US researchers say the key to keeping the weight off is regular exercise
How often have you battled through weeks or months of dieting, only to put it all back on again, and then some?
However, there are always a few fortunate souls who do manage to keep their weight under control, and according to research carried out by the US National Weight Control Registry, those dieters share a number of common characteristics, including a programme of regular exercise.
Researchers from the University of Colorado Denver therefore set out to discover how exercise affects the body’s physiology to minimise weight regain by studying obesity-prone laboratory rats.
For the first 16 weeks, the rats ate a high-fat diet, as much as they wanted, and remained sedentary. They were then placed on a diet. For the following two weeks, the animals ate a low-fat and low-calorie diet, losing about 14 percent of their body weight. The rats maintained the weight loss by dieting for eight more weeks. Half the rats exercised regularly on a treadmill during this period while the other half remained sedentary.
In the final eight weeks, the relapse phase of the study, the rats stopped dieting and ate as much low-fat food as they wanted. The rats in the exercise group continued to exercise and the sedentary rats remained sedentary.
The study's findings showed that exercise helps prevent weight regain after dieting by reducing appetite and by burning fat before burning carbohydrates. Burning fat first and storing carbohydrates for use later in the day slows weight regain and may reduce overeating by signalling a feeling of fullness to the brain.
Moreover, their results also revealed that, contrary to popular wisdom, the number of fat cells is not pre-ordained by your genetic make-up, but that during the relapse period, when dieters start to regain the lost weight, sedentary types start to produce small, new fat cells. Those who exercise regularly, however, do not create these new fat cells.
Writing in the American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, the team says that taken together, these physiological changes in the brain and body lower the 'defended' weight - the weight that our physiology drives us to achieve.
Conventional wisdom holds that the number of fat cells is determined by genetics, rather than being regulated by diet or lifestyle. Because this effect of exercise is a novel finding, the team will do further research to demonstrate that exercise is preventing the formation of new fat cells early in relapse and not simply altering the size of pre-existing fat cells.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Five ways to tackle SAD
From nutrition to naturopathy, five experts tell you how to beat the winter blues
Professor Anne Farmer, consultant psychiatrist
"Half an hour to an hour under a 10,000 lux 'daylight lamp' every morning from September or October to March or April, can really help, especially for people who are 'larks' who are usually brighter first thing in the morning.
"'Owls', people who perk up at night may find early evening more helpful. It's important to stay under the lamp for the required length of time and not to keep getting up and down.
"Antidepressants can help some either with light therapy or on their own. Depending on severity I might also prescribe Prozac or another SSRI.
"A serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor such as venlafaxine, a drug that creates both more of both hormones can help increase alertness and energy as well as tackling the depression."
Marilyn Glenville, nutritional therapist
"An underactive thyroid can up the risk of depression and women are prone to this, especially as they get older so I'd encourage patients to get a thyroid test.
"Peaks and dips in blood sugar can exacerbate symptoms so I would advise cutting out caffeine, and unrefined foods like white bread, biscuits, pastries and cakes. I advise them to eat little and often.
"Chromium, found in foods like seafood, liver and fresh fruit and vegetables, helps combat carb cravings, which are a feature of winter depression. B complex vitamins found in foods such as oats, barley, avocado, salmon and Brazil nuts can help balance the nerves.
"I would also recommend supplements: a good multi-vitamin and mineral plus 25 mgs of B complex vitamins, 1000 mg of Omega 3s and 100 mcg of chromium which helps reduce sugar cravings.
"Exercise is an essential part of the plan - I would suggest going out for a brisk half hour walk at the lightest time of day."
Linda Blair, psychotherapist
"Cognitive behaviour therapy doesn't take away the symptoms of SAD but it can help patients to accept and manage them better.
"When you learn how to see SAD as just a part of your life it gives you choices. I would recommend behavioural changes such as using a daylight alarm clock that emits increasing light levels to simulate the arrival of dawn as you gradually wake up and regular aerobic exercise to encourage the body to produce endorphins, its own feel-good hormones.
"It is important to give yourself the chance to cut down on stress at this time of year, so I would advise putting a sticker in your diary to remind you to go easier on yourself.
"It's a good idea to make a list of things that make you feel better such as phoning a friend or relative and keeping this in several different places, so you have a kind of mental toolkit to call on when you feel down. And of course if you can afford it take a holiday somewhere sunny."
Penny Povey, naturopath
"A good diet is vital. Start the day with porridge. For lunch I would advise a bowl of vegetable soup or big salad with fish or turkey; for supper eat a handful of protein - again things like fish and turkey, - and some complex carbohydrates that help calm anxiety, something like brown rice and cooked veg. It's important to get some exercise - and fresh air.
"Herbs can be useful as an alternative to anti-depressants. Licorice helps tonify the adrenal glands, which are often involved in depression. Oat straw is also good for the nervous system. St John's Wort is good for mild to moderate depression and the herb Rodeola can help combat stress. Siberian ginseng helps to strengthen the adrenals and balances the system generally."
Phil Edmonds, registered homeopath
"The homeopathic remedy sepia can be good for depression that is made better by the sun, especially when the person is feeling overwhelmed, overworked and alone.
"Pulsatilla can help when the person is weepy and emotional but feels better when comforted. Nat Mur is good for grief that is linked to the past, while for really severe cases I might choose Aurum, especially for people who are perfectionists."
Professor Anne Farmer, consultant psychiatrist
"Half an hour to an hour under a 10,000 lux 'daylight lamp' every morning from September or October to March or April, can really help, especially for people who are 'larks' who are usually brighter first thing in the morning.
"'Owls', people who perk up at night may find early evening more helpful. It's important to stay under the lamp for the required length of time and not to keep getting up and down.
"Antidepressants can help some either with light therapy or on their own. Depending on severity I might also prescribe Prozac or another SSRI.
"A serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor such as venlafaxine, a drug that creates both more of both hormones can help increase alertness and energy as well as tackling the depression."
Marilyn Glenville, nutritional therapist
"An underactive thyroid can up the risk of depression and women are prone to this, especially as they get older so I'd encourage patients to get a thyroid test.
"Peaks and dips in blood sugar can exacerbate symptoms so I would advise cutting out caffeine, and unrefined foods like white bread, biscuits, pastries and cakes. I advise them to eat little and often.
"Chromium, found in foods like seafood, liver and fresh fruit and vegetables, helps combat carb cravings, which are a feature of winter depression. B complex vitamins found in foods such as oats, barley, avocado, salmon and Brazil nuts can help balance the nerves.
"I would also recommend supplements: a good multi-vitamin and mineral plus 25 mgs of B complex vitamins, 1000 mg of Omega 3s and 100 mcg of chromium which helps reduce sugar cravings.
"Exercise is an essential part of the plan - I would suggest going out for a brisk half hour walk at the lightest time of day."
Linda Blair, psychotherapist
"Cognitive behaviour therapy doesn't take away the symptoms of SAD but it can help patients to accept and manage them better.
"When you learn how to see SAD as just a part of your life it gives you choices. I would recommend behavioural changes such as using a daylight alarm clock that emits increasing light levels to simulate the arrival of dawn as you gradually wake up and regular aerobic exercise to encourage the body to produce endorphins, its own feel-good hormones.
"It is important to give yourself the chance to cut down on stress at this time of year, so I would advise putting a sticker in your diary to remind you to go easier on yourself.
"It's a good idea to make a list of things that make you feel better such as phoning a friend or relative and keeping this in several different places, so you have a kind of mental toolkit to call on when you feel down. And of course if you can afford it take a holiday somewhere sunny."
Penny Povey, naturopath
"A good diet is vital. Start the day with porridge. For lunch I would advise a bowl of vegetable soup or big salad with fish or turkey; for supper eat a handful of protein - again things like fish and turkey, - and some complex carbohydrates that help calm anxiety, something like brown rice and cooked veg. It's important to get some exercise - and fresh air.
"Herbs can be useful as an alternative to anti-depressants. Licorice helps tonify the adrenal glands, which are often involved in depression. Oat straw is also good for the nervous system. St John's Wort is good for mild to moderate depression and the herb Rodeola can help combat stress. Siberian ginseng helps to strengthen the adrenals and balances the system generally."
Phil Edmonds, registered homeopath
"The homeopathic remedy sepia can be good for depression that is made better by the sun, especially when the person is feeling overwhelmed, overworked and alone.
"Pulsatilla can help when the person is weepy and emotional but feels better when comforted. Nat Mur is good for grief that is linked to the past, while for really severe cases I might choose Aurum, especially for people who are perfectionists."
How to avoid a cold
There are 200 different cold viruses out there lying in wait for us , but they can be outwitted. Dr Margaret Stearn gives the 10 key rules to follow to avoid catching a cold
No 1 Wash your hands after being in a crowded place or in the same room as someone with a cold. This really works. A survey published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine showed that episodes of colds and flu among 1442 naval recruits at a training centre in Great Lakes Illinois almost halved after they were commanded to wash their hands more frequently.
The old theory about colds was that cold viruses were spread through the air, carried on tiny droplets of moisture that were then breathed in by other people. This is certainly one method of catching a cold, but experts now believe that many or even most colds are passed on via hands.
No 2 Don't touch your nose and eyes unless you have to. We all do this many times a day without being aware of it. Once the virus is on your hands it's all too easy to transfer it and tears drain from the eyes via a duct into the nose so virus can easily spread from the eyes to the nose.
During a cough or sneeze, 40,000 infected droplets may be expelled as far as 30 feet. Some of these droplets will be deposited on objects, where the virus may survive for up to three hours, to be picked up by anyone who touches the object.
Door handles, handrails on public transport, light switches and crockery are common culprits. You can also pick up cold virus by shaking hands with someone who has recently blown their nose.
No 3 We often pick up colds from people we have never met so wear gloves when you travel on public transport. Yes I know that to some people this might seem a bit over the top but it is very easy to pick up cold virus from handrails on the bus or Tube.
No 4 Your granny was right: you need to wrap up. In an experiment at Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre 90 volunteers spent 20 minutes with their feet in cold water and, surprise, surprise: 29 per cent developed cold symptom within five days compared to 9 per cent of the control group who simply dangled their feet in an empty bowl.
No 5 When wrapping up don't forget your nose - you should cover it with a scarf when the weather is cold. The importance of the effect of cold air in the nose is a new idea. Professor Ron Eccles, director of the Cardiff centre who came up with it says that viruses multiply in the cells that line the nose, and they breed faster when the cells are cool.
No 6 Take a walk to boost your immune system: even on a cold day it still helps. Again it is to the USA that we have turn for the relevant research.
A study by Professor David Nieman at Appalachian State University in North Carolina examined the risks of catching a cold among a group of women aged between 65 and 84 over a 12-week period. Their findings revealed that walking for between 30 and 40 minutes five times a week almost halved the women's risk of catching a cold.
No 7 Fewer colds seems to be one advantage of getting older; most of us are able to fight off a good selection of the 200 or so different cold viruses without much difficulty.
After the age of 50, the average person has 1-2 colds each year, whereas 20-year-olds have 2-3 colds and small children have many more.
Over time, the immune systems of older people may have learnt to deal with a wide range of cold viruses. Also, many older people spend less time with children, who are the main reservoir of cold viruses.
