health newsz

Marital Loss Leaves Lasting Scars

2009-07-31T20:08:00.001+07:00

Marriage certainly doesn’t guarantee a life full of bliss, but it does, despite all its challenges, tend to keep both partners healthier than their single friends. People in marital relationships, especially good, satisfying ones, live longer lives and have a reduced likelihood of dying from heart disease, cancer or other major killers. Married men and women suffer less from back pain, headaches, serious psychological distress and fare better on depression tests than when they were single. On the other hand, when those protective bonds of marriage break, either through death or divorce, it can cause not only a great deal of pain and emotional suffering but a detrimental impact on health. In fact, a new study shows that the effects can be so traumatic that even remarriage isn’t enough to reverse the toll. To try to find out how people fare after the loss of a spouse, sociologist Linda Waite, director of the University of Chicago’s Center on Aging, and colleague Mary Elizabeth Hughes, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, examined a study of Americans interviewed in 1992, when they were 51 to 61 years of age. They focused on a sample of 8,652 people, adjusting their statistics to account for factors that could skew the results, such as race and gender. They found that those with “marital loss”—losing a partner to death or divorce—had 20 percent more chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer, and 23 percent more conditions that limited their mobility, such as trouble climbing stairs or walking a block, than married people. The results were the same for men and women, and for emotional well-being as well as physical health. People who went on to remarry lessened some of the negative health effects, but were still in generally poorer health than those in a lasting marriage. “Losing a marriage or becoming widowed or divorced is extremely stressful,” Waite said. “It’s financially, sometimes, ruinous. It’s socially extremely difficult. What’s interesting is if people have done this and remarried, we still see, in their health, the scars or marks—the damage that was done by this event.” Those who did not remarry after a divorce or a spouse’s death were the biggest losers—having worse health indicators than people who never married. Waite called this the “double whammy” because they don’t reap the protective effects of marriage and have gone through a “damaging, health-destroying experience.” Waite says it isn’t clear whether marital loss directly affects health or if some other mechanism, such as stress, is at the root of the problem. “We argue that losing a marriage through divorce or widowhood is extremely stressful and that a high-stress period takes a toll on health,” she said. “Think of health as money in the bank,” she added. “Think of a marriage as a mechanism for ‘saving’ or adding to health. Think of divorce as a period of very high expenditures.” In previous research, Waite says she basically compared married and unmarried people at one point in time and showed that marriage generally bestows a wide array of economic and emotional advantages on couples. She says her new research offers a more varied view of the lifetime effect of marriage. “What we are doing here,” she says, “is looking at peoples’ history. Given their current status, does their history make a difference?” Waite says her future research will try to nail down the exact effects marital loss has on the body: Does blood pressure go up? Do eating habits get worse? What about dangerous inflammation in the body? One well documented bereavement process when one spouse dies is called the “broken-heart syndrome,” where the surviving partner loses the will to live and a lot of their systems shut down. They become more vulnerable to all sorts of infectious agents, as their immune system isn’t working properly, and usually contract something like pneumonia and die very quickly. The current study findings are to appear in the September issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

Tanning Beds Deemed Deadly Cancer Risks

2009-07-31T20:07:00.002+07:00

The pursuit of the perfect tan could be much more costly than you think. According to experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation carry a cancer risk that is equivalent to cigarettes. The IARC, a part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has now re-classified UV tanning beds to the highest possible cancer risk category known as "carcinogenic to humans."

Scientists have long suspected that tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation were probable carcinogens, and the results of the recent analysis performed by IARC offer proof that this is true. The analysis reviewed about 20 studies to reach the conclusion that the risk of skin cancer is increased by 75 percent when individuals use tanning beds prior to reaching the age of 30.

Although it was previously believed that only one type of ultraviolet radiation was lethal, the experts also discovered that all types of ultraviolet radiation caused disturbing mutations in mice, offering more proof that the radiation is carcinogenic. The research was published online in the medical journal Lancet Oncology.

The new classification puts tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation in the same top cancer risk category as tobacco, the hepatitis B virus and chimney sweeping, which are all known to be definite causes of cancer. The IARC says that most lights that are used in tanning beds produce ultraviolet radiation that causes skin and eye cancer.

According to Vincent Cogliano, a member of the research team, “People need to be reminded of the risks of sunbeds.” He then added, “We hope the prevailing culture will change so teens don't think they need to use sunbeds to get a tan.” Cogliano also warned that all ultraviolet radiation is unhealthy, whether it comes from a tanning bed or the sun.

Dan Humiston, president of the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) expressed doubt about the recent finding. He said, “The fact that the IARC has put tanning bed use in the same category as sunlight is hardly newsworthy.” He went on to explain, “The UV light from a tanning bed is equivalent to UV light from the sun, which has had a group 1 classification since 1992. Some other items in this category are red wine, beer and salted fish. The ITA has always emphasized the importance of moderation when it comes to UV light from either the sun or a tanning bed.”

Kathy Banks, chief executive of The Sunbed Association, a European trade association of tanning bed makers and operators, disputed the new classification. In a statement she said, “The fact that is continuously ignored is that there is no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer.” She also noted that people who use tanning beds use do so less than 20 times per year.

However, as the use of tanning beds has significantly increased among people under age 30, physicians have observed a rise in the skin cancer. In fact, prior studies have shown that younger people who use tanning beds on a regular basis have an eight time greater likelihood to develop melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, when compared to those who have never used them. One case in point is that melanoma is now the leading type of cancer diagnosed in Britain for Women in their twenties. Until now, the WHO warned only people younger than 18 to avoid using tanning beds.

According to Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society, “This new report confirms and extends the prior recommendation of the American Cancer Society that the use of tanning beds is dangerous to your health, and should be avoided.”

Instead of using a tanning bed, the American Cancer Society advises people to use bronzing or self-tanning creams. The organization has reported that in 2008, approximately 62,000 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States, with about 8,000 people losing their lives to the deadly cancer.

New Study Finds Organic Doesn’t Mean More Nutritious

2009-07-31T20:05:00.000+07:00

Organic food, which was once only available in small stores or farmers’ markets, is now the fastest growing sector of the American food marketplace, despite its higher costs. In 2008, the value of retail sales of organic food was estimated to be more than $28 billion, up from $1 billion in 1990. And, according to the Food Marketing Institute, more than half of Americans now buy organic food at least one a month. So why this surge in popularity? Why pay more for food because it’s organically grown? Do organic foods offer more nutritional value than their traditionally grown counterparts? Whether or not organically grown foods are more nutritious has become a hotbed of debate, and the answer would likely depend on who one asked. For instance, The Organic Center (TOC), a pro-organic nonprofit research organization in Foster, Rhode Island recently concluded that organic foods, on average, offer a 25 percent higher nutrient level over conventional ones. And researchers at University of California at Davis claim to have found higher levels of nutrients in organic tomatoes, kiwifruit, corn, and strawberries grown side-by-side with conventional versions. On the opposite side of the fence are major health organizations like the American Dietetic Association and the Mayo Clinic that hold an organic label is no assurance that a food is nutritionally superior, which is the same conclusion recently reached by a group of British researchers after reviewing 50 years of published data on the topic. The review, commissioned by Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) and conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, found that organic food contained no more nutritional value than food grown traditionally. Overall, the researchers found no differences of most nutrients, including vitamin C, calcium and iron, in organically or traditionally grown crops. The same was true for meat, dairy and eggs. There were differences in nitrogen and phosphorus levels, but the researchers said this was likely due to the differences in fertilizers and the ripeness at harvest, and likely provided no health benefits. “Our review indicates that there is currently no evidence to support the selection of organically over conventionally produced foods on the basis of nutritional superiority,” said Dr. Alan Dangour, study author and registered public health nutritionist. “It is good to see that a systematic review of the literature supports what has long been believed—that the nutritional content of traditionally grown foods and organic foods are comparable,” said Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis and past president of the American Dietetic Association. “This report provides confirmation for consumers that if they choose conventionally grown foods or organic foods they will be meeting their nutritional needs.” However, others were disappointed with the findings, criticizing the study for failing to examine the impact of pesticides and herbicides, the use of antibiotics or the environmental issues. They are calling for better research. “You have to also look at what you’re not getting” with organic foods, said Sheah Rarback, director of nutrition at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “We know that young children are getting the nutrition, whatever choice they make, but we also have to look at the pesticide issue.” Dr. Dangour admitted that “there is a possibility that organic food has less pesticide residues, but this was not part of the review.” He said that, as a nutritionist, he was not qualified to look at pesticides, but “this may be an area for further research.” Gill Fine, the FSA’s director of consumer choice and dietary health, said the study was about ensuring people have accurate information in order to make informed choices about the food they eat. “This study does not mean that people should not eat organic food,” she said. “What it shows is that there is little, if any, nutritional difference between organic and conventionally produced food and that there is no evidence of additional health benefits from eating organic food.”

Green Tea: A New Weapon Against Prostate Cancer?

2009-07-31T19:58:00.001+07:00

Many medical “discoveries” have occurred quite by happenstance. For instance, consider the story of Green Tea which began some 5,000 years ago when, as Chinese legend has it, leaves from a nearby Camellia sinensis tree fell into an emperor’s boiling pot of water. The leaves turned the water a light-brown color and gave off a delightful aroma. The emperor, upon taking a sip, found it also had an excellent taste and proclaimed it as “heaven sent.” Since then, the delectable brew has been considered a health-promoting beverage in China; used to treat everything from headaches to depression. Today, a wealth of studies has provided hard evidence for its positive effects on health. Drinking green tea is reputed to promote heart health, lower high cholesterol levels, lessen free radical damage to cells, fight obesity, inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots, and slow the progression of age-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers now say that certain compounds in green tea may actually slow the progression of prostate cancer, a disease that kills more men each year in the United States than any cancer other than lung cancer. Previous studies have shown that green tea may be linked to a reduced incidence of prostate cancer, and its polyphenols have been regarded as a potential cancer therapy. But last year, the FDA announced that the evidence for green tea benefits was inconclusive, because people consume relatively small quantities. So, Dr. James Cardelli, and his colleagues at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, carried out a clinical trial to determine the effects of short-term supplementation with increased amounts of the active compounds in green tea on the progression of prostate cancer. The small study consisted of 26 men between 41 and 68 years of age who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and were scheduled for radical prostatectomy. The men were put on a daily dose of four capsules containing a total of 1.3 grams of polyphenon E, equivalent to about 12 cups of normally brewed concentrated green tea, for 12 to 73 days (with an average time of 34.5 days), until the day before surgery. Blood tests showed a significant reduction in serum levels of three biomarkers associated with the growth and spread of prostate cancer: hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and prostate specific antigen (PSA). On an average, HGF decreased 18.9 percent, VEGF decreased by 9.9 percent and PSA dropped by 10.4 percent. Some patients demonstrated reductions of more than 30 percent. The researchers said that in vitro, EGCG (the main catechin in polyphenon E) swiftly blocked the production of HGF, and the block “seems to be at the level of transcription.” EGCG also blocked the production of VEGF, which plays a critical role in the angiogenic process in cancer-associated fibroblasts, they noted. Age, race, and time on the drug did not have a significant effect on the changes in serum biomarkers. Previous studies have suggested that high levels of EGCG may have adverse effects on liver function, but in this study the liver function of the patients remained normal. “Our results show a significant reduction in serum levels of PSA, HGF, and VEGF in men with prostate cancer after brief treatment with EGCG (Polyphenon E), with no elevation of liver enzymes. These findings support a potential role for Polyphenon E in the treatment or prevention of prostate cancer,” the researchers concluded. Dr. Cardelli admits that the study is still in an early stage and that the findings need to be verified by larger, placebo-controlled trials. “Green tea can keep cancer from growing very fast, but it may not be able to shrink tumors,” he said. “But it can be a good addition to traditional therapies, like chemotherapy or radiation.” “We think that the use of tea polyphenols alone or in combination with other compounds currently used for cancer therapy should be explored as an approach to prevent cancer progression and recurrence," Dr. Cardelli said. “There is reasonably good evidence that many cancers are preventable, and our studies using plant-derived substances support the idea that plant compounds found in a healthy diet can play a role in preventing cancer development and progression.” John Neate, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Charity, says though there have been a number of studies into the potential benefits of green tea, there is no conclusive evidence. “The results of this study do suggest that there is merit in further research into the effects of extracts of green tea, both in relation to its impact on the prevention of prostate cancer and in controlling progression in men already diagnosed with the disease, as was investigated in this instance,” he said. “These initial positive findings could indicate that green tea could have a place in ‘active surveillance’, where a slow-growing, low risk tumor is monitored for changes and men want to take something which could help keep progression at bay.” “Potentially, this could mean completely avoiding, in some cases, any of the more usual medical interventions and their associated side effects,” Neate said. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 192,280 men and will kill 27,360 in 2009. Men over 50 are urged to get tested for the disease annually, however very few do, putting them at risk of being diagnosed at a later stage rather than earlier in the cancer process.

HealthNews Dozen: 12 Tips for Finding the Best Pediatric Hospitals

2009-07-10T10:22:00.002+07:00

Facing and treating a child’s illness is one of the most painful processes for any parent to undergo. With all of the emotional, physical, and financial challenges that come with the knowledge that one’s child must endure treatment or hospitalization for a condition or disease, many parents don’t have the time or energy to invest in researching hospitals. But where the child receives care is of the utmost importance, and with a few simple guidelines, parents can find the best treatment center for their little one. Along with the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best pediatric facilities in the United States, the news organization writes complementary articles for those interested in or in need of children’s hospitals. The detailed annual study ranks 30 of the nation’s top hospitals in specialty categories like cancer and neonatal care, and the results are based on surveys sent to pediatric specialists around the country. The final report includes a great deal of information that can be helpful to parents, not to mention pediatricians, seeking hospitals that specialize in a particular disease or disorder. Parents in need of a hospital for their child are welcome to scan the report and find the U.S. News rankings and pick the facility that suits their needs, but sometimes the hospitals at the top of the list may not be in a convenient area. More research is suggested and encouraged. Each hospital has areas of expertise, so facilities can be narrowed in that way, and subsequently by other qualifications that one’s child will required as dictated by the pediatrician. But this also requires long, detailed conversations with said doctor in order to know everything possible about treatment options and exactly what the child will require at each step of the treatment process. Not only can the pediatrician help with such details, but he or she can also assist in securing an appointment with a specialist who can better care for and treat the child. Understanding exactly what the child needs and what will make the process easier for everyone will require more than a discussion with a doctor; it will require much research on the internet, but more importantly it should include hospital resource centers. Proper research leads to a keen knowledge of the situation and will allow parents to be able to ask the right questions of everyone involved. The care team at each hospital should be investigated, from the records of the doctors and nurses to all of the staff on hand to handle a child’s needs, i.e. therapists and specialists to take care of the emotional and physical needs and complications of any situation. Hospitals should have satellite locations if the distance is an issue, and facilities offering clinical trials are an indication that the newest treatments are being researched and implemented. In addition to the hospital research, parents should seek out advocacy and support groups related to the disease or condition at issue. While some are funded by drug companies and have agendas, others are simply dedicated to obtaining the best care for children. Parent support groups are also helpful to parents in need of encouragement and advice, as well as hospital and treatment center suggestions. Finally, it is of the utmost importance to insist to doctors and all surrounding staff that there is constant communication. Parents should be involved in every treatment decision as well as general care option that is available, and there should be an open line of discussion between parents and everyone else in charge of the child’s care.

Mental Health Risks with Popular Stop-Smoking Drugs

2009-07-10T10:22:00.001+07:00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that patients taking the popular stop-smoking drugs Chantix and Zyban should be watched closely for signs of serious mental illness. The warning was issued following mounting reports of bizarre behavior, including suicide, among users of the drugs. Pfizer is the maker of Chantix (varenicline), and GlaxoSmithKine is the manufacturer of Zyban (buproprion). Buproprion is also sold under the brand name Wellbutrin, as a treatment for depression. Both of the drugs will now be required to carry “black box” labels warning that people who take the drugs should be closely monitored for signs of suicidal thoughts, depression, hostility, and other behavioral changes. In addition, both drug companies will be required to conduct clinical trials for the purpose of assessing the mental health risks associated with the uses of the drugs. Unlike the clinical trials leading to the FDA approval of the drugs, the new trials will enroll smokers with underlying psychiatric disorders. Pfizer has already begun enrollment of schizophrenia patients in a trial. Since the drugs have been marketed, a total of 98 suicides and 188 attempted suicides have been seen in user of Chantix as well as 14 suicides and 17 attempted suicides in Zyban users, according to data from the FDA’s adverse event reporting system. However, officials stressed that fear of experiencing adverse symptoms should not stop patients from taking the smoking-cessation medications. According to Dr. Curtis J. Rosebraugh, director of a drug evaluation office at the FDA, “We don’t want to scare people off from trying a medication that could help them achieve this goal. You should just be careful.” He also added, “Stopping smoking is a goal we should all be working towards.” First marketed in 2006, Chantix has cornered about 90 percent of the prescription smoking-cessation drugs market, according to IMS Health, a health care information company. However, Chantix sales have fallen short of Pfizer’s expectations due to previous warnings of the drug’s side effects. Analysts do not foresee the FDA action having much effect on future sales because of the previous indications of psychiatric risks linked to use of Chantix. Dr. Steve Romano, Pfizer vice president and head of medical affairs, pointed out that since nicotine withdrawal can be very difficult for people to endure, and those who are trying to quit smoking are statistically inclined to be depressed and suicidal, it is difficult to identify the specific impact of the drugs on the risks. Regarding the black-box warning, he said, said, "The purpose of the new boxed warning is to raise particular issue of concern to physicians so they can mitigate it, by being more vigilant and monitor patients more actively.” It is not clear why the drugs are associated with mental problems. Although some patients may be experiencing nicotine withdrawal, some adverse affects involved patients who had yet to stop smoking. Curt Rosebraugh, MD, MPH, director of one of the FDA's drug evaluation units, said that some of the suicide reports came from Chantix users who were still smoking. Officials have also acknowledged that many of the events happened soon after patients either began or stopped therapy. However, regarding the odd behaviors, FDA official Dr. Robert Temple said, “If this is nicotine withdrawal, it really doesn’t matter. You need to pay attention to them.”

Caffeine May Reverse and Even Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

2009-07-10T10:21:00.000+07:00

The evidence regarding the positive effect of caffeine consumption in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease continues to mount with more studies lending support. Most people are well aware of the stimulating effect that comes with the consumption of caffeine. In fact, with an estimated 80 percent of the population consuming caffeine on a daily basis, it is considered the most commonly used psychoactive drug worldwide. Americans consume an estimated 280 milligrams (mg) daily, although 20 to 30 percent of them consume over 600 mg per day. The consumption of 130 to 300 mg daily is considered a low to moderate intake, while consuming 6,000 mg per day is considered to be heavy intake. Recently, University of South Florida researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center found that a daily intake of 500 mg reversed memory problems in mice bred to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms. This amount of caffeine is equivalent to the amount contained in five 8-ounce cups of coffee. The researchers noted that after two months on the daily dose of the stimulant, the memory of the mice recovered to the extent of attaining a score on memory tests equivalent to that of normal mice never having shown signs of dementia. The results of the research team’s studies were published in the July 5th online edition of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The studies also revealed that caffeine significantly decreased abnormal levels of the beta amyloid, a protein linked to the characteristic plaque found with Alzheimer's, in both the brains and the blood of the mice exhibiting symptoms of the disease. The studies support previous research by the Florida researchers that indicated the consumption of caffeine in early adulthood prevented the onset of memory problems in the mice bred to develop Alzheimer's symptoms. The researchers had also previously shown that caffeine reduced beta amyloid levels in elderly people without dementia as quickly as it had in the mice bred to experience Alzheimer's symptoms. In a news release, lead author Gary Arendash, a University of South Florida neuroscientist, said “The new findings provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease, and not simply a protective strategy.” He went on to explain, “That's important because caffeine is a safe drug for most people, it easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process.” In further experiments, the researchers discovered that caffeine did nothing to improve the memory of normal mice. According to Arendash, “This suggests that caffeine will not increase memory performance above normal levels. Rather, it appears to benefit those destined to develop Alzheimer's disease.” Arendash noted that for most individuals, a moderate level of caffeine intake at 500 mg daily would pose no adverse health effects, according to both the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences. However, he pointed out that individuals with high blood pressure or those who are pregnant should limit their daily caffeine intake. He also acknowledged that if larger, more rigorous clinical studies confirm that caffeine prevents Alzheimer's in humans, as it does in mice, that the benefit would be substantial. Caffeine is completely absorbed by the body within 30 to 45 minutes of its consumption, and its effects are largely diminished within three hours. Since it is eventually excreted, there is no accumulation in the body. Caffeine affects mood, stamina, and the cerebral vascular system, as well as gastric and colonic activity. The most common sources of caffeine in the human diet are coffee, tealeaves, cocoa beans, cola, and energy drinks. In addition, it can be produced synthetically and added to food, beverages, supplements, and medications. Study investigator Huntington Potter, director of the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, said in the news release that the research team hopes to begin human trials to evaluate whether caffeine can benefit people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease.

New Guidelines for Stem Cell Research

2009-07-10T10:20:00.000+07:00

Stem cell research is a controversial subject. From a strictly scientific point of view stem cells could become the cure for many diseases that have no known cure, such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and even spinal cord injury. One area of controversy has been what type of stem cell research, if any, the federal government should provide funding for. Scientists believe that embryonic stem cells are the most viable, since they can become bone, tissue, nerves, any part of the body during the development process. Using embryonic cells is regarded by many as morally repugnant, since many religions regard an embryo as a human being and culling those stem cells destroys a days-old embryo. Embryonic cells, once created, can propagate in lab dishes indefinitely providing material for continued research. The new guidelines allow the use of unused embryos from fertility clinics and specifically ban the use of embryos created only for research purposes. The National Institute of Health (NIH) had requested comments regarding guidelines for human stem-cell research from scientists, medical groups, religious organizations, members of Congress and private citizens. As a result of over 49,000 comments the final guidelines have been released and stem-cell lines that have not been eligible for federal funding may now qualify for government money. Many scientists were concerned about the rigid requirements in the draft guidelines, fearing that the research lines already created wouldn’t meet the new standards, including 21 lines which had approval for use by President George W. Bush. The major problem was the “informed consent” part of the proposal. Informed consent is necessary to walk couples or women through the process of donating their embryos to science, and knowing what alternatives are available. Dr. Raynard Kington, the NIH’s acting director, held a news conference announcing the final guidelines. He said it was clear that the informed consent standards had changed over time and there were a variety of standards from different agencies. Dr Kington said that lines exist that “reasonable people would all agree were responsibly derived.” Under the new guidelines scientists would submit a request to a group of 9 or 10 experts now being assembled. The group will assess whether or not the existing stem-cell lines researchers are using meet the standard of “informed consent,” and if so they could be approved for federal funding. Researchers wanting to create new lines must follow the guidelines which go into effect July 7, 2009. Within a few months the NIH will create a registry with a listing of all stem-cell lines approved for federal funding. The new guidelines do not allow federal funding for somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). There is some scientific interest in this technique of creating cells that have specific genetic conditions. Kington said that there has been “strong sentiment” supporting government money for embryonic stem cell research but there has been little public discussion on alternate sources. He said the NIH will follow evolving methods and update the guidelines when compelled to do so.

Sweetener Shows Promise in Preventing Early Childhood Cavities

2009-07-10T10:19:00.000+07:00

Tooth decay is a common health problem in the U.S., second in prevalence only to the common cold. The majority of Americans have at least one cavity and three-quarters have their first cavity by the age of five. And dentists say they are increasingly seeing toddlers with cavities, a syndrome called baby bottle or bottle-mouth tooth decay. One of the reasons is because of their bedtime habits; being put to bed with a bottle containing a sweet liquid, such as milk or fruit juice. The sugar in the liquid then combines with bacteria in the mouth, setting off a chain reaction that causes decay and, left untreated, can and frequently does lead to problems that affect developing permanent teeth. Surprisingly, however, the answer to preventing early childhood cavities may come in the form of something sweet. In a recent study, young children who were given a syrup containing xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener that’s found in plants and fruits, were less likely to develop decay in their primary teeth. Previous studies have shown that chewing gum and lozenges containing xylitol were effective in preventing tooth decay in school-age children with permanent teeth, but this was the first study to evaluate its efficacy in toddlers. The study, led by Peter Milgrom, D.D.S., of the University of Washington, Seattle, involved 94 children, 9 to 15 months old, from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, where early childhood cavities are a serious health care problem. Two groups received 8 grams of xylitol syrup per day; one group of 33 received their 8 grams in two 4 gram doses, while 32 children received 8 grams in three 2.67 gram doses. A control group of 29 children received one dose of 2.67 grams, as health officials in the Marshall Islands didn’t allow researchers to use a placebo. After an average of 10.5 months, 24.2 percent of children in the two-dose group had tooth decay, as did 40.6 percent of children in the three-dose group. In the control group, 51.7 got tooth decay. There were also fewer decayed teeth on average in the 8 grams per day groups; 0.6 in the two-dose group and one in the three-dose group, compared to 1.9 in the control group. “Our results suggest that exposure to xylitol (8 grams per day) in a twice-daily topical oral syrup during primary tooth eruption could prevent up to 70 percent of decayed teeth,” the researchers concluded. The researchers say their results show for the first time, to their knowledge, that xylitol is effective in the prevention of tooth decay in the teeth of toddlers, and that in populations with high rates of tooth decay, xylitol is likely to be a good preventive measure and a cost-effective one, too. “Poor children experience rates (of cavities) twice as high as those of their more affluent peers, and their disease is more likely to be untreated,” the authors write. “Poor oral health affects diet and nutrition and significantly diminishes quality of life. However, tooth decay is a disease that is largely preventable.” In an accompanying editorial, Burton L. Edelstein, D.D.S., of the College of Dental Medicine at Columbia University, said the findings were “encouraging” and show that “xylitol application holds strong promise to significantly dampen early childhood (cavities).” He says xylitol treatment will likely become a routine element of early childhood oral hygiene, as is fluoride varnish application, but added that because the prevalence of early childhood cavities remained at 24 to 41 percent among the treated children in the trail, is not the ‘silver bullet’ that is going to solve the problem. Xylitol is FDA-approved and has been used as a food additive for several decades. Today, the sweetener can be found over the counter in many forms, such as mints, chewable tablets, lozenges, toothpastes, mouthwashes and cough mixtures.

HealthNews Dozen: Top 12 Health & Fitness Apps for iPhones

2009-07-10T10:18:00.000+07:00

The iPhone has swept the nation in a wave of popularity unlike many others in the history of modern technology. While this is not an advertisement for the iPhone or any associated products, it is only fair to note that millions of people have bought them in the few years they’ve been available, and not just for their phone and internet capabilities, but for their applications. It is now possible to track nearly every aspect of one’s life via the proper iPhone applications, including health and fitness. An iPhone application, or app for short, is a program that is easily downloaded and linked to a customer’s phone that performs a particular service or provides specialized information. Downloaded apps may be free or require a fee, but once a part of one’s phone experience will automatically notify the customer of updates. One of the most popular categories of applications is health and fitness. For the busy lifestyle that most people lead, there is little time for spending hours on the internet to tally calories long after a meal is over or research a term that a doctor throws out at a medical appointment. Applications provide for quick answers, easy-to-follow charts, and tools for tracking important health and fitness goals. Thus, for the hectic lifestyle, having specific tools on a phone saves time. The top item on the list is iFitness, the most popular application in the health and fitness category. Not only can a person keep a list of his or her own custom workout, but it helps add or subtract from the workout based on one’s wants, i.e. it will suggest exercises if a person indicates the want to work more on abs rather than arm muscles. A person can record notes from each workout, including the number of reps for each weight routine or the length of time spend on cardio equipment. This particular app costs a one-time fee of less than $2. MyTrainer is similar but gives fewer choices as to each exercise chosen. This app comes with pre-set instructional videos from certified personal trainers, and once a person has chosen a particular training path, new videos will be uploaded with that same fitness goal in mind but new moves to keep the workout fresh. Apps like Calorie Tracker and Nutrition Menu allow people to monitor their dietary intake on the go. At a restaurant and don’t see anything on the menu that your diet would allow? Open the app and plug in other items on the menu to check their calories and nutritional value. The calorie application is particularly beneficial to those on diets because it not only allows one to enter meal calories as soon as possible, but it calculates and gives suggestions for the remainder of the day, week, etc. Some of the apps are very specific in their uses. White Noise is simply a relaxation tool, and many people use it during individual workout, yoga, or meditation sessions. iPeriod is solely to keep track of menstrual periods each month, but it is specifically helpful to women in the process of trying—or trying not to—become pregnant. And the medical terminology app is handy when it comes to any disease or condition, even just for parents who like to research any medical change or stage in their children’s growth. All of the applications have specific purposes, and all can be found on the most popular iPhone apps for health and fitness. The iPhone can make life easier. Why not allow it to aid in your health and physical fitness as well?

What's your favorite health and fitness iPhone application? Let us know in the comment section below.

“Trojan Horse” Used to Terminate Cancer Cells

2009-07-10T10:17:00.000+07:00

Scientists have long been looking for a better way to fight the battle of cancer, rather than the traditional radiation and chemotherapy treatments, both of which damage healthy cells instead of just the cancerous ones. Now, they might have found the answer with a new treatment they call the “Trojan horse” therapy. A team of researchers in Australia have developed the new “Trojan horse” therapy to help combat cancer by using a bacterially-derived nano cell to help penetrate and disarm the cell that is cancerous before a second nano cell kills it with the chemotherapy drugs. The “Trojan horse” therapy has the potential to target the cancer cells directly with chemotherapy, rather than the current treatment where drugs are injected into the cancer patient and end up attacking both the healthy and the cancer cells. The scientists in Sydney, Dr. Jennifer MacDiarmid and Dr. Himanshu Barhmbhatt who formed EnGenelC Pty Ltd in 2001, stated that they have achieved a 100 percent rate of survival in mice with human cancer cells by using the “Trojan horse” therapy over the past two years. They plan to start the clinical trials on humans within the coming months. However, the human trials of the cell delivery system will begin next week at The Austin located at the University of Melbourne and the Peter MacCullum Cancer Center at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The therapy, which was published in the latest Nature Biotechnology journal, sees the mini-cells that are called EDVs (EnGenelc Delivery Vehicle) attach and then enter the cancer cell. The first wave of these mini-cells release ribonucleic acid molecules, which are called siRNA, that are used to switch off the production of proteins that make the cancer cell resistant to the chemotherapy treatment. Then, a second wave of the EDV cells are accepted by the cancer cells and release the chemotherapy drugs, in turn, killing the cancer cell. MacDiarmid stated, “The beauty is that our EDVs operate like ‘Trojan horses’. They arrive at the gates of the affected cells and are always allowed in. We are playing the rogue cells at their own game. They switch-on the gene to produce the protein to resist drugs, an we are switching-off the gene which, in turn, enables the drugs to enter.” RNA interference, also known as RNAi, is designed to help silence the genes that are responsible for producing disease-causing proteins and is considered one of the hottest areas of biotechnology research. The subject of RNA was the basis of the 2006 Nobel Prize in medicine. Dozen of biotechnology companies are already looking for way that they can manipulate RNA to help block the genes that produce disease-causing proteins that are involved in blindness, cancer or AIDS. Brahmbhatt said that after the treatment with the conventional drug therapy, a high number of the cancer cells are terminated, however, a small percentage of the cells can produce the proteins that make cancer cells resistant to the chemotherapeutic medications. “Consequently, follow-up drug treatments can fail. The tumors thus become untreatable and continue to flourish, ultimately killing the patient. We want to be part of moving toward a time when cancers can be managed as a chronic disease rather than being regarded as a death sentence,” he stated. The Nature report said that the mini-cells were well tolerated by the animals that were actively treated with no adverse side effects or deaths, despite the repeated dosing. MacDiarmid said, “Significantly, our methodology does not damage the normal cells and is applicable to a wide spectrum of solid cancer types. The hope is that the benign nature of this EDV technology should enable cancer sufferers to get on with their lives and operate normally using outpatient therapy.”

