How I Healed Myself from Fibromyalgia

How I Healed Myself from Fibromyalgia
Have you ever met a seven-headed dragon? Slaying it is
nearly impossible, because as soon as you cut off one head
two more grow in its place! I know this first-hand,
because I fought with this dragon for 20 years until I
found the chink in its armor and pierced its heart, once
and for all.

Misdiagnosis Abounds

Like many sufferers of fibromyalgia, I was misdiagnosed for
15 years. Maybe it was because the condition has no
specific or single cause, or because it has only recently
(1990's) been recognized as a "legitimate" malady. As late
as 1982, fibromyalgia was not even an entry in the doctors'
standard clinical reference book, the Merck Manual. Over
the years my doctors labeled my symptoms as: Chronic back
pain (lower, mid and upper), frozen left shoulder (two and
a half years), frozen right shoulder (one and a half
years), plantar fasciitis, sleep disorder, restless leg
syndrome—you get the picture. Finally, in 1997 I was
given the label "fibromyalgia" and told that the only
treatment was cortisone injections in every muscle where
the pain was intolerable.

"Damn!" I thought, "That's a lot of needles!" Not willing
to become a doctor's voodoo doll, I never went back to that
doctor. Instead I turned to holistic approaches. I tried
everything imaginable to "manage" my pain: excruciating
deep muscle massage, strict diets, herbal remedies...I even
tried a putrid brew concocted by a Chinese medicine doctor.

Admitting Defeat

After suffering for seven years under the futile belief
that I could affect my own cure, I gave up. Admitting
defeat, I found a new doctor and asked for help. His
theory was that fibro is a disease linked to depression. So
along with a non-steroid medication for pain, he prescribed
an anti-depressant and a sleeping pill. These seemed to
take the edge off the pain for a while.

I was "managing" my pain, pretty well until 2005 when I was
crushed by trigeminal neuralgia. Excruciating pain exploded
across the right side of my face—encompassing the
jaw, cheek bone and temple and behind my ear. It was
debilitating! I could do nothing but lie as still as
possible with ice packs. Aspirin with codeine did not begin
to touch the pain. I thought it might be a tooth, but the
x-ray did not reveal anything for the dentist to deal with.
I was sent to a neurologist who quite rudely told me,
"You'd better hope it is a tooth because it's not worth
cracking your head open to fix this." The trigeminal nerve
does not originate in the spine, but at the base of the
brain!

Gadz! I was a mess! So, my family doc prescribed an
antiseizure drug in the hope it would block the perception
of pain. As I was leaving his office, he said (rather
off-the-cuff), "It might help with the fibromyalgia too."

A month later I was undergoing a root canal which
eventually cleared up the facial neuralgia, but I stayed on
the antiseizure medication because it did take a further
"edge" off the fibromyalgia.

At the same time all this was happening, I was running two
companies, TeleClass International and the Law of
Attraction Training Center. I was happily turning every
aspect of my life around and experiencing success and joy
in everything I did—except THIS. I figured I just
had to accept THIS as "the way it is."

I was beaten down and felt there was just nothing else I
could do about it. Of course, my body was continuing to
deteriorate under the unrelenting pain.

Body/Mind Connection

My businesses started to suffer also and I decided to hire
a business coach. On the intake form, under the heading of
Health I wrote: "Ok, I wasn't going to address this, but if
it shows up as dramatically as it has this week, then I
won't ignore it. I was thrown flat on my back with a
muscle spasm around my entire chest. The spasm was
continuous for four days." My coach wrote back, "You are
pushing very hard on yourself. Nothing wrong with that,
except your body is telling you that something is wrong.
Therefore, part of your journey is learning how to flow
with ease and grace."

Hmmm, he had a point, but I really did not want to address
this seemingly endless, impossible health challenge!
Nevertheless, I surrendered to my coach and prayed for a
solution.

A few days later I was reading and meditating—well, I
was sort of reading and meditating—it was hard to
stay focused and my eyes were just glancing at the letters
in the book when these two sentences jumped off the page
into my heart: "If your affairs are out of order, it is a
reflection that your thinking is out of order. If your
body is out of order, it is a reflection that your emotions
are out of order." How to Use Your Twelve Gifts from God,
by William Warch

I'm a very orderly person—my house is in order, my
office is usually clean and orderly, my bills are all
paid—I'm very responsible and my affairs are in
order. But my body was definitely OUT OF ORDER and I had
no clue what emotion was causing this, I had lived with it
for 20 years. Whatever the cause, it was deeply buried.

Defining Event

At this point I decided to cooperate with my coach and an
extremely painful memory surfaced! I had been so
disappointed—more than disappointed—I was
really angry at my body for letting me down when I had to
surrender Matthew back into the care of Social Services!
WOW!

In 1980 my husband and I had adopted a baby who had been
abandoned at the time of birth because it "wasn't perfect."
His natural parents would not bond, love or care for him
because he was Down's syndrome. My husband was an
obstetrician and when he learned the child was abandoned,
he was quite shaken. Our fourth child, Sarah, has Down's
syndrome and she has been such a joy to us that it was
quite disturbing to imagine this little boy without a
family. So we asked for and adopted Matthew at birth.
What we did not realize at the time was that Matthew was
also autistic. The combination of D.S., plus severe
retardation and autism was a horrific package, and in seven
years I was totally burned out.

That was when I felt such anger at my body. When I give my
word or make a commitment I keep it. I'm a person of
integrity. For my body to cave in like it did was simply
NOT in my realm of possibility. But it had and I had
carried this anger inside my body for 20 years!

Letting Go

NO WONDER I WAS IN PAIN! And my doctor was right! If
fibromyalgia is caused by depression, and depression is
"anger turned inward" as I learned in nurses' training,
then indeed I was depressed!

I LET IT GO! Once I "saw" the root
emotion—anger—I could understand why my body
was screaming in pain. And I let it go. Just like that.
In the moment I made my decision to let it go, it left. I
knew it. A few days later I started slowly weaning myself
off the medications. I'm not a martyr, so if I were
feeling pain, I would be back on the meds, but I'm not.
I'm free of pain, gaining strength, reprogramming my
thinking and adding activities back into my life. This
week I started two exercise classes at the local recreation
center—a gentle fitness class and water fitness.
THAT is a miracle!

Now, I would not presume to know what is at the root of
every case of fibromyalgia. But I wouldn't be surprised if
a long-held or blocked emotion would surface for most
sufferers. My hope and prayer in sharing my story is that
it will re-activate hope in your heart, and faith to
believe in a miracle for yourself or someone you love.

----------------------------------------------------
Rebecca Hanson, author of Law of Attraction for Business,
founder of the Law of Attraction Training Center, and
president of TeleClass International Services Inc., helps
people use the Law of Attraction to transform their life
and business. For more great tips like these, get your free
copy of The Museletter at
http://www.lawofattractiontrainingcenter.com/museletter.html

Green Tea Advantage

Green Tea Advantage
Green Tea has had more zealous acceptance than nearly any
other food product in the past twenty years. There are
claims that substances contained in green tea inhibit
cancer cells, improve cholesterol, reduce the appetite and
strengthen the immune system. Not since the Vitamin C rage
has another food product been treated as a must have. The
following summarizes the more important claims; some backed
by research, some not.

Research at the University of Purdue, concluded that a
compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
A report published in a 1994 Journal of the National Cancer
Institute indicated that drinking green tea lowered the
risk of esophageal cancer.

There are also studies that have concluded green tea lowers
overall cholesterol levels and improves the ratio of good
(HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol. Still other
studies indicate that green tea is also reputed to be
helpful with Cardiovascular disease, infection, impaired
immune function, Rheumatoid arthritis.

Green Tea is rich in antioxidants, particularly catechin
polyphenols. This powerful antioxidant has been shown by
researchers at the University of Kansas to be twice as
powerful as resveratrol, the compound that gives red wine
its amazing heart protecting effects. To further support
the claim, Japanese men have a low heart attack rate
despite the fact that more than 70% smoke cigarettes.

The results of a study published by American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition showed a green tea extract, when taken
with caffeine can lead to an increased rate of calorie
burning. Green Tea has bacteria fighting abilities that can
helps in prevention of tooth decay and food poisoning.

There does not seem be a real consensus on how much green
tea should be consumed. Some recommend as many as 10 (six
to eight ounce) cups per day, while others suggest at least
three cups.

There are few negatives effects caused by drinking green
tea other than those caused by the caffeine that is
present. A cup of green tea contains about 60% of the
caffeine found in a cup of coffee. For those people who are
sensitive to caffeine, green tea may cause insomnia or
nervous irritability.

If you are unable to drink green tea during the day, a
green tea extract will provide similar benefits. These can
be found in most supermarkets.

Clearly, the research suggests there are significant health
benefits to adding green tea as a component of your daily
diet. If your fighting to lose weight and gain better
health, a warm cup of green tea will hit the spot.

Do not use green tea without first talking to your doctor
if you have heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney
disease, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), an
anxiety or nervous disorder, or a bleeding or blood
clotting disorder or if you take a blood thinner such as
warfarin (Coumadin).

----------------------------------------------------
David Rafferty owns and operates
http://homeworkoutsexpress.com a supplier of affordable
home fitness and exercise equipment and related information.

10 Modern-Day Ways To Use Age-Old Peppermint Oil

10 Modern-Day Ways To Use Age-Old Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is extracted from Mentha piperita of the
Labiatae family and is obtained by steam distillation of
the flowering herb. The active ingredient in peppermint oil
is menthol. Consistent quality and highest potency of
therapeutic-grade peppermint oil requires minute attention
to detail during the growing, harvesting and distillation
process.

