High Protein, Low Fat, or Low Carb?

High protein, low fat, or low carb? The diet plan you choose can dramatically increase or decrease your changes of getting cancer. Discover what your body already knows about effective weight loss and staying healthy.

Around this Thanksgiving, my 14-year old cat disappeared suddenly. There was no evidence of foul play, so I assumed that somebody had found her and taken her in.

Then almost a month later, on Christmas Eve, she shows up — except much skinnier and more frail than before.

I could tell by the smell that she had been trapped under a nearby house, and probably had no food and little water. Despite this, she managed to survive even with some very cold nights.

She had very little bodyfat to begin with, so her only source of life during that month was her own muscle.

When the body goes into “starvation mode,” it first breaks down a substance contained in muscle called glycogen. We humans store only enough glycogen to keep us going for about 24-hours.

Once the glycogen is broken down, converted to glucose (blood sugar), and used up, the body turns to its fat stores and begins to break those down.

A byproduct of this fat-burning is ketones, which smell like ripe fruit, but provide the brain a very efficient fuel source. Ketones are your body’s “alternative energy source” when glucose is not available.

If you have any experience with cancer, hear this: Cancer sells cannot live off ketones. They can only survive on glucose. So, if you want to literally starve cancer cells to death, just get your body converted over from glucose to ketones.

Also get this: When you eat too many carbohydrates, it raises your glucose levels through the roof. Cancer cells love this, because it means more food for them. But your immune system hates it, and it severely weakened by this blood-sugar (glucose) spike. (Now THERE’S a reason to go low-carb.)

Now, if your body is in fat-burning mode, but is not getting enough protein, it will break down your muscle tissue to get it. The obvious thing to do then would be to eat a lot of protein.

But here’s another benefit of eating lots of protein: It puts an end to the low-carb vs. low-fat debate.

When you eat lots and lots of protein, your body sends a signal to your brain, “You can STOP eating now!” Protein acts as a very powerful trigger to turn OFF hunger.

If you don’t believe me, grab five eggs, cook and eat them.

Now tell me if you’re still hungry.

Some of you will say, “Yeah, I’m still hungry.” And I would respond, “No, you just think you are.”

“Huh?”

If you’re still ‘hungry’ after eating five eggs, that’s a sure sign that your ‘hunger’ is really a craving, i.e. an addiction.

“Addiction?”

Yes, an addiction to carbohydrates. Friend, a carb addiction is more deadly than being addicted to cigarettes or alcohol. It may take longer to kill you, but kill you it will.

Don’t believe me? Then tell me what the #1 killer disease is in America.

Say it with me.. Heart Disease.

Yup, heart disease is the result of a high-carb diet. But that’s for another article.

Now, if you’re a low-fat junkie, you wouldn’t dare eat five eggs. All that cholesterol you know.

Here’s the low-fat, high-protein test: Grab a pound of soybeans and eat them. Soy is low fat but very high in protein (not to mention fiber and plenty of other good stuff.)

You won’t be hungry after eating a pound of soy. Or even a quarter of a pound (4 ounces). The protein quenches your hunger and fast.

So whether you’re into low-fat, low-carb, or low-nothing, make sure you are a high-protein man or woman. You’ll be stronger, healthier, and leaner because of it.

What Causes Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by constant high levels of blood glucose (sugar) caused by the body’s inability to produce or utilize insulin, a hormone that is required to convert sugar and starches into energy. Insulin, a small protein, is secreted by beta cells in the pancreas primarily in response to elevated blood concentrations of glucose.

How glucose is regulated in the body: function of insulin

Intestines absorb carbohydrates (or sugars) into the bloodstream after a meal. Pancreas detects this increase and responds by secreting insulin. The amount of insulin secreted into the blood increases as the blood glucose rises.

Insulin is a chemical messenger, who can “talk” to cells in the body that have built-in receivers for insulin’s messages. In response to insulin, the muscle, red blood cells, and fat cells absorb glucose out of the blood. When a cell has insulin attached to its surface, the cell is able to absorb glucose (sugar) from the blood stream for converting it into energy.

Insulin converts the excess glucose into glycogen and stores it in the liver and muscles. The excess blood sugar that cannot be stored as glycogen will be converted to fat and stored in the adipose tissue.

When the blood glucose falls (between meals, during exercise), the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreatic cells goes down. Severe insulin deficiency produces hyperglycaemia. The body cells starve, so the body starts looking for alternate sources of energy. Pancreas secretes another hormone called glucagon whenever the levels of glucose go down. Glucagon makes the liver release the glucose it has stored in its cells into the blood stream. It also induces the liver and muscle cells to make glucose.

The receptors are also found on the surface of liver as well as certain cells in the kidney and in the appetite control center of the brain. This control center in the brain coordinates metabolism through adjustment of the activities of the liver, kidneys, intestine and adipose tissue, controls appetite and coordinates it with energy utilization.

Types of Diabetes

There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Gestational diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. Some of the factors which may trigger type 1 diabetes may be genetic, poor diet and environment (virus affecting pancreas). Diabetes can also result from drugs that may cause abnormal secretion of some hormones in blood which act as antagonists to insulin. Steroids like cortisone, if taken for an extended period of time, can unduly increase blood glucose and strain the pancreas. Similarly women taking prolonged Estrogen Replacement Therapy may find their blood sugar shoot up.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes, a metabolic disorder, is found in people who eat carb-rich, high-glycemic diet. As a result, levels of sugar in the blood become elevated and the pancreas pumps in more insulin. Cells protect themselves from this onslaught of toxic insulin by reducing number of insulin receptors on them. This causes insulin levels to shoot. Elevated insulin dampens appetite and puts the body in a “storage mode” and converts protein, glucose, and dietary fat to stored fat. Increased demand on pancreas slows it down. Once the production of insulin starts slowing down, or the insulin resistance goes up, then blood sugar goes up and the person becomes a diabetic.

Gestational Diabetes

The hormones involved in development of placenta during pregnancy reduce a woman’s receptivity to insulin and cause insulin resistance. Glucose builds up in the blood leading to hyperglycemia.

It is important to take adequate care of gestational diabetes affects both the mother and the baby. Insulin does not cross the placenta, as glucose and other nutrients do. The baby’s blood glucose rises and the baby has to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby gets more glucose than it needs, the extra glucose is stored as fat. At birth, the baby may be fat and develop breathing problems or may develop hypoglycemia due to over production of insulin.

Fat Tolerance of a Human Liver

Fat build-up can cause permanent hole of a liver that could lead to a severe disease.

Research shows that fat-build-up from insensitive diet of a person causes more harm to liver than another harmful substance such as alcohol. The human liver that is situated in the upper abdomen is the largest glandular organ of the body. Its main functions include filtration of the blood, production of blood cells, and synthesis of blood-clotting components.

human liver

The liver has many functions; this includes storing minerals and vitamins. It also makes bile (a bitter yellowish, blue and green fluid secreted by hepatocytes from the liver) that is stored in the gall bladder until needed for the digestion of fats.

Its multiple functions are carried out by two types of cells:

1. hepatocytes – the one responsible for releasing substances into bile canaliculi and into blood and lymph channels;

Aside from breaking down fats, the liver also plays a significant role in converting glucose (or simply sugar) to glycogen (Glycogen plays an important role in the glucose cycle; is a polysaccharide that is the principal storage form of glucose in animal and human cells.) Liver also produces urea (the main substance of urine), it make a kind of building blocks such as amino acids, and as storage of vitamins and minerals

As shown in some development, the fat-build-up of insensitive diet of a person causes more harm to liver than another harmful substance such as alcohol. Thereby an obese person should seek medical assistance (also in diet management.) to prevent other diseases associated to it. Fat build-up causes liver to have permanent holes leading to a more severe liver related disease.

…excess fat in the liver

A liver, a solid organ located on the right in the upper abdomen plays a major role in metabolism, digestion, detoxification, and elimination of substances from the body. But once abused, it can lead to fatal outcome.

fat in their liver (left)

Breastfeeding & Psyc. Medication

General Principles

The emotional and medical benefits of breastfeeding to mother and infant are clear. Given the prevalence of psychiatric illness during the postpartum period, a significant number of women may require pharmacological treatment while nursing. Appropriate concern is raised, however, regarding the safety of psychotropic drug use in women who choose to breastfeed while using these medications. Efforts to quantify psychotropic medications and their metabolites in the breast milk of mothers have been reported. Serum of infants can also be assayed to assess more accurately actual neonatal exposure to medications. The data indicate that all psychotropic medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotic agents, lithium carbonate, and benzodiazepines, are secreted into breast milk. However, concentrations of these agents in breast milk vary considerably.