Winter Facial Skin Care Tips

2009-05-15T09:51:00.001+07:00

by: Yuri Nikitin Winter is here and the frost is not only nipping at your nose but the whole face. Fortunately, with a facial skin care routine that meets your exact skin care needs you can be on your way to healthy, radiant skin tone. YOUR SKIN IS DRY OR SENSITIVE IF IT: â€¢ Stings or burns when skin-care products are used â€¢ Is easily irritated â€¢ Sometimes appears red and inflamed â€¢ Feels itchy, dry, rough and flaky Facial skin care for dry skin: Regular bath soaps clean well but are powerfully alkaline and irritating for both dry and sensitive skin. Clear soaps containing glycerin and alcohol may also be too drying. So, as an alternative of soap, dermatologists suggest a soap-free, sensitive skin cleansers. If your skin is very dry or sensitive, you may need to alternate a washable lotion with a sensitive-skin bar. After cleansing dry skin, apply a moisturizer that is light, hypoallergenic, preservative-free, all-purpose and water based. For extremely dry skin, moisturize with petroleum jelly or an oil-based lotion with 20 percent urea. After cleansing sensitive skin, apply a light, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free moisturizer, like Eucerin. To check your tolerance of the product, dab the moisturizer behind your ears for the first few days. YOUR SKIN IS NORMAL IF IT: â€¢ Is usually smooth and supple â€¢ Is generally clear/blemish-free â€¢ Appears neither dry nor oily Facial skin care for normal skin: Youâ€™re one of those lucky people whose face can take some abuse and still bounce back, looking fresher than ever. Almost any cleanser (from regular bath soap to sensitive-skin bars) will work for you. If you need a moisturizer â€” some people with normal skin donâ€™t! â€” choose a light, hypoallergenic, preservative free, all-purpose, water-based moisturizer after washing. YOUR SKIN IS OILY IF IT: â€¢ Has enlarged pores or blackheads â€¢ Appears shiny and feels greasy Facial skin care for oily skin: Regular bath soap, morning and night, is fine for cleansing â€” your skin actually benefits from the drying effect of strongly alkaline bath soaps. If necessary, use an astringent pad at midday. Because your skin is naturally oily, you may not need a moisturizer. But if you do, choose one thatâ€™s noncomedogenic (wonâ€™t cause acne) and either oil-free or water-based â€” Neutrogena or Aveeno, for example. YOUR SKIN IS COMBINATION IF IT: â€¢ Is oily on your forehead, nose or chin â€¢ Is dry on your cheeks and around your eyes Facial skin care for combination skin: Dermatologists recommend one of two cleansing routines for women with combination skin. You can wash with a gentle facial cleanser in the morning and use an alcohol-free astringent on oily areas later in the day. Or wash with a soap-free cleanser on dry areas and with regular bath soap on oily areas. Treat dry patches as dry skin, then apply a water-based or oil-free noncomedogenic moisturizer to your entire face. Skin care tips for every type of skin: No matter how oily, dry or sensitive your skin, always clean gently. Use warm (not hot) water and your fingertips (not a wash cloth). Rinse well. Then use a towel to pat (not rub) your face dry. Wash your face no more than once or twice a day. After patting skin dry, apply moisturizer to skin while itâ€™s still damp to ensure that it is absorbed. Unless your moisturizer provides protection from damaging sun rays, consider applying a light sunscreen as well. For further facial skin care tips, articles and information on acne and rosacea treatment, please, visit Facial Skin Care Guide and Skin Care Tips Blog. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Healthy ways to fight dandruff

2009-05-15T09:49:00.000+07:00

by: Anonymous Question : FOR years, I have been having occasional dandruff which last up to a week at most after applying anti-dandruff shampoo. But for the last few months it would not go away even after trying different shampoos. Is there any herbal treatment I can try? Answer : DANDRUFF is a common scalp condition that occurs when dead skin is shed, producing irritating white flakes. It is usually a condition of oily, rather than dry skin. Recent research shows that severe cases of flaking scalp, usually associated with seborrhoea (a type of dermatitis), may be caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Pityrosporum ovale which lives naturally on the skin. Dandruff can be triggered by trauma, illness, hormonal imbalances, and consuming too much carbohydrates and sugar. A deficiency in nutrients such as B-complex vitamins, essential fatty acids and selenium has been linked to dandruff as well. There is no cure for it, but the condition can be minimised. Essential fatty acids help to relieve itching and inflammation. It is also essential for a healthy skin and scalp. Evening primrose oil is a rich source of Omega-6 EFA that delivers 12-14 per cent of GLA (gamma linolenic acid). B vitamins are needed for healthy skin and hair. Supplementing with antioxidants such as vitamin E, zinc and selenium is also important. Vitamin E will improve circulation and selenium helps in controlling a dry scalp. Consume a diet consisting of 50 to 75 per cent raw foods. Eat yoghurt or supplement your diet with friendly bacteria. Avoid fried foods, dairy products, sugar, flour, chocolate, nuts and seafood. Do not scratch the scalp. Wash your hair frequently using a non-oily shampoo. Massage your scalp first before washing. Alternatively, before washing your hair, add eight tablespoons of pure organic peanut oil to the juice of half a lemon and rub the mixture into your scalp. Leave it on for five to 10 minutes, then shampoo. www.medical-explorer.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

7 Tips to Help You Avoid Buying a Destructive Soap or Cleanser if You Have a Skin Problem

2009-05-15T09:46:00.000+07:00

by: Michael Hrenko Psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and any other skin problems are irritated very easily by most soaps. As a former psoriasis sufferer I would estimate I tried at least 30 different soaps hoping that would cure my psoriasis. I later discovered I was wrong and my psoriasis was only irritated from soap, but soap was not the cause of it. If you have any form of a skin problem you may have feared taking a shower or bathing because of the dry, painful itch, and film left by using a commercially produced bar soap. Why is that? What causes the itch left by a bar soap and is there any way to cope? Here are some tips to buying a better soap or cleanser that may not irritate your skin: 1. Glycerin is a good moisturizer. Glycerin is known to moisturize from the inside out, pulling in moisture from the outside environment. It's typically found in better quality, more expensive soaps like a hand made soap or good cleanser. Lower grade, commercially produced soaps usually remove the glycerin and use more cost effective chemicals which are much more destructive to the skin. 2. Avoid any soaps that are granular. Granular soaps are terribly too abrasive for the skin of acne, psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis sufferers. This abrasive soap may be okay to wash motor oil off your hands but not to scrub the acne-prone skin on your face. I had acne as a teen and believed I could scrub long enough to remove dead skin cells to let my pores "breathe". It took little time to discover this was only irritating my skin. If you have beautiful, blemish-free skin a granular soap may not be harmful. However, gentle is the key for anyone who has any form of blemish or sensitive condition like psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis. 3. Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus are terrific for cleansing. Tea tree oil is considered to have some of the best natural antiseptic / antifungal properties in the world. Eucalyptus oil has been shown to fight infection-causing bacteria, fungi, and viruses very effectively. The reason I have found tea tree oil and eucalyptus to be so powerful in helping my psoriasis was because both were natural and complemented my skin. Far too many chemicals are added into many commercial soaps today that do their job of cleaning but strip away the skins natural moisturizers as well. Although I no longer have psoriasis, I still use a specific blend of aloe, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil in a concentrated cleanser. Email me and I will tell you what it is and where to purchase it. (I don't personally sell it but can tell you where to find it) 4. pH balance of you skin is critical. Normal skin is naturally acidic with a pH in the range of 4.2 to 5.6. Most traditional soaps considered "mild" have a pH of around 9.5 - 11 which is too alkaline and may cause excessive dryness and irritation. These soaps traditionally remove the natural acid protection and extract the fats from the skin as well. If you have eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis your skin may be even more alkaline than normal in those affected areas. Using a low-grade commercially produced bar soap, which may be more alkaline, could lead to infection. If you prefer a bar soap try a hand made soap. It will be more expensive but it would be worth it if you saw results, wouldn't it? Most cleansers may be more gentle because they are made not to disturb your skin's pH level. The skin is designed to protect itself by maintaining a more acidic pH level. Many commercially made soaps may rob the skin of it's natural acidic state, leaving it unprotected. 5. Frequency of washing - don't overdue it. If you have acne you may have a difficult time with this one. If your skins excessively oily in your facial area it's could be because you are using a poor quality soap that's highly alkaline. By washing too much you may be stripping away the skins natural oil, forcing it to produce more. I wash my skin once a day. I often see others recommending washing the skin up to three times daily. Washing this much is incredibly excessive for those of us with sensitive skin. 6. Pure Aloe Vera - the absolute best moisturizer. If you've ever had a severe sunburn you would know not to take a very hot shower. Don't consider your psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis to be any less severe than sunburn. If you find yourself in a situation where you're in terrible pain from skin lesions this may help. Before I found my psoriasis cure I used Fruit Of The Earth® Aloe Vera 100% Gel. This is the closest thing to a pure moisturizer that you will find. While I don't need this anymore because my psoriasis is gone, it helped tremendously when my psoriasis was very painful. 7. Natural. Most commercial "soaps" today are really detergents loaded with chemicals that irritate the skin and upset it's natural balances. I only use and recommend hand-made soaps or very mild cleansers. The best place to find these hand-made soaps and cleansers are alternative medicine retailers, health food stores and the internet. The skin is no different than life in that you need balance to be at peace with yourself. You need effective solutions that will not cause extreme side effects. If you want to see an example of extreme un-balance examine chemo therapy. Many patient's undergoing chemo loose their hair, many get brutally sick, etc., because the body is not meant to go thru this type of intense therapy. More on that next issue... -- This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a new supplement regiment, herbal therapy, or other self-directed treatment. -- Michael Hrenko is the founder of ePsoriasis, LLC. The company specializes in teaching how he and others have overcome psoriasis and eczema without a doctor, prescriptions, expensive treatments, and difficult fasting diets. Claim your free copy of The Lazy Person's Guide to Beating Psoriasis at http://www.epsoriasis.net/promotion.htm as a one-time-only promotion. (c) Copyright 2005, ePsoriasis, LLC To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Alternative Options for Treating Allergic Rhinitis

2009-05-11T08:40:00.000+07:00

by: Stacey M Kerr MD Here in northern California, allergies are a significant health problem leading to fatigue, sick days from work and school, and secondary infections. Allergic rhinitis is a reaction to seasonal airborne allergens. It affects about 7 percent of the population of North America and is a risk factor for 88 percent of asthma patients. We have some excellent prescription medications for treating this, and there are many over-the-counter medications available also. However, BEWARE of the sedating effects of those nonprescription medications!!! Recent studies have shown that an individual on a therapeutic dose of diphenhydramine (Benedryl) is a more dangerous driver than one who is legally drunk on alcohol. Fortunately, there are also some effective alternative therapies for allergic rhinitis. Remember: no matter what method you use to treat your allergies, nasal rinsing to clear the mucus membranes of trapped allergens is essential. It only takes about 30 seconds, doesn't hurt a bit when done correctly, and makes all the difference. I recommend Nasopure®, a product developed by Dr. Hana Solomon, a pediatrician who has put together in one simple kit all you need for successful nasal rinsing. There is an excellent article about this on the Nasopure website (www.nasopure.com). If you are regularly using your Nasopure®, and still having difficulties, you can try some of the following remedies without significant side effects. Vitamin and mineral supplements: * Vitamin A - 10,000 IU/day * Vitamin B6 - 50-100 mg/day * Vitamin B5 - 50-75 mg/day * Vitamin C - 1,000 mg/day in 3 divided doses * Vitamin E - 400 IU/day * Zinc - 20-30 mg/day In addition some herbs and nutrients can help: Quercetin has anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects if you take it 250mg two or three times a day. Freeze-dried stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) can relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis at a dosage of 300mg twice a day. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also called fish oil, can help asthma patients with allergies by stabilizing the airways. They come in capsules and the total dose of the combination should be 2-4 g/day. Acupuncture has given many patients significant relief. The Chinese medicine paradigm is very different than Western medicine, so I can not explain the mechanism of action. But I know that it is effective! See your doctor about allergy symptoms if you are unable to manage them on your own - the nonsedating antihistamines and anti-inflammatory nasal sprays available today are excellent in treating this significant health problem! Stacey Marie Kerr, M.D. graduated from the University of California Davis Medical School in 1989 and is currently a board certified family physician. Dr. Kerr is a member of the California and American Academy of Family Physicians. She holds a B.S. in Education/Special Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia Missouri. She hosts a website the-doctors-inn.comthat provides personalized answers to medical questions. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

altrernative ways to stop drinking !

2009-05-07T09:54:00.000+07:00

1. Identify your reasons. Make a list of the reasons you want to stop drinking alcohol. You might want to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make the list complete. Keep this list so that you can renew your commitment from time to time. Use the form for identifying reasons to cut down on or stop alcohol use (What is a PDF document?) . 2. Make a plan. Set a date to stop drinking. Complete a plan to stop drinking alcohol. Post it in a place where you can see it often, such as on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might want to put it in more than one place. You also might want to put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet. See an example of a plan to stop drinking alcohol (What is a PDF document?) . 3. Share your plan with others. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful. 4. Evaluate your progress. In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Try a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time. 5. Continue your new behaviors. After trying this plan for 30 days, try it for another 30 days. Like anything else in life, it is not easy to change behavior, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice new behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become habits. If you try this plan but are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol. Other things you can do The following are other ideas that can help in your plan to stop using alcohol: * Avoid stumbling blocks. Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your current life revolves around alcohol use. To stay focused on your goal and succeed, see ideas to help you stop using alcohol on your own. * Attend a self-help group. Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not fit your needs. * Reward yourself. Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.

Alcohol problems: How to stop drinking

2009-05-07T09:53:00.001+07:00

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to see your doctor, contact a support group, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal. If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor's help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer. Stopping alcohol use can: * Prevent or reduce health problems that are made worse by alcohol use, such as liver damage. * Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant. * Reduce related family concerns or relationship problems. * Increase your ability to be productive at work, school, and home. * Reduce legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse of alcohol. I DO believe that you guys can stop drinking , drinking just make your problem worse ! It solves nothing , stop drinking or drinking will stop ur life !!

Get your Desired Figure with Acomplia

2009-05-03T19:49:00.001+07:00

Daniels Charles Everyone enjoys the privilege of good looks and at the same time they exhibit a natural level of confidence in themselves. Good looking and slim people always have an edge over plump people with bad looks when it comes to getting a particular job, marriage proposal, promotion and alike. This is a fact and almost everyone is aware of it. Especially in the media and hospitality industry, there is more scope for people with sexy looks and figure. They demand people with lean body as they are supposed to stay in front of the camera for most of the time. It is therefore, that we rarely see a plump or overweight person on a news channel as a news reader or correspondent. Overweight people, after being aware of the disadvantages which they have to face on different stages of life, always want to lose weight and look slim and sexy. But most of them are very confused and are not sure of what to do and how to initiate their weight loss process. Various options are available in the market from vibrating belts to complicated fitness equipments for reducing weight. All such options add to their confusion instead of offering any relieve. In such perplexed state they often end up making wrong choices and wasting their money and time. One of the simplest ways to lose unwanted weight and regain that most desirable slim figure is through the use of weight loss diet pills. Various diet pills are available in the market and there is a tuff competition in the anti-obesity drug market. As a result of which these drugs are sold at easily affordable prices. Cheap acomplia diet pills are one of the most recent competitors to enter weight loss drug market. Acomplia acts as appetite suppressant and hence enable the obese person to control his diet. Once he manages to curb his diet, losing weight becomes a simpler task and soon he regains his most desirable slim figure. These pills may cause side-effects like upset stomach, vomiting, trouble with sleeping, depression, irritability, dizziness, diarrhea, anxiety, itching, excessive sweating and muscle cramps. Side effects may be quite severe too, under some rare cases, which include chest pain and irregular heart beat. So, in order to prevent them he must make himself aware of acomplia information by making an online research on this drug and its proper use. Once you are fully aware of its side effects and usage you can buy acomplia without any hesitation from the acomplia pharmacy UK or any other reliable pharmacy over the internet. Daniels Charles is the editor for the website http://www.epharma.md, a highly recommended online pharmacy site, is committed to provide visitors with complete information on online pharmacy, weight loss diet pills, menâ€™s health, sexual health, and drugs like Acomplia, Cialis, Didrex, by latest news, personal views, and articles on erectile dysfunction related topics. Send your feedbacks at epharm@gmail.com. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Get Rid of Belly Fat with These 11 Metabolism Boosting Tips

2009-05-03T19:47:00.001+07:00

by: Andrew Bicknell Anyone trying to get rid of belly fat knows that it can be a struggle. It hangs on and hangs around no matter how many sit-ups you do or how far you run everyday. The body tends to hang onto belly fat because it is the main storage area for future energy needs. The problem usually comes down to excess calories at the end of the day and the result is a struggle to get rid of that extra layer of fat. Age, weight, body composition, hormone changes, lean muscle mass, diet, genetics, stress and physical activity can all play a role in a person's metabolism. Some of these things we have control over, others we are born with and can't do much about. If we concentrate on what we can change then boosting our metabolism becomes easier to accomplish. And with that we can burn away the excess fat that has been plaguing us. Here are 11 tips that can help you increase your metabolism and get rid of that unsightly belly fat. 1. Build some muscle � Our metabolism slows down as we age, there's just no way to get around this basic physiological fact. But we can help slow down this process with exercise, and in particular some from of resistance or weight training. Nothing burns calories quite like lean muscle mass and the more you have the more calories you burn, even while sitting on the couch doing nothing. Doing aerobic exercise is also a good way to burn excess calories and build up the cardiovascular system, but the long term benefits are not the same as lifting some weights and building muscle. 2. Breakfast � Eat breakfast everyday. Ignoring breakfast keeps your metabolism from getting properly fired up at the beginning of the day. In fact most people who eat a healthy breakfast everyday have fewer weight problems and health issues then people who skip this most important of meals. 3. Stay Away from Sugar � Sugar is the bane of anyone trying to lose weight. The human body quickly and easily digests and metabolizes it, quickly converting it into fat storage. Overloading the body with refined sugar causes is thought to be the reason that we are seeing such large increases in obesity and diabetes as well. Complex carbohydrates found in fruits, vegetables, and high fiber foods are the way to go, providing a steady supply of energy through out the day. 4. Eat Spicy Foods � Any food that makes you sweat naturally raises your metabolism. 5. Get 8 Hours of Sleep � Research indicates that people who do not get enough sleep actually gain weight. It is thought that because sleep is the time when the body heals and regenerates itself that not getting enough sleep does not take advantage of this. 6. Drink Lots of Water � Water is vitally important to every biological system in the body. It is the lubricant that keeps us going and the fluid that helps flush toxins and waste products out of the body. 7. Eat Smaller Meals � This doesn't mean eat less; it means eat 5 to 6 small meals spread out evenly through out the day. This will give the body a constant supply of energy and help prevent binge eating. 8. Don't Skip Meals � A was mentioned earlier skipping meals can actually lead to a metabolism slow down, having the opposite effect of what you may intend. 9. Have a Meal Plan � Making a weekly menu makes it mush easier to stick with a diet. It will also make grocery shopping quicker and cheaper. 10. Green Tea � Unlike coffee, which stresses the endocrine and nervous system with caffeine, green tea will boost you metabolism naturally and efficiently. 11. You are What You Eat � Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat are high energy foods that you should include in your diet. They provide sustained energy through out the day and help prevent blood sugar spikes and deficits that lead to snacking during the day. If you want to get rid of belly fate then boosting your metabolism is the best way to accomplish this. By following these 11 tips you can create a fat burning plan that will soon give you the firm toned stomach you have always wanted. For more tips to boost your metabolism and get rid of belly fat, and for more information about your metabolism and how it works please click here. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne scar treatment

2009-05-03T13:32:00.002+07:00

by: Webmaster - acnescartreatment.net Types of Acne Scars and Acne Scar Treatment Acne is one of most common skin conditions in the world, afflicting 40 to 50 million Americans. Nearly 80 percent of people aged 11 to 30 years have acne, most often on the face, chest and back. However, acne is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s, 30s and even into their 40s can get acne. Most cases of acne responds to treatment and clears up without leaving scars. Healed acne does leave scars in some people, however, and it is not easy to predict who will have scars after acne and who will not. Severe, inflamed, cystic acne always leaves scars after healing, but in some people even superficially inflamed acne can result in scarring. While we look at various types of acne treatment, we shall take you in detail through the acne scar treatment with various methods. Whether acne scar is deep or superficial, extensive or scattered, the esthetic result can be less than desirable and even disturbing. Acne scar can give the skin an "old" look. Acne Scar may also contribute to an appearance of age as the skin loses its elasticity over the years. A number of acne scar treatments are available to remove or improve acne scar. The type and depth of scars influences the choice of treatment to a large degree. Here are some basic facts about acne scars: Types of Acne Scar Acne scars result from two types of tissue response to the inflammation of acne: (1) increased tissue formation, and (2) loss of tissue. Increased Tissue Formation Scars caused by increased tissue formation are caused by a build up of collagen in the skin. These are called hypertrophic and keloid scars. Keloids tend to "run in the family"â€”that is, there is a genetic predisposition to form keloids after tissue injury. African-Americans often have a predisposition to keloid formation. Some families also tend to form hypertrophic or thickened scars. Acne Scar Resulting from Loss of Tissue Acne scars resulting from loss of tissue are more common than scars resulting from increased tissue formation. There are several types: Ice-pick acne scar They get their name from their appearance. They may be superficial or deep, are usually small in diameter and have steep sides like an ice-pick wound. They may be hard or soft to the touch; the soft scars are usually more superficial and the hard scars deeper. The base of hard scars under the skin may be wider than the scar at the surface of the skin. Depressed fibrotic acne scar are usually large scars that have sharp margins and steep sides. They are similar in appearance to deep chicken pox scars. Superficial and deep soft acne scar are variable in size, and have sloping edges that merge with normal skin. Atrophic macules are soft, flat scars that often have a bluish or violet color on white skin due to underlying blood vessels. Macules tend to fade over time and become less obvious. Acne Scar treatment A person may seek acne scar treatment (1) as a procedure to remove or improve the scars, or (2) in conjunction with an overall program of skin rejuvenation. It is essential for the patient to discuss the desired outcome of the procedure with the dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon. Selection of a skin rejuvenation procedure may be guided, in part, by the result the patient wishes to have accomplished: Chemical peel Dermabrasion Laser or resurfacing of scars Soft-tissue augmentation Intralesional steroid injection (keloids) Excisional surgery in selected cases Chemical peels acne scar treatment They can improve small, depressed scars and some larger scars. Peeling may also be effective in treating any remaining acne by removing comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). Ice-pick scars and deep fibrotic scars are not treated effectively by chemical peels as compared to acne scar laser treatment. Keloids are usually not treated by chemical peels. Repeated and/or deep peels may be necessary to improve deep or extensive scarring. Acne scar treatment through Dermabrasion It was originally developed as a procedure to treat acne scars, and is still a procedure commonly used for that purpose. It can reach deeper layers of skin than a chemical peel and is a possible choice for treating both deeper and hypertrophic scars. In the past, dermabrasion was not considered effective in treating ice-pick scars because removal of the top layer of skin sometimes opened up a wider, fibrotic scar in deeper layers. Today a combination of dermabrasion and "punch" excision of scar tissue make many ice-pick scars treatable by dermabrasion. Next we shall look at acne scar laser treatment. Acne scar treatment with laser Acne scar laser treatment is a newer technology but one that can be very effective in selected patients. The various energy and tissue-penetrating power of different lasers may be used to treat complex scars. For example, the deep tissue penetration of a YAG laser may be used to "sculpt" irregular scarring and the infrared beam of the carbon dioxide laser may be used to tighten collagen fibers in the skin and elevate depressed scars. Acne scar laser treatment has shown quite good results in several cases. As acne scar laser treatment is upcoming way to cure acne scars, it is slowing getting acceptability worldwide. Click here to learn more about acne scar treatment with laser Soft-tissue augmentation It can correct some atrophic (loss of tissue) scars. Injections of subcutaneous fat or collagen under the scars elevates them to bring the surface of the scars even with the surface of surrounding skin. The procedure may have to be repeated from time to time unlike acne scar laser treatment which is generally non repetitive. Injection of steroids directly into keloid scars can sometimes result in scar improvement. An intralesional injection can be combined with surgery to reduce the size of scars in carefully selected patients. Keloid surgery should be performed only by a dermatologic surgeon. Acne scars are an unwanted reminder of a condition that can cause embarrassment and social isolation. Scars can also contribute to an appearance of premature aging. The good news is that acne scars can usually be treated by a dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon, and do not have to be endured. I run a small but nice site that provides articles and information to those suffering from acne and acne scars. Acnescartreatment.net is essentially a guide that helps you understand the type of acne scar you suffer from and therefore the best acne acne treatment method suitable for your skin type. Please do visit other sections of my site if you find this article useful. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Scar Treatment

2009-05-03T13:32:00.001+07:00

by: Seth Miller Acne scars develop after severe cases or when the acne has been forcibly picked or scratched. There are many types of acne scars, each entirely treatable. The only sure method of acne scar treatment is prevention early on. In general, you should never pick or squeeze acne, especially inflammatory acne or ï¿½pustulesï¿½. Squeezing forces infected material deeper into the skin, causing additional inflammation and possible scarring. But there are many acne scar treatment options. All acne scar treatments are short procedures ï¿½ fifteen minutes to an hour ï¿½ but recovery times vary from fifteen minutes to many months. Scabbing, redness, swelling, flakiness, dryness, bruising and uneven skin tone are common post-treatment effects. Acne scar treatment can cost anywhere from $50 to over $3000. Ask a dermatologist which type of acne scar treatment is right for you. Dermabrasion works on shallow acne scars. For decades, sandpaper was used to scrape away damaged skin, allowing new skin to grow in its place, but now machines with rotating diamond edged wheels are used. Laser resurfacing is a newer resurfacing technique, with the same effects as dermabrasion. Penetration depth into the skin is more easily controlled with a laser than with dermabrasion and other methods. Chemical peels are designed only for the lightest of cases. It involves application of different types of acid to the skin in order to remove the top layer so that a smoother layer can surface. Punch techniques are used for deep acne scars. Punch replacement or excision involves removing the pitted scar, followed by a skin graft or suture. Punch elevation, on the other hand, just cuts the scar loose and allows it to float up to the level of surrounding skin. Subcision is a method whereby the scar tissue is broken up underneath the surface of the skin, forming a pool of blood under the scar. The blood clot helps form connective tissue under the scar, leveling it with the surface. Dermal fillers are used for deeper acne scars. Material - often collagen or fat ï¿½ is injected under the scar to bring it to surface level. Injections usually last about six months, although research into the longer lasting materials continues to this day. Laser Acne Treatment provides detailed information on Acne Treatment, Laser Acne Treatment, Acne Scar Treatment, Adult Acne Treatment and more. Laser Acne Treatment is affiliated with Adult Acne Solutions. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Scar Solutions

2009-05-03T13:31:00.004+07:00

by: Peter Emerson Acne is a common skin infection that affects over 80% of youth and 5% of adults. When acne eventually heals, it leaves ugly blemishes called acne scars. These become permanent if they are not treated in time. Acne scars are damaging to the ego and personality of an individual, and a lot of time and money has been invested in research to treat this problem. Acne scars are classified by size, shape and appearance they are identified as Icepick, Boxcar and Rolling. They are also tagged as early or permanent on the basis of their duration. Early scars respond well to topical medications. Permanent scars require surgical intervention. Presently, scars are treated with combinations of topical skin care medications in tandem with carefully selected surgical and skin resurfacing procedures. At least a half dozen surgical procedures are also performed to repair acne scars. Each has benefits and pitfalls and a surgeon will closely examine the patientï¿½s age, sex, medical history, skin type and type of scarring before agreeing to perform surgery. Cost is also discussed, as it can be quite expensive. When dermal fillers are used, a surgeon will inject fillers such as collagen and hyaluronic acid derivatives into the skin. This raises the base of the scar to the level of normal skin. The ï¿½punch excisionï¿½ procedure is used in icepick and boxcar type scars and relies on making incisions in the skin with a punch biopsy tool and stitching the skin edges together. The new scar heals, leaving a clear skin. Punch excision with skin graft replacement is a variant of the punch excision method. Instead of suturing the skin after excision, surgeons use a skin graft to repair the scar. Punch elevation is used on deep boxcar scars that have sharp edges and normal appearing bases. Here the base of the scar is excised and elevated to the surface of the skin. Sutures and glue are used to join the edges together. Subcutaneous Incision is used for treating rolling scars and centers on the use of a special beveled needle that is inserted under the skin and used to cut the binding tissue in the scar. The resulting bruises fade after about 1 week. Laser resurfacing is used to burn the top layer of the skin and reduce it to the same level as the base of the scars. Prevention is always better than cure. Simple precautions such as avoiding strong sunlight, using medications like tretinoin and alpha hydroxyl acids, avoiding picking scabs, regular exercising and dietary control go a long way in preventing acne scars and saving a lot of embarrassment and expenses. Acne Solutions provides detailed information on acne solutions, natural acne solutions, acne scar solutions, best acne solutions and more. Acne Solutions is affliated with Acne Scar Treatment. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Scar Products

