So What Causes Bad Breath?

The main causes of bad breath are bacteria in the mouth and
throat. What causes bad breath is that when saliva in the
mouth is reduced, the bacteria have a chance to grow and
spread. When there is an abundance of saliva in the mouth,
acids produced by plaque are neutralized and dead cells can
be washed away.

There are many possible reasons for reduced saliva in the
mouth, some of which are easily preventable, while some are
not. There is a natural reduction in the amount of saliva
produced in our mouths as we get older, which is the reason
for "old people's breath." Another one of the causes of bad
breath is when we become dehydrated, our bodies naturally
reduce the amount of saliva production. Breathing through
the mouth has a similar drying effect and this most often
occurs when we have not control over it, when we're
sleeping. That's why one of the main reasons we get morning
breath.

There are medical reasons for bad breath as well.
Infections of the respiratory tract tend to easily cause
bad breath. A number of medications are known to cause a
dry mouth, which then leads to bad breath. Antihistamines,
which are used to relieve allergies, high blood pressure
medications and depression medications are all known to
increase bad breath.

Alcohol aids in dehydrating your body, and besides the
general dehydration, it dries out your mouth too. Not only
alcoholic drinks, but also a number of mouthwashes contain
alcohol, so using your mouthwash doesn't make your breath
fresher, it actually makes things worse.

Smoking, in any form directly dries out your mouth. Besides
the obvious health issues related to smoking, it might be
one of the causes of bad breath. If you have a natural
predisposition to bad breath you are almost guaranteed to
have a toxic mouth.

So how come dry mouth is what causes bad breath?

Well, there are bacteria that are naturally found in your
mouth. These bacteria are anaerobic, which literally means
"without oxygen". Saliva helps to prevent bad breath
because of the oxygen present in it, so when the amount of
saliva is reduced, there is a corresponding decrease in how
much oxygen there is to keep the bacteria at bay.

Those bacteria create sulfurous compounds, mostly hydrogen
sulfide, which we usually think of as the smell of bad
eggs. These bacteria are not bad in themselves and help in
the digestive process, by breaking down proteins in your
food. But they love those proteins, so a high protein diet
can often lead to stinkier breath.

Just looking at these few causes of bad breath and taking
reasonable measures to change those habits can lead to much
improved breath, and don't forget that general oral care,
like brushing your teeth 2 or 3 times a day is the first
step.

Please remember that this information is provided for
informational purposes only. I am not a medical
professional, but I do know quite a lot about what causes
bad breath and want to help you improve your breath.

----------------------------------------------------
We want to help you stop bad breath and smell just like
everyone else. http://bad-breath-update.com will guide you
through the process of beating the bad breath bug.

Lose weight the vegan way

It is a misconception that you gain weight by eating too
much. The fact is, you stuff ourselves with the wrong
kinds of food - too much animal-based foods.

Hear this from Dr Terry Shintain, a Hawaiian doctor who is
devoted to helping obese adults slim down and lead
healthier lives. According to him, hunger is a natural
physical drive for you. When you are hungry, you must
satisfy your hunger and eat. That's absolutely nothing
wrong with this fact.

However, to maintain your weight, you only need to eat
foods that deliver 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day. Any
calories above this range will probably cause weight gain.

So do animal foods satisfy your hunger, without piling on
the excess calories? No!

Animal foods are so rich in calories but lack in bulk that
you probably have to eat a lot of them to feel satisfied.
By then, you would have exceeded your daily calorie limit.
If you overeat at every meal and does not expend the excess
calories, the end result will be weight gain.

Then you start to panic and turn to desperate measures like
skipping meals, popping diets pills or going to weight-loss
centers to lose weight. But you still fail because you
feel so deprived while you are on diet as you are already
accustomed to high-fat foods. Worst still, you have to
endure the embarrassing side effects of some weight-loss
treatments.

Eventually you give up because no one can endure these
feelings for long. And the vicious cycle continues.

Now, vegan diet offers a better solution to weight loss
since most plant-based foods are low in calories but high
in fiber and other nutrients.

Fiber is the culprit in reducing hunger and improves
satiety. It helps to move food through the digestive
system faster, thereby reducing the energy absorption.

Consider this : for 2,500 calories, you need to eat 9.4lbs
of apples compared to only 2.1lbs chicken. Can you imagine
eating 9.4lbs of apples to feel satisfied? You probably
feel full after 2 apples and that's not even half of 2,500
calories.

That's why plant foods allow you to eat as much as you
like-without consuming extra calories.

Vegans obtain 55-65% of their calories from unrefined
carbohydrates. These complex carbohydrates actually speed
up your metabolic rate even while resting, It also enhance
the release of seratonin (a chemical in the brain which
affects emotion, behaviour and thought) which helps to
suppress further cravings.

You can find out more about the calories of each food so
that you will have an idea of your calories count.

The whole idea is to eat the widest possible variety of
fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans and to eat when
you're hungry, stop when you're full.

Ultimately, you still need to strike a balance of body,
mind and spirit in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. The
choice is yours.

----------------------------------------------------
Laura Ng has successfully shed off 7kg within a year,
without starving herself or popping diet pills. She's so
radiant and full of energy which is the envy of all her
friends. Now she's willing to share her secrets with you -
http://www.ionehealth.com/affpdt/FL4I.htm . Grab a copy of
it NOW! If you want to reduce your risk to heart diseases
and cancer, get more health tips now at :
http://www.iOneHealth.com

Are Side Effects of ADHD Drugs Worse Than ADHD Symptoms?

Most ADHD drugs often leave a patient with side effects. In
some circumstances, the side effects have been said to be
just as bad, if not worse than the symptoms of ADHD
themselves. So could this possibly be true?

Understanding ADHD Symptoms and ADHD Drug Side Effects

In order to know whether ADHD drug side effects are worse
than ADHD symptoms, you need to first understand how each
one differs. The symptoms of ADHD may include:
- A lack of attention to detail.
- Hyperactivity.
- Becoming fed up easily and possibly aggressive.
- Not listening attentively.
- Interrupting frequently during a conversation.

ADHD symptoms can cause a child to appear rude, aggressive
and hyperactive, but it all really depends upon the
severity of the condition as each child will react
differently. Some children will only experience slight
attention difficulties, whilst others can be overly
aggressive and disruptive.

Now, the side effects of some ADHD drugs can be:
- Insomnia
- Tummy upsets
- Weight loss
- Headaches
- Mood changes

Obviously the side effect that stands out is mood changes
as ADHD symptoms mainly include the mood of a child. Some
medications can cause the child to become more aggressive
and worse behaved than they were before they took the
medication. This is to do with the medication wearing off
and the effects which it has had on the body can cause a
worse reaction once the drug has worn off.

Are Side Effects of ADHD Drugs a Problem?

The advantages of ADHD drugs usually far outweigh the
disadvantages; however it is possible for a child taking
ADHD drugs to experience serious side effects. With all
ADHD medication, it is likely that at least one side effect
will be felt, but usually it is a mild one which does not
last for long. Whilst the side effects can be mild and
there are ways to minimize them, there are times when the
side effects can be so bad that they are unbearable for
both the child and parent. Medications which cause further
problems to the child's mood and behaviours often cause
parents to feel like they are at a loss as to what to do
next.

It isn't only changes in the mood that can be worrying.
Insomnia can cause the child to be more irritable and
problems with concentration can become worse. Headaches can
also be unpleasant, as can tummy upsets too.

Whilst drugs are helpful for managing ADHD symptoms to a
certain extent, they can potentially cause worse side
effects than the symptoms of ADHD. In these cases,
alternative ADHD treatments such as herbal remedies,
behavioural therapy and special educational interventions
should be sought. It is essential to consult with the
doctor before stopping any ADHD medications and trying
alternative treatments.

----------------------------------------------------
Although drug medications such as Ritalin and Adderall are
commonly prescribed to manage ADHD symptoms, they are not
without side effects. Check out the all natural and drug
free treatments for ADHD at
http://www.guidetoadhd.com/prd-side

Got Diabetes and Wondering How Your Blood Glucose Monitor Actually Works?

Are you one of the increasing number of people with
diabetes who needs to monitor their blood sugar levels at
home. If so, it is important to know how the tests work and
what can effect the results giving inaccurate readings.

Diabetes Mellitus is a widespread disease that is caused by
high blood glucose. However, it is not extremely difficult
to cure and there have been cases of patients recovering
from diabetes and continuing a normal life. There are many
ways to control and monitor diabetes. For a long time,
urine has been used as a way to check the amount of glucose
in the body. However, it is no longer considered reliable.
In its place, now blood is used. A machine that is now very
commonly used to evaluate abnormal and normal blood glucose
level is the Blood Glucose Monitor.

A blood glucose monitor or glucose meter is a small
portable battery-powered electronic device that now comes
in several models. The glucose meter is used to determine
the deviations from the normal blood glucose level. The
glucose test and the glucose reading are used to diagnose
diabetes. These machines provide glucose readings from 0 to
600 mg/dl. Newer models now allow people to use blood from
places other than the fingertip, which is the most common
place from which it is extracted. Some models have large
digital display and even spoken instructions for people
with visual problems. Some models require smaller drops of
blood than others. One must be careful while choosing a
model, as it is an expenditure that has to be thought over.
It is advisable to discuss with other users before buying
one as all models have their pluses and minuses.

