Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Food Allergies Can Have A Big Effect On Children

By Roger Calfsman

In the past, food allergies weren't almost as plentiful as they are now. Today, many children and adults have very serious food allergies. Some have one food allergy and others have many [*T]. Folks have allergies to specific items, like strawberries, as well as broad items, like gluten. Sadly, there are numerous food allergies that are dangerous and even most likely fatal to children. Here are some methods that children are influenced by their food allergies.

At School

Youngsters with food allergies are influenced much so in their faculties. If a child has a food allergy to peanuts, this can be a life threatening condition. Years ago, the child was simply made to cope with this on his or her very own. Because such food allergies have been growing in intensity in the recent years, some colleges have made the drastic and very hard effort to become completely peanut free schools.

These schools do not sell items that contain peanuts, they do not make peanut items in their cafeteria, and they do not permit other scholars to bring in food items that contain peanuts. While this can appear extraordinary and harsh to non allergic scholars, scholars with a food allergy to peanuts may be killed by the air born particles from a peanut product.

Some schools , however , have not gotten wholly on board with a peanut free environment. These schools do infrequently attempt to help the coed with a food allergy though. These schools make allowance for a peanut free table in the lunchroom. This is a table where only kids who have peanut free lunches can sit.

While this will seem like a great idea and a great compromise, it is just isolating a child with a food allergy from the rest of the class. Some have argued this goes against the concept of least restrictive environment as defined by recent tutorial laws. A child with a food allergy should not need to be isolated from the remainder of the class and their pals during lunchtime.

At Home

If you've got a kid with a food allergy, you try to do anything you can to avoid a food allergy symptom. Food allergy symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, swelling, hives, and even anaphylactic shock and death.

The home front is also a battleground for kid food allergies in that you have to be awfully diligent in keeping your kid safe from poisoned foods. In some instances, it becomes necessary for the entire family to chop the allergen out from their diet.

A kid faces a continuous battle when diagnosed as having an acute food allergy like peanuts or gluten. Do your part to become educated and aware.

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Healthy and Great-Tasting Acai Berry Recipes

By Travis Van Slooten

It's not everyday that you come across acai berry recipes that are as healthy as they are delicious. After all, fresh acai is out of reach of most consumers so we're not so familiar with acai berry except in capsule form. But do you know that frozen acai pulp is available and can be used to whip up tasty concoctions? These recipes are a great way to take a break from the usual health supplements, without sacrificing on the nutritional value.

Acai Berry Smoothies

Who doesn't love smoothies? You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who would pass up on it. So why don't you prepare one which is not only delicious but also healthy? Smoothies can be prepared just the way you want it. You can mix several flavors or add new ingredients and the product remains surprisingly yummy. So add a healthy splash of acai berry the next time you want to go basking under the summer sun with a cold drink on your hand.

1 cup acai berry pulp 1 cups of your favorite yogurt or just vanilla 1 cup pomegranate juice 1 banana

In a blender, put all the above ingredients and blend them until you get a good and thick smoothie consistency. There are plenty of ways to add variety to this acai berry recipe. One is by using a mix of flavors. Pomegranate juice is recommended but you may also try orange juice or pineapple juice for a stronger flavor. You can experiment all you want until you get the right blend to suit your taste buds.

Acai Berry Whipped Cream

Ice cream is good but topping it with something can make it even better. And what would make a great topping is acai berry flavored whipped cream. It may take some effort to produce that light and fluffy cream, but once you do, it's a great way to experience the acai berry taste.

1 cup heavy cream 2 teaspoons acai berry juice 1 teaspoon sugar

Use cold whipped cream and dish it out on a bowl. Put in the rest of the ingredients and start whipping very slowly with the use of a whisk or an electric mixer. Observe the cream stiffening up and as it does, speed up your mixer. When you see the cream having stiff peaks, you'll know you've done it right. Use this acai blend on your ice cream or any dessert that could do with a yummy topping. You can increase the volume of this recipe by increasing each ingredient by the same amount.

The most important thing to remember when coming up with healthy and delicious recipes is to work yourself into the recipe. Make the food that you want to eat. Be as clever and creative with the ingredients as you would like. The more fun you have with your acai berry recipe, the better your dish is going to taste.

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Natural Treatments for Constipation

By Troy Adams

Constipation can be treated with natural ingredients you can purchase in the grocery store or probably already have at home. Flaxseed, rhubarb, buckthorn, and aloe or senna are frequently ingredients in natural constipation remedies, but often no special remedies are needed. Rather, changing your diet and increasing your intake of water can treat constipation naturally. Eating a diet rich in insoluble fiber helps clean the intestines out and soften stools so they pass easier. Drinking lots of water also moistens stools for easier passing.

Insoluble fiber can be found in things like whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Since fiber passes through the digestive tract virtually unchanged, wheat bran, brown rice or whole grain breads are a good way to add fiber, but eating plenty of fruits and vegetables daily is a good preventive measure. For example, eating raw vegetables, such as celery, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower can be the most effective because they act as natural scrubbers as they pass through the intestinal system. Of course, you can cook the fruits and vegetables, but for the most fiber and nutrient content, raw is recommended.

To avoid constipation and stay hydrated, the human body requires 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. Increasing your water consumption to the recommended amount is the least expensive and easiest way to treat constipation naturally. Drinking soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and tea are not the same as drinking water. Those high in sodium actually dry out and dehydrate the body, as does alcohol. Too much tea or coffee upsets the intestines and, for some, can even result in diarrhea.

Sometimes people inadvertently contribute to their own constipation because they do not have a bowel movement when they first feel the urge, as they should. By delaying or waiting, stools lose moisture and get hard and dry-the main reason for problems with hemorrhoids. Eating a proper high-fiber diet and drinking plenty of water is the best natural treatment for constipation and the easiest to implement.

Some people benefit from colon cleansing, if they have an unusually high amount of mucus built up in the intestines, making it harder to pass stools. You can make a home remedy colon cleanser but stay close to the bathroom because this works relatively fast.

Start by mixing one teaspoon of sea salt in a large glass of warm water. Drink this twice daily. Then mix up the colon cleanse detox mixture. Combine 2 Tablespoons natural lemon juice with an equal amount of organic maple syrup. Add in 1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Stir this into a large glass of water. Drink the mixture 6-10 times each day.

This detox mixture is actually a remedy often utilized over a 7 to 10-day period to induce weight loss. However, it also works very effectively to treat constipation naturally. The natural ingredients are very effective for cleansing the entire digestive and intestinal tract. Those who wish may use this treatment every few months throughout the year. In between, they should make an effort to eat a healthy, fiber-rich diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and drink lots of water to stay regular and avoid constipation.

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Can Diet Pills Really Help With Weight Loss?

By Jane Moore

Many people ask the same question - "can diet pills be the secret to weight loss"? The answer is not as simple as you might think. Some die-hard proponents say they are. Some die-hard skeptics say they are not. The actual answer is probably more like it depends on the diet pill, and it depends on the person. Choosing an effective diet pill and using it properly has been proven to help people lose weight. But using diet pills along with an ineffective diet and exercise plan will not result in magical weight loss.

There are some totally safe diet pills on the market that contribute greatly to weight loss if used in conjunction with certain lifestyle changes. There are natural supplement that boost metabolism and thus aid weight loss. These supplements include such things as green tea and or flax oil pills. Another natural supplement that has been shown to contribute to belly fat loss is CLA.

Some types of diet pills which have been proven to help when used in a weight loss program, are pills known as 'fat blockers'. The most commonly known fat absorption inhibitor is called Orlistat, available through prescription only. A watered down version of Orlistat is called 'Alli', and can be found in the diet and supplement aisle in most American drug stores. They work by blocking the absorption of fat in your diet, thereby reducing the total number of calories and calories from fat that is ingested.