Peppermint oil is a colorless liquid with an invigorating
mint odor and taste. It has a strong, clean, fresh aroma
that reminds of a brisk ocean breeze. The fresh scent of
peppermint oil can energize a person instantly. It provides
oxygen to the blood, enhances mental clarity, dispels
tiredness, improves circulation, and leaves a fresh taste
and clean breath when ingested. No matter how applied,
peppermint oil will leave a refreshing sensation in the
mouth, and on the skin.

Here are 10 ways peppermint oil is used today, every day:

1. Peppermint Oil for Dental Hygiene: Peppermint oil is
used in toothpaste, mouthwash, for toothpicks and floss.
The dentist uses peppermint oil as mouth rise, tooth
cleaner and mild anesthetic. Periodontal disease and gum
infection are treated using the essential oil of
peppermint. Peppermint chewing gums or mint lozenges are
favorite breath fresheners.

2. Peppermint Oil and Digestion: Peppermint oil is an
excellent digestive aid. It is traditionally used for
stomach aches and bowel conditions. Medicines and ointments
are enriched with this versatile essential oil to lend
digestive aid. Peppermint oil may be highly effective at
relieving cramps, spasms and pain.

3. Peppermint Oil for Various Ailments: Peppermint oil is
largely used in medicines and available as pills or
inhalant. It is used to combat heartburn, cold and flu,
irritable bowel disease, arthritis, headaches, vertigo, and
countless other ailments.

4. Peppermint Oil and Science: Studies on the effect of
peppermint oil include its influence on liver and
respiratory systems, improved taste and smell,
concentration and mental activity, satiation, irritable
bowel syndrome, daytime sleepiness, and many more.

5. Peppermint Oil in Sports: Peppermint oil is widely used
for bone, muscle and nerve pain and to regenerate tissues.
Athletes commonly use analgesic, invigorating or calming
rubs before and after workout. Peppermint oil is a
favorite cooling muscle relaxant with antispasmodic effect.

6. Peppermint Oil in Personal Care and Cosmetic Products:
Peppermint oil fragrance is found in personal care and
cosmetic products such as shampoo, deodorant, lip balm or
soap. Commercial fragrances of menthol however are
frequently synthetic and potentially carcinogenic.
Synthetic peppermint fragrance causes severe health
reactions (depression, skin disorders, etc.) and should be
avoided at all cost.

7. Peppermint Oil in Your First Aid Kit: Peppermint oil
should be an integral part of any first aid kit. It is used
for heat stroke, hemorrhoids, tension headache, to reduce
fever, help with poison ivy, boost mood and reduce fatigue,
relieve nausea, and much more.

8. Peppermint Oil as Insect Repellent: Using peppermint
essential oil as insect repellents is a natural way to get
rid of mosquitoes, moths, horse-flies, aphids, cockroaches,
ants and more.

9. Peppermint Oil in Cooking: From drinking hot or ice cold
peppermint tea, to making delicious peppermint ice cream or
other mint treats, peppermint oil will lend its
invigorating mint aroma to every kitchen.

10. Peppermint and Aromatherapy: Peppermint oil is a
favorite essential oil used for dietary, aromatic or
topical application. With its invigorating, energizing and
stimulating properties, peppermint oil can also be
soothing, calming and cleansing.

Peppermint oil is one of the world's oldest medicinal
herbs. It was already in use by ancient-day Egypt, Greece
and Rome. Back then, therapeutic-grade essential oil
cultivation and distillation was a highly refined art and
precious tradition only accessible to a few. It was so
secret, and by law no common worker was allowed to divulge
the process of producing essential oils to anyone without
losing his life.

Essential oils were regarded more valuable than gold and
only accessible to kings. Today the healing art and science
of therapeutic-grade essential oils has been made available
to all. Though not on shelves in health food stores, people
seek out the true source of nature. They ask for high
quality therapeutic-grade oils, not harmful synthetics. One
of the most wanted essential oils was and still is - the
essential oil of peppermint.

----------------------------------------------------
Maria Schasteen is editor of aroma-essence.com, Nature's
Most Trusted, Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils and
Aromatherapy Store.
http://www.aroma-essence.com

Get The Real Facts about Steroids

Get The Real Facts about Steroids
Anabolic steroid use has been in the news recently with
baseball player Roger Clemens's testimony before Congress
in regard to his alleged use.

Clemens allegedly used Anabolic steroids which are illegal
to use except for certain prescribed and specific medical
conditions. They must also be used under a physician's
strict supervision. However, when taken without medical
supervision, they can have dangerous and even deadly side
effects; even once off the drug, the side effects can be
permanent.

For example, in 1992, football player Lyle Alzado died of a
cancerous brain tumor that may in part have been caused by
his long-term anabolic steroid use. There are certain
steroidal medications, such as cortisone or other
corticosteroids, which are also carefully prescribed under
a doctor's supervision. These function as
anti-inflammatories and are different than the anabolic
steroids athletes use.

In sports, anabolic steroids are illegal in part because
they artificially enhance performance instead of relying on
the athlete's own innate ability and physical fitness to
bolster performance. This, of course, is unethical. The
only way to win fairly and without cheating is to rely on
your own abilities. You have to work hard to maintain peak
physical fitness and performance, but it's the only right
way to win.

Oftentimes, athletes, and especially young athletes,
overlook the dangers of taking steroids to get the
short-term performance benefits steroids can give them.
However, this is a dangerous and even deadly practice, with
long-term health consequences.

Here's what can happen when athletes or anyone else take
anabolic steroids:

* High blood pressure (which in turn can cause stroke or
heart attack)
* A reduction in "good" cholesterol
* Cancer
* Liver damage
* Aggressive behavior, even leading to violence
* Depression
* Acne
* Stunted growth in young people
* Hair loss
* "Reverse" gender characteristics' appearance, such as
breast growth in men and facial/body hair growth and breast
reduction in women

Although enhancing your performance by natural, honest
methods is not as quick and easy as steroid use, in the
long run, it's much healthier and ethical to do so.

First, there's no substitute for regular exercise. Exercise
produces a natural "high" of its own, because it releases
"feel-good" hormones called endorphins. However, endorphins
are a completely healthy high and only benefit you.

Second, a good diet is also essential. Without proper
nutrition, your body can't function as it should. You need
to fuel your "engines" properly in order to work out
effectively.

Third, if the person is still growing, they have to be
careful as to how much they challenge themselves with
weightlifting or other extremely strenuous sports. Of
course, weightlifting is good when done in moderation so
that you can build muscles, but young athletes especially
have to be careful of injury that may in fact be permanent.
Only perform extreme types of exercise such as
weightlifting under a coach's specific supervision.

Finally, there are some supplements you can take that
appear to be healthy and beneficial. A good multivitamin
supplement is a good start.

Even though the focus of many sports is "to win," remember
that you have to win honestly and fairly. If you don't, it
simply doesn't count.

----------------------------------------------------
Scott Becker is an expert in the fields of health and
nutrition. He has been writing on numerous topics for the
past 10 years. Along with writing, he now owns
http://www.scottbeckerlive.com , a sports nutrition company
serving the weekend athlete. For more information go to
http://healthfitnessvitamins.com

Can You Be Suffering From Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?

Can You Be Suffering From Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?
Drug addiction is devastating in many different ways.
Perhaps the worst is that the drugs keep the person
addicted by changing the chemical balance in the brain.
When a drug addict makes the decision to quit it will be
the most difficult time in his or her life.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome sounds like something that
soldier may suffer from when returning from war ravaged
countries. However, Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is a
disorder that many people suffer from and may not even know
that they have it.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is an impairment that many
addicts suffer from when they attempt quit drugs. It is a
disorder that many drug addicts and alcoholics suffer from
when they try to quit on their own. It can be a horrendous
experience that drives the addict back to their habit.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is also known as PAWS. It
has many symptoms, and usually strikes up to fourteen days
after the addict quits and last for months after immediate
withdrawal symptoms have abated. It is like a slow release
time bomb. The symptoms include

· Accelerated thoughts

· Hyperactivity

· Memory loss

· Sleeplessness

Another factor that greatly affects the addict is stress.
Therefor, the recovering individual has to be made to
understand that the lowering of as much stress as possible
is vital. Specific lifestyle changes need to occur. Healthy
living habits such as curtailing the amount of caffeine
taken, getting a solid 8-10 hours of sleep, eating three or
more well balanced meals per day and exercising 3 or more
times weekly will bring about great benefits.

These symptoms can be very irritating, not only to the
person suffering from them but also for their family and
friends. Having a support system in place is critical the
success of the addict. A support system is a group of
people who will be available to the recovering addict both
physically and emotionally. Because Post-Acute Withdrawal
Syndrome can cause high stress levels, it is crucial that
lifestyle changes be made such as avoiding beverages with
caffeine, and consuming healthy and nutritious foods.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms can show symptoms usually
present themselves for about six months, however studies
have concluded that they can last a lifetime. The current
treatment for addiction is methadone and other types of
maintenance; however, they have also proven effective in
treating Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms. It partly restores
the chemical imbalance that the drugs change.

In order to deal with Paws it is imperative that his or her
stress level be as low as possible. This may be a very
difficult task, however it is necessary to the recovery
process.

----------------------------------------------------
For the latest resources on addiction treatment and
addiction recovery visit:
http://AddictionTreatmentResources.com

Does the FDA Hide Negative Drug Study Results?

Does the FDA Hide Negative Drug Study Results?
Think the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is here to
protect you?

It isn't.

Think your doctor makes decisions about your health based
on medical science?

Not so fast.

Truth is, half of medical evidence is hidden from your
doctors. And the half that's hidden is the half that shows
drugs don't work.

Today I'd like to tell you about some recent news that
highlights why we need more accurate, more accessible
databases for drug information - and why our government
just can't be trusted to make objective decisions about
your medications.

