Thursday, 30 July 2009

How To Choose The Best Weight Management Product For You

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By Michael Skatoli

Weight management and weight loss products and programs have
grown into a burgeoning industry in the last number of years
and it is only getting bigger. The big problem is that there
are such a large number of weight management products for
sale, all promising quick results, that it is difficult to
figure out which ones may be most suitable for you.

It is thought that up to $55bn is spent on weight loss
products and weight loss programs in the US each year. The
range of weight loss products available is quite staggering.
They range from pills, ointments, diet supplements, fitness
machines, CDs, creams and rings to clothes and books.
Certainly, many of these products will be genuinely
beneficial, while others will not. The trick is finding the
right ones.

We all would prefer a quick and easy fix when it comes to
shedding those pounds. A lot of supplements will guarantee
dramatic effects with little or no healthy eating or
exercise. It is questionable whether these will really
deliver results, and if they do they might be dangerous to
your health.

That said, there are numerous genuinely helpful supplements
out there that, with the aid of the right diet and regular
exercise, will help you achieve your weight loss goals. A
good way to begin is to check out which supplements are
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There
are a lot of fully approved widely available products that
will help in your fight against weight gain.

It is also helpful to consult your GP. There are a lot of
prescription weight loss drugs which, with the correct
supervision, can help you attain your goals.

That said, if possible, it may be advisable to avoid
supplements and drugs completely and lose weight the healthy
and natural way - namely by eating well and getting plenty
of exercise. This method might take more effort and
willpower, but it is more sustainable and satisfying in the
long term.

It is safe to say that there are a plethora of weight loss
products to help you if you choose to go down this path.
Fitness machines, stair masters or cycling machines are a
good way to begin. On the other hand, if you are feeling a
little more adventurous, you could invest in some jogging
gear and hit the streets.

Also, a visit to your local bookstore or Amazon may be a
good start. Self-help books may not be for everyone but a
good one might help motivate you and help you set your mind
on the task of losing weight. Investigate what the most
popular books on weight loss are these days, and pick up a
few healthy eating CDs while you're at it.

The right weight loss products for you will depend on your
personality, your preferences, your aims and a number of
other factors. Visit your GP and try to find a game plan
that works for you and then choose what weight loss products
you require.

Michael is a reporter with over 15 years writing experience.
Michael is currently employed as a columnist for the
fuzing.com portal and has become the resident authority on
weight loss products. Be sure to visit our very useful
website for additional information on Fat Burning Capsules
and Diet Pills.




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Wednesday, 29 July 2009

Bruce Lee or Michael Jackson - Who Has Had More Impact On The World?

healthy living, self defense, bruce lee, michael jackson, health, exercise


By Al Case

Hate to be the one that points it out, but both Bruce Lee
and Michael Jackson happen to be dead. Period. End.

Which leaves us with the burning question, which one of
these superstars had more impact on the world. It doesn't
matter that they were in different areas, we can still put
'em up against each other. So, let's examine the issue.

Bruce Lee wins over MJ when it comes to acting. Heck,
Michael hardly made anything, so he gets a big time zero. On
the other hand, Bruce made a handful of movies that inspire
people to this day.

You could argue for MJ when it comes to singing, but Bruce
Lee is gonna come out on top again. The dilemma is that
Bruce Lee's vocals are more memorable than MJ's. I mean, are
you going to call that mugger a PYT, or give him a chilling
woop woop that will remind him that there are people in this
world who can kick some serious ass!

Believe it or not, Bruce Lee had better moves than Michael.
Michael couldn't kick somebody's adam's apple, or do the
splits or anything worthwhile, all he could do was walk
funny backwards. Bruce, on the other hand, could have
moonwalked like a genius.

Bruce wins on downright sheer impact. Michael encouraged a
generation of young, impressionable minds to walk backwards
funny, uh, walk funny backwards, uh, you know. Bruce, on the
other hand, encouraged several generations, and is still
going strong, as to the value of healthy living, being able
to protect yourself, living an artistic lifestyle, and on
and on and on.

I think it is obvious that Bruce wins, once again, and
bigger than ever, when it come to who had more
presence. Michael filled a boom box, and an occasional stage,
but he never said a line like..."you have offended my family,
you have offended Shaolin". Really, except for words from a
few songs that are hard to understand, can anybody remember
much of anything that Michael said?

So Bruce Lee would have kicked Michael Jackson's ass,
big time, dead or alive. Oh, you don't like it, you think I
rigged the results worse than an OJ trial? Well, you better
walk backwards funny away from me and mumble so I can't hear
what you say, because, my friend, I study Bruce Lee.

Al Case has practiced the martial arts for forty years.
He'll (http://blindingsteel.com) Moonwalk your Face at
(http://www.monstermartialarts.com) Monster Martial Arts.




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Tuesday, 28 July 2009

How To Stop The Pain Caused By Headaches

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By Rose Williams

When we are suffering from a headache we usually try to
think of ways to stop the pain. However, as there are
different types of headaches, the treatments may work for
only a some of the headache types. There are two different
methods of curing the pain caused by headaches. These types
of headache treatment are called prophylactical and abortive
headache treatments.

The prophylactic type of treatment has to be taken everyday
in order to reduce the frequency of and to control the
severity of the headache. Abortive headache treatment is
begun only when the headache starts.

However, you must realize that your physician will not
prescribe any prophylactic headache treatment unless you are
suffering from several, frequent headache attacks every
month. Furthermore, when you take the prophylactic
medication you will be monitored for side effects like
weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment
and hallucinations.