The amount of medication to which an infant is exposed depends on several factors: the maternal dosage of medication, frequency of dosing, and rate of maternal drug metabolism. Typically, peak concentrations in the breast milk are attained approximately 6 to 8 hours after the medication is ingested. Thus, the frequency of feedings and the timing of the feedings can influence the amount of drug to which the nursing infant is exposed. By restricting breastfeeding to times during which breast milk drug concentrations would be at their lowest (either shortly before or immediately after dosing medication) exposure may be reduced; however, this approach may not be practical for newborns who typically feed every 2 to 3 hours.

The nursing infant’s chances of experiencing toxicity are dependent not only on the amount of medication ingested but also on how well the ingested medication is metabolized. Most psychotropic medications are metabolized by the liver. During the first few weeks of a full-term infant’s life, there is a lower capacity for hepatic drug metabolism, which is about one-third to one-fifth of the adult capacity. Over the next few months, the capacity for hepatic metabolism increases significantly and, by about 2 to 3 months of age, it surpasses that of adults. In premature infants or in infants with signs of compromised hepatic metabolism (e.g., hyperbilirubinemia), breastfeeding typically is deferred because these infants are less able to metabolize drugs and are thus more likely to experience toxicity.

Antidepressants

Over the past 10 years, data have accumulated regarding the use of various antidepressant medications during breastfeeding. Available data on the use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline during breastfeeding have been encouraging and suggest that the amounts of drug to which the nursing infant is exposed is low and that significant complications related to neonatal exposure to psychotropic medications in breast milk appear to be rare. Typically very low or non-detectable levels of drug have been detected in the infant serum, and one recent report indicates that exposure during nursing does not result in clinically significant blockade of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake in infants. Although less information is available on other antidepressants, serious adverse events related to exposure to these medications have not been reported.

There have been some case reports of adverse events in infants exposed to SSRIs in breastmilk, including jitteriness, irritability, excessive crying, sleep disturbance, and feeding problems. In many cases it has not been possible to establish a causal link between these events and exposure to drug. For the most part, no serious or life- threatening problems have been reported, although there was one report of a seizure that may have been related to exposure to bupropion (Wellbutrin). It is not clear, however, if the bupropion caused the seizure, and it should also be noted that neonatal seizures are relatively common, especially in the first 10 days of life. In addition, many of these reports concerning antidepressant exposure in breastmilk have been confounded by exposure to multiple medications and were not confirmed by unbiased observers.

Anti-Anxiety Agents

Given the prevalence of anxiety symptoms during the postpartum period, anxiolytic agents are often used in this setting. Data regarding the use of benzodiazepines have been limited; however, the available data suggest that amounts of medication to which the nursing infant is exposed are low. Case reports of sedation, poor feeding, and respiratory distress in nursing infants have been published; however, the data, when pooled, suggest a relatively low incidence of adverse events.

Mood Stabilizers

For women with bipolar disorder, breastfeeding may pose more significant challenges. First, on-demand breastfeeding may significantly disrupt the mother’s sleep and thus may increase her vulnerability to relapse during the acute postpartum period. Second, there have been reports of toxicity in nursing infants related to exposure to various mood stabilizers, including lithium and carbamazepine, in breast milk.

Lithium is excreted at high levels in the mother’s milk, and infant serum levels are relatively high, about one-third to one-half of the mother’s serum levels, thereby increasing the risk of neonatal toxicity. Reported signs of toxicity include cyanosis, hypotonia, and hypothermia. Although breastfeeding typically is avoided in women taking lithium, the lowest possible effective dosage should be used and both maternal and infant serum lithium levels should be followed in mothers who breastfeed. In collaboration with the pediatrician, the child should be monitored closely for signs of lithium toxicity, and lithium levels, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine should be monitored every 6-8 weeks while the child is nursing.

Several recent studies have suggested that lamotrigine reaches infants through breast milk in relatively high doses, ranging from 20%-50% of the mother’s serum concentrations, which may be explained by poor neonatal metabolism of lamotrigine. In addition, maternal serum levels of lamotrigine increase significantly after delivery, which may also have contributed to the high levels found in nursing infants. None of these studies have reported any adverse events in breastfeeding newborns. One worry shared by clinicians and new mothers is the risk for Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). This is a severe, potentially life-threatening rash, most commonly resulting from a hypersensitivity reaction to a medication, which occurs in about 0.1% of bipolar patients treated with lamotrigine. Thus far, there have been no reports of SJS in infants associated with exposure to lamotrigine. In fact, it appears that cases of drug-induced SJS are extremely rare in newborns. In a single case report, authors described a neonate developing the syndrome after exposure to the anticonvulsant phenobarbital.

Similarly, concerns have arisen regarding the use of carbamazepine and valproic acid. Both of these mood stabilizers have been associated in adults with abnormalities in liver function and fatal hepatotoxicity. Hepatic dysfunction associated with carbamazepine exposure in breast milk has been reported several times. Most concerning is that the risk for hepatotoxicity appears to be greatest in children younger than 2 years old; thus, nursing infants exposed to these agents may be particularly vulnerable to serious adverse events. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has deemed both carbamazepine and valproic acid to be appropriate for use in breastfeeding mothers, few studies have assessed the impact of these agents on fetal well-being, particularly in nonepileptic mothers. In those women who choose to use valproic acid or carbamazepine while nursing, routine monitoring of drug levels and liver function tests is recommended. In this setting, ongoing collaboration with the child’s pediatrician is crucial.

Anti-Psychotic Agents

Information regarding the use of anti-psychotic drugs is limited and is particularly lacking for the newer atypical agents. While the use of chlorpromazine has been associated with adverse events including sedation and developmental delay, adverse events appear to be rare when medium- or high-potency agents are used. Less data, however, is available on the atypical anti-psychotic agents. Data on clozapine suggest that it may be concentrated in the breast milk; however, there are no data on infant serum levels, making it difficult to interpret the relevance of this finding. Given the severity of adverse events associated with clozapine exposure (i.e., decreased white blood cell count) the use of this medication should be reserved for those with treatment-refractory illness and monitoring of white blood cell counts in the nursing infant is mandatory. There is very limited data on the use of olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine during lactation, however the data that is available on these three medications suggest that the excretion of these medications in breast milk is low and that adverse effects appear to be rare. Monitoring of the infant is encouraged, as there has been a report of an infant who had sedation on a higher dose of olanzapine, which resolved after the dose was halved to 5mg/ day. To date, there are no reports of the use of the newer anti-psychotic medications, ziprasidone and aripiprazole, while breastfeeding.

Treatment Guidelines

Consultation about the safety of breastfeeding among women treated with psychotropic medications should include a discussion of the known benefits of breastfeeding to mother and infant and the possibility that exposure to medications in the breast milk may occur. Although routine assay of infant serum drug levels was recommended in earlier treatment guidelines, this procedure is probably not warranted; in most instances low or non-detectable infant serum drug levels will be evident and serious adverse side effects are rarely reported. This testing is indicated, however, if neonatal toxicity related to drug exposure is suspected. Infant serum monitoring is also indicated when the mother is nursing while taking lithium, valproic acid, or carbamazepine.

What Causes Acne?

Acne is one skin problem whose specific causes are not known even today. Researchers have still not been able to find out the causes that lead to acne. However, there are a few different causes that are known to be directly or indirectly linked to acne:

Hormones- Most of the people are affected by acne during puberty and the reason behind it is that at this time they undergo hormonal changes that may lead to acne. Similarly hormonal changes also occur during pregnancy or before of after a period and this is the reason why women are said to be suffering from acne at these times.

Bacteria- P. acne or acne causing bacteria is the main culprit behind the formation of pimples. P. acne may be present in your skin follicles and lead to upcoming of the pimples. The plugged follicles often serve as the breeding ground for these acne causing bacteria which may then lead to formation of acne.

Stress- Stress is also known to lead to acne in most of the cases. When you are stressed, your body undergoes hormonal changes which may then lead to formation of pimples.
Overactive oil glands- Oil glands are especially overactive during puberty. Their activity level is managed by the release of hormones. Overactive oil glands means excessive sebum which may then clog the pores and lead to acne.

Heavy and oily makeup- It's not that you must not use make up at all. But, it is usually suggested to use light and water based makeup. Oily and heavy make up leads to clogging of pores thus leading to formation of pimples. Also, if you keep the make up on for much longer then it may lead to acne.

Food- Although there are no clear evidences to establish food as one of the causes of acne, it is believed that certain foods may lead to acne. Certain foods like chocolates and oily foods are said to cause acne in some people. Therefore, it is advisable to eat all healthy food for a healthy looking skin.

Other causes- Certain other causes like over-exfoliation of your skin could also lead to acne. Using cheap skin care products may be the other cause. Also, make it a point to not pick or squeeze pimples because it may lead to aggravation of the already present acne.

