April 7, 2011 -- DNA may play a large role in determining how much caffeine people consume in beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda and food such as chocolate, new research indicates.
Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health, the National Cancer Institute, and other institutions say they have discovered two genetic variations that influence the metabolism of caffeine and are associated with how much caffeine people consume. People with particular variations of two specific genes are more likely to consume caffeine, and to drink more of it when they do, study leader Marilyn C. Cornelis, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, tells WebMD.

Genes and Coffee

The genes are identified as CYP1A2, long known to play some role in caffeine metabolism, and another called AHR, which affects regulation of CYP1A2.
All people have both genes, but the study, involving more than 47,000 middle-aged Americans of European descent, finds that people with the highest-consumption variant for either gene consumed about 40 milligrams more caffeine than people with the lowest-consumption gene varieties. Forty milligrams is the equivalent of 1/3 cup of caffeinated coffee or one can of soda.
Cornelis says her own father may carry the variations that correspond to higher caffeine consumption because he drinks “at least 10 cups” daily.
“He’s not trying to achieve pleasurable effects,” she tells WebMD. “Rather, he’s trying to maintain levels as a means to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Without a cup he’d wake up in the middle of the night with a headache.”
That suggests he “could possibly have the genetic profile of a fast caffeine metabolizer,” she says in an email.
The researchers say it’s likely that genetics plays a major role in other behaviors, such as alcohol consumption and smoking.

Coffee Consumption

The researchers say in a news release that their conclusions are based on an analysis of five studies conducted between 1984 and 2001. Average caffeine consumption via coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas, or chocolate was recorded.
About 80% of the caffeine intake among participants involved in the analysis was from coffee, similar to the adult caffeine consumption in the U.S. “We propose that those with the genotype corresponding to ‘higher caffeine consumption’ are metabolizing caffeine at a different rate vs. those with the ‘lower caffeine consumption’ genotype, and so require a different level of intake to maintain or achieve physiological caffeine levels that produce pleasurable effects,” Cornelis tells WebMD.
So what does this mean?
“Clearly these genetic variants are affecting how our body processes caffeine,” she tells WebMD.
Caffeine is implicated in a number of medical and physiological conditions. Caffeine affects mood, sleep patterns, energy levels, and mental and physical performance.
“Caffeinated products, particularly coffee, have long been implicated in various health conditions.”
She says that “studying the effects of caffeine, say, on the cardiovascular system, would be challenging if the group of subjects we’re studying process caffeine differently.”

More ‘Caffeine Genes’ May Be Identified

This genetic knowledge could be used “to advance caffeine research and potentially identify subgroups, defined by genotype, of the population most susceptible to the effects of caffeine,” Cornelis tells WebMD. “More research on the precise function of these variants is needed, however, and there are likely more ‘caffeine genes’ to be identified.”
She tells WebMD that her team’s findings “demonstrate that our search approach -- scanning the entire human genome -- works.”
Also, it shows for the first time that genetics may be responsible for inherited differences in how people drink coffee.
The study is published in the April issue of PLoS Genetics.

WebMD Answers Your Health Questions About Government Shutdown

Which health services will continue? Which won't?

Most government health services are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. During the government shutdown, 62% of HHS employees will not be allowed to work.
The remaining 38% of HHS employees will continue to administer programs that involve the safety of human life and protection of property, as well as programs that pay for themselves.
HHS shutdown plans remain sketchy, but here's a rundown of how the shutdown affects HHS services:

• Medicare and Medicaid: If the shutdown last only a few weeks, Medicare and Medicaid coverage of medical care and prescription drugs will continue. However, funds could run out before the end of the summer if there is a continued shutdown. And it's not clear whether doctors would get paid during a shutdown, so some doctors may decide to stop taking Medicare/Medicaid patients. The Medicare hotline would continue, but staffing cutbacks will mean longer wait times. Health care fraud and abuse teams will not work.
• National Institutes of Health: The NIH Clinical Center will continue to direct patient care and clinical trials, but only for current patients and studies already under way. It will serve about 90% of its normal patient load. No new patients will be accepted; new clinical trials will not start. No new medical research will be funded. The NIH will continue to feed and protect all animals in its care.
• FDA: The FDA will continue to review imports offered for entry into the U.S.
• Indian Health Service: The IHS will continue to provide direct clinical services and referrals for contracted services.
• Health Resources and Services Administration: Health Centers will continue to pay grantees for services. HRSA grants provide health care to uninsured people, people living with HIV/AIDS, and pregnant women, mothers, and children. It also supports rural health care and oversees blood and organ donation.
• The Administration for Children and Families: Many ACF programs will continue for the time being. These include support to states for foster care, adoption assistance, and child support enforcement.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: SAMHSA would continue the national Suicide Prevention Hotline.
• CDC: The CDC will continue global health programs abroad, such as Haiti cholera relief, that are funded by prior-year appropriations. Epidemic intelligence officers will continue surveillance for disease outbreaks, but a wide range of CDC-supported activities will not continue.

The Veterans Administration is a major source of government supported health care. Here's how the shutdown affects the VA:

• All VA clinics and medical facilities will remain open, including prescription services.
• No new Educational and Vocational Rehabilitation benefit claims will be accepted.
• The Board of Veterans Appeals will be closed.
• There will be no new VA hiring, staffing, or training.
• The National Cemetery Administration will slow down military burials and will not process applications for Presidential Memorial Certificates.

How to Make Your Home a Skinny House

From Health magazine
When you think about what causes pounds to creep on, an immediate list of usual suspects comes to mind: junk food, skipped workouts, supersize portions. But you might want to add your house to that fat list. “Everything from the lighting in your dining room to the size of your dinnerware could be making you gain weight,” says food psychologist Brian Wansink, PhD, author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. You can think of it this way, though: If your home can make you gain, it can help you lose, too.

Here, Health’s natural-foods chef and columnist Bethenny Frankel shows you the best ways to slim down your space—from the moment you walk in the door until you hop into bed. Use these expert tricks to make your home way more diet-friendly.

7 Essentials for the Dieter's Kitchen

Stock your kitchen cabinets with these seven calorie savers, and you'll see the scale start to move in no time.

Immersion blender
Dieters still want comfort foods—just not the calories that come with them. A handheld blender lets you whip up thick soups and hearty stews with minimal ingredients (and very little cleanup). I like to blend zucchini, butternut squash, or broccoli with either chicken broth or skim milk for a quick soup dinner. Or, use the immersion blender to make dressings and marinades, like in this recipe for Grapefruit-Avocado Salad.

Ramekins
I'm sure you've heard of the Small Plate Movement. I use one of these guys every single day to portion out trail mix, nuts, chips, ice cream—you name it!

Istockphoto


Microplane grater
Sprinkling a dish with grated Parmesan is a great way to get a lot of flavor—but not a lot of fat. Skip the jarred variety, and splurge on a small wedge of fresh cheese for a more intense taste.

Ice-cream scooper
Do you have a hard time visualizing proper serving sizes? Here's an easy way to cheat: Use ice-cream scoopers to serve up sides like rice. I also like to use one to portion ground turkey meat into burgers.

Mini-muffin tin
These are another great way to keep portions in check—and you shouldn't limit these tins to just muffins. I like to whip up individual frittatas, quiche, stuffing, or souffles.

Parchment paper and aluminum foil
Chances are you already have a roll of each lying around, so put them to good use. I fill a parchment pouch with fish and a few veggies, then pop it in the oven or on the grill. And I use aluminum foil to make flavorful roasted veggies. Not only does it make for easy cleanup, but also using this method lets you cook with less oil, so you wind up saving calories.

Mustard
Most of my favorite dips call for at least a cup of mayonnaise, but any good dieter knows that's one big fat trap. Instead I opt to add a tablespoon or two of mayo, then I supplement the rest with mustard. You wind up with a tangier dish that's better for your figure.

Party This Summer Without Putting on the Pounds

Want to enjoy that block party or backyard barbecue but don't want to stretch the waistline of your capris? Naturally Thin author Bethenny Frankel shares her tips for partying without putting on the pounds:

Eat in slow-mo. "Everyone thinks I eat like a horse, because I'm still eating when everyone else is done," says Bethenny. "But I just eat really slowly, which means I'm eating a lot less and enjoying it more."

