that we should aim to take 10,000 steps to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Increasing to 10,000 steps a day will burn between 2,000 and 3,500 extra calories per week, which will result in achieving a vastly better health profile and longer lifespan. There are lots of ways you can increase the number of steps you take: get up to change the TV rather than using the remote; park further from the supermarket; take a walk around the local park or your garden/yard; walk rather than take the car on short journeys. Using a pedometer will help motivate you to clock up those extra steps.
Giving up smoking is likely to have a dramatic effect on your heart. Carbon monoxide produced when you smoke cigarettes attaches to red blood cells, so that in smokers up to half the blood can be carrying carbon monoxide rather than oxygen. No wonder many smokers are breathless! If you need help giving up smoking, try one of the books or CD’s by Allen Carr. He has helped thousands of people to give up.
And, if you don’t already, start flossing your teeth! This may seem bizarre in relation to the heart, but it has been shown that there is a link between gum disease and heart disease. The exact mechanism isn’t understood fully yet, but flossing your teeth and having regular dental checks is important for a healthy heart.
Finally, give and receive love. The scientific evidence isn’t there (yet) for how important this is for our hearts, but it has been established that people who have loving relationships also tend to have long and happy lives.
About the author:
Jane Thurnell-Read is an author and researcher on health, allergies and stress. Her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.comis full of tips and information to help you be happier and healthier.
Being overweight, particularly if you carry the weight around your waist, puts unnecessary strain on the heart. To find out if you have a problem you need to know your height to weight ratio (WHR). To work this out measure round your waist in centimetres and divide it by your hip circumference. The measurements need to be in centimetres, so if your measuring tape is in inches, multiply each measurement by 2.5 before dividing one by the other. If the figure you end up with is greater than 0.9 for men and 0.8 for women then your fat distribution is likely to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Research has shown that many overweight people with angina, raised blood cholesterol and high blood pressure found their condition improved greatly, even after losing only some of their excess weight. Many of those who kept their weight off were able to reduce their medication or even stop it entirely.
Exercise is important for your heart too. If you take regular exercise, it will speed up your basal metabolic rate. This means that you will burn more calories, not only when you are exercising but for some time afterwards as well. People often imagine that they have to exercise hard to have an effect, but it’s enough just to take exercise that leaves you warm and breathing heavily, but still able to hold a conversation.
Did you know that each day most of us take between 3,000-4,000 steps? And that's just not enough. Experts say that we should aim to take 10,000 steps to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Increasing to 10,000 steps a day will burn between 2,000 and 3,500 extra calories per week, which will result in achieving a vastly better health profile and longer lifespan. There are lots of ways you can increase the number of steps you take: get up to change the TV rather than using the remote; park further from the supermarket; take a walk around the local park or your garden/yard; walk rather than take the car on short journeys. Using a pedometer will help motivate you to clock up those extra steps.
Giving up smoking is likely to have a dramatic effect on your heart. Carbon monoxide produced when you smoke cigarettes attaches to red blood cells, so that in smokers up to half the blood can be carrying carbon monoxide rather than oxygen. No wonder many smokers are breathless! If you need help giving up smoking, try one of the books or CD’s by Allen Carr. He has helped thousands of people to give up.
And, if you don’t already, start flossing your teeth! This may seem bizarre in relation to the heart, but it has been shown that there is a link between gum disease and heart disease. The exact mechanism isn’t understood fully yet, but flossing your teeth and having regular dental checks is important for a healthy heart.
Finally, give and receive love. The scientific evidence isn’t there (yet) for how important this is for our hearts, but it has been established that people who have loving relationships also tend to have long and happy lives.
About the author:
Jane Thurnell-Read is an author and researcher on health, allergies and stress. Her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.comis full of tips and information to help you be happier and healthier.
How To Have A Beautiful Smile
Begin with a healthy diet.
Avoid snacking between meals. Brush and floss your teeth after every meal. If you must snack, make them healthy snacks Instead of snacking on junk food, try chewing on fresh fruits and vegetables, especially the crunchy foods. Apples, pears, celery and carrots are good suggestions. They will aid in enzyme production and the natural chewing of the crunchy foods will stimulate the gums.
Drink plenty of water.
Keep your mouth moist and avoid dry mouth. Remember that dry mouth is a harbinger of dental disease. We also need that water to stimulate the production of saliva.
Avoid drinking soda pop.
Americans consume gallons of soda pop a day. Most is loaded with sugar which obviously leads to dental disease and discolored teeth. Don’t be fooled by a “diet soda” label. Even they have huge amounts of acids that are deadly to the enamel on your teeth.
And, if you thought that just sodas are the culprit, think again. A recent study claims that all those popular sports drinks we buy may not be such a good idea after all. They may re-hydrate the body, but they can cause irreversible damage to the dental enamel.
The study reports that fitness water, sports drinks, energy drinks and other non-cola beverages increase the risk of damage by anywhere from 3 to 11 times!
It should be mentioned that the findings are indicative of long term use. However, it appears that these drinks may not necessarily beneficial as a substitute for plain old-fashioned fresh water!
About the author:
This article provided courtesy of http://www.brighter-whiter.com
Avoid snacking between meals. Brush and floss your teeth after every meal. If you must snack, make them healthy snacks Instead of snacking on junk food, try chewing on fresh fruits and vegetables, especially the crunchy foods. Apples, pears, celery and carrots are good suggestions. They will aid in enzyme production and the natural chewing of the crunchy foods will stimulate the gums.
Drink plenty of water.
Keep your mouth moist and avoid dry mouth. Remember that dry mouth is a harbinger of dental disease. We also need that water to stimulate the production of saliva.
Avoid drinking soda pop.
Americans consume gallons of soda pop a day. Most is loaded with sugar which obviously leads to dental disease and discolored teeth. Don’t be fooled by a “diet soda” label. Even they have huge amounts of acids that are deadly to the enamel on your teeth.
And, if you thought that just sodas are the culprit, think again. A recent study claims that all those popular sports drinks we buy may not be such a good idea after all. They may re-hydrate the body, but they can cause irreversible damage to the dental enamel.
The study reports that fitness water, sports drinks, energy drinks and other non-cola beverages increase the risk of damage by anywhere from 3 to 11 times!
It should be mentioned that the findings are indicative of long term use. However, it appears that these drinks may not necessarily beneficial as a substitute for plain old-fashioned fresh water!
About the author:
This article provided courtesy of http://www.brighter-whiter.com
How To Get Rid Of Athlete's Foot And Corns Naturally
Over the years I have collected many different natural remedies – some from my family and friends from Eastern Europe, some from other places. I have tried them myself and what have worked – I put in my notebook for later use. I intend to bring them to you in a series of short articles.
Here are two simple remedies for foot problems:
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection affecting the areas around toes and can spread to other areas of the foot. Some forms are mild, but most can cause flaking, itching, deep painful cracks and bleeding and can produce a foul odor. The fungus thrives in warm and moist places and it can be easily transmitted, specially in places like public showers, swimming pools,locker rooms, etc.
Most over-the-counter drugs stop the symptoms for a while, but it usually returns with vengeance. Here is a simple and effective way of treating athlete's foot I have learnt from my Grandmother with easy to obtain natural ingredients:
Get some mutton fat (tallow) from a butcher's shop (beef tallow can also be used), trim the skin and blood vessels. Cook over slow heat until it melts, strain and pour into jars, let it cool. (Mutton tallow can be stored in a fridge in an air-tight jar to prevent oxidation for a few weeks, beef tallow stores almost indefinitely without refrigeration).
Wash and dry your feet and apply the tallow to affected areas in a thin layer. Put clean socks on to prevent staining your clothes.
Taking zinc supplements and vitamin E from a good source will help speeding up the process and make it more permanent.
Corns are areas of hardened skin, usually on the tips or tops of the toes, sometimes on the side of the foot. They can be extremely painful. Usually they form in response to rubbing and pressure from too tight or too narrow shoes.
You can get rid of them using very simple method:
Get a clove of garlic, run it through a garlic press or cut up into small pieces, add a small pinch of sea salt and using a spoon - mash it till smooth. Put a dab of it on the top of the corn and cover with band-Aid.
In 2-3 days pull the band-Aid off – in most cases the corn will come off.
About the author:
Chris Gozdzik’s main interests are dowsing and alternative healing. His websites include: http://diviningmind.comand http://mumijo-mumio.comYou can reach him at: chris at diviningmind.com
Here are two simple remedies for foot problems:
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection affecting the areas around toes and can spread to other areas of the foot. Some forms are mild, but most can cause flaking, itching, deep painful cracks and bleeding and can produce a foul odor. The fungus thrives in warm and moist places and it can be easily transmitted, specially in places like public showers, swimming pools,locker rooms, etc.
Most over-the-counter drugs stop the symptoms for a while, but it usually returns with vengeance. Here is a simple and effective way of treating athlete's foot I have learnt from my Grandmother with easy to obtain natural ingredients:
Get some mutton fat (tallow) from a butcher's shop (beef tallow can also be used), trim the skin and blood vessels. Cook over slow heat until it melts, strain and pour into jars, let it cool. (Mutton tallow can be stored in a fridge in an air-tight jar to prevent oxidation for a few weeks, beef tallow stores almost indefinitely without refrigeration).
Wash and dry your feet and apply the tallow to affected areas in a thin layer. Put clean socks on to prevent staining your clothes.
Taking zinc supplements and vitamin E from a good source will help speeding up the process and make it more permanent.
Corns are areas of hardened skin, usually on the tips or tops of the toes, sometimes on the side of the foot. They can be extremely painful. Usually they form in response to rubbing and pressure from too tight or too narrow shoes.
You can get rid of them using very simple method:
Get a clove of garlic, run it through a garlic press or cut up into small pieces, add a small pinch of sea salt and using a spoon - mash it till smooth. Put a dab of it on the top of the corn and cover with band-Aid.
In 2-3 days pull the band-Aid off – in most cases the corn will come off.
About the author:
Chris Gozdzik’s main interests are dowsing and alternative healing. His websites include: http://diviningmind.comand http://mumijo-mumio.comYou can reach him at: chris at diviningmind.com
How to find an acne medicine?
If you have acne, you probably fight a battle: how to find good acne medicines? It is common opinion: as if fighting acne wasn't hard enough, finding a proper acne medicine is another battle itself.
With all the options available on the market - both over-the-counter and prescribed - choosing a good medicine can be very difficult. That's why it's so important for you to talk to your doctor before any choice is made. Your doctor can guide you through this search and help you with the treatment.
Acne medicines are always something difficult to choose, because you only will know if they work for your case if you try it. Even if the medicine is prescribed by a doctor you can assure it will fit in your case until you try it.