It doesn't matter how much research you do to find an effective and safe diet pill, the fact of the matter is that without adjusting your lifestyle to promote weight loss, simply buying a diet pill is not going to lose the weight for you. And a lifestyle which promotes weight loss is essentially one which includes an appropriate amount of healthy foods, and a fitness program designed to keep you fit and promote fat loss. It may be hard to change bad habits all at once, but make small changes towards a fit and healthy lifestyle, and you will begin to see results eventually. A lifestyle change is for life, so it is something you should adjust to slowly so that you can continue those habits forever.

Some small changes you might try to integrate into your eating habits today might be to never skip breakfast. Eating first thing in the morning will get your metabolism going and give you energy for a fuller, more calorie-burning day. Another tip is to eat smaller more frequent meals, snacking on seeds and nuts rather than calorie empty rice cakes. Eating zero calorie snacks often ends up in over compensation with more calorie dense foods in the long run. Also eating raw fruits and vegetables for snacks is an excellent way to reduce calories, spread out meals, and get important nutrients and vitamins often missing in pre-packaged snack food.

So don't dismiss the power of diet pills entirely, since they can actually be a boost to a properly planned and executed weight loss plan. Just don't delay starting your weight loss program because you are waiting to find the magic diet pill which will lose all your weight for you. Plan a weight loss program, make small changes, and eventually you will reach your weight loss goals.

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Breakfast Foods Are The Most Important Foods in a Healthy Diet

By Jamis Hartley

Eating the right breakfast foods at the start of your day is a very important step that should not be excluded regardless of how busy or rushed you might be. Getting a good start in the morning will pay much better dividends in energy levels and possibly reduced waistline.

Breakfast foods typically have high sugar content if you purchase many of the ready made cereals that are on the market today. This isn't necessarily a good start for you or your children and tends to let them down about mid-morning.

It is a challenge to get the right balance of nutrients from our breakfast foods. It is especially difficult when we are so rushed in the mornings. Many households now have two working parents and young children that need to catch the school bus. We need to gather last nights homework and make sure we all look as sharp as we are, which leaves little time or thought for the morning meal.

It's quite possible to make the task of getting the right level of nutrition out of every morning a very manageable endeavor. By putting forth a little pre-planning effort you can have ready many great options for healthy breakfast foods making the choice of "what's for breakfast" an easy choice. You will no longer have to worry about whether you ate healthy or not. You simply follow your plan.

Thinking of what to eat at the last moment is where you will find yourself making the wrong choice. Many of us wouldn't choose unhealthy foods or even to skip a meal if we had other options available to us. Making those options available is as easy as spending a few minutes on a Sunday afternoon to prepare a meal plan. You will likely be able to make the morning less stressful and consume much healthier breakfast foods if you do a little preparation.

Involving the rest of the family in the pre-planning stages is a good idea too. Ask the kids what they would like to have for their Wednesday meal. Helping them understand what is healthy or not healthy will be much easier done in this setting than during the wild goings on of the morning. You could even have them participate in cooking a few things over the weekend. If they have helped cook it, they will likely be happy to eat it.

When the entire family participates in eating healthy the kids are a lot more likely to continue the process long after they have left the home. If they have participated in choosing the breakfast foods that will be on their plate in the morning and particularly if they have helped prepare those foods, they will be happy to eat them too.

The weekend is a great time when the mornings are a little less hurried. So, why not add an extra dozen muffins to the oven and wrap them for Monday and Tuesday? When the evening meal rolls around and you're making that delicious coffee cake for dessert, make it from whole wheat flour and make two. Two pans don't take any longer to mix up than one, and offer you a good choice of breakfast foods for the weekdays when time is at a premium.

Give yourself an edge when it comes to breakfast foods by making them ahead of time and getting what you and your kids like, and what your body needs. The advantages you get from using good grains and avoiding processed cereals will be apparent in the extra energy that you feel at work or school.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

What Are The Health Benefits Of Fresh Juice?

By Max Tain

Valuable for many people who want to get rid of health problems, fresh juice represents a very energetic and vitalizing food. Thus, fruit and vegetable juices are true purifiers of the body. If you combine several fruits and vegetables when preparing a fresh drink, you will provide to your body all the necessary nutrients.

Fresh juices are a rich source of energy and vitamins, being recommended to everyone. They can be prepared from vegetables, fruits and herbs. It's better to avoid preserved juices, although they contain ascorbic acid. There's more vitamin C in your own home made juices.

Don't be afraid that you might gain weight by consuming fresh juice. As long as you opt for those that have a lower content of sugar, you might even lose weight. Natural juices are recommended in weight loss diets, because they clean the body, removing toxins. It's not necessary to consume them daily, but it's better to do it regularly.

Doctors say that fresh juice is a natural tonic that provides a safe and healthy digestion, while accelerating the healing of infections and ulcers. Fresh juices have achieved excellent results in cases of anemia, constipation and arthritis. These amazing drinks enhance the natural healing ability of the body, providing optimum nutrition. However, people who suffer from diabetes should avoid natural juices, because most of them are rich in sugar. It is important to note that experts recommend fresh juices, prepared at home and not those processed in factories, which contain many preservatives.

Tomato juice benefits are due to the vitamins contained. A 250 ml glass of tomato juice provides to our body the required daily amount of vitamin A and C. In order to realize the importance of vitamin A, it's enough to mention some of the complication that may occur in its absence: risk of infections, the appearance of disturbances in tooth growth, eye diseases, etc. Vitamin C is also important for the body, because it detoxifies and regenerates the body cells. An insufficient amount of vitamin C in food reduces the body resistance against infections and induces fatigue and depression.

You can drink fresh juice after exercising, because it helps in restoring the body fluids. It provides nutrients that will boost your energy. Fresh juices can replace food.

Carrot juice is recognized for its healing proprieties. Also, it protects the skin against daily aggressions. Therefore, to slow the aging process, make sure that your skin is perfectly hydrated and consume fresh juices and water. The nutrients contained by carrot juice are able to reduce photosensitivity, protecting the skin from the harmful action of sunlight.

Celery juice is recommended in case of slow digestion, fatigue, overwork, convalescence, adrenal insufficiency, anxiety, bladder disease, heart disease, cardio-renal edema, diabetes, kidney stones, anorexia, urinary retention, obesity, gout, fever intermittent, bronchitis and chronic cough.

Orange juice can be consumed every day, as it brings many benefits to our body. It is indicated in case of anemia, various infections and anorexia. This wonderful drink has diuretic and laxative effects, due to its high content of vitamin C.

Apple juice contains several minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates and must be consumed in the morning.

Grape juice is a powerful antioxidant, having a revitalizing effect. It prevents premature aging, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and infections, boosting the metabolism.

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Daily Regimen Beverage

By Anker Arkady

How many bodies do you have? I don't know about you, but last time I checked I only had one. It's impossible to go to the store and buy a new one if we were not able to take care of it. There's simply no substitute for regular exercise and a good balanced diet. You'll lose your health if you don't take care of it.

The market is abundant with the latest diet, the latest exercise, the latest fad, the latest gimmick well you name it. It's almost as if you'd have to have the latest exercise regimen coupled with supplements vitamins and a health drink or two. My question is, aside from the compulsory exercise, do we really need those supplements and health drinks?

All I want are the necessities. If the others are things that I can live without, then I won't bother any longer. We were doing fine before those supplements and health drinks came out in the market. In other parts of the world, I don't even think that they have given it much thought or importance. And they are also able to look out for their health with long life expectancies.

But hey, there are people who want to have the exercise plus supplements plus health drink lifestyle and they're doing pretty fine too. And there's nothing wrong with it either as long as you're happy or you're getting results. I have been through both lifestyles. So which do I choose? Well, I can say that I'm kind of right in the middle of it all. It's not a safe answer if you'd just let me explain.

My daily routine starts with exercise. I don't make excuses. I forbid myself to do so. But I might want to add a little supplement every now and then. And a healthy drink won't hurt either. After rigorous exercise, it is good for the body to replenish with a good health drink. My health drink should be fresh and all natural as much as possible.

