Some Facts About Sunscreen

When many of us were growing up, it was common practice to lay out in the sun for an entire afternoon in an attempt to get as brown as possible. Aiding in this task were sun lotions and oils. Beaches and backyards were filled with bronzed people unwilling to go through life with pale skin hidden from the sun. Even though that wasn?t so long ago, times have certainly changed. Now that melanoma is a big issue, we?re lectured about safeguarding our skin against the sun?s rays by wearing protective clothing, hats and sunscreen.

Sunscreen is an important staple and should be implemented into a person?s daily regimen. If applied on a daily basis before you leave the house, even during the winter, your skin will look much younger and your chances of contracting skin cancer will lower dramatically.

In order to work properly, it should be applied liberally to all exposed parts of the body. Studies have shown that most people don?t apply an adequate amount of sunscreen, so don?t be afraid to slather it on.

When shopping for sunscreen, be sure to choose the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) that is right for you. It all depends on your skin type and how quickly you burn. For instance with an SPF 20, you can stay out in the sun twenty times longer than you would if your skin wasn?t protected. SPF 2 through 12 offers the minimum protection available, SPF 12 through 30 offers moderate protection and SPF 30 is the maximum protection offered.

If you?re going spend the day in the sun, a sunscreen with the maximum SPF your skin can tolerate should be liberally applied about 30 minutes prior to exposure. It should also be periodically re-applied as the day progresses, at least every hour or so or after swimming.

Sunscreens do lose their ability to protect. If you have sunscreen in your cabinet more than three years old, you should throw it away. Hopefully it?s not sitting around that long unused. Make sunscreen a part of your daily grooming routine. Your skin will thank you.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at http://www.best-sunscreen.info

Principles of the Warm Up

?Workout Preparation? would be a better name for the warm up period however conventional usage has determined the pre-workout phase be labeled ?the warm up?. So be it, now let?s talk about just what the warm up is supposed to do, and does, if performed as designed.

Simply running in place or pulling on a leg behind the back doesn?t cut it in the workout prep portion of an exercise session and it especially does not prepare the body for any competitive sport at all! The warm up must get the body ready to perform effectively and efficiently at its peak. Doing so requires attention to raising the heart rate, preparing the nervous system, and the muscles and tendons and the joints and ligaments that hold it all together.

Expected and specific outcomes resulting from the warm up

Improved elasticity of and increased contraction capabilities of the muscles, raising the efficiency of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, reduced reaction times via improved neuromuscular connections and transmissions, focused concentration, improved coordination and perception abilities, emotional state normalization particularly before a competitive event takes place. According to Sozanski the warm up regulates the emotional status due to the flow of impulses from the motor and sensory nerve centers to and from the working muscles by calming down an overly excited nervous system. In the case of one who is apathetic (start apathy) to the upcoming event, the warm up stimulates the nervous system.

Just as certain exercises are more appropriate to specific athletes, certain warm-ups are also appropriate to certain individuals. If the athlete is overly excited, their warm up process would involve slow complex exercises requiring precision of movement, but ones that are well known and familiar to the athlete. Just the opposite warm up would be in order for the apathetic athlete. These individuals need simple, easy exercises that are fast paced, requiring fast reactions, coordination and agility while performed in an energetic manner.

The warm up session starts with exercises that are low in intensity, progressing up to the actual work out movements. Starting with high intensity exercises leaves little left in reserve for the main work out. The body quickly uses its stored muscle glycogen and increases the lactate levels in the blood when engaged in high intensity work. When the lactate increases, the free fatty acids decrease, leaving less to help produce energy. You don?t get into your car on a cold morning and go racing out the drive way and onto the expressway at maximum speed. It?s the same for our bodies; warm them up for the tasks ahead.

General principles of arranging warm up exercises normally follow few these guidelines. Start from the distant joints and work toward the center or proximal portion of the body, from one end to the other or from top to bottom or vice versa. The exercises move from one into another so that the end of one move floats directly into the start of the next movement. This is also how a regular strength training session should be set up.

A solid warm-up will take anywhere from twenty to forty minutes for an elite athlete. Many people don?t have the time to take this long so adaptations will have to be made by taking into account the total length of the exercise session. If the intensity of the workout is high then the warm up will, of necessity, be longer. Longer warm up periods would be in order for the explosive sports endeavors such as sprinting and the more difficult technical sessions. Aerobic and endurance exercise periods need much less, as the pre stages of these activities are in and of themselves a warm up.

Repeating the same warm up in successive workouts is not beneficial to the athlete as the goals of each workout are not necessarily the same, thus the warm up should reflect the workout goal. The warm up should prepare the athlete for the workout; bearing this in mind the last minutes of the warm up will be more or less specific to the first training exercises and ultimately blend into the actual workout itself. After the session has started then each different move will be preceded by its own specific but short warm up as the training continues onward.

The general warm up

The runner?s may actually be onto something when they start out on a run-they normally begin at a slower pace than the main portion of the run will be. Any exercise that revs up the cardiovascular system is good except for the time-honored jumping jacks. As mentioned in Thomas Kurz excellent training manual Science of Sports Training, these are contraindicated as a warm up because there is NO technique in any sport that is similar or can be improved by doing these outdated exercises. This activity causes a neurological disorganization in an athlete by causing a regression to an out of sync, homolateral pattern of locomotion resulting in a vague feeling of confusion. Additionally, jumping jacks raise the levels of blood lactate before the main workout and are not a lead in exercise for any lifting technique.

Increased flexibility is a residual effect of the influx of blood into the muscles. Immediately after the aerobic warm up begin with dynamic stretches. Arm and leg rotations to the front, side, rear and in large circles. More leg rotations can be done during this time than arm rotations due to muscle mass involved. Ten to twelve legs compared to five to eight arm rotations. Do as many as necessary to reach full range of motion in any particular direction. Throwers, warming up, would follow a systematic sequence that is specific to the shoulders.

Notice there was no mention of any isometric, relaxed or static stretches before an active workout. Recall the reasons for a warm up:

Improved elasticity of and increased contraction capabilities of the muscles

Reduced reaction times via improved neuromuscular connections and transmissions

Higher breathing efficiencies

The goal is improved performance.

Static stretches tend to relax the joints and decrease potential power output, by some estimates up to 8% and impair the activity of the tendon reflexes. Isometric stretches that are held make an athlete tired while at the same time decreasing coordination abilities. Whereas the passive, relaxed style of stretching has a calming effect on the athlete.

A relaxed, non-optimally coordinated joint and muscle tendon combination is just asking for an injury to happen.

If the temperature is low and the forthcoming activity intense, the warm up must be longer and more intense than if the temperature is high, and the session a low intensity one. Each exercise builds on the previous ones until the final effort has the body ready for the main part of the workout.

The specific warm up

As the warm up nears the end, the movements and intensity must approximate the beginning of the main workout. Just because these final movements may be lighter and not as challenging as the main ones to come does not mean less concentration is needed. Do not get into sloppy habits at any time of these warm ups because you learn what you repeat. So repeat it right each time, every time.

Questions or comments: send them along to Danny@explosivelyfit.com

Danny M. O?Dell, M. A. CSCS*D, author, nationally and internationally recognized fitness advocate and speaker, conditioning and strength coach is the co-owner of The WeightRoom Gym and Explosivelyfit.com, both located in Nine Mile Falls, WA. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, recognized with Distinction by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has a Masters Degree in Human Services and is a strength and conditioning coach in a local School District along with being a member of the Washington State Coaches Association.

Danny is the author of the following training manuals: A Comprehensive Approach to Shoulder Training and Injury Resistance, Composite Training, Strength Training Secrets,The Ten Essentials, and The Ultimate Bench Press Manual and Wilderness Basics.

These are complemented by several smaller handbooks: The Twenty Minute Dumbbell Routine, Workout at Home, Push up Power, and The little handbook of chin up progressions.

Each one of these outstanding products is available at http://www.explosivelyfit.com/

Keep Away From the Foods That Cause Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation, pain, soreness and swelling of the joints, also reducing their mobility. It mostly it affects the joints of the lower body limbs, such as toes, heels, ankles and knees, but it can also affect the joints of the upper body. Gout sometimes affects skin and soft tissue like muscles and tendons, causing swelling and rigidity. There are many factors that contribute to the occurrence and the development of gout, such as genetic predisposition to the disease, renal insufficiency, inappropriate diet and lack of proper exercise. Among all these triggers of gout, the quantity and the type of food consumed seem to play a very important role.