The treatment of headaches with prophylactic medication
begins with a low dose. The dose is then increased as time
passes. You will also be tested every month or so to see if
the treatment is effective. Your doctor will also check that
you are not taking any other types of medicine or vitamins
during this phase of your headache treatment.

It is very important for the doctor to know whether the
sufferer is or becomes pregnant. If you do become pregnant,
then your doctor should be told, so that checks can be done
to uncover any possible side effects to the unborn foetus.

The main prescription drugs given for stopping headache are
beta blockers such as Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium
channel blockers
such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia
are also used. Doctors may also prescribe anti-depressants
such as Elavil and Zoloft. You can also be given serotonin
antagonists like Sansert.

Usually, anti-convulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and
Dilantin are also given for headache treatment. Cafergot and
Sansert (ergot derivatives) could also be given by your
doctor. The 'abortive' headache treatment types available
for your headache pain are usually the 'over the counter'
(OTC) type. These include Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol,
Panadol, Motrin, and Advil to mention only a few. Tylenol
and Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Motrin and
Advil are in the family of drugs known as Ibuprofen.

Further to these headache medicines there are also
non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. The side
effects of NSAIDs like Naprosyn and Meclomen include nausea,
gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, light-headedness
and constipation. These headache treatments can also cause
some people to get side-effects in the form of a different
type of headache.

Since taking these drugs can result in side effects, you
ought to consult your doctor in order to discover whether
they are all right for you or not. People who prefer to take
an 'alternative' headache treatment should ask their doctor
whether he thinks the alternative medicine, such as
aromatherapy or supplements, will be suitable.

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Monday, 27 July 2009

What Are The Benefits of Healthy Snacks & What Are The Best Foods To Eat?

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The truth about healthy snacks for weight loss is that they
are vital to eat during the day. Research has discovered
that people who do not snack consume more food at mealtimes.
People who do not snack end up consuming more fat and
calories than those people who do snack between mealtimes.
People still wonder though what the benefits are to healthy
snacking and what kinds of foods are actually considered
'healthy.'

The most beneficial thing to healthy snack eating is that
you do not binge later on foods that are unhealthy to curb
your hunger. If you are suffering from a growling stomach or
hunger pangs, then you should snack now versus waiting for
the next mealtime. Hunger management through the day is
important not only for proper eating but also for
maintenance of blood sugar levels. So, how and when should
you consume your snacks?

So what types of foods are included in the healthy snacks
category?
Whole grain foods are a good choice because of the
fiber content in them that gives you that needed energy to
last until a full meal. Some great options for this are
whole grain crackers and whole grain pretzels. These and
other healthy selections can be found in the organic snacks
section in your local grocer.

Other obvious choices of healthy snacks for weight loss are
fruits and vegetables. They are low in calorie, fat free,
and are loaded with all the vitamins and minerals that the
body needs. A word of warning, though; if you decide to have
some salad for snacks, go easy on the salad dressing.

Another great snack are nuts and seeds. They are full of
protein but are high in calories, so do not consume too many
of them in one sitting.

You can also snack on foods which are rich in calcium but
low in fat while waiting for dinner. These include light
yogurt and cheese which was processed with skim milk.

What times are the best times for these snacks? On the
average, most people have breakfast at around 8 am and in
this case, a 10:30 am snack should keep you going until a
1:00 pm lunchtime. Afternoon snacks are usually eaten around
3:30 pm, and then it's dinner time at 6:00 or 6:30 pm. This
sample schedule shows that the ideal healthy snack is eaten
within 2-3 hours before and after a meal. This would allow
you to eat smaller and healthier, while keeping you full
enough to go about your daily activities.

Healthy snacks are important in your goal of losing weight.
People who do not snack end up hungry and frustrated when
meal time comes around and then they forget about all
intention of losing weight, eating fatty foods that do
nothing for their health. This habit does not also bode
well for the blood sugar and could complicate even further
when symptoms of emotional and physical stress manifest
themselves. It may not sound correct when you say that
snacking is good for losing weight, but this is the truth.
Not only will you end up consuming less calories, it will
also help you concentrate on what you have to do instead of
warding off the hunger pangs.

By keeping yourself focused on the end goal, you'll end up
thinner and healthier. Healthy snacks for weight loss are
the way to go.


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Sunday, 26 July 2009

Are You Having A Stroke? Watch For These Signs

signs of a stroke, heart disease, heart health, conditions and diseases, atrial fibrillation, heart ailments, cardiovascular disorders



By Barb Hicks

Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain has been halted
due to a clot or bleeding into the brain. Therefore, blood
is unable to reach all destinations of the brain, resulting
in a stroke. The person experiencing a stroke will begin to
exhibit signs and symptoms. Some signs come and go usually
within 5 minutes and leave no lasting effects. However,
symptoms lasting longer may indicate a major stroke is
occurring. Even if symptoms are short lived, it is
imperative to get medical help immediately. If not treated
as soon as possible, major brain damage and lifelong
disabilities could result.

What are the signs?

- Tingling sensation in the face or extremities - Paralysis
or weakness on one side - Difficulty speaking - Inability to
understand speech - Blindness - Dizziness - Pain -
Nausea/vomiting - Sudden intense headache

If you believe someone around you is experiencing these
symptoms call 011 and seek the help of medical professionals
immediately.

