Osteoporosis - Do You Know if You are Susceptible?

Osteoporosis - Do You Know if You are Susceptible?
Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to
the point where they break easily — especially bones
in the hip, backbone (spine), and wrist. Osteoporosis is
called the "silent disease" — you may not notice any
changes until a bone breaks. But your bones have been
losing strength over many years.

Bone is living tissue. To keep bones strong, the body is
always breaking down old bone and replacing it with new
tissue. As people enter their 40's and 50's, more bone is
broken down than is replaced. A close look at the inside of
bone would show something that looks like a honeycomb. When
you have osteoporosis, the spaces in this honeycomb grow
larger. The outer shell of your bones also gets thinner.
All this makes your bones weaker.

Who Gets Osteoporosis?

Ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and eight million
of them are women. About 34 million more have osteopenia.
This means they don't have osteoporosis yet, but have lost
enough bone to make them more likely to get it. One in two
women and one in eight men over age 50 will have an
osteoporosis-related fracture during their lives. White and
Asian women are most likely to get osteoporosis. Other
women at great risk include those who:

· have a family history of the disease,

· have not gotten enough calcium throughout their
lives,

· had an early menopause,

· had surgery to remove their ovaries,

· had extended bed rest,

· used certain medicines for a long time, or

· have small body frames.

The risk of osteoporosis grows as you get older. Bone loss
may begin slowly in some people when they are in their late
thirties. At the time of menopause women may lose bone
quickly for several years. Then the loss may continue but
more slowly. As men age, they do not have the same kinds of
striking hormone changes as women do in mid-life because
they do not have a menopause. In men the loss of bone mass
occurs more slowly. But, by age 65 or 70 men and women are
losing bone at the same rate.

How Do I Know If I Am Losing Bone?

Losing height or having a bone break easily is often the
first sign of osteoporosis. But it doesn't need to be. Bone
density is a term that describes how solid your bones are.
Ordinary x-rays do not show bone loss until a large amount
of bone mass is gone. The best way to measure bone density
is by a DEXA-scan (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). Ask
your doctor about this test if you think you are at risk
for osteoporosis or if you are a woman around the age of
menopause or older.

The DEXA-scan tells what your risk for a fracture is. It
could show that you have normal bone density. Or, it could
show that you have osteopenia or even osteoporosis.

----------------------------------------------------
John Russell of IH Distribution, LLC brings you health,
anti-aging and skin care products from around the world.
Find fabulous skin care tips and great articles on a wide
range of topics for women at
http://www.hormones-beauty-health.com

Drugs, Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements

Drugs, Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements
Many people nowadays are turning to "organics" and
"naturals" otherwise known as herbals. The rising
popularity of herbal supplements has created a new fad if
not a new health lifestyle. But before you join the
bandwagon, here are some things you need to know about this
mean, "green" dietary supplementing machine.

What are vitamins, minerals, supplements and drugs?

DRUGS are chemicals that can prevent, prolong the life,
treat other effects of a health condition, improve the
quality of life, and/or cure ailments and diseases, or
alter the function of any part or chemicals inside the
body. These drugs have approved therapeutic claims.

VITAMINS are natural substances found in living things such
as plants. Vitamins must be obtained in the body from
foods or supplements as they cannot usually be produced by
the body.

MINERALS are found in plants. Plants get their minerals
from the soil ' soil gets minerals from water washing over
rocks. For vitamins to do their job, they require
minerals. Minerals must also be obtained from food or
supplements.

SUPPLEMENTS are vitamins and minerals that have been
extracted from a plant or created in a laboratory and put
into a form that can be ingested and used by the body.
They are effective supplements, ineffective supplements and
hazardous supplements. Herbal supplements are not
classified as drugs but as dietary supplements.

Most of the manufactured medicines we now have once came
from animals and plants. Through the years, chemists
isolated the life-saving or life-curing components and
separated them from the harmful ones. This lead to the
further drug research and drug development that lead to the
production of a different variety of drugs for many
ailments and conditions from synthetic sources. But still
we have semi-synthetic drugs, as well as drug that more or
less approximate more natural composition. Since herbal
supplements are made from a mixture of crude herbs reduced
into powder or gel form, and later on packaged as tablets
and capsules, there is a possibility that life-threatening
or at least body chemistry-altering components are still
present, thus the expression of concern from the medical
community.

Vitamins and minerals go from your stomach to your
intestines. They then go through a very complex allocation
system whereby the body distributes certain vitamins and
minerals to parts of your body based on its own priority
system.

If a nutrient is needed in a certain organ that if (the
body) deems more important, it will take the nutrient from
a less important organ, and allocate it to a more important
organ. Sort of a "rob Peter to pay Paul" action. That's
why it is critical to maintain proper vitamin & mineral
levels.

Vitamins and minerals in your body should not be viewed as
independent substances, but rather as a cooperative network
of nutrients working together. If one nutrient is missing,
it throws the entire network of nutrients out of balance.

In his book Prescription for Nutritional Healing, James F.
Balch says: "A deficiency of a vitamin or mineral will
cause a body part to malfunction and eventually break down
' and, like dominos, other body parts will follow."

What do Vitamins and Minerals Do for You?

Illness and disease are not "caught." One doesn't catch
cancer, heart disease or a cold. You create these ailments
with deficiencies based on what you eat or don't eat.

Vitamins & minerals are involved in the release of energy
from digested foods. Strong, lasting energy levels are
good indicators of healthy vitamin and mineral intake.