A blood glucose meter is an instrument that can be used
even at home. This Blood glucose meter is used for taking a
glucose test and it is a must have for those undergoing
diabetes treatment. There is usually a special coated strip
on which a drop of blood is placed. The blood is usually
taken from the fingertip using a lancing device, which
shoots a small, lancet into the skin. However, it is not
necessary for it to be taken from the fingertip and
sometimes blood is taken from other places like the
forearm, thigh, calf or upper arm as the fingertip often
gets calloused and sore. The blood is placed on the
opposite side of the strip though this depends on the blood
glucose meter. Then this strip is inserted into the blood
glucose meter.

The blood reacts with chemicals on the strip and the blood
glucose meter receives an electronic pulse. The machine
then calculates the amount of glucose in the blood and
displays glucose reading on the digital screen. A record of
the readings will go a long way in helping the physician
decide on the kind of diabetes treatment that needs to be
given to the patient.

There is also another way of detecting the abnormal or
normal blood glucose level in the body. Here, the drop of
blood is placed on a special strip that changes color,
depending on the amount of glucose. There is a color-coded
index that comes along with it that will have listed the
particular color the strip changes into when it reacts with
the blood and judges the amount of glucose in it. There
will be different colors for different amount of glucose.
However glucose reading is not very accurate, as it does
not give you the exact amount of glucose present.

A blood glucose monitor gives fairly accurate readings if
used properly. The glucose meter has to be maintained. It
may become old and dirty and if it is kept at high
temperature or humidity, the machine's glucose reading may
become inaccurate. It must be cleaned with a slightly damp
cloth every now and then, to keep it dirt free. The hand
from which the blood is taken must be clean and dry.
Otherwise, the dirt may interfere with the glucose test
results.

This glucose test will help people keep track of the
glucose level in their blood and control their normal blood
glucose levels and continue their diabetes treatment
effectively. They will be help patients to make dietary
changes and adjust their consumption of fat and
carbohydrates. This will help them maintain normal blood
glucose level and undertake any glucose treatment if
necessary.

----------------------------------------------------
Michael Jennings has a special interest in diabetes and
invites you to find out how to manage diabetes naturally
through diet. He also supplies up-to-date information on
blood glucose monitors and diabetes to help you in the
management of your condition ==>
http://www.meters-blood-glucose.com

Natural Weight Loss Herbs

Imagine being able to stroll on the beaches of Brazil clad
in a bikini and not feeling the least self-conscious. If
you are one who worries about your figure but find that you
are not able to get rid of the excess fat in the wrong
places, here's some good news for you. There's a miracle
natural weight loss herb in the market that guarantees to
make you slimmer the natural way – by suppressing your
desire to eat more. If you want to see it in action, just
visit the Brazilian beaches and you'll find plenty of
pretty girls walking around proudly showing off their
figures, because they've benefited from these natural
weight loss herbs. That's why we started off asking you to
imagine yourself strolling on a beach in Brazil. You
could, of course, do that in any other beach in the world
as well!

The new natural weight loss herb sensation from Brazil ,
contains pure Caigua, Cha de bugre, Bladderwrack and
Hercampuri, all naturally occurring herbs that have been
popular for long as weight control aids in South America.
These natural weight loss herbs offer a completely natural
way to lose weight, without any side effects. These natural
weight loss herbs act by suppressing your appetite after
eating a small amount of food so that you lose the
sensation of hunger and the desire to eat more. In
addition, the natural weight loss herbs also naturally
enhance the body's metabolism to enable it to combat
obesity.

Bladderwrack is a sea vegetable that has plenty of iodine,
and acts as a concentrated source of iodine for your body.
Iodine has been known for long to help in production of
thyroid hormones, which keep the body metabolism healthy.
This in turn helps in fighting obesity.

Hercampuri and Caigua are natural weight loss herbs that
have been in use in Peru for hundreds of years. The effect
of these natural weight loss herbs have also been
established through clinical studies. Cha de bugre is
another natural weight loss herb that is sold freely in
Brazil where it is grown. The herb has been recommended as
an excellent weight loss aid by Dr. G.L. Cruz in a book
titled 'Dictionary of Plants Used in Brazil'.

The above herbs do not have any reported drug interactions
or contraindications, except in the case of Caigua, which
can make cholesterol-lowering drugs more potent. For this
reason, if you are taking Cholesterol lowering drugs you
may need to reduce the dosage. You should therefore consult
your physician before starting on this herb, if you are on
Cholesterol lowering drugs.

----------------------------------------------------
Patricia McDougall B.Sc. is a Chartered Herbalist and
graduate of the Dominion Herbal College, British Columbia,
Canada. Originally from Peru, Patricia is the Director of
Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC of
Newark Delaware.
http://www.amazon-botanicals.com/Natural_weight_loss_herbs_s
/45.htm

Ideas for choosing a Luxury Hot Tub in Spain

There is a fantastic choice when it comes to selecting a
Hot Tub Jacuzzi Spa as sizes vary considerably as regards
how many people they can accommodate and this article is
going to cover some of the larger sizes and more specialist
features that are available. Every spa is made of several
basic components: a shell with jets, a cabinet, air
injectors, and water pump(s). The question to ask is how
well has the Spa manufacturer carefully engineered these
components so that they work to gether.

A spa made by a leading manufacturer probably with at
least 40 years of experience will have models where the
components work together, which leads to outstanding
hydrotherapy . You can enjoy a vigorous or soothing massage
– with the ability to customize your massage to suit your
mood. Since hydrotherapy is very much a personal
experience, the better made spas are designed with
adjustable controls and innovative options.

Leading manufacturers adopt technically advanced systems
and American computer controls which enables maximum
performance from the pumps, heaters and blowers to give you
the best aqua flow to provide an excellent Hydro Massage.
Jets are scientifically placed to deliver the flow of water
to your body's pressure points, while allowing you to
control the intensity.

There is scientific proof of the benefits of hydrotherapy.
Not only does it relieves stress, but it promotes healing,
reduces muscle tension, increases circulation and speeds
recovery. A soak in a Hot Tub is not just relaxing - it is
therapeutic. You will find that nothing compares with the
rejuvinating effects of a total body hydromassage. The warm
soothing water and the feeling of bouyancy ease away your
pain and stress and provide you with the respite you so
richly deserve.

Leading manufacturers use state of the Art Spa Technology
quite often using Balboa Controls who are acknowledged as
being one of the best in the field. I speak with experience
having telephoned them a couple of times and their response
is second to none. Not only do they respond to telephone
calls but they answer emails with in a very short term
indeed. Based on my experience of dealing with balboa I
would buy a spa with Balboa Controls with out a shadow of a
doubt. With out Balboa I would not buy a spa period...

Some Spas have built in sound systems and there is one
leading spa which has a 200 watt stereo sound system with
sub woofer and speakers built into the water. Not only does
this produce superior sound it obviously allows you to feel
and experience the sound through the water. This produces
not only a fantastic and enriched sound but it adds
another dimension to your massage. These packages also
include separate speakers for the Patio or the Terrace.

Many spas have lights and a great lighting effect whereby
you can change the colour and indeed get a disco effect if
you wish. However some luxury spas offer the option of
perimeter lighting where by they have lights all round the
outside of the spa underwater of course. These are often
LED lights and are brighter and more reliable than fibre
optics. Led lighting is used in vehicle for their rear
lights and may last up to ten years. In a spa they can
provide a fantastic cascade of colour lighting up a
waterfall, top rails and underwater spas seats. Drift away
in a luxury high powered luxury spa. If you have the
Maximum amount of jets and features incorporated into a Spa
with jets deliver a soothing massage to relieve those
tired, stressed muscles. Relax and listen to the tranquil
spa waterfall as it soothes your troubles away.

.

----------------------------------------------------
The author John Lewis supplies premium quality Hot Tubs on
the Costa Del Sol In Spain and his web site is at
http://www.spas4you.com

The Advantages Of Healthy Cooking

In today's society there is a lot more emphasis placed on
health than in years past. People are more educated about
what is, and what is not, good for their health. Healthy
cooking is one way to provide optimum health for yourself
and those you love. Knowing what foods are good for you is
only the first step. You must also know how to prepare
those foods in the healthiest way possible.

Healthy cooking can improve your overall health by reducing
fat in the arteries which could lead to blockage. Reducing
this fat will help keep arteries open and will keep the
blood flowing at an optimum rate. Reducing fat also helps
to promote a lean body composition instead of a fat one.
People who are lean will generally feel better, look
better, and have more energy than people who are carrying
excess pounds.

Healthy cooking does not necessarily have to mean bland
cooking. You can substitute olive oil for other oils that
are higher in fat. Olive oil provides additional flavor as
well as helping to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol the
body retains. Cutting back on the amount of oil used will
also help the body control cholesterol levels. The use of
fresh herbs can provide a ton of flavor without causing the
body to retain water or raise blood pressure. With a little
experimentation you might find you actually prefer fresh
herbs to salt.

Choosing The Right Cookware

The benefits of healthy cooking do not all relate to the
foods we cook. The right cookware can provide you with many
healthy options. There are many companies today that are
making what is known as "grease less and waterless"
cookware. This type cookware is usually made of heavy
stainless steel and has a lid that locks when steam begins
to build. This keeps more of the healthy nutrients in the
food instead of pouring them down the drain with added
water. By consuming more of the natural nutrients found in
fresh vegetables you will have more energy without feeling
sluggish. Consuming more nutrients will also help you feel
full faster so you will naturally consume less food. There
is also considerable research that claims consuming higher
nutrient content in foods will slow the progress of aging.