Risk Factors for Stroke:

- Age: At age 55 the risk of stroke doubles every ten years
after - Race - Gender: Typically, women are less likely to
experience a stroke than men - Previous stroke - Fractures
resulting in a fat embolism - Family History - Atrial
Fibrillation


Reducing your risks:

Take all medications prescribed by your physician. Monitor
blood pressure. Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Quit Smoking. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of exercise.

Physicians use a CT, MRI or Angiogram to determine the
location of a stroke, the amount of damage it caused as well
as what type of stroke was experienced.

Treatment involves clot busters, such as tPA that must be
given within hours of the onset of symptoms. Surgical
intervention is an option for ischemic and hemorrhagic
strokes.

Care after stroke:

Recovery after a stroke may take a few days to over a year
to complete. In many cases, occupational, physical and
speech therapy may be required.

Types of Medications:

Thrombolytics - Clot busters that loosen or break up blood
clots
. The debris is cleaned up by phagocytic cells.
Antiplatelet - Prevents platelet s from sticking together,
thus preventing clot formation. Anticoagulants - Stops
clots from forming, particularly those with A-fib who are
prone to blood clots due to the rapid contractions of the
atria of the heart.

If you have other diseases such as diabetes or high blood
pressure
, it is very important to monitor and manage them
properly. Proper care will help ensure that the risk of a
stroke is lessened and a quality, productive life prevails.

Having an exercise regimen at least three days a week can
lower blood pressure. Blood pressure is the number one
factor in bringing on a stroke or hemorrhagic strokes.

A healthy diet containing fresh fruits, whole grains and
nuts, vegetables and lean meats is another great way to help
lessen the risks for stroke.

Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse and featured
health writer on Clivir.com. You can find here her lessons
on
(http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/what-causes-a-stroke-common-cause-of-stroke.html)
Stroke Causes and other information about
(http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/early-warning-signs-and-symptoms-of-a-stroke.html)
Early Warning Signs of Stroke.





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Friday, 24 July 2009

How Body Type Can Affect Your Body Building Success

how to get ripped, bodybuilding, weight training, how body type affects bodybuilding, fitness training, health endomorph mesomorph


By Kyle Peters

Bodybuilding can be a difficult sport at the best of times
but one way to improve your chances of success is to know
your body type. Knowing this will tell you how you are going
to respond to the weight training and exercise program and
allow any modifications necessary to increase your success.
Often it can be just a simple process of looking in a mirror
and studying your features to determine your type.

If you are tall and skinny then this would often mean you
would be classified in the group known as endomorphs. These
are classically hard gainers and if you fall into this group
and have already started a training program you will know
that no matter what you do, it is difficult to put on any
weight or muscle.

The major advantage of being in this group is that although
you may find it difficult to put on muscle it will also be
difficult to put on fat. What this means to you is that when
you do put on muscle mass it will be without a gain in fat
tissue
which will leave you looking very ripped. In fact you
would not have to put on as much muscle to look bigger and
toned as you will have superb definition.

The next group are typically shorter, squat, heavier and are
naturally more muscular. These are commonly known as the
mesomorphs. Often they will claim to be able to put on
muscle just by looking at a set of weights!

For those with a mesomorphic physique then usually a less
intense workout program is required. The biggest hurdle to
face though is the issue of fat gain. As well as muscle,
these types can also easily put on fat. It is vital to
increase the proportion of protein intake in the daily
calories to try and overcome this.

The ideal amount of daily intake of protein for endomorphs
is around 2g per kilogram of body weight. It is also
important to increase general calorie intake to stimulate an
anabolic state.

Excellent gains can be achieved by both body types but those
with ectomorphic bodies will have to work harder in the gym
to stimulate muscle growth and will also have to increase
calorie intake. With mesomorphs it is important to be
careful about increasing fat levels and often, many will
find they end up cycling between bulking up and losing fat.

Kyle writes reviews on (http://www.rippedabsreview.com) how
to get ripped fast and does fitness articles such as the
(http://www.rippedabsreview.com/vince-delmonte-review.html)
Vince Delmonte review.




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Thursday, 23 July 2009

How To Develop A Superhero Chest

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By Emmanuel Palmer

Every generation grows up with the same idea of what super
heroes look like; and unless it's saving the world one book
at a time, I'm betting you haven't found a pale and skinny
hero yet. We've stopped watching cartoons a long time ago,
but the physical standards of what heroes look like don't
really ever leave us. If you want to look like one, you have
to learn the best ways on how to build chest muscle fast.

Alright, maybe the mission is a little less pressing than
world peace but everybody has to start somewhere right?
Concentrate on building your knowledge on how to build
muscle the right way, other super qualities you can learn as
you go on.

To effectively build chest muscle fast you need to
understand the workouts that will work in the specific areas
in your chest. The incline barbell bench for instance will
target the upper chest muscles. Use slow and purposeful
movements and feel the burn when you do. Don't let the bar
touch your chest because this will remove the stress you want
to put on the chest while also putting strain on your
shoulder joints as well.

For the lower chest muscle, use the decline dumbbell fly and
decline barbell bench press. If you are a beginner, make
sure there is an instructor or spotter on when you
perform this particular workout as the angle makes it a
little more complicated than average.

And the last section-the inner and outer chest muscles.
Strengthen this area by using the flat bench dumbbell fly
correctly. Keep the correct form throughout the drill. Don't
let your shoulders move as you slowly extend the weights to
the starting position. Doing so will strain the shoulders.
More important than completing the reps and sets is doing
the said exercises properly.

