Best Diet For Weight Loss – One Size Fits All
Just what is the best diet for weight loss?
Chances are that the topic of diets has come up a time or two in the course of your daily conversations, usually in the form of you or one of your friends confessing those familiar words…
“I need to go on a diet!”
And even if you aren’t trying to lose weight, the statistics would say that you know someone who is; given that about 1 out of every 3 adults in the United States is overweight. This according to (NHANES), arguably the largest source of objectively measured health data. Astounding statistics, especially in light of the fact that we are the most heavily dieted nation on the planet. Fad diets have literally taken us by storm; everything from low-carb crazes such as the Atkins and Zone, to other alternatives like the South Beach claim to be the best diet for weight loss.
Yet, sad to say, the obesity epidemic is only getting worse…
Perhaps it’s time to rethink all of this diet talk. After all, someone once said “it’s foolish to keep doing the same things and expect different results…” And amidst all of this many experts are still scratching their heads, wondering just what we would do to see a change in the current weight crisis. Upon which a simple reply is uttered… “Why would we not just take notes from those who have mastered the weight issue?”
As hard as it is to believe, societies exist where obesity is almost completely unheard of. In fact, societies where people are lean and fit past the century mark. So what is their secret? The answer may surprise you… Their diet! Not in the sense that we have come to know it. Diet meaning food quality and food choices. There is no question of best diet for weight loss among these people, they have practiced it for centuries.
Just what is so different about the food they eat? For starters, pesticides and preservatives are non-existent. They hold tight to the old saying “you are what you eat.” They understand that consuming chemically altered food affects both body metabolism and hormone production; to say nothing of overall health. Their diets also differ significantly in the area of food choices. Things like red meat and dairy products are consumed in very little portions, if at all. In fact, the vast majority of calories consumed by these societies are of the plant variety. They do eat meat, but only in very small
portions.
Such a profound difference in diet is often frowned upon in our culture. However, the many who nock the eating habits of these lean societies, simply can’t argue with the results. They also can’t argue with the weight loss results that are being experienced by the multitudes who have taken up this “new approach to diet.” We are beginning to discover that when it comes to the best diet for weight loss, it truly is one size fits all.
Jason Clemens is a leading weight loss and nutrition expert.
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On A Diet? Use a Chef, Not A Dietician, to Prepare Your Meals
There is no way around it. An effective nutritional game plan blends science with taste. Diet food stinks because the foods are bland, repetitive and unimaginative. Either that or they are trans-fatty acid, frozen TV dinner, nightmare meals sold as a “healthy alternatives.” Frozen “diet foods” contain more chemicals preservatives than the medical lab at your local hospital. Some people use willpower to overcome taste habits.
Most people don’t have (or desire) this iron-willed determination and drive for perfection. The iron ruler types tend to dismiss those who can’t hang with 24-7-365 helpings of George Foreman-grilled chicken breast, rice and broccoli. (Ad infinitum ad nauseum) Iron Ruler types say “You just don’t want it bad enough!” The sane way to develop an effective performance eating regimen is to get your nutritional science and facts together, then seek out food preparation tips from the world’s great chefs. We want to learn how to inject flavor and variety and imaginative flair into our everyday food preparation.
Performance eating is a Purposeful Primitive phrase and could be called, “beyond dieting.” Dieting is all about calories: performance eating is about nutrients. Calories are certainly a part of the PE equation, but nutrient manipulation is synchronized with cycled weight training and cycled cardio. Get the three elements of the PP fitness triad lined up and moving in the same direction and reap optimal physical results in a minimum timeframe.
We need do our own food preparation. To depend on mom or the wife or the girlfriend to make our meals is a major imposition and you lose the element of control. You become dependant on another for results. Besides – we’re not talking rocket science. Assuming you have a propane grill a Weber grill, a stove and a skillet, how easy is it to grill a perfect steak, sauté a perfect rainbow trout filet, steam shrimp in beer, hickory smoke a brace of “beer can” chickens on the Weber grill? These are easy to prepare and they are all diet foods people! So easy to prepare its ridiculous: we all need become miniaturized Iron Chefs.
Culinary proficiency is easy! As any celebrity chef worth their kosher salt will tell you, what makes a dish taste great are fresh ingredients. Prepare them minimally. When an ingredient is freshly harvested (animal, fish, fowl, fruit or vegetable) the unique flavor of that ingredient is at its freshest and most vibrant. A top chef knows not to smother, muffle or dilute that unique vibrancy of flavor: just prepare it in such a well that the natural tastes are presented with minimum interference. Stand back and let that incredible flavor shine through!