In the past, gout was referred to as ?the disease of kings?, as it mostly affected rich people. The high incidence of gout among the rich, noble families in the past is explained by the fact that they had better access to expensive, exotic foods that in present are known to facilitate the development of the disease. Today, many people are still confronted with gout as a result of improper diet, unaware of the damage that some foods cause to the organism. Apart from foods that cause gout, another important factor in the development of the disease is obesity.

Gout is mainly caused by the crystallization of a substance called uric acid in the bloodstream, causing arteries to block. In normal quantities, uric acid is neutral to the organism. However, when in excess, it may cause a lot of damage. Uric acid is a residual product formed in the synthesis of purine. Purine is a substance that resides in fat meats, fish, some dairy products and vegetables. Foods that cause gout are rich in saturated fats and purines, therefore contributing to the excessive secretion of uric acid. Among the foods that cause gout, the most dangerous are considered to be red meats and some fish. Beef, pork, lamb and seafood should be avoided when suffering from gout. Furthermore, healthy people should control their intake of such foods in order to prevent the acquiring of gout. Other foods like chicken meat, low dairy, grains, green vegetables and fruits are well tolerated among people who suffer from gout.

In order to ameliorate the symptoms of gout, foods that cause gout should be excluded from the diet in favor of healthy food. Also, the consumption of alcohol should be reduced, as it increases the amount of uric acid produced by the organism. Smoking can aggravate the symptoms of gout too, slowing the natural process of healing and interfering in the right circulation of the blood.

By drinking plenty of water you will help the body in eliminating the excess of uric acid. It is strongly recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Also, try to reduce the amount of saturated fats from your diet and eat more carbohydrate rich foods such as cereal, pasta and bread. Consume plenty of fruits, as they contain lots of important vitamins and minerals. Fruits like apples, oranges, nectarines and lemons should be a part of your daily menu.

More information about gout you can find in the content of these pages, also there is valuable information about food that causes gout.

The Energy Equation

It is a dark, grey time of year. Even though we know spring is approaching, evidenced by emerging bulbs and fattening buds, the overcast skies and damp weather conspire to keep spirits low.

At such times it is important to keep energy levels high to ward off the seasonal blues, but how can we do this?

The following is a simple technique, which is easy to follow.

Think about what gives you energy and what takes energy. Make two lists one for the +tives and one for the ?tives. My lists look something like this:

Positives:
Hearing from a friend
Having a reiki treatment
Walking my dog
Being up to date with my work
Having lots of fresh fruit
Having a haircut
Listening to uplifting music
Keeping promises
Eating 3 light meals spaced throughout the day

Negatives:
Not speaking to anyone all day
Not bothering to put my make up on
Not getting any fresh air
Being behind with my work
Drinking alcohol
Pulling my hair back into a pony tail
Listening to news reports
Breaking promises
Constantly grazing

You can use these if they apply to you and add some of your own. Each day do more of the things on your +tive list and less of things on your ?tive list and you will find your mood lifted and energy levels increased. How simple can that be?

Donetta Harrison is building http://www.wellnessforlife.info, an information resource on all aspects of wellness in all domains of life, to encourage individuals to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing in order that that they may live life to the full. More Information from wellnessforlife@btinternet.com

What is the Cause?

The question most people think they need an answer to is what is the cause of their this or that? Many people pay it lip service, but what is cause really? Going with the bucket analogy, what is the cause of one of the symptoms or diseases not being covered by water, or being expressed? Could it be that water is leaking out of the bucket through the holes? Which hole is the ?cause? of the symptoms or disease being expressed? That is kind of a trick question.

It is not just one hole that causes a symptom or disease to be expressed. All the holes lead to the decreased level of water. Or, said another way, there is not just one cause to any symptom or disease. In fact, everything you did or didn?t do up to that point in your life has some role in the symptoms or disease you are expressing. Most people are looking for a cause, and no one ever stopped to question if there even was only one cause . . . until now. The cause, if you really need to have one, is a lack of health.

To get people to immediately stop looking for the one cause that doesn?t exist would be tough. Because looking for the cause of something is so ingrained into our thinking, into our very way of automatic reaction, that stopping the never-ending quest for ?cause? immediately is like expecting a huge semi truck to stop instantly, even though it is going down the highway at 70 miles per hour (120 km/h).

With one little change, two little words, the track that most people head down when looking for the cause would be much more effective. That is, switching one?s frame of mind from looking for the cause to looking for the major contributing factors, because some things contribute more to certain symptoms and disease than others. Some contribute more directly, other less directly. Switching to looking for contributing factors instead of the cause will make a quantum leap in how effective the treatment of the symptoms and disease becomes.

That is worth saying again, in BOLD. There is not one cause to anything. There are infinite amounts of contributing factors to the symptoms or disease being expressed. Some contributing factors have a bigger impact than others.

So if you continue to treat your symptoms and disease, look for the major contributing factors and eliminate them. I say this because often people say things like, I tried quitting eating sugar, and it didn't work (so they eat sugar again) I tried quitting smoking and that didn't work (so they are smoking again) I tried exercising and that didn't work ( so they are not exercising anymore) etc. etc. People try one thing believing there is one cause. And if that one thing doesn't work, they stop doing it or begin doing it again. It is about eliminating contributing factors.

If you continue to look for contributing factors you must also add to your health. No matter what you do, the only way to be permanently healthy is to add to your health. There is no way around this.

Simple, easy and often FREE ways to add to your level of health. This and this article are Part of a Free e-Course on Dieting and Eating Healthy. Go to http://www.bazuji.com/ecourse to sign up for the free e-course. Do you want to be Sexy, Slim, Slender and Healthy for Life. Dr. Jamie wants to help give you this with his non-diet. He is also giving you dozens of valuable free gifts to ethically bribe you into helping him make his new book, The Ultimate Non-Diet a #1 best seller. For details go to: http://www.TheUltimateNonDiet.com/free

7 Simple Weight Loss Feasting Tips for the Holiday Season

Here comes Halloween... and the start of the season of feasting for a lot of folks around here.

It's become a sort of time-honored tradition for Americans to put on weight between Halloween and New Year's Day. Some would even say it's to be expected -- After all, it's the holidays!, they say.

Now, I love the holidays. And I bet you do too. Who wouldn't love all the great treats and wonderful foods that just seem to spring up around us during the holiday season, right?

But don't you just hate it when you step on the scales after the holidays, and discover you've put on weight?

Fret not, for I'm here to show you how you can have fun during the holidays and enjoy all your favorite holiday treats, without putting on any extra pounds.

Here are 7 Simple Weight Loss Feasting Tips for the Holiday Season...

1. Give yourself permission - Go ahead and eat anything you want during the holiday season. Halloween, Christmas, New Year's, it doesn't matter. Yes, you can have all your favorite foods. Isn't it refreshing to know that you don't have to abstain from your perennial favorites? You see, we tend to want more of what we cannot have. The more you try to stop yourself from eating something, the more you want to eat it. And when you do give in to the temptation, you'll tend to overeat. Here's the secret: It's not all or nothing. Have anything you want, as long as you remember not to go overboard and consume too much.

2. Be clear of your goals - There must be a reason why you want to keep your weight down. If you don't already have a reason, now's the time to sit down and think of as many as possible. This step is critical if you want to be able to enjoy your holidays and maintain your weight throughout. You need to be crystal-clear about your Why. Why do you want to lose weight? How would you feel if you end up putting on weight? Conversely, how would you feel if you can go through the holidays and yet maintain your current weight? Think about these questions carefully, and build up your arsenal of reasons why. The next time you are tempted to overeat, recall these reasons again and they'll help you to stay in control.

3. Have a little of everything - Remember how it's not all or nothing? The secret to enjoying all the great food without the subsequent guilt is to have a little of everything. Just remember to control your serving portion sizes. You have permission to eat all kinds of food, but this doesn't mean you can go out there and devour extra- large portions of everything with super-generous gravy toppings, ok?

