How Red Wine & Cheese Lower Your Blood Pressure

Not all that long ago I used to attend art exhibitions in Sydney, Australia. No, I'm not an artist but just a person who happened to live in the trendier parts of town. It was a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon - browsing new paintings by up-and-coming local artists. More often than not they would offer the guests small portions of various cheeses along with a selection of moderately priced wines. I had a great time, but I didn't know that what I was doing was also giving me a health boost bonus! You see, wine and cheese are the Batman & Robin dynamic duo for lowering your blood pressure.

When was the last time you had a wine and cheese party? You don't need to be an artist to enjoy one; it's a great way to entertain guests and a good excuse to get together. It's also a nice way to ward-off high blood pressure.

Cheese & wine parties are excellent for larger get-togethers as well. You can make it lots of fun by having every guest bring a bottle of wine and an exotic cheese. It's a great way to sample new wines and cheeses ... and a perfect way to get to know your friends better with free-flowing wine and conversation.

What better way to kick-back and relax ... both you and your arteries. Wine is good for lowering your blood pressure ... and so is cheese. But not just any old wine, make it a red one. Read on to find out why.

~ A glass or two of red ~

The flavonol called resveratol is a protective antioxidant. Free radicals are agents that affect chemical reactions in the body; they can cause cell damage resulting in cancer and other problems such as high blood pressure. Resveratol as the protective antioxidant protects your arteries against the damage done by free radicals and also assists in preventing the hardening of your arteries.

Flavonol also benefits you in another important way. The clumping together of blood platelets causes blood clotting and thrombosis - not something you want to have to deal with as both can be deadly serious problems! Flavonol is active in stopping your platelets from bunching up together; a glass of red wine helps your body to prevent these nasty problems by keeping your blood smoothly flowing through your arteries.

And some more good news ... recent studies have shown that drinking red wine also helps to improve the operation of your artery linings. When the linings of your arteries are working properly they freely dilate bringing down your blood pressure. The only question is how much of the good red is too much?

Nobody is suggesting you go out and buy a crate of red to be consumed immediately, but a glass or two a day is ideal for most people ... this is the perfect consumption to keep your heart and arteries young - and maintain your blood pressure at healthy levels. Which red wine is best? The darker varieties are best as they are higher in the protective resveratrol flavonoid. As far as white wine is concerned, you really shouldn't bother ... it has much less benefit than the mighty red.

~ A Chunk of Cheese ~

When we think of cheese we tend to think of how much fat it contains, and whilst cheese does have more than enough saturated fat, a little is actually good for you. The key is, of course, moderation. Just like red wine, if you don't go overboard, it can be healthy. Too much of it and your cholesterol levels can rise.

When cheese is being made and the milk is fermenting ... peptides are released from the milk proteins. Peptides, which are related to proteins and amino acids, help to control your blood pressure by impeding the enzymes that convert angiotensin. Angiotensin are made up of any of the three polypeptide hormones, one of which is a powerful vasoconstrictor (something that constricts a blood vessel). When the protein angiotensin gets converted to angiotensin II it constricts your arteries and increases the retention of water and sodium. This whole process has a rather adverse affect on your blood pressure - it pumps it right up!

You can stop the reaction that forces your blood pressure up by taking in the other peptides - those found in fermented milk products like cheese. Eating a small wedge of cheese blocks the enzyme that creates angiotensin II, helps your arteries to stay relaxed, and thereby keeps your blood pressure down.

~ Take it easy with a nice glass of Shiraz and a Slice of Gruyere ~

Having been at the grinding wheel all day ... when the tension built up during the day has pumped up your blood pressure ... why not enjoy some nice cheeses with a glass of dark red wine. Relax your mind, relax your body, relax your arteries ... get your blood pressure back to a normal level. It will be greatly appreciated by your heart!

Kery Bellis is a long-time natural health advocate and a strong supporter of an exciting new program helping victims of high blood pressure. Start living a healthier life now ... go to http://www.coolestebooks.com/products2.html

Philadelphia Family Dentists

You always desired possessing a dazzling smile. You wanted to floor everyone, just with your smile. Alas, you could not, because of your teeth. You were always self-conscious about them; you thought that they were downright ugly. You had also seen those wonderful ads in papers and television which claimed to give you a dream smile in a matter of days. But, there was always a problem. The problem was that you dreaded visiting a dentist. With all those scalpels, drills and other machinery around you, you felt nervous and anxious. What is the way out then?

Fortunately you can always go to your Philadelphia family dentist. Family dentists are mostly well acquainted with you and your problems. They know how to extract the correct information from you and since they are aware of your medical history and habits, they are best placed to serve your needs.

With a Philadelphia family dentist around, you no longer need to fear. Family dentists can give you a unique dental experience that is stress free. In fact many patients even consider visiting a family dentist relaxing. Philadelphia family dentists can make you feel at home. Moreover, with a family dentist, you can always be assured of getting treated on time, every time. Dentists are so much in demand that it is impossible to fix up an appointment with them at a time which is convenient to you. With a family dentist, this is not an issue. You always know when your Philadelphia family dentist is available. You can just give them a call and drop in.

Advancing technology has changed the very face of dentistry. You always have new techniques to give you a healthier and more beautiful smile. Newer instruments are being invented to maximize efficiency and minimize discomfort. Yet with all this technological advancement, dentistry is still all about human interaction and touch. With a Philadelphia family dentist you can literally feel genuine compassion and empathy in your visits. Another thing about family dentists is the fact that you are always sure about them. You know about their qualifications, their experience - in short, their credentials. You go to them with confidence, since you know that they put your comfort first.

Philadelphia Dentists provides detailed information on Low Cost Philadelphia Dentists, Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentists, Philadelphia Dentists, Philadelphia Emergency Dentists and more. Philadelphia Dentists is affiliated with Laser Tooth Whitening.

Common Medications Used for Controlling Blood Cholesterol Levels

Persons confronted with abnormally high cholesterol levels that can?t be regulated only with the aid of diet and regular physical exercise can opt for cholesterol-lowering drugs to achieve and maintain balanced cholesterol levels. There are many different types of cholesterol-lowering medications at present, each medication having a distinctive action. Although many of today?s cholesterol-lowering medications are efficient in reducing LDL (the so called ?bad cholesterol? ? the substance responsible for causing arteriosclerosis and heart disease), they also have many side-effects and thus it is very important to only use doctor-prescribed medications. In order to minimize side-effects and to maximize the benefic action of cholesterol-lowering drugs, you should respect the exact doctor?s indications when following treatments with such medications.

At present, the most popular cholesterol-lowering medications are statins. Statins are very efficient in reducing blood cholesterol, as they inhibit the production of the enzyme which stimulates the secretion of cholesterol at the level of the liver. Prescribed in the right dose, statins can normalize the production of cholesterol inside the body, thus reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis and, consequently, heart attack and stroke. For the fact that statins are efficient both in preventing and reversing the undesirable effects of cholesterol inside the organism, they are prescribed to many different categories of patients with cholesterol problems.

The most frequently prescribed statin medications include: Pravastatin (Pravachol), Simvastatin (Zocor), Lovastatin (Mevacor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Rosuvastatin (Crestor). All these mentioned medications produce similar effects and can successfully reduce cholesterol levels when prescribed in the appropriate dose. Statin medications usually have mild side-effects such as nausea, abdominal bloating and vomiting, which disappear as soon as the treatment is interrupted. In very rare cases, statins can cause muscular problems, liver and kidney failure.

Resins are another commonly prescribed type of cholesterol-lowering medications. Unlike statins, which reduce cholesterol levels by limiting the production of the substance inside the liver, resins stimulate the excretion of the substance from the body. Resins are considered to be very safe and rarely interact with other types of cholesterol-lowering medications. Due to this fact, they are sometimes associated with statins or other similar drugs. The most commonly prescribed resins include: Cholestyramine (Questran), Colesevelam (WelChol) and Colestipol (Colestid).

Other popular medications used for controlling cholesterol levels are nicotinic acid-based drugs. Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, is actually a vitamin from the B-vitamin complex. Corroborated with other cholesterol-lowering medications, niacin is very efficient in reducing cholesterol levels.

All the mentioned cholesterol-lowering medications are effective in normalizing and controlling blood cholesterol levels. However, it is very important to ask for advice from your doctor before deciding to use such medications. In order to minimize side-effects and to increase the benefic effects of these medications, it is advisable to respect the doctor?s orders.

If you want to find great information about many cholesterol subjects like cholesterol levels, low cholesterol recipe or many more please visit us at www.cholesterol-info-guide.com

Depression and Its Treatments

One in five Americans suffer from depression in their lifetime. It affects more than 17 million Americans each year. According to a statistic from the National Institute of Health, the estimated cost of depression to the U.S. is between 33 and 44 billion dollars a year. Depression is linked to the more than 30,000 suicides a year. (Ainsworth 3-5) The depression being discussed is not merely a day of feeling blue but a clinical diagnosis, also known as Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD (Clinical Practice Guidelines).

The statistic of one in five Americans would include at least one of my family members, probably two. My family has had 4 members who have battled clinical depression, including myself. Depression is a bigger problem than most Americans realize and it demands immediate attention. Although the new technology of antidepressant medications can be effective, negative side effects and healthy alternatives should make antidepressant medications your last resort.

Depression is not a new thing, and neither are its treatments. Antidepressant medications have evolved from monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) to tricyclics (TCA) to the most recent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). SSRI?s are much more effective than earlier medications, and some versions such as Prozac have even been called ?miracle drugs? (Ainsworth 93). It would be ignorant of anybody to say that antidepressants have no place in the medical field. With over 54 million Americans having been prescribed Prozac alone (Prozac), SSRI?s have established a large role in the treatment of depression. Such medications are capable of correcting some problems that nothing else can.