First, let me explain how our FDA works.

When a drug company designs and performs a study, it has to
submit all of its results to the FDA.

But this often doesn't happen.

Instead, the pharmaceutical companies submit only the data
they want to get published to medical journals - positive
data, of course.

They hide negative studies from the scientific community -
and from you.

The FDA didn't release this information until 2004, when
all the major scientific journals refused to publish any
data from any drug study that did not list the results of
all trials, positive or negative, in a central database.

The problem? This database is hard to find and search.

Your doctor probably doesn't have time to read medical
journals, never mind search a database. So he or she relies
on the bits of information delivered by drug reps - not the
best way to get an objective opinion!

A Bitter Pill to Swallow

These problems were made even more apparent by the recent
news about Zetia.

Zetia is a new drug that lowers cholesterol by a different
mechanism than statin drugs like Lipitor and Zocor.

Most doctors wrongly believe that cholesterol causes heart
attacks - even though half of all people who have heart
attacks have normal cholesterol.

Cholesterol-lowering statins lower cholesterol, and appear
to reduce heart attacks. But I believe - and a study
published in the January 6, 2005, issue of the New England
Journal of Medicine supports this - that they reduce heart
attacks by reducing inflammation, not cholesterol.

Nevertheless, the FDA approved Zetia without any proof that
it lowered heart attacks or reduced the progression of
heart disease. The drug was approved only because it
lowered cholesterol.

And once Zetia was approved, its makers had no incentive to
prove that it actually did what it was thought to do -
lower heart attacks.

And why should they? The drug was making them $14 million a
day in profits.

But the FDA had the negative data on Zetia - and it didn't
speak up.

The data that was withheld proved that Zetia lowered
cholesterol - but led to MORE heart disease!

That suggests that high cholesterol may not be a disease
and may or may not be related to heart attacks.

Another new cholesterol drug, torcetrapib, was pulled from
the pipeline in December 2006 because it caused more heart
attacks and strokes.

A Voice for Change

This recent information shows us that our research and
approval system is flawed in several ways.

First, drug companies fund most of the research in the
world. That means that other therapies that may work better
- including diet and lifestyle or nutritional therapies -
often don't get enough funding.

Second, the FDA helps drug companies by suppressing and
hiding negative studies on drugs.

Finally, doctors, patients, and the media believe they have
the whole truth - but we don't. Often, we don't know the
truth until it is too late - like with Zetia, Premarin, and
Vioxx.

This makes it very difficult for consumers to get the best
treatments for their health and the whole truth about drugs.

But together, we can work to change things for the better.
Here's how.

1. Follow the money. Be suspicious of studies funded by
drug companies.

2. Contact your congressperson or senator and demand better
legislation. We should have an easy-to-navigate database of
all drug trials, with consumer-friendly summaries of both
published AND unpublished data submitted to the FDA so you
can look up the drug you are prescribed and have a balanced
opinion.

3. Don't assume that drugs are the answer to your health
problems. Heart disease is NOT a Lipitor deficiency but the
result of your lifestyle interacting with your genes.

4. Learn to ask the question "why?" - and search for the
answers. Dealing with lifestyle and environmental factors
(the basis of UltraWellness) almost always works better for
chronic illnesses. Drugs are there as a backup only if
needed.

So take a closer look at the information you've been given
about drugs. You might be surprised by what you find.

REFERENCES:

Laine C, Horton R, DeAngelis CD, Drazen JM, Frizelle FA,
Godlee F, Haug C, Hébert PC, Kotzin S, Marusic A,
Sahni P, Schroeder TV, Sox HC, Van der Weyden MB, Verheugt
FW.Clinical trial registration: looking back and moving
ahead. JAMA. 2007 Jul 4;298(1):93-4.

Ridker PM, Cannon CP, Morrow D, Rifai N, Rose LM, McCabe
CH, Pfeffer MA, Braunwald E; Pravastatin or Atorvastatin
Evaluation and Infection Therapy-Thrombolysis in Myocardial
Infarction 22 (PROVE IT-TIMI 22) Investigators. C-reactive
protein levels and outcomes after statin therapy. N Engl J
Med. 2005 Jan 6;352(1):20-8.

Kastelein JJ, van Leuven SI, Burgess L, Evans GW,
Kuivenhoven JA, Barter PJ, Revkin JH, Grobbee DE, Riley WA,
Shear CL, Duggan WT, Bots ML; RADIANCE 1
Investigators.Effect of torcetrapib on carotid
atherosclerosis in familial hypercholesterolemia. N Engl J
Med. 2007 Apr 19;356(16):1620-30.

----------------------------------------------------
Mark Hyman, MD is a pioneer in functional medicine,
practicing physician and best-selling author. A sneak
preview of his book "The UltraSimple Diet" is available.
See The UltraWellness Blog for more on Medical Industrial
Complex: http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/

The 5 things you must know when buying cheap hair straighteners in the UK

The 5 things you must know when buying cheap hair straighteners in the UK
Sure, anyone can walk straight into a hair salon and get
their hair styled to perfection, or at least that is what
we hope. However, in the real world we need something that
can turn our hair from the biggest mess into something
amazing. Also, of course it has got to be really quick,
cost effective and easy for us to do this all at the same
time when we are at home and in a rush to get out the
house. The all in one solution... hair straighteners!

Hair straighteners come in all shapes and sizes and can do
wonders for your hair, but here are some guidelines to get
the most from them:

1. You can buy hair straighteners really cheaply, but like
the old saying goes, you really do "get what you pay for".
This is no exception with hair straighteners. Personally I
love GHD hair straighteners but there are many other
variations out there like Sedu and T3 who promise to
deliver quality as well.

2. Ensure the hair straightener has ceramic plates. This is
a piggyback of point one, but any hair straightener that
uses cheaper imitations to lure in you - use caution. Often
they give up on you right when you need them. Are likely to
catch your hair and can sometime cause damage when not
dispersing heat correctly within your hair.

3. Choose the width of the hair straightener carefully. If
your a girl with longer, thicker hair you would benefit
from a wider hair straightener and if you have shorter hair
or intend to do all sorts of funky styles I would suggest
going for a thinner hair straighteners so you can target
specific hair parts in more detail and have more control.
Also for the guys, I would suggest going with narrow hair
straighteners if they have shorter hair.

4. It can be very useful to get a hair straightener that
lets you adjust the temperature of the hair iron. Ideally
you want it to be able to get pretty hot so you can
straighten or curl your hair in the morning and it should
still hold till the evening. The lower the temperature, the
shorter the amount of time your hair will stay the same way.

5.Make sure you look into getting other hair care products
to take care and look after your hair as repeat repetitive
use will take its toll on your hair if you don't look after
it.

----------------------------------------------------
You can get more information at
http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-ghd-hair-straighteners and
both http://hubpages.com/hub/Cheap-GHD-Hair-Straighteners
and http://ezinearticles.com/?id=984676

Iron Is One Of The Body's Most Vital Minerals - But You May Well Be Getting Too Much

Iron Is One Of The Body's Most Vital Minerals - But You May Well Be Getting Too Much
Iron is probably the best known of all the essential
minerals found in the human body; and this is not
surprising since it is vital for the formation of hundreds
of the proteins and enzymes on which health depends. But
iron deficiency is nevertheless one of the commonest
nutritional problems seen worldwide and is surprisingly
prevalent even in the affluent West, particularly amongst
vegetarians and those who consume little or no red meat.

Unfortunately the solution is not so straightforward as a
simple program of supplementation. The problem is that the
body does not easily get rid of excess iron which may
therefore tend to accumulate in the body. Unused molecules
of iron appear to be particularly prone to oxidation and
"free radicalisation" and may contribute to the age-related
degeneration of the organism associated with free radicals.
Excess iron is believed to be a particular risk factor for
the oxidation of the low density lipids (LDL), or "bad
cholesterol" recognised as a precursor of atherosclerosis,
or hardening of the arteries, a major premature killer in
the West.

Sufficient iron, however, remains vital for human health;
and its best known and most important function is in the
formation of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells
which carries oxygen around the body. Around two-thirds of
the iron in the body is believed to be used for this
purpose. Not surprisingly, since a lack of iron means an
insufficiency of oxygen being delivered to the body's
cells, fatigue is the principal and best known deficiency
symptom, reflected in a significantly reduced ability to
tolerate physical exercise or activity; but it can also
lead to headaches, dizziness, shortage of breath and even
angina in extreme cases.

But it's not just the red blood cells which depend on iron.
White blood cells, too, and therefore the health of the
immune system, are heavily reliant on an adequate supply to
combat bacterial and viral infections; and it is worth
noting that lowered immune system responsiveness may be
observed as a symptom of inadequate iron intake well before
the onset of outright anaemia.

Iron is also an essential constituent of a number of the
catalase and peroxidase anti-oxidant enzymes which are
particularly important in neutralising hydrogen peroxide,
perhaps the most dangerous of all free radicals.

Iron has important interactions with other vital nutrients.
A deficiency of vitamin A has been shown to increase the
effects of anaemia and the deficiency condition responds
better to treatment with iron when combined with vitamin A
supplementation. Good levels of vitamin C likewise appear
to assist in the body's absorption of iron from food
sources. It is also particularly important to ensure
adequate intakes of copper and zinc if iron is to be
properly metabolised.

