Go to Healthy

7 Tips For Beautiful Skin

2010-10-26T20:56:00.001-07:00

For most women, part of the morning and evening routines involve a skincare regimen of applying creams, moisturizers, tonics, lotions, and the like. Why do women put themselves through this? They do it primarily to combat the signs of aging, and to maintain youthful looks and beautiful skin! It is a safe bet, however, that most women haven't put much thought into what is in the products that they are using.

Some women probably do not realize that what they are putting on their skin may actually be undermining what they are trying to prevent to begin with. In fact the average woman puts twelve products on her skin daily, most of which contain harmful chemical preservatives. Dr. Myron Wentz, founder and chairperson of USANA Health Sciences, has this to say about beauty in the company magazine's June/July 2005 issue: "Some say that beauty is only skin deep. Nonsense! I believe that true beauty is a reflection of true health, and true health begins deep inside each and every cell in the body. But true health and true beauty have an outer component, which is why we require protection from environmental insults such as solar radiation, pollutants in our environment and the drying effects of air. . . The fact is you simply cannot contain a healthy body if your skin isn't healthy. And your skin can't be healthy if your are subjecting it to toxic substances that are ultimately absorbed into your body."

So, what can women do? How can they combat environmental pollutants, the affect of solar radiation, and the drying effects of air? How can they be sure they are using the very best products on their skin so they can be healthy inside and out? Here are 7 tips to assist in this process:

Be very aware of what is in skincare products. Use products that are all natural as much as possible.
Look for products that contain Dermal Surface Renewal Technology. DSR smoothes away existing signs of aging such as laugh lines, crows feet, and dullness.
Use products that have regenisomes. Regenisomes penetrate the skin to speed cell renewal after sun exposure. They also use the light of photosomes to undo sun damage, and have ultrasomes to renew skin while sleeping.
Find products with Proteo-C and Proflavonol-T. These two vitamins protect the skin from premature aging caused by the sun, pollution, and other environmental factors. They also provide advanced nutrition to the skin to keep it appearing smooth and firm.
If possible, use products that are paraben free. Parabens are synthetic chemical preservatives that are widely used in personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, make-up, facial masks, skin lotions and creams, and deodorants. They also are typically ingredients in baby lotions, shampoos, and other personal care products for infants and children. In addition, parabens are in many foods and pharmaceutical products. Researchers are beginning to find parabens in benign and malignant human breast tumors. While some studies have challenged their toxicity in many products and question their long term affect on humans, using products that are paraben free can eliminate the risk of exposure to this harmful chemical.
Drink plenty of water! Water hydrates skin and hair as well as flushes toxins out of the body.
Limit stress or learn to manage it effectively. Stress is harmful both emotionally and physically. Find that stress reliever activity that works best and use it on a daily basis!

Follow the above 7 tips to true beauty and health.

Good to Know Things about Teeth Whitening

2010-09-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Teeth whitening has become a very important issue this days. A nice smile with snow white teeth can bring you really useful advantages in your career or every day life. But even if you brush your teeth very often they are still going to get a bit yellow. So any person with permanent teeth, needs a teeth whitening process from time to time. The possibility of having yellow teeth grows if you smoke a lot or drink a lot of coffee.

What you should know is that you shouldn't panic if you observe that your teeth have stains. All you have to do is to go to your regularly dentist for an oral exam. He is the best qualified to recommend you a good cosmetic dentistry procedure for teeth whitening. There are many different ways to recover your beautiful smile.

The most common method for teeth whitening is using a good recommended and tested whitening toothpaste. This is also a good teeth maintenance method. Another teeth whitening product that you can use is a whitening gel or whitening strips. Combined with a good whitening toothpaste will bring you great results.

Best way to deal with yellow teeth is by bleaching. Teeth can get yellow stained, striped or molted from tobacco, coffee and food. Molted teeth or to much fluoride may not respond even to the bleaching treatment. This is quite a big teeth whitening problem and the best way to resolve it is to ask your dentist for advice.

The periodontal disease is a nasty gum illness that many people have. I would suggest you not to use any chemical teeth whitening techniques that could irritate your gums pretty bad. Also if you have tooth fillings that are colored, crowns or bonding in your front teeth I would not recommend you bleaching because you won't see any results.

You can always try some traditional mouth to mouth transmitted methods but the best teeth whitening techniques are the ones recommended by your personal dentist.

Gastric Surgery - Miracle Cure For Obesity?

2010-08-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

You wake up one morning and you decided that you have had enough of being obese! You have a very personal reason: a choice for change and a healthier you.

Whether you're considering weight-loss surgery and want to understand what's ahead, adapting to a new lifestyle following the procedure, or looking for non-surgical weight-loss tips, all the information is here.

Opting for weight-loss surgery is not an easy choice. To decide whether it's right for you, consider the facts of the procedure and the post-operative road you'll need to travel.

The challenges of dieting, exercise and even medications can seem daunting when trying to keep weight off. As a result, many have turned to weight-loss surgery as the best long-term option. But before making that difficult decision, questions need to be answered.

Which type of weight-loss surgery is right for you?
What's involved in the procedure?
Are there any risks associated with weight-loss surgery?
In normal digestion, food passes through the stomach and enters the small intestine, where most of the nutrients and calories are absorbed. It then passes into the large intestine (colon), and the remaining waste is eventually excreted.

Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. You will feel full more quickly than when your stomach was its original size, which reduces the amount of food you eat and thus the calories consumed. Bypassing part of the intestine also results in fewer calories being absorbed. This leads to weight loss.

The most common gastric bypass surgery is a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

In a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples or a plastic band. The smaller stomach is connected directly to the middle portion of the small intestine (jejunum), bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine (duodenum).

This procedure can be done by making a large incision in the abdomen (an open procedure) or by making a small incision and using small instruments and a camera to guide the surgery (laparoscopic approach).

Male gender is a predictor of morbidity and age a predictor of mortality for patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Open gastric bypass surgery requires up to a 5-day stay. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery requires a hospital stay of 2-3 days.

Powerful Health Weapon Can Increase Your Energy

2010-07-07T21:06:00.000-07:00

By the time you finish reading this article, you'll possess a powerful weapon in your fight against chronic tiredness and other health problems.

This potent weapon is not new. It's well known by many health experts.

So what is this key resource to help you enjoy better health?
It's making your own fresh fruit and vegetable juices. When you juice fruits and vegetables, you make delicious drinks that will contribute to increased energy and enhanced health.

Why is juicing so effective?
Here's how this wonderful health weapon works: juices are absorbed almost immediately into your body, thus supplying needed vitamins and minerals. Cooking vegetables removes a lot of their nutritional value, but juicing saves these vitamins and minerals. So you get mega-doses of vitamins and minerals.

Let's say you make a carrot-apple drink from one apple and four carrots. Imagine sitting
down and eating all those at one time in their original state! But you get the vitamins and minerals from the fruit and vegetables in their juice and it's living! That's because the vitamins and minerals have not been destroyed by the pasteurization process used to make juice sold
in stores.

How do you get the maximum health return from juicing?
Start your day right by drinking freshly-made juice. It's wise to drink it before you eat and then wait about ten minutes (before eating the rest of your breakfast) to give your body a headstart as it absorbs the life-giving fluid into your bloodstream.

Don't let the juice sit around, but drink it within minutes of making it to retain those precious vitamins and minerals.

You can also add to your fiber intake by using the pulp in muffins and bread. Just add the pulp of your favorite fruits and vegetables to your recipe and you'll have a moist taste-bud pleasing treat!