Skin clearness, tone, and elasticity; hair strength,
thickness and color; fingernail strength, color and texture
all depend on vitamins and minerals. Some people don't
look 50 years old at 30. Some look 30 at 50.

Brain function, ability to concentrate and memory require
proper vitamin and mineral levels.

Is there a growing concern with the use of herbal
supplements?

Yes. With the rising popularity of using and consuming
anything herbal or organic is the proliferation of fake
herbal supplements that threaten to endanger lives. If
that's the case, then why are herbal supplements given drug
administration approvals? One way of ensuring the safety of
the people is to have all candidate drugs, food, drinks,
and dietary supplements registered with the proper
authority. Otherwise, they would pose more risk with these
things being sold in the black market for a hefty sum. We
could ensure the quality and safety of herbal supplements
if they get proper classification with the food and drug
administration. Moreover, people may be able to file the
proper complaints in the event a worsening of health
condition is proven to be linked to the use of a particular
herbal supplement.

Is using herbal supplements worth the risk?

Yes. It cannot be discounted that many who have tried
herbal supplements experienced an improvement in their
health—whether this is due to the herbals themselves
or due to a placebo effect, as long as they do not worsen
the condition of an individual, then using them is worth
the risk. But of course, certain things must be considered
before taking those herbal supplements

First of all, clear your condition with your doctor. Ask
him/her if taking a particular herbal supplement is safe
given your current health. People with heart, liver, or
kidney trouble or malfunction, are usually not advised to
take these, or at the minimum is to take these herbals in
minimum amounts. All substances pass through the liver and
kidney to be processed and filtered respectively. Kava,
which is used to relieve people from stress, has been
pulled out from the Canadian, Singaporean, and German
markets because it contains substances that cause liver
damage. Certain herbals such as Ephedra used for losing
weight, contains chemicals with heart-inducing effects that
can increase heart rate, which in turn can exhaust the
heart and cause heart attacks in several documented cases
by the American Medical Association.

No matter how the product pamphlet or the label of the
bottle sounds about how it has been found to be helpful in
certain health conditions, these herbal supplements are not
therapeutic. So do not substitute these for the medications
prescribed by your doctor for the treatment of certain
diseases, or for the maintenance of blood pressure,
lowering of blood sugar and cholesterol, and fight off
infections.

----------------------------------------------------
"Dr. Robin Rushlo", is a well known MLM Radio personality
and is nationally recognized as an expert in the network
marketing business.He is the current host of the radio
show, "Networking with the Blindguy"live daily from Gorilla
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network marketing industry.He has a MS in Bio Chemistry and
Nutrition http://thegorillaspeaks.com

Feed Your Brain - Keep Your Mind

Feed Your Brain - Keep Your Mind
For some time now, we've been promoting the role of a
healthy lifestyle in maintaining brain fitness. Another new
study lends more support, but before we get into that we
thought we'd focus on some common-sense topics as to why
this is true.

One simple concept to understand that doesn't require a PhD
is the fact that any organ in your body, including your
brain, needs a healthy blood supply to access nutrients and
oxygen. This is one reason why heart disease and mental
health problems, including dementia are so often related.
If you tied a tourniquet around your leg to cut-off the
blood supply, you shouldn't be surprised when your foot
stops working to well.

The same is true for your brain. If you continue to do
things that are bad for your cardiovascular system, like
sit around all day and eat chips, your vascular system will
eventually have a problem, and this is not good news for
your brain. In fact, your brain uses about 20% of the
oxygen that you breathe and the calories that you eat. Your
blood supply is responsible to get that stuff to the right
place in order to keep your brain in good working operation.

The benefits of life-long learning and continually
challenging your mind to keep it sharp are well
established. But if you don't couple that effort with doing
what's necessary to maintain a healthy neurovascular
system, you cannot fully realize the benefit. You may have
read a lot about neurogenesis and synaptogenesis, which is
the constant rewiring of your brain that occurs when you
stay mentally active and helps to keep your mind agile.
However, this process can only work well if the blood
vessels near all this rewiring are healthy enough to do
their job. Otherwise, where is the energy, nutrients and
oxygen necessary for the remodeling job going to come from?

Think of neurogenesis as a new housing subdivision going
into an existing community and the roads as the blood
supply to service the houses. If you were the builder
constructing this new development you wouldn't get very far
if you didn't first attend to the new roads. Not only are
the roads needed for the new owners to get in and out of
their homes; but they are needed for delivering all the
lumber and concrete, enabling the different crews to come
in and construct the new houses, and take all the trash
away. Similarly, new brain cells or new brain cell
connections need healthy roads (neurovascular system) to
work right.

Related to this, a recent large study, just unveiled this
month (April 2008) by Dr. Thomas Montine from the
University of Washington, reports that 33% of the risk of
dementia stems from disease of small blood-vessels in the
brain. In this 12-year study, 3,400 men and women over age
65 volunteered for periodic cognitive testing and a brain
autopsy upon their death. In the 221 autopsies performed,
researchers discovered that small blood vessel disease
accounted for about 1/3 of the risk for dementia.
Importantly, this type of small blood vessel disease may go
unnoticed for some time. We're not talking about big events
like a stroke or blood clot blocking a large vessel.
However over time these small problems can add up, and
result in cognitive impairment.

Admittedly, this study comes from the Pacific Northwest,
the origin of grunge-rock and Starbucks coffee. We can't be
sure that all these people aren't suffering from some kind
of post-angst cognitive disorder, or a latent flannel shirt
allergy! We also can't rule out suffering from some sort of
post-tramautic stress after invading the world with
high-priced coffee, equivalent to about $18.00 per gallon;
slightly more than we're currently paying for gas. In fact,
one of us (Evans) was raised in Seattle and may be showing
some early symptomology.