This type of cookware is also designed to cook without
adding fat. You can actually fry chicken without adding any
fat whatsoever. You might think the chicken would not be
edible but it actually contains enough fat within the meat
to make is crisp and tasty.

Healthy cooking can improve many aspects of your life and
could possibly add many healthy years to your life. The
most obvious are keeping cholesterol low and maintaining a
healthy blood pressure but there are others that are just
as important. Consuming less sugar can help keep blood
sugar levels low and help with the prevention of diabetes.
It is never too late to begin a healthy diet and also
healthy cooking is not as difficult as some might think.
The health rewards are definitely worth the time and effort.

----------------------------------------------------
For more information on cooking healthy and to find
thousands of other articles, products and resources, go to:
=> http://cooking.cyberbizonline.com

3 Myths Busted About Women and Weight Training

So ladies, what can weight training do for you? Weight
training will give you near-perfect symmetry and put curves
and definition in all the right places. Muscle is firm and
toned, not soft and mushy. Muscle gives you strength,
health, vitality and a beautiful body. Also, weight
training will decrease your chance of injuries in everyday
life and recreational activities. Weight training improves
work, sleep, endurance, sex and many other areas of your
life.

Myth #1: Women Must Train Differently Then Men

BUSTED: Training for ladies shouldn't differ that much from
men's training. Women have the same number of muscles and
they contact in the same fashion. The only difference
between men and women are hormones.

Men naturally have higher levels of testosterone, a
muscle-building hormone, while women are constantly
fighting the estrogen issue, a fat storing hormone. Now I'm
not saying that just because you are female and have higher
levels of estrogen you are doomed to gain weight. What I'm
saying is that we can use what you have to your advantage.

Regular weight training will build lean body mass. The more
body lean body mass you acquire, the higher you raise your
metabolism. An increased metabolism results in more
calories burned per minute. Sounds interesting? Read on....

Myth #2: Muscle Weighs More Than Fat

BUSTED: A statement I hear a lot is that muscle weighs more
than fat. The fact of the matter is that a pound of muscle
and a pound of fat weigh the same, a pound. A pound of
muscle is more dense and takes up less space than a pound
of fat does.

Muscle allows you to eat more food without getting fat
because muscle is the only body material that is
metabolically active. Once you put muscle on your body you
will burn an additional twenty to thirty calories an hour.
Bodybuilders actually burn fifty to seventy-five additional
calories per hour.

Myth #3: Muscle Turns to Fat

BUSTED: A misconception that I hear many women saying is
that they don't want to workout because if they stop the
muscle will turn to fat. Now, let's analyze this statement.
People begin resistance training program in order to rid
the body of fat, not to gain it. Muscle can't turn into fat
any more than fat can turn to muscle. Muscle (metabolically
active) and fat (metabolically inactive) are two completely
different tissues responsible for their own functions. Just
as your heart and liver are two different organs performing
completely different functions, the same goes for muscle
and fat. Now I ask you, can your heart turn into your
liver, or vise versa? If there were any truth to the above
statement there would be a lot of people out there with
great muscle potential, if you catch my drift.

An explanation to the above myth is that some bodybuilders
do gain extra weight off-season in preparation for the up
coming competitive season. Many veterans of bodybuilding
gain weight when they get older or retire, how does that
differ from the average American?

There is a biological reason for the weight gain. The
metabolism slows down as we age, meaning the body needs
fewer calories per day to maintain itself. The downfall is
that most people, including bodybuilders, don't reduce
their caloric intake to compensate for this slowdown and
the end result is fat gain.

Another explanation is that bodybuilders, in hard training,
develop enormous appetites and need the extra calories for
muscle growth and repair. If the intake stays the same when
training volume is reduced or ceased, the unburned calories
get stored as fat; again, this is no different than the
average American.

Stop Making Excuses

Simply put, stop making excuses. Not exercising is far more
harmful to your body, image, and health than working out.
Exercising and nutrition is a learned lifestyle, if you are
not consistent with it you will decrease muscle and
increase fat, but muscle definitely will never turn into
fat.

----------------------------------------------------
Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988.
She is a nationally qualified bodybuilder and holds two
personal training certifications. She has written 6 ebooks
on fitness and has helped hundreds of clients transform
their bodies.

http://www.iron-dolls.com
"Use of this article is authorized provided it is
reproduced in full, and all web URLS are active hyperlinks
directed to the author"

Body Shaping: How to build a Nice Butt

The late Vince Gironda, a legend in bodybuilding circles,
had some eccentric opinions. It's said that his gym in
Studio City, California was devoid of free weight squat
racks because he believed squatting exercises only created
"turnip thighs" and a big butt. Well, what on earth is
wrong with thighs that are big near the top (as long as
it's muscular size) and a booty that has a protruding
contour? These are muscles as deserving of respect and
attention as any other. And in the case of the gluteus
maximus; it possesses the potential to carry more power and
size than any other muscle in the body.

Sometimes it appeared that Mr. Gironda's assertion was that
only men shouldn't build their butts. This seems like a
sexist opinion. Given that surveys of women have repeatedly
revealed that they look at the male posterior as much as
vice versa, it'd be natural to assume that inspiring a
woman to improve her rear contour might be best
accomplished by her male counterpart improving his. Yet I
think most women are aware of their derrières and want to
make them more appealing. For this reason, the motivation
through inspiration might need to go in the other
direction. Regardless, building a better butt is best done
with the same process (whether you're male or female),
despite what some would have you believe with their
recommendations.

The number one body shaping principle to keep in mind for
improving your butt is to realize that "shaping" or
"firming" the area actually requires some muscle building.
Adopting the widespread notion that you can noticeably
change your glutes without adding some muscle to them will
likely lead to unsatisfying results and disillusionment.
Muscles don't really improve in shape or become harder
without adding new muscle tissue. If you lose three pounds
of fat from this region and don't simultaneously gain three
pounds of muscle, you'll have a net loss in glute size and
it's unlikely that you'll have a nicer butt. This seems
especially likely given the fact that muscle weighs more
than fat, thereby resulting in less visual mass created by
three pounds of muscle than three pounds of fat. Of course,
the muscle will likely be more visually appealing than even
a third of that fat, but that's venturing in to subjective
opinion.

What we want are some objectively reliable methods for
steadily building the glutes. The two most effective
exercises I know of for accomplishing this are deep squats
and stiff-legged dead-lifts. These two movements will build
size and shape in your glutes faster and more impressively
than doing endless lunges across a gym floor. Yet the
performance of lunges is ubiquitous among women while squat
racks and stiff-legged dead-lift platforms often appear
abandoned by the same. Actually, they seem abandoned by men
also. This could be due to the fact that working the glutes
within a lower body workout can be an arduous endeavor.

One incredibly effective machine for performing
glute-bulging, deep squats while easily maintaining safety
is the squat machine by BodyMaster. It has a forty-five
degree angled platform to stand on while supporting the
weight with arched shoulder pads. When facing inward
(toward the weight) on this machine, you can perform what
people refer to as a "power squat". With your feet placed
as far back on the platform as they safely can be and
shoulder width apart, squat downward until your butt
touches the back of your heels. This will require that you
stick your butt outward as you descend to the deepest part
of the squat in order that you don't strain your lower
back. It's this hip-protruding posture from the deepest
squatting position to the halfway point on your way back up
where the gluteus muscles get their best workout.

Stiff-legged dead-lifts might seem counter-intuitive.
Society tells us to bend at the knees when we pick up
something heavy. But that instruction assumes that our only
alternative is to lift from the lower back – which is NOT
where you should lift from while doing this exercise.
Bodybuilders know that there is also the option of lifting
primarily from the hamstring and glute muscles when picking
something up without the use of the quadriceps. Moreover,
if you keep your mind focused on your gluteus muscles while
lifting the weight, you'll be performing an exercise that
is second-to-none for building a strong and incredibly
shapely butt.

When performing stiff-legged dead-lifts, it's best be on a
platform specifically designed for the exercise. This
platform provides a rack for the weight bar at about hip
level. It's also narrower than the width of the bar so as
to allow the plates on the bar to drop lower than the
platform you're standing on when you're at the bottom of
the movement. Make sure you keep your feet just slightly
wider than shoulder width (for better glute involvement),
and bend very slightly at the knees. Holding the bar with
your hands at shoulder width, lower the weight by bending
at the hips until the bar touches the top of your feet near
your lower shins. Then, keeping the back stiff and slightly
arched, bring your body back up to nearly upright while
pulling from your glute muscles. Be sure to keep the bar up
against your body throughout the movement to help prevent
using your back.

NEVER attempt these exercises if you have a back injury and
always consult your physician before beginning a routine
involving these exercises or any other training regimen for
that matter.

That said, here is the best four-exercise routine I'd
recommend for building the butt:

1. Deep Squats (BodyMaster machine): (4-7 sets of 6 reps)

2. Stiff-legged dead-lifts: (4-7 sets of 6 reps)

3. Leg curls (4-7 sets of 6 reps)

4. Lunges (4 sets of 6 reps)

Yes, I recommend lunges too. However, I suggest doing them
at the end of the routine when the glutes have been
pre-exhausted by the previous exercises. Also, I recommend
that you do them one leg at a time rather than alternating
between legs by walking them across the gym floor.