Use the sandwich technique. This tip is from Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D., director of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and author of The Instinct Diet: Use Your Five Food Instincts to Lose Weight and Keep It Off: Sandwich high-calorie foods between two high-fiber, lower-calorie foods, to trick your body into feeling fuller without gorging on the high-calorie treat. So start with something bulky and filling like a green salad with beans, then have an entree (like a small burger or BBQ chicken) and a small portion of a rich dessert, then end with something low-cal like fresh fruit.

Don’t be a light-food martyr. If you love ribs and know you're not going to be happy with a skinless chicken breast, says Bethenny, then have the ribs! It's better to have a small portion of something you really love than to make yourself miserable with the supposedly virtuous option—and end up noshing later when you don’t feel satisfied. "Skinny is a mindset," says Bethenny. "It's about enjoying yourself instead of obsessing about food.

5 Fabulous Cocktails Under 220 Calories

Skinny sips

Liquid calories are a dieter's worst nightmare, but it's hard to pass up a cool cocktail at a fancy fete. Bethenny Frankel's new book, The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life, is full of fabulously light, flavorful drink ideas. Check out these three sips from her book, plus two bonus recipes.

How to Healthy Up Cookies

Use these simple tips from celebrity natural-foods chef Bethenny Frankel to add a healthy boost to your favorite cookie recipes.

Add ground flaxseeds (try 1 tablespoon) to batter for more fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

Experiment with different natural, healthy sweeteners, like honey and agave syrup instead of the sugar. You can also try this in other recipes that call for plain granulated sugar.

Use this cookie base (minus the last 3 ingredients) as a blank canvas for other flavor variations. So instead of using bananas, walnuts, and chocolate chips, try one of the following:
• raisins and a pinch of cinnamon
• dried blueberries with raw sugar sprinkled on cookies
• dried cranberries and 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
• slivered almonds and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Bethenny Frankel's Citrus Shrimp Cocktail

2 large shrimp +
1/4 of a cucumber, peeled and chopped +
1/4 of an avocado, cubed +
1/4 of a pink grapefruit, segmented +
1/4 of a lime, segmented =
Citrus Shrimp Cocktail

I love when a super-simple recipe comes off looking like a dish that took major time and effort to prepare. Just boil and peel shrimp, then split each in half. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Serve in a chilled martini glass topped with the shrimp

10 Small Diet and Exercise Tricks That Get Big Results

Small goals make a big difference

By Eric Metcalf

When it comes to type 2 diabetes, you need diet and exercise goals that encourage you to succeed—not ones that set you up to fail, says Ann Goebel-Fabbri, PhD, a psychologist and investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center, in Boston.

"I think goals have to be small and well spelled out for people. Everyone has the experience of going to a health practitioner and being told something vague: 'You know, you really ought to lose weight.' What does that mean? Goals need to be broken down into small nuts and bolts," she says.

Next: First step: See where you stand now

Credit: Getty Images

26 Fresh & Juicy Strawberry Desserts

Strawberry-Buttermilk Sherbet

Blend buttermilk with your choice of fresh or frozen strawberries to create this creamy springtime treat. This simple recipe only takes 15 minutes to prep before going into the ice cream maker.

5 Surprising Things You Don’t Have to Buy Organic

Avocados

By Sara Reistad-Long

You’re pretty safe with fruits and vegetables like avocados, which have a thick skin that you don’t eat. Just remember to wash the peel before cutting into them to get rid of any residue.

Addiction to Food, Drugs Similar in the Brain

MONDAY, April 4, 2011 (Health.com) — Ice cream and other tasty, high-calorie foods would seem to have little in common with cocaine, but in some people’s brains they can elicit cravings and trigger responses similar to those caused by addictive drugs, a new study suggests.

Women whose relationship to food resembles dependence or addiction—those who often lose control and eat more than they’d planned, for example—appear to anticipate food in much the same way that drug addicts anticipate a fix, according to the study, which used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans.

When these women saw pictures of a chocolate milk shake, they displayed increased activity in the same regions of the brain that fire when people who are dependent on drugs or alcohol experience cravings. When presented with the same milk shake, women who don’t feel addicted to food showed comparatively less activity in those regions.

Once the women actually tasted the milk shakes, however, those who scored high on a food-addiction scale showed dramatically less activity in the “reward circuitry” of their brains than the other women—a phenomenon, also seen in substance dependence, that could lead to chronic overeating and other problematic eating behaviors, researchers say.

“It’s a one-two punch,” says the lead author of the study, Ashley Gearhardt, a PhD candidate in psychology at Yale University. “First, you have a strong anticipation, but when you get what you are after, there’s less of an oomph than you expected, so you consume more in order to reach those expectations.”

The study, which appears in the Archives of General Psychiatry, included 48 young women with a wide range of body sizes who had signed up for a program aimed at helping them control their weight and develop better eating habits.

Each of the women filled out a 25-item questionnaire, adapted from assessments for drug and alcohol dependence, in which they were asked how strongly they agreed with statements such as “I find myself continuing to consume certain foods even though I am no longer hungry” and “When certain foods are not available, I will go out of my way to obtain them.” They were also asked to identify any foods—from a list including ice cream, chocolate, chips, pasta, cheeseburgers, and pizza—that gave them “problems.”

Then the researchers brought on the milk shakes, made with four scoops of vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. While their brains were being scanned, the women were shown a picture of the milk shake to whet their appetite; five seconds later, they got to taste it. (As a comparison, each of the women was also shown a picture of a glass of water followed by a tasteless beverage.)

In addition to exhibiting patterns of craving and tolerance similar to those seen in drug addiction, the brains of women who scored high on the food-addiction scale showed less activity in areas responsible for self-control, which suggests that their brain chemistry may prime them to overindulge, Gearhardt says.

“It’s a combination of intense wanting coupled with disinhibition,” she says. “The ability to use willpower goes offline.”

Emotional Eating: The Trick to Staying Slim

Love to eat? No worries!

By Kimberly Goad

Your idea of a good time after a bad day is a scoop of dulce de leche ice cream piled high atop a fudge brownie. You’re digging in because each creamy mouthful makes you feel inexplicably happy. Is that really so bad?

Surprisingly, emotional eating doesn’t have to be a problem, says Michelle May, MD, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. "Trying to talk yourself out of getting a mood boost from food only sets you up for a bigger overeating problem—like bingeing," she says. You can comfort yourself with food and stay thin with these simple ground rules.

10 Myths and Facts About COPD

What is COPD?

By Tammy Worth

Everyone has heard of heart disease and cancer, and it’s well-known they’re the top causes of death in the U.S. But what about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD?

All too often, people have never heard of this lung disease, or they think it is rare or not serious. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Still, the more you learn about COPD, the greater your chances of preventing it. In past generations, education and prevention efforts led to a drop in heart attacks—thank you, oatmeal for breakfast! In the same way, experts hope that as more people learn about COPD, fewer will actually get it.

Next: COPD is rare

Credit: Corbis

10 Household Tools for People in Pain

Products that ease the pain

By Anne Harding

For people with rheumatoid arthritis, painful flare-ups can make opening a door or getting dressed a daunting struggle.

"The number-one tool that one needs during a flare, by far, is this word called autonomy," says Nortin Hadler, MD, a professor of medicine and microbiology/immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "It means the ability to pace the day and choose activities."

Next on the list, Dr. Hadler says: assistive equipment to help you accomplish daily tasks. Here are 10 household tools to make life easier when pain strikes.

Long Hours at Work May Boost Heart-Attack Risk

MONDAY, April 4, 2011 (Health.com) — While you may consider yourself lucky to be working long hours—or working at all—in the current economy, your diligence may be undermining your health in the long run.

People who work an average of 11 or more hours per day have a 67% higher risk of suffering a heart attack or dying from heart disease than people who work a standard seven- to eight-hour day, according to a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Those who work between 10 and 11 hours per day have a 45% higher risk.

Work schedules may be an overlooked and underutilized early warning sign for heart disease, the researchers say.

If doctors simply asked their patients “How many hours do you work?” during office visits, an additional 5 percent of the people who have heart attacks each year might be identified beforehand as being at risk, says the lead researcher, Mika Kivimäki, Ph.D., a professor of epidemiology and public health at University College London.

Routinely burning the candle at both ends may not increase heart risk by itself, but it may be an indicator of an unhealthy lifestyle in general, according to experts who weren’t involved in the research. The study didn’t show a cause-and-effect relationship between long hours and heart attacks, they point out, and the apparent link could be due to a number of complicated health factors, including stress, lack of exercise, and eating high-calorie takeout rather than healthy home-cooked meals.

