The Most Under Rated Aspect of Weight Loss

If I were asked, "what is the most difficult thing many people find to do when they start a weight-loss program?", I would have to say right near the top of the list is this - they don't drink enough water!

Few people realize at first just how essential water is to the success of their weight-loss program. In fact, the essential place of water in our diet extends to everyone - whether they want to lose weight, gain weight or stay the same weight! We all know we can't live without water, but just why is it so important? Well there are many reasons. Read on and discover why water can help your loss weight and why it is your essential life-force.

Apart from 60-70% of your body being composed of water, water has an extensive range of functions essential to life.

. Assists digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. If you don't drink enough water you can't get the full benefit of nutrients in the food you eat.

. Assists excretion of waste from bowel and kidneys. If you don't drink enough water you get constipated and put your kidneys under stress.

. Regulates body temperature. If you don't drink enough water you compromise the evaporation process you skin uses to keep you cool.

. Your blood is 92% water. This is your body's transport system distributing nutrients around the body.

. Body secretions and digestive juices are almost entirely water.

Why should you drink water when you want to lose weight?

Water is a natural appetite suppressant. Do NOT underestimate the power of this statement. Lack of water can lead to over eating. You brain does not differentiate between hunger and thirst. So, when you think you are feeling hungry, your body may in fact be signaling to you that you are thirsty! If you are not consuming enough water each day and you feel hunger pains, chances are, your body really is crying out for water. In many instances people will find what they thought were hunger pangs were in fact, satisfied by water. Try it! You have nothing to lose, except some weight.

How do you know whether you are drinking enough water each day? Well the answer is not difficult. The average person needs around 6-8 large glasses every day.

Well then, how should you drink the 6-8 glasses per day? The aim is to drink water consistently. If you drink too much all at once or too fast, it will simply pass through you, with little or no benefit to your body.

If you are someone who enjoys the 'taste' of water, then perhaps you could fill a 1 litre empty soft drink container with water the drink through it twice during the day. Room temperature or cold water, even warm as some people like - whatever you prefer. Place it on the desk at work in front of you as a constant reminder to sip continuously throughout the day.

Other people find they need a water 'diet' to help them keep on track. So for you, here is a program easily followed to ensure you are well hydrated every single day.

1. When you wake up you will often be thirsty because your body loses water while you are sleeping through breathing and perspiration. Drink a large glass of water with a slice of lemon for zing.

2. Drink another glass of water with breakfast or a cup of herbal tea before setting off the day.

3. Mid morning - snack on a piece of juicy fruit such as orange, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew. Have a glass of water and perhaps try a dash of herbal aloe juice which is wonderfully soothing to the digestive system.

4. Lunch - think of soup or have a glass of water before your meal, or perhaps a herbal tea.

5. Mid afternoon - While you are preparing your evening meal, drink a glass of water and snack on some crunchy fresh vegetables.

6. Evening - Sip a glass of water before your meal with a dash of your favourite fruit juice for flavour.

7. After dinner - before bedtime drink your final glass of water and sleep well!

A few changes will happen when you start out with your water program. Obviously you may find that you need to 'spend a penny' more often. Why? Because you body isn't used to being well hydrated.

There is absolutely is no doubt about it. When you start drinking enough water regularly, there are great benefits. You may notice your skin significantly improve and even tired muscles will thank you. Many people find their energy is increased and constipation and headaches are reduced, as well as hunger pains.

Now here's the really exciting part…many people notice a reduction in weight and centimetres, as their body's water store become redundant and so decrease. If your diet has been one that did not provide you with adequate water, your body will have developed a pattern of storing water. It's part of the body's in-built survival mechanism - to store up the essential nutrients in short supply…just in case they aren't available in the future. So if you don't drink enough water, you are 'conditioning' your body to store water. And water is bulk and unwanted centimetres.

It's so simple...drink water! 6-8 large glasses a day.

How do you know if you are not getting enough water each day? This is a really important question because so many of us have deprived ourselves of water for years that we have become accustomed to doing without the full amount of water our body requires and we don't recognise the symptoms of thirst.

1. The most common symptom is headaches. A major function of water is to flush toxins from the body. Your brain is 75% water, so even being slightly dehydrated can cause headaches.

2. Poor concentration/fatigue. If you body can't get rid of the toxins it will struggle and you will feel less energetic as your body diverts energy to deal with the toxins.

3. Constipation. Your body will divert water to more essential functions and as a result your stools will be harder and more difficult to expel.

4. Reduced urine output or dark urine. Did you know that up to 200 litres of water is passed through your kidneys daily? Without a fresh supply of water for the kidneys to filter waste products out of the blood, your urine will become darker.

5. Furry tongue or bad breath. If you don't have enough water passing through the mouth to wash away food particles, bacteria can proliferate and result in that 'furry' feeling or bad breath.

6. Skin. Your skin should feel elastic. When you pinch the skin on the back of your hand it should snap back instantly.

Final thoughts. Caffeinated drinks cause the body to lose water. They are what's known as diuretics as they cause your body to dehydrate. You will do your body an enormous favour by cutting back. For every cup of coffee you drink you will need to drink another TWO glasses of water to counter the diuretic effect. Explore the world of herbal teas instead, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A., B.Sc. is a writer for the weight loss, health & fitness website Weight Loss Health. For reliable information and resources free from hype, visit today. Free Weight Loss & Health Information

Ten Ways to Prevent Obesity in Our Families

Children are our future and we as parents need to help them attain their highest potential. If we want to have a strong and healthy future.

Today's diet is high in the simple carbohydrates, sugar and fat. Soft drinks, cakes, candy,and junk food are constantly bombarding our families, it seems to be their daily diet.

Statistics show that heart disease is showing up at a younger age. Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions, asthma is becoming a common occurance. People are beginning to look at these as normal. Well it is far from normal!

A major contributing factor in these diseases is obesity. So what is a parent to do: the first thing we must to is to educate ourselves.

Here are 10 ways to Prevent Obesity

1. Be an example Children learn from their parents, the first thing you as a parent must do is to show your children that you are willing to change.

2. Do a Kitchen Clean-up Get rid of all foods that have refined flour,or sugar in them and replace with whole foods such as whole grains, whole sugars for example raw sugar, honey, or stevia, and foods with as little chemical additives as possible

3. Replace soft drinks, and highly sugared snacks, with healthy alternatives. Be creative. Limit sugar intake to 10% of your daily diet.

4. Limit your dietary fat intake to less than 30% of your total calories, saturated fat should be less than 10%. Avoid all trans fatty acids, such as hydrogenated fats.

5. Exercise, exercise. It doesn't matter what you do. Be it team sports, walking, running, hiking, or tennis. Just get your body moving.

6. Consume at least five daily servings of fresh raw fruits and vegetables,especially dark orange or green vegetables and citrus fruits. Six servings of wholegrains and a least 3-4 calcium-rich foods, and make sure you get plenty of dietary fibre.

7. Try to have 6 small nutrient-dense meals a day, rather than 3 large meals. Do not eat after 8pm. Avoid repeated unsuccessful attempts at weight loss (crash dieting).

8. Include a food supplement, high in vitamins and minerals.

9. Consume at least 2000 calories of high-nutrient foods Select low-nutrient foods periodically, maybe once a week, as a sinday. But your daily diet should consist of high quality foods.

10. Drink at least 6 8oz. glasses of pure, filtered water a day. Water is the best cleanser.

If you follow this advice, you will not only be preventing obesity but will also: improve resistance to colds and infection. reduce risk of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoporosis, increased resistance to stress maintain a feeling of wellbeing, help prevent premature aging increase energy to enjoy life and improve emotional and mental health.

Heidi Zator is dedicated to helping people become educated on family health. Subscribe to her ezine at: http://momfamilyhealth.9f.com

Smoking - Cause and Effect

It's been a number of days since the no-smoking ban has been in place in NYC. Now other states are joining the bandwagon to implement such a change. Many people feel the need and believe it is their right to be in a public place without having to breathe the dangerous, foul-smelling fumes that come from those cancer sticks. Just as there are supporters to the ban, there are supporters against it. Everyone has a right to their opinion and has a right to destroy himself or herself if they choose to smoke. There are also those who have a right not to get sick from breathing that second-hand smoke.

Just why is smoking such a controversial subject? Why was the ban needed to begin with? A little investigation into this habit-forming, self-destructive, addictive ploy on one's health will reveal the truth.

Dangers of smoking

Smoking is dangerous for a number of reasons. People who smoke contracted heart disease, stroke, lung disease, impotence, etc. Why does smoking cause all these ailments? And why do people get hooked so easily?