However, with these potential confounds aside (unless
Austin Powers was right, and during the time that Dr. Evil
was cryogenically preserved his faithful cronies invested
heavily in Starbucks), this study is an incredibly
important step that illustrates the diversity of factors
that can lead to dementia. Even more importantly, it
suggests that you can substantially decrease your odds of
developing dementia by attending to life-style factors that
can protect against vascular disease.

The beauty is that we have a good idea of how to do this
since blood vessels serve to supply active areas of the
body with nutrients! So if your brain is active (which
requires energy), and you're maintaining your overall
vascular health by eating right and exercising, odds are
that you will be greatly reducing your risk of developing
dementia from small vessel disease. Now it should be noted
that research is ongoing on this subject, but common sense
would suggest that this will hold true.

Taken together this highlights some very important reasons
as to why exercise and nutrition play such a crucial role
in brain fitness. Attending to both of these lifestyle
factors is necessary to maintain a healthy blood supply and
the creation of new blood vessels, in order to feed new
brain circuits established by learning and mental activity.
If you neglect this aspect of brain fitness, you may
literally limit your ability to benefit from neurogenesis
and synaptogenesis induced by many of the 'brain-training'
programs designed to keep your mind young.

----------------------------------------------------
Learn to control stress, improve your metabolism and boost
your intelligence with the four cornerstones of Brain
Fitness. Visit http://www.BrainFitForLife.com for FREE
Brain Fitness resources.

Nine Tips To Keep You And Your Family Safe When Dealing With Doctors Or Hospitals

Nine Tips To Keep You And Your Family Safe When Dealing With Doctors Or Hospitals
"Got any advice for me since you've seen what really goes
on with medical mishaps?" As attorneys who investigate
medical malpractice cases, we're asked this alot. First,
the good news is that most physicians and hospitals do a
fine job of patient care.

But we've learned some secrets over the years that might
make your medical encounter a safer one.

1. "Will You Take My Picture?"

Thousands of Americans have gallbladder removal with a high
tech "laparoscope." It is a relatively safe procedure, but
one SERIOUS complication is cutting the common bile duct,
the "highway" between the liver and the stomach transports
bile. When this occurs, the surgeon has likely mistaken
the common bile duct for the cystic duct. The common bile
duct should NEVER be cut or damaged. The cystic duct, the
"exit ramp" on the duct highway that connects to the
gallbladder, should be cut. Common bile duct injuries
require major reconstructive surgery and can significantly
damage the liver.

A cholangiogram is a simple x-ray taken during surgery that
can identify the common bile and cystic ducts before
anthing is cut.

If you are having laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, ask
your surgeon: "If there is any doubt in your mind as to
what you are cutting, will you take an x-ray picture to
make sure before anything is cut?"

Although most surgeons do not perform cholangiograms
routinely, they SHOULD perform one if not completely sure
of the bile duct anatomy. Good surgeons should explain
under what circumstances they will use a cholangiogram or
take other steps to avoid bile duct injuries. If your
surgeon is offended by your medical knowledge, get another
surgeon!

2. Beware of Ghosts . . .

You meet with a surgeon you trust and he or she explains
what is going to happen during the surgery. After the
surgery, you discover that while you were under anesthesia,
your surgeon allowed a resident to perform the surgery. Or,
your surgeon left the room to start three other surgeries,
and delegated your surgery to someone else. You're told
none of this before surgery.

The American Medical Association coined this practice
"ghost surgery." It happens more than you think, and is
more common in teaching hospitals. In 1995 the Cleveland
Clinic was sued when a surgeon (who had four surgeries
scheduled AT THE SAME TIME) allowed a resident to perform
nasal surgery and the patient became comatose. In 1998, a
jury returned a substantial verdict in negligence and fraud
damages because these facts were not disclosed to the
patient beforehand.

You have the right to know if, and under what
circumstances, somebody other than your surgeon will be
responsible for any part of your operation. This is called
"informed consent," which means you have the right to be
informed about the medical details before giving consent to
that procedure. It's one thing to have a hospital intern
listen to your heart or lungs or palpate a lump. And it's
quite another to become an unknowing participant in
someone's medical learning curve while you're under
anesthesia.

Because you deserve the right to know, don't be afraid to
ASK about this practice, or even REFUSE to participate in a
surgery with a doctor you don't know. Besides, your surgeon
shouldn't take offense. After all, it's the ultimate
compliment to a surgeon to say: "I want you and you only to
operate because I've come to know and trust you."

3. "Can We Reschedule This for a Tuesday?"

Avoid major surgery on Fridays if at all possible. We have
seen a significant correlation between Friday surgeries and
serious mistakes that occur over the weekend. Perhaps the
physician is called on a Saturday evening and doesn't want
to come in, directing important medical decisions to others
who aren't as familiar with all the medical details. Staff
may be reduced; the possibilities are endless. And we're
willing to bet that if you asked your physician or nurse
friend about this issue, they might agree.

4. Got Allergies? Speak Up.

Don't assume that the hospital bracelet you're wearing will
be seen by staff. Yes, your allergies to medications
should be plastered all over your chart, but despite that
AND your bracelet, we have seen instances where patients
are still given medications they're allergic to, with
disastrous results.

So don't be afraid to say before receiving medication:
"I'm sure you're aware of this, but I am allergic to
________." If the nurse says, "Yeah I know," compliment
him or her for being attentive.. And if you're told, "Uh .
. . I'll be right back," and the nurse leaves with the
medication in hand, pat yourself on the back for speaking
up!