You know how to make a perfect steak? Buy the best meat. Find a butcher shop and get the good stuff. Some experts will coat the meat with a light coating of olive oil; most don’t coat the meat with anything. Let the beef sit out on the kitchen counter for three hours before grilling to allow the intracellular fat to soften. Salt and pepper both sides. Throw the steak on a blazing hot grill and let it sit and sear shut on one side. After a minute or two, flip the steak and sear the other side – not quite as long…this seals in all the good stuff. Place the seared steak on a cool part of the grill away from flames a let it roast until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 140-degrees for medium rare. How hard is that?
Want to roast a perfect chicken? Slather it in olive oil or safflower oil, season it, and stick it in the oven for 45-minutes at 350. Fish fillets? Easy. Vegetables? Easy. The key is obtaining fresh ingredients and having the tools and an arsenal minimalist recipes ready to roll out and use…easy to prepare and all ready to eat inside 15-minutes. Purchase quality cuts of lean beef, seek the freshest fish and shellfish, fowl can be prepared dozens of ways, each tastier than its predecessor and all falling within the acceptable performance eating limitations.
Fresh vegetables can be prepared in a myriad of delicious ways. Sautee thin cut vegetables in olive oil or safflower oil, bake sweet potatoes and yams, basmati rice is exotic and acceptable and delicious…on and on it goes. You can eat so many varieties of acceptable diet food that it boggles the mind.
There is plenty of room for variety and imagination when it comes to imaginative preparation of what we can and should eat. One night grill filet beef medallions…then the next salmon, pan fried with baby onions and red peppers from the garden…scallops in extra virgin olive oil…beer can roast chicken…hickory smoked turkey…ditto vegetables…roasted, grilled, baked, sautéed, steamed or flash fried…I would rather have a chef as my dietary guru than a clinical scientist, a dietician, RN or medical doctor – scientist all too often reduce diet strategy to numbers (calories) and neglect any and all reference to the psychological aspects of food control.
The most important single factor in successfully dealing with the nutritional leg of the Purposefully Primitive philosophy is psychological: you have to maneuver your psyche into a new perspective: taste can be built into “diet foods” and therefore there is no reason to eat forbidden foods. Some foods are easily converted into body fat: sweets, saturated fat, alcohol and man-made stuff…pasta, pies, cookies, chips, etc. Some foods are virtually impossible for the body to transform into body fat: protein devoid of saturated fat, fibrous carbohydrates. We bias our food selections towards foods hard to transform into fat and shy away from foods that easily find their way to fat storage depots.
We eat often. We eat those foods that will be used for energy, used to build muscle or excreted. By eating smaller amount more often you are never hungry and 80% of binges occur when the person is hungry. Since we know exactly what ingredients are in-bounds and out-of-bounds, we know what food types to steer clear of. We don’t need a scientist or dietician to tell us what to eat, how much to eat or when to eat it. We know that already. What we really need is someone like Mario or Bobby Flay or Anthony Bourdian to show us a dozen ways to prepare a chicken breast, or how best to prepare a piece of fish and make these dishes so delicious we are totally oblivious to the fact that they are diet foods. I have eaten diet foods so delicious that you’re thinking about second helpings within the first two bites.
It tastes so good you instinctively glance towards the bowl or pan to see if there are any more left. If there is, you wolf down the piece on your plate. If there is no more, you slow down to a snail’s pace and savor every bite…Top culinary experts can show us how to best assemble the approved ingredients. I’d rather eat 500-calories of an outstanding dish than 500-calories of bland prison gruel. If my divine portion is slightly smaller than its bland-0 opponent, I’ll take quality over quantity every single time.
Coming soon! “The Obesity Solution” is designed to help overweight men and women physically transform themselves into healthier, thinner, more fit individuals. Designed by Marty Gallagher, a world champion coach and former washingtonpost.com fitness columnist, he will take you by the hand to help you achieve permanent fat loss.
For more information, visit purposefullyprimitive.com/announce.html purposefullyprimitive.com/announce.html and get a FREE special report on how to stick to a diet the easy way!
The Use of Flax Seed Oil For Fatty Acid Supplementation
Flax seed oil is high in omega 3 essential fatty acids which are vital for physical and mental wellbeing. In addition it has smaller amounts of omega 6 fatty acids which although also important for physical and mental wellbeing are normally too high in comparison to the levels of omega 3. Flax seed oil can help to balance these essential fatty acids in the diet and so provide many of the benefits associated with omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids.
Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids for example are both vital for proper brain functioning as the brain consists of a high percentage of fats and these essential fatty acids are also involved in communication between nerves in the brain. People who are deficient in either omega 3 or omega 6 fatty acids are therefore likely to experience mental difficulties including not being able to concentrate and depression. Children low in these fatty acids have also been shown to be more likely to experience attention deficit disorder. Flax seed oil, as we have mentioned, is high in omega 3 and less so in omega 6 essential fatty acids and therefore flax seed oil supplementation has been found to help in these cases.
Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are also useful for weight management and flax seed oil supplementation by providing both these nutrients can help you achieve your goal weight as they stabilize blood sugar, reduce food cravings and encourage the body to burn more fat.
Omega 3 fatty acids are also known to help lower bad cholesterol, raise good cholesterol and reduce triglyceride levels. Flax seed oil can be used to supplement omega 3 essential fatty acids and therefore provide these benefits for people suffering from high cholesterol.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids are also able to lower high blood pressure but researchers feel that ALA from flax seed oil for example may be a better supplement for omega 3 essential fatty acids in this case than fish oil due to the fact that fish may contain a high level of mercury which would be harmful in this case.
Flax seed oil is a great way omega 3 essential fatty acid supplement to include in your diet. Omega 3 essential fatty acid is vital for proper physical and mental wellbeing and flax seed oil contains a high concentration of omega 3 essential fatty acids as well as a little omega 6 essential fatty acid which although it is necessary for the body is often out of balance with the omega 3 in the body. Anyone wanting to ensure excellent health and wellbeing should therefore consider taking a flax seed oil supplement.
Learn more about omegaflaxseedoil.com/benefits/flaxseedoil/raw_Flax_Seed_Recipes_For_Your_Health.html raw flax seed recipes on our site. You’ll also find other information such as omegaflaxseedoil.com/benefits/flaxseedoil/the_Nutritional_Value_Of_Flax_Seed.html nutritional value of flax seed and omegaflaxseedoil.com/benefits/flaxseedoil/regular_Canadian_Flax_Seed_And_Dakota_Golden_Flax_Seed.html Dakota Golden flax seed. OmegaFlaxSeedOil.com is a comprehensive resource to help individuals gain the benefits of essential nutrition such as flax seed oil, omega 3 and vitamin B12.
Cheap Contact Lens
Many people who use glasses to correct their vision have a sense of inferiority about their looks. They want to switch over to contact lenses but most of the time the high cost of the contact lenses makes them unapproachable. For such people, cheap contact lens available these days is a great sigh of relief.
There are large numbers of companies that are offering cheap contact lens for people who cannot afford the contact lens that are of high price. Cheap contact lenses are also available in various colors for those who want to highlight their eyes and hide the true color of their eyes.
In order to buy cheap contact lenses, it is important that you have the prescription of your doctor that has the accurate measurement of your vision. The prescription has the recommended measurement for your lens along with the measurement of the eye.
The best place to get the cheap contact lenses is the Internet. There are large numbers of companies that offer you with the cheap contact lens. The reason for getting the contact lens cheap on the Internet as compared to the regular market is the fact that the companies save a lot of money that would have been spent on establishing a lab. Hence the cost involved in setting up a lab is saved and the benefits of which can be seen in the lower cost of the lenses. The only reason of concern of such low cost contact lens is the quality. Before you make your order, make sure that the companies are not compromising the quality for the sake of reducing the cost of the contact lenses.
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The Respiratory System: Tracing the Vital Life Sustaining Process
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Intake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide are the primary functions of the respiratory system. The respiratory system carries out these life-sustaining acts in close coordination with the circulatory system. Most of the time, we remain blissfully unaware of these automatic functions.
The respiratory organs deliver oxygen to the circulatory system. The circulatory system transports the oxygen to all body cells. Oxygen is used by cells to liberate the energy needed for cellular activities. The respiratory system also removes carbon dioxide. Thus, the circulatory system prevents the buildup of this lethal waste byproduct in the body tissues.
Irreversible damage to tissues can occur if the respiratory system is halted even for a few minutes. This can cause failure of all the other body systems. The consequence is death!
NOSE COMMENCES THE RESPIRATORY PROCESS
The respiratory system begins from the nose. It ends in the lungs. The respiratory system is broadly divided into two parts, viz., the upper and the lower respiratory tracts. The upper respirator tract is made up of the nose and the throat (pharynx). The lower respiratory tract includes five organs. They are the voice box (larynx), and the windpipe (trachea), bronchi, bronchioles and the lungs. The trachea splits into the two branches called bronchi. The bronchi further gets divided into further smaller branches called bronchioles. The lungs are a pair of spongy saclike organs.