2009-05-03T13:31:00.003+07:00

by: Alison Cole Experts agree, picking at your acne to make it go away is a bad idea. Picking leaves scars that may never heal. Better to keep your hands in your pockets and find a product to do the job. There are plenty: Clearasil Clearstick, Kelo-Cote, Neutrogena Oil-free Acne Wash, Neutrogena Men Skin Cleaning Face Wash, Neutrogena Clear Pore Treatment, Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment Vanishing Formula, Proactive Solution Acne Treatment, Klear Action Acne Treatment System, and Dermaclear. Many contain Benzoyl peroxide and Salicylic acid, excellent for unclogging blocked pores and killing germs. Sulfur lotions also reduce and check acne formation. And Retinoid, which is a variant of Vitamin C and available in creams, can be used to remove scars. Besides these essential ingredients, scar-removing Dermaclear also contains Laurel Sulphate; Tartaric Acid, which improves skin quality; Allantoin, to reduce dryness; and 8 HO Quinoline, to fade scars. Burtï¿½s Bees Doctor Herbal Blemish Stick with Tea Tree Oil and Zia Natural Skincare Acne Treatment Mask are natural ways to combat acne scars. Enriched with Tea Tree Oil, an excellent shield against germs and bacteria, the these products reduce the appearance of blemishes. ZEN MED Scar and Hyperpigmentation Treatment Kit consists of ZEN MED Dermabrasion Complex with active ingredients Green Tea and Comfrey, and ZEN MED Skin Eraser for fading blemishes. Syprex and Sycream Scar Cream, Stretch Mark Cream, and Alpha Lipoic Acid also help erase scars, while Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub lifts dead cells to make scars appear lighter. So rest assured, there are many products available to help you make acne scarring a memory. Acne Products provides detailed information on Acne Products, Best Acne Products, Acne Product Reviews, Natural Acne Products and more. Acne Products is affliated with Prescription Acne Medicine. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 9 Protein and 0ther Food to Eat

2009-05-03T13:31:00.001+07:00

Rudy Silva Eating the right kind of food is what can give you a strong immune system and help you prevent sickness and all kinds of skin blemishes including acne. Here are some of the foods that can help you overcome the acne on your face or throughout your body. Protein Eating excess meat is harmful to your health. Eating too much meat, more than 2-4 ounces per day, has been found to contribute to narrowing of the arteries. If you do physical labor and are involved in a lot of movement in your work, then you should eat more than 2-4 ounces of protein per day. Just make sure that the meat has a minimum of additives and preservatives. Remember, meat is high in saturated fat, which blocks the activity of EPA and DHA, which produce prostaglandin and control the activity of your hormones. Meat and bread is a big contributor to creating constipation. Meat is difficult to digest and many times it will get into the colon partial digested. This condition benefits the bad bacteria and allows them to dominate the colon and create constipation. Because meat and bread have little fiber, they move slowly in the colon, which leads to constipation and eventually to some type of colon inflammation. Bad bacteria, decaying meat and other undigested food contribute to the build up of toxic matter in the colon. This is the type of condition you should try to avoid, if you have acne. You need fecal matter in the colon to move regularly and out the rectum, otherwise, toxic matter will build up and end up in your blood stream Here are the grains you should be eating: * Brown rice - contain many amino acids that help rebuild skin tissue * Whole grains - contain folic acid, magnesium, and vitamin E, B vitamins, minerals, and fiber * Oats - use them in the morning with honey or raisins. Oats have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and help to keep you regular. Seeds and nuts * Almonds - Almonds contain protein, the B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Use them as a snack. These small nuts help to build muscles and tissue. * Flax seeds - These seeds are known for containing plenty of omega 3 oil, an essential oil for life. They also contain fiber when used ground up and put into smoothies. Omega 3 is also an anti-inflammatory oil, which is good for acne. * Pecans - This is one of the good nuts to eat. It contains Vitamin A, B's, C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Use them as a snack. * Pine nuts - these nuts also one of the best to eat. They contain vitamin A, C, B's, protein and iron. * Sesame seeds - They are high in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. They are helpful in relieving various skin diseases such as acne by reducing the swelling. * Sunflower seeds - These seeds should be used as a snack. They are high in protein, calcium and vitamin A. They provide nutrients for building the whole body and are good for dry skin. All of these nuts and seeds should be eaten raw. Heating and other processing will kill the life force of the nut or seed and also reduce the quantity of the vitamins and minerals. Eat these nuts and seeds as snacks. Sesame seeds, sunflower, and flax seeds can be put directly into your blender as you make your smoothies. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 8 Vegetables to Eat and Drink

2009-05-03T13:30:00.003+07:00

Rudy Silva Eating and drinking vegetables is necessary for good health and for keeping your skin free from acne. Most people don't eat enough vegetables and seldom drink their juices. Here is a list of vegetables and their juices that you need to eat and drink daily to help eliminate your acne. Vegetable juices Vegetable juices are absorbed quickly into your bloodstream. As a result, your cells are quickly provided with nutrients that feed them and that wash away waste. Vegetable juices give you the opportunity to get quick relief from various body conditions such as acne, skin disorders, and constipation. Eating and drinking vegetables provide you with minerals and nutrients that build your blood, tissue, bones, and cells. It is minerals that build every part of your body. It is minerals that keep your body's pH at the required level. It is minerals that keep your body alkaline by neutralizing body acids. Concentrate on putting minerals into your body by eating and drinking plenty of fruits and vegetables. Carrot apple juice Drink carrot juice every day. I like drinking carrot juice mixed with apple juice. My stomach can handle this combination better. Carrot juice contains many vitamins and minerals. It is high in beta-carotene. Carrot juice will enhance your skins health and help you eliminate acne. Carrot, spinach, and apple juice A combination of carrot, spinach and apple juice is a powerful drink for cleaning the colon, relieving constipation and improving your skin conditions. To make this drink, juice 3-4 carrots and a bunch of spinach. Then add juiced apples to make this drink more drinkable. Vegetables The word phytochemicals is used frequent here. Phytochemicals are all of the chemicals that exist in vegetables and fruits. There are so many phytochemicals that scientists have yet to investigate and learn about all of them. Here are the vegetables that you should be eating the most of, so you can support the cleansing of your face and eliminating acne. * Carrots - contain a rich source of vitamin A-like carotenoids. These phytochemicals have been shown to enhance the health of skin and repair it when it is damaged. * Cabbage - helps to detoxify the body of harmful chemicals from the air and food additives. * Celery - helps to reduce nervous tension. It contains many minerals that help to neutralize body acid waste and is high in fiber * Cucumber - helps to reduce acne problems because it is high in silicon and sulfur. It is also a diuretic which helps flow more water through the kidney to clean out your blood * Broccoli - is rich in beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which is good for the skin * Garlic - is a natural antibiotic and will help relieve skin bacterial infections * Green pepper - The nutrients in green peppers are good for liver health and constipation. Its minerals are good for neutralizing acid waste. * Radishes - help to digest your food. Good digestion is necessary to avoid constipation and to keep the liver and pancreas strongSprouts - provide plenty of vitamins and minerals, which help to reduce body acids * Watercress - helps to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies at the skin surface. It provides Vitamin A, B1, B2, C, iron, manganese, copper, and calcium. Look this list of vegetable over, make a list of them, and head for your favorite store, or farmers market. Concentrate in eating and drinking these natural products and you will see results in your health and a decrease in your skin disorders. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 7 Fruits You Should Eat

2009-05-03T13:30:00.001+07:00

Rudy Silva Eating fruits that are red or orange in color will help improve you skin health and help to prevent acne. Here are the fruits you should be eating. * Apples - eat 3 - 4 apples a day while working to clearing your acne. Apples are good for skin health. Eat at least 2 a day. Eat organic apples because you can eat the skins and most pectin is in the skin, which helps with constipation. Apples contain ascorbic acid, bioflavonoids, fiber, pectin, quercetin, minerals, and vitamins * Apricots - eat as many as you like. Apricots are a high source of minerals, fiber, and beta-carotene and will help control acne. (A precursor to vitamin A) They help to relieve or prevent constipation. * Bananas - eat only one banana a day. Bananas have the phytochemcial fructoOligosaccharides, which feeds the good bacterial in your colon. By feeding the good bacteria, you prevent the bad bacteria from overtaking the colon and producing toxic acids that get to the skin and create acne. * Blackberries - help cleanse the blood and are good for constipation. They help a weak kidney and are good for creating good skin on your face. * Blueberries are a good blood cleanser. They are also good for constipation and various skin disorders - eczema, acne, psoraisis * Cantaloupes - are high in vitamin A, C, and have many other minerals. This makes them good for any type of skin problems * Cherries - are good blood cleansers and help the liver and kidney. They promote regular bowel movements. * Figs - are high in fiber and help to reduce constipation. * Grapefruits - helps to dissolve and eliminate poisons from drugs thus improving the liver function * Grapes - help cleanse the body, build blood, and build the body. It is good for constipation, skin, and liver disorders. * Mango - is good for kidney inflammation. It contains a lot of minerals, which helps to neutralize acid waste. * Strawberries - have been shown to have strong anti-acne activity. They are high in pectin content, which helps to keep your bowels moving. * Pineapples - contains many vitamins and minerals. It contains Papain, which helps to digest protein. They are useful in of excess mucus, digestive problems, intestinal worms, and constipation. These fruits below are useful for acne since they have an antibiotic effect, * Grapes * Plums * Figs * Raspberries * Blueberries * Honey * Apple juice * Grape juice Use as many of these fruits in your diet. If you do, you will start to see improvement in your skin and your acne will start to clear up. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 6 Juices You Should Be Drinking

2009-05-03T13:28:00.002+07:00

Rudy Silva Drinking fruit juices help to bring vitamins and minerals quickly into your blood where they can supply what is necessary for acne free skin. Minerals quickly neutralize skin acids and bring the skin pH back to normal - slightly acidic. Fresh juices have antibacterial action and contain digestive enzymes that help you digest protein and fat. Because of the vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, pure water, and nutrients that juices have, they have the power to cleanse your body of toxic wastes. Here are some juices to drink that will keep your face free of acne. Apple juice Drink at least 2 glasses of this juice every day. Apple juice has a high level of minerals and vitamins, which makes it ideal for skin health. Apricot - berry juice Mix equal parts of apricot and berry juice and add a little honey to taste. Drink one cup in the morning. Place the other two glasses into a thermos and drink one more glass at noon and one at dinner. Cherry juice Cherry juice is a powerful drink, because it has so many minerals. It will make your body more alkaline by neutralizing acid waste in the blood, in the lymph liquid and wherever it goes. It will also help keep you regular. Lemon Juice Lemon juice is one of the best juices you can drink for your skin health. It contains many minerals, which will eliminate acid waste. Lemon juice will help constipation, liver disorders, reduce mucus accumulation, improve digestion, reduce infections, and help to clear skin disorders like acne. One way I use lemon juice is to squeeze the juice of one lemon into 16 oz water and drink it during the day. Melons Melon juice is also an excellent drink for acne. It is almost a perfect food in that it has many vitamins and minerals. It is most helpful with constipation, kidney disorders and skin disorders. Orange and grapefruit Prepare half and half of orange and grapefruit juice using a hand juicer. The flavor is extremely tasty. The combination of these two fresh fruits will give you a powerful start in the morning. They will give you a vitamin C boost with plenty of flavanoids and minerals. These combined fruits will cleanse your intestinal tract, help in blood disorders, liver disorders, lung disorders and skin infections. Orange and lemon juice Mix 3 parts of orange juice with one part lemon juice. Add a little water and honey and put into a thermos. Drink the juice all day long for glowing skin. Lemon juice helps the skin to rejuvenate and grow new skin. It helps the skin to flake off old skin and improve the skin's metabolism. Other juices to drink There are many other fruit juices to drink. Here are a few more. * Peach juice * Pear juice * Pineapple juice * Prune juice * Strawberry juice Try to use organic fruit when making your juice. It is better to make your own juices since most bottled juice contain no life force or natural live enzymes. Drink the juices soon after you juice them. If you want, put them in a thermos for later in the day. If you can't make your own juice, the buying bottle juices is second best for clearing your acne. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 5: Foods to Stop Eating

2009-05-03T13:28:00.001+07:00

Rudy Silva Even though many dermatologist and doctors don't see the connection between your diet, constipation, a toxic colon, and a toxic liver with the acne that you are suffering from, it does not mean the food you eat is not important in clearing your acne. If the doctors were right about food and the colon, then they would easily be able to help you clear your acne with their drugs. Drugs can give you temporary relief, it they work at all, but as you use them they can also give you some unpleasant side effects. In her book, Food And Healing, 1986, Annemarie Colbin, points out, "In a systems view of the body, input of all kinds relates to output of all kinds. Food, therefore, would have a definite relationship to matter pushed out through the skin. I am continually amazed that dermatologists persist in viewing the skin as merely a protective envelope for the body, ascribing its eruptions to 'viruses' and imprecise malfunctions and supporting the myth that 'diet has nothing to do with acne.' In my experience, diet has everything to do with acne. Not only did I fix my own bad skin through correct eating but I have seen among my students a number of severe cases - the large purplish kind of acne on cheeks and chins - completely cured within three months by a change of diet." Foods to Stop Eating If you smoke, drink alcohol or drink coffee, then this program will not work too well for you. When you have these addictions, your body's minerals and vitamins will be out of balance and it will be difficult for you to achieve any state of good health. So, here are they foods that you need to stop eating. You don't need to stop eating these foods instantly. Not many people can do this. You need to do this gradually. I know it will be hard to stop eating some of these foods that you have enjoyed, over the years, but you have to ask yourself the question, "Which do I want to be â€¦Acne free or a junk food addict?" The choice is yours and I know you will make the right decision so here is the list, * White Bread - This is considered junk food since it is void of any vitality for your body. It is hard to digest and causes constipation * Chocolate - some chocolates are better than others. Those that have saturated fats such milk, butter and sugars are not good for your health and definitely not good for your skin. * Fried Fatty foods - fried foods, butter, chesses, beef, * Foods in packages - All foods in packages or boxes are junk food. They are considered dead food and provide no life force to your body. They take from you because they use up minerals, vitamins, and digestive enzymes during digestion. They contain no fiber so they cause constipation. * Foods with artificial flavors and preservatives - These are non-foods that are super toxic. Your body does not know what to do with them so it stores them in your body as toxic waste. * Milk, ice cream, hard chesses - these foods cause allergies and cause mucus to form. This mucus coats the colon and other internal surfaces and interferes with the function of that area. Bacteria and other pathogens enjoy living in the mucus film. This mucus also tries to escape through the face when you have too much of it in the body. If you cannot digest dairy products, this can cause you to have acne. * Sodas are the worst drink you can take. They contain plenty of sugar and phosphoric acid. * Sugar is considered a white poison. It creates so many health problems in the body that the FDA should outlaw it. * Salt - avoid salt only because it has iodine. Iodine has been shown to cause acne. * Excess Vitamin B12 - can aggravate or produce acne. There you have it. It takes a lot of will power and desire to change your diet. It can be done but do it slowly. Start changing your diet and see where you're at in 6 months. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 4: Adding Essential Fatty Acids To Your Diet

2009-05-03T13:27:00.000+07:00

Rudy Silva Getting sufficient essential fatty acids is importance in clearing acne. It's these fatty acids that help control the production of androgens - the hormones that surge during the teen-age times, which causes excess sebum oil to clog your hair follicle and contribute to creating your acne. The three fatty acids you need daily are omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9. You need more omega 6, olive oil, than omega 3. When you are deficient in the essential fatty acids, you will have, Â§ A weaken immune system Â§ Inflammatory disorders Â§ Poor skin Â§ Skin eruptions that won't heal Â§ Increase sebum production causing acne Â§ Sebaceous glands size increase Eating essential oils is necessary to provide the right oils that are used in the sebaceous glands. These oils can come from straight vegetable oils or from oils in specific foods such as nuts and seeds. Use flax seed oil (omega-3 oil) and olive oil (omega-6 oil) in your salad. These are the best oils to eat and are called polyunsaturated fatty acids. The other oil that is even better for you is called monounsaturated fatty acid, omega-9. This oil is found in avocados. Most diets people have contain an excess of omega-6 oils, so mostly likely you need to concentrate on getting more omega-3 oils into your diet. You can get omega-3 oil from, Â§ avocados Â§ sesame seeds Â§ pumpkin seeds Â§ walnuts Â§ dark leafy green vegetables (spinach, mustard greens, kale) Â§ wheat germ oil Â§ salmon Â§ sardines Â§ albacore tuna Or, you can take one to 4 tablespoon of flax seed oil, omega-3 oil, each day. This will give you the amount of omega-3 oil that your body needs to reduce or eliminate acne blemishes. You can add this oil to your morning cereal, soups, smoothies, salads and other liquid foods. Each tablespoon of flax seed oil contains about 100 calories. You can get omega-6 oil from, Â§ Flaxseed oil Â§ Flaxseeds Â§ grape seed oil Â§ pistachio nuts Â§ olives Â§ olive oil Â§ sunflower seeds Â§ evening primrose oil Â§ pumpkin seeds Taking 2-3 tablespoons of omega-6 oil a day will give you the amount of this oil that you body needs. You can add olive oil and other oils into your salad with the flax seed oil. You can get omega-9 oil from, Â§ Olive oil Â§ Avocados Â§ Cashews Â§ Almonds Â§ Olives Â§ sesame oil Â§ pecans Â§ pistachio nuts Taking around 1 Â½ tablespoon of olive oil per day will give you the omega-9 oil that your body needs. Fish Oils In addition to supplying your diet with omega-3 and omega-6 oils, you need to supplement your diet with fish oils. Fish oil contains EPA and DHA fatty acids. Normally, enzymes in your body break down omega-6 into EPA and DHA fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) These two fatty acids eventually change into prostaglandins. What are prostaglandins? Prostaglandins are chemical hormones that come from omega-3 and omega-6 oils and that help, regulate every function in your cells and organs. Postaglandins also keep androgen hormones in control so that excess sebum is not produce in the hair follicle, which results in acne. However, eating plenty essential fatty acids may not insure that you produce enough EPA and DHA, which produce the essential prostaglandins. It is critical for acne and more importantly for your health that you get enough EPA and DHA in your cells and organs so they can produce the required prostaglandins. To increase the prostaglandins in your cell walls, it is necessary for you to take a fish supplement, which contains both the EPA and DHA. Of course eating salmon, halibut, and mackerel twice a week will be a plus in providing your body with more EPA and DHA. Include at least 20% of your diet calories as good fats - omega oils and fish oil. This is essential for controlling the excess activity of your hormones and reducing the inflammation of your acne. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 3: Relieve Your Constipation with a Three Day Mini-Juice Fast

2009-05-03T13:26:00.002+07:00

Rudy Silva Getting your bowels moving and cleaning out your colon is necessary for having facial skin without blemishes or acne. By reducing the toxins in your colon, you minimize the toxins that can seep out of your facial pores and contribute to acne. If you eat 3 meals each day, you should have at least 2 bowel movements a day. If you only have one, then you are short 1 bowel movement. To get your bowels moving like they should, you need to, clean out what is in your colon right now. So the first day is for cleaning out your colon. The next two days is too keep cleaning the colon and to detoxify the body. Doing a 3-day mini-fruit juice fast is the best way to start cleaning out the colon, to detoxify the blood, and rejuvenate your body. Just doing a fast for three days is not a cure all and it will require more work on your part by starting to eat more natural foods. In her extensive book, Coking For Healthy Healing, 1991, Linda Rector-page, N.D., Ph.D., talks about what a fast does, "Fasting works by self-digestion. During a cleanse, the body in its infinite wisdom, will decompose and burn only the substances and tissue that are damaged, diseased, or unneeded, such as abscesses, tumors, excess fat deposits, and congestive wastes. Even a relatively short fast can accelerate elimination from the liver, kidneys, lungs and skin, often causing dramatic changes as masses of accumulated waste are expelled. Live foods and juices can literally pick up dead matter from the body and carry it away." Day before the fast The day before the fast, eat a large salad and two apples. This will give you plenty of fiber to scrub the walls of your colon as you move fecal matter out of your colon the following day. First day of colon cleanse Do this cleanse on a Saturday, Sunday or any other day that you don't have to go anywhere. You will be going to the bathroom all day and at times you need to be there quick. Buy the following items. * Organic apple juice - one gallon * Organic apples - 6 for one day * Organic prune juice - one quart When you first wake up in the morning, drink, * 8 oz of prune juice * 10 minutes later drink another 8oz of prune juice * 10 minutes later again drink another 8 oz of prune juice * wait 20 minutes than drink 8 oz of apple juice * wait 30 minutes than drink another 8 oz of apple juice If you haven't sped to the bathroom yet, you will in a little while. Now you will be drink 8 oz of apple juice every hour until the end of the day. You can stop drink apple juice around 5pm. During the day you can eat three apples in the morning and 3 apples in the evening. This process will clean out any fecal matter that has been sitting your colon for days and gets you ready for the next step. Second way to start the colon cleanse Another way to start a colon cleanse is to use a product that is called "Oxy-Powder." This product is in capsules and is used to 30 days. Simply by taking capsules everyday, you will clean out your colon and any build up along your colon walls. You can get this product on the internet, just type in Oxy-powder. Second day of mini fast During the second day you can drink different kinds of juice and eat 2-6 apples. You can drink any kind of juice be it fruit or vegetable. A combination of fruit and vegetable juice is good. Third day of mini fast The third day is like the second day where you can drink different kinds of juice and eat 2-6 apples. You can drink any kind of juice be it fruit or vegetable. A combination of fruit and vegetable juice is good Fourth Day, after the fast is done After you have finished your three-day mini fast, start eating soft foods to gently adjust your system to food. Here are some of the foods you can eat: * Baked potato * Fruit salad * Fruit smoothie * Light soup * Oatmeal, multigrain cereal * Salad * Yogurt If you are ill, not feeling good or your immune system is down, do not do this mini-fast. Wait until you feel strong. After do the mini-juice fast you are now ready for the next step in clearing your acne. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Program - Step 2: Using Acne Face Cream

2009-05-03T13:26:00.001+07:00

Rudy Silva After you have washed your face with a chemical free soap, use an applicator to dip into Scotty's face cream or you favorite face cream. Place the cream on your face and spread it all around. Massage the cream into your face gently so the skin absorbs the oils in this cream. These oils will seal the pores and hold the natural moisture of the skin and enhance the curing effects of the cream You can use the cream 2-3 times a day. It is best to use it after you have cleaned your face in the morning and right before you go to bed. You can also use it during noontime. You can use Scotty's' cream under your makeup or over your makeup. It will work either way. However, it will work better on a clean face. You will notice that when you apply the cream it will tingle in areas without sores and may sting in areas of open sores. This will pass and as it does it should reduce the itchiness of any sores. Scotty's cream has allantoin, which will help to clear acne sores. The oils, vitamin A and E, and minerals in Scotty's will help to feed, rebuild, and rejuvenate your skin. The minerals also help to neutralize the toxic acids that have contaminated and inflamed pores on your face. During cleansing and fasting, more acid waste may come out of your pores. This is why Scotty's cream will help you to reduce the inflammation and spread your acne. Tree Tea Oil To make Scotty's cream or your own cream even more powerful, you can add 5-10 drops of pure tree tea oil to a two-ounce container. You can experiment with the amount to add. You may want to add more drops to provide more tea tree oil for your face. But, do not use more than 15 drops. Tree tea oil has been found to be effective in various skin disorders. It acts as an antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial. This oil helps to bring oxygen to the skin cell, which kills bacteria and fungus and helps to repair damaged skin caused by acne. Borage Oil There is one more thing that you can add to Scotty's face cream or your favorite acne cream that will boost its acne clearing power. This is borage oil. Borage oil contains EPA and DHA, which helps to control excessive hormones that cause the over production of sebum. It is the adrenal glands that produce streams of androgens during puberty. These large quantities of androgens help to activate bone growth and assist in bringing forth sexual maturity. A side effect of these androgens is the release of excess oil from the oil glands near the hair follicle. This excess gives rise to Â§ black heads Â§ white heads Â§ pimples Â§ cysts So here's what you can do to make your face cream even more effective, Â§ Mix one or two capsules of Borage oil into your cream Â§ Do this by cutting the tip off of the Borage oil softgel and squeeze the oil into the cream There is a new form of EPA and DHA that is available in a product called Neptune Krill Oil (NKO) Neptune Krill Oil (NKO) NKO is the new EPA and DHA product, which maybe better to use than Borage Oil. NKO has the omega-3, EPA and DHA in the phospholipid form, which is easier for your cells to absorb compared with Borage oil. Borage oil contains the omega-3, EPA, and DHA in triglyceride form, which is more difficult for cells to absorb. One other good property of NKO is that is does not have to be refrigerated like Borage. It can be kept in a cool place in your cabinets. However, it does cost more than Borage oil. Word of Caution: As with all creams and oils, if you get any rash or skin reactions when using them, discontinue their use. Use a good face cream to help clear your acne. You can boost the power of this cream by adding tree tea oil and borage or NKO oil. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Products

2009-05-03T13:25:00.000+07:00

by: Alison Cole Hundreds of acne products promising great results flood the market today. But are these products necessary? Statistics reveal that acne grips more than half of the population in United States alone. Despite its temporary nature, acne has the potential to make our lives miserable by either being a constant problem or causing distress occasionally by springing up before an important event. Thankfully, a variety of products exist in the market targeted to banish those unpleasant blotches from our faces. But, before trying acne products, it is important to know what causes the ubiquitous and annoying acne. Our skin has pores through which excess oil, sweat, and even dead cells are carried out of the body. However, due to numerous factors, when excess of oil, or sebum, flows over, carrying dead cells, and gets blocked instead of passing through the pores, it results in the formation of Acne. Clear skin is always Acneï¿½s worst enemy. Gentle scrubs help in removing dead cells from our skin; however, take care not to overdo the scrubbing. A deep-pore, cleanser helps too, as it cleanses the pores effectively. Often saturated with anti-bacterial ingredients, medicated pads are also helpful in wiping off the excess oil. Debates exist as to the causal factors of Acne. But whatever be the cause, one should resort to proper medication. Acne products come as creams, lotions, and gels for topical use, containing some percentage of Benzoyl peroxide, or Salicylic acid, which clean pores and kill germs. Some natural oils and products are available, such as Tea Tree Oil, which serve the purpose too. To treat severe acne, however, antibiotics such as Tetracycline are used, for which prescription is required. Not only are products available for acne prevention, but also for ugly acne scars and their removal. With proper medication and care, you can free yourself from acne-filled days and nights. Your skin just needs your attention. Pamper it to reveal the glowing beauty within; to reveal the beautiful you. Acne Products provides detailed information on Acne Products, Best Acne Products, Acne Product Reviews, Natural Acne Products and more. Acne Products is affliated with Prescription Acne Medicine. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Product Reviews

2009-05-03T13:24:00.000+07:00

by: Alison Cole When it comes to acne product quality, savings and efficiency, research is a consumerï¿½s most valuable tool. And brands like ZEN MED and Proactiv have been well-researched. ZEN MED Derma Cleanse is a completely natural acne treatment featuring topical creams to unclog pores, herbal tablets to purify, add essential vitamins and fight bacteria from within. Proactiv with Benzoyl Peroxide, consists of cleansers and cream to cleanse pores leaving only a slightly dry skin. Exposed, another herbal product has produced few side effects and is especially suited for those who may find Proactiv somewhat harsh. Among natural products composed of essential oils such as Tree Tea Oil, vitamins, and herbs, Desert Essence, Kiss My Face, PhytoMe, Bio Skin Care, Burt Bees, and St Ives offer a variety of cleansers, toners and scrubs, which gently clean pores. Affordable favorites among teens are Clearasil, Clean &Clear, Cetaphil, and Neutrogena, for face and body in cleansers, lotions, pads, toner, face washed and more. Those with sensitive skin have found Cetaphil cleansers especially soothing, while those with oily skin have preferred Clean & Clear and Neutrogena. Those who have tried Murad and Klear Action products found a clear difference and felt improvement within weeks. Products, such as Actimine, AncEase, and 10 1E Acne Getaway, which are based on essential ancient Chinese herbs, have also been highly rated in clearing acne-prone skin. With so many choices available, a smart consumer will shop around to find her best route to a flawless complexion. Acne Products provides detailed information on Acne Products, Best Acne Products, Acne Product Reviews, Natural Acne Products and more. Acne Products is affliated with Prescription Acne Medicine. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Medicine

2009-05-03T13:23:00.000+07:00

by: Ross Bainbridge Acne is a combined term that is used to describe a number of skin conditions, like blackheads, blemishes, lumps, and whiteheads. Teenagers and adults can have acne. Stress, hormonal activity, bacteria, steroids, and overactive glands can cause acne. The various forms of acne are: Blackheads ï¿½ due to melanin pigment Whiteheads ï¿½ due to the bacteria inside a blocked pore Papules ï¿½ are tiny, tender and red spots. Pustules ï¿½ are red spots filled with pus, and inflamed. Nodules ï¿½ are bumps under the skin which are large and hard. Cysts ï¿½ are nodules accompanied by severe inflammation and infection. The different types of acne include: ACNE VULGARIS: is a chronic inflammatory condition wherein fluid (sebum) is created by overactive oil and sweat glands. ACNE ROSEACA: is similar to acne vulgaris, but people also experience skin flushing and a general redness of the area. Sufferers should avoid spicy food and alcohol. ACNE COSMETICA: is due to the prolonged use of cosmetics, especially those containing isopropyl myristate or greasy ingredients such as lanolin. The best treatment is to stop using the cosmetic causing the acne. ACNE EXCORIEE: is caused when the skin is damaged by the fingernails and unable to heal due to persistent scratching, which leaves a broad, shallow scar. CYSTIC ACNE: Cystic acne usually occurs in males. It generally persists beyond 20 years of age and may lead to permanent scarring. This type of Acne can be medically treated with a specialistï¿½s advice. OCCUPATIONAL ACNE: This is a common condition suffered by motor mechanics who are frequently exposed to oils and grease. CLIMATE CHANGE: Changes of climate can cause acne, particularly when one moves to a warm climate from a cool one. This is because warm skin releases more oils and sweat, to keep the body cool. One should use a light moisturizer and cleanse the skin regularly. Acne Medicine provides detailed information on Acne Medicine, Best Acne Medicine, Prescription Acne Medicine, Natural Acne Medicine and more. Acne Medicine is affliated with Acne Product Reviews. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Medication

