| Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
| Why I Shouldn't Eat Junk Food |
What is junk food exactly and why I shouldn't eat it?
Junk foods are high calorie, low or no nutrition foods, usually in the form of biscuits, milkshake, chips, soft drinks cakes, ready-made sauces and some yogurts. Fast foods are also categorized under junk food, include burgers and pizza. These foods are highly addictive because of its direct opiate affect on the brain often compared to painkillers not to mention incredibly delicious taste.
Direct link between junk food and obesity.
All fast and junk foods are high in carbohydrates and fat to the extent that researchers have found a direct link between all these unhealthy foods and obesity as well as other illnesses such as heart and liver disease, Diabetes and high blood pressure. Your body is also deprived from all the vitamins and minerals your body requires on a daily basis sourced mainly from your diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are absolutely essential to keep your body functioning the way it should.
Forbidden fruitThe greatest attraction to junk food is often the huge fuss made around the prohibition of the food. We are only human after all with our curiosity being tickled when we are warned to steer clear from a specific something. There is absolutely no need to hide junk food from yourself or anybody especially children. It will just creates the illusion of the food being forbidden fruit. Everything in moderation is fine. The secret is to fit the food into your or the children's diet in small portions and on a irregular basis.
Junk Food benefits.
The junk food coin has two sides, the other being beneficial. Some studies have shown that by totally eliminating fats and sugars from your diet you will stop the conversion process of these ingredients into essential energy. High sugar foods also increase concentration. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:55 AM |
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| Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
| Stress and High Blood Pressure - Are They Definitely Related? |
Stress and high blood pressure. People speak of them in the same sentence as if one leads to the other. Is it really so straight forward as that? In this article, I'll tell you why if you want to avoid the higher risk of premature death from high blood pressure that stress is just one aspect of your life that you cannot afford to ignore.
What Is Stress Anyway?
The word "stress" has become commonplace without people really understanding what exactly it is and what happens in your body during a stressful moment.
It is a reaction of anxiety to some external event or thought. The body thinks it is in a life threatening situation and releases chemicals like adrenaline into the body.
The heart rate and sweating increases - all to make the body prepared for action.
So why is this bad?
Side Effects
The problem is that we all get stressed simply during moments of ordinary life. But when it happens, we don't normally react physically.
This leads to various stress hormones remaining in the blood that can lead to high blood pressure.
Also, having a lot of these moments, or having them all day long will lead to increased blood pressure anyway.
How To Reduce Stress
To reduce it and help yourself, you need to stop yourself reacting. Anxiety is not inevitable, it is a product of a person rather than the situation. This is why some people get stressed and others do not.
Other Factors
Addressing this alone might be enough to get rid of your hypertension but you will likely also have to look at other areas of your lifestyle such as what you eat, especially. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
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| Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
| Calcium and Vitamin D - Important in Your Diet |
Sufficient amounts of calcium are required for bone strength. The body uses calcium for the heart, blood, muscles and nerves. Without the proper amount of calcium intake, the body will strip calcium from the bones where it is stored, causing the bones to get weaker.
This is pretty much common knowledge...but did you know that vitamin D is necessary in helping with absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract into the body and with re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys that would otherwise have been excreted?
Men and women need between 1,000 and 1500 mg of calcium a day, children ages 4 - 8, 800 mg/day and those 9 - 18, 1300 mg/day.
Milk is the best source of calcium. Three 8 oz. glasses a day easily meets a child's need, with soy and rice milk fortified with calcium and vitamin D being acceptable.