The bronchioles, bronchi, trachea, larynx, pharynx and the nose transport air to and from the lungs. It is the lungs that interact with the circulatory system for delivering oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the lungs.
THE RESPIRATION PROCESS
Respiration is a two-pronged process. It involves the respiratory and the circulatory systems. Respiration connotes the coordinated functioning whereby the cells are delivered oxygen and the lethal carbon dioxide is removed.
The first phase: The nose begins the first phase of respiration. This is done with inhaling or inhalation (breathing in). The process brings in air along with oxygen from outside the body into the lungs. From the lungs, oxygen goes via the blood vessels to the heart. The heart pumps the oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. The first phase of respiration ends with the oxygen moving into the cells from the bloodstream.
The second phase: The second phase commences after the oxygen gets into the cells. The cells use the oxygen to produce energy. This independent process is called cellular respiration. It produces the byproduct — carbon dioxide. The accumulated carbon dioxide now moves from the cells to the bloodstream. Next, the bloodstream transports the carbon dioxide to the heart. Then, the carbon dioxide-laden blood is pumped back to the lungs.
The third phase: Again the nose comes into picture during this stage. The lungs push the byproduct to the nose from where it is exhaled or breathed out. This is the final or the third stage when the body gets rid of the carbon dioxide. At the end of the third stage or the entire respiratory cycle another one starts automatically.
OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
The respiratory system further regulates the balance of acid and base in tissues. This balancing act is crucial for the normal functioning of cells. It protects the body against disease-causing organisms and toxic substances inhaled with air.
The respiratory system also houses the cells that detect smell.
Moreover, the respiratory system assists in the production of sounds for speech.
THE OLFACTORY NERVE
The brownish olfactory nerve is also called olfactory receptors. The olfactory nerve inside the nose is the main nerve of smell. The olfactory region is made up of thick nasal soft mucous membrane. Its brownish color is because of a pigment. The olfactory nerve ends in minute varicose fibers (several small branches). These fibers ultimately conclude in the epithelial cells. Mentionably, the epithelial cells project into the nasal free surface.
The olfactory nerve is the first to know of any chemicals that may enter the nasal passages. The receptors immediately trigger off a signal to the brain. This creates the smell perception.
THE ESOPHAGUS
Esophagus is a muscular tube. The esophagus carries food from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus and the pharynx situated behind the mouth swallow the food and move it to the stomach. The stomach temporarily stores the food, mixes it with digestive juices, and carries out some digestion. The esophagus also holds the stomach contents in place. Actually, this function is carried out by the lower esophageal sphincter. This sphincter is a muscle. It is located at the lower end of the esophagus.
THE PHARYNX
The pharynx is a passageway for both air and food. The pharynx connects the nose and mouth with the windpipe (trachea) and the food pipe (esophagus). The pharynx is a muscular tube. The pharynx is located within the neck. The pharynx is lined with a mucous membrane. The pharynx is approximately five inches (13 cm) in length. The pharynx lies in the front of the spinal column.
The upper portion of the pharynx is known as nasopharynx. The name arises as it begins in the back of the nasal cavity.. The lower part is oropharynx. It points to that area in the back of the mouth. The pharynx ends at the epiglottis. Epiglottis is a flap of cartilage. Epiglottis prevents food from entering the trachea. However, the epiglottis allows the food to enter the esophagus. Two eustachian tubes connect the pharynx to the middle ear. These eustachian equalizes the eardrums air pressure.
The pharynx can be infected via the mouth as well as the nose. Sore throat involves pharynx infection (pharyngitis) or throat inflammation. Pharyngitis can be due to infectious mononucleosis, herpes, and viral infections. The viral infections are German measles (rubella), influenza, and common cold. It can also be caused by bacteria like staphylococcal, streptococcal, chlamydial, and diphtherial. These bacteria multiply cause sore throat by multiplying rapidly within the pharynx.
Tonsils and Adenoids
Among the adults the pharynx contains the tonsils, while among the children the pharynx contains the adenoids.
Tonsils: Tonsils are lymphoid tissues at the back of the throat. Tonsils form a tissue ring around the pharynx or the throat. Tonsils are cells. Tonsils are similar to the bloodstream lymphocytes. Tonsils are embedded in fibrous connective tissues. Tonsils are covered by a single epithelium layer. The lymphoid cells are phagocytic. The cells protect the pharynx from bacteria that can cause diseases.