How are fruits and vegetables prepared for juicing?
First wash them. Cut out any bad spots that you wouldn't want to eat. You usually don't need to peel fruits and vegetables.

What are some popular juice recipes?
1. Carrot Juice
Carrots are a favorite for juicing purposes. Put them through your juicer one at a time and don't peel them.

Carrot drinks taste great all by themselves, but you can also use them as a base for other fruits and vegetables too. Carrots and apples taste wonderful together. Children love this combination taste treat!

2. Celery Juice
Celery should be cut into 3-4 inch sections and fed into your machine at a steady pace.

3. Fresh Apple Drink
Just cut the apples into pieces that will fit into the feeding chamber. You don't need to core them, although you might want to do so.

4. Melon Thirst Quencher
You'll need to remove the rinds but not the seeds. Most varieties of melons are great for juicing.

5. Combo Drink
Add all different kinds of vegetables together, including tomatoes. It's fun to experiment!
But don't put in vegetables or fruit that you don't like to eat because your beverage won't taste good to you.

What kinds of juicers are available?
1. Centrifugal-ejection machines
These are good for most uses.

2. Low-speed masticating juicers
These do a better job juicing spinach and wheatgrass.

3. Twin gear juicers
These machines work in two stages. First the fruits and vegetables are crushed and then the juice is pressed out. You get a higher quality drink because of this process, but twin gear machines are slower than the other juicers.

4. Citrus juicers
If you're just squeezing lemons, oranges and grapefruit, this is the one for you.

The better the machine, the longer the warranty. The inexpensive juicers aren't made to withstand daily use. A powerful motor extracts juice faster with less strain. Centrifugal juicers should have a motor rating of at least 450-watts. Machines that use a slow, grinding motor speed (masticating and double-auger models) don't need as much wattage.

If making your own energy-packed juice isn't in your arsenal of health weapons yet,
it should be.

Step up your energy to a much higher level by juicing your way to vibrant health!

Phytochemicals For Your Immune Health

2010-06-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

When you were growing up your mom may have fought to get you to eat your vegetables. Or maybe you're the parent fighting with your kids to eat the right foods. What many of us don't know is that our food also fights for us.

My mom used to dress the dinner plate in full matching regalia; yellow squash nestled next to green asparagus. Red and yellow peppers tossed around the salad added spectacular color. Now dear mom knew these foods were healthy and she loved to decorate my plate with the colors of the season, but did she know that these wholesome foods contain phytochemicals?

Phytochemicals are the active substances in plants that give them their color, flavor, odor, and protection against plant diseases. Phytochemicals work as powerful antioxidants, which can increase our resistance to disease and boost immunity.

While most research focuses on the anti-carcinogen effects of phytochemicals, the results are equally important to those who just want to boost their immune system or help reverse the aging clock.

Scientists at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRC) rated 60 fruits and vegetables for potency of antioxidants, which stabilize cells and help fight the damaging effects of free radicals, molecules that weaken the immune system. Antioxidants can help keep cancer, heart disease and other degenerative conditions at bay.

The top scoring fruit in the HNRC study was blueberries followed by strawberries, prunes, black currants and boysenberries. The deeper the color, the better for you. Many of these antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory properties, and some naturally reduce blood cholesterol.

It's important to fill your diet with all the colors of the food rainbow. Eat the blues, reds, purples, oranges, yellows, and greens.<Fresh or Frozen Produce?
It's okay if you don't have time to steam your own fresh veggies, studies by the FDA and the University of Illinois show that frozen fruits and vegetables are nearly as nutritious because they can wait to be picked until they're at the peak of freshness.

Fresh produce is usually picked early, before it's ripe and fully nutritious, so that it ships well.

But if you're lucky enough to grow your own fruits or vegetables, or you can buy straight from a farm - then that's where you'll find the most nutritious fruits and vegetables!!!

What about supplements?
The value of most supplements is, at best, ineffective. The power of phytochemicals seems to be lost when removed from food, except if you're fortunate enough to find a high quality 'greens drink'.
Drinking one glass of a quality 'greens drink' supplies more than 5 servings of powerful, phytochemical rich nutrition.

Other Phyto Foods :
Phyto foods come in many varieties and for all palates. Among the most common sources are:

FRUITS: Apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, cherries, citrus fruits, grapes, kiwi fruit, lemons, mangoes, melons, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, plums. GRAINS: Barley, cornmeal, whole grain, quinoa, brown rice, wheat germ.

NUTS and SEEDS: Flaxseed (a small brown seed used in cooking), macadamia, pecans, sesame seeds, walnuts.

VEGETABLES: Asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, cauliflower, corn, eggplant, dark leafy greens and lettuces, mushrooms, onions, green and dried peas, sweet and hot peppers, white and sweet potatoes, pumpkin, soybeans, watercress, winter squash, tomatoes, and a host of others.

What to do about colds and flu

2010-05-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again! Catching a cold can make you feel quite unwell for a few days, but isn't as serious an illness as it can seem to be to you while you are in the midst of it.

The old saying "It takes three days to develop a cold, three days to have it, and three days for it to go away," is pretty accurate, so if your cold has lasted longer than around nine days its time to ask your medical advisor for help as it may not be a cold at all.

Flu, on the other hand, can be a serious illness, especially if you are very young, in old age or suffer from respiratory complaints already. There are quite a few different flu viruses, and each behaves differently, so what do you do to avoid catching a cold or flu, and what can you do to relieve the symptoms if you are unlucky enough to get it?

First - all about Colds.
Colds are contagious viral respiratory infections that cause inflammation in the linings of the nose and throat. Because a virus causes them, taking antibiotics will not help, but there are many natural remedies that will help you cope. The symptoms of the common cold are familiar to everyone and include: - nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, watery eyes, a stuffy head, headache, minor muscle aches and pains, tiredness and a sore throat.

What causes colds?
There are more than 200 different strains of the cold virus. Most adults develop immunity to the majority of them over time. The symptoms are not caused by the virus itself, but by your body's defence systems working to rid you of the virus.

Colds are easily spread by direct and indirect contact with a cold sufferer, or via the air from the sneezing or coughing of someone who already has a cold. It is not exposure to cold, wet winter weather that causes colds, but a lowering of your body's immunity due to stress, overwork etc. It is also thought that indoor (central) heating and dry air may dry out your nasal passages and make them more hospitable to cold viruses. (Consider using a humidifier.)

Cold Prevention
Maintaining a strong immune system by managing stress and living a healthy life style is the long-term answer. Practitioners of Chinese Medicine and Qigong would also recommend that you maintain your vital life force energy (qi/chi) by practicing Tai Chi, Chi Kung or using energy for self healing (as in Reiki). When you practice these energy exercises you raise your energy vibrations to a level that will guard you against external pathogenic factors (germs and viruses). Also, limit your exposure to the cold virus by washing your hands often, steering clear of people with colds, avoid sharing towels and phones, and try not to touch your face with unwashed hands.

Natural Cold Treatments
Supplements can help you recover faster as well as reduce some of your symptoms. Vitamin C, the most popular choice, does not actually prevent colds, but will help boost your immune system's response to the viruses and help shorten its duration.

Vitamin A taken in high doses (50,000 IU twice a day) at the first signs of a cold, can help fight the virus. Do not continue taking such high doses for more than five days. And if you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy do not exceed 5,000 IU of vitamin A per day.

Ginger is the favourite Ayurvedic cold remedy. Combine equal amounts of ginger, cinnamon and lemongrass, steep in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes and then add honey to taste. Or replace the lemongrass with a pinch of cardamom.

The herb echinacea is an immune booster. This natural antiviral herb should not be taken for more than two weeks at a time. The herb Goldenseal can be taken along with echinacea and works well to reduce cold symptoms.

