healthy women

Always Pick a Trusted and Effective Diet Pill

2010-02-19T06:16:00.000-08:00

There is nothing more important than effectiveness when it comes to diet pill. If you are using a supplement to augment the weight you lose from dieting and exercise, you should always look for something that can improve the results otherwise there is simply no use for it. What you must know, though, that oftentimes the choosing of the weight loss supplement is also in the choosing of the manufacturer.

It is indeed necessary that you get your diet pill from a trusted manufacturer, one that you have been using for quite some time. However, not everyone has that kind of commercial relationship with a certain product. And if you are a beginner, you are hard-pressed in finding a manufacturer that promises to deliver results.
What you can do, though, is to always do your homework. Before you start choosing the manufacturer, you have to first learn about the diet pill you're planning on using. There are several kinds of supplements and not all may be effective for your case. You have to know what you lack and supplement it with the pill. For instance, your body is too slow in burning fats and calories, you can get the help you need with calorie-boosters. See to it that you have determined the demand of your weight loss regimen before trusting your money on someone.

Also, you can certainly get the information you need from friends or relatives. If you know someone who have lost weight in the past and managed to kept it off due to a supplement, it’s better to get information from this person. Not only will you get valuable inside information, but also make the search process easier as you can certainly use the product they are using.

But before you do so, you must make sure that everything has been cleared by your doctor. Especially if you are suffering from a certain type of disease, you must guarantee that the effects of the supplements will not clash with your medication or disease.

If you still haven’t found the right source of the diet pill you want, though, go back to researching. There are several resources you can use and the internet is the most informative. Visit forums, blogs or any other websites that can give you a good hint of what using the product you're planning to take is like from the people who have used it in the past.

The Main Causes And Factors Of Obesity In Adults

2010-02-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

For the most part, the cause of obesity and being overweight is not having your energy in balance. In short, this means that the calories you take in don’t match the energy you use in any given period. When you consume more than you use, you gain weight. If you do this long enough, you will become overweight and eventually obese.

Obesity has become a global problem, mostly because of modernization, globalization, and urbanization. It’s estimated that more than 1 billion people worldwide are overweight and approximately 300 million can be considered clinically obese.
An inactive lifestyle is an invitation to becoming overweight and obese. Genetically, our bodies are driven to be active and our fuel (food) burning system is designed to use energy efficiently. But we often lead sedentary lifestyles, sitting in front of computers at work and the television at home. Of course, the juggernaut of ads for high-calorie, low-nutrition snack foods doesn’t do much to keep our waistlines in check. Neither do the huge portions served in restaurants.

To a much lesser extent, other factors may also be at work. This can include our genetics and family history. For example, if you have a parent who is overweight or obese, you have a greater chance of becoming that way too. Genes can affect how we process, store and carry extra fat.

Hormonal issues can also cause weight gain and obesity. This includes hypothyroidism, where low production makes you feel tired and weak because your metabolism has slowed down. Cushing’s syndrome, where the adrenal glands make too much cortisol (a hormone), and polycystic ovarian syndrome, where high levels of hormones known as androgens, can also increase your tendency to become overweight or obese.

Certain medicines can cause weight gain as well, including prednisone, some antidepressants and seizure medications. If your doctor prescribes these for you, you may want to discuss their side effects, including weight gain.

Discussing your weight gain with your doctor is always a good idea. By addressing your weight issues early on, you can make changes to medications, exercise routines, eating habits, or lifestyle choices such as smoking before your weight becomes a serious health issue.

Organic and Green Healthy Eating Tips

2010-02-07T06:09:00.000-08:00

Finding the right diet can be nearly impossible. There are thousands of fad diets out there that work for a couple weeks, but how hard are they to stay on? Isn’t it time for a realistic way to eat well and stay fit? Let us dispel false rumors and give you some helpful tips on how to stay healthy the right way.

First of all, everything mom taught you about clearing your plate, you can just ignore. Never feel guilty if you leave food on the china. Most restaurants nowadays love to give you the Paul Bunyan portion with the hope that you will return. Be brave: stop eating when you are full. A full tank is a full tank and should not be topped off. Most nutritionists – and us laypeople too – recommend that you eat 4-5 small meals/snacks each day. And if you are going to load up with a big meal, make it breakfast. That way you have a full day to digest all those bountiful carbs. And drink water, lots and lots of water.
Now what should you eat? There is no magic formula, but it is a fact that many women are lacking in protein. The go-to-sources of protein, like meat, tend to be higher in fat which scares most women off. However, when you eat more lean proteins you are less likely to have energy crashes later on in the day. Examples of lean protein are soy, lentils, nuts, turkey and chicken. And remember, with small meals, one of them can be a snack later in the day – think of it as your nutritional pick-me-up.

Once your body has burned through the bread from your sandwich and gives you the initial kick of energy after lunch, it can now focus on the protein and take its time doling out short bits of energy to get you through the day. Eating healthy also means eating products that are produced the right way. We recommend trying natural smoked sliced turkey breast and high protein snacks and bars.

Another low fat protein worth considering is fish. A proper sized serving (5-6 ounces) of this Omega-3 fatty acid rich treat is good for your heart, brain and...well not soul, but you get the idea. Fish are very low in fat and important in fighting heart disease and Type II Diabetes, plus it’s a great way to help your hair gain a nice sheen.

Milk and dairy products also have quite a bit of protein in them. It can’t replace a good helping of soy or lean meat, but can definitely supplement a protein-lacking diet. Many women shy away from this approach because dairy tends to also carry fat. Choosing skim or low fat milk, cheese and yogurt eliminates this worry. Also the calcium and vitamin D support a stunning smile.