However, these medications do not come without their negative aspects, and there are many. SSRI?s are notorious for their negative side effects. Ainsworth states that some smaller side effects can include headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and stomachaches (89). It can be argued that these small side effects are nothing when compared to the symptoms that a depressed person faces daily, but that doesn?t make them any less harmful.

SSRI?s also have much larger side effects that must be taken into consideration. One of the larger side effects that SSRI?s can cause is sleep disturbances. Ironically, depression itself is noted for its symptoms of bad sleep patterns, insomnia or excessive sleep (Ainsworth 57). SSRI?s do not help these sleeping problems. Psychology Information Online (PIO) states that one very common and large side effect of some SSRI?s is the constant feeling of drowsiness and the feeling of never having slept enough. The medication that is supposed to stop depression is actually adding to one of its worst symptoms, proving it a non-preferred method of treatment.

Another major negative side effect that antidepressants can cause is the inability to reach orgasm (PIO). An interview with Sarah reveals that depression alone has caused the inability to reach orgasm for her, and that this is a common problem for males and females as well. Medications add to this problem rather than solve it. Antidepressant medications once again fail to treat the symptoms of the very illness that they are trying to cure.

The application of antidepressants is not an exact science, and it still poses risks. SSRI?s alter the amount of chemicals in your brain, either by supplying chemicals or preventing the use of certain chemicals in the brain. Earlier medications, such as MAO's, proved to be quite dangerous while proper dosage amounts were found for each patient. PIO explains that an overdose of certain MAO?s can be fatal. The newer medications such as SSRI?s have greatly reduced this risk, but fatal overdosing still remains as a very small possibility. Accidental suicide can be caused by the very medication that is supposed to be treating depression, a large cause of suicides in the United States (PIO).

Due to the function of antidepressant medications, they can cause complex problems that are unrelated to depression. As antidepressants alter the amount of chemicals in your brain at any given time, the disruption of such a complex system can lead to many other problems. One example of this is brought up in Elkin?s Depression and Natural Medicine when it says, ?While they [SSRI?s raise the level of a certain type of serotonin, they lower another. There is also a concern that these drugs act as nervous system stimulants, which can result in altering one?s perception of reality and impairing judgment? (32). Impairing judgment is one of the side effects of alcohol, and we know how dangerous that can be. These side effects must be considered when deciding on treatments for depression. When taken with other prescription drugs, SSRI?s can cause serious problems. Ainsworth reports that ?SSRI?s interact with many other medications by altering the speed or efficiency of liver enzymes that break down the other medications? (93). The result can cause serious side effects. This is an especially big problem for the large percentage of elderly people taking antidepressants in combination with other prescriptions. Ainsworth explains that ?It is wise to discuss with your physician any medication combinations that include an SSRI? (95). Any use of antidepressant medication has its risks, and must be evaluated carefully.

Many of the negative side effects of antidepressant medications have been evaluated against their risks and benefits. I do not wish you to believe that the only road to treat depression is dangerous. There is an alternative, less risky method for treating depression that is much less intrusive. Healthy alternatives to antidepressant medications exist naturally, and can be just as effective. One such healthy alternative can be found by monitoring the diet. Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids make up our body, and provide chemicals to our brain through our body?s natural processes. Deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can cause a lack of serotonin and norepinephrine, the primary chemicals involved in mood regulation (Elkins 26). This deficit can be caused by eating unhealthily, or simply by not eating enough. Diets, a fad among Americans, are also related to depression. Elkins writes ?The most common reason for abandoning a diet is dealing with the serotonin depletion we experience. The classic symptoms of dieting, which include irritability, depression, moodiness, and nervousness can be the direct result of a serotonin deficiency, created by a lack of carbohydrates? (114). A natural consequence of a low carbohydrate intake is lower levels of serotonin in the brain, suggesting that a healthy diet results in a healthy amount of serotonin in the brain. Elkins supports this idea by saying, ?If serotonin levels are so crucial to both depression and carbohydrate craving, amino acid and vitamin therapy may be extremely valuable in helping to control neurotransmitter levels? (114). The purpose of antidepressant medications is to help regulate neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which can also be accomplished naturally by the proper intake of essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. The healthy alternative offers no negative side effects.

As discussed earlier, sleep plays a major role in depression as well. I conducted an interview with a therapist by the name of Terry Route. He is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and has been a practicing therapist for over 20 years. He has worked extensively with patients suffering from depression throughout his employment. I asked him what the first thing he suggested to a patient suffering from depression was. He responded with, ?Fix their sleep. Get them to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Sleep where you will not be disturbed, in the basement with earplugs, in the dark, away from your spouse if necessary.? Route continued by saying that when they actually followed this advice, the depression was overcome in 75% of all cases.

I must admit that there is some controversy here, due to the fact that depression causes sleep abnormalities. If depression causes un-restful and interrupted sleep, how can sleeping be a cure for depression? The trick here lies with the neurotransmitters in the brain. Serotonin helps regulate sleep cycles. ?If serotonin levels are abnormally low, sleeping intervals decrease. In other words, you tend to wake up easier than you are supposed to? (Elkins 194). Lower serotonin levels means that your sleep is interrupted easier than it should be. By following Route?s advice you actually improve your restful sleep and allow your body to replenish depleted serotonin levels while you rest. Sleep, a natural process without negative side effects, has been proven to aid in relieving symptoms of depression.

According to Justice Wirz?s article in the Archives of General Psychiatry, one other factor that can naturally combat depression without negative side effects is sunlight. As light is received in the pineal gland through the eyes, it triggers the shutdown of the production of melatonin, another chemical found in the body. Melatonin is a key chemical that induces the production of serotonin. When a person does not receive enough sunlight, the production cycle of melatonin is disrupted. The pineal gland does not function properly and does not produce enough melatonin, resulting in an insufficient amount of melatonin to trigger the production of serotonin. (861-862)

Doesn?t artificial light cause the same reaction in the pineal gland as sunlight? Dr. Richard Wurtman, Ph.D. of MIT points out that ?artificial lights that are typically used to illuminate interiors provide only around one-tenth of the light which would be found outside under one shady tree on a sunny day? (qtd. in Elkins 93). The information suggests that there is no replacement for good old fashion sunlight, and our body knows it.

Another good natural combatant to depression is exercise. Prolonged exercise produces endorphins in the body. Endorphins can cause a feeling of euphoria, also known as ?runner?s high,? which counteracts the sad moods of depression. It has been suggested and studied that endorphins in the body help restore chemical imbalances to their natural state, aiding in the treatment of depression. An article posted on the web page for the American Psychology Association reads, ?The greater the length of the exercise program and the larger the total number of exercise sessions, the greater the decrease in depression with exercise? (Psychology Matters). Antidepressant medications and their negative side effects have been discussed, as well as positive healthy alternatives. Each has been weighed for its benefits and risks. Negative side effects can be extreme or mild, depending on the case. Antidepressant medications have been proven to treat depression, but not without their risks. Such medications should only be used when absolutely necessary, when other methods have been exhausted. A depressed person may have a hard time getting themselves out of the hole they are in even when they want to try natural treatment methods. In such cases, medication can be used as a means to get the person started towards a more healthy treatment method. The least intrusive method of treatment should be our first effort. If natural methods do not work, then the risks of antidepressant medications become a worthy option for treatment.

I have suffered from deprssion in my own life. I have had a front row seat as my loved ones suffered. Nobody knows better than myself how nasty depression can be, and how hard it is to conquer. My family members and I have tried every possible medication and we remain unsatisfied. The negative side effects are horrible. I have done everything I can to treat my depression without the use of antidepressant medications and succeeded, at times. Other times, I have done everything in my power and it has not been enough. Antidepressants were my last resort, and they worked. I did have to deal with many ugly side effects, but they were absolutely necessary and I knew that because I had already tried everything else.

If you have more than 5 loved ones, chances are that you will deal with depression first hand. Many people run to their doctor and ask for ?miracle drugs? without considering natural alternatives that don?t hold the risks or negative side effects of antidepressant medications. It is our responsibility to know the options available so that when depression hits, we are prepared to assist our loved ones with the best solution to their circumstance. Medications can be effective, but should be used as a last resort due to the availability of healthy alternatives that offer no negative side effects.

Works Cited

Ainsworth, Patricia M.D.. Understanding Depression. Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi, 2000.

Clinical Practice Guidelines. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). 15 Apr. 2002

11 Aug. 2005 .

Elkins, Rita. Depression and Natural Medicine. Pleasant Grove: Woodland Publishing Inc., 1995.

Prozac fluoxetine hydrochloride. How PROZAC Can Help. 2005. 11 Aug. 2005 >http://www.prozac.com/howprozac/howprozaccanhelp.jsp?reqNavId=2>.

Psychology Information Online. Side Effects of Antidepressants. 2002. 11 Aug. 2005 .

Psychology Matters. Exercise Helps You?re your Psyche Fit. 2005. American Psychological Association. 10 Aug. 2005. .

Route, Terry LCSW. Personal Interview. 9 Aug. 2005.

Sarah. Personal Interview. 8 Aug. 2005

Wirz, Justice. ?Beginning to See the Light.? Archives of General Psychology. 55.10 (1998): 861-862.