Zinc lozenges may also help speed recovery and may relieve sore throats. (Look for lozenges containing zinc gluconate, glycinate and ascorbate).

To soothe a sore throat try a gargle with warm, salty water several times a day, and drinking hot fluids, including tea and chicken soup, is soothing. If you can why not have a rest in bed if you feel bad.

When to call the doctor
Infants and the elderly may be at risk of developing pneumonia. If after a few days, the cold suddenly takes a turn for the worse, and you develop chest pain, shortness of breath, a productive cough, and a high fever then call a doctor.

If you have asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema, be prepared to call your doctor if you seem to be getting worse.

What to do about Flu (Influenza)
Flu is a contagious viral infection. A bad cold is very like a mild flu, but a more severe case of flu affects the whole body, with fever between 101°F to 103°F and chills, pounding headaches, joint and muscle pain, cough, dry or burning eyes, sore throat and fatigue.

The incubation period for flu is generally three or four days after exposure to the virus. Although flu generally lasts for less than 10 days, fatigue and lack of appetite may continue for weeks afterwards.

Just as with colds, the symptoms of flu are caused by the body trying to fight off the virus. And again, as with colds, there is no actual cure, although rest and some herbs and supplements can help make the symptoms more bearable and support the body's fight against the virus.

People at greatest risk of developing complications with flu are the elderly, people suffering from chronic illness (such as heart or lung disease) and anyone whose immune system is depressed, such as AIDS patients, or recent chemotherapy patients.

What are the causes of Flu?
Outbreaks of flu are caused by mutating strains of three basic types of influenza viruses and often occur as an epidemic. The viruses are caught and passed on in the same way as cold viruses.

Type A viruses are usually the most potent and are most often responsible for epidemics. The B type viruses are less severe, and type C viruses are responsible for the mildest cases of the flu that are most like a common cold.

Flu Prevention
For people most at risk of complications the flu vaccine is an option. Zanamivir (Relenza), which is a nasal spray, and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are both anti-viral drugs that may be prescribed, but you need to take them early in the course of the illness for them to work.

Supplements that can help relieve flu symptoms.

Vitamin A may help shorten the duration of the flu. Take as recommended for colds (see above).
Taken in high doses (2,000 mg three times a day, for five days), vitamin C may also help.

Consider the herb echinacea to boost your immune system. Do not take echinacea for more than two weeks without a break though.

Also try the homeopathic remedy called Oscilloccocinum.

Acupuncture can help some people to avoid catching flu, or to avoid the worst of the symptoms and shorten the length of the illness if you do get it.

Natural self care remedies for Flu.

Stay in bed, resting or sleeping, until your temperature returns to normal.

Drinking plenty of warm fluids. Take water at room temperature and choose fruit/vegetable juices, or vegetable, chicken, or clear beef soups.

As with colds, to ease a sore throat gargle with warm, salty water and suck zinc lozenges.

If you have a dry, non-productive cough use a humidifier in the room and add eucalyptus oil or Olbas Oil to an oil burner.

And lastly - a general herbal remedy for colds and flu.

Crush a medium sized garlic clove and half a teaspoon of fresh ginger, squeeze the juice of a lemon. Mix together with a teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water and drink up to three cups a day.

For most people having a cold, or even flu, is unpleasant but passes fairly quickly, and the positive side is that you are unlikely to catch that same virus again for quite some time after you have had it, because your immune system has developed antibodies against it. So pamper yourself and rest, you'll most probably soon be better again.

Sleep, Nutrition And Exercise?

2010-04-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

While some of us think that sleep is a total waste of time and is only necessary so we do not collapse, this is a mistake. Some of the latest researches inform us that sleeping less than six hours a day can cause diabetes. The researchers seem to think that lack of sleep affects a certain hormone that is responsible for depressing the appetite. What happens as a result of a diminished sleep is that the organism produces less of this hormone, hence – there is no stopping of our desire for food.

Bad sleeping habits would thus make you eat more, gain overweight and would increase the sugar level in your blood. Once you begin eating in weird hours, your nutrition is in danger. No diet would be able to restrain you. Professionals suggest that one should sleep between six to eight hours a day. Good healthy sleep would not only make you feel better, but will in fact do you better. It is important to try and go to sleep at the same time, so your body would learn to function in a certain regime.

Also, prevent yourself from having large meals before rest time and know the health effects of caffeine. Caffeine puts me to sleep actually better than anything, yet I try to consume it as less as possible. You all know the heavy feeling in the stomach when eating just before bedtime. Our body often times knows what's good and what's bad for us, all we have to do is listen to it.

What one can do before going to bed is a little exercise: I do not mean jogging for an hour, although it would of course be profitable, I mean spending about 20 minutes on stretching out and the like. Try and make a habit of it and also of getting a good night rest; our body is also a kind of a machine – treat it well and it will serve you good. Have a goodnight everybody!

Nutritional Supplements and False Claims, Perfect Together!

2010-03-03T21:37:00.000-08:00

New miracle breakthrough weight loss pill! Just sit back and watch the fat melt right off of you. Eat anything you want, eat as much as you want and still lose weight with this new, scientifically proven fat burning formula.

Do you want the strength of a rhino? Would you like to have a rock hard, chiseled set of abs? How would you like to be the owner of 32 inch biceps? All of this and more can be yours in only 60 days with the help of our new, barely legal muscle building formula!

If you had a dollar for every time you've heard advertisements that sound like this, you would probably have a tidy little sum in your bank account by now. Just read any fitness or health magazine and you will notice that it seems as though half of the entire publication is nothing but ads for dozens of nutritional supplements. If you ever paid any attention to these ads, you will notice that just about all of them make some pretty outrageous claims as to what their products will do.

Now, there are some good supplements out there that can help give you a little extra boost in performance or supply some decent nutritional value to help you out with weight loss, but you have to know which ones to avoid so you can find your way to the ones that are worth using. Here are some things to look for that will tell you which ones to steer clear of.

The first obvious thing is, if the product claims to give you amazing results that just sound too good to be true, you will be disappointed with your purchase. While people want to believe there are magical solutions to weight loss and improved fitness, a good exercise regiment and proper diet is still the main ingredient.

You also need to be aware of the so called "experts" who endorse these products. What degree or certification do they have? What is their degree or certification specializing in? Did they get their degree or certification from a reputable organization?

Often, these products will rely heavily on testimonials and shaky evidence to convince you that their bogus claims are real. Testimonials are usually unreliable because they are often biased. Reputable experts such as scientists will report the results of their studies in medical journals so others can review and evaluate them. If there is no documentation in any medical journals, don't believe their "experts" ramblings on the product.

Another sure fire way to know that a product is not on the level is to look for some key words. People tend to always believe that all of these products on the market have been inspected by the FDA to be safe and effective, but the fact is, the FDA does not have much jurisdiction over most of these products because of their claims that their product is "herbal" or "natural". People often will believe that ads in magazines, on radio and especially on television are proof positive that they work.

Avoid any products with the words "fat burner", "fat metabolizer", "performance or strength booster", "energy enhancer", "anabolic or genetic optimizer" or "ergogenic aid". Not one of these types of products has ever been proven to be effective or safe. Some have even been proven to be dangerous like in the somewhat recent deaths involving products like "phen fen" and "redux".

The bottom line is this; every year new products are coming out on the market. Most of these are backed by little or no real research as to their effectiveness or side effects. As long as they make no medical claims, they are not classified as a drug, meaning the FDA does not evaluate them for effectiveness or safety. If you do feel you want to use any supplements, choose ones that make no lofty claims.