“Somebody who works hard may eat fast food and not be very active, so it may not be the long hours that give them heart disease,” says Stephen Kopecky, M.D., a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn. “It’s eating fast food and being inactive.”

The study, a new analysis of a larger, long-running study known as Whitehall II, followed more than 7,000 healthy, middle-aged civil servants in the U.K. for an average of 12 years. More than half (54%) of the participants reported working seven to eight hours a day, while roughly 15% and 10% said they worked 10- and 11-hour days, respectively.

The new findings suggest that work hours should be added to the standard list of risk factors for heart disease, the authors say. These factors—which include age, sex, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and history of smoking—are combined in what’s known as the Framingham risk score, a 10-year estimate of heart-disease risk named after a multigenerational study in Framingham, Mass.

Scott Shurmur, M.D., the director of preventive cardiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, notes that the study did not include information about the participants’ diets, activity levels, or family history of heart disease, and says that it may be premature to change current practice. “It makes sense,” he says, “but it’s hard for me to lay a specific cause and effect on working long hours when we know so little else about the patients.”

And the findings may not translate to all ethnic groups and nationalities, says Robert Scott III, M.D., an associate professor of internal medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, in Temple. “This looked at civil-servant workers in Britain who were largely white males and at low risk,” he says. “That limits the analysis.”

What’s more, the type of work, and how much you enjoy it, may make a big difference, Kopecky says. While sitting behind a desk for 11 hours may be unhealthy, farmers are notorious for working 12 or even 14 long, hard hours a day—and they tend to live longer than average, he says.

In Pain? Try Meditation

TUESDAY, April 5, 2011 (Health.com) — You don’t have to be a Buddhist monk to experience the health benefits of meditation. According to a new study, even a brief crash course in meditative techniques can sharply reduce a person’s sensitivity to pain.

In the study, researchers mildly burned 15 men and women in a lab on two separate occasions, before and after the volunteers attended four 20-minute meditation training sessions over the course of four days. During the second go-round, when the participants were instructed to meditate, they rated the exact same pain stimulus—a 120-degree heat on their calves—as being 57% less unpleasant and 40% less intense, on average.

“That’s pretty dramatic,” says Fadel Zeidan, PhD, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, N.C. The reduction in pain ratings was substantially greater than those seen in similar studies involving placebo pills, hypnosis, and even morphine and other painkilling drugs, he adds.

The findings, which appear in the April 6 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, aren’t entirely surprising. Past research has found that Buddhist-style meditation—also known as mindfulness meditation—can help people cope with pain, anxiety, and a number of other physical and mental health problems. But in most cases the training takes weeks, not days.

The fact that Zeidan and his colleagues achieved these results after just 80 minutes of training is “spectacular,” says Robert Bonakdar, MD, the director of pain management at the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, in San Diego.

“Although the full benefits of meditation can be realized after long-term training, our study suggests that some of the effects can be realized just for your average Joe,” Zeidan says.

The type of meditation used in the study is known as Shamatha, or “focused attention.” Like other forms of mindfulness meditation, it entails learning how to observe what’s going on in one’s mind and body without judging, and while maintaining focus on one’s breathing or a chanted mantra.

Brain scans conducted during the pain experiments showed that this technique appeared to cause a number of changes in how the participants’ brains responded to pain.

Types of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are devastating injuries that occur every 15 seconds in the United States. Brain injuries are the leading cause of death in persons under the age of 45. There are approximately 5 to 6 million people living in the U.S. with brain injuries. Leading causes of brain injuries are motor vehicle accidents, falls, violence and sports injuries.

The brain can be damaged in multiple ways. In order to understand head injuries, it is useful to understand the different types of brain injuries that can occur:

Concussions - A concussion can be defined as a sudden alteration of the conscious state induced by trauma. The person affected may lose consciousness briefly and may be confused following. The brain can recover from a concussion but in certain circumstances, there may be residual damage. Concussions often occur in sports-related injuries.

Contusions - When the head strikes a hard, immovable object the brain may be bruised. Contusions are essentially bruises that result in damage to, or destruction of, brain tissue. They often occur in the frontal and temporal lobes. These are the lobes where behavior and memory centers are located, so damage to these areas can cause changes in behavior, changes in vision (including loss of vision), impairment of memory and occasional weakness or loss of coordination.

Diffuse axonal brain injuries (DAI) - In this type of injury, a shearing force damages nerve fibers or stretches blood vessels in the brain. The result may be hemorrhage (bleeding) and can also cause a cascade of chemicals that are toxic to the brain to be released. The temporal and frontal lobes are often affected. Symptoms of DAI include inattentiveness, problems with memory and disorganization.

Hypoxic-Ischemic brain injuries (HII) - Stroke is a common cause of this type of injury, in which the amount of oxygen is reduced to the brain (for example, from a blood clot). The injury causes brain swelling that restricts oxygen, glucose and other necessary nutrients from reaching the brain. A poor prognosis is associated with both HII and DAI in terms of cognitive function and memory impairment, if the patient survives the initial injury.

Hemorrhage - A cerebral or intracranial bleed occurs when blood vessels within the brain bleed as a result of trauma or inherent weakness of a blood vessel (e.g. aneurysm). Hemorrhages may be tiny or large and symptoms correspond to the severity and location of the bleed. Hemorrhage does not always occur immediately after an injury, but may be delayed for hours or even days.

Infarction- "Infarction" is the medical term for stroke. Strokes occur when an artery supplying the brain is blocked, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Speech, language and visual problems often occur after a stroke.

Hematomas - Hematomas develop outside the brain. Subdural hematomas occur over the surface of the parietal or frontal lobes. A subdural hematoma is slow bleeding outside the brain caused by a vessel carrying venous (unoxygenated) blood. Epidural hematomas are usually caused by damaged arteries, which carry blood under pressure, which can cause severe pressure which must be released immediately or death will occur. Subarachnoid hemorrhages occur when bleeding spreads slowly over the brain surface. Subarachnoid hemorrhages rarely cause death and may even be symptomatic.

There are numerous types of injuries which may be caused by trauma or physical conditions. Understanding the type of injury sustained can provide clues as to what to expect in terms of symptoms and outcome. Any time a brain injury is suspected, medical attention must be sought. Brain injuries can cause permanent and severe damage when not treated. With proper treatment, many patients recover.

Why Do You Have to Join a Fitness Camp?

There are lots of reasons why one should reduce their weight in case they are overweight or obese. They should right away join some quick weight loss centre which will help them to shed their extra flab as soon as possible. The main reason why one should not be obese is that, if you are so, you have higher risk of getting diabetes, cancer and cardio vascular diseases. And especially if its women who are obese, they are more prone to risks than men, they have high chances of getting breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

As it is being huge is unhealthy, which will make you feel lethargic and get tired without exerting yourself much. Another important reason for not to be obese is that, it will bring down your confidence level, which will ultimately lead you to severe depression and anxiety.

When it becomes a psychological issue, then you definitely need a professional to help you come out of it. If you consult a knowledgeable professional, he will be able to guide you in getting yourself enrolled in a good weight loss centre. This is where the weight loss camp comes into picture. To reduce your weight within a short span of time you need a real expert to guide you, together with a perfect work out with apt equipments which is right for you.

You need to put a lot of effort from your side as well and follow whatever your guide says along with a proper diet which they have prescribed you to follow. Only when you stick on to the diet and the work out they have planned out for you, you will be able to see a good result, what you have been expecting for, a complete change in you.

Before enrolling yourself in any fitness camp, you need to enquire and know each and everything about the weight loss centre, what exactly they do and many more. Even if it is the center which your doctor has referred, make sure you enquire everything about the centre and then enroll yourself. It is essential to know in and out about it because each and every centre will have different fitness regimen. So check out their kind of routine and see whether it will suit you and your preferences and if its ok with you go ahead get yourself registered, if not try another one which is more apt and comfortable for you.

All these factors has to be considered because in these kind of centers some have programs on daily basis, and some have it twice a week, several others have it once every week and few others have it once in each fortnight. Some centers even have their own work out equipments, health care consultants, dietitians and many more means and tools to help you reduce your extra flab the fastest way possible.

