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Archive for September, 2007

Our Body’s First Line of Defense is Under Attack!

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Our body is an amazing creation. It has the ability to heal itself-if we would just allow it to function properly. The skin is our body’s largest organ and it’s first line of defense against toxins.

What are most people doing on a daily basis that inhibits the skin in doing it’s job? The most common thing is they apply lotions and creams all over which clogs the pores. In essence they are wrapping their body in a chemical coating. The body is not only unable to eliminate toxins, but a host of additional chemicals and toxins are being absorbed along with the lotions, creams, deodorants, sunscreens and cosmetics. Not convinced? Try this simple experiment. Peel a clove of garlic and place it between your toes. Within five minutes you will taste the garlic in your mouth. Everything you put on your skin ends up in your bloodstream. Choosing natural skin care is not only good for your skin, but it is good for your entire body. Ask yourself, “Can it be eaten?” If the answer if “No”, don’t put it on your skin!

Another harmful action most people do to their skin is they don’t sweat on a regular basis. This is vital to the health of all organs in the body, as this is an effective way to purify them of toxins. Using an infrared sauna is a simple way to accomplish this daily. The benefits are many, but include an increased metabolism, a dramatic reduction of toxins, as well as the added bonus of burning fat. Since the body stores toxins in fat cells, this is an important benefit on many levels.

Allow your body to function properly through regular maintenance and stop absorbing chemical toxins in the form of lotions and creams. Finally, naturally purify yourself of toxins by sweating on a regular basis.

Vist PowerfulNaturalCures.com PowerfulNaturalCures.com for more information on toxin removal and how to cure yourself-naturally!

Sports Drinks: A Better Solution?

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Exercisers spend millions of dollars on special sports drinks, even though none increase endurance more than the food from which they are made.

You become tired during exercise because you run low on fluids, salt and calories. As long as you replace these three components, you do not need to pay extra for a sport drink.

If you are going to exercise for more than 25 minutes, you can increase your endurance by drinking fluids. If you are going to exercise for more than 45 minutes, you can increase your endurance with sugared drinks, which provide a quick source of calories. Sugared drinks such as fruit juices, soft drinks and sports drinks can be absorbed just as rapidly as water.

The potassium listed as an ingredient in some sports drinks is irrelevant since you will not become potassium deficient from exercise, and you get plenty of potassium in virtually all foods. The only mmineral you need to replace during exercise is salt.

When you exercise, you lose water through sweat. Sweat contains much less salt than blood does, so you lose far more water than salt, which causes blood levels of salt to rise. You have to lose more than two pints of water for the salt concentration in your blood to rise high enough to make you feel thirsty. By the time you feel thirst, it is too late to catch up on your fluid loss and you will have to stop exercising. By then you are dehydrated and you may become nauseous, get muscle cramps, or feel dizzy. If you ignore the warning signs of dehydration, you can convulse and pass out.

Eating salt stimulates you to drink, and raises your blood salt level high enough to make you feel thirsty and able to retain fluid. Some sports drinks contain salt, but most people don’t like the taste of a salty drink, so the salt content is usually too low to meet your needs for salt during heavy exercise.

Previous studies showing that temperature or carbonation affect absorption have been not been supported by more recent research. Your drink can be chilled or warm, as you prefer. If you prefer the taste of a sports drink over other beverages, use it. If your favorite beverage is a cola, iced tea, lemonade or plain water, that’s what you should drink when you exercise. Research overwhelmingly shows that you will drink the most of the fluid you like best.

Since your drink won’t supply enough salt to meet your needs when you exercise for several hours, you’ll also need to eat salted peanuts, potato chips or anything else with salt that tastes good to you. For calories, it doesn’t make much difference what you eat as long as it doesn’t remain too long in your stomach and cause intestinal discomfort.

When you’re not exercising, don’t get in the habit of using sports drinks or any other sugared drinks to quench thirst. They’ll add up to a lot of calories with little other nutritional value. Use plain water or other calorie-free beverages instead.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at drmirkin.com DrMirkin.com

drmirkin.com/email/newssign.asp Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health and nutrition

Food That Burns Fat

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Food plays a vital role in the life of every human being. Eating the right food in the right quantities is the key to good health. A balanced diet will strengthen your immune system and provide energy to maintain the body cells and organs. Here comes the importance of burning excess fat and thereby shedding excess weight from our body. It is possible to purge the excess fat from the body with the help of some food items that are known as fat burning foods. The specialty of fat burning foods is that they burn more calories than amount of fat they contain. Many of these foods are also known as negative calorie foods and are natural plant products.