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Choosing a Weight Loss Diet

Everywhere we turn, we hear that America is the most overweight nation on earth. One look in the mirror tells the majority of us that we could lose a few pounds. Most of us have tried a diet plan - or a dozen of them - only to find that we end up regaining the weight we loss - plus a few pounds. Many times, the problem is that we've chosen the wrong weight loss diet. A successful weight loss diet is one that matches that dieter's preferences and lifestyle, and one that's sustainable over the long term.

When choosing a weight loss diet, it's not only important to choose one that fits your lifestyle. It's also crucial to choose a diet plan that allows you to lose weight while encouraging you to eat a healthy diet that makes you feel good. The fact is that adiet that doesn't leave you feeling great is one that's difficult to sustain. The best diets are those that feel like an easy diet or a fast diet - those where you see quick results without a lot of suffering and deprivation.

The Atkins diet - the grandfather of all low-carb diets - enjoyed a resurgence during the recent low-carb craze. The Atkins diet is base on initially cutting out virtually all carbohydrates, then adding a few grams of carbs until you reach your goal weight. Once you reach your goal, you can increase your carbohydrate intake until you reach the point where you can sustain your goal weight. The drawback with the Atkins diet is that a low-carb diet is hard to sustain, and there are some questions about the long-term health effects of such a diet.

The South Beach diet gained extreme popularity around the same time as the low-carb revolution. The South Beach diet isn't a low-carb diet per se; rather it follow the glycemic index and is based on eating foods that are low on the GI scale.

The Zone diet, which continues to be popular, is based upon controlling the balance of hormones in your body. It does so by balancing proportions of different food groups, and eating certain food groups together. The Zone's philosophy is that the key to successful weight loss is balancing insulin, which can be achieved by reducing carbohydrate intake and emphasizing low-fat proteins and monsaturated fats.

The Isagenix diet involves a total body cleanse. In the pre-cleanse phase, Isagenex shakes and soups are used to replace two meals a day. During two cleanse days, a special drink is ingested four times each day, and Isagenix snacks are eaten up to six times each day. For the rest of the week, two servings of shake or soup replace two of your three meals. This is followed by two additional cleanse days. Those on the Isagenix weight loss diet typically find it to be a fast diet that produces significant weight loss.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Health and Beauty Website and Majon's Health and Beauty directory.

Diet For Heartburn

Heartburn is a common digestive complaint which affects an estimated 15 million Americans every day, and 60 million once a month. Relief of mild heartburn is typically achieved through diet and lifestyle changes, although medication (eg. antacids) is usually necessary if the heartburn is caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

What is Heartburn? What Are The Symptoms?

Heartburn is a digestive problem: it has nothing to do with your heart. It occurs when small amounts of stomach acid accidentally rise up the esophagus (the food canal running from the mouth to the stomach) causing symptoms like a burning pain in the chest which rises towards the throat. Sufferers may even taste the fluid in the back of the mouth, and this is called acid indigestion. In many cases the pain and burning sensation is relatively mild, but sometimes is so severe that patients think they are experiencing a heart attack.

What Are The Causes Of Heartburn?

In general, the immediate cause of heartburn is the acidic digestive juices which leave the stomach and rise up the esophagus. The acid burns the tissue of the esophagus causing inflammation and pain - a condition called esophagitis. Heartburn may also occur in pregnancy when the baby is pressing up against the underside of the diaphragm and squeezing the stomach. An occasional episode of acid-regurgitation or indigestion is quite normal. But persistent heartburn (eg. twice a week), is usually a sign of something more serious. The two most common underlying causes of heartburn symptoms are gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hiatal hernia.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

GERD is characterized by a failure of the muscular valve, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is located at the bottom of the esophagus. The function of this valve is to keep acid in the stomach and prevent it leaking back up the esophagus. When this valve doesn't work properly, reflux (leak-back) and heartburn can occur. Factors that contribute to gastroesophageal reflux disease include obesity, pregnancy, smoking and, in particular, hiatal hernia.

Hiatal Hernia

Hiatus or hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach herniates (protrudes) upwards into the chest through the hiatus (opening) in the diaphragm normally only occupied by the esophagus. This puts extra pressure on the LES valve preventing it from closing properly. As a result, stomach acid leaks into the esophagus causing heartburn. The underlying cause of hiatal hernia is unknown. Contributory factors include: obesity, pregnancy, constipation, abdominal muscle strain, and smoking.

Dietary Treatment For Heartburn

In cases of persistent heartburn, dietary improvements are not sufficient. So as well as advocating a digestion-friendly diet, your doctor is likely to recommend one or more of the following types of medication. Antacids to neutralize the acid in your stomach; H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors to reduce acid production; or prokinetics to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter and expedite stomach-emptying. However, if heartburn symptoms are mild and occur only from time to time, usually you will be advised to make the following changes to your diet.

If Overweight, Switch To A Healthy Weight Loss Diet

Obesity, especially excess fat on the chest and abdomen, is a common contributory factor to GERD and hiatal hernia, and therefore to heartburn. So if you are obese (BMI > 30), take steps to normalize your weight and thus reduce your risk or symptoms of heartburn. Choose a healthy calorie-controlled diet and customize it by following the eating tips below.

Stop Eating Large Meals

A big meal distends the stomach and causes a rise in the production of stomach acid. Both these factors lead to an increased risk of heartburn. So opt for 4-6 small meals or snacks, and allow a maximum of 3 hours between eating. In addition, choose foods that are easier on the stomach and more more easily digested.

Avoid Acidic Food

Reduce your intake of very acidic foods by avoiding items such as: tomatoes, tomato-based sauces, citrus fruits, rhubarb, gooseberries, unripe fruit, vinegar and acidic pickles or relishes.

Cut Down On Fatty and Spicy Food

Fried or very fatty foods, including candy, encourage indigestion and should be avoided or eaten sparingly. So go easy on butter, mayo, sausages, salami, pate, meat pies, and full-fat cheese. The same applies to very spicy food such as: black pepper, chili peppers, curry, mustard and other hot spices, as well as raw onions and garlic.

Avoid Carbonated Drinks

Fizzy or carbonated soft drinks cause belching and upward pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), increasing the likelihood of heartburn. The best drinks include: water, herbal teas or diluted non-citrus fruit juices. Please also note that some soft drinks (eg. cocoa, coffee, orange juice) are not helpful for heartburn as they can over-relax the LES, thus encouraging the backward flow of acid from the stomach.

Eat More Fiber, Especially Soluble Fiber

Constipation can lead to extra strain on abdominal muscles and increase the risk of heartburn. To prevent constipation, eat more high-fiber foods such as: oats, apples, pears, dried apricots and vegetables. When increasing fiber intake it's also important to increase your water intake by at least 40 fl oz a day.

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is not helpful to heartburn for several reasons. So take steps to reduce your intake to one unit a day, or avoid it altogether. Alcohol is also a source of non-nutritious calories and can contribute to overweight.

Other Digestive Tips

For digestive disorders like heartburn, some dietitians and alternative health experts recommend patients to eat (or cook with) digestion-friendly aromatic herbs like basil, camomile, caraway, dill, fennel, rosemary and thyme. They also recommend that you end each meal with a glass of herbal tea (eg. camomile, fennel) to reduce acidity and wind.

Lifestyle Improvements To Reduce Heartburn

There are several lifestyle changes that can help to reduce the symptoms of heartburn. One obvious one is to stop smoking, as tobacco smoke increases acidity in the stomach. Other recommended changes include:

Avoid placing extra strain on your abdomen or chest. Wear loose-fitting clothes, and do not overstretch or lift heavy weights.

Do not lie down after eating, and try not to eat anything for at least three hours before going to bed. The less there is in your stomach when you come to lie down, the lower the risk of heartburn.

To minimize night-time discomfort, raise the head end of your bed by about 3 inches by using bed-blocks or by placing a solid object under the bed-legs. This helps to prevent stomach acid from leaking backwards into the esophagus. Do not use extra pillows - you simply end up with a stiff neck as well as heartburn!

Heartburn symptoms can be caused by certain over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin, or other pain-killers or anti-inflammatories. So if you take this type of medication regularly, check with your doctor or pharmacist that it's safe to continue.

Linda Smith B.Sc., RD, aged 51, is a qualified dietitian and nutritional consultant. She is part of the editorial team at Diet-i.com which provides a range of information about diet, nutrition and weight management to more than 5 million visitors per year.

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Meditate Your Way to Business Success

Princeton University defines meditation as ?continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature; the habit of meditation is the basis for all real knowledge.

It?s all about calming the mind to allow for greater inner perspective.

The problem with meditation is that most people think of it as ?sitting on a rock and humming OM for an hour.?

In fact, meditation can be dynamic, moving, energetic and calming, all at the same time.

Here are 4 examples of excellent meditative exercises

1. Take a walk of about 1 to 2 miles. Go by yourself and don?t think about the walk or your day- to-day activities. Instead:

* Notice your surroundings

* Think about how you feel as you walk. What is your body doing? How does that affect you?

* Focus on how you are breathing. Is it smooth or kind of jerky and irregular? What happens if you breathe really deeply while you?re walking?

* Take a moment to appreciate anything beautiful you pass by. What do you see? How does that make you feel?

You are now meditating. You are calm, focusing on things you have never noticed before and appreciating the moment.

Please note the words ?appreciating the moment.? It means living right NOW and not in a past that already happened or a future that is yet to come. This is your goal when meditating.

2. Go play a round of golf. My personal favorite mediation exercise is golf. Oddly enough, golf is one of the best exercises you can do to expand and develop your creative mind potential.

Just learn to think differently. Instead of worrying about how you?re going to play, notice your surroundings instead.

Look at everything as if you were going to paint or photograph it. See the details of highlight and shadows. Notice the beauty of the garden you?re playing in. Bend down and notice a single blade of grass; realizing that it is life in and of itself.