No 8 Try a new nasal spray, Vicks First Defence (£6.99 from pharmacists). This jelly-like substance coats the virus so it cannot attach to the lining of the nose. It is also slightly acidic (which cold viruses dislike), and it stimulates secretions to wash the virus away. The idea makes sense, and preliminary research has shown it halves the likelihood of getting a cold.
No 9 Banish stress. It might be easier said than done, but it really seems to help. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh asked 276 healthy volunteers about the stresses in their lives, and then deposited cold viruses in their noses. Those who had reported chronic stress (especially personal difficulties with friends or relatives) were more than twice as likely to become ill with a cold. It seems that chronic stress affects the immune system, and makes people less resistant to infection.
No 10 Finally, don't waste money on Echinacea. In a study at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, USA, 473 volunteers were given either Echinacea or a dummy version for several days, and then a dose of common cold virus.
Sadly, the results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, showed that Echinacea had no effect on the likelihood of developing a cold or its severity. Vitamin C does not fare much better.
Scientists at the Australian National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health looked at 55 studies of vitamin C and the common cold, going back over 65 years and involving more than 11,000 people. They concluded that, for most people, taking vitamin C regularly does not reduce your chances of getting a cold. However it did have a noticeably good effect on marathon runners, skiers and soldiers exposed to extreme conditions.
No 1 Wash your hands after being in a crowded place or in the same room as someone with a cold. This really works. A survey published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine showed that episodes of colds and flu among 1442 naval recruits at a training centre in Great Lakes Illinois almost halved after they were commanded to wash their hands more frequently.
The old theory about colds was that cold viruses were spread through the air, carried on tiny droplets of moisture that were then breathed in by other people. This is certainly one method of catching a cold, but experts now believe that many or even most colds are passed on via hands.
No 2 Don't touch your nose and eyes unless you have to. We all do this many times a day without being aware of it. Once the virus is on your hands it's all too easy to transfer it and tears drain from the eyes via a duct into the nose so virus can easily spread from the eyes to the nose.
During a cough or sneeze, 40,000 infected droplets may be expelled as far as 30 feet. Some of these droplets will be deposited on objects, where the virus may survive for up to three hours, to be picked up by anyone who touches the object.
Door handles, handrails on public transport, light switches and crockery are common culprits. You can also pick up cold virus by shaking hands with someone who has recently blown their nose.
No 3 We often pick up colds from people we have never met so wear gloves when you travel on public transport. Yes I know that to some people this might seem a bit over the top but it is very easy to pick up cold virus from handrails on the bus or Tube.
No 4 Your granny was right: you need to wrap up. In an experiment at Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre 90 volunteers spent 20 minutes with their feet in cold water and, surprise, surprise: 29 per cent developed cold symptom within five days compared to 9 per cent of the control group who simply dangled their feet in an empty bowl.
No 5 When wrapping up don't forget your nose - you should cover it with a scarf when the weather is cold. The importance of the effect of cold air in the nose is a new idea. Professor Ron Eccles, director of the Cardiff centre who came up with it says that viruses multiply in the cells that line the nose, and they breed faster when the cells are cool.
No 6 Take a walk to boost your immune system: even on a cold day it still helps. Again it is to the USA that we have turn for the relevant research.
A study by Professor David Nieman at Appalachian State University in North Carolina examined the risks of catching a cold among a group of women aged between 65 and 84 over a 12-week period. Their findings revealed that walking for between 30 and 40 minutes five times a week almost halved the women's risk of catching a cold.
No 7 Fewer colds seems to be one advantage of getting older; most of us are able to fight off a good selection of the 200 or so different cold viruses without much difficulty.
After the age of 50, the average person has 1-2 colds each year, whereas 20-year-olds have 2-3 colds and small children have many more.
Over time, the immune systems of older people may have learnt to deal with a wide range of cold viruses. Also, many older people spend less time with children, who are the main reservoir of cold viruses.
No 8 Try a new nasal spray, Vicks First Defence (£6.99 from pharmacists). This jelly-like substance coats the virus so it cannot attach to the lining of the nose. It is also slightly acidic (which cold viruses dislike), and it stimulates secretions to wash the virus away. The idea makes sense, and preliminary research has shown it halves the likelihood of getting a cold.
No 9 Banish stress. It might be easier said than done, but it really seems to help. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh asked 276 healthy volunteers about the stresses in their lives, and then deposited cold viruses in their noses. Those who had reported chronic stress (especially personal difficulties with friends or relatives) were more than twice as likely to become ill with a cold. It seems that chronic stress affects the immune system, and makes people less resistant to infection.
No 10 Finally, don't waste money on Echinacea. In a study at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, USA, 473 volunteers were given either Echinacea or a dummy version for several days, and then a dose of common cold virus.
Sadly, the results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, showed that Echinacea had no effect on the likelihood of developing a cold or its severity. Vitamin C does not fare much better.
Scientists at the Australian National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health looked at 55 studies of vitamin C and the common cold, going back over 65 years and involving more than 11,000 people. They concluded that, for most people, taking vitamin C regularly does not reduce your chances of getting a cold. However it did have a noticeably good effect on marathon runners, skiers and soldiers exposed to extreme conditions.
Saga Health Insurance - Cover You Can Rely On
Everyone gets sick. It is just a fact of life, and if it is not us personally, then it is someone we know or someone we love that we would give the world for. Sometimes, however, things are out of our control. Diseases and sicknesses can come on without warning, but here is something you can control. Health cover. If you are living in the United Kingdom, then you are well informed how dismal the National Health Service is for your most basic needs. Sometimes it is enough to get you by, but when it comes to someone you love, and the issue needs more than a Band-Aid, it is time to look into health insurance from providers such as Saga Health Insurance.
There are a few things that turn people away from wanting reliable health cover. I will address the biggest factor I have found in looking into this issue for myself.
Money. There is never enough of it seems to meet our most basic needs, and having private medical insurance might seem like the last thing in the world you can afford. With cover from brands such as Saga Health Insurance you are bound to find a plan that will fit your budget. Yes, you will have to do some homework and compare companies-try to match a plan and coverage that matches you own individual needs for you and the ones you care about. Costs can be reduced by doing comparisons either in person, over the phone, or by the Internet, and often times there are discounts that are offered to online shoppers, so keep that in mind as you are looking through the options.
If price is your only concern, then there are answers out there for you. When it comes to life, no one has time to wait around for inadequate care. Seek appropriate means to start getting the answers and results you have been waiting too long for.
There are a few things that turn people away from wanting reliable health cover. I will address the biggest factor I have found in looking into this issue for myself.
Money. There is never enough of it seems to meet our most basic needs, and having private medical insurance might seem like the last thing in the world you can afford. With cover from brands such as Saga Health Insurance you are bound to find a plan that will fit your budget. Yes, you will have to do some homework and compare companies-try to match a plan and coverage that matches you own individual needs for you and the ones you care about. Costs can be reduced by doing comparisons either in person, over the phone, or by the Internet, and often times there are discounts that are offered to online shoppers, so keep that in mind as you are looking through the options.
If price is your only concern, then there are answers out there for you. When it comes to life, no one has time to wait around for inadequate care. Seek appropriate means to start getting the answers and results you have been waiting too long for.
Lose weight and stay slim
Shedding some pounds, if you need to, can help lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis and even some kinds of cancer
Losing weight and keeping it off isn't easy but it is possible: here's how.
Motivate yourself
Motivation is most important factor in determining whether you will lose, so try these tricks to give your willpower a kick-start.
*List all the reasons why you want to lose weight.
* Boost your confidence by reminding yourself of previous successes both large and small.
*Make a note of what you want to achieve, why and by when and check progress against these goals.
*Set a start date and plan your campaign of eating and exercise.
Get movin
If you dislike formal exercise don't do it. Walking 10,000 steps a day - a brisk hour's worth - burns around 300 to 500 calories. That's a pound lost every 10 days without dieting.
* Get a pedometer to log your step count.
*Try dividing exercise into bite-size chunks - 10 or 20 minutes at a time
* You've heard it before but increasing your daily activity level by walking for part of a journey or avoiding lifts and escalators really does burn calories.
*Resistance training uses weights or your own body weight as in yoga or Pilates to develop muscle tissue which burns more calories than fat - even when you're sitting down.
Portion control
Average portion sizes have increased 30 per cent in the last decade and not just in restaurants and fast food outlets. Dinner plates have got bigger, so we're eating more at home too.
Rather than weighing everything, build up a mental image of what the right portion sizes look like.
Portion guidelines
As a rough rule of thumb a serving of fruit, vegetables or potatoes is equal in size to half a tennis ball; three ounces of meat, fish, or chicken to a deck of playing cards; an ounce of cheese to your thumb; and a teaspoon of oil to around the tip of your thumb.
*Use a smaller plate to fool your brain into thinking you are eating more
*Boost your confidence by reminding yourself of previous successes both large and small.
*In a restaurant share a main course or have another starter instead.
*Fill up your plate with green veg such as spinach, broccoli, kale and salad leaves to curb your appetite for high calorie foods.
Opt into breakfast
As well as preventing mid-morning 'munchies', it may lower your risk of insulin resistance syndrome, characterised by weight gain and belly fat, an early sign of developing diabetes.
* Porridge, muesli, wholegrain toast and a boiled or poached egg help stabilise blood sugar levels.
*If you can't face eating whiz up a smoothie with a handful of fruit, skimmed milk and low-fat yoghurt.
Get enough sleep
Recent research has shown that lack of sleep lowers blood levels of leptin, a protein that suppresses appetite and affects how our brains sense when we have eaten enough.
*
Get up half an hour earlier so you have time to wake up properly before facing any food.
*
Don't eat too late or go to bed hungry.
*
Avoid strenuous exercise just before bed as it can be over-stimulating.
*
Prime yourself for sleep by having a wind-down routine: with maybe a warm bath or a chamomile tea
*Avoid caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol in the evening.
Losing weight and keeping it off isn't easy but it is possible: here's how.
Motivate yourself
Motivation is most important factor in determining whether you will lose, so try these tricks to give your willpower a kick-start.
*List all the reasons why you want to lose weight.
* Boost your confidence by reminding yourself of previous successes both large and small.
*Make a note of what you want to achieve, why and by when and check progress against these goals.
*Set a start date and plan your campaign of eating and exercise.
Get movin
If you dislike formal exercise don't do it. Walking 10,000 steps a day - a brisk hour's worth - burns around 300 to 500 calories. That's a pound lost every 10 days without dieting.
* Get a pedometer to log your step count.
*Try dividing exercise into bite-size chunks - 10 or 20 minutes at a time
* You've heard it before but increasing your daily activity level by walking for part of a journey or avoiding lifts and escalators really does burn calories.
*Resistance training uses weights or your own body weight as in yoga or Pilates to develop muscle tissue which burns more calories than fat - even when you're sitting down.
Portion control
Average portion sizes have increased 30 per cent in the last decade and not just in restaurants and fast food outlets. Dinner plates have got bigger, so we're eating more at home too.
Rather than weighing everything, build up a mental image of what the right portion sizes look like.
Portion guidelines
As a rough rule of thumb a serving of fruit, vegetables or potatoes is equal in size to half a tennis ball; three ounces of meat, fish, or chicken to a deck of playing cards; an ounce of cheese to your thumb; and a teaspoon of oil to around the tip of your thumb.