These are some of the causes behind acne and pimples. They may lead to acne directly or indirectly. However, you must pay attention to these points and take necessary precautions so that you may be able to avoid acne in the best possible way.

Neonatal Acne Care- How To Care For The Skin Of Your Infant

An infant is perhaps the most beautiful thing on the planet. But in some cases, the beauty of an infant can be marred by neonatal acne. But you don't have to worry as with a little bit of care and caution you can help your child get rid of acne.

Neonatal acne may come across as a serious condition but actually it is not. In fact, it is very normal for your newly born child to have pimples. There are many children who are born with infantile acne so there is nothing really to worry about.

In most cases, neonatal acne or baby acne disappears on its own. Baby acne has its own course and disappears within few weeks of the birth of the child. So, you will not really need any specific treatment to cure baby acne.
However, if the acne of your newly born child refuses to go, you need to care for the skin of your infant. The first thing that you can do in this direction is use a gentle cleanser to clean baby acne. Since a baby's skin is extremely gentle and delicate, it is advised that you use the gentles of cleansers.

Go in for a mild cleanser that does not contain any harsh detergents or medical actives. Since your child is suffering from acne, you can even opt for one of the anti acne cleansers for infants that are available in the market.

Wash the skin of your infant's skin twice daily. While cleaning, make sure that you are not too rough on the skin. Clean the skin gently and avoid any kind of scrubbing. Pat the skin dry with a clean and disinfected cloth or towel.

Cleansing the skin twice daily serves as an effective solution to neonatal acne in most cases. But in some cases of moderate acne, the infant may require prescription acne. As the first line of treatment, doctors prescribe a gel with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Though this is effective, it can lead to skin drying.

If the acne is more severe the use of anti acne gel may be accompanied with an oral antibiotic. The use of oral antibiotics does not last for more than 18 months in most infants. However, oral antibiotics are used for extremely severe cases of neonatal acne.

You do not have to let your newly born child to be deprived of his/her beauty because of neonatal acne or infantile acne. Just few simple skin care tips and you will be able to give your child the beautiful and flawless skin he deserves.

Some Easy Methods For Removing Blackheads Successfully

It is very difficult to keep your hands off the blackhead or blemish that may appear on your skin. You always consciously or unconsciously, tend to squeeze your blackheads. But contrary to the popular beliefs, the fact is, “gentle removal of your blackheads” can actually help in reducing and preventing any further damage to your skin. But, the golden question here is how to remove a blackhead.

Following are some of the ways and means to remove blackheads with ease:

Light squeezing: You can remove the stuff from inside a blackhead with light handed squeezing. Such a process can actually help the skin. Yes, squeezing is detrimental to the skin, but how you squeeze determines whether it harms the skin or benefits it. Gentle is the key word and you have to be careful not to over squeeze it.

Using products for exfoliating: You can use some low potency benzoyl peroxide exfoliating product for removing dead skin cells. It is very effective on the blackheads and is mild to your skin as well. In this way you can remove even the most stubborn blackheads. Also, microdermabrasion can be used to remove stubborn blackheads.

Topical retinoids: Topical retinoids such as Retin-A help in battling against the blackheads, successfully. It also removes and prevents the formation of the blackheads. It reduces oil secretion and unclogs the pores by promoting normal functioning of the cells. However, it is a long process.
Chemical peels: Skin care products with salicyclic acid and chemical peels with glycolic acid are very useful in removing dead skin cells from the pores, effectively and quickly. However, you can not use them if you are already using topical retinoids.

Metallic Extractor: You can also take the help of a metallic extractor that has a small and round opening in the end. You can individually plug out each blackhead by using it. But, it must be done with utmost care to prevent scarring.

Blackhead strips: You can use blackhead strips which are tape like strips. Place the strip over the nose for 10 minutes or as directed on the cover of the strip. And pull off. The surface level blackheads will be successfully removed. This is an easy to use, quick and temporary method of removing blackheads. Always read the instructions on the pack carefully.

Diet/Food: You also need to alter your bad eating habits. You need to naturally reduce the oil production, initiate appropriate moisture for the skin and reduce acne. Drink lots of water and avoid oil food. Also, include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. Cooked carbohydrates and fats are a big no no and use raw fats such as olive oil in your recipes.

Make up: This is a cosmetic tip but important for those who do not clear it of their skin. You need cosmetics that do not blocks your pores. That is, the non-comedogenic make up! Follow some tips- do not keep the make up when sweating. Use make up cleanser and properly remove the cosmetics of your skin. Also, keep your brushes, sponges clean.

Undoubtedly these methods will help you remove your blackheads, but along you need to follow a regular skin care regime to permanently remove your blackheads.

Healthy Babyfeeding bottles for the natural growth of your Child

There are often reports in the media that using plastic bottles can have serious health implications for our children.

As a producer of baby bottles made of glass with many years of experience, we see it as our responsibility to address the concerns of parents (-to-be) and manufacturers of branded baby products. The links below provide further information on the current debate about bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that virtually all plastic bottles contain:

Baby bottle chemical label call (BBC News)

What's coming out of Baby's bottle ? (Sciencenews)

As a safe alternative, DURAN Group GmbH has supplied more than 250 million glass bottles over the decades to leading manufacturers in Europe and beyond. Quality is consistently high.

There is a variety of arguments in favour of our DURAN® glass as a material for baby bottles and containers which come into contact with food. We have compared the key features of our glass bottles with those of plastic bottles below:

Glass bottles	Plastic bottles
+ High heat resistance up to 135°C bottle can be boiled, sterilized under pressure in autoclaves (hospitals) or cleaned chemically without any harm to the glass	+ Large variety of shapes and decoration Plastic bottles can be found in many different shapes and are easier to decorate
+ High thermal shock resistance of >95°C (95K) It is no problem to "shock" the glass by taking it from boiling water and cool it down suddenly to 5°C or less	+ Safety and weight A plastic bottle is light in weight and does not easily break. The mother/father can hold the bottle without getting tired
+ High chemical resistance No acid, alkaline or hydrolytical substances/liquids, common in household use, may attack the surface of the glass. The same glass is used for high performance laboratory glass	- Nursing bottle syndrom As result of the light and "unbreakable" bottle, parents are lead to give their infants the bottle as soon as they are crying to calm them down. The infants get used to sweetened drinks, which then cause tooth problems
+ Very hygenic, brilliant and easy-to-clean The very smooth and non-porous surface of the glass does not allow germs, fungi and other impurities to deposit on the glass	- Microscratches UV-light (sunshine) and chemical cleansers can cause microscratches. The bottle is not easy to clean and therefore not hygenic (germs, fungi and other impurities may stick in the microscratches) - also risk of bad taste
+ Neutral in taste and odourfree The glass does not react with the content of the bottle, no substances can get into the food. This means that after cleaning the milk will not take the taste or smell of a mint tea, etc.	- Loss of visual attraction After several cycles in the dishwasher, the plastic gets cloudy and the bottle does not look brilliant any more
- Glass is heavier than plastic and can break It is not advisable to leave the baby/infant alone with a glass bottle	- Health risk because of Bisphenol A Most baby bottles are made of polycarbonate which contains bisphenol A (BPA). BPA dissoves from older bottles, especially if the bottle contains hot liquids and can influence the weak hormonal system of a baby
- Limited range of shapes It is not possible to blow glass in all thinkable shapes

Hair care to prevent FALLING HAIR, BALDNESS, ALOPECIA, GREYING.

What is hair? Hair is an appendage to the skin. It is a thin growth in the skin and scalp. Its natural purpose is to preserve body heat and provide protection. To prevent falling hair and hair thinning use natural hair loss remedy products as hair loss treatment indicated on other pages.

Its Composition is very complex and varies with race, hair color etc. Its major constituent is Keratin and also has amino acids, sulphur etc. Hair root is the part under the skin and comprises follicle, bulb and papilla. Hair shaft is the part visible above the skin. The hair has 3 layers being, center outwards, Medulla, Cortex and Cuticle. Hair hygiene prevents hair from falling out, hair thinning and promotes hair regrowth.

Its Growth Rate averages half to an inch a month. As long as the papilla is healthy hair growth will be promoted. Hair pulled out from its root will regrow. Cyclically, hair die and regrow in a cycle. If supply of blood to the papilla is sufficient then hair regrowth is faster and lesser hair loss..

Hair Care and Health condition is determined by texture, porosity and elasticity. Coarse or fine texture is genetic inheritence. Porosity is ability to absorb moisture. Hair not porous enough will become dry. Nutrition affects porosity. Elasticity gives it springiness and lustre. Dandruff indicates bad hair care . To maintain hair care regrowth and prevent Alopecia and avoid bald head, hygienic haircare and nutrition is important.