Don?t think about your swing. Just step up, relaxed, not worried about how you look and let it all go. Anytime the rational mind is out of the picture and feelings replace them you will hit much better shots.

Between shots, don?t think about the shot that was or that shot that is coming. Spend time between shots enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Really notice the beauty that is all around you. Realize that the next time you step up to the ball, the potential exists for something exceptional to occur.

Before, during and after the round don?t tell yourself stories about how, why, what you are doing or wish you did.

Just enjoy every moment. Remember, every hole (just like every day in your life) holds the potential of a fresh new start.

3. Go out and take a few pictures. Noticing beautiful things all around you is also an excellent meditation. Go outside, somewhere you consider beautiful and bring your camera. Any kind of camera will do.

Don?t think about anything except your surroundings. Breathe the air; notice how you feel in the beautiful outdoors. When you see something (anything) that catches your attention, go over to it for a closer look.

Notice how light and shadows interplay. Focus on what you notice when you look at an object. Take a photo of what you actually see, not the entire scene.

Again, noticing what is REALLY happening around you right NOW is the key to successful meditation.

4. Begin your day by looking at your true goals in life. Write them down and read then aloud. Take 2 or 3 minutes to understand what achieving this goal will feel like to you.

Then write down ACTION steps you can accomplish today, which will take you one step closer to that goal.

Get used to experiencing NOW. As you get used to this idea, before starting your meditative activity, think about a challenge you want to solve or a new idea you want to create.

Write down what you want to gain perspective on, contemplate it for a moment, then set it aside and start the activity. Follow the steps outlined above.

As you notice your experience of RIGHT NOW, the answer to solve challenges or new inspiration will surface, seemingly out of nowhere.

The quiet, relaxed mind, focusing on right NOW inspires you to new heights in creative thinking.

New heights in creative thinking lead to exceptional ideas coming to the forefront; giving you a distinct competitive edge in both business and life.

Take This ACTION Step

1. Go for a walk. Follow the advice in example 1.

2. Play golf. with focus and purpose instead of apprehension of impending doom. Follow the advice in example 2.

3. Take photographs in a beautiful place. Notice your surroundings. Open your awareness and then bring that back to your daily life in business. Paying attention to every moment, not worrying about a past or future is meditation at it?s finest. See article 3 for ideas.

4. Begin your day looking at your true goals and passions in life. What can you do today to move one small step closer to them?

Relaxing, opening your awareness to right NOW and focusing are the core principals of meditation. When that relaxed state of mind focuses on the talent and value you provide to other people amazing new ideas arise.

Bill Gluth is a Human Touch Marketing Expert, professional speaker, trainer and consultant. He is the first person to specialize in developing ?talent? as a competitive business strategy. Bill brings clear, simple and focused action steps to any business building program that spotlights controlling time, methods and mindset to stand out from the crowd.

When in control of these 3 variables, business people can realize greater achievement and business growth in less time, with greater enjoyment and minimal stress. Learn more about Bill Gluth and his Creative Business Strategy Training programs by visiting http://www.developyourvision.com.

Bad Breath Symptoms

Bad breath is caused by the oral bacteria that are present in your mouth. Common bad breath symptoms that Halitosis sufferers experienced, include a white or yellow film on the tongue, dry mouth, bitter/sour/metallic tastes, post nasal drainage, white nodules on the tonsils, brushing and dental flossing have no effect.

People with bad breath usually observe a white or yellow film on the tongue. This is caused by the accumulation of bacteria and nasal mucous and tends to be heaviest in the later areas of the tongue. For most patients, simply removing this film does not completely eliminate bad breath. The anaerobic bacteria that are responsible for the odorous smell of your mouth are found throughout the entire mouth and in the saliva.

Dry mouth is a common bad breath symptom and is the main causes of halitosis. Chronic dry mouth or xerostomia causes several changes to occur in the mouth. For one, the bacteria become more concentrated in the saliva and tend to evaporate sooner into the air. If this happens, bad breath becomes stronger and more obvious at greater distance. The drying of the mouth alters the pH or acid/base balance of the mouth providing an environment conducive to the oral bacterial growth. Dry mouth usually results in a metallic taste or bitter taste in the mouth.

It is common for people with bad breath to complain bad tastes in their mouths. Familiar descriptions are sour tastes, bitter or metallic taste. These tastes are usually the result of drainage from the sinus, medications being taken, dry mouth conditions, dental infections, leaking dental restorations, and certain oral bacteria. The reduction of salivary flow can result in bad breath condition.

Post nasal drainage is frequently a result of sinus conditions and allergies. It is a thick mucous that drips in the posterior region of the throat from the sinus regions, resulting to a frequent clearing of throat for people with bad breath condition. A person may not be aware that mild form of allergies can result in a mild drainage of mucous. Mucous typically contains large amount of bacteria and proteins from the sinus. These proteins are broken down to amino acids that anaerobic bacteria feed upon and in turn produce foul smelling wastes.

White nodules that are secreted from the tonsils are one of bad breath symptom. Usually, most people do not know about these because they are swallowed not knowingly. Due to the bad odor of these nodules, they tend to assumed as the reasons of their bad breaths.

If brushing and dental flossing your teeth make no difference in reducing halitosis, this can be a sigh of bad breath condition. Loss of self confidence and self esteem can also be a sign that you have bad breath. Most of the patients complained about their insecurities due to their halitosis condition.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of Bad Breath Blog. Visit now to find out all you wanted to know about Bad Breath - and much more.

How to Choose a Water Purifier: Water Water EverywhereBut Not a Drop to Drink?

You?re thirsty after working in the sun on a hot Saturday afternoon. You head to the kitchen and pour yourself a cool glass of water and gulp it back greedily. The immediate effect is to cool you down, quench your thirst, and re- hydrate your body.

But did you give any thought to what it?s doing to your body? It?s true that doctors suggest we drink 8 glasses of water a day, but if you don?t drink the right kind of water, it can have a harmful effect on you!

Wait a minute, you say: The right kind of water??? How many kinds of water are there?

The answer is: several! Water is not just a colorless liquid that quenches our parched tongues. Water is a necessary part of life and not just for keeping us hydrated. Most people don?t know that water contains other properties that allow you to live a healthy life:

1. Your water is supposed to deliver essential nutrients and minerals needed to live. For example, calcium, magnesium, potassium and trace elements -- which doctors recommend we take in -- can be found in some drinking waters, but not all. Are you spending an arm and a leg on supplements to ensure you?re getting these minerals when instead you can get them simply and cheaply by drinking the right kind of water?

2. Your water should help balance out the acidic state of your body. Simply put, our bodies? tissues produce waste that is acid in nature. When these acid wastes accumulate -- because of pollutants, modern diet and stress -- our tissues slowly deteriorate. Chronic diseases such as cancer, arthritis, diabetes and osteoporosis are associated with this acid condition. Water should help balance out our acidic state by being alkaline.

3. Like a natural stream, your water should have antioxidant properties. Oxidization hastens cell breakdown, while foods with antioxidant properties prevent it. You don?t need anyone to tell you that you want a body that generates cells, not destroys them!

4. Your water should be free of contaminants. Many people are shocked to learn that there can be over 2000 contaminants in an ordinary glass of tap water.

So aside from quenching your thirst, water should also be full of minerals, be alkaline, and be antioxidant. But did you know that most water is exactly the opposite? And did you know that waters from many water purifier systems fail these basic requirements?

It?s true. People buy water purification systems thinking that they will successfully filter out the bad stuff and keep the good stuff in water. Unfortunately, many systems, even the expensive ones, either do an inadequate job of filtering out the bad stuff or they filter out everything -- both good and bad. In fact, there are filtration systems for which people pay top dollar, that doctors recommend you don?t drink from on a long term basis -- because they can make your body even more acidic!

But before you completely swear off water, know this: it?s not all bad news. There are excellent purification systems that do a good job of creating healthy, alkaline water with as much antioxidant property as a glass of orange juice!

Protect the health of your family. Before believing the advertising claims of any system, and before spending a fortune on bottled water, really compare the choices in home purification systems. Find out:

1. How do the health benefits of each system compare? (contamination, acidity, antioxidant, minerals)

2. What?s the taste like? If you don?tlove the taste, you won?t drink enough water.

3. How much will it cost me?

Stan Howard is a researcher with Best Water, which specializes in water purification. Learn the essential keys for healthy drinking water. To receive your Free comprehensive report -- comparing all water purification methods -- visit Best Water.

Detox or Detoxification Are You Really Immune?

Detox or detoxification includes two things:

1)Withdrawing poisonous substance from the body.
2)Withdrawing one?s mind and soul from the darkness of abused substances.

The term Rapid detox was first used ten years ago and was specially related to opiate addictions. But today, it is mostly used to advertise and describe various methods of detox. Rapid detox can be used to describe the methods of alcohol detoxification, drug detox and other substances.

Drug detox

It is a process to withdraw one from drug addiction. Detoxification assists the overcoming of uncomfortable symptoms at the time of drug withdrawal. The ultimate goal of drug detox is to get the body rid of toxins formed due to drug use. It is carried out in various ways depending on where you decide to receive the treatment. Most drug detox clinics provide treatment only for physical withdrawal of drugs and alcohol.

Alcohol detoxification

Alcohol detoxification is the process to withdraw one from alcohol addiction.

There are various aspects of alcohol detoxification:

1)The first aspect of alcohol detoxification is the medical aspect. There should be a medical specialist and a qualified nursing staff in order to help the patient during the procedure. It is an established fact that if a medical practitioner can set the patient?s mind calm then the entire procedure goes smoothly.

