Effective solutions for hair loss

Hair loss is a problem that affects a large number of males and is also on the rise with the females. It can be a devastating problem to cope with which can have some very negative effects on your self-esteem. There are various causes of hair loss but luckily, regardless of reasons why there have been effective solutions.

One of the most commonly used methods of keeping hair loss to a minimum is the use of prescription drugs. Two of the most commonly prescribed drugs, and the only two that have been approved by the FDA in relation to hair loss are Rogaine and Propecia. Rogaine is a topical treatment that you apply to the scalp, aiding the growth of hair and helping to slow hair loss. It is over the counter and easy to obtain and relatively inexpensive. Propecia is a pill that is designed to help keep your hair count high as well; often, doctors recommend that both products be employed for the most efficient hair loss prevention solution. It is best if you start using either drug at the onset of hair loss, they work more effectively if you start using them at the first sign of hair loss.

Another option for dealing with hair loss is hair restoration surgery. During this procedure, surgeons remove strips of hair from the back and the sides of the head and place them on the top of the head, allowing for permanent growing hair in your affected area. The hair follicles that were removed will grow back, so you do not have to worry about having another bald spot! Surgery can be quite expensive but the results are long-lasting and very natural looking. It's your own hair - it grows just as it would if it was still on the back of your head. Even though it is expensive, many people turn to that option because it is natural.

For those who don't have the finances to get hair replacement surgery or want to use the oral medication or topical medication, other options are often considered such as natural hair restoration. There are many types of wigs and toupees available which are available at all different price ranges and styles for any budget. They are made today to look very natural, so they are no longer your uncle’s toupee!

Hair loss can be devastating to a person’s self-esteem, but fortunately, there are many different solutions to get your self-esteem back on track. Whether it be topical and oral solutions, surgery or wigs. There are options out there at all price ranges to help stop hair loss and make you feel better about yourself.

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Predicting Hair Loss

“Contrary to popular belief, hair does not grow faster when it is cut. The rate of growth, however, may be influenced by hair length. Growth slow down once th

Normally, the average person’s scalp will have between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs. Each of the hairs on the scalp will have an independent life cycle; at any given time approximately 90% of scalp hairs will be in a growth phase and 10% will be in the resting phase, also called anagen phase, can last between four and five years before entering into a 2-3 week transitional period called the catagen phase. The final phase is a two to four month resting phase or telogen phase. It’s at the end of this resting phase that hair falls out by being dislodged from the follicle by an emerging new hair.

Some hair loss is normal, but when it is too much?

Male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss. It is a hereditary trait influenced by many genetic factors. The presence of balding of one’s parents or grandparents on either the mother’s or father’s side does not by itself predict the likehood of baldness. On the other hand, if you are a man losing hair in your twenties and your father is completely bald, it is most likely that your hair loss will continue.

Genetics plays a role in the pattern, speed, age with which balding begins and extent of balding that will occur. In most cases the earlier the onset of balding, the more extensive the loss will be. Moreover, there is no set age that balding begins; it is a process over time. This process can start at any ages. It can proceed at different speeds, stop and begin again at any time. Hair loss is affected by genetics hormonal influences and time.

Hair Loss: When Is It Too Late?

The American Medical Association reports that 25% of men begin balding by age 30, while 66% begin losing hair by age 60. When you’re young, your scalp is thick and hair follicles have a rich supply of blood. With aging, the regeneration of follicles slows down.

In males, the production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) has an increase influence of hair loss. High DHT levels disrupt the normal three-stage hair growth cycle by keeping follicles in the resting or telogen phase. It’s this break in the cycle that causes the follicle to wither resulting in excessive hair loss. With age the scalp thins, blood supply diminishes and the nutrition needed for hair growth is reduced. As a result follicles become smaller and hair shafts are thin. Treating hair loss early will slow this process down resulting in the positive hair growth many patients have experienced.


The Role of the Dermatologist

There are many causes of hair loss. To properly diagnose the cause a consultation with your dermatologist should always be considered.

A doctor will consider your family history of baldness and has the capability of analyzing hair samples under a microscope and checking your scalp for any irregularities. Questions will be asked about your diet, use of skin and health care products, medications and any recent illness. More detailed examinations may involve blood samples and a skin biopsy to confirm a diagnosis. You can also be asked to monitor your hair loss on a daily basis.

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Benefits of Circumcision

Circumcision in men is the surgical removal of all or part of the foreskin, the sleeve of skin and tissue covering the glans (head) of the penis. In women the term circumcision refers primarily to removal of the clitoral foreskin.

Male Circumcision. Circumcision is a tradition to most boys ages 5-12 in some countries, while in other countries it is an obligatory religious rite (Muslims, Jews, some Asian and Africans). In continental Europe about 80% of the population does not practiced circumcision.

Female Circumcision. The origin of the various forms of female circumcision is not known. Clitoridectomy (all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia) was performed in England and the United States from the 1860's to about 1920 to treat what were considered "emotional" problems of women. It is seldom performed today except for advanced cancer or extreme enlargement of the clitoris. Female circumcision is sometimes practiced in some countries to attempt to enhance orgasmic response.

History of Circumcision. During the ancient time circumcision of males was performed originally with flint knives (very hard and durable form of quartz) prior to the use of metal. The earliest artifacts from Egypt are dated at about 4000 B.C., centuries before its adoption by the ancient Hebrews. In traditional Judaism circumcision represents a covenant between God and Abraham. Early Christian rejected the practice. Although the word does not appear in the Koran, circumcision was practiced among Arabs in pre-Islamic times.

Health Benefits of Circumcision. Originally there is no health claims were attributed to circumcision but years later the Ancient Greeks suggested that the practice might have hygienic benefits (although it was not practiced by the Greeks). In the late 19th century till the middle of the 20th century, circumcision was seen in some English-speaking countries as a remedy to stop masturbation, which was thought to cause many illnesses.

Today, very few people practice circumcision in Britain, New Zealand, Canada and Australia. But in some countries infant and young boys are still circumcised in spite of authoritative medical opposition to the practice. Most physicians claim that circumcision is important for penile hygiene (it is easier to keep circumcised penis clean than the intact one), that it prevents venereal disease and premature ejaculation and that smegma (natural substance composed of dead skin cells, normal flora, and secretions containing the natural antibacterial agent) is a carcinogen, causing cancer of the penis, prostate, cervical cancer in partners

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Stay Safe From The H1N1 Mexican Swine Flu

The news reports started flooding in from Mexico just a few days ago.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that due to the swine influenza outbreak in Mexico and the Southwestern United States (with a death toll as of midday April 27 of 150 people) it was considering raising global pandemic warning level to 4 out of 6, the highest being a full-blown international epidemic on the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu which killed as many as 100 million people.

The President of Mexico has just declared a state of emergency which allows the Federal government to place widespread quarantines and cancel public events.

Surprisingly, (and frighteningly) the type of virus which is causing the Mexican swine influenza is identical in nomenclature to the one that caused the massive killer Spanish Flu: H1N1. It seems that this old virus has recently recombined with various strains of human and avian, as well as swine influenza, to create a version that could readily spread from person to person like wildfire across the planet, reaching the level of a global pandemic that might kill millions within months or less.

First of all, let's address some basic questions:

What is H1N1?

H1N1 is an infection of the respiratory system caused by an influenza virus known as type A and of subtype H1N1, This virus sparks influenza outbreaks in swine on a fairly regular basis. H1N1's current incarnation can also be transmitted from swine to humans, and from humans to other humans.

Can humans get H1N1?

Yes, but up until now it has not been too common as it is usually restricted to people who are in contact with swine, though there