Hair health depends on scalp health and genetics. Important factors are diet, nutrition and hair care and grooming; however you don't have control on genetics. Diet, nutrition and scalp health can be controlled to prevent dandruff and stop hair from falling out; a good diet will promote hair regrowth. Use proven hair care products as hair loss remedy. Our recomended Haircare preparation is excellent as hair loss remedy.

There are hair care products in almost all systems of medicine - homeopathic remedy, Ayurvedic remedy, Chinese Remedy and Allopathic. Each has its own beneficial effects. Which method you want to adopt is for you choose and decide.

However, a cheap DIY method for Haircare is the Ayurvedic . We highly recommend this treatment as a haircare remedy. This has been personally tried and found very effective. A lot od other persons too have tried the preparation and have expressed their findings.

Taking Care of Your Throat

Perhaps it's because you feel a bit hoarse, perhaps it's because your throat feels dry. Whatever the reason, you've probably often felt the urge to clear your throat. The practice is so common that several words for it have entered the language: "Ahem!" and "Harrumph!" are two common terms that mimic the sounds people make in preparing the throat for speech.

A hearty harrumph may feel satisfying, but over the long run the habit will leave you even hoarser, experts say.

You've probably been clearing your throat for your entire life without really thinking about why. Here's the reason:

You clear your throat because your larynx -- that upper part of the respiratory tract that contains the vocal cords -- becomes irritated. The irritation can be caused by something as simple as an accumulation of mucus, perhaps from a cold or an allergy. Other common causes are dryness in the throat or a reaction to environmental tobacco smoke.

Clearing the throat is really an irritating, abrasive response to what you feel in your throat. The irritation causes swelling in the larynx, which in turn affects the way your vocal cords perform. Your voice may go from a well-modulated pitch to a breathy, raspy whisper.

Those who use their voices for a living -- such as newscasters and opera stars -- have to protect their throats through good health habits. You can follow their lead and protect your voice with these tips:

Break the throat-clearing habit

If you are overtaken by the urge to clear your throat, swallow twice instead -- that should help move the mucus along. A last-ditch effort is a very breathy cough, just to get the accumulated phlegm off the vocal cords.

Improve your air quality

Stay away from secondhand smoke and other sources of indoor and outdoor pollution as well. Heated air is dry air, another common cause of hoarseness, so be sure to use a humidifier in your home in the heating season.

Stay hydrated

Try taking small sips of water throughout the day to keep the mucus from building up. Lozenges and herbal tea with a twist of lemon help soothe an irritated throat.

Turn the volume down

If you're prone to temporary hoarseness, you may need to examine your speaking style.

Fight hoarseness with horseradish

That and other "hot" foods, such as jalapeno peppers, can bring temporary relief from a cold. That's because spicy foods open the nasal passages.

Know when to visit the doctor

If hoarseness lasts more than three weeks, or you experience a complete loss or severe change in your voice for more than a few days, contact your physician. Allergies, thyroid problems, neurological disorders and trauma to the voice box are some causes of hoarseness that may require medical treatment.

5 Ways to Fall Into Health & Fitness

Take Advantage of the Great Outdoors

The end of summer can be traumatic for some people (like me), but fall isn't so bad either when you think about crisp mornings, cozy nights and the sweet smell of falling leaves. With kids back to school and holidays on the way, it may seem impossible to find time to exercise, especially when there's not as much daylight and the weather gets chilly. But, this is the best time of year to get outside and enjoy the fresh air without the heat and humidity.

Walking

Walking is one of the easiest forms of exercise. All you really need is a good pair of shoes and, perhaps, some fall weather gear. The key to making it enjoyable is to make it a daily thing. Plan on after dinner walks with the family or before work and school. You can also plan family activities that involve walking like apple-picking adventures. Check out resources for Colorful Autumn Walking to get you started.

Hiking

Fall is a great time to go hiking--cool weather, no bugs and, of course, magnificent views. Plus, hiking burns mega-calories as you increase your elevation and really work those legs. Check out these Best Fall Hikes for ideas on where to go.

Running

Fall is probably the best time of year for running outdoors. It's not too hot, not too cold and watching the leaves change colors each time you head outside can make each workout a new adventure. If you're a beginner, start with Running for Beginners or head over to our Running site for information on how to get started.

Get Back to the Gym

When the weather turns iffy, getting back to the gym can help you stay on track with your workouts, especially if you get involved in a variety of activities. Don't just do the same machines each time you go, but take advantage of all your gym has to offer - swimming, fitness classes, weight loss programs, etc. The more variety you have, the easier it will be to stick to your program.

Making fitness stick is all about momentum (among other things), so if you're a beginner, start with about 3 days of exercise a week. Do more if you can, but always start where you are rather than where you want to be. Ease your body and your mind into your new exercise schedule to minimize the fallout and add on as you get settled in. Here's a Sample Schedule to give you an idea of how to start:

Day 1: 20 minutes elliptical trainer, 20 minutes Total Body Strength and stretching
Day 2: 30-45 minutes Cardio Medley Workout
Day 3: 20 minutes elliptical training, 20 minutes Total Body Strength and stretching

These workouts are just suggestions. For more workout ideas, visit my Workout Center and choose workouts that fit your schedule, your fitness level and your goals. You can also visit my Beginner's Corner for more in-depth information on how to start an exercise program. You can also sign up for my free 12 Week Weight Loss Program for a more structured program to follow.

Get Fit at Home

Home fitness is your other option if you're not crazy about the gym and fall is a great time to get your home gym in working order. Remember, you don't need a lot of equipment to create a solid home gym. In fact, 'home gym' can mean anything from a set of resistance tubes to a full spread complete with home gym, cardio machines and floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Use these resources to figure out what you need or to learn about workouts you can do with no equipment at all:

Essential Home Gym Equipment
Exercising on the Cheap
No Equipment Workouts
Advanced Cardio Blast Workout Another option is home workout videos. Even if you're not a fan of working out at home or working out to videos, it's a good idea to have a few good ones around so you always have that option. Collage Video is a video catalog offering hundreds of videos you can't find in stores or, if you want to try before you buy, check out Flickety Fit (check out my review of Flickety Fit for more). Before you buy any video, be sure to visit Video Fitness to read through hundreds of reviews posted by real exercisers.

Try Something New

Summer often finds us being weekend warriors--going for long bike rides, playing sports and just generally getting out and being more active. When fall hits, many of us head to the gym or bring our workouts indoors and that can quickly lead to boredom and burnout. This is a great time of year to try something new.

Tai Chi.

Also known as a moving meditation, Tai Chi is a slow, fluid activity that helps improve balance and strength while keeping you relaxed and connected to your body. Tai Chi is an excellent activity to do on a chilly fall night to help you stay active. Try a video or check at local clubs or gyms to find classes near you.

Yoga

Yoga is another kind of moving meditation that promotes balance, flexibility and soothing mind/body connections. Check out our Yoga site for daily poses and more.

Strength Training.

If you tend to stick with more cardio activities in the summer, why not shift your focus? This is a great time to focus more attention on building strength, bone density, balance and stability to keep your body ready for warm-weather activities. This is also a good time to explore new methods of strength training that you've never tried before.

Pilates.

Pilates is another great mind/body activity that can help you strengthen your core while promoting flexibility and balance. This can be a great addition to your workout routine if you want to work your abs in a whole new way.

Get Healthy with Fall Foods

Just because summer's over doesn't mean you need to avoid the produce section. This is a great time of year to up the nutritional value of your meals while enjoying some of the great foods that are in season.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins make great jack-o-lanterns and they're also great for nutritious and yummy meals. Pumpkin provides carotenoids (which help fight heart disease and cancer), vitamins C, E and riboflavin, iron, fiber and potassium, just to name a few. You could run out and start making pumpkin pies or you could try for healthier ideas by checking out these Healthy Pumpkin Recipes.

Apples

This time of year, apples are at their best and, because they're so versatile, you can find many ways to work them into your diet. Apples are low in calories, high in fiber, have no cholesterol and give your body important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, calcium and folic acid. You can eat them alone or add them to any number of dishes for extra taste and nutrition. Try one of these Healthy Apple Recipes.

Pecans

You probably know that nuts are good for you (as long as you practice some portion control) and pecans are at the top of the list when it comes to healthy nuts. Pecans offer zinc, magnesium, potassium, thiamine, folic acid and vitamin B6, just to name a few, and they're great sprinkled on salads or eaten alone as a snack. Check out these excellent ideas for pecans.

ROSE BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Stop and Smell the Roses of our Favorite Rose Beauty Products!