Tonsils may become inflamed and chronically or acutely infected. This condition is called tonsillitis. It is generally caused by streptococcus infection. During tonsillitis and streptococcal, the tissues surrounding the tonsils form pus. Then a whitish coat forms over the tonsils which can appear as white specks. This state is called quinsy. When the pharyngeal tonsils become inflamed they become abnormally large. They are called adenoids. Acute cases of tonsillitis are often treated by antibiotics like penicillin. Chronic recurrent tonsillitis may be treated by tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils).
Adenoids: Adenoids are lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat. Adenoids usually shrink and disappear by adolescence. Enlargement of this tissue is common among children. Such a state can interfere with breathing. Symptoms of enlarged adenoids include restless sleep, snoring, breathing via mouth, and a nasal voice. Earlier, these tissues were removed in children. It was thought that inflamed adenoids led to recurrent colds and infections. Nowadays, this condition is recognized as benign. As a result, there are lesser adenoidectomies.
THE LARYNX
From the pharynx, the inhaled air moves to the larynx. The larynx is about five inches (13 cm) in length. The larynx is located in the central part of the neck. The larynx is made up of several layers of flexible but tough cartilage, a tissue. Mentionably, during puberty the males experience a protrusion of the cartilage. This enlarged prominent extension at the neck is called the Adam’s apple.
FUNCTIONS OF THE LARYNX
The larynx primarily transports air to the wind pipe (trachea). Besides, the larynx also helps in producing the sounds. The epiglottis — a leaflike thin tissue portion of the larynx — further prevents the food from entering the trachea (thus obviating the possibility of choking). Moreover, the cilia cells as well as the mucous membrane of the larynx also filter air. The cilia cells take the airborne substances towards the pharynx where they are swallowed.
The epiglottis: The epiglottis stem is attached to the top and the front portions of the larynx. When the epiglottis remains in a vertical position, it acts like a trap door. This happens during the breathing process. But as a person starts swallowing, a reflexive action forces the epiglottis and the larynx to move near each other toward each other. This coming closer of the epiglottis and the larynx forms a protective seal. As a result, the fluids and food are specifically sent towards the food pipe (esophagus).
When the reflexive action doesn’t work: What happens when the reflexive action doesn’t function is that the food can enter the larynx. This happens when one eats the meal fats or when one laughs while swallowing. The result is that there will be a recurrent cough impelled choking effect. At times this apparently simple choking effect can even be life-threatening. The cough is the body’s reflexive action to clear the larynx of the impediment. Whenever such choking takes place, someone must thump the back portion between the shoulder blades several times. This will help the person to get over the choking effect.
The Heimlich maneuver: The Heimlich maneuver clears the windpipe of obstructions like food or fluid. The first-aid providing person applies thrusts in quick and in upward motion at the patient’s abdomen. The objective is to expel the object stuck at the trachea (windpipe). Standing behind the victim, the person keeps both his arms across the patient’s waist. Then, he places the fist of one hand below the rib cage and a bit above the navel. All the while, he keeps the thumb against the patient’s body. He uses the other hand for holding the fist and for applying pressure. Next, he puts quick pressure on the abdomen. The pressure is put in an inward and an upward motion. This fast recurrent action forces the lung air to get rid of the substance blocking the windpipe.
However, in cases where the patient cannot stand still, is overweight, faints following the choking effect, the Heimlich maneuver is done in a different manner. The patient is made to lie face down. The first-aid provider carries on the process with the heel of a hand.
Important: Nonetheless, it is important that the person does not put undue pressure on the rib cage. This is especially true when the patient is a child or an elderly person. Too much pressure can break ribs. Pertaining to pregnant woman or overweight people, the first-aid provider must place his hands only on the lower half of the breastbone (sternum) while carrying out the maneuver.
In acute choking, tracheotomy (a surgical procedure) is undertaken to carry out bypass of the larynx. This operation brings in air to the trachea.
TRACHEA, BRONCHI, AND BRONCHIOLES
The trachea is another tube measuring approximately six inches (15 cm). The trachea is located below the larynx. From the larynx the air passes on to the trachea. About 20 sturdy C-shaped cartilage rings constitute the trachea. These rings help to keep the trachea open. In the process, air gets transported unhindered. While the unfastened cartilage is located at the trachea’s back portion, their ends are linked to each other by muscle tissues.
Bronchi & bronchioles: The trachea base is situated at the portion where the neck meets the body trunk. At this juncture, the trachea splits into the right and the left bronchi. These bronchi transport air to the right and left lungs respectively. Inside the lungs, these bronchi again break up into smaller tubes — the bronchioles.
In fact, the respiratory system’s cleansing process is carried out by those bronchioles that are situated at the initial part, bronchi, and the trachea. These organs carry out the cleansing process via the mucous membrane linings as well as the ciliated cells. These cilia and the lining push the mucus upward towards the pharynx.