The best food sources of iron are red meat, poultry and
fish, although wholegrains, egg yolks and green vegetables
also provide a certain amount. However, the consumption of
calcium rich foods at the same meal is believed to reduce
the absorption of iron, as is the consumption of refined
carbohydrate. Taking tea or coffee soon after a meal will
also reduce iron absorption. So-called "heme" iron is
the form found in the haemoglobin content of meat, poultry
and fish. It is the most desirable form of the mineral
because although it is readily absorbed by the body it does
not accumulate within it. Unfortunately, however, heme
iron commonly supplies only about one-third of the total
obtained from the diet. Regard therefore needs to be had
to the amount of non-heme iron consumed which may build up
in the body over time, with possibly adverse consequences
for health. The US Food and Nutrition Board (FNB)
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron is 8 mg a day
for adult males and 11 mg for male adolescents. The
allowance for females is higher to allow for losses during
menstruation and is set at 15 mg a day for adolescents and
18 mg for adults. The requirement for iron rises
dramatically during pregnancy at any age, the RDA being set
at 27 mg. Post-menopause, however, the RDA for women is
the same as for men.

Research in fact indicates that many adult males and post
menopausal women are likely to exceed the RDAs by consuming
up to 18 mg per day of iron from their normal diet, but
this could well be a deficiency intake for individuals
during adolescence, pregnancy, menstruation and those
undertaking intensive exercise regimes, all of which may
increase the body's need for iron.

Careful regard therefore needs always to be had to
individual diet and requirements, but iron supplements
should in any case be taken only as part of a comprehensive
multi-vitamin and multi-mineral preparation. It is also
especially important to note that any iron supplementation
is strongly contra-indicated for young children, except
under close medical supervision, because of a high risk of
severe toxicity.

----------------------------------------------------
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

The World is Flat & Toxic FDA Drugs Will Bring Us Good Health - They All Say it's True/Must Be.

The World is Flat & Toxic FDA Drugs Will Bring Us Good Health - They All Say it's True/Must Be.
What If Everyone Thought The World Was Flat,...& They
Laughed At Your "Christopher Columbus" Idea,...

What If Nearly Every Illness of Humanity was self-inflicted
& there was scientific evidence verifying that you won't
fall off the Earth if you travel toward the horizon?

As a child, when I got sick, my parents would take me to
the doctor. That made sense then and it still does (at
least in part) today. Because the U.S. is ranked #1 by the
World Health Organization in trauma care. If I have a
traumatic injury, like from my totalled (not my fault :-)
automobile accident, I want quality help to sew me up! But
in chronic illnesses,...heart disease, diabetes, cancer,
autoimmune disorders such as lupus, fibromyalgia, plus
another 85 now on the books (only 4 autoimmune conditions
in the medical books just 40 years ago), the U.S. is ranked
37th in the World because of how poorly we are "handling"
these illnesses.

You know why,...because the world is flat,... We have a
belief system regarding our health that is not serving us,
because it's not based on accurate assumptions. Correct me
if I'm wrong, but the thinking seems to be,... I go to the
doctor when I get sick. Just as I was taught as a child.
So we get older and we lack energy and we worry about
illness affecting our quality of life as it does for so
many, and we do what we learned as kids...we go to the doc
-- and the super wealthy pharmaceutical giants rejoice that
we still think we'll fall off if we travel to the edge.

The human body wasn't designed to consume toxic drugs. It
was designed for sound nutrition. All FDA approved drugs
must pass an L/D 50% test. That stands for lethal dose,
50% of the rats must die. By definition, all drugs have a
degree of toxicity,..enough to kill living organisms/rats.
That explains all the fine print (potential side affects)
when you get your drugs -- they just aren't SURE how that
degree of toxicity may affect your unique body chemistry.

But the million dollar drug ads. continue & the majority of
folks continue to "enjoy" the promise of a quick fix --
sadly and with great price, ignorant that the chemistry of
90% of all drugs (by AMA certified continuing ed.
admission) do not support human health or address the root
cause, but simply suppress the symptom (which keeps the
world seeming flat & "all is well"). Truth is: According
to JAMA, Vol. #279, Properly Prescribed Drugs are the #4
killer in America, over 106,000 adults and children deaths
each year.

If you wish to search the term: glycomics -- you will
see that the world is indeed round. That there are sound,
scientific options that new technology has created that
support human health as it was designed to be supported.
Just one last question. Does the sun revolve around us?

----------------------------------------------------
Mark Ostrye has been writing about health & wellness since
finding a solution for his son's "un-curable" health
challenge last year - vital missing nutrients. He offers a
Free series of Wellness Newsletters at
http://www.antiaginglearnhow.com His Consulting Group also
has a 24/7 Educational National Wellness call (641)
715-3900 Pin #33880.

Informed Consent and the Dental Patient

Informed Consent and the Dental Patient
Informed Consent, according to the American Medical
Association, is defined as "more than simply getting a
patient to sign a written consent form. It is a process of
communication between a patient and physician that results
in the patient's authorization or agreement to undergo a
specific medical intervention." What this has to do with
you as a dental patient has widespread ramifications.

How informed are you?

Let's develop this further. For example, do you fully
understand all the procedures, techniques and time
commitments of your proposed dental treatment? Are you
informed of all the risks, benefits and options available
for each procedure? Are you made aware of what dental
materials are being used and how they may impact your
health? Most of all, is everything in writing and signed
by you and your dentist? If any of the previous questions
were answered with a "no", then you must read further.

Your mouth is the "gateway to your body" and plays a much
more important role for achieving good overall health than
most people realize. Good nutrition, digesting food
properly, smiling, kissing, speaking and so many other
functions all require good oral health.

Studies today indicate that certain dental conditions are
risk factors for heart disease, stroke, neurological
problems, obesity, diabetes,pre-term and low birth weight
babies, headaches, facial pain and more.

No place for dentistry

Dentistry has been in the past considered to be the
forgotten child in the medical world. Medical doctors are
not trained at all about the mouth and its impact on health
while dentists, by licensure, are limited to treating
issues only within the head and neck areas.

Dental insurance coverage is poor and medical insurance
doesn't cover dental therapies (except Health Savings
Accounts). As a matter of fact, many employers are
eliminating dental benefits altogether.

Therefore, the responsibility is placed upon you to become
a more educated, informed consumer. Knowledge is the key
that will enable you to make the decisions about your
healthcare that are right for you. After all, it is your
body and you should know what is being done to it at all
times. And it starts with Informed Consent.

The right beginning

The initial examination and related diagnostic tests are
the first steps for gathering information. A good medical
and dental history is vitally important. This history not
only includes your chief dental complaint but also your
chief medical complaint, including listing of surgeries,
medications, past illnesses, family health issues and total
body system reviews.

The history should be reviewed by you and your dentist with
you being informed of how any dental procedure may impact
your health. Appropriate referrals should be made to other
qualified practitioners if indicated. This form should
then be signed and dated by you and your dentist making
sure this extremely important step has been completed.

You are doing what to me?

The treatment plan that follows provides the blueprint for
how your dentist is going to address your dental needs. A
separate appointment should be scheduled with your dentist,
not an assistant or office manager, to go over in depth
what the treatment recommendations are. Time needs to be
spent going over the risks, benefits and options for all
aspects of the proposed treatment.

You should be provided with the appropriate information,
models, pictures, brochures, charts ...etc. that fully
support your treatment decisions. Fees should be discussed
upfront, along with payment options and insurance
contributions, and accepted by both parties. When you are
both satisfied with the agreement, you and your dentist
should sign and date the document.

It is a good idea to bring a tape recorder with you to that
visit allowing you to review this discussion you had with
your dentist. Bringing your significant other is also
recommended so as to avoid any misunderstandings that may
arise, especially if finances are the issue.

As time goes on...

As treatment progresses always maintain good communication
with your dentist and the staff. Don't be afraid to ask
questions and keep asking them until you're fully satisfied
that all your questions have been answered. Any changes in
treatment should be fully discussed, understood, and
accepted by you and your dentist. And yes, get it in
writing and signed!

Through informed consent, you will gain an understanding of
all aspects of your proposed dental treatment ultimately
resulting in a more favorable outcome. You can now become
an informed consumer in charge of your own health and that
is the first step toward a healthier smile!

----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Vincent DiLorenzo, President of T-Horizons, LLC, is a
holistic dentist who specializes in Health Savings Accounts
and other types of Consumer Driven Health Care Solutions
for families, individuals and employers by encouraging
healthy lifestyles to lower healthcare costs at home and
the workplace. Learn more at => http://www.t-horizons.com

How To Find Out If Your Cosmetic Surgeon Is Board-Certified

How To Find Out If Your Cosmetic Surgeon Is Board-Certified
A board-certified cosmetic surgeon can't guarantee perfect
results, but there is nothing that can replace the
education and experience of a surgeon who has devoted their
life to improving yours.

Patients are advised to find a doctor who is certified by
the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only
board recognized by the American Board of Medical
Specialties to certify a surgeon in plastic surgery of the
face and of the entire body. Certification by the ABPS is
one of the highest accomplishments for a plastic surgeon
because it means that the surgeon has formal training in an
accredited plastic surgery residency program and is
required to maintain their certification through an
extensive on-going training and certification.

About American Board of Plastic Surgery:

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) qualifies a
surgeon to perform both body and facial procedures. The
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) which is
expressly designed to provide public protection through
quality control in medical education states the "ABPS is
the only one of the 24 ABMS member boards providing
certification in the entire field of plastic and
reconstructive surgery from head to toe."

If your surgeon is ABPS-certified, they will have:

*BACHELOR'S DEGREE- Usually Pre-Med or Biology, but not
required to be.

*MCAT- A 6 hour exam to get into Medical School.

*MEDICAL DEGREE-"MD"-4 years of med-school and passing the
Boards (a 2 day/12 hour exam) Part I and Part II (another 2
day/12 hour exam).

*Upon graduating medical school, one is considered an "MD,"
but can only practice in a residency program until they
become a licensed physician.