The leaves of the tobacco plant are picked, dried, chopped up, and rolled into paper tubes. The tubes are then stuck into the mouth, lit, and the poison-laden smoke is taken into the lungs. Each time a person smokes a cigarette, they take an average of five minutes off their life. This is about the same time it takes to smoke the cigarette. Smoking cigarettes causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year.

Nicotine no longer has any medicinal uses. It can act as a stimulant, depressant, or tranquilizer. Tobacco is one of the most physiologically damaging substances used by man. Since nicotine is one of the most addicting drugs in common use, most tobacco users are hooked or locked on to the damaging effects of the tobacco.

Columbus and other early explorers who followed him were amazed to meet the Indians who carried rolls of dried leaves that they set on fire. They then "drank" the smoke as it emerged from the rolls in the fire. Other Indians carried pipes in which they burned the same leaves and "drank" the smoke.

Accordingly, when the sailors returned home they carried abundant supplies of tobacco and seeds with them. They also carried leaves and seeds with them on their subsequent expeditions to other parts of the globe. Within a few decades, the plant had been effectively spread around the world. Settlers in the Americas learned to smoke and tobacco smoking spread through England like wildfire. The demand often exceeded supply and prices rose accordingly.

From those days until today, it is important to note that no country that learned to use tobacco has given up the practice. Even to this day, there has been no substance able to replace tobacco.

Through the centuries since Columbus, countless millions of smokers have tried to stop smoking. Some have succeeded, many others have failed. Among the frequently noted consequences of cessation are compulsive overeating, social discomfort, and depersonalization. Common initial effects are craving for foods, sweating, tremors, and nervousness. It is the nicotine in tobacco that produces that craving.

It is not definitely known why, but it is likely that nicotine affects the parts of the brain called pleasure centers. These are very small areas that are active during pleasant sensations. Smokers seem to give themselves pleasure by taking nicotine into the body where it is passed onto the brain's pleasure centers.

Unfortunately, the feeling of pleasure is very short lived. After smoking, half of the nicotine taken in is gone within half an hour. As the nicotine level drops, the smoker begins to feel worse and a new craving for nicotine is initiated. The body also develops a tolerance to the nicotine. This requires more of it to reach the same levels of satisfaction or pleasure. Herein starts the vicious cycle of need and craving known as addiction.

Today there are more options to stop smoking while slowly reducing the need or craving for the nicotine. Doctor's can now prescribe patches, gums, and a number of alternate therapies to slowly reduce the dependence on the nicotine. It is still not an easy road but holds great potential for many.

Causes of smoking

There are many diseases associated with smoking, lung cancer being number one. Lung cancer is very common. More than 300,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. It is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. It develops most often in scarred or chronically diseased lungs. Over 87% of the cases of lung cancer are attributed to cigarette smoking. Other factors include exposure to asbestos, coal products, iron oxide, ionizing radiation, mustard gas, petroleum, and vinyl chloride.

Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lung start to grow rapidly in an uncontrolled manner. Lung cancer can start anywhere in the lungs and affect any part of the respiratory system. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, and repeated attacks of bronchitis or pneumonia. Lung cancer can quickly spread to the tissues surrounding the lungs, and is often carried to the liver, brain, and bones. Every cigarette you smoke damages your health. Even if you never get heart disease or cancer later in life, each cigarette you smoke affects your health. And you can feel the difference, right now.

So why smoke

Although the point has been made about the dangers of smoking, those who do smoke say it is a civil rights issue. They believe that they have a right to do it even if it does danger their health. Their excuse is, "Well, I'm not hurting anyone but myself. I have a right to do what I please with my body."

Actually that is not completely true. When God created man, he gave a command for us to treat our bodies like a vessel for his glory. We were told to take care of it and maintain it. Unfortunately, there are many godless people today that do not follow such guidance. At the same time that smoking directly affects peoples' health, secondhand smoke is more dangerous because the poisons that come from the burned tobacco leaves is directly inhaled.

Talking about violating the rights of others. This means that when someone is exposed to someone else's smoke, that person is inhaling poison. The person that is breathing in the smoke is being forbidden to breathe clean air that they have a right to. This also is in violation of the person's civil rights.

So where does the line get drawn? Considering that smoking is dangerous and should be outlawed, the option is simple - no one should be allowed to face any situation where another individual damages his or her health.

The sooner the tobacco cartel is shut down, the sooner we can all breathe cleaner air and live happier, healthier lives.

Harry is an author, freelance writer, and computer expert. His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web content, DTP, editing, and technical writing. His computer work includes installation, setup, and troubleshooting computer systems. His credits include articles for Internet Day, Internet World, Advertising Today, Advertising Age, L-Advertising, Computer Edge, and a host of others.

Harry has developed several courses including Achieving Successful Copywriting Results in Four Weeks, How to Find Legitimate Home Employment, Working at Home, and How to Start and Run a Business on the Internet.

Harry is author of Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks and How to Write Your Way to Millions. You can check out his samples and what he offers at his site by going to www.writeformedia.com or www.articleplanet.com.

Lower Cholesterol Levels Are Critical To Good Health

Can any man really lower his cholesterol?

Lower cholesterol levels should be a health concern of every man.

Heart disease is the number one killer among so-called healthy men in Western world today. More than 40% of men will die from it.

What is particularly disturbing is that strokes and heart attacks are becoming much more common in younger men.

It seems that younger men, even those who look physically like they are in good health, are dying because they can't lower cholesterol levels.

Even if a man seems healthy and follows good eating and exercising habits there's no guarantee that he'll have lower cholesterol levels.

There're so many misconceptions when it comes to trying to lower cholesterol. That's why we are here to present you with the accurate, concise and unbiased information on what it really takes to lower cholesterol.

Witness the unfortunate death of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile, who was felled in his prime, only 33 years old.

Although it seems counterintuitive, athletes, in fact, can be even more vulnerable than the average person and have a tougher time when it comes to trying to lower cholesterol.

When a man, in good health or not, engages in vigorous exercise he'll create an excess of free radicals. These free radicals cause tremendous amounts of damage to the body with devastating effects, one of which is elevating their cholesterol.

But taking a powerful antioxidant will help neutralize these free radicals before damage occurs. Nowadays, due to lifestyles, diet, and the deeper understanding in the role that genetics plays, every man young or old should be acutely aware of the importance of trying to lower cholesterol to an optimum level.

High cholesterol is considered the best "marker" for potential heart disease and it is a condition that 1 in 4 men have.

In order to prevent future problems, it is widely recommended that you check your cholesterol levels, and if they are "out of line," take action to lower cholesterol - irrespective of your age.

Are You At Risk If You Don't Take An Active Role To Lower Your Cholesterol?

A common misconception is that people with high cholesterol are overweight or subsist on a diet of greasy burgers and fries. The truth is that the amount of cholesterol you have in your bloodstream is NOT directly related to your diet.

Another prevailing and incorrect view concerning lower cholesterol, is that only older people need worry about their cholesterol levels. The reality is that having a predisposition to high cholesterol and heart disease are genetically influenced factors.

High cholesterol levels can stalk even young men who are in seemingly good shape and otherwise take care of themselves.

Indeed, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute advocates that the young, middle-aged, and older men lower cholesterol levels, whether it be to prevent heart disease, or because they already have it.

Therefore it's important to know your family history and, accordingly, take the necessary preventative steps to lower cholesterol and ensure the health of your heart for many years to come.

But what exactly is this "silent killer" known as cholesterol?

It is important to understand that cholesterol itself is essential to good health.

Cholesterol is a non-soluble waxy substance that your body needs for making hormones, cell walls and nerve sheaths.

However, there are two forms of cholesterol. One form is called LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) -- or the "bad" cholesterol -- and the other is HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) -- or the "good" cholesterol.

LDL transports the cholesterol to your cells, whereas HDL travels around in your bloodstream picking up excess cholesterol and taking it back to your liver for reprocessing, functioning as a "garbage collector" of sorts.

Too much LDL creates the risk of clogging up your arteries, which can lead to heart failure or stroke; too little HDL will result in the same problem due to inadequate "housekeeping."

Therefore, the most important figure to examine is not your total cholesterol per se, but the ratio between the LDL and HDL readings, and the levels of each type. You want the LDL as low as possible and the HDL as high as possible.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that everyone over 20 have their cholesterol checked every five years. For optimal health, total cholesterol should be less than 200, whereas the LDL cholesterol remains at less than 100, and the HDL greater than 60.

For more information on how to lower your cholesterol please visit:

http://www.man-health-fitness-solutions.com/lower-cholesterol.html

Women and a Healthy Heart

Exercise Regularly

Exercise 3 times a week for cardiovascular fitness and daily for weight control. (Check with your healthcare practitioner before starting any exercise program).