2009-05-03T13:21:00.002+07:00

by: Alison Cole A variety of acne medications with proved efficacy are used in the United States. The selection of the prescription medication for the patient is based on the severity and type of acne. Patients with mild to severe acne can be treated with topical or oral medicines. Although systemic therapy is mainly used for treatment of severe acne, it is sometimes needed for moderate cases. A variety of systemic agents used to clear acne include interlesional corticosteroid injection, isotretinoin, oral antibiotics (tetracycline and erythromycin) and oral contraceptives. Interlesional corticosteroid injection is a much - diluted corticosteroid injected by the dermatologist to treat severely inflamed cysts and prevent scarring. It helps treat acne by ï¿½meltingï¿½ the cyst over a period of 3-5 days. Isotretinoin (a derivative of vitamin A) is a very effective oral drug that can help prevent scarring but because of its potential for serious side effects it is contraindicated in pregnant women and in many other conditions. Isotretinoin acts by reducing the size of the sebaceous glands thus preventing the excess secretion of oil and thereby decreasing the growth of bacteria. It has been estimated that up to 90% of patientsï¿½ treatment with isotretinoin result in complete or almost complete recovery from cystic acne. Tetracycline and erythromycin are effective broad-spectrum oral antibiotics used to treat moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Tetracycline reduces inflammatory lesions of acne but is contraindicated in pregnant and breast feeding women, and children of less than 8 years of age. Doxycycline and minocycline, the synthetic derivatives of tetracycline, are also used to treat acne. Appropriate oral contraceptives that are valuable adjuncts in the treatment of acne in females include: ethynodiol, norgestimate, norethindrone and norethindrone acetate. They act by inhibiting the overactivity of sebaceous glands (oil glands). Azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erythromycin, and sodium sulfacetamide are the prescription topical antimicrobials used to treat acne vulgaris in the United States. Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid that has bacteriostatic and keratolytic properties. Benzoyl peroxide is inexpensive and best at killing P. acnes. When used in combination with antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin), benzoyl peroxide increases efficacy and reduces antibiotic resistance. Clindamycin is a safe and well tolerated semi-synthetic antibiotic that acts by reducing P. acnes and decreasing inflammation. Topical erythromycin is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent but may cause skin dryness and possible irritation. Sodium sulfacetamide products mostly contain sulfur and are used in patients who cannot tolerate other topical antimicrobials. Several types of prescription topical retinoids used to treat acne include adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin. Adapalene is a synthetic retinoid analog that unclogs pores and demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties. Tazarotene is a second-line retinoid option that helps treat acne by stopping the development of new comedones. Tretinoin is a natural retinoid that works to gradually unclog pores and keep them unplugged. Acne Treatment provides detailed information on Acne, Acne Treatment, Acne Product, Adult Acne and more. Acne Treatment is affiliated with Acne Care Skin Tips. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne Disease and Treatment

2009-05-03T13:21:00.001+07:00

by: Michal john What Is Acne? ACNE is a disorder of the skins oil glands that results in plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions, and is the most common of all skin diseases.People of all ages can get acne, but it is most common in adolescents.Nearly 17 million people in the United States have acne problems. Acne is one of the most common skin disease in people ages of 12 to 24. What Causes Acne? The exact cause of acne is unknown, but several factors can contribute to the cause of acne or make it worse.The important factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. How Is Acne Treated? An estimated $100 million is spent annually on over-the-counter products to treat acne and reduce the pain, scarring, and emotional distress that can be associated with it.The basic principle of skin care is to wash the affected area no more than one to two times per day with a mild, nondrying soap.The doctor may suggest using more than one topical medication or using both an oral medication and a topical medication at the same time. Tropical medications To Treat Acne: Acne Gel Nelsons Acne gel is a healing and soothing homeopathic remedy for the relief of acne pimples and blemishes. Acne Relief Acne Relief use to Clears and treats existing acne pimples and helps prevent new acne pimples from forming. Blemish Treatment Lotion Blemish Treatment Lotion contains salicylic acid in a base of natural botanical extracts to aid in the treatment and relief of acne blemishes, pimples and blackheads. Acne Cream Acne Cream is a homeopathic treatment for existing acne blemishes, and also prevents new blemishes from forming beneath the skins surface. Home care suggestion to Acne Problems: 1.Skin should be kept clean at all times. Washing with a mild soap is recommended in the morning and at night. 2.Use benozyl peroxide creams, avoiding the eye area. 3.Oil based foundations should be avoided. 4.Pimples with distinct whiteheads should be gently removed with a special tool called a comdeo. An antiseptic cream should be applied after this. More Detail About Acne Author By Michal John To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne - An Introduction

2009-05-03T13:19:00.000+07:00

Rudy Silva Acne is the most common skin disorder. Over 10% of Americans age 25 - 44 have acne. Over 85% Americans age 12 - 25 will have acne at one time or the other. If ignored, acne can become infected, create scars, and pockmarks that become permanent on your face. I don't want this to happen to you, so I have written a series of articles on how to clear your acne. Acne Is a Disease Acne is a disease called seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis. It occurs when the sebaceous glands, under your skin, become contaminated with oily toxic matter, which contains, Â§ dirt Â§ dead skin Â§ excess sebum oil Â§ acid waste Â§ bacteria Â§ toxic matter Under normal conditions the sebaceous glands release oil that comes up through your pores onto the skin surface. This release keeps your skin moist and lubricated for protection from the environment. If your pores on your face are not open or plugged, this creates toxic oil that cannot move out onto your skin. This results in a growth or pimple that start to increase in size as more toxic oil tries to reach the surface of your skin. If the pore walls burst under the skin, white blood cells move in to digest the collagen around the pores. When this happens, you will have scars on your face. To avoid having scars, you need to start an acne-clearing program before you get acne or just as soon as you see acne coming so that your pimples and back heads don't get to the point where they get severely infected and burst. Clearing Your Acne Acne is a complex condition that involves many parts of the body even though it shows up as only eruptions on the face and else where on your skin. It is a signal that you have problems elsewhere deep within your body. Acne can be caused by a toxic colon, poor digestion of food, weak liver and other conditions that cause the blood to carry too much toxicity. To clear acne it is not always possible to just do one thing and expect acne to go away. But it may be possible to just use a special cream and have your acne diminish or clear. Acne may go away by just doing one thing but don't expect it to. A facial cream, diet, herbal treatment, and colon cleanse alone may not be able to clear acne. A combination may or may not work. In future articles will be covering how to get rid of acne. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork..com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Acne - A Clean Face - Step 1 in a 12 Step Program

2009-05-03T13:18:00.000+07:00

Rudy Silva For those that need more than a special cream like Scotty's Face Cream, then you need to work harder to get rid of acne. Since acne is a condition that occurs from within your body and exhibits on the outside of your body, you need to, Â§ Attack acne from inside your body Â§ Attack acne from outside your body If your acne is not to severe, all you might need is a good cream and need only to follow a few steps in my 12 step program to get you past the periods where acne is active. If your acne is more severe, than you may have to follow my 12-step program, since acne is an expression of your whole body system and is a reflection of what is going on inside your mind, cell structure and internal organs. Acne is an excessive toxic condition within your body, which the internal elimination organs are unable to eliminate. So your toxins are moved into your blood and excreted through your skin. It is an automatic survival mechanism your body initiates in an effort to protect the insides of your body - cells, liquid, blood, organs, and tissues. There are 12 areas that you need to look at, Â§ Keep your face clean Â§ Using Scotty's acne face cream or your favorite face cream Â§ Relive your constipation and the tree day liquid fast Â§ Making changes to your diet Â§ Get plenty of sun, air, and water Â§ Vitamins you need to be taking Â§ Minerals you should be taking Â§ Special supplements to take Â§ Herbal mixture to use or drink Â§ Special detoxifying drinks or supplements to take Â§ Brushing your skin Â§ Change your attitude Step 1: Keeping your face clean If you use face cosmetics, you need to stop. Some cosmetics irritate the skin and can cause acne by plugging up your pores on your face. The cosmetics chemicals that can cause you the most skin and pore irritation and inflammation are: mineral oil lanolin parabens propylene glycol Look at the label of the cosmetics you use. You will find that many cosmetics, soaps, and sunscreens contain these chemicals. Find a water base make up, not an oil base. Find one that does not irritate your face and use it sparingly When you wash your face don't use any commercial soaps since they are filled with chemicals that will irritate and worsen your acne condition. And don't excessive wash your face as this will dry your skin of the natural protective oil. Also, don't keep touching your face since you spread or add bacteria to it. To wash your face use only, Â§ Castile hand or liquid soap Â§ Pure glycerin hand soap You can pat your face with a clean hot face towel to bring circulation to your face and to help open and move the toxic material, in the pimple, to the surface. Do not scrub hard to burst a pimple but just scrub lightly to burst a pimple when it is ready to open. Use the hot towel application only 2-3 times per week. When a pimple is open do not continue to rub or scrub it. In fact do not pick or scratch an open pimple since this could create other sores or leave scars that are difficult to remove. Just washing your face with clean soap will keep your face free of toxic matter. Keep in mind, Whatever you put on your skin will move into your skin and into your bloodstream. Most commercial creams, lotions, and soaps are filled with all kinds of chemicals that are toxic to your body. By using them you are making your liver work harder. During the day or at night avoid resting your cheeks or chin on your hand(s) or arm(s). This can irritate your face and cause acne to breakout. When you sleep, try to sleep on your back and not with your face or side of the face into your pillow. There you have it. Step 1, shows you how to keep your face clean to avoid getting acne or to help relieve acne. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call "natural-remedies-thatwork.com." More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

A Guide To Adult Acne

2009-05-03T13:15:00.000+07:00

by: Alison Cole Adult acne (also called ï¿½rosaceaï¿½) is a common inflammatory skin disorder that tends to arise between 30 and 50 years of age. It is a disease of uncertain etiology and is more likely to affect faired skinned persons. The basic adult acne lesion, called the comedo, is a sebaceous follicle plugged with sebum, tiny hairs, dead cells and sometimes bacteria. Closed comedones with some pathological changes in pilosebaceous duct (hypercornification of the duct) are called whiteheads. Open comedones that present when whiteheads reach the skinï¿½s surface and touch air are called blackheads. Their black color is not dirt, but the melanin (skin pigment) that accumulates in the opening of the oil gland. Other troublesome acne lesions can develop such as papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Papules and pustules are blockages of oil glands that are inflamed. Papules are red lesions (pimples). Pustules are pimples topped by pus-filled lesions that are usually red at the base. Nodules are large, painful, solid lesions that are deep-seated within the skin. They may develop additional infection and have the potential to produce long-term scarring. Cystic acne is considered the severe acne form. They are tender, sensitive, deeper, painful, pus-filled lesions that cause scarring. The goals of adult acne treatment should include clearance of acne, prevention of scarring and, morbidity minimization. Patient education is the first and at times the most crucial step for effective acne treatment. It is essential to dispel myths that consumption of greasy food, potato chips, sugar and chocolates are responsible for the development of acne. The patient must be advised to cleanse the skin gently and use a non-comedogenic moisturizer. The patient should also avoid picking and rubbing the skin and using scented or harsh skin products. Other important preventive measures should include use of proper shaving technique and being consistent with the skin care regimen. Drinking more water can also help skin stay healthy. Evidence states that modification of the testosterone dose; dosing schedule or delivery method helps improve acne symptoms. Patients with mild to severe adult acne form can be treated with topical or oral medicines. Although systemic therapy is mainly used for treatment of severe form of adult acne, it is sometimes needed for moderate cases. A variety of systemic agents used to clear adult acne include interlesional corticosteroid injection, isotretinoin, oral antibiotics (tetracycline and erythromycin) and oral contraceptives. Azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erythromycin, and sodium sulfacetamide are the prescription topical antimicrobials used to treat adult acne in the United States. Several types of prescription topical retinoids used to treat adult acne include adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin. Acne provides detailed information on Acne, Acne Treatment, Acne Product, Adult Acne and more. Acne is affliated with Acne Care Skin Tips. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

A Guide To Acne Skin Care

2009-05-03T13:14:00.001+07:00

by: Josh Riverside Acne is a problem faced primarily by teenagers across the world. However, it is not uncommon to find acne in individuals aged between twenty to forty years. Acne is a skin problem characterized by blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and lumps. It generally occurs on the face, neck, upper arms, and shoulders. Bacteria, excessive oil, dirt, make-up, and sweat are some of the factors that cause acne. Therefore, acne skin care must be targeted at keeping the skin clean and reducing its oiliness. Individuals with acne should wash their faces with warm water and soap or face wash that is specially manufactured for acne-prone skin. Products containing tea tree oil are supposed to be beneficial. While application of a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher is essential while going out during the day, night cream should be avoided. Astringent can be used to cleanse and tone the skin, followed by the application of a mild, water-based moisturizer. Pimples should not be touched frequently or squeezed, as this often aggravates the problem and leaves behind stubborn marks. Tomato, mint, or cucumber juice can be applied on the face and the neck. They provide a blemish-free complexion. In addition, a weekly face mask made of almond powder, milk, and rosewater can prevent pimples and lead to glowing skin. Oil-based make up should not be used on acne-prone skin. Although a variety of concealers are available in the market to hide skin blemishes, they offer only a temporary solution. In fact, some concealers add to acne problems. Apart from following a skin care regimen based on suitable products, diet needs to be controlled to prevent or cure acne. This is because acne also results from digestive disorders. Intake of fried food, sweets, tea, coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol should be cut down. Instead, fresh lime, tomato, or carrot juice can be taken in-between meals. These help to cleanse and hydrate the body internally, and only a healthy body can possess flawless, glowing skin. Therefore, a mix of internal and external care is required to combat acne. Skin Care Products provides detailed information on Skin Care, Skin Care Products, Natural Skin Care, Anti Aging Skin Care and more. Skin Care Products is affiliated with Natural Skin Care Products. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

10 Easy and Natural Ways to Get Rid of Acne

2009-05-03T13:12:00.000+07:00

by: Nicholas Ahern Are you looking for acne solutions that really work? The good news is, whether you're a teenager or an adult suffering from acne, you don't have to live with it. Here you can find 10 super easy and effective ways to get rid of acne. 1. Do not pick, press or rub your pimples. These actions actually increase the sebum production and rupture the membranes below your skin. The infection and sebum will spread underneath your skin and cause more pimples. Also, you risk increasing the chances of leaving scars on your face. 2. Wash your face twice a day using a mild soup. It is even better if you can buy sulfur-based soap especially for acne. If your skin is too oily, use a soap with benzoyl peroxide. Do not use rough sponges, brushes, or anything similar on your face. You shouldn't, however, over-wash your face because it will actually stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum which will increase your acne. 3. Check if it is because of the food. For many people, food allergy can cause very serious acne condition. You should avoid eating too much oily and spicy food. Recent studies have shown that acne can also be caused by milk which contains hormones as well as seafood with relatively high levels of iodine. If possible, cut down on those foods. Other foods you may consider avoiding are: sugar, dairy products, deep-fried food, meat, nut butters, etc. On the other hand, it is believed that green vegetables, vegetable juices and foods rich in zinc can help alleviate acne condition. 4. Drink more water every day. "Eight glasses of water a day can keep acne away." says Jennifer Thoden, a respected acne expert. The reason is that water can carry waste material out of our body and it really helps heal and prevent acne flare-ups. 5. Do not wear makeup if possible. Makeup products can clog your pores, cause more blackheads and pimples. If you have to wear makeup, make sure it is water-based. Be sure to clean your makeup brushes regularly and cleanse your skin before you sleep. 6. Do not use oily products. Avoid products such as hair pomades, intense oil-based facial moisturizers, and oily cleansers. 7. Keep your face clean. Do not rest your chin on your hands or constantly touch your face. Regular shampoo your hair and keep it off your face, especially when you sleep. 8. Exercise moderately as it helps in blood circulation and elimination of toxins. 9. Stay stress-free. Studies have shown that stress not only worsens acne flare-up, it also worsens the overall skin condition. Talk to your friends, listen to your favorite music, or take a walk in the park. There are many things you can do to be stress free. 10. Get Sunshine and fresh air. Sunshine stimulates vitamin D in the body, an essential vitamin for healthy skin. Fresh air and sunshine can also reduce stress (tip #9) and increase oxygen to the skin. Don't get burnt in the sun though. Burnt and heavily tanned skin forms a layer on the skin that doesn't exfoliate quickly enough and can lead to blocked pores. Nicholas Ahern is an expert in skin care and the webmaster of AcneFreeForever.com. Get free tips and info on acne care at http://www.acnefreeforever.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Selenium and Acne

2009-05-03T13:10:00.000+07:00

by: Vincent Acne can be a pernicious and difficult skin condition to treat. These days its highly important to have clear skin in our incredibly visual world and having even moderate acne can be socially inhibiting. Most of us expect our acne to clear up once we graduate high school and mostly it does, but for some of us acne persists or reoccurs frequently. Sometimes acne can affect an adult into their fifties. There are many products on the market to aid in the fighting of acne, but one simple way to reduce the appearance of acne seems to be getting a better diet higher in certain vitamins and minerals. Of these Selenium is one that can help clear up and prevent further acne. Selenium is a mineral present in much of our environment and it enters our food chain via plants. We as humans can obtain Selenium by eating plants containing the mineral and by eating certain kinds of meat high in it. Selenium content in the soil varies in many places so you may not always get the same amount of Selenium from two of the same food product. The mineral is usually present in grains, nuts, garlic, mushrooms, orange juice, shellfish and chicken. There are also many other types of food containing Selenium. Selenium increased in your diet via food or supplement works to alleviate acne by boosting the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E. So if you plan on taking supplements you should also make sure you get Vitamin E as well. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that resides primarily in the skin tissues. As such its primely located to catch free radicals such as bacteria which can cause acne. Vitamin E also acts to prevent oxidation of the fats in your body by oxygen (which is also part of what makes it good for your heart) and can help to reduce tissue irritation and inflammation in this manner. Selenium works by increasing the bodies absorption of Vitamin E and with more Vitamin E your bodyâ€™s skin has more antioxidant support. Selenium also has antioxidant properties itself and it can help support your heart, liver, lungs and red blood cells. The recommended daily intake of Selenium is fifty five micrograms and the recommended daily intake of Vitamin E is fifteen milligrams. Some scientists also believe that you should add Vitamin A to this mix for the most beneficial results to your skin. In the case of acne supplementation some suggest you take between two hundred and four hundred micrograms of Selenium a day. However four hundred micrograms is the upper limit of tolerance to this mineral and anything more than that you will start to develop symptoms of overdose. These symptoms can include hair loss, nausea, depression, and anxiety. Its always best to consult your doctor about finding the right dosage of Selenium, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A for you to treat your acne. Once you begin taking Selenium in combination with regular washing and perhaps a medicated cream you should notice improvement in about twelve weeks. Visit http://www.stanley-home-products.com Author Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit http://www.stanley-home-products.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Get in shape with diet pills

2009-05-03T12:32:00.001+07:00

by: Kim Parker Have a look at your weight! Though extra few kgs are not that problematic but it can become a threat for your health. Nobody never ever wants to be diabetic or a heart patient but on the contrary everyone ignores his/her day by day increasing weight and the fact is that obesity is the primary stage of many major health problems. In general if body weight is 10% more than the optimum weight for a certain height, a person is considered overweight. But if the weight is 20% more than the optimum weight then the person is considered obese and obesity is that stage where any major problems like heart problems, diabetes, hypertension etc can easily grow. But itâ€™s not only about counting the present and forthcoming effects of obesity; itâ€™s about solution of obesity problem too. By solution you must be guessing some exercises or a problematic dieting schedule with a thought that whatâ€™s new in it? But this solution is neither about exercise nor dieting even itâ€™s the most convenient and easy way to get rid of obesity. That wonderful solution is Diet Pills. Such pills are used for reducing weight in and controlling uncontrollable appetite. Basically it controls your uncontrollable appetite, which is the biggest cause behind your rapidly increasing weight. You can also get prescription diet pills online, if you are dubious to itâ€™s effectiveness you can also consult your doctor and can get a prescription for these pills. It really works when you have tired of heavy exercises cause exercises may loose few kilograms but this heavy exercise also increase your appetite carving and that can spoil your all efforts. Isnâ€™t it convenient to loose weight just through a tiny tablet and it can also prevent you from major health problems of future? You would not believe this is just one forth of any of your exerciserâ€™s cost it means that it is not only convenient but also affordable and obviously most effective among weight loose procedures and efforts. If you really want to look slim and willing to stay healthy forever, donâ€™t ignore your weight, buy diet pills today and start building a healthy life for you. â€œKim Parkerâ€ is an associate editor to the website www.hateweight.com. It is committed to provide visitors with complete information on weight loss, diet pills, obesity and phentermine. We also provide articles on health related topics. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Get in shape with diet pills

2009-05-03T12:31:00.002+07:00

by: Kim Parker Have a look at your weight! Though extra few kgs are not that problematic but it can become a threat for your health. Nobody never ever wants to be diabetic or a heart patient but on the contrary everyone ignores his/her day by day increasing weight and the fact is that obesity is the primary stage of many major health problems. In general if body weight is 10% more than the optimum weight for a certain height, a person is considered overweight. But if the weight is 20% more than the optimum weight then the person is considered obese and obesity is that stage where any major problems like heart problems, diabetes, hypertension etc can easily grow. But itâ€™s not only about counting the present and forthcoming effects of obesity; itâ€™s about solution of obesity problem too. By solution you must be guessing some exercises or a problematic dieting schedule with a thought that whatâ€™s new in it? But this solution is neither about exercise nor dieting even itâ€™s the most convenient and easy way to get rid of obesity. That wonderful solution is . Such pills are used for reducing weight in and controlling uncontrollable appetite. Basically it controls your uncontrollable appetite, which is the biggest cause behind your rapidly increasing weight. You can also get prescription diet pills online, if you are dubious to itâ€™s effectiveness you can also consult your doctor and can get a prescription for these pills. It really works when you have tired of heavy exercises cause exercises may loose few kilograms but this heavy exercise also increase your appetite carving and that can spoil your all efforts. Isnâ€™t it convenient to loose weight just through a tiny tablet and it can also prevent you from major health problems of future? You would not believe this is just one forth of any of your exerciserâ€™s cost it means that it is not only convenient but also affordable and obviously most effective among weight loose procedures and efforts. If you really want to look slim and willing to stay healthy forever, donâ€™t ignore your weight, buy diet pills today and start building a healthy life for you. â€œKim Parkerâ€ is an associate editor to the website www.hateweight.com. It is committed to provide visitors with complete information on weight loss, diet pills, obesity and phentermine. We also provide articles on health related topics. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Foods And Supplements That Control Cellulite

2009-05-03T12:31:00.001+07:00

by: Mary Desaulniers What creates the cottage cheese effect of cellulite? Simply put, cellulite is caused by loose or weak skin and connective tissues that are unable to keep the fat tissues contained within their compartments. Fat tissues or deposits escape through weakened connective fibrous strands and buoy up to the surface, creating the pebbly, orange peel effect. Strong skin and muscles are the best preventive measures for runaway fat. Keeping the cell body firm and intact would mean keeping control over fatty deposits. Cellulite is formed by the creation of water pockets and fat deposits which means that the most effective avenue for controlling them is through exercise and diet. An exercise program is absolutely necessary as well as proper foods and supplementation. Certain foods known for their cell-building properties can help control cellulite. w Protein: The cellulite problem is most pronounced in women who have sagging muscles and skin. Exercise and protein can reduce the stores of fat under the skin; protein helps to firm up muscles that can keep fat stores in place and reduce the dimpled effect of cellulite. Older skin, like older muscles, needs protein, especially soy protein with less fat, for toning and firming. How much protein would you need to produce firm, toned muscles? Approximately .6 gram per pound of lean body mass if you are a moderately active person and 1 gram per pound of lean body mass if you are very active. Go for lean protein in fish, especially salmon because fish provides a high dose of essential fatty acids. Amino Acids and Essential Fatty Acids: You also need amino acids that help build the skin’s store of collagen and elastin. The best sources for these are complex carbohydrates like beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruit. These provide your body with essential fatty acids that slow down the division of skin cells, thus reducing the incidence of mutations and inflammation within these cells, even when they are exposed to ultra violet light. All cells in the human body are surrounded by a membrane composed of phospholipids made chiefly from essential fatty acids. This membrane controls what goes into the cells and what comes out. A good source of essential fatty acids would literally fortify the cell membrane and keep the cell body intact. Research shows that supplementation with fish oil and flaxseed oil can produce marked improvement in skin texture and tone within the first 2 months of use. Because the outer skin replaces itself every 50-80 days, proper supplementation can have a direct and firming effect on skin. Glucosamine: Glucosamine is a supplement that helps arthritis; it has been shown to restore moisture to arthritic joints as well by keeping the cell tissues well hydrated; this in turn has a positive, plumping effect on the cells, thus reducing the dimpling and curdling of the skin. Adequate amounts of glucosamine in the blood are necessary for skin resilience. Studies show that participants who begin taking glucosamine before and after surgery experienced faster healing with less scarring of skin tissues than participants who did not take glucosamine. Of course, dietary supplementation and diets are only half effective without exercise. There is no doubt that cellulite can be improved with exercise. Wayne Westcott Ph.D, director of research programs at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachussetts, produced workout routines that showed an appreciable decrease in cellulite. For 2 months, 16 slightly overweight women participated in 20 minutes of cardio, strength and flexibility exercises three times a week. At the end of 2 months, the women lost an average of 1 and 1/3 inches from their hips, and an average of 1 pound. All the women reported less cellulite on their lower bodies, a situation that was confirmed by ultrasound measurements. For best results in reducing the cottage cheese look of cellulite, eat protein and take up a consistent exercise routine. This combination will raise your metabolism, build lean body tissue, firm the muscles under the skin and keep the fatty deposits under control within the connective tissues. As well, eat plenty of beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits for sources of amino acids to help build collagen and elastin in the skin. Take glucosamine supplements to increase skin resilience. A good source of essential fatty acids from fish oil and flaxseed oil can also bolster the integrity of skin cell membranes which will minimize the problem of runaway fatty tissues-- which essentially is what cellulite is all about. A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can visit her at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com or learn how she lost her weight at http://www.greatbodyproteinpower.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Five Secrets to Weight Loss

2009-05-03T12:30:00.002+07:00

by: Margaret Paul, Ph.D. Weight loss â€“ such a â€œbigâ€ topic! Every month another book is out by another expert on weight loss. Everyone wants to know the secret to losing weight. I certainly donâ€™t have THE secret, but I do have some secrets, and I want to share them with you in the hope you find them helpful. Weight used to be a major issue for me. Losing weight was never out of my thoughts, and I canâ€™t tell you how many different diets, pills and programs I tried until I discovered some â€œsecretsâ€ that have worked for me for many years now. So here they are. I hope they work as well for you as they have for me. 1. Change your focus from losing weight to achieving great health. I grew up as a sickly child and I was a sickly young adult. I hated being sick and never having energy to do all the things I wanted to do. So I decided to learn about what creates great health. First I read tons of books on nutrition and became convinced that I needed to switch to organic foods. That was quite a challenge in 1961! There was one coop health food store that I had to follow around Los Angeles because it kept moving locations. But it was worth it! My rule of thumb now is â€“ if they didnâ€™t eat it 100 years ago, then I wonâ€™t eat it now. This cuts out most packaged and processed foods and leaves natural, organic food. 2. Learn to read your body signals regarding what feels good to your body and what feels bad. I no longer read about all the different diets because Iâ€™ve learned to tune into MY body so that I know exactly what my body needs for great health. Since my body needs different things than your body, no single food plan will work for everyone. Your job is to learn to tune into what gives you energy and what robs you of energy, and what foods create calmness and which ones create agitation. Once I learned what my body needs for great health, I lost weight and kept it off easily. 3. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy and that you can do at least 5 times a week. I discovered that I love to walk in nature, so I take a fast half-hour walk every day. However, this can be a problem if you have physical limitations or chronic illness. Losing weight with chronic illness or physical limitations is not impossible, but it can be a much bigger challenge. 4. Learn to discern which part of you determines what and when you eat, as well as how much you eat. We all have a wounded part of ourselves that uses various addictions as ways to deal with feelings of loneliness, aloneness, helplessness, anxiety, depression, fear and anger. Some people may use alcohol, drugs, spending, TV, gambling, sex, and so on to avoid their pain, while other use food. While food may work to pacify painful feelings for the moment, in the long run all addictions backfire and create the very pain you are trying to avoid. Yet our wounded self keeps choosing addictive behavior as a way of managing pain. As long as the wounded part of you is making your food choices, you may continue to have a weight problem. The part of us that is capable of managing painful feelings in healthy ways and making healthy choices is the loving Adult. The loving Adult is the part of us that has a deep desire to learn about and take loving action in our own behalf. Developing a loving Adult is a major aspect in creating health and wellbeing, as well as in losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. 5. Learn to connect with a spiritual source of wisdom, strength, love and guidance. The loving Adult is that part of us that is connected with a spiritual source of guidance rather than being governed by the mind. The mind, bring programmed from childhood, is the home of the wounded self. You are being a loving Adult at those moments when you choose to be guided by a source of wisdom beyond your mind. This source will always guide you toward your highest good. You just need to learn to open and listen. It is very likely that you will not only lose weight, but will also move into more physical and emotional health and wellbeing if you embrace these â€œsecretsâ€ into your life. We offer you a free course (see the resource box) to help you with developing your loving Adult. Once you have developed a powerful loving inner Adult, you will be able to lose weight. If you really want to lose weight, there is a way! Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" and â€œHealing Your Aloneness.â€ She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or email her at margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone sessions available. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Fitness Scams

2009-05-03T12:30:00.001+07:00

by: Tracie Johanson Caveat emptor is Latin for "let the buyer beware". Nowhere is this phrase more applicable than in the weight loss industry of today. It seems that every time we turn around we are blasted and bombarded with the latest, greatest, new and improved treatment for obesity. From miracle pills to the latest fad diet, the gimmicks just keep coming. The sad truth is that few of these products work. Even fewer will result in real, permanent and lasting fat loss. A very few of the weight loss gimmicks on the market today are not only a consumer rip-off, but they are also quite dangerous.....even deadly. Caveat emptor indeed! -> A PRIME SUSPECT? As an example, consider the prescription diet drug Meridia. Does it help you lose weight? For some people, the answer is yes. For others, the answer is no. Can it kill you? The answer to this question seems to be a nervous 'maybe'. "The consumer group Public Citizen had petitioned the Food and Drug Administration for a ban, citing Meridia users who died of heart problems as young as their 20s and 30s. Even before Meridia was approved for sale, the FDA knew it could increase users' blood pressure, the group contended." (Source: www.cnn.com) This week the FDA again refused to ban Meridia, even though whistleblower David Graham (an FDA drug safety officer) testified to Congress last fall that his agency was allowing five unsafe medicines to stay on the market, including Meridia. -> ANOTHER PRIME SUSPECT? Ephedra was banned in the United States last year, in part due to numerous deaths attributed to this popular weight loss supplement. On April 14, a federal Judge in Utah reversed the short-lived ban on ephedra. Within minutes, spammers were filling our email boxes with messages to BUY BUY BUY before ephedra was banned again. One of these spammers, on their website, states that "Finally, the forbidden fat-burning herb banned for being 'too effective' â€“ Ephedra â€“ is available to the public again". We're not going to quote the source on this one because we don't want to give this guy any free publicity. Yes, ephedra will help some people lose weight. Yes, ephedra is safe for some people in low doses. But there is that little nagging fact that people have DIED and that their deaths have been attributed to ephedra use..... -> MORE EXAMPLES "The Advertising Standards Authority in Great Britian has ordered L'Oreal to pull ads for an anti-cellulite cream. The board found that claims as to the effects and timeliness of the skin treatment were misleading and could not be backed up by any research. The ads featured Claudia Schiffer and L'Oreal has agreed to make changes to the advertisements." (Source: www.adjab.com) For whatever reason, some people have decided that anabolic steroids are the best way to lose weight. Despite the well-documented and serious side-effects of steroid use, the lure of easy weight loss has caused many to throw caution to the wind. Perhaps the most concerning trend is steroid use among our teenage population: "Teens also listed steroids, growth hormone, amino acids and other potentially unhealthful products among those they'd tried in the previous year." (Source: www.cnn.com) -> THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) is indeed the rule when it comes to many weight loss gimmicks. However, there is one weight loss method that has never been banned, has never led to an investigation, and has never been been listed on a 'whistleblower' fraud report: EXERCISE. Exercise is the only path to health and fitness that virtually every doctor in the world agrees upon. Exercise is safe, effective, and brings many more benefits to our lives than diets or drugs ever will. Exercise is fun, invigorating, motivating and the single most powerful way to improve our life and well-being! Instead of looking for another short-cut to weight loss success, choose the proven method that gets results. Choose exercise. * Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit letspickupthepace.com for more information. Editor's Choice Award: Editor's info: Unknown Tag: 'Editor_Editor_Description' To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Finding a Metabolism Remedy to Lose Weight