5. When No News is Not Necessarily Good News.

Test results showing a major problem, like cancer for
example, are sometimes not communicated to a patient for
months or years because of an avoidable communication
breakdown between the lab and the physician.

Any unacceptable delay in failing to inform you of your
test results is negligence. But don't assume that your
physician's silence means the results were negative. The
miscommunication possibilities between a busy laboratory
and a physician's office are real and unfortunately all too
common.

If a reasonable amount of time passes (a week, for
example), and you haven't heard from your doctor, call or
stop by the office and get a copy of the test results. Why
get a copy? If you have a common name, there might be 3 or
4 of you in your geographic area. How do you know that your
doctor received YOUR results and not some other George or
Jane Smith's? Make sure either the lab or your physician
has given you the right test results, and not somebody
else's!

6. Get a Second Opinion On That Mole.

Many times the need for surgery is obvious and your doctor
is the right person for the job. But if there is time, you
may want to explore getting a second opinion (that is, if
your insurance will allow it).

You may find out about alternatives to surgery, or you
might come away with a better appreciation of some of the
risks.

Specifically, if you've had a skin growth or mole removed
and sent to the lab, you may want to consider getting a
second opinion of the lab's findings. The reason? One
pathologist (a physician trained to read and interpret
tissues and specimens) may interpret the findings
differently than the original pathologist. This tip comes
directly from a pathologist we consulted with on a failure
to diagnose a skin cancer case. If it's good enough for
pathologists who interpret these growths daily, it's
certainly worth knowing and sharing.

7. Morphine Will Kill the Pain, But . . .

Morphine can also cause respiratory depression that, if not
detected, can cause brain damage by suppressing the body's
ability to supply oxygen to the brain. Thankfully, most
hospitals will hook up the patient to a pulse oximeter, a
painless device attached to the patient's finger that will
monitor oxygen levels. However, not all hospitals use
pulse oximeters routinely, particularly small or rural
hospitals. If your loved one is receiving narcotic drugs,
make sure he or she is hooked to a pulse oximeter, and
don't be afraid to ask for one.

8. "It Was Just a Little Ulcer and Now Look at It!"

Frequently the elderly are subject to longer hospital
stays. This means longer times of immobility, which can
lead to pressure sores and debilitating decubitus ulcers.
These are largely preventable with diligent monitoring and
observation by hospital or nursing home staff.

But due to staffing problems or inattention, many times
these sores are neglected. Do not hesitate to check for
signs of developing sores and report them to staff
immediately. And always get the name of the staff person
you spoke to. Your diligence may prevent a potential
problem from getting worse, even though it is the staff's
responsibility to look for these problems.

9. "These Don't Look Like My Blood Pressure Pills . . ."

If you receive a prescription that looks different in color
or shape than what you've been taking, do not assume you've
received some other version of your drug! Not only have we
seen patients receive the wrong drug, we have seen
pharmacies put the correct label on the pill bottle along
with the wrong medication! If you're unsure about the
medications you were given, call your pharmacist or your
doctor immediately, or even show them the drug you received.

Why are these medical safety tips important? A recent
study from the Institute of Medicine revealed that 98,000
people die in hospitals each year due to medical errors.
Translated, you are much safer driving in your car or
flying every day than entering a hospital, which is hard to
fathom.

Hopefully, one or more of these tips will increase your
odds of leaving the hospital in better health than when you
entered.

----------------------------------------------------
Brian R. Wilson is an attorney with Nicodemo and Wilson in
Canton OH and has investigated and prosecuted medical
malpractice cases for over twenty years. He is a frequent
lecturer and has written numerous publications for legal
and medical journals.
Website: http://www.n-wlaw.com

Simple Ways To Boost Your Metabolism

Simple Ways To Boost Your Metabolism
It has been found that certain chemical compounds in some
foods and beverages are able to stimulate your metabolism
causing you to burn more body fat than usual. Below are
just a few easy things you can add to your diet to help
burn off those extra calories that can slowly add up over
the weeks.

1. Green Tea

Drinking green tea throughout the day can help you to burn
an extra 70 to 100 extra calories a day through an effect
known as thermogenesis which is the process of heat
production in living organisms as well as providing
numerous health benefits. Studies also suggest that the
chemical EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) which is found in
green tea is responsible for the tea's fat burning
properties.

The fat burning property that green tea promotes is called
thermogenesis which causes more body fat to get burnt to
supply fuel for your cells. Green Tea increases the bodies
energy expenditure and also increases fat oxidation which
is needed to convert fat into energy.

A European study that ran over over 3 days, in which a
total of 10 men were given caffeine, placebos, and EGCG (in
the amount found in several cups of green tea). The result
was that the men who were given the EGCG burned more total
calories (80) each day while the other two groups came out
equal.

Athought it does increase fat loss, green tea should not be
considered a single solution to weight loss, but it does
help in the reduction of fat tissue by thermogenesis which
it has been proven to promote. Other than it's fat burning
properties, green tea has also been shown to be beneficial
for problems such as bad breath, blood sugar, cholesterol,
dental cavities and it's powerful antioxidant properties
help prevent cell damage.

2. Cayenne Pepper

The second wonderful metabolism booster is cayenne pepper
which is made from dried ripe pepper caspsicum.