You really will want to stop and smell the roses when it comes to these fabulous rose beauty products containing rose ingredients. Long used in folk remedies to treat skin oriented conditions, rose oil, rose hip, rose water, rose petals and rose extract are all popular in current beauty treatments. Rose is known to nourish and hydrate skin, while it also helps with acne scarring, sun damage and fine lines and wrinkles. The scent of rose has a calming, nurturing effect and it is used in many perfumes and colognes. Read on to learn about our favorite rose beauty products:

Make-Up Foundation Types Which one is suitable for you?

Picking up a suitable for your skin type and needs foundation base is essential step to a perfect complexion. But discovering the make-up base that works best for you can be a real mess. First, there are lots of different types of this product. Second, it can be problematic to choose the best base for your skin type and tone

I hope this little guide that presents the most popular make-up foundation types will be helpful.

Fluid Make-Up Foundation Base

This foundation base is characterized by a smooth consistency and light texture.

It can be applied to all complexion types, however if you have oily skin - choose matt fluid that will absorb the excessive sebum during the day. Some brands offer also foundations enriched in substances that help to nourish and moisturize skin. It can be a good idea to pick up a cosmetic that offers also high protection against harmful UV rays during the summer days to ensure optimal sun protection.

Good quality fluid is light in texture yet covers skin imperfections beautifully and it looks natural. Fluid base can also amplify the reflection of light and optically soften facial contours if it contains light-reflecting pigments.

Compact Make-Up Foundation

It looks like a pressed, very concentrated powder and it's comfortable in use. You can apply compact foundation with a dry or damp sponge - to achieve sheer or fuller coverage. It is highly effective when you need to make quick make-up corrections (you can use it instead of traditional powder for this scope).

Good quality compact foundation should be silky and characterized by long-lasting formula that keeps skin hydrated and matte during the day. Some compacts contain special wrinkle erasing pigments to manipulate the light in a way to receive the illusion of less fine lines. So the major benefits of compact foundation is a comfortable usage, adaptable coverage and natural satiny finish.

Mineral Make-Up Powder

Mineral powder is ultra-sheer but very effective. It was designed for women after intense cosmetic or dermatological treatments, but after revealing it's effectiveness and comfortable application, it was introduced to a mass distribution and it has a lot of success nowadays. It is suitable for all skin types, but especially suggested in case of oily skin since it helps to absorb excess oils and to matte the skin while still allowing your skin to breathe.

One of the main differences between mineral and traditional make-up is that synthetic pigments are replaced with powdered minerals that do not irritate skin and do not clog pores up. Some producers add also pure silk powder to receive silky, light texture of the foundation base.

Mousse Make-up Foundation

Mousse-type foundation is so light and fluffy because it contains micro-air-bubbles that makes it very easy to apply to your face. It is far lighter than compact base yet offering similar coverage. It mattifies and smoothens oily skin.

Good quality mousse foundation provides soft application, it ensures maximum comfort and natural-looking, satin make-up finish.

First Aid in case of Severe Bleeding

In cases of severe bleeding, follow these steps unless professional help arrives: Have the injured person lie down. If possible, position the person's head slightly lower than the trunk or elevate the legs. This position reduces the risk of fainting by increasing blood flow to the brain. If possible, elevate the site of bleeding

While wearing gloves, remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound. Don't remove any large or more deeply embedded objects. Don't probe the wound or attempt to clean it at this point. Your principal concern is to stop the bleeding

Apply pressure directly on the wound. Use a sterile bandage, clean cloth or even a piece of clothing. If nothing else is available, use your hand

Maintain pressure until the bleeding stops. Hold continuous pressure for at least 20 minutes without looking to see if the bleeding stopped. You can maintain pressure by binding the wound tightly with a bandage (or even a piece of clean clothing) and adhesive tape

Don't remove the gauze or bandage. If the bleeding continues and seeps through the gauze or other material you are holding on the wound, don't remove it. Instead, add more absorbent material on top of it

Squeeze a main artery if necessary. If the bleeding doesn't stop with direct pressure, apply pressure to the artery delivering blood to the area of the wound. Pressure points of the arm are on the inside of the arm just above the elbow and just below the armpit. Pressure points of the leg are just behind the knee and in the groin. Squeeze the main artery in these areas against the bone. Keep your fingers flat. With your other hand, continue to exert pressure on the wound itself

Immobilize the injured body part once the bleeding has stopped. Leave the bandages in place and get the injured person to the emergency room as soon as possible If you suspect internal bleeding, seek emergency help. Signs of internal bleeding may include:

Bleeding from body cavities (such as the ears, nose, rectum or vagina) Vomiting or coughing up blood

Bruising on neck, chest, abdomen or side (between ribs and hip) Wounds that have penetrated the skull, chest or abdomen Abdominal tenderness, possibly accompanied by rigidity or spasm of abdominal muscles

Fractures Shock, indicated by weakness, anxiety, thirst or skin that's cool to the touch

Save your skin

The next time you walk into a beauty store to buy your facewash, sunscreen or moisturiser, watch out — chances are you could be buying something unsafe for your skin. The common ingredients used in cosmetics can dry out the skin. The different lotions meant to make you fair and beautiful have chemicals that can clog the pores and simultaneously hasten the ageing process.

Clever marketing and shrewd advertising tactics tell us that the products are harmless but this can be misinformation. Dr Charulata Bose, consultant dermatologist, Artemis health institute, says that preservatives are used in various cosmetics, mostly in unadulterated form, which can ruin the skin texture. She says that in India, tested products are substituted with cheap ones and the outcome can be serious.

“The most-used products — lipsticks, lotions and foundations — have mineral oil, petroleum, formalin and many other toxic elements. They clog the pores and in many cases they lead to skin cancer and irritation,”she says. She adds that the promises and money-back schemes attract unwary users and they end up with bad skin texture or something worse. According to Dr Shehla Agarwal, consultant dermatologist, most containers deliberately do not list the contents properly. Mentioning herbs without their exact quantity is a ploy to fool the consumer, she says.

India not shining
The same products, these experts say, are sold with a full content list in other countries with stricter regulation. India, they say, needs to follow suit. Their suggestion is that users should apply a product on a test patch, a small patch of skin, to see if there is any reaction. “Also, follow the warnings as prescribed on the product. The stress should be on items that are sure of their effects after patch test,” says Dr Agarwal.

Some harmful ingredients

* Sodium lauryl sulphate: A detergent and surfactant found in soaps and shampoos. It makes your skin extremely dry.
* Alpha hydroxy acids: Though it is used to prevent wrinkles, it causes serious damage to the skin.
* Talc: It is prepared from the mining of talc rocks. If sprinkled on the genital area, it may cause reproductive tract disorders, including infertility.
* Formalin: Dead bodies are preserved in it. The main use is in nail polish and skin creams. The fumes produced by this chemical can cause asthma and cancer.
* Collagen: This is extracted from animal skins and ground chicken feet, which leads to clogging of the pores.

Basics about Skin

Many a times you must have come across a saying which goes "First impression is the last impression". This saying means the way you appear, and the way you carry yourself in different situations. However, a general conception about first impression stresses on how you look. So, which organ plays an important in displaying your looks? Of course, skin is probably the most important part of your body that helps in enhancing the entire looks. So, let's learn some basics things about this important and vital part of our body.

Skin is considered as the basic and sensory organ which helps in sensing the touch and feel of any object. However besides these, skin also performs a lot of work in our daily life. Some of the important activities that skin performs are:

Holding the body structure together.

Preventing leakage of water and body fluids from the body.

Preventing the entry of germs and infection inside the body.

Sensing the temperature of objects.

Providing the feel of pain.

Main components of Skin

Skin is essentially made up of 3 layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer. They work together and perform the important functions like protecting the body. Let us learn more about these three components of skin.

Epidermis

Epidermis is the layer of the skin that you can see. Epidermis cells are divided into two major parts. Deep down the epidermis lives the growing cells and the outside cells are termed as dead cells. The dead cells are easily rubbed off and the growing cells take their place. These cells contain keratin which is waterproof and hard in nature. Other cells in the epidermis produce a pigment known as melanin. Melanin is responsible for the color of your skin. It also protects the skin from harmful radiation from sunlight. Darker the skin more is the protection. Hence, people with fair skin are more prone to sun burn.

Dermis

The dermis is a thicker and more elastic layer of the skin. The dermis is probably the most important layer of skin which comprises of sebaceous glands, hair follicles, blood vessels and nerves.

Sebaceous gland produces sebum oil which keeps the skin soft and waterproof. Sweat glands produce sweats and send it to the surface of the skin through small pores. Sweating is generally occurred when you are in hot surroundings. This phenomenon helps in keeping the body temperature cool. Most of the body parts are covered with hairs which are developed in hair follicle region of the dermis. Blood vessels carry oxygen and nutrients to the cells as well as carry away the waste.

Subcutaneous layer

The subcutaneous layer is mainly made up of fat which acts as protector as well helps in keeping the body warm.