Growing Taller Tips - Nutritional Elements That Impact Development

Nourishing your body is the most crucial element to growing taller. When you supply your body with all of the vitamins and minerals it needs, you provide yourself with the tools your body requires to continue growing taller. Consuming food that is nutritious, supplementing a healthy diet with the correct exercises and a good night's sleep, will permit you to achieve the height gain that you've always dreamed of.

The most important tips of all is to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle and routine exercise program. There is no doubt that the kinds of foods we consume can absolutely impact our height, growth and entire well-being. When you are not mindful of what types of foods can assist you with maintaining good health, and also promote growth in your body, you can jump-start your growing taller regimen by changing your diet alone..

The following are some helpful tips and tricks to eat healthier, and grow taller:

Number 1. Keep a journal of your eating schedule. Write down everything you eat throughout the day, and when you eat. Analyze where you can make changes and substitute healthy foods, and also try and develop a schedule and stick to it.

Number 2. Try to avoid skipping meals. Skipping meals is not advantageous to your well-being.

Number 3. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so you must remember to eat breakfast every morning. Try to eat approximately two hours prior to starting your daily exercise regimen. Make certain that you eat a healthy breakfast and watch your portions.

Number 4. It is also recommended that you abstain from candy, soda, and sugars. In lieu of gaining height, these foods only make your waistline grow.

Number 5. Mom was right, of course - the best way to grow taller is to eat enough fruits and green vegetables. Consuming whole wheat bread and whole grain cereals are also advised.

Number 6. Also realize that your body requires protein to function and grow properly. Proteins are comprised of amino acids which are the building blocks of the cells in your body. These proteins are vital factors in the development of elements, hormones, and substances within your system.

Number 7. Your body requires plenty of restful sleep to recover your strength and renew the vigor you lose throughout your day.

Number 8. Finally, avoid habits that are unhealthy, such as drinking and smoking that may also create other ramifications besides impeding your efforts to grow taller.

These growing taller tips are a great start if your are considering adopting a height increase program. By implementing these nutritional guidelines into your day-to-day routine, you will gradually see yourself growing taller every day.

Find Out The Ways To Look Taller Than You Really Are

Do you feel as though people treat you differently because of your height? If you cannot find ways to improve your diet or perform routine exercise, then there are ways to make yourself look taller than you really are.

Good posture is the key to how to look taller. Having excellent posture allows you to take advantage of both the physical and the psychological gains that it provides. Poor posture is one of the major explanations for why people look shorter than they really are. By not maintaining proper posture, you are not taking advantage the height you do have. Posture can refer to your position when lying down, sitting, and standing.

You may want to stand with one of your legs held higher that the other. This will help you practice maintaining your equilibrium. When you are in a seated position, you should sit in a chair that has a high back support where your feet can rest comfortably on the floor. When seated you should do some stretching exercises to keep the blood flowing through your body. When lying down to rest or sleep, the superior sleeping position is lying flat on your back with your neck somewhat raised. This resting position helps you to decompress your back and relinquishes the tension in the spine and muscles.

When you follow these easy grow taller tips, you will be able to strengthen your spine and improve your posture. These steps will make you appear taller and improve your outward appearance.

The clothes you wear also affect how tall you look to others. One of the characteristics of a tall person is broad shoulders, and clothes that have shoulder pads can help you achieve this look. Stay away from overly bulky clothes and pants with a low-waist that make you appear heavier than you are. These types of clothes make you appear much shorter that you are actually. You can also wear shoes that make you appear taller, such as shoes with lifts for men, as well as shoes with heels for women.

While there are many ways for you to appear taller, you must keep in mind, if you would like to actually grow taller naturally and add inches to your height you must make the necessary changes to your diet and exercise program. By implementing a diet that is high in nutrition, and sticking with an exercise program, you won't just look taller, you will actually be taller.

Growth Hormones And Gaining Height

People all around the world are not happy with how tall they are and they always look for way to look taller, but they don't know that there is a way to just grow taller once and for all. The perception of height is often highly personal and can vary from person to person like everything else in this world. You can take one look at someone and decide that it is a tall person, while someone else can see a short person and even that changes from country to country as you must know by now...

Normally, gaining height is based on the growth hormones existing within our bodies but also many other aspects such as diet. These growth hormones are made by the endocrine glands in your body. These growth hormones travel through your bloodstream, being apportioned in other areas of the body to promote development and growth.

One of these hormones' functions is encouraging development and controlling that development according to the bodies requires and can handle. Another function of these growth hormones is to stimulate other hormones in the body to produce more rapidly, and execute their purpose for different organs.

There are some people who seek ways to grow taller by using unnatural procedures like shots and growth hormone-supplying wares. The particular amino acids being utilized to make these products to enhance growth are in reality being produced in large amounts even without a doctor's prescription. These products claiming to release growth hormones that are available in stores today are commonly used by bodybuilders.

These amino acid products are not recommended for a person to take as they are a form of self medication. Take note of the recommended dosage before taking any of these supplements. Improper use of these amino acid products could have possible side effects that could be harmful to your health. For example, you may experience nervousness, hair loss, high blood pressure drowsiness, and headache.

In lieu of using these self-medications, success in gaining height can be achieved by performing routine height gaining exercises on a regular basis, you can find this exercises in detail in the grow taller 4 idiots manual, and by eating healthy foods and getting plenty of sleep. By doing these simple things, more growth hormone will be released into your system. Also important, is that you stay away from habits that are bad for you, like smoking and drinking, which also block you from growing taller naturally.

Grow Taller Fast With 10 Guaranteed Tips

Have you always wanted to grow taller fast, and not have to ingest pills and supplements that are not effective? The fact is that you can have the height you've always wanted, but you are going to have to work for it.

The following are the 10 best tips for you to grow taller fast:

No.1. You should try and exercise first thing in the morning, starting with stretching exercises and working into more strenuous exercises. These stretching exercises can be done while you are still laying in your bed and are a great way to start your day. Raise your arms up, stretching upwards, while stretching your legs downward.

No.2. Deep breathing exercises are also best done in the morning. Take a deep breath, inhaling through the nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale through the mouth. Do this exercise repeatedly in order to provide your body with the oxygen it needs.

No. 3. Get out into the morning sunshine for your daily dose of Vitamin D, an essential vitamin that is needed by your body.

No. 4. After you have done your stretching and breathing exercises, you can begin your exercise program. You can start by going for a walk, an excellent exercise that can be done at anytime throughout the day.

No. 5. When you have completes your exercises for the day, you may finish up with massaging specific points within your body. These massages stimulate the growth hormones in the body and relax you at the same time.

No. 6. Keep in mind that you should always have the correct posture, even when you are asleep. Hold in your stomach with your chest pushed out and your chin in an erect position. This helps you keep your correct posture as well as become taller instantly.

No. 7. Also remember to rest up if you feel tired when you are finished exercising. Take brief naps (about 30 minutes) to give your body the chance to recover from exercise and lengthen and strengthen your bones.

No. 8. Maintain a straight spine when sleeping by laying flat on your back as much as possible.

No. 9. Your body needs at least eight glasses of water a day to renew moisture lost in your body and to prevent you from becoming dehydrated. Always remember to give your body the hydration it needs to grow properly.

No. 10. Perhaps one of the most important tips to remember is to avoid alcohol and tobacco. Due to the toxins in alcohol and tobacco, you will not only not grow taller, but actually potentially hinder your efforts to grow taller.

What Is The Spine's Role In Gaining Height?

When looking into gaining height, finding a number of ways you can utilize man-made and natural products to achieve the increase in height you want. It is recommended that before trying the unnatural medications or drugs which may lead to side effects if you do not take them properly. First, research the ways to grow taller naturally, which is accomplished by centering on the key areas where the capacity to obtain growth of a couple of inches is possible.

Typically from our experience, the focus is on the growth in the leg bones, but did you realize that your spine may contribute in raising your odds of gaining height? Your spine is a key area in the body, and you should treat it right due to the fact that it holds the brain receptors that assist us in performing bodily functions. If the spine is healthy, it becomes easier to carry out the duties that you must execute every day.

A careful investigation of the spine reveals that the inter vertebra discs are the agents for successfully gaining height. The inter vertebra discs are located in between the vertebrae in the spine, and they are comprised of tissues that operate as shock absorbers. As the most pliable and flexible area of your spine, and are the key points in elongating your spinal column.