*Use a smaller plate to fool your brain into thinking you are eating more
*Boost your confidence by reminding yourself of previous successes both large and small.
*In a restaurant share a main course or have another starter instead.
*Fill up your plate with green veg such as spinach, broccoli, kale and salad leaves to curb your appetite for high calorie foods.
Opt into breakfast
As well as preventing mid-morning 'munchies', it may lower your risk of insulin resistance syndrome, characterised by weight gain and belly fat, an early sign of developing diabetes.
* Porridge, muesli, wholegrain toast and a boiled or poached egg help stabilise blood sugar levels.
*If you can't face eating whiz up a smoothie with a handful of fruit, skimmed milk and low-fat yoghurt.
Get enough sleep
Recent research has shown that lack of sleep lowers blood levels of leptin, a protein that suppresses appetite and affects how our brains sense when we have eaten enough.
*
Get up half an hour earlier so you have time to wake up properly before facing any food.
*
Don't eat too late or go to bed hungry.
*
Avoid strenuous exercise just before bed as it can be over-stimulating.
*
Prime yourself for sleep by having a wind-down routine: with maybe a warm bath or a chamomile tea
*Avoid caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol in the evening.
It’s not my fault I'm getting fatter
When it comes to finding an explanation for why diets fail to shift those lbs, and why those love handles stick like glue, there are lots to choose from. But are they true or just wishful thinking? We take a close look at some old – and new - excuses and see if they stand up to scrutiny
Some of us are just meant to be bigger. It’s in our genes, it’s how we were born. This is what we tell ourselves when we look in the mirror or step on the scales. And up to a point it may be true. But the difference many of those factors make to how much extra weight we’re carrying is usually small – or non-existent - and they don’t affect everyone.
So are you making excuses that don’t hold water? Find out whether those extra inches are due to factors out of your control, or if losing that weight is not an impossible dream.
I’m big boned
We don’t all come in one size. You only have to compare Arnold Schwarzenegger to Kylie Minogue, to know that our bodies vary hugely in build from solid to sylph-like. Anyone with the frame of an action hero is unlikely ever to squeeze into the same cat suit as a pop princess, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take control of your weight. ‘You don’t lose weight from your bones,’ says Dr Beckie Lang of the Association of the Study for Obesity (ASO). ‘You lose weight by losing fat, regardless of whether you have a big frame or not.’
‘By following a low fat, healthy diet, you can be a healthy weight. You need to start off with a realistic goal – it’s no good trying to look like Kate Moss if you do have a big frame,’ says Dr Lang. ‘Set yourself small targets. Start by aiming to lose a small amount, say five% of your current body weight. Even with this small weight loss you’ll see significant benefits to your health. Your cholesterol levels will fall, your blood pressure may drop and your blood lipid levels can alter beneficially.’
‘To achieve this you don’t have to stop doing all the things you like doing. Have one biscuit rather than two, with your afternoon tea, have one glass of wine rather than two, with your evening meal. Make small changes in your everyday life and you’ll be more likely to keep them up.’
I’ve caught the Fat Flu Virus
As an excuse for being over weight, catching a virus that makes you fat seems pretty far-fetched. But scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Centre, Baton Rouge, USA, discovered in a recent study that this can happen. The researchers looked at the human virus Ad-36, which causes respiratory and eye infections. They found that it turned stem cells taken from fat tissue into fat cells. Stem cells that weren’t exposed to the virus didn’t change into fat cells.
More work is being carried out on this virus – and on others, which it’s thought may affect the body’s storage of fat. However it doesn’t mean that everyone who has this virus will put on weight because of it. And it isn’t an excuse for not following a healthy diet and lifestyle.
It’s my slow metabolism
It seems like common sense, doesn’t it, that if you’re carrying more weight than a slim friend, that you must have a slower metabolism – burn calories at a slower rate - than they do? Unfortunately the truth is exactly the opposite. (Metabolism is the process that breaks down the nutrients in our food to give us energy. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body burns over a set period, to keep your body running.)
‘There is very good evidence from tightly controlled studies to show that bigger people have a higher metabolic rate,’ says Dr Beckie Lang of ASO.
‘Think about how your body reacts when you carry something heavy, like a couple of suitcases. Your heart rate goes up and your organs and muscles work harder because of that extra effort. It’s exactly the same if you’re overweight. Your body works harder and burns more calories, because it’s having to do more work.’
Bigger bodies have bigger muscles and bigger internal organs that take more energy to keep going. So as an explanation for why you aren’t losing weight, this one’s a complete non-starter.
Your metabolic rate does change though, depending on how fit – or fat – you are. Muscles need more energy to fuel them than fat does, so lean people have a higher metabolic rate than fatter people. However, as we get older we tend to lose muscle and gain fat. You can slow down that trend by exercising regularly.
It’s in my genes
Earlier this year scientists made a breakthrough that links a gene with a higher risk of obesity. The research suggests that the ‘fat gene’, known as FTO, plays a part in controlling feelings of hunger and how full we feel, and affects how much we eat. Fifty percent of the UK population has one copy of the ‘fat gene’. And these people are usually around 1.6 kilograms heavier than those without this gene. Sixteen percent of the population have two copies of this gene, and can be up to three kilograms heavier than people who have none.
More research needs to be carried out, but it’s hoped that ultimately scientists could design a drug to alter the FTO gene and help combat obesity. Until then, this may be one reason why some of us struggle with our weight.
I’ve got the wrong body shape
Whether you’re an apple or pear shape, or any of the others recently defined by style gurus Trinny and Susannah, your body shape is determined by your genes. ‘You get what you’re given in terms of your body shape,’ says Dr Beckie Lang. ‘And there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t change your basic body shape, but how much fat you put on your body is down to you. And that’s down to how you manage what you are eating and how much you burn off. Look at your lifestyle and see what improvements you can make. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, limit your fat intake, eat lots of whole grains and make sure you exercise.’
I eat too late
‘This is a myth,’ says Dr Beckie Lang. ‘There is absolutely no evidence that it has any effect on weight gain. You may read that it’s best not to eat after a certain time at night, but that’s usually because evenings are when people are prone to snack.’
So if you’ve been raiding the fridge for nibbles or have scoffed chocolate or crisps to keep you going until your evening meal, you’ll have put away extra calories on top of those in your chicken casserole or pasta. It’s not when you eat that makes the difference, it’s what you eat. To avoid the snack attacks eat earlier, or if you can’t, plan ahead and have something low-fat and low-calorie to tide you over.
Some of us are just meant to be bigger. It’s in our genes, it’s how we were born. This is what we tell ourselves when we look in the mirror or step on the scales. And up to a point it may be true. But the difference many of those factors make to how much extra weight we’re carrying is usually small – or non-existent - and they don’t affect everyone.
So are you making excuses that don’t hold water? Find out whether those extra inches are due to factors out of your control, or if losing that weight is not an impossible dream.
I’m big boned
We don’t all come in one size. You only have to compare Arnold Schwarzenegger to Kylie Minogue, to know that our bodies vary hugely in build from solid to sylph-like. Anyone with the frame of an action hero is unlikely ever to squeeze into the same cat suit as a pop princess, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take control of your weight. ‘You don’t lose weight from your bones,’ says Dr Beckie Lang of the Association of the Study for Obesity (ASO). ‘You lose weight by losing fat, regardless of whether you have a big frame or not.’
‘By following a low fat, healthy diet, you can be a healthy weight. You need to start off with a realistic goal – it’s no good trying to look like Kate Moss if you do have a big frame,’ says Dr Lang. ‘Set yourself small targets. Start by aiming to lose a small amount, say five% of your current body weight. Even with this small weight loss you’ll see significant benefits to your health. Your cholesterol levels will fall, your blood pressure may drop and your blood lipid levels can alter beneficially.’
‘To achieve this you don’t have to stop doing all the things you like doing. Have one biscuit rather than two, with your afternoon tea, have one glass of wine rather than two, with your evening meal. Make small changes in your everyday life and you’ll be more likely to keep them up.’
I’ve caught the Fat Flu Virus
As an excuse for being over weight, catching a virus that makes you fat seems pretty far-fetched. But scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Centre, Baton Rouge, USA, discovered in a recent study that this can happen. The researchers looked at the human virus Ad-36, which causes respiratory and eye infections. They found that it turned stem cells taken from fat tissue into fat cells. Stem cells that weren’t exposed to the virus didn’t change into fat cells.
More work is being carried out on this virus – and on others, which it’s thought may affect the body’s storage of fat. However it doesn’t mean that everyone who has this virus will put on weight because of it. And it isn’t an excuse for not following a healthy diet and lifestyle.
It’s my slow metabolism
It seems like common sense, doesn’t it, that if you’re carrying more weight than a slim friend, that you must have a slower metabolism – burn calories at a slower rate - than they do? Unfortunately the truth is exactly the opposite. (Metabolism is the process that breaks down the nutrients in our food to give us energy. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body burns over a set period, to keep your body running.)
‘There is very good evidence from tightly controlled studies to show that bigger people have a higher metabolic rate,’ says Dr Beckie Lang of ASO.
‘Think about how your body reacts when you carry something heavy, like a couple of suitcases. Your heart rate goes up and your organs and muscles work harder because of that extra effort. It’s exactly the same if you’re overweight. Your body works harder and burns more calories, because it’s having to do more work.’
Bigger bodies have bigger muscles and bigger internal organs that take more energy to keep going. So as an explanation for why you aren’t losing weight, this one’s a complete non-starter.
Your metabolic rate does change though, depending on how fit – or fat – you are. Muscles need more energy to fuel them than fat does, so lean people have a higher metabolic rate than fatter people. However, as we get older we tend to lose muscle and gain fat. You can slow down that trend by exercising regularly.
It’s in my genes
Earlier this year scientists made a breakthrough that links a gene with a higher risk of obesity. The research suggests that the ‘fat gene’, known as FTO, plays a part in controlling feelings of hunger and how full we feel, and affects how much we eat. Fifty percent of the UK population has one copy of the ‘fat gene’. And these people are usually around 1.6 kilograms heavier than those without this gene. Sixteen percent of the population have two copies of this gene, and can be up to three kilograms heavier than people who have none.
More research needs to be carried out, but it’s hoped that ultimately scientists could design a drug to alter the FTO gene and help combat obesity. Until then, this may be one reason why some of us struggle with our weight.
I’ve got the wrong body shape
Whether you’re an apple or pear shape, or any of the others recently defined by style gurus Trinny and Susannah, your body shape is determined by your genes. ‘You get what you’re given in terms of your body shape,’ says Dr Beckie Lang. ‘And there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t change your basic body shape, but how much fat you put on your body is down to you. And that’s down to how you manage what you are eating and how much you burn off. Look at your lifestyle and see what improvements you can make. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, limit your fat intake, eat lots of whole grains and make sure you exercise.’
I eat too late
‘This is a myth,’ says Dr Beckie Lang. ‘There is absolutely no evidence that it has any effect on weight gain. You may read that it’s best not to eat after a certain time at night, but that’s usually because evenings are when people are prone to snack.’
So if you’ve been raiding the fridge for nibbles or have scoffed chocolate or crisps to keep you going until your evening meal, you’ll have put away extra calories on top of those in your chicken casserole or pasta. It’s not when you eat that makes the difference, it’s what you eat. To avoid the snack attacks eat earlier, or if you can’t, plan ahead and have something low-fat and low-calorie to tide you over.