Some interesting facts

Believe it or not, skin is the largest organ of our body. Around 15 per cent of the total weight or 6 pounds is due to the skin. Skin is different for different people. Remember, no one in this world has same fingerprints!!!!!

6 ways to rapid weight loss

There are numbers of cases in which the diseases are the outcome of overweight or obesity. Some of the prominent diseases in this category are heart attacks, stroke, arteriosclerosis and diabetes. Person with such problems needs to take medications and precautions for rest of their life. To overcome such problems, doctors often suggest that you lose weight. People come out of the clinic with a mentality to lose weight as soon as possible. To achieve this target, people often make mistakes and try using different, unworthy, weight loss products. As a result, instead of losing weight they visit the clinic with some other additional health problems. Hence, it becomes your primary responsibility to act wisely and adapt to a better solution with a consultation from the physician.

In the context of losing weight rapidly, people utilize various strategies and plans. The extra weight provides a bad feeling to an individual and affects overall quality of life. It has been found that an individual often experiences depression and other health risks by adopting faulty programme or products. To lose weight efficiently, the first thing that an individual is expected to do is to consult a doctor or physiotherapist. They will perform detailed physical examinations and offer you the best weight loss plan that suits your body. There are about six foolproof ways that can help you in weight loss and eventually result in disease-free body.

For rapid weight loss, one needs to know what to eat and what to avoid eating. People who want to lose weight rapidly must understand that they need to eat healthy food. Look after what have you been eating so far and categorize them into healthy and unhealthy foods. Once you are ready with this categorization, try to eliminate the unhealthy food from your diet. Observe the changes in your body after eliminating those foods from your daily diet. Do not loose heart if you get negative results in the beginning. All change takes time and so is the case with weight loss. Your dietician and physiotherapist can help you decide the healthy diet for you.

Keep a Realistic Goal

You need to understand that weight loss is not an easy task. It needs lot of dedication and patience. Talk to a specialist about arranging realistic targets for weight loss. Take the right decision and stay focused towards your target of losing weight.

Listen to your Body

Whenever you adopt a new diet or exercise, observe the changes in your body. Evaluate whether you have started gaining weight or losing it and decide accordingly. Add some exercises in your daily regimen which will help you increase your metabolism and rate of burning fat efficiently.

Fiber rich Diet

Fat is a good source of food which is not digested in the body but gives a feeling of having a full stomach. Fiber rich diets do not allow fats to get absorbed in the body. These diets also help in maintaining a normal bowel movement.

Avoid Fried Foods

Fried food is a sure source of fat. Do not fry foods such as beef or white meat because these foods already have a lot of fat content. Make it a point to have grilled food instead. Because grilled food contains less fat.

Drink plenty of Water

Water is the most important part of any diet. On an average, every individual must have six to eight glasses of water on a daily basis. This will keep your body hydrated, flush toxins from the body and help you lose fat.

By following the above techniques and adding regular exercise, one can surely expect to have positive results.

How to Achieve a Healthy Heart

Heart is one of the most important parts of our body. People with weak heart are more likely to have dreadful diseases like stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure and so on. Following a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you to reduce the risk of developing heart diseases. When it comes to healthy diet, many people have a misconception about cutting down some of the favorite foods from their meal. However, healthy diet is more prominently about eating balanced foods. Even exercises are more commonly mistaken with spending lot of time in gym and perspiring. There are some easy and efficient exercises that may prove beneficial to stay healthy and have active heart throughout the life. Aerobic and stretching exercises are the best examples for keeping a healthy and active heart.

Protecting Heart through Exercises

It is a common belief that exercises are meant to achieve a strength and good body posture. The belief is very much true to a great extent but it also helps in improving the functionalities of many vital organs of our body such as heart, lungs and liver. Unlike other muscles of the body, heart muscles may stop working if they get small and flabby. It has been found that lack of exercise in our daily routine may attribute to the 9 risk factors associated with heart disorders. Regular exercise helps the heart muscles to grow little larger and stronger. This improvement eventually results in heart rate drops and the heart starts enjoying a well-deserved rest.

Regular exercise helps to protect the arteries which are considered as the most common cause of heart attacks. It also helps the body to remove some of the bad cholesterol from the blood. If a person has high level of bad cholesterol, it may start sticking to the walls of arteries resulting in arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries). If the arteries that are associated with feeding heart get clogged, it may result in coronary heart disease. Regular exercise helps to increase the level of good cholesterol in the body and protects the heart from such diseases and conditions. Regular exercise also helps the individual to reduce the chances of getting osteoporosis, and stress. It is also beneficial for preventing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure along with building strength and endurance.

Best exercise for Healthy Heart

As it is already stated, to achieve a healthy heart you do not have to spend time inside a gym. Healthy heart can be easily achieved by taking little extra initiatives in our daily activities. The simplest way to achieve proper functioning of the heart is to adopt a brisk walking everyday for 30 minutes. A 30 minute walk on a daily basis is as effective as vigorous exercises such as cycling and jogging. People with heart diseases are advised to consult a doctor before going for any kind of exercise. People with heart disorders shall start their daily exercise by spending as little as 5 minutes and increasing this time to 30 minutes a day. It must be remember that slow and steady increase in daily exercise is always beneficial and efficient for a body. Some of the common and simple exercises that you can adopt in your daily routine are:

Aerobic exercise.

Cycling, swimming and jumping rope.

Playing games such as soccer, basketball and tennis.

Avoiding driving to nearby places and opting for a walk to reach the place.

Taking stairs instead of elevators, washing car, gardening etc.

It must always be remember that a healthy heart can be easily achieved through performing small activities. A healthy heart will surely help you to add some extra happy and healthy years in your life.

Tips for Walking

How does walking help my body?

A majority of people spends their life after earning money and fame. To achieve these parameters, many of them are found to overlook their body needs. Gradually, their body starts functioning improperly and they become the victims of unwanted diseases. Lack of regular exercise, eating disorder, increasing rate of obesity and heart diseases are the by-products of today's unhealthy lifestyle. In the context of earning money, people have virtually started ignoring their physical and mental fitness. Paying the unwanted hospital bills can be avoided by adapting slow and steady exercises.

Walking regularly can help you in staying active as well as preventing diseases. Walking is especially beneficial to obese people who want to get rid of those unwanted, extra fats from their body. Some of the essential benefits of walking are:

Walking can provide you the complete relaxation, thereby relieving stress.

Offers protection from diseases such as colon cancer, osteoporosis, constipation etc.

Keeps you fit and increases the longevity of your life.

Provides the mental peace by reducing the problem of depression.

Increases strengthening and flexibility of your muscles, bones and joints.

Helps in maintaining weight, controlling blood pressure and lowering the risks of stroke, type 2 diabetes and breast cancer.

Looking at the numerous benefits of walking, let's try to inculcate the habit of walking in our daily routine.

Prepare a walk plan

Though walking seems to be easy but people get tired of this healthy plan. Therefore, there is a need to prepare a plan to walk and make it a fun activity. Use the following tips to make walking a daily and rejuvenating activity.

A little walk everyday is always good as compared to the long walks on weekends. Try covering small distances during the initial days and gradually keep it increasing.

Walking on the same route is the main reason behind making the walk boredom. Try to walk on a different path every alternate day. However, make sure that the place is safe, interesting and convenient.

Avoid walking over the hills or stairs as it will make you feel tired.

Walking with a company is always better than walking alone. Ask your friend, family members to join you for the walk.

Always try to avoid walkman while walking on busy or traffic areas to avoid accidents.

During summer days, try walking slowly on the shaded path. Always keep a water bottle and wear a hat and apply sunscreen.

During winters, keep yourself warm with the relevant clothes and avoid windy places.

If possible, keep a pedometer while walking. This will not only help you in capturing the distance but would also motivate you during the walk.

Precautions

Always warm up before starting a walk and cool down with 5 minutes of medium-paced walking. Once you finish the half an hour walking activity, perform some light exercises. Light exercises such as thigh stretch, calf muscles stretch, hamstrings muscle stretch can be performed to achieve the complete benefits from walking. This will help to increase the flexibility and prevent stiffness of your bones, muscles and joints.

Someone has rightly quoted "if you lose wealth, you have lost something, but if you lose health, you have lost everything".

Take Care of Your Mind

Being in good health means more than feeling physically well; it also means feeling mentally well.

Today, we are more aware of how our mental and physical health affect each other. Setting aside time to focus on mental health is important – to you and those who care about you. By practicing mind and body fitness, you can nurture your mind, body and spirit in a positive and enjoyable way.

Life is full of change, risks and challenges. Good mental or emotional health helps us find our balance and stay in control, even during turbulent times. But how do we know if we are mentally healthy enough to deal with life’s ups and downs?