Look for products that only claim to boost calories or can be used as occasional meal replacements like protein powders, or claim to supplement nutrition like multi-vitamins. Don't let yourself fall victim to false advertising schemes made by companies only looking to help you find useless ways to spend your hard earned money.

Swimming

2009-08-30T23:00:00.000-07:00

Swimming is an excellent way to get into and stay in shape. If you do not own a pool, many high schools have aquatic centers, or there is always the YWCA or YMCA, or your local gym. Many offer water aerobic classes that will help you tighten your body, lose weight, and get a good overall workout.

Jogging or Walking

2009-08-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

Both jogging and walking are GREAT ways to get fit. Not only do they tone the muscles, relieve stress, create a healthier heart, and improve lung capability, they make you look wonderful, which in turns helps you get excited about doing other exercise for fitness.

Bicycling

2009-08-25T22:59:00.000-07:00

When you ask many adults when the last time they rode a bike is, they cannot answer. Although bicycling is a favorite pastime, many adults do not take advantage of this great option for exercise. Not only does bike riding exercise the body and build a stronger cardiovascular system, it allows you to get out and enjoy nature, fresh air, and see new sites.

Control those Cravings

2009-08-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

If you are like any other person on the face of the planet, you have cravings for sweet foods. To help with these cravings, you can use Normoglycaemia to help normalize your blood glucose levels. This supplement is very rich in magnesium, B Vitamins, and Chromium and has been proven successful for many years.

Puffy Eyes

2009-08-20T22:56:00.000-07:00

If you battle with puffy eyes or dark circles that make you look worn out, do not feel alone. This is actually a very common complaint that can be treated easily. By using a mixture of Vitamin C ester and alpha-lipoic acid eye therapy, you will find that this antibiotic helps reduce this puffiness.

Family History

2009-08-15T22:56:00.001-07:00

If you are not sure what your family history is in relation to health, now is a good time to find out. This can be especially true if you are adopted or disconnected from immediately family members. There might be certain types of cancer, diabetes, asthma, or other illnesses that you could get a jump on if you knew they were prevalent in your family. Once you discover any risks, talk with your physician for recommendations.

Sodium

2009-08-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

As a way of reducing blood pressure, which is bad on the heart, reduce the amount of sodium (salt) you intake. You may be thinking of table salt but you should know that many canned vegetables, soups, even soda, are very high in sodium. Look at your labels and try to cut back on processed foods. If you have a craving for salt, switch to natural seasoning and just a little salt.

Green Tea

2009-08-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

Studies have shown that adding green tea to your daily diet provides several health benefits to include the metabolizing of fat, ease of digestion, and is a good source of flavonoids. Another benefit is that tea is a form of natural diuretic, which is very mild and not harmful.

What are Flavonoids?

2009-08-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

These are oestrogen-like compounds found in plants that act as hormone blockers any place in the body where there are excess hormones that could cause such cancers such as breast cancer. Flavonoids are also strong antioxidants, which can be found in foods such as beans, onions, broccoli, apples, and soy products.

Stick with Whole Wheat

2009-08-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

Whole wheat is actually better for you. It offers more fiber, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diverticulosis, diabetes to name a few. When possible, set aside the white flour and bread and reach for products that are made from oats, barley, buckwheat, bulgur, rye, brown rice, millet, and wheat.

No More Caffeine

2009-08-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

Caffeine can dehydrate your body so try to remove it from your daily intake. This may require some weaning, but when done, you will feel better. If you feel that you need something, instead of grabbing a cub of caffeinated coffee or soda, try drinking herbal tea.

Make Time for Intimacy

2009-08-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

If you are married, be sure to make time for intimacy in your relationship. Sex is a great stress reducer and keeps a marriage happy. Sex is healthy act that should be enjoyed.

Circulation and Lymph Glands

2009-08-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

When you finish with your bath or shower, you can actually help your body's circulation and improvement in which lymph glands drain, all by the way that you towel off your body. Very simply, when drying your arms and legs as well as torso, always towel away toward the groin for your legs and toward your armpits for the arms and torso. This might sound funny, but studies have shown this works.

Fragrance and Aging

2009-07-30T22:50:00.000-07:00

If you want to do everything you can to age gracefully, you should avoid anything that has the perfumes or lotions of coconut oil and orange. The reason is that these fragrances contain a substance called psoralen, which is known to speed up the aging process.

Asthmatics and Sports

2009-07-25T22:49:00.001-07:00

If you suffer from asthma, you already know that some sports should be avoided, depending on the severity. If you have trouble on a daily basis and love sports, be encouraged to know that some sports are asthma-friendly and in fact, can be helpful in that they help make the lungs stronger. These sports include swimming, cycling, and fishing, walking, and canoeing. Again, check with your physician before getting involved with any sport if you have a health condition.

Breast Exams

2009-07-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

Make sure you conduct regular breast examines. This can quickly and painlessly be done during your shower or lying down when going to bed. Contact your primary physician or gynecologist for a free pamphlet showing the proper way this is done. Taking proactive steps could save your life.

Beware of Allergies/Reactions

2009-07-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

Pay attention to what you eat. With so many wonderful restaurants, trying new dishes is exciting and fun. However, several foods are responsible for up to 90% of all allergy problems. If you notice after eating certain foods you suffer from headaches, upset stomach, or other problems, make note, you could be having an allergic reaction. The foods most likely the problem include eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, shellfish, and fish. For children, the common foods include cow's milk, soy, eggs, and wheat.

Some like it Hot

2009-07-20T22:47:00.000-07:00

Hot, spicy foods that contain curry, chilies, or other hot peppers such as cayenne, help to trigger endorphins. These hormones are what make people feel good and well balanced. In fact, endorphins are like a natural morphine that helps ease pain and provide a sense of well being. The next time you are feeling a little down or have some minor pain, try eating something spicy.

Berries, Berries, Berries

2009-07-15T22:46:00.000-07:00

Ah, the sweet taste of fresh berries! Berries are actually good for you and contain plant nutrients called anthocyanidins. These are incredible antioxidants and some have high levels of resveratrol, which helps fight heart disease and cancer. The next time you want something sweet, juicy, and good for you, reach for blueberries, grapes, or strawberries, and do not feel guilty!

Aspirin versus Ibuprofen

2009-07-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Both of these products can help in certain situations. For example, aspirin is an analgesic, used for pain while ibuprofen is both an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Therefore, the next time you have to deal with sore muscles after a good workout, remember that you can get some needed relief from these over the counter remedies.

Sunscreen

2009-07-10T22:45:00.000-07:00

Most people know that sunscreen is important for shoulders, backs, legs, and arms when out in the sun but there are other parts of the body that are often overlooked. When enjoying the beautiful sun, be sure to use sunscreen on your ears, slips, and even the tops of your feet as well!

Throw out the Scales

2009-07-10T22:44:00.001-07:00

If you have bathroom scales, you should either get rid of them or put them away for a while. Weight does not accurately reflect the level of your fitness. If you should be measuring anything, it should be body fat, not the weight.

Watch the Sugar

2009-07-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

Often people think by drinking fruit juices or eating low-fat fruit roll-ups and such, they are cutting out or eliminating sugar. The fact is that some fruit juices have more sugar than a soda. Reduction of sugar is important to good health; therefore always check out the sugar content of anything you put in your mouth, even if it appears to be healthy.

Give your Eyes a Rest

2009-07-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

Most jobs in today's society require the use of a computer. If you sit in front of a computer all day or work any job or hobby that requires your eyes to work hard, be sure to take breaks throughout your day. For soothing relief, you can use eye drops, close your eyes for a few minutes to allow them to rest, and look away to something other than what you are working on. Also, ensure that you are working with appropriate lighting, which is an oversight many people make. These are ways in which to give your eyes a much-needed break. Eyestrain can cause eye problems as well as headaches.