Perform this routine no more than once per week and less
often as you progress in development. These exercises, in
this sequence, are the surest way I know of for creating an
eye-catching… uh… derrière.

----------------------------------------------------
Scott Abbett is the author of HardBody Success: 28
Principles to Create Your Ultimate Body and Shape Your Mind
for Incredible Success. He is a certified fitness trainer
and a Master Practitioner and Trainer of NLP. To see his
personal transformation, visit http://
http://www.hardbodysuccess.com

Use Beta-Carotene As A Powerhouse Anti-Oxidant

Vitamin A is one of nature's most valuable anti-oxidants,
and is also vital for preventing and fighting infection.
Well known animal sources are foods such as egg yolks, milk
and liver, along with the traditionally reviled fish liver
oils.

Plant sources, however, will be more palatable for many,
and may also have the advantage of providing additional
anti-oxidant activity.

"Carotenoids" is the generic term used to describe a large
range of more than 600 pigments synthesized by plants. In
modern Western diets those most frequently encountered are
alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein,
zeaxanthin, and lycopene.

Much attention has been focussed on alpha-carotene and
beta-carotene as these can be synthesised by the body to
form vitamin A, whereas this is not true of lutein,
zeaxanthin, and lycopene.

Alpha and beta-carotene from plant foods are readily
synthesised into vitamin A by the body. But only about 20%
of dietary alpha-carotene will be used in this way, the
remainder will function as a highly effective anti-oxidant
in its own right, particularly within the fatty membranes
of the body's cells. The same is true of the better known
beta-carotene, except that this is much more active in
terms of vitamin A provision, around 40% of dietary intake
being converted into vitamin A. Surplus beta-carotene
functions as an anti-oxidant in its own right, and also
provides a significant boost for the immune system.

Both alpha and beta-carotene are highly fat-soluble
anti-oxidants and therefore particularly effective in
protecting against free radical damage to the vital fatty
structures of the body's cells, such as the membranes.

Research also suggests that high levels of carotenoids in
the blood may help prevent the oxidation of Low Density
Lipids (LDLs), the so-called "bad cholesterol", which is
now heavily implicated in the development of the
atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries which is a
common precursor of cardio-vascular disease such as heart
attack and stroke. One study of 5,000 middle aged and
elderly adults showed a reduced heart attack risk of
between 45-55% for people following a high beta-carotene
diet, the higher figure being in respect of smokers within
the group.

Numerous studies, too, have demonstrated the potential of
beta-carotene as a weapon against cancer. This is probably
because of its general anti-oxidant function, but also
because of its proven role in keeping open the pathways
between cells, which are vital to allow the immune system
to kill off cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

Conventional medical wisdom tends to accept the value of a
diet rich in carotenoids but, confusingly, argues that the
positive effects may be due to factors associated with such
diets other than the carotenoids themselves. But
alternative practitioners, of course, admit to no such
doubts and are convinced of the benefits – particularly of
the highly vitamin A active beta-carotene.

Whilst affirming the benefits of a diet naturally rich in
carotenoids - ie in the kinds of fruits and vegetables
detailed below, they insist that the maximum benefits of
alpha and beta-carotene, the latter particularly, can only
be secured through high dosage supplementation.
Practitioners argue that studies discounting the effects of
such supplementation are flawed because they have looked
only at dosages too low to be effective.

And certainly the dosages they recommend appear massive –
between 70,000 and 90,000 IU being proposed as the optimum
to assist in the fight against both heart disease and
cancer. To get this in perspective, these figures are
equivalent to around 42,000 and 54,000 mcg of beta-carotene
respectively, that's to say approximately 3 to 4 cups of
cooked carrots (around 13,000 mcg each).

Now, clearly an awful lot of fruit and vegetables need to
be consumed to achieve the kind of intake of beta-carotene
that the alternative practitioners recommend. And it also
needs to be noted that optimum absorption of carotenes
depends on the presence of a reasonable amount of dietary
fat. So chopping, pureeing, and cooking carotenoid rich
vegetables in oil is the ideal way to maximise the
bio-availability of these nutrients. But it's neither
convenient nor appetising. And whilst an 8 fl oz glass of
carrot juice provides around 22,000 mcg (37,000 IU) of
beta-carotene, would you consider giving up your morning
coffee in its favour? Me neither!

But apart from the convenience, another point in favour of
supplementation is that it appears not to be harmful in any
likely dosage. In fact the only side effect to have been
noted even from doses as high as 250,000 IU has been a
benign, if unflattering, "fake tan" skin pigmentation,
which very quickly vanishes upon the reduction of the dose.
So it appears that supplementation may do some good, is
extremely unlikely to do any harm, but for best results
should be taken as part of a normal daily diet already well
supplied with carotenoid rich foods.

----------------------------------------------------
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in
direct marketing and with a particular interest in health
products. Find out more at
http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/In
formation.htm

Bluetooth Hearing Aids: What You Need To Know

Bluetooth wireless technology allows wireless communication
between electronic devices. Bluetooth uses short-range
wireless radio technology to connect devices to each other,
generally within a distance of 30 ft. Newer devices may
have ranges of over 100 ft. It eliminates the need for
wires to be connected to all the devices, making it much
easier to operate them.

Although Bluetooth technology has been around for a while
it is now becoming the new standard for most electronic
devices. For those who wear hearing aids the technology
provides the ability to use hands free devices along with
the hearing aid. As most hearing aid users know, in the
past, there have been compatibility issues with hearing
aids and devices such as cell phone headsets and iPod ear
piece. However, the latest technology incorporates
Bluetooth wireless technology into hearing aids, making
them compatible with many Bluetooth enabled devices.

Bluetooth enabled hearing aids use this wireless technology
twofold. Bluetooth wireless technology allows for
communication between two hearing aids. This helps to get
the most natural hearing enhancement possible. The two
hearing aids "talk" to each other to make instantaneous
enhancements to improve hearing. Another exciting function
of Bluetooth enabled hearing aids is wireless connectivity
with other Bluetooth enabled devices such as cell phones
and music players. This technology is a vast improvement
over hearing aids in the past which were often incompatible
with other devices.

Several leading manufacturers have developed Bluetooth
enabled hearing aids. Oticon's newest hearing aid range is
called Epoq. It provides wireless binaural communication
between the right and left hearing aids to make
stereophonic sound more natural. Integrated Bluetooth
technology also enables the Epoq hearing aid to get mobile
phone reception directly into it. This effectively
eliminates the need for attached wires, which in the past
was the only way to provide connectivity.

The Phonak's Smartlink uses integrated Bluetooth technology
to enable bi-directional digital link between the hearing
aid and a Bluetooth enabled cell phone. An external audio
input or microphone signal can also be transmitted
wirelessly via Smartlink to the hearing aid by attaching to
the smart interface.

Starkey Laboratories offers the Eli hearing aid, which
incorporates Bluetooth technology allowing communication
between hearing aid users, and the growing assortment of
Bluetooth enabled devices such as a cell phone. The Eli is
the smallest Bluetooth enabled hearing aid on the market.

Those who are shopping for their first hearing aid will do
well by purchasing one with Bluetooth technology. No
matter what your needs, Bluetooth technology is the wave of
the future and will enable you to connect easily and
wirelessly with many devices. All of the major hearing aid
companies are developing their own hearing aids that
utilize Bluetooth technology. Working with a hearing
health care professional will ensure that you choose the
hearing aid that is best for you and your specific hearing
loss.

----------------------------------------------------
For people with hearing problems, getting quality hearing
aids can open up a new world to them. Bluetooth hearing
aids are becoming more discreet, fashionable and high tech,
making them a good choice for the young and old. Check out
our top resources on best hearing aids at
http://www.abouthearingaid.com/art-blue

Glue Ear in Children - Do You Know the Causes and the Effects on Their Hearing?

Could your child develop glue ear and suffer hearing loss
without your knowledge?

Glue Ear is a hearing impairment commonly seen in children.
It results in a hearing loss with an average of 20 decibels
(db HL). Due to this condition, normal speech seems to be a
whisper. Glue ear is mostly seen in small children around
the age of three. As the children get older, the
probability of glue ear reduces.

Glue ear is a painless condition. The back of the eardrum
fills with a thick, sticky fluid, which causes blockage in
the middle ear. The movement of bones is minimized in the
ear due to the thick fluid. This leads to loss of hearing.
If glue ear is not given proper treatment, it will lead to
delayed speech in young children, and affect a child's
behavior and educational progress. Sometimes, it may cause
permanent damage to hearing.

The thick yellowish white fluid behind the eardrum looks
like glue, hence the name glue ear. It is also known as
chronic otitis media with effusion, or middle ear effusion
or secretory otitis media.

Causes Of Glue Ear

Glue ear occurs when there is a problem in the Eustachian
tube. This tube connects the middle ear to back of the
throat and nose. The middle ear is filled with air that
travels through the Eustachian tube to the back of the
nose. The tube helps the middle ear to drain the fluids.