4. Be careful of the little nibbles - Sometimes, it's not the big-time party or pig-out feasting session that causes you to gain weight. On the contrary, it's exactly the opposite -- it's the little candy and chocolate bar that you pick up to nibble on, everything time you open the fridge or walk past the office candy bowl. All these little snacks in between meal times can (and will!) add up to a lot of extra calories. This sneaky little problem is something that has caught many women off-guard. And now that you know this, it's easy to catch yourself in the act the next time it happens to you!

5. Be smart - They're certainly trying, but don't be fooled by the retailers and their fancy packaging and labels. Have you noticed a lot of the packaging now screams out phrases such fewer calories, low fat, less sugar, low carb and etc? Whilst all these claims are true, it does NOT mean you can eat more and have bigger portions. Remember: fewer/low/less doesn't mean Zero/None/Without. Also, it's pretty usual that when something comes with less of one thing, it has more of the other stuff e.g. lower carb, but more calories.

6. Use the healthier versions - Many of the sweets and treats offer you a choice of healthier versions. So when you can, please do opt for the low-calorie, reduced sugar, or lower fat varieties.

7. Choose the right chocolate - And if you must have chocolate, please go for dark chocolate and avoid the milk chocolate. By far, dark chocolate is the best choice as it has antioxidant properties that can protect the body from damaging oxidative stress. So there you have it, consuming a moderate amount of dark chocolates is actually healthy for you!

So, who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

Copyright 2005 Tracy Lee

Tracy Lee is the owner of the Weight Loss for Women Over 40 site. Get the latest news, tips & tricks that can help women over 40 to lose weight safely and permanently, and your complimentary copy of our Special Report 9 Little-Known Insider Weight Loss Secrets To Help Women Over 40 Make Those Extra Pounds Disappear instantly here:

http://www.weight-loss-for-women-over-40.com/insidersecrets/

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Do You Know What Is The Proper Gym Etiquette?

You may be a regular at your local gym, having trained for years, but do you know what proper gym etiquette is? Just like a restaurant where talking with your mouth full of crabsticks is considered taboo, the gym is a place with its own set of etiquette to follow too.

1. Wipe your sweat!
Most gyms require you to carry your own towel around, so make use of it! No one likes to see the slimy pool of sweat left behind by you on the machine, especially if he's sharing it with you. Leaving your sweat unwiped complicates matters alot for other gym users, and especially for gym instructors like me. It is no joke trying to clean a machine that smells strongly of testostereone!

2. Don't hog the weights/machines
We all have experienced it, I'm sure... After a hardcore set bicep curls, you make your way to the preacher curls machine immediately for your superset, only to realise there's someone sitting there. That's okay. You say to yourself, I'll just ask to work in with him. Sorry, I've got 1 more set to go. Our friend on the machine then continues his conversation with his partner for another 5 minutes before he does his set. By the time you start your set, the pump would have been long gone. Pretty familiar situation, ain't it? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, NEVER HOG WEIGHTS!

3. Ask before you take someone elses's dumbbells
I see this frequently everyday. There will be a poor victim who leaves his dumbbells by his bench and goes for a water break. He then returns scratching his head as he looks around the weight room for his dumbbells that were by his bench. The gentleman across the room puts on an innocent expression and does his bicep curl, hoping that the victim doesn't realise it. Humans are intellectual beings, it is common knowledge that dumbbells do not have legs, neither do they roll away on their own.

4. Don't drop your weights
When metal colides against concrete, especially from a height, a loud unpleasant bang is produced. It pisses people off, and for all you know, you may just have pissed off that 230lb bodybuilder who's called Tiny and that is not the worst. The last thing you would want is for that 80 year old elderly lady on the threadmill to get a heart attack because she thought Armageddon was coming.

5. Be kind to your spotter
There is nothing wrong with asking someone for a spot, but be kind to him because he has already done a great service by disrupting his workout to spot you! Having a spotter allows you to safely push beyond failure, but not to the extent where he's performing another set. You'll know it when someone goes up to your spotter after your set and says, Good set!

6. Re-rack the weights!
It amazes me sometimes that someone who is strong enough to bench 315lbs is unable to load back the 45s on the bar. The person using the bench press after him usually gets a big shock after discovering that he has to unload 6 45s!

7. Obey the time limit
We all dread cardio (I'd rather a bowl of Laksa...), but sometimes, we just have got to do it. The cardio machines in most gyms have a time limit, and they're there for a reason, so stick to it! If it says 30 minutes, do end your workout on the machine after 30 minutes and let the next guy on it. This makes sure that users will still be able to do their cardio even during peak hour times in the gym. Likewise, if 30 minutes is not up yet, never chase that cute girl off the treadmill. You never know if her boyfriend might be that Hulk over there squatting 600lbs. Trust me, it won't be a nice sight.

For the new trainee, mastering proper etiquette will go a long way to helping you build good relationships in the gym (and allowing me to slack more on my job). If everyone observes proper etiquette, working out will be a fun experience. If there is no trouble in the gym, I'll have no worries when I go for my tea-time breaks... ;)

This is an entry from Benny's Blog. Benny's Blog tells you the life of a gym instructor who has encountered way too many gym idiots. You can visit Benny's Blog at http://www.supplementtracker.com/bennyblog for more gym humour.

Multiple Sclerosis What Is It Exactly?

If you've watched the TV series The West Wing, you are no doubt familiar with the story of President Bartlett keeping from the public that he had multiple sclerosis while he was running for office. The show touched on the basics of the disease and for the most part tried to give us some idea of what it was and what it wasn't. In this article we're going to present the facts on multiple sclerosis, not through the eyes of a TV show but through the eyes of the medical profession.

Without getting too technical, which is hard to do when talking about a disease of this nature, multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. More specifically, it is a disease of the nerve fibers that carry information and signals from the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

What happens is that plaque builds up in the area around these nerve fibers which damages the nerve insulating material called myelin. How badly damaged these nerve fibers become, determines the severity of the symptoms associated with the disease.

No two people are affected by multiple sclerosis in the same way. The disease itself is as unique to each person as their DNA. However there are certain symptoms that develop during the course of the disease that are common throughout, though they may occur at different times, in the progression of the disease itself. For example, some people may be unable to walk relatively early on while others lose this ability much later or possibly not at all. The reason the symptoms and timing vary so much is because each nerve center in the body controls a different part of the body. So the damage of that particular nerve center that will determine what function is affected and to what severity.

Some of the more common symptoms of multiple sclerosis are numbness, tingling, pins and needles, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, spasticity, cramps, pain, blindness, blurred or double vision, incontinence, urinary urgency or hesitancy, constipation, slurred speech, loss of sexual function, loss of balance, nausea, disabling fatigue, depression, short term memory problems, other forms of cognitive dysfunction, inability to swallow, inability to control breathing and the list literally goes on and on. Basically any function of the body that requires nerve center impulse transmission is at risk of attack. Yes, it is an insidious and horrible disease.

Depending on your point of view of life and death, some say the worst part of this disease is that it is not fatal and progresses very slowly. In the early stages most people have no symptoms at all and may not even know they have it. As the disease progresses symptoms begin to show and worsen. People at some point need the assistance of a cane or some other device to assist with walking. As the disease progresses, and again this varies from person to person, symptoms can become so severe that the person is completely immobile. People with multiple sclerosis who eventually die do not do so from the disease itself but from an indirect result of the disease, which can be just about anything from a stroke to a heart attack to organs just simply not working any longer.

In the next article we'll go over the different types of multiple sclerosis and how the disease is treated.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Multiple Sclerosis

Tips to Help You Prevent an Asthma Attack

Asthma is an illness that causes the air passages in the lungs to be irritated, and to swell. As a result, the airways may also become smaller, and you may have trouble breathing, a tight feeling in your chest, or wheezing. An asthma attack happens when your airways narrow which makes it hard for you to breathe. Asthma attacks are also called flare-ups or episodes.

Asthma can be frightening, but it can be treated. With time and working with your doctor, you can learn how to care for your asthma. Your doctor can prescribe medicines that can control the airway swelling. You can help by avoiding things that irritate your airways, such as tobacco smoke.