2009-05-03T12:29:00.001+07:00

by: Andrew Bicknell The secret to any weight loss regimen is to burn more calories then you take in. This is basic Weight Loss 101. There are several ways you can remedy a slow metabolism and turn it into a fat burning machine. First though let's take a quick look at metabolism and how calories are used by the body. Calories are the fuel source for the body's cells and systems. Without consuming a certain amount of calories everyday we would not only starve but all our bodily functions would start to shut down, much like a car running out of gas. This is what makes dieting such a hard way to keep any weight off that you may lose. As you reduce your caloric intake your body reacts by going into its "I'm starving" mode. Your metabolism will actually begin to slow down as your body begins conserving it energy which is of course your fat stores. The human body requires a certain amount of calories each day to sun at optimum efficiency. Once you go below this threshold your results will begin to diminish and your body will actually begin to turn on itself, using lean muscle tissue to get the energy it needs to survive. But there is a way to remedy your metabolism situation. By simply making some lifestyle changes you can rev up your metabolism to not only lose weight but keep it off and live a much healthier life. There are two areas that you will need to focus on, but with a little work and patience you will see the results you want. The first area that needs to be looked at is diet. The food you eat will dictate how much you can increase your metabolism and start losing weight. As stated above food is the fuel that powers the body. The higher the grade of fuel the better the engine will run. What happens if you pour sugar in the gas tank of a car? It clogs up the injectors and the car will eventually not run. The same thing happens to your body when you eat processed and refined foods; it plugs up the body's systems and turns easily into fat. The best slow metabolism remedy when it comes to diet is to eat foods that have a high nutrient value. That is they are full of vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. Some of these foods, particularly the fruits and vegetables, are considered negative calorie foods and actually require more calories to digest then they contain. The second area that will promote a metabolism boost is exercise. Both cardiovascular and weight training are proven to increase the amount of calories burned not only during the exercise session but also after while the body rests and recovers. This is especially true of weight or resistance training. The more lean muscle mass you have the more calories you will burn just maintaining it and maintenance of muscle occurs during times of rest, not during the actual workout. The remedy for a slow metabolism is simply making a few lifestyle changes. Start eating right and get some exercise to start the process. Keep adding to what you know and what you do and before long the weight will have come off and it will stay off allowing you to enjoy life the way you always wanted too. If you are serious about losing weight then you must increase your metabolism. To find more information about your metabolism please visit the Metabolism website by clicking here. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Find a Weight Loss Program That Works For You

2009-05-03T12:27:00.000+07:00

Philip Nicosia Millions of people struggle with weight issues every yearâ€”and despite claims that a wonder diet can â€œwork for everybodyâ€, the fact is that each of those individuals have a medical history, a personality, or a lifestyle issue that affects whether or not that weight control technique will help them shed those pounds. But while nothing works for everybody, there is something that will work for youâ€¦and the challenge is to find it, identify it, and stick to it. For some people, appetite control is extremely difficult. Some weight loss programs try to tackle that problem by delving into the psychological issues behind food (these are the total lifestyle body makeovers, whose techniques include keeping a food journal and coming to terms with oneâ€™s body image). Others address the problem through metabolism, introducing or removing certain foods in oneâ€™s diet that are said to either trigger appetite. Still others, like diet pills, act as appetite suppressants. Other programs rely on nutritional substitutes, like heavy shakes that make one feel full and provide adequate vitamins and minerals, while reducing calories. For others, itâ€™s not appetite thatâ€™s problematic, itâ€™s the kind of food they eat. Certain diet programs give very strict diet regimens that promote weight loss, because of the way the body digests the food. Some are short-term, meant to shed pounds over a limited period of time; others are long-term lifestyle changes. The success of these diet programs depend largely on the personâ€™s weight loss goals and level of commitment. Needless to say, if you just want to drop a dress size for your wedding, you may not be ready to go into something long-term. But if you have health problems, and need to control cholesterol levels, then a short-term solution would not be very effective. Other weight loss programs are closely tied with exercise routines. Of course, not all exercise regimens will appeal to an individual; some would find yoga interesting, while others would prefer something like belly dancing. The idea is that one picks what is most interesting to themâ€”the more fun and enjoyment they derive from a routine, the more likely they will stick to it. The mistake that many people make is that they donâ€™t consider their own lifestyle or personality when they try a diet or exercise regimen; they go with what everyone else is doing, or jump on the weight loss bandwagon on the premise that it worked for so-and-so. While itâ€™s okay to experiment with different regimens (wouldnâ€™t hurt to try anything once), ultimately it is a search to find what is personally appealing. Another secret to maintaining a diet or exercise regimen is to have very clear and realistic goals. â€œBe thinâ€ is too general to be meaningful; pinpoint a number, and a date: â€œLose 15 pounds by September.â€ And to avoid discouragement, that goal must be humanly achievable and should never compromise with oneâ€™s health. If a diet makes one dizzy, or radically affects oneâ€™s ability to be fully alert and functional, then stop immediately. Luckily there is a wide variety of weight loss regimens. Thereâ€™s bound to be one that will help one meet oneâ€™s goals and match oneâ€™s lifestyle. Resources.eu.com is an online resource centre covering many topics including health and fitness and weight loss. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com Get HTML Code for your Site Below:

Fast And Easy Weight Loss

2009-05-03T12:26:00.001+07:00

by: Tracie Johanson If youâ€™re one of the approximately 67% of Americans that are wired into the internet, thereâ€™s a good chance that sometime in the last 24 hours youâ€™ve received at least one spam email promoting the latest and greatest diet pill or weight loss program. These diet products promise fast weight loss results, often without any effort or exercise. The never-ending promise of a weight loss pill that actually works keeps us hoping for eventual success. At the same time, weâ€™re continually inundated with news of the most recent diet and how this time itâ€™s really going to work for us. The South Beach Diet, the Zone Diet, the Atkins Diet, the Low Carb Diet, the Cabbage Soup Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the LA Weight Loss Diet, the Weight Watchers Diet, the Diabetic Diet, the Low Cholesterol Diet, the Prescription Pill Diet, the 3 Day Diet, the Low Fat Diet, the High Protein Diet, the Maker Diet, the Liquid Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, the Fad Diet, the Blood Type Diet, the GI Diet, the Vegetarian Diet, the Vegan Diet, the Detox Diet, the Dash Diet, the Candida Diet, the Gluten Free Diet, the Hollywood Diet, the Negative Calorie Diet, the 1200 Calorie Diet, the Raw Food Diet, the Phentermine Diet, the High Fiber Diet, the Macrobiotic Diet, the Science Diet, the Lemonade Diet, the Scarsdale Diet, the Diverticulitis Diet and the Fat Flush Diet are all examples of diet plans that promise to help us achieve quick weight loss. Crash diets, weight loss pills and get-thin-quick gimmicks are more prevalent than ever, yet two-thirds of our population is still overweight. Even more startling is the fact that approximately one-third of the people in our country are clinically obese. With all of these â€˜solutionsâ€™ available to us, why is it that obesity trends have been alarming enough to prompt the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) to label obesity a national epidemic? Why are we still, as a nation, getting fatter? Itâ€™s certainly not because weâ€™re not trying. On the contrary, as a nation weâ€™re trying harder than ever to lose fat through diet and other weight loss products. As reported by CNN on 1-14-05 â€œAmericans were expected to spend more than $40 billion in 2004 on weight control pills, gym memberships, diet plans and related foods, estimates Marketdata Enterprises, which studies the weight loss industry.â€ Furthermore, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 80 percent of overweight individuals and almost 87 percent of obese individuals are trying to lose or maintain their weight. As reported by mygoals.com, 80 percent of Americans made a New Yearâ€™s resolution in 2005. A whopping 26 percent of those resolutions were to improve overall health and fitness, making this the top category for self-improvement. This year was no anomaly, either, according to Amy O'Connor, deputy editor of Prevention magazine: "Fifty-nine million people every year resolve to lose weight." So, is there a healthy diet product out there that will actually work? More than likely, the answer is yes. Although there is quite a bit of fraudulent weight loss merchandise on the market today, there is also (somewhere out there) a diet program and weight loss plan that will work for us. The challenge is to find that diet product or diet plan. -> Repeat Business: The diet and weight loss industry is a huge money making machine. According to Marketdata Enterprises, the annual revenue for the diet industry was over $30 billion dollars in 1990. A 2005 report by Stanford University documents that the consumer diet industry is now approximately $44 billion and growing. With all this money flowing around, havenâ€™t we as a country spent enough to fix the obesity problem once and for all? How can the diet industry keep making more and more money, year after year? After all, $44 billion dollars is a lot of cash! The answer to that question is simple: repeat business. â€œ98% of todayâ€™s dieters gain the weight back in 5 years. 90% of those individuals end up gaining back more than they lost originally, due to the bodyâ€™s panic and efforts to stabilize metabolic rates over the long termâ€ (Source: Stanford University; stanford.edu). How do the diet-promoters get all that repeat business? The diet industry is a very unique enterprise in that, when it fails someone, they rarely blame the product. We are hard-pressed to find another business where, if the product doesnâ€™t work, we blame ourselves. All too often, after giving up on yet another diet program, we find ourselves thinking â€œWell, I guess Iâ€™m just not a good enough dieter.â€ The tendency is for us to believe that we failed the diet rather than the other way around. Apply this same logic to the automotive industry, and it soon becomes clear just how faulty this line of reasoning really is. What would happen if we take our car in to the mechanic for repairs and when we returned to pick it up he told us that although we still had to pay the bill, he was unable to fix the problem? Would we willing pay the bill anyway and just say â€œOh well, I guess itâ€™s just a bad car?â€ Of course not! That would be ridiculous! But thatâ€™s exactly what we do when it comes to diets. -> One Size Does Not Fit All: What we need to realize is that there is probably a weight loss product or weight loss plan out there that will work for us, but it may not be the same one our friends or co-workers used. To find the best weight loss program for us, we absolutely must realize that one size does not fit all. What worked for our sibling or spouse may not work for us, and what works for us may not work for them. Itâ€™s probably safe to say that any diet supplement has helped somebody, but itâ€™s also true that no weight loss drug or plan has helped everybody. Each person has a unique metabolism and very individual nutritional needs, so no single plan will work for everyone. -> How To Find The Right Weight Loss Diet: Some fat burner products on the market today do indeed work. Others are a complete rip-off. How do you tell the difference? Where do you go for accurate and reliable weight loss information? First and foremost, talk with your doctor. Your own personal physician is likely to be honest with you and provide you with the facts. In addition, he or she can help you decide which weight loss supplement may be right for your personal situation. There are also quite a few reputable organizations that provide accurate information on fat loss. Some of the better resources include: * American Cancer Society - www.cancer.org * Centers For Disease Control - www.cdc.gov * Diet Scam Watch - www.dietscam.org * Calories Per Hour - www.caloriesperhour.com * Harvard Medical School - www.health.harvard.edu * Mayo Clinic - www.mayoclinic.org * Shape Up America - www.shapeup.org * Calorie Control Council - www.caloriecontrol.org * Presidentâ€™s Council On Physical Fitness - www.fitness.gov When seeking a healthy weight loss plan, itâ€™s important that no food be strictly forbidden. There should not be any (or many) foods that we avoid completely 100% of the time. Why? Because that sets us up for failure! For example, if fudge is one of our favorites and we force ourselves to NOT eat fudge at the holiday party, then for many of us what we've done is set ourselves up for a binge fudge-festival. Avoiding our favorite foods entirely is a too much self-deprivation for most people, and this sets us up for binge-eating. That's a recipe for disaster! A much better approach is to enjoy foods in moderation. Watch those serving sizes! Enjoy and savor one piece of fudge! It's better to enjoy one piece of fudge and then stop than attempt to deprive ourselves entirely, only to end up eating the whole pan. A good diet and nutrition program will also help us keep in mind the cost of the foods we eat. We're not talking about dollars and cents here, but the FITNESS cost of the food. When picking up that fudge, keep in mind what it will cost to enjoy it. When picking up a plate at the buffet table, let's take a moment to pause and think to ourselves: "The cost of this fudge will be an extra _____ minutes of exercise.....is that worth it to me?" Maybe. Maybe not. That's for each of us to decide on our own. The point is that we should be conscious of our food decisions. No foods are forbidden entirely, but we do need to watch our portion sizes and carefully consider the cost of each food. Any good weight management program will incorporate these concepts and also will be approved by your doctor. One such plan is the Running Start weight loss program offered by Pick Up The Pace. This nutrition program has six 12-week uses. You can use them all yourself, one after another, or share with a friend. The program has weekly updates, menus you can personalize, and printouts. The menu selector counts calories, protein, carbs and fat. The foods list is among the most comprehensive on the market. This Running Start Nutrition Counseling software is simple to use and will help keep you accountable. The program retails for only $49.99, which translates to less than 70Â¢ per week. The software includes: * Printable 25 page manual titled â€œFinally, The Truth About Weight Managementâ€! * Printable 31 page manual full of facts about vitamins & supplements! * Printable 28 page software user guide! * 72 weeks of personalized menu creation! * Use all 72 weeks yourself, or share with up to 5 friends! * Choose your dietary preference! This software lets you choose the foods you like! * Not another â€˜dietâ€™ - but a real nutrition education! For more information on Running Start, or to purchase a copy, please visit the Pick Up The Pace webstore at www.letspickupthepace.com. -> How To Find The Right Weight Loss Supplement: Perhaps even more so than with weight loss diets, when searching for weight loss supplements it is critical to rely on the advice of your physician. The careful and supervised use of weight loss diet pills, combined with a sensible diet and regular exercise, can lead to quick weight loss and even easy weight loss (or at least easier than you expected). Beware, however, the supplement scams on the market. It seems that every time we turn around we are blasted and bombarded with the latest, greatest, new and improved treatment for obesity. The gimmicks just keep coming. The sad truth is that few of these products work. Even fewer will result in real, permanent and lasting fat loss. A very few of the weight loss gimmicks on the market today are not only a consumer rip-off, but they are also quite dangerous.....even deadly. As an example, consider the prescription diet drug Meridia. Does it help you lose weight? For some people, the answer is yes. For others, the answer is no. Can it kill you? The answer to this question seems to be a nervous 'maybe'. "The consumer group Public Citizen had petitioned the Food and Drug Administration for a ban, citing Meridia users who died of heart problems as young as their 20s and 30s. Even before Meridia was approved for sale, the FDA knew it could increase users' blood pressure, the group contended." (Source: cnn.com) This week the FDA again refused to ban Meridia, even though whistleblower David Graham (an FDA drug safety officer) testified to Congress last fall that his agency was allowing five unsafe medicines to stay on the market, including Meridia. Another example of a dangerous weight loss drug is ephedra. Ephedra was banned in the United States last year, in part due to numerous deaths attributed to this popular weight loss supplement. On April 14 2005, a federal Judge in Utah reversed the short-lived ban on ephedra. Within minutes, spammers were filling our email boxes with messages to BUY BUY BUY before ephedra was banned again. Yes, ephedra will help some people lose weight. Yes, ephedra is safe for some people in low doses. But there is that little nagging fact that people have DIED and that their deaths have been attributed to ephedra use..... Yet another example of a dangerous diet drug is steroids. For whatever reason, some people have decided that anabolic steroids are the best way to lose weight. Despite the well-documented and serious side-effects of steroid use, the lure of easy weight loss has caused many to throw caution to the wind. Perhaps the most concerning trend is steroid use among our teenage population: "Teens also listed steroids, growth hormone, amino acids and other potentially unhealthful products among those they'd tried in the previous year." (Source: cnn.com) There do exist, however, some diet supplements that work and are also quite safe. Again, it is never a good idea to begin any supplementation program without first seeking the advice and approval of your doctor. Three popular and dependable fat loss products designed to help you lose weight fast are ChromeMate, Lipotropic Plus and Super L-Carnitine. Chromium helps insulin metabolize fat, turn protein into muscle and convert sugar into energy. ChromeMate, a unique form of niacin-bound chromium, is designed to optimize energy output. It accomplishes this by increasing the amount of glucose available for energy production nearly twenty-fold. It also is the "master" nutrient for controlling blood sugar, which in turn curbs sugar cravings. Whatâ€™s more, a study at Auburn University showed that ChromeMate reduced LDL cholesterol by an average of 14%. In fact, ChromeMate has been awarded a patent for lowering cholesterol. The Lipotropic Plus Formula is scientifically-engineered to assist in the breakdown, distribution and burning (oxidation) of fatty acids. The active ingredients actually accelerate the fat-burning process by breaking down fat cells into smaller particles (emulsification) to be used for fuel during exercise. Super L-Carnitine is essential for fat burning. I.B. Fritz and K.T.N. Yue, physiologists from the University of Michigan, discovered that Carnitine actually accelerates fat-burning. Without it, fat is unable to penetrate the walls of the mitochondria of the muscle cells. Carnitine is the shuttle that carries fat into your bodyâ€™s furnaces (muscles) to be burned for energy. Super L-Carnitine increases the rate of fat utilization for fuel. For more information on these weight control supplements, or to make a purchase, please visit the Pick Up The Pace webstore at www.letspickupthepace.com. -> Weight Loss Exercise: In this article weâ€™ve been discussing weight loss diets and weight loss supplements. At this point it is essential that we add the third and most important component of overall health and fitness: exercise. Exercise is one weight loss method that has never been banned, has never led to an investigation, and has never been been listed on a 'whistleblower' fraud report. Exercise is the only path to health and fitness that virtually every doctor in the world agrees upon. Exercise is safe, effective, and brings many more benefits to our lives than diets or drugs ever will alone. Exercise is fun, invigorating, motivating and the single most powerful way to improve our life and well-being! Yes, itâ€™s quite possible to lose weight without participating in regular exercise. However, diet and exercise combined will help us burn fat faster than we thought possible! Weight loss achieved by regular exercise and diet will be healthy weight loss because of all the benefits we obtain from regular exercise: * 1. Strengthens muscles * 2. Strengthens bone * 3. Strengthens ligaments * 4. Strengthens tendons * 5. Strengthens immune system * 6. Improves muscle tone * 7. Improves endurance * 8. Improves strength * 9. Improves self esteem * 10. Improves confidence * 11. Improves balance * 12. Improves physical appearance * 13. Improves physical performance * 14. Improves glucose tolerance * 15. Improves circulation * 16. Improves memory * 17. Lower risk of heart disease * 18. Lower risk of diabetes * 19. Lower risk of cancer * 20. Lower blood pressure * 21. Lower cholesterol * 22. Lower risk of stroke * 23. Lower risk of osteoporosis * 24. Lower risk of osteoarthritis * 25. Lower requirements for medication * 26. Lower risk of injury * 27. Lower bodyfat * 28. Helps with sleep disorders * 29. Reduces post-operative complications * 30. Reduces frequency of illness * 31. Prevent Alzheimerâ€™s disease * 32. Prevents muscle loss * 33. Increases metabolism * 34. Eases symptoms of menopause * 35. Healthier pregnancy * 36. Fewer problems with childbirth * 37. Reduces ovulation problems * 38. Prevents heartburn Reaching your ideal weight via a healthy and active lifestyle has been found to lower health risks and medical problems in 90 percent of overweight patients. In addition to the exercise benefits listed above, fit people are eight times less likely to die from cancer than the unfit, and 53 percent less likely to die from other diseases. Fit people are also eight times less likely to die from heart disease. Without a doubt, regular exercise is the most important piece of the puzzle and the best way to achieve rapid weight loss. Exercise is the safest way to achieve permanent fat loss, and when combined with a sound diet and nutrition program the body is turned into a virtual fat-burning furnace! -> Conclusion: Fast weight loss is possible if we, under the supervision and approval of our doctor, combine a sensible diet with a diet pill or weight loss pill that is safe and effective. When we combine these three fat-burning strategies it is almost guaranteed that we will experience quick weight loss results. Of course, there is a staggering amount of information about health, exercise and fitness that still needs to be understood before this topic of rapid weight loss is complete. Several excellent e-books on this subject can be found by going to www.letspickupthepace.com and clicking on the â€˜Pick Up The Pace Storeâ€™ and then â€˜Fitness Educationâ€™ links. You can also access a tremendous amount of free diet information and weight loss tips by going to www.letspickupthepace.com and clicking on the â€˜Articlesâ€™ link. * Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com. * The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. * These products and the claims made about specific products in this article or through www.letspickupthepace.com have not been evaluated by Pick Up The Pace or the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use this information for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. * Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit letspickupthepace.com for more information. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Facts to Know Before Going for Weight Loss Surgery

2009-05-03T12:25:00.003+07:00

Nishanth Reddy Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with weight loss surgery? This informative article can give you an insight into everything you've ever wanted to know about weight loss surgery. For some people, it can be a difficult decision for choosing whether or not to undergo weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery is life changing and requires a solid commitment from the patient to follow a diet and exercise plan. You should make sure you clearly understand the pros and cons connected with weight loss surgery procedure before making any decision. What to Expect? First and foremost, it is essential that you have a clear idea of what your expectations are from the weight loss surgery and whether the results of that actual surgical procedure will be able to meet those expectations. Also, weight loss surgery patients are advised not to expect the weight loss surgery to be their answer to all their problems and that they will need to maintain their health and figures into the future by following proper healthy eating and exercise plans. These weight loss surgery types are gaining more acceptances today as newer technology makes the weight loss surgeries more efficient and safer. There are probably many questions you have. Here are some common questions regarding weight loss surgery if you are considering weight loss surgery. How Much Weight Can I Lose? The amount of weight you will lose following weight loss surgery will depend on several factors. First, the weight loss surgery type you have can affect the outcome. The Lap-Band procedure, while safer, has slower weight loss than other forms. Also, your exercise routine and the foods you eat will also affect your weight loss outcome. It is essential to follow the diet plan given to you and to exercise everyday for the maximum weight loss. Most patients can expect to lose about 36 percent of their excess body weight within the first year. Are There any Qualifications For Having Weight Loss Surgery? Even this depends on several factors. Usually, a candidate for weight loss surgery must weight 100 pounds or more over their ideal body weight. Another factor is the body mass index. Women who are 80 pounds overweight or more and have a body mass index of 40+ and men who are overweight by 100 pounds or more and have a Body Mass Index of about 40+ are considered severely obese and may be candidates for weight loss surgery. Those who have a BMI between 35 and 40 and suffer from obesity connected problems such as sleep apnea, obesity related heart disease, or diabetes may be considered for the weight loss surgery. How Safe Is Weight Loss Surgery? For the most part, weight loss surgery is safe. As with any surgical procedure there are risks involved and these should be carefully considered before having the procedure. Also, there are some weight loss surgery types that are safer than others. Surgeries that are performed laparoscopically are generally safer and easier to recover from than open procedures. Additionally, there may be some medical conditions that will prevent a good outcome for some patients. It is significant to discuss these issues with your health care provider before having surgery. Can I Participate In Activities Following Surgery? Yes, after you are completely healed, it generally takes four to six weeks. Healing time can depend on the type of surgery that is performed. You can resume your normal activities after that time. In reality, exercise is encouraged and will aid in more rapid weight loss. What Can I Eat After Weight Loss Surgery? You will be limited to liquids and pureed foods for the first five weeks after surgery. Gradually, you can begin to add in other foods such as lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and low fat dairy products. Most patients will only be able to eat a very small portion so it is significant to stop eating when you feel full and to eat several small meals during the day. Also, you should avoid sweet foods and foods that are fibrous, greasy, doughy or sticky. This can lead to obstacle of the stomach and intestines. Although Weight Loss Surgery can be a life saving procedure for some people, for others it is seen primarily as a cosmetic procedure. That said, however, it does have its advantages. Primarily, the main advantage of weight loss surgery is weight reduction with many of its patients being pleased with the amount of weight they have lost. That said, whenever anyone is considering undertaking weight loss surgery it is significant that they discuss this fully with their doctor and seek out the best medical advice to date. Take time to consider the points about weight loss surgery presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action. Nishanth Reddy is an author and publisher of many health related websites. For more information on different surgery methods and steps to be followed after the surgery, visit his website: Weight Loss Surgery To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Excellent Green Tea Diet Methods

2009-05-03T12:25:00.001+07:00

Morgan Buchanan Going on a liquid diet where all you consume is green tea is not the way to create a green tea diet. Rather you can receive the benefits that go along with it by infusing your diet with green tea. Some of the benefits include increasing metabolic rates and fat burning ability, in addition it helps decrease free radicals in your body by providing antioxidants. You can brew hot teas, enjoy cold green tea beverages or use green tea diet supplements in order to effectively increase your green tea diet. The following are some examples for a green tea diet. Brewing Tea Brewing a hot cup of green tea with a tea bag and hot water is one of the most common ways to create a green tea diet. Instead of prepackaged tea bags some people prefer to use leaves. Without having loose leaves floating around in the water there are great ways to use fresh tea leaves. Some of these options include tea balls, mesh infusers, basket filters and tea socks. You can use honey, sugar or artificial sweeteners if you donâ€™t like the taste of green tea alone to add sweetness to your green tea diet. Cold Tea Drinks If you donâ€™t want to brew cups of green tea for your diet then you also have the option of allowing it to cool before pouring it over ice and having a nice light and refreshing drink that can be both delicious and healthy. On the market there are also a ton of different green tea drinks that you can purchase as gas stations, convenience stores and groceries. Specialty blended green tea smoothies and iced creations have been created by many chain coffee stores to help you stick with your green tea diet supplement Greentea Information. Green Tea Diet Supplements Today an assortment of dietary additives and many different kinds of multi-vitamins are ways to get the essence of green tea, the green tea extract. When introducing supplements to your diet there are several things to consider. First, when considering your specific green tea supplements you should have an understanding of the side effects. You should also look at the extra ingredients and monitor how much caffeine you ingest when taking the supplements. To improve your overall well being and health, green tea can be a great addition to your diet. Bringing green tea into your diet can be gained with any of the above choices Green Tea Pill. Morgan Buchanan is an expert on the Green Tea Diet. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Eating Negative Calorie Food for Positive Weight Loss Results

2009-05-03T12:24:00.003+07:00

by: Andrew Bicknell Do negative calorie foods really exist? In reality no, there is no such thing as a food that contains negative calories; every food has some caloric value, even cardboard. But the theory and science behind the negative calorie food idea does make sense if you look at how it is supposed to work. The diet is based on scientific research into the idea that negative calorie foods safely force your body to work harder during digestion thus turning your body into a fat burning machine. It is believed that certain foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, are more difficult to digest because of their cellular composition. Difficult to digest is not a bad thing, it actually means that it takes the body more energy to digest and extract the vital nutrients that are found in healthy foods. If you eat a negative calorie food that has a caloric content of 100 calories, you will actually burn more calories than you ingest. 150-250 calories is the average caloric need when digesting any food. So you can see that if you eat something that is high in calories but low in nutrients any extra calories left over from the digestive process is moved to fat storage, as opposed to burning extra calories. A negative calorie diet is probably one of the most effective ways to increase metabolism and burn calories. Starvation diets are not, on the other hand, as starvation or skipping meals will only slow down the metabolism in the body, which holds on to its stored fat in times of food deprivation, but will not result in weight loss in the long run. It comes down to the fact that eating a healthy diet consisting of nutrient rich foods has always been the best way to keep the human body running at peak efficiency. Negative calorie food offers great nutrition, as well as the possibility of helping you lose weight simply by eating. For more insight into how negative calorie foods can increase metabolism and for more information about metabolism please click here. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Easy Weight Loss Diets

2009-05-03T12:24:00.001+07:00

by: Jason Gluckman It is a fact that over half of Americans are overweight. With most of us having busy schedules, itâ€™s not so easy to stick to diets or work out on a regular basis. But, all hope is not lost. The following advice should help you lose those unwanted bounds easily by following a safe diet plan and exercising. The first piece of advice deals with exercising. Always exercise on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Talk a walk on a treadmill or around the block a few times. Ten minutes will make a difference by burning stored energy â€“ namely fat. The second useful tip is not eating late night snacks. If you avoid snacking three hours before bedtime, you wont be storing fat, and you will be amazed at the results. Tip number three suggests that if you are going to drink coffee, make it black. Fancy coffee flavored drinks with cream and sugar are loaded with calories, as opposed to zero in a good old cup of black coffee. Tip four recommends that you eat four or five small meals a day rather than the traditional three. Your metabolism needs constant fuel to burn fat. If you feed it in small amounts several times, your metabolism stays high and burns more calories. Finally, cut down on your carbohydrate intake. This will make a huge difference in how much and how quickly you will lose weight. Eliminate as much bread and other starches as you can from your diet, and youï¿½ll see why it works when you step on the scale. Take this advice, and youï¿½ll see what easy weight loss dieting is all about. Weight Loss Diets provides detailed information on Weight Loss Diets, Fast Weight Loss Diets, Weight Loss Diet Pills, Easy Weight Loss Diets and more. Weight Loss Diets is affliated with Free Weight Loss Programs. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Do Diet Pills Work?