When there is an ear infection, the Eustachian tube swells.
This swelling blocks the middle ear drainage. As a result,
there will not be a proper airflow from the tube to the
nose. When this happens, the middle ear builds up pressure,
which leads to the formation of a thick and glue-like
fluid. This fluid fills the middle ear which leads to
partial deafness.

In the case of babies, the Eustachian tube is shorter and
straighter that in adults. This makes them less efficient
in draining the ear, which results in blockage. Children,
when colds and sore throats in children can infect the tube
will lead to glue ear. And in some children, the adenoids
are likely to be increased in size. This will block the
opening of the tube, which in turn leads to hearing loss.

Effects Of Glue Ear

A person suffering from glue ear will have muffled hearing.
It will not be complete deafness. Detecting hearing loss in
small children is not easy since they will not be able to
converse properly. Such children may not pay attention to
others. School children may be poor at studies. They will
want to watch TV with the sound volume high. In the case of
babies, there will be a delay in speech. The early stages
of glue ear will be pain free. Children suffering from this
disease will be clumsier than normal. If not detected in
time, it will lead to impaired hearing.

Treatment for Glue Ear

There are various treatments for curing glue ear. It can be
done either by intake of medicines or by minor surgery.
Glue ear can be treated by three methods:

• Antibiotics: Antibiotic therapy has been proved effective
for children suffering from glue ear. Due to the infection,
which leads to glue ear, the child will suffer from pain.
Antibiotics are the best-prescribed medicines for glue ear.
If the infection is present and if it is not treated on
time, child will end up with a hearing loss.

• Myringotomy: Myringotomy is a method, which helps in
draining the fluid from the middle ear. A small opening is
made on the eardrum. This incision helps in removing the
fluid from the middle ear. It takes about a week's time for
the eardrum to heal.

Myringotomy is also done to insert ear tubes in the
eardrums. This helps in allowing free flow of air between
the Eustachian tube and the nose and throat. It also helps
in further drainage of fluids.

• Ear Tubes: Ear tubes are also called tympanostomy tubes,
or grommets. In ear tube surgery, the surgeon will make an
incision in the eardrum to remove the excess fluid from the
middle ear. A small metal or plastic tube will be inserted
through this incision. This will help in removing the
excess fluid through the ear canal. The operation is done
through the eardrum externally without any cut on the
child's skin.

Once the ear tube is placed, the child's hearing capability
will be back to normal. The tube stays in the ear. It will
fall out on its own once the eardrum closes.

When the child is suffering from glue ear, make sure that
water does not enter his eardrum. The child should have
earplugs or cotton coated with petroleum jelly to avoid the
water getting inside the ear. This can help in reducing
further infection and pain.

----------------------------------------------------
If you, or someone you know has hearing loss, you know how
isolating that condition can be. Keep up with the latest on
digital hearing aids - information that Michael Jennings
has put together on the subject of hearing loss ==>
http://www.hearing-aids-go-digital.com

3 Weeks to Successful Weight Loss

There is an endless supply of diets and dietary supplements
available on the market today, and that market continues to
expand. The question is why are there so many products
available?

The answer is quite simple, there is a huge demand for
products that will enable people to lose weight and live
healthier lives. People that have problems with their
weight are desperate to lose weight and are driven to pay
millions of dollars of their money each year in the vain
hope of finding something that is going to help them do
that.

Unfortunately there are a number of unscrupulous companies
that are prepared to take advantage of the situation, by
making outrageous claims about what their products can do.

In fact some of these claims border on the ridiculous,
ranging from losing anything between 30-50 pounds a month.
It is possible to lose 30 pounds a month, just stop eating.
However this will only be a temporary answer and very soon
all the weight will return.

Even with all the products available, statistics show that
91% of the people that try to lose weight through
conventional methods fail to lose any significant weight
for any length of time. The facts speak for themselves,
dieting in its traditional form will simply not work for
the large majority of the population.

The dilemma lies in not so much with the people that use
dieting but with the information that is NOT provided to
them. I know there is a ton of information out there, but
that obviously isn't working.

There is one key element that is essential if you want to
lose weight, without this factor you will find it very
difficult if not impossible to lose weight in the long term.

This key element is the 'state of your MIND' or more to the
point the state of your 'sub-conscious MIND'. It's beyond
belief that this vital ingredient is often missed or
ignored by most weight loss programs.

You can compare your sub-conscious to a computer. It
receives data from you, and the world around you. Using
this information it creates a picture of who you are and
what your role is in your world. This picture is called
your self image, now your sub-conscious creates your self
image purely from information. It doesn't test to see if
this information is true, it doesn't judge this
information, and it doesn't care how this information
affects you. All that it is interested in is creating your
self image, protecting it, and make your behaviours fit it.

If you are overweight, your sub-conscious will have an
image of you as a person who is overweight. This image has
been created through the messages that have been sent to it
over the years.

These messages could have come from:

The food that you eat, How little you exercise, The size of
the clothes that you wear, What you see in the mirror What
you see when you step on the scales, What others say about
you, What you think and say about yourself.

All these messages have been reinforced over the years and
are strongly embedded into your self image and your
behaviour will be reflected by that.

When you go on a diet all goes well for a few weeks, but
then things get much harder. You find that thoughts and
excuses enter your mind, which begin to stop you from doing
what you know you should be doing and your motivation and
willpower begins to erode, and soon you are back to where
you started.

This happens because the changes that you are trying to
make do not fit in with your self image, and your
sub-conscious mind begins to move you away from what you
are trying to do. Many of your behaviours are based on what
is in your sub-conscious and it is very powerful. It
basically tells you that you shouldn't be doing these sorts
of things because you are an overweight person and that is
not the sort of behaviour that suits who you are. This is
why many people fail to lose weight.

The question is how can you change your self image? Well
the answer is that you must start feeding your
sub-conscious new and different information. Now this is
the important part. The information you feed your
sub-conscious does not have to be true, it just needs to be
supplied on a regular daily basis. Your sub-conscious
doesn't care if the information is true or not, if it
continues to receive it, it will then have to produce a
result based on the messages it gets, it's that simple.

One of the best ways to send new information is through
affirmations; these are short statements which are repeated
on a regular basis. What you need to do is to write down a
list of positive affirmations in the present tense and read
or speak them to yourself on a daily basis. Write your own
or use the ones below.

I am healthy, I easily lose weight, I am strong mentally
and physically, I enjoy exercise, I eat food which I know
is good for me, I am a very motivated person, I achieve
anything that I want to, I am a winner.

It's more powerful if you can say these out aloud, and say
them with determination, conviction, and really feel the
meaning behind the words. It's important that you say these
words first thing in the morning, last thing at night and a
few times during the day. You need to do this for 3 weeks,
as it takes roughly 21 days for a habit to form.

Don't forget that it doesn't matter if these statements are
not true, it's not important. What's important is that your
sub-conscious mind keeps getting these messages. You may
even feel a little silly at first, ignore these thoughts
and just do it.

You will begin to notice a difference in your thinking in
10-14 days. You may find that your motivation to lose
weight is really high. However do not change your diet or
begin an exercise program, just follow the steps for 21
days and then start your weight loss program. By this time
you should be itching to start.

Continue with the affirmations once you begin your weight
loss program, as this will continue to reinforce and
strengthen your motivation. Don't tell anyone what you are
doing unless you know that you will be supported 100% Just
make the decision to do it! I think you'll be in for a big
surprise.

----------------------------------------------------
Change your Mind Change your Body is a unique weight loss
course which has helped thousands of people lose weight
successfully.It's approach is very differnt from
conventional diets and offers a workable solution to
permanent weight loss.Find it here at
http://www.easierwayz.com

5 Tips On Buying Discount Hearing Aids

Buying a hearing aid can be a daunting experience,
especially for those on a tight budget. There are various
styles, brands, features and types of hearing aids to
choose from. If you don't want to spend too much money,
follow these 5 tips on buying a discount hearing aid.

1. Feature
The more features a hearing aid have, the more expensive it
is. Think about the features that you will be most apt to
use before deciding which hearing aid to buy. You'll only
be wasting your money if you buy a hearing aid with more
features than you need.

2. Value or basic hearing aids
Most companies offer three or more price point options for
different ranges (such as basic, intermediate or top) of
hearing aids. Forego the top range which is the pricier
option that has lots of features you may not need.
Instead, opt for the value or basic range, which still
offer great performance and enough features for the regular
user. Best of all, you will still receive a warranty and
good customer service.

3. Older models of hearing aids
Hearing aid manufacturers are continually coming up with
newer products. They may retire old models of hearing aids
to allow room for newer ones. Take advantage of their
clearance sale where you can buy a quality hearing aid at
massive discounts - sometimes as much as 50% off the
regular price.

4. Online hearing aid resellers
You can find plenty of hearing aid resellers online. They
sell a wide range of hearing aids from various
manufacturers but at discounted prices. However, they may
not offer the same product warranty or customer service as
the manufacturer so always check before making a purchase.
Many hearing aids require a hearing care professional to
make the necessary adjustments. If you can settle for a
basic hearing aid such as behind the ear style, there are
terrific savings to be had online.

5. Research
Know what types and styles of hearing aids are available
and compare them across various brands. All the major
hearing aid companies and retailers have websites that
provide comprehensive information about hearing aids.
Learn as much as you can so that you can make an informed
decision. Ask others who wear hearing aids for their
opinions or read reviews from user groups online.