Other important things to eat for an overall healthy diet include; raw, leafy vegetables and fresh fruit. These provide a healthy digestive tract and the extra work your body has to do to process them raises your metabolism. With a faster metabolism your body can burn through unwanted fat even faster. The same goes for whole grain bread, pasta and cereal. The more fiber packed into a meal, the more work your body has to do, and the more fat it needs to burn to do it. A baggy of fresh fruit or raw vegetables makes a great snack you can feel good about.

So stop going hungry and try out these tips.

Diabetes & Pregnancy: 4 Eating Tips

2010-02-01T06:05:00.000-08:00

If you are pregnant and have diabetes then you will need to completely stop taking any prescription drugs that may be harmful to the fetus. Also, in order to establish some sort of a baseline to prevent future damage, you must have your kidneys and eyes checked. You must stop all smoking and alcohol drinking.

Being pregnant means that a diabetic woman will need to adhere to a stricter regimen of glucose control during the pregnancy as compared to the treatment she was adhering to before pregnancy. Your blood glucose levels are going to be lower than normal because the fetus is extracting glucose from you and at enormous speeds. On top of that, your body will look towards fat for fuel much sooner than it normally would which ends up producing ketones sooner. Having too many ketones is also dangerous to the fetus.
Keeping A Close Eye On Your Diet

As a diabetic, you probably have researched plenty of information on what it takes to eat healthy and in accordance with preventative measures against long-term complications. However, now that you are pregnant you need to know about the following special requirements:

1. The amount of protein that you should be consuming is approximately 2 grams per kilogram as per your ideal body weight. This means that if your ideal body weight score is 50, then you should be eating approximately 100 g of protein every day.

2. The amount of carbohydrates that you should be eating everyday should be approximately 50% of your entire daily kilocalories. In other words, half of everything that you eat each day should be in the form of carbohydrates, preferably complex carbohydrates.

3. The amount of fat that you should be consuming should be 30% of your total daily kilocalories or less. You must remember that fat contains 9 kg calories per gram, which is twice as dense as a carbohydrate or protein.

4. You must be sure to eat at least three solid meals each day. Eating more than three meals is acceptable so long as they are in smaller portions. Having a snack before bedtime is also beneficial because it helps slow down the starvation process that your body goes into from the long fasting period between dinner and breakfast.

Possible Herbal Treatments For Diabetes

2010-01-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

Many people are turning to herbal remedies for the treatments of diseases. The reason for this is natural herbs have less side effects that traditional prescription medicine. There are vast variety of herbs for every medical condition. Before trying any type of herbal supplement, talk with your doctor. Some herbs may have in interaction with medications that you may be on.

If you start an herbal treatment for your diabetes, monitor you blood sugar levels frequently. There are many types of herbs for the treatment of diabetes. Some work better than others and what works for one person may not work for you. Do your research and talk with a holistic healer or herbalist. This article is going to list a few of the herbs that are used in the treatment of diabetes:
Garlic and onions are best known for their cardiovascular benefits, however a few studies have shown that they can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose levels. Onions can increase the production of insulin in your body, which will lower high glucose levels in your blood.

Bitter melon has long been used for it's glucose lowering properties. It must be taken in small doses however, because larger doses can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Aloe Vera has been called the healing herb. It is known for it's ability to treat burns and cuts.But the dried sap and gel taken from the inner portion of the leaves have been effective in treating diabetes.

Asian ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has long been used in the treatment of diabetes. Asian ginseng can increase the release of insulin from the pancreas and enhance the function of insulin receptors.
Gymnema is an Ayurvedic herb that has been shown to help the pancreas produce insulin. It has been beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Stevia has long been used to lower blood glucose levels. It has had animal studies but has not undergone any human trials.

Cinnamon bark will make fat cells more accessible to insulin. It blocks the formation of dangerous free radicals and increases the conversation rate of glucose to energy.

These are just a few of the herbs used to treat diabetes. You must remember, that just because you can buy it over the counter does not mean that it is completely safe. People with renal disease or liver disease are at a higher risk for complications. If you are on blood thinning medicines be aware that taking ginkgo, ginseng and garlic will increase your risk for bleeding.

Do not take extra doses of the herbs thinking that more is better. It can actually do more harm than good. Monitor your blood sugar frequently and keep your doctor informed of what you are doing. If you find the right herb that works for you, prescription medication for your diabetes may become a thing of the past!

Avoid Getting Weight Gain When Quitting Smoking

2010-01-18T05:53:00.000-08:00

Many people believe that it is inevitable to gain weight when you quit smoking, but this is not necessarily true. There are several things to do to prevent weight gain, and even if you do gain five or 10 pounds, it can easily be taken off again once you have kicked the smoking habit.

There are several reasons why we have a tendency to gain weight when we try to quit smoking. Nicotine acts as a stimulant and appetite suppressor, so one of the effects of quitting smoking can be an increased appetite. There are other factors involved as well. Smokers have a tendency to skip meals. They may also eat quickly so they can light up a cigarette afterwards. After quitting smoking, skipped meals become less frequent and unless you eat slower you may end up eating more.

Some people may crave an oral substitute for cigarettes and use food to keep their mouth busy. This in itself would not be so bad if healthy low-calorie foods are chosen, but usually cigarettes are replaced by sweets and candies. Finally, certain situations which are associated with smoking (like parties) may cause you to compensate by eating more food.

It is important to remember that quitting smoking is a difficult undertaking in itself. Some people may be tempted to reform all their bad habits at once but this can lead to failure in all their attempts. Focus on the task of quitting smoking and don't worry too much if you are gaining a few extra pounds. Eating healthy food and avoiding sweets will help to minimize the weight gain.