In addition to that, some concepts about acne medicines are important for you to choose he right one to your case, specially if you have the mild type of acne, which usually doesn't need a medical orientation.
-The best acne medicines are those ones that treat acne from inside out. Since acne is not only a simple skin condition, it is important to treat it from inside. In general, acne is related to some dysfunction of the organism - hormonal unbalances are the most common causes - and for this reason it is meaningless treating only the skin when the real problem lies on the inside. When acne occurs, it is a sign that something is going wrong.
- The side effects that usually are caused by acne medicines must be taken into account when you decide going under a treatment. The side effects related to acne medicines are the most varied: from a simple headache to the serious liver or kidneys problems. Besides, pregnant women must stop the treatment as soon as she find out she is pregnant and all the women before going under a treatment must take a pregnancy test in order to confirm she is not pregnant. All this care is extremely necessary since some acne medicines can lead to miscarriage and birth defects. However, these care is for people who is under synthetic medicines. The alternative treatments, based on natural medicines, don't require so many care.
- There are, still, mainly two options for acne medicines.
With all the options available on the market - both over-the-counter and prescribed - choosing a good medicine can be very difficult. That's why it's so important for you to talk to your doctor before any choice is made. Your doctor can guide you through this search and help you with the treatment.
Acne medicines are always something difficult to choose, because you only will know if they work for your case if you try it. Even if the medicine is prescribed by a doctor you can assure it will fit in your case until you try it.
In addition to that, some concepts about acne medicines are important for you to choose he right one to your case, specially if you have the mild type of acne, which usually doesn't need a medical orientation.
-The best acne medicines are those ones that treat acne from inside out. Since acne is not only a simple skin condition, it is important to treat it from inside. In general, acne is related to some dysfunction of the organism - hormonal unbalances are the most common causes - and for this reason it is meaningless treating only the skin when the real problem lies on the inside. When acne occurs, it is a sign that something is going wrong.
- The side effects that usually are caused by acne medicines must be taken into account when you decide going under a treatment. The side effects related to acne medicines are the most varied: from a simple headache to the serious liver or kidneys problems. Besides, pregnant women must stop the treatment as soon as she find out she is pregnant and all the women before going under a treatment must take a pregnancy test in order to confirm she is not pregnant. All this care is extremely necessary since some acne medicines can lead to miscarriage and birth defects. However, these care is for people who is under synthetic medicines. The alternative treatments, based on natural medicines, don't require so many care.
- There are, still, mainly two options for acne medicines.
How To Exercise: Choosing the right type of exercise for you
So you have to start an exercise program. What are you going to do? How are you going to exercise?
Well the type of exercise you do largely depends on you. What do you like doing? What do you hate doing? Do you have to pay membership fees? Do you need a training partner? Do you need to buy equipment?
These are all questions you need to answer.
If you choose something that you don’t like doing, you’re not going to keep doing it for long. Think about it, if you don’t like jogging you’re hardly going to keep dragging yourself out of bed at 6am, especially when winter comes around! If you can’t find something you like, just choose the thing you hate the least. This is usually walking.
Walking is great because it suits all fitness levels. Anyone can start a walking program at any time, it’s just the intensity and duration that differs. Walking is also very social. It’s not hard to find a training partner to chat to while you exercise. This also makes the time go faster.
Whatever exercise you do, starting at a low intensity and building it up over a number of weeks is essential to the longevity of your exercise program. If you start too hard you could get an over-use injury such as shin-splints, and then you’ll have to take time off to get over it.
If you are really unfit, start by walking for 10 minutes each day. Increase it by 5 minutes every 2 weeks.
To make it more interesting try walking a different course every few days. You can also roster a different friend to walk with you each day of the week.
If walking is not for you then you may like to try a fitness centre. They have loads of variety and usually have trainers on hand to answer any queries you might have. When choosing a fitness centre, make sure they give good service. If they’re not willing to treat you well before you join, then they certainly aren’t afterwards! Also make sure that their equipment is well serviced. It’s easy to find out, just listen when the machines are being used. If they squeak a lot, or make a grinding noise, then there’s a fair chance that they’re not looked after.
If you’re still not sure what you should do, then why not consider tennis or golf? There are social competitions in most areas and you may find a few new friends. Tennis is great for fitness and it’s a great social activity but it’s not for someone who is just starting out. If you haven’t exercised in a long time then you’re better off finding something a little easier.
Whatever you decide on, it must be something that you enjoy. Find that type of exercise and you’ll be well on the way to the new you!
About the author:
Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his free 7 Day Weight Loss Course at http://www.free-online-health.com
Well the type of exercise you do largely depends on you. What do you like doing? What do you hate doing? Do you have to pay membership fees? Do you need a training partner? Do you need to buy equipment?
These are all questions you need to answer.
If you choose something that you don’t like doing, you’re not going to keep doing it for long. Think about it, if you don’t like jogging you’re hardly going to keep dragging yourself out of bed at 6am, especially when winter comes around! If you can’t find something you like, just choose the thing you hate the least. This is usually walking.
Walking is great because it suits all fitness levels. Anyone can start a walking program at any time, it’s just the intensity and duration that differs. Walking is also very social. It’s not hard to find a training partner to chat to while you exercise. This also makes the time go faster.
Whatever exercise you do, starting at a low intensity and building it up over a number of weeks is essential to the longevity of your exercise program. If you start too hard you could get an over-use injury such as shin-splints, and then you’ll have to take time off to get over it.
If you are really unfit, start by walking for 10 minutes each day. Increase it by 5 minutes every 2 weeks.
To make it more interesting try walking a different course every few days. You can also roster a different friend to walk with you each day of the week.
If walking is not for you then you may like to try a fitness centre. They have loads of variety and usually have trainers on hand to answer any queries you might have. When choosing a fitness centre, make sure they give good service. If they’re not willing to treat you well before you join, then they certainly aren’t afterwards! Also make sure that their equipment is well serviced. It’s easy to find out, just listen when the machines are being used. If they squeak a lot, or make a grinding noise, then there’s a fair chance that they’re not looked after.
If you’re still not sure what you should do, then why not consider tennis or golf? There are social competitions in most areas and you may find a few new friends. Tennis is great for fitness and it’s a great social activity but it’s not for someone who is just starting out. If you haven’t exercised in a long time then you’re better off finding something a little easier.
Whatever you decide on, it must be something that you enjoy. Find that type of exercise and you’ll be well on the way to the new you!
About the author:
Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his free 7 Day Weight Loss Course at http://www.free-online-health.com
How Common Is Adult Acne?
How Common Is Adult Acne? By Bob Hett |
Hoodia Gordonii – The Scientific Intervention
The first scientific study of hoodia was really sparked by chance, as is often the case in scientific “discoveries”. What started it all was not, in fact, an exclusive study into the hoodia gordonii, a succulent that looks like a cactus. South Africa’s national laboratory was conducting a much broader study. It was only because the San tribesman were known to eat hoodia gordonii that it was included in a study of indigenous foods.
It is not surprising that the interest of the national laboratory was aroused, and they started to focus seriously on the hoodia gordonii’s properties. It was tested on animals by including it in their food. The animals ate it, and then lost weight. It was then a question of isolating the ingredient that was behind this phenomenon. Or were these animals going to secret weight watchers meetings every week, without the knowledge of the laboratory? That may seem very fanciful, but then so did the idea of losing weight through munching a spiky succulent. This was, indeed, becoming extremely interesting.
This was no instant discovery with an instant explanation. The originally research went back to the 1960’s, when it was not obvious that hoodia gordonii had great potential as an appetite suppressant. It was about 30 years later that the South African national laboratory succeeded in isolating and identifying the ingredient in hoodia gordonii that had the effect of suppressing appetite. The ingredient was later to become known as P57.
When the laboratory found that ingredient, they applied for a patent, and licensed it to Phytopharm, an English bio-technology company. Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million already on research associated with hoodia gordonii. This research, which included clinical trials with obese volunteers, has yielded some promising results. Subjects given hoodia gordonii ended up eating about 1,000 calories a day less than those in the control group, who were fed a placebo. That is an impressively high figure, when you consider that the average American man consumes about 2,600 calories a day, and a woman about 1,900 calories.
According to Phytopharm, if you take this hoodia compound every day, your desire to eat goes down. That was illustrated dramatically in the research. So, all was looking very promising for the millions of obese men and women around the world.
Large pharmaceutical company Pfizer partnered Phytopharm in expanding the research, and a synthetic form of the critical ingredient was possible. However, the costs involved and the possible volumes were too low, to make it worthwhile, so Pfizer abandoned their plans. Phytopharm decided the only way to produce enough of the product was to grow the plants in massive volumes. So, that is what they set out to do, establishing hoodia plantations in South Africa.
The hoodia being used in the plantations is not precisely the same plant as that in the Kalahari, but is easier to cultivate. It is an enormous task, but one that Phytofarm are confident will bring success in meeting potential demand for genuine hoodia products. However, Phytopharm says it hopes to have meal-replacement hoodia products on supermarket shelves in a few years.
About the author:
This hoodia gordonii appetite suppressant article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website: http://www.routes-to-self-improvement.com
It is not surprising that the interest of the national laboratory was aroused, and they started to focus seriously on the hoodia gordonii’s properties. It was tested on animals by including it in their food. The animals ate it, and then lost weight. It was then a question of isolating the ingredient that was behind this phenomenon. Or were these animals going to secret weight watchers meetings every week, without the knowledge of the laboratory? That may seem very fanciful, but then so did the idea of losing weight through munching a spiky succulent. This was, indeed, becoming extremely interesting.
This was no instant discovery with an instant explanation. The originally research went back to the 1960’s, when it was not obvious that hoodia gordonii had great potential as an appetite suppressant. It was about 30 years later that the South African national laboratory succeeded in isolating and identifying the ingredient in hoodia gordonii that had the effect of suppressing appetite. The ingredient was later to become known as P57.
When the laboratory found that ingredient, they applied for a patent, and licensed it to Phytopharm, an English bio-technology company. Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million already on research associated with hoodia gordonii. This research, which included clinical trials with obese volunteers, has yielded some promising results. Subjects given hoodia gordonii ended up eating about 1,000 calories a day less than those in the control group, who were fed a placebo. That is an impressively high figure, when you consider that the average American man consumes about 2,600 calories a day, and a woman about 1,900 calories.
According to Phytopharm, if you take this hoodia compound every day, your desire to eat goes down. That was illustrated dramatically in the research. So, all was looking very promising for the millions of obese men and women around the world.
Large pharmaceutical company Pfizer partnered Phytopharm in expanding the research, and a synthetic form of the critical ingredient was possible. However, the costs involved and the possible volumes were too low, to make it worthwhile, so Pfizer abandoned their plans. Phytopharm decided the only way to produce enough of the product was to grow the plants in massive volumes. So, that is what they set out to do, establishing hoodia plantations in South Africa.