Flaxseed

2009-07-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

A great way to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system is by adding flaxseed to your daily diet. Flaxseed actually contains what is called alpha-linolenic acid, which is a fatty acid essential in controlling blood pressure. They have a benefit of helping with digestion; just make sure the flaxseed is crushed for easier consumption and absorption.

Wash your Hands

2009-07-05T22:41:00.000-07:00

This is something you have probably heard your whole life. Disease is easily spread from touch, whether from person to person or object to person. Giardia is the number one germ that is transferred from touching something infected. Once you have Giardia, you can get very ill. In addition, germs can be passed from your pet that has been rolling on the grass, something dropped on a dirty floor, just allow your imagine to roam if you dare. Washing your hands is a quick, easy way to reduce the spread of germs.

Tasty Almonds

2009-07-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

If you love nuts, then you are in luck. Almonds are not only delicious and make a great snack food, medical studies show they contain as much protein per ounce as red meat. In addition, they aid in reducing the risk of heart attacks by up to 50%. The next time you need something crunchy, reach for a handful of almonds.

Be Careful with the Sun

2009-07-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves basking in the warm sun, especially if it is lying on a beautiful sandy beach. While the sun has many benefits, too much sun without proper protection can be harmful. Being sunburned not only hurts, but also damages skin and promotes wrinkles and cancer. If you are going to spend any time in the sun, even 10 minutes, protect your skin with sunscreen for both UVA and UVB rays.

Fighting Cancer

2009-06-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

With today’s breakthroughs, there are many innovative ways to fight cancer. Although you may find this difficult to believe, the American Institute for Cancer Research has come up with a surprising way to fight cancer. After conducting thorough studies, researchers found that drinking tea, which contains antioxidants to help neutralize “free radicals” helps to fight cancer. While it is not a cure-all, if cancer runs in your family, it certainly will not hurt to add tea to your daily consumption.

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Attitude

2009-06-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

A negative attitude can have a negative impact on your health just as a positive attitude can affect your health in a positive manner. Living well has a direct correlation with a positive outlook. Keep smiling and try to find the good in life, even when things are tough.

Do Not Forget the Teeth

2009-06-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Often the care of teeth and gums is overlooked as potential health risks. However, with the oral cavity being the main way in which parasites, bacteria, yeast, and fungus get into the body, taking time to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth is important. Keeping your mouth clean is a great way to benefit your health.

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Seatbelts

2009-06-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering what seatbelts have to do with health. Statistics show that wearing seatbelts keeps you safe and therefore allows you to live longer. To keep yourself safe and healthy, it is critical that you buckle up every time you get in any car. Do not be fooled into thinking that going the few blocks to the corner store is not big deal. Most accidents happen close to home so whether you are traveling one block or across the country, buckle up.

Water

2009-06-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

Water is excellent for the body and good health. Water helps flush out toxins and other unwanted things lingering in the body. Water also replenishes fluids that help lubricate the internal body, keeps you hydrated, reduces hunger, which helps with weight loss, and helps to make skin look smooth and young. If you are not used to drinking water, it may seem hard at first, but very quickly, you will enjoy the clean, refreshed way it makes you feel.

At a minimum, you should drink 64-ounces a day and more if you can.

Read the Label

2009-06-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Get into a habit of reading the labels on food. While they may have messages such as “Low Fat” or “Reduced Calorie” written all over the front of the package or can, when you read the label and understand what you are looking for, you will probably be surprised. Regardless of what the claim may be, the label may tell another story. The FDA provides these important guidelines, therefore, should be what you look for. If the message and label do not jive, move on to a different product.

Fat-Free	Less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving, with no added fat or oil
Low fat	3 grams or less of fat per serving
Less fat	25% or less fat than the comparison food
Saturated Fat Free	Less than 0.5 grams of saturated fat and 0.5 grams of trans-fatty acids per serving
Cholesterol-Free	Less than 2 mg cholesterol per serving, and 2 grams or less saturated fat per serving
Low Cholesterol	20 mg or less cholesterol per serving and 2 grams or less saturated fat per serving
Reduced Calorie	At least 25% fewer calories per serving than the comparison food
Low Calorie	40 calories or less per serving
Extra Lean	Less than 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, and 95 mg of cholesterol per (100 gram) serving of meat, poultry or seafood
Lean	Less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 g of saturated fat, and 95 mg of cholesterol per (100 gram) serving of meat, poultry or seafood
Light (fat)	50% or less of the fat than in the comparison food (ex: 50% less fat than our regular cheese)
Light (calories)	1/3 fewer calories than the comparison food
High-Fiber	5 grams or more fiber per serving
Sugar-Free	Less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving
Sodium-Free or Salt-Free	Less than 5 mg of sodium per serving
Low Sodium	140 mg or less per serving
Very Low Sodium	35 mg or less per serving

Body Fat

2009-06-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

When you think about losing weight, more importantly than weight is the amount of fat you are carrying around. This fat is measured with what is called Body Mass Index, or BMI. For women, if you are fit, your percent of body fat should range from 21% to 31%. If you are in incredible shape, that could be as low as 10%. For men, fit should be between 14% and 25%, and excellent shape, as low as 2%.

To calculate your body fat, write down how much you weigh (be honest – no one will see this but you). Multiply your weight by 703. Next, write down your height, in inches. Multiply by that same number. Then you will divide your weight number by your height number. That is your BMI. For example, if your weight were 150 pounds x 703, your weight answer would be 105,450. If your height is 5’4”, that would be 64 inches x 64 for a total of 4,096. Taking the 105,450 divided by 4,096, you come out with a BMI of 25.7.

Listen to ME

2009-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you know that you are not feeling “right” but the doctor tells you everything is fine, listen to your body. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. If you are not comfortable with the doctor’s advice, get another exam. In addition, if you go to a doctor who tells you that what you feel is in your head, or you are crazy, get out of there immediately. You know your body better than anyone does and you need a doctor that believes in you and offers the right kind of support and encouragement.

Meditate

2009-06-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

Find some time away from noise and distractions for you. Meditation can come in many forms. Whatever way you meditate, ensure that you are in a quiet place with soft lighting, sit with good posture and in a comfortable position, practice slow, rhythmic breathing, and concentrate on something calm and relaxing.

Meditation is a great stress reducer, which is vital for good health.

Cholesterol Levels

2009-06-01T03:05:00.000-07:00

High cholesterol leads to hardening of arteries, which in turn, leads to heart disease or attack. Keep your intake of food healthy, limit the amount of sugar you eat, and have your cholesterol checked. If it is higher than 200, ask your doctor for ways to reduce it.

Regular Checkups

2009-05-30T02:38:00.000-07:00

It is crucial that you have regular checkups, which could include mammograms, pap smears, checks for colon cancer, EKGs, etc.

Many times, a regular checkup could have caught something earlier on, actually saving a life. If you do not feel good, have your doctor check things out. If you are due for your annual mammogram, have it done. You could possibly be saving your own life.

Young at Heart

2009-05-27T02:32:00.000-07:00

Regardless of your age, if you start acting too old, you will actually not benefit yourself at all. Studies have shown that people who act old, feel old, and can actually suffer from problems before their time. Do not be afraid to be youthful, within reason.

The next time you see a man in his seventies running a marathon or a woman keeping up in aerobic class, you can see that by refusing to give into age, they are healthier and live much longer lives.