*RESIDENCY- "On the job training" of at least three years.

*Five to seven years are required for American Board of
Plastic Surgery certified plastic surgeons.

*LICENSED PHYSICIAN -After completing 1 year of residency
and passing Boards Part III, then they are considered a
General Practitioner or "GP". A GP has not had any training
in surgery, no less plastic surgery.

*CANDIDATE MEMBER (a.k.a. BOARD ELIGIBLE)- One has
completed the required training in plastic surgery
residency and has been in [private] practice for at least
two years.*

*APPROVED SURGICAL TRAINING- in plastic surgery and the
surgeon has successfully completed extensive written and
oral examination testing in the entire field of plastic and
reconstructive surgery of the entire body.

*BOARD CERTIFICATION-Passing certification is not required
for any doctor to practice medicine, but is important when
finding a good physician and determining if one is trained
to be a specialist, such as a plastic surgeon.

To verify a surgeon's certification status, contact either
of these organizations: The American Board of Plastic
Surgery or The American Board of Medical Specialties.
Verifying the status of your cosmetic surgeon is one of the
fist steps you should take when doing your cosmetic surgery
research.

----------------------------------------------------
The Avalon Clinic for Cosmetic Surgery is located in
Lakewood and Olympia, Washington. Each of our surgeons is
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
and has over 20 years of experience. Patient safety and
satisfaction is our #1 goal. Our art is to help patients'
look and feel their best. The Avalon Clinic wants you to
know that It Is Possible! Contact us at
http://www.avalonclinic.com or call 1-800-408-4444!

Little Changes Add Up To Weight Loss Success

Little Changes Add Up To Weight Loss Success
Little things add up. When it comes to losing weight, you
can make small changes that add up to make a big
difference. When changing what we eat in order to lose
weight, many times we take on too much. When we take on
too much, it becomes too drastic and overwhelming so we
give up. Don't give up. Actually, think small yet
consistent changes. When you master one small change, you
move on to make another and another. When you're
successful with one change and add another success on top
of another, you've created momentum to change your eating
and exercise habits to lose weight and reach your goals.

1. Water as your beverage of choice. After you've
consumed your morning coffee or tea to get you going for
the day, drink water. Water is instrumental in enhancing
your weight loss. You can drink flavored water for a
change of pace.

2. Fresh fruit instead of juice. If you enjoy orange
juice or other juices, switch to eating the real deal of
the fruit. Juice packs lots of calories in a small glass
and doesn't provide you a sense of satisfaction the way
eating the fruit does. You'll consume less calories, enjoy
the sense of eating, feel fuller from the fruit rather than
the liquid, plus you'll add important fiber from eating the
fruit.

3. Write it down. Carry a small notepad with you and log
in every meal, bite, taste and anything that you eat. By
keeping track of what you consume, it will make you think
twice before eating something. If you have to write
something down in a log, many times you don't want to see
it in your log so you won't see it on your waist either.
Writing it down can also show you exactly what you are
eating. A bite or taste sometimes doesn't register with
us. In a log, you become very aware of what you're doing.

4. Check your steps. Buy a pedometer and wear it every
day. Health experts recommend 10,000 steps each day for
maximum health. Take your first day and use it as your
base number. Set your goal to get in an additional 1,000
steps per day. Keep track how many steps you have each
day. You can make it a game by logging the steps you make
each day.

5. Lose your taste for soda. Soda scores a big zero in
weight loss. Soft drinks contain sodium and many
tablespoons of sugar. Plus, they are void of nutrition and
do nothing to assist in filling you up. If you must drink
soft drinks, go for the diet version. Just like many other
things, you acquire a taste for something and you can lose
it too. By cutting out soda from your day, you'll save
hundreds of calories which result in weight loss.

6. Get a team of support. You don't have to lose weight
alone. There are many resources available to you. First,
turn to your family and friends and request their support.
You can also hire your own weight loss coach. You can work
with your coach to create a program that is best for you,
what you like, what you prefer, and what works best for
you. You can also join an online support group. There are
many people waiting to partner with you to achieve your
weight loss goals.

7. Make your coffee work for you. I used to love those
flavored creamers. I would joke that I added coffee to my
flavored creamer. Unfortunately, I was right. It wasn't
until I kept a food journal that I noticed how much I was
actually consuming. The flavored creamers, whether non-fat
or in any form, are full of sugar. I was consuming enough
carbs to count for one-half of my day. What worked for me
is to use nonfat powdered creamer and sugar-free flavored
syrups in my coffee. I got right back on the losing track
immediately after changing this one small habit.

In another article, we'll add more little changes for you
to review and consider. As you can see, some small changes
you can be simple and easy. Yes, and small changes can be
almost painless too. As far as small changes count for
you: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = Your own weight loss success!

----------------------------------------------------
Cathy Wilson is a weight loss life coach. Cathy lost 147
pounds six years ago. Her passion is helping clients
achieve their weight loss and life goals. Cathy works with
clients to create a weight loss life plan that is
customized to each client. Cathy is a member of the
International Coaching Federation, International
Association of Coaches, and Obesity Action Coalition.
Visit Cathy's website:
http://www.LoseWeightFindLife.com

Why You Need To Be Aware Of Your Copper Levels

Why You Need To Be Aware Of Your Copper Levels
The human body contains more copper than any other mineral,
except iron and zinc, and has been known to be essential
for both human and animal health since the earliest days of
Western medicine. Yet even now the full range of copper's
many functions is believed to be imperfectly understood,
and researchers are still learning more. Copper
principally acts within the body as a key component of many
of the enzymes which govern its vital physiological
processes and biochemical reactions. Perhaps most
importantly, different copper dependent enzymes are vital
for the production of energy within cells, for the
production of collagen, a protein essential for the health
and strength of the body's connective tissue, and for the
metabolism of a number of important neuro-transmitting
hormones within the brain and central nervous system.

More specifically, low blood levels of copper have been
associated with anaemia, poor functioning of the immune
system, and raised cholesterol levels, to name but a few.
But nutritional therapists are most likely to recommend
increased copper intake as a safeguard against the
demineralisation of bones, leading to osteoporosis, and
particularly in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Copper is known to help in the body's production of
superoxide dismutase, a powerful anti-inflammatory enzyme,
which may well account for this effect; and there's
evidence for the effectiveness of supplements of the safe
compound, copper sebacate, and the wearing of copper wrist
bands as alleviatory treatments. Copper is also
important as an anti-oxidant, but care needs to be taken
because both in excess and deficiency it can also function
as a pro-oxidant, potentially accelerating the damage to
and degeneration of the organism which may be caused by
free radicals. Copper's interaction with zinc, one of the
most vital minerals for human health, is particularly
important in this context. High intakes of copper are
associated with deficiencies of zinc, and the reverse is
also true. High levels of copper, with low zinc, have
been identified as a factor in correspondingly high levels
of oxidised low-density lipids (LDL), or "bad cholesterol";
a key risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries), still one of the major causes
of premature death in the West. And it's worth noting in
this context that adequate amounts of both copper and zinc
are required for the production of superoxide dismutase,
one of the body's most important anti-oxidant enzymes. Low
zinc levels caused by excess copper have also been
associated with mental problems such as depression, anxiety
and even schizophrenia.

Achieving the right balance of intake of the minerals is
therefore crucially important and the ratio of 1, copper:
10, zinc is generally recommended. A similar relationship
exists between copper and iron, with an excess of one
leading to a deficiency of the other; both excess and
deficiency having potentially serious long-term
consequences for health. Copper dependent enzymes are also
closely involved in the metabolism of vitamin C, and there
is some, though inconclusive, evidence that high intakes of
the vitamin may increase the body's demand for copper.
This is not to suggest that vitamin C intake should be
restricted, because the health benefits of this nutrient
are far too powerful for that. But it is yet another
example of the body's holistic functioning; meaning that it
is rarely if ever a good idea to supplement with high doses
of a single nutrient, and that attention needs always to be
paid to obtaining a balanced and comprehensive
supplementation programme. A wide variety of foods are
useful sources of dietary copper, but the problem is that
the richest ones, liver and shellfish particularly, are
foods which not everyone finds easily palatable or
accessible. Nuts and pulses, whole-grain cereals and green
vegetables may also provide a certain amount, but levels
have been badly affected by the demineralisation of farm
soils. A further problem is that dietary copper is often
poorly absorbed, particularly when the diet is high in
refined carbohydrates or artificial sweeteners.

The risks of copper toxicity appear to be low, although
prolonged high doses may sometimes give rise to liver
problems. The US Food and Nutrition Board has therefore
prescribed an upper safe limit of 10 mg per day for copper
consumption. Some authorities, however, argue that the
potential pro-oxidant action of copper, and its interaction
with other vital minerals, particularly zinc, makes this
limit too high for safety; and certainly for optimal
health. That said, the US Recommended Dietary
Allowances (RDA) for copper of just 2 mg has, like all
RDAs, been set only at the level judged sufficient for the
avoidance of outright deficiency and is almost certainly
well below the level required for optimal health. European
authorities have not set an RDA, but figures for the UK
suggest that average copper intake may be as low as 1.6 mg,
with the corollary that 50% of the populace fails to
achieve even this low figure. Figures for the US are
likely to be similar, and the presumption must therefore be
that most people in the West are far more likely to suffer
from a deficiency than an excess of copper.

The potentially harmful interaction with other minerals
means, however, that any supplementation of copper should
be undertaken only as a part of a comprehensive
multi-mineral and multi-vitamin regime.

----------------------------------------------------
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

Periodontal Gum Disease and Smoking

Periodontal Gum Disease and Smoking
Smokers should know the dangers of tobacco use. Researches
also have found that the following problems occur more
often in people who use tobacco products: Bad breath, oral
cancer, stained teeth, tooth loss, loss of taste, bone
loss, gum recession, mouth soars and facial wrinkling. The
research also indicates that there is less success with
periodontal treatments and dental implants.