The hoodia being used in the plantations is not precisely the same plant as that in the Kalahari, but is easier to cultivate. It is an enormous task, but one that Phytofarm are confident will bring success in meeting potential demand for genuine hoodia products. However, Phytopharm says it hopes to have meal-replacement hoodia products on supermarket shelves in a few years.
About the author:
This hoodia gordonii appetite suppressant article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website: http://www.routes-to-self-improvement.com
Hoodia As An Aid To Weight Loss
What Is Hoodia?
It is more than 2 years now since hoodia became well known in the public domain. Television programmes on both sides of the Atlantic in 2003/4 saw to that.
If you have not heard of hoodia before, or have but do not really know what it is, let me explain. Hoodia is a cactus-like succulent. I have seen it described as an ugly cactus, but as cacti go, I would say it is about average in the looks department. Not that its looks really matter; you will not be going up to it and giving it a loving hug. You might, however, want to give it a little bite, whether out of curiosity, or because you have heard it can help you lose weight.
I should be a little more precise before I continue. The hoodia plant that has recently been associated with weight loss potential is hoodia gordonii, one of a large group of succulent plants called Asclepiadaceae.
How Can Hoodia Help You Lose Weight?
Hoodia Gordonii grows in the Kalahari desert in Africa, and has done for thousands of years. It clearly thrives in very high temperatures, but it also takes many years to mature. Also living in the same region are the San Tribesmen, or Bushmen. The San are amongst the world’s oldest and most primitive tribes.
The San have been eating hoodia plants for thousands of years. Now, I am sure your vision of an African desert tribe would not be anything like obese Americans or Europeans, for whom hoodia has been mooted as a possible weight loss aid. In fact, you probably imagine quite the opposite, a lithe and slender people struggling to survive on desert morsels. You would be right. How, then, can the San's inclusion of hoodia in their diet have anything to do with weight loss aids?
The answer is in the reason they have, for all those generations, been eating the hoodia cactus. Their quest for food in the shifting sands of the Kalahari Desert has always meant going on long hunting expeditions. Instant gratification for hunger pangs was not usually on the menu, so with their hunting trips lasting for days, they ate hoodia gordonii because it suppressed those hunger pangs for long periods. No hunger pangs meant no overwhelming desire to eat. That made the whole hunting process that much more bearable.
You are probably now beginning to see how hoodia might come to the aid of the obese and overweight. Those who have trouble controlling their eating urges may have a close ally in Hoodia Gordonii. If a dose of the plant can suppress their desire to eat, to stop them feeling hungry at meal times, then surely they will find it easier to cut back on calorie intake?
That was the theory that sparked scientific studies of Hoodia Gordonii.
About the author:
This hoodia appetite suppressant article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website: http://www.routes-to-self-improvement.com
It is more than 2 years now since hoodia became well known in the public domain. Television programmes on both sides of the Atlantic in 2003/4 saw to that.
If you have not heard of hoodia before, or have but do not really know what it is, let me explain. Hoodia is a cactus-like succulent. I have seen it described as an ugly cactus, but as cacti go, I would say it is about average in the looks department. Not that its looks really matter; you will not be going up to it and giving it a loving hug. You might, however, want to give it a little bite, whether out of curiosity, or because you have heard it can help you lose weight.
I should be a little more precise before I continue. The hoodia plant that has recently been associated with weight loss potential is hoodia gordonii, one of a large group of succulent plants called Asclepiadaceae.
How Can Hoodia Help You Lose Weight?
Hoodia Gordonii grows in the Kalahari desert in Africa, and has done for thousands of years. It clearly thrives in very high temperatures, but it also takes many years to mature. Also living in the same region are the San Tribesmen, or Bushmen. The San are amongst the world’s oldest and most primitive tribes.
The San have been eating hoodia plants for thousands of years. Now, I am sure your vision of an African desert tribe would not be anything like obese Americans or Europeans, for whom hoodia has been mooted as a possible weight loss aid. In fact, you probably imagine quite the opposite, a lithe and slender people struggling to survive on desert morsels. You would be right. How, then, can the San's inclusion of hoodia in their diet have anything to do with weight loss aids?
The answer is in the reason they have, for all those generations, been eating the hoodia cactus. Their quest for food in the shifting sands of the Kalahari Desert has always meant going on long hunting expeditions. Instant gratification for hunger pangs was not usually on the menu, so with their hunting trips lasting for days, they ate hoodia gordonii because it suppressed those hunger pangs for long periods. No hunger pangs meant no overwhelming desire to eat. That made the whole hunting process that much more bearable.
You are probably now beginning to see how hoodia might come to the aid of the obese and overweight. Those who have trouble controlling their eating urges may have a close ally in Hoodia Gordonii. If a dose of the plant can suppress their desire to eat, to stop them feeling hungry at meal times, then surely they will find it easier to cut back on calorie intake?
That was the theory that sparked scientific studies of Hoodia Gordonii.
About the author:
This hoodia appetite suppressant article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website: http://www.routes-to-self-improvement.com
Home Remedies part 2
Back by popular demand, home remedies article #2. While not being a replacement for medical attention, you should always seek your doctor when you feel you have to and please take these home remedies with a grain of salt. Here you go and enjoy.
Acne and blackheads:
-Rub the acne area with a fresh garlic.
-Drink at the very least 8 8oz glasses of water a day. Even more in the summer.
-Mix one part of cinnamon into 3 parts of honey.Use as a scrub.
-Dab a small amount of toothpaste (paste, not gel) on pimples before bed; this helps dry out the pimples.
-Pour a little salt into a small bowl, add a few drops of water and mix till it turns into a paste. I've heard using a little toothpaste (paste, not gel) to this mix gives it a little extra kick. Use this recipe to
exfoliate. Do not leave on overnight. Wash your face and rinse off.
-Baking Soda as an exfoliate
-Vitamin E gel tabs. Use as a facial moisturizer.
-Honey and oatmeal as a facial scrub and exfoliate.
DARK CIRCLES AROUND EYES:
-Cucumber slice. Cover eyes with cucumber slices. For 15 minutes.
-Potato slice. Cover eyes with Potato slices. For 15 minutes.
Try to lead a healthier life style. Get plenty of sleep, water and a multi-vitamin
wouldn't hurt.
-Make a paste out of 1 tsp. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. pineapple juice and 1 tsp. of flour. Apply around eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.
-Moisturize with extra virgin olive oil or vitamin E.
-Try used Chamomile tea bags (cool bags) over eyes for 15 minutes.
ENERGIZER:
-Try eating an apple or 2
-Mix 1 tomato, 1 orange, 1 clove of garlic. For best results, use a juicer.
-Aloe Vera Juice. One of natures best detoxifiers.
GUM IN HAIR: There a few of these. Here they are
-Try using baby oil
-Try peanut butter
-Non stick cooking spray
-Ice
-A mixture of baking soda with water. Rub it in hair, brush it out.
MOSQUITO BITES:
-a paste of baking soda and water.
-aspirin capsule. Works well with bee stings also, but for bee stings,try to remove
the stinger.
-Use calamine lotion.
Hangover:There seems to be a lot of these also but I cold tell you what I
used to do for a hangover. I am not suggesting you try it but it worked
for me. First off, you wake up with a sour stomach and massive headache.
Alcohol dehydrates, so its time to replenish your body with water. Try a
glass of water with one tablespoon of sugar. Water to rehydrate, sugar for
the sour feeling in your gut. Sometimes I will take something for the headache,
aspirin or advil whatever you want. Next, ice-bag for my head. Sometimes
I used to stick my head under cold running water in the laundry sink. When
your stomach is settled down a bit, and depending on how your feeling, time for
breakfast.
Bad Breath:
-Try some parsley. This food garnish is rich in chlorophyll, a green plant compound that kills the bacteria that cause bad odor.
-Use the juice of half a lemon, one teaspoon of salt. Gargle.
-Brush your teeth with a couple pinches of baking soda. When done, brush again with
regular toothpaste (optional).
I'm sure this is the tip of the iceberg, but these are the ones I know of. These home remedies are in no way a replacement to a Doctors care so if you feel that you might need to see a Physician, please do so.
About the author:
Submitted By Mr. Andy Casasanta. This author has evoted a portion of his life to health and well being for himself and others. Which has inspired him to create a tremendous health and pharmacy website. In this site you will find up to 40 health articles and growing, and an 11000 reciprocal link exchange page. Save on all popular drugs such as Viagra, Lipitor, meridia, and hundreds more all for pennies on the dollar. Please visit:
www.medheadquarters.net
Acne and blackheads:
-Rub the acne area with a fresh garlic.
-Drink at the very least 8 8oz glasses of water a day. Even more in the summer.
-Mix one part of cinnamon into 3 parts of honey.Use as a scrub.
-Dab a small amount of toothpaste (paste, not gel) on pimples before bed; this helps dry out the pimples.
-Pour a little salt into a small bowl, add a few drops of water and mix till it turns into a paste. I've heard using a little toothpaste (paste, not gel) to this mix gives it a little extra kick. Use this recipe to
exfoliate. Do not leave on overnight. Wash your face and rinse off.
-Baking Soda as an exfoliate
-Vitamin E gel tabs. Use as a facial moisturizer.
-Honey and oatmeal as a facial scrub and exfoliate.
DARK CIRCLES AROUND EYES:
-Cucumber slice. Cover eyes with cucumber slices. For 15 minutes.
-Potato slice. Cover eyes with Potato slices. For 15 minutes.
Try to lead a healthier life style. Get plenty of sleep, water and a multi-vitamin
wouldn't hurt.
-Make a paste out of 1 tsp. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. pineapple juice and 1 tsp. of flour. Apply around eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.
-Moisturize with extra virgin olive oil or vitamin E.
-Try used Chamomile tea bags (cool bags) over eyes for 15 minutes.
ENERGIZER:
-Try eating an apple or 2
-Mix 1 tomato, 1 orange, 1 clove of garlic. For best results, use a juicer.
-Aloe Vera Juice. One of natures best detoxifiers.
GUM IN HAIR: There a few of these. Here they are
-Try using baby oil
-Try peanut butter
-Non stick cooking spray
-Ice
-A mixture of baking soda with water. Rub it in hair, brush it out.
MOSQUITO BITES:
-a paste of baking soda and water.
-aspirin capsule. Works well with bee stings also, but for bee stings,try to remove
the stinger.
-Use calamine lotion.
Hangover:There seems to be a lot of these also but I cold tell you what I
used to do for a hangover. I am not suggesting you try it but it worked
for me. First off, you wake up with a sour stomach and massive headache.