If you are only beginning this high intensity workout to
build up your chest, expect loud protestations from your
body in the form of aches and soreness. Keep at it because
you are developing strength even in your sleep. After a few
weeks, execute the same exercises but give it all you've
got-train to your body's maximum tolerance level. When you
push the targeted muscles to the limits, muscle growth is
accelerated. Have a trained instructor nearby to assist you
in these endeavors.

Include more exercises into your workout program. Change it
up every four to six weeks because your body needs to be
challenged every so often; switching up the weight loads and
drills will keep your body guessing. Target the serratus
anterior (muscle between the chest and back) with pullovers.
Build up your chest even more with dumbbell flyes.

Take these tips and run with it; they will help you build
chest muscle fast. Maybe you're not a super hero yet - but
with your new physique, everybody will think you are one
anyway.

Emmanuel Palmer can help you learn
(http://musclebuildingworkoutroutine.com/how-to-build-muscle/tips-on-how-to-build-chest-muscle-fast/)
how to build muscles effectively. Get great articles on how
to (http://MuscleBuildingWorkoutRoutine.com) Build Chest
Muscle Fast today.



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Wednesday, 22 July 2009

What Are The Benefits To Health of a Fruit Diet?

benefits of a fruit diet, fruit diet, nutritional food, healthy eating, organic food, healthy diet, health

By Jack Rowntree

Some people decide to put themselves on a fruit only diet
for either a short period of time or part of a long-term
plan. This is usually as part of a cleansing program in
order to help maintain health and well-being. However, when
embarking on such a diet there are ways to consume the fruit
and types of fruit to eat to make the experience better.

Some people will hit the diet head on and go out and consume
vast quantities of fruit. This usually has the result of
making you feel bloated and nauseous.

The best way to approach this is to copy what grazing
animals do and just eat small amounts of it frequently
during the day. Small amounts regularly will prevent insulin
surges which can make you feel more hungry. It will also
prevent large amounts of fruit sitting in the stomach which
can ferment and make you feel gassy and bloated.

Juicing is another excellent way of getting your daily quota
of fruit. You can take in your daily allowance in a
refreshing cool drink. This method also reduces the workload
you place on the bowel because fruit, especially in the
liquid form, is easy to digest and so requires less energy.
Many people report the feeling of having increased energy.
Compare this to the feeling of tiredness and sluggishness
you get after eating a heavy meal full of protein and
carbohydrate.

Different types of fruit can also affect your health and
benefits. Organically grown fruit is free from chemicals and
insecticides and are often grown in a good quality soil. You
are, therefore, reducing the build up of these potentially
toxic compounds in the body and you are reaping the full
nutritious benefits from your fruit.

It has been demonstrated that organic fruit and vegetables
have increased levels of vitamins and minerals as compared
to their inorganic counterparts. Although organic fruit and
vegetables are usually more expensive than their inorganic
alternatives you don not have to eat as much to get the same
amount of nutritional benefits.

If you do decide to go down the route of a fruit diet then
getting a variety of fruit is worthwhile. You will not only
be less inclined to become bored of the diet, you will also
be getting a wide variety of nutrients into your system.






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A Fistful of Blueberry Pancakes

YOU CAN MAKE THIS!!!!




Good Morning Readers!


This morning I am powering up the pancake recipe by adding 2 fistfuls of blueberries. As you know I am on a mission to show that eating healthy is easy and fun....

Before we begin, did you know that the blueberry is the #1 most powerful antioxidant? What does that mean for you and me.....by incorporating blueberries into our daily nutrition plan, we are protecting our bodies from a multitude of health issues to include heart disease and cancer, and in addition slowing the aging process...now who does not want that? So let's get cooking.....


Have ready your griddle, spray with PAM, heat on low, otherwise your pancakes will cook too fast on the outside and be gooey on the inside, and a bowl. Nothing fancy....my tools here are a bowl, a fork, and a stirring spoon for mixing.





You Will Need:


1 very (turning brown) ripe banana

1 whole egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup old fashion rolled oats

1 scoop whey vanilla protein

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tbsp flax meal

1/2 tbsp wheat germ

1/2 tbsp oat bran
Vanilla soy milk (yes you can use n/f milk instead)

2 Large fistfuls of blueberries
1 Handful of blueberries to sprinkle on top

In your bowl, smash ripe banana with your fork until it stirs well and juices release, add your whole egg and fork stir into banana until well combined, add 1/2 tsp vanilla and stir again. Put the oats in your electric blender and grind until flour consistency and add to the wet ingredients in the bowl, add your vanilla protein powder, the flax meal, wheat germ, and oat bran, and stir well. The mix will be thick at this point. Add just enough soy milk to make the mixture pourable (careful not to make runny), so add a bit, stir and check. I like my mixture a bit "thick pourable". Now add the 2 fistfuls of blueberries and gently stir into the mixture. Pour 2 equal amounts of batter onto your prepared griddle, cook on one side a few minutes, (check for color by gently lifting an edge), if to your liking, flip over and cook the rest of the way. This recipe makes two large pancakes. Place one pancake on your plate and sprinkle with a few blueberries. I sometimes drizzle a little honey across the top. I eat one and save one for the next morning so I do not have to cook. Really, this only takes about 10 minutes to throw together....you will be done before your tea or coffee is done brewing. Also, a time saver since you have an extra that you can have tomorrow, or for a snack later.

Let me know what you think of this Power Pumped Blueberry Version???


Stay Healthy!!!
Darla:)












Tuesday, 21 July 2009

10 Real World Diet Tips That You Can Use

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Are you tired of diet tips handed out by someone with apparently unlimited income and time? For some of us, it may just not be practical to spend half of our Sunday preparing carefully portioned meals for the rest of the week, or financially feasible to buy all our meals prepackaged in just the right portions. And there are those of us who cringe at the thought of weighing food to achieve 'optimal portion sizes'. Here are ten real life diet tips for the rest of us.