Finding an inexpensive hearing aid is not difficult if you
follow these 5 easy tips. You just need to spend some time
to comparison shop and the internet certainly makes it much
easier to do so. The cheapest hearing aid is usually the
most basic without requiring much professional adjustments.
Expect to pay more for added features.

----------------------------------------------------
There are many types of hearing aids to suit almost every
type and degree of hearing loss, and budget. If you suffer
from hearing loss, wearing hearing aids can significantly
improve your quality of life. Check out our daily updated
resources on discount hearing aids at
http://www.abouthearingaid.com/art-discount

The Causes of Hypertension - What You Should Know About The 'Silent Killer'

Do you have any control over whether you will develop high
blood pressure? Gaining an understanding of how it can
develop will help you to make the right choices in
preventing high blood pressure or lowering it once you have
the condition.

In most cases, a doctor may not be able to pinpoint the
exact cause of your high blood pressure. But several
factors are known to increase a patient's hypertension such
as obesity or heavy alcohol use which is considered to be
three or more a day. Family history of the disease, high
salt intake and simply getting older are generally
considered a direct cause in developing high blood pressure.

The high blood pressure symptoms are early pulsating
headaches behind the eyes, problems with vision, dizziness,
nausea and vomiting along with general nervousness.
Untreated symptoms can lead to chest pain, stroke, or
kidney failure, which are all life threatening conditions.

A number of environmental factors have been implicated in
the development of hypertension or high blood pressure.
Even a person's occupation, family size, excessive noise
exposure and crowding are suspected to be a contributing
cause, but sodium intake has received the greatest
attention. It is noted that approximately sixty percent of
the essential hypertension population is responsive to
sodium intake. This is in large part due to the use of salt
in preserving most manufactured foodstuffs through canned
products and in pre-packaged units readily available at
your supermarket.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas and its main
purpose is to regulate glucose levels in the body but it
can also have adverse effects. Insulin resistance or
hyperinsulinemia have been suggested as being responsible
for the increased arterial pressure in some patients with
hypertension or high blood pressure. This resistance is now
widely recognized as part of syndrome X, or the metabolic
syndrome.

Pulmonary hypertension involves the artery leading from the
right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. When plaque
builds up in this vital artery, the lungs cannot get the
necessary oxygen mixture into the flow of blood through the
body placing the patient at risk for pulmonary artery
necrosis or the dying of tissue.

Hypertension is one of the most common complex genetic
disorders with genetic heritability averaging at a thirty
percent risk factor. Studies with animals and humans
support the concept that inheritance is probably
multifactorial. A large number of different genetic defects
each have an elevated blood pressure as one of their
phenotypic expressions.

Only in a small minority of patients with elevated arterial
pressure can be identified as hypertension in specific
cause. These patients will have either an endocrine or
renal defect that if corrected could bring blood pressure
back to normal values. A simple explanation for renal
vascular hypertension is that decreased perfusion of renal
tissue due to stenosis of a main or branch artery activates
the rennin-angiotensin system.

Pregnancy is also a cause of high blood pressure. Although
few women of childbearing age have high blood pressure, up
to ten percent develop hypertension during pregnancy. While
usually benign, it may herald three complications:
pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome and eclampsia. This condition
can be controlled with medication. For this reason, it is
imperative to the health of mother and child that the
expectant mother's blood pressure be monitored by the
attending obstetrician.

Once the diagnosis of hypertension has been made it is
important to attempt to exclude or identify reversible
causes. Over ninety percent of adult high blood pressure
has no clear cause but it can occur in combination with
diabetes mellitus or Type 2 diabetes or obesity. Regular
checkup with your primary physician are important in the
early diagnosis of this crippling disease.

A sedentary lifestyle, stress, low potassium intake, low
calcium intake, low magnesium intake and resistance to
insulin may also cause your blood pressure to rise. By
adjusting your life style, salt intake, adding the needed
nutrients of these minerals to your diet and concentrating
on a regular exercise regime, a normal or slightly low
blood pressure reading can be achieved.

----------------------------------------------------
Check out further information from Michael Jennings on
preventing hypertension, the "silent killer", and how to
monitor your blood pressure and living with hypertension on
a daily basis at ==> http://www.monitor-blood-pressure.com

1RM Made Easy!

1RM stands for one repetition maximum. It is the amount of
weight that you can lift only once with perfect form.
Typically your one rep max is measured by a few basic
exercises such as the squat or bench press, but it can be
tested using any exercise.

You want to measure it so you know what weight to lift when
you first start your program. Read on to find out more.

More often than not, your 1 rep max is the standard tool
professional trainers use for measuring results and gains
in strength. 1RM needs to be determined before you start an
exercise program, when switching an exercise program,
and/or when testing for results.

So how do you find your 1RM and what should you do with it?
To find your 1 rep max, it is recommended that you warm-up
for 5 minutes and perform one warm-up set (using light
weights) for each muscle group.

Once you have warmed up, you want to choose an exercise and
choose a weight that you can lift approximately 6-12 times
using perfect form.

For example, let's say you choose to do a 1 rep max test
for the bench press. You decide to lift a 10 pound dumbbell
and discover that you can only lift that weight 7 times
until your muscles are completely fatigued.

*One Rep= 100%

*Two Reps= 95%

*Three Reps= 90%

*Four Reps= 88%

*Five Reps= 86%

*Six Reps= 83%

*Seven Reps= 80%

*Eight Reps= 78%

*Nine Reps= 76%

*Ten Reps= 75%

*Eleven Reps= 72%

*Twelve Reps= 70%

By using the above percentages, you can see that the
ability to lift a weight 7 times until muscle failure is
equal to 80% of your 1RM. Use a calculator and divide the
weight you lifted by the percentage. That will give you the
1 rep max for any exercise. Stay with me here... this is
easy!

So let's finish our example: we lifted a 10 pound weight
for 7 repetitions. The chart above tells us that 7
repetitions equals 80% of our 1 rep maximum. So we take 10
divided by 80% (.80). Our trusty calculator tells us that
the answer is 12.5 pounds. That is our 1 rep maximum.

I would record this number in your progress chart. Every
month I would go back and perform another 1RM test for the
bench press. You will see that your 1RM has increased! This
is one of the many ways to track your progress or gains in
strength, but as mentioned before it is the one most widely
used by professional trainers.

When you choose a strength training method, you will want
to use approximately 70% of your 1RM for toning and
sculpting. Just remember... if you are a beginner stick
with the basic 3 sets of 12 repetitions for each muscle
group. Your muscles should be fatigued on rep number 12. As
you can see from the chart, 12 repetitions is 70% of your
1RM.

Final Word On 1 Rep Max

* Take a 1 rep maximum test for your chest and quads. It's
easy to do and will give you a better overall picture of
your results.

* Log your results on the progress chart.

* Re-take your 1RM each time you change your program and/or
want to measure results.

* Use approximately 70% of your 1RM for each exercise
thereafter.

----------------------------------------------------
Lynn VanDyke is a master trainer and nutritionist focusing
on straight-forward fat loss workouts. Her wildly popular
ebook, Melt the Fat is available for immediate download.
Bonuses are being offered for a limited time only. Learn
more about Melt the Fat at http://www.melt-the-fat.com

Mass building - Increase Your Arm Size with this Simple Technique

Way back when I was in high school, one of my peers in the
campus weight room had a peculiar reply to a claim from a
buddy of mine. My friend was saying that a person could
derive benefit from splitting rep motions in half on
barbell curls. This essentially entails making sets out of
moving the barbell from the hips to the halfway point –
then doing a block of sets from the midway point to the
fully curled position. The guy's reply: "I've heard you
shouldn't perform split reps like that because it can make
you too bulky." My friend and I looked at each other and
agreed that we were both hoping to have such a burdensome
"problem".

I've often wondered why this technique isn't practiced and
talked about more often. Performing sets in this manner
makes sense from a kinesiology standpoint. When we perform
a barbell curl, for example, the tension on the biceps hits
its peak when the forearms are horizontal as the curl
reaches its midpoint. If we split the barbell curl into two
half rep exercises (top and bottom half respectively), we
double up on the time the biceps spend under this peak
stress condition. Moreover, we bring the bar 'up toward'
the peak stress position using the lower half curls and we
bring the bar 'down to' the stress position with the upper
half curls. This gives us the power a contraction from a
positive repetition on the first exercise, followed with a
dose of contractions from a predominantly negative movement
on the latter one.

Actually, when curling the weight from the top of the
exercise where the bar is at the shoulders – down to the
mid-position where the forearms are parallel – we get a
nice contraction of the biceps with a negative/isometric as
we have to put on the breaks and briefly stop the weight
before moving it up again. This is where the biceps really
endure the extra intensity that can give them the size that
full reps just don't provide.

If you also practice splitting your reps with some triceps
exercises, the results on arm development can be
impressive. I personally do this on one of those Cybex
triceps extension machines. With my upper arms resting on
the padded platform, I do sets from the starting position
to the mid-point of a full extension. After that, my
triceps get really worked and feel like they're breaking
the seams of my shirt as I perform sets from the mid-point
to the fully extended position.