2)The second aspect of alcohol detoxification is physical. During this process there should be a nutritionist in the medical center to put the patient on a perfect meal plan. If the patient takes balanced diet then the rest of the alcohol detoxification process will go more smoothly.

3)The third and the most important aspect of alcohol detoxification is the emotional aspect. The medical center should have a trained team of psychologists and counselors to help the patient psychologically. The process can be extremely emotional at times. Specialists should be there to assist the patient move forward through emotions.

4)Alcohol detoxification always combines a therapy with medication and that of psychological counseling. These programs are often long lasting; they mostly take two to four months and needs staying at medical institutions. Therapy techniques and personal counseling assist the patients to recover from alcohol completely and more comfortably. The drugs are given to avoid withdrawal symptoms that the patients may experience. Complete recovery from alcoholism is most preferable and the ideal situation.

5)Alcohol detoxification therapies use drugs like Disulfiram, which cause a severe and immediate hangover after consuming alcohol. Drugs like Naltrexone, helps in complete and comfortable recovery.

6)Nutritional therapy has also proved helpful in alcohol detoxification. During this stage, some patients feel ?insulin resistance syndrome? which results in the failure of processing sugar in body. ?Insulin resistance syndrome? causes behavioral upsets and mood swings. These mood swings and behavioral upsets can be controlled with specific dietary regimen. Due to these types of psychological problems one should include a dietary regimen during alcohol detoxification.

7)There are some specific programs that help heavy drinkers who are not yet alcoholics but on the same way yet to become alcoholics. Moderation management also helps such people.

Tyson J Stevenson writes on a wide variety of every day subjects, always with valuable news & reviews. Expect to see his name often.

A related resource is Detox Methods

Further information can be found at News2Reviews

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

Complementary medicine and Alternative medicine are two different entities. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example would be the use of aromatherapy to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of this would be using a special diet to treat cancer, instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor. There is also Intergrative medicine, which combines mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies to treat a certain health condition. Note that there is usually high-quality scientific evidence of the effectiveness of the CAM therapy when it is used intergratively with conventional medicine.

There are five major categories of CAM and they are listed and defined below:

-Alternative Medical Systems

These are systems that are built on complete systems of theory and practice. The systems have usually evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the U.S. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in the Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.

-Mind/Body Interventions

Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream (i.e., patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy). Other mind-body techniques are still considered CAM, including meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that are a creative outlet such as art, music, and dance.

-Biologically Based Therapies

These are therapies in CAM that use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements, herbal products, and the use of other so-called natural but scientifically unproven therapies (for example, the use of shark cartilage to treat certain cancers).

-Manipulative and Body Based Methods

These methods, used in CAM, are based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, and massage.

-Energy Therapies

Energy therapy involves the use of energy fields, and there are two types:

Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that surround and penetrate the body. The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven. Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in or through these fields. Examples include Qi Gong, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch.

Bioelectromagnetic therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct-current fields.

Complementary and Alternative medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies-questions such as whether these therapies are safe and whether they work for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used. The list of what is considered to be CAM changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care.

Christine Watson has been teaching health, wellness, and nutrition since 1992. She is a nutritionist, registered dietitian, and complementary/alternative health expert. As the owner of The Alternative Weigh, Christine?s goal for her clients is to help them incorporate healthy eating, wellness, and fitness into their busy lives. To learn more about the services Christine offers, go to her website at http://www.TheAlternativeWeigh.com or email her at Christine@TheAlternativeWeigh.com

Lifestyle Wellness

LIFESTYLE WELLNESS = An Adventure of Health + Vitality!

Not a strong wind, nor a surge of pressure, nor a fit of passion, nor anything, can throw you off when your body, mind and spirit are in perfect balance. -Unknown

'WELLNESS'....what does this word mean to you? What are the images, thoughts that come to mind? Perhaps you relate it to one or several of the following dimensions:

Physical Dimension: a state of being free from illness, being in good health, feeling well, practicing good healthy habits; being able to do all you desire or need to, without physical restraints or limitations.

Emotional Dimension: feeling positive and enthusiastic about ones-self, ones' decisions, goals, sense of contentment, fulfillment, having peace, love, joy in our lives and our attitudes; cultivating and experiencing positive, loving relationships.

Mental Dimension: engaged in activities that bring personal gratification and fulfillment, You can feel good in mind by, learning more, making firm positive decisions, intellectual wellness, stress management, critical thinking, clearing your past to gain freedom from guilt, shame, insecurity, fear, etc.

Spiritual Dimension: seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. It could involve seeking answers to philosophical questions, such as: Why am I here? and What is life about? For some, faith in a personal God provides answers; for others, organized religion and then for others, introspection as well as being in touch with nature and their environment/universe helps to provide answers.

'Wellness' is a holistic concept and one of balance, encompassing the 'whole' person and all aspects of their life. It seemed to be unanimous with most, that keeping these aspects balanced can be like a juggling act and if just one dimension is out of balance, it will upset the others. In daily life it can be an ongoing conscientious struggle to achieve this balance.

Balance is a universal law and for things to function properly there must be equilibrium. Three examples are: 1) nature exists in balanced ecosystems; 2) the planetary system with its gravitation and rotation and specifically for we earthlings, that we neither freeze to death nor burn up because we are just the right distance from the sun; 3) the human body works best when our systems are balanced, if not, it is called illness.

We are all familiar to one degree or another with the results of imbalance in our lives: burnout, conflicts in relationships, a disorganized environment, fatigue, frustration, illness, insomnia, lack lustre, no fun, not creating or expressing oneself fully, overwork, not enough money, no spiritual life etc.

Success isn't success unless your life is well balanced and you have peace of mind. -Nancy R. Fenn

Wellness is about TOTAL YOU; but it is not achieved by accident...just picking the dimension of wellness that you like and minimizing the others doesn't work in the long run. Optimal lifestyle wellness begins with a conscious, intentional decision/choice to assume responsibility for the quality of your life. It may mean raising your standards above what you have been comfortable with; it will require time, commitment, energy, motivation and attitude.

Adventure isn't just hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life --facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown and in the process, discovering our own unique God - given potentional (--adapted from John Amatt; organizer and participant in Canada's first successful expedition to the summit of Mt Everest.)

We are constantly advancing, like explorers, into the unknown, which makes life an adventure all the way -Eleanor Roosevelt

We all have tried many times in different ways to tackle and manage the imbalances in our lives; sometime however, unsuccessfully or not completely. Encouragement, accountability and knowledge are often lacking. A Coach helps you discover/unearth who you are, where you are at and where you want to go and to create sustainable, healthy changes in your life with resources, tools and insights and a strong partnership with you. It is like running a race with a relay partner whereby your time and results are maximized while your efforts are halved.

BENEFITS FOR YOU THROUGH LIFESTYLE - WELLNESS COACHING:

A real action plan that supports your overall health:

* Increased knowledge of nutrition and supplementation; supplying the body with the proper nutrients

* Feeling more at home in your body, increased immunity and physical well-being ( improved muscle tone, strength, flexibility and endurance )

* Prevent or delay the premature onset of some forms of chronic disease

* Strengthening your personal foundation and implementation of regular self-care practices : It takes courage to demand time for yourself. At first glance, it may seem to be the ultimate in selfishness, a real slap in the face to those who love and depend on you. It's not. It means you care enough to want to see the best in yourself and give only the best to others. It is silent recognition that your obligation to them is to give your best, and nothing less. -Shale Paul in The Warrior Within

* Increased self-respect, growth in confidence: The act of discovery is not in finding new lands, but in seeing with new eyes -Marcel Proust

* Moving from a place of stress and overwhelm, to simplicity, balance. Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast-you also miss the sense of where you are going and why. - Eddie Cantor

?There is no power on earth that can neutralize the influence of a high, simple and useful life.? -Booker T. Washington

* Learned ability to become unstuck, identify blocks, tolerations and remove them. Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows. -Thoreau, Henry David

* An enhanced sense of freedom; satisfaction; a forward shift

* A heightened sense of energy and vitality = increased productivity in tasks and work

* Live your life fully engaged in what excites you: ...Ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - source unknown

* Risking adventures in new areas only before dreamed of: You see things; and you say Why? But I dream things that never were; and I say Why not? - George Bernard Shaw

* Discovering the true spirit of who you really are and the gifts you have to contribute to the world around you: If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. - source unknown

* A life style that honors you and your values (being true to yourself) This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, Thou cans't not be false to any man - Shakespeare

* Knowing how to have fun, to play and making time to do it : And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. -Kahil Gibran

My favourite chuckle: Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing!

Lori Clinch
lori@health-adventure-coach.com
http://www.health-adventure-coach.com
PO Box 28131, Canwest RPO, Victoria BC Canada
Personal Lifestyle Wellness Coach
Fitness & Nutrition Consultant
Registered Strength Trainer
Registered Sports Nutrition Advisor
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Motivating & Supporting you toward your goals for optimal health, wellness, fitness and diet.
Coaching & Consulting in-person, by phone, cybercoaching
Workshops and Small Group Instruction

How the Atkins Diet Works

Discussions about how the Atkins diet works have been going on for decades, ever since Dr. Atkins published his first book in 1972. Debates about how well it really works and whether it is healthy or not continue to rage today. The main reason there is so much controversy over how the Atkins diet works is because it runs counter to all of the diet advice that most of us had been following for generations before Atkins came along.