Alveoli & capillaries: Alveoli are minute sacs inside the lungs. Most of the alveoli are lung tissues. Alveoli are formed by the bronchioles as they divide several times. The alveoli along with the bronchioles resemble a tree. The alveoli are only 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) in diameter. There are about 150 million alveoli in each lung. The alveoli carry out a dual function. While providing oxygen to the circulatory system, they also remove carbon dioxide from the lungs. The thin elastic alveoli walls expand when air moves into them. The walls collapse to exhale the air.
The alveoli remain in clusters like the grapes. Each cluster is surrounded by capillaries. The capillaries are thin-walled and form a dense net of tiny hairs. The alveoli wall air is generally located 0.2 microns away from the blood carried by the capillary. Mentionably, the alveoli have more oxygen concentration then the capillaries. So, oxygen disseminates to capillaries from alveoli. Through the capillaries, oxygen goes to the larger vessels. These vessels then transport the oxygenated blood to the heart. Next, the heart pumps the cleaned blood to the other parts of the body.
Macrophages: Among the alveoli are interspersed many macrophages. The macrophages are blood cells. These large white cells act as the last sentinels of the respiratory system among the alveoli. The macrophages segregate the foreign elements which may have passed through the earlier filtration process. This last line of defense ensures that the alveoli are not infected.
Carbon dioxide disposal: The cells from across the body dump Carbon dioxide as a waste product. It is dumped in the bloodstream. The blood carries Carbon dioxide into the heart. From the heart, the Carbon dioxide moves to the alveolar capillaries. Notably, the capillaries have more concentration of carbon dioxide than the alveoli. So, carbon dioxide gets diffused into the alveoli from the capillaries. When a person exhales, the Carbon dioxide is forced back via the respiratory routes. The gas is then thrown outside the body.
Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published more than 1000 articles and a popular adventure book for children.
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Tips for Better Sleep
The hectic lifestyle of the average Westerner has led to a drop in average sleep times from 9 hours in 1910 to 7.5 in 1975. Nowadays, many people store sleep up for the weekend, sleeping an hour longer than on weekdays. However, the quality of sleep seems also to be decreasing with the quantity due to the increasing mental workload of modern life – we’ve all had nights lying in bed, thoughts racing here and there, and when we do get to sleep it is of a fitful kind that doesn’t make us feel particularly refreshed when we get up in the morning.
The factors affecting poor sleep quality read like an sociologist’s description of Western living: caffeine and alcohol consumption, having a big meal and watching TV just before bed, and far too little exercise! The effects of caffeine stay in the body long after the coffee ‘buzz’, and alcohol prevents the human sleep pattern from entering into its natural deep state. Food before bedtime engages the digestive system at a time when the body is preparing to shut down. Starting an exercise program of just 30 minutes a day can have extremely positive effects in burning away the restlessness that keeps many people awake (although done too close to bedtime can make the body think it’s not time for bed yet). Another reason for poor quality sleep is the irregular hours we keep – as with food, the human body likes to establish a natural cycle of sleep, so ensuring that you get to bed at the same hour will help you establish an hour when your body will instinctively look to shut down.
So what do do if you are settling down for bed and thoughts are still racing around your head? One thing might be to get a journal and write them all down, and then tell yourself you’ll deal with them tomorrow. Another way is the time-honored practice of reading before bed – although you have to be careful your choice of book will act to reduce your mental activity rather than fuelling it. The practice of meditation is also another way of clearing the mind of unwanted thoughts. For example, one can try sitting upright, and focusing on the inflow and outflow of the breath for ten minutes, all the time imagining the breath as a flow entering and exiting the centre of the chest. Another form of meditation is using mantras, which are words or phrases which are repeated again and again – focusing on one word keeps all other unwanted thoughts at bay. Some mantras can have a quite energising effect and should not be used before bed, but one which definitely can be used is the Sanskrit word shanti, which means ‘inner peace’ – this mantra can be said softly, whist at the same time feeling the vibration that the sound makes in the centre of the chest and imagining that inner peace is being brought into the entire being.
Shane Magee teaches srichinmoycentre.org/ie/meditation/meditationandyoga free courses in meditation and balanced living in Dublin, Ireland. A recent PhD graduate in physics, he has been studying meditation for the last four years with teacher srichinmoybio.co.uk Sri Chinmoy
Acne Treatment – Common Facts That Will Help You Treat Acne Faster
Avoid any comedogenic skin care product
Most of the materials that are used for skin and body care are tested for comedogenicity. For that test, the material is applied on the inside of a rabbit’s ear and the site observed after three weeks. A biopsy is taken and the comedones are counted. Depending on the comedone formation, the material is classified on a scale of 0 to 5. A material with 0 comedogenic potential will not cause comedones, while one with 5 will cause comedones in the largest quantity.