Yoli Blast Caps definitely caught my attention. I was interested, curious and skeptical, altogether. I like the fact that the beverage is not pre-mixed. I get to decide when it should be mixed. And that would be just before I'd like to drink. The cap contains the dry ingredients and it is positioned in such a way that the liquid gets infused when blasted. Sounds futuristic and looks futuristic.

The process of releasing the ingredients in to the liquid is called activation. In a nutshell we can sum it up to blast or activate, shake and drink. Three simple steps from a brand new innovative product. I'm always excited to see new products that challenge the norm of how we view products. And Yoli Blast Caps is definitely a welcome addition.

So after a nice morning exercise, a freshly blasted drink would be nice. An innovative product like Yoli Blast Caps doesn't arrive in the market that frequent. I should have thought of that in the first place.

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Pregnancy and Food Safety

By Jayde Johanssen

Being pregnant is an unforgettable experience. It's an exciting time in a woman's life. Changes occur each day. Hormone levels increase. Your body and attitude change. It's a time filled with new things. In fact, given all these changes, the topic of what's permissible to eat and what's not becomes a significant question that most pregnant women find themselves grappling with.

The topic of food seems to become first and foremost in the lives of pregnant women. Unfortunately, it can end up being a very sticky subject. The various hype surrounding what is a proper diet may actually be quite confusing. The information out there is steeped in myth and false facts. Fortunately, though, according to experts, one's diet need not change drastically; it's simply a matter of choosing wisely.

Most nutritionists suggest that pregnant women beware of certain foods, while completely steering clear of others. A lot of this is general knowledge, but when you delve into the exact details, the fine print as it were, it can get rather confusing. It becomes difficult to decipher what's actually bad for you.

Things only get worse once family and friends chime in; eager to offer their own experience and their own anecdotes, they tend to offer less insight and more gossip than any good factual information. Even the stranger in the bus sitting next to you, or the clerk at the grocery store will chime in and offer their own bits of wisdom which can be all the more disconcerting. Facts get mixed up with stories and anecdotal evidence.

Nor does it help that every day a new article seems to come out suggesting that such and such a food is dangerous or that alternatively, it's actually not so dangerous and that it does have some good effect. One day your favorite food is on the dangerous to eat list, and the next day it's not. All this information ends up boggling the mind.

Often when it comes down to it, this wealth of extraneous and incomplete knowledge leaves you more confused than you started off.

The basics, however, are pretty simple to remember. Essentially, you don't really have to modify your diet too much from what you normally eat. Put into practice the rules of healthy eating-abide by moderation and good sense.

According to the experts, when pregnant, you don't actually have to alter your diet drastically. In fact they offer guidelines which are in line with what you should eat when you're not pregnant, with a few alterations, of course.

When it comes to fruits and vegetables, remember to wash before you eat. This goes for items with rinds and skins too; avocado and melons, for instance are known to contain bacteria that can be transferred from the skin when cutting into them.

Cook food so that it is well done; this is especially true for poultry and other meats. Don't risk getting food poisoning.

Remember to wash your hands before and after touching meat.

Try not to eat junk food all the time. It's better to eat high fat food in moderation, despite the odd cravings.

The FDA warns that pregnant and nursing women should avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel and Tilefish in large amounts due to the amount of methyl mercury they contain. Methyl mercury is a toxic form of mercury that accumulates in fish.

Instead opt for canned fish or smaller ocean fish.

Don't drink.

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The Best Body Building Supplements, Glutamine

By Ricardo d Argence

It is very likely that if you are into any type of work out or you attend a gym, you have heard about Glutamine.

And maybe you heard of glutamine before but do you really know what is it or how it works? Here, you will learn about what it can do for you. In the next lines you will learn what Glutamine is and what it does.

Glutamine is an amino acid that is found in many animal and plant tissue as well as proteins. Manufactures produce this commercially for both biochemical research and medicinal purposes.

It is also used for nutrition therapy, as it is an amino acid. What people like the best of Glutamine is that is it an effective brain fuel. Some doctors have used it to treat alcoholism and depression.

Some people even use Glutamine to drop a few pounds because it can help to reduce carvings for sweets. Not only does Glutamine help metabolic functioning, it also plays a vital role in building up muscles.

Maintaining muscle mass by taking 8 to 17 milligrams of Glutamine per day is popular in most bodybuilders. This should be divided up in approximately 3 doses. One of the best aspects of this supplement is, unlike most others on the market, there's no side effects. Some people have reported getting an upset stomach if they take too much but other than that, there really are no side effects.

Bodybuilders are the top of the list of people who uses Glutamine, because it helps to reduce the amount of muscle deterioration.

When body builders work out the put their muscles under a great deal of stress and by taking Glutamine, they can help to replace the amount of Glutamine that they use that is stored up in their muscles. This will help to keep their muscles from breaking down. It really helps a great deal to supplement the Glutamine so that they do not use too much of the Glutamine that is stored in their muscles.

Supplementing with Glutamine may be something that you will want to look into, if you are into bodybuilding. Remember, you should take advice of your doctor before consuming any supplement. You want to be sure that you are doing what is right for your body. You have to check if this supplement doesn't affect any conditions that you may have or any current medications that you are taking.

If you decide to supplement with any type of body building nutrient, then Glutamine is the way you should go. It has little to no side effects and it can have great benefits for your body.

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Healthy Diet Program To Begin Weight Loss

By Peggy Gunthur

Warm up to lose 10 pounds! By paying attention to the amount of food you eat, eliminating unnecessary sugar and fat from your foods and making sure you include absolutely delicious meals and snacks to keep your taste buds happy.

A straightforward balanced and flexible weight loss program is best. Contrive to focus on the first 10 pounds of weight loss and the rest will follow.

Most weight loss programs insist you keep track of every bit of food you eat or drink. Start by writing down everything you eat. No need to write down the calorie count but start not putting margarine or butter on toast, vegetables and sandwiches. Use less oil in food as well as cooking.

If you're not currently using skim milk, reduce the level of fat content in the milk you use. For example, if you currently use two percent, use only one percent. If you insist on whole milk, try two percent. And drink tea.

Use cottage cheese, chicken, fish, eggs or yogurt, legumes or peanuts. Begin planning easy-to-follow meatless lunches and dinners each week and try to make meatless more of a habit. Also limit your sugar treats to only a few a week.

Pay attention to the fresh fruit you eat. Try for 2 servings of fresh fruit a day by eating what is in season. Drink water instead of sugary fruit juice. Add lemon for some zip. Eat vegetables with lunch and dinner.

Eat a few servings of food using whole grains at each meal. Don't eat in front of the TV. Studies show that you eat larger portions of foods and snacks watching TV.

Chew your calories. Don't consume liquids swarming with calories by drinking them. That means cutting out soda and high-calorie fruit juices and drinking tea or water instead. Plan ahead what you are going to eat. Last-minute planning tends to veer you off your diet.

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Monday, September 28, 2009

Staying Healthy And Eating Vegetables

By Holly Hanson

People today are always looking for new ways to get healthy and drop some extra weight. The fact is, if you want to live a longer life you need to start eating right and exercising daily. Most people tend to think that a wide assortment of diet pills and supplements will help you lose the weight. The truth is there is no magic pill that helps you loose all of your extra weight. In most cases all you need to do is start eating vegetables and a variety of healthier, leaner foods.

We always hear that eating the right foods will help us stay in shape and stay happy. What we do not actually realize is the full amount of help that we get. When you look at the food pyramid you can easily find out how many servings of foods you need each day in order to be fit. Most people today are replacing all of their healthy foods with fatty, sugary foods.

Natural sweeteners are flowing throughout all kinds of fruits and vegetables. The sweet taste that you find when you bit into an apple is a taste that is very healthy for us to enjoy. Why not put down the fatty bag of chips and choose a light salad before dinner or lunch? Making choices like these will help you get in shape and stay that way.

