| Wednesday, April 30, 2008 |
| Social Anxiety Disorder |
Anxiety is a typical reaction many people have to stress. It helps one to cope with tense situations, but when it becomes excessive and irrational then it becomes a disorder. A panic attack is a symptom of an anxiety disorder. This type of attack is a very serious health problem in the United States. Around 3 million people will have a panic attack at some time in their lives, with the peak age for the first attack being between the ages of 15 and 19. The symptom of panic is very different than other types of anxiety. In that they are so sudden and usually unexpected. Many times they are not provoked and can be disabling.
A panic attack will normally last for several minutes and is very distressing for the one who is experiencing it. Its symptoms can closely mimic those of a heart attack. Most people who have the first panic attack will continue to have others. If the attacks are repeated with no cause and the person feels anxiety about having another attack, he or she is said to be suffering from panic disorder.
Most symptoms of panic attacks appear suddenly and without any cause to them. Some symptoms may include: heart palpitations, upset stomach, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chills, terror, or the fear of dying or losing control.
Today, most medical doctors want to treat anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks, with medication while not looking in to where the symptoms are coming from. There are now many alternative approaches being used by both professionals and consumers to help control panic attacks:
• Herbs. Many herbs work as relaxants and tranquilizers and tend to soothe anxiety. Passion flower, St. John's Wart and valerian are common herbs used.
• Nutritional supplements. They help to support the nervous system and help with the effects of stress on the body. Vitamin B complex, Vitamin B6, Calcium and Magnesium are some suggested.
• Yoga. The exercises and breathing in yoga will help to control stress and anxiety.
• Hypnotherapy. Very effective for those with anxiety or phobias because it brings deep relaxation to the body.
• Food therapy. Whole grain, millet and rice have a calming effect and keep the nervous system healthy. Avoid artificial food coloring, additives and sugar; these all make panic attacks worse.
• Exercise. Very important to manage panic attacks. The adrenaline released during an attack needs to be worked out and you can burn it off by exercising. Those who exercise daily recover from anxious situations more quickly.
• Aromatherapy. Oils are very effective in treating stress and promoting relaxation. Rose, chamomile, lavender, vanilla and orange blossom all have a calming effect. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, April 29, 2008 |
| Best Skin Care Ingredients to Reduce Wrinkles and Fine Lines |
Are you searching for solutions on how to reduce wrinkles and fine lines? In this article, I will share with how you can reduce those unwanted wrinkles. You will get to learn the causes of those sagging skin and know what sort of product you should buy to protect against skin wrinkles.
What are wrinkles?
Do you know why you have wrinkles in the first place? What causes them to occur and what can you do about it?
Wrinkles are formed gradually due to old age. It is a natural process in life and there are many factors that can cause wrinkles to appear. Some of these factors include excessive exposure to skin, long term smoking, bad diet as well as not following a regimen to moisturize and protect your skin. Other factors include stress, living environments as well as hereditary.
In addition, you also need to know that our body consists of two vital proteins tissue - collagen and elastin. These two substances are responsible for our skin regeneration. As part of our natural aging process, the level of collagen and elastin decreases into our forties and fifties. When that happens, our skin structure becomes weak and skin defense weakens. That's when skin problems like wrinkles occur.
Here are some key ingredients you should take note if you want to reduce wrinkles and fine lines through the use of natural skin care products. These are the three most powerful ingredients I personally uses.
Phytessence Wakame
Wakame sounds likes Japanese, isn't it? Well, this is a type of unique sea kelp found in Japan. A great discovery is that this sea kelp, or Wakame is actually very beneficial in keeping our skin pliant and youthful looking. Studies have shown that wakame can prohibit the movement of harmful enzymes that block the reproduction of collagen and elastin.
Grapeseed Oil
It was a pleasant surprise myself when I first discovered that grapeseed oil can be used for skin care as well. In fact, it is a fairly powerful antioxidant that fights off free radicals in our body and makes the skin become smoother. Free radicals is one of the trigger factors for skin aging. So the lesser in our body, the better your skin. And grape seed oil can help you to achieve that aim.