If you skipped meals when you were smoking, you will probably find your appetite has increased after quitting. Many smokers get by with a coffee and a cigarette in the morning rather than eating a full breakfast. If you find you want to eat a regular breakfast after quitting smoking, make it a healthy one of fruits, eggs, and cereal. This is good for your overall health and will allow you to start your day on the right step.

If you developed the habit of eating quickly so that you could finish your meal with a cigarette, you will probably find that you finish your meals before everyone else. This may tempt you to take second helpings. Try to lengthen the time of your meal by chewing more slowly, cutting your food into smaller pieces, or pausing between mouthfuls.

If you had the habit of smoking while watching TV, substitute cigarettes with healthy tidbits like celery sticks, carrots, broccoli or tomatoes. Using sweets or candies as a cigarette substitute is a sure way to gain excess pounds.

It's a good idea to keep plenty of healthy snacks on hand to help you combat the smoking urge. Things to keep stored on your cupboard or refrigerator include yogurt, herbal teas, fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Keep all of the high calorie snacks out of sight at the back of the cupboard or refrigerator so you are less tempted when looking for a cigarette substitute.

Getting plenty of exercise is always a good idea. As we mentioned above though, making too many changes to your routine at the same time may cause all of them to fail. It may be better to wait a few months before instituting a new exercise routine. Exercise will make you feel better, reinforce your commitment to stay smoke free, and shed those few extra pounds you may have gained.

Best Anti Snore Method

2010-01-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

Snoring is a life long affliction that not only affects the snorer but the whole family. Millions of people all around the globe have been looking for that ultimate manna for snoring but are usually looking for non invasive methods to stop snoring.

Surgery and medicated treatments are usually avoided due to the impending high medical costs and scars or other side effects of surgery. In most cases, surgery is not the right option as you may end up with serious side effects. It has been seen that it is not necessary that costly anti snoring solutions are the best as many affordable and cost effective snore cures have given similar results.

Today with over 300 tried and tested remedies, you have no reason to toss and turn all night while your partner snores away. Ranging from adhesive nasal strips to mouth guards and herbal pills, one of the best anti snoring remedies are nose sprays and drops.

Anti Snoring Drops and Sprays

Usually anti snoring drops are squirted into the nose while the sprays are directly sprayed into the back of the throat. Both of the nose drops and sprays work to lubricate the nasal passages and throat area to avoid vibration, tighten the soft tissues eliminating snoring. The constant interruptions in your sleep patterns due to snoring does not give your body and brain complete rest, while improper breathing can hamper oxygen supply to the brain resulting in life threatening conditions over a period of time.

These can be easily bought in your local drug store or in any of the virtual stores online. Most of these sprays and drops work to tighten and strengthen the muscles, dilate the nasal passages for better breathing flow and allow you to breathe freely and thus, sleep better.

How Does Anti Snore Drops and Sprays Work?

Usually anti snore drops and sprays are non allergic and have a combination of essential oils, herbal extracts blended with water and alcohol. Usually non addictive and non toxic drops and sprays, anti snore sprays and drops do not have side effects that can harm. Most of the better known anti snore nose drops have been clinically tried and tested in clinical laboratories before being marketed online and at drug stores.

Some of the better known snoring solutions contain menthol, lavender oil, primrose oil and other herbal extracts to relieve nasal congestion, clear nasal passages and reduce inflammation. However it is best to seek the advice of a medical health care professional before trying out any of the medicated anti snoring solutions. You need to use these drops and sprays on a regular basis every night, for maximum efficiency. It is best to use them 30 minutes before you go to bed and should not be used with any drink or meals.

So you can just buy any of these in over the counter drug stores or local supermarkets without any prescriptions. Now you have no reason to keep snoring any more. The safety and ease of use gives you and your family the freedom to sleep and live better.

Eat Chocolate and Not Get Fat

2010-01-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

A lot of people have a weakness for chocolate. I love the stuff myself. It always makes me feel better whenever I eat it. Well, if truth be told, I usually feel better right away but later I start to feel guilty and wonder whether this enjoyment is going to backfire on me and I will see this chocolate on my abs, thighs, arms, or butt.

I know that a lot of people have the same dual emotions regarding chocolate. You want it, you crave it, but you're scared to indulge yourself. After all, you make a lot of effort to remain lean, you workout, you eat right, and you don't want to ruin it with some small piece of chocolate.

The truth is that you don't have to worry so much. You can enjoy a fine piece of chocolate as long as you do it right, as long as you take the right steps as stated in this article:

1. You do need to have some control over the quantities you eat. You can't expect to stuff yourself silly with chocolate and expect to not gain weight. I highly recommend that you eat in moderation. It is up to you to maintain some control and it is possible. Buy smaller packets of chocolate, limit yourself to one or two bars, don't overdo it.

2. Eat chocolate strategically at times in which your body is best able to deal with the added calories. You want to feed your body with chocolate when your metabolism is at its highest point. This is usually after your workout, for 1-2 hours. During that time your body is like a furnace, eager to burn more and more calories. This is the time to enjoy yourself without getting into trouble.

3. You need to choose the right kind of chocolate. Yes, you may love milk chocolate but it's full of sugar and just not good for you. Dark chocolate is much better and is actually healthy for you. What makes you fat in chocolate is the added sugar, not the cocoa beans. So, you want to eat chocolate which has a high concentration of cocoa beans. I recommend 70% cocoa beans concentration to make sure it is still healthy for you. Although dark chocolate is more bitter than milk chocolate, it can still be quite tasty and does retain some sweetness. I often eat an 85% dark chocolate but that may be over the top, 70% will do.

If you follow these rules you can eat chocolate and not get fat. Enjoy.