Your asthma may change with time. You may get new allergies or your asthma may get better or worse. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if your asthma changes. Remember that asthma can be managed and you should be able to live a normal life.

There are some tips to help you avoid an asthma attack:

1) If you are given a prescription for medicine, use it as exactly as ordered by your doctor. This means that you should not take more or less than the prescribed dosage, or skip doses.

2) Whether you are at work or at home, avoid pollen, dust, animal dander, molds, smoke, and other things that might trigger an asthma attack.

3) You may have fewer attacks if you decrease the amount of dust in your home. One good way to do this is to invest in a quality air purifier.

4) Replace or cover your pillows or mattress with non-allergenic materials. Some hypersensitive asthma sufferers have reported significant decreases in the severity and frequency of attacks by using non-allergenic bedding.

5) Exercise may help, so discuss an exercise routine with your doctor. Never undertake any exercise routine on your own.

If you have any of the following signs, it might be an indication that your asthma is getting worse. You should make an appointment with your doctor to review these symptoms.

1) If you are using a flow meter, a drop in your peak flow below 80% of your personal best.

2) A cough, wheezing, or trouble breathing. Remember that you may have these symptoms even if you are taking medicine to control your asthma.

3) You have chest pain.

4) You have not been able to do your usual activities or exercise.

Remember, asthma can be treated and with the right regimen, you can lead a normal healthy and happy life.

Don Rondeau is an engineer, writer, and is living with loved ones with asthma. This article can be re-printed and/or published online or offline for free, provided the website; http://www.asthmasolution.com, is posted along with it. The article must remain intact without any alteration. Questions or comments are welcomed and should be sent to don@myinfoabout.com

Low Carb Diet Pills

Low Carb Diet Pills - A Low Carber's Dream, or a Misleading Marketing Ploy?

Low carb diet pills have become more popular and more manufactured as the popularity of carb-aware diets grows. Some may think the whole carb craze is over - but boy are they wrong! It's not over, and won't ever be over because of one simple fact - it works! Yes, carb-smart diets, as they have been dubbed by the media, are the lifelong way to keep the pounds off, keep your heart, body and mind healthy, and live longer. This seems to be irrefutable.

So, do carb blockers and low carb dieter's diet pills and products really help to inhibit the absorption of excess carbohydrates when we overindulge and go over to the carb side?

Low carb diet products, from specialty foods to supplements, despite some skepticism and scoffing, are still very much a way of life for thousands who swear by the power of low carb intake as a means of losing large amounts of weight, and more importantly, as way of life to maintain a healthy weight as well as maintain healthy body functions such as heart and digestive health.

The argument over low carb diets benefits seems to stem from the first big fad for low carbers, the Atkins diet, which advocated some big no no foods such as bacon and eggs, which are loaded with unhealthy cholesterol, salts and saturated fats.

The straight Atkins approach no longer seems to be the way to go. The Atkins diet soon gave way to more balanced, lower fat, and heat healthy diets such as the Zone Diet, South Beach Diet and other spawns of these balanced, low calorie diets like Body for Life.

All of these diets advocate a similar approach - carbs in moderation - and when carbs are consumed - make them the healthy whole grain kind.

Basically, this means you still take carbs in, they are just not the unhealthy, body clogging variety such as white breads, rices and pastas, but rather whole wheat products in moderation, and slow burning carbs that absorb into the system and take longer to be burned up than simple carbohydrates.

This means no refined sugars, only natural fruits, and no refined flour products. The low carb diet pills that work will actually help to convert bad carbs into good carbs, by making refined flours, pastas and sweets change from fast burn to slow burn carbs.

While we'd all love to say we can stick to such diets 24/7, there are ALWAYS temptations around every corner. How are you supposed to enjoy food, and enjoy the occasional social event or social convention such as the winter holidays, without indulging in some carb overload once in while, right? Wouldn't it be nice to block these excess carbs?

Don't get me wrong, I do not advocate this type of diet on an ongoing basis, but rest assured there are low carb diet pills that really work to absorb excess carbage (I just made that up, like it?), for when you indulge, or even if you feel you've had a day where you are not going to be or have not been disciplined enough with your diet. One such carb blocking ingredient, derived from a type of bean, has actually has been clinically proven to work to inhibit excess calorie storage for over-consumption of high-carb foods.

Low carb diet pills that contain the only clinically proven ingredient called Phase 2 actually slow and inhibit the absorption and hence fat storage causes by excess quantities of carbohydrates. This unique compound called Phase 2, promotes weight loss, reduces carb cravings, slows the absorption of bad carbs, and lowers triglyceride levels.

Low carb diet pills have been proven to be most effective when taken just before a meal with carbohydrates, although they also have been proven to still have some effect when take during or shortly thereafter a carb-rich meal.

Visit Low Carb Diet Pills for more information on the only clinically proven low carb diet pill mentioned in this article. Danna Schneider is the founder of CosmeticsGalore Cosmetic Enhancement Ezine

Detox Aids The Myth Of Detoxing

Many people buy detox aids looking for a quick miracle fix just from taking a branded supplement, which will cleanse your body, but there is no evidence to support many of these claims.

If you want to detox properly it involves eating the RIGHT Diet to detox your body not simply adding a detox aid. Detoxing is not that simple!

There are some easy ways to detox and this involves simply a change to diet and don?t forget your body?s organs are designed to detox without any help from branded pills or juices!

Let?s look at the myth of detox aids and how to detox properly.

The body has its own detoxification system already!

Most of the pills, juices teas and oils sold as detox aids have no scientific foundation to back up their claims, yet people still buy them looking for a quick fix!

The reality of detoxing is that the body has its own in build detoxifiers namely the liver, kidneys, skin intestines and lungs and they are designed to remove and excrete toxins within hours of consumption.

Want to detox? Change your eating habits

The fact is to detoxify your body all you have to do is make simple changes to your diet.

If you simply drunk more water (at least 2 litres a day) and ate more fruit and vegetables your skin would look better and you would feel healthier.

Combine the above with removing from your diet what you know is bad for you i.e alcohol cigarettes and caffeine and you will compound the feeling of well being.

Think about it if our bodies can naturally detox and we simply add foods we know are good for us and remove ones we know are bad, the body will take care of the rest.

Logic tells you that if the body has organs to detoxify then how can a pill or juice help?

If you are in eating foods which are bad, a branded pill or juice cannot save your liver from alcohol or your lungs from smoke.

Detox naturally

All you need to do is eat a healthy diet and skip the detox aids. So, what foods need to be removed? Here is a list of essentials:

Red meat
Alcohol
Tea coffee and anything with caffeine in it
Sugar
Dairy products cheese eggs and full fat milk
All processed and junk foods
All processed carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta

Keep in mind you if you eat naturally the body will take care of itself and if you do fill it with toxins there is no miracle cure to remove them that?s left to your over worked specialist detox organs !

Eat raw vegetables, unsweetened fruit juices, brown rice, lean chicken and turkey, fish and drink plenty of water and you will be getting healthy foods that put the minimum of strain on your organs.

Some natural aids

If you want some natural aids try:

Milk thistle to help liver function, bio yoghurt to boost probiotics to help digestion in the gut and finally, wheat bran, which speeds up the passage of food through the colon and gives your digestive system a good clean at the same ? Its nickname is natures broom and its name is well earned.

Detoxing don?t believe the myths

The above is totally logical and common sense.

Branded detox aids are of little use and feed on people?s desire for a quick fix. Alas, like all quick fixes if they sound too good to be true and they are.

Your body can detoxify itself, but you well help it by cutting out bad foods eating naturally and drinking lots of water, to help your organs do what they were designed to do by mother nature without the help of a branded pill or juice.

For more sensible diet advice ...

If you want to know more about detox aids, diets and a variety of healthy diets please visit =>http://www.net-planet.org/health.html

Hypnosis Complements Breast Cancer Treatment and Breast Surgery

If you are scheduled for breast surgery (biopsy, lumpectomy or mastectomy) or you are undergoing post-surgical breast cancer treatment, hypnosis is an excellent complementary therapy that can enhance the positive effects of various therapies.* Using hypnotherapy in combination with your medical breast cancer treatment will make you feel more empowered and in control of your care, and it will help you maximize your overall wellness.