Nano-Lipobelle H EQ10
This is a pretty long name for a skin care substance. The shorter version is Coenzyme Q10. You will find this ingredient in many anti-aging supplement. The most amazing thing about Q10 is that it can penetrate as deep as the seven layers of our skin to prevent skin aging. Very few ingredients can perform this feat but I know Q10 is definetely one of them.
There are many more ingredients that can help you to reduce wrinkles and fine lines but keep in mind these few ingredients first. Look for ways to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and you will be certainly be glad when you see your wrinkles improving.
And to help you get clearer and younger looking skin, I will like to share with you one anti aging skin care range that I found contains more active ingredients than any other cream on the market. These ingredients are effective moisturizers, because they penetrate deeply and "nourish". So, they never feel greasy. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
|
|
|
| Saturday, April 26, 2008 |
| Colon Cleansing Health Benefits |
On major TV shows and on the Internet celebrities have endorsed colon cleansing as an effective method for weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. This really works, I know cause I tried myself! The method I came across which proved to be very successful for me was the combination of Acai Berry with Colon Cleansing. After many failed attempts with popular diets like Atkins and Weight Watchers, losing weight and gaining it back again, I had enough!
With the combination of Acai Berry and Colon Cleanse I managed to lose over 20 pounds in one month! Colon Cleansing cleans out all the sludge and toxins that have built up inside of you for years so the first time you will experience a significant weight loss, and it's completely safe! Now I do a colon cleanse once or twice a year, which is enough cause I made Acai Berry part of my diet and it helps me suppress my appetite and keep my internal organs clean. Acai Berry and Colon Cleanse has changed my life and I now live in harmony with my body without the unhealthy roller coaster diets, just a healthy delicious Acai smoothie 1-2 times a day!
Here are some of the health benefits of colon cleansing:
1) Weight Loss - Colon Cleanse gets rid off toxins - which usually makes up about 2-3 inches of your stomach area!
2) Kills Parasites - An effective Colon Cleanse diet will get rid off harmful parasites while keeping the good ones.
3) Exercise - A Colon Cleanse diet allows for better body functions = more energy = More motivated to Exercise!
4) Skin & Hair- A healthy Colon will affect your whole body incl. healthier looking skin, nails and glowing hair!
5) Digestion - The main objective of a Colon Cleanse is to clean the digestive system. Getting rid off toxins and bacteria will prevent constipation, bloating, IBS and many other problems.
6) Illness Prevention - Colon Cleansing has proven to have an anti-aging effect and decrease illnesses such as diabetes, common cancers incl. colon cancer which currently kills over 50,000 Americans each year! |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:55 AM |
|
|
|
| Wednesday, April 23, 2008 |
| 3 Easy Ways to Beat Anxiety |
Anxiety can be very difficult to live with. It is a debilitating illness which lowers the effectiveness of the immune system to ward off other illnesses. High levels of stress can contribute to a high level of anxiety.
However, as it is impossible to avoid stress altogether, it becomes a necessity to manage our stress and tension levels using proven techniques. A reduction of Anxiety is fairly straightforward. The measures taken will also reduce your stress and tension level as a by-product. Additionally, interpersonal relationships should automatically improve too.
3 Top Tips to Beat Anxiety
1) Identify the factors which trigger your stress and anxiety and thereby seek ways of avoiding their occurrence.
Grab a pen and paper. Think about all things that make you feel anxious or stressed and write them down. Rate them on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 having a small effect upon you but a 10 having a large adverse affect. Then decide which factors to address on a priority basis.
Consider the factors in turn. Can you avoid them? Can you change your opinion of them?
Can you exert any control over the situation? Would counselling help?
Your future is at stake. Persevere with this step and take action until things are under control. Use the next two tips in conjunction with this one.
2) Reduce Anger:
Manage your anger, as it is potentially a huge trigger for increased anxiety. Do whatever you can to minimise your anger towards others; anger management classes, groups or books can help. Accept that you cannot change others and that everyone has their quirks, foibles and shortcomings, even you!
The people and things that you cannot control you will have to change your viewpoint towards in order to reduce your anxiety. You will need to learn to accept them as they are.
Develop a "give and take" attitude towards other people to reduce anxiety levels. By using techniques of reducing anger and increasing patience and tolerance towards others, your stress levels will reduce and you will find that interpersonal relationships cannot help but improve automatically.