Foods To Eat and To Avoid

2009-12-29T14:14:00.000-08:00

What food should we be eating to maintain and improve our health? What food should we avoid eating? Many of us continue to read and hear conflicting reports and confusing information about food. An interesting article provided by Prevention appeared as an aol health report.

The following seven foods to avoid eating may be familiar or surprising. Just keep an open mind and read all the way to the end of this article.

1. Avoid eating canned tomatoes because "The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to...reproductive problems...heart disease, diabetes and obesity." Choose instead, tomatoes in glass bottles; there is no resin lining. This warning was cited by Frederick Von Saal, Ph.D., endocrinologist at the University of Missouri.

2. Don't eat corn fed beef. Corn fattens the animals but depletes their nutrition. A study by the USDA and Clemson University found that grass-fed beef "is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium and potassium; low in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats...." Choose grass-fed beef sold at specilaty groceries. This warning was cited by Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyfrace Farms, author of several books about farming.

3. Stay away from microwave popcorn because certain chemicals in the lining of the bag "may be linked to infertility in humans" and have actually caused liver, testicular and pancreatic cancer ini animals." Instead, pop natural kernels in a skillet. This warning was cited by Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., senior scinetist for the Environmental Working Group.

4. Don't eat non-organic potatoes because root vegetables "absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in the soil." Buy organic potatoes instead. This warning was cited by Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board.

5. Avoid eating farmed or Atltantic salmon because "farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCB's, brominated flame retardants and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT." Choose instead wild-caught Alaska salmon or canned salmon (which is usually wild caught). This warning was cited by David Carpenter, M.D., director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, author of a major study on contamination in fish.

6. Don't drink milk that has articfical hormones because recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST), often used to increase milk production, creates higher levels of "insulin-like growth factor" which "may contribute to breast, prostate and colon cancers." Read labels and choose only "r-BGH-free or rBST-free" milk. This warning was cited by Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibililty and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.

7. Don't bite into conventional apples because these apples, which don't easily resist pests, are sprayed frequently with pesticides which may be linked to cancers and Parkinson's disease. Instead, buy organic apples. This warning was cited by Mark Kastel, co-director of the Cornucopia Institute, a fram-policy research group that supports organic foods.

Don't be disheartened by these findings. Perhaps you are one of those people who refuses to shop for strictly organic food. Maybe you like to add canned tomatoes and regular potatoes to your favorite recipes and you prefer the flavor of farm raised salmon and microwave popcorn. Don't despair. Try adding Chaga mushroom extract twice a day to your regular diet routine. Just mix it with water or juice or even tea. This unique and powerful mushroom, grown in the coldest region of Siberia, is known for its medicinal capabilities. It actually zaps the nutrition from the birch tree and can help to eliminate unwanted toxins from your digestive system. Check out the preponderance of exciting research about this simple yet powerful mushroom.

Even if you decide to shop for only organic and home grown fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef, and wild Alaska salmon, what happens when you eat out at a restaurant or are invited for dinner at your friend or relative's home? In this modern society, it can be quite difficult to maintain a perfectly healthy, chemical-free diet. Why not add some healthy supplements such as Chaga as a safeguard and immune system strengthener?

6 Essential Facts About Tuberculosis

2009-12-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

More than two million people or a third of all world men come down with "Mycobacterium tuberculosis," a bacterium that causes tuberculosis. It is known that tuberculosis is the seventh causes of death in the world. That disease kills 1,77 million people in 2007 and 1,8 million people all over the world in 2009.

Reuters say that tuberculosis is also one of the diseases that deals with poverty, instead of AIDS and malaria. The followings are 6 essential facts about tuberculosis:

1. Tuberculosis spread easily through air. When infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or spits, he gets the bacteria out. Just a little bacterium is already able to spread. One person becomes the new infected person of tuberculosis every second.

2. Almost all spreading of tuberculosis are hidden because its carriers do not show its indication and they are not infected. However, one of 10 people will come down with this disease along the time because of the weakness of his immune system.

3. From 1,8 million of death in 2008 or 4.930 death in a day, a half million of them are AIDS patients. Most tuberculosis usually attack young men that are in their most productive time and most of the deaths happen in developing countries. More than half of deaths happen in Asia, like Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Philippine.

4. The World Bank estimates that the disease can lose 4-7% of gross domestic income of some countries that come down with.

5. Tuberculosis that is incurable is usually caused by medicinal treatment by halves and it often happens to patients that stop their treatments when they feel better.

6. The most dangerous tuberculosis is incurable tuberculosis that anti-isoniazid and rifampicin, the strongest anti-tuberculosis medicines. And, this kind of tuberculosis seldom happens in the world. Between 35% and 50% patients of this kind of tuberculosis die.

What Aromatherapy Newbies Should Know

2009-12-16T22:12:00.001-08:00

One of the most common services in various health centers and spas today is aromatherapy. This is because people believe that the process can help heal not only physical pains but also other conditions that are bought by too much stress and tension.

For those who fell in love with aromatherapy and would like to get into it through regular practice or as a viable business venture there are so many things that should be paid attention to. The first thing is the overall understanding about the practice including its history, its types, the supplies being used, means of application, current trends as well as the future market for it.

On Aromatherapy As A Means Of Healing

Aromatherapy has a long and rich tradition when it comes to alternative healing. It dates back to the early civilizations and spread out across the globe. In fact, through the years it has undergone drastic changes in terms of application and the practice itself. Here are some things that you should know about aromatherapy as a means of healing:

- Aromatherapy should not be used as an official treatment to serious kinds of illnesses that needs medical attention.

- It should not be substituted to medical processes that physicians advise any patient. - People with medical condition such pregnant women and those with epilepsy should not into aromatherapy too much because it may cause adverse effects.