Eating vegetables these days has no become incredibly easy and convenient. It used to be the grab and go food was a bag of chips. Now we can easily see that grocery stores are carrying prepackaged and precut fruits and vegetables. This means for a few dollars we can just grab out lunch and go. The same goes for the prepackaged salads that we can now enjoy.

Keeping yourself regular is incredibly important. If you do not eat the right foods, you may find that you are a lot more constipated than most. This is because you are not getting enough fiber in your diet. Eating the right amount of vegetables everyday is going to help you stay regular and stay healthy.

Millions of dollars are spent each year on fast food restaurants that only make you look and fee unhealthy. When you make the switch and start eating fresh fruits and vegetables you will have a fatter wallet. There is a lot more money that you can save when you decide to start eating healthy.

Detoxifying your body is another popular way of losing weight. People buy products that will effectively clean out all of the leftover grime in your system. If you eat a couple of servings of vegetables each day you will be able to get the detoxified body that you are looking to get!

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The 10-Minute Home Exercise to Flatten Your Abs

By Travis Hunt

When you look at the 10-minute home training which can flatten your stomach, it does seem impossible. Normally, you do a routine of extremely hard exercises for about 45 minutes. Cutting that time down to 10 minutes is, however, very doable.

The first time I heard about it, I could not believe it myself. If I try it out, what is the worst that could happen, I thought. I get to shorten my workout time and STILL get six pack abs. I don?t know about you, but that, right there, is a definite win-win.

And guess what? It did work! Allow me to share with you the details how I?ve done this 10-minute home workout that made me flatten my abs.

When you are determined to have six pack abs, you will try almost anything to achieve your goal. But wait, do not get the wrong idea that I want you to buy any exercise equipments or get an exclusive membership in a prestigious gym. No, that is not what I am trying to point out.

This workout program may save you time, but it will require you to push harder. After all, no pain no gain, right?

First thing you need to remember is that you should perform your home exercise before eating. Why? Imagine your muscles all worked up from that hard, strenuous set of exercise. They will certainly need something to re-energize, right?

After doing extreme workout, your muscles will eagerly crave for sustenance. The soonest possible time you appease the hunger of your muscles, you will enable them to build mass and renew their strength. So the best supplement you should include in your meal is protein.

For your actual workout, lie down on the floor and start off with about 50 basic crunches. Do them faster than you normally would, but try to maintain your form.

Do not get too excited. It does not end there. When you are done with the crunches, do 25 leg raises, then go for another round of 50 crunches. When you are half way doing this your will feel your muscles contract, that is a sign that it is working.

Do not call it quits just yet because there is still plenty of time left for 50 reps of bicycle exercises. That makes 25 for each side crunch and knee-bend combination. Finish off with 50 more crunches and you are good to go.

The beginning could pose as very challenging to you. But you?ll soon get used to the home training like I did. Just 10 minutes daily and you can get a super flat belly in no time at all. Push yourself, give it your all, and you?ll soon don the midsection you?ve always wanted.

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Caution: Slim Arms And Fruit Juice Don't Mix

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

Do you have a juicer? Do you drink lots of juice? Are you trying to figure out how to get thin arms? Well, juice increases arm fat!

The big companies, however, would have you believe that fruit juice is healthy. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. So please don't buy into all those infomercials promoting juice that will solve all your physical ailments.

But can juice really be that bad, you ask? Well, yes. It's all because of the sugar. The high sugar content of juice causes insulin to rise which completely blocks arm fat burning. There is no way around this.

And here are 4 more reasons why you should stay away from fruit juice if you want to get thin arms:

1. It causes your liver to secrete not so good things. What type of things? Excess fatty acids and bad cholesterol! Now you really do NOT want these two floating around within your body if your main goal is to get thin and slim arms.

2. Elite research shows that it increases fat. Peer reviewed research has shown that ONLY 12 oz of fruit juice per day is directly correlated with obesity. Still want to have that giant carafe of freshly squeezed juice?

3. No pulp. Without pulp there's no fiber. And without fiber insulin runs wild. Remember, that insulin causes arm fat gain.

4. Most processed fruit juice doesn't have hardly any nutrients. Related to the previous point, most of a fruits' nutrients are concentrated in the peel! Apple peels, for instance, have 200% more antioxidant capacity then just the apple fruit.

The bottom line here is that fruit juice will only set you back if you're serious about getting slim and thin arms. Now I understand that some women really like juice. If this is the case with you, all you have to do is minimize the damage. Simply have small servings of juice and include as much pulp as possible. This will slow down the digestion of the sugar and provide many nutrients as well.

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A Little Bit About Arthritis

By Mitchell Tyrell

Coming in a number of different forms, arthritis is a debilitating medical condition which affects the joints of the body. Pain and swelling in the area where the joints are damaged by arthritis are the most common symptoms. The joints are where bones connect together and pass the body which are most commonly affected by the disease are the elbows and knees.

Arthritis can be severely damaging to your lifestyle although many people live with it and it is just a matter of degree of how bad the arthritis can be. Osteoarthritis is the most common form and affect a large number of people. Although not exclusively, it tends to affect older people and especially people who have sustained an injury beforehand, maybe several years ago.

Another fairly common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. This occurs when the body's defence system stops working correctly and not only affects the joints are often other organs of the body as well plus the hands and feet. Other symptoms may include nausea or tiredness. There are a number of different conditions that can cause arthritis and the first place. Some of the most common of these is gout, lupus and viral hepatitis.

There are various ways of treating arthritis but it largely depends on a specific diagnosis that the patient has. It depends on the extent of the disease and exactly which type it is. Physical therapy and certain types and medications are often prescribed to people suffering from severe arthritis. There are also a number of natural remedies which are believed by many to work effectively.

Contrary to popular belief, arthritis is certainly not limited by your age. It can also affect children and affects men and women equally. There are around three hundred and fifty million people in the world who suffer from arthritis and in the United States alone, there are about forty million sufferers.

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Starting Off Your Diet With A Colon Cleanse.

By Casey Wigwire

The way our bodies work is, during the morning or afternoon time, our digestive system's enzymes work better at breaking down raw foods. As the evening approaches, our enzymes take longer to break down raw vegetables. This is why many vegetable side dishes are cooked or steamed.

Fruits: Practically any fruit you decide to eat is great for the colon. In fact, fruit has been known as one of nature's 'natural' colon cleansers. Just like with vegetables, it is wise to eat fruit in moderation. As much as any type of fruit, fresh or dried, tastes good to you, the results of eating too much fruit will not be welcoming.

Drfloras colon cleanse is 100% natural with psyllium which is very much important in the toxin elimination process. These are thus very important in making the same worthwhile for the purpose to which they are made in to.

These are all contained there so there's no reason for you to not been well - informed about this kind of topic In using dr floras colon cleanse, you can very well make sure that all the toxins in your body may be totally eradicated, notwithstanding the fact that it leaves all the microorganisms which are needed by your body. When one speaks of dr floras colon cleanse, this is 100% natural with Psyllium which is very much important in the toxin elimination process.

There are times when this kind of body part is infected with so many diseases, and such a numerous toxins. There is also a series of questions that may enter into one's mind and that is the fact that where does this toxin come from It is then derived from the foods that we eat; foods that contain so much fats and salts. As such, it is possible that threw these unhealthy foods, tumors of the colon might sprout out, these may also exist in the rectal area, which is also arising from the inner part of the intestinal portion of your stomach.

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Sunday, September 27, 2009

Preservatives on Beverages

By Anker Arkady

Most beverages that we see on the shelves are full of preservatives, additives and fillers and ingredients that your neighborhood bookworm cant even read. Do you know of anyone who likes drinking preservatives? Well maybe not. But what about you, are you consuming massive amounts? These drinks contain preservatives to extend their shelf life, processed by way of hot-fill and pasteurized to kill bacteria. But the nutrients get annihilated too. What are left to drink are preservatives.