The role of fat burning foods in reducing excess weight makes them ideal for people of all ages as they stimulate metabolism and reduce localized fats. Burning more calories is indispensable for reducing excess fat from the body naturally. The best way you can do it is to make sure that you include enough of these natural fat burning agents in your daily diet. Many fruits and vegetables are having wonderful fat burning capabilities. Fruits like lemons, plums, apricot, strawberry, oranges, mango, watermelon, peaches etc. are very good examples. Vegetables of this category include cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, etc.

Green tea burners and diet supplements have been found to be very effective in lowering cholesterol so as to reduce the chances of stroke. By increasing the rate of calorie burning, green tea also helps in weight loss. It prevents teeth decay and soothes irritated skin. Researchers have identified the role of green tea in preventing cancer that it contains some anti-carcinogens.

A recent study reveals that dairy products including milk, cheese and yogurt are good fat burners. These products contain calcium that speeds up the breakdown of fat in fat cells. Drinking plenty of water every day will be helpful for the removal of toxins from the body. It also accelerates metabolism and boosts up the process of fat burning to a great extent.

It is important to include fat burning foods into your every day diet so that you can build a better and healthier lifestyle by eliminating excess fat from your body. Choose a few fat burning foods that suit your requirements and develop a reasonable eating plan that focuses on your personal needs. Try to include vegetables, fruits and cereals that are high in fiber like pears, apples, lima beans, sweet potatoes, barley, brown rice etc.

Urinary Tract Infections Helped with Cranberry Juice

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Cranberry Juice is very rich in Antioxidants and Nutrients which can help to prevent degenerative illnesses and diseases, particularly those associated with the eyes, it is a well known supplement that is frequently used in overcoming UTIs or Urinary Tract Infections, and it could be called a vitamin that boosts the immune system, by increasing and improving cellular communication within the body.

Cranberries are very popular in the United States, especially around Thanksgiving Day, because it has become traditional to have it as a sauce with the Thanksgiving Turkey. The berries are very tangy and tasty, they are also loaded with Vitamin C, they were often used by sailors in days gone by, to prevent scurvy.

When Cranberry Juice is taken for Urinary Tract Infections, researchers found that patients passed a anti bacterial substance in their urine, which cured the infection. Unfortunately UTI is one of those diseases that is inclined to periodically return and become a chronic condition especially among ladies. More research has found that if taken regularly, it can be very effective in preventing a return of the infection.

Cranberry Juice is thought to attack the infection in two ways, one is through the acidity that is produced in the urine, which attacks the bacteria, secondly the Vitamin C content is an essential element in helping the immune system to do its work, because it is receiving what is needed, for efficient functioning. The immune system is the natural healer of all illnesses and diseases in the body, but of course it must have the required vitamins and nutrition for this purpose.

Cranberry Juice can also help in preventing degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, strokes and certain cancers, Cataracts are a cause for concern among the elderly, with vision impairment or even blindness, it has been know to slow down and even stop the progressive deterioration of cataracts.

It has also been shown to be very beneficial in helping to slow down macular degeneration, and to reduce the blood leakage with diabetic retinopathy.

I am not in the business of selling either Cranberries or Cranberry Juice, there are already plenty of suppliers out there, so there should not be any difficulty in obtaining a quality product, try to go for a good brand, that is as natural as it can possible be, and do not choose the cheapest, as this could be a false economic choice.
The point that I am making, is that this, is an excellent natural remedy for a number of problems. Cranberries are considered safe for everyone, but if you are going to take it for medicinal purposes, Please consult with your physician first, Antibiotics might be considered necessary, first before trying Cranberry Juice.

Article by Alfred Jones

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Ten Ways To Avoid Migraines

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

There isn’t just one cause for the headaches and that is a problem with migraine prevention. There are very many triggers for migraines and trying to avoid them all would be an exercise in hermitry. There are a few things you can do to avoid migraines and here are the top ten.

1) Cut the caffeine. Taking in too much can lead to a headache of monstrous proportions. Cut it back slowly.

2)While we’re talking about caffeine, let’s also talk about NutraSweet. Aspartame has been the culprit for many people who have complained of migraines. Avoid it and you may well avoid a horrendous headache.

3) There are more reasons to give up smoking than you can count, but avoiding migraines is another reason to put on the list. Secondhand smoke is just as likely to cause a migraine headache as actual smoking. You do have the right to not have to be around their smoke, especially if their smoke is causing your headaches.