Several scientific studies have suggested that certain
chemical compounds in cayenne pepper also have the ability
to increase the body's heat production (thermogenesis),
thereby increasing the rate of metabolism of carbohydrates
and fats similar in effect to green tea. Additional
research also indicates that cayenne pepper increases
production of certain chemicals in the body that decrease
or suppress appetite.

For people that are on diets it has been suggested that
adding between 5 and 10 grams of cayenne pepper to a meal
or roughly 27 grams to an entire day's diet will
significantly reduce hunger after meals and reduce the
amount of calories consumed during subsequent meals.

Cayenne pepper is also considered one of the healthiest
herbs available. Use it as much as you can if you can stand
the heat. Taking this super fat burning drink several times
a day is a great way to help get your 8 plus glasses of
water each day and to help shed those extra unwanted pounds.

3. Fat Burning Super Drink

A good way to take cayenne pepper is to put a small amount
into a glass of green tea. This drink is considered one of
the best natural fat burners and it has also been known to
significantly reduce appetite in some dieters.

----------------------------------------------------
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64-Year Old Grandma Knows How to Work it

64-Year Old Grandma Knows How to Work it
I'm getting ready to teach my Combat class a while back.
There's about 10 minutes before the start of class and all
of a sudden I hear a clanking just outside on the stairs by
the gym doors. I'm thinking to myself, what the heck is
that?

Clank, clank again. Something is coming towards the gym and
it's moving pretty slow. I've just got to see for myself so
I walk over to the gym door to take a peak.

I about fell on by butt in shock at what I saw. I was
looking at an older woman shuffling towards the gym in a
walker. I'm thinking to myself that she's probably coming
to watch class, but was I ever wrong. This woman with the
walker was there to get after it.

She may have said that she was here to join into class, but
I'm thinking there's no way that this gal can cut it. O.K.
I'll give her a try and she probably won't come back after
the first class.

Class starts and this woman begins the exercise program and
she's really struggling. She's having a hard time doing any
of the exercises, but to her credit, she doesn't give up.
Long story short, this gal's name is Karen. She's a 64 year
old who's had two knee replacements and she takes a ton of
medication just to get through each day. Her every move
looks painful.

Three weeks pass and Karen is at every class. She drives 60
miles one way to get to class and she's working as hard or
harder than anyone in class. During the 4th week she tells
me that she no longer needs many of her medications and
she's no longer using her walker.

You heard me right.

A 64 year old gal in obvious pain every day and she decides
that she's going to improve her health no matter what. How
many people do you know who have that kind of drive? I've
seen people quit for a whole lot less, but this woman just
keeps on coming. It's tough to stop someone with that kind
of drive who just doesn't take no for an answer.

Karen is a warrior. She was a pleasure to have in class and
I'm glad that I could help her accomplish her goal of
living a healthier life.

How are your challenges and your workouts going? Do you
give it your all and press on no matter the obstacles or do
you hang it up at the slightest resistance? How important
is it to you to create a life full of energy and
accomplishment? I know what Karen's answer is. I hope yours
is the same.

Press on, Fred Nicklaus

----------------------------------------------------
Core strength training is essential to good health and
ultimate performance for spurning creativity and energy.
Find the secrets to maximum core strength development at
http://www.combatendurancetraining.com

Make Your Food Your Friend

Make Your Food Your Friend
The food you choose to eat, can be your answer to a
healthy, vibrant body or it can be the cause of your sick
body. The fact is, we need good nutrition for good health.
Good nutrition can be broken into four categories: water,
carbohydrates, protein and fat.

WATER; water is an essential nutrient involved in every
function of the body. It helps transport nutrients and
waste products in and out of cells. We need to drink at
least 8 to 10 glasses of pure water each day.

CARBOHYDRATES; carbohydrates supply the body with energy.
The best carbohydrates are from plants and include: fruits,
vegetables, legumes (peas, beans) or milk and milk
products. Young children require higher amounts of dairy
products as they grow. Adults should refrain from too many
dairy products, because they are acid forming foods.

PROTEIN; Protein is essential for growth and development as
it provides energy and is required to manufacture hormones,
antibodies, enzymes and tissue. The correct proteins also
help maintain the proper acid-alkaline balance in the body.
Protein can be found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, hemp
hearts, grains, legumes, leafy green vegetables, beans,
brown rice, some nuts, milk and dairy products.

FATS; fat is the most concentrated source of energy.
Children require more fat for normal brain development. All
humans need fat to provide energy to the body. We get our
fat from animal and dairy products, as well as the
different types of oil.These are the recommended healthy
oils;Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Hemp Oil, and Grape
Seed Oil. Some fats are good for us and others are not. It
is important for a person to research the information on
good fats versus bad fats.

There are many different eating plans and each person must
find one that suits their body and lifestyle.

The newest health information is now suggesting that over
50% of all the food that we consume should come from
vegetables and fruits. The Canadian Cancer Society suggests
8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Most of
these should be raw. You have the knowledge about the basic
foods we need to maintain a healthy body. Don't forget; we
also need, high quality nutritional products to help us
live longer and healthier lives. Here is the rest of the
story.

FOODS WE SHOULD ELIMINATE

There are many foods that we all like to eat, but they can
be harmful and don't offer any nutritional value. We should
eliminate these foods from our diets: All white food, white
flour, white sugar, white rice, and white pasta. Junk food;
such as soda, candy and chips. Prepackaged foods, frozen
dinners, commercially prepared frozen foods. Processed
meats, commercially canned foods, such as vegetables,
fruits, baby foods, juices, sauces, condiments and
margarine.

Right now you might be feeling overwhelmed, but if you
start slowly and change your shopping habits bit by bit,
your taste buds will change and you will embrace the new
eating plan. Soon you will have a healthy, vibrant body!