I guarantee you that this discussion will only get more interesting. The process of pasteurization in conventional beverages does extend the beverages life. And to better preserve the beverage, preservatives are added to it. My question is this: Were the manufacturers thinking about consumers like you and me when it comes to our health? There should be an alternative way to manufacture drinks without the need to preservatives.

Though the main benefit of pasteurization is to make the drink safe to consume, it comes with a down side as well. The ingredients that are active and healthy are also damaged in the process. And whats left for the consumer to drink is a bottle full of preservatives. In this new millennium, there should be change in the way we manufacture beverages.

Have you ever had the experience of seeing a product and something tells you that its really good? This is the experience I had when I found out about Yoli Blast Caps. Their solution to the hot-fill process and preservative ingredient is so simple that I kept asking myself why I hadnt think of it in the first place. Sounds interesting right? Believe me, theres more to it.

So how did they steer away from the conventional way of manufacturing beverages? Easy: keep the ingredients away from the liquid. The ingredients are stored in the cap. They are kept dry until they are blasted into the liquid. Just a do a little shake and it is ready to drink. This innovation allows the ingredients to be kept in its purest state.

Pure, healthy beverages with no preservatives and additives add value to your money. You paid for the drink and its nutrients; not the preservatives. Kids will love Yoli Blast Caps. Its perfectly safe and healthy for them. I admit that blasting and activating the drink amuses me. And Im quite sure that kids of all ages enjoy doing it as well.

I havent seen any other beverage in the market that has a similar technology that Yoli Blast Caps offer. Its innovation and solution to conventional manufacturing definitely sets it apart from the others. A new option to consuming healthy beverages is definitely on my list. Especially when it comes to absorbing the most nutrients.

The technology and innovation that Yoli Blast Caps has brought to the table definitely raises some stiff competition with other beverages. If other beverages cannot offer the same benefits that Yoli Blast Caps has, then it is not worth my money. We love our Health Drinks and Yoli has succeeded in offering us a brand new way to having our beverages.

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Be A Bodybuilder From The Comfort of Your Home Gym

By Ricardo d Argence

Do I need to go to join a gym in order to workout and build muscle? That's a common question often asked. Without a doubt the response is a NO. Of course there are disadvantages and advantages of working out both in a gym and at home. You can easily build muscle home.

Training in a normal fitness centre will give you access to more equipment, professional advice and will likely be safer. However training in a gym can be annoying sometimes if you have to wait for a particular piece of equipment or the other gym users are sat around gossipping and not really interested in getting big.

As regards working-out at home, there are many benefits to this: no fee (my favourite), no hassle travelling there and parking, workout with your shirt off, you can play your own music, no queuing for equipment and you don't have to worry about what other people are thinking about you when you are shouting at the bar for motivation.

The downside, of course, is that purchasing your own home gym equipment can be an expensive up-front investment. (However, you may be able to resell the equipment later if you no longer need it.) You could also get into trouble with a significant other or roommate if your stuff takes up a lot of space.

If you can overcome the cons, having a home gym makes it easy to work out whenever you want. Consider the following five tips if you decide to create a home gym of your own and work out there.

1) First, make sure you have a large enough space. Often a garage stall, spare room, or basement space is perfect. Be sure that the floor is really solid for safety. For this reason, a garage or basement is often ideal. It would also be a good idea if the area is well ventilated and also dry so your equipment doesn't rust or get damaged.

2) Empty the room of other objects that could be damaged. Generally, a home gym shouldn't contain too much more than your equipment. It's amusing to watch YouTube videos of someone accidentally smashing his fish tank with a bar bell or slipping and putting it through the plasma television screen-unless it's your fish tank or tv. Create a place that is permanently and exclusively used for training.

3) Purchase these pieces of equipment: a normal weights bench, squat stand, a workout mat, a pull up bar and a set of cast iron barbells and dumbells. There is a wide array of home gym equipment around by ensure that you purchase a strong and durable item as it will take an amazing amount of pressure over its lifetime!

4) Plan your workout. This basic equipment allows you to do all of the standard exercises that contribute to the development of lean muscle mass. You can do pull ups, dead lifts, bench presses, and squats. You should always do these as compound exercises, following each by exercises that utilize similar muscle groups including lunges, bent over rows, lateral raises, shrugs, shoulder presses, upright rows, and curls with barbells.

5) Stay safe. If you're workout out alone, don't push yourself beyond your limit. Whenever possible, have a friend work out with you so they can spot you. As an additional safety measure, look for the kind of weight bench that lets you put a pin in the location that will keep the barbell from crushing your chest if you just can't get that final lift. Use a similar safety measure on the squat stand.

So, by following the above ?how to build muscle home guidelines' you can have a great workout, build heaps of muscle mass and all in the convenience of your own home.

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Avoid Falling in the Trap of These 5 Dieting Myths

By Cracky McMerlot

If a myth gets passed a lot by numerous sources in no time it gets to be an absolute truth. There are dieting and eating myths that won't hurt you at all while there are others that can put your health in danger. You just have to be careful. Here are 5 of the most common dieting myths and the truth about them:

1) Honey has fewer calories than sugar: many suggest that you can replace sugar with honey in your diet. While a spoon of sugar contains 15 calories a spoon of honey contains 65 calories. As you can see the reality is that honey contains much more calories than sugar. But it is also true that honey has much more sweetening power. This makes it so that you need far fewer honey to make your coffee taste sweet. In the end it seems that honey remains a good beneficial substitute for sugar but not because it contains fewer calories.

2)From all the meats you can consume fish is the less fatty choice:I don't know how it happened but countless people think that fish contain fewer fats than any other type of meat, including low fat meat like chicken meat. The truth is that 100 grams of turkey meat contains only 3 grams of fat while 100 grams of tuna contains 13 grams of fats. You ought to still eat fish even if it is fattier and contains extra calories because the fats it contains are good nourishing fats. Fish contain omega 3 fats which help you prevent cardiovascular diseases.

3)You get overweight because of fat: Salt isn't fattening if you consume it alone, but it leads to water retention. On average you are eating about 10 grams of salt every day but your body only needs only 4 grams of salt per day. Just 2 grams of the 10 come from the salt you personally add in your cooking. various foods you eat contain heaps of salt in them. You shouldn't stop eating salt and salty foods thinking that because of it you are gaining weight. Your body has its own mechanisms of defense. If you eat salty foods you feel the need to drink lots of water. All that water helps you get rid of the excess salt found in your body without making you fatter. So salt is nonfattening.

4) If you eat less food your tummy will get smaller in time:this dieting myth is as naive as untrue it is. You can starve yourself for 1 week and you won't get a smaller stomach. All you succeed in doing is starve your body which is always bad. Your stomach is a muscular and elastic container. Your stomach expands when your eat food and regains its initial size after the digestive process is over. Regardless of how much you starve yourself your stomach won't become smaller. But you will harm it because all that gastric acid will start eating your stomach and you will suffer form stomach problems in time. Plus hunger is very painful. So don't do it.

5) Frozen vegetables contain a smaller amount of vitamins and minerals than fresh vegetables: on the contrary. Frozen vegetables, because they are frozen quickly after they are harvested, suffer a smaller amount of vitamin and mineral losses. Fresh vegetables, which are kept for days in crates for days, get damaged and start to lose the vitamins and minerals they contain. If you have a garden and you have just picked the fruits and vegetables you are eating the situation is very different then.

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Establish The Most Significant Things To Look For In An Acai Product

By Mary N Smith

Right now there is an large quantity of acai berry products obtainable online and at health food stores. The acai berry has one of the highest nutritional values of any food found on planet and companies are capitalizing on this little berry's popularity.

Many fantastic products out there entirely make use of the innate nutritional value found in the acai berry. However, some products out there have utilized lesser processing methods. As a result they will not give you the full nutritional benefits.

The acai berry is enormously fragile, consequently it must be processed within 24 hours of leaving the tree or it loses most of its nutritional value. There are two main methods of processing these berries, a outstanding method and an lesser method.