Aim for at least 30 minutes a day or two 15-minute periods of exercise.

To maximize health benefits, make exercise a part of your daily routine.

Do warms-up and cool-down exercises to help prevent muscle injury.

Eat Sensibly

Eat a wide variety of food in moderation and follow the food Guide Pyramid for portion size.

Use Nutrition Facts Label as an aid for healthful choices. Limit total fat. Limit saturated fat. Limit hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat.

Replace unhealthy fats with healthy monounsaturated fats like olive, canola and peanut oils.

Eat at least one fish meal a week. Cold water fish contain health omega-3 oils.

Drink 8 glasses of water every day.

Maintain a healthy weight. Don't crash diet.

Manage Stress

Stress is a normal part of life how you deal with it can have an affect on your heart.

Schedule "me" time to do the things that give you pleasure.

Devote an hour a day to relaxing. Take a walk, do yoga stretches. Try needlepoint...any activity that promotes relaxation.

Practice mindfulness to help control reactions to stress.

Get a good night's sleep.

Allow others to help with daily chores.

Control High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure often has no symptoms - that's why it's called The Silent Killer.

Take medication exactly as prescribed.

Monitor high blood pressure regularly. Ask your doctor about blood pressure self-monitoring.

Be aware of Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure:

Heredity Race (twice as frequent in African-Americans than Whites) Obesity (2-6 times more likely to develop) Age (risk goes up as you get older) Salt Intake (limit if salt-sensitive) Excess Alcohol Intake Lack of Exercise Stress

Avoid Potential Problems

Don't Smoke

Control Diabetic blood sugars.

Avoid drugs that contribute to heart rhythm disturbances.

Reduce risk of drugs interactions by letting all of your doctors know about every medicine you are taking - even over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbals and birth control pills.

Have Healthy Relationships Intimacy, trust and feeling supported are ingredients of a healthy relationship. Share your feelings with a trusted loved one. learn to communicate effectively to get what you need. Seek counseling or support groups if you have difficulty relating to others.

Be clear when reporting health concerns to your medical practitioner. Organize your information before your visit to the doctor or practitioner's office.

Remain active in your role as caregiver. Share yourself. Volunteer.

Article by DAVID GRISAFFI

A Fungus That's No Fun

Nail fungus, unsightly patches of discolored, deteriorating keratin caused by a microbal plant, is a tough condition to treat. Onychomycosis, as the infection is termed, can resist even the most potent of systemic antibiotics.

People are more prone to get this infection as they age, and it can be spread, for example, by the common use of manicure tools.

Nail fungus can effect the fingernails, but the damp, dark conditions surrounding the feet make toenails a better host for this parasitic growth by a margin of 4 to 1.

In the past, drugs such as Griseofulvin and Ketoconazole were sometimes successful in eliminating the condition, but not without side effects.

More recently, synthetics like Sporanox and Lamisil have been used.

Lamisil, probably the most heavily promoted, seems to be the toxin of choice within the medical community.

Because nail fungus is extremely resistant to treatment, Novartis, the maker of Lamisil -- generically terbinafine -- recommends 1 - 250mg tablet per day for 6 or 12 weeks, with 6 weeks for fingernails and 12 weeks for the harder to treat toenails.

This regimen is not without risk or side effects, including liver damage, and not guaranteed to solve the problem. The condition can reappear within a year.

It's also not without cost.

Depending on whether it comes in 14, 28 or 42 day doses, the cost of Lamisil can range anywhere from about $450 to $500, not including office visits and tests to monitor the liver's reaction to the drug.

Is there an alternative?

Yes.

Naturopaths and some MD's will suggest using Tea Tree Oil.

Steam distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternafolia, a shrub like plant native to Australia whose healing properties have been long known to its aboriginal tribes, Tea Tree Oil has strong antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

For nail fungus, the pure oil is applied to the affected nails 2 to 3 times a day until the new nail has completely grown out. This can mean about 6 months for fingernails and 12 months for the slower growing toenails. Some users remove loose material from under the nails and others have reported using a nail file or emery board to sand down the surface of the nail for better penetration to the nailbed.

100% Australian Tea Tree Oil can be found in health food stores. The cost is approximately $10-$15 for a half-ounce bottle, and it's safe to use.

Till next time, Lawrence Stepanowicz, ND

Reprinted from Practical Health. For a free subscription and a free copy of "Lessons From The Miracle Doctors" visit http://practicalhealth.net

5 Powerful Steps To Quitting Any Addiction

Are you looking for a great way to stop an addiction? Addictions can be very stressful and even dangerous depending on the type of person you are. What a lot of people do not realize, is that an expensive professional may not be the answer. This article will show you a few simple steps to conquering almost any addiction.

1) Make Sure You Have a Few Positive Reinforcements.

Quitting a long term habit is hard enough. Not having any support or positive influences makes it extra difficult. If you are trying to quit smoking or stop drinking alcohol, hanging out with friends who smoke or drink is not recommended. Let them know it is nothing personal, but being around them right now is not very beneficial to you. Find new places to go, and new things to do in order to avoid smelling the cigarette smoke or being around the alcohol.

2) Be Sure to Reward Yourself Every Once in a While.

If you have gone a day without smoking or gulping a beer, treat yourself to something healthy. Buy yourself that expensive item you have been looking at for months. If overeating or junk food is not your addiction, buy yourself an ice cream cone, or a banana split! A new electronic or book is also a small but symbolic gift which says you are doing well, and you deserve to be commended. Whatever you do, try not to overdo the rewards or it can really hurt your progression.

3) Try to Find a Healthy Addiction.

If you are going to give up smoking, junk food, or tobacco, there are things you can substitute for them that will make quitting easier. Sugar free gum and candy is the perfect substitute for a cigarette, pipe or cigar. It lacks the nicotine, but serves a specific purpose and seems to help many people. Also, if junk food is your addiction, keep fresh popcorn on hand to pop in a microwave popper without oil. Studies have found that humans get a lot of their craving for food satisfied by eating things that crunch. People quitting alcohol can keep club soda or carbonated flavored drinks on hand. They allow you to drink something, and they are a good alternative at parties.

4) Make Sure You are Doing This for "You" First.

Self motivation is vital for quitting any addiction. Do not start trying to quit an addiction because someone else wants you to do it. You must be at a place where you want to quit for yourself. Without this self motivation, quitting will be significantly harder and end up being very short term. You must find that something deep down inside of you in order to truly get rid of your addiction.

5) Take it One Day at a Time.

This is the one step that most people really hate and often times overlook. You must take your quitting session one day at a time. As with almost anything in life, it takes time. If you rush and fail, not only will you temporarily have "quit", but the chance of you obtaining that addiction again will skyrocket. This is not something that goes away overnight. Be prepared to invest a couple weeks to a few months into this.

Always remember to speak with your doctor before doing following any program. Good luck and be patient for the best chance of fully quitting.

For more information visit these two websites: Addiction Counseling and Insurance Information. You can get more information on different types of addictions as well as insurance programs. You can also get information on human psychology by visiting this website: Psychology Research.

Fruits and Veggies Consumption Could Cut Stroke Risk

The benefits of fruits and veggies consumption are all too well known. Fruit and vegetables are full of fiber, plus a whole range of vitamins and minerals. They also make an important and healthy part of any diet because they are quite low in calories.

Many scientific studies have reported that people who eat a lot of fruit and veggies may have a lower risk of getting illnesses.By consequence, the specialists recommend an intake of at least five portions of fruit or vegetables per person per day. This is to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer and some other malignant conditions, heart disease and many other chronic disorders. By a portion they mean an amount of 80gr.

A recent study based on data on more than 257,500 people from Europe, Japan and the US has concluded that consumption of more than the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can cut risk of stroke as well.

Very important is that study observations revealed that people who ate three to five portions cut the risk by 11 percent compared to those eating fewer than three. The explanation is very simple. By increasing from three to to five servings a day, people would increase the potassium intake by about 50 percent, and this mineral is suspected to be the most important factor in preventing stroke.

Valerian D is a freelance writer interested in health affecting men and women as well such as wrinkles removal and  prostate cancer treatment. He is a freelance writer specialized in issues affecting men health

What is the Surest and Simplest Way to Lose Weight?

You was downright obsessed with your weight for a long time. And like most dieters, you tried everything - low calorie, starvation, the liquid fasts, ephedra, Atkins, South Beach...you name it, you've probably tried it. Every body knows that those extra pounds spell illness.

10% of your daily caloric intake is used to process foods in your body. It is more about staying fit and remaining healthy to ensure a long, disease free life. Don't confuse WEIGHT loss with FAT loss! You just have to choose the right foods, make exercise a part of your lifestyle and to have a positive attitude. And keep in mind that ALL you eating should be a pleasure.