Get Mentally Fit

If your goal is to get into better shape mentally, then this new section is the place for you to discover how. So read on!

A range of other options is available to help you improve your mental fitness, including self-help books, support groups, relaxation therapy, meditation, and talk or behavioural therapy. Talking to a mental health professional, or other health care provider, can help you identify what type of support you will benefit from most.

If you need more information about resources in your area, contact a community organization, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, to help you find additional support.

Take control of your health. Take care of your mind.

Practice Mind + Body Fitness

Aging & Mental Health

Growing older is an experience we all share and many of us worry about. As we age, we face many changes and many sources of stress -we are not as strong as we used to be, illness is more of a problem, children move away from home, people we love die, we may become lonely, and eventually we must give up our jobs and retire.

Coping with all these changes is difficult, but it can be done. The keys to coping include your long-term lifestyle, your ability to expect and plan for change, the strength of your relationships with surviving family and friends, and your willingness to stay interested in and involved with life.

It is, therefore, very important to think carefully about what will happen to you as you age and how you are going to deal with the changes that will happen.

Dealing with physical changes

As you grow older, your body will naturally change. You may tire more easily than you used to. You may become ill more often. You may not see or hear as well as you did when you were younger.

Here are some things you can do to cope with these physical changes:

• Accept reality. Denying these changes will only make life less enjoyable for you and the people around you. Get the things that will help you - eyeglasses or hearing aids for example.
• Keep a positive attitude. Remember that slowing down does not mean you have to come to a complete stop. Chances are you will still be able to do almost all the things you used to; you may just need to take a little more time and learn to pace yourself.
• See your family doctor regularly. He/she can, then, deal with any changes or symptoms that require medical attention.
• Be careful about your medications. As you get older, they may begin to interact differently with other drugs and to affect you differently than before. Make sure your doctor knows about all your medications, even those prescribed by another doctor.
• Take responsibility for your own health. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor questions; some do not offer explanations unless asked.
• Change your eating habits. Adopt a balanced diet with fewer fatty foods, and try not to over-eat.
• Drink less alcohol. Your body will have more difficulty coping with it as you grow older.

Dealing with bereavement

As you get older, you will likely experience the loss of loved ones more often. It is important to remember the following ways of coping with your grief:

• Do not deny your feelings. Losing someone to death is like being wounded, and you need to heal. If you do not allow yourself to go through the grieving process, you are only storing up problems for a delayed reaction later on.
• Accept the range of emotions you will feel. Tears, anger and guilt are all normal reactions.
• Remember and talk about the deceased person. He/she was an important part of your life. Although your grief will pass, your memories will always stay with you.
• Look to your family and friends for support. They can help you through the grieving period and help you establish a new life afterwards.
• Be supportive of those you know who have suffered a loss. They need the warmth and caring that friendship can bring, just as you will when it happens to you.

Dealing with loneliness

Everyone needs some time alone, but being alone against your will is very painful. You risk losing your sense of purpose and self-worth, and becoming depressed. As family members and friends die and children become more involved in their own lives, it is important for you to find ways to cope with loneliness. You may want to consider some of the following suggestions:

• Stay active, and look for new social contacts. Most communities have a number of programs which can help replace the support that used to be provided by family and life-long friends. These programs provide older people with the chance to try new activities and make new friends.
• Very young children can brighten up your life. Try to make friends with people of different ages. You may be pleasantly surprised to find how much you have in common with someone 15 or 20 years younger than you.
• Spend time with grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews. Volunteer to help part-time in a local school or day-care centre. Very young children can brighten up your life with their enthusiasm and energy.
• Learn to recognize and deal with the signs of depression. Loss of appetite and weight, inability to sleep, loss of energy and motivation, and thoughts of suicide are all signs of depression. Your family doctor can refer you to a mental health professional for treatment.

Dealing with retirement

Your retirement can be a major source of stress because your job is usually a very important part of your life. This stress may be even greater if you have been forced to retire because of your employer's retirement policies. You may lose your sense of identity and feel less worthwhile. You will probably miss the daily contact with friends from work.

However, retirement can be one of the best times of your life, and there are things you can do to meet the challenges facing you, such as:

• Make a list of your abilities and skills. The skills and experience you have gamed from a lifetime of work may help you succeed in a small business or do valuable volunteer work for a favourite charity.
• Enrich your life by renewing contacts with neglected family members and old friends. All too often, our work gets in the way of our relationships and those we care about.
• Renew your interest in the hobbies and activities you enjoy. You now have time to play - enjoy!
• If you can afford it, travel. There are probably places you have wanted to see all your life. The early years of your retirement can be the ideal time to become a nomad for a while.

Vitamin Supplements for Lowering Sugar in Diabetics

• Vitamin and Supplements

Every day, thousands of people search their libraries and the internet for information about vitamin supplements for lowering blood sugar in diabetics. Many of these people are insulin-dependent and do not want to take medications for the rest of their lives. Some people simply are searching for a healthier way to lower their blood-sugar levels.

Diabetes has become so common that some health-care providers and officials have labeled this disease as one of the plagues of the 21st century. Today over 23.6 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, and government officials predict that number will increase. There are two major types of diabetes: Type 1 is referred to as juvenile diabetes and is insulin dependent. Type 2 is referred to as adult onset diabetes.

A recent Canadian study examining Type 1 and 2 diabetic patients, enrolled in a diabetes education program, showed that one-third of the people participating in the study were taking alternative medications and considered their treatment to be effective. These alternatives included vitamin supplements and herbal remedies.

The National Institute of Environmental Medicine in Stockholm reported increased consumption of magnesium helps diabetes. Researchers from India studied the effect of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in decreasing elevated levels of glucose. Also, a study presented by Scientific Sessions reinforced findings that both the American and Korean varieties of ginseng help normalize blood-glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity. The use of these vitamins supplements help lower blood sugar in diabetics.

A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition examined the effects of cinnamon, in its supplemental dosage, and its ability to stimulate insulin levels. Other supplements used for lowering sugar in diabetics include vitamins C and E, which help the body convert sugar into energy. Chromium, a popular and universally recognized trace mineral, works with insulin by supporting healthy blood-glucose levels, and zinc helps sugar in the bloodstream increase the efficiency of available insulin.

Using vitamins to treat diabetes as part of managing symptoms more naturally, can prompt people into taking a more active role in their overall health. Doctor’s guidance is a must when treating diabetes naturally. In some cases, vitamins or herbal products do not mix with certain medications. People using vitamins should be diligent in monitoring their blood-sugar levels regularly to ensure their choices are effective and healthy

Drinking 100 Percent Fruit Juice Lowers Disease Risks

New research, presented April 22, 2009 at the Experimental Biology (EB) 2009 meeting shows that men and women who drink 100 percent juice daily are leaner, and have lower risk of heart attack, diabetes, and stroke from metabolic syndrome - a cluster of symptoms including high blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance.

Study author, and co-author, Dr. Mark Pereira and Dr. Victor Fulgoni from University of Minnesota compared 100 percent juice drinkers to non-juice drinkers, using data from the CDC’s 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). They found that real fruit juice consumers had smaller waistlines, less insulin resistance, and lower body mass index (BMI).

Drinking 100 percent fruits juice was associated with a twenty-two percent reduction in obesity, and a fifteen percent lower risk of metabolic syndrome compared to those who did not consume real fruit juice. The survey included 14,000 respondents, age 19 and older.

Dr. Pereira says, “We know that maintaining a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is linked to decreased risk of some chronic diseases. One cup of 100% fruit juice counts as a serving of fruit and, based on our analysis, 100% juice consumption is associated with some of these same benefits.”

The study authors also found that people who consumed 100 percent fruit juice are generally healthier and more active. After adjusting for physical activity, and diet, the researchers still found a fourteen percent lower risk of obesity among regular juice drinkers.

Getting our daily allotment of fruits and vegetables is not always easy. The new study shows that drinking 100 percent fruit juice can cut our risk of chronic disease, help us stay lean, and provide an easier way to get the benefits of a serving of fruit.

Does This Make Me Look Fat? Teens and Weight Concerns

The peer groups teenage girls identify with determine how they decide to control their own figure. So reports a new study (1) by Dr. Eleanor Mackey from the Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC, and her colleague Dr. Annette La Greca from the University of Miami. Also influencing weight control behavior is girls’ own definition of normal body weight and their perception of what others consider normal body weight. These results have just been published online in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, a Springer publication.

Dangerous weight control practices such as excessive dieting and bulimic tendencies often begin in adolescence and can have serious long-term health implications. Although it is clear that peers can have a major effect on adolescent girls’ weight control strategies, exactly how peers exert their influence is to date not well understood. The researchers aimed to clarify how identifying with a particular peer group influences whether or not girls worry about their weight and how they decide to control it.