Here's a suggestion that can really get your biceps growing
by adding just two specific exercises to your routine. Lie
down on a pulley-rowing machine while holding a straight
bar of shoulder width with both hands. Move your body far
enough down the rowing platform that you can curl the
weight to your waist level without having the weight stack
hit the top of the machine. You can usually secure your
lower legs under the platform or bar that's normally used
for a person's feet when doing rowing exercises. While
lying horizontally, perform sets of biceps curls like this,
curling the bar from your thighs up to the level of your
waist. The pulley, with its weight fighting gravity through
the entire motion, will give your biceps a nice contraction
through the whole motion.

After five or six sets of that, find a bench and set it
under a triceps press-down pulley. You won't use it for
triceps in this case, but rather to put maximum contraction
on the second half of your biceps curls. Lie on this bench
with a straight bar in your hands and the weight stack a
few inches behind your head. This time, you'll curl the
weight from the point of your forearms being parallel to
the floor to having the bar right on your chin. You can
even touch the bar to your neck for really peak contraction.

Five or six sets of this peaking movement after burning up
your biceps with the previous exercise will have them
appearing like they're bulging even when someone's handing
you a piece of paper.

If you've had problems with arm growth, I highly recommend
you start splitting some of your exercises into two
movements of half-range motion. It can really help you get
a respectable set of "guns".

----------------------------------------------------
Scott Abbett is the author of HardBody Success: 28
Principles to Create Your Ultimate Body and Shape Your Mind
for Incredible Success. He is a certified fitness trainer
and a Master Practitioner and Trainer of NLP. To see his
personal transformation, visit http://
http://www.hardbodysuccess.com

What Are Carotenoids And Why Do You Need Them?

Plants, like animals, require anti-oxidants to protect
themselves from free radical damage to their cells, and the
protective substances they have evolved are known as
phytochemicals.

So one of the major reasons for the common advice for
everyone to eat a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables
is that such diets will also of course be rich in these
phytochemicals, the plant anti-oxidants that appear to have
a tremendously positive effect on health. Numerous studies
have reported the benefits of such a diet in fighting
cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive degeneration and
diabetes – the characteristic diseases, in fact, of Western
affluence. But the science remains in its infancy, so
although thousands of phytochemicals are already known
about, this is probably just the beginning.

For example, the class of phytochemicals known as
carotenoids alone numbers more than 600. These are the
highly coloured molecules formed naturally by plants, which
lend them their characteristic yellow, orange or red
pigments.

Only a few of these carotenoids have so far been the
subject of serious research, but it's known that in plants
the carotenoids function as anti-oxidants in neutralising
the so-called "singlet oxygen" molecule, which forms during
photosynthesis. It's less clear, however, whether this
particular kind of reaction is significant for animal or
human health.

What is clear, however, is that certain of the carotenoids
– notably alpha and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin
are significant as anti-oxidants because they are readily
synthesised by the body into vitamin A. The most important
of these "pro-vitamin A" carotenoids are beta and
alpha-carotene.

Certain types of food such as pumpkins, raw, cooked or
canned carrots and winter squash are rich in both alpha and
beta-carotene (as well as the other carotenoids), so eat
these and you will be getting both.

The principal differences are that beta-carotene is present
in greater quantities and that the body converts about
twice as much of the beta-carotene it absorbs into vitamin
A when compared with alpha-carotene, the relevant figures
being 40% and 20% respectively. A given quantity of any of
these foods will typically contain only between a quarter
and two-thirds as much alpha as beta-carotene. For these
reasons only the figures for beta-carotene are given here.

So an 8 fl oz can of carrots will typically contain around
21,955 mcg of beta-carotene, canned pumpkin 17,000, a cup
of cooked carrots around 13,000. Beta-carotene is also
present in a wider variety of foods such as turnip green
10,593 mcg and kale 11, 470 mcg per cup respectively.

In both cases the anti-oxidant effects of the vitamin A
produced are enhanced by the unconverted alpha and
beta-carotene which continue to act as anti-oxidants in
their own right, and being highly fat soluble are
particularly valuable in protecting the delicate fatty
structures of the body's cells such as the membranes.

Along with other fat soluble anti-oxidants, alpha and
beta-carotene also appear to assist in preventing the
oxidation of the low density blood lipids (LDL), the
so-called "bad" cholesterol which is widely believed to be
a major precursor of cardiovascular disease.

Perhaps surprisingly, the effective absorption of
beta-carotene particularly depends on the presence of this
"bad" cholesterol. But with the obvious exception of
artificially introduced toxins, if a substance is found in
the body it's there for a good reason. So in fact this is
a very good example of the body's holistic and balanced
functioning, because although you need LDL to absorb and
carry beta-carotene around the body, that beta-carotene
will itself help to raise levels of High Density Lipids
(HDL), or so-called "good" cholesterol.

In addition to this role in combatting cardiovascular
problems, many research studies, have highlighted the
potential of beta-carotene as a weapon against cancer,
probably because of its general anti-oxidant function, but
also because of the part it plays in the biochemical
communication between cells. This is vital if the immune
system is to be able to kill off cancer cells in the early
stages of their development and before the disease takes a
hold.

Conventional medicine recognises the benefits of a diet
rich in carotenoids, but tends to be sceptical that the
very high supplementary doses advocated by many alternative
practitioners will provide any significant advantage. As
so often, it is a question of balancing the risks.

But where a substance appears to be almost entirely benign
in any realistically conceivable quantity of intake, and
may offer very substantial health benefits at little
expense, the question must be: why wouldn't you take it? .

----------------------------------------------------
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in
direct marketing and with a particular interest in health
products. Find out more at
http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/In
formation.htm

Symptoms and Treatments for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is one of the few cancers that don't exhibit
symptoms until the cancer reaches the late stage of
development and it is at this point that many cases become
incurable. It also has non-specific symptoms and thousands
of cases each year are misdiagnosed as other, less severe
respiratory conditions. Simply put, mesothelioma is a rare
form of cancer that affects the thin layer of protective
tissue around the major organs, most noticeably the lungs,
heart and stomach and recently it has been positively
linked to the mineral asbestos. This thin layer of tissue,
the mesothelium, allows inhaled asbestos fibres to embed
themselves, and it is here that they can lay dormant for up
to 50 years before becoming cancerous.

The symptoms that are associated with mesothelioma depend
on which of the body's organs are affected.

Pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer affects the lungs
and causes a number of symptoms including:

· Persistent cough that doesn't improve with medication
· Breathing difficulties
· Shortness of breath
· Fever
· Difficulty swallowing
· Chest pain
· Weight loss

Pericardial mesothelioma. This second type of mesothelioma
affects the heart tissue and includes the following
symptoms:

· Breathing difficulties
· Chesty cough
· Palpitations

Peritoneal mesothelioma. The third type of mesothelioma
affects the stomach and causes the following symptoms:

· Nausea and vomiting
· Abdominal pain
· Weight loss
· Bloating of the stomach
· Bowel obstruction
· Fever

Obviously all of these symptoms can also be due to a number
of other conditions however anyone who experiences them
should consult a doctor, especially those who have been
exposed to asbestos in the past.

Unfortunately for mesothelioma victims, the symptoms only
present themselves late in the cancer's development and so
in many cases treatment is palliative rather than curative.
There are a number of possible types of treatment that can
be used against mesothelioma and the course of treatment
that is prescribed will depend to a large extent on how
developed the cancer is and how far it has spread around
the body. This information can be determined using x-rays,
CT scans and MRI scans because these imaging techniques can
provide a detailed view of the cancer's progression and how
many areas of the body are affected. The possible forms of
treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and
palliative care and either a single form or a combination
will be used.

Surgery. Surgery can be used in cases where there is an
obvious large tumour however it will only become an option
if the tumour is causing chronic pain or if it is causing
an obstruction e.g. in one or both of the lungs. Because
mesothelioma can take between 30 and 50 years to develop
many sufferers are elderly when they are diagnosed and so
the option of surgery will also depend on age and general
state of health. Occasionally it is considered safer to
live with the tumour than to risk the rigors of surgery.

Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is most effective when the
mesothelioma is confined to a single site, such as the
lungs. It can and often is used in conjunction with
chemotherapy as an extra defence against any small pockets
of cancerous cells that might survive drug therapy.
Radiotherapy can produce some side effects however they are
easily treated and rarely cause problems.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for mesothelioma will more often
than not involve a stay in hospital while a specific drug
concoction is introduced to the body intravenously.
Chemotherapy is used when the cancer has spread to other
areas and so the treatment needs to attack multiple sites.

Palliative care. Palliative care can include any of the
above treatments however they will be aimed at improving
and extending the quality of life rather than providing a
cure. Palliative care will also include pain relief as in
many cases the mesothelioma is well advanced and causing
chronic chest and abdominal discomfort.

Mesothelioma is considered a rare form of cancer however in
the last decade the number of cases diagnosed each year has
steadily risen. Since becoming associated with asbestos
many victims have successfully sued their former employers
and many more are starting proceedings each and every year.
Today workers have to wear protective clothing and
breathing apparatus while working with asbestos and so it
may be that the presence of mesothelioma dies along with
the current generation.

----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Daigle is the owner, creator and author of many
successful websites including CancerAbout at
http://www.cancerabout.net , a Cancer Resource site and
http://mesothelioma-attorney-search.com , a Mesothelioma
Lawyer Resource site.

Acne Scars and Treatment - Which Type of Treatment is Most Suitable for You

So you have got rid of the acne, but what do you do about
the scars?