3) Patience and Tolerance:
These two are well known positive traits that will help you to reduce anxiety levels. Although they may be difficult to acquire, these positive characteristics in your actions and thoughts will do much to combat your anxiety.
Again you need to accept the shortcomings of others. When someone doesn't measure up to your expectations, ask yourself how you could help them.
When situations frustrate you, ask yourself "how important is it really, in the whole scheme of things"? I used to get really annoyed in traffic, but now accept that there are a lot of bad drivers out there and that I can do very little about it by myself. So why get annoyed? It was only affecting my emotional well-being and no good came of it!
Patience is definitely a virtue worth attaining if you want to get rid of anxiety.
You moving towards an anxiety-free life is possible using the proven principles in this article.
Using these strategies, very soon you could be much happier and far less anxious in general. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
|
|
|
| Saturday, April 19, 2008 |
| Ingredients to Avoid For the Health of It |
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP:
HFCS is the number one source of calories for most Americans. You'll find high-fructose corn syrup in processed food, fast food, sodas, syrup that goes into your Latte from Starbucks, etc. HFCS is extremely toxic to your liver, increases inflammation, causes obesity, oxidative stress and creates an aggressive insulin response.
PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OILS (TRANS FATS): Partially hydrogenated oils are found in thousands of processed foods (breakfast cereals, cookies, chips, all CRAP food). Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease and contribute to obesity. Restaurant food, especially from fast food chains, often serve food loaded with trans fats.
Consequences of a diet high in trans fats include:
- ‘ inflammation
- “immune function
- “testosterone
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Decrease IQ - learning disabilities. American IQ has dropped 20 points in the past 20 years.
- Diabetes
- Elevated blood pressure
- Free radical production
- Heart Disease
- Interferes with neurological & visual development of fetus
- Liver damage
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Type II diabetes< style="font-weight: bold;">SODIUM NITRATE: This is a preservative, coloring, and flavoring commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer.
BHA and BHT: Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydrozyttoluene are used to preserve common household foods. They are found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips and vegetable oils. They are oxidants, which form potentially cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body.
WHITE SUGAR: Sugar is more addictive than cocaine! Sugar has a profound influence on your brain function and your psychological function. Sugar is highly acidic, the perfect environment for increasing cancer cells. Cancer cells love sugar.
When you consume excess amounts of sugar, your body releases excess amounts of insulin, which in turn causes a drop in your blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia.
Sugar consumption contributes to formation of gallstones and kidney stones. In addition, sugar is pro-flammatory damages skin collagen and promotes wrinkles, increases your appetite, depletes your body of B vitamins, causes joint degeneration, ADHD and other behavior disorders, stimulates cholesterol synthesis and weight gain.
SODIUM CHLORIDE: Commercial table salt is highly processed and full of aluminum, chemicals and additives which are toxic. Opt for a healthier version such as Bragg's amino acids or Celtic sea salt (light pink, grey or beige color).
ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS - ASPARTAME, SPLENDA, SWEET N LOW, EQUAL: Aspartame is an artificial, chemical sweetener found in many foods and beverages including desserts, gelatins, protein powder, low calorie foods, drink mixes and sodas. It may cause cancer or neurological problems, such as dizziness, migraine headaches, weight gain, increased appetite, bloating, rashes or hallucinations. Aspartame poisoning mimics symptoms of MS. NutraSweet is in over 7,000 foods! Artificial sweeteners should come with a warning label!
Side effects:
- ‘ Heart disease
- Bloating and edema
- Brain seizures
- Cancer
- Cravings
- Headaches
- Predispose you to Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease
- Rashes and hives
- Weight gain - results in obesity
FOOD COLORINGS: (Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 5, 6) Six food colorings still on the market are linked with cancer in animal testing. There is evidence that food coloring and food additives contribute to behavioral problems in children, lead to lower IQ, hyperactivity, ADHD, depression, etc.
Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods and pet food have been linked to cancer in mice.
Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, candy and baked goods have been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats. Read the list of ingredients in your child's cough syrup!
Green 3, added to candy and beverages, has been linked to bladder cancer.