4) Establish a regular pattern of sleeping and waking. In fact, get as anal-retentive as you can about this. A regular pattern of going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time, on weekends as well as weekdays, can do wonders.

5) Give up the pill and try another form of contraception. Birth control pills and their effects on hormones can be a major hazard when it comes to migraine pain. You may look on other forms of female contraception if you and your partner don’t mind. treatment-for-migraines.com/avoid-migraines.htm
continue…

For More articles and information on migraine and migraine treatments visit
treatment-for-migraines.com/ Treatment-for-Migraines.com

Diagnostic Tests to Identify Depression

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

Depression is much more common than most people realize and certainly not due to any fault of the sufferer. The earlier a person seeks help to cure depression, the better it is for him and his loved ones. The early warning signs are often ignored as just a passing phase. Sometimes a person may have gone through a difficult or trying time and hence it is natural not to feel particularly bright and optimistic at all times. However it is important to recognize that sometimes one needs professional help to overcome depression, even if one feels it a temporary phase and one can handle it.

Very often when a person seeks professional help he spends a lot of time with a psychiatrist and then a psychologist in order to establish or confirm the diagnosis. Depression is actually a fairly general term that covers a range of depressive disorders. In order to cure depression the doctor needs to identify the type and treat it appropriately. It is only after the diagnosis has been confirmed that the doctor can proceed to cure depression in a patient.

The doctor takes a detailed history of the patient’s background, symptoms and any triggering episodes. It is important to be completely honest with the doctor as this will help you overcome depression. The doctor seeks information about many physical and emotional signs in the sufferer. The most common signs of depression include the inability to experience pleasure. Nothing seems to make the person happy. Depressed people are often withdrawn from their family and friends. The doctor also looks for telltale signs of low motivation and energy and low tolerance of frustration.

Other information that the doctor needs to know is about any loss in sex drive, unusual weight gain or weight loss and in the case of women if there have been any abnormalities in the menstrual cycle. Insomnia and early morning awakening, symptoms of depression being worse in the mornings are other typical signs. Patients often complain of constipation, headaches and dry mouth.

The psychologist observes the patient and conducts certain tests to determine the mental status. The general appearance and behavior gives a lot of information, particularly if the person appears agitated and avoids eye contact. The person also seems downcast and is unconcerned about his or her physical appearance. The persons mood may be depressed, irritable frustrated or sad and speech may lack spontaneity. Many depressed persons have suicidal thoughts and deep feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. This often leads to impaired judgment and also poor memory.

A psychologist carefully assesses if five or more of the above symptoms are present in the patient. Further he checks if they cause impairment in the person’s normal social, occupational or other functioning. He delves into the personal history to determine whether the symptoms are not due to substance abuse or recent loss of a loved one. The doctor will also rule out any other psychological disorder. If the person has been suffering like this for over two months and is finding it difficult to function normally, the doctor will diagnose the ailment as a major depressive episode.

Depression has certain age specific symptoms as well. In young persons it can lead to substance abuse, promiscuity and antisocial behavior. Elderly patients suffer from memory loss, confusion and disorientation. Whatever the diagnosis, modern medicine can help a person overcome depression. It helps the doctor make the diagnosis if the patient cooperates with the doctor. After all both patient and doctor are looking to cure depression so the person can live a full life once again.

For more information on Depression, go to SadToday.com www.SadToday.com.

Brian Wall AKA The Article Dude is fast becoming the an Internet Research expert, compiling information from a multitude of sources, and setting up content specific web sites. He has started up an Article Directory at TheArticleDude.com. www.TheArticleDude.com.

Free Weights Or Weightlifting Machines To Build Bigger Muscles?

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

Are free weights such as dumbbells and barbells are more superior to weightlifting machines for building bigger muscles? Well, both free weights and weightlifting machines have its own pros and cons.

•Advantages of weightlifting machines

a) Excellent for beginners because it is not so intimidating and the range of motion is fixed, so a bodybuilding novice need not wonder whether he is lifting correctly to target a muscle group.

b) Easy to use as machines usually have instructions on them.

c) Safer – It won’t drop on you in a middle of a lift.

d) Isolate your muscles so that you can rest your injured body part and yet able to workout other muscle part.

•Disadvantages of Weightlifting Machines

a) Increase injury risks since the range of motion is fixed and repeated workout will place tremendous stress on the same joints, tendons and muscles because you are lifting on a fixed pathway.

b) Because of its isolation of muscles, your workout hit only the targeted muscles with little involvement of supporting or synergistic thus your muscle gains will be slower and less balanced.

c) Since weight lifting machines have fixed configuration, your workout does not factor in your body frame and structure. Whether you have a big or small built, narrow or wide shoulders, you will be using the same pathway range of motion and width of grip. This will raise your chances of being injured as well as poorer muscle development.