Take care if you have oily skin-
Our skin has sebaceous glands. These glands produce sebum. This sebum keeps our skin well moisturized and protects skin from microbial infections. The sebum is mainly made of lipids and dead skin cells. The skin constantly produces the sebum. If you don’t wash your hair for few days you will find that your hair is oily. That is sebum. What if your body produces more than required sebum? You get oily skin. People with oily skin may get more acne. Use products that absorb excess oils.
Treatment is same for face and body-
Acne is a disease of sebaceous glands. As the glands all over the body are same the acne is also same. There is no difference at all between acne on face and acne on the upper arms or trunk. Please treat acne on all body areas with the same medication. There is no difference.
Miracle cures may not work-
Sunshine, application of toothpaste, essential oils etc. are all used as quick treatments. Before you get taken in by any of such treatments, please consult your doctor.
Acne & Food
There may be a connection between eating a particular food and getting acne. But science has yet to come to a conclusion about it. That does not mean that your acne may not be occurring by a particular food. Science has not solved all the mysteries and many of grandma’s recipes work for no scientific reason. It is for you to find a relation between food and acne. Whenever you get a flare up, try to find out if you had eaten any particular food. If this match continues, avoid that food.
This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.
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Hypothyroidism: Herbs to Take and Herbs to Avoid
Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland is not producing as much hormone as it should. This causes metabolic activities to slow. Undiagnosed hypothyroidism can make you feel run down, depressed, cold or tired. It can slow down your heart rate, make your hair dry and brittle, give you itchy skin, muscle cramps, infertility or menstrual disorders.
Extreme hypothyroidism can cause goiter (a lump in the neck that is actually the inflamed thyroid gland), facial puffiness also known as myxedema, yellow skin, weight gain and mental impairment. The condition is commonly treated by replacing the thyroid hormone that your body is not producing.
The most common treatment involves supplementing thyroxin and monitoring thyroid levels for life… But there are herbs that can help with the side effects of hypothyroidism, even though it is not recommended that people try to go without the hormone. Left untreated, in addition to all the symptoms listed above, hypothyroidism can cause elevated cholesterol levels and increase the rate at which plaque builds up in your arteries.
Some health food stores sell what is billed as a natural replacement for thyroid hormone. Because herbal remedies are not regulated as drugs, it is not known if these medicines are helpful or even safe. The best bet is to consult with your doctor about the level of hormone you need to take and supplement with professional formulated herbal products to give you a better quality of life.
Valuable Herbs for Hypothyroidism
Black Cohosh is especially good for treating menstrual problems associated with hypothyroidism. It’s a popular treatment for menopausal women, treats symptoms of PMS and may help with infertility.
Kelp is sometimes given to people with hypothyroidism because iodine deficiency is linked to the disorder in some parts of the world.
St. John’s Wort could be helpful if you suffer from depression a symptom that often accompanies low thyroid function
Cayenne supplements can help with blood circulation and making the heartbeat stronger. An improvement in circulation can alleviate the cold extremities that are common with hypothyroidism.
Herbs to Avoid
Some studies indicate that there are certain herbs, foods and drugs that should be avoided if you have hypothyroidism. It is thought that stimulating the immune system in the early stages of the disorder can cause the thyroid to deteriorate at a faster rate, so avoiding those herbs can help you hang on to what thyroid function you have.
Which are these herbs?
Ginseng, astragalus, bamboo, burdock, echinacea, ginger and lemon balm are among the herbs that you should avoid in the early stages of hypothyroidism. There are other herbs that are recommended to be avoided as well as certain foods and medicine. Visit yourbodycanheal.com/herbs-for-hypothyroidism.html herbs for hypothyroidism to learn more.
Monica Villarreal and Gail Kaufman are editors at yourbodycanheal.com. To learn more about valuable herbs for hypothyroidism and herbs to avoid visit: yourbodycanheal.com/herbs-for-hypothyroidism.html herbs for low thyroid function.
To obtain a FREE health report that includes key foods and herbs for low thyroid function visit: yourbodycanheal.com natural health remedies.
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How to Become a Successful Yoga Teacher
How do you measure success? Do you think of physical, mental, spiritual, influential, or monetary success? It is important to be honest with yourself and know that you may be very successful in one area, but not in another.