In order to keep your discs healthy, you must execute challenging exercises for your spinal column. You must do exercises focused on stretching and full-range of motion movements allowing the passage or movement of fluid and blood through the vertebrae. By not maintaining the balance required for a healthy spine there is a good chance that the discs are less resilient and sooner or later cause a drop-off in stature.

Besides doing exercises focused on stretching, you can try holding your posture straight for as long as you can. With good posture you can relieve the pressure on your spinal column when you are seated or standing throughout your day.

You can also keep a healthy spinal column by maintaining a steady sleep schedule and sleeping restfully for the correct amount of time. Your entire body requires sleep from your daily activities, and by sleeping flat on your back, you are relieving the stress that gravity puts on your spine, then you'll be capable of allowing your spinal column to elongate and you can grow taller naturally.

The Health Secret Your Jaw Can Tell

More and more our society is looking for the "silver bullet" of health. Every second TV ad suggests a drug to "fix" any health condition imaginable. Wouldn't it be great if your body could indicate its level of health and function? It can! This article explains the significance of your jaw, how a simple self-test can indicate your functional status and what you can do to achieve "true health".

Move your jaw side to side in a sawing action. Did it pop or click on one side? Can you move it more to one side than the other? Are you unable to fit your four fingers stacked vertically (no overlapping!) in your mouth? When you bite down does one side contact before the other? Chances are you tested positive in one or more of these tests for jaw imbalance and if you did, you need to read on!

The jaw joint or the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be a source of discomfort for many people. TMJ Disorder (TMJD) or TMJ Syndrome and has been associated with a wide variety of other symptoms, some far removed from the jaw itself, for example chronic headaches, sinus problems, visual disturbances, ringing and pain in the ears, facial pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers and even low back pain.

Even more interestingly, TMJD has been associated with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression. Scientists and medical studies have been unable to explain the connection of TMJD to such a wide variety of dysfunctional conditions affecting both body and mind.

This may be because "scientists" overlook two indisputable facts when they look at human health.

First, the body and mind are one - a single unit linked together from head to toe via joints, muscle and connective tissue called fascia (remember the song, "The leg bone connected to the knee bone..."?).

Second, form follows function. So any "weak links" that cause structural imbalance in one part of the body will transfer throughout the body, decreasing its form and therefore its entire function also. For example, compensating for a broken toe may eventually work its way up to the neck and yes, even the jaw.

To be truly healthy is to have good function, which dictates that your form or posture must be good also. The pain, the symptoms associated with TMJD and even the TMJD itself are simply manifestations of dyfunction resulting from postural imbalance.

So why is the jaw a good example to demonstrate your level of health and function? Because it is highest joint in the body and the last area your body can compensate for postural imbalances transferring up from lower down. Also since the jaw is linked to the skull, we can easily discern dysfunction like muscle tightness, pain, popping or clicking.

Another reason to test the jaw is because the alignment of the mandible (jaw bone) can affect the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland is considered "the master gland" and is chiefly responsible for maintaining your body in a healthy, internally balanced state called homeostasis.

Lets trace the links to the pituitary. Keep reading and you'll learn the secret to "true health".

The mandible is connected to a bone in your skull called the sphenoid with muscles called the medial and lateral pterygoids. The sphenoid houses the pituitary gland in a small depression called the sella turcica. So any structural imbalance in the TMJ from strength differences in the pterygoids will transfer structural imbalance to the sphenoid, which will then compromise the function of the pituitary and homeostasis.

Now it might be easy to think that if you can correct the imbalance in the jaw with a bite plate or some surgical procedure you would fix the TMJD and be as healthy as a horse right? Wrong! This approach is doomed to fail because the jaw is also linked to the shoulders and sternum.

The mandible is connected to the shoulders and sternum via a bone just above the level of the Adam's apple called the hyoid bone. The hyoid is a "floating bone" and unlike any other bone in the body in that it does not contact other bones; rather it is suspended above and below by muscles. Its main function is to act as an anchor for the muscles that connect the mandible to the hyoid. These muscles are called suprahyoid muscles and act to open or pull the mandible down.

But wait! Muscles called the infrahyoid muscles connect the hyoid to both shoulder blades and the sternum. Their function is to anchor the hyoid in a level, "neutral" position, which is difficult because any unevenness in shoulders height or slouching will unbalance the hyoid and therefore the jaw and pituitary.

The shoulders and upper back are you guessed it, connected to the lower back and pelvis, which will only be as balanced as the "core" muscles allows them to be. The core is a system of muscles in the trunk and hip region like the glutes (butt) and abdominals that act as the body's foundation by stabilizing the pelvis and low back.

The jaw tests you tried earlier can now be looked at as indicators of the status of your core since all posture and function originates here.

So now the jaw reveals it's secret: "True health can only be achieved when the strength of the muscles of the core is balanced and the posture realigned.

Is it possible that to thrive both physically and mentally could be this simple?

Yes! We like complicated things and to make things complicated. We have been conditioned to think that complicated drugs and surgery are the answer to our health problems. They're not.

That being said restoring balance to the core is not easy. Here's why.

Your brain like all animals is hardwired for survival so it favors using mobilizing muscles that cause gross movement to move your body out of danger. Stabilizing muscles like the core muscles are less likely to be favored and more likely to become weaker since they oppose movement.

The mobilizing muscles now have to work overtime. They compensate by tightening since they have to perform their own function plus that of the weak stabilizing muscles too. Compensating muscles cannot perform both jobs effectively so muscle strength and length imbalances develop causing postural imbalances. A classic example is the hamstring muscles tightening in response to gluteus maximus weakness.

Compensation is a great technique to help you run away from a hungry lion but complicates things when you try to access the root problem of core weakness. So it doesn't matter how much "core training" you do, you will most likely just strengthen the tight mobilizing muscles and engrain the imbalances even more - like driving your car with bad wheel alignment.

So what is the solution to accessing the weak core muscles and reestablishing the body's function? Wouldn't it be great if there were some technique that could "activate" and strengthen the weak core muscles?

The good news is there is a technique called Myotonix that does exactly that. It is a form of manual therapy based on the principles and techniques of acupressure, osteopathy and trigger point therapy and to improve posture. The results are instantaneous and astounding.

This article has highlighted the significance of jaw function as an indicator of whole body function and how dysfunction in any one part of the body affects the whole. Total body health will only be realized when we recognize the connection of our form to our function. So with this knowledge, the next time you go to your dentist you can tell him the health secret of his jaw!

David Petersen is an exercise physiologist and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and the owner of Body Tuneup Shop in Clearwater, Florida. He specializes in improving human function through postural restoration and functional exercise. He achieves dramatic improvements in muscle strength and flexibility using a unique form of manual therapy called Myotonix. More articles, information and testimonial video clips can be found at http://bodytuneupshop.com.

NOTE: You're free to republish this article on your website, in your newsletter, in your e-book or in other publications provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this note, author information and all LIVE website links as above.

Feeling Stressed Out? Read This

Are you suffering from stress? Probably as a result of spending too much time in the office and less with your family to have fun and relax? While working is good as it contributes to your income, you must also take into much consideration your health. It just makes sense because what good is work if you are down with sickness because of stress.

There have been countless research studies that claim stress is a major contributor to a lot of dreadful health conditions. Among these are cancer and heart diseases. Before, doctors thought that stress only causes fatigue and loss of concentration, now there are even grimmer effects that doctors now advice everyone to regularly go for a check up to see if their stress levels are still manageable or if it is time to do some medical treatments already.

And so to help you fight off stress, here are some suggestions you may want to follow.

Go to a spa and get yourself a good massage. Even if it's just an hour long massage, it would still be very effective in helping you beat stress. But if you can, go on a spa retreat wherein you will be staying at a spa resort for at least an overnight of complete relaxation. That way when you go back to the real world, you will be feeling most relaxed and serene.

Get yourself some stress relief toys. There are stress balls and games specifically designed to relieve stress. There are many of these types of products that you can store in your office drawer. Just take one out, play with it for a minute or two, and you will feel that most of the stress in your body have disappeared.

A vacation is a very good treatment for your stress. If you can, take a week's vacation from work or if that is just not possible, even a weekend would do. You will find that all you need to battle stress is to stop thinking about your office work for just a couple of days and merely do something you enjoy doing like swimming, mountain climbing, or just relaxing some place that you really love.

These are just some of the ways that you can effectively manage your stress. Of course these are just temporary solutions and should you feel that these are not enough, perhaps it is time that you visit your doctor for professional help. Your doctor would still be the best person to help you with your stress management.