Tips and recommendations for an easy and successful weight loss method that is largely ignored by the vast majority of people...

- Set a goal. Figure out how fast you can do it, then create a plan to increase your vitality. Incorporating exercise and good nutrition into your daily routine.

- Don't make too many changes at once. Start with small changes. Check your weight before you start your diet and keep checking for changes but do not expect a radical change immediately, it might be one or two weeks before you notice some change. However it is crucial that you continue to monitor your weight.

- Start your day with a glass of water. Water is not just way to flush out toxin but if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and and fitter. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all.

- Include in your diet things that contain more water like tomatoes and watermelons. These things contain 90 to 95 % water so that there is nothing that you have to lose by feasting on them.

- Learn about the nutrients contained in the foods you eat. Provide the body with all the essential nutrients for a long and healthful life.

- Eat small portions, about 5 or 6 times each day... Don't skip breakfast and Don't eat anything for at least an hour before going to bed. This helps keep your metabolic rate high, and helps you lose weight naturally.

- Avoid wasting calories on alcoholic beverages. The average alcoholic drink contains 150-200 calories per glass.

- Lose or gain weight because you want to and not to please others.

- Don't expect immediate results... Your results will come in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put in.

- Avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white sugar. Each time you consume something sweet understand that it is going to add on somewhere.

- Go easy on salt, as too much salt is one of the causes of obesity. Make it a point to really cut down on salt.

- Choose fruits, vegetables or whole-grain products. When you eat fruit, you are taking in a lot of fiber, which is needed by the body, and fruits of course are an excellent source of vitamins. So try to include in your diet as many fruits and vegetables as you can.

- Challenge yourself to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Try to eat your vegetables raw. When you cook them, you are in fact taking away nearly half the vitamins in them.

- Exercise is the best way to keep obesity, hypertension and all those lifestyle-related disorders under control. Exercise and positive attitude are the only things you need to lose fat permanently... In order to stay fit you need exercise and in order to exercise you need to be fit.

- Try and follow an exercise routine that is suitable for you. And try to get somebody to exercise along with you. One of the advantages of getting a committed person t exercise with you is that it keeps you going.

- You must to learn: WHAT to eat, WHEN to eat it, HOW to manipulate your calories so that you're constantly losing weight.

- Celebrate each small success and keep in mind every small step in the right direction is bringing you closer mand closer to your main target. The rule to be followed is slow and steady wins the race.

Below I have included a table of the various exercises and the number of calories that can be burnt with each exercise. Choose what you can do best and try to do whatever you wish to do for at least twenty minutes.

· Aerobics ==> 200-250 calories

· Bicycling, Stationary ==> 250-300 calories

· Bicycling, Actual ==> 300-400 calories

· Running, 5-6 mph ==> 300-350 calories

· Stair climber ==> 200-250 calories

· Swimming laps ==> 350 calories

· Walking briskly ==> 150-180 calories

Eat intelligently. The difference between man and beast is that we are driven by intelligence while beasts are driven by instinct. Don't just eat something because you feel like eating it. Don't think diet, just eat and lose weight! And Think Like a Winner!

The article offered here is submitted as information only and not to be used for the treatment of injury or disease. If you have an injury or think you may have a disease of any type see your healthcare professional immediately.

Copyright © Anne-Marie Ronsen

You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are included.

Anne-Marie Ronsen is the author of many wealth and self development books. Download free software or free ebooks. You can have access to free premium content, manual website submission or free ecourses... You will learn about the best tips and recommendations to improve your health, weight and wealth. You'll also discover how you can get a top position that will mean loads of traffic, recognition and sales for you and your business.

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Falling Asleep and Staying Asleep - How Much Sleep Do You Need?

Having trouble sleeping? You are not alone. Although number vary, studies show that at least 45 million Americans have trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, or have other disorders involving their sleep.

If you ask people about getting a good night’s rest almost everyone has a tip or trick to share. Here are some of the ways and reasons that are the most popular in this area:

• If you take a nap you won’t be able to fall asleep later that night. Depending on how much sleep you are getting and how much you need; a nap can be a good way to feel better for the rest of the day and evening.
  
• Don’t drink or eat anything with caffeine in it after 4 or 5 in the afternoon. This is probably good advice overall. Caffeine can be a stimulant that refuses to allow you to go to sleep. Many people are counteracting the caffeine with alcohol or sleeping pills and that can be a recipe for disaster.
  
• Don’t watch television in your bedroom. Supposedly we associate television with being wide awake so having a television set in your bedroom can keep you from keeping to your routine. Others say that the television, when on at a low volume, may be helpful when trying to go to sleep.
  
• Listening to soft or classical music will help you fall asleep faster and easier. Again, this depends on the individual and you have to experiment with what works for you.

Another thing to consider is what you are used to. If you have always slept for a certain number of hours that may be what is right for your body. One way to test how much sleep you need is to wait until you are on vacation or away from a full time job. Do what you regularly do, keeping to your normal schedule, and fall asleep when you are ready. Do not set an alarm clock or ask anyone to wake you up in the morning. See what time you naturally awaken. Do this for three or four days and will know how much sleep you need.

It is also a fallacy that people need less sleep as they get older; again, that is an individual matter. If you are ill or depressed, your sleep patterns and requirements will change. Check with your doctor if you think there might be a problem. There are almost one hundred sleep disorders that cause problems and disrupt natural sleep patterns. In addition, you may have trouble sleeping if you are worried or excited about situations in your life.

See how you feel each day. If you are tired during the day or suffer from headaches, you may be suffering the effects of sleep disorder. Exercising moderately every day and eating fresh healthy foods may also be a help with getting to sleep, staying asleep, and feeling well rested throughout the day.

Connie Ragen Green is a motivatinal speaker and writer. Visit her at http://greenhouse.typepad.com/connie_ragen_green

Are Healthy Eating and Regular Exercise Mission Impossible?

Today, there are plenty of weight-loss strategies that are guaranteed to backfire. And, each and everyone's body metabolism reacts differently to different fast weight loss programs and plans.

Weight loss depends on the condition of the person which includes weight, health, calorie-intake, age, gender, lifestyle, stress level and routine. There is no better time to start losing weight. If you want to really lose those excess fats, you have to lose weight now.

You may improve your health and have a physically fit body by getting into rapid Weight Loss diet. This is the best way for you to have a stronger body and gain confidence. And can help you to be at your best fighting form as well.

Here are some guidelines from the experts in choosing weight loss plans and goals.

1. Set realistic approaches. What is important is to be precise on your goals. The ability to focus and have proper mindset enables someone on a diet to quickly lose those extra pounds. With discipline and proper mind set, a dieter will never be discouraged and lose focus.

2. Develop a strategy - Strength of will does not work alone! To lose weight and stay with it, your strategy must comprise of both exercise and diet, and not either of the two.

3. Be realistic - Most people's long-term weight loss plans are more ambitious than they have to be.

4. Eat small, healthy meals frequently. Five small-serving snacks per day is better than three hearty meals. Eating more frequently, and in small servings, can prevent over-eating. This will also increase your metabolism and make calories burn faster.

5. Keep a note of everything that you eat and drink. You do not need to estimate calories. Just write down what it was that you had and the approximate quantity. You will find that being more aware of what you are eating helps you to plan healthy meals and snacks.

6. Focus on doing, not losing - Rather than saying that you are going to lose a pound this week, say how much you are going to exercise this week. This would definitely make up of a sensible weight loss plan.

7. Build bit by bit - Short-term weight loss plans should not be "pie-in-the-sky." This means that when you have never exercised at all, your best weight loss plan for this week should be based on finding three different one-mile routes that you can walk next week.

8. Keep up the self-encouragement - An all-or-nothing attitude only sets you up to fail. Learn to evaluate your efforts fairly and objectively. If you fall short of some goals, just look ahead to next week. You do not need to have a perfect record. After all, self-encouragement should definitely be a part of your weight loss plans. Otherwise, you will just fail in the end.

9. Limit treats containing sugar to three times per week. This includes chocolate, ice cream, desserts, cake, pastries, cookies, etc.

10. Include a lower fat source of protein at most meals: chicken, fish, beans, cottage cheese, or low fat yogurt. Have eggs, nuts and red meat occasionally but not every day.

11. Plan at least one lunch and dinner every week without meat or cheese. Build those meals around whole grains, vegetables and beans to increase fiber and reduce fat.

12. Reduce the fat content in your milk products. If you are currently drinking whole milk, reduce to 2% fat. From 2% reduce to 1%. Choose lower fat cheese and yogurt. When you buy yogurt, also check that it does not contain sugar.