There are also other medical problems associated with
smoking including lung disease, cancer, heart disease and
low-birth-weight infants.

If you are a smoker who is concerned about the effects
smoking can have on your health, and on your gums and teeth
in particular, at least by reading this article you are
learning all the negative impacts of tobacco use, and you
are taking the first step toward quitting.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology recent
studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most
significant risk factors in the development and progression
of periodontal disease. And following periodontal treatment
or any oral surgery, the chemicals in tobacco can slow down
the healing process. This makes treatment results less
predictable.

Here are some of the ways that one Los Angeles dentist who
specializes in periodontal gum disease and oral implants
believes smoking increases your risk for periodontal
problems. "Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have
calculus, otherwise known as plaque, which hardens on the
teeth," said Dr. Bijan Afar. "When calculus is not removed
it often remains below your gum line, and the bacteria in
the calculus can destroy your gum tissue and cause gums to
pull away from your teeth."

Smokers are also more apt to get deep pockets between the
teeth and gums and they also have loss of the bone and
tissue that supports teeth. Periodontal disease progresses
when these pockets between the teeth and gums grow deeper,
allowing more bacteria to destroy tissue and bone. This
result is that your gums shrink away from your teeth, and
if they are not treated by a periodontist, your teeth may
begin to hurt, become loose, and fall out. It has been
proven that smokers loose more teeth than nonsmokers.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, only about 20 percent of people over age 65 who
have never smoked are toothless, while a whopping 41.3
percent of daily smokers over age 65 are toothless.

In addition, research shows that current smokers don't heal
as well after periodontal treatment as former smokers or
nonsmokers. But these effects are reversible if the smokers
kick the habit before beginning treatment.

Furthermore, all tobacco products can be harmful to
periodontal health, such as smokeless tobacco (nicotine gum
products) also can cause gums to recede and increase the
chance of losing the bone and fibers that hold your teeth
in place. In a study of cigar and pipe smokers that was
published in January, 1999 in the Journal of the American
Dental Association it was stated that cigar smokers
experience tooth loss and alveolar bone loss at rates
equivalent to those of cigarette smokers. Pipe smokers
experience tooth loss at a rate similar to cigarette
smokers.

----------------------------------------------------
Kristin Gabriel is a social media marketing writer and PR
professional. Her client, Dr. Bijan Afar, is a Los Angeles
dentist and oral surgeon who owns five dental clinics,
including the Wilshire Dental Clinic.
(www.wilshiredentalcare.com) For more information, visit
http://www.oralimplants.com

Losing Weight Safely

Losing Weight Safely
Those that want to lose weight usually think about reducing
the amount of food they eat. This may seem like a
reasonable solution but not necessarily the safest. Fact
is, the amount that you reduce in your food intake to lose
weight, may be dangerous to your health. So how do you lose
weight safely? Here are some pointers to consider before
you try to lose weight:

Losing Weight Safely: Crash Diets

Most people think that losing weight means eliminating the
calories alone can shed off their excess weight. What
people don't realize is that this is a dangerous mentality
to losing weight because when they decrease their calorie
intake below the required levels, the body begins to digest
the fats. Sounds great but it doesn't work that way.
Burning fat requires a lot of energy. Since there is not
enough energy in the body to facilitate the metabolism to
burn fat, losing weight will progress at a very slow pace
and result in fatigue, illness and a weak immune system.

Low-calorie diet is also compensated for by burning muscle.
People on this type of diet who revert back to their old
eating habits end up gaining back their weight loss, if not
all the weight fat they lost. And since fats have more
volume per mass than muscle, they end up with the same
weight as before but more bulky. In losing weight, you
should keep in mind that you should lose excess body fats
only.

However, you can try out eating small meals at more
frequent intervals. The body will not think that it is
being starved and will not store food as fat. Losing Weight
Safely: Eat Properly

You may have considered junking the crash diet option but
he should also not forget to watch what he is eating. A
variety in diet must always be considered so that you may
be able to get the necessary nutrients from your diet. It
is also healthier to eat foods that are roasted, steamed or
broiled rather than fried. It is also important to include
a lot of fiber in the diet. Frequent re-hydration is also
necessary while losing weight safely.

Losing Weight Safely: Pump up lean Muscle Mass

Muscles burn calories when they work; they even do so at
rest. Unlike fats, muscles burn calories all-day round.
With this fact, you can start weight loss by increasing
muscle mass. The more muscles, the less fat will be left.
This is attainable starting with working out with
resistance exercises.

Losing Weight Safely: Engaging in Aerobics

Aerobics are good for the heart by increasing
cardiovascular endurance. Aerobics also help in developing
lean muscle mass while simultaneously decreasing excess
body fat. Aside from these, aerobics make the metabolic
process more efficient and its rate high, even after a long
while.

Losing Weight Safely: Extra "Push"

Some people believe that smoking and caffeine can actually
help in losing weight. This can perhaps be true; however,
they do the body more harm than good because of their
side-effects. For that extra "push", you can try out taking
food supplements. After all, 95% of these products out in
the market actually do some good.

Losing Weight Safely: On Taking Diet Pills

While diet pills affect the amount of weight loss as well
as how long you can keep that weight off. However, you must
be concerned of the side-effects of these diet pills.
Furthermore, diet pills are only of benefit to losing
weight as long as you are taking them. Once you have
terminated the use of diet pills, the weight loss usually
returns.

Losing weight safely does not have to entail sacrifice and
suffering. It actually means opening up to a new outlook in
a lifestyle that benefits a full and healthy life. Losing
weight might entail a little adjustment in your beginning
efforts, but as the old saying goes, "no pain; no gain."

----------------------------------------------------
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

Neurophathy and the Diabetic

Neurophathy and the Diabetic
Neuropathy is a functional change or pathological
disturbance in the peripheral nerves. Know anymore than
you did? Probably not. Let's see if we can get a better
understanding of what all that mumbo-jumbo means!

The human body's nervous system has two main parts with the
Central Nervous System being the one we hear the most
about. This is the part of the nervous system that
includes the brain and spinal cord. The one we hear less
about is also a very important one. The Peripheral Nervous
System is made up of the nerves that connect the Central
Nervous System to the other organs and muscles in the body.
As you can imagine, the peripheral nerves affect a lot of
areas of the body. Now back to our original definition of
neuropathy, a functional change or pathological disturbance
in the peripheral nerves, one can see how neuropathy can
become a big problem.

The peripheral nervous system is made up of three different
types of nerves. They are motor nerves, which are
responsible for voluntary movements such as waving goodbye,
walking, etc. Another is sensory nerves which allow us to
feel pain, hot and cold, etc. The third type is the
autonomic nerves. As the name implies, these nerves
control our involuntary movements such as breathing, heart
beats, etc. Obviously, the nervous system is very complex
and one of more nerves may be involved in neuropathy.

Symptoms of neuropathy can come on suddenly or gradually
over time, depending on the types of nerves involved.
Unfortunately, diabetes is the most common cause of
neurophathy so we diabetics need to be aware of the
symptoms because early intervention is important in
treatment and recovery. In most cases, the early symptoms
are weakness, pain, or numbness. Symptoms such as
difficulty walking, stumbling or tiring easily, muscle
cramps, trouble holding onto objects, an unsteady gait,
dizziness when standing up may be symptoms. Some people
complain of their hands and feet feeling as though they are
wearing gloves or slippers when they are not. Because the
peripheral nerves involve so many areas, there are many
different types of symptoms. This can lead to problems
getting a diagnosis since so many of these symptoms also
relate to other illnesses. If you notice one or more of
these symptoms for an extended time, check with your
doctor. He or she may refer you to a neurologist, a doctor
whose specialty is the brain and nerve disorders. A
complete history of the symptoms should be presented and
such tests as an EMG (electromyography), blood tests and
urine tests will probably be done.

The key to recovery is to seek help as soon as you suspect
problems. Recovery time depends on how much damage has
been done and if nerve damage is left untreated for a long
period of time, the symptoms could become irreversible.
Don't ignore the symptoms! This is your life, your future
and your comfort we are talking about here. Most of us
human beings have a tendency to think it's our imagination,
it will get better on its own, the doctor will think I'm
just a complainer, I'll mention it when I see the doctor in
six months, etc. Wrong! At the risk of repeating myself,
I feel that I must stress early diagnosis and treatment is
important for this one. Don't let yourself have permanent
nerve damage because you waited too long to admit you had a
problem.

----------------------------------------------------
For more diabetic information and recipes visit Linda's
website at http://www.diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

Who's Holding a Gun to Your Head?

Who's Holding a Gun to Your Head?
Several years ago I had the opportunity to work in an
assisted living community. My job involved talking to
people who had nutrition problems (diabetes, heart disease,
high blood pressure) and to give short lectures to the
residents.

The talks were always fun, because the topics were
interesting (to me anyway). They included how taste
changed with age, how to be active while sitting in your
chair, ways to add fruits and vegetables to your daily
diet. Then there would be a question and answer
session-again, always fun, because I got to think standing
on my feet.

One question that seemed to arise on a regular basis was
"why do they always serve dessert?" Usually followed by
the comment "I have gained ten pounds since I moved here!"
After the first few talks, I felt like I was dealing with
college freshmen, although now I understand that, with
inflation, the "freshmen ten" is now the "freshmen 15."

I could understand their frustration, because, after having
worked in several facilities, I felt like I was on a cruise
ship. Along with three meals a day, there was always some
type of snack around-cookies, fruit, cake. And, along with
salad, vegetables and a main course, the meals always had
dessert.