Alcohol dehydrates, so its time to replenish your body with water. Try a
glass of water with one tablespoon of sugar. Water to rehydrate, sugar for
the sour feeling in your gut. Sometimes I will take something for the headache,
aspirin or advil whatever you want. Next, ice-bag for my head. Sometimes
I used to stick my head under cold running water in the laundry sink. When
your stomach is settled down a bit, and depending on how your feeling, time for
breakfast.
Bad Breath:
-Try some parsley. This food garnish is rich in chlorophyll, a green plant compound that kills the bacteria that cause bad odor.
-Use the juice of half a lemon, one teaspoon of salt. Gargle.
-Brush your teeth with a couple pinches of baking soda. When done, brush again with
regular toothpaste (optional).
I'm sure this is the tip of the iceberg, but these are the ones I know of. These home remedies are in no way a replacement to a Doctors care so if you feel that you might need to see a Physician, please do so.
About the author:
Submitted By Mr. Andy Casasanta. This author has evoted a portion of his life to health and well being for himself and others. Which has inspired him to create a tremendous health and pharmacy website. In this site you will find up to 40 health articles and growing, and an 11000 reciprocal link exchange page. Save on all popular drugs such as Viagra, Lipitor, meridia, and hundreds more all for pennies on the dollar. Please visit:
www.medheadquarters.net
Here's Some Cellulite Products That Actually Work!
The internet is chock full of information about body-beautiful products and cellulite products are definitely a hot item among them. 'Cellulite' is a popular term for deposits of fat that have a cottage cheese-like or puckered texture.
It's important to note that medically, cellulite is not considered abnormal. Even so, many people don't like the appearance of cellulite and would be happy to find a way to get rid of it.
As with any purchase, smart consumers do their research before deciding on a particular brand or product. Independent organizations such as 'E-Consumer' and 'Consumer Health Digest' provide reviews of products and services so that customers can make more informed buying decisions. Factors taken into consideration during the review are price, customer service, guarantee and return policy.
According to these analysts, a cellulite product called 'Avotone Bodysculpt' is the one consumers should consider. The reviewers find that it consists of high-quality ingredients and is very effective.
Significantly, the product is guaranteed to produce results in less than four weeks and comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. Avotone BodySculpt scored overall highest for quality, safety, success rate and customer satisfaction. The cost of this cellulite product is $69.95.
Another cellulite product highly regarded by the analysts is called 'Revitol Cellulite Solution'. It is less expensive at $39.95 and, compared to the first product, scores almost as high for quality, safety, success rate and just as high in the customer satisfaction category.
'Revitol Cellulite Solution' has a longer period of guarantee - 90 days - and a higher customer service rating than the first product.
Consumer Health Digest, another consumer review service, identifies the 3 top cellulite products as 'Extra Strength Lipo Sculpt Gel' created by Sterling Grant Laboratories, 'Ab Solution' by VyoTech and 'Transculpt' by MedaBiotics.
These products, made of ingredients such as caffeine, vitamins and green tea extract, are recommended as low-risk, effective cellulite removal or reduction treatments. Price-related information was not rated.
For more in-depth information about cellulite reduction, there is a new book out written by a doctor called 'The Cellulite Solution'. In it, Elisabeth Dancey looks at cellulite from a medical point of view, and offers recommendations to remove it.
Among other health-related topics, she explains why women are more prone to cellulite than men, the different kinds of cellulite and why even thin women have cellulite. Doctor Dancey provides advice including the proper combination of cellulite-fighting foods, exercises that target cellulite as well as aromatherapy, creams, and lotions.
It's no secret that doctors recommend eating a healthy diet and keeping muscles toned by regular exercise. However, research has led to the availability of products and treatments that can reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve skin tone.
While these need not be discounted, it must be noted that not all products are created equally! A little time spent reviewing the consumer research will help you make a decision with which you are more likely to be happy.
It's important to note that medically, cellulite is not considered abnormal. Even so, many people don't like the appearance of cellulite and would be happy to find a way to get rid of it.
As with any purchase, smart consumers do their research before deciding on a particular brand or product. Independent organizations such as 'E-Consumer' and 'Consumer Health Digest' provide reviews of products and services so that customers can make more informed buying decisions. Factors taken into consideration during the review are price, customer service, guarantee and return policy.
According to these analysts, a cellulite product called 'Avotone Bodysculpt' is the one consumers should consider. The reviewers find that it consists of high-quality ingredients and is very effective.
Significantly, the product is guaranteed to produce results in less than four weeks and comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. Avotone BodySculpt scored overall highest for quality, safety, success rate and customer satisfaction. The cost of this cellulite product is $69.95.
Another cellulite product highly regarded by the analysts is called 'Revitol Cellulite Solution'. It is less expensive at $39.95 and, compared to the first product, scores almost as high for quality, safety, success rate and just as high in the customer satisfaction category.
'Revitol Cellulite Solution' has a longer period of guarantee - 90 days - and a higher customer service rating than the first product.
Consumer Health Digest, another consumer review service, identifies the 3 top cellulite products as 'Extra Strength Lipo Sculpt Gel' created by Sterling Grant Laboratories, 'Ab Solution' by VyoTech and 'Transculpt' by MedaBiotics.
These products, made of ingredients such as caffeine, vitamins and green tea extract, are recommended as low-risk, effective cellulite removal or reduction treatments. Price-related information was not rated.
For more in-depth information about cellulite reduction, there is a new book out written by a doctor called 'The Cellulite Solution'. In it, Elisabeth Dancey looks at cellulite from a medical point of view, and offers recommendations to remove it.
Among other health-related topics, she explains why women are more prone to cellulite than men, the different kinds of cellulite and why even thin women have cellulite. Doctor Dancey provides advice including the proper combination of cellulite-fighting foods, exercises that target cellulite as well as aromatherapy, creams, and lotions.
It's no secret that doctors recommend eating a healthy diet and keeping muscles toned by regular exercise. However, research has led to the availability of products and treatments that can reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve skin tone.
While these need not be discounted, it must be noted that not all products are created equally! A little time spent reviewing the consumer research will help you make a decision with which you are more likely to be happy.
Hepatitis 101 what you need to know about
Not many of us know about something that is common between Evil Kenivel and Naomi judd along with thousands of other lesser, known mortals. Well the answer is Hepatitis. Both stars have or had the virus, in particular the hepatitis c. there are basically three types that infect people every year. However in order to reduce the risk, it’s important to understand the causes and effects of this virus n body.
It’s a very easily spread virus which causes inflammation of the liver. The infection might be acute, with the body recovering in less then six months. Or it might be chronic, which means the virus lasts in the body for about six months or even more.
Different types of Hepatitis are caused by different types of viruses. All of these respond to medication and treatment differently. Although the infection is usually preventable and most who acquire usually recover, yet it is a major health concern. Mostly it’s considered dangerous because of the damage it may cause to a persons liver tissue and the ease with which it spreads from one to another.
It may seriously affect the immunity of the body and damage the liver even causing liver failure, cancer and even death.
Most important is to realize that one form of hepatitis is different from another. While hepatitis A spreads by contaminated food or water, but on the other hand C is spread only through body fluids or during birth.
Just like the causes, their treatment is equally different.
Although, all the forms of Hepatitis have different symptoms, differentiating one from the other, yet for the most part they have similar symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention. To begin with get it tested, so that treatment may begin if required.
Although not all types have the same symptoms yet they do share some common symptoms like dark urine, yellow skin or eye whites, also referred to as jaundice, low grade fever, loss of appetite and feeling sick. Loss of nutrition might also be caused by the virus.
Other more unique symptoms are stomachaches for those with B and C only. Yellow or pale colored stool affects those with hepatitis a and c, aching joints is more common for the patients with hepatitis B.
Because of the similarity in symptoms, self-diagnosis of the type is not easy and hence medical tests are required. However knowing the symptoms helps, as Hepatitis a has no real treatment and has to be waited out and thus one must know the usual symptoms, deviation from which is a sign of a different infection.
Prognosis in case of Hepatitis is vitally important. Most people with infection do recover in six months or so, yet in some cases it may take a longer time.
Amongst the various things that a person with infection and wishing speedy recovery should do, is to avoid alcohol. Alcohol and drugs add excessive burden to the already weak liver, trying to heal itself from the virus.
Regular visits to the doctor, monitoring the functioning of liver are equally important. Patients have a vital role in recovery and hence an open relationship with the doctor is extremely important and any new symptoms should be immediately expressed
About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about hepatitis.. Learn more at http://www.avoidhepatitis.com.
It’s a very easily spread virus which causes inflammation of the liver. The infection might be acute, with the body recovering in less then six months. Or it might be chronic, which means the virus lasts in the body for about six months or even more.
Different types of Hepatitis are caused by different types of viruses. All of these respond to medication and treatment differently. Although the infection is usually preventable and most who acquire usually recover, yet it is a major health concern. Mostly it’s considered dangerous because of the damage it may cause to a persons liver tissue and the ease with which it spreads from one to another.
It may seriously affect the immunity of the body and damage the liver even causing liver failure, cancer and even death.
Most important is to realize that one form of hepatitis is different from another. While hepatitis A spreads by contaminated food or water, but on the other hand C is spread only through body fluids or during birth.
Just like the causes, their treatment is equally different.
Although, all the forms of Hepatitis have different symptoms, differentiating one from the other, yet for the most part they have similar symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention. To begin with get it tested, so that treatment may begin if required.
Although not all types have the same symptoms yet they do share some common symptoms like dark urine, yellow skin or eye whites, also referred to as jaundice, low grade fever, loss of appetite and feeling sick. Loss of nutrition might also be caused by the virus.
Other more unique symptoms are stomachaches for those with B and C only. Yellow or pale colored stool affects those with hepatitis a and c, aching joints is more common for the patients with hepatitis B.
Because of the similarity in symptoms, self-diagnosis of the type is not easy and hence medical tests are required. However knowing the symptoms helps, as Hepatitis a has no real treatment and has to be waited out and thus one must know the usual symptoms, deviation from which is a sign of a different infection.
Prognosis in case of Hepatitis is vitally important. Most people with infection do recover in six months or so, yet in some cases it may take a longer time.
Amongst the various things that a person with infection and wishing speedy recovery should do, is to avoid alcohol. Alcohol and drugs add excessive burden to the already weak liver, trying to heal itself from the virus.
Regular visits to the doctor, monitoring the functioning of liver are equally important. Patients have a vital role in recovery and hence an open relationship with the doctor is extremely important and any new symptoms should be immediately expressed
About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about hepatitis.. Learn more at http://www.avoidhepatitis.com.
Healthy Chocolate?