- Aromatherapy only aims to provide as alternative healing through relaxation not as a major treatment for serious conditions.

On Buying Aromatherapy Products

Because of so many products that are available on the market, buying tips are very important for people who are new to aromatherapy because they can avoid committing mistakes. Newbies should be very careful in buying aromatherapy products so as to avoid possible accidents in using the wrong ones. The following are some of the important things they should bear in mind when buying aromatherapy products:

- Don't buy anything that you see. When shopping for aromatherapy products, be very specific about what you are looking for. Always check the labels and make sure that they contain pure essential oils.

- Be particular about the packaging. For essential oils, always buy those that are placed in colored bottles to ensure that the efficacy of the content has not been damaged.

- For aromatherapy purposes, don't buy products that have the word "scented," "perfume" or "fragrance" on the label. For essential oils and other aromatherapy products such as candles and bath or body products, it is very important that these contain pure oils from plant extracts to ensure they have therapeutic value.

How To Make Quitting Smoking Easy

2009-12-06T23:45:00.000-08:00

There's no doubt that quitting smoking can be one of the most daunting challenges you'll ever face, but you may be surprised to know that it doesn't exactly have to be torturous, either. There are plenty of aids that can help you quit smoking with less discomfort, like nicotine replacement products, hypnosis and more.

But one of the most powerful techniques is already in your possession, whether you know it or not! This technique is one that you already use every single day of your life. You use it when you're sick, when you're feeling great, and when you're working through challenges. It can make all the difference between success and failure, no matter what you're doing at the time.

What is this technique? Self-talk.

Don't dismiss it - when you really think about it, self-talk is truly powerful.

Have you ever accidentally talked yourself into being sick? Perhaps you woke up with a slight headache, then spent the morning telling everyone that you didn't feel good and by the end of the day you were not only suffering from a much worse headache but also body aches and other symptoms? On the other hand, perhaps you can remember experiences where you talked yourself into being well too.

Using self-talk to help yourself through the stages of quitting smoking is not only simple, it works! Your thoughts have immense power to shape your perception of everything that happens to you.

What do you think would happen if you quit smoking and then complained mentally about it the whole time? "This sucks. I want to smoke, but I can't. It's not fair that other people can smoke but I can't. I'm so sick of these cravings already, how am I going to make it through a few more weeks like this? I can't do this. Maybe I should wait until I'm less stressed..." On and on it goes - and before you know it, you've talked yourself into smoking again!

On the other hand, you can use this same type of self-talk to HELP yourself through your quit.

Here's how to do it:

When you wake up on your first day as a non-smoker, you're likely to experience some feelings of anxiety. You might have thoughts like, "Oh, that's right, I've quit smoking. Man, I really want to smoke. Maybe I should quit tomorrow instead..." As soon as you become aware that you are thinking thoughts like this, immediately turn it around. Say with confidence, "Today is going to be a GREAT day! I have officially quit smoking and I feel better already. (take a deep breath) It's so good to be able to breathe again, and it's going to get even better as I go along!"

Throughout the day, periodically say things like this to yourself: "I'm doing really GOOD at this! Not smoking is actually easier than I thought it was going to be. I've had a few cravings, but nothing that I can't handle. I can handle anything if I really set my mind to it. I'm so proud of myself."

When you do experience cravings, simply talk yourself through them. "Okay, I'm having a craving. It's just a feeling and it will pass. Having a craving doesn't mean I have to do anything about it. If I just ignore it, it will go away on its own. I'm okay. This is manageable, I can handle it."

These are just examples of some positive self-talk that you can use, but feel free to improvise. You could also be a little more aggressive, like this: "I refuse to give in to your call, nicotine! You will not beat me. I'm stronger than you are, and I'm proving it every time I refuse to smoke."

The important thing is to avoid using negative self-talk because it will simply push you back toward the desire to smoke again. If you catch yourself thinking or speaking negatively, turn it right around and affirm how great you feel, how strong you are, and so on. In no time at all, you'll really start to believe it.

As the old saying goes, "You are what you think."

What To Eat After Working Out

2009-12-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

The post workout nutrition is a long researched topic in the fitness industry. Everybody is wondering about what they should eat to get in shape and stay that way. Most of the studies are showing that carbs and proteins combined help the formation of muscle in the body.

These studies have been so relevant that it is hard to find a fitness trainer that does not advocate for this combination. Most of the people drink this type of shake a few minutes after the workout.

But let’s pull back from this rule and see if it is really the best method to follow. I agree with the concept of post-workout nutrition. It has its purposes and advantages. This nutrition is helping you to build muscles and gain some weight. The shakes are great because the body will not store them as fat.

You will see, after the workout, how the muscles are depleted and how they need replenishment. But let’s not forget about the main goal: losing fat.

Do you actually think that it is a great idea to have a sugary shake after training, when the goal is to lose the body fat? Is the shake going to help you burn that fat? I do not think so. I have seen from my own practice how this can be very counter productive when the purpose is to lose weight.

At the same time, you will say that the studies can not lie. It is true. But these studies were not conducted on people that wanted to lose body fat. They were tried on those people who just wanted to grow some muscles and had less if no body fat. From my own experience I have seen that not using the high carbs shakes after workouts is paying off and people get great results easily.

But what do you do after the workout? If you are not having a shake, what should you have? What is the proper after-workout meal? The answer is simple: solid meat. You must consume meat within 1 hour after the workout. Try to remember that natural, solid food will always help you be in shape and not some chemicals full of sugar. Save your money on buying expensive shakes that do nothing for your body. Instead, eat meat after the workout and you will quickly be able to see the results. Good luck with your exercises!Do you want to achieve sexy ripped abs?