1. Eating out? Restaurant portions tend to be enormous, and if it's on the plate, we tend to eat it. If it's possible, order from the kid’s menu, where portions are more reasonably sized.

2. Keep healthy snacks around and easily accessible. A bowl of fruit on the kitchen table, a container of celery or carrot sticks in the refrigerator, or a couple of pop-open cans of fruit salad in your desk at work will help you grab for something healthy when those first hunger pains begin. In other words, you'll be more likely to grab something low-calorie and good for you if it's easy to eat.

3. Substitute frozen vegetables for canned. Canned veggies tend to be high in sodium, which you don't need, and low in real nutrition, which you do. Buy economy size bags with zip closures to make it easy to pour out a single serving for a meal.

4. Buy a vegetable steamer. Steaming is one of the healthiest ways to cook vegetables. The food retains nearly all of its natural nutrients instead of leaching it out into the cooking water. Even better, it makes your veggies taste great - which means you'll be more likely to eat them instead of filling up on fatty foods that pack on weight.

5. Never eat standing up. One of the easiest ways to sabotage your diet is to 'eat without thinking'. Treat eating with the respect that it deserves. Fix yourself a plate. Sit down and eat properly. You'll be less likely to just pop food into your mouth without paying attention.

6. Spread your meals out. When you eat three meals a day, your body tends to store whatever it doesn't need right that moment. By adopting a 'grazing' habit, you'll keep your metabolism working throughout the day. Have a small breakfast, a piece of fruit with crackers or toast at mid-morning, a light lunch and an 'after school snack' mid-afternoon. Just remember that you're breaking up the same amount of food into smaller meals, not ADDING more food into your daily diet.

7. Grab a fruit juice or flavored water instead of soda. Soda is nothing but empty calories. No nutrients, lots of sugar. Instead, grab a bottle of 100% fruit juice, or water flavored with a spritz of fruit.

8. Drink water. Even the FDA recommends at least 8 full 8 ounce glasses of water a day to keep your body working right. When you're dieting, you should drink even more. It's not just that full feeling - water helps your body digest foods properly and cleans out your system.

9. Can't afford a gym membership? Make a pact with friends to exercise together. Make a date at least three times a week to play volleyball, take a walk or spend half an hour doing something active.

10. Skip the potato chips. Fatty snacks fried in hydrogenated oil like potato chips contribute fat and calories and not much else. Instead, grab a handful of dried fruit or a cup of yogurt for the same amount of calories and a lot more nutritional benefits.






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Monday, 20 July 2009

Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Essential For Your Heart

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By Peter Bertonich

Recently I've written a lot about the health benefits of
taking fish oil supplements, or what is also known as Omega
3 supplements. Lets look today at the heart benefits of fish
oil supplements.

The Jan/Feb issue of Sports Health, A Multidisciplinary
Approach, has published the results of a new study.
It was a study of the heart benefits of taking fish oil
supplements, or essential fatty acid supplements, the main
component of which is fish oil.

There were 36 pro football players who took part and they
took either omega 3 fish oil supplements or else a placebo.
The fish oil capsules they took contained 2560 mg of omega-3
fatty acids
(650 mg EPA and 450 mg DHA in each capsule.)

The study, or it's results, backed up the conclusions of so
many other studies that supported the health benefits of
Omega 3 fish oil supplementation that increased the levels
of essential fatty acids in the diet.

The results were good. HDL levels (good cholesterol) went up
while LDL (bad cholesterol) went down.

And triglycerides went down too, an excellent result.

Now this isn't the first fish oil supplements study to
confirm a link between improved heart health and the intake
of more fish oil, or Omega 3 fatty acids. There's now many
studies that confirm the heart benefits of fish oil
supplements.

And the American Heart Association also recommends that we
all take at least a gram a day of EPA and DHA and that if we
have elevated triglycerides that this be increased.

So now that you know how important taking sufficient Omega 3
fats in your diet is, how do you increase your intake? By
using the very best Omega 3 fish oil supplements.

Be aware that not all Omega 3 supplements are created equal.
There are issues with both the quantity of DHA in each
capsule as well as the purity of the fish oil, some fish
oils being contaminated with heavy metals and PCBs and
mercury. These are only small amounts but the best fish oil
capsules contain higher levels of DHA than most others and
undetectable levels of contaminants.

So anyone at risk of heart related health problems should be
taking the very best fish oil supplements. That's you.


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Saturday, 18 July 2009

How To Easily Modify A Healthy Diet While Traveling

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Sticking to a nutritious diet while traveling can be one of the more difficult things to do. However, if you learn how to make smart choices, a healthy diet is really not that difficult. It’s probably not the best time in which to start a healthy diet, but if you are currently making healthy choices in your foods already, modifying your diet slightly to accommodate travel, is not as difficult as it first may seem.

If you are traveling by airplane, your diet may have to include airplane food, which can often be of poor nutritional value, depending on the selection. When you book your flight, ask about your food options, ask if a vegetarian dish is available? Vegetarian dishes are sometimes more nutritional in this case, but it really depends on what they may be serving. If you can, eat a larger meal before your flight, so that you don’t have to eat the entire meal that is served, to feel full.