The Atkins Approach Focuses on the Foods You Eat ? NOT Calories

Traditional diets focus on calorie intake ? the fewer calories you take in, the more weight you will lose. The Atkins approach focuses on what kind of foods you eat instead of the number of calories. It means no more counting calories. Instead, you need to watch your carbohydrate intake because Dr. Atkins felt that carbohydrates were what lead to weight gain. In other words, if you limit your carbs, you?ll lose weight because you will burn stored body fat in the absence of carbs for fuel.

Carbohydrates

It sounds simple, but there are a variety of factors involved. How does the Atkins diet work to get you to burn off the fat? Carbohydrates are the basic fuel for energy in the human body, and the first fuel the body will naturally turn to. So if you?re eating a lot of pastas, breads, rice, and snack foods like crackers, you will naturally burn these first. Anything extra will be stored as fat.

Proteins and Fats

Proteins and fats, on the other hand, are fuels that the body processes differently. They can also be used as fuel, but they break down into energy more slowly and aren?t as readily stored as fat in the body.

What is ?Ketosis??

Naturally, if you eat more fats and proteins your body will be working harder to convert it to energy and relying as well on some of the fat already stored in your body ? it?s a sort of ?double whammy? ? you are working harder to convert foods into energy and you are using more of your extra body fat. ?Ketosis? is the term for the body?s converting stored fat into energy when there is not a sufficient source from carbohydrates, and it is the basis for how the Atkins diet works.

Stabilize Insulin Production

The Atkins Diet also works by slowing the production of insulin in the body. Insulin is the chemical that converts sugars and carbohydrates into fuel. The more carbs you take in, the more insulin your body will produce in order to keep your blood sugar from getting too high. If you don?t use the sugars as fuel, the insulin will convert it to ?storage mode? ? it becomes body fat to be saved for use later when you may need it.

Today most of us have plenty of food and don?t really need to be storing away fat for use as an energy source ? we probably won?t ever be lacking food. So the Atkins diet works to suppress and stabilize insulin production and allow you to burn more of your stored fat as energy. Interestingly, once you start using the Atkins plan, your cravings for sweets and carbohydrates usually decrease as your blood sugar and insulin levels stabilize.

You Won?t Have to Avoid Carbohydrates Forever

Remember, you won?t always have to avoid carbohydrates completely. There are four phases to the Atkins Diet. Each one allows more carbohydrates in your daily diet so that you won?t get bored and you will get some of the energy and fuel you need from this traditional source. If you choose to stay on the maintenance program after losing the weight you want, you will be able to eat carbs in moderation so that you don?t gain back what you lost, but you don?t continue dropping weight, either.

At first most doctors were skeptical about a diet that didn?t count calories, but today the medical community is split. Many still have reservations about how the Atkins diet works, but just as many feel the Atkins approach is sound because it takes the worry out of counting calories and has lots of protein, an important resource for muscle development and overall health.

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is the editor at Atkins-Diet-Advisor.com, an easy-to-use resource on Atkins low carb diet foods. Get your copy of dr. atkins diet and design your free atkins diet meal plan.

5 Common Myths About Acne

In spite of the fact that the scientific knowledge about acne and its causes has progressed in the last few years, there are still many myths that continue to be held as truth.

The following are five of the most common myths about acne:

1. Acne is caused by poor hygiene

Skin infections are associated with acne, and this may be what has led to this myth. The combination of sebum and dead skin cells that lead to acne actually occurs beneath the skin's surface, where is can't be washed away.

2. Acne is caused by certain foods

It has long been thought that chocolate and greasy foods cause pimples. There is no evidence to prove that this is true. These foods are not very healthy so eating to much of them can cause other health problems, which can aggravate problems with acne.

Some of the foods that do seem to aggravate acne when it is already present include milk and foods with high levels of iodine. Iodine is commonly found in seafood, so it's a good idea to limit your milk and seafood intake if you're suffering from acne.

3. Acne has to run its course

It's commonly thought that the only way to deal with acne is to let it run its course. This is no longer the case - there are many treatments available to deal with acne. If you're suffering with it, talk to a dermatologist to see if any treatments are available that could help.

4. Acne is a teenage condition

While most teenagers deal with acne to some degree, it is by no means limited to them. Most people's acne clears up by the time they reach their 20's, but there are others who continue to have problems in adulthood. Some people even experience it for the first time in their 30's and 40's.

5. Sun is good for acne

Sun exposure is not a good way to deal with acne. It can help to dry out excess oils from the skin so it does have a short-term benefit but the skin gets used to the change quickly and the benefit is lost. Plus, sun can seriously damage the skin and lead to skin cancer, so the risk is greater than the benefit.

John Lenaghan writes about natural acne treatment and other acne related topics on the Acne Squad website. For more information visit http://www.acnesquad.com.

Karma Yoga Part 2 For Life &amp Spirtual Liberation

There is a story in the Ramayana, one of the great kings, Janaka, who besides being a Rishi, was also a perfect Karma Yogi. The Ramayana is one of the sacred epics of Hindu tradition and religion.

This is a story of spiritual liberation for everyone.

A Rishi is a wise and scholarly saint, who has attained all possible knowledge in a certain area. King Janaka had attained this (and more) as a perfect Karma Yogi was said to have also attained Moska, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

What is Karma Yoga?

Karma Yoga, or the discipline of action is based on the teachings of the Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita, the holiest of Hindu scriptures. As one of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga requires the adherence to one?s duty (swadarma) while remaining detached from the reward. Simply, It is the yoga of performance of ?right action?.

What is right action?

Right action is compliance with your Swadharma (personal right duty-action). Thus each thing you do, is harmony with the Creator, Creation and your purpose for life. We all know what we should be doing. It ?feels? correct.

More specifically, and your life?s work done must be without expectations, motives, or anticipation of its outcome. Doing so, it purifies one's mind and enables an individual to comprehend the wisdom is so doing.

Why does Karma Yoga help? What can it do for you?

Karma Yoga, practiced in daily life enables an individual worthy, through action, meditation and devotion to develop the power of reasoning, develop their intuitive power to acquiring knowledge and finally to transcend the mind itself. What do I do next?

You practice daily the 3 Ds?Devotion, Duty and Discipline. This is the secret of performing Karma Yoga.

Devotion

Is gained through, if nothing else, understanding the magnitude and greatness of the Creator?s work. This is the first step to becoming a Karma Yogi, and you cannot proceed without it. It never fails, even just to glance at the heavens, and let one?s mind wander, you will become devoted. The more you reflect on creation, the more you are drawn to the creator.

Duty (swadharma).

Often duty is referred to as righteousness. You will incur demerit if you shun your duty. In Karma Yoga, the whole thing is about achieving merit, Your duty is towards God, or Self, or the Inner Teacher who teaches you through all the specific circumstances of your life as they appear. Karma Yoga teaches that God is the doer, not you

Discipline. Each work you do, each task is a sort of teacher or lesson. You know you can learn different skills by doing different jobs.

You also know that each job has different requirements in terms of time, degrees of concentration, skills or experience, emotional input and output, physical energy, and will.

A Karma Yogi will do whatever job or task well, and in full compliance according to your Swadharma.

The message of Karma Yoga is this:

When you do any action that is in harmony with the Creator and Creation, you are never egotistically motivated.

You also no longer maintain compulsive desires relative to the future. With this eradication of compulsive desire, you are able to live in the ever-present, with the understanding that present actions influence the future, so you live without being bound to the future.

It is a basic spiritual law that all desires carries within themself the motive force for their fulfillment.

That is, if an experience is possible to have in this natural world, and we desire it, we are subconsciously pushed toward it or attract it to ourselves.

Spiritual liberation

The adherence then, to correct action, through Karma Yoga can lead then to our ultimate spiritual liberation.

More FREE Information

On karma yoga and other alternative health and spiritual matters, go to our website for free articles, downloads and magazines:

http://www.net-planet.org

195000 Die Annually From Hospital Mistakes

It just seemed too absurd to be true, but there it was in the August 2, 2004 edition of Newsweek I picked up the other day: According to HealthGrades, the health-care-rating organization that conducted the study, needless deaths averaged 195,000 a year in 2000, 2001, and 2002. 'That's the equivalent of 390 jumbo jets full of people dying each year,' says Dr. Samantha Collier, vice president of medical affairs.

My mind struggled feebly to conjure up 390 jumbo jets going up in flames - it imploded hopelessly on crash number 8.

I started to wonder what it all meant. How could so many ?needless? deaths be happening when we're so advanced technologically? Why is this carnage allowed to continue unabated and who the hell's responsible, anyway?

I came to the conclusion that there weren't any good answers for any of it. The people who work in hospitals are fallible, just like you and me. The difference is, when you or I make a mistake, someone's life isn't hanging in the balance.

Still - 390 jumbo jets full of innocent people - what a tragedy. Most people checking into the hospital expect to be checking out in a few days - not checking out permanently. And the statistics just keep getting worse.

So what can a person do? Most people feel pretty powerless when it comes to protecting their health. If they get sick, they rely on existing healthcare and submit themselves to conventional medical treatment. But that's not health care. That's sickness care.

Real health care is about building health from the ground up. Sickness care is about cutting, radiating, poisoning and taking toxic prescription drugs.

So, the way I see it, there are two main options. Be good little medical consumers and go along with the healthcare program that we've all been taught to buy in to - or start thinking outside the healthcare box.

Personally, my advice is to be pro-active. For many, that's a scary option but it doesn't have to be. There are some great, emerging nutritional technologies that are proving very effective in warding off a wide variety of physical ailments.

For instance, for the past two years, I've been researching a new form of supplement called glyconutrition. This technology is a spin off of recent Nobel Prize winning scientific breakthroughs in the field of glycobiology.