Original Article By Christian Stan from articlepick.com

How Much Caffeine is Ok?

2009-12-03T00:32:00.000-08:00

Are you a coffee lover?
If you are, read this article, it will bring you a whole new perspective about your cup of coffee, or anything that contain caffeine.

Did you know that worldwide, 120,000 tons of caffeine is consumed each year? That's the equivalent of one caffeine-containing beverage per day for each of the 5 billion plus inhabitants of planet earth.

Welcome to the most widely consumed psycho-active substance in the world.

Humans have been using this drug since the Stone Age. Our early ancestors elevated their moods, stimulated their awareness and eased fatigue by chewing the bark, leaves or seeds of certain plants.
Today we big monkeys may have refined our tastes but are not much different. We consume caffeine in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, some soft drinks, and even some drugs. But how much do we really know about the substance whose consumption is rivalled only by water?

Caffeine is found in varying amounts in the fruit, leaves, and beans of over 60 plants. In the plant world, caffeine acts as a natural pesticide that paralyses and kills some insects that try and feed on these plants.

But the word itself comes from the French term for coffee, café. Your typical morning latte can contain an upwards of 200g of caffeine. A cup of tea averages around 70mg, soft drinks anywhere from 10 to 50mg per beverage, and an average 28g serving of milk chocolate contains about as much caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee.

Studies have shown that a complete tolerance to the subjective effects of caffeine can be seen to develop after consuming 300mg of caffeine 3 times per day for 18 days, and sometimes even earlier.

Caffeine is completely absorbed by the stomach and small intestine within 45 minutes but its effects can be felt after around 15 minutes. And just what are these effects? Well, caffeine is a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant.

Because of the norepinephrine released in the brain after ingestion, caffeine increases respiration, strengthens the pulse, raises blood pressure, stimulates the kidneys, temporarily relieves fatigue, and excites the brain, improving mental function.

Caffeine and its related substance theobromine (from tea and cocoa) are like sugar in their effects on the body. They stimulate the adrenal glands to release an adrenaline-like substance, which causes the liver to release sugar into the blood stream.

This is what gives you the lift you feel from drinking caffeinated beverages.

Just like alcohol and nicotine, caffeine readily crosses the blood brain barrier. There in the brain it also constricts cerebral blood vessels. If you're used to drinking a few cups of coffee a day but decide to give it a rest, those blood vessels will dilate, leaving you with one hell of a headache, one of the best known withdrawal symptoms.

Other symptoms can include irritability, an inability to concentrate, and even stomach aches.

These feelings can appear within 12 to 24 hours if no caffeine has crossed your lips, peak at approximately 48 hours and last from one to five days.

It takes the body an average of 7 to 9 hours to process the caffeine in one cup of coffee. Women, however, metabolise caffeine about 25% faster than men unless they are taking oral contraceptives or are ovulating which then increases the time to 10 to 20 hours!

So, in my view 1-2 cups a day won't cause you too much harm, but the benefits you'll achieve by using caffeine only when you need it will far surpass your daily psychological reliance on those cups of coffee.

Article By : Brett Smith

Five Tasty, Anti-Aging Snacks

2009-12-01T03:53:00.000-08:00

Despite the very fact that snacking makes such an important part of our daily life, most of the modern snacks widely available in the market are not good for health. If you are serious about your health and if you dont want to grow older fast, this is the time you must start taking great care about what you eat. Following is a list of five time-tested anti-aging snacks that are not only healthy for your body but are tasty as well. The information below will help you understand how these simple snacks can keep you young and healthy for a long time.

Seeds And Nuts
Seeds and nuts can make great snacks for a healthy rhythm in life. They are rich in special type of amino acid called arginine, which is very useful for your heart as well as your circulatory system. Seeds and nuts are good sources for omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E also, which can very helpful in slowing down the aging process. So, if you are looking for some tasty anti-aging snacks, you have an array of choices available that include flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, pistachios, pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, and many other common seeds and nuts. For better results, you are strongly recommended to use fresh unprocessed ingredients. Mix them up thoroughly and enjoy.

Berries Yummy
If you are looking out for a sweet option, look no further than berries. Theres an old saying that foods that are naturally colorful are very good for health modern science approves this old saying. Berries make a good source for antioxidants and bioflavinoids. There are different types of berries that can be a part of your snacks, but blueberries are probably the best as long as you are looking for something that could keep you healthy and young.

Apples

You must have heard it millions of times right since your childhood an apple a day keeps the doctor away. So, it will be a nice idea to eat apples as part of your anti-aging snacks. But, you do not necessarily have to settle for just an apple you can have two, three, ..ten. Dont worry, they wont make you overweight. In fact, apples will keep your cholesterol down. Various medical research and studies have shown that those who eat more than five apples a week they enjoy a very healthy life throughout their lives. Apples are also rich in pectin, which reduces the risk of colon cancer and improves lung function.

Apricots
Apricots are unfortunately the most overlooked summer fruit, but if you make them a part of your anti-aging snacks, you will be surprised to experience its wonderful benefits. You must have heard about the long-lived Hunza people of the Himalayas? Apricots are their staple food.

Avocado
Avocado can be very healthy for your immune system, as they are rich in glutathione (an antioxidant). In fact, they are also very useful for healthy hair and nails.Overall, if you want to live long and prosper, make sure you are eating the right anti-aging snacks.

Original Article By : Allen Caller from articlesnatch.com

Living Well With Menopause

2009-11-29T04:30:00.000-08:00

Hot flushes, cold sweats and insomnia. The symptoms of menopause are not simply something you must endure.