Healthy living Diet and weight loss and Do you need to go on a diet?
You may be carrying a few more pounds than you were 30 years or so ago, but this doesn't necessarily mean you have a weight problem now
How much you weigh is far less important than your shape and your Body Mass Index (BMI). This is a way of relating your weight to your height. If your BMI is over 30 you should definitely try to lose weight.
Ideally, your BMI should be between 20 and 25, but if yours is a little above this, don't panic. In your middle and later years, it may not be such a bad thing to have a BMI that is slightly over the ideal (say, 26), but the way the extra weight is distributed around your body is a significant factor.
Apple or pear? Doctors distinguish between apple- and pear-shaped people in assessing the extent to which excess weight might be a health risk.
Apple-shaped: this means that you tend to store fat around your middle and is most common among men and among women around the time of their menopause and after it is complete.
Apples are known to be at increased risk of a range of illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes and are more likely to have raised cholesterol and glucose levels in their blood.
Pear-shaped: this means that any excess fat tends to be stored around the buttocks and thighs and seems to be associated with lower levels of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Apple and pear shapes seem to run in families because they are largely determined by your genetic make-up, but this doesn't mean there's nothing you can do if you happen to come from a long line of 'apples'!
To find out whether you need to take steps to reduce your waist measurement, check it against your height on the Ashwell Shape Chart.
If your BMI is between 25 and 30 and you are a pear, you could easily find that you come into the OK category for your shape. But if the Ashwell Shape Chart shows you are in the Action category, then you really must take steps to reduce your weight which will, in turn, reduce your waist circumference.
Weight and your health
Being seriously overweight or obese (BMI of over 30) puts considerable strain on your body. Your knee and hip joints are more prone to osteoarthritis as a result of supporting and moving the extra load around. You may find yourself short of breath when making anything but the slightest physical exertion.
Excess weight is a factor in triggering type 2 (or non-insulin dependent) diabetes that normally comes on after the age of 40 because the body stops producing sufficient insulin, the hormone which regulates blood glucose levels or, more often, develops resistance to it.
Coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes are also more common in people who are obese.
How much you weigh is far less important than your shape and your Body Mass Index (BMI). This is a way of relating your weight to your height. If your BMI is over 30 you should definitely try to lose weight.
Ideally, your BMI should be between 20 and 25, but if yours is a little above this, don't panic. In your middle and later years, it may not be such a bad thing to have a BMI that is slightly over the ideal (say, 26), but the way the extra weight is distributed around your body is a significant factor.
Apple or pear? Doctors distinguish between apple- and pear-shaped people in assessing the extent to which excess weight might be a health risk.
Apple-shaped: this means that you tend to store fat around your middle and is most common among men and among women around the time of their menopause and after it is complete.
Apples are known to be at increased risk of a range of illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes and are more likely to have raised cholesterol and glucose levels in their blood.
Pear-shaped: this means that any excess fat tends to be stored around the buttocks and thighs and seems to be associated with lower levels of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Apple and pear shapes seem to run in families because they are largely determined by your genetic make-up, but this doesn't mean there's nothing you can do if you happen to come from a long line of 'apples'!
To find out whether you need to take steps to reduce your waist measurement, check it against your height on the Ashwell Shape Chart.
If your BMI is between 25 and 30 and you are a pear, you could easily find that you come into the OK category for your shape. But if the Ashwell Shape Chart shows you are in the Action category, then you really must take steps to reduce your weight which will, in turn, reduce your waist circumference.
Weight and your health
Being seriously overweight or obese (BMI of over 30) puts considerable strain on your body. Your knee and hip joints are more prone to osteoarthritis as a result of supporting and moving the extra load around. You may find yourself short of breath when making anything but the slightest physical exertion.
Excess weight is a factor in triggering type 2 (or non-insulin dependent) diabetes that normally comes on after the age of 40 because the body stops producing sufficient insulin, the hormone which regulates blood glucose levels or, more often, develops resistance to it.
Coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes are also more common in people who are obese.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The uterus
The uterus is part of a woman's reproductive system. It's a hollow organ in the pelvis.
The uterus has three parts:
Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn't need them, and old or damaged cells don't die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Tumors in the uterus can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign tumors are not as harmful as malignant tumors:
The uterus has three parts:
- Top: The top (fundus) of your uterus is shaped like a dome. From the top of your uterus, the fallopian tubes extend to the ovaries.
- Middle: The middle part of your uterus is the body (corpus). This is where a baby grows.
- Bottom: The narrow, lower part of your uterus is the cervix. The cervix is a passageway to the vagina.
- Inner layer: The inner layer (lining) of the uterus is the endometrium. In women of childbearing age, the lining grows and thickens each month to prepare for pregnancy. If a woman does not become pregnant, the thick, bloody lining flows out of the body. This flow is a menstrual period.
- Outer layer: The outer layer of muscle tissue is the myometrium.
Cancer Cells
Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the uterus and the other organs of the body.Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn't need them, and old or damaged cells don't die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Tumors in the uterus can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign tumors are not as harmful as malignant tumors:
- Benign tumors (such as a fibroid, a polyp, or endometriosis):
- are usually not a threat to life
- can be treated or removed and usually don't grow back
- don't invade the tissues around them
- don't spread to other parts of the body
- Malignant growths:
- may be a threat to life
- usually can be removed but can grow back
- can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs (such as the vagina)
- can spread to other parts of the body
 |
| Picture of the uterus |
Diabetes: 5 Steps to Total Body Care
If you have type 2 diabetes, you know that blood sugar control, a balanced diet, weight management, regular exercise, and checkups are vital to your health. Taking special care of every part of your body to avoid serious complications is just as critical.
Among some of your biggest concerns with diabetes care are:
"In hospitals, we're seeing first-time patients in their late 20s and 30s who have uncontrolled blood sugar and severe skin infections that probably started as a boil or a spider bite," says Philip Orlander, MD, director of endocrinology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
How can diabetes so dramatically damage the body? If blood sugar is uncontrolled, blood vessels and nerves become damaged, while the body becomes less able to fight infections.
Controlling blood sugar is the bottom line in preventing these problems, but personal care routines -- simple things you can do every day -- can dramatically reduce your risks, too.
1. Foot Care and Diabetes
Common foot problems can cause many complications, including athlete's foot, fungal infections in nails, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, sores, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.
While anyone can have these problems, they're more critical for people with diabetes because:
If you develop even minor foot problems, treat them right away or see a doctor. And see a foot doctor (podiatrist) every two or three months.
Checking your feet daily means you can catch small things and get them treated before they become serious. Make it part of your daily morning routine -- it doesn't take long.
Among some of your biggest concerns with diabetes care are:
- Foot infections
- Chronic skin infections
- Gum disease and tooth loss
- Vision problems
- Heart disease and blood circulation problems
Diabetes Body Care: It's for Everyone
The need to take care of yourself isn't just for adults; with the epidemic of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes has also become more prevalent among children, teens, and young adults."In hospitals, we're seeing first-time patients in their late 20s and 30s who have uncontrolled blood sugar and severe skin infections that probably started as a boil or a spider bite," says Philip Orlander, MD, director of endocrinology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
How can diabetes so dramatically damage the body? If blood sugar is uncontrolled, blood vessels and nerves become damaged, while the body becomes less able to fight infections.
Controlling blood sugar is the bottom line in preventing these problems, but personal care routines -- simple things you can do every day -- can dramatically reduce your risks, too.
5 Steps to Total Diabetes Body Care
Your feet, skin, eyes, heart, and teeth and gums need special attention if you have diabetes. Here are steps you can take to care for these parts of your body:1. Foot Care and Diabetes
Common foot problems can cause many complications, including athlete's foot, fungal infections in nails, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, sores, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.
While anyone can have these problems, they're more critical for people with diabetes because:
- If you have nerve damage, you may not feel small wounds that need treatment.
- Poor blood flow can slow wound healing.
- If you're immune suppressed, you may be more prone to infection.
- Damaged foot muscle nerves may prevent your foot from aligning properly, causing you to put more pressure on one area of the foot, leading to foot sores and pressure point ulcers.
If you develop even minor foot problems, treat them right away or see a doctor. And see a foot doctor (podiatrist) every two or three months.
Checking your feet daily means you can catch small things and get them treated before they become serious. Make it part of your daily morning routine -- it doesn't take long.
8 Reasons to Practice Meditation
Meditation is simply directed concentration, and involves learning to focus your awareness and direct it onto an object: your breath, a phrase or word repeated silently, a memorized inspirational passage, or an image in the mind's eye. 
The benefits of meditation are numerous, and include:
The benefits of meditation are numerous, and include:- Helping lower blood pressure
- Decreasing heart and respiratory rates
- Increasing blood flow
- Enhancing immune function
- Reducing perception of pain
- Relieving chronic pain due to arthritis and other disorders
- Maintaining level mood
- Bringing awareness and mindfulness to everyday aspects of life
Health and Physical Fitness and The Top 20 Lessons For Living Longer
Health and physical activity tips including information on men's and women's health and wellness including advanced nutritional products for the immune system, joint health, weight loss and general health. All five components of fitness and health: strength training, weight management, cardiovascular exercise, nutrition, and flexibility.
You are probably sick of hearing "new" studies telling you to do this or eat that to live longer and feel like you did in your twenties.
Despite all the medical advances available today, the most effective and the most practical advice to living a long and healthy life can be found in our past.
Here are the top twenty time-tested healthy habits that have survived for centuries to increase the quantity and quality of our life.
1. Eat mostly plants.
(Have meat as a side dish instead of the main dish)
2. Put family first.
(Time with family is priceless)
3. Take a walk.
(Our legs are meant to move us, so move)
4. Drink a glass of red wine daily.
(It's been a practice for centuries, it must be good)
5. Reduce and manage stress.
(Stress kills, so avoid it or deal with it)
6. Have a purpose.
(Be excited when you wake up each morning)
7. Get outdoors.
(We came from nature, go back for a visit)
8. Be grateful.
(Appreciate what you got and you will get more)
9. Have fun.
(Do things that you enjoy)
10. Maintain a healthy body weight
(Move more, eat less)
11. Get regular exercise.
(Push and pull heavy things)
12. Love and laugh
(Preferably both at the same time)
13. Snack on nuts
(The most nutrient dense food in the world)
14. Give something back.
(If you want to get, you have to give)
15. Eat a large breakfast.
(Your mother was right...again)
16. Eat a medium lunch
(It's a lunch break, not a lunch buffet)
17. Eat a small dinner
(Enough eating already)
18. Drink plenty of water.
(It's the basis of all living things)
19. Sleep when it's dark.
(There is a reason why we can't see in the dark)
20. Learn new things.
(You live, you learn)
You are probably sick of hearing "new" studies telling you to do this or eat that to live longer and feel like you did in your twenties.
Despite all the medical advances available today, the most effective and the most practical advice to living a long and healthy life can be found in our past.
Here are the top twenty time-tested healthy habits that have survived for centuries to increase the quantity and quality of our life.