By Gerald Meyer
It's great news that research found a food that lowers blood pressure and is healthy for the heart and maybe more. The problem is that the chocolate most Americans consume is not the same kind. The more popular kinds of chocolate have little or no positive effect on your health. Only certain chocolate may be healthy.
Dark chocolate is the chocolate that was found to have positive effects on blood pressure. Participants given dark, milk, or white chocolate every day were evaluated in different studies. It turns out that dark chocolate contains important antioxidants called phenols. These natural compounds from the cocoa bean are known to increase nitric oxide, reduce platelet aggregation, and inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Cocoa can decrease blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and increase your insulin sensitivity. Milk and white chocolate are low in these antioxidants and do not have the same effect.
The problem is how chocolate is processed in this country. White chocolate, regardless of where you get it, actually contains no cocoa at all and is made only from cocoa butter; just the fat from the cocoa beans. It also contains no phenols. Most of the other chocolate we eat is made with "dutched" cocoa. The cocoa beans are treated with an alkaline solution to make them dark in color and to reduce the natural bitterness from the plant. But, it also reduces almost 90% of the phenols and most of its healthy benefits. The other problem is that when made into milk chocolate, the milk seems to prevent the phenols from being absorbed and, thus, negating any possible benefit from the chocolate.
The best chocolate for your health appears to be dark chocolate. In the European studies done, they ate 100gm of chocolate a day (100 grams equals approx. 3.5 ounces). That's the equivalent to 2 1/2 regular size Hershey's bars. It also adds about 550 calories to the diet. They were instructed to substitute this amount of calories from other foods they normally ate each day. You would have to do the same or forego its healthy benefits by increasing your waistline. European chocolate in general is healthier than that found in America due to the fact that it is less processed than ours and contains more of the heart healthy antioxidants. Dark chocolate is an acquired taste for most Americans since it is much more bitter than its milky counterpart.
So why is this research being touted as the 'best medical news in ages'? It appears to be one more way we look to justify the unhealthy diets we follow. When people hear that chocolate is now healthy, they don't hear any of the other restrictions involved, and don't want to. In fact, most people wouldn't want to change to a more bitter tasting chocolate and also cut out over 500 calories from their diets. Our diets already have enough sweets and this type of news only fuels the diabetic and obesity epidemics. This kind of medical news will only make most people add extra calories to their diets and increase their health problems.
About the author:
Gerald Meyer RPh, provides advice on weight loss. Information on the benefits of green tea and its antioxidant powers can be found at http://www.natural-weight-loss-programs.comFree trials of green tea patches are available. Find out the benefit of green tea for yourself today. Learn about the new superfood – the amazon super berry – acai. Acai may be the most nutritious food in the world. MonaVie is the next generation of health food.
It's great news that research found a food that lowers blood pressure and is healthy for the heart and maybe more. The problem is that the chocolate most Americans consume is not the same kind. The more popular kinds of chocolate have little or no positive effect on your health. Only certain chocolate may be healthy.
Dark chocolate is the chocolate that was found to have positive effects on blood pressure. Participants given dark, milk, or white chocolate every day were evaluated in different studies. It turns out that dark chocolate contains important antioxidants called phenols. These natural compounds from the cocoa bean are known to increase nitric oxide, reduce platelet aggregation, and inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Cocoa can decrease blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and increase your insulin sensitivity. Milk and white chocolate are low in these antioxidants and do not have the same effect.
The problem is how chocolate is processed in this country. White chocolate, regardless of where you get it, actually contains no cocoa at all and is made only from cocoa butter; just the fat from the cocoa beans. It also contains no phenols. Most of the other chocolate we eat is made with "dutched" cocoa. The cocoa beans are treated with an alkaline solution to make them dark in color and to reduce the natural bitterness from the plant. But, it also reduces almost 90% of the phenols and most of its healthy benefits. The other problem is that when made into milk chocolate, the milk seems to prevent the phenols from being absorbed and, thus, negating any possible benefit from the chocolate.
The best chocolate for your health appears to be dark chocolate. In the European studies done, they ate 100gm of chocolate a day (100 grams equals approx. 3.5 ounces). That's the equivalent to 2 1/2 regular size Hershey's bars. It also adds about 550 calories to the diet. They were instructed to substitute this amount of calories from other foods they normally ate each day. You would have to do the same or forego its healthy benefits by increasing your waistline. European chocolate in general is healthier than that found in America due to the fact that it is less processed than ours and contains more of the heart healthy antioxidants. Dark chocolate is an acquired taste for most Americans since it is much more bitter than its milky counterpart.
So why is this research being touted as the 'best medical news in ages'? It appears to be one more way we look to justify the unhealthy diets we follow. When people hear that chocolate is now healthy, they don't hear any of the other restrictions involved, and don't want to. In fact, most people wouldn't want to change to a more bitter tasting chocolate and also cut out over 500 calories from their diets. Our diets already have enough sweets and this type of news only fuels the diabetic and obesity epidemics. This kind of medical news will only make most people add extra calories to their diets and increase their health problems.
About the author:
Gerald Meyer RPh, provides advice on weight loss. Information on the benefits of green tea and its antioxidant powers can be found at http://www.natural-weight-loss-programs.comFree trials of green tea patches are available. Find out the benefit of green tea for yourself today. Learn about the new superfood – the amazon super berry – acai. Acai may be the most nutritious food in the world. MonaVie is the next generation of health food.
Headaches
Tips To Help Relieve The Pain
Tension Headaches.
About 90% of all headaches are classified as muscle contraction, more commonly known as 'tension headaches'. These are the headaches most of us blame on work, bills and arguments.
The pain is typically all over the head. You may feel a dull ache or sense of tightness, and it mostly feels like a tight steel band is wrapped around your head. Not everyone under stress gets headaches, but millions of people get them time and time again. For them headaches are a cronic problem.
Migraines.
Migraines have an even uglier reputation than tension headaches. Migraines are part of the vascular headache family and most often strike women. About 70% of migraine sufferes are female.Migraines can be crippling, so much so that migraine sufferers lose millions of workdays each year.
Usually migraines bring severe, throbbing pain to either one side, or both sides of the head. This is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and dizziness. It can even cause blurred vision, and numbness in the limbs.
Trying To Prevent Them.
I myself have suffered for years with tension headaches, so now I try to head them off before they start. Here's a few tips :-
Medication - Take It Now.
As soon as I feel a tension headache coming on, I take a small dose of medication. It's no use using just a pain killer, you need something that will relax your muscles as well. After all, it's the tight muscles which are causing the pain in the first place, so it makes sense to relax them. If you know what kind of headache you have, your local pharmacy will be able to advise you on the right medication.
Exercise.
Exercise and has helped me a great deal. Exercise helps you to release stress, so regular exercise and stretching will be real of real benefit. If however you've got a severe headache, don't exercise, relaxation is what you need.
Sleep.
Many people sleep a headache off, but too much sleep can actually cause a headache, so don't overdo it. I little nap should be all you need to get rid of a headache.
Peace And Quiet.
Excessive noise is a common trigger for tension headaches, so try to find a quiet place where you can sit and relax. Practice some deep breathing exercises at least three or four times a day, you'll feel better for it.
Protect Your Eyes.
Bright light can cause a headache. Whether it's from the sun, television, or a computer screen, it lead to eye-strain which can then lead to a headache. So protect your eyes whenever possible, and cut down on screen watching if you can.
Watch Your Caffeine Intake.
If you're a heavy coffee or tea drinker, then try to cut down, the general opinion is that caffeine can be a cause of headaches with certain people.
Don't Chew Gum.
The repetitive chewing motion can tighten muscles in the head especially around the jaw and bring on a tension headache.
Cut Down The Salt
A high intake of salt can trigger migraines in some people.
Foods To Avoid.
Food effects everyone differently. Here's some foods that can cause headaches for some :-
Hot dog & mustard - Contains nitrates which dilates blood vessels, this can lead to head pain.
Chocolate - Contains tyramine, a chief suspect in causing headaches.
Nuts & Cheese - These also contain tyramine.
Drinking & Smoking.
We all know the problems we get with these two, don't we ? If you can't stop either, then cut down. Not only will your health improve, you'll save a lot of lovely cash as well.
Have A Sense Of Humour.
We all take life too seriously, and we put ourselves under a lot of unecessary pressure. The stresses of modern life will take it's toll eventually, so lighten up and have some fun before you finish up a wreck !
As a cronic headache sufferer myself, I've finally been able to change my life style and keep my headaches under control. Believe me, I've had my fair share of problems.
Thank you for reading my article, I hope you've found it interesting.
Author John Moore ... Please use my link.
http://www.information-city-online.com
“Green Tea, or not to green tea?”
Wow! Is it just me or… Wait! Let me start again, I think it’s great that Oprah is the communicator to the masses that she is, without her or her influence, we would surely be less informed and less enlightened than we currently are, I can admit this, but there are certain things that exist that should not necessarily require the direction of Oprah or her throng of guests to bring to light there, well there mere existence…
Green Tea is one such discovery…now there I go; it is not a discovery, although it seems like the entire US population has just been introduced to the latest and the greatest discovery since the last big thing, exercise for weight management? How many centuries has this natural substance existed? And I know that Dr. Perricone did not invent green tea either, but you’d never know it by the response evidenced by his appearance on the Oprah show. By the way I do like and enjoy both Oprah and Dr. Perricone and agree with most of the good doctors ‘discoveries’.
And the truth be known, I have known about green tea for decades and have enjoyed its many benefits for as long, boy do I need Oprah to discover me… I wonder if Bob Green would mind. Hmmm, there’s still Martha Stewart, hey Martha have you tried green tea?
Well, anyway…
As it turns out, coffee just, well what do I know and who the heck am I anyway, here’s what the expert has to say… Dr. Perricone explains, “Coffee has organic acids that raise your blood sugar, which affects insulin levels and insulin puts a lock on body fat. When you switch over to green tea, you will get your much needed caffeine, in addition to lowering insulin levels and, here is the doosey…body fat will diminish somewhat rapidly. So, overall, 10 pounds in six weeks should be the result. But if I may chime in, regimented exercise and proper supportive nutrition, as well as adequate hydration should precede any and all wonder discoveries for health, wellbeing, vitality and lifestyle, then again…what do I know.
All jokes aside, I am elated to see that Oprah has jumped on the bandwagon and is exposing the numerous health benefits associated with green tea, like; its ability to enhance immune system function, build stronger bones, and decrease the risk of cancer…just to name a few. Conversely, the biggest buzz is about green tea’s ability to contribute to winning the battle of the bulge, pretty cool eh?
Sure enough, studies on green tea continue to reach the same conclusions. Not to mention, green tea also assists appetite suppression, helps to burn more daily calories and works to increase your body’s energy production. Incidentally, by increasing activity, decreasing your caloric intake and managing your hydration, with the addition of green tea…weight loss becomes a natural process.