•Advantages of free weights

a) More stabilizing muscles synergistic muscles are involved. So you are actually exercising more muscles and therefore will develop more muscle growth and strength.

b) Improve your balance and muscle coordination since you need to balance the weights during your lift and this call on many muscles to do so. So your muscle coordination and sense of balance will naturally improve.

c) Convenient and inexpensive since you need not join a gym and free weights are much less expensive than machines.

•Disadvantages of free weights

a) Increase injury risks if lifting with wrong form and technique.

b) Time consuming because you need to bring the weights from one area to another or physically taking time to adjust, add or decrease weights.

So which is better for building bigger and well balanced muscles? Yup, free weight takes the cake over weight lifting machines for building muscles faster and bigger. However, since both weightlifting machines and free weights have its own advantages and disadvantages, you can then weigh the pros and cons to use machines or free weights for your workouts or even a combination of both to suit your personal requirements.

About The Author
Chris Chew is a fitness personal trainer of actors, fashion models and male pageant title holders.
More of his articles at his sites sgfitness.com” target=”_new sgfitness.com and sgfitnessonline.com” target=”_new sgfitnessonline.com

Breast Reduction - Good and Bad Reasons to Choose It

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

Breast reduction is a popular topic, especially among women with fairly large breasts. Just like any medical procedure, breast reduction implies certain advantages and certain disadvantages. At the same time, women seem to choose breast reduction due to a wide range of different reasons – while some of them can be considered pertinent, others need more reflection.


Here are the top reasons why considering breast reduction might seem justified:


You feel uncomfortable. Some women with large breasts find it difficult to rest or sleep in comfortable positions. You can either adjust to this situation or you can think about more drastic measures, such as breast reduction.


You feel unattractive. Some might say that this reason is superficial, yet constantly dealing with complexes is not an easy task to accomplish. But still, you need to be objective and not obsessive when evaluating your breasts. Simply sustaining that your breasts are too large, when all the people around you are disagreeing might not qualify as a relevant reason to opt for breast reduction.


You can not perform certain activities. Mainly, women with very large breasts complain about being unable or to perform certain sportive activities, ranging from running to playing dynamic team sports. If this is your case and you feel very unhappy about it – regardless if you want to be a professional athlete or if you simply want to practice sports – you might take breast reduction into consideration.


Your back hurts. This is a common reason why women with large breasts opt for breast reduction. Basically, we are talking about a weight that is carried every day – and this fact might affect the position of the back. Therefore, in case your breasts are very large, you might suffer from frequent back problems. And this is a relevant reason for considering breast reduction.


On the other hand, here are the top reasons that should not be the only criteria that basis your decision regarding breast reduction:


You feel it’s time for a change. Do not risk your health simply because you feel like changing something on your body. It is a surgery, after all and surgeries do imply risks. Change your hair color and style, buy new outfits, but avoid choosing breast reduction because you are simply bored of your breasts.


Your partner told you to opt for breast reduction. No, do not opt for breast reduction, just because your boyfriend told you so. Sadly, many women choose serious measures, such as surgery, simply because their partners want to change them. A breast reduction a serious medical procedure and should be treated as such, so do not put your health and beauty at risk simply because somebody else - not you - is unhappy with the way you look.


Your friend had breast reduction. Do not choose breast reduction just because your friend did and she looks great. Every person is and looks different and you are not assured to get the same results as other people did. So, wanting to have breasts like your friend should not be the only reason that basis your breast reduction decision.


Considering the facts above and hoping you make the right decision regarding breast reduction, we wish you all the best in achieving beauty and maintaining your good health.

Cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures favor better prepared patients. Learn what you must know, before you say: “Do It!” Informative site cosmeticplasticsurgeons.com.au cosmeticplasticsurgeons.com.au holds answers to many questions that you understandably have.

Protect Yourself From High Cholesterol And Triglycerides

Friday, September 28th, 2007

High cholesterol is a common affliction for those in Western societies. It is estimated that 101 million Americans suffer from high cholesterol which is defined as blood cholesterol greater then 200mg per deciliter. Americans are not the only ones with cholesterol problems, an Australian study found that 51.5% of male Australians have high blood cholesterol.