Below are some of the foods rich in calcium:
Dairy products: milk, yogurt, cheese
Leafy green vegetables: broccoli, kale, spinach
Fruits: oranges
Beans and peas: tofu, peanuts, peas, black beans, baked beans
Fish: salmon, sardines
Miscellaneous: sesame seeds, blackstrap molasses, corn tortillas,almonds, brown sugar
In the US, milk is fortified with vitamin D, and a few other foods are sometimes also vitamin D-fortified (such as some types of cereal and bread). This vitamin occurs naturally in only a few foods, such as fatty fish (salmon, sardines) and egg yolks. In addition to dietary sources, sunlight can provide the body with vitamin D as it is synthesized through the skin. Fifteen minutes of sunshine two to three times a week primarily on hands, arms,face will satisfy the body's needs for vitamin D, but sunscreen reduces the body's ability to absorb sunlight ... needed to manufacture vitamin D.
Eating a diet rich in vitamin D is more challenging than calcium as vitamin D is found naturally in only a few foods, like fatty fish (e.g., salmon), liver and cod liver oil, and egg yolks. However, vitamin D fortified foods, such as many types of milk, cereal, bread, and orange juice, are widely available.
Also, there are vitamin D supplements. Calcium supplements and multivitamins also can contain vitamin D, so those using them are advised to read all labels carefully, and if necessary, to discuss intake with their physician or pharmacist. Since excessive doses of vitamin D can be harmful, people are advised to talk with their doctor about the right intake for their particular situation if you don't think you are taking in enough in your daily routine.
Importantly, recent research has pointed to phosphorus and carbonated beverages (which contain phosphoric acid) as having a negative impact on bone density.
Theoretically, the equilibrium between phosphorus and calcium causes the latter to be replaced in bone by the former. While this has yet to be proven as a significant cause of calcium loss, milk is still considered the preferred drink when compared with carbonated drinks of any sort.
So...when you hear someone say those familiar words... drink all of your milk.... you now know the true meaning of those words.... and why that milk is Vitamin D fortified. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:55 AM |
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| Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
| Preventing Childhood Obesity - Get Your Child on the Right Track to a Healthy Life |
As parents, we always want to protect our children and make them love us. We don't want them to ever hate us because they mean far too much to us. All we want is for them to have the best lives possible and we want to help them as much as we can.
Sometimes though, a parent's love can go to far and the balance between love and toughness is gone. If your child wants sweets, you want them to be happy so you give them a few cookies. Then before you know it, your habits have turned your child into an obese kid. How could you let this happen and what are you to do now?
Childhood obesity is something that children do not grow out of. It is not like the terrible twos, which pass over time. If your child is overweight or at risk of becoming overweight you need to make changes in both of your lives now.
Your child can't get sweets and fatty foods if you don't buy them. You need to make your house a healthy house and introduce your child to delicious fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges and peaches. These fruits are sweet enough to mistaken for candy but they are filled with nutrients. You also need to get your child to exercise so instead of letting them watch movies and play with toys, the park is a great alternative. Kids can burn all sorts of calories at the park by running, lifting and doing all sorts of activities.
You are very protective of your child and you would do anything to make them better. You can't stand to look at your overweight child and know that it is all your fault. You were the one allowing this to happen. Although you can't take what you did back, you certainly can treat and prevent it from happening again. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
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| Saturday, March 15, 2008 |
| How to Grow Taller - Nutritional Factors That Affects Growth |
It is important that you nourish you body with all the vitamins and minerals it needs to keep you growing taller. Eating nutritional foods and having it supplemented with the right exercise and complete rest, would allow you to gain more of the height that you desire.
One of the growing taller tips that you can get is, to actually obtain a healthy lifestyle, and get along with the right nutrition that your body needs. Without a doubt the type of food that we eat can definitely affect our growth, height and whole well-being. If you are not aware of what foods can help you maintain a healthy well-being, and those that promotes a growth factor for your body, then this would help you enough on what you don't know.
Here are some tips for healthy nutrition together with your aim to grow taller:
1. Take note of your eating patterns. Your eating patterns may have to do with the regular hours when you take in food into your body. You have to follow that same pattern most of the time.