Yellow 6 has been linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. Yellow 6 is added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods and candy.
Take home message - Stay away from any product listing an ingredient with a color plus a number.
PROCESSED/REFINED WHEAT AND GLUTEN: Refined grains are void of nutrients and disrupt insulin levels. Wheat and gluten have adverse health affects for approximately 80% of the population. Gluten is a protein found combined with starch in the endosperm of grains, notably wheat, rye and barley.
Gluten intolerance/sensitivity is severely misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed - one estimate says that 97% of all sufferers don't know they have the disease due to unfamiliarity with it among U.S. physicians.
Signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance: The ultimate effect of this hidden wear and tear is the slow destruction of the healthy mucosa, or lining tissue of the small intestine causing an auto-immune response that's similar to an allergic reaction. In some cases there may be symptoms in childhood such as allergies, asthma, anemia, reoccurring infections, a constant upset stomach or milk intolerance.
Other symptoms are nasal and throat mucous, feeling of food sitting in stomach, bloating, gas, diarrhea with periodic constipation, mental fogginess and skin rashes. In severe cases, as with Celiac disease, there can be seizures, psychosis, violent behavior and withdrawal from self.
Eliminate gluten-products for 3-4 weeks and tell me how great you feel.
SOY: Refined, unfermented soy is found in products such as soy protein, soy burgers, a variety of snack bars, soy hot dogs, etc. Soy is loaded with hormone-like substances. Soy inhibits the thyroid, is estrogenic, deficient in amino acids, depletes minerals from the body and shrinks the brain.
Fermented soy, in moderation, is a healthier option. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:55 AM |
|
|
|
| Wednesday, April 16, 2008 |
| HIV - Aids |
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and leads to the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. AIDS is not a disease itself but a failure of the immune system which leads to a collection of rare, life-threatening opportunistic infection.
Since AIDS was first recognised on 1st December 1981 it is estimated to have killed 25million people. HIV/AIDS is now pandemic which means it has spread across whole continents and in this case the world. It is thought that at the moment there are 40million people worldwide, living with HIV, 70% of them living in sub-Saharan Africa. Although HIV and AIDS are a major problem in developing countries and a leading cause of death it still has a massive impact here in the UK: about 63,500 people are now living with HIV.
HIV is a pathogen which is an organism that causes infectious disease; more specifically it is a retrovirus which means it breaks down DNA in cells and reassembles it in order to make copies of itself. HIV is such a problem for a number of reasons: firstly it can mutate easily so it is difficult for the body to recognise and it is difficult to develop a vaccine, secondly it attacks T-helper lymphocyte cells which are a vital part of the body's immune system.
HIV is transferred through the direct exchange of:
* Blood
* Semen
* Vaginal fluid
* Pre-ejaculate
* Breast milk
It can be transmitted by:
* Unprotected sexual intercourse
* Contaminated needles
* Breast milk
* Vertical transmission (from the mother to the baby at birth)
* Blood transfusions or blood products
HIV can't survive outside the body or be carried in a vector so it is only transferred through direct contact. However, it is present in bodily fluids as both a free virus and within infected immune cells. Saliva, sweat and urine do contain HIV if the person is infected but not in a high enough quantity to transfer the infection.
Symptoms of HIV:
* Fever
* Swollen glands
* Sore throat
* Rash
* Painful muscles and joints
* Headache
* Nausea and vomiting
* Ulcers
* Flu-like symptoms.
*
There are 4 stages in HIV infection, these are:
1. The Incubation Phase:
This stage is often asymptomatic and normally lasts 2-4 weeks.
2. Acute HIV Infection:
In this stage you develop an influenza-like illness with symptoms such as fever, weight loss, thrush and neurological symptoms. These symptoms are very non-specific so it is often not recognised as an HIV infection and can be diagnosed incorrectly as a more common infection with similar symptoms. The virus replicates rapidly and there is a marked drop in the number of T-helper lymphocytes. This stage lasts for at least a week and more normally a month.
3. Latency Stage:
The body's natural, strong immune defence reduces the number of viral particles in the blood and the infection seems to clear. This stage can last any time between 2 weeks and 20 years.