The power of the subconscious mind can be a potent ally in healing from surgery and recovering from breast cancer, for it is the subconscious mind that controls automatic body processes, including immune function and pain perception. Additionally, the subconscious mind is the source of all emotions, which also makes hypnosis a logical choice for dealing with the emotional aspects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Hypnosis for breast cancer treatment can help with the following issues:

Pre-Surgical Preparation: Numerous studies in medical journals have shown that people who prepare for surgery using hypnosis generally have fewer complications, heal faster and have less post-operative pain. Hypnosis will help you feel calm, relaxed and positive before, during and after surgery. Usually, the hypnosis therapy is geared toward making positive suggestions to your subconscious regarding your surgery and its outcome, as well as teaching you how to effectively manage pre-surgery stress.

When we see pre-surgical clients in our hypnosis practice, we give them a CD to play before and immediately after surgery (and with headphones during surgery, if their surgeon permits). The CD contains soothing music, relaxing imagery and positive suggestions to reassure the client's subconscious mind that the surgery will go smoothly and that their body will heal quickly, with as little discomfort as possible.

The results of pre-surgical hypnosis can be quite amazing. Patients frequently report that they needed very little pain medication and that they were back on their feet very quickly after surgery. I recently spoke with a client with whom I had worked before her major abdominal surgery. After her surgery, her surgeon told her he would order a narcotic pain killer. She told him to hold off on the narcotics because she was not in much pain. In fact, she required only ibuprofen and she was up and walking around just two hours after her surgery! Needless to say, her doctor was amazed.

Any surgery can be stressful, but breast surgery that may indicate a need for follow-up breast cancer treatment can be extremely stressful for any woman. In our practice, hypnosis for breast cancer surgery focuses specifically on this extreme stress. The calmer you stay before the surgery, the more resources your body has to heal itself as quickly as possible.

Follow-Up Treatment If Cancer Is Detected: If you require follow-up radiation and/or chemotherapy as part of your breast cancer treatment, hypnosis can teach you how to feel more relaxed and manage your stress. A growing body of evidence suggests that chronic stress and the cascade of stress hormones it produces can interfere with the proper functioning of the immune system. An immune system which is as healthy as it can be (given the specific treatment) is critically important during breast cancer treatment.

When we work with breast cancer clients in our practice, we teach them relaxation, self-hypnosis and stress management techniques. We also teach our clients how to use mental imagery to encourage their immune system to work together with their medical therapies in order to maximize the benefits of their breast cancer treatment. For example, we may teach a client to visualize her immune system attacking and killing the cancer cells, or surrounding and transforming the cancer cells into something harmless. The visualization work for each client's breast cancer treatment is always tailored to her needs and the way her imagination works.

If your breast cancer treatment creates side effects, including nausea, hypnosis can help you minimize those side effects. And if your breast cancer treatment creates body image issues, hypnosis can also help you feel good about your body again. Each woman is different, both in her needs and in her physical and emotional reactions to the breast cancer treatment and its side effects. Accordingly, each woman's hypnosis sessions will need to be tailored specifically to her requirements and goals.

Whether you are scheduled to undergo breast surgery to determine if you need follow-up breast cancer treatment, or you are already undergoing breast cancer treatment, hypnosis can complement your medical treatment in multiple ways.

*Hypnosis is not a substitute for medical breast cancer treatment. Rather, it is an excellent complement to standard medical breast cancer treatment. Hypnosis works with doctors, not against them. Do not discontinue medical breast cancer treatment when you begin hypnotherapy.

Loretta Sernekos, Ph.D., is a Certified Hypnotherapist in private practice in Cherry Hill, NJ and Philadelphia, PA. You can visit her hypnosis practice website at http://sghypnosis.com for more information and audio podcasts. For additional hypnosis information and articles, both modern and antiquarian, visit http://hypnosisgateway.com.

Quit Smoking Naturally: Smoking Moms Get Fat Kids!

They also point to yet another reason for women to quit smoking before pregnancy, according to lead study author Dr Aimin Chen, a researcher at the US national institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Besides low birth weight, prenatal smoking has been shown to raise the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and other pregnancy complications, Chen noted in an interview.

The current study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, is based on data from nearly 35000 children who were born between 1959 and 1965 and followed through the age of eight. Mothers reported on their smoking habits during pregnancy, and the children had their weight and height measured at ages one, three, four, seven and eight.

Overall, children of smokers were more likely to be overweight or on the verge of becoming overweight by the age of eight. At that age, the risk of being overweight climbed about 17 per cent for every 10 cigarettes a mother smoked per day while pregnant.

The connection between prenatal smoking and childhood weight remained when the researchers accounted for factors such as family income and the mother's weight, race and education.

Random Tip- Stretching your skin to the fag ends of its youthfulness? :- We all know that smoking seriously affects the internal organs (the lungs and heart), and causes cancer, but did you know that it also affects skin, body weight and shape? It's easy to spot a chronic smoker - by the nicotine stained-teeth and nails, sallow complexion, dark lips, and dark circles. Now given a choice between a healthy complexion and your favorite brand of cigarettes, which would you choose?

The Reason Smoking makes the skin dull. Nicotine, the active ingredient in cigarettes, makes the entire circulatory capacity of the body sluggish. The smoke from the cigarette contains high levels of carbon monoxide-which is absorbed by the hemoglobin in the blood. The blood can absorb carbon monoxide 200 times faster than oxygen, so a lot of oxygen is displaced by carbon monoxide, slowly poisoning the skin and the organs, and starving them of life-giving oxygen. The liver is pushed to the max to oust these chemicals, and is unable to perform its normal functions. As a result, the skin loses its healthy glow. Skin damaged by smoking has a yellowish to grayish tint, and a wasted appearance. Also, smoking constricts the blood vessels, so wound and injuries take time to heal. While these effects are not as life threatening as heart and lung disease, they can, nevertheless, increase the risk of more serious disorders and have a noticeable ageing effect on the skin. -Random Tip

Must Read: Check out the highly effective Quit Smoking Programs, Tips, Advice and Motivation at http://www.weightloss-health.com/quitsmokingways.htm

This is the largest study to date linking prenatal smoking to a higher risk of obesity into adulthood.

Tip: Switching to light cigarettes can be harmful too. Nicotine patches help in reducing the craving for a smoke.

Jasdeep: for http://weightloss-health.com/ your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

Look out for highly recommended quit smoking programs and quit smoking tips and ways at Quit Smoking Programs, Ways and Tips

If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website.

Secrets of Successful Weight Loss

Weight loss?if we could just find the right diet we would achieve our goals, right? The sad truth is that weight loss diets, for the most part, don?t work and are becoming a thing of the past. Research shows that 85-95% of dieters regain any weight they?ve lost within 3-5 years. Most diets simply dictate what to eat and how much, and usually don?t teach us to make better food choices once we go off. When we go back to our old habits the weight comes back and we end up in a constant battle to get the weight down again.

When you quit diets and instead change to eating nutrient rich foods and enjoy fun foods in moderation, weight loss can be the natural result. Other well-known benefits include increased energy, vitality and freedom from disease. Additionally, if you stay active and eat in moderation you don?t have to give up the foods you enjoy. Yes, that means you can enjoy cake, cookies, and other treats and still lose weight when you learn how to balance them appropriately in your diet. So the BIG question is: Why don?t more of us choose a health-promoting lifestyle vs. the ?diet d?jour? in our world today?

Part of the reason is that we are conditioned in the diet mentality that the answer lies in a secret formula that will only work if we follow it rigidly. Let?s face it, we like the bells and whistles. Instead of following another weight loss diet we should pay attention to those people who have lost weight and kept it off. What did they do?

People who have successfully achieved their ideal weight and better health without dieting report the following success strategies:

?They made a commitment to changing habits long-term vs. just losing weight
?They became educated about sound nutrition principles
?They learned to cope with emotions and stress without food
?They consciously eat when their hungry and stop when their full
?They shift the focus from ?looking good? to honoring their health and well-being
?They learn to adjust portions or food intake to match activity level
?They don?t sabotage themselves, when they blow it
?They seek ongoing support as needed to stay motivated

Making positive change is possible with the right commitment, education, and support. Rather than spending precious energy and time ?going on a diet?, make a different choice. Choose high-level health so you can lose weight once and keep it off for a lifetime.