Freeze-drying is the excellent system for processing the berries. The berries are selected and then instantly flash frozen and dehydrated. What you end up with is a freeze-dried powder that maintains all of the complex nourishment of the fresh acai berry.

Acai berries are also processed using a spray-drying technique. Spray-drying uses heat, which compromises the nutrition and then it utilizes maltodextrin, a short-chained sugar starch, as a drying agent. Spray-dried acai berry is a mixture of fruit and maltodextrin, rather than just the healthful fruit.

A distinct thing to look for on the ingredients list is the total of the actual acai berry. If the ingredient list claims a "proprietary blend" that means that the company is not really telling you how much of the authentic berry is contained in the product. A blend would be a mixture of acai and other possibly inactive ingredients. Look for a product that is precise in how much of the actual berry is integrated.

Other ordinary ingredients that are included in second-rate products include magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, rice or silica. These are just filler and flowing agents and when they are included in the product they reduce the nutritional value of the product by dropping the amount of acai berry.

Assuming that you are looking for the wonderful nutritional results that are achievable with acai berry products then make sure that you get a product that is freeze-dried powder with the record strength of the actual acai berry.

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Diet Tips for Big Losers

By Jesse Regan

The biggest loss that could make one a winner in the fitness department is that of weight. Motivated by a contest, a weight-loss race, or not, anyone who makes the most wonderful changes by shedding off the fat is surely a winner in his own right. Considering the sacrifices and the obstacles met while embarking on a weight-loss journey, any success achieved in the end is worth celebrating and cherishing much as a boxing victor would with his belt.

If you can have your way though, it would really be better if you can just sit your way into being lean. However, a fit body is not something that can be achieved by just lazing at the living room. This can be realized by workout and diet, two activities that when done together produces amazing results. Working out not just develops ones stamina; it also burns fat at a faster rate. A fitness diet complements this by allowing one to recover energy sources but not bad cholesterol. While working out can be enjoyable, dieting can sometimes be tougher to perform, as it requires some levels of self-restraint.

The consolation is that even expert nutritionists and fitness trainers would insist that one does not need to forego meals in dieting. One only has to make sure that he eats the right kinds of food, those that will complement his workout efforts instead of recovering the lost fats. In fact, a suggestion would be to eat often but in small amounts. That would allow one to take light snacks in between meals, making it impossible to go hungry.

If you are one of those who still cannot get over fast-food staple fares, there are some pointers that can prevent you from taking in all that fat. You can ask for a to-go bag even though you are going to dine in the joint. Eat half of what you ordered then put the rest inside the to-go bag for the next meal or for snacks. You could also apply the brakes even before you have emptied your plate, eating to satisfy only and not to stuff. Still, the less expensive and more practical option is to cook your own healthy food in the comforts of your home.

Have you ever tried copying the trick of posting a picture of a sexy and slim model in the kitchen thinking that this would inspire you with your fitness diet? Unfortunately, this has been proven to effectively do the opposite, encouraging instead you to go to the kitchen more often to catch a glimpse of the picture. However, if you post a poster there of an extremely huge sumo wrestler in its place, that could actually work. A sumo wrestlers image would scare you away from the kitchens temptations.

Of course, most of your meals are taken at home. You can cook your own scrumptious dinner without violating your diet rules. You just have to know the fat-free and healthy recipes there are. Take the advice of some diet-cum-culinary experts and learn to make these delicious but healthy dishes.

You would surely love to learn more about weight training diet . Just choose a credible site and you are on your way to physical and financial wealth.

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Losing Weight With The Acai berry

By Casey Wigwire

The fitness boom of the 80's left Americans in somewhat better shape but often misinformed and over-working themselves and under nourished. It also led to the fad of diet pills, powders and the roller-coaster diet. The fitness fad didn't really go away going into the 90's, but the ill effects of these diet pills, crash diets and unhealthy eating plans left, for lack of a better term, a bad taste in everyone's mouth. As the new century broke, so did our outlook in fitness, exercise, diets and foods, along with how they relate to our bodies.

An indigenous product of the Amazon rainforests, the acai berry is known to contain essential nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, omega acids, fibers and health elements like calcium, magnesium and zinc. These nutrients help the body in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels thus lowering the risk of heart diseases, keeping the digestive system in proper form and essentially help in weight loss.

It increases the energy level of our body, increases the metabolism rate in our body and even overall health becomes so good by consuming it. It is really a miracle fruit of nature. If you wish to get more knowledge on Acai berry, then you can visit the website. This fruit has a big amount of fiber hence it is good for the digestive system of our body. It cleans the harmful toxins, bacteria from our body.

Thought to be one of the most amazing super foods in the world and from the Amazon, the acai berry contains several different antioxidant, amino acids and essential fatty acids. All are in such a concentrated form as to represent, in some cases, 10x the amount of nutrients from other fruit, like grapes. The dark purple fruit has a taste akin to mixed berries with a hint of chocolate.

The other thing about Acai berry is that it has numerous vitamins. It even includes fatty acids which increases the blood circulation of our body. With all these benefits the Acai berry is termed as the miracle fruit of the deep Amazon rain forest by different experts. So, go for Acai berry and make your life free from any diseases.

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Who Created the Nutrisystem Diet?

By Jesse Regan

There are so many diet plans and weight-loss fads in the market today that would " be dieters can choose from. The Nutrisystem diet is just one of them. The NutriSystem diet is actually foremost in providing its customers with optimum weight loss potential, not to mention ultimate convenience. This system is perfect for someone who does not want the hassle of thinking about planning, shopping for special foods while taking note of the calories each one has, cooking, and most especially portion sizes.

With the Nutrisystem Diet, you just have to make your food selections and then get a whole month's worth of meals delivered to your doorstep in microwave-ready containers, including desserts. This system is perfect for someone who does not want the hassle of thinking about planning, shopping for special foods while taking note of the calories each one has, cooking, and most especially dealing with having to consider the portion sizes of each dish in the meal. Doesnt this program seem like the most perfect diet possible?

Now the next question is who is the mastermind behind this easy and revolutionary diet program? NutriSystem, Inc. can be given credit as the one responsible. The company was founded in the year 1972 and is currently based in Horsham, Pennsylvania. They started out as a producer of a liquid protein diet but quickly abandoned it when the concept proved to have far too much competition and became less profitable. They started another kind of weight loss program, but that did not pan out as well. They then opened up several chains of weight loss centers where dieters came in to be weighed in and then subscribed and purchased pre-packaged portion-controoled meals to bring home.

The company filed for bankruptcy in the early nineties. But come 1999, they reopened their doors, shifting their program to become an online meal delivery service. They hit pay dirt with this program, which they then developed in the NutriSystem Diet. They expanded the program further in the early 2000s and made it possible for customers to do their ordering over the phone instead of just online.

NutriSystem then set its demographics to include older customers and males. This caused the program to be more popular and reach more people. The NutriSystem diet was renamed NutriSystem Advanced in 2008 and then the company started selling its weight management products through a partnership with QVC, television-marketing program that airs its 90-minute infomercials.

What sets this company apart from the others is that in its advertising and marketing strategies, they made a point not to hire celebrity endorsers. Instead, they focused on real women living normal lives. This made its consumers " who are mostly women " have more realistic model and inspiration to continue with the program and losing weight. For someone who is too lazy or even unable to really take time to exercise, and for those who think that depriving themselves in order to lose weight is a really bad idea, enrolling in the NutriSystem Advanced Diet Program is the best way to lose all that extra weight, with no hassle at all.

You are just given a sample of what good information about 6 packs ab diet you can get online.

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Children and Good Computer Ergonomics

By Dr. Jason Fowler

At least 70% of America's 30 million elementary school students use computers, according to a recent New York Times article. As a result of this increased usage, doctors of chiropractic are treating more young patients suffering from the effects of working at computer stations that are either designed for adults or poorly designed for children. Many children are already suffering from repetitive motion injuries (RMI) such as carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders.