4. AIDS:
The T-helper lymphocytes decline in number so cell-mediated immunity is lost. This allows opportunistic infections to occur such as tumours, tuberculosis and pneumonia and it is these infections that actually kill the person.
Replication Cycle of HIV:
HIV has surface receptors called glycoprotein 120 and glycoprotein 41. Glycoprotein 120 attaches to the CD4 antigen receptors on the host cell. The virus releases an enzyme called lysozyme which digests part of the membrane, the viral envelope and the host's cell membrane fuse together. The virus' genetic material, RNA, is injected into the host cell along with the enzymes reverse transcriptase, protease, integrase and ribonuclease. In the cytoplasm reverse transcriptase makes a complimentary strand of DNA from the virus' RNA genome; it then makes a second complementary strand of DNA to form a double strand of DNA. Mutations often occur during transcription. The new DNA is transported to the cell nucleus and integrated into the host's DNA. When the cell replicates it also replicates the viral DNA which codes for the production of proteins to make new viruses. IT can lie dormant in the host's cell DNA or it can be activated by the host. When it is activated RNA is made from DNA to make the viral RNA genome. The RNA is translated to make viral enzymes and proteins, some functional proteins are formed by using the enzyme protease to cleave or cut a long polypeptide chain. Newly formed glycoproteins 120 and 41 are inserted into the host's cell membrane, the structural proteins surround the viral RNA forming a core and the virus is released from the cell by budding off. The rate of replication is fast, and therefore so is the rate of mutation. This means that there are many different strands of HIV making it difficult for the body to recognise and fight them and it is also difficult to develop an effective vaccine.
The Immune Response and T-helper Lymphocytes:
T lymphocytes are a specific type of white blood cell which are produced in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus. Mature lymphocytes circulate in the blood. T cells have specific surface receptors, similar to antibodies, which are specific to one antigen (a substance that is foreign to the body). This means that they are able to recognise a particular virus or bacterium etc. There are many T cells and different ones will have different receptors that recognise a different antigen. When the cells encounter an antigen in contact with a host cell they become activated. Activated T-helper cells release cytokines, (these are similar to hormones and are involved in cellular communication,) which stimulate another type of lymphocyte called B lymphocytes. These cells produce specific antibodies for the antigen, which either attract other immune cells to the site so that they can kill them or they help break up the antigen themselves. Cytokines can also stimulate a third type of immune cell, called macrophages, to kill the foreign particles. As well as secreting cytokines T-helper cells also divide to form memory cells so that if the person is infected by the same antigen the immune response will be quicker and more effective. . So although T-helper cells don't fight the antigens themselves they play a key role in recognition and stimulating attacks and when their numbers are low the body is unable to defend itself properly.
HIV infects and destroys cells which express a surface protein known as CD4. This includes primarily T-helper cells, but also macrophages and dendritic cells (other immune cells). The number of CD4+ T-helper cells drops meaning that the full range of antigens that could be detected aren't recognised. This is the core symptom of AIDS: pathogens that would normally be detected by T cells escape recognition allowing opportunistic infections to attack.
Prevention and Treatment:
At the moment there isn't a cure or a vaccine for either HIV or AIDS. This is mainly because the virus readily mutates so there are many different strands and although there might be a vaccine for one strand there will be other strands that are resistant and can continue to replicate and infect people. Therefore the best defense against HIV is prevention and avoiding exposure to the virus.
This can be done in a number of ways:
* Using condoms and not having unprotected sexual intercourse.
* Not breast-feeding your children if you are HIV+.
* Not sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia.
* Using sterile equipment, for example those used in surgery, tattooing and body piercing.
People at high risk are:
* Male homosexuals
* Prostitutes
* Injecting drug users
* Sexual partners of infected people.
In developed countries blood and blood products, such as organs, from donors are screened for HIV and heat-treated to kill any infections before they are used. However, this is not widely practised in the developing world and anybody undergoing an operation or blood transfusion in these countries is often asked to use their own blood for the operation.
Blood tests can be used to detect antibodies for HIV to identify infected people and to determine whether someone is HIV+ (infected). However antibodies to HIV can take up to three months to appear in the blood after infection, so you may test as negative but still be infected with HIV, also testing negative doesn't mean that you can't be infected by HIV.