? 2005, Meri Raffetto

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She specializes in weight management and cardiovascular nutrition and offers online programs to help people reach their health goals. For more information visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.

Looking For Health Care Supplements The Easy Way To Order

When looking for health care supplements Texas residents can enjoy an easy way of finding a selection of health and fitness products. The Internet has made it easy to get great quality products, and when looking for health care supplements Texas residents can enjoy both choice and convenience online. You can get all sorts of supplements, from mens health and fitness products and women?s products to a range of natural supplements suitable for a variety of purposes.

Finding the right supplement products is important in order to enjoy maximum benefits, but the limited choice on the shelves can make this difficult. When it comes to finding a great choice of health care supplements Texas residents will be able to find just the right type of product by using the Internet, and the choice means that you can select from a wide range to find just the supplement you need. Both mens and women?s products are available, and there are natural products on offer to suit all needs.

Order Online ? Enjoy Convenience And Value

Texas residents can enjoy many benefits when buying supplements online, as these products come at great prices. So, you can enjoy low prices on a wide range of products that could suit your needs perfectly. You can also look forward to the convenience of browsing and ordering your products online, which means that you save yourself time and hassle as well as money. Once you have found the supplements that meet your needs, you can safely and securely place your order and have them delivered right to your door in Texas.

James Purfoy runs http://www.nutritionpost.com, where he reviews all the latest trends in vitamin and nutritional supplementation. If you want to keep up with the very latest information on the Best Vitamin Supplements and nutritional supplements generally then visiting this site is an absolute must!

Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

Ulcerative colitis treatment begins with a definitive diagnosis and a determination of the severity of illness. Once this initial diagnosis has been made, the immediate goal of treatment is to reduce the painful physical symptoms associated with it. Since there is no cure for ulcerative colitis, the long-term goal of treatment is to prevent future onset of illness, or relapse.

Both ulcerative colitis, and a related disorder called Crohn's Disease, are characterized by an abnormal immune system response within the intestines. In patients with ulcerative colitis, the location of this response is restricted to the large intestine, or colon. The resulting inflammation and ulceration of the intestinal walls can cause abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding, the main symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Due to the fact that other health conditions may exist that exhibit similar symptoms, care for ulcerative colitis begins with a confirmation of this initial diagnosis. This includes taking stool samples to rule out the presence of parasites or an existing infection within the colon, and performing blood tests to detect elevated white blood cell counts (high white blood cell counts indicate that the cause of inflammation is due to the activation of the body's own immune response).

A visual examination, either directly using a sigmoidoscope or a colonoscope, or indirectly via a barium enema, will help make the final confirmation that colitis is in fact the culprit. These visualization techniques are an essential step in ulcerative colitis treatment because they allow the physician to measure the severity of the illness, and therefore to figure out the best course to minimize the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Medications play a large part in both the initial treatment and long-term care for ulcerative colitis. These medications fall into two main categories: immunomodulators, which alter the proteins produced by the immune system which cause inflammation, and anti-inflammatory medications, which act to reduce the inflammation directly. Although these medications do not cure ulcerative colitis, they can induce remission of its symptoms and lengthen the time between relapses. As such they offer an ulcerative colitis treatment option that many sufferers take advantage of.

Very rarely, ulcerative colitis is treated surgically. Although surgery is the only true cure for the disease, it is inherently risky and therefore often reserved only for cases in which prolonged inflammation of the colon has resulted in life-threatening complications.

Although research has not yet shown any correlation between diet and the initial onset of ulcerative colitis, a low-fat, bland diet may alleviate some of the symptoms during periods of disease activity. Similarly, a healthy, balanced diet may help to prolong periods of disease remission.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis mentioned above, make sure you visit your doctor right away for a thorough examination. If you do have this disorder, your doctor will help you determine the best ulcerative colitis treatment for your particular case.

David Bloom is an avid health enthusiast, and is a contributing editor for many health sites including Crohns Disease & Stress and Anti Aging Info.

How To Avoid Prostate Cancer Naturally

It?s much better to avoid any form of cancer than to try and treat it after it has appeared. Prostate cancer, however, is usually a slow growing form of cancer which responds well to treatment.

The first step in prostate cancer prevention is to improve your general health. Weight should be within the normal range for your height. If you are very overweight, see your doctor for advice and eat a healthy diet which is low in fatty or sugary foods. This combined with daily exercise such as walking and swimming should help.

Drink lots of water - water is vital for health. It prevents hunger and flushes toxins from the body. Six to eight glasses a day is ideal and tea and coffee doesn?t count towards this!

Cut down on alcohol. There?s nothing wrong with the odd drink, just don?t make it a daily habit.

Lycopene - found mainly in tomatoes is an antioxidant which has a proven beneficial effect on prostate health. Studies have shown that men who consume large doses of lycopene have a much lower incidence of prostate cancer.

Lycopene is not destroyed by cooking and is hence found in tomato sauce, tomato paste and in all your favorite Italian dishes!

Isoflavones found in soy beans and it?s products such as soy milk or tofu has a balancing effect on the body?s hormones. Isoflavones can counter excess testosterone which can lead to prostate cancer.

Beta-carotene found in carrots and other brightly coloured vegetables can stimulate T-helper cells which prevent the development of cancer.

Selenium is an extremely important micro nutrient which is only needed in tiny amounts. Selenium can be found in certain foods, but the soils in many areas in the world are deficient in this mineral and the food cannot absorb this mineral. Supplements are beneficial is this case.

And last, but not least, a person?s mental disposition can have a direct effect on the health of the body. Emotions such as anger, stress and depression can have a damaging effect on the immune system and can lead to diseases such as cancer or heart problems.

Try to let go of these damaging emotions. Practice relaxation exercises or learn Yoga or qigong. Qigong is a wonderful set of Chinese breathing exercises which can heal disease, whether physical or emotional, and allow you to experience great health.

So adopting certain changes of diet, ensuring you take supplements and keeping your emotions positive can all help in the prevention of prostate or indeed any other form of cancer.

Copyright 2006 Wendy Owen

Help for Prostate enlargement, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer. Super prostate formula. Visit: http://www.safe-prostate-health.com

Are Fat People Just Lazy?

An estimated 64% of Americans are considered overweight. That equates to over 125 million people that are overweight. Or you can just tell it like it is, which equates to over 125 million FAT Americans, which also means that there are a lot of very unattractive Americans.

Many people think that someone being overweight has been the result of you being lazy, unhealthy, unhappy, selfish, greedy, and unattractive. This simply not true, overweight Americans are often some of the hardest working career-conscious individuals. They are overworked and often fall into weight problems because they are working long hours, without enough rest and exercise! Probably ? of the other 36% of thinner adults choose to condemn those Americans who aren?t as fortunate to have a fast metabolism and the luxury of time to exercise. These people have the time, because they also find the time to ridicule the other 64% of the population that need to lose a few pounds.

Being overweight is still considered one of the biggest sins someone can do to their own bodies , but what about the people out there with true medical problems that prevent them from being thin.? Do they still fall into the thin person?s stereotype of a FAT LAZY person? What about people who have genetic conditions that predispose them to being overweight no matter what they do?

The problem is that people who are exceptionally overweight allow others to ridicule them about their weight and some may even joke about it themselves. The misconceptions that people who are overweight won?t work, are overall lazy people, unhappy, unattractive is totally ridiculous.

Some of the most beautiful women in the world are either overweight now or have been at some time in their life. LOOK AT OPRAH! She is beautiful, but she wasn?t always the size she is now, but she was still a pretty happy woman, not to mention a huge success. If you look in the ?heftier women magazines? you will find more beautiful women than what you find on the runways of New York, it?s a fact. Heck, look at how heavy Anna Nicole Smith was!

So you might be overweight, big deal, you are a beautiful person inside and out. Can anyone thin top that?

If you want to lose weight there are many easy ways to get started. You need to look at whether or not it is a health issue. If you have a lot of abdominal fat then it can definitely cause health issues.