When driving or taking a bus, you may be tempted to stop at fast food restaurants and eat the meals found there. Avoid this whenever possible! If you’re on vacation, you may wish to splurge a tiny bit, but having fast food more than once during a week can really be bad for your health. If you must, choose the healthiest options available, like chicken breasts and diet soda.

Also, remember that you can take your own meals when traveling. Carrying a loaf of whole-wheat bread or pita wraps, some lean lunch meat, and low-fat cheese in a cooler is a great way to avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol junk food meals. These are much better choices and you’ll save a lot of money as well. Call ahead to ask if there will be a refrigerator in your hotel room.

Lastly, make smart choices when you eat out. If you choose salads or pasta get the dressing on the side and ask about low-carb options. In fact, many places print these dieting options directly in the menu for the health-conscious people. Control your portions by ordering lunch menu sizes or splitting the meal in halve and getting a doggie bag, and you’ll be well on your way to healthy eating, even away from home.

Yes, eating healthy foods when you travel can be a challenge. However, your health is worth it. Eating meals high in nutrition will also assist in fighting illnesses that you are likely to encounter when traveling and you will find yourself more alert so that you can enjoy your trip.

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Tuesday, 14 July 2009

How To Lose Weight Without Starving

healthy eating, healthy eating habits, healthy eating to lose weight, weight loss, diet, nutrition, how to eat to lose weight, food and drink

By Travis Van Slooten

This isn't some kind of smoking mirrors gimmick or the
latest spin from a money-making junk mail expert. It really
is possible for you to drop excess pounds without the need
to follow a restricted diet.

It doesn't mean however that you also have the liberty to
indulge in whatever food you want. So let's get down to
business and talk about how you can get the pounds off
without having to starve yourself.

Even if you are trying to lose some weight, you still need
to eat. Rather than starve yourself what you need to do is
to learn to recognize the signals that your body gives out
when it's actually hungry. The skill of getting your eating
habits under control is where the magic of weight loss
really lies.

There are three different categories that individuals can
fall into when it comes to eating patterns. Which one do you
fit into? Identify it and you'll find your weight issues are
much easier to understand.

You eat when:

You're hungry?

If you are, then good for you. However, you should also be
able to recognize the signs of satisfaction that your body
sends. Knowing when to eat and then when to stop is key to
developing healthy eating habits and subsequently, weight
loss. Even if you don't have any limit to the type of foods
you eat, as long as you just take in enough food that the
body can burn, there's no reason why you should keep on
packing the pounds. Add a few minutes of exercise into your
daily routine and watch the pounds go away.

You think you want to eat

This type of eater is one who is more likely to gain weight
than losing it. For those hoping or needing to achieve
weight loss, eating just for the enjoyment of it or whenever
there is good food to be had should be a big no-no. The
desire to eat may always be there and can be triggered
easily by different factors including stress, inactivity,
loneliness, the sight of delicious food, and other
activities. And because the body did not signal that it
needed the food, your unused intake will only be converted
to excess body fat.

Your diet tells you to?

Some individuals are on the perennial diet. And while one
may be able to maintain the ideal weight using that
strategy, being constantly on a diet doesn't make for a
healthy lifestyle. Individuals who fall under this category
may constantly feel deprived. And even if he is eating the
right foods, there is little enjoyment to it. What's worse
is that he may feel the need to stay away from social
gatherings with family and friends to avoid the temptation
of foods that are "forbidden." Weight loss shouldn't come at
such expense.

Which group do you mainly fall into? If you're in group 1,
then you're doing great. If you're in group 2 or 3, then you
must consider what you can do to change your eating habits.
Start to listen to your body and know what a hunger pang
feels like. That's the signal that's time to eat. If you can
master this, and the ability to stop eating when you know
your body is satisfied, then you will discover the true
magic of weight loss!

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Stay Healthy Oat Protein Cookies...YUMMMMM

Why Buy Them When You Can Bake Them!!!!

In today's economy where health bars/cookies can be anywhere from .88 cents to over $3.00, it is so worth a little bit of time to save sooooo much money. Even at .88 cents, your investment in the health bar/cookie is almost $20.00 per month if consumed daily. Also, being creative in the kitchen is so much fun, a fabulous stress relief, and you can involve your family and friends in the adventure. There is nothing better than a sample of a fresh cookie right from the oven...I think we can all agree on that. A fabulous note...you are in control of what you are consuming and even understand what you are eating. No lengthy food labels where words that seem to not exist in Websters ever venture into self baked healthy goods. The fats and sugars have been greatly reduced in this recipe, as well as any empty calorie white product ingredients. Guilt free enjoyment awaits the first batch out of the oven:) and the perfect power snack that you can carry with you on the go, giving no excuse to not fuel that body!!! Now let's get started.....


Stay Healthy Oat Protein Cookies
Created by Darla Benfield

6 Tbsp "Real" butter @ room temp (no margarine...fake chemicals)

2/3 cup vanilla fat free yogurt

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 whole egg

1 Tbsp Pure Vanilla Extract

2 1/2 cups ground old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup vanilla whey protein powder (I have not tried this with a soy product)

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

2 large handfuls of Craisins (dried cranberries)

1 large handful flaked coconut

1 12 oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips (you may choose to use 1/2 bag)

Preset oven temperature to 300 degrees. Have ready a cookie sheet and line with parchment paper. If no paper, then spray the cookie sheet with PAM. I personally like easy clean up by tossing the paper when I am done.