----------------------------------------------------
Jane Kriese Millikin, is a author, a health and wealth
counselor, and an independent distributor, for an amazing
"Cleansing and Weight Loss System" Visit me at the web
site;http://bmillikin.infoseek.com/us.en.30day.dhtml
Also free "Candida Testing Kit" available by emailing me
at; healthonly@gmail.com

Stop Smoking Tips - Overcoming the Psychological Dependency on Cigarettes

Stop Smoking Tips - Overcoming the Psychological Dependency on Cigarettes
Even though the addiction of cigarettes has a certain
chemical basis, this basis is not likely to be particularly
strong, unless you smoke a pack a day or more. When people
feel uncomfortable or annoyed at the times when they cannot
light up a cigarette, such as on an airplane or when in
attendance of a certain social occasion, it is mostly
psychological. So how to you overcome this psychological
dependence and stop smoking?

Chemical Dependency

It is always recommended to seek advice from a physician
regarding nicotine replacement therapy if you are a person
that smokes one packet or more on a daily basis. Recent
research that has been undertaken states that nicotine
replacement may not in actual fact lead to higher success
rates in remaining a non-smoker for a year or two. However
it may prove to be a crucial factor in passing the first
few days after quitting smoking with ease.

The extent and intensity of withdrawal symptoms can be
significantly reduced with nicotine replacement. As well
as this, it can compensate as much as 50% for the reduction
in metabolic rate and any other physiological changes that
can result in gaining weight when you quit smoking.

Mental Boredom

Boredom plays a big part when it comes to smoking. Even
though boredom may not be the primary reason for smoking,
lighting and holding a cigarette can become a habit in
certain situations for many people. A cigarette is
automatically reached for by many people when arriving at a
party, having a drink in a bar, when making a telephone
call, or when it is necessary for them to wait for
something or someone without anything else to occupy
themselves with.

Smoking is chosen by many people to simply pass the time
when they think that there is nothing else to do. If you
fit into this description, then it is imperative that you
find different ways to replace the automatic act of smoking.

Adopting a particular behavior rather than smoking can make
people feel positive about themselves. This is because
they are being successful in resisting a cigarette. Rather
than smoking a cigarette, many people choose to sip water,
or use a toothpick or cocktail straw in order to do
something with their hands and mouth. Certain people
choose to complete the daily crossword puzzle in the
newspaper, knit, or even pain in order to prove that they
have the determination not to smoke.

If a large issue for you personally is boredom, then taking
up a hobby will help you to quit smoking. Of course, it
would be advised to ensure that you select a hobby that
smoking does not go well with. Perhaps playing a computer
game, writing, painting, or knitting would be a relaxing
and interesting way to pass the time and prevent you from
wanting a cigarette.

----------------------------------------------------
Find lots of stop smoking tips at
http://www.onlinestopsmokingtips.com , including reasons to
quit smoking, how to stop smoking, and how to help others
quit. This is a great online resource for every smoker.

Weight Loss: More Than Looking Better

Weight Loss: More Than Looking Better
Weight loss isn't just about looking better. If you're one
of the nearly 130 million in the United States, weight loss
is a basic equation based on eating the right foods and
doing the right exercises.

Weight loss is really hard to achieve by yourself. It takes
encouragement, support, and a community of like-minded
folks who are determined to make a difference.

Weight loss is extremely difficult when you feel like you
are depriving yourself. Instead of being a positive and
exciting experience, losing weight becomes a struggle
against yourself. Weight loss is the major focus of the
many people nowadays.

Being fat or having huge body seems losing their self
confidence and could sometimes disturb ones peaceful world.
Weight loss is of course, not something that merely happens
overnight.

You can take pills, go on a crash diet, or deprive yourself
of your favorite dessert, only to realize that you are only
gaining back the weight that you want to shed off.

Weight loss is a big business. People are willing to do
anything to drop a few pounds. Weight loss is not easy to
do and can add to a student's stress level and is even
harder when suffering from sleep deprivation.

One must be very motivated, disciplined, patient, have a
weight loss plan, be able to follow specific and realistic
daily and weekly goals, and be honest with oneself.

Weight loss is simple, burn more calories then you consume.
If you can fully understand that then you are on your way
to losing weight.

Dieting requires present-moment frustration and self-denial
with little immediate reward. Diets fail because people
have not mentally prepared themselves for physical change
(mind before body).

Dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 250
calories from your daily diet can help you lose about half
a pound a week: 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of fat.

Dieting alienates us from the natural process of hunger and
sets us up for the real physical side effects of dieting,
resulting in women and men who have learned to ignore their
own "survival mechanisms" and literally starve and binge
themselves to death.

Current estimates indicate that one in five women is
suffering from a severe form of an eating disorder, and
eight out of ten have some of the symptoms of one or more
of these illnesses. Dieting is a major industry, with so
many different plans and programs for sale.

However, by living a healthy lifestyle, you don't need to
take drastic measures to lose weight and indeed, you don't
need to splash out on any fad diet plan. Diets claiming
that eliminating carbs all together is the key to weight
loss tend to be swimming with saturated fat and are often
deficient in nutrients.

Restrict the amount of fruits and vegetables you can eat
while on these diets, even though many of these foods
contain phytochemicals that are known to reduce the risk of
disease (not to mention the vitamins, minerals, and fiber
you will be cutting out of your diet) in many cases is not
the healthiest choice you can make for your overall well
being.