With acne affecting about 25 percent of adults – and
roughly 80 percent of people in their teens and 20's – the
desire for an effective acne scar treatment is widespread.
Many people recover from acne without any permanent
effects, but others are left with disfiguring acne scars.
There are a variety of acne products and medicines that can
improve mild scarring, but sever acne scars must be treated
by a dermatologist, using a combination of surgical
procedures and skin abrasion therapy.

Acne occurs when pores in the skin become plugged with oil,
bacteria and dead skin cells. Bacteria grows inside the
plugged follicle, creating red, pus-filled red bumps.
Hormonal changes during the teen years (exacerbated by
stress in both teens and adults) cause increased oil
production that contributes to the problem. Most serious
scarring is caused by the more severe forms of acne, with
large pustules that are more likely to leave permanent
scars, even with regular acne treatment. The best way to
deal with adult acne is to begin using acne products as
soon as the acne appears, this preventing more acne and
more scarring.

After an acne lesion has healed, it may leave a red mark on
the skin. This, however, isn't a scar – it's a
post-inflammatory change in the skin's pigment as it goes
through its healing process, and will slowly fade over
approximately 6 to 12 months. If a good acne treatment
program is followed and no more acne develops in that area,
the skin can heal normally. Only if a change remains after
a year is it considered a scar.

The best way to prevent scarring and pigmentary changes
from adult acne is to is to prevent acne from occurring in
the first place. If you have serious scarring from adult
acne, however, you have a acne scar treatment options. The
most state-of-the-art method for treating acne scars is
laser resurfacing, which can be done by your dermatologist.
The laser removes the damaged top layer of skin, leaving
skin smoother. Treatments can take anywhere from a few
minutes to an hour, and the patient is given a local
anesthetic to lessen pain. It usually takes between three
and 10 days after a treatment for the skin to heal
completely.

The more traditional acne scar treatment treating acne
scarring is dermabrasion, which uses an abrasive disc to
wear down the surface of the skin, much like when you sand
down a piece of wood. As the skin heals, a new, smoother
layer replaces the abraded skin. It takes between 10 days
and three weeks for skin to heal between treatments. Both
of these types of treatments will take multiple trips to
the dermatologist, and will cause the skin to turn red
several months. Acne cannot be active – meaning you can't
have any pustules or blackheads – when these treatments are
done. Depending on the severity of your scars, your
dermatologist may also suggest a mild chemical peel or
microdermabrasion as an acne scar treatment, both of which
are done in the doctor's office.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend surgery for deep acne
scars, or collagen injections that displace the damaged
tissue. It works well on the scars that are not too deep,
but the treatment has to be repeated periodically. In the
most severe cases of acne scars, your doctor may recommend
plastic surgery. Plastic surgery as an acne scar treatment
is an expensive option, and it has the added problem that,
should you have problems with acne in the future, you have
less layers of skin and new scars could be even worse.

Whether you choose dermabrasion or a chemical peel, they
all work by removing the top layer of skin. So right after
treatment, the skin is sensitive and unprotected. This can
be an issue if you need to go outside a lot. Dust and
strong winds can damage newly abraded skin as well. After
acne scar treatment, you should only use acne products
specially formulated for sensitive skin. There are many
effective acne scar treatments and there is no reason to
leave your scars untreated. Do your research, make an
appointment with your dermatologist and be sure, that there
is a treatment that can remove your acne scars or make them
much less noticeable.

----------------------------------------------------
Find out more about the Best Acne Treatments or even about
Adult Acne for those of you who, like Michael Jennings,
have been unfortunate to suffer from it ==>
http://www.effective-acne-treatment.net

10 Truths About Aging You May Mot Know

With no exception, all of us age. Now, why is "aging" such
a bad word? What about growing? and lifelong development?
If you are a caregiver, you know this process is not always
easy, but the good news from neuroscience these days is
that there is much each of us can do.

1- Change: We should talk more about change than about
decline, as we discussed recently with Dr. Elkhonon
Goldberg, who wrote his great book The Wisdom Paradox
precisely on this point.

2- Improvement: Some skills improve as we age-In our brain
fitness classes, we typically explain how some areas
typically improve as we age, such as self-regulation,
emotional functioning and Wisdom (which means moving from
Problem solving to Pattern recognition). For example, as a
lawyer accumulates more cases under his/ her belt, he or
she develops an automatic "intuition" for solutions and
strategies. As long as the environment doesn't change too
rapidly, this growing wisdom is very valuable.

3- Decline: ...whereas, yes, others typically decline:
effortful problem-solving for novel situations, processing
speed, working memory, attention and mental imagery. In
other words, the capacity to learn and adapt to new
environments.

4- Let's worry less: Now, there is a key difference between
not remembering where I put my car keys today...which
happens to all when we are too absorbed in something else
and is not by itself a big deal...and not remembering why I
need keys to open my car. Sometimes we tend to worry too
much.

5- Lifestyle: Studies have shown a tremendous variability
in how well people age and how, to a large extent, our
actions influence the rate of improvement and/ or decline.
Our awareness that "it's not all doom and gloom" and that
there's much we can do is very important.

6- Brain Reserve: If we want to maximize our chances of
healthy aging, we should focus on 4 main "brain health"
pillars: brain exercise, physical exercise, stress
management and a balanced diet. And the earlier the better
to build a Brain Reserve that may delay Alzheimer's related
symptoms-studies have shown a risk reduction of up to 38%
thanks to these lifestyle habits!.

7- Brain Exercise: In terms of brain exercise, we must
ensure we engage with activities that provide us novelty,
variety and constant challenge to exercise and cross-train
our "mental muscles" (cognitive and emotional skills). This
is our best "brain food".

8- Computer-based programs: Computer-based brain exercise
programs are great vehicles or tools to help us with our
stress management and mental stimulation needs, as
compliments to other activities in our daily lives. This is
why you are reading more about the Brain Fitness movement
these days, grounded on the research behind adult
neuroplasticity (how the brain can rewire itself).

9- Retirement?: baby boomers (and many healthy adults over
62!) want to remain active and mentally stimulated beyond
arbitrary retirement ages. Why accept arbitrary age limits?

10- Attitude: no matter where we are or what we do, how we
react to it makes a big difference. Let's focus on today
and tomorrow, not yesterday. Let's focus on what we can do
to improve. Let's continually exercise our brains.

----------------------------------------------------
Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO and Co-Founder of SharpBrains,
which provides the latest science-based information for
Brain Training and Memory Improvement, and has been
recognized by Scientific American Mind, CBS, Forbes, and
more. Alvaro holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford
University, and teaches The Science of Brain Health at
UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute. Learn more at
http://www.sharpbrains.com/

New Generation of Behind The Ear Hearing Aids

Hearing loss is a common condition that affects adults and
children. 1 in 3 people over the age of 60 have hearing
loss. However, a growing number of young people (in their
30s and 40s) are suffering from hearing loss caused by
excessive noise such as loud music, motorcycle engines and
loud nightclubs. Yet, many people refuse to wear a hearing
aid because it makes them look old.

In view of the stigma associated with hearing aids,
manufacturers redesigned their products - targeted at the
baby boomers - to look more hip and cool. New behind the
ear hearing aids now come in various shapes and attractive
colors. They are now smaller and hardly noticeable. When
you do see them they often just look like an ordinary cell
phone or Bluetooth ear piece.

Along with the newer sleek designs and colors of behind the
ear hearing aids comes a new wave of technology. This
advanced technology provides state of the art features,
making behind the ear hearing aid a must have gadget that
the baby boomers don't mind wearing.

Phonak and Oticon are two of the leading manufacturers who
have revamped their behind the ear hearing aids to appeal
to the baby boomer generation and first time users.
Phonak's new Audeo Personal Communication Assistant (PCA)
is a sleek new behind the ear hearing aid that comes in 15
attractive color choices. The state of the art features
include Crystalsound, which is extended high-frequency
amplification, and Digital SurroundZoom the best
directional microphone system. The unique shape and award
winning design gives behind the ear hearing aid a fresh
look.

The Oticon Delta is designed for those who want high-tech
features in a sleek, modern behind the ear hearing aid.
The Delta uses Artificial Design (AI) which functions much
like the human brain by automatically making thousands of
minute adjustments to keep the sound perfect. It uses
directional microphones to help reduce unwanted noise. It
comes in a wide array of colors making it not only a great
hearing aid device but also a cool one. The new Delta
triangular shaped hearing aid was named one of the best
inventions in personal electrics at the 2007 Consumer
Electronic Show.

Behind the ear hearing aids require little fitting
adjustment. So you can buy one "off the shelf" and then
make the necessary amplification adjustments. There are
numerous adjustments that can be made via easy connection
to a computer by your hearing care professional.

The new behind the ear hearing aids are making a strong
comeback in a market that is catering more and more to
younger people with hearing loss. The state-of-the-art
features, unique designs and colors certainly make behind
the ear hearing aid a popular choice not only among the
baby boomers, but also the older people. The new open fit
hearing aids are certainly discovering a new place in the
market.

----------------------------------------------------
For people with hearing problems, getting quality hearing
aids can open up a new world to them. The new style of
behind the ear hearing aids are more discreet, fashionable
and high tech, making them a good choice for the young and
old. Check out our top resources on best hearing aids at
http://www.abouthearingaid.com/home