Glenn Freiboth is a Certified Health Advisor lives in Illinois and has helped many overweight and obese people lose weight and keep it off. Get diet and weight loss products at http://www.GetYouHealth.com

7 Tips on Using Food Diet Remedies for Your Common Health Ailments

Making simple changes to your food diet can help remedy some of the common health problems. Increasingly, more health experts are acknowledging that natural food is a good alternative medicine against many diseases. The use of antibiotics or drugs may not necessarily be the ?cure all? answer. Recent studies have shown that cabbage, garlic and apples, etc provide good nutritional remedies.

If you are interested to find out more, there are quite a couple of health and nutrition books that are available on this topic.

However, before you gorge yourself silly based on the recommendations in these books, here are 7 tips to ensure that you don?t run into more health problems:-

1) If the recommendation is on a natural food, then it is generally considered safer versus one that is not. Examples of natural food will include your vegetables and fruits. Two examples of non-natural foods are instant noodles and salty pototo chips in a packet.

2) Proceed slowly as you may not know if you are allergic to that food or not. Your food allergies may also extend to natural foods too eg. peanuts.

3) It is best to take the remedies in small quantities and diluted form. You can increase the concentration once your body is okay with it and there are no apparent symptoms.

4) ?Listen to Your Body? and discontinue any remedy if you experience any body discomfort.

5) Exercise caution if you want to give natural remedies to your children. If you are unsure, always consult a doctor.

6) If you are on medication, check with your doctor first before taking up any suggestions relating to your food diet.

7) It is recommended to rotate the consumption of a wide range of fresh and natural foods and juices.

Sandra Kim Leong believes in using natural food and nutrition remedies for common health ailments. For more information, please visit her article resource site at http://www.food-diet-remedy.com

To reprint this article, please leave all content intact and links active to her site.

Not all Antioxidants are Created Equal!

The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more vibrant lives owe much to the efforts and research of certain pioneers who braved ridicule, for without them, many of us now wouldn't be aware of the general benefits of taking antioxidant supplements.

To take a particular notable example, great scientist and humanitarian Linus Pauling (the only man to win 2 unshared Nobel Prizes, one in Chemistry and one for Peace) urged people to supplement with Vitamin C after he became convinced of its myriad of benefits. Pauling personally used Vitamin C for the last three decades of his life, lived to the ripe old age of 93, and was instrumental in helping this vitamin become as popular as it is now.

Although we should remain forever grateful to luminaries like Pauling, we must continue to embrace advances in our collective knowledge.

While health conscious people now know what an antioxidant supplement is, and how it protects cells in the body from becoming the victim of widespread free radical damage, many of us still don't realize that there are wide variations in the potency and efficacy of antioxidants. In short, not all antioxidants are created equal!

Common vitamins like C and E have, in recent years, been shown to have very weak antioxidant properties compared to other substances.

For instance, researchers have discovered that green tea extract is an antioxidant a hundred times more powerful than Vitamin C, and over twenty times more so than Vitamin E! Current studies are showing that green tea may be beneficial in stopping certain types of cancers.

Did you know that grape seed extract is one of the few antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier, and, hence, also protect brain cells from free radical damage?

If you want to get more efficacy out of your Vitamin C and E, research has shown that alpha-lipoic acid (a potent antioxidant supplement in its own right), can help recycle C and E, enhancing and prolonging their benefits. Moreover, alpha-lipoic acid is now being studied for its potential beneficial effects on such debilitating health conditions as: diabetes, cataracts, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.

Have you heard about the so-called paradox of the French? This saying refers to the puzzling phenomenon that French people eat a great deal of fatty foods, smoke cigarettes, yet still suffer lower rates of cardiovascular disease than we do here in the Western world.

Some experts attribute this to the fact that the French consume a lot more wine than we do. Wine, in particular red wine, has been shown to contain a special antioxidant known as resveratrol. Besides its potent antioxidant supplement properties, resvertatrol has now been shown to help lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, and has even shown a great deal of preliminary promise in stopping the progression of cancer.

As a last example, research has revealed that N- Acetylcysteine is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to fortify the body by protecting it against various toxins -- toxins such as chemicals and byproducts found in such things as cigarette smoke and herbicides. It may also improve immune function and retard aging.

If you haven't heard of some of these antioxidant supplements, don't be surprised. The big money from the pharmaceutical companies have a strong incentive to suppress this kind of information from getting out to the public at large. After all, they make billions of dollars only when people get sick and need a prescription, not when people take care of themselves and avoid the major killers like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more.

Truth seekers, however, should strive to emulate heros of the past like Linus Pauling and become the new torch bearers so that we can continue to improve the state of health for people everywhere with the latest breakthrough antioxidant supplements.

Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, which offers unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keeping you abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our FREE newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: Our Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Supplements Info Site

How NOT to Return from an Exercise Break

Several sites, including this one, recommend that you take a break every 8 weeks after working out with weights. But how do you come back from that break and get back into your routine?

Does anyone suggest you just jump back in and do the same intensity as when you last left off? Definitely not.

This article will share a personal insight that I?m positive many people have faced when returning from a break or an injury. It will answer the question: how should I return to my workout after a week?s break from anything but relaxation?

Every 8 weeks I take a complete break from the weights. This allows my joints to recover, my body to heal, and gives me time to think about the next 8 weeks and my objectives. Upon returning to the gym you can take one of two approaches. Return full speed ahead, since you?ve had the rest, with the same intensity and the same weights. Or you can ease your body back into the program and reestablish the mind-to-muscle link that you have probably read about. (I suggest the second approach.)

Upon my return, I stepped up to the aerobics machine. A type of stair-master to be exact, and immediately selected level 10 out of 20. My memory recalls (if I used a journal) that I had previously been able to handle this level. By the end of the workout, I felt overworked, tired, out of breath and was at level 6. My body could handle it, but not as efficiently as it had previously. (I was not at all satisfied.)

Easing your body back into a workout for the first week allows the mind-to-muscle link to be reestablished. It further allows your body to adjust to an increased level of intensity for the upcoming months. Coming back from a break and then immediately going into an overtraining mode does not entice your body or your mind want to continue the abuse.

If given the two approaches to returning from a break, I now opt for the second approach. Easing your body back into the routine will allow for a mind-muscle-link to be reestablished and your progress will most likely increase. Take the first week to get accustomed to your routine (60% intensity) and the next 8 weeks to accomplish your goals (100% intensity).

About The Author

Marc David has a degree in Criminal Justice from Sacramento State, a 16 year history of non-competitive bodybuilding and is the owner of Freedomfly -the fitness network! For free fitness tools, discount supplements, fitness consultation, and workout routines, visit http://www.freedomfly.net

mrcd@freedomfly.net

Blackhead Removal How To Get Rid Of Blackheads?

What are blackheads?

Blackheads are small ?plugs? that develop in the pores of the skin. They are caused when the over active sebaceous (oil producing) glands in the skin become clogged with oil. This sebum then begins to harden in the pore. Since skin pores are open to the air, the top part of the hardened sebum or oil oxidizes, turning black. This black top of the oil plug is then forced closer to the surface of skin by the oil hardening beneath it. This then causes the blackhead to be visible.

It is not clearly understood why the sebaceous glands begin to become overactive. It is often noted that this situation begins at puberty, and may stop at the end of puberty leading to the conclusion that it is hormonally controlled. For some people this is not the case however, and they may continue to experience blackheads and whiteheads well past puberty and into adulthood. Whiteheads are formed the same way as blackheads with the exception that the pore is closed and the oxidation does not occur.

Acne results from infection of the oil gland due to the blockage by the blackhead. Preventing and removing blackheads helps to control acne.

Blackhead Removal

The following are some tips for removing blackheads:

- Keep the skin as clean and oil free as possible. Use natural or chemically prepared cleansers, astringent solutions or masks to accomplish this. Avoid harsh soaps that may irritate the skin or any creams that leave an oily finish.

- Use a gentle exfoliant to keep the dead cells off your skin and away from the pore openings.

- Avoid harsh squeezing or scraping at the blackhead. Excessive squeezing can damage the skin surround the pore and can actually increase the size of the pore leading to more blackheads in the future.