Dry Ingredients:
Place oats in your blender, and grind until flour consistency and until you reach 2 1/2 cups in a separate mixing bowl. Add the 1 cup of vanilla protein powder, and 1 1/2 tsp baking soda.
Wet Ingredients:
Place soft butter in your mixer bowl, along with vanilla yogurt and cream together. Add the brown sugar and continue to blend until creamy. Add the egg, and continue to mix thoroughly. Add the pure vanilla extract, and continue to cream together.
Together:
Time to add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Slow the mixer down, and slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until thoroughly combined. Now, add 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, mix; add the coconut and mix; add the Craisins and mix; and lastly add the chocolate chips and mix slowly. You should have a wonderful cookie dough ready for baking at this point.


I use a large tablespoon to make large cookies. This recipe will create 20 large cookies or approx 80 tsp size.

Scoop a large tablespoon of the dough onto your prepared cookies sheet and continue this process until the sheet is full. Place in your pre-heated oven and bake between 15-18 minutes. Be careful not to overcook these, as they will be dry. There should be a slight give to touch the top of the cookie in the oven and only very little browning. They will continue to cook on the sheet when you remove them from the oven. Transfer to a cooling rack and repeat the baking process until all the dough is used. Don't forget to lick the bowl:)

Enjoy and Stay Healthy!!!
Darla Benfield, LCPT, LCMT














Monday, 13 July 2009

4 Steps To Reducing Anxiety And Stress

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Anxiety disorders are often a product of stress. From GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) to panic disorder, you can cut back on the anxiety in your life simply by reducing stress. Stress is normal in daily life no matter who you are, but if you let your stress take control of your life, serious problems will arise. Fortunately, ongoing stress is easy to overcome, but it is important to know the steps to doing so.

Stress is an internal reaction triggered by external factors, like pressure. One of the best ways to overcome these reactions is with plenty of exercise. Daily exercise can help you learn to physically deal with stress by improving your tolerance to stress during exercise. During a panic attack, most people feel short of breath and a pounding heart. A hard workout gives you these same experiences, but in a healthy way. AS you exercise more and more, you push your body to accept these conditions without panicking.

Getting a good night’s sleep is also very important to reducing stress. Stress can physically wear out a person’s body, and without sleep, you will feel the effects of stress much more readily. This can lead to anxiety disorders very easily. To get enough sleep, make sure that you schedule at least 8 hours for sleeping. Don’t eat or drink lots of sugar or caffeine products before bedtime and try to do relaxing activities in the few hours before bedtime. If necessary, see your doctor for help with sleeping problems.

Another key to reducing stress is to schedule time for non-work related activities. Take vacations or at least days off in order to have fun. Work is a major cause of stress, and with that stress comes worry about money, health, and many other things. By setting aside specific time to enjoy yourself with loved ones or on your own, you can physically and mentally set aside the stress for at least a few hours. Try to have at least an hour to yourself every day and an entire long weekend every few months to purely enjoy fun activities.

Lastly, work to reduce stress by learning to think a bit differently about life. Some of the most stressed-out people are perfectionists. While this can be a good trait, it can also go too far. Know when to let something go. Also, think positively about your life. When you worry that you aren’t good enough or are upset about little things, they really add up to hurt you. Managing your thought process is just part of the battle, but if you work at reducing stress, you can avoid developing anxiety problems. How do you deal with stress?


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Sunday, 12 July 2009

Want To Get Rid Of Your Belly Fat? 3 Effective Solutions

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By Tanapon Laohaniwatworn

Trying to burn belly fat fast is not a tough thing to do,
though it can seem that way if you are trying to go about it
the wrong way. This article will show you some simple ways
you can start to burn belly fat without jumping on the next
crazy diet bandwagon or using an infomercial gimmick that
promises easy results in just "6 minutes per day".

Tip 1 - Avoid "quick fix" diets that promise overnight
results.


There are a lot of different "quick fixes", but what you
really want to avoid is using a "crash diet." A crash diet
essentially means that you try to starve yourself by
purposely eating as little as possible in hopes it will help
you burn fat. For example, many people try to eat only one
meal a day and try to maintain this as a lifestyle. A crash
diet will only cause you more grief than results. It will
put your body into starvation mode and crash your
metabolism. You may lose some belly fat but in the long run
your metabolism will slow down and you will lose muscle
mass
. This makes it even harder to burn belly fat.

Don't use a crash diet. Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals in a
day. This will keep you full, and will prevent spikes in
your blood sugar. Eating high quality protein (such as
chicken, turkey, fish, tuna, etc) will help you lose your
belly fat as these foods take a lot of energy to digest.

Vitamin rich foods packed with minerals and high nutritional
value such as fruits and vegetables will help you lose your
belly fat because they are not very calorie dense. This
means you can eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and not
consume as many calories as you would eating processed food.

This helps you burn belly fat and do it fast because you are
essentially eating more food but consuming fewer calories.

Tip 2 - Really push yourself when you workout!

If you do intense workouts as opposed to workouts where you
never really push yourself, then you will be on the right
track to burn belly fat fast. Pushing yourself hard when you
workout gets your metabolism going and it will keep it
elevated so you keep burning calories long after you are
finished working out.

The trick is to push your self hard for short periods of
time. Not for a long, extended workout.

Try the following exercises and read the instructions below.
You will feel a huge difference between the intensity of
this vs. your old workouts.

12 body weight squats

15 dumbbell swings

12 push ups

Do this series of exercises and do as many rounds as you can
in 10 minutes. You will feel how intense this workout is if
you do this!

Tip 3 - Instead of doing long, slow cardio, try doing
intervals.