2. Make sure that you do not skip a meal. Doing so, would not be beneficial to your health.
3. Breakfast is an important meal, so you have to stick with it every morning. You may eat two hours before starting your daily exercise routine. However, make sure that you do not take large quantities of meals during breakfast.
4. You need to avoid sugars, soda drinks, and most of that sweet stuff. Instead of growing taller, these stuff makes you bigger in size.
5. Of course, as our parents would always advice us to eat -- eat plenty of green vegetables and fruits, whole grain cereals and whole wheat bread are also recommended.
6. Take note that your body needs proteins. Proteins are composed of amino acids which are building blocks of cells in the body. Proteins are essential components of substances, hormones and elements inside the body which could help you in growing taller.
7. Make sure that you get a lot of sleep for your body to regain strength, and enough to rebuild the energy you lost during the day.
8. Lastly, avoid engaging yourself with unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, which may cause other complications aside from hindering you to grow taller.
This would be a good start for you in preparing yourself, just in case you decide joining a height increase program. Take note of these things, and you'll definitely find yourself growing taller little by little. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:48 AM |
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| Wednesday, March 12, 2008 |
| Migraines Have Many Causes - Is Fat on Your Belly Causing Your Migraine Headaches? |
Migraine headaches have many causes, but here's a possible new "cause." Belly fat has been linked to migraine headaches by researchers. Yes, belly fat.
Researchers from the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia found women with more belly fat had 29% more likelihood of migraines than slimmer women. B. Lee Peterlin, researcher, said, "This does not suggest that if you lose your extra abdominal fat it will cure your migraines." The heavier men in the study had more migraines than the slimmer men, but the margin was smaller.
In order to get a "clean" research result, everyone must follow the same protocol and steps. No researcher participant can look at other aspects of a problem outside of the immediate one being researched. That would cause the results to be inaccurate. This means that research has limitations. No study can look at all sides of an issue.
Well, as it happens, I've suffered with lots and lots of migraines. Over the years, I've learned a great deal about what causes migraine headaches and what we can do to relieve them naturally.
So, here are some of my thoughts about this "belly fat" issue and migraines.
1. Is it possible that the women with heavier midsections had more estrogen? My understanding is that estrogen can also come from body fat. In some women, estrogen contributes to migraines. Estrogen also helps us pack on fat.
2. Perhaps the people with more belly fat were constipated. Constipation causes migraines. Is it possible they ate more of the types of foods, artificial sweeteners or beverages that cause constipation and migraine? Those foods might cause weight gain. Also, many migraine medications cause constipation.
3. Or, maybe these study participants had more belly fat because they moved their legs less. If they walked more (which also helps relieve constipation) would they have fewer migraines?
4. If the women and men with more belly fat in the study move less than the thinner people, is that because their heads hurt more? If so, is that why they had more midsection fat?
5. There are people who try to "eat their migraine." In an effort to lessen their symptoms, they stuff themselves. Eating sometimes causes some relief. Were the heavier people the ones who tried to control their migraines by eating more than they needed?
6. Is it possible the heavier women and men moved less because they had poorer posture or perhaps scoliosis? Poor posture is a very common cause of migraines and headaches and so is scoliosis (curvature of the spine.)
Well, you can see that I don't have all the answers, either, and I'm no researcher! But I am full of questions. I don't want to know only that something hurts; I want to know WHY it hurts. Then you can fix the WHY. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
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| Saturday, March 8, 2008 |
| Best Hair Loss Treatments - Which Are Best at Stopping Your Hair Loss? |
The best hair loss treatments can appear to be quite difficult to find in among all the terrible ones. In this veritable minefield of choices, how can you know which will work and how to avoid the rip-offs? In this article, I'll give you a brief overview of your choices.
Surgery
Hair loss surgery normally entails the transplantation of hair follicles from one part of the head (normally the back) to the front of the scalp where the hair is receding.
It typically costs $20,000 and the results are by no means guaranteed. They are as variable as with other forms of cosmetic surgery.