13. Have at least two servings of fruit every day. This can be for dessert or snacks. Choose fruit that is in season.

14. Drink water instead of sodas, juices, milky drinks or alcohol. Avoid diet soda - the sweet taste only encourages you to crave sugar. Hot water with a slice of lemon can be very refreshing in the morning.

15. Include at least two servings of vegetables at lunch and dinner. If you are getting hungry, have more.

16. Eat slowly. The body is slow to register when you are full and it is easy to eat too much if you are racing through your meals.

17. Use whole grains wherever possible. The fiber will give you a fuller feeling and also help your digestion.

18. Engaging in Aerobics - Aerobics are not only good for the heart by increasing cardio-vascular endurance. Aerobics also help in increasing lean muscle mass while simultaneously decreasing excess body fat. Aside from these, aerobics make the metebolic process more efficient and its rate high, even after a long while.

19. Staying Motivated to Exercise - Exercise is always a do-it-yourself venture. No other person and no machine can do it for you.There are many reasons in order to keep you motivated to exercise and stay healthy for the rest of your life.Get as much exercise as you can that feels good without letting it interfere with your work or family life. If you need to, remind yourself that you are preventing many health problems when you prevent weight gain; and keeping your health is a gift to your family as well as yourself.

20. Always switch off the TV when you eat. That includes snacks as well as meals. Studies have proved that we eat larger portions in front of the TV, probably because we are much less aware of what we are eating. When you eat, only eat if you want to lose weight fast.

Healthy Eating, Regular Exercise and positive attitude are the only things you need to lose fat permanently.

Remember, if you want to lose weight naturally, you have to keep track of every food you eat and of every activity that you do. Eat healthy, drink lots of water, have enough sleep and exercise. This will give you a higher chance of losing weight and improving your health, which would result to a new, healthier you.


The article offered here is submitted as information only and not to be used for the treatment of injury or disease. If you have an injury or think you may have a disease of any type see your healthcare professional immediately.

Use the Best-Kept and Best-Selling Collection of EFFECTIVE DIETS & FITNESS eBOOKS to Build a Healthy and Fit Body, Reduce Your Stress, and Bring Lost Opportunities Back to Life...


Copyright © Anne-Marie Ronsen

How To Lose Weight Fast?

Tips and recommendations for successful of any diet

- Set a goal. Figure out how fast you can do it, then create a plan to increase your vitality. Incorporating exercise and good nutrition into your daily routine.

- Don’t make too many changes at once. Start with small changes.

- Keep in mind that ALL you eating should be a pleasure.

- Learn about the nutrients contained in the foods you eat. Provide the body with all the essential nutrients for a long and healthful life.

- Drink plenty of water per day and Avoid wasting calories on alcoholic beverages. The average alcoholic drink contains 150-200 calories per glass.

- Lose or gain weight because you want to and not to please others.

- Don’t expect immediate results… Your results will come in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put in.

- Eat small portions, about 5 or 6 times each day… Don’t skip breakfast and Don’t eat anything for at least an hour before going to bed. This helps keep your metabolic rate high, and helps you lose weight naturally.

- Avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white sugar.

- Choose fruits, vegetables or whole-grain products.

- Challenge yourself to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

- Exercise and positive attitude are the only things you need to lose fat permanently… Think how lovely and healthy your body is becoming day after day as a result of your new eating habits.

- Celebrate each small success and Keep in mind every small step in the right direction is bringing you closer mand closer to your main target.

- Don't confuse WEIGHT loss with FAT loss! Don't think diet, just eat and lose weight!. And Think Like a Winner!

Use the Best-Kept and Best-Selling Collection of EFFECTIVE DIETS & FITNESS eBOOKS to Build a Healthy and Fit Body, Reduce Your Stress, and Bring Lost Opportunities Back to Life, now: http://www.e-bestsellers.com/gpage8.html

Please note the above is intended for your reference only. While the information is based on material provided by various researchers, it does not presume to give medical advice. Please check with you doctor before starting any diet.

Copyright © Anne-Marie Ronsen

You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are included.
About the Author: Anne-Marie Ronsen is the author of many wealth and self development books. Download FREE e-books from http://www.e-bestsellers.com, http://www.plrbestsellers.com or http://www.universalpublishingltd.com -Discover FREE

How To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes And Insulin Resistance In 5 Simple Steps

In my last article about diabetes, I explained which tests you need to determine whether you’ve got diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Now I’m going to share with you my top advice for preventing -- and reversing -- these conditions.

Eating Well

The foods you eat can have huge effects on your health. Eating the right foods will balance your blood sugar, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and improve liver detoxification -- all of which help prevent and reverse insulin resistance and diabetes.

In general, you should follow a whole-foods diet that contains plenty of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying foods.

Here are more details.

When to Eat:

•Eat protein for breakfast every day

•Eat something every 4 hours to balance blood sugar

•Eat small protein snacks in the morning and afternoon

•Finish eating at least 2 to 3 hours before bed

How to Eat:

•Control the glycemic load of your meals by combining protein, fats, and whole-food carbohydrates at every meal or snack

What to Eat:

•Organic produce and animal products

•High-quality protein, such as fish and shellfish

•Cold-water fish such as salmon, halibut, and sable, which contain omega-3 oils that reduce inflammation

•Up to eight omega-3 eggs a week

•Low-glycemic legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans

•Fresh fruits (berries, cherries, peaches, plums, rhubarb, pears, and apples are optimal) and vegetables (including low-glycemic vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, kale, spinach, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts)

•Detoxifying foods such as cruciferous vegetables, green tea, watercress, dandelion greens, cilantro, artichokes, garlic, citrus peels, pomegranate, and even cocoa

•Herbs such as rosemary, ginger, and turmeric

•Garlic and onions

•30 to 50 grams of fiber a day, especially soluble or viscous fiber (legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit)

•Extra-virgin olive oil

•Soy products such as soymilk, soybeans, and tofu

•Nuts and seeds, including raw walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, and pumpkin and flax seeds

•Chocolate that contains 70 percent cocoa (up to 2 to 3 ounces a day)

What Not to Eat:

•All processed or junk foods

•Foods containing refined white flour and sugar, such as breads, cereals (cornflakes, Frosted Flakes, puffed wheat, and sweetened granola), flour-based pastas, bagels, and pastries

•All foods containing high-fructose corn syrup

•All artificial sweeteners and caffeine

•Starchy, high-glycemic cooked vegetables, such as potatoes, corn, and root vegetables such as rutabagas, parsnips, and turnips

•Processed fruit juices

•Processed canned vegetables

•Foods containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils

•Processed oils such as corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut, and canola

•Red meats (unless organic or grass-fed) and organ meats

•Large predatory fish and river fish, which contain mercury and other contaminants in unacceptable amounts

•Dairy

•No more than 3 glasses of red wine per week

Keep Moving

By targeting belly fat, regular exercise can improve insulin sensitivity, prevent and even reverse diabetes, and reduce the risk of complications.

Start with 30 minutes of walking every day. You may need to do sustained aerobic exercise for up to an hour 5 to 6 times a week to control full-blown diabetes. Add interval training (described in UltraMetabolism) and strength training to improve metabolism even more.

Supplements

I recommend a number of different supplements for insulin resistance and diabetes, depending on the severity of the problem:

1.A multivitamin and mineral.

2.Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D.

3.Fish oil (1,000 to 4,000 mg)

4.Chromium (500 to 1,000 mcg day)

5.Antioxidants (such as vitamins C and E)

6.Extra vitamin B6 (50 to 150 mg a day) and B12 (1,000 to 3,000 mcg) to protect against diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage.

7.Biotin (2,000 to 4,000 mcg a day)

8.Alpha-lipoic acid (300 mg twice a day)

9.Evening primrose oil (500 to 1,000 mg twice a day)

10.One to two 500 mg tablets of cinnamon twice a day

11.Other herbs and supplements that can be helpful include green tea, ginseng, bitter melon, gymnema, bilberry, ginkgo, onions, and garlic

12.Banaba leaf (Lagerstroemia speciosa); 24 mg twice a day

13.Konjac fiber, four capsules 10 minutes before meals with a glass of water

Stress Management

Stress triggers insulin resistance, promotes belly fat, increases inflammation, and can cause diabetes. Practice relaxation techniques, like yoga, breathing, and meditation, regularly.

Medications

A number of medications may be helpful for diabetes. The main classes include:

•Biguanides, especially metformin (Glucophage). They can help improve insulin sensitivity.

•Thiazolidinediones, including rosiglutazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos). They can help increase insulin sensitivity but can cause weight gain and liver damage.

•Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which include acarbose and miglitol, can help lower the absorption of sugar and carbohydrates in the intestines.