The most common misconception about menopause is that women will have a dreadful time, says Dr Elizabeth Farrell, President of the Asia Pacific Menopause Federation and a Director at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Womens Health. The majority transit through menopause relatively easily. But theres a portion who struggle. The latter, she believes, make up around 20 per cent.

Put simply, menopause is your last menstrual period; the point when you run out of eggs. In Western societies, the mean age is 51, with a broad range of 45 to 60. According to some studies, eight per cent of women are menopausal prior to 45, the majority go through it by 53, and a small quota continue their periods up until 60. [1]
But ovaries arent just egg factories, as reporter Rae Fry explained on ABC Televisions Quantum programme. Theyre also glands: secreting oestrogen and progesterone. Around the time of menopause, production of these hormones fluctuates wildly, and finally, falls dramatically oestrogen by 90 per cent over just a few years.

With this change, common symptoms include erratic periods some far heavier than normal, vaginal dryness, bladder irritability and hot flushes. Though the medical profession doesnt precisely understand why, hot flushes are linked to a drop in oestrogen levels. The brain seems to sense that the body is overheating, thus heat-losing mechanisms kick in: blood vessels in the face, neck and chest dilate, and skin temperature rises.

Original Article By : Tony Uechtritz from articlesnatch.com

Treatment For Allergies - What You Should Know

2009-11-27T05:25:00.000-08:00

There are many sorts of allergies, and there is a large range of conventional therapies to tackle them. Apart from drug treatments and diet therapy, there are a number of techniques in which you regularly take doses of the substance to which you are allergic, so that in the end, and the treatment may take several years, you develop a tolerance to the substance.

In hypo sensitization or incremental desensitization, increasing amounts of the allergen are injected under the skin until your sensitivity to it is reduced. This treatment is reserved for individuals with specific allergies, such as bee venom. It has to be carefully monitored due to the risk of anaphylaxis. A few children have died as a result of this treatment.

More widely used are desensitization or neutralization techniques, of which the miller technique is the most well known. This involves using a dose which just fails to cause a reaction and then giving that dose repeatedly. Practitioners of this technique claim that it is totally safe because of the small amounts used but you have to be committed to the treatment as you have to inject yourself daily or every other day.

Enzyme potentate desensitization has been shown to be effective in the treatment of asthma, hay fever and hyperactivity. Patients are injected four times a year with a cocktail of allergens in doses so minute that they cannot even be measured. A spacer is a plastic container that is filled with a fine mist of medication. A mouthpiece at one end allows you to breathe in normally, which means it is easier to use than an ordinary inhaler.

Original Article By Victoria Mistral from ezinearticles.com

Just A Few Benefits of Massages

2009-11-25T05:42:00.000-08:00

The art of massaging has been practiced for many hundreds of years, perhaps even thousands of years (the Greeks did it as did earlier civilizations). When we look at ancient times and its relationship with our culture we can see that our culture is the result of a historical process that has been enormously influenced by the Romans and this includes their attitude towards massage and cleanliness (these two always seem to go hand in hand). This can easily be appreciated when looking into that typically Roman institution - the Roman Public Bath.

Ruins of Roman baths have been found all over Europe usually availing themselves of natural hot springs. The use of oils, myrrh and scents are recorded in ancient times just as their equivalents are used today. There were obviously reasons why our ancient cultural forefathers practiced the art of massages - and this meant much more than "it felt good".Mankind has enjoyed and recognized the benefits of a massage for a long time and this begs the question:
What are the benefits of a massage?

The obvious ones are:
It helps us to relax.
It provides relief from stress, both muscular and psychological.These are perhaps the immediate benefits that most people will recognize intuitively and are in fact what we tend to look for in a massage. After a long, tiring and perhaps stressful day, what could be more soothing than a long, relaxing massage.

However there are other benefits that have to do with our physical well being and our general health. Massage effects have been studied for over a hundred years and some benefits that have been uncovered are:
they help reduce the heart rate
they help increase blood circulation
they help increase lymph flow
they help to lower the blood pressure
they relax muscles
they help stimulate weak muscles (as such they form part of the standard treatment for coma patients).When you add up these benefits you realize that a massage is beneficial in many ways both physically, psychologically - and delightful to boot.

Original Article By : Philip Robinson from ezinearticles.com

Is Yoga Right For You?

2009-11-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

A lot of women perform yoga exercises not just to lose weight or maintain proper body weight but also because they want to be healthy emotionally and mentally. Yoga is also known to contribute to the decrease of a number of problems during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. There is research to prove this, but it’s easy to see the physical, mental, and emotional benefits evident on those women who practice yoga.

Yoga Helps You Cope with a Busy Lifestyle

If you are still undecided about yoga, then there are a number of things about it that will help you decide. One of these is its relevance to today’s world, even if it is one of the most ancient practices of all times.

Yoga is considered as the perfect solution that helps women cope with their busy days and the resulting mental and physical stress. This is especially true if they are working moms who need to deal with the pressures of both work and home. Sitting behind a desk or even driving a car for several hours every day would already result in a woman’s having shoulder and back problems that will not only affect their lives at the office but also at home when they are dealing with the family and household chores.

Choosing the Best Yoga Style Helps

Deciding if yoga is really right for you would also require you to choose the yoga style that will fit your lifestyle, personality, and needs. If you are a working mom, your yoga needs might differ from those women who are just working at the office for long hours every day. As such, it is very important to find the perfect teacher or trainer who has the right knowledge about yoga who is not only qualified and accredited but also compassionate and sensitive to what you really need.