Mixing Medications

2009-05-25T02:31:00.000-07:00

Many people do not realize how dangerous mixing medications can be. In fact, some combinations are lethal. If you are on medication, make sure your physician knows everything you take, including herbs and supplements.

To take it one-step further, when you have a new prescription filled, ask the pharmacist if there are any bad interactions with your other current medication.

Stop Smoking

2009-05-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

You have probably heard this more times, than you can count but facts are facts! There is no other way to say it –smoking is not only bad for your health, it is deadly! One woman in her late thirties had smoked for 10 years. She had tried everything from watering down her cigarettes, throwing them away, wearing a patch, chewing gum, you name it, she tried it. She really wanted to quit but the addiction was so strong she was finding it impossible.

The mother of an 11-year old daughter and a 13-year old son, she was taken by surprise when something happened that made her quit smoking in one day. Her son told her that he had something very important to tell her. With a quick response of, “Okay, what is it?” he said, “No, I really need to talk to you.” She knew by the look on his face and the tone of his voice that this was something important. Her son looked her square in the face and without wavering said, “I want you to quit smoking because I don’t want you to die. I want a mother in my life.” With that, she walked over to an ashtray, put out her cigarette, and now almost seven years later, she still does not smoke. While this will not work for everyone, the next time you pick up a cigarette; take a minute to consider how your child or family would feel if you were no longer around.

Yoga

2009-05-18T01:59:00.000-07:00

The practice of Yoga is actually a spiritual practice. However, with the many benefits received it has quickly become a popular choice to thousands of people strictly for health.

Yoga helps stretch out muscles and ligaments, tone the body, and the greatest benefit is that it helps to clear the mind. Having a clear mind works toward a healthy body.

Nutrition

2009-05-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

People often confuse “dieting” with nutrition. Your body needs to have nutrients replaced, whether through foods being eaten or supplements. Do you remember what you learned in elementary school about the four major food groups? As adult, eating balanced meals from these groups still applies. It is important to remove the “junk food” from your diet and stick with healthy foods.

If you do not like certain things such as fruits or vegetables, be sure you are taking a supplement to get the nutrients needed.

Another consideration is if you are a vegetarian. There are certain benefits taken from meat such as iron and B-12 that you should consider taking a supplement for in exchange for the meat.

ZZZZZZZZZZZ

2009-05-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

Does sleep really affect health? You bet it does. During sleep, your body is resting and recovering from all the work is has done throughout the day. Your serotonin levels are brought back in line, your muscles relax, and mind is allowed to clear itself in preparation for the next day.

If you are not getting the proper amount of sleep, you will notice it in a physical way. While there is no magic number, usually between six and eight hours a night is appropriate.

If you have difficulty getting to sleep, before you climb into bed, try Yoga, listening to soft, relaxing music, a glass of wine, or if you can talk someone into it, a good massage.

Eliminate Stress

2009-05-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

You have probably heard this before. Stress is a key contributor to poor health. Study after study has found that when a person is stressed, the body reacts.

The result of stress could be high-blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomachs, poor posture, and so on. Keeping stress in check will help you manage your overall health much better.

Supplements and Vitamins

2009-05-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

While some supplements and vitamins on the market are not worth buying and some, such as Ephedrine, have been proven dangerous, other sources are healthy. Most important, you need to understand what it is you are taking, and strictly follow dosage just as you would medication that has been prescribed.

If you are unsure, check with your physician, a nutritionist, or a reputable health food store. Many supplements that are good for overall health include grape seed extract, Glucosamine, aloe vera, and Selenium. Vitamins to consider would include Vitamin E, Vitamin C, B-12, Iron, Magnesium, and Calcium.

Saucy but Healthy

2009-05-07T00:34:00.000-07:00

Eating bland foods is boring, unsatisfying, and if that is what your diet consists of, more than likely, you will be off it shortly after you start. If you enjoy good tasting food, some sauces and spices can enhance your food while not adding calories to your food. The next you grill meat, consider using one of these:

Reduced-salt Soy Sauce
Mustard
Salsa
Worcestershire Sauce
Vinegar (this comes in wonderful flavors)
Teriyaki Sauce
Tomato Sauce
Hot Sauce

Eat Less Later in the Day

2009-05-07T00:33:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows, whether they want to admit it or not, reducing calories will help you to lose weight. However, just as you should reduce the calorie intake, you need to know when to eat.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the one meal that should not be missed. Lunch should be healthy but a less than what you ate for breakfast. As you approach dinner, eat healthy but light. Avoid after dinner snacks or eating before bed!

Therapeutic Massage

2009-05-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

You might be thinking what does getting a massage do for my health other than to make me feel good. Actually, therapeutic massage has many benefits. For example, it can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and promote good health. When a person gets a therapeutic massage, they are actually getting the benefit of function improvement with circulatory, muscular, skeletal, nervous systems, lymphatic, and can even help the body heal after an illness or injury.

Depending on what the specific health issue, there is a Swedish Massage, which is a more relaxing massage good for headaches, back stress, and muscle cramps, Pressure Point Therapy, helpful for some injuries as well as circulation problems, headache and muscle tension, insomnia, anxiety, and more. Finally, Sports Massage focuses on muscle groups used for different sports.

Licensed masseuse can help with the issues mentioned as well as allergies, arthritis, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, digestive disorders, myofascial pain, limited range of motion, sinusitis, and TMJ. The next time you tell someone you are going to get a massage, you can simply explain that it is for the benefit of your health.

Biofeedback

2009-05-04T00:29:00.000-07:00

Biofeedback is a method used to help blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rates, brain activity, and other bodily functions. Basically, biofeedback is a painless system that is hooked up to your body and then through electrical signals received from tightening of your muscles, you would be able to receive those signals by a light telling you that you are tightening your muscles. This in turn trains you to be aware of when you are bringing on stress and to help you identify when you need to relax your body.

Biofeedback is very successful and can be used for migraine headaches, chronic pain, high blood pressure, epilepsy, and much more, which can occur when you tense up.

Acupuncture

2009-05-03T00:16:00.000-07:00

The use of acupuncture dates back more than 2,000 years. This is a traditional medicine of Japan, China, and other Eastern countries. The use of acupuncture is beneficial in that it stimulates areas of the body that have a direct correlation to internal organs.

By placing fine needles into specific points, the body is encouraged to promote natural healing, improve function, and provide an overall boost to your system. When these needles are inserted, they go into Meridians, which are channels somewhat like streams within the body.

Just as there might be a boulder sitting in a stream blocking the flow of water, it can be the same for the channels of blood in your system. Acupuncture helps to remove these obstacles by providing stimulation, thus improving health.

Fitness for a body Healthy

2009-05-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

More than any other time in history, people are all vying to have the best, healthiest body possible. The health and fitness industries are making billions of dollars every year on herbal supplements, fitness equipment, gyms, and special diets. If you watch TV or read magazines, there is always some intriguing commercial asking for money to help you get into shape.

While many of these options are good and healthy, others you should stay as far away from as possible. Recently, a professional baseball player died at the age of 23. In his locker, a bottle was discovered containing Ephedrine. The FDA just issued a warning that people need to heed.

Now that you have made a commitment to take care of your body, both internal and external, it is critical to your overall health that you do it the right way. Here are some tips for both health and fitness that will help you lose weight, discover ways to maintain a better healthy lifestyle, and be in the best shape of your life – all the smart way!

For sake of clarity, we have broken this down into two categories. One for health, which focuses on herbal supplements, weight loss, dieting, rest, and everything you need to know about taking care of your body on the inside.