The Meaning of Bone Health, Bone Density and Fracture Risk

Bone's Major Functions

Bone has three major functions. The first involves providing a structural support for your heart, lungs, marrow and other organs and the attachment sites for muscles so that you can move your arms, legs and head. Think of what a blob you would be without your bones to give you structure. The second function involves providing protection for your brain and other internal organs. Finally, bone acts as a mineral storage bank for calcium and phosphorus helping to maintain a proper acid/base balance in your body called pH. So you can see that your bones have more than just one function.

The Importance of Bone Quality

The term bone quality may be new to you but it is an important one to understand. Bone quality then describes all the components that keep it strong and fracture free. So by weight, bone is composed of about 10% collagen matrix, 65% minerals and 25% water. It is not just the minerals but all three components working together that keep your bones strong and fracture free.

Bone Density Numbers

Bone quality however is very different from the term bone density. You may have had a DEXA test and been told they found a change in your bone density. Your bone density was either normal or you received a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia. Take heart because all is not lost. The DEXA score you received only tells you about the mineral density and content of the bone. It cannot tell you the amount or the health of your matrix or water content. The mineral density is considered one risk of many. It is used, along with other risk factors, when calculating fracture risk. It is important to remember that no one risk factor by itself can predict fracture risk.

Bone Density; Just One Risk Factor

Sometimes in the rush to osteoporosis treatment, it is lost in the shuffle that your DEXA scores is just one risk factor of many to consider when it comes to predicating fractures. It is also important to remember that you want to prevent fractures, nothing more nothing less. It also bears repeating that only one risk factor by itself can predict fracture risk, not even DEXA. According to Dr. Susan Ott, MD at the University of Washington, "In an individual, the quality of the bone, the shape of the bone, the presence of a fracture or other risk factors, weight, muscle strength, and the tendency to fall (balance) are all important to predicting the risk of fracture."

Fracture Risk... Using the FRAX® Index

The FRAX® tool is a better predictor of fracture because it uses 12 independent risk factors, including bone density, to determine your course of treatment. The FRAX® tool was developed by WHO to evaluate fracture risk of patients. The FRAX® models have been developed from studying population-based cohorts from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The FRAX® tool gives the 10-year probability of a hip fracture and/or a major osteoporotic fracture (clinical spine, forearm, hip or shoulder fracture).

The Limitations of FRAX®

The International Osteoporosis Foundation says that the FRAX® tool has the following limitations: Does not accommodate all known risk factors.

Lacks detail on some risk factors
Depends on adequacy of epidemiological information
Limited country models available
Model relevant only for untreated patients
Does not replace clinical judgment
Improving Bone Health

So now you know that keeping your bones healthy is more complicated than just trying to increase bone density. Your bones and the rest of your body work together and are dependent upon each other. So your general health will, to a great degree, determine your bone health. Lifestyle factors like drinking enough water, eating a balanced diet, safe and effective exercise, drinking and smoking habits and how well you manage your stress are all important in keeping your bones healthy. Just focusing on one lifestyle change, like eating healthier foods, is rarely enough to improve your bone health. It takes multiple changes, in the right proportions, to really make a significant difference in your bone and body health.

Copyright (c) 2006- 2011 by Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc

Woody McMahon has been working as a healthy lifestyle professional for over 25 years. Before starting his career as a healthy lifestyle coach, Woody earned his Bachelor of Science degree in human biology from the University of Maryland, his Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from Palmer College of Chiropractic and is certified as a personal trainer through the National Strength Professionals Association. He is also trained in The Meeks Method of Postural Correction.

Symptoms Of The Common Cold - How To Tell If It Is More Than A Cold

Symptoms of the common cold typically include a runny nose, and nasal congestion but there are additional symptoms that lead to the diagnosis of the common cold such as sneezing, sore throat, cough and headache.

A cold is a viral infection of the respiratory tract with over 200 viruses potentially responsible for causing this annoying but generally harmless condition. This article takes a closer look at the medical symptoms associated with a cold so you can determine if indeed this is a cold or something worse.

Common Cold Symptoms And Causes

After coming in contact with the virus, symptoms will typically begin to show within 2 or 3 days, but may take up to one week to be apparent. The earliest symptoms may be an irritated nose or "scratchy throat". Other symptoms present in most cases of the common colds include:

Runny or stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
Watery eyes
Sneezing
Young children may run a fever of approximately 100-102 degrees F. However, adults and older children with cold symptoms generally have a very low fever or no fever at all.

Nasal secretions tend to thicken and may be yellow or green in color within a few days of the cold onset. This is a normal expectation and is not necessarily an indication of cold complications.

Additional symptoms may be present depending on which virus is causing the cold. These symptoms may include:

Cough (unproductive, meaning no mucus is coughed up)
Sore throat
Loss of appetite
Headache
Muscle or joint ache
Post nasal drip
Fatigue
The common cold is one of the most prevalent health conditions with an estimated one billion colds experienced each year in the United States alone. Children are the most susceptible, with the average child experiencing eight colds each year. Colds can occur at any time of the year but they tend to occur more often during the winter months (in areas that do not have winters, colds are more common during the rainy season).

The common cold can be caused by a variety of viruses including, rhinovirus, coxsackievirus, coronavirus, etc. The virus is spread through nasal secretions via sneezing, nose-blowing, or nose-wiping. You can catch a cold by coming in contact with the virus and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth. You can also catch a cold by inhaling the virus if you are too close to an infected person when they sneeze.

Colds are most contagious for the first two or 3 days and not contagious at all after approximately one week.

Common Cold Diagnosis And Treatment

Diagnosis is typically based on observation of the aforementioned symptoms. You should contact your doctor if you develop difficulty breathing, if a fever is present or if symptoms persist and do not improve after 7 to 10 days.

With treatment, emphasis is placed on preventing the spread of the virus. Care should be taken to wash hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose. Instant hand sanitizers use alcohol to kill germs and may be an effective alternative if soap and water are not available.

The common cold usually runs its course in 10-14 days as symptoms disappear. Medications (including antibiotics) do nothing to cure the infection, although over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, decongestants, cough medicines, or analgesics may be used to relieve symptoms. Aspirin should not be used for this or any other viral infection.

Medical experts recommend against the use of cough and cold medications for children under the age of 6. Talk with your doctor before giving a young child over-the-counter cold medication.

There are new antiviral medications available, which may shorten the duration of cold symptoms. However, it is unclear whether the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks. Speak with your doctor if you are considering using an antiviral medication for treatment of a common cold.

Self-care may be the best treatment option for alleviating the uncomfortable symptoms associated with a cold. These home care remedies include:

Getting plenty of rest
Maintaining adequate fluid intake
Inhaling steam to relieve nasal congestion
Sucking on lozenges for sore throat relief
Alternate treatments (Echinacea, Vitamin C, Zinc)

Using a Fitness Buddy - Everything You Need to Know

Do you remember the time when you and your friends planned to jog the long stretch at the beach at the break of dawn the following day? Didn't you take special care to sleep early the night before, set your alarm clock an hour early so you can prepare beforehand? Can you remember the excitement and anticipation you felt of that prospective get together? You didn't really think of it as an exercise regimen although you and your buddies seriously jogged that stretch, enjoying great conversation as you burned your calories. It was more of a gathering of friends than a workout session. Such is the power of pairing or grouping up.

In our desire to lose those extra pounds, we are initially so gung-ho into the program that everything must stop the moment the workout begins. We are so eager until the time comes when the routines become boring and obligatory. When we have no one but ourselves to be accountable to, our commitment eventually wanes. Sooner or later, we find ourselves stopping our exercise sessions for days at a time until we abandon it completely. It is in these occasions when having a weight loss buddy is important. A partner who can support you in your weight loss regimen, preferably someone who is also on the same journey as you, who seeks the kind of emotional support and accountability that you are also looking for would make a good weight loss buddy. Getting a partner who will make you stick to your goals, who can be brutally frank and honest about the effort you are putting into the regimen can be the missing link behind your weight loss success. This person, whether a family member, friend or even an online buddy, is your support system who makes you accountable for every action you take that pertains to your weight loss regimen.