The only drawback with these studies experts say is…that a person would have to drink a couple of quarts of green tea daily to obtain these benefits, which would be next to impossible. Personally, I don’t know of anyone who has the time to prepare and drink 10-15 cups of green tea each day, nor based on my less than ‘official’ expert opinion should you really have to, but I am not an official expert, just a lifelong practitioner of balance and moderation in exercise and eating right… How do you become an expert anyway? Martha, Martha… Ms. Stewart!!!
About the author:
Kurt Lee Hurley, operator of www.kreatefitness.com,whose clients refer to him as the "Secret Weapon" has built over 3,000 weight loss success testimonials and his Provo, Utah Wellness Facility, Synergy Fitness Systems has become known as a "Results Factory" a "Living Laboratory" of Achievement, Enhanced Human Performance and a place to congregate for Empowerment and of course, the Success of attaining Weight Loss RESULTS!
Green Tea is one such discovery…now there I go; it is not a discovery, although it seems like the entire US population has just been introduced to the latest and the greatest discovery since the last big thing, exercise for weight management? How many centuries has this natural substance existed? And I know that Dr. Perricone did not invent green tea either, but you’d never know it by the response evidenced by his appearance on the Oprah show. By the way I do like and enjoy both Oprah and Dr. Perricone and agree with most of the good doctors ‘discoveries’.
And the truth be known, I have known about green tea for decades and have enjoyed its many benefits for as long, boy do I need Oprah to discover me… I wonder if Bob Green would mind. Hmmm, there’s still Martha Stewart, hey Martha have you tried green tea?
Well, anyway…
As it turns out, coffee just, well what do I know and who the heck am I anyway, here’s what the expert has to say… Dr. Perricone explains, “Coffee has organic acids that raise your blood sugar, which affects insulin levels and insulin puts a lock on body fat. When you switch over to green tea, you will get your much needed caffeine, in addition to lowering insulin levels and, here is the doosey…body fat will diminish somewhat rapidly. So, overall, 10 pounds in six weeks should be the result. But if I may chime in, regimented exercise and proper supportive nutrition, as well as adequate hydration should precede any and all wonder discoveries for health, wellbeing, vitality and lifestyle, then again…what do I know.
All jokes aside, I am elated to see that Oprah has jumped on the bandwagon and is exposing the numerous health benefits associated with green tea, like; its ability to enhance immune system function, build stronger bones, and decrease the risk of cancer…just to name a few. Conversely, the biggest buzz is about green tea’s ability to contribute to winning the battle of the bulge, pretty cool eh?
Sure enough, studies on green tea continue to reach the same conclusions. Not to mention, green tea also assists appetite suppression, helps to burn more daily calories and works to increase your body’s energy production. Incidentally, by increasing activity, decreasing your caloric intake and managing your hydration, with the addition of green tea…weight loss becomes a natural process.
The only drawback with these studies experts say is…that a person would have to drink a couple of quarts of green tea daily to obtain these benefits, which would be next to impossible. Personally, I don’t know of anyone who has the time to prepare and drink 10-15 cups of green tea each day, nor based on my less than ‘official’ expert opinion should you really have to, but I am not an official expert, just a lifelong practitioner of balance and moderation in exercise and eating right… How do you become an expert anyway? Martha, Martha… Ms. Stewart!!!
About the author:
Kurt Lee Hurley, operator of www.kreatefitness.com,whose clients refer to him as the "Secret Weapon" has built over 3,000 weight loss success testimonials and his Provo, Utah Wellness Facility, Synergy Fitness Systems has become known as a "Results Factory" a "Living Laboratory" of Achievement, Enhanced Human Performance and a place to congregate for Empowerment and of course, the Success of attaining Weight Loss RESULTS!
Green Tea and Polyphenols
What are Polyphenols?
Polyphenols are compounds found in nature. More specifically they are found in plants and provide coloring for some. Their purpose appears to be a potent, natural antioxidant. There are many plants that we consume that contain polyphenols. Concentrations are high in Olive oil and Green Tea and have been the subject of many health articles and promoted to enhance your health.
How do Polyphenols work?
These antioxidants eliminate free radicals, unstable molecules that are the major cause of both aging and disease, in both plants and humans. Free radicals continually attack the body. Free radicals are a normal product of metabolism and result in a process called oxidation. Polyphenols and other antioxidants, including beta carotene (a vitamin A precursor), vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium, scavenge these free radicals and help to prevent formation of unstable oxygen molecules, known as oxidation. Oxidation can damage healthy cells in the body and have been linked to many diseases including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Polyphenols not only work to prevent diseases but may also help to reduce abnormal cells and inflammation; get rid of cancer causing agents and restore cells back to normal health.
What foods contain Polyphenols?
There are many but there are only a few, which contain particularly high levels. They include red wine, olive oil, black and green tea. Green Tea is the #1 source of polyphenols. These extremely high levels of polyphenols deliver green tea's unique results in several ways. Just one example is a subgroup of polyphenols, exclusive to green tea, called catechins. EGCG, the most abundant and powerful of green tea's 5 main catechins, is dubbed the 'super antioxidant' because it is 200 times more powerful than the popular antioxidant vitamin E. Unfortunately, polyphenols have a quick life span (short half life) of about 3 hours, thus the scientific reason behind researchers' recommendation to drink green tea a minimum of 8 times a day.
Not only may green tea protect and heal the body from disease but also clinical trials, conducted by the University of Geneva, in Switzerland, indicate that green tea raises metabolic rates and speed up fat oxidation. In addition to caffeine, green tea's catechin polyphenols raise thermogenesis (the rate at which calories are burned) and hence increases energy expenditure. And, research at the University of Chicago has shown green tea extract injections in rats to cause appetite suppression. They consumed 60 percent less food and lost 21 percent of their body weight. However, as explained by the scientists, a person would have to drink green tea almost constantly to obtain these results. Green tea patches have been developed as a solution. They contain up to 300mg of polyphenols (30 times the potency of regular green tea) and provide a constant supply over 48 hours.
Research is still continuing with green tea and more health benefits continue to be discovered. For instance, EGCG's may one day play a role in treatment of mad cow disease (Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, DOI:10.1038/nsmb743). And the formation of unstable oxygen molecules in the body is unavoidable. Aging, smoke, and environmental pollutants are all sources of the damaging free radicals. Japan and China have benefited from drinking green tea vs. black tea, like the rest of us, for centuries. The west is just now catching on to the benefits of green tea. With green tea being no more harmful than a cup of coffee (and actually containing less caffeine) there's no reason why you shouldn't begin today to benefit from green tea too.
Chemical name:
Various
Also known as:
Green Tea Polyphenols, Green Tea Water Extract, Black Tea Polyphenols, Black Tea Water Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Polyphenon E (Mitsui-Norin, Ltd.), Topical Polyphenon E (Epitome Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)
Category:
Phytochemical
About the author:
More information on the benefits of green tea can be found at http://www.natural-weight-loss-programs.com/greentea.htm. Free trials green tea patches and instant beverages are available while supplies last. Find out the benefit of green tea for yourself today. And, learn more about the new superfood – the amazon super berry – acai. Acai may be the most nutritious and powerful food in the world. MonaVie is the next generation of health food.
Polyphenols are compounds found in nature. More specifically they are found in plants and provide coloring for some. Their purpose appears to be a potent, natural antioxidant. There are many plants that we consume that contain polyphenols. Concentrations are high in Olive oil and Green Tea and have been the subject of many health articles and promoted to enhance your health.
How do Polyphenols work?
These antioxidants eliminate free radicals, unstable molecules that are the major cause of both aging and disease, in both plants and humans. Free radicals continually attack the body. Free radicals are a normal product of metabolism and result in a process called oxidation. Polyphenols and other antioxidants, including beta carotene (a vitamin A precursor), vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium, scavenge these free radicals and help to prevent formation of unstable oxygen molecules, known as oxidation. Oxidation can damage healthy cells in the body and have been linked to many diseases including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Polyphenols not only work to prevent diseases but may also help to reduce abnormal cells and inflammation; get rid of cancer causing agents and restore cells back to normal health.
What foods contain Polyphenols?
There are many but there are only a few, which contain particularly high levels. They include red wine, olive oil, black and green tea. Green Tea is the #1 source of polyphenols. These extremely high levels of polyphenols deliver green tea's unique results in several ways. Just one example is a subgroup of polyphenols, exclusive to green tea, called catechins. EGCG, the most abundant and powerful of green tea's 5 main catechins, is dubbed the 'super antioxidant' because it is 200 times more powerful than the popular antioxidant vitamin E. Unfortunately, polyphenols have a quick life span (short half life) of about 3 hours, thus the scientific reason behind researchers' recommendation to drink green tea a minimum of 8 times a day.
Not only may green tea protect and heal the body from disease but also clinical trials, conducted by the University of Geneva, in Switzerland, indicate that green tea raises metabolic rates and speed up fat oxidation. In addition to caffeine, green tea's catechin polyphenols raise thermogenesis (the rate at which calories are burned) and hence increases energy expenditure. And, research at the University of Chicago has shown green tea extract injections in rats to cause appetite suppression. They consumed 60 percent less food and lost 21 percent of their body weight. However, as explained by the scientists, a person would have to drink green tea almost constantly to obtain these results. Green tea patches have been developed as a solution. They contain up to 300mg of polyphenols (30 times the potency of regular green tea) and provide a constant supply over 48 hours.
Research is still continuing with green tea and more health benefits continue to be discovered. For instance, EGCG's may one day play a role in treatment of mad cow disease (Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, DOI:10.1038/nsmb743). And the formation of unstable oxygen molecules in the body is unavoidable. Aging, smoke, and environmental pollutants are all sources of the damaging free radicals. Japan and China have benefited from drinking green tea vs. black tea, like the rest of us, for centuries. The west is just now catching on to the benefits of green tea. With green tea being no more harmful than a cup of coffee (and actually containing less caffeine) there's no reason why you shouldn't begin today to benefit from green tea too.
Chemical name:
Various
Also known as:
Green Tea Polyphenols, Green Tea Water Extract, Black Tea Polyphenols, Black Tea Water Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Polyphenon E (Mitsui-Norin, Ltd.), Topical Polyphenon E (Epitome Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)
Category:
Phytochemical
About the author:
More information on the benefits of green tea can be found at http://www.natural-weight-loss-programs.com/greentea.htm. Free trials green tea patches and instant beverages are available while supplies last. Find out the benefit of green tea for yourself today. And, learn more about the new superfood – the amazon super berry – acai. Acai may be the most nutritious and powerful food in the world. MonaVie is the next generation of health food.