Diets that promise fast weight loss with hardly any effort
don?t give you the skills you need to maintain your weight
loss; in some cases, these quick fix weight loss routines
can even be seriously detrimental to your health.

When it comes to losing weight, most weight loss experts
will tell you that it is not about dieting. Dieting may
conjure up visions of eating little but lettuce and
sprouts--but you can enjoy all foods as part of a healthy
diet as long as you don't overdo it.

To be successful at losing weight, you need to change your
lifestyle--not just go on a diet, experts say. Diet pills
generally come in two forms - appetite suppressors and
lipase inhibitors. Appetite suppressors interact with
hunger signaling chemicals in the brain.

Diets such as the Atkins diet or Zone diet suggest people
eat more protein and fat while restricting carbohydrate to
lose weight. Others, like those on a vegetarian diet,
abandon meat altogether.

Diet pills should not be taken by someone looking to lose
only a few pounds or by individuals with other underlying
health issues. Dieters that make extreme changes to their
diet to lose weight will soon tire of the restrictions and
gain the weight back and sometimes even more.

Fad diets also contribute to many health problems including
gallstones, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The research on herbs by clinical physiologists led to the
formulation of healthy herbal supplements that boast of the
mechanism of reducing weight naturally. The herbal weight
loss products include patches, pills, injections and other
supplements. Herbal weight-loss supplements are marketed
with claims of effectiveness. Herbs are used in medicine
for a long time, thousands of years, and proved its
benefits for our health. Herbs are plant or a part of a
plant that are applied in medicine for its curative
properties.

----------------------------------------------------
Kathryn Soloff wrote a special report to help you lose
weight. Get "7 Steps To Lose Weight" here FREE=>
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Hot Flashes Got You Down?

Hot Flashes Got You Down?
Hot flashes may be one of the changes a woman experiences
during the perimenopause (the physical signs of menopause
that exhibit themselves before the final menstrual period)
or menopause years.

Following are a number of techniques that may prove helpful
in coping with the sudden, intense sensation of a hot flash.

· Be aware that the fabrics you wear or sleep on may
contribute to the problem by holding in body heat or
prohibiting you from cooling down when the hot flash has
subsided. Cotton is your best choice because it breathes
and sheds moisture. Nylon, spandex, polyester and satin
all tend to hold the heat close to your body.

· Hot flashes are actually found to be less intense
and of shorter duration if you continue to exercise during
the menopause years.

· Cool room temperatures are, of course, very
helpful. Use of cool rags or even specially made scarves
or pillow inserts can be of great value. Conversely, hot
baths and showers may have to be avoided.

· A reduction in the number of hot flashes can be
realized in many people by practicing slower, deeper
breathing. Rapid breathing may cause one to
hyperventilate, resulting in too much oxygen for a while,
which causes just about anyone to feel warmer than usual.

· Studies have shown that certain chemicals and even
some perfumes can worsen a hot flash, and other smells such
as vanilla, lavender, and rose can help a little.
Essential oils such as ylang-ylang, geranium and clary sage
serve the same purpose.

· Cigarette smoking can set off hot flashes,
especially in thin women.

Besides modifications in your environment and
over-the-counter remedies, your doctor can prescribe
medications other than hormone pills. Here is a brief
description of several products:

· Medicines traditionally used to treat depression
have been found to reduce the frequency and duration of hot
flashes. A smaller dose of some of these medicines can
produce favorable results in a matter of a few weeks.

· Hormone replacement therapy has fallen out of
favor because of increased risk of heart attack, stroke,
lung blood clots, abnormal mammograms and slightly
increased incidence of Alzheimer's disease. However,
bio-identical hormones, which are custom compounds, show
promise in controlling not only hot flashes, but also mood
swings and sexual problems.

· At least one blood pressure medicine, Clonidine,
can be used successfully in small doses to help relieve hot
flashes by relaxing blood vessels. It will likely take
several weeks to take effect, but no major health risks
have been noted.

----------------------------------------------------
John Russell of IH Distribution, LLC brings you health,
anti-aging and skin care products from around the world.
Find fabulous skin care tips and great articles on a wide
range of topics for women at
http://www.hormones-beauty-health.com

What To Do The Morning After You Cheated On Your Diet

What To Do The Morning After You Cheated On Your Diet
OK so you didn't stick to your diet.

Everyone was having pizza and it just looked to good to
pass up. So you ate not one like you told yourself you
would do you ate 4, 5, or 6 pieces with all the toppings
and extra cheese maybe?

And then there is the soda or beer to wash it down.

Don't forget the breadsticks dipped in that yummy sauce and
what about those buffalo wings?

Well not the best decision but not the end of the world. So
let go of the guilt and feeling as if you will never lose
that weight and or stick to your diet.

There is good news and planning for your social times can
make all the difference so as to not set yourself up for
failure.

So let's go with the pizza scenario.

You plan on getting together with friends or family and you
know there is going to be pizza and the whole enchilada.

Start your day with pineapple and in fact it is a good idea
to just eat it all day up until 3 hours before you plan on
having your pizza.

Best to have pineapple anytime you plan on having anything
cheesy or greasy. Those enzymes are so important when you
are eating all those foods your body has such a hard time
digesting.

As we age we loose those enzymes so we need to help our
bodies by eating enzymatic foods on a daily basis. It is
best to limit these foods as much as possible and eat them
in moderation.

If you don't you will gain weight and your body will suffer
as a consequence. You can only get away with poor food
choices for so long. But once in a while on occasion we
know we are going to have a party and go overboard.