Yoga Styles:

1)Vini Yoga. This is a personal practice that could be developed through the incorporation of meditation, proper breathing, and posture as well as prayer and rituals. The amount of all these aspects that could be incorporated into your yoga practice will have to be changed though as a woman and her needs change and develop. Therefore, if you are still a student or a young professional, then the physical aspects of yoga might be more important for you, while older women might focus more on the spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects.

2)Ashtanga Yoga. Also considered as the power yoga, this style is known to be flowing and athletic. Breathing is very important in this yoga style as a woman flows through a series of postures. This is able to generate a lot of sweat and body heat, thus helping women detoxify their bodies.

3)Ananda Yoga. This yoga style makes use of temperate poses. This is gently meditative and perfect for those who would like to practice a yoga style that helps them to look inwards so they can focus on making their emotions better.

Original Articles By James Pendergraft from articlecity.com

Secrets To Fighting Fatigue

2009-11-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

Can you remember the last time you woke up energetic and ready to face the day?

In today's face-paced stressful lifestyle it's not surprising that more and more people are having to cope with constant fatigue whether it be chronic fatigue, adrenal fatigue, or fatigue related to; PMT, menopause, weight, illness etc.

If you are one of these people, then you know how debilitating it can be as it can affect all aspects of your life.

You may experience fatigue on a:
* mental level - poor memory, concentration, creativity and productivity, impaired decision making and judgement
* physical level - headaches, dizziness, sore or aching muscles, slowed reflexes and responses, appetite loss, reduced immune system function, blurry emotional level - low motivation, moodiness, irritability, inability to deal with stress or strong emotions.

In TCM, fatigue is believed to be the result of not having a sufficient amount of healthy Chi circulating freely in the body, causing an internal imbalance. Address the imbalance/s and the fatigue is gone.

So what is Chi?
Chi, is known throughout the world by many names: qi, essence, life-force, ki, prana, spirit or life energy. Basically it is what keeps us alive. It is found in everything that exists in the universe.

Every part of your life, your physical health, mental alertness and emotional stability all depend on the flow of Chi in and around you. The free flow of this energy is an important factor in keeping you healthy. Knowing how to increase, conserve and use this valuable energy is vital in maintaining a healthy and happy life.

Chi flows throughout the meridians in your body, supplying your organs with nourishment and ensuring their normal function.

In TCM it is believed that when the body's channels or meridians are blocked and Chi is unable to flow freely, becoming disturbed, stagnant, imbalanced or depleted, fatigue and pain occur. To be able to build and direct the flow of Chi in your body will enhance your physical and mental health and reduce the chance of fatigue.

Healthy Chi equals a healthy you.

To find out about how balanced and healthy your Chi is visit: http://www.chiyolife.com.au/chi-articles/balanced-energy-quiz.html

Original Article By Rosanna Commiso from articlesfactory.com

Migrain Headache - Is There Any Cure ?

2009-11-21T23:56:00.000-08:00

For those who suffer from the pain of migraine headaches and constantly looking for a cure. I hate to say this, but there is no CURE! Scientists and doctors have repeatedly failed to come up with a permanent solution to this throbbing pain that is making a lot of people miserable.
Whenever migraine strikes, it can leave the person thoroughly drain, tired, distress, nauseous and helpless to do anything. The only thing you would want to do is sleep, after the painful ordeal.

The good thing with migraine is that, you can thwart it from happening. Everyone knows that migraine headache can be triggered by allergy, good deal of alcohol intake, standard of living, illness, nerve-racking situation and lack of sleep. All these factors can set off your headache, especially if your immune defense is weak.

Aside from deterrence you can also make less of your symptoms, there are now many medications existing that you can take to assist in decreasing the pain, just be cautious in what you take ‘coz a number of these medications, that you take on a regular basis to alleviate the discomforts of your other sickness or as precautionary measure, may perhaps be the cause of your migraine headache.

An fine example of these is the use of birth control pills and H.R.T. base on the number of complains that a few doctors have entertain from women who make use of them, have incident of migraine headaches, after using them. Therefore if you ever come to experience excruciating pain after taking them, discontinue use and consult with your doctor straight away and discuss further option that is available for you.

To relieve the uneasiness and dreadful pain a good rest can aid you a lot. In addition staying calm while lying in bed also help, plus an excellent massage in the head and body can ease all the tension that created the headache. After all it has been established that nothing can beat a first-rate rubdown.
Another essential piece of information that you ought to know concerning migraine headache is that some of the food that you eat on a daily basis can in fact activate the symptoms. That is why; correct diet is constantly advice to all people, particularly to those who have issue with their health.

Given that, improper food diet is partly the reason for your misery; in that case the need to modify your food habit is compulsory. If you’re into spicy, oily, processed stuff and fatty food shift to fresh vegetables’ and fruits.

What triggers your allergy? If you know what’s causing your allergic reaction, get rid of it or completely stay away from it. If you’re always stressed out take some time off if possible, if not then do meditation, enroll in yoga classes, learn deep breathing, paint, and draw or just lay down in bed. Any relaxation technique that would take away the stress should be learned and be part of your daily rituals.

Even though there is no permanent cure for migraine headache there are still ways to cope with them, all these information that I have talk about with you today, should be enough to get you started in eliminating your migraine predicament.

Original Article By Irsan Komarga from isnare.com

Health Quotes

2009-11-19T00:27:00.000-08:00

I always love quotes. I found some of inspiring quotes and feel like sharing them to the readers here. I hope they also inspire you, to stay healthy, and happy

“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.” Mark Twain

“So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health.” A.J Reb Materi

“A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.” Spanish Proverb

"Health is not simply the absence of sickness. " Hannah Green

"If you trust Google more than your doctor then maybe it's time to switch doctors. " Jadelr and Cristina Cordova

“Fond of doctors, little health, Fond of lawyers, little wealth” Proverb