Older medications include sulfonylureas include glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride. I don’t recommend them: They only reduce your sugar temporarily and actually worsen diabetes over time. Plus, they increase the risk of heart attacks.

Insulin is your last resort and can cause weight gain and increased cholesterol and blood pressure. Many patients can get off insulin entirely if they are treated early and aggressively with lifestyle changes.

Remember, diabetes is completely preventable and often reversible.

And you don’t need to limit your efforts to medication or insulin. Start making the lifestyle changes I’ve described here, and you should see quick and dramatic results.

About the Author: Mark Hyman, MD is a pioneer in functional medicine, practicing physician and best-selling author. A sneak preview of his book "The UltraSimple Diet" is available. See The UltraWellness Blog for more on Testing for Insulin Resistance

Organic Vitamin E And Vitality

Vitamin E: What is it? Eight molecules known as tocopherols are the components that make Vitamin E. The most biologically active amongst them are Alpha-Tocoperols and these molecules are indeed the most efficient in terms of the benefits they bring to the body.

Our body can absorb it with ease as it is fat soluble. It is also more stable and does not evaporates even when foods in which it is found is cooked.

The U.S. FAD (Recommended Daily Allowance) for Vitamin E is set at 8-10 milligrams per day (or about 15 IU) whilst certain experts advocate an intake of upwards of 1,000 milligrams for daily intake. (Dr William Shute for example, in The Complete Book of Vitamins recommends 800 to 1600 IU as a way to prevent devastating vascular damage and arterial degeneration in diabetes.

Vitamin E:

What is it for? VitaminE is an active player in the prevention of cell damage that often times can lead to cardiovascular disease and even cancer. It does so by preventing damaging effects of free radicals. A new survey from Yale University shows that Low levels of Vitamin E are thought to be linked with greater physical decline in older people.

Vitamin E and Diabetes:

Vitamin E as a treatment for diabetes has been found in a research lead by Swedish scientists. They recommend a daily intake of vitamin E of 200 IU spamming 2 weekly periods. The study showed that vitamin E can help decrease the requirements of insulin in patients suffering from diabetes. Breast Cancer and Vitamin E: In spite of radical advancements in various therapies, more women than ever are now being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. One method considered as a means to reduce the risk of developing this disease is the intake in proper form of vitamin E. This approach is supported by a study which shows that women with low levels of vitamin E are twice more likely to contract the disease than women who take the minimum daily requirement. The good news is that some of the food we eat is indeed a good source of vitamin E

There two classes of Vitamin E:

Tocopherol, the form usually found in supplements
Tocotrienol, found in food. For example palm oil .

Foods rich in Vitamin E are:

Oils: vegetable oils such as sunflower, palm oil, soybean, corn, and of course olive oil. Good sources of vitamin e are margarine, egg yolk, cheddar, parmesan, soya beans, chickpeas, olives, avocados, parsnips, carrots, tomatoes, red peppers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, and watercress. Other sources can be found in goats milk, fish, whole grains,cereal germ and wheat, whole grain products,oatmeal, fruits, peanut butter, milk, vegetables and all whole raw or sprouted seeds. Whilst it is always better to try in provide your body with the "real thing" it is important to remember that there are organic nutritional supplements, which are a good source of the vitamin E not found in your foods.

Vitamin E supplements and all Dietary supplements are measured in international units (IU) .

So where does the world "Vitamin come from" anyway?

In 1887, Dr. Eijkman was in Indonesia to conduct research on the beriberi disease. He realized that there was a difference between the consumption of refined rice (which lead to more cases of the disease) as opposed to crudely milled rice (which did not). Years later(1911), Dr. Cacimir referred to his colleagues findings as "vita amine" to describe the compound that constitute the rice in its un-refined nature. Over time the two words were joined as "vitamine" and eventually the trailing "e" was removed.

About the Author: VitaMan writes about health topics in http://www.vitaspecial.com, a website completely devoted to ORGANIC VITAMINS and information.

Bitter Medicine: Pills, Profit and the Public Health

Peter Jennings - ...Dr. Drummond Rennie is an editor at The Journal of the American Medical Association. He says researchers who are critical get attacked all the time. Do you actually believe, Dr. Rennie, that drug companies are intent on keeping the consumer on drugs, which are not as good as older drugs, for the simple requirement of profit?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes. Yes, very much so. Absolutely. ....They've got to be prevented.

Peter Jennings - ... The top 10 drug companies combined made profits of more than $37 billion in the year 2001. And you, the taxpayer, are subsidizing research that benefits the drug industry.

...Nancy Chockley runs an institute funded by managed care organizations...

Nancy Chockley - What we found is that over the last 12 years, that there's really been a shift in the type of new drugs being approved by the FDA. And that we found that most of the growth was really in drugs that did not show any significant clinical improvement.

Peter Jennings - Eighty percent of the drugs which the FDA approves are not significantly different from the ones on the market already, and only 20 percent of the drugs are significantly new. Do you think the public even knows that? ...We're spending more on prescription drugs than we did in 1995. And the majority of the drugs approved by the FDA are simply modifications of old drugs...Consumers spend $90 billion more on prescription drugs last year than was spent just six years ago. And are we $90 billion healthier? ...But what critics call this 'gaming of the system' may have a much more damaging result.

Dr. Sharon Levine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group - If I'm a manufacturer, and I can change one molecule and get another 20 years of patent life and convince physicians to prescribe and consumers to demand ... then why would I be spending money on a lot less certain endeavor, which is looking for brand new drugs?

Peter Jennings - The pharmaceutical industry has more registered lobbyists than the number of senators and congressmen combined.

Dr. Jerry Avorn, Brigham and Women's Hospital - I think there's a sense that, for example, when the FDA approves a drug, everything that needs to be known about it is known. I think patients believe that. I think doctors sometimes believe that. And that is not true.

Peter Jennings - How do you explain the overwhelming success of these drugs in a very short period of time?

Dr. Sharon Levine - I think the only explanation is the amount of money, the amount of time and energy that was put into promoting these drugs to doctors and advertising these drugs to consumers.

Peter Jennings - You see television ads like this all the time, including many on ABC News programs. They are part of the drug industry's $15 billion effort to get you to ask for particular drugs and to get doctors to prescribe those particular drugs. ...The drug companies spend vast amounts of money - nearly $3 billion selling to consumers, $5 billion marketing to doctors, $8 billion worth of free samples. ...Doesn't it make sense for the drug companies to at least educate the doctors about the prescription drugs that are available?

Dr. Marcia Angell - Well, that's not their business, education. Drug companies are not in the education business. Medical schools and teaching hospitals are. It's like expecting beer companies to educate people about alcoholism. It is not what they do.

Dr. Matt Handley, Group Health Cooperative - It's almost like a trade. You might not have the stomach problem, but the studies suggest you might, instead, be equally likely to have a more serious heart problem. ...I would personally wait years for long-term safety from the FDA's monitoring program before I'd consider taking them. If they were free, I would do that same thing.

Peter Jennings - What does this say about the social responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry? Or is the pharmaceutical industry supposed to have a social responsibility?

Dr. Sharon Levine - That's a very good question that the American people need to answer, do we want to entrust critical elements of the public health to an industry whose purpose, whose mission is to earn return for shareholders?

Peter Jennings - Congress has never required the FDA to routinely compare new drugs with older drugs. This is costing consumers billions of dollars that we do not need to spend. And in some cases, it could be costing lives. ...There is no law that says new drugs have to be proven 100 percent safe. ... The government says they must be relatively safe, which means that every drug comes with risks. And the result of that is that sometimes new drugs turn out to be more dangerous than old drugs.

Dr. Jerry Avorn, Harvard Medical School - If patients were aware of the limitations that all of us physicians have in terms of what we know and what we wish we know and what we don't know, they would be more scared than they are at present. ...The saying that a lot of doctors use sometimes in jest is, 'Always wait a year before prescribing a new drug. And if it's for a family member, wait five years.' And that's an awful thing to say, but it reveals a perception that we really don't know as much as we would like to know about a drug until it's been around.

Peter Jennings - The fact is, drugs can be used for years before we really know how safe they are. ...Dr. Drummond Rennie is an editor at The Journal of the American Medical Association. He says researchers who are critical get attacked all the time. Why do you think the industry is able to get away with what you have in the past called 'bullying tactics?'

Dr. Drummond Rennie, Journal of the American Medical Association - Money. Because if the shareholders are happy, whom else do they have to answer for? These are multinationals. They have no masters.

Peter Jennings - Can we trust studies funded by companies that have a vested interest in the results? ...Will the pharmaceutical industry do whatever it takes to get the results it wants from research?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - The temptation to spin those results is always there, and it's frequently used. Frequently.