Interval training will help you burn belly fat fast because
it will help boost your metabolism for hours after you are
done working out. High intensity interval training switches
back and forth from high and low intensities, so you are
still pushing your self out of your comfort zone for short,
quick bursts.

Since you alternate between these intensities in a very
meticulous way, you will find yourself working much harder
than before. 20 minutes of interval training often feels
like 60 minutes of normal, same speed cardio!

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Friday, 10 July 2009

Not Getting Enough Fruit & Veggies In Your Family's Diet? Try These 10 Tips

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We all know by now that we should be eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. But knowing and doing are two different things, aren’t they? Sometimes it is just not easy to get them all in there. We are constantly tempted to fill up on convenience and junk food. If your family is anything like mine, they’d much rather fill up on a bag of chips or a bowl of rice or pasta instead of trying an apple or a plate of steamed broccoli. So we’ll have to get creative. Here are a few ideas to “sneak” some extra vegetables and fruits in your family’s diet.

1. Start the day with a breakfast smoothie. All you have to do is throw some fruits, low-fat yogurt and ice in a blender. You may also want to add a scoop of protein powder in there for good measure. Just blend for a few seconds and you have the perfect breakfast ready to go. I like to sip mine in a thermal cup on the way to work. To make it even more appealing for your kids, use some frozen yogurt or a scoop of ice cream in the smoothie. They won’t believe that you are letting them have ice cream for breakfast.

2. Dried fruit makes an excellent snack any time of the day. Add some small cartons of raisins to your child’s lunch box, pack some yogurt-covered raisins in your husband’s briefcase and keep some trail mix sitting around for snacking. You can also add dried fruit to oatmeal and cereal in the morning. My family loves banana chips in their breakfast cereal.

3. Add some fruits and vegetables to your family’s sandwiches. You can add some banana, sliced apples or strawberry slices to a peanut butter sandwich. Top a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and anything else they will eat. You can even make a sub shop style vegetable sandwich by combining several different vegetables with some mayonnaise and cheese on bread.

4. Have a salad bar at dinner. Set out a variety of chopped vegetables, some cheese and croutons as well as several choices of salad dressing along with the lettuce and let everybody create their own perfect salad.

5. Let them drink their fruits and vegetables. Keep an assortment of fruit and vegetable juices in the fridge and encourage everyone to drink them as a snack. Get creative. You could start “family cocktail hour” by pouring everybody a glass of his or her favorite juice over ice. Add some straws, cocktail umbrellas and sit together to talk about how everybody’s day went.

6. Try this for dessert. Put a small scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt in a bowl and top it with lots of fresh or frozen fruit.

7. Offer fruits and vegetables as snacks. You can cut apples into slices and top them with peanut butter or cheese. Cube cheese and serve with grapes. Cut up some fresh veggies and serve them with ranch dip. And of course there’s ants on a log. Spread some cream cheese or peanut butter on the inside of a stick of celery and sprinkle raisins on it (wow, fruit and vegetable in one snack).

8. Try some new fruits and vegetables. Pick something exotic to get your family’s curiosity. With a little luck their curiosity will outweigh their initial apprehension to trying something new. You could try artichokes, plantains, papaya, mango, star fruit, or anything else you can find in the produce department of your local store.

9. Make a pot of vegetable soup or a stew that’s heavy on veggies and easy on the meat. Both of these make some great comfort food when the weather gets cold.

10. Start “My Veggie Day”. Each family member gets to pick a vegetable one day of the week. They qualify to pick a vegetable as long as they tried each vegetable the week before, otherwise they loose a turn and Mom gets to pick.

Incorporate a few of these ideas and you will have everyone in your family eating more fruits and vegetables in no time.

Here is another tip:

Now that everyone in the family has gotten a taste for it, make sure you always have plenty of fresh fruits and veggies available and ready to snack on.

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CPR - To Breathe Or Not To Breathe?

cpr, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, insulfation mouth to mouth, public health and safety, rescue breathing, american heart association, cpr training, medical training

By Samantha H Kiva

For many years, the old method of CPR deep breathing along
with chest compressions has been trained in all CPR classes
for the amateur and expert medical professional.

However, times are changing and so is the practice. To make
CPR more effective in emergency situations, there is a push
to eliminate the rescue breathing steps, just as checking
for pulse was removed awhile back for non-professional
rescuers.

The shift is not without controversy, but backed by two new
studies: one by the American Journal of Medicine (April
2006) and the other by The Lancet. The American Heart
Association
also changed its guidelines in 2008, based on
these findings.

The reports looked at deep breathing and non-breathing into
the victim and found an increase or nearly 100% in chance of
survival.

However, CPR with rescue breathing as a major component has
been around since the 1960s. Any change is sure to be met
with resistance, especially if the change is a matter of
life and death.

Hands only CPR does simplify the often complex method of
mouth to mouth breathing along with the proper timing of
chest compressions. Most non-trained persons will make
mistakes during an emergency. Hands only CPR makes a
mistake much less likely.

So now without any rescue breathing, the CPR method has been
streamlined to just include chest compressions until help
arrives.

You can not argue with facts and proper studies. However,
also you can not over look the personal factor. A recent
study shows many more people would be apt to get involved
and help if they do not face danger themselves. Most people
are concerned with the close personal contact with mouth to
mouth.

However, it should be noted that this change in technique
does not apply to drowning victims. The new hands-only CPR
is intended for untrained rescuers and only when there has
been a witnessed cardiac arrest.

If you want to read more about Online CPR Certification
visit the (http://www.nationalcprcertification.com) National
CPR Certification Organization.







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