While some cholesterol is good, it is when the levels get too high that we run into problems. Cholesterol is necessary for hormone production, and is a major component in cell walls. Cholesterol also aids in the production of bile and aids in the metabolism of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

High cholesterol is one of the five leading risk factors leading to coronary heart disease. If your cholesterol levels need to drop a bit and you want to work on your good to bad ratio, drugs are not the only option.

As far as diet goes, adding soluble fiber is a good move as it binds to blood serum cholesterol and helps it leave the body. Good dietary sources of soluble fiber can be found in ground flax seeds, oat meal and oat bran, apples and a variety of other foods.

Niacin, known as Vitamin B3, is a water soluble vitamin that has also been proven to be helpful in lowering cholesterol levels and improving cholesterol ratios. The main function of niacin is to metabolize fats.

Niacin has been shown to reduce LDL, or bad cholesterol levels by 10-20%, reduce triglycerides by 20-50%, and raise HDL, or good cholesterol by 15-30%.

When choosing a Niacin product, be sure to start with 100mg dose and gradually ease your way up to avoid the flushing and tingling of skin that can happen with higher doses. This flushing is a result of niacin’s effects on widening blood vessels which usually last beginning at 15 minutes after taking the pill to about an hour after. If you do suffer from the flushing sensation, taking your niacin with food can decrease your risk of these negative symptoms. Also, do not purchase niacinamide as it does not help in lowering cholesterol. It is common to work up to 1.5 to 3 grams per day for therapeutic doses.

Another great benefit of niacin for anyone who has suffered a heart attack or stroke is that the use of niacin has been shown to reduce the risk of having a second heart attack or stroke.

People who take niacin to lower cholesterol typically get their cholesterol levels checked every 6 to 12 months as niacin works gradually over time. Having your blood tested more often then that is not necessary as the cholesterol changes can be slow.

I do want to note that if you have been taking statin drugs or Red Yeast Rice, it is very important to add both Niacin and CoQ10 as statins and Red Yeast Rice both deplete your body of these nutrients. Be sure to consult your physician on this issue too.

It is important to work with your doctor on this to avoid any complications like high blood sugar or liver problems. High doses of niacin can also increase the effectiveness of medication for high blood pressure.

The author of this article publishes the natural health website jeffshealthyliving.com jeffshealthyliving.com and the blog on holistic and alternative health at jeffshealthyliving.com/blog jeffshealthyliving.com/blog

Acne - Apply Vitamin A Derivatives For Sure Cure

Friday, September 28th, 2007

Acne and Vitamin A

Vitamin A is considered a very important anti oxidant vitamin. Use of Vitamin A in the form of Beta-carotene kills free radicals and keeps us young for a long time. How vitamin A is used for treating Acne? Let us find out in detail.

Vitamin A side effects - a boon

Doctors warn that Vitamin A in large quantities can be dangerous. In mild doses, it dries the skin and peels it. This side effect has been used to prepare derivatives of Vitamin A called retinoids. Vitamin a is also called retinol. Its derivatives are called retinoids. Isotretinoin is the most famous derivative. Others are tretinoin, Adapalene, tazarotene.

Acne treatment with Vitamin A derivatives

Topical Vitamin A derivatives dry the skin and peel the upper layers off. This quality is very useful in treating acne. Sebum, the skin oil is the most responsible for causing acne. This sebum becomes infected and forms acne. Vitamin A derivatives dry out this sebum on the site of application. The other main cause of acne formation is blocked sebaceous glands. Once the top layer begins peeling because of Vitamin a derivatives, the pores open. This effectively cures acne.

One should be careful in using Vitamin a derivatives. Many cosmetics contain Vitamin A ingredients such as Retinol, tretinoin etc. Excess use will cause redness. Pregnancy is another major concern. Those who are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant should consult their doctor before using any Vitamin A derivative or Vitamin A itself. Vitamin A derivatives area boon in acne treatment.

To learn more about Retinoids, click here => doctorgoodskin.com/pd/retinoids/common.php” target=”_blank Common Topical Retinoids.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

C.D. Mohatta writes articles on skin, hair and nail - problems, treatments and care. For more information about how to have good skin, hair and nails that looks young and blemish free, please visit doctorgoodskin.com/ doctorgoodskin.com/ You will also find solutions to wrinkles, scars, facial rejuvenation, latest laser treatments, skin blemishes and spots, hair care and hair loss and about keeping healthy nails. This site is dedicated to keep you healthy and make you look good. For keeping yourself looking good find out more about the doctorgoodskin.com/ds/acne/ acne that causes damage to our skin.