1. Eat mostly plants.
(Have meat as a side dish instead of the main dish)
2. Put family first.
(Time with family is priceless)
3. Take a walk.
(Our legs are meant to move us, so move)
4. Drink a glass of red wine daily.
(It's been a practice for centuries, it must be good)
5. Reduce and manage stress.
(Stress kills, so avoid it or deal with it)
6. Have a purpose.
(Be excited when you wake up each morning)
7. Get outdoors.
(We came from nature, go back for a visit)
8. Be grateful.
(Appreciate what you got and you will get more)
9. Have fun.
(Do things that you enjoy)
10. Maintain a healthy body weight
(Move more, eat less)
11. Get regular exercise.
(Push and pull heavy things)
12. Love and laugh
(Preferably both at the same time)
13. Snack on nuts
(The most nutrient dense food in the world)
14. Give something back.
(If you want to get, you have to give)
15. Eat a large breakfast.
(Your mother was right...again)
16. Eat a medium lunch
(It's a lunch break, not a lunch buffet)
17. Eat a small dinner
(Enough eating already)
18. Drink plenty of water.
(It's the basis of all living things)
19. Sleep when it's dark.
(There is a reason why we can't see in the dark)
20. Learn new things.
(You live, you learn)
Know your Sports Nutrition
Health conscious people know that carbohydrate is the most important source of energy in terms of sports nutrition. Sports nutrition supports the players of any game enhancing energy and fueling the muscle constractions in the body. Normally in everybody’s diet carbohydrate act as a good source of sports nutrition as it breaks down into small sugars like glucose, fructose, and galactose and is absorbed by the body for releasing energy. Mostly trainers of sportsperson give scheduling diet to their players and as per that one follows the strict sports nutrition for enhancing one’s performance. One should have the information that sports nutrition like carbohydrate consumption is an important for weight lifters and sprinting players . This makes the diet of common people and athletes more nutricious by following correct sports nutrition diet. The glycogen is the most important aspect of sports nutrition which is a major source of energy help in exercising.
Sports nutrition carries several elements in one’s diet like protein, pulses, fruits , and vegetables, and many milky products. Consumers will find sports nutrition both in simple and complex forms for usage. As per several other reports sports nutrition consumes lots of time in breaking down resulting energy in slow rates. The best source of carbohydrate mostly present in breads, rice and pasta. So one should read lots of books and sharing information about sports nutrition among their colleagues. Not only this sportspersons requires starch and fiber along with energy given by carbohydrate. Users should know that fiber is not a source of energy as it cannot be digested in thebody. On sports nutrition one will find several booklets and magazines present in the market. This not only helps the athletes but also normal people can get sports nutrition advantages. Sports nutrition several other forms kept in the body as stock to fight diseases. Now athletes preferred starch rich in sports nutrition diet’s which is brokedown and stored as glycogen in the body. There are several food products of sports nutrition such as whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, and grains for supporting the health conscious users .
The good source of sports nutrition is fruit and energy drinks which is aborbed and get converted to energy quickly in the body. Consumers must have info that whatever they eat and drink sports nutrition helps to enhance enery level in the body . so one should know that protein, carbohydrate, and fats are the important constituents of sports nutrition . In this way athletes and common people consume heavy amount of sports nutrition daily to maintain their physique. Actually sports nutrition is structured for athletes and many other game players for performing good in their particular fields. The dictionary of sports nutrition is vast across the globe. So users should go under expert guidance for making best usages of sports nutrition globally. Also online guidlines and specified diet are making sports nutrition more beneficial.
five Common Allergies – And Tips To Get Rid Of Them
Allergy season is now in full swing, and people everywhere are looking for tips to get rid of allergies. One of the first things you should do if you suspect allergies, is to go have an allergy test done. This test is usually done at either your primary care physician’s office, or at the office of an Allergy and Immunology doctor. The test is usually performed by a nurse or medical assistant and the results are interpreted by the doctor. After this test is complete, you will have a better idea of what is triggering your symptoms. Then you can take steps to prevent allergy symptoms, and ultimately, learn how to get rid of your allergies!
This article will discuss five of the most common allergies and tips on how to get rid of them. First you may ask, what is an allergy? Basically, an allergy is an unnatural immune reaction to a normally benign substance (whether plants, animals, insects or food) that your body thinks is harmful. These substances are called allergens. When you come into contact with an allergen, your body releases a chemical called histamine into the bloodstream, (in hopes of destroying what it thinks of as an invader) which causes inflammation. This is called an allergic reaction. Sometimes, an allergic reaction is so severe, it can become fatal. What are some of the most common allergies? They include substances such as:
1. Pollen
2. Mold
3. Pets/animal hair
4. Latex
5. Food
Of all common offenders, pollen is the number one allergen in the United States, and is the most common allergy during seasonal allergy months. Pollen comes from a multitude of plants, herbs, trees and flowers, and spreads like wildfire through the air. The most prevalent time for pollen is during the spring and summer, when most plants bloom to life. Plants release pollen on into the autumn season, and while winter is usually a time for pollen-allergy sufferers to breathe a sigh of relief, there are still some plants that release pollen even in the dead of winter.
Mold is pesky little fungi that loves to grow in warm, moist, dark places. Mold releases spores into the air, and when mold is touched or the spores are inhaled, they cause inflammation in the airways and bring on an allergic reaction. It is important to have your house routinely checked for mold, especially if you live in a humid climate. The longer a mold problem persists, the harder it is to eradicate.
An allergy to animal hair is a very common, yet unfortunate, allergy to have. The most common cause of an allergy to animal hair is the proteins that coat the hair. Those oils/proteins are there to protect the animal’s coat of hair and keep it shiny. Unfortunately, those shiny coats trigger respiratory allergies in many people, which can be very sad for animal lovers. Sometimes, animal hair allergies are so severe that the afflicted person, sadly, cannot keep a pet.
Latex allergy is another quite common, yet often times severe, allergy. The protein contained in the latex rubber is the offender here, and usually leads to an immediate, sometimes very severe allergic reaction. For those who work in the healthcare field, and those who require frequent doctor visits, this allergy can be problematic, since many healthcare items contain latex. Fortunately, more and more medical manufacturers are coming out with latex-free gloves and other latex-free equipment.
Last on this list of the top five most common allergies, but certainly not least, are food allergies. Food allergy can, at times, be the most problematic allergy of all. This is because nowadays, in this age of food additives and preservatives, there are many hidden ingredients in processed and pre-prepared foods. The most common food allergies are nuts, shellfish, wheat and milk/dairy products. When a food allergy sufferer eats an allergy-causing food, their bodies release histamine into the bloodstream, causing inflammation which can be severe. This reaction can be anywhere from diarrhea and stomach cramps to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that causes the airway to close or swell shut.
Now that you know some of the most common allergies, and you know that getting tested to identify your allergies is the first step, it’s time to talk about how to get rid of your allergies. Many (but not all) modern doctors believe that adults won’t be able to totally get rid of their allergies. Children tend to grow out of their allergies, but most adults retain their allergies for life. Don’t groan just yet – keeping positive is a huge step in dealing with your allergies. Contrary to popular belief, there is hope – yes, you can get rid of your allergies! Some more good news is that many naturopathic doctors, herbalists, and natural healers believe that you can indeed get rid of allergies.
The next step to getting rid of your allergies is to avoid the things that give you allergic reactions. That sounds fairly simple, but it can be complicated when it involves allergens such as food. Modifying your environment can go a long way to getting rid of allergies. Keep an allergy diary and write about your reactions – this will help you learn what to avoid. If you have mold in your house, make sure it is cleaned out and totally eradicated by specialists that deal specifically with getting rid of mold. If you are allergic to your household pets, don’t fret. Do some research into allergy-friendly pets that you can own – yes, there are allergy-friendly animals out there. There are even allergy-friendly dogs such as the short-haired Chihuahua. If you are allergic to pollen, make sure to have someone help you keep your grass mowed and your yard in tip-top shape, and take your prescribed allergy medicine daily. If latex is what gets your allergic response going, be sure to alert any new doctors to this allergy, and carefully read labels on household and cosmetic supplies to make sure they are latex-free. Food allergies can be the trickiest, but if you become an avid-label reader and carry allergy medicine (including an Epi-Pen for serious reactions) with you that should go a long way to helping you avoid the offending substances. Do a diet of elimination – meaning, eliminate all the problem foods from your diet for a period of time (usually around 6 weeks) and then slowly introduce them back in, one at a time. Many times, elimination diets have huge success rates, even to the point that the previous allergy-causing foods no longer cause problems!
Next on the list is treatment. Take your prescribed allergy medicine every day. If you know you are going to come into contact with any allergens, take your medicine beforehand to lessen or even prevent symptoms. Talk to your doctor about getting what is called allergy shots. These shots contain very small amounts of the substances to which you are allergic, so as to desensitize you. The theory is, which each shot, you become less and less allergic to that particular substance. The good thing is, many people have a huge success rate with allergy shots. Another option is alternative treatments such as chiropractic and acupuncture sessions. A lot of allergy sufferers swear by acupuncture to alleviate their allergies. Other alternative treatments would be vitamin, antioxidant and herbal supplements that boost the immune system, stabilize cells, and repair damage. Examples of these would be vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin E, Quercetin, green tea, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Saline sinus rinses also have a high success rate, since they flush out irritants and bacteria. Speaking of flushing out irritants – a good intestinal cleanse has worked wonders for many food allergy sufferers.
Remember to always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, doing any kind of cleanse, or starting any kind of alternative therapy for your allergies. Though you may want to, you can’t diagnose yourself. Allergy sufferers need to be under the care of a physician. Don’t fret or get discouraged, though! No matter what the naysayers say, there are options and you can get rid of allergies. Allergies don’t have to last forever – and when you follow the tips outlined in this article, you can kiss your allergies goodbye.
Five Common Allergies – And Tips To Get Rid Of Them
Allergy season is now in full swing, and people everywhere are looking for tips to get rid of allergies. One of the first things you should do if you suspect allergies, is to go have an allergy test done. This test is usually done at either your primary care physician’s office, or at the office of an Allergy and Immunology doctor. The test is usually performed by a nurse or medical assistant and the results are interpreted by the doctor. After this test is complete, you will have a better idea of what is triggering your symptoms. Then you can take steps to prevent allergy symptoms, and ultimately, learn how to get rid of your allergies!
This article will discuss five of the most common allergies and tips on how to get rid of them. First you may ask, what is an allergy? Basically, an allergy is an unnatural immune reaction to a normally benign substance (whether plants, animals, insects or food) that your body thinks is harmful. These substances are called allergens. When you come into contact with an allergen, your body releases a chemical called histamine into the bloodstream, (in hopes of destroying what it thinks of as an invader) which causes inflammation. This is called an allergic reaction. Sometimes, an allergic reaction is so severe, it can become fatal. What are some of the most common allergies? They include substances such as:
1. Pollen
2. Mold
3. Pets/animal hair
4. Latex
5. Food
Of all common offenders, pollen is the number one allergen in the United States, and is the most common allergy during seasonal allergy months. Pollen comes from a multitude of plants, herbs, trees and flowers, and spreads like wildfire through the air. The most prevalent time for pollen is during the spring and summer, when most plants bloom to life. Plants release pollen on into the autumn season, and while winter is usually a time for pollen-allergy sufferers to breathe a sigh of relief, there are still some plants that release pollen even in the dead of winter.
Mold is pesky little fungi that loves to grow in warm, moist, dark places. Mold releases spores into the air, and when mold is touched or the spores are inhaled, they cause inflammation in the airways and bring on an allergic reaction. It is important to have your house routinely checked for mold, especially if you live in a humid climate. The longer a mold problem persists, the harder it is to eradicate.