The right weight loss buddy for you is someone who is able to give you "tough love." He or she points out what you are doing wrong and tell that to you straight. You need someone who will tell to get moving during those days when you just feel too lazy to get out of bed. Yet, this form of tough love also extends to understanding why you weren't able to make it to an exercise session (e.g. the baby sitter did not arrive and you had to babysit your child) and work with you to find a solution the next time it happens. Your diet partner must also be available anytime you need him or her. If you have an online weight loss partner, then you've got to set upon an agreed time to chat and keep abreast with each other's progress in your goals everyday. If you have a real-life buddy and you plan to set aside time every morning for your workouts, then make sure that you are both available at the times set. Finally, your partner must be willing to listen to your concerns and give that much needed encouragement to boost your morale when losing weight becomes a challenge.

Pair up to win the war against excess weight! Buddy up!

A List of MRSA Symptoms

Aside from the usual signs of a staph infection like a reddish abrasion that refuses to heal, and is causing you pain, a MRSA has other symptoms that sets it apart. MRSA symptoms are from an infection that will not heal because of an immunity or resistance to the drug treatment. Thus, even if surgical intervention is done to remove the pus, it is possible that the wound does not heal properly. It is also possible that the pus just keeps coming back or starts to travel along your veins towards major organs of your body. The MRSA symptoms are listed below, however this is not in any way a reason to avoid seeing a doctor. You cannot self-diagnose, and more so, self-medicate because this is like playing games with your life and health. There are documented cases of persons with MRSA symptoms who have lost their limbs because of inappropriate MRSA treatment.

Tiny, red bumps like bites or pimples just starting
If these marks start to grow into a boil with water or pus
Carbuncles, which are large infections with openings on the skin causing pus, water, or blood to ooze out
Pus under your skin which is a yellowish, thick substance, oftentimes with a malodorous smell, also known as impetigo
An eyelid infection, commonly known as a sty
Cellulitis which are skin infections with fatty tissues under your skin
Swelling and tenderness in the affected area
Pain that gets worse every time you move the area
Edema or water retention
Sepsis which is toxins in the blood
Pneumonia
Periostitis, which happens when the tissue around the bones starts to get infected
Appendicitis, meningitis, peritonitis, pyoderma, eczema
Influenza
Skin lesion
Respiratory diseases
Clotting of an enzyme known as coagulase which is produces by MRSA
Difficulty in breathing
Loss of appetite
Fever or chills
Muscle, chest, bone, and joint pains
Fatigue or lethargy
Headaches
Low blood pressure
Technically, since MRSA symptoms can be widespread and numerous, the patient must understand that it happens mainly because the immune system is not working properly. The body cannot fight the bacteria, and the drugs are not doing much good either. The doctor must find an antibiotic that the patient is not immune to for the infection to stop spreading and causing damage to major organs like the lungs, heart, and kidney. Some of these MRSA symptoms are also symptoms of other diseases, which means that a culture of the infection must be tested in a lab to determine cause. At any rate, the urgency to seek medical attention, regardless of whether or not the patient is in pain, is imperative. Do not wait for it to get worst because this will result in prolonged treatment and possible confinement in the hospital. If you disregard a growing boil or pain in the affected area, you risk the following major medical problems:

Blood poisoning
Internal abscesses which could affect heart valves, joints, or any artificial element in your body
Lung infection
Edema
Septic shock
Endocarditis or heart lining infection
Bone marrow infection
High risk groups for MRSA symptoms and infections are those with HIV/AIDS, those who have undergone surgery, cancer patients, those undergoing dialysis, and those who take antibiotics often.

Everything You Need To Know About DOT Physicals

Every commercial driver operating in the United States today, no matter what distances they drive, need to carry with them, at all times, a valid medical certificate that indicates that they have passed the standard battery of DOT physicals. If you are going to drive commercial, you need to carry this important document, along with your license, whenever you are in the vehicle, period. There are no exceptions, so if you have not gotten it done as yet, you need to get it done before they suspend your license.

Why it is Important

The Department of Transportation, the federal agency that oversees interstate commerce, wants the assurance that all commercial drivers are actually fit enough to handle the rigors of short, long and interstate distance trucking. They have the right to insure public safety, and an unfit driver would definitely constitute a considerable threat to the public. Could you imagine the chaos that would be caused by a driver having a stroke, a diabetic episode or an epileptic fit, while pilot a several ton vehicle on any state motorway?

This is why it is required for all commercial drivers, no matter what state or region, to pass a battery of DOT physicals, and maintain a good health certificate. If they cannot pass cleanly, and there are no extenuating circumstances, they cannot obtain or keep a CDL license in any state. To keep cheating to a minimum, most states have adopted the policy of showing the health certificate when obtaining the license, as well as when the driver comes back for their vehicle license plate, and again when they renew their CDL license. If there are extenuating circumstances, like the addition of a hearing aid, or prosthetic that could affect their driving, there is a waiver committee in action that can allow drivers to obtain their licenses with a limited certification.

DOT Certification Explained

If you pass all aspects of the DOT physical, and obtain the standard health certification, that certificate will be valid for at least two years. If there is a medical condition that will require a follow-up exam, like diabetes or high blood pressure, you may still be awarded a certificate, but it will be only good for a limited amount of time, usually for only three months to six months, maximum.

If there is a physical limitation found, like chronic back pain, arthritis, hearing aids, or prosthetics, a review committee will decide whether or not your current condition will prevent you from being able to do everything that a commercial driver would be required to do during the operation of the vehicle. The same will hold true if you are injured in any way, from a sprained ankle to a broken arm. In this type of situation, the worst that will happen is that your license will be suspended temporarily, pending another review within three months, or, at best, you will be issued a short-term restricted certification.

What Happens During the Testing?

The first phase of the examination is the recording of your medical history. This will cover the past five years, and the needed information reflects the number of illnesses, injuries or surgeries that you have had during that time. Falsifying any of this information can get you banned from ever having another CDL license during your lifetime, they take it that seriously. Also included on that document to be filled out is a list of any medications that you take regularly, on doctor's orders or on your own, and your habits concerning recreational drugs and alcohol.

Next up is a battery of small exams that will test your vision, hearing, blood pressure, pulse and urine. The urinalysis will check for abnormalities in proteins, white cells, red cells, nitrates, blood, and glucose levels. There is no drug testing unless the authorities believe it is warranted, and you will be notified if so. After this, all that remains is a true physical exam and a neurological reflex test. The doctor will record everything, and then make his or her recommendation as to whether you have passed your DOT physicals, and what certificate you should be issued, if any.

Being Disease Free Does Not Mean That You Are Healthy

It takes more than just being without a disease or illness to actually be healthy. If you want health then you need to get it started from within. That means putting only good things into your body, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains. It also means that you want to keep bad things such as toxins of different types out of your system. When we have toxins and other bad things coming into our bodies regularly, it makes our bodies work harder to fight them as well as all of the other things that it deals with.

Genetically speaking some people got a better deal for good health than others. No matter what you do, you have a better chance for good health if you have genes that have given you good health. It all depends on your family history. If you look at your immediate family and closely related relatives you will be able to see if it is more likely that you will have heart disease and cancer or if it possible that you will live to be 90.

Many people feel well and healthy right before they are diagnosed with a serious illness. They are walking around fine when all of a sudden they find out that there are problems with their heart or that they have organs that have cancerous tumors on them. Sure they felt good but unfortunately they weren't healthy on the inside where it really mattered.

People that walk around thinking they are healthy because they have not been diagnosed with anything serious and that is a mistake. It is important to always do what you can to help yourself feel strong and healthy. When you keep yourself active and eat right it works in your favor no matter what. People that do take care of themselves usually live longer and actually live better.

If you want to be a healthy person then do everything you can to enjoy life to its fullest. No matter how long it is that you live the key to healthy life is living well and enjoying the time you have to spend with your family and all your friends. Health is not guaranteed but you should enjoy it for as long as you have it. Health may not be the absence of disease, however the absence of illness allows you a better quality of life.

Repetitive Stress Injuries - Important Things You Might Not Be Aware of

You were doing great for a month or two but now you find it hard to get yourself to the gym. You know all the reasons you should workout but somehow those fitness benefits just aren't enough.

Now you feel like a fitness failure!

Take heart - you are not lacking in willpower or desire. You are not a fitness failure.

What you are suffering from is boredom. Do you find that surprising? Most fitness failures are the result of good old fashioned boredom.

If your thinking - "I don't feel bored. I just don't want to workout," ask yourself this - are you having fun when you workout?

If the answer is "no" then you are most likely bored with your workout. After all, how long can walking or jogging on a treadmill be interesting?