The other section is fitness, which has both internal and external benefits. One the outside, fitness includes weight lifting, running, sports, walking, things you can do to enhance, tone, and build muscle. However, fitness also has benefits for the inside such as great cardiovascular benefits among others.

7 Ways To Lose Weight And Fast

2009-04-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dreamt to get rid of 10 pounds unwanted fat easily and fast. Pay attention to what you eat and be sure to have good tasting, fresh and healthy food including snacks, fill up on vegetables and keep your taste buds happy with fruit, and you will see the result very quick.

The following 7 simple guidelines will help you to lose your first 10 pounds, last 10 pounds or give your weight loss program a boost when it seems to have stuttered to a halt. This is a balanced and flexible plan that you can use for as long as you want.

The very first thing to secure your weight loss success is to make a weight loss food diary. Keep a note of everything that you eat and drink. You can just simply write down what it was that you had and the approximate quantity. There is no need to estimate calories. And you will soon notice patterns of unhealthy eating that you never considered before.
To lose weight fast and naturally, lowing your fat intake is very important. Consume eggs, nuts and red meat occasionally but not every day. And try to eat the lower fat source of protein at most meals: chicken, fish, beans, cottage cheese, or low fat yogurt.
Plan at least one lunch and dinner every week without meat or cheese. Build those meals around whole grains, vegetables and beans to increase fiber and reduce fat. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. Make a shopping list of what you need and stick to it. If you just grab something when you are feeling hungry, you will probably choose high calorie food.
Eat treats like chocolate, ice cream, desserts, cake, pastries, cookies, etc. as less as you can, especially those which contains high carbohydrate. Grated carrot makes a great snack. You will find that a grated carrot is much more filling than a whole carrot. Strange but true.
Include at least two servings of vegetables at lunch and dinner. If you are getting hungry, have more. Have at least two servings of fruit every day. This can be for dessert or snacks. Choose fruit that is in season.
Water is the best drink ever, it contains balanced minerals. Avoid sodas, juices, milky drinks or alcohol, even diet soda, the sweet taste only encourages you to crave sugar. Refresh yourself with a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon in the morning for the start.
Choose food that you can chew. Again this will increase your fiber intake, and the act of chewing will make you feel more satisfied too. This means eating fruit instead of drinking juice. If you have soup, make sure it is chunky.

Our body is slow to register when you are full, so eat slowly and make sure you never racing through your meals. To avoid eating too much, switch off the TV makes big different. Studies have proved that we eat larger portions in front of the TV, probably because we are much less aware of what we are eating.

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Five Steps to a 5-Star Body

2009-04-07T06:14:00.001-07:00

Getting your best body can be as simple as counting to five every day. Really! No matter what goal you’re pursuing—shedding those 10 pounds that have been hanging around too long, toning your trouble zones or simply eating healthier. It's so easy. I think of it as my five-star day. The five-star day is so simple—you just give yourself a star for everything you do right. You get stars for:

Sleep! Try to catch 7 to 9 hours each night. This, I know from personal experience, can seem like an unrealistic goal, but the amount of research that supports the connection between shut-eye and health makes me shoot for this star every day. For starters, catching enough zzz’s can help you lose weight. In a study of more than 68,000 women, those who dozed seven hours a night weighed 5.5 pounds less than women who slept five hours or less. Ample sleep encourages your body to make more of the fullness hormone leptin and less of the hunger hormone ghrelin, so you’re not as hungry. Snoozing can also curb anxiety and depression, both of which can lead to emotional eating. As if that’s not enough reason, too little rest can cloud moral judgment, too. Try going to bed just 30 minutes earlier each night to see how much you’ll benefit.

Exercise! Yes, breaking a sweat can help you lose weight, but it can also curb cravings, help you live longer, reduce stress, undo some of the damage of eating fatty foods—and those are just a few of the benefits. Aim for 30 minutes a day—even a walk counts toward your tally—and give yourself a star each time you fulfill that goal with any one of your favorite workouts.

Eat right! No, you don’t have to count calories. You can eat healthy and have delicious, filling and satisfying meals (snacks, too!). If you’re doing the 2009 SELF Challenge, give yourself a star for every day that you eat according to the Challenge meal plan and log your meals in your online food diary. If you’re not doing the Challenge, you can still snag a star when you’ve eaten in a way that makes your body feel good—and you feel proud. For me, that’s when I opt for yogurt with berries rather than a muffin at breakfast, have a salad with tofu for lunch and choose salmon over steak at dinner, then skip the ice cream pig-out late at night. Yes, it’s that simple! I’m not perfect, and there are definitely days when I have a second glass of wine or a too-generous square of my favorite dark chocolate bar, but I find that once I start building that five-star day, I get invested in it and want to keep it up.

Stretch! Limbering up is a way to thank your muscles for all the hard work they do for you each day. It can also help you increase your overall range of motion, making exercise seem less difficult. And when workouts are less daunting, you’ll not only enjoy them more, but you also will probably do them more often, too! To me, yoga and pilates count, as does just stretching at the kitchen counter as I watch the headlines in the morning. No need to set aside a huge block of time! However you choose to go Gumby, give yourself a star for treating your body to a break.

Talk yourself up! This might be the most important part of the five-star plan: Giving yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for simply being strong, smart and healthy. Even on days when you only notch one or two other stars, take a moment to give yourself credit for being a truly amazing human being. Talking yourself up carries over to other areas of your life: Not only will you feel more confident, but research shows you will also get sick about 30 percent less frequently, stave off emotional eating and reduce your cancer risk. There are plenty of other reasons to celebrate your body. Pretty impressive for a few pats on the back!

Create your own five-star days: When you join the Challenge, you can use our free online logs to track the stars you earn each day. Counting stars is motivating, and rewarding yourself for smart, healthy behavior is more inspiring than the negative mind-sets required by most "diets." I had to create a system in my own head that was simple, easy to track and optimistic. The best part is that you get to start fresh every day, so even if you only manage one or two stars one day, you can stay with it by going to sleep early and telling yourself, like Scarlett O’Hara, tomorrow is another day!

Blood sugar can be anyone's problem

2009-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

The average American consumes more than a pound of refined sugar a week. It sounds unbelievable until you realize that sugar goes by more than 50 names and is an ingredient in virtually all processed foods, from your morning doughnut to the ketchup on your burger.

Eat it (along with excess fat and calories), sit around, and you'll gain weight.

It's the average American way of life, and it deserves a new warning label: Practicing this lifestyle could send another sugar — your blood sugar — into the danger zone.

Your body's primary source of fuel, blood sugar plays a vital role in physical and mental well-being. But when it rises even slightly above normal — thanks to excess body fat, lack of exercise, and/or genetics — your health, your energy levels, and your weight-loss efforts are jeopardized.

Overlooked by doctors
High-normal blood sugar is anything but normal. Too high to be healthy yet too low to be called diabetes, high-normal blood sugar has long been overlooked by doctors and their patients alike. Yet an estimated 16 million Americans have it — including tens of thousands of children and teens.

The rise of the high-normal blood sugar epidemic is the direct result of the rise in overweight and obesity in the United States. Our lifestyles have changed; our bodies haven't caught up.

"Our bodies are essentially the same as they were 40,000 years ago, but our eating and exercise habits have changed tremendously," says Bryant Stamford, Ph.D., director of the Health Promotion and Wellness Center at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

"The same number of calories it might have taken our prehistoric ancestors an entire day to hunt and gather, we can now have brought to our door with a phone call. We simply eat too much and exercise too little," says Stamford.

The result: high blood sugar. The danger: More and more research links even "slightly" high blood sugar to food cravings, mood swings, and overweight, as well as pregnancy and fertility problems, heart attacks, stroke, full-blown type 2 diabetes, and even, early evidence suggests, some forms of cancer.