You probably feel this way as well, especially when you eat
at a restaurant, or at a friend's house. You want to eat
what is in front of you, and you feel as though there is no
choice. Then, when you discover you have gained weight,
you wonder why.

Let me tell you what I used to tell the folks at the
assisted living facility-and it is this:Did someone put a
gun to your head and tell you that you had to eat dessert?

I realize this is a bit harsh, to you, and to the folks I
was lecturing. But it makes a point-no one is forcing you
to eat dessert. In fact, no one is forcing you to eat
anything. My concern for the elderly is that they eat
adequate amounts of food to stay healthy, and if they eat
dessert, it's their choice. Well, my friends, when you are
at a restaurant, or at your friends' house, the same hold
true-it's your choice. You may feel guilty for not wanting
to eat dessert, but no one is holding a gun to your heading
and forcing the food down your throat.

My suggestion, to you, and to my former residents, is to
watch what you eat-that's all. If you know you are going
to have dessert, then cut back a bit on some of the foods
you eat during the day. Or try to be more active.
Activity helps to increase your metabolism and to burn
calories. Whatever you consider, though, do NOT skip meals
the next day-that sets up a dangerous cycle of starving and
overeating.

The folks at the assisted living needed a bit more advice,
because dessert was offered at every meal. We did need to
discuss more strategies for watching their intake during
the day, especially if they weren't active. The bottom
line still holds-no one is forcing you to eat, you are
responsible for what you put into your mouth. Unless, of
course, someone is holding a gun to your head.

----------------------------------------------------
For free tips to becoming At Peace With Food, articles, and
links to nutritional resource websites, visit=>
http://www.AtPeaceWithFood.com/freetips.html

Alpha Lipoic Acid - The New Antioxidant

Alpha Lipoic Acid - The New Antioxidant
Antioxidants are known for their anti aging properties.
They fight free radicals created in our bodies from stress,
aging, pollution and bad diets that can create cell damage
and contribute to chronic disease. Alpha Lipoic Acid is a
fairly new antioxidant and shows promise as being one of
the most important discoveries in the antioxidant field.

Although Alpha lipoic acid has been known since the 1950s,
it was originally thought to be a vitamin and wasn't
classified as an antioxidant until 1988.

All antioxidants basically work the same - they are
chemicals that get rid of free radicals -- destructive
chemicals produced by the body and thought to contribute to
aging and ailments ranging from heart disease to stroke.

What's Different About Alpha Lipoic Acid?

Alpha Lipoic Acid is soluble in both water and fat, which
means it can move into all parts of the cell to neutralize
free radicals. It's the only antioxidant that can reach the
brain.

It is a metabolic antioxidant, which means it is important
for cell metabolism or the energy of the cell.

The body actually makes enough alpha-lipoic acid for cell
metabolism,however it acts as an antioxidant only when
there is an excess of it and it is in the "free" state in
the cells. There is little free alpha-lipoic acid
circulating in your body, unless you consume supplements.

It is readily absorbed when taken orally, and once inside
cells is shortly changed to its most powerful form,
dihydrolipoic acid.

What Are The Benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid?

*It is currently utilized in Europe to treat peripheral
nerve degeneration (neuropathy) resulting from diabetes.
*It helps make Vitamin C and Vitamin E work better. *It is
used to treat and detox the liver. *Protects and repairs
cells. *Scientists are discovering it may be helpful in
treating or preventing cataracts, atherosclerosis, strokes
and heart attacks, and memory and brain function.

What's the Best Form of Alpha Lipoic Acid?

Actually, there are two forms of Alpha Lipoic Acid and if
you're not vigilant, you could be taking the wrong form.
Most supplements are selling a type of Lipoic Acid that
consists of BOTH forms of the antioxidant, called S and R.
You should be looking for R - Lipoic Acid which is the only
form of lipoic acid that your body synthesizes and can
safely metabolize. Unless the label specifically states
that it is R Lipoic Acid, you are most likely getting the
blend.

Are there Any Side Effects?

Alpha Lipoic Acid seems to have very few side effects. The
recommended dosage is between 50 - 100 mg per day. Higher
doses can result in nausea and upset stomach.

Alpha lipoic acid may benefit blood sugar control, so
people with diabetes who are taking medication to lower
blood sugar should only take it under their physician's
supervision.

Animal studies indicate that alpha lipoic acid may alter
thyroid hormone levels, so it could theoretically have the
same effect in humans. People taking thyroid medications
such as levothyroxine should be monitored by their
healthcare provider.

As always, you should check with your physician before
taking any supplements and also look into hormone and
vitamin deficiency testing.

----------------------------------------------------
This is the first in a series of articles on anti aging
supplements. To get future articles and a copy of the free
book Healthy Aging, go to
http://www.antiagingnutritionnews.com/lipoicacid

The Truth About Protein, Carbs and Fats

The Truth About Protein, Carbs and Fats
People know that by eating a high protein and low carb, low
fat diet, they will lose weight. But it is not worth it.
When you eat too much of carbs or fats, you store it as
body fat. When you eat too much protein, where do you store
it? Your body cannot store it. The body has to get rid of
it. It breaks it down. People eat way too much protein.
When the protein is broken down, it creates toxins and
acids.

The acids cause your body to remove calcium from your bones
to neutralize the acids. The toxins from the breakdown of
protein, attacks your arteries and can lead to high blood
pressure, heart attacks and strokes. College textbooks on
nutrition say that protein deficiency is rare in the world
and does not exist in this part of the world. That means
that while there are millions of people starving because
they are not getting enough carbs and fats, it is rare to
get enough of them but not enough protein.

The brain needs lots of carbs. If a person does not get
enough, he can get depressed. This can lead to someone
killing themselves. So it is not worth it to lose some
weight and end up dead. Also the brain needs plenty of
carbohydrates for you to sleep well. If you are not getting
enough carbs, that can make it hard to sleep leading to
mental problems and even a nervous breakdown.

Of course the good carbs from foods made by nature like
fruits and vegetables are good for you. The bad carbs from
foods made by man are bad for you, like cookies, donuts and
candy. These foods are designed to make you fat and
addicted to food. The unholy grains, like wheat and rice
are also bad for you. The whole grains like whole wheat,
brown rice, wild rice, millet, barley, buckwheat, kamut,
spelt and quinoa are good for you.

Fats are needed to lubricate the brain, arteries and skin.
A lack of good fat (like omega-3) can cause you to become
depressed. It can also lead to high blood pressure, heart
attacks and strokes. Also it can cause skin problems. The
bad fats are bad for you. But the good fats are good for
you. Fish cannot be included as good fats since there is
too much mercury in them from pollution. But you can get
good fat from avocados. It is 60% fat and it is great for
you. It is even anti-inflammatory which can help your
joints.

When they are soft but not mushy, they are good to eat.
Sometimes they have brown in them and they are not good so
it is like a gamble buying them. But it is well worth it.
Other good fats are olives, olive oil, canola oil, nuts and
seeds. Studies with olive oil show that it helps your
arteries and helps you to be thinner. Flaxseeds, walnuts
and pumpkin seeds are good sources of omege3s, a fat that
people do not get enough of.

----------------------------------------------------
The author, Chuck Bluestein, is a bodybuilder, nutritionist
and herbalist. His website has free information on natural
remedies for cold and flu, fasting, enemas, losing weight,
natural cure for depression, natural cures, vegetarian
weight loss, master cleanse, back and neck pain and how to
be happier. http://www.phifoundation.org/enemas.html

Benefits of Online Personal Trainer

Benefits of Online Personal Trainer
Having an online personal trainer is fast becoming the
preferred way to hire a personal trainer. LIVE was
designed to offer everything that a person can get at a
gym, online. An online personal trainer allows more
flexibility with our busy and every changing lifestyles.

Online personal training allows for fitness to be performed
on your time while still receiving the professional support
and instruction that allows for successful weight loss and
fitness performance.

Affordable Price

LIVE offers their online personal trainer programs for less
than a gym membership. For only $9.95 you can have your
own personal trainer. With the Live Lean program you can
interact daily with your own personal trainer for less than
one hour with a trainer. The best part, is that all LIVE
plans include a dietician as well. You actually get a
personal trainer and a dietician at this great value.

Workout from Anywhere

LIVE's online fitness plans can be performed anywhere.
They are designed with manual equipment for you to workout
at home or take your workouts to the gym. Also, because
the workouts are online you can access them when traveling
and still get your workout in. The exercises could even be
performed in a hotel room!

Descriptive Instruction

People need to know how to do the exercises. Every
exercise includes 3-5 photos of a real person performing
the exercise, comprehensive description, and real person
video with audio. No computer graphics, real people
showing you how to perform every exercise. The best part
is that the exercises can be downloaded to an IPOD or PDA
and be taken with you.

Targeted heart rate training allows for every workout to
burn optimal amounts of fat and calories. Never train and
work hard with no results. With a specific heart rate zone
each workout has a specific goal which challenges your
metabolism to improve in the most effective way possible.

Personal Support

The most overlooked aspect of success results is support.
Even Tiger Woods, the best golfer in the world, has a
coach. So often having a professional coach is too
expensive for most people. With online personal training
you can have the support necessary to achieve your results
at a price you can afford. No one is successful on their
own.

When looking for an online personal trainer, important to
find a program that offers a complete health, strength,
cardio, and nutrition plan. A synergistic blend of the
proper health aspects maximizes your ability to achieve
your results in the fastest way possible.

----------------------------------------------------
About The Author: Charles Carter, BS in Exercise Science is
President of LIVE, llc of http://www.liveleantoday.com -
visit the website for more information on weight loss, core
fitness programs, optimal diets, and online personal
trainer and dietician services. For more information on
products go to http://shop.liveleantoday.com .