Therefore, look at your strengths and be honest with yourself about what your goals really are. There have been many successful Yogis, and some spiritual leaders, who had the clothes on their backs as their only possessions. They did not pursue material wealth, but instead, helped others until their last day.
How can I say they were successful? They chose the path that they wanted, and some have had tremendous influence without material wealth. They were men and women of conscience who humbled the powerful.
This is not to say that a Yoga teacher must live in poverty to be influential. An oath of poverty to help humankind is noble, but not for everyone. Personally, a balanced approach to physical, mental, spiritual, influential, and monetary success is easier for most of us to live with. Let’s take a look at the five successes and see how you can build on them, help others, and live the best life you can.
If you teach Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, or another physical style of Yoga, your body will be in “good shape.” Many people perceive good shape to mean muscles, but forget about the benefits to the joints, bones, and internal organs. Yoga is good for all of them and is a total health program.
Anyone who takes the time to meditate, and practice pranayama, will have better mental health. As a serious Yoga practitioner, or Yoga teacher, you should practice this daily, even if you do not have Yoga classes today. All of the other forms of success will yield mental health, as well.
Some styles of Yoga are more spiritual than others. In the west, most practitioners only think of Hatha Yoga, but there are many other spiritual Yoga styles. However, if spiritual Yoga does not fit into your lifestyle, prayers will help. Spiritual health is just as important as any other type of success.
The power of influence is a part of teaching Yoga. Therefore, never misuse it and never take advantage of your Yoga students, family, or friends. However, if you see an opportunity that will help the common good, never avoid using the influence you have acquired.
About money: Some people think, “Money is the root of evil.” I totally disagree because money is only a commodity, such as energy. If we misuse it, that is our loss, but if we help others, that is rewarding to all of us. Much like when we use energy, we are only temporary “keepers of money.”
Make use of money, and help those who you can. Strangely, more money will come back to you, as a result of being charitable. This is the cycle of karma, success, and life.
There is nothing wrong with success and self-improvement. When you take each aspect of success, and develop them all in harmony for the common good, that is also a form of Yoga. You might even refer to this method as the “Union of Success,” which could be named “Jayati Yoga.”
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
What is Calcium Used For – Find Out What is Calcium Used For in the Body?
Calcium in our body is mostly used up by the bones to reduce the rate of bone loss and other conditions associated with weak or fragile bones. In the presence of vitamin D and phosphorus, calcium absorption rate is increased and all these nutrients together help in proper growth and development of muscles. Let’s find out more on what is calcium used for in the body.
Calcium deficiency may cause osteoporosis or bone disease in old age. In osteoporosis, bones become so fragile that they start breaking one after the other and not many people are cured of this degenerative disease. In addition to bones, calcium is also needed by teeth, hair and nails to become stronger and healthier. Yellowness of teeth is often seen as an early sign of calcium deficiency.
To find out what is calcium used for in the body we need to look at the diseases caused by calcium deficiency. The most common conditions are muscle cramps, joint pain, fatigue, kidney stones, depression, PMS, gallstones, colon cancer and many degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. In order to reduce chances of developing these diseases, it is strongly recommended that you start consuming calcium-rich supplements on a regular basis.
Many kinds of supplement products are available today. The best have been found to be the ones containing coral calcium and some other minerals as well as vitamins to ensure proper absorption. Coral calcium is a variant on calcium carbonate as it also contains some traces of minerals like magnesium, potassium and sodium. It is good for health because according to a research done at some Japanese university, coral calcium has a better absorption rate than normal calcium.
Calcium is very important for pregnant and lactating women. However, they should consult their doctor before taking any kind of high potency nutritional supplement. It is important to know what is calcium used for in the body before starting the course of any calcium-rich supplement. You need to know that abnormally low levels as well as high levels of calcium in the body are dangerous for health.
Health specialists advise taking calcium-rich tablets right after meals because calcium is actively involved in reducing acidity in the stomach. If you are using calcium citrate tablets you may consume them before or after meals depending on your acidity condition. Calcium citrate is readily absorbed in the bloodstream, and therefore is not associated with reducing acidity.
For optimal bone health, we have been using a special natural calcium formula and for good reason, this formula is known as optimal-bone-health.com Bone Protect. We have personally been using this formula for over 3 years with excellent health results.
You can learn more about our product of choice and why we use this product above all other calcium formulas at optimal-bone-health.com optimal bone health
John Gibb is the manager of a series health websites. His latest addition discusses the calcium formula himself and the editors consume. For more information on calcium, coral calcium, and bone health as a whole, be sure to check out optimal-bone-health.com optimal-bone-health.com