An allergy to animal hair is a very common, yet unfortunate, allergy to have. The most common cause of an allergy to animal hair is the proteins that coat the hair. Those oils/proteins are there to protect the animal’s coat of hair and keep it shiny. Unfortunately, those shiny coats trigger respiratory allergies in many people, which can be very sad for animal lovers. Sometimes, animal hair allergies are so severe that the afflicted person, sadly, cannot keep a pet.
Latex allergy is another quite common, yet often times severe, allergy. The protein contained in the latex rubber is the offender here, and usually leads to an immediate, sometimes very severe allergic reaction. For those who work in the healthcare field, and those who require frequent doctor visits, this allergy can be problematic, since many healthcare items contain latex. Fortunately, more and more medical manufacturers are coming out with latex-free gloves and other latex-free equipment.
Last on this list of the top five most common allergies, but certainly not least, are food allergies. Food allergy can, at times, be the most problematic allergy of all. This is because nowadays, in this age of food additives and preservatives, there are many hidden ingredients in processed and pre-prepared foods. The most common food allergies are nuts, shellfish, wheat and milk/dairy products. When a food allergy sufferer eats an allergy-causing food, their bodies release histamine into the bloodstream, causing inflammation which can be severe. This reaction can be anywhere from diarrhea and stomach cramps to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that causes the airway to close or swell shut.
Now that you know some of the most common allergies, and you know that getting tested to identify your allergies is the first step, it’s time to talk about how to get rid of your allergies. Many (but not all) modern doctors believe that adults won’t be able to totally get rid of their allergies. Children tend to grow out of their allergies, but most adults retain their allergies for life. Don’t groan just yet – keeping positive is a huge step in dealing with your allergies. Contrary to popular belief, there is hope – yes, you can get rid of your allergies! Some more good news is that many naturopathic doctors, herbalists, and natural healers believe that you can indeed get rid of allergies.
The next step to getting rid of your allergies is to avoid the things that give you allergic reactions. That sounds fairly simple, but it can be complicated when it involves allergens such as food. Modifying your environment can go a long way to getting rid of allergies. Keep an allergy diary and write about your reactions – this will help you learn what to avoid. If you have mold in your house, make sure it is cleaned out and totally eradicated by specialists that deal specifically with getting rid of mold. If you are allergic to your household pets, don’t fret. Do some research into allergy-friendly pets that you can own – yes, there are allergy-friendly animals out there. There are even allergy-friendly dogs such as the short-haired Chihuahua. If you are allergic to pollen, make sure to have someone help you keep your grass mowed and your yard in tip-top shape, and take your prescribed allergy medicine daily. If latex is what gets your allergic response going, be sure to alert any new doctors to this allergy, and carefully read labels on household and cosmetic supplies to make sure they are latex-free. Food allergies can be the trickiest, but if you become an avid-label reader and carry allergy medicine (including an Epi-Pen for serious reactions) with you that should go a long way to helping you avoid the offending substances. Do a diet of elimination – meaning, eliminate all the problem foods from your diet for a period of time (usually around 6 weeks) and then slowly introduce them back in, one at a time. Many times, elimination diets have huge success rates, even to the point that the previous allergy-causing foods no longer cause problems!
Next on the list is treatment. Take your prescribed allergy medicine every day. If you know you are going to come into contact with any allergens, take your medicine beforehand to lessen or even prevent symptoms. Talk to your doctor about getting what is called allergy shots. These shots contain very small amounts of the substances to which you are allergic, so as to desensitize you. The theory is, which each shot, you become less and less allergic to that particular substance. The good thing is, many people have a huge success rate with allergy shots. Another option is alternative treatments such as chiropractic and acupuncture sessions. A lot of allergy sufferers swear by acupuncture to alleviate their allergies. Other alternative treatments would be vitamin, antioxidant and herbal supplements that boost the immune system, stabilize cells, and repair damage. Examples of these would be vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin E, Quercetin, green tea, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Saline sinus rinses also have a high success rate, since they flush out irritants and bacteria. Speaking of flushing out irritants – a good intestinal cleanse has worked wonders for many food allergy sufferers.
Remember to always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, doing any kind of cleanse, or starting any kind of alternative therapy for your allergies. Though you may want to, you can’t diagnose yourself. Allergy sufferers need to be under the care of a physician. Don’t fret or get discouraged, though! No matter what the naysayers say, there are options and you can get rid of allergies. Allergies don’t have to last forever – and when you follow the tips outlined in this article, you can kiss your allergies goodbye.
5 Anti-Aging Tips
Years ago, the word “anti aging” seemed to come only from science fiction movies. People joked about the Fountain of Youth and miracle medicines that were supposed to reverse the aging process to make one look 10 or 20 years younger. But today, anti-aging is more than a myth. Through scientific studies and the new cutting edge science in genomics, women are discovering that, by taking just a few steps, skin beauty and bodily cell health can indeed be encouraged.
Here are five powerful anti aging tips for Frisco Women.
1. Check Your Lifestyle
A lifestyle filled with health-threatening habits can be detrimental to your skin’s health and beauty. Smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages in excess, eating poorly or overeating, sunbathing, etc. all can speed up the aging process. Even taking anti-aging supplements may not help if you continue to do these things regularly. Remember, just as your bodily organs are affected by everything you eat or drink, so are your skin cells.
2. Eat for Good Skin Health
Good women’s health starts with eating healthy foods. Be sure to eat balanced meals with an abundance of leafy green vegetables and fruits. Eat protein-rich foods such as nuts or eggs to maintain good bone and joint health. Healthy eating and weight loss are both major contributors to good women’s health as well as beauty for the skin. The anti-aging process is much easier when you provide your body with the nutrients and vitamins it needs to repair cell damage and build healthy new cells on a daily basis.
3. Drink Water in Frisco
The diet programs always cry aloud, “Drink water!” That’s because there are so many benefits to drinking water. Water is needed to help the body function properly, inside and out. Water brings life to all your body parts – and your skin as well. It brightens your complexion, helps rejuvenate skin cells to promote anti aging, and adds moisture to your body. You’ll be a well-oiled machine if you can commit to drinking plenty of water daily. Water is probably the most readily available anti-aging product you can get your hands on! So, replace those sodas (and diet sodas) with a healthy dose of water.
4. Stay in Shape
Staying in shape with exercise will also help with the anti-aging battle. Exercise encourages good bone and joint health and helps with the flow of blood through your body. That’s why many people say that exercise “gets your blood pumping!” The blood carries oxygen with it through your body, which is necessary for good overall health.
5. Use Anti-aging Supplements and Creams
Through the cutting edge science of genomics, anti-aging products are now being developed to aid in cell rejuvenation, which is needed for slowing down the aging process.
Genomics is the study of the complete DNA makeup of organisms. The recent discovery that is crucial to those interested in anti-aging products is that the repair of cells and the creation of healthy, strong cells is a major key to slowing the aging process. The new anti-aging products are all-natural and come in pills, creams or patches. Anti-aging products based on genomics help to provide the right amount of ingredients (vitamins and nutrients) needed by the body to repair cells and build new, healthy cells.
These five tips combined can help maximize the results for your anti-aging efforts. You’ll feel and look better than ever as you pass through the stages of life.
Understanding The Underlying Cause For Hair Loss With Women
Hair loss with women is something that is becoming more and more common. A lot of women want to know how to prevent it and what treatments may be available. Although itis not always preventable, it is important you understand what causes the loss of hair. In order to do this you need to first recognize the growth cycle of hair.
Tresses typically grow at a rate of one-half inch per month with each hair containing a growth phase of two to six years. When the hair rests, it will eventually fall out and the follicle iwll begin to grow a new strand. It is a cycle that continues into the senior years for most.
For others, however, a group of hormones called androgen’s will interfere with the natural process. Androgen hormones include testosterone, androsteinedione and dihytestorserone. Those who are susceptible can fall victim to the testosterone when it comes in contact with the enzymes resting in the hair cell. It will be converted into a more potent androgen, which will ultimately blind with receptors.
What this means is over time the excess build-up the potent androgen in the follicle cause shrinkage, which alters the natural resting and growth phases of the hair. As a result, hair loss will become evident for women much sooner than expected. Some of the follicles will die and others will become incapable of producing or maintaining healthy hair growth.
THe good news is all hope is not lost. There are treatments and products availabe like Hiar Gowth Laser 50 that can deliver tremendous results. Instead of worrying about wearing a wig the rest of your life, you can actually re-grow your hair naturaqlly to correct the hair deficiency.
Be healthy body,mind and spirit.
If you’re one of the millions of women who experience painful menstrual cramps every month, then you’re probably looking for some sort of pain relief. For some women, the monthly flow is not just a time of annoyance or a passing inconvenience, but is a time of severe pain that they dread from month to month.
Here are a few tips that can help you deal with painful menstrual cramps:
1. Drink lots of water and maintain a healthy diet. Pay attention to what you eat and see if there are specific foods that increase cramp severity or reduce the pain. While certain tips, like avoiding chocolate during your period, are mostly myths, these bits of folk advice ring true for many women with cramps.
2. Use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your lower abdomen. Menstrual cramps are caused by the contracting of your uterus, so what you really need is relax the uterus. Since cramps are similar to muscle pain in this way, applying heat, like with sore muscles, will help relax the uterus and ease up the menstrual cramps.
3. Lay on your stomach. Applying pressure to your uterus may relieve some of the pain and laying on your belly is the best way to do that.
4. Take a painkiller. Certain painkillers, like Celebrex for example, are specially designed to relieve muscle pain and inflammation, including menstrual cramps. Millions of women find relief in Celebrex, especially when nothing else seems to work for them. You can buy generic Celebrex online as an affordable and efficient option.
5. Exercise. Exercise is often considered a cure-all for many conditions, including painful menstrual cramps. Moving around and being active will not only take your mind off of cramps, but will also serve as pain relief by sending healing endorphins to the brain and by stretching the uterus during movements.
If none of these solutions work for you, consider making an appointment to see your doctor. You could have a more serious medical condition that needs further attention.
Good Women Health is the Symbol of Fertility
The physical difference between male and female is there just for the sake of fertility. Women are the symbol of fertility; and only a healthy woman can give birth to a healthy child. For the sake of healthy family, healthy society and healthy country it is essential to pay necessary attention to women’s health. Balanced diet is the prime requirement for keeping a woman fit and fine. The diet of a woman must be rich in vitamins and minerals.
Like other parts of the body, reproductive organs of women also require due care. After reaching the age of puberty menstrual cycle starts in women which provide them power to conceive. Menstrual cycle is the process of formation of egg in the ovary, entrance of egg to the uterus for fertilization and removal of unfertilized egg. With the beginning of menstrual cycle possibility of problems related with female genital organs also increases.
Sex is a vital part of normal human life. During sex the egg is fertilized by the sperm if it is available in the uterus. Though sex only for enjoyment is prohibited in many societies and religion but millions iconoclast are there who break the norms. When physical relations are established for mutual enjoyment then women don’t want pregnancy. Contraceptive protects a woman against any unwanted pregnancy. There many types of female contraceptives available in the market.