Keeping off the Weight Once it is Lost

Keeping off the Weight Once it is Lost
So how do you keep off weight once it has been lost? When
you lose weight as part of a weight loss plan or diet, you
want to ensure that weight stays off for good.
Unfortunately although people lose weight, most tend to put
back on within a couple of months. Repeating these
behaviours over a long period results in a permanent
"yo-yo" dieting, weight constantly being lost then put back
on again.

The secret is to break up that behavioural pattern of "yo
yo" dieting and replace it with a new pattern which will
allow you to lose and then maintain your weight.

Following the 5 steps below willgive you a clear direction
to being able to maintain any weight you have lost.

Step 1 Stick to a routine:

It is very important to keep that routine in your life,
which made you lose weight in the first place. The problem
starts when you lose weight, achieve the weight loss target
and just relax. The main purpose of the diet and fitness
routine was designed to allow you to lose weight in the
first place. Try to stick to your diet / weight loss plan
but occasionally eat in between, enjoy parties go to
restaurants from time to time. However keep a sensible
limit to it. Do the same for your physical activities. But
now you can reduce the time and duration. For example if
you used to have exercises 5 times a week, now you can do
it three times a week.

Step 2: Check your weight on a regular basis:

Make sure you have a weight scale, keeping it in a place
where you can see it on a regular basis, for example the
bathroom ,bedroom or even your workplace. Also weigh
yourself everyday where possible. Try to do this in the
evening or before going to bed. This is because that is the
time when you weigh your maximum. In the mornings your
weight is always reduced, this would then give you a false
impression that you've lost weight and consequently you
would eat more that day. Doing this checking of weight on
a regular basis keeps your body in shape. So if you need
lose weight it only tends to be a few pounds you need to
lose.

Step 3. Have routine medical check ups:

Make sure you get your routine medical checkups, and when
you get your check up, make sure you get checked for those
things that tend to increase weight. These include thyroid
problems, hormonal imbalances, water retention and stress.
With women Pregnancy and Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) can
have a dramatic increase in weight. All these factors must
taken into consideration when trying to maintain your
weight.

Step 4. Stick to your size:

Make sure you do your best to keep the same clothes size.
Whether you are size 10, 12 or 14 , stick to it like glue.
If you buy a dress or suit in your size and you think it is
too tight or uncomfortable . Don't alter your clothes, what
you need to do is to alter yourself. Trim your body and
lose some pounds. This will stop you getting into the
habit of altering your clothes to disguise your weight.

Step 5. Ask your partner or friends to help you:

Having a support group of friends and family to lose pounds
and maintain weight is an effective way to encourage you,
and increase your chances of succeeding. Your friends and
your family will appreciate you for you trying to improve
your life for the better. Friends and family will be
reluctant to offer you something to eat that is not healthy
for you. If you want a honest opinion about your weight you
are more likely to get it from friends and family than
complete strangers.

I hope these 5 key steps to maintain lost weight will help
you through the rest of your life.

Good luck for maintaining that lost weight.

----------------------------------------------------
Steven Dailly is the creator of the health and fitness
resource website: Fitter and Healthy You. It gives each
person visiting the site access to free expert tips,
article and advice on health, fitness and weight loss
issues. Check out today the site for yourself below :
http://www.fitterandhealthyyou.com/freeinfo.htm

Proven - Lack of Certain Nutrients Leads to Numerous Unnecessary Illnesses

Proven - Lack of Certain Nutrients Leads to Numerous Unnecessary Illnesses
My wife and I were just looking for a safe, effective way
to help our sons' "un-curable" health challenge, but we've
learned some amazing tidbits and facts along the way. I
hope you will feel like you've learned something helpful
via this article about "subtle and typically unknown", yet
absolutely profound, nutrient deficiencies all around us.

Did you know that USDA scientific studies show that in
1951, an adult women could consume just 2 peaches and
receive the current RDA of vitamin A, yet today, that women
would have to consume over 50 peaches to receive the same
amount of vitamin A? (USDA Study results noted in
Pediatrics Journal, 1998, 133(5): 593-600.)

Actually USDA nutrient charts show an average of greater
than 25% nutrient losses for all fruits and vegetables.
Even the broccoli in the grocery store that you think is
chocked full of excellent nutrients for you and your family
has about 40% less nutrients than broccoli grown
organically and on mineral rich soil of just a few decades
ago.

These kinds of nutrient deficiencies in both vitamin and
mineral content have been noted in many studies and,
because of this the USDA has now changed their 5-7 servings
of FRESH fruits and vegetables to 10-12 servings daily and
both they and the AMA (JAMA, Jun 2002) have added the
recommendation to include a quality supplement in your
diet. They recognize we are not getting all of what our
bodies need from modern grown food.

There are lots of reasons for these nutrient decreases,
some of them being:

Green picking, failure to let the soil rest, chemical
fertilizer dependence including just the minerals NPK
(which is all that's needed to grow good looking crops, yet
our bodies need 50+ minerals to function optimally) and the
widespread usage of toxic chemicals.

Quoting U.S. Senate document #264: "The alarming fact is
that foods (fruits, vegetables, and grains) now being
raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain
enough of certain minerals and are starving us. No matter
how much of them we eat, no man today can eat enough fruits
and vegetables to supply his system with the minerals he
requires for perfect health because his stomach isn't big
enough to hold them. The truth is that our foods vary
enormously in value, and some of them aren't worth eating
as food."

To Your Health & Longevity.

----------------------------------------------------
Mark Ostrye has been writing about health & wellness since
finding a solution for his son's "un-curable" health
challenge last year - vital missing nutrients. He offers a
Free series of Wellness Newsletters at
http://www.antiaginglearnhow.com
His Consulting Group also has a 24/7 Educational
National Wellness call (641) 715-3900 Pin #33880.

12 Tips to Boost a Woman's Sexual Health

12 Tips to Boost a Woman's Sexual Health
Like any muscle, your sexual health requires exercise. Here
are 12 tips to put your sexual health in peak form.

1. Break the Routine:

Is it the missionary position with the man on top? Are the
lights always off? Is sex just for the bedroom? It's the
time to ditch the rut and put some zest into your sex. Get
a copy of the Kama Sutra, experiment with sex toys (yes,
they're quite acceptable!) and for no cost at all, try a
different position in every room in the house.

2. Think and Feel Sexy:

Great sex isn't about the orgasm (although they're great
too!). Sexual health is being comfortable with your
sexuality and feeling sexy all day long. Stop to enjoy the
sexual images all around you. Allow your sexual feelings to
rise and linger. Only you will know that you're taking care
of your sexual health.

3. Express Yourself:

Let's face it. If you want better sex, then start talking
about what you want. Satisfying sex comes from the love and
trust expressed between the people sharing in it. If you're
sitting on a mountain of unresolved issues about your
relationship, your body image or low libido, it's time to
put the spotlight on it and give it your attention.

4. Banish the Stress:

Great sex comes from an inner desire to express passion and
intimacy. However, currents of intimacy are delicate and
won't find their way through the layers of stress that
you've accumulated throughout the day. Leave the job, the
kids, the in-laws and everything else at the bedroom door.

5. Work Those Muscles:

Good sex becomes great sex when your body is in a healthy
condition. Sex is a physical workout which requires
control, flexibility and endurance. And if you suffer from
incontinence or weakened vaginal muscles, you'll also want
to include Kegel exercises in your routine.

6. Ditch the Drugs:

Prescription drugs are bad news when it comes to a healthy
sex life. Common drugs for high blood pressure and
anti-depressant medicines and can lead to a decreased
libido in women. Since most prescription drugs have adverse
side effects, it's best to find a physician who will
recommend healthy alternatives to the drug routine.

7. Lose the Fat:

With over 60% of Americans overweight or obese, all that
excess fat between the sheets is not a pretty picture. If
you can't see your genitals when you're standing up and
can't tell the difference between your breasts and your
belly, it's time to shape up. Not only will the sex
improve, your whole life will take on a new look.

8. Butt Out:

Having a cigarette after sex is a tired cultural image.
Smoking is just a bad habit that also constricts the blood
vessels and inhibits blood flow to the vagina. And besides,
who wants to have sex with a dirty ashtray?

9. Know Your Body:

Rhythms We're creatures of habit and we feel comforted by
predictable routines. Our bodies also have natural daily
and monthly rhythms such as their menstrual cycle. Get in
touch with the natural highs and lows of your sexual desire
and use the highs to engage in sex and the lows to exhale.
Don't fight the rhythms and force sex; prepare for them.

10. Eliminate the Distractions:

When an opportunity to engage in sex arises, it should
totally consume you... and your lover. Turn off the
television, hang up on your mother-in-law, ignore the
credit card statement and forget about work. This is your
time; don't let anything distract you.

11. Read, Watch and Learn:

There's a lot more to sex than knowing the mechanics of how
the pieces fit together. Make your sexual health a priority
and a continual learning experience. Read magazines,
articles and advice columns - there's always something to
learn. Watch sexy movies and learn from the many excellent
educational videos on exploring and enjoying sex.

12. Make Sex Fun:

Remember when it was? When we were young and discovering
the power of our sexuality, sex was fun and we couldn't get
enough. Where did the fun go? Review these 12 tips and
pinpoint why the fun disappeared. And remember, the best
part of losing something is finding it again.

----------------------------------------------------
Linda Ryan and Luke Vorstermans are the founders of The
Sense of Smell Lab, a world leader in the development of
innovative products that use our sense of smell to
influence behavior, trigger memories, manage cravings,
enhance moods and improve sexual health. To learn more
about enhancing your sex drive, go to
http://www.scentuellepatch.com