2009-05-03T12:23:00.002+07:00

by: Garry Nixon Right now the biggest thing on the weight loss market is diet pills. This medical invention has indeed been a boon to the weight loss market throughout the world. Many have found these pills interesting and continue to study their effects. Before this no one ever thought you could lose weight simply by taking a pill. However, no study has yet proven whether or not diet pills are truly useful in your weight loss plan. People still continue to question the capability of diet pills in helping individuals to successfully lose weight along with a weight loss plan. It can be difficult to determine if a diet pill is truly effective or not since there isn�t a single pill that will work for every individual. This means that a diet pill would require a lot of experimentation in order to determine if it truly works. In order for you to determine if a diet pill is effective for you, you will need to try individual pills until you find one that works well with your weight loss plan and helps deliver results. However, be careful in which diet pills you choose since many diet pills on the market today contain harmful chemicals. It is safer to choose a diet pill that contains natural extracts. A good example is the recent ban of diet pills made with ephedra in the United States. There are various side effects that can come with chemical diet pills and you should avoid them if possible unless taking them under the supervision of a doctor. However, not all herbal diet pills will work either. You need to try and test these pills in order to find ones that work. It is best to stick with diet pills that have been clinically tested in laboratories. These websites will also be able to give you the opinions of people who have taken the pills. You should also include your doctor�s comments when choosing diet pills. Many herbal diet pills contain a mixture of ingredients. Many herbal diet pills have more of a psychological effect on individuals rather than any real effect. It is often just an illusion that an individual feels when they think they are losing weight because they are taking a pill. If you want to lose weight then taking diet pills isn�t enough. In order to lose weight you need the right kind of weight loss plan. You cannot expect to take diet pills while eating calorie enriched foods and still lose weight. Even if a diet pill does manage to help your burn calories or curb your appetite you need to take them along with a balanced diet so you can continue to nourish your body. It is also important to have regular exercise in your diet. In order to have the maximum effect from your weight loss plan you need to combine diet pills with a well balanced diet and daily exercise. This is the only true, healthy way in which you can expect to see results from your weight loss plan. Instead of diet pills, you can also try acai berry and also get some advice on calories. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Ditch Your Diet â€“ Secrets For Weightloss Success

2009-05-03T12:23:00.001+07:00

by: Dianne Villano Sticking to a healthy eating plan can be a challenge for many people. Most people abandon their â€œdietsâ€ long before reaching their goals, and only 5% of people who do reach their goal will maintain that weightloss for a year or more. If you are tired of losing the same weight over and over and would like to take it off once and for all, employ these simple steps to take (or regain) control of your eating habits 1. Donâ€™t diet â€“ Diets are something that you will eventually go off (usually just prior to regaining your lost weight) Reshape your thinking to â€œchanging eating habitsâ€ or â€œmaking lifestyle changesâ€ Instead of saying, â€œI canâ€™t have that, I am on a dietâ€ try â€œI donâ€™t want that, I am changing my eating habitsâ€ 2. Calories count - It's not low fat vs. low carb. You can eat fewer calories by eating less food. Fat has 9 calories per gram, but protein and carbohydrates have only 4 calories per gram. This means that when you eat less fat, you consume fewer calories without having to eat less food. Eat less fat and fewer simple carbs 3. Be accountable for what and how much you eat â€“ Keep a food journal for a month or at the very least a few weeks to be aware of what, when and why you are eating . Paying attention to physical cues and signals can help you determine when your body is cuing you to eat due to hunger as opposed mental or external cues. Ask yourself, "Am I really hungry or am I eating because ..it is there, it smells good, I donâ€™t want to waste food, Iâ€™m stressed, I am bored (insert your favorite here) . 4. Do not restrict foods - There are no bad foods, only inappropriate amounts. If you neglect certain food groups, you'll end up craving those foods and, eventually binging. You also miss out on vital nutrients. Everything in moderation. 5. Donâ€™t fall prey to â€œPortion Distortionâ€ - Weigh and measure foods for at least a month but at the very least 2 weeks and look at nutrition panels regularly to learn what a single serving actually is. Most restaurant servings are 2-3 times single serving sizes. 6. Avoid skipping meals â€“ Eating 5-6 times a day not only stimulates your metabolism but will keep your blood sugar level eating and help you to avoid overeating. 7. Be positive - Recognize irrational thoughts. Focus on the things that you have done right and the positive changes that you have made. Remember â€“ success breeds success. 8. Eat more "good carbs" like fruits, vegetables, legumes and unrefined grains (such as whole-wheat flour and brown rice). They are rich in fiber, which slows absorption and fills you up before you take in too many calories. 9. Begin by making moderate changes in your diet â€“ By just eating 250 calories a day less (1.5 sodas, 2 tbs of oil or dressing or 1 piece of pizza) you will lose a pound every 2 weeks. Add to that a few 30 minute walks a week and you are off to a good start. Copyright Â© Custom Bodies, Inc. 2005 Article written by Dianne Villano, President of Custom Bodies in Tampa Bay, Fl. Custom Bodies has been serving the bay area since 1996 with weight loss & fitness programs. Dianne is a personal fitness instructor certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a frequent speaker on health and fitness related topics with articles published in over 20 media outlets. Grab Your Free Copy Of Her Special Report "22 Big Fat Lies That Are Keeping You From The Body You Want" here: www.mypersonalfitnesscoach.com/22bigfatlies.htm To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Diets

2009-05-03T12:22:00.004+07:00

by: Eddie Tobey You should use the natural dieting methods to lose weight. Stick to fiber-based diet programs. The only secret that the diet foods industry uses is to advertise quick dieting solutions. Such foods in fact only add to your weight rather than reducing it. The diet foods are mostly artificial, whereas you would require eating more natural foods. Such diets that promise results in no time always fail. You need to begin your diet by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, which are really the proper dieting foods. Instead of completely stopping your intake of foods, you should eat everything in moderation. In fact, when you completely stop eating, it adds to more weight. Dieting foods have side-effects such as digestion problems or other related problems in the long run. Drinking plenty of water helps reduce lots of weight. You should drink at least 5 to 6 glasses of water early in the morning. Water purifies your system and dissolves the fat in your body. Doing a lot of exercise is also good while you are on your diet. This also helps reduce lots of weight. However, you should take care to avoid exerting yourself too much. Positive thinking is another way to reduce your weight. You need to stand in front of the mirror and imagine yourself having reached your ideal weight. This will motivate you to reduce weight and stick to your dedicated diet plan. Avoid making a diet plan on your own. Diet plans need to be carefully made, as each person has different body types and needs. Consult your dietitian or physician, as they might know what diet plan to recommend according to your personal needs and requirements. Diets provides detailed information on Diet, Diet Pills, Diet Programs, Diet Plans and more. Diets is affliated with Herbal Diet Products. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss

2009-05-03T12:22:00.003+07:00

by: Byron J Richards Dietary supplements are one of the best ways to naturally support your metabolism to run more efficiently, and when combined with a healthy diet and proper eating pattern (the Leptin Diet®) and exercise, you create an opportunity to burn calories in a more optimal way. The problem for many consumers is knowing which dietary supplements are likely to be of help, especially considering the fact that numerous weight loss scams saturate the WEB, radio ads, and TV ads and infomercials. Any product that claims you can lose a certain number of pounds by taking it is a blatant fraud. Such claims really get out of hand when it is implied you don�t need to improve your diet or exercise to gain the benefits of such wonder pills. Current examples of the wild imaginations of slippery marketers center around products based on acai berry, hoodia, and Irvingia. On the other side of the coin is the federal government, with the rather blatant goal of propping up Big Pharma drugs and weight-loss surgeries, while actively suppressing knowledge on the subject of metabolism. They do this even though an obesity epidemic has occurred on the watch of their Food Pyramid goons. These people think that eating less and exercising more is the only official way to lose weight. Our government pays for �expert� puppets to make false proclamations about metabolism, based on the rate that calories burn in an oven. Apparently they forgot to notice there is considerable calorie-burning variance based on the health, fitness, timing of eating, and quality of food - let alone the role of dietary supplements as cofactors for numerous metabolic processes involved in calorie burning. Unless you are a couch potato on a junk food diet, once you start exercising more you will need to eat more or you won�t have any energy. You can only get so far exercising more and eating less - as the strategy itself tends to induce low-leptin �starvation metabolism� over time, in turn setting up the yo-yo diet response long before you ever get to your goal weight. Individuals should understand that the role of dietary supplements for weight loss is not a quick fix, rather it is a tool. While leptin is the key hormone to get on track and keep on track, there are millions of chemistry reactions that must work in harmony for weight loss to occur. A common sense approach to this issue is the best way to go. Of course, you will need to watch what you eat and consistently exercise. Following the Five Rules of the Leptin Diet is a really good idea, as it creates the potential for your body to burn calories more efficiently. Any nutrient that help you make energy better will help you burn calories, thus the most basic nutrient for anyone is a high quality multiple vitamin such as Daily Energy Multi. The key calorie to increase is protein that is high in branch chain amino acids. The next most important food type to boost up is fiber, especially soluble fiber as in LeptiFiber or Fiber Helper.* Adding to this basic program you can support various areas where you may have a weak spot. The Leptin Control Pack is a combination of nutrients that comprehensively address key areas that are typical stumbling blocks for metabolism. It contains primary leptin-modulating supplements (Leptinal and LeptiSlim), a boost for the typically struggling thyroid (Thyroid Helper), an excellent fat metabolizing and stress reducing product (Stress Helper), natural support for insulin and blood sugar (LeptiSlim and Cinnamon Plus), appetite suppressants (Pine Nut Oil and LeptiSlim), and a product to help with fluid retention (Mangosteen Plus with Cranberry).* This collection of nutrients hits key areas that are typical trouble spots when someone is trying to stay on a healthy exercise program and a good dietary pattern.* Some individuals may want to begin by focusing on one trouble spot area like thyroid or stress, and others may need help with detoxification or general inflammation reduction beyond Leptinal. They key is to get started on a program that gives you enough energy to exercise while helping to keep your sweet tooth and overall appetite in check. You can always add more support as needed, especially if you hit a weight loss plateau. We have an extensive health topic section on weight management, which outlines the key trouble areas that most people run into and what you can do if you either can�t get on track or stay on track. The key to successful weight management is a combination of consistent exercise, proper diet, and appropriate dietary supplements that help keep you on track. Needs vary from person to person based on many factors, which is why we provide so much information in our books and health topic pages to assist you to understand what your needs may be based on the symptoms and issues you are experiencing. When you start becoming friends with leptin a whole new world of possibilities opens up. Good luck - and have fun getting yourself ready for a lighter summer. Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, Inc., is a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a world renowned natural health expert. Richards is the first to explain the relevance of leptin and its link to solving obesity. For a fully referenced article: Click Here. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Diet Programs

2009-05-03T12:22:00.001+07:00

by: Eddie Tobey Recently, many diet programs have mushroomed in and around the United States. You could either go for a one-to-one counseling session or an interactive online diet program. For instance, websites like ediets.com, southbeachdiet.com and weightwatchers.com are among the most popular interactive diet programs. Slimfast.com is another website, which offers not only free memberships to people who wish to reduce their weight, but also customized diet programs, free newsletters, testimonials and much more. What matters when you take up a diet program is that you eat everything in a moderate measure rather than trying to completely stop eating or totally reducing your food intake to almost nothing. Avoid eating oily foods or take them in moderation. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water help you reduce your weight. Water therapy is one of the most popular methods of weight reduction while you are on a diet. You must drink at least four to five glasses of water early in the morning on an empty stomach. You should avoid using pills for weight reduction, as these could have harmful side-effects on your body. Also avoid using artificial diet supplements or artificial food items that claim to reduce your weight within no time. In fact, such food items only add to your weight further and make you fatter. Do at least half an hour of exercise everyday, as it helps increase your metabolism. Consult either your physician or dietitian to help you plan a diet. And last but not least: have faith in yourself and in the diet you take up. Positive thinking also helps you in reducing your weight and achieving your goals. Diet provides detailed information on Diet, Diet Pills, Diet Programs, Diet Plans and more. Diet is affiliated with Herbal Diet Products. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Diet Products

2009-05-03T12:21:00.003+07:00

by: Eddie Tobey There are some important facts you should know before you start dieting. Eat your favorite food items (and that includes cakes, cookies or chocolates) in moderation rather than completely stopping your regular consumption of food. Stopping the consumption of food would only add to your weight further, as the body requires food from time to time in order to function well. Most diet products in fact add further to your weight and sometimes have harmful side effects such as kidney damage, liver damage or heart problems. Therefore, try to avoid using diet products or supplements as far as possible. If you at all plan to take them, consult your dietitian or physician, as they would know what is best for you. The most natural method of reducing your weight would be to consume fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead of taking artificial products, which are at times passed-off as ï¿½naturalï¿½ products, try taking in products that would be really beneficial to you. Yet another effective method of reducing weight is the water therapy. You need to drink at least 4 to 5 glasses of water early every morning. Water therapy not only helps reduce your weight, but it also purges the impurities in the body. Doing exercises early every morning would also help in reducing your weight. Diet products are no substitute for regular exercises. Doing yoga or meditation would help you concentrate on your goal of reducing your weight. Ask your dietitian or physician to give you a proper diet plan and stick to it thoroughly. Diet provides detailed information on Diet, Diet Pills, Diet Programs, Diet Plans and more. Diet is affiliated with Herbal Diet Products. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Diet Plans

2009-05-03T12:21:00.001+07:00

by: Eddie Tobey Recently, many diet plan programs have mushroomed around the United States. You could either go for a one-to-one counseling session or an interactive online diet program. For instance, websites like ediets.com and weightwatchers.com are some of the most popular interactive diet programs. Southbeachdiet.com is another website, which offers not only free memberships to people who wish to reduce their weight, but also customized diet plans and programs, free newsletters, testimonials and lots more. The main idea when you take up a diet plan is that you eat everything in a moderate measure rather than trying to completely stop eating or totally reducing your food intake to almost nothing. Avoid eating oily and fatty foods or take them in moderate quantities. Water therapy is one of the most popular methods of weight reduction while you are on a diet. You must drink at least four to five glasses of water early in the morning on an empty stomach and then eat lots of fruits to lose weight. You should avoid using pills for weight reduction, as these could have harmful side-effects on your body. Also avoid using artificial diet supplements or artificial food items that claim to reduce your weight within no time. In fact, such food items only add to your weight further and make you fatter. Do at least half an hour of exercise everyday, as it helps increase your metabolism. Consult either your physician or dietitian to help you plan a diet. And last but not the least: have faith in yourself and in the diet you take up. Positive thinking also helps you in reducing your weight and achieving your goals. Diet provides detailed information on Diet, Diet Pills, Diet Programs, Diet Plans and more. Diet is affiliated with Herbal Diet Products. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Diet pills cures, controls & Prevents further re-occurrence of Diet pills

2009-05-03T12:20:00.002+07:00

by: petr eben Now-a- days People in urban life-style facing some major problems and one of them is Heavy weight, Obesity and consequently associated are the numerous diseases. Obesity among Urban people & mostly in children is now of monstrous proportion .You now see More cases of heart attacks , diabetes , Liver & lung problems , kidney failures , bespectacled Children , Girls attaining puberty at very early age etc. than you did 20 years ago also Obese people get tired easily , start to get headaches , cholesterol goes off the charts , Blood pressure Becomes completely Unmanageable etc .Obesity is a global Problem and spreading very fast among the Children, teens, adults of developed and other developing nations. There are no. of given reasons for this Problem. Important are Like the Excess amount of junk fast food, Irregular pattern of dietary habits, sedentary life style etc. Obesity and Over weight is also Caused due to Diabetes, Kidney & Liver problems etc. Obesity has taken a monstrous proportion among Kids, Children, teens, and adults. In every family around the world, one can find the Obese Children or adults desperately looking for Medication or Other method for the Remedy and prevention of this obesity and excess weight. Therefore, you see the main reason for the Obesity and excess weight is the wrong eating pattern and Mindless Eating habit. Now-a â€“ days, almost every Family around the world is facing one Major problem of Obesity and weight gain. This has been a Universal problem and has no boundary or limitation area. Following this obesity and weight gain problems are Other various ailments Like of Heart attacks, Lungs and kidney problem, Diabetes , Cholesterol label shoots up , People becomes hyperactive , Often repeated headache etc are commonly seen problems among obese and excess weight people . Due to obesity and excess weight, people are not able to enjoy some of the happy moments of their life as their normal life & activity is hampered by the excess weight and obesity. Obese people lose their efficiency and work performance to the Very drastic label. Obesity makes people Lazy and hyperactive. Let us be honest, losing weight is very hard but not impossible. With the help of Many Cheap & Best Diet Pills available in market like Phentermine, Acomplia, Phendimetrazine, Meridia, xenical etc that are truly few of the Best Known weight loss pill. You can prevent the weight gain and hence attain the Desired Weight loss in a few weeks. So Buy Phentermine, Acomplia, Phendimetrazine, Meridia, xenical etc for easy & cheap way of attaining weight loss. Hence, Use diet pills to fight many Diets related ills. So , enjoy the best Out of your Obesity free Life and Increase your efficiency and work performance By loosing your extra unwanted Fat with the help of many available & most saleable diet pills in the market Like Phentermine , Xenical , meridia , Phendimetrazine , acomplia etc . Petr Eben is an editor of http://www.slimtalk.com. This website is complete weight loss guide and committed to provide visitors with requisite information about the numerous weight loss Diet Pills through breaking news, articles and personal views on weight loss. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Diet pills cures, controls & Prevents further re-occurrence of Diet pills

2009-05-03T12:20:00.001+07:00

Diet Pills and Weight Loss

2009-05-03T12:19:00.002+07:00

by: Janee Obesity among every age group is increasing. We can not ignore it in silence. People think that eating excess and oily food make them fat, but it is not the only reason. There are so many reasons of being overweight. Some other reasons behind being overweight are stress and depression, irregular meals and lack of exercise. Exercise is needed to burn extra fat. When you do exercise extra fat accumulated in your body is burnt and you look slim and fit. It is observed that overweight or obese people have high appetite and they can not keep themselves hungry for long. The main reason of being there overweight is unusual time of meals and no proper diet. Proper diet and hygienic food should be consumes. Diet plays a vital role in everybodyâ€™s life. There are so many drugs available in the market for the treatment of Obesity. These drugs work as appetite suppressants. Diet pills stimulate one part of the brain and helps in suppressing appetite. One of the most selling and purchased drug is phentermine. Phentermine is approved by FDA and it is legal prescription drug. Phentermine can be purchased online. Phentermine is preferred by most individuals because of its low cost and effectiveness. If one compares phentermine and other diet pills than phentermine will be the best among all. Diet pills should not be taken for long time as they can make a person addictive and cause various side effects. Diet pills are the fastest way of losing weight. Donâ€™t get excited after losing weight or reached targeted weight loss, now is the main work for you begins. The lost weight can be gained fast if you donâ€™t maintain healthy lifestyle. The main thing after loosing weight is to take proper diet and do exercise regularly. You will find so many pharmacies online and from where you can get phentermine. Before taking any diet pill collect all information about that drug and from where to order it. Consult your doctor before taking phentermine. Phentermine has also some side effects if not taken properly or as per the instructions given by the physician. Never try any diet pill yourself. Janee is an online researcher and doing research on weight loss and obesity. For more information of Diet Pills, Phentermine, Buy Phentermine, Buy Phentermine diet pill, weight loss, Phentermine diet pill please visit http://www.phentermine-for-u.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Diet Fads Come And Go.....

2009-05-03T12:19:00.001+07:00

by: Tracie Johanson Cursed by dieters everywhere, and loved by children around the world, sugar is one those substances we 'love to hate' and 'hate to love'! It can make bland foods tasty and can make the dentist rich. Americans love sugar in all forms, from pure white granulated to liquid to fluffy cotton candy. As a nation, it's fair to say that we've developed a love affair with sugar! But at what cost? Our ever-expanding waistlines are due, in part, to our sugar infatuation. Many of us try to eat healthier, only to be pushed into consuming even more sugar! Take for example the low-fat craze of the 1980's and '90's, pushed by the federal government's proclomation that FAT IS BAD. As soon as Americans started demanding low-fat products, the food manufacturers responded by flooding the market with low-fat, high-sugar foods.....and we loved it. Honestly, how many of us have chowed down an entire box of Hot Tamales candy and justified it because they're 'fat-free'? Cotton candy, that staple of the county fair, is also fat-free! Hard candy, jelly beans, licorice and oh so many more foods found their way into our mouths - all justified because of their fat-free status. But at what cost? Common sense, reinforced by our expanding size, soon reminded us that it's EXCESS CALORIES THAT MAKE US FAT, and that SUGAR HAS CALORIES! It took us only a decade or so to figure out that just because a food is fat-free, doesn't mean that it's good for us! Again, the food industry responded (and is still responding) by giving us loads and loads of sugar-free food. From ice cream to candy to soda, sugar-free is fast replacing fat-free as the new standard of 'healthy'. Our scientists have created many different sugar substitutes for us to enjoy: DiabetiSweet, Splenda, Equal, Sucralose, Xylitol, Stevia, NutraSweet, aspartame, tagatose, saccharin, and many many more. Even the Pepsi Slushie, that icon from our youth, now has a sugar-free version! But at what cost? Do we really know everything we need to know about the sugar replacements on the market today? Take saccharin for example. Saccharin has been used to sweeten foods and beverages without calories or carbohydrates for over a century. Its use was considerable during the sugar shortages of the two world wars, particularly in Europe. Later, however, we find some experts debating the safety of saccharin: "In a joint letter, the scientists told the National Toxicology Program, a division of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, that declaring saccharin safe would 'result in greater exposure to this probable carcinogen in tens of millions of people, including children (indeed, fetuses). If saccharin is even a weak carcinogen, this unnecessary additive would pose an intolerable risk to the public.'". (Source: www.cspinet.org) Now, citing new research, some scientists are claiming that sugar-free foods may not help us lose weight! As with many topics, the experts don't agree on this issue. What's important to note, however, is that some doctors believe that the sugar-free craze might be just a bad case of deja vu similar to the fat-free craze of decades past. So, when the year 2030 rolls around, will we all be looking back in disbelief wondering how in the heck we ever believed in that sugar-free nonsense? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we need to know that BALANCE IS THE KEY to everything. Balance a healthy diet (eating foods in moderation) with a regular exercise program. Let the experts debate all day long about what to eat and what not to eat.....while they're trying to figure out the 'magic formula' for the perfect diet, we'll be maintaining a healthy weight through exercise!! * Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com which must be maintained as a live link. * The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. * Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit letspickupthepace.com for more information. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Didrex â€“ A Perfect Way to Lose Weight

2009-05-03T12:18:00.000+07:00

by: Jenifer Dsouza Are you reading about weight loss drugs these days? Do you wish to know which diet pill brings fast weight loss? If yes, then you must know about Didrex as it is best-known weight loss drug. Didrex, also known as benzphetamine hydrochloride, is a miracle weight loss drug that works by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure and in turn decreasing the appetite. Didrex stimulates the central nervous system and is used as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity. It is a prescription drug that is easily available online. It works quite well when taken with proper medical consultation. This is even evident from various testimonials available online. Since Didrex has an immediate connection with the heart and the blood circulation in the body, it has some common side effects. These include extreme fatigue, skin abnormalities, irritability, hyperactivity and depression. But none of these side effects is serious and all these can be easily handled if one knows the drug well. Didrex is also known to cause dizziness, fatigue or blurred vision along with restlessness. Because of this reason, it is usually advised not to drive or do anything that could be dangerous. The drug has also found out to be habit-forming. It often tends to be a physiological dependence factor. It is advisable to talk to a doctor about stopping the medication gradually once you've gotten close to the results you've been looking for. The ideal dosage of Didrex is once a day, empty stomach, 30-60 minutes before breakfast. Because this is a habit-forming drug, the dosage should not be increased than prescribed. Also, if it used for a longer period of time, then stopping it suddenly could be little uncomfortable. It is best to stop it gradually. This medication is usually taken for 8 to 12 weeks. Exceeding the recommended dose or taking this medicine for longer than prescribed may cause serious side effects. It is also not advisable to double the dose if one dose has been missed. Instead, it is better to skip the missed dose and resume the usual dosing schedule. Didrex should be stored at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture. It should be kept away from the reach of children. One should always remember that appetite suppressants are not a substitute for proper diet. For maximum effects, weight loss drugs must be used in conjunction with a diet and exercise program. Jenifer is a Health and Fitness Consultant. For more details please visit www.finegenerics.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Detox Diets

2009-05-03T12:17:00.000+07:00

by: Galia Ivanova Detox Diets are the last craze in dieting, thatâ€™s why the number of people searching for detox diets is growing everyday. You may have heard about toxins, detoxification, cleansing, purifying â€“ they are all related to detox diets. Toxins are harmful chemicals affecting your body. They are all around you (in your food, water, air) and inside you (as waste products of metabolism). Your body eliminates most toxins and the rest are stored within body fat. These stored toxins combined with stress can affect your health in very unpleasant ways: - weight gain - headaches - feelings of fatigue and weakness - heartburn - sore muscles and skin - joint pains These symptoms will fade when you start detox. Well, you may feel some discomfort in the very first days, but that is a normal body reaction. You may feel headache or sore muscles, but that is because the toxins are released faster then your body can eliminate them. These symptoms will not occur again if you detox regularly. Detox and Weight Loss Detoxification is the process of releasing and expelling the stored toxins through the elimination organs of your body - the intestines, liver, lungs, kidneys and skin. Detox Diets are dietary nutritious plans that use detoxification, which helps you lose weight by cleansing out your body and improving your metabolism. Detox and Disease Prevention Detox Diets are recommended for improving resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, strengthens the organs involved in detox. Detox Diets can help prevent serious diseases such as cancer, ADD, ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivities, as well as treat heart disease, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease. Detox Foods Detox Diets recommend consumption of foods that are beneficial for your health and essential to weight loss - organic foods, fruits and vegetables. You should drink purified water and cut back on processed foods, as well as give up alcohol and smoking. You should knowâ€¦ Detox Diets are quite restrictive and once you start a detox diet, you should follow it strictly. Detox Diets are safe, but you should consult your doctor before starting. Types of Detox Diets + Fasting - drinking only water, juices or broths, or eating one kind of food for a certain period of time. Your body starts burning fat for energy. + Nutritional supplements â€“ intake of nutritious powders, vitamins and packaged protein snacks. + Hydrotherapy - detoxifying through your skin pores by taking special baths. + Specific detox diets - last between 7 and 30 days; there are quick detox diets for one and three days, and long detox diets for 8 weeks. Find more information for Detox Diets at http://www.weight-loss-advisor.com/blog. Read about my experience with 1 week detox diet. Experience the amazing health benefits of detox diets now! To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Dangers of Making too big a Meal of Eating Disorders

2009-05-02T21:56:00.003+07:00

by: Malcolm Evans Problem eaters and dieters are being placed into medical categorizations, limiting abilities for self-help and recovery. Exaggerated claims about the extent of eating disorders, born of over-zealous diagnoses, are fanning the flames of food distress; let it be clear, though, that this is not pointing a finger at mainstream advocacy and support groups. Yet becoming quite commonplace are predictions that 30-50% of women will experience an eating disorder at some stage within their lifetime. The author does not for one minute believe that up to half of women will suffer an eating disorder. But what isolated individuals believe matters not at all; if people expect themselves to be at risk in such contexts, then risk automatically increases and if that risk is quasi-medical, it assumes a certain inevitability. This is pathologizing on a grand scale â€“ the categorization of problems or conditions into diseases. Once issues have become concretized like this, the focus of remedy changes. It goes from being voluntary habit change to becoming treatment only by expert third parties. Beyond this there is a credibility issue. It is incredibly easy to be condemned as reactionary or uncaring when criticizing the voices of any minority. However, history shows that any overstatement or inaccuracy risks damaging the core cause. One only needs to look back at the Gay Rights movement of the 1970's and 1980's to remember how perhaps over-enthusiastic estimates of the population's gay percentage led to opponents shifting the field of argument. With this one area of accuracy challenged, the otherwise overpowering case for equality and decency was less clearly advanced. Until recently, definitions of Eating Disorders have generally comprised Anorexia and Bulimia. Whilst there are various earlier references to self-starvation, particularly amongst young women, going back in to classical antiquity, it was not until the latter part of the 19th Century that a medical typology of Anorexia was constructed. Bulimia was first formally noted at the end of the 1970's. The research community has for some time been provisionally exploring 'Binge Eating Disorder' to capture the notion of repeated and out of control overeating. BED as a concept is ring-fenced with a considerable array of necessary behaviors, anxieties and obsessions to differentiate it from lesser overeating. Despite the cautious progress of researchers in testing the boundaries, there is a less sophisticated eating disorders bandwagon creating a disruptive momentum. As ever in all matters eating problem related, the media is an avid recipient, presenter and sometimes creator of sensationalism. Individual issues of self-image anxieties, overeating, continual dieting and obesity worries are being conflated into broad ranging and quasi-medical identities. This is not in any way to downplay the dangers and distress caused by full-blown eating disorders, serious binge eating included. But people can exercise far more control over what is personal and cultural than they can over what is seen as endemic and medical. Wherever the serious debate finally settles with some certainty in these areas, it is absolutely clear that there is too much hype seeping in at present. The more that people are over-hastily pushed down the road of disease labeling, the lower their chances of establishing and maintaining a natural and relaxed relationship with food. Malcolm Evans is the founder and secretary of weight control charity The Weight Foundation. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Dangers of South Beach Diet

2009-05-02T21:56:00.001+07:00

Nishanth Reddy The South Beach Diet is considered to be a healthy diet, which is concerned on the right carbohydrates and the right fats for a healthy body. As such, many people were drawn to it believing that the South Beach Diet is really the best diet for them. However, out of this good reputation that the South Beach Diet maintained, still there are some attacks and bad comments about the diet. Well, we donâ€™t need to be surprised about this, for this is how the world is set. What then is the importance of the principle of â€œyin and yangâ€ if there is only one side for everything? There could be biases, prejudices, and imbalances, right? So, even though there is really no noted â€œbigâ€ South Beach Diet danger, still there are certain resources which hold that the South Beach Diet danger surface when the improper application of the diet is made. Lack of Information and Understanding Numerous resources have noted that part of the South Beach Diet is the lack of information or understanding about the diet. From the word â€œlackâ€ alone, a sort of South Beach Diet danger is then viewed. According to many studies, the South Beach Diet danger surfaced for the reason that the South Beach Diet is very demanding for those that are accustomed to carbohydrate-rich diets. Lapsing Into the Old Eating Habits In line with such view for the South Beach Diet danger, it is also noted that one of the largest South Beach Diet dangers surface when there is a lapsing into the old eating habits. This was considered to be a South Beach Diet danger for the reason that this lapsing will result in speedy weight gain. Along with that, this part of the South Beach Diet danger may then be a new way of life. Lack of Willpower In relation to such fact, another support states that a great South Beach Diet danger will also surface when there is a lack of willpower exerted for the diet, especially from the carbohydrates lovers. In fact, it is a common view that there is always the South Beach Diet danger of lapsing back into old eating habits and increasing the carbohydrate consumption without even realizing it. Steps To Overcome These South Beach Diet Dangers So to battle this one of the common South Beach Diet dangers, Dr. Arthur Agatston himself recommends that the dieters who do lapse and end up on placing some of the weight back on should then be immediately switch back to the first phase of the South Beach Diet for a short while. This recommendation is given not only to battle such South Beach Diet danger but also to prevent from the occurrence of several South Beach Diet dangers. It is also interesting to know that if this South Beach Diet danger is not prevented earlier, this will lead to an excess in weight gain. With such mentioned possible South Beach Diet dangers, the South Beach Diet then received mixed reviews from most dieters. Despite the South Beach Diet dangers, many people still consider the South Beach Diet as an updated version of the Atkins diet that is a far more balanced diet. Only one thing that this diet plan does do is really to educate the dieters in eating the correct food to reduce heart disease, high cholesterol levels, and other South Beach Diet dangers. Nishanth Reddy is an author and publisher of many health related websites. For more information on south beach diet plan, south beach diet recipes and tips to loose weight visit his website: South Beach Diet To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Consign obesity to dustbin with diet pills