Oral pills and skin birth control patches are the two prominent ways for women to stop unwanted pregnancy. Trivora and Ortho Tri-Cyclen are the oral contraceptive which can also stop unwanted pregnancy. Women also wear birth control patches on their skin; these are easy to use contraceptives in hectic schedule of modern life. These patches contain hormones like estrogen and progestin which are slowly released in blood stream which stop pregnancy. Ortho Evra is a birth control patch which is easily available through an online order.
Vaginal infection is a common disease in women which generally occurs because of microbes. Yeasts and certain types of fungi are responsible for vaginal infection. Yellowish discharge, dampness, itching and pain in love making are prominent symptoms of vaginal infection. There are tablets like Diflucan which can get rid of vaginal infection.
Every woman wants to have child but sometimes infertility tries to kill her wish. Infertility can occur because of many factors but hormonal disorder is the prime cause of the infertility. Drugs like Clomid can bring hormone on appropriate level so that ovary is stimulated to produce more and mature eggs. This increases the chances for conceiving, as mature egg forms zygote easily.
Menopause is the stage where women may have some complications like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and osteoporosis. After menopause every woman should pay more attention to her health. These described complications can be easily eliminated with the help of Estradiol which is usually prescribed by the doctor for curing malady related with menopause.
Before starting the use of any above described oral or topical medication, drug and contraceptive, doctor’s prescription and advice is essential. Stick to the methods and dosages as advised by the doctor.
Hair Loss: Patterns and Causes in Men and Women
Hair Loss: Patterns and Causes in Men and Women
Hair loss in adult male and female is not uncommon. Adults lose about 10,000 scalp hairs each and every day. Hair normally lives for around five years. Male and female baldness happen when these hairs do not always get replaced (which they normally would) and gradually bald areas appear. There are a lot of hair loss treatments as well as hair loss remedies in the market today. But how effective are they? Let’s have a post mortem of the causes of hair loss and the hair loss treatment available today and find out which products or treatments suit you the most.
The Normal Cycle of Hair Growth and Loss
The normal hair cycle growth lasts between 2 to 6 years. Each hair strand grows at the rate of approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. As a matter of fact, about 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is in the active growing phase while the rest 10% is in dormant phase. Once a hair strand enters a dormant phase (hair stop growing), it will stay on the scalp for 2 to 3 months, then fall out. It is normal to shed some hair each day (average of 100 strands) as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect both men and women and even children.
Causes of Hair Loss
Illness
A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary. Hormonal problems may cause hair loss, which more often than not, caused by stress. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes.
Scalp Cleanliness
If you have dandruff, you need to get rid of it. Dandruff can be a source of hair loss when it combines with dirt, shampoo chemicals, and excess sebum follicle oil. Over time this combination of chemicals can create a film on your scalp that hardens and start to plug up your hair follicles. Once plugged, your follicles can’t support hair growth.
DHT (di-hydro-testosterone)
When excessive amounts of testosterone are converted to DHT by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, this DHT accumulates at the hair root where it blocks blood circulation to that hair follicle. This decrease in blood to the hair root weakens it and it loses its health.
Male Pattern Baldness
The male pattern baldness form of androgenetic alopecia (inherited hair loss pattern) accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. By age 35, two-thirds of men will have some degree of appreciable hair loss and by age 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair. About 25% of men who suffer from male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach 21. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head. Most men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. Hair loss affects every aspect of their life. It affects interpersonal relationships as well as their professional life. It is not uncommon for men to change their career paths because of hair loss.
The Causes of Male Pattern Baldness
Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males after puberty, is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. Acting on a hormone receptor on the hair follicle it slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair, sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and is normal hair loss.
Female Pattern Baldness
The patterns of hair loss in women are not as easily recognizable as those in men. Unlike hair loss in men, female scalp hair loss may commonly begin at any age through 50 or later, may not have any obvious hereditary association, and may not occur in a recognizable “female-pattern alopecia” of diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp. A woman who notices the beginning of hair loss may not be sure if the loss is going to be temporary or permanent—for example, if there has been a recent event such as pregnancy or illness that may be associated with temporary hair thinning.
Patterns that may occur include:
Diffuse thinning of hair over the entire scalp, often with more noticeable thinning toward the back of the scalp. Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp but not involving the frontal hairline. Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp, involving and sometimes breaching the frontal hairline.
The Causes of Female Pattern Baldness
In women as in men, the most likely cause of scalp hair loss is androgenetic alopecia—an inherited sensitivity to the effects of androgens (male hormones) on scalp hair follicles. However, women with hair loss due to this cause usually do not develop true baldness in the patterns that occur in men—for example, women rarely develop the “cue-ball” appearance often seen in male-pattern androgenetic alopecia. Unlike the case for men, thinning scalp hair in women due to androgenetic alopecia does not uniformly grow smaller in diameter (miniaturize).
Women with hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia tend to have miniaturizing hairs of variable diameter over all affected areas of the scalp. While miniaturizing hairs are a feature of androgenetic alopecia, miniaturization may also be associated with other causes and is not in itself a diagnostic feature of androgenetic alopecia. In post-menopausal women, for example, hair may begin to miniaturize and become difficult to style. The precise diagnosis should be made by a physician hair restoration specialist or suitable hair treatment products.
It is important to note that female pattern hair loss can begin as early as the late teens to early 20s in women who have experienced early puberty. If left untreated, this hair loss associated with early puberty can progress to more advanced hair loss.
Non-Pattern Causes of Hair Loss in Women
In women more often than in men, hair loss may be due to conditions other than androgenetic alopecia. Some of the most common of these causes are:
Trichotillomania— compulsive hair pulling. Hair loss due to trichotillomania is typically patchy, as compulsive hair pullers tend to concentrate the pulling in selected areas. Hair loss due to this cause cannot be treated effectively until the psychological or emotional reasons for trichotillomania are effectively addressed.
Alopecia areata— a possibly autoimmune disorder that causes patchy hair loss that can range from diffuse thinning to extensive areas of baldness with “islands” of retained hair. Medical examination is necessary to establish a diagnosis.
Triangular alopecia— loss of hair in the temporal areas that sometimes begins in childhood. Hair loss may be complete, or a few fine, thin-diameter hairs may remain. The cause of triangular alopecia is not known, but the condition can be treated medically or surgically.
Scarring alopecia— hair loss due to scarring of the scalp area. Scarring alopecia typically involves the top of the scalp and occurs predominantly in women. The condition frequently occurs in African-American women and is believed to be associated with persistent tight braiding or “corn-rowing” of scalp hair. A form of scarring alopecia also may occur in post-menopausal women, associated with inflammation of hair follicles and subsequent scarring.
Telogen effluvium— a common type of hair loss caused when a large percentage of scalp hairs are shifted into “shedding” phase. The causes of telogen effluvium may be hormonal, nutritional, drug-associated, or stress-associated. Loose-anagen syndrome—a condition occurring primarily in fair-haired persons in which scalp hair sits loosely in hair follicles and is easily extracted by combing or pulling. The condition may appear in childhood, and may improve as the person ages.
There are various hair loss products as well as hair loss treatments available in the market. It is recommended that users should conduct due diligence to identify which product suit them most, in order to stop hair loss and hair thinning.
Constipation in Pregnancy & Constipation Relief During Pregnancy
Constipation in pregnancy can cause bloating, pain and even pre term labor. Read on to see what options pregnant women have for constipation relief during pregnancy.
Constipation relief during pregnancy is a question many pregnant women ask. Approximately half of all women experience constipation in pregnancy.
Why do women get constipation in pregnancy?
The pregnancy hormone progesterone has a relaxing effect on the intestines and this slows the movement of the bowel causing pregnancy constipation.
The growing fetus needs as much vitamins, minerals and nutrients as possible. Therefore the increasing hormone levels of a pregnant woman cause food to move slower through the bowels. This results in constipation but also gives the body more time to absorb extra nutrients.
Pregnant women need extra water for the extra blood volume required for pregnancy. Therefore the mother will absorb more water from the bowel than normal which will result in a harder, dryer bowel movement resulting in constipation.
The longer food stays in the intestines, the more water is reabsorbed from the bowel into the body to accommodate for the extra blood volume required during pregnancy.
All prenatal vitamins contain iron which is known to cause constipation in pregnancy.
Constipation relief during pregnancy:
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of oxygen rich purified water a day.
Increase fiber in your diet such as whole grains and brown rice.
Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly prunes (which can be taken via prune juice).
Peppermint tea or peppermint water can help with gas or bloating pains.
Try to reduce stress in your life as stress can cause constipation.
You may have to switch you prenatal vitamins over to a different brand. Even though they all have iron, some brands may be less pregnancy constipating to you than others.
Add a little more exercise to your daily routine. If you do not normally exercise then start with 10-15 minutes walking every day. If you routinely exercise change your exercise routine slightly to see if you can stimulate bowel activity.
Mangosteen juice Mangosteen juice has been shown to have a positive effect on all systems of the body including bowel mobility. Mangosteen is a fruit and is very effective in preventing pregnancy complications.
Consult with a homeopath for a pregnancy safe homeopathy remedy for constipation. Avoid over-the-counter laxatives as they can stimulate uterine contractions resulting in miscarriage or pre-term labor.
Prevention of constipation is the best place to start. Many of my pregnant clients have experienced a constipation free pregnancy by taking mangosteen and minerals on a daily basis prior and during pregnancy. Mangosteen is present in different quantities in different products. Wondering where to get more information about a high quality mangosteen and mineral product? Mangosteen is present in different quantities in different products, so do your research.
I urge you to act at once. Read for yourself, an amazing message for humanity from my son when he was seven-weeks old. Yes you read correctly, he was seven weeks old! I have the ability to communicate with baby’s emotions from inside and outside the womb. Read it! Enjoy it! Share it!
Muscle fitness and 7 Secrets To Better Workouts
1. Start your engines
As your old high school gym teacher might have led you to believe, stretching before weight training is not the best way to warm-up. Recent reports show that static stretching before exercise can reduce muscle strength. Stretching relaxes your muscles, so why would you want to relax your muscles when you need to lift explosively during weight training? The proper warm-up for weight training should involve 5-10 minutes of Dynamic mobility movements. These drills help improve active range of motion and activate the nervous system. Exercise like bodyweight squats, pushups and lunges help to fire up the nervous system, increase blood flow and fluid to the surrounding joints in preparation for intense lifting. In addition, a couple acclimation sets of the first exercise in your workout will get you prepared to train with your maximal weights.
2. Train What You Don't See
One of the most common complaints you hear from long time lifters is a chronic shoulder problem. This is mainly due to imbalances in their exercise selection where they perform more pressing exercises like bench presses than pulling exercise like bent over rows. You should be doing equal exercise volume in the horizontal push and pulls as well as the vertical push and pulls such as shoulder presses and chin-up variations. This will ensure proper balance for the muscles you don't see in your back to prevent tight upper back muscles, which contribute to most shoulder problems. Including some old school traditional pushups in place of bench presses also allow your scapula muscles in your upper back to move freely enhancing shoulder health unlike any lying bench press movements. Pushups are referred to as a "close-chain" exercise because during these movements, your hands or feet are in a constant, fixed position (usually on the ground) during the exercise.