The authors tested 236 girls aged between 13 to 18 years old, who completed surveys looking at which peer groups they most identified with, their own concerns about body weight, their perception of their peers’ weight concerns and their own weight control behaviors. The researchers found that there is a complex relationship between peer group affiliation and girls’ weight control behavior. In particular, which group girls identified with was often related to how they controlled their weight.

More specifically, girls identifying with athletic peers (‘Jocks’) were less concerned about their own weight and seemed less likely to be trying to control their weight. Girls identifying with non–conformist peers (‘Alternatives’) were more concerned about their weight and appearance and more likely to be actively trying to lose weight. The girls who identified with those who skip school and often get into trouble (‘Burnouts’) believed their peers valued thinness and dieting. Finally, girls who did not belong to any particular peer group were the most likely to use slimming strategies.

According to the authors, this study shows that girls’ own attitudes and their perceptions of peers’ weight and appearance norms are pathways through which peer crowd identification may influence weight control behaviors. Understanding these pathways has implications for prevention and intervention programs in both schools and primary care settings. The authors suggest that “health care providers and school personnel might ask adolescent girls about their peer crowd affiliations in order to help identify adolescents with the highest levels of risky health behaviors…Girls’ body and weight dissatisfaction is also likely to be an important component of weight control interventions.”

Foods Can Help Depression

According to a report from the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 18.8 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from major depression. And nearly190 million prescriptions dispensed in the United States last year. Learning about nutrients in food can have an effect on how you feel and modifying your diet could help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with depression.

The B vitamins play a vital role in our mental health. Eating foods that contain significant levels of B vitamins can reduce symptoms of depression. B1 provides an energy boost to the body and can be found in the following foods: pork, tuna, red kidney beans, yellow corn, and wheat germ. B3 foods can include poultry, lamb, brown rice, wheat, and pomegranates. Foods rich in vitamin B6 include bell peppers, spinach, bananas, and tuna. B12 foods include baked snapper, scallops, venison, and yogurt. Foods such as calves’ liver and sunflower seeds are all good choices to provide a wide variety of B vitamins.

The amino acid l-tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin, which is a necessary neurotransmitter responsible for regulating moods and sleep. Foods containing l-tryptophan can include proteins such as poultry, lean meats, and fish. Also, cheeses such as cottage cheese, cheddar, and swiss, are rich in l-tryptophan. Adding whole-grain cereals can boost levels of l-tryptophan as can vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.

Studies suggests that people whose diets contain more of one kind of polyunsaturated fatty acid than another may be at greater risk for clinical depression. Low levels of DHA have been associated with depression and can be found in certain foods. Leading food sources of omega-3 can include salmon, cod, shrimp, sardines, halibut, broccoli cauliflower, cabbage, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, and cloves.

Magnesium may ease symptoms of depression. Some foods that contain magnesium are halibut, tuna, oysters, bananas, artichokes, spinach and other dark leafy greens, alfalfa, apples, figs, lemons, peaches, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, avocados, almonds, and barley.

As important as some foods can be to include in our diets, sugars, corn syrup, caffeine, smoked and pickled foods, dark poultry, fried foods, alcohol, white flour, and soda should be avoided. Skipping meals can affect your blood sugar levels that can cause mood swings. It is suggested that you eat five or six small meals a day as part of a healthy wellness plan. If your symptoms of depression get worse, even when eating a healthy diet, it is important to visit your doctor and share your symptoms. Certain symptoms could mean something else is going on and should be checked.

Diet and Tips for Healthy Nails

Do you know that your fingernails and toenails can indicate potential problems in other parts of your body? Healthy nails should typically sport a pink hue, but sometimes they may change in tone and texture, signifying a deficiency in certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

If you keep your nails healthy and strong, you should notice changes in the composition and color of your nails. Keeping your nails healthy holds a twofold benefit � gorgeous fingertips and tootsies and a helpful clue to learn if anything might be wrong elsewhere in your body. And while we don�t necessarily think of nails as gauges of our health in most cases, we sure do love getting dolled up and showing them off!

To begin your quest for healthy nails, first make a commitment to eating healthier foods. You can still enjoy the foods you love, but you should make a conscious effort to consume healthy fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish and eggs, among other nail-friendly foods.

Enjoy these great foods for healthy nails:

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Brown rice
• Cucumbers
• Eggs
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Liver
• Nuts
• Onions
• Salmon
• Seeds
• Soy
• Tuna
• Whole grains

If you want healthy, strong and beautiful nails that last, don�t stop with diet. Make some minor changes in your life and you can enjoy lovely nails without the price tag that comes with a trip to the nail salon. Avoid biting your nails, buff away rough edges when necessary and make a few other small changes to achieve the perfect nails you�ve always wanted.

For great nails, follow these simple tips:

Consume foods containing calcium and zinc. Calcium effectively promotes nail growth. (You know those little white spots that show up on your nails in funny places sometimes? Those spots mean you aren�t getting enough zinc in your diet.)

Consume less sugar and less alcohol.

Do not use your nails as tools. No picking, plucking, poking, prying�

Don�t bite your nails. Try applying nail polish or painting a bitter-tasting liquid to the nails. Such products have been specially designed to help people quit their nail-biting habits.

Don�t remove hangnails by pulling at them. Gently clip them with manicure scissors to prevent damage to your skin and tissue.

Eat fewer saturated fats.

Ensure that you consume enough protein.

Increase your intake of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E.

Keep your nails short to prevent breakage.

Leave your cuticles alone.

Moisturize your nails often. When you apply lotion to your hands, legs or other areas, be sure to rub a little bit into your nails.

Reduce the amount of dairy in your diet.

Trim nails regularly, as needed. Use an emery board or nail file to smooth rough edges after trimming and when a nail breaks.

If you want to have beautiful healthy nails, it may not cost you a trip to the salon. Commit to a healthier diet, better habits and pick up some pretty nail polish for an at-home manicure. With a little time, discipline and dedication, you can enjoy healthy, strong and shiny nails with little effort.

Long Lasting Stunning Nails

1. Start at the center of the nail and wiping toward the tip when removing old nail polish.

2. Use a cuticle remover cream instead of cutting your delicate skin.

3. Always file in one direction. The nails weaken and break easily if you nail it back and forth motion.

4. Buffing is good on your nails it boosts circulation and encourages nail growth.

5. The right way of mixing your polish is rolling the bottle between your palms. Shaking it will cause air bubbles.

6. Use a base coat before your color applying it same way with your nail polish.

7. Make sure that the first coat is completely dry before applying the second coat to prevent formation of bubbles.

8. To remove excess or slip- ups. Use a wooden cuticle remover and make sure the polish is dry.

9. Avoid direct contact with chemicals and some household products. Always use gloves.

10. Use a hand moisturizer in the morning and in the evening.

Sexy Kiss Me Lips

Could finding the perfect shade of lipstick help you in finding the perfect man?

Definitely! Lips are a prominent feature on the face. What other facial feature can demand more notice than soft, sensual, voluptuous lips?

While he is looking at your mouth, envisioning kissing those soft, sensual curves, you are snagging a place in his memory. What better way to hold a man�s interest than to capture his libido and hold it in limbo?

Is he going to want to kiss lips that glare out at him from a delicate face or run from them before they snap at him? Will the man of your dreams find himself drawn to lips that seem to beckon him with their delicately shaded vibrancy? Can any man resist a woman with lips that seem to say: Kiss me darling. I am yours?

Finding the perfect shade of lipstick is as important as finding the perfect outfit. Your lipstick is a major part of the personal statement you make through your fashionable appearance. Everyone notices the perfectly dressed woman with the perfectly shaded lips and envies her.

How do you discover the perfect shade of lipstick? Sometimes, it takes a little trial and error to find the shades that compliment your skin tone. A good place to start is at the cosmetic counter of almost any mid to high-level department store. Free makeovers are a staple of their day and give you the benefit of the expertise of their cosmeticians. Even though the goal of giving the makeover is to get you to make a purchase, the result is the discovery of several different shades that you can wear with self-confidence.

Whether it is red, pink, brown, or somewhere in between, the ease with which you put on your lipstick reflects the confidence you have in the shade you have selected. This, in turn, is reflected in the way that you carry yourself. This is what gets you noticed.

Not only have lipsticks been perfected to color our lips provocatively, but also they have been perfected to offer them protection from the elements. Lipsticks keep our lips soft, moist, supple, and noticeable.

In general, remember:

• Muted colors (purples and browns) are better to tone down large lips.
• Light colors work best for thin lips.

Remember that putting on lipstick can be as easy as putting on a happy face! So, put a little razzle and dazzle in your life by putting a little sparkle of color on your lips!