2009-05-02T21:55:00.002+07:00

by: Sharon In modern times, a robust appetite is no longer synonymous with good health. Rather, it has become a precursor to obesity with all its attendant problems. Modern Irony This is because modern lifestyles are largely sedentary involving hardly any physical activity. On the other hand, with the world becoming a smaller place, a wide variety of dishes from all over the world tempt our palate. As a result, calorie expenditure for most people is much less than the calories consumed. The consequences are apparent from the increasing number of fat and obese people inhabiting this world. Diet PillsUnfortunately, it is easier to gain weight than to lose it. Any number of people have tried to fight off flab and failed as hunger pangs torment them and make them break their resolve of eating less. Weight loss diet pills can bail out such people by functioning as appetite suppressants. These pills can be divided into two types: prescription-only diet pills and over-the-counter diet pills. Prescription diet pills are diet drugs regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and are generally prescribed for obese people in certain pill-dosages. Phentermine, Adipex, Xenical, Didrex, Phendimetrazine etc fall in this category. The side effects of diet pills are consistent with that of other drugs and diminish in intensity with time. On the other hand over-the counter pills or diet pills are relatively unregulated. Weight Loss Formula Among the obesity fighting drugs, Phentermine diet pill, which has been around for over 45 years, is the most popular. Its users vouch for the fact that this proven formula for weight control helps shed the obstinate pounds when everything else fails. But it is absolutely essential to supplement the drug with diet, exercise and behavior therapy so that the weight, which is shed, stays off. Buying Phentermine online can help you save precious money and time. Cheap Phentermine has for long created waves in the weight loss drug market because of its undisputed efficiency. So, when you can tap Phentermine, there is no need to suffer indignities in silence. Just buy Phentermine and consign obesity to historyâ€™s dustbin. Sharon is an online editor to site http://www.slimtour.com. Committed to provide users with complete information on weight loss related topics like diet pills (Phentermine, Adipex, and Didrex) Obesity. Your feedback will be highly appreciated at sharonfernandis@gmail.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss #1

2009-05-02T21:55:00.001+07:00

by: Tami Close Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #1 I am so grateful that youâ€™re taking steps to take control of your life. You will be amazed when we work together how much youâ€™ll uncover about yourself. Youâ€™ll understand how your thoughts have contributed to your being overweight and you will take daily steps to put together a new plan of action for yourself. I imagine that you are tired of living like this and want some new, something better for yourself. I am here to help you and I know you can do it! As an integrative body therapist, I work with energy and thought processes. With this in mind, weâ€™re going to begin this lesson with a discussion on energy and how you attract excess weight. Everything is made up of energy. The couch youâ€™re sitting on, the table, even money is made up of energy. Our bodies are nothing but pure energy. Since everything is made up of energy, these things are affected by the Natural Laws of the Universe. These Laws are designed to manifest whatever we put our thoughts on. In simple terms, whatever you put your mind on, is what youâ€™re going to get. Weâ€™re going to look at one of the Natural Lawsâ€”the Law of Attraction. How does this apply to being overweight? When you hold negative thoughts in your body, symptoms appear based on those thoughts. In your case, you hold excess weight. You may be experiencing other symptoms as well, but your main focus right now is your weight. You hold negative thoughts in your body and this attracts excess weight. According to Louise Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life, outlines weight issues in her book and anger is the driving force underneath the weight. It can be anything from anger at being denied love, anger at the parents or anger at one specific parentâ€”often the father. In my case, I was angry at both parents, but more so my father. Now, I'll be giving you homework assignments because I like this to be interactive and have you contribute as well. So here's your first homework assignment. Itâ€™s very simple. Identify who youâ€™re angry with? You can include yourself. Once youâ€™ve done this then describe why youâ€™re angry with the person(s) youâ€™ve identified and be specific. Weâ€™ll be peeling back layers and these are simple steps to uncovering some layers. I will then address how you can release this anger so you can experience pure joy and love. In your case, especially of your body. You are great just the way God intended you to be! You just need to peel back a few layers to reveal the wholeness that is already there. Thank you for letting me be part of your journey. Tami Close Weight Loss Expert http://www.tamiclose.com Tami Close is an Integrative Body Therapist. She is certified in Rapid Eye Technology and has a basic and advanced certificate in Emotional Freedomn Techniques. She is also a Reiki Master. Tami is a recipient of a grant from the Sumasil Grant Foundation in her work with RET and EFT. She is a master trainer and has a B.S. in Training and Development. She is a #1 best selling co-author, Wake Up...Live the Life You Love Finding Personal Freedom. The other authors include Mark Victor Hansen, Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra and others. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss

2009-05-02T21:54:00.002+07:00

Tami Close Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Discover secrets to overcome food addictions by releasing negative thoughts and reframing with powerful affirmations, and manifest all that is yours by Divine right. My name is Tami Close and my intention is to empower women to realize they are responsible for their own health and well-being. Why am I doing this? Years ago I became very ill and wrote down the foregoing statement while reading a book by Mark Victor Hanson entitled Dare to Win. I knew that I went through the illness for reason and now am manifesting my purpose. Through this illness I was led on a journey to discover Me!â€”the Me! who was hidden beneath all the childhood trauma of not feeling loved. With the help of an energy practitioner, I finally released the childhood stuff and it was life-changing. You, too, can release your childhood issues and have a miraculous discovery of self. Many women suffer needlessly with unwanted pounds and I was told I am to work with women to help them love themselves unconditionally. As an integrative body therapist using Rapid Eye Therapy and Emotional Freedom techniques, I help women release their stuff so they make new, healthy choices in their weight loss goals. These healing modalities are quick and easy to use and get results. Once youâ€™re able to see yourself as pure love, the results will be astounding! Youâ€™ll attract those things that keep you focused on a positive lifestyle and the pounds will begin to shed. Watch the miracles that show up for you as a result! No more thong envy here! Many women showed up for me to help me and I, in turn, will show up for you to hold your hand and guide you through your transformation. Itâ€™s no accident youâ€™re reading this. Know that my intentions are to help you take control of your health. Look what has manifested in my life as a result of peeling back my own layers. I became a co-author in a book with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer and several others. The book, Wake Upâ€¦.Life the Life You Love Finding Personal Freedom, was just published in March and can be purchased at Barnes and Noble. On April 1, 2005 (No April Fools joke) I met Mark Victor Hansen and he signed my Dare to Win book. I would not have manifested these amazing things if I didnâ€™t release my pain which was keeping me stuck. I am on purpose!! I am living my dream of helping women and loving every minute of it. Check out http://www.tamiclose.com. tamiclose.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Can I Just Lose Fat From My Hips, Legs, and Stomach?

2009-05-02T21:54:00.001+07:00

by: Eduardo G. Perez December 9, 2005 â€“ The most common and everlasting question I receive as a personal fitness trainer continues to be based on the myth of spot reduction. The questions tend to be, â€œEduardo, show me an exercise to lose my love handles, â€œâ€œEduardo, I just want to reduce the size of my thighs,â€ â€œEduardo, I know you said that itâ€™s not scientifically possible, but can you just give me a couple of exercises to tone my arms?â€ Even though media has done a great job of debunking this myth it still persists. This is such a powerful notion that marketers have taken full advantage of it and invest a minimum of thirty-thousand dollars just to produce an infomercial on stomach and thigh saunas, abdominal machines, and leg toners. Itâ€™s a pretty large sum that provides four to ten times the return on their initial investment. I must have a sense of moral obligation when I am not joining that extreme money making bandwagon. As a matter of fact, in this brief article on the myth of losing fat from a specific area, I plan on joining the few in the fitness industry that want to inform the consumers on the truth. As the trainer for www.tartesos-fitness.com and coach for www.myonline-fitness-coach.com I consistently answer this question with a NO. The misconception of burning fat from a specific area of the body has been proven by research that it is false. Of course, if I am going to tell you that science has proved it false, I made sure to do my homework and dig up three studies that illustrate how flawed spot reduction is as a runner up to an urban myth. The first study I want to illustrate will answer the questions of â€œI just want to lose fat from my stomach, can I just do crunches?â€ In 1984, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport reported that thirteen males did a total of 5000 sit-ups in 27 days. Biopsies of the subjectâ€™s fat cells were used to measure the change in fat cell diameter. The results showed that the subjects lost fat equally from the stomach, glutes, and upper back even though they only worked their abs. â€œEduardo, just give me leg exercises since all I want to do is lose fat from my legs and hips?â€ In a six-month long study of women who mainly did leg exercises for approximately nine hours per week lost an average of 5.7 pounds of fat. The Journal of Applied Physiology, the periodical that published this study, reported that the distribution of fat loss was 2.9 pounds from the trunk, 2.8 pounds from the arms, and 0 from their thighs. Their weekly nine hours of leg work resulted in zero fat loss from their thighs! â€œOk, so you sayâ€¦â€ This is what I begin to hear after I try to explain spot reduction is a myth. It continues as, â€œthat spot reduction doesnâ€™t work, but can you just give me some arm exercises to reduce the fat from my arms?â€ This last illustration is from a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 1971, where world-class tennis players were tested to see if spot reduction could help in reducing the fat from the arms. The idea behind this study was that if spot reduction worked, the players would have one arm that's leaner than the other. Obviously, tennis players use their dominant arms forcefully everyday while doing relatively little with their non-dominant arms. Though the researchers did find the dominant arm to be bigger due to more muscle tone, there was no difference at all between arms in fat thickness. This study showed that working a certain muscle does not necessarily affect the fat deposits that may be lying above that muscle. What are your weight loss options? Your options are healthy eating and moderate to intense exercise. Going back to science, research has proven that exercise and healthy eating habits are the most important part of a weight loss and weight management program. Exercise helps to lose or control weight by using any extra calories that would have otherwise been stored a fat. For example, if you were to eat more calories than you actually use through physical activity, the extra calories would be stored as fat and you would gain weight. On the other hand, if you were to eat fewer calories than you actually use, your body would use stored calories resulting in weight loss. Of course, if your calories in are equal to the calories you use, your weight stays the same. How many calories do I need to burn in order to lose one pound of fat? In order to lose approximately one pound of fat you would have to expend about 3,500 calories in a week. One way to do this is to eat fewer calories, and burn more through exercise. If you burn about 300 calories a day and eat 200 less calories per day, you will have a 500 calorie deficit. In one week that would be 3,500 calories. My recommendation is that you keep a food journal, like the one found in the www.tartesos-fitness.com 6 Week Exercise Journal in order to start recognizing your calorie intake. How do I set up my exercise routine to lose fat? In order to lose fat, you would have to spend a minimum of one-hundred and fifty minutes exercising per week. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least thirty minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise at least five times per week. An example of a fitness program could be: -Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday thirty minute power walk. -Every Tuesday and Thursday you do a thirty minute full-body weight training program followed by a fifteen to twenty minute moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise such as power walking. If you would like more information on customized exercise and meal programs go to www.tartesos-fitness.com and I will be glad to assist you in achieving your goals. Remember, my mission as a personal trainer and fitness coach is to see you succeed. I hope that I have been able to debunk or at least make a dent in the spot reduction myth and put you on the road to an over all fat-free and healthy body in 2006. Please visit my site for more information on achieving your fitness goals at myonline-fitness-coach.com Eduardo G. Perez is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. He has over 16 years of experience in assisting individuals achieve their fitness and weight loss goals. In addition he is owner of www.tartesos-fitness.com and www.myonline-fitness-coach.com an online fitness resource for achieving fitness goals and offering tools to help you get started and stay on track throughout the year. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Boost Your Metabolism with Negative Calorie Foods

2009-05-02T21:53:00.000+07:00

by: Andrew Bicknell There's just about nothing most people won't try to lose weight. It's like a quest for many people, jumping from the latest reduced calorie diet, swallowing some miracle metabolism boosting pill, or buying the latest fat burning exercise machine they see on late night infomercials. This is all fine and good because we all want to believe there is a magic panacea that will quickly and easily make the weight disappear but the reality is that these products do not always work as advertised. The key component of any weight loss routine is being able to boost your metabolism. It's really quite amazing if you think about it. By simply eating a healthier diet we can create a state where the body actually begins to burn more calories and everyone is familiar with the relationship between calories burned and fat reduction. So how can the foods you eat affect your body chemistry in this way? It's a response to the type of calories consumed and how the body digests and processes different types of food. The old saying "you are what you eat" is truer then most people realize. The human body responds to nutrient rich foods with a metabolism increase which in turn can lead to weight loss. If you add some form of exercise routine in with a healthy diet you will see even greater gains when it comes to reducing the old midsection. Your body is a complex system of different cells that use energy in the form of calories to accomplish its daily functions and needs. You get this energy from the foods you eat and it comes in different forms such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. With this in mind it is important to remember that not all food is created equal and their makeup affects how fats or slow your metabolism will run. Foods that are high in complex carbohydrates and proteins are the best choices if you want to boost your metabolism. The reason for this is not as complex as you may think. It takes more energy, or calories, for the body to digest, breakdown, and process these foods then the more refined and processed foods we are used to seeing on grocery store shelves. These foods are also able to rev up your metabolism because of the length of time it takes to break them down in the digestive system. Complex carbohydrates require the body to work harder for a longer period of time which results in more calories burned while at the same time causing a slower more long term release of calories from those food sources. This gives you a consistent energy source that keeps you going all day long. On the flip side sugars and fats create energy spikes because their calories are quickly and easily digested, flooding the blood stream with glucose. This is followed by that time of the day many people are familiar with, the low energy period where it's all you can do to stay awake. You will also find your cravings for sugary, fat creating foods highest at this point. Controlling weight with negative calorie foods is easy once you get the hang of it. Not only will these foods boost metabolism but they will also help you lose weight and live a longer and healthier life. For more information about negative calorie foods that boost metabolism and for more information about how your metabolism works please click here. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

BEAUTIFUL NEW BODY SCULPTING Mesotherapy -- What is it and how can it enhance your life?

2009-05-02T21:52:00.002+07:00

Dr. Dima Ali Anti-aging aesthetic treatments have reached an exciting new pinnacle with Mesotherapy, a safe and effective treatment for body sculpting, cellulite reduction and skin rejuvenation. Pioneered in France in the 1950s, Mesotherapy is widely practiced in Europe and South America, although it is fairly new in the United States. Beautiful skin and well-sculpted bodies are not just for the rich and famous anymore! What Is Mesotherapy? Mesotherapy is the practice of using microinjections of a medication and/or vitamins into the middle layer of skin to deliver healing or corrective treatment to a specific area of the body. In cosmetic medicine, the three areas Mesotherapy addresses are excess fat, cellulite, and skin rejuvenation. The formula for each of these procedures is different. While each Mesotherapy treatment may involve many small injections, the treatment sessions typically take only a short time to complete. How Does It Work? Using an ultrafine, specially manufactured needle (the finer the needle, the less it hurts) the formula is painlessly injected into the middle or second layer of skin. The injections are about an inch apart so the number of injections depends on the size of the area being injected. A topical anesthetic cream is applied to the area to further decrease any pain a patient might experience. v What Challenges Can Mesotherapy Treat? Mesotherapy treats three common problems: excess fat, cellulite, & skin aging. Fat Reduction: Mesotherapy works wonders for individuals who are having trouble losing excess body fat in specific areas of their body. The �fat burning formula� blocks the cells from storing fat while it breaks down the existing fat cells. A minimum of three treatments is usually required and they are spaced approximately one month apart. The number of treatments depends on the amount of fat that the patient needs to lose. Frequently targeted areas are the hips, thighs, saddle bags, abdomen, bra bulge, double chins, and jowls. This treatment is a wonderful adjunct to a healthy lifestyle program of good nutrition and exercise. Cellulite: Mesotherapy is by far the most successful and progressive of all cellulite treatments currently available today. Cellulite commonly appears on the hips, legs, and buttocks, yet it is not caused by being overweight as many normal weight or thin people suffer from this condition. For many of us, diet and exercise just do not solve the cellulite problem. Mesotherapy smoothes out the skin by eliminating the �dimpled� or unsightly �orange peel� appearance associated with cellulite. Nothing even comes close to the results that Mesotherapy achieves for the reduction of cellulite. For many people suffering from this distressing condition, Mesotherapy can be an answer to a prayer. Skin Rejuvenation: Mesotherapy for skin rejuvenation is commonly referred to as MesoGlow. An entirely different formula is used for rejuvenation than is used for fat reduction or cellulite. This treatment infuses the skin with potent vitamins and antioxidants that are injected into the targeted area. The most common areas treated with MesoGlow are the face, hands, neck, and arms. MesoGlow stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin thereby decreasing sagging skin and wrinkles. Skin tone is also drastically improved. The results can be quite dramatic. Sagging jowls magically rise, and hands look more youthful. A series of three to five treatments is usually recommended. Treatment may begin as early as your twenties to prevent wrinkles and fine lines from forming. Those who have had this procedure describe their skin as being much more �radiant,� �glowing,� and �firm.� Does Mesotherapy Last Forever? With the encouragement of a change in your diet and daily exercise, you will surely continue the success of the Mesotherapy Treatments. Many Mesotherapy patients, who change their diets and begin a regular exercise routine, usually find no need to return for more treatments. Patients will occasionally return because of the success of their initial treatments and to receive additional related Mesotherapy treatments, for other skincare and bodycare challenges. Are There Any Potential Side Effects The most significant side effects from Mesotherapy are temporary bruising, swelling, and soreness from the injections made during each treatment. These three side effects are well tolerated and usually dissipate within a week or so. Who Performs Mesotherapy? Only a licensed and certified physician should perform this procedure directly on patients in a medical clinic, a medical spa, or a Wellness center. For all Mesotherapy patients, a complete consultation and analysis must be given prior to any treatment. Mesotherapy Advantages: Mesotherapy is a wonderful solution for women and men who want to maintain a more youthful appearance. One of the best advantages of this procedure is that there is generally no downtime from work. Unlike liposuction, it is a scarless procedure that treats rather than promotes cellulite. With Mesotherapy, you can achieve a more beautiful and younger looking body and face. Mesotherapy is definitely 21st century beauty. Maybe it�s time for you to consider a �Total Image� makeover with Mesotherapy! In the Editorial Notes just ad in the second paragraph: Dr. Ali has recently been featured in a CBS television interview on Mesotherapy (or something to that effect)� 2008Cosminology www.cosminology.com. All rights reserved. Dima Ali, M.D. is an internationally recognized aesthetic and anti-aging medicine expert. Her areas of expertise include aesthetic laser surgery, minimally invasive face lifts, lipofilling, botox, soft tissue fillers, chemical peels, sclerotherapy, mesotherapy and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Ali received her undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She received her Doctorate of Medicine and completed her residency training at The George Washington University School of Medicine, in Family Medicine with special emphasis in Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgery, Women�s Health and Preventive Medicine. After completing additional post graduate work in Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery, she founded one of the East Coasts first medical spas, WellMedica Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine in Reston, VA. Dr. Ali and her staff are deeply committed to the well being of each patient. Combining artistry with state-of-the art technology, they pride themselves on providing each patient with customized care. WellMedica Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine has been featured in Cosmetic Surgery Times, Vogue, DaySpa Magazine, In Style Magazine, Health and Beauty, The Washingtonian and The Washington Post as one of the �Top Medical Spas in the USA.� Dr. Ali has been featured on CBS News and frequently lectures and teaches hands-on courses at various national and international medical conferences. Dr. Ali is a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery and a faculty member and scientific advisor for The American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Ali is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery; The American Medical Association; The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and has served as President of Professional Medical Spa Alliance. Dr. Ali has trained under world renowned experts including Dr. Zein Obagi and Dr. Pierre Fournier. In addition she also teaches cosmetic procedures with Dr. Fournier to other physicians, including dermatologists, plastic surgeons, general surgeons and primary care doctors. She is committed to the advancement of aesthetic medicine and surgery and is recognized as an important leader in the Metropolitan Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia areas as well as throughout the aesthetic and medical spa industries. www.cosminology.com www.wellmedica.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Beat the Carb Cravings

2009-05-02T21:52:00.001+07:00

Philip Nicosia Anyone whoâ€™s been on a low carb diet will tell you that the first week is the hardest. Some report actual physical symptoms of carb withdrawal, like irritability, headaches, and lack of energy. Others say itâ€™s the emotional struggle to stay away from rice, bread, pasta, potatoes the staples that theyâ€™ve grown used to serving with every meal. These carb cravings can easily tempt you into giving up on your diet altogether. Donâ€™t. You have so much to gain (or in this case, lose): think 10 pounds in the first two weeks, as some diets claim, and a visible reduction of tummy handles. (Hey, youâ€™ll be able to fit in a smaller size of jeans!) So how do you survive the battle against bread? Here are some tips: Indulge in the right food One of the advantages of low carb diets is that you donâ€™t starve yourself. You can eat very well, just stay away from certain types of food. How does help beat the carb cravings? If youâ€™re not ravenous, youâ€™re less likely to raid the fridge in a mad fit of hunger. You can also replace a high-carb snack (like a chocolate bar) with an equally tasty bag of peanuts, and not feel deprived. Veteran low carb dieters actually advise keeping stashes of low-carb diets in their desk drawers, or by the television the places where most people get the desire to munch on something. Keep the portions small, just enough to make you feel that youâ€™ve had a treat, without actually turning into a binge. Youâ€™ll need a lot of small plastic bags, or tiny plastic containers. Another tip: prepare the individual servings beforehand, preferably after eating a meal so youâ€™re not tempted to put more than you should. Keep yourself busyMost of us eat not out of hunger but habit. Youâ€™re bored, stressed, or youâ€™re killing time before you take on the next item on your to-do list. Avoid temptation by keeping your mind on something you enjoy. Some dieters carry a book around, others start a hobby like scrapbooking which will let them pass long hours without even thinking about food. For those who work at the office, and need something to keep them away from the vendo machine, bookmark a website that you can browse until the snack attack passes. Look for other forms of recreationItâ€™s become customary to make meals the center of any recreational activity: eating chips while watching a movie, going out to dinner with friends. While youâ€™re still getting used to the low-carb regimen, pass up the invitation to have drinks after work and invite everyone to watch a play, hit the badminton courts, or attend a museum opening. Get a diet buddyDieting becomes more fun when you have a diet partner to give encouragement, praise you for every lost pound, and even help you scout for the low-carb friendly restaurants in your area. Donâ€™t know anyone? Go online and join a dieterâ€™s forum. Exchange recipes, share thoughts, and hey, even make new friends. Youâ€™ll still feel the carb cravings, but somehow, saying no is a little easier. Lowcarbdiets.eu.com is a website providing information on low carb diets, low carb food and low carb books to help you on your way to losing weight. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Aspartame: Silent Killer or Safe Sweetener?

2009-05-02T21:51:00.002+07:00

by: Renee Kennedy The Aspartame controversy rages on. Aspartame is approved by the FDA. According to the US government, aspartame is a safe sweetener. Many other web sites besides government sites will attest to the safety of aspartame. On the other hand, there are many web sites that talk about the toxicity of aspartame over a long period of ingestion. Some even going as far as saying it will kill you. Below, Iâ€™ve provided you with some links that talk about the dangers and the safety of Aspartame. If you are concerned about how Aspartame is going to affect your health, you should speak to your own health care provider. Your doctor will know your specific health issues and can help you decide what is best for you. Holisticmed.com alleges that 100% of independent research shows problems with Aspartame. In other words, according to Holisticmed.com, researchers not funded by those who make money from Aspartame, are finding evidence that the artificial sweetener is not good for you. You can go to that link and find a whole host of sites that discuss and propagate the potential dangers of artificial sweeteners. Whether they are myth or truth, I leave that to you to decide. The National Institutes of Health (a government agency) says, "Over the past three decades, questions have been asked about the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame, specifically, whether aspartame is a neurotoxinâ€¦ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued statements declaring that aspartame does not pose a threat to the general population. Still, some people may be sensitive to aspartame and may experience headache or fatigue." Aspartame.org will attest to the safety of the product. Right up front, this site adresses the benefits, facts and myths associated with Aspartame. It is not the intention of this article to tell you that Aspartame is a safe or dangerous product. The above links should provide you with more information. Again, if you are concerned about the safety of the product for your specific health issues, you should speak to your own health care provider. Visit Health Crazed for more articles on weight loss and dieting. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Are You Really Overweight?

2009-05-02T21:51:00.001+07:00

Rudy Silva If you are overweight, you know it by how you feel, how your clothes fit or how you look. But, by how much are you really overweight? And how much weight do you need to lose? One measure of how much you should weight is by determining your Body Mass Index, BMI. This index gives you the relationship of your weight to your height. Here is the formula: Your BMI = [(yourWeight)/(your Height x your Height)] x 705 If you weight 143 lbs and are 64 in tall, then your BMI = [(143) / (64 x 64)] x 705 = 26.2. Based on the chart below a BMI of 26.2 is overweight. Â· underweight, BMI = 18.5 Â· normal weight BMI = 18.5 - 24.9 Â· overweight BMI = 25 - 29.9 Â· slight obesity BMI = 30 - 34.9 Â· obese BMI = 35 - 39.9 Â· excess obese = BMI = greater than 40 If we consider the normal BMI number to be 21.5 then you can compute approximately how much weight you should lose using the same BMI formula but by changing things around in the formula, (your ideal Weight) = [(normal BMI / 705) x (your Height x your Height)] For the example above if you have a BMI = 26.2 and the normal BMI number = 21.5, then, (your ideal Weight) = [(21.5/705) x (64 x 64)] = 124.91 you should weight 124.91 lbs. That means you need to lose (143 -124.9) lbs = 18.1 lbs. Try to get your BMI below 25. Under this number, you can expect to have good heath if you are eating the right kinds of food and exercising regularly. If your BMI is greater than 28, you are more likely to have cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and many other diseases related to a toxic colon. Keep track of your waistline. Your waistline, if you are a man, should be less than 35 ". For women it should be less than 30". As your waistline get larger you become more susceptible to diseases. Of course, waistlines are going to vary because people have different shapes. But you know if your waistline to big for your shape. Now you should know how much weight you need to lose. Beside your waistline, you should also measure bust/chest, hips, and thighs.. This gives you an indication how your body is changing. As you lose fat you may not lose weight for a while. Your body will become toned as you exercise. The weight scale does not always tell you that your body is changing and losing weight. Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. He writes a newsletter called "Natural Remedies That work." You can subscribe to his newsletter and read some of the back issues which give you information of how to have better health. Read his latest newsletter at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/archive.html To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Are You Ready For Low Carb?