3. The New Cardio
High intensity interval training has been proven to be nine times more effective than steady-state cardio for burning fat. You don't have to do cardio in the traditional form of what most people think. People were burning fat long before treadmills and stationary bikes with old-fashioned manual labor. You need to be doing high intensity exercise that revs up your metabolism each and every workout. You could run, sprint, swim, lift weights, do supersets with weights. Remember you don't really burn much fat when you are actually exercising, except for a small amount of fatty acids that are in your bloodstream. It's the calories your body burns during the other 23 hours of the day that count. With exercise and a clean diet you will put your body in a caloric deficit, which is still the ONLY proven way to melt off that unwanted fat.
4. Times Up
Standing around chatting about the news of the week for 5 minutes in between sets is not the most effective way to get a great workout. Keeping track and shortening your rest periods between exercises is an awesome away to burn calories and increase your conditioning. There is a BIG difference in "keeping track" of your time in your head and actually using your watch. Most people don't realize how short a 60 second rest period is once they start watching the clock. Increasing training density by shortening or eliminating some rest periods in between sets is a great way to get a lot of workout volume done in a short amount of time. Keep your headphones on to avoid unwelcome distractions and keep your eye on your watch!
5. Be Cool
You started your workout off right with a dynamic warm-up, now its time to call it a day with a proper cool down. This is when you should be doing some old school Static stretching, which basically consists of stretching a muscle as far as your flexibility will allow and then holding that position for 10-15 seconds. Static stretching is of value primarily for preventing or correcting excessive muscle tension and establishing proper muscle length at the joints, both of which will improve movement efficiency. This type of stretching is best performed post-workout or several hours after the exercise session. Always easy into a stretch while gradually increasing the range of motion as your flexibility improves.
6. Spice it Up
Most training research shows that your body begins to adapt to a training program after 6 weeks. More specifically, you adapt to the rep range before everything else. Like the saying goes, "variety is the spice of life". The same holds true for weight training. Ten reps might sound like a nice even number to aim for during each sets but that doesn't mean it's the most effective. For strength gains stick to the 1-3 rep range. For muscle growth work in the 4-6 rep range. For fat loss keep reps higher in the 10-12 rep range. Vary your workouts to prevent your body to adapting to the same training stress.
7. Failing To Plan
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". This rings true with a proper workout program as well. All of these workout secrets should be part of a long-term training plan. Certified personal trainers spend years learning proper methods for kinetics and exercise design. So why does everyone think they can just slap together a bunch of exercises and think it's going to get them the results they are after? Plan your workouts based on your goals. Are you looking to lose fat, build muscle or get stronger. It's better to focus on one in each training phase. The most common method most gym rats might use wither they know it or not is Linear periodization. This is when the reps are decreased and the loads are increased over a period of time.
Recent training research has shown that a method of structuring your workouts called undulating periodization - has proven to be more effective in inducing maximum muscle gains when compared to traditional linear periodization models. Rotating from heavy (4-6 reps), to medium (8-10 reps) to light (12-15 reps) all in the same week will ensure you make steady progress and prevent that dreaded training plateau.
As your old high school gym teacher might have led you to believe, stretching before weight training is not the best way to warm-up. Recent reports show that static stretching before exercise can reduce muscle strength. Stretching relaxes your muscles, so why would you want to relax your muscles when you need to lift explosively during weight training? The proper warm-up for weight training should involve 5-10 minutes of Dynamic mobility movements. These drills help improve active range of motion and activate the nervous system. Exercise like bodyweight squats, pushups and lunges help to fire up the nervous system, increase blood flow and fluid to the surrounding joints in preparation for intense lifting. In addition, a couple acclimation sets of the first exercise in your workout will get you prepared to train with your maximal weights.
2. Train What You Don't See
One of the most common complaints you hear from long time lifters is a chronic shoulder problem. This is mainly due to imbalances in their exercise selection where they perform more pressing exercises like bench presses than pulling exercise like bent over rows. You should be doing equal exercise volume in the horizontal push and pulls as well as the vertical push and pulls such as shoulder presses and chin-up variations. This will ensure proper balance for the muscles you don't see in your back to prevent tight upper back muscles, which contribute to most shoulder problems. Including some old school traditional pushups in place of bench presses also allow your scapula muscles in your upper back to move freely enhancing shoulder health unlike any lying bench press movements. Pushups are referred to as a "close-chain" exercise because during these movements, your hands or feet are in a constant, fixed position (usually on the ground) during the exercise.
3. The New Cardio
High intensity interval training has been proven to be nine times more effective than steady-state cardio for burning fat. You don't have to do cardio in the traditional form of what most people think. People were burning fat long before treadmills and stationary bikes with old-fashioned manual labor. You need to be doing high intensity exercise that revs up your metabolism each and every workout. You could run, sprint, swim, lift weights, do supersets with weights. Remember you don't really burn much fat when you are actually exercising, except for a small amount of fatty acids that are in your bloodstream. It's the calories your body burns during the other 23 hours of the day that count. With exercise and a clean diet you will put your body in a caloric deficit, which is still the ONLY proven way to melt off that unwanted fat.
4. Times Up
Standing around chatting about the news of the week for 5 minutes in between sets is not the most effective way to get a great workout. Keeping track and shortening your rest periods between exercises is an awesome away to burn calories and increase your conditioning. There is a BIG difference in "keeping track" of your time in your head and actually using your watch. Most people don't realize how short a 60 second rest period is once they start watching the clock. Increasing training density by shortening or eliminating some rest periods in between sets is a great way to get a lot of workout volume done in a short amount of time. Keep your headphones on to avoid unwelcome distractions and keep your eye on your watch!
5. Be Cool
You started your workout off right with a dynamic warm-up, now its time to call it a day with a proper cool down. This is when you should be doing some old school Static stretching, which basically consists of stretching a muscle as far as your flexibility will allow and then holding that position for 10-15 seconds. Static stretching is of value primarily for preventing or correcting excessive muscle tension and establishing proper muscle length at the joints, both of which will improve movement efficiency. This type of stretching is best performed post-workout or several hours after the exercise session. Always easy into a stretch while gradually increasing the range of motion as your flexibility improves.
6. Spice it Up
Most training research shows that your body begins to adapt to a training program after 6 weeks. More specifically, you adapt to the rep range before everything else. Like the saying goes, "variety is the spice of life". The same holds true for weight training. Ten reps might sound like a nice even number to aim for during each sets but that doesn't mean it's the most effective. For strength gains stick to the 1-3 rep range. For muscle growth work in the 4-6 rep range. For fat loss keep reps higher in the 10-12 rep range. Vary your workouts to prevent your body to adapting to the same training stress.
7. Failing To Plan
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". This rings true with a proper workout program as well. All of these workout secrets should be part of a long-term training plan. Certified personal trainers spend years learning proper methods for kinetics and exercise design. So why does everyone think they can just slap together a bunch of exercises and think it's going to get them the results they are after? Plan your workouts based on your goals. Are you looking to lose fat, build muscle or get stronger. It's better to focus on one in each training phase. The most common method most gym rats might use wither they know it or not is Linear periodization. This is when the reps are decreased and the loads are increased over a period of time.
Recent training research has shown that a method of structuring your workouts called undulating periodization - has proven to be more effective in inducing maximum muscle gains when compared to traditional linear periodization models. Rotating from heavy (4-6 reps), to medium (8-10 reps) to light (12-15 reps) all in the same week will ensure you make steady progress and prevent that dreaded training plateau.
"Busy Dad of 3 kids loses his gut and builds lean muscle!"...
“The Dad Fitness Lifestyle System worked wonders to get me in the shape of my life with only 3 workouts a week.
I work as an Aquatics director for our local recreation centre. I would spend hours each day coaching athletes in the swimming pool. This meant my body was out there for everyone to see. I wasn’t happy with how looked and I needed to make a change. But with my schedule I didn’t know how I would find the time to spend hours in the gym.
I was also a busy dad with three kids and a family. I was working up to 12 hours a day 6 days a week.
This left me with what I thought zero time to workout. Any spare time was spent with my family. But, with Sean’s help I had no problem fitting in just 3 short workouts a week. In under an hour I was finished my workout and full of energy to continue on with my busy day.
After just weeks using Sean’s workouts my body started to change so rapidly, everyone would ask me what I was doing. I began to look forward to working at the pool to show off my new body.
I lifted weights on and off in the past buy never seemed to be able to build muscle and lose fat at the same time. I thought I would have to do separate workouts with weights to get big, and then lots of cardio workouts to get ripped. That left me confused, frustrated and fat!
The Dad Fitness System completely re-educated me on healthy eating once and for all. The nutrition information was full of easy to prepare meals and snacks. More importantly my family and I could eat together as my whole family loved the meal ideas including my young kids who are picky eaters!”
"For the first time in my life I can finally see my abs"...
“Coming from a “big boned” family I thought I was cursed with the fat gene. I am a guy who loves to eat, and on this lifestyle program I ate more than I ever had.
Within the first week after each workout it’s like I could actually feel my body burning fat. Over the years I tried all the traditional forms of exercise and spent hours in the gym, with minimal results. With this program I loved the freedom it gave me with just 3 workouts a week.
Within the first week after each workout it’s like I could actually feel my body burning fat. Over the years I tried all the traditional forms of exercise and spent hours in the gym, with minimal results. With this program I loved the freedom it gave me with just 3 workouts a week.
Sean’s program was different, it’s short, simple, and it works! And it’s backed my science, so I know it had to work.
I completely transformed my body to the point my own mother barely recognized me. Wherever I went around town or to social events people would compliment me on how great I looked, and man did that feel good. For the first time in my life I could actually see my abs!
The best thing is I now have the knowledge to maintain this body for the rest of my life. This program is the only one I will ever need. Sean is the real-deal and practices what he preaches.”
I completely transformed my body to the point my own mother barely recognized me. Wherever I went around town or to social events people would compliment me on how great I looked, and man did that feel good. For the first time in my life I could actually see my abs!
The best thing is I now have the knowledge to maintain this body for the rest of my life. This program is the only one I will ever need. Sean is the real-deal and practices what he preaches.”
"Busy Dad of 3 kids loses his gut and builds lean muscle!"...
“Coming from a “big boned” family I thought I was cursed with the fat gene. I am a guy who loves to eat, and on this lifestyle program I ate more than I ever had.
Within the first week after each workout it’s like I could actually feel my body burning fat. Over the years I tried all the traditional forms of exercise and spent hours in the gym, with minimal results. With this program I loved the freedom it gave me with just 3 workouts a week.
Within the first week after each workout it’s like I could actually feel my body burning fat. Over the years I tried all the traditional forms of exercise and spent hours in the gym, with minimal results. With this program I loved the freedom it gave me with just 3 workouts a week.
Sean’s program was different, it’s short, simple, and it works! And it’s backed my science, so I know it had to work.
I completely transformed my body to the point my own mother barely recognized me. Wherever I went around town or to social events people would compliment me on how great I looked, and man did that feel good. For the first time in my life I could actually see my abs!
The best thing is I now have the knowledge to maintain this body for the rest of my life. This program is the only one I will ever need. Sean is the real-deal and practices what he preaches.”
I completely transformed my body to the point my own mother barely recognized me. Wherever I went around town or to social events people would compliment me on how great I looked, and man did that feel good. For the first time in my life I could actually see my abs!
The best thing is I now have the knowledge to maintain this body for the rest of my life. This program is the only one I will ever need. Sean is the real-deal and practices what he preaches.”
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