Green Tea and Cholesterol facts
A green and lush oasis in the middle of a scorching dessert. A cool breeze on a hot summer night. A bright light in the end of a cold and dark tunnel. Green tea and cholesterol.
For the millions and millions of people suffering from high cholesterol green tea may be that light. You can browse and search the Internet for topics on green tea and cholesterol and would come up with hundred of hits.
Cholesterol, triglycerides, the protein apoB in LDLs, are words dreaded by humans of the modern age. This new century is expected to become the century of medical miracles, the green tea, lowly as it may sound looks very promising as several researches have shown. This could be the decade of green tea and cholesterol.
More good news is it's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and cancer. Several studies have shown that the antioxidants are present in green tea. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. Another research done by the University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. In another study by the University of Kansas determined that EGCG may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
And more good news! It's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and high blood pressure. Habitually drinking 5 to 10 cups a day of green tea lowers high blood pressure.
For more that 4,000 years the Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. So it's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and depression!
Drinking green also is reported to be helpful with rheumatoid arthritis, Cardiovascular disease, infection, and impaired immune function.
Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a good anti-cancer element. Polyphenol limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.
There's more! It's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and weight loss. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a report that found out that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine.
How about green tea and tooth decay anyone? Its bacteria-destroying abilities kill the bacteria that cause dental decay. So it's not just green tea and cholesterol, it's also green tea and bacteria.
Why is it that it's green tea and cholesterol not oolong tea or black tea? As we all know there are 3 types of tea, green, oolong and black. All of these come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. But why green? Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized while black and oolong tea leaves are made from dried or fermented leaves, which causes loss of EGCG.
We should have learned speaking mandarin or fukien a long time ago and got to know green tea and cholesterol lowering the Chinese way.
There is more to green tea and cholesterol, search the web and get to know more of the heath benefits you may get from green tea. Does anyone know how to say green tea in Chinese?
About the author:
Lorraine Bevere is well known for documenting the amazing qualities of green tea
Discover other tea "secrets" at her site http://www.fogtea.com
Ginseng Tea
is great for short periods; this tea can alleviate many symptoms of common aliments and lessen fatigue. Ginseng is the main ingredient to many of the medicinal teas. However, prolonged use can lead to insomnia and heart trouble, so be sure to consult your physician before drinking ginseng tea regularly as an alternative to coffee for that afternoon pick me up. In China, ginseng is held in high regard. It is believed that ginseng has rejuvenating powers and provides stimulation to the whole body. Ginseng also offers protection against fatigue. Ginseng is known to be a stimulant for the central nervous system. This root can also help with inflammation, fever, and hormonal imbalances to name a few. The tea is usually made from the Wisconsin ginseng root. Slices can be steeped to create a tea that is a strong as the consumer would like, or purchased as a powder and brewed using tea balls. Both of these methods let the drinker control the amount of tea used. There are ginseng tea bags available from specialty stores, but it is not recommended to buy the tea without reading all the ingredients as some packaged teas are sold as ginseng but in fact have very little of this herb in them, instead using mostly fillers Consult an herbal practitioner or naturopath as to the right type of ginseng and how to brew your tea. The tea can be sweetened with a little honey or stored cold in the refrigerator, as this tea is quite good served iced. Take note, if you are pregnant use ginseng sparingly or not at all.
About the author:
For more information, visit these sites: www.TeaInfoCenter.com
About the author:
For more information, visit these sites: www.TeaInfoCenter.com
www.HerbsInfoCenter.com
Get your vitamins
Civilizations throughout the ages have known that certain foods have qualities that can help to create health for people. And depriving people of certain foods would mean allowing them to succumb to disease. For example, in the age of the sail, scurvy was kept away with lemons and limes.
It has only been in the past hundred years that people have come to understand that food contains nutrients and those nutrients are necessary for life. Some of those nutrients, but not all have been labeled as "vitamins." Part of the word, "vita" is the same root as "vital" which means life.
There are 13 vitamins, but there have not always been. Vitamin A, C, D, E, and K plus the 8 B vitamins make up the roster of vitamins today. Other nutrients, formerly considered to be vitamins, have been reclassified by scientists as they develop an understanding of the things that make our body work.
While the best way to get these vitamins is through our diets, sometimes it is not always possible. Eating a balanced diet is difficult these days, because our lives are very busy. An alternative is to use vitamin supplements to help us get all the vitamins we need to survive in healthy, disease-free bodies.
The human body can exist for quite some time without vitamins, but it does need all of them in order to properly function free of disease. If you're concerned that your diet is not helping you maintain an intake of all of these vitamins, you should consider finding a multi-vitamin supplement to help you. Taking a regular dosage will help ensure that you are getting enough vitamins and your body will get rid of any of the vitamins you don't need any more of.
If you do have vitamins in your house, keep them stored in a cool, dry place and keep them away from children. Even though vitamins are necessary for life, children need to be careful not to have too many; especially vitamins that contain iron.
Eating a balanced diet should be an important part of a healthy lifestyle plan. If your life cannot always include a balanced diet, you may want to consider getting a vitamin supplement to make sure you are getting everything your body needs.
About the author:
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Vitamin Resources a website providing information on Vitamins
It has only been in the past hundred years that people have come to understand that food contains nutrients and those nutrients are necessary for life. Some of those nutrients, but not all have been labeled as "vitamins." Part of the word, "vita" is the same root as "vital" which means life.
There are 13 vitamins, but there have not always been. Vitamin A, C, D, E, and K plus the 8 B vitamins make up the roster of vitamins today. Other nutrients, formerly considered to be vitamins, have been reclassified by scientists as they develop an understanding of the things that make our body work.
While the best way to get these vitamins is through our diets, sometimes it is not always possible. Eating a balanced diet is difficult these days, because our lives are very busy. An alternative is to use vitamin supplements to help us get all the vitamins we need to survive in healthy, disease-free bodies.
The human body can exist for quite some time without vitamins, but it does need all of them in order to properly function free of disease. If you're concerned that your diet is not helping you maintain an intake of all of these vitamins, you should consider finding a multi-vitamin supplement to help you. Taking a regular dosage will help ensure that you are getting enough vitamins and your body will get rid of any of the vitamins you don't need any more of.
If you do have vitamins in your house, keep them stored in a cool, dry place and keep them away from children. Even though vitamins are necessary for life, children need to be careful not to have too many; especially vitamins that contain iron.
Eating a balanced diet should be an important part of a healthy lifestyle plan. If your life cannot always include a balanced diet, you may want to consider getting a vitamin supplement to make sure you are getting everything your body needs.
About the author:
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Vitamin Resources a website providing information on Vitamins
Get In Shape For The Festive Season
Soon, it will be that time of the year. Thanksgiving through Christmas Season. The time of family gatherings, followed by major partying, is coming faster than you think.
Don't you just hate it when in front of everyone at a party, aunt goes up to you and loudly congratulates you for finally getting pregnant.. when you are not.
Wouldn't it better instead if she had commented that she could barely recognize you as you have lost so much weight.
That tummy sticking out can be a major cause of embarassment. So can the extra pounds that insidiously creep up on you as you layer on warmer clothing. You know how the cold can make you hungrier.
Just because you can cover up, doesn't mean you should neglect your weight.
Hide the tummy with a control girdle and the butt sticks out. Just imagine that situation during the festive season, when you try to squeeze into your beautiful cocktail dress. Only to look like a big fat sausage.
Imagine on the other hand, slipping into that favourite cocktail dress, to find it fits perfectly, no unsightly bulges. Walking into the mall, picking the gown you love off the mannequin and it fits you perfectly. Imagine the look on your guy's face when he sees that you in that stunning gown.
Which reality you eventually face is up to you. You have to start quickly. Start working on your figure right away. Watch what you eat, and get the exercise you need.
Start off with a food diary.
As it gets colder, you tend to get hungrier. You might take small snacks, low fat, low calorie maybe, yet lots of small snacks add up to a lot of calories. Maybe, you get those 100 calorie snack size packs, and munch on those. Finish one pack, feel like munching something, get another pack. Over and over again. By the end of the day, you could have taken 10 snack packs without realizing it. Those 100 calorie snacks added up to 1000 calories, and that is not even counting your regular meals.
Then there are the drinks you take. Alcohol is terrible. Your body treats it like fat. Think about the beer belly.
Then the sodas you consume, the cans of coke and other soft drinks, the sugar you put into your tea and coffee, the calories in every drink you consume.
With your food diary, record down everything you eat or drink each day. Calculate the http://www.womanht.com/weightloss/ calories found in each item and total up how much you consumed in a day.
That will be quite an eye opener. Pay attention to what you find in there. Reduce your calories by switching to water instead of sodas. If water is to bland for your taste, put a slice of lemon into the water to flavor it.
Next comes the exercise bit.
Pick a workout that would target your problem areas. If your tummy, hips and the backs of your thighs could use some improvement, go for the http://www.aerobictotalbodyfitness.com/Transfirmer-system.php Transfirmer system. It whittles down these areas beautifully.
Pick a workout that you can stick to. If you have been sedentary all along, try walking. Power walking. Better yet, go for http://www.aerobictotalbodyfitness.com/WalkawaythePounds.php Leslie Sansone's walk away the pounds and just walk it all off.
About the author:
The writer is the new webmaster of http://www.aerobictotalbodyfitness.com/aerobic total body fitness. A resource to help you get in shape through aerobic exercise.
Don't you just hate it when in front of everyone at a party, aunt goes up to you and loudly congratulates you for finally getting pregnant.. when you are not.
Wouldn't it better instead if she had commented that she could barely recognize you as you have lost so much weight.
That tummy sticking out can be a major cause of embarassment. So can the extra pounds that insidiously creep up on you as you layer on warmer clothing. You know how the cold can make you hungrier.
Just because you can cover up, doesn't mean you should neglect your weight.
Hide the tummy with a control girdle and the butt sticks out. Just imagine that situation during the festive season, when you try to squeeze into your beautiful cocktail dress. Only to look like a big fat sausage.
Imagine on the other hand, slipping into that favourite cocktail dress, to find it fits perfectly, no unsightly bulges. Walking into the mall, picking the gown you love off the mannequin and it fits you perfectly. Imagine the look on your guy's face when he sees that you in that stunning gown.
Which reality you eventually face is up to you. You have to start quickly. Start working on your figure right away. Watch what you eat, and get the exercise you need.
Start off with a food diary.
As it gets colder, you tend to get hungrier. You might take small snacks, low fat, low calorie maybe, yet lots of small snacks add up to a lot of calories. Maybe, you get those 100 calorie snack size packs, and munch on those. Finish one pack, feel like munching something, get another pack. Over and over again. By the end of the day, you could have taken 10 snack packs without realizing it. Those 100 calorie snacks added up to 1000 calories, and that is not even counting your regular meals.