"Natural" Pills
The supplements market is huge and for several decades some companies have tried to sell "hair loss formulas" that apparently stop your hair loss and help you to grow back the lost hair.
Upon reading the labels, you will normally find an abundance of different vitamins and minerals. So do they work?
Sadly, no amount of vitamins and minerals alone will do anything for your hair loss. At best, they will help you get a more healthy sheen or look to your hair if your diet is quite poor and otherwise leaving you deficient in necessary nutrients.
Drugs
There are only a handful of drugs available for treatment of male pattern baldness. Unfortunately, none of these were actually invented for this treatment originally - they were in fact made for treatment of high blood pressure and enlarged prostates. For this reason, they have a host of common side effects that can include breast development and even sexual dysfunction.
They also cost a great deal - several thousand dollars per year.
Natural Hair Tonic
These hair tonics use ingredients that precede drugs by several thousand years. At first, it may sound like a natural ingredient surely cannot stop your hair loss.
But on further investigation, such herbal hair tonics follow the same principles as drugs but without the debilitating side effects.
What's more - they cost a fraction of the price as you can easily make them at home with a few basic an cheap ingredients. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:48 AM |
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| Wednesday, March 5, 2008 |
| Looking For Panic Attack Information? Learn How to Treat Panic Attacks the Easy Way |
For some people, anxiety and panic attacks completely overcome their lives and they tend to fear the entire world that they live in.
If you are afraid to step outside of your door for fear of having an anxiety attack then perhaps you need to look into a way to treat anxiety attacks. There is plenty of information that will help you; you can even take a look into panic attacks information as well.
Anxiety and panic attacks are disorders that can completely trap people. When you look into panic attack information you are going to learn about what can trigger an anxiety or panic attack.
Information like this is going to help you get a better grasp on the situation which will also help you to treat anxiety attacks. Once you know all about your disorder, the next step is going to be treating as well as overcoming.
There are many home remedies that you can look into as well that work incredibly effectively. There are also pills and supplements that you can look into, but those tend to be a bit more expensive and if you do not have the money then you may want to go the natural way.
When you are looking to treat anxiety attacks, make sure that you know that there are effective ways that can help. If you allow yourself to let go and beat your disorder, then you can! Take a look at panic attacks information that can come to your rescue as well! |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
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| Saturday, March 1, 2008 |
| Stop Hair Loss - Natural Formulas to Stop & Stimulate Hair Growth |
Having a problem on your crown jewel? Finding yourself trying not to look into the mirror every morning? You search through the Internet for information on anti hair loss treatments to solve the problem. What should you look out for?
You may have searched through Google or other major search engines and found that there are many different ways to treat this condition. How should you choose the type of treatment suitable for you? Are the treatments safe?
If you are keen to learn more on the natural recipes to treat this condition, read on. These recipes make use of natural herbs, spices and food items that specifically are known for their ability to penetrate the scalp and stimulate keratin production.
A substance called polysorbate 80, when applied to the scalp, is known to deter dihydrotestosterone (DHT)from attacking the papilla. It increases the histamine levels to promote growth. These can be found in common foods such as salad dressings and mayonnaise.
Other natural herbs such as rosemary, nettles, cayenne peppers are known for as safe alternatives to expensive drug therapies. A simple scalp stimulating formula using any one of these herbs and combined with water and vodka can be used. Stinging nettle is known to stimulate circulation of the scalp and is a natural cleanser. Hence using a basic nettle formula with water and white vinegar is another way to stimulate the scalp.
The hair is made up of 97% protein and hence consuming food high in protein and vitamin B will aid in stimulating growth.
Other natural ingredients such as Muria Puama, which Brazilians used it traditionally to reduce this condition. Another ingredient, Saw Palmetto whose fruits are a rich source of fatty acids and phytosterols not only is good for prostate health, it is also good to inhibit DHT when combined with nettle. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:48 AM |
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