It is difficult to control the spread of the HIV infection because it has a long latent stage between being infected and developing AIDS, also HIV can be asymptomatic so people may be unaware that they are infected. In the UK contact tracing is used where people diagnosed with HIV, if they want to or are able to, identify people they may have put at risk or may have infected them so that those people can be offered HIV tests.
Drug therapy has also been developed to slow the onset of AIDS, but it doesn't cure you or stop you from infecting other people. The drugs are expensive and have side effects such as: rashes, headaches and diarrhoea which are mild and temporary as well as nerve damage and abnormal fat distribution which are severe and permanent. Other side effects include insulin resistance, increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease and birth defects. Since they are expensive many infected people especially those in developing countries, do not have access to them. At the moment antiretroviral treatments are used and should be given as soon as possible after exposure to reduce the risk of infection.
The main treatment is Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy or HAART which is a combination of at least three drugs. If used correctly and started at the right time it may increase the life expectancy by an average of 32 years from the time of infection. Without HAART the progression of HIV to AIDS is about 9-10 years, and the survival expectancy after developing AIDS is about 9.2months. However, in some circumstances HAART is effective in less then 50% of patients. This is mainly due to non-adherence and non-persistence; HAART involves a complex, strict regime with a number of drugs such as how many pills to take and when. It may also be due to medication intolerance, side effects or infection by drug resistant strains.
HAART prevents the virus from replicating and allows the immune system to recover so the number of viral particles in the blood is reduced. The drugs used are similar to DNA nucleotides, which are the bases that make up the sequence of the genetic code. The drugs bind to the viral enzyme reverse transcriptase and block its action so that the viral genetic material can't replicate and the number of lymphocytes increases.
The drugs that are used for HAART are from several different classes. They include:
1. Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTI): These prevent HIV from copying its' genetic material and therefore stops it multiplying.
2. Protease Inhibitors: These prevent the virus from assembling its' protective protein coat as it stops protease from cleaving the long polypeptide chain into functional proteins so it isn't fully formed and can't operate.
3. Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI): These are similar to NRTIs.
4. HIV-fusion inhibitors: these stop HIV from fusing to the host's cells so it can't enter and change the genetic material. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
|
|
|
| Saturday, April 12, 2008 |
| Keep Your Brain Healthy With Omega 3 Oils |
Alaskan seafood has always been highly valued throughout the country and the planet for a variety of factors: first of all, the incredible flavors and textures that prevail in the Alaskan fisheries is without equal anywhere else; furthermore, the health benefits of Alaskan seafood have been made ever more evident with the passing of time, and from a general notion that eating such specimens was good for the body we have progressively moved to a more and more detailed understanding of the health benefits entailed in such a seafood-dominated diet. Among seafood in all the world's oceans-and particularly present in various species of Alaskan seafood-the one ingredient that is probably more beneficial to human health than any other has to be omega 3 fatty acids. Historically known for its role in promoting heart health, recent research has revealed very promising evidence regarding preventing mental decline with omega 3 oils.
It has been known for some time that omega 3 oils are vital building blocks in our neural pathways, and with that clue certain insightful scientists moved in the direction of verifying this molecule's role in promoting mental health. The results have been astoundingly clear and indisputable: preventing mental decline with omega 3 oils is just about the most effective measure a person can take when it comes to delaying or averting the onslaught of dementia and senility associated with the aging process. The studies conducted on the topic have revealed that with the steady daily consumption of only 400 milligrams of omega 3 oils (especially the EPA and DHA varieties) over a period of several years, elderly people were much less likely than their non-omega consuming peers to manifest symptoms of mental decline. To put that quantity into perspective, imagine that a 100 gram portion of Alaskan sockeye salmon (the world's most omega 3-rich product) contains roughly 2.7 grams of omega 3 oils, which is more than 5 times the recommended amount.
Hence, to conclude, it is painstakingly obvious that elderly people (and people of all ages, as this is a cumulative matter) should strongly consider preventing mental decline with omega 3 oils as their primary tactic for keeping their verbal fluency strong and their cognitive powers intact.
Alaska is home to an abundant variety of seafood, and offers some of the purest marine, freshwater, and upland habitats on the planet.