- A warm compress of water applied to the area of the blackhead followed by a very, very gentle pressure can help in clearing the clog from the pore.

- Commercial ?blackhead strips? which are basically a tape like substance that is placed over the nose and then pulled off will remove some blackheads that are at the surface. Caution should be used with these products and it is important to read the directions completely before deciding to use the strips or not.

Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.stopping-acne-now.com/ On his website, he provides articles about the acne causes and treatments and how to get rid of acne scars.

Stop That Little White Bump May Not Be A Zit After All

White bumps bugging you? Just because you have little white bumps on your face does not necessarily mean that you have acne. Milia, are little balls of protein beneath the skin that do not have a pore, or hole in the skin through which to escape.

Comedones or whiteheads are excess fats and wastes that are trapped in a hair follicle and so they clog up the pore.

In short, milia are proteins trapped within the skin, while comedones are fats and skin debris trapped within the pore.

Exfoliating the skin, or removing the dead skin cells from your skin with an abrasive product or chemical, is beneficial. But brutally scrubbing your face with soaps and chemicals too frequently may actually create milia.

To avoid this, remember that gentle exfoliation helps prevent excess dead skin cell build-up that could clog your pores and cause whiteheads, not milia.

This gentle exfoliation helps make eventual removal of the milia easier because the skin layer around the milia becomes thinner, with frequent, yet gentle exfoliation. In short, Exfoliate your skin to prevent milia, not to cure them.

The key to getting rid of milia is realizing that they have no escape route, those little bumps are trapped under the skin. So, to get them out, you?ll need to have a professional like a dermatologist or aesthetician extract them. You can extract the milia yourself, but this involves risks.

Watch Out You need to ensure that you milia are not symptoms of some underlying disease or illness. Also, if you extract the milia yourself, you may have trouble completely pulling out the cysts, as the removable process may prove too painful.

Otherwise, if you are confident with your health and courage, you can cleanse your hands and face.

Then wet a cloth with warm water and apply it to your face for a few minutes. Gently apply a sterile needle to the center of the little white bump to create a tiny opening in the skin.

Wrap your thumbs in a clean tissue and, using your thumbs, proceed to gently squeeze the contents of the little white bump out. Finally, cleanse the area of the extracted little white bump with an astringent.

Next time, don?t let little white bumps scare you into rushing in all directions for an acne fix. Calmly access your skin and make the best decision from there. That way, those little bumps will always give way to smoother, clearer skin instead of panic and rash beauty decisions.

Naweko San-Joyz is creator of the Acne Messages program, the only acne program to combine the latest scientific research and ancient wisdom to deliver an acne cure as unique as the acne sufferer. As there are millions of people with acne, there are a millions cures, find your unique cure with Acne Messages. ISBN: 0974912204 available at Amazon and Noixia.com, Home of Six Billion Natural Cures for Acne

8 Fun Ideas To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Veggies

Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies? I sure do. My daughter used to be great about trying and eating just about anything?and then she turned 2 ?. Now it is pretty much impossible to get her to eat anything other than corn when it comes to vegetables. So I had to come up with some fun and sometimes sneaky ways to get some veggies in her. Here are a few of my favorites.

1)Make big pot of vegetable soup, and then add some fun noodle shapes. You can use alphabet noodles or look for some fun novelty shapes. You may be able to find some cartoon characters, toy and sports shapes etc. I have even seen pumpkin and Christmas tree shapes. With a little luck your kids will be too busy spelling words, or identifying the shape to notice all the veggies they are eating in the soup.

2)If you can?t make them eat it, make them drink it. Pour some vegetable juice over ice and add a straw, a cocktail umbrella or a stick of celery and watch them drink it up. Your kids may not get as much fiber as eating the entire vegetable, but getting them to drink their vegetables is better than not getting any vegetables in their system.

3)Have you tried offering them some raw vegetables with some ranch dressing to dip them in? Many kids who don?t care much for cooked vegetables will eat them up if they can dip them. Just grab a bag of baby carrots and cut up some red and yellow peppers and some cucumber. Arrange them on a plate with a little bit of ranch dressing or your favorite vegetable dip on the side.

4)Take it even a step further and let them create artwork out of their vegetables. Offer raw vegetables in different colors and shapes and encourage them to make a vegetable collage on their plate. You can easily make a face using slices of cucumber as eyes, a baby carrot as nose and a slice of red pepper as a mouth. You can use watercress or shredded carrots or even some cheese as hair. Before you know it, you?ll find them sampling their ?art supplies?.

5)To get them to eat more vegetables at dinnertime try a little salad bar. Put out some lettuce, some sliced or chopped tomato, slices of cucumber, shredded carrot, slices of red and yellow peppers, small broccoli flowerets and anything else you can think of. You may also want to offer them some choices when it comes to salad dressing. Favorites in our house are Ranch, Italian, Catalina, and French. To top it all of set out some croutons and shredded cheese.

6)Get the kids together and make a cold vegetable pizza. Start out with a can of crescent rolls. Unroll the dough, but don?t pull the triangle shapes apart. Instead push the seams together and bake on a baking sheet according to the package directions. Let the sheet of dough cool completely, then spread with some cr?me cheese (we like a vegetable or herb flavored one) and top with some thinly sliced raw veggies. Cut into squares and serve.

7)Get them involved in the kitchen especially when it comes to cooking. Ask them to wash the vegetables, if they are old enough let them cut veggies (under your supervision of course), let them help you stir, or anything else you can think of that would be age appropriate. You?ll be amazed at how proud they will be of their finished product. Believe me, they?ll try just about anything if they made it.

8)If everything else fails, hide the vegetables in other food. My mom used to make us some special orange mashed potatoes. We thought it was very fancy, but all she did was to cook some carrots with the potatoes and mashed them right in there. You can also cover broccoli with tomato sauce or cheese. Think of a dish your child really enjoys and sneak a little bit of vegetable in there.

Give a few of these ideas a try and see which ones work best for your children. Keep at it and sooner or later they will start to develop a taste for vegetables.

Susanne Myers together with Christine Steendahl, owns and publishes the Healthy Menu Mailer. Each week, we provide you with 7 dinner recipes. Sign up for a free sample menu at http://www.healthymenumailer.com/sample-newsletter-signup.html

Arthritis Pain

What Causes Arthritis Pain

Arthritis pain can be caused by many different factors and affects everyone differently. The inflammation process causes redness and swelling in and around your joints, over time it starts to damage the joint and the joint tissues. This results in the arthritis pain, which is caused by the stress on your joints; it can begin to cause injury and pressure that can become unbearable. Fatigue is a result of the arthritis pain, this can make it harder to handle and a make it seem worse. People have been known to become stressed or even depressed as a result from the limited movement and not being able to do the activities that was once apart of their everyday life, this is called a cycle of the arthritis pain and will make it harder to deal with this disease.

Arthritis Pain Factors and Temporary Relief

Arthritis pain has many pain factors that can make you feel worse and make it harder to deal with the arthritis pain. Stress plays a major part when it comes to trying to deal with arthritis pain, when you start to focus on the pain, depression, anxiety will start to set in, and it becomes extremely difficult to cope with arthritis pain. Many people tend to believe that if you do not stress over it, keep your mind busy and distracted it would be easier to cope with. Overdoing any physical activity or even staying still for to long will cause a reaction within the joints and the tissues and make it much harder to handle the arthritis pain, taking it easy and exercising lightly help to control the pain and keep it to a minimal.

Blocking Arthritis Pain Signals

A great way to block the arthritis pain signals is by having a positive attitude and many pleasant thoughts about everyday life, this will help you take your mind off the arthritis pain. Medications are a temporary way to relieve the arthritis pain, a doctor or health care professional can advise you on what may be best suited for your condition. Relaxation and massage are also good ways to ease the pain for the time being and will also cause a distraction to take your mind off the arthritis pain for the time being. A cold or hot treatment is best applied several times throughout the day, can help with the limited movement of everyday life, as well as help relieve the arthritis pain. Additionally, a cold or hot treatment can help in creating less stress on your joints and its tissues.

Warren and Karen have been involved in the internet for a number of years and run several websites. They are most interested in providing opportunities for people to connect with information relating to business, health and creativity. Check out their Arthritis Pain blog for more information.