Glycobiology is a relatively new field of science that is exploring the biochemistry of carbohydrates or sugars. In a related book, ?Sugars That Heal?, Emil Mondoa, MD explains that ??even tiny amounts of these sugars - or lack of them - have profound effects. In test after test in leading institutes around the world, these saccharides (glyconutrients) have been shown to lower cholesterol, increase lean muscle mass, decrease body fat, increase wound healing, ease allergy symptoms and allay autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis and diabetes.?

People who regularly take glyconutritional supplements are finding, for instance, that they experience far fewer colds and flues. Others have reported recovering from conditions such as asthma, fibromyalgia, cancer, autism, and depression.

A lot of people hearing this for the first time are very skeptical. If you're in that group but are nevertheless interested in taking a look at evidence that supports these claims, you're one step ahead of everyone else. In fact, this is the first step you can take to reclaiming your power to make decisions about you and your family's health that isn't completely dictated by the medical establishment - you know, the same group responsible for 195,000 ?accidental? deaths a year.

The bottom line: now you at least know about an alternative that's working for thousands of people - people who've made the decision to start thinking outside the medical box by adding these new wellness-promoting supplements to their diet.

David Lear is an independent nutrition researcher and free-lance writer. His main interest is in supplements that improve health. For further information on the supplements referred to in this article, visit http://www.glycoresults.com

Fitness and SelfEsteem

Physical activity is one of the best ways to improve self-esteem. Why? Because when we exercise we feel good about ourselves.

After I exercise I feel really good about myself because I feel that I have taken care of my body, I have spent time with myself. My muscles are toned, I feel flexible and with a lot of energy. Besides that, I had had fun and I have become aware of my body.

There are many ways you can exercise to improve your self-esteem. Some people prefer aerobic exercises, or lifting weights or yoga. It does not matter what kind of exercise you do. The important thing for me is to choose some kind of exercise that I like and I feel comfortable doing . I have done a lot of different exercises through out my life, like rowing, running, aerobics, calisthenic, weight lifting. However, I usually try to combine what it feels best for me. I actually run 3 to 4 times a week and I go to the gym and lift some weights. I like to take advantage of the warm weather so when is warm I am usually walk or run instead of going to the gym.

What I have learned is that is really important to choose something I enjoy doing instead of forcing myself to do some kind of exercise that I have to do because I was told that it was better than another. The idea for me to exercise to improve my self-esteem is to do something that I enjoy, that makes me feel good and that I am looking forward to do it again. Is not a torture, is not something that I have to do it. That way the results will be better.

Sometimes if you want to loose weight or gain weight for example, is ok to commit yourself to a plan until you reach your goal. This will help you also to improve your self-esteem. Because you will feel proud about yourself regarding your commitment, and the achievement of your goals. However, once you reach your goal, I would suggest to keep exercising with something that you really enjoy and to adopt physical fitness as part of your daily life.

Some tips when exercising:

Make sure to drink water before, during and after exercising. Never impose exercises that you don't like. Always do something you enjoy. Exercise regularly, is better to do it regularly than all at once. For example, if you run, do it 3 to 4 times a week during 20 minutes instead of 2 hours every two weeks. Always listen to your body, if you have to stop, stop. Remember that sometimes we think that punching a bag will help us to get rid of our anger, it might do it temporarily. But the best way to get rid of these emotions is through internal work.

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. -- Jim Rohn

http://www.selfesteemawareness.com/boost%20self-esteem-june-news.htm/

Detox to Lose Weight

Detoxification programs have been promoted as the remedy to today?s unhealthy lifestyles for years. Proponents of detoxification note that a good detox can help increase energy, slow the aging process, aid the digestive system and help relieve the symptoms of diabetes and asthma. One of the greatest benefits of a good detoxification program is weight loss.

Our bodies are equipped with several systems to help it naturally detox. However, today?s stressful lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits often overburden our natural systems. As our body struggles to keep up with the toxic matter flowing through our systems it often falls behind. Toxic waste begins to back up and the balance of our body is disrupted.

A good detox will help restore the body?s balance, eliminate the waste building up and make our systems run much more efficiently. During autopsies, coroners often find colons that are more than 75% clogged with waste matter. This causes the systems that clean our blood and intestinal tracts to back up. Nutrients can?t be absorbed as efficiently and we gain weight, become tired and irritable. Health issues often follow.

Cleaning the colon and the liver often completely relieves these clogs and allows our bodies to return to optimum functioning. Nutrients are used efficiently and many find that the detox program has such great results that they simply don?t crave sugar and fried foods after the detoxification. Many report feeling so good after detoxifying that they are motivated to eat more carefully.

With the toxins being flushed out of the body, many report a dramatic increase in energy level, encouraging many to exercise and further assist their detox in reducing weight.

Researchers have found that as the level of toxins in the body rises, more fat is manufactured to protect the body. Weight gain is a natural by-product of toxin buildup. Removing the toxins from the body allows the body to release the excess fat, resulting in a natural weight loss.

There are many detoxification programs on the market. Choose a gentle, well researched program that includes a parasite remover as well. You?ll be pleasantly surprised at your increased energy and amount of weight loss!

Sandra Kim Leong owns the resource-rich site on detoxification and cleansing. She strongly believes that detoxification should form part of one's regular health regime. Her site includes information on colon cleansing, kidney cleansing, detox diets, mercury detoxification, etc. For free articles and tips, please visit http://www.detox-cleansing.com.

A Powerful Discovery in Age Defying Skin Care

If you want to turn back the hands of time, defy the signs of aging and look forever young, then science just may have a powerful weapon for you to use in your quest for younger, healthy, and wrinkle free skin. This amazing discovery is called Matrixyl and the results of its clinical studies have been so successful that they have scientists saying that it will give Botox injections a run for their money when it comes to fighting wrinkles.

Matrixyl the trademark for palmitoyl pentapeptide ? 3 is an amino peptide complex that stimulates the lower layers of the skin increasing the production of collagen. Matrixyl first came to the notice of the world in 2002 when the results of a four month French study involving women ages 34 to 72 were presented to the World congress of Dermatology. The results of the study reviled topical application of non ? prescription Matrixyl :

?Significantly reduced deep and moderate wrinkles with 68% reduction of deep wrinkles and a 51 % reduction of moderate wrinkles

?Improvement in the appearance of age spots, dark circles under the eyes and skin firmness.

?Improvement in the appearance of photo ? aged skin.

?Decreases in facial lines.

Women who had used Matrixyl throughout the study experienced dramatic results as quickly as 2 months and did not experience the irritation or inflammation associated with other age defying skin care ingredients. The results of this study has been confirmed by other separate studies that also showed positive changes in elastin, collagen and skin firmness as well as a reduction in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots.

For those who want a non surgical solution to fighting the signs of aging Matrixyl is the answer they have been searching for.

Eileen Hammel is a Nationally & Internationally Recognized Image, Style and Beauty Expert Ms.Hammel is President of Smarter Image, Smart Skin Care - Smart Cosmetics by Smarter Image and Smart Grooming By Smarter Image. http://www.smartskincaresmartcosmetics.com/

Kidney Infection Symptom

Kidney Kidneys are the main vertebrates? emunctories (that lead out all final products of metabolism). Vertebrates for example like snail also have organs fulfilling a similar secretory function and sometimes they are called kidneys but they differ from vertebrates? kidney for their structure and evolutionary descent.

Function. The main function of kidneys is to move out of organism water and final products of metabolism. Vertebrates? the main such product is urea. It is a principal final nitrogenated product of protein disassimilation (protein metabolism). Birds and reptiles? principal product of protein metabolism is uric acid. It is a insoluble matter and it is a white paste in excrement. Human uric acid also forms and moves out by kidneys (its salts are urates).

Human kidneys move out about 1-1.5 liters of urine in 24 hours. Though these numbers can vary strongly. On increase water consumption kidneys answer increasing production of more dilute urine. And so they keep up normal water content in organism. If the water consumption is limited kidneys make for saving it in organism. And they use as little as possible water for urine formation. The urine volume can decrease till 300 ml per day and the concentration of moving out products will be accordingly higher. The urine volume is regulated by antidiuretic hormone (ADH) also known as vasopressin. This hormone is secreted by posterior lobe of pituitary gland (it is a gland that located at the base of brain). If an organism needs to save water ADH secretion increases and the urine volume decreases. And vice versa when there is a plenty of water in organism ADH does not educe and so daily urine volume can reach 20 liters. Though urine excretion doesn?t exceed 1 liter per hour.

Structure. Mammals have two kidneys which located in abdominal cavity on both sides of backbone. Total weight of both human kidneys is about 300 gr. or about 0.5-1 % of body weight. In spite of their small size kidneys have rich blood supply. During 1 minute about 1 liter of blood run through renal artery and come out by renal vein. Thus in 5 minutes blood volume equal to the total amount of blood in the whole organism (about 5 liters) goes through kidneys to eliminate products of metabolism.

A kidney is covered with connective tissue membrane and serous tunic. On kidney?s slit one can see that it is divided on two parts. They are called cortical and medullary substance. The most part of a kidney consists of huge number of superfine gyrose tubule which are called nephrons. Every kidney has about 1 million of nephrons. The total nephrons length of both kidneys is about 120 kilometers. Kidneys are responsible for liquid formation that finally becomes urine. The nephrons structure is the key to understanding his functions. On the one side of each nephron there is a distension. It is a round formation that is called renal corpuscle. It consists of bilaminar so called Bowman's capsule which include capillary net that form a glomerule. The rest part of a kidney is trichotomic. Twisted part that is the nearest to glomerule is called proximal convoluted tubule. Then thin-walled straight part that turns round sharply and makes loop so called Henle's loop. It is distinguished (in series) descending part, turn and ascending part in it. A tortile third part is a distal spiral tubule which is run (with other spiral tubules) into a receiving tube. Urine goes from receiving tubes to renal pelvis (in fact it is a dilated end of ureter) and then further along the ureter in an urinary bladder. Urine is led out from an urinary bladder along an urethra in certain terms. Cortical substance includes all glomerules and all gyrose parts of proximal and distal tubules. Henle's loops and receiving tubes which are located between loops are in medullary substance.