From the clear crystal waters comes seafood that is delicious and healthy. Alaskan seafood is low in fat but big on flavor and Omega-3 oils. You can study thousands of pages of nutritional research. Or, simply observe the amazing health and longevity of people in countries where seafood is the most important part of their diet. Either way, Alaska seafood is as healthy as it is delicious.
Are you are looking for a meal that is low in saturated fat, filled with nutrients and packed with good heart healthy Omega-3s oils? Then you should start with Alaska Seafood. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:55 AM |
|
|
|
| Wednesday, April 9, 2008 |
| Easy Ways to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally |
High blood pressure, hypertension, HBP, this silent killer has many names but all of them mean the same thing. If left untreated, the silent killer can kill you. Fortunately, HBP can be treated with many kinds of medications. There are natural and pharmaceutical medications that you can take that will control your blood pressure. Pharmaceutical can have a negative impact on your kidneys, liver and stomach. The side effects of the medications can be bad but the natural cures to lower blood pressure have very little to zero side effects. Let's discuss these natural cures that low blood pressure.
Natural cures does not necessarily mean backyard herbs. I also don't mean to say expensive elusive herbs. What I mean by natural cures is that you can do certain lifestyle changes that can help to regulate your blood pressure down to levels that are normal.
A simple natural way to regulate your blood pressure is to practice breathing exercises. Most people breathe very rapidly and take more than enough breaths per minute as they should. Fast breathing causes oxygen to become deprived in the blood stream by it not being absorbed in the lungs and this leads to high blood pressure to form. Since you inhale and exhale rapidly, fresh air doesn't last long enough in your lungs for the oxygen to be absorbed enough. Ideally you should take 10 breaths of fresh air per minute or less. So take some time during the day to time your breaths. Try to inhale and exhale once ever 6 seconds. This should total up to 10 breaths a minute. This will cause your blood to absorb enough oxygen and your blood pressure will lower.
Next you should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables can have a big impact on hypertension. As the food pyramid recommends, you should eat 5 servings of fruit each day. There are a bunch of delicious fruits. Such fruits are pomegranates, oranges, berries, apples, bananas, strawberries, cherries, etc. There is a lot of fruits that you can pick from which will help to lower your blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium and this mineral is proven to lower blood pressure when you consume enough of it.
Next, you should lose weight. Most of the people who are diagnosed with high blood pressure are typically overweight. You might not think you are overweight but ask your doctor and you will see that you are. Try losing 10 to 20 pounds. The less weight that you are carrying around, the less work your heart has to do to pump the blood around. This will lower your blood pressure dramatically.
You know the next thing I am going to tell you... Salt. You know it is bad for you, yet you continue to sprinkle it around as if it was harmless. Salt is very bad for hypertension. Salt increases your arterial blood pressure. The problem with salt is that it is very difficult to give up. You should try reducing your salt intake in steps. Don't quit cold turkey as you will just relapse into adding salt.
If you quit cold turkey, you will add more salt when you rebound than what you were adding before you went cold turkey. So gradually reduce your salt intake and you will see major improvements to your goal of lower blood pressure. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
|
|
|
| Saturday, April 5, 2008 |
| Protein - That's What You Need! |
If you are working really hard on that treadmill, pushing really firmly on the elliptical and kicking your butt on that stationary bike daily and still find yourself pulling your hair out with the mush of muscle that won't tighten up. Yes! Protein - that is what you really need now.
No matter how many times I work with a client, male or female, I still find it important to remind them of the need for tweaking their diet and nutrition to support their fitness efforts.
Muscle will not build itself on its own. Women, in particular, women aged 50-70 years old (i.e., post-menopausal women) that want to lose the extra weight we tend to gain during this cycle of life, cannot and will not make it happen by performing cardio training alone.
You cannot build muscle by burning it all up with hours and hours of aerobic conditioning. You will not create lean muscle mass in your desire to achieve weight and fat loss without training the muscle of your body. And, if you train muscle, you need protein to feed it.
The July 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association researchers reported, the association between dietary protein intake and loss of lean mass during weight loss in postmenopausal women through a retrospective analysis of a 20-week randomized, controlled diet and exercise intervention.