2009-05-02T21:50:00.002+07:00

Philip Nicosia Everyoneâ€™s been talking about low carb diets. While most people tend to associate it with South Beach or Atkins, there are actually quite a few books that centre on the principle of cutting out the carbs: Sugar Busters, Protein Power, The Zone Diet, Carbohydrates Addict Diet. They differ on how strict they are about carbohydrate intakeâ€”what you can eat, and not eat, or how much you are later allowed to eat in the later phases of the dietâ€”but as a whole, they agree on one thing: carbs are bad. The Carbohydrate Principle Which makes you wonder: whatâ€™s so bad about carbs? The belief is that when you control carbohydrates, you lower your bodyâ€™s production of insulin. Insulin gives your body the â€œquick fixâ€ of energy (which is why, after eating carbs, you get the famous sugar rush). But without carbs, your bodyâ€™s forced to use your bodyâ€™s fat and protein stores. Low carb diets can lead to rapid weight loss, but nutritionists are debating whether or not it should be continued in a long term. This is because you force your body to burn muscle, and muscle can be a dieterâ€™s best friend because it burns calories even when youâ€™re at rest. However, some diets allow restricted carbs in later phasesâ€”which would lower the rate of your weight loss, but is healthier for you in the long run. What are the benefits of low carb diets? * You feel (and weigh!) lighter. Low carb diets remove many high-calorie, low-nutrition foods such as pastries and pasta. It also forces the body to burn fat stores (i.e., the bulge around your hips). The foods that are typically included, mainly protein, low-fat dairy, and fibre, also tend to reduce water retention. * You feel less hungry and more energetic. The body digests carbs and uses very quickly, leading to quick bursts of energy but also frequent hunger pangs and the infamous â€œsugar rush-sugar crashâ€ cycle When you replace carbs with fibre and protein, which takes longer to process, youâ€™ll feel full longer and have more stable energy levels. That is also linked to less mood swings and higher concentration. * Better blood pressure and cholesterol. Low carb diets usually remove saturated fats, and refined or processed food, and shift to what is called â€œwhole food groupsâ€ (low fat dairy, protein, fibre) which help control blood pressure and cholesterol. The significant reduction of sugary foodâ€”which typically contain lots of calories, no nutritional contentâ€”also helps control obesity, which is a big factor in heart attacks. What foods are low carb? Low carb diets sound good, but be prepared: low carb diets will take out what many consider as staples in all meals: bread, pasta, and rice. In fact, low carb diets will remove anything made of flour, starchy vegetables like corn and potatoes, and foods that contain sugar (this includes several fruits), and cereals that arenâ€™t specifically labelled as â€œlow carbâ€. However, you will be allowed to take meat and eggs, low sugar fruits like strawberries, and high-protein but low-fat alternatives like soybeans. Some low carb diets allow dairy. Lowcarbdiets.eu.com is a website providing low carb diet information, low carb recipes and low carb products to help you on your way to losing weight. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

An Exercise Plan to Lose Weight

2009-05-02T21:50:00.001+07:00

by: Pompy Do you have an exercise plan to lose weight? Two excellent choices to consider are the elliptical workout and the treadmill weight loss workout. Let's compare the two kinds of workouts so you will be able to determine which exercise plan to lose weight works best for you. Visit now � Picmoney dot com An elliptical trainer workout has become very popular and actually has a few advantages over a treadmill. It is less strenuous to the knees, joints and lower back so it is very suitable for people with injuries. It also works all the parts of your body continuously giving you a total body workout. An elliptical trainer workout is great for cardio fitness and you can get a good workout in a short period of time. A treadmill workout is still a very popular workout today. Many people buy a treadmill so the whole family can use it. A treadmill workout is perfect for beginners because the intensity in the workout is adjustable by walking, jogging or running. Treadmill weight loss can best be achieved by exercising within your target heart range zone. Here is how to find the right target heart rate for you. First, you need to find out what your heart rate is while exercising after five minutes. To test your heart rate place your thumb on the underside of your wrist to locate your pulse. Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply that number times four. That number is your heart rate. To calculate your ideal target heart rate, subtract your age from 220. For successful treadmill weight loss exercise within 70% of your target heart range zone. Both the elliptical trainers and treadmills help you to burn fat and are perfect exercise plans to lose weight. Exercising not only tones your muscles, but actually gives you more energy for your whole day. You can purchase treadmills and elliptical workout trainers on the Internet as well as fitness stores. Both machines are very effective for burning fat and losing weight. Just make sure that you buy quality equipment that will last. If you are looking to burn body fat and take off weight, these two machines can be a great help for your exercise plan to lose weight. To Know More Visit Now Click here to Start Your Home Based Business Easy Weight loss Plans and Product Visit here to get answer about Full Health Care Nutrition Information Yoga exercise Benefits for Relaxation To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

A Guide To Diet Products

2009-05-02T21:49:00.000+07:00

by: Steve Valentino The diet business specializes in helping people lose unwanted weight, and it is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the United States. The diet industryï¿½s marketing and advertising strategy is based on the fears and hopes of those people who are unhappy with the way they feel or look. The number of companies dealing with diet and diet products is increasing every year. These companies provide guidelines about what to eat and how to eat in order to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. In addition to counseling, they offer dietary supplements or low fat diet products. There are several diet products that assure a surprising amount of weight loss in record time. These weight loss products and supplements come with various dietary and exercise plans that are expected to help the diet product do what is promised. Low carbohydrate and herbal diet products are popular and readily available in most health food stores. Herbal diet products are widely accepted as an effective and safe method for weight loss. Low carbohydrate products provides a low carbohydrate, sugar free, high protein diet. Most of these products have effectively helped thousands of people increase their metabolism and lose unwanted weight. However, before buying any diet product do your research and make sure what you are buying is effective and not nutritionally harmful. You must read labels carefully for ingredients and warnings. The Internet is a valuable source of information for all types of diet products and their benefits and disadvantages. Also, always consult a physician before using any diet product. Diet Products provides detailed information on Diet Products, Low Carb Diet Products, Herbal Diet Products, Raw Diet Products and more. Diet Products is affliated with Diet Pills. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

9 Ways to Curb Your Snacking Binges

2009-05-02T21:48:00.002+07:00

by: Renee Kennedy When you're dieting, the thing that can really wreck a healthy eating plan is that awful feeling that comes over you to just grab a huge bag of potato chips and polish it off while watching your favorite sit-com. We've all been there before! There are things you can do to help yourself avoid the ugly urge to snack uncontrollably. 1. First things first: Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plan to have healthy snacks throughout the day. Do not skip meals or planned snacks. Skipping nutritious foods will make you feel uncontrollably hungry! 2. If you can, avoid purchasing any unhealthy snacks. There are so many "good-for-you" snacks on the market today, there is really no reason why you should have a cupboard full of ring-dings and cheesecurls. Start learning to read the back of the packages of foods - look at the fat content - if it says that the fat content is over 5% per serving - look for a different snack. 3. Here's a list of healthy snacks that are low in fat content, but still high in satisfaction (and I'm not talking about carrots and celery!): * pretzels (watch the sodium content, though.) * graham crackers * any type of low fat crackers - (there are many different varieties - read the back of the packages to make sure that they are low in fat. Again, be wary of the salt content.) * add some gourmet preserves to those lowfat crackers * low fat cookies * popcorn without butter (you can buy butter flavored salt.) * a cup of fruit with non-fat cool whip on top or a spoonful of honey. * fat free pudding * a stick of sugar-free chewing gum * a couple pieces of licorice * a cup of raw veggies with non-fat salad dressing for dip (ok, so you may have to eat a few carrots.) 4. Treat yourself to scented candles. When you feel like you need a snack - light the candles and enjoy them! This actually does work - I've tried it. 5. Instead of a snack, have a drink. Try a non-caffeinated herbal tea with a spoonful of honey. There are several drinks on the market with no caffeine and no sugar - buy a lot of that stuff - different kinds - and keep it on hand. Before you go for a snack - drink 8 oz. of your favorite drink, then decide if you really need a snack. 6. Take up something you can do with your hands -- crochet, knitting, puzzles, cross-stitch, sewing, playing piano, paint your nails and toenails, weed the garden, do a little housework, look at a magazine for the fashions you will buy when you're thinner... In other words, get your mind off food and onto a healthy hobby. 7. Don't watch TV. TV encourages snacking - you're sitting there, you feel like you should be doing something - so you go for the snack. Also, most of the commercials are about food. Stay away from TV, take up reading or another activity in number 6 above. 8. When you're finished with a meal or a planned snack, brush and floss your teeth - this will help you stay away from food for about an hour. 9. THINK - just take about one minute to think about what you are doing. Go look at yourself in the mirror during this minute. Ask yourself, "Do I really want to eat this and PAY the CONSEQUENCE?" Visit HealthCrazed.com for more articles, information, tools and resources to help you lose weight. Editor's Choice Award: Editor's info: Unknown Tag: 'Editor_Editor_Description' To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

7 Steps to Natural Weight Loss Through Your Metabolism

2009-05-02T21:48:00.001+07:00

by: Will Gordon The Natural formula for Diet and Health: Increase metabolic rate, lose weight�7 smart moves to increase metabolism. There are no forms of dieting that will stop you from gaining weight, if that's all you concentrate on. Most are only fads and instead of giving you the results you once anticipated and worked for, they leave you frustrated and well, sometimes hopeless. Well, worry no more. Just think of your body as a wood-burning stove and your metabolism is the fire. All you need to do is increase the efficiency and you can build a hotter fire that keeps burning and burning the fuel, your food intake. With that in mind, here are 7 effective guidelines towards a healthier, sexier you. Concentrate on these tips and you will naturally lose weight and improve your health 1) Sleep well, live well. According to studies, people who just have 4 hours of sleep at night have slower metabolism than those who have 8-hours of sleep. Furthermore, those getting less sleep resort to overeating since they may have to resort to sugary snacks or drinks for energy and also feel as though eating would cover up the lack of sleep. You must have enough sleep for you to feel revived after every �wake up�. Then, start with a good breakfast 2) Sweat out a little in the evenings. There is recent research that tells us that our metabolism tends to slow down during late in the afternoon or at the end of the day. So, in order for you to burn more calories, it is smart to do some evening walks and other exercises that would allow you to sweat it out and burn more calories. 3) Do not be a slow drag- move more. As you move more, you burn more calories. Instead of taking a ride to a near place, walking is a better choice. Park your car further from the door at work or shopping and take the stairs instead of the elevator. You must gradually make minor lifestyle changes. These are just so minor so you will not have a hard time. It is as the fact that these may be easy for you will not need hard work. This could be done in a way like gardening instead of watching TV 4) Eat more proteins. Diet studies show that protein intake stabilizes the amount of insulin in the bloodstream. It is highly-beneficial for you. A protein-based snack in mid-morning and mid-afternoon can keep the metabolism fire burning strong 5) Skipping meals is skipping life. A drastic change for your body is not good. Never dwell on the idea that missing a meal would make your waistline look well-carved. Always bear in mind comes from deep within. You will never conceal the fact someday that you are living an unhealthy life. Whenever you do a sudden stop in eating, your body would react to it in such a way that it will slow down its metabolic rate. 6) Sweat out a bit for some exercise. Not all exercise directly results to in better metabolism because not all of its forms are really applicable (exercise that helps you build lean muscle mass always does though) but ALL exercise leads to a better sleeping habit. And, sleeping increases metabolism. 7) Grow lean muscles.The smallest increase of strength through any variety of weight-training can yield dramatic results having more amount of these lean muscles means an increased metabolism. A few push-ups and squats daily are of big help. Just bear in mind that it is not all about working out but considering the metabolism of your body, start with the large muscle groups and work from there. These are the seven smart moves toward your objectives and your overall Natural Diet and Health program. Never let go of the hope that you will have a healthier, sexier, longer and better life and you will accomplish your goals! Will Gordon has been a life-long student of natural, organic, and alternative health practices, remedies, and supplements. Will Gordon believes that "Natural" is best.For more info, products, and services, including FREE Reports and FRE Trial Offers, visit: http://www.naturaldietandhealth.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

6 Simple Steps To Life Long Weight Loss

2009-05-02T21:47:00.002+07:00

by: Dianne Villano www.custombodiestampabay.com If You are sick of losing the same weight over and over, and feeling like a failure because your last "diet" didn't work, try these tips to not only lose weight, but lose it for good. I have watched hundreds of clients over the years and almost without exception, those that lose their weight once and for all have these six basic habits as a part of their lives.Â 1. Keep a food diary For at least five days and up to a week, keep a pen and paper handy and write down everything you eat, how much, where and when you ate it and who you ate with. try to write it down as you eat it. Most people find that when they try to remember everything at the end of the day, they leave something out. I have also had clients tell me that they didn't eat something because they knew they were going to have to write it down. Be completely honest with yourself. You donâ€™t need to show anyone the results, but most will be very surprised by them. Particular environments and people can often trigger certain eating behaviors that are redily apparent when you use a food log. free fitness journal/food log. 2. Donâ€™t eat too little Very low calorie diets will, in the short term, help you lose weight but theyâ€™re extremely difficult to maintain. Youâ€™ll gradually become tired and irritable, lack the energy to exercise, and people wonâ€™t want to eat with you because the long list of â€˜tabooâ€™ foods renders restaurant menus, and even family meals at home, unsuitable for your overly strict diet. For a more detailed description of the effects of low calorie diets click here. 3. Neither feast nor fast - They weren't kidding when they said "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Studies show that those who skip the first meal, end up eating more total calories throughout the day and tend to make less healthy choices. Try to eat at least 3 meals a day. Optimally you should spread your calories throughout 6 small meals per day. This will keep your metabolism bustling and yuor blood sugar level even to help avoid binging. 4. Freshness Counts - The packaging and processing generally found in "convenience" foods generally reduce the nutrient values of foods and substantially raise the caloric content. The American Dietetic Association recommends at least 3 - 5 servings from the fruit and vegetable group per day. no time to prepare "home made meals? Try preparing in bulk on the week ends to make healthy choices readily available. Cut up a large bowl of fresh fruit, (1c = 1 serving) or pre make a large bowl of salad or cut up veggies. I usually prepare a weeks worth of chicken or pork so i can quickly re heat it and add it to any recipe. 5. Hydrate your way to quicker weight loss Drink water ahead of coffee, tea, or soft drinks. Including the â€˜hiddenâ€™ water we consume in food, we need 64 oz. per day. More is recommended to counteract the dehydration caused by caffeinated beverages and intense exercise or excessive heat. How much do we need to drink? In general you should be drinking enough water per day so that your urine is nearly clear. 6. Eat less, exercise more The great thing about food diaries is they show you much where you can cut the number of "extra" (calories). Many people eat out of habit when they are not even hungry. you may also need to make dietary changes if you begin or increase the intensity of a fitness program. I know, you are going to say, "I don't have time because ...(insert your favorite excuse here) Ask yourself this..."how much more energy will I have when I am not carrying around this extra _____ pounds? How many more things will I enjoy and feel god while doing when I am in a fit healthy body? Is it worth a few minutes a day to incorporate these simple habits into your day? Copyright Â© Custom Bodies, Inc.Â 2004 Article by Dianne Villano. Dianne is a personal fitness instructor certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine with over 17 years experience. Dianne specializes in weight loss programs and programs for beginners. For more articles or free fitness tools visit www.custombodiestampabay.com To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

5 Steps to Start Your Weight Loss Program

2009-05-02T21:47:00.001+07:00

by: Nicholas Webb Remember thereâ€™s more to you than meets the eye. Youâ€™ve got personality, brains, feelingsâ€¦ in short, all those things that make you, YOU. So why diet? After all, youâ€™re more than just a body, and things that really matter canâ€™t be measured on a scale. That said, there are some very good sound reasons for dieting. After all, dieting is not just for weight loss or weight gain. No, the true meaning of â€˜dietâ€™ is in choosing foods and setting eating habits that will keep you healthy, strong, and feeling your best. It takes planning and dedication. It means setting goals and following through. But it doesnâ€™t have to be a chore. No, with the right tools it can even be fun â€¦ especially when you start to see the results that youâ€™re looking for! Before, choosing a diet, there are five extremely simple Steps, which if you really apply you will probably end up losing weight without even trying! Doesnâ€™t that sound interesting. Really No kidding â€¦ try the following: # Step 1) Always sit down when you eat, preferable at a table. Donâ€™t eat while standing, walking, driving or talking on the phone. # Step 2) Donâ€™t read or watch television while you eat. # Step 3) Eat only when your stomach is empty. At least 3 to 4 hours from your last meal. # Step 4) Donâ€™t take a bite until youâ€™ve already swallowed the previous bite. Obvious? Try observing people and youâ€™ll see them stuffing their mouths, which are still full. They probably talk at the same time! So, bite, chew, swallow, bite, chew, swallow. # Step 5) Donâ€™t eat when youâ€™re not hungry. No, Iâ€™m being serious and I know that this sounds stupid. For example when at home wait 5 minutes before taking second helpings. If you wait, youâ€™ll probably find that youâ€™re no longer hungry, whereas if you donâ€™t wait you could probably eat thirds! Remember â€¦ Wait five minutes before taking more. A good diet doesnâ€™t end when you finally reach your target goal. Maintaining good nutrition, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle is a continuing process. Only this will give you the energy to face the challenges of your busy day, boost your self-image, and make you look and feel better. And thereâ€™s no feeling like the satisfaction when you achieve your goals by sticking to a sensible, healthy, diet plan. Besides, where would we be without food? Changing your diet to prevent or reverse heart disease, reduce your blood pressure, or to get the better of your diabetes and, naturally to reach your desired weight, is not just a matter of cutting out butter and eggs and counting the amount of fat grams you eat each day. For instance, most Americans get close to 40% of their calories from fat! This is twice the recommended amount if you already suffer from heart disease. There are many misconceptions and confusion concerning fat these days, some seem to make sense, others are just plain dumb! Remember, concerning fat, several things are now known for sure. It is known that most of us eat too much fat and that obesity is a major health concern, increasing the risk for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, back pain and cancer. It is also known that saturated fat, more than anything else, is responsible for increasing our cholesterol levels. I know itâ€™s weird, but itâ€™s been found, ironically, that when people focus exclusively on eliminating cholesterol from their daily diet they may unknowingly move on to a diet high in saturated fats! Some people decide to become vegetarian, leaving out meat and eggs, but the salad dressings, nuts and peanut butter, for instance, do more damage than a lean steak! Message: be careful what you eat, you may be surprised. Nicholas webb is the owner of www.AllAbout-Heart-Disease.com - A site that provides valuable information in a user-friendly format about heart disease, the risk factors and how you can get a hold on your life and live it to the full. Editor's Choice Award: Editor's info: Unknown Tag: 'Editor_Editor_Description' To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

20 Dieting Success Tips

2009-05-02T21:46:00.001+07:00

by: Murray Middlemost SUCCESS TIPS Dieting is not easy. If it were, we would probably all be thin. Since we are not, here are some tips that successful people use to lose weight so that others can benefit, too. SUCCESS TIP NO. 1: DRINK 8-10 GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY Okay, for many people this is a big problem. Water doesnâ€™t taste all that great generally because water doesnâ€™t really â€œtasteâ€ like anything. Drinking water 8 to 10 times each day gets easier the more you actually do it. It is simply a matter of conditioning your taste buds, and yourself, so that it becomes easier to do. Once you get started, you will begin to crave water. More on water To begin with, you should drink a glass of water in the morning first thing, before you eat. This is probably the easiest glass you will drink all day and it will help you remember to drink water all day long. Better yet, why not drink two glasses? If you really cannot bear the taste of water, try using a water purifying pitcher or filter. You can also add a few drops of lemon or lime to your water â€“ but no sugar or sweetener! Ice also helps. Check out flavored waters on the market, too. Just keep an eye out for additives. World of Water,. SUCCESS TIP NO. 2: EAT BREAKFAST Do not skip breakfast. If you need to go to bed a little earlier so that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning â€“ do it! Breakfast is so important to your good health and to weight control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at Penn State University, "Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again." Eating breakfast is not only good for overall weight loss, it will help you stay on track with your diet the rest of the day. You are more likely to binge on something sweet and in the â€œbreadâ€ group if you skip breakfast. You can always keep a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge or some high-fiber, low starch fruit around. If you plan to eat fruit at all during the day, breakfast is the perfect time to do it. SUCCESS TIP NO. 3: EAT AT LEAST 3 MEALS AND 2 SNACKS EACH DAY This can be one of the hardest adjustments to make. After all, you are busy! You already have a â€œfull-plateâ€. When do you have time to worry about filling your plate with more frequent meals? Just like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will eating more often. This will also help you curb your bad-carb intake by making sure that your snacks are planned and occur regularly throughout the day. Really, it will just take a minimal investment of planning time at the grocery store and at home each morning before you head out for the day to make some healthy food choices and prepare a few healthy snacks and meals. For suggestions, just see the handy list of snacks and appetizers listed later. Kick-start Your Metabolism SUCCESS TIP NO. 4: AVOID WHITE FOODS This is one easy way to remember what not to eat. If it is made from sugar, flour, potatoes, rice or corn - just say no. Remembering this rule of thumb will make it easier to recognize those rice cakes as an unhealthy high-carb snack. Always look for colorful fruits and veggies to substitute for the white ones. Buy broccoli, lettuce, bell peppers, green beans and peas, brown rice in moderation, leafy greens like kale and spinach, apples, melons, oranges and grapes. These foods are not only colorful they are also high in fiber, nutrients and important antioxidants. Eating colorful fruits and vegetables will give your diet variety as well as give you added health benefits. SUCCESS TIP NO. 5: EAT YOUR VEGGIES It is so easy to use a low-carb diet as an excuse for poor nutrition. Resist this temptation. If the only vegetable you have eaten in the last 5 years has been the potato, now is a good time to begin experimenting with other vegetables. This is important for your overall health and to avoid some nasty side effects of not getting enough fiber in your diet. If you try hard enough, you will find vegetables that you enjoy eating. Experiment with grilling veggies and cooking with real butter to add flavor. You can also search for new recipes on the Internet or in cookbooks. Remember, if you are only eating 40 grams of carb a day or less, two cups of plain salad greens contain only about 5 grams of carbohydrate. You have no excuse not to eat your veggies. SUCCESS TIP NO. 6: PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE While more and more restaurants are offering low-carb friendly menu items, many of them are still not ideal low-carb fare. There are many recipes for quick and easy meals that you can prepare yourself at home. Try to do this as often as possible. If you cook your own foods, you know exactly what the contents are and you will be able to better control for hidden sugar and otherwise processed foods. Another benefit is the cost savings over the long run. Even if you must go to the grocery store more often, you will save a significant amount per meal as opposed to eating at restaurants and fast food establishments. It will also be easier to maintain your diet with your own favorite fresh food selections on hand. Preparing healthy foods for kids SUCCESS TIP NO. 7: INVEST IN A GOOD SET OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS Having food storage containers of various sizes on hand will make it so much easier for you to plan your meals and snacks. When you buy nuts, fruits and vegetables in bulk you can simply prepare, separate and store them for easy use later. For instance, you can pre-slice your apples and snack on them over several days. Simply cut them, rinse them in pineapple or lemon juice and store. This will make a quick and easy snack for later. Fix your lunch and take it with you to work. Better yet, fix your lunch and 2 snacks for work. SUCCESS TIP NO. 8: EAT SOME PROTIEN AT EACH MEAL & AS A SNACK In addition to everything thatâ€™s been discussed before, eating protein helps you burn more calories. Jeff Hample, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association says that, "Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to breakdown, so you burn more calories getting rid of them.â€ Just think â€“ eating a protein rich snack can help you lose weight. How about a few slices of turkey or ham or some string cheese? Eating protein will also help you feel full so that you are less likely to crave unhealthy snacks. Protein Shakes?? SUCCESS TIP NO. 9: DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACK This will help you get in your 8 to 10 glasses of water each day but it can also have other benefits. Ever feel hungry after eating a handful or standard serving of nuts? Try drinking water afterwards. The water will help you feel full and prevent overindulgence. Drinking water after a snack will also help remove the aftertaste from your mouth and can help curb your desire for more. SUCCESS TIP NO. 10: EAT SLOWLY & ENJOY YOUR FOOD You will feel full and more satisfied if you take the time to savor your food and chew it slower. Donâ€™t get in the habit of eating while standing or eating quickly. Sit down and chew. Eating slower will help you enjoy your food more, pay attention to what it is you are actually eating and get a better sense of when you are actually full. SUCCESS TIP NO. 11: EAT YOUR LARGER MEALS EARLY AND SMALLER MEALS LATER You will feel better and lose weight quicker if you eat a large breakfast and eat a smaller dinner. You may also want to eat the majority of your carbs earlier in the day, saving a salad and lean meat protein for dinner. Eating larger meals during the part of the day when you are most active will help you to feel satisfied throughout the day and curb cravings for unhealthy snacks. SUCCESS TIP NO. 12: CONSIDER EATING SALMON OR MACKREL FOR BREAKFAST Yes this may seem odd, but it is one way to work in Omega-3 fatty acids that are good for you and add some variety to your daily diet. After a few months you may tire of eating eggs and bacon for breakfast. Substituting fish will give you the protein and healthy fish oils you need. You can try canned salmon or mackerel in croquettes for a healthier sausage substitute. Or you could simply eat cold leftover salmon the next morning with dill sauce. SUCCESS TIP NO. 13: USE LETTUCE LEAVES INSTEAD OF BREAD This tip can seem a bit odd at first but if you try it you will probably grow to love it. Instead of eating breads and buns with your sandwiches and hamburgers, why not try leaves of lettuce? You can make a double cheeseburger with onions, pickles and tomato wrapped in a whole lettuce leaf. Or you can make tasty wrap sandwiches with lettuce instead of tortilla and bread. This will help increase your good carb and fiber intake while giving you more variety in your diet. SUCCESS TIP NO. 14: EAT A FRUIT DESSERT Okay, we all want a little dessert sometime, but how do you have your dessert and your low-carb diet too? Why not try cheese with fruit slices or berries? Better yet, why not try cream with berries? You could even try sweet pineapples or strawberries with cottage cheese? Berries are sweet and high in fiber and nutrients and dairy products are high in protein. If your low-carb plan will allow it, this is a sweet and tasty alternative to more sugary desserts. An added benefit is that the protein in the dairy products and the fiber in the fresh fruit will make these desserts more filling. SUCCESS TIP NO. 15: GET YOUR FRUIT FRESH NOT SQUEEZED Fruit juice can be very tempting as a replacement for soda, but just how healthy is fruit juice? If you read the labels you will soon realize that in many of the commercial juices available at your local grocery store there is very little actual fruit juice. What you will find is lots of sugar water and other ingredients. Why not skip the juice altogether and eat a fresh piece of fruit? Not only does fresh fruit contain less sugar than juice, fresh fruit has fiber that is good for you and will help you feel fuller longer. GO EASY ON THE MEAL REPLACEMENTS New meal replacement shakes and bars go on the market almost every day. These shakes and bars may claim to be healthy, but almost all of them, even the Zone Perfect bars, contain hydrogenated oil and sweeteners. So be careful. The bars especially may be only slightly healthier than a Snickers candy bar. Occasionally, they may not be that bad for you but as a rule you probably donâ€™t want to indulge in a meal replacement shake or bar every day. SUCCESS TIP NO. 17: IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS Low carb doughnuts and muffins? You can find these prepackaged low-carb labeled goods at your neighborhood grocery store and at many low-carb lifestyle specialty shops. That does not mean that you should make a habit out of eating them. While low-carb pastries may be tempting remember that they still contain all of the usual carbohydrate suspects: sugar or a sugar substitute and flour. They may be healthier than your typical muffin as an occasional treat, but remember to stick with the basics for continued low-carb success. SUCCESS TIP NO. 18: AT THE GROCERY STORE â€“ SHOP THE OUTER AISLES It will be easier to stick with your low-carb lifestyle if you learn the one common thread in all grocery store designs: the healthy foods are on the perimeter aisles. Think about it, when you go into the grocery all of the healthy stuff, fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products are arranged around the stores walls. You only rarely need to enter the center aisle areas in those few stores that stock butter and cheese in the center near the frozen foods. For the most part all of the foods that you need for your low carb diet can be found on the perimeter of the grocery store. Train yourself to start on one end of the outer aisle and work your way around. It will be much easier to avoid carb cravings and fill your basket with healthy items if you do so. Shopping for one SUCCESS TIP NO. 19: INVEST IN GOOD COOKBOOKS Canâ€™t figure out what to eat? Need some variety in your diet? Turn to a cookbook. Granted, not all recipes in a cookbook are low-carb fare, but you will be surprised at the number of low-carb and low-carb friendly recipes you can find in your standard Betty Crocker Cookbook. Cookbooks are great reference tools that often contain handy tips on purchasing cuts of meat and preparing meats, fruits and vegetables in new and exciting ways. Plus, new low-carb cookbooks are hitting the shelves all the time. So be sure to take advantage of these resources to try something new, different and delicious. 1000 Atkins Friendly Recipes SUCCESS TIP NO. 20: TAKE A GOOD MULTIVITAMIN We canâ€™t all do it right all of the time. Even the most conscientious food combiner may miss some healthy vitamins, minerals and trace elements in their diets. To help make sure you get everything that you need, consider taking a good multivitamin. Check with your doctor first for recommendations and you should be tested for anemia to see if you need a vitamin with iron. However, the longer you eat low-carb and the more red meat you eat, the less anemia will be a problem and you should be able to take vitamins with less iron.Pharmanex (Vitamins and minerals) Your success is totally up to you. Assuming that you are an otherwise healthy individual, your body will do its part. Just remember to adhere to the low-carb diet plan that is right for you and add some variety to your meals to help you stay faithful to your health and weight loss goals. Murray Murray is a 17 year Health and Fitness Professional. As owner of Phoenix Fitness and YOU it's about time! 30 minute fitness solution, he has helped thousands of people achieve their health and fitness goals. If you too would like to benefit from Murray's knowledge and experience you can visit http://www.phoenixfitness.ca or http://www.phoenixonlinept.com Editor's Choice Award: Editor's info: Unknown Tag: 'Editor_Editor_Description' To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

1 Pound Of Fat = 3,500 Calories

2009-05-02T21:45:00.001+07:00

by: Stuart Treadwell There are 3,500 calories In one pound of fat. Thus, If you cut back or work off just 3,500 calories, you will lose an entire pound of fat. While It Is possible to cut back on your calorie Intake and Increase your exercise regimen In order to lose pounds quickly, It Is Important to note that doctors recommend that you lose no more than 2 pounds of weight per week In order to ensure that your body properly adjusts to the weight loss. Here are some tips to help you safely drop 3,500 calories: Running or Jogging Running for about 1 hour at a slow pace will help you lose approximately 350 calories, depending on your body type, speed and terrain. Thus, If you run for one hour five days a week while maintaining a consistent diet, you will safely lose one pound. It Is Important to understand that many people who just begin running will eat pasta and other foods high In carbohydrates In order to compensate for the exertion. They think that because they worked out so hard, they deserve a treat. After all, they justify, the pasta will help to keep their energy levels high. However, what they may not realize Is that while they are justified In thinking that the carbohydrates will Infuse their workout routine with energy, they are not actually setting their bodies up to lose weight. When you burn 350 calories but Intake 450 over a high-carbohydrate pasta dish, you are adding more calories to your body than you otherwise would have. Running does, however, help to boost our metabolism and change your muscle tone so that you burn calories more efficiently. Instead of Inhaling a pasta dish after a run, select Instead to have a large salad and splurge for the carbohydrate-rich croutons. Eat In When you eat out at a restaurant, not only are you subjecting your body to an array of high fat, high calorie foods, but you are also tempting yourself to eat a larger portion than you might normally eat. Therefore, what could be a simple 500 calories meal can easily turn into a 1500 calorie fat fest. In order to lose weight by cutting calories, It Is essential that you are aware of exactly what you are putting Into your body. Especially In the beginning of your new routine, It Is Important that you prepare your meals and monitor your level of hunger. When eating out, generally you are In a social situation where food is not a priority, but spending time with your friends Is. For this reason, people tend to eat more than they normally would. Non dessert eaters often even spring for the extra round of calories. If you must eat out, help yourself avoid temptation by selecting a salad rather than a plate of pasta or burger. You will be amazed at the difference In the amount of calories you Intake when you make simple choices such as meal option. By reducing your overall calorie Intake and Increasing your level of physical activity, you will be able to lose those 3,500 calories without much trouble. Make sure that you stay focused, motivated and on task. You’ll shed unwanted weight In no time! The Author Stuart Treadwell spent a lot of time researching health and fitness and gained a lot of knowledge overcoming his own health Issues. Having access to all of this Information he decided he would like to share that knowledge with others to help them overcome their health Issues.

"Fad" Weight Loss Diets

2009-05-02T21:41:00.000+07:00

Obesity is a physical state that refers to excessive body fat. Chances are you have experienced the frustrations of dieting at least once In your life, If you have problems with your weight. Close to a hundred million Americans go on a weight loss diet In any given year and up to ninety-five percent of them regain the weight they lose within five years. Worse, a third will gain back more weight than they lost, In danger of "yo-yoing" from one popular diet to another. The conventional approach to weight problems, focusing on fad weight loss diets or weight loss drugs, may leave you with just as much weight and the additional burden of Ill health. Today, an estimated sixty-five percent of all American adults are obese or overweight. Our culture obsesses about staying thin even as we grow fatter, but this isn’t about appearances. Obesity Is known to be a precursor to many debilitating health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and gallbladder disease. Obesity contributes to as many as 375,000 deaths every year. In addition, the public health costs for obesity are staggering. According to researchers at Harvard University, obesity Is a factor In 19% of all cases of heart disease with annual health costs estimated at 30 billion dollars, it’s also a factor In 57% of diabetes cases, with health costs of $9 billion per year. Set Realistic Goals: No doubt you have fallen for one or more of the weight loss diet schemes over the years, promising quick and painless weight loss. Many of these quick weight loss diet programs undermine your health, cause physical discomfort, flatulence, and ultimately lead to disappointment when you start regaining weight, shortly after losing It. Fad or quick weight loss diet programs generally overstress one type of food. They contravene the fundamental principle of good nutrition - to remain healthy one must consume a balanced diet, which Includes a variety of foods. Safe, healthy, and permanent weight reduction Is what’s truly lost among the thousands of popular diet schemes. Some of the weight loss diet schemes reign supreme briefly, only to fade out. While some wane from popularity due to being unproductive or unsafe, some simply lose the public's curiosity. Examples of such fad diets Include the South Beach Diet, Atkins diet, the Grapefruit diet, Cabbage Soup diet, the Rotation diet, Beverly Hills diet, Breatharian, Ornish Plan – the list goes on and on. These fad diets advocate a specific technique (such as eliminating a certain food, or eating only certain combinations of foods) In conjunction with the basic Idea that the body makes up the difference In energy by breaking down and utilizing some part of Itself, essentially converting matter Into energy. This self-cannibalism, or catabolism as It Is referred, typically starts with breakdown of stored body fat. The Author Stuart Treadwell spent a lot of time researching health and fitness and gained a lot of knowledge overcoming his own health Issues. Having access to all of this Information he decided he would like to share that knowledge with others to help them overcome their health Issues. To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com