A recently published study conducted by a team of researchers from Cornell University found that 40 percent of the elementary school children they studied used computer workstations that put them at postural risk. The remaining 60 percent scored in a range indicating "some concern."

"Emphasis needs to be placed on teaching children how to properly use computer workstations," stated Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of the American Chiropractic Association's Council on Occupational Health. "Poor work habits and computer workstations that don't fit a child's body during the developing years can have harmful physical effects that can last a lifetime. Parents need to be just as concerned about their children's interaction with their computer workstations as they are with any activities that may affect their children's long-term health," added Dr. Bautch.

What can you do? To reduce the possibility of your child suffering painful and possibly disabling injuries, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and its Council on Occupational Health offer the following tips:

If children and adults in your home share the same computer workstation, make certain that the workstation can be modified for each child's use. Position the computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below your child's eye level. This can be accomplished by taking the computer off its base or stand, or having the child sit on firm pillows or phone books to reach the desired height. Make sure the chair at the workstation fits the child correctly. An ergonomic back cushion, pillow or a rolled-up towel can be placed in the small of the child's back for added back support. There should be two inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of the knees. The chair should have arm supports so that elbows are resting within a 70- to 135-degree angle to the computer keyboard. Wrists should be held in a neutral position while typing - not angled up or down. The mousing surface should be close to the keyboard so your child doesn't have to reach or hold the arm away from the body. The child's knees should be positioned at an approximate 90- to 120-degree angle. To accomplish this angle, feet can be placed on a foot rest, box, stool or similar object. Reduce eyestrain by making sure there is adequate lighting and that there is no glare on the monitor screen. Use an antiglare screen if necessary. Limit your child's time at the computer and make sure he or she takes periodic stretch breaks during computing time. Stretches can include: clenching hands into fists and moving them in 10 circles inward and 10 circles outward; placing hands in a praying position and squeezing them together for 10 seconds and then pointing them downward and squeezing them together for 10 seconds; spreading fingers apart and then closing them one by one; standing and wrapping arms around the body and turning all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. Your child's muscles need adequate hydration to work properly and avoid injury. Encourage your child to drink four 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Carbonated beverages, juices and other sweet drinks are not a substitute. Urge your child's school or PTA officials to provide education on correct computer ergonomics and to install ergonomically correct workstations. "If your child continues to complain of pain and strain from sitting at a computer, see a doctor of chiropractic," urges Dr. Bautch. "A chiropractor can help alleviate your child's pain and help prevent further injury.

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Pineapple Diet Overview

By Monty Dayton

The pineapple diet, also sometimes referred to as the Metzger Pineapple Diet, is hard to nail down because there are many "false" online versions of this weight loss plan. Still, there's no denying that there's a lot of interest around this weight loss plan so read on to learn more.

Every form of the pineapple diet obviously involves eating pineapple daily, if not at every meal. There are some versions that say only pineapple and ice water for as long as the diet takes place, while other versions also have tuna every single meal. Most versions are some combination between the two.

The pineapple diet is definitely a fad diet and should be undergone carefully. That said, does this eating plan help people lose weight? For many people, the answer will be yes.

Tuna is a great lean meat high in Omega-3s, protein, and low in calories. In addition to this, pineapple gives a ton of energy for a fruit. This, with water, guarantees a diet low in fat and salt. In addition to this, enzymes in the pineapple force the body to work harder to break it down, keeping the metabolism up. There are several concerns with this diet, however.

First, one of the largest concerns is sugar. Pineapple is a fruit that has a very high fructose (sugar) content. For diabetics who have to watch their insulin, this could become a major issue. Pineapple is also a very acidic fruit, which could make it unappealing for many different individuals.

The second concern is one that is common with fad diets: there are concerns over the nutritional imbalance that comes along with following a diet that has such a restriction on foods that can be eaten. It is nearly impossible to get the fully recommended amount of vitamins and nutrients from a restricted diet.

A third concern is that some of the claims that come with the pineapple diet have not been confirmed through scientific testing. Most fad diets will be effective in helping dieters to lose weight, but not all weight loss is equal. This doesn't mean that the weight loss from this particular diet is healthy, or because of the reasons the diet claims for the effectiveness of its own program.

The pineapple diet is a weight loss plan that definitely is not not be for everyone. That being said, this diet and eating plan actually does help dieters lose the weight they're seeking to cut.

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Knee Pain and Loss of Knee Function

By Dr. Stefan Tarlow

Chronic knee pain and disability are often caused by arthritis. There are three very common types of arthritis that cause knee problems. They are: rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis.

Traumatic Arthritis: Injury causes traumatic arthritis. A fractured knee or torn ligaments cause excessive wear and tear on the knee causing the articular cartilage to break down. This painful condition can only become worse with the passage of time.

If the synovial membrane of the knee produces too much synovial fluid, it will over-fill the joint space. The fluid will thicken and become inflamed, and it will damage the knees cartilage. This will cause stiffness and pain and a breakdown of the cartilage. This is rheumatoid arthritis.

If the cushion of cartilage in the knee wears out, it leaves the bones to grind against each other. This extremely painful condition is known as osteoarthritis. It is usually a problem for people over fifty years old, especially those who have a history of osteoarthritis in the family.

Knee Replacement May Bring Relief

Talk over all your options with your family and your doctor. If it seems total knee replacement surgery may be a good idea for you, your doctor will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, who can give you all the details about surgery and other options. Once you are fully informed, you can make a confident choice.

Click here for more on treating knee pain .

If the following conditions apply to you, total knee replacement surgery may be your best option.

You have tried everything and nothing else works. If you have done exercises, physical therapy, cortisone injections, and even lesser types of surgery without relief, it is time to try total knee replacement.

You cannot perform normal activities of daily living (walking, stair climbing, sitting down or rising from a chair) and/or you must use a cane or walker to get around.

You need total knee replacement surgery if:

Your knee hurts so much you cant bend it or straighten it.

Knees that hurt, even while resting.

Bowed knees or any other deformity.

Loss of effectiveness of pain medications. It is important to realize that pain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen may be very effective early on, but as your disease progresses, they tend to lose effectiveness.

Persistent inflammation and swelling that does not subside with medication and rest.

It is important to understand that medications can generally lose effectiveness over time. Additionally, if you take a medication for a long time, you may develop a resistance to it or have a reaction to it. Furthermore, as your arthritis gets worse, your medications just may not be strong enough to manage the pain.

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Friday, September 25, 2009

Keep Your body Clean of Radicals

By Dr Lorna Mistranski

The acai fruit is a tasteful, fresh, organic fruit that comes with a wealth of antioxidants. In order to prevent damage to the body as well as slow the aging process, antioxidants are needed as part of a regular diet.

The process of the body's cells consuming oxygen, creates a by-product known as a free radical that can do lots of harm to the body. Antioxidants play a huge role in preventing and repairing the damage done by these free radicals. Adding antioxidants to your daily diet is the best way to protect yourself from these free radicals.

When free radicals are left unchecked, they can wreak all kinds of havoc to our bodies. Free radicals are responsible for the breakdown of our DNA as well as causing cancer. These by-products can invade our cells and cause them to break down or even worse stop functioning all together.

The types of damage these free radicals can do range neurological damage down to hormonal problems. A perfect food with just the right amount of antioxidants to fight these free radicals is found in the acai fruit.

Research has shown for years that when antioxidants are taken on a regular basis, the body is able to repair and maintain its cellular strength from recent as well as future attacks from these dangerous free radicals.

Dr. Perricone is the one who introduced the mainstream audience to this amazing fruit by writing a book entitled, the Perricone Promise. In this book he writes that the acai berry is the most perfect food on the planet.

When it comes to a food that will make you look and feel young, Dr. Perricone says that the acai berry has all of the ingredients needed to accomplish this. Also, when looking for a diet that will revitalize your health and slow the aging process Dr. Perricone says look no further than the acai fruit berry.