Weight loss was achieved by differing levels of caloric restriction and exercise. The diet-only group reduced caloric intake by 2,800 kcal/week, and the exercise groups reduced caloric intake by 2,400 kcal/week and expended <400 kcal/week through aerobic exercise. Average weight loss was 10.8±4.0 kg, with an average of 32% of total weight lost as lean mass. Protein intake averaged 0.62 g/kg body weight/day (range=0.47 to 0.8 g/kg body weight/day).
However, the participants who consumed higher amounts of dietary protein lost less lean mass and appendicular lean mass (r=0.3, P=0.01 and r=0.41, P<0.001, respectively). These associations remained significant after adjusting for intervention group and body size.
The study concluded, therefore, inadequate protein intake during caloric restriction may be associated with adverse body-composition changes in postmenopausal women.
Translated loosely.... to lose weight and retain lean muscle, women need to consume higher amounts of quality, dietary protein.
Suggested Anti-Aging Options to support increasing your protein intake:
* Start with eggs in the morning; egg whites for less clogged arteries; season with herbs and spices.
* Enjoy a salad or steamed veggies with chicken, beef or fish for lunch and/or dinner.
* Munch on nuts and berries for an afternoon snack.
* Consider a protein drink as a mid-morning or late evening snack. |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:55 AM |
|
|
|
| Wednesday, April 2, 2008 |
| Natural Blood Pressure Remedies - Home Blood Pressure Reduction Strategies |
Do you have high blood pressure otherwise known as hypertension? If you do know you have this condition you are not alone and are luckier than the one-third of people who do not and are therefore putting their health at risk.
Expressed as two figures given in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The natural pressure of a healthy young person who's been sitting down for five minutes shouldn't be more than 120/80mmHg. In general, a person is considered to have a problem when their reading is persistently higher than 140/90mmHg after three readings on separate occasions, even at rest.
You should call your health care if you have any of the following symptoms:
* Unexplained severe headache
* Sudden or gradual changes in vision
* Light-headedness/dizziness
* Nausea associated with severe headache
* Chest pain or shortness of breath upon exertion
Often these symptoms are often put down to other things and often medical care is not sought until more serious problems develop in the organs such as a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, loss of vision, peripheral arterial disease or an aneurysm. Around 1% of people do not seek medical intervention until the problem is very severe; a condition known as malignant hypertension.
Lowering it even just a little can cut your risk of having a heart attack by as much as 20 percent.
The cause of high blood pressure cannot be narrowed down to a single cause and all of the following factors can contribute: being overweight, drinking large amounts of alcohol, a stressful lifestyle, excessive salt intake, physical inactivity, the use of birth control pills, some drugs and kidney disease. In pregnant women, the development of the condition can lead to the potentially life-threatening conditions pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, in which the elevated reading usually returns to normal after the birth. Overall, men have a greater likelihood of developing hypertension.
Uncontrolled, the condition is a leading cause of heart disease, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure, vision problems, and stroke but you have options for treatment. Many people can lower their blood pressure significantly with lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and exercise, but most still need medication to keep within the healthy range, whatever your choice, it is still important to get regular checks to make sure it is under control. Common medicines used to control symptoms are as follows:
* Diuretics: They increase the amount of both water and salts removed by the kidneys from your blood. They also widen your arteries.
* Beta-blockers: They reduce your pulse rate, and this slowing down makes your heart work less hard.
* ACE Inhibitors: There are certain enzymes which constrict and tighten your arteries, and ACE inhibitors block them.
* Calcium channel blockers or alpha blockers: This category of drugs helps widen your arteries
Most people will feel well but some will suffer side effects. Fortunately these are few but one of the most distressing is impotence. If you experience impotence ask your doctor if your tablets could be responsible and whether you can change treatments.
You can help yourself a great deal by changing your lifestyle. The link between being overweight and having high blood pressure is strong. Being in the healthy range for your height can reduce the bottom figure of your reading by 20 points. Eating all the right foods, watching your alcohol intake and taking the right exercise are all positive, self empowering methods of reducing hypertension - and the only side effects are good ones! |
| posted by Healthy Life @ 9:36 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