Peter Jennings - For nearly every drug on the market, doctors must wrestle with conFL icting and sometimes inaccurate information.

Dr. Drummond Rennie - If only the good news about a drug is published, and never the bad news, then a false impression is given of the quality, effectiveness of that drug. It may be entirely false.

Peter Jennings - Does the drug industry, on occasion or regularly, suppress data?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Oh, we suspect, and rather know, that this happens all the time.

Peter Jennings - Does the drug industry ever suspend a trial - a drug trial - because it believes the results will be different than it wishes?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes, that's happened.

Peter Jennings - Does a drug company ever not publish the results of a trial because it doesn't like the results?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes.

Peter Jennings - Do you actually believe, Dr. Rennie, that drug companies are intent on keeping the consumer on drugs, which are not as good as older drugs, for the simple requirement of profit?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes. Yes, very much so. Absolutely. ... They've got to be prevented.

Peter Jennings - There is one last thing this evening which we believe is important for all of us. The questions about what we are getting for our money cannot and must not be answered only by the drug companies. Virtually everyone we talked to for this broadcast agrees on that. The rules by which this hugely profitable industry operates do not always serve consumers adequately. And nothing is going to happen, no matter how angry consumers get, unless the Congress and the president decide that the time is come. The country can do better. I'm Peter Jennings. Thank you for joining us. Good night.


visit our website: www.doctorsaloe.com

Super Health Benefits Of Antioxidants

Aging is big business, and today's market is flooded with products that blur the lines between healthcare, beauty and simple fads. Many of these products contain antioxidants to fight aging and promote wellness. We've learned about the benefits of antioxidants from marketing, but it's also important to understand what antioxidants are, and how they work.

Antioxidants are nutrients that occur naturally in the humans and fruits, vegetables and other plants. Our bodies need antioxidants in order to properly function. These are important nutrients that act as cell protectors and they maintain good health by slowing the destructive aging of cellular molecules.

With normal cellular function, cells produce damaged molecules called free radicals. These free radicals can cause further damage to the body by stealing vital components from other cellular molecules including protein, fat and DNA. When left unchecked, free radicals can cause a multitude of serious health concerns including cataracts, heart damage, cancer and a weak immune system.

One of the most important benefits of antioxidants is the ability to stabilize free radicals. With these stabilizing components, antioxidants can help to prevent widespread cellular destruction, reducing further damage to the system. Antioxidants can return to the surface level and steady the cells, instead of causing damage to other components.

Despite contradictions in research, studies on cats and dogs have shown that antioxidants can improve the immune responses and vaccine recognitions. This has been particularly useful in the vaccination of young animals that do not have fully developed immune systems.

Antioxidants have a significant function in older animals as well, reversing the reduction of immune cell functions. Studies have also shown that when a combination of many different antioxidants is given in average amounts, the effect can be greater than that of a single antioxidant given in a high level dose.

In the human body and plant life, naturally occurring antioxidants come in different forms. Vitamins A, C and E, and carotenoids including beta-carotene and lutein are familiar sources of antioxidants. These nutrients are the basis of our good health, especially beneficial in preventing heart disease as they block the spread of free radicals.

Vitamin E is a common source of antioxidants that protects us from cardiovascular disease by defending against LDL oxidation and artery-clogging plaque development. There have been numerous studies showing that antioxidants can also reduce the risk of cancer. Vitamin C has been shown to reduce rates of cancer of the larynx, mouth and esophagus.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are delicious options for boosting your antioxidant intake. Eat foods with bright and deep pigments, like tomatoes, red bell peppers, carrots and spinach. These foods provide the highest concentrations of this essential health booster.

There is no question that antioxidants provide many health benefits. But it's still not clear how, or if, antioxidant supplements should be taken. There is also a lack of proof of long-term consequences from taking mega-doses of antioxidants. While antioxidants occur naturally, they are chemicals and should caution must be used.

If you're thinking of boosting your health by boosting your antioxidant intake, make an appointment with your doctor today.


Author Myron Huett writes for several popular web magazines, on healthy diet and muscle fitness topics.

Detox Your Body With Wasabi Rhizome

The Wasabi rhizome, the underground fleshy stem of the wasabia japonica plant, is prized not only for its fiery flavour but also its effect in detoxifying the liver. However, make sure that you are getting the real McCoy since many restaurants in the USA do not use the genuine paste.

The wasabi is a plant of the cruciferous family, the same family as cabbage, broccoli, turnip, radish, horseradish and mustard, and is native to Japan and Korea and now grown on the Pacific coast of Canada. It grows best in temperate to cold climates, especially in mountainous areas where there are plenty of cold streams.

Anybody who regularly enjoys sashimi and sushi should be familiar with the wasabi rhizome, that green lump of paste lying on the side of the plate. It is hot and fiery, although not in the same way as the chilli pepper that is fiery on the tongue and in the mouth. This tends to affect the sinuses more, and leaves a sweetish taste once the initial heat has dissipated. However, it is not always what it should be.

The last comment there refers to the practise, especially in the USA, of using dyed common horseradish as wasabi paste, so be careful of that since the two are not equivalent in the health benefits they impart to your body. Although of the same family as the horseradish, and sometimes termed the Japanese horseradish, ordinary horseradish does not have the same health benefits as genuine wasabi, and does not contain the same active ingredients so do not confuse the two.

Real wasabi is normally used grated, and there are specific techniques that should be used to grate wasabi rhizomes to bring out the fullness of the flavour. True grated wasabi should be of a natural pale greenish color rather than the brighter green normally associated with sushi restaurant wasabi.

Traditionally, wasabi rhizome is used as a condiment with sushi, although their leaves can also be used in salad dressings and or as a delicacy pickled in soy sauce or sake brine. The genuine vegetable is difficult to cultivate which explains why ordinary horseradish is dyed and used in its stead, and the vast majority of non-Japanese do not know the difference because it is likely to be all they have consumed under the name of wasabi. The health benefits of the genuine article, however, are considerable greater.

So that’s what it is, but what does it do? What are the health benefits of wasabi rhizomes and why are they considered to be so good for your liver? Wasabi rhizomes contain substances that are very effective in detoxifying you liver, and that are also very strong antioxidants that provide you with good overall health benefits in their capacity to destroy the free radicals created by the pollution of modern living.

The active antioxidants in the rhizome are precursors of isothiocyanates, which are known as phytochemicals. These are chemicals that can protect or prevent diseases through its antioxidant properties. The term ‘precursor’ means that the isothiocyanates are synthesized by your body from the nutrients contained in the wasabi rhizome. Other examples of phytochemicals that you may have heard of are carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols that also possess antioxidant properties.

Other antioxidants are vitamins A and E, which is why these are used in anti-wrinkle creams, since their anti-oxidant effect helps to prevent the free radicals destroying the skin cells in the dermis and epidermis that leads to the wrinkles associated with aging. Wasabi is equally effective as an antioxidant, although it has other properties that are important to your liver.

The liver is your body’s chemical plant. That is where most of the chemical reactions take place that are essential for life. If your liver is unhealthy you can develop diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and a healthy liver is essential for life let alone a healthy life. Wasabi helps to detoxify and clean out your liver.

Apart from creating the wide variety of enzymes needed to process your food, and controlling the vast majority of the biochemistry of your body, your liver is also your detoxification plant that coverts toxins into biodegradable molecules that your waste disposal system can evacuate without harm. This occurs in two phases.

Phase I coverts the toxin to a form that your body can further process (the bioactive form), and Phase II breaks it down into a form that your kidneys can handle and eject it in your urine. Isothiocyanates are involved in the production of the enzymes that enable the chemical reactions of Phase II to proceed. They allow your body to cleanse itself of toxins, and without this process you would be less healthy and more prone to cancers and other undesirable conditions and diseases in your body.

It is becoming more important in this modern age with its increasing natural and synthetic pollution that your liver is working at peak efficiency. Your liver is equally as important to you as your heart and brain, and without it you cannot survive. Wasabi also contains glucosinolates that help the isothiocyanates to induce the production of Phase II enzymes, and it is general believed that eating this tuber cab help protect you against stomach, colon and breast cancers as well as help your cardiovascular system and blood clotting.

An interesting fact is how wasabi rhizome came to be traditionally served with raw fish. The isothiocyanates precursors, and the glucosinolates that wasabi also contains, apparently help to destroy the bacteria associated with raw fish, and help prevent disease and illness. It was likely found healthier to include a dollop of this green paste with your sushi than not, and so the use of common horseradish might be somewhat questionable if it has less of an effect.

Make sure, therefore, that your have the real thing, and apart from any specific health considerations associated with eating raw fish, you are best advised to take it as a supplement to help Detox your liver rather than visit sushi bars for your consumption. It will also help your wallet!