The acai berry is categorized as a super food that gives you all of the nutrients needed when eradicating, preventing, and fighting harmful radicals. This fruit is defiantly worth researching if your goal is improving your overall health and well being

In conclusion, if you are looking for a diet that will fight off free radicals, improve your health, and reduce aging, then looking further into the benefits of this miraculous super food could be just the next step for you.

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Colostrum as an Immune Booster

By Dr. Anthony Kleinsmith

The Immune Factors.

Let's take a deeper look at the immune factors from colostrum and what exactly they do. Some immune factors are immuno-regulating substances and help in the functions of the immune system. Other factors are more localized and area specific in the body; some of those factors are gut protective substances.

Immuno-Regulating Substances

Thymosin (Alpha and Beta Chains) - Two protein-based chains make up this hormone. The chains are separate in colostrum; however, they can either stay separated and work independently on the thymus gland, or they can work together to activate, develop and maintain the immune system.

Proline-Rich Peptide (PRP) - This small protein acts like a hormone as it works on the thymus and other immune system organs. It keeps these organs from over-reacting to an insult. It is also called Thymulin.

Cytokines - These are small proteins that create, signal, and assist specific kinds of white blood cells to the site of a threat in the body.

Lymphokines. Proteins of varying sizes that are produced by different types of white blood cells that tell related cells to transform themselves into more functional cell types that can release substances capable of destroying an invading microorganism.

Gut protective substances.

Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) - These are complex proteins which are also called antibodies. These proteins are a significant portion of proteins found in colostrum. A mother cow's immune system produces these antibodies throughout her life as she responds to multiple different microorganisms. These proteins are then transferred prior to parturition into the colostrum. These antibodies react against fungi, viruses and bacteria that attack the gastrointestinal tract in humans.

Transfer Factors - These small proteins are created as the body responds to exposure of specific types of microorganisms, especially microorganisms that live for long periods of time in deep tissues. These proteins are limited in their effectiveness in defending against microorganisms; instead, they act with a variety of white blood cells as they strive to keep microorganisms in check.

Lactoferrin. A mineral-binding carrier protein that attaches to available iron. Certain aerobic bacteria, like E. coli, require iron to reproduce and, therefore, lactoferrin is an effective substance, when operating in the presence of a specific antibody, to impede the growth of some microorganisms in the gut. A broad number of additional claims have been made by some providers of colostrum for human consumption regarding the application of lactoferrin as an immuno-regulating substance with antiviral, antibacterial and anti-tumor properties. To date, none of these claims have been adequately substantiated through properly controlled studies.

Transferrin - This mineral-binding carrier protein also attaches to iron that is available. It can either act together with Lactoferrin or on its own to impede the growth of microorganisms in the gut.

Lysozyme - This is a very powerful enzyme, because it can attach itself and leave holes in the cell walls of degrading proteins and bacteria

Lactoperoxidase - This mildly effective enzyme can attach itself and interfere with the replication of degrading proteins and bacteria

Xanthine Oxidase - This mildly effective enzyme is similar in effect to Lactoperoxidase, because it can also attach itself and interfere with the replication of different degrading proteins and bacteria than Lactoperoxidase.

White Blood Cells (Leukocytes) - Neutrophils, Macrophages and Polymorphonuclear are three types of white blood cells which are in colostrum. These cells are particularly effective when antibodies first attach to the threatening microorganisms. They can engulf and destroy the threatening microorganisms as well as apply substances which internally destroy the microorganisms.

Oligosaccharides and Glycoconjugates - These complex carbohydrates adhere to the inner surface of the gastrointestinal tract to prevent microorganisms from attaching.

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Common Sense Ways To Slow Down The Aging Process of Looking Older

By York Berry

Foods that have anti aging qualities and known to help improve your life in many ways. They help to extend your lifespan, feel more energetic, promote a sense of well-being and enhance the quality of your skin, hair and nails. The advantages of eating foods that promote anti aging effects on the human body can never be denied.

There many causes for aging prematurely. No one wants to look older before their time. The world in which we live and the foods that we eat are big causes for aging prematurely. The air is filled with pollutants and toxins that get into your skin and hair. Food pesticides are often ingested into the body where they can cause harm over time. All of these factors are proven to rob you of an extended youthful life.

One of the best ways to combat the elements of aging is to eat foods that are naturally high in antioxidants. This is the best way to deal with premature wrinkling of the skin, hair and nails. Foods rich in antioxidants should be a part of your daily intake along with well-known supplements that can slow down the aging process. After all, you want to stay younger as long as you can right?

By learning how to deal with stress, you can also retard the aging process that seems to be stealing your youth. People these days are stressed out with all kinds of things that have a negative affect on the body. Medical doctors have always known that stress can wreak havoc on the body causing all sorts of health problems. In order to slow the process of aging, you will have to manage stress more effectively.

Every summer and throughout the year millions of people overexpose themselves to tanning on beds and outdoors. You may not realize it but too much tanning will damage the protective layers of your skin and eventually make you look older. I have seen people add 20 or more years of aging due to overexposure to tanning. It does cause your skin to become wrinkly over time.

If you want to start reversing the damaging effects caused by too much tanning, start eating foods that contain lots of antioxidants. There is plenty of available research that proves antioxidants are known to help restore a youthful appearance. They are good for helping to promote healthier looking skin, hair and nails and they have a positive effect on the entire body as well.

Zinc and Calcium Magnesium are two essential minerals you need to take to help reduce the process of aging. These two minerals can be bought as a supplement from any health food store and taken accordingly. Collagen rich creams are also effective. People both young and old are using Collagen as a way to add moisture and elasticity to their skin.

It does not take much to change how fast you are aging. You don't have to be a victim of the environment in which we live. Today, there is plenty of information on the internet that can help you in the fight to live longer and retain your youthful appearance. By changing your diet to eat foods that are high in antioxidants, you can protect the vital layers of your skin and turn the clock back on time.

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Cat's Claw Extract Supplement: Natural Ways To Feel Better

By Tyjuan Giordano

Cats Claw may not be as well known as some other herbs but the protection it can give to the body and its overall health benefits have seen it rise dramatically in popularity. Let's take a closer look at Cats Claw and its immense health benefits.

Cat's Claw is a tropical woody vine that grows in the rain forests and jungles of Peru and has been referred to as "Miracle Herb of the Rain Forest ". The vine derives its name from the small thorns at the base of the leaves, which look like a cat's claw.

There are a number of herbs that contain substances that enhance the activity of the immune system. These botanical products include echinacea, garlic, astragalus, ginseng, licorice, and cat's claw.

The active constituents are quite variable and depend upon the time of the year when the plant is harvested. While the stem bark has some activity, the root is three to four times more active than the stem bark. Some of the known active compounds in cat's claw include alkaloids, triterpenes, phytosterols, and proanthocyanidins.

Cat's claw's immune stimulating effect is a result of its alkaloid components. The alkaloids also possess some ability to inhibit blood clots and relax the blood vessel walls. The phytosterols are reported to have anti-inflammatory activity through their effect in stimulating interleukin production. An aqueous extract of cat's claw has shown some ability to inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The proanthocyanidins and several alkaloids appear to possess the tumor-inhibiting properties.

But what are cat's claw benefits? Helps the body fight off infections by helping the body's immune system, helps Protect the body against degenerative diseases and aging. Seen to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks by reducing the heart rate lowering blood pressure, improving circulation as well as controlling cholesterol

It is also Used to treat and protect against arthritis and rheumatism, as well as, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, PMS, lupus, and prostrate problems, and used in the treatment of cancer, acne, diverticulitis, parasites, hemorrhoids, as well as varicose veins. Helps treat digestive disorders including ulcers, gastritis, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease and conditions involving chronic inflammation, used in the treatment of herpes infections, and acts as an all round powerful antioxidant to help protect the body from free radicals.

Cat's claw appears to possess immune-enhancing properties without any unwanted side effects. Further research is needed to verify other potentially therapeutic properties of this herb from South America.

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