QUIZ for Check your blood sugar score here.

It's serious. That's why it's recommended that you get a blood sugar test and take steps to keep your sugar levels within a healthy range.

The high cost of high-normal blood sugar
Normal blood sugar ranges from 60 to 90 milligrams of glucose per 100 milliliters of blood (mg/dl) before a meal.

High-normal blood sugar is defined as 100 to 125 mg/dl (full-blown type 2 diabetes is diagnosed at 126 mg/dl and above).

Without a blood sugar test, it's impossible to know whether your blood sugar falls within a normal range. And because elevated blood sugar typically does its damage silently, it's easy to brush off what few symptoms there are, like fatigue and mood swings.

High-normal blood sugar can lead to the following conditions:
Overweight
Syndrome X
Pregnancy diabetes
PCOS
Full-blown type 2 diabetes
Heart disease and stroke

Paintball Carries High Eye Injury Risk

2009-02-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Eye injuries sustained during paint ball games can be severe, but most can be prevented by wearing the proper protective gear, a new study suggests.

In a review of 36 patients seen at their eye institute for paint ball-related eye injuries, researchers found that the eye trauma was frequently severe — including eyeball ruptures in 28 percent of patients — and led to vision loss in many cases.

Paint ball is a "war game" in which opponents try to splatter each other with small, paint-filled capsules shot out of guns powered by compressed gas. Research suggests that eye injuries from paint ball have been on the increase in recent years, and games played outside of organized, commercial venues seem to carry the biggest risk.

Of patients in the current study, all were injured in informal settings and only two were wearing any kind of eye protection at the time of the injury, the researchers report in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

"Eye injuries secondary to high-velocity paint balls can cause tremendous damage to vital ocular structures often requiring extensive surgical intervention," lead researcher Dr. Kyle J. Alliman, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said in a written statement.

"Unfortunately," he added, "visual loss is often permanent."

Overall, 81 percent of the study patients required surgery, and half ended up with visual acuity worse than 20/200, the definition of legal blindness.

"Awareness of the severe nature of paint ball-related eye injury is paramount," Alliman said, particularly for people who play in non-commercial settings.

"That no injuries occurred in the current study in an organized setting attests to the effective safety precautions of manufacturers and organized groups," he and his colleagues write.

It is a "tragedy," they add, that the vast majority of severe eye injuries sustained in paint ball might have been avoided through proper eye protection.

Plums Are Latest Super Fruit, Less Expensive Than Blueberries

2009-02-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

You’ve heard of the so-called "super fruits" — fruits with exceptional nutrients that are high in antioxidants, such as acai berries, pomegranates or blueberries, which can be expensive.

Now, scientists are touting the plum as the newest star to hit the line of super fruits, Indo-Asian News Service reported.

Photos: 10 Super Fruits for Super Health

"They are likely to give the pricier blueberries some stiff competition," said Luis Cisneros, a food scientist at Texas AgriLife Research.

Cisneros, and AgriLife Research plant breeder David Byrne, judged more than 100 varieties of plums, peaches and nectarines. These fruits matched or exceeded the blueberries in antioxidants and phytonutrients that are associated with preventing diseases, according to Cisneros and Byrne.

However, the plum is a more economical fruit is these tough financial times, the duo noted.

And the plum offers another benefit that blueberries do not, Cisneros added.

"People tend to eat just a few blueberries at a time — a few on the cereal or as an ingredient mixed with lots of sugar," Cisneros said. "But people will eat a whole plum at once and get the full benefit."

10 Super Fruits for Super Health

2009-02-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

Packed with antioxidants, pomegranates are a no-brainer when it comes to your health. In fact, some studies show the fruit, which has around 600 seeds, contains almost three times the total antioxidants in green tea and red wine.

The acai berry, touted by Oprah as a 'super food,' grows in South American rainforests. This dark berry has been shown to have twice the antioxidants found in blueberries, as well as omega fatty acids, protein and fiber. It's so powerful, some studies have shown it kills off cancer cells in a lab setting.

It's not just about the guacamole when it comes to avacados. The egg-shaped fruit contains healthy monounsaturated fat, which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Native to North America, blueberries are a staple in this country. These little blue berries are loaded with antioxidants and have been also been linked to anti-aging, imprved vision and brain function.

A favorite at Thanksgiving, cranberries aren't just good at fighting urinary tract infections, the little berries are brimming with antioxidants which protect cells against compounds called free radicals.

Found in the Goji in China, Mongolia and in the Himalayas in Tibet, goji berries have been used for 6,000 years by herbalists to protect the liver, help eyesight, improve sexual function and fertility, strengthen the legs, boost immune function, improve circulation and promote longevity. The berries contain carotenoids that act as antioxidants to protect the retina of the eye.

Need your daily dose of vitamin C? Try some kiwi fruit. They contain a high amount of vitamin C(more than oranges) and as much potassium as bananas.

Studies suggest mangosteen, native to Southeast Asia, has significant anti-inflammatory effects, the Mayo Clinic reported on its Web site. The tropical fruit is also a rich source of antioxidants and contains chemicals called xanthones, which appear to have potent anti-inflammatory effects in the laboratory.

Native to Southeast Asia, the noni fruit is also packed with antioxidants. It's said to be able to help reduce high blood pressure and relieve arthritic pain.

These soft and juicy orange berries, known as seabuckthorn, grow in Europe and Asia. A rich source of vitamin C, they have been shown to boost the immune system.

'Stiff' Drink Appears to Help Male Performance in the Bedroom

2009-02-03T12:46:00.001-08:00

It gives the phrase "a stiff drink" a whole new meaning: Australian researchers have made the surprise discovery that alcohol improves, rather than damages, men's performance in the bedroom.

They hope the finding, which flies in the face of conventional belief, will reassure men who worry about the affects of drinking on their sex lives.

Until now, it has been widely believed alcohol consumption could cause erectile dysfunction.

But a study of 1,580 Australian men has shown the reverse may be true, with drinkers reporting 30 percent fewer problems in the bedroom than teetotallers.

Even binge drinkers had lower rates of erectile dysfunction than those who never drank, although this type of drinking can cause other health problems.

Lead study author Dr. Kew-Kim Chew, of Western Australia's Keogh Institute for Medical Research, said men who drank within safe guidelines appeared to have the best erectile function.

"We found that, compared to those who have never touched alcohol, many people do benefit from some alcohol, including some people who drink outside the guidelines,'' Chew said.

Chew said he had patients with erectile dysfunction who had been told to stop drinking completely.

Click here for more on this story from The Sunday Telegraph.

Women With Prominent Chins More Likely to Cheat

2009-02-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

If your wife or girlfriend resembles Meg Ryan or Rumer Willis, or at least her lower face does, you may be in trouble.

U.S. and Canadian researchers from four universities found that women with more prominent chins are more likely to cheat on their mates, the Telegraph of the U.K. has reported.

According to the study, larger chins on women are often caused by high levels of the male hormone testosterone, which is present in all women, but usually in lower amounts.

The hormone, which increases sexual assertiveness in men, may do the same in some women, the researchers said. also increases sexual assertiveness in a woman, a tendency more commonly attributed to males.

The study took a group of women and questioned them on their sexual histories and fantasies. Researchers also had men rate the women on their desirability as a life partner. The men found the women were more masculine features less desirable.

Authors of the study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, said: "The findings are important in demonstrating that perceptions of women as desirable and trustworthy long-term mates can be reliably gleaned by men from viewing only the women's facial features.”

Click here for more on this story from the Telegraph.