More information on Wasabi Rhizome Liver Cleanse and detox is available at VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

Proven Home Remedies for Acne

Acne is a skin disorder or rashes which affects the skin's oil glands. It is not a serious health problem but when it is left to reach the severe condition it can cause scars. The cause of acne is due to wrong feeding habits like irregular eating hours, improper food, and excess of starches, sugar and fatty foods. Home remedies for acne are enhanced by proper vitamin and mineral supplementation and it cannot be numbered as there are lots of them. The first and foremost of all kinds of problems in an individuals body is due to lack of water. So have to drink lots of water and this is also a major remedy for acne.

Washing the face twice a day in warm salt water will leave your face oil free without irritating the acne.

Apply a paste of fresh methi leaves on the face every night for ten to fifteen minutes and wash with warm water.

Mixture of Lemon juice extract and equal quantity of rose water will also help to cure acne, pimples. The scars and blemishes can be reduced if you apply it on the face and wash the face with fresh water after half and hour. Repeat this method for fifteen to twenty days.

Apply avocado paste mixed with water and wash it after half an hour, this is also a natural remedy for acne.

Apply the pack made by boiling fifty gram of raspberry or strawberry or blackberry leaves with one and half liters of water for three minutes and this will give itching free effect and smooth skin.

Apply a thick mixture of yogurt and oatmeal in the face and wash it with lukewarm water and then apply any antibiotic lotion according to the skin type.

Aloe vera is used as remedial measure for almost all type of skin allergies. Any kind of soaps and gels made from Aloe vera work well in reducing the acne.

A paste of honey and cinnamon powder helps to cure acne damaged skin. Apply the mixture while going to sleep and wash it next day morning.

Apply egg whites using a cotton ball on the affected area for a few hours and wash with fresh water.

Bay leaves are also a remedy for acne. Grind it with water and leave it beside till it becomes cool and then apply on the affected part and wash after a few hours.

One of the most popular remedy for acne is to put toothpaste on the affected area before going to bed. It helps to reduce swelling overnight. It must be a paste and not a gel.

More than all these neem, turmeric, tomato pulp, lemon juice, sandalwood powder, milk, rose water, potatoes, orange peel, cucumber, Lavender oil etc. are good home remedies for acne damaged skin.

With all these home remedies, one major part of it is a well-balanced healthy diet and without this the treatment will not be fulfilled. Fresh fruit juices, vegetables and sprouts are also a must. Chocolate and fried foods must be avoided. Before applying any type of lotion or any home remedy is undertaken, first cleanse the skin thoroughly. Wear clean and neat cotton clothes if the acne is in any part of your body. Whatever the treatment is, patience is very much necessary.


http://www.healinginstitute.info has exhaustive resources for tackling acne related problems. The website on skin care - http://www.guideonthenet.info helps find solutions for maintaining a glowing skin.

Tinnitus Self-Help

An estimated 36 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, or constant ear noise that is not the result of an outside source of sound. The sounds of tinnitus heard most often tend to explained as a high-pitched bell ringing, telephone dial tone, running water, hissing, cricket chirping, and many more. The ear noise is often constant and variable, meaning while it is always present, it becomes quiet or loud at different times; some people notice the sound will completely disappear, only to start again without provocation.

Perhaps the greatest saving grace about tinnitus is that people can become so accustomed to their particular tinnitus sound that after a while they will not notice it (although it is still present), if they are distracted or concentrating on an activity (watching television, playing a sport, cooking). Once they are no longer involved in that activity, or something calls their attention to their hearing, once again they become immediately aware of their tinnitus sound.

When there is no immediate medical cause of tinnitus (high blood pressure, ear pathology, chemical or drug toxicity) in most cases, it is felt that most cases are either due to the effects of old age or injury to the hearing mechanism by repeated and prolonged exposure to loud noises (factory and engine work, gun shots, music). In these cases, it is wise to attempt to control as many aspects of the local and internal environment as possible to not aggravate the tinnitus further.

For the estimated 10-18 % of life-long tinnitus sufferers whose problem is without apparent causation, the best that can be hoped for is to limit the tinnitus experience and live at peace with the internal noise. To accomplish this requires a strategy of coping and reducing stress.

For everyone who suffers from tinnitus, whether the cause is known or not, whether the ear sounds are constant or not, whether the problem is acute or chronic, it is necessary to take control of their personal tinnitus situation for greatest relief and sense of control.

To reduce or limit tinnitus sounds

Evaluate those activities and situations that might help you cope with the constant ear sounds. Perhaps the easiest and most readily available strategy is to listen to music that allows a person to become distracted and lost in the enjoyment of it. Some might find the same benefit of easy distraction by listening to the recorded sounds of nature, such as ocean waves, howling wind, rustling leaves, or even crickets clicking in the distance.

Anyone who has had tinnitus for a few years knows what aggravates the problem. Make a point to avoid anything known to increase the problem, such as being around tobacco smoke, drinking alcohol, and any loud noise. Those who work in construction or around loud noises or sudden explosive sounds, should wear ear plugs or specially insulated earmuffs to protect the hearing.

Managing tinnitus sounds

Very often tinnitus will develop in those who have suffered hearing loss, especially when associated with aging. This reduced hearing ability, coupled with the ongoing presence of internal ear sounds, can make it most difficult to conduct a conversation with people. If this is a problem, simply explain your situation and ask that the person face you when you speak together. Being able to see facial expressions can help immensely to understand the spoken word. Ask people to speak louder and more slowly, but not to shout.

Final self-help measures

The Tinnitus Treatment Institute was developed to inform the worldwide public about the causes and limited medical treatment of tinnitus, along with the large assortment of helpful and safe Alternative Medicine therapies that have been used for years. The Tinnitus Treatment Institute expanded and refined the idea of using a large group of these therapies for maximum patient benefit that can be carried out safely under self-directed care. For greatest recovery from tinnitus simply go to the Tinnitus Treatment Institute website to learn how to direct an aggressive and tested nutrition and herb therapy program.


Dr. Robert Rogers began the Tinnitus Treatment Institute (TTI) in 2004 while practicing at the world-famous Pioneer Medical Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Learn from a doctor who understands what it is like to have tinnitus, and knows what it takes to correct it. http://www.tinnitus-treatment-insitute.com

What Will a Body Detox Program Do for Me?

You see them all over TV and the internet. "The only way to detox is the new blah blah blah." People talk about how a natural body detox changed their life. But do these detox programs really work, or are they just scams? What will they do for me?

Let's spend a minute talking about the environment we live in. Modern civilization puts us in constant contact with toxins everyday. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, toxins build up in our body faster than our livers and other organs involved in a whole body detox can carry the out. We begin to show symptoms of toxicity, such as allergies, depression, weight problems, and aches and pains, just to name a few. We don't know where they come from or how they got there, but we deal with this stuff everyday.

Sometimes even more severe health problems come from increased toxins in your body over a longer period of time. Some of these include infertility, arthritis, lupus and asthma. We're not talking about heredity here. Some problems are due to your genes and won't be changed by a natural body detox. So knowing the difference will be helpful in knowing what to expect of a body detox program.

So what are some of the benefits of a body detox program? Well, for one, you will have increased energy because your organs will not be so busy trying to remove all that junk from your body. But what else?

faster metabolism
less hunger pangs
more restful sleep
stronger immune system
glowing skin
positive thoughts and a clear head
fewer cravings for unhealthy food

These are the most common benefits of a total body detox. Your results may vary depending on what kind of toxicity you were suffering from to begin with. Like many medications, a body detox program has some side effects from all these toxins traveling through and out of your body. They are usually most prevalent in the first couple of days, which is why it is important you have some free time when you start your whole body detox. Be on the lookout for these side effects:

fatigue headache
itchy skin or pimples
indigestion and/or gas
mucus from your sinuses or bronchial passages constipation or diarrhea
anxious or irritable disposition
bad breath
dark urine
trouble concentrating or
confusion joint or muscle pain


Sounds serious, huh? Don't worry, most people don't suffer all those side effects and they are very short lived. When doing a whole body detox for the first time, you will experience a few of these as the toxins leave your body. Don't let them deter you from doing what's right for you! Besides, you probably experience these a lot of the time anyway due to the toxicity in your body right now. Before doing a total body detox, it would be advisable to talk to your doctor to make sure that you are not going to complicate any conditions such as diabetes. With the help of your physician, you can have a safer, healthier detoxification.


John Khu is a health enthusiast and author of a new eBook titled "Body Detox Tips". He is devoted to educate others on the benefit of body detoxification. He is also the owner of the website called http://www.bodydetoxtips.com which provides complete and up-to-date information.