The days after eating your greasy, cheesy pizza have
pineapple again for most of the day. The decision will be
based on your weight gain.

If under 5 lbs eat pineapple most of the day and for dinner
have an all protein meal or an all carbohydrate meal. So
you could have steak and eggs or corn on cob, baked potato
and salad but not both.

If you gained over 5 lbs you can eat the following foods
for 1 to 4 days and then resume your diet. No matter how
bad you blow it you can correct it within a short amount of
time.

This does not mean you can just do this over and over. This
hopefully should not happen more than once per month. So
just eat 1 bite at a time and remember food is not leaving
the planet and you can always eat in moderation and not
gain any weight.

Day 1 Have pineapple and 2 hours later papaya and then two
hours after you are finished with papaya have pineapple
again. Remember of course to drink lots of water.

Day 2 Take the whole day and eat watermelon this will help
to flush out the excess sodium your body is retaining.

Day 3 Start your day with dried prunes soaked the night
before and 2 hours after you have finished eat
strawberries. End your day with baked potatoes. You will
clean out all of the excess food you ate so it will not be
stored as fat.

Day 4 Grapes all day and you will get rid of any hidden
sugars in the food you ate.

And if you are like me you will easily drop 5 lbs in 3 days
and more by the 4th day.

So there you go all is well now. The next time you go out
for a good time just remember you can enjoy every bite
slowly and the food will be there for another day so
moderation is the key and no weight gain is the reward.

----------------------------------------------------
Debbie endeavors to encourage women to take care of their
bodies and feed their minds with good positive thoughts.
She shares her expertise on quick weight loss for women at
her blog http://weonadiet.com .

Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimers disease robs you of intellectual and social
abilities and interferes with regular life. About 4.5
million Americans have Alzheimers Disease. The disease
usually affects seniors over the age of 65. As the
population ages this number is expected to quadruple.

There is no cure for Alzheimers disease. There is progress
being made by researchers to improve the quality of life
for those who have Alzheimers. Drugs are being discovered
and studied which may lead to treatments of the disease.

If you have been a caretaker of a loved one with Alzheimers
disease, or have a loved one suffering with it, you know
that it takes patience and love to keep you and them going.

If you think a loved one may be showing early signs of
Alzheimers Disease, what should you look for? One of the
most prominent signs of Alzheimers Disease is
forgetfulness. It starts out with occasional forgetting
simple directions or recent events. It progressively gets
worse until the patient may forget even family names and
objects they see every day. They also may repeat things
they've already told someone, and put objects down and
forget where they placed them. On the other hand, they
might put something away so they will remember where they
put it, and put it in such an illogical place that no one
can find it.

Early Alzheimers Disease patients have trouble conducting
conversation and finding the right words to say. They may
have a hard time following conversations or expressing
their feelings. Eventually their reading and writing
ability will also be affected.

Abstract thinking is something else that these patients
with Alzheimers disease have. They may suddenly be able to
deal with numbers, especially in balancing the checkbook.
Disorientation causes them to lose track of time, and it is
easier for them to get lost. They may feel they are in
unfamiliar surroundings even if they are home.

They have trouble with everyday problems, such as knowing
that food has been on the stove too long. Patients with
Alzheimers disease eventually have problems dealing with
planning, judgment, and decision-making. Familiar tasks
become a struggle, even the basic activities like dressing
or remembering to bathe.

One of the most distressing symptoms of Alzheimers disease
is the personality changes that affect them. It is not
uncommon for a patient with Alzheimers disease to have
extreme mood swings and often accompanied by depression.
They may begin distrusting those around them, be
increasingly stubborn, and withdraw from family and
friends. As their Alzheimers disease get progressively
worse, they may become defiant, stubborn, aggressive, and
take part in inappropriate behavior.

One report tells of a wonderful woman, whom was a good
mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother that had been
afflicted with Alzheimers disease. When her family was
forced to put her in a nursing home due to the Alzheimers
disease, she became aggressive to other patients and began
using language she never would have dreamed of using before
she fell victim to Alzheimers disease. The staff had a hard
time in restraining her in the nursing home. They found she
was sneaking in to other patient's rooms, uncovering them,
and leaving them. This was so unlike the mother and
grandmother they knew before the affliction of Alzheimers
disease, they had a hard time even visiting. Most of the
time, she wouldn't remember her daughter being there that
morning. Finally, her family put an erasable board in her
room so her visitors could write their name and the date
they visited allowing the family to know who was there and
when.

Unfortunately, families don't often recognize the onset of
Alzheimers disease because it starts out so slow. There
usually are no sudden changes in the personality to alert
family members there is a problem. As the symptoms
gradually get worse, or they realize memory is fleeting for
their loved one, they may not realize until the patient is
far into the advanced stages of Alzheimers disease.

How Alzheimers disease progresses and what the average
survival rate will be depends on the individual. The
average survival rate is eight years. Some live fewer
years, and some could live up to 20 years with the disease.
People with Alzheimers disease eventually will no longer be
able to take care of themselves. This leaves loved ones
with the burden of deciding whether to place the patient in
a long-term care facility or try to take care of them at
home. It's a difficult decision and everyone must realize
that it takes considerable attention, love, and patience to
deal with the problems that come with Alzheimers disease.

----------------------------------------------------
Steven Godlewski is a self-made millionaire and is
currently working with the staff at PillFreeVitamins.com He
has an extensive background in nutrition as well as other
health related fields. For more health-related articles or
2 FREE bottles of Liquid Vitamins see their website at:
http://www.pillfreevitamins.com SEE Video at:
http://www.emii-dcf.org