Urine formation. In glomerule water and attenuated in it substances go out from blood through capillary wall under the influence of blood pressure. Interstices of capillaries so small that stop blood cells and proteins. Therefore glomerule works like filter that let pass only water without proteins but with all permeates in it. This liquid is called ultrafiltrate, glomerule filtrate or primary urine. It is undergo control while going through other parts of nephron.

In a human kidney the volume of ultrafiltrate is about 130 ml per minute or 8 liters an hour. As the total blood volume of a man equal about 5 liters it is evidently that the most part of ultrafiltrate should be absorbed back into blood. If to assume that about 1 ml of urine is formed in a human organism per hour so the rest 129 ml (more than 99%) liquid of ultrafiltrate is necessary to return in bloodstream before they will become urine and will go out an organism.

Ultrafiltrate contains a lot of valuable substances (salts, glucose, amino acids, vitamins and so on) which an organism can?t lose on a substantial scale. The majority of them are exposed reabsorption in proportion as filtrate goes along proximal nephron tubules. For example glucose reabsorbes till it disappear from filtrate at all (till it concentration reaches zero). As the glucose transfer back in blood where its concentration is higher goes against the density gradient so the process needs additional energy and it is called active transport.

As a result of glucose reabsorption and salts from ultrafiltrate the concentration of solutes decreases. Blood turned out to be more concentrated solution than filtrate and it is draw water from tubules. It means that water passive follow actively traveling salts. It is called passive transport. With the help of active and passive transport 7/8 of water and solutes are absorbed back into from the contents of proximal tubules. And the speed of filtrate volume decreasing reaches 1 liter per hour. So now inside tubules liquid include mainly slag as urea. But the process of urine formation hasn?t finished yet.

The next segment is the Henle?s loop. It is responsible for the creation of very high salts concentration and urea in filtrate. In ascending part of loop an active transport takes place. At first they are salts which gather round an interstitial fluid of medullary substance where as a result a high salt concentration is created. And because of it part of water from descending part of the loop (pervious to water) is drawn off and immediately goes to capillary. At the same time salts gradually diffuse in it and reach the highest concentration at the curve of loop. This mechanism is called countercurrent concentrating mechanism. Then filtrate goes to distant tubules where other substances can transform to it due to active transport.

Finally filtrate gets into discharging tubules. Here it is determined what quantity of liquid will be made out extra and therefore what is the final urine volume. It means the final or secondary urine volume. This stage is regulated by presence or absence of ADH in blood. Discharging tubules are located between numerous Hentle?s loops and goes parallel to them. Under the influence of ADH their walls become pervious. As the salt concentration in Hentle?s loop is very high and water have a tendency to follow salts the water in fact is drawn out discharging tubules. And it leaves a grout with high concentration of salts, urea and other solutes. This grout is the final urine. If ADH is lacking in blood so discharging tubules stay low-permeability for water. Water doesn?t go out of them and the urine volume stays large. So it turned to be diluted.

The main kidney diseases. Renal calculi are sediments of salts in kidneys. They are formed under high salt concentration in urine or increase of urine acidity. It means under conditions that are conductive to salt crystallization. The main types of calculi are oxalates, phosphate or urates. Small calculi (sand) go out through ureters practically without any harm. Bigger ones may get stuck in ureters and it is accompanied by excruciating pain (renal gripes). Still bigger calculi stay in pelvises and cause pain, infection and kidneys dysfunction. The consumption large quantity of water decreases the probability of formation of calculi.

Renal calculi are eliminated by surgical treatment or with the help of lithotripsy (therapeutic use of ultrasound to shatter calculi to small pieces which can be moved out of the organism). Such method doesn?t make any harm to soft tissues of a kidney.

Renal insufficiency and hemodialysis. There are many causes as renal infection or destruction attached to diseases such as pancreatic diabetes which could lead to dysfunction of kidneys right up to renal insufficiency. On chronic renal insufficiency acid-base disequilibrium and accumulation of nitrogenous slag (urine first of all) in blood takes place.

Those who suffer from renal insufficiency could be treated with the help of hemodialysis (artificial kidney). Its principle lay in that blood from artery (usually from forearm) goes through artificial kidney apparatus and returns to the vein of patient. In apparatus blood run through microscopical tubules which are circled by thin plastic membrane. On the other side of membrane dialysis liquid is. If instead of dialysis liquid there was water this case all solutes (salts, sugar and so on) will be washed out of blood plasma. It means that all solutes went out through membrane to water. To avoid it liquid grout that contains all those components and in those concentrations as blood plasma (but those which should be removed for example urea) is taken for dialysis. At the time of hemodialysis these solutes go out of plasma so in the vein of patient entire blood returns. Hemodialysis could have been run for years. While visiting dialysis center regularly patients still keep on living normally.

Kidneys and urinary infection. Kidneys infection (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis) and urinary infection (cystitis) occur more often at women (in view of anatomic peculiarities). More than usually women with slowed immune system suffer.

All about Kidney infection.

Teenage Girls Who Eat This Weigh Less

Researchers from the Maryland Medical Research Institute in Baltimore, MD, found that eating cold cereals with milk is a very healthy breakfast.

Using data from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth Health Study over a 10-year period, which involved 2,379 African-American and white girls, aged between 9 to 19, the researchers found that those who do not eat cereals on a regular basis have a 13 percent risk of being overweight, compared to those who eat cereals regularly. The girls in the study were residing in Berkeley, California; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Washington, D.C.

The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), with support from General Mills, the cereal manufacturer.

The researchers also found that the fat content in non-cereal breakasts taken by the girls was 60 percent higher than in cereal breakfasts.

The positive effects of consuming cereals regularly for breakfast have been attributed to the fairly high fiber content in cereals which can make you feel full so much so that you will not want to eat as much during lunch. In addition, the calcium content in milk has been linked to fat burning.

Reference: Connections between Breakfast and Girls? Journal of the American Dietetic Association (Sept 2005)

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Treadmill Reviews Nordic Track

When you think of treadmill manufacturers, Nordic Track is at the top of the everyone's list. Nordic Track is world renowned for their quality products and wide array of features. Their treadmills always provide a top of the line running surface for users to be able to walk, jog and run on.

Nordic Track treadmills can cost from approximately $1,000 to as high as $5,000. Their treadmills are manufactured by Icon Health and Fitness Inc and shipped around the world. Their treadmills are a favorite for anyone desiring to lose weight and improve their level of physical fitness.

All Nordic Track treadmills utilize a feature called the Reflex Deck Technology. This feature gives the user a more flat and more shock absorbing impact. With every step you take downward, you will quickly spring back up. All Nordic Track treadmills also come with large running decks and very wide belts. They also provide very good console displays, with some models even having small flat screen monitors with speakers built right in.

Every Nordic Track treadmill includes the newest iFit technology which makes it possible to download fitness and workout programs off of the Internet directly to your treadmill. Their electronic consoles give the user a virtually unlimited number of preset workout and fitness routines along with readouts.

Some of the basic features that come standard on every Nordic Track treadmill include a heart rate monitor. This monitor is activated by gripping the electronic pulse sensors which are built into the handrails. All models have programs that are pulse driven and constantly maintain a users target heart rate. Other features on some models include a carb counter, power incline controls and 1-touch controls for speed and incline.

Every Nordic Track treadmill includes a full 3-year drive motor warranty, a 2- year warranty on all other moving parts and a 1-year labor warranty. This type of warranty is rare in the treadmill industry and a testament to the quality of all Nordic Track fitness products.

There are more than a dozen different Nordic Track treadmill models available to the consumer. On the less expensive end of the scale is the Nordic Track C2200 model. It comes with a 2.25 HP motor, 10 workout programs, DuraSoft III impact absorption and 1-Touch speed and incline controls. At a list price of under $1,000 this model is a great choice for those on a tight budget.

The Nordic Track ViewPoint 2800 treadmill lists for $1,599. It includes a 2.5 HP commercial motor and 1-Touch digital controls. It also features a 7 flat screen TV with speakers built into the console. Now you can watch your favorite TV show and still get a great workout at the same time.

The Nordic Track Elite 3200 TV Treadmill comes with an 8.4 flat screen TV with speakers, the iFit workout card technology, Adjustable DuraSoft technology and SuperSaver space saving design system. It lists for approximately $2,999.

The model S3000 features a powerful 5.0 HP commercial grade motor, 13 workout programs, 0-12 MPH speed controls and a 0-15% power incline.

A high end Nordic Track Professional Series 4000 TV Treadmill comes complete with a 3.5 HP motor, 6.8 flat screen TV with speakers, DuraSoft cushioning, iFit compatability and 17 workout programs. It has everything you could ever ask for in a fitness treadmill. This model lists for $4,999.

Nordic Track has been in the fitness industry for many years. By offering the consumer high quality, user friendly fitness equipment, it's no wonder why Nordic Track is so popular among fitness users around the world. When you purchase a treadmill built by Nordic Track you can be assured you'll be getting many years of top quality usage and a more healthier you.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Treadmill Reviews