The key to avoiding fitness failure is variety.

Change your Idea of Exercise

Take some time to explore different activities, especially those that don't strike you as exercise. Do you like to play a sport like tennis? Do you like to dance? If you don't play a sport or dance, would you like to learn?

Any physical activity is a form of exercise so take the opportunity to learn something new.

Change your Venue

Workout plans do not have to revolve around a gym. Take your workout outdoors - try rollerblading

Do yoga in your backyard

Change your Type of Workout

There are as many types of workout out as there are days of the year. Pop in a DVD at home

DVR a free workout from your cable or satellite provider

Surf YouTube for all kinds of great free workouts

Try out the Latest Craze

There are all kinds of fitness trends that are hot right now. You are sure to find them in your area. Outdoor bootcamps are plentiful in the warmer seasons

Zumba has exploded on to the scene and can be found in churches, school cafeterias and all kinds of unusual open rooms

The more variety you can build into your workout plan the less chance you have of becoming a fitness failure. Choose a few different styles and venues to keep your interest level up.

Most importantly, choose activities that are FUN. If you dread running, how long do you really expect to stick to it!

Comment below and let me know what you do to avoid being a fitness failure.

Parabens: What They Are And Why You Should Avoid Them

When people decide that they want to start going "green" they often begin recycling, eating organic, or perhaps investing in hybrid cars. These are a few great ways to go green but there are also many other ways both large and small. On way that many people do not think of is simply by buying organic bath, beauty, and personal care products. And, as you will read below, this is not only beneficial for the environment. It may also be beneficial for your personal health.

There are many reasons to make the switch to organic bath, beauty, and personal care products. The ingredients in--or rather, the ingredients that are not in organic beauty products is a key reason. Some of the most common ingredients found in commercial products that you will not find in their organic counterparts are compounds known as parabens.

On the ingredients label you will see them listed as:

- Propylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Methylparaben
- IIsoparaben

Parabens are found in many products that you use often and even on a daily basis including moisturizers, shaving gel, toothpaste, shampoo, and so on. Parabens are also occasionally used as food additives. You may have heard of these compounds and wondered if they are really that bad to come in contact with. While this is still under debate, there are many studies which have linked parabens to causing certain ailments and degenerative diseases. So, why take the chance on using products that contain them, when you can invest in organic products that are better for your health.

What Are Parabens?
They are low-cost chemicals used for their antimicrobial and preservative capabilities. These synthetics are very commonly used to increase the shelf life of products.

What Are Their Possible Negative Health Benefits?
There are a number of possible negative health benefits associated with these compounds. Reports have shown a connection between butylparaben and abnormal changes in testosterone secretion. These same reports also showed that the chemical has an adverse affect on how the male reproductive system functions.

And not only males are affected. Studies have found that these chemicals can mimic the effect of estrogen. In other words, they are believed to have an estrogenic effect, an effect that can lead to the development of breast cancer. They are also believed to impair fertility.

In general, the chemicals are believed to be possibly carcinogenic, which makes them worth avoiding entirely.

Staying Well Informed on Birth Injuries

Cerebral palsy happens from brain damage. That being the case, this damage never ever truly mitigates and that signifies that the individuals who suffer from it usually require a lifetime of proper care. The most average warning sign of this condition is having trouble walking. Quite a few of the individuals you have noticed with this ailment are most likely in wheelchairs or use additional assistance devices to help them get around.

Essentially everybody is aware, whenever the brain is stripped of oxygen for an extensive time; it's unavoidable that damage will arise. This is conclusively what comes about in kids with cerebral palsy. In a number of instances, the damage comes about in the womb and there's absolutely nothing that can be done and there is nobody to blame. In other scenarios, the harm comes about from negligent health care methods in the course of the birth. In these cases, a lawsuit generally comes about due to the fact that the parents need to find compensation to help them pay for the costs of ongoing treatment for their kid. For a lot of individuals, looking for the help of an attorney is the only rational way that they will actually be in a position to pay for the fees of these treatments.

If your little one has cerebral palsy it is critical to discover about how this ailment comes about. There are some circumstances were cerebral palsy occurs sometime after the child has already been born. In these instances, the injury may or may not be the outcome of medical negligence and the actual causes fluctuate quite a bit. Medical negligence is habitually a problem when the birth injury happens during labor. In some instances, the little one may be in a position for the duration of the birth where they are deprived of oxygen. In other scenarios, it may merely be that an additional situation led to the baby being stripped of oxygen and to that deprivation of air bringing about their injury.

Cerebral palsy causes a variety of problems with muscle control. If your baby has cerebral palsy, and if you believe that health-related negligence was an element in their having this ailment, speaking to an attorney is a very good way to find out whether or not you have the choice of a lawsuit. You can locate plenty of excellent attorneys that will provide you complimentary consultations. These same lawyers usually work on contingency, so you do not have to worry about having to pay them if they don't truly secure your case. This is a no-risk choice that makes it possible for you to explore how you may possibly get compensation.

Remedies for Candida

You might have heard the word Candida but haven't looked at what it is or worse you might already have been infected but haven't really paid attention to it. Candida or Candida albicans is yeast that normally lives harmlessly in small numbers in the body and controlled by beneficial bacteria and the immune system. It is regarded as friendly yeast until certain conditions compromise it that causes its overgrowth leading to infection. One is when a person takes oral contraceptives because steroids cause Candida overgrowth. Antibiotics are also one of the causes because it kills not just the bad but good bacteria in the body. Weak immune system and prolonged illness or stressful life events can also trigger Candida growth. Chronic Candidasis may also happen which is often caused by adrenaline insufficiency and diabetic condition. It is very important to find Candida remedies before it results to numerous adverse effects to the health of the individuals.

Research shows that symptoms of Candida include: feeling of being drained or exhausted, poor memory, numbness, burning or tingling, stomach pain, joint pain or swelling, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or belching. Other symptoms include menstrual irregularity or cramping, anxiety attacks or crying, persistent vaginal itching, burning or discharge, erectile dysfunction, loss of sexual desire or even infertility. An individual may experience one of the so many symptoms of Candida. Candida remedies recommended by alternative practitioners usually involves individualized programs that combine the supplements for an effective Candida Remedies. A healthy and balance diet is very important for a person that is suffering from this condition. The overgrowth of infection can be controlled through a balanced diet and through elimination of foods that create internal environment where yeast likely survives.

Alternative therapy for Candida remedies can also be a very good option. Studies show that Wormwood is effective against Candida fungal infection that helps strengthen the immune system. Today, wormwood capsules are already introduced. It should be taken with water, three capsules twice a day for the first month, and three capsules daily for subsequent months. Olive Leaf Extract is proven to be very useful to treat recurrent viral infections and compromised immune systems. Colloidal Silver is a non-toxic, non-addictive and free of side effects medicine. It is thought to be more effective than antibiotic, killing an average of 650 different organisms than antibiotic can. It is regarded safe even for children, pregnant and nursing women and can be applied topically or internally and has no reaction with other medications.

Susan Jones is dedicated to finding treatments and remedies to bacterial vaginosis and other infections related to yeast infection.

7 Things You Sure Want To Know About Medical Alert Systems

You probably are researching about getting a medical alert system. Below is a list of things about this product that you will find useful in getting one.

Medical Alert System: It Pays To Know More

1. Although seniors make up the majority of people that use medical alarms, other individuals such as pregnant women and recovering surgery patients can take advantage of this system too.

2. These systems come with a mobile device that you can use to call for help from anywhere in the home. They usually come in the shape of a bracelet or necklace and are waterproof so you can still use in the tub or shower.

3. Even though a medical alert system is classified as a health and safety product, it is not usually covered by insurance plans. However, a lot of medical alert system companies do offer affordable rates that won't hurt your wallet.

4. Almost all systems have backup battery packs that are activated in case of a power outage. They usually last up 24 hours and are very reliable.

5. If there will be two users in the same house, most service providers offer an additional mobile device for a little extra cost. It sure beats having to pay for two subscriptions.

6. With the push of a button, the system will connect you to trained service personnel that will assist you through an incident. The representative will call for medical assistance and notify family members as well.

7. If the user will be spending significant time away from home, the user can arrange for a temporary transfer of services to the place he or she will be going to.

Ready To Get Yours?

Keep these things in mind and you will eventually find the best medical alert system for you. A little research goes a long way.