Then there are the drinks you take. Alcohol is terrible. Your body treats it like fat. Think about the beer belly.
Then the sodas you consume, the cans of coke and other soft drinks, the sugar you put into your tea and coffee, the calories in every drink you consume.
With your food diary, record down everything you eat or drink each day. Calculate the http://www.womanht.com/weightloss/ calories found in each item and total up how much you consumed in a day.
That will be quite an eye opener. Pay attention to what you find in there. Reduce your calories by switching to water instead of sodas. If water is to bland for your taste, put a slice of lemon into the water to flavor it.
Next comes the exercise bit.
Pick a workout that would target your problem areas. If your tummy, hips and the backs of your thighs could use some improvement, go for the http://www.aerobictotalbodyfitness.com/Transfirmer-system.php Transfirmer system. It whittles down these areas beautifully.
Pick a workout that you can stick to. If you have been sedentary all along, try walking. Power walking. Better yet, go for http://www.aerobictotalbodyfitness.com/WalkawaythePounds.php Leslie Sansone's walk away the pounds and just walk it all off.
About the author:
The writer is the new webmaster of http://www.aerobictotalbodyfitness.com/aerobic total body fitness. A resource to help you get in shape through aerobic exercise.
Fungal Defense Against Candida
Candida is a term that is commonly used for the medical condition known as candidiasis; or yeast overgrowth. The condition was first identified during the 1970’s by American doctors and is now believed to effect more than 40 million Americans. While it should be noted that moderate amounts of candida and other types of yeast exist in all individuals without any problems, in some situations yeast begins to grow uncontrollably. When this occurs it can ravage the body and create a number of symptoms.
In some of the symptoms related to candida there is damage to the intestinal wall. This allows toxins to escape into the bloodstream and cause problems such as migraines, muscle aches, food allergies and difficulty in concentration.
Other individuals who suffer from candida experience what is known as thrush; although not everyone who has candida will have problems with thrush. In some situations, candida will cause problems associated with the endocrine system; which will then lead to even more health problems. These problems may typically include joint pains, PMS, asthma, sinus problems, hay fever, irregularities related to a woman’s menstrual cycle, fungal infections, ear infections, weight gain/weigh loss, allergies and/or a sensitivity to perfumes, tobacco smoke and chronic tiredness. Finally, some individuals experiencing problems related to candida may experience diarrhea and/or constipation, flatulence or a bloated feeling. In very rare cases, candida has even been known to cause problems associated with endometriosis and other illnesses and diseases.
In total, candida has been known to cause 100 or more varied symptoms. It is not uncommon for an individual to suffer from 20 or more symptoms associated with candida at the same time. Symptoms related to candida have been noted to become worse when the individual is exposed to humidity or hot weather. Stressful conditions have also been shown to make candida worse.
In addition to the symptoms listed above, candida has also been noted to cause other health issues such as rectal and/or vaginal itching and pain, colic, diaper rash, acne, hives, kidney and bladder infections, flu like symptoms, spotted vision, impotence, lack of sexual desire, psoriasis, eczema, heartburn, indigestion, bad breath, sore throat, hemorrhoids, dry mouth, cough, painful intercourse and loss of hair.
One of the most common causes of problems associated with candida is the usage of antibiotics. In situations where the body’s immune system has already been compromised due to hormonal changes, stress or illness antibiotics are believed to further contribute to a situation in which candida may flourish. The use of birth control pills has also been shown to be associated with the development of candida.
In many cases, individuals live with the effects and symptoms of candida for years because portions of the health community have been reluctant to admit the link between antibiotics and the development of candida or even that a problem exists in some cases.
Fungal Defense delivers the most effective anti-yeast and anti-fungal compounds found in nature. It contains a specific anti-candida formula to help you battle the effects of this debilitating health issue. In addition, it helps to restore health intestinal flora and enhance immune functions.
About the author:
Generation Health is a source for current information and products that affect you and your family's health from a holistic approach. http://www.generationhealth.com- To learn more, you can see Fungal Defense at http://www.generationhealth.com/product.php?itemid=3
In some of the symptoms related to candida there is damage to the intestinal wall. This allows toxins to escape into the bloodstream and cause problems such as migraines, muscle aches, food allergies and difficulty in concentration.
Other individuals who suffer from candida experience what is known as thrush; although not everyone who has candida will have problems with thrush. In some situations, candida will cause problems associated with the endocrine system; which will then lead to even more health problems. These problems may typically include joint pains, PMS, asthma, sinus problems, hay fever, irregularities related to a woman’s menstrual cycle, fungal infections, ear infections, weight gain/weigh loss, allergies and/or a sensitivity to perfumes, tobacco smoke and chronic tiredness. Finally, some individuals experiencing problems related to candida may experience diarrhea and/or constipation, flatulence or a bloated feeling. In very rare cases, candida has even been known to cause problems associated with endometriosis and other illnesses and diseases.
In total, candida has been known to cause 100 or more varied symptoms. It is not uncommon for an individual to suffer from 20 or more symptoms associated with candida at the same time. Symptoms related to candida have been noted to become worse when the individual is exposed to humidity or hot weather. Stressful conditions have also been shown to make candida worse.
In addition to the symptoms listed above, candida has also been noted to cause other health issues such as rectal and/or vaginal itching and pain, colic, diaper rash, acne, hives, kidney and bladder infections, flu like symptoms, spotted vision, impotence, lack of sexual desire, psoriasis, eczema, heartburn, indigestion, bad breath, sore throat, hemorrhoids, dry mouth, cough, painful intercourse and loss of hair.
One of the most common causes of problems associated with candida is the usage of antibiotics. In situations where the body’s immune system has already been compromised due to hormonal changes, stress or illness antibiotics are believed to further contribute to a situation in which candida may flourish. The use of birth control pills has also been shown to be associated with the development of candida.
In many cases, individuals live with the effects and symptoms of candida for years because portions of the health community have been reluctant to admit the link between antibiotics and the development of candida or even that a problem exists in some cases.
Fungal Defense delivers the most effective anti-yeast and anti-fungal compounds found in nature. It contains a specific anti-candida formula to help you battle the effects of this debilitating health issue. In addition, it helps to restore health intestinal flora and enhance immune functions.
About the author:
Generation Health is a source for current information and products that affect you and your family's health from a holistic approach. http://www.generationhealth.com- To learn more, you can see Fungal Defense at http://www.generationhealth.com/product.php?itemid=3
Fruit For Fitness Tips
Without question, fruit has wonderful natural benefits for the human body. Fruit is packed with vitamins and fiber much like vegetables, but comes in a wide variety of sweeter, more palatable flavors.
Adding fruit to your diet is an excellent thing to do, but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind:
1. Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. Juice is often sweetened, but fresh fruits have natural sugars. Also, you don’t receive all of the needed fiber and vitamins from fruit juice as you do from fresh fruit.
2. If you do have a craving for fruit juice, then go for fresh fruit juice instead of those that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice, taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.
3. Choose fresh fruit over processed fruits. Again, processed and canned fruits do not have as much fiber or vitamins as fresh fruit, and processed and canned fruits are nearly always sweetened.
4. Wherever possible eating locally produced seasonal fruits and vegetable fresh from the garden or grove is preferred.
5. Fresh fruit makes the absolute perfect dessert for any meal. Throw out the cake and add a fresh fruit bowl to the dining table.
6. Fresh fruit also makes the perfect snack. It’s far better to grab a banana or apple when hunger pangs strike, than a bag of greasy potato chips. Plus, fresh fruit just tastes better.
7. It’s interesting to note that nature produces several varieties of fruits resembling the shapes of the organs of our body, which are useful and beneficial to that specific organ. Here are some examples:
Apricot - Brain
Mango-Papaya - Stomach
Almonds - Eyes
Apple - Heart
Grapes - Lungs
Cashew nuts - Kidney
8. Fruits and vegetables have in them a natural storage of the sun’s energy. If we make a daily practice of having fresh fruit and vegetables, or one glass of real fruit juice and two or three cups of green juice of vegetables, our requirement for food will be reduced to a minimum. We will have enough energy to maintain the body in a healthy condition.
Overall, just remember that fresh fruit is better for you than canned fruit, fruit juice, processed fruit, or cooked fruit. Eat as much fresh fruit as you like.
Another benefit of adding fruit to your diet is the added water intake. Water is a simple, yet effective tool in the fight against the scale and the emergency room, and is often overlooked by most people.
But that is a whole other subject...
About the author:
To learn more about the tremendous benefits of water in your dietary
routine visit: http://www.privilegedinfo.com/waterwisdom.html.
Steve Shannon is webmaster at PrivilegedInfo.com
Adding fruit to your diet is an excellent thing to do, but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind:
1. Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. Juice is often sweetened, but fresh fruits have natural sugars. Also, you don’t receive all of the needed fiber and vitamins from fruit juice as you do from fresh fruit.
2. If you do have a craving for fruit juice, then go for fresh fruit juice instead of those that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice, taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.
3. Choose fresh fruit over processed fruits. Again, processed and canned fruits do not have as much fiber or vitamins as fresh fruit, and processed and canned fruits are nearly always sweetened.
4. Wherever possible eating locally produced seasonal fruits and vegetable fresh from the garden or grove is preferred.
5. Fresh fruit makes the absolute perfect dessert for any meal. Throw out the cake and add a fresh fruit bowl to the dining table.
6. Fresh fruit also makes the perfect snack. It’s far better to grab a banana or apple when hunger pangs strike, than a bag of greasy potato chips. Plus, fresh fruit just tastes better.
7. It’s interesting to note that nature produces several varieties of fruits resembling the shapes of the organs of our body, which are useful and beneficial to that specific organ. Here are some examples:
Apricot - Brain
Mango-Papaya - Stomach
Almonds - Eyes
Apple - Heart
Grapes - Lungs
Cashew nuts - Kidney
8. Fruits and vegetables have in them a natural storage of the sun’s energy. If we make a daily practice of having fresh fruit and vegetables, or one glass of real fruit juice and two or three cups of green juice of vegetables, our requirement for food will be reduced to a minimum. We will have enough energy to maintain the body in a healthy condition.
Overall, just remember that fresh fruit is better for you than canned fruit, fruit juice, processed fruit, or cooked fruit. Eat as much fresh fruit as you like.
Another benefit of adding fruit to your diet is the added water intake. Water is a simple, yet effective tool in the fight against the scale and the emergency room, and is often overlooked by most people.
But that is a whole other subject...
About the author:
To learn more about the tremendous benefits of water in your dietary
routine visit: http://www.privilegedinfo.com/waterwisdom.html.
Steve Shannon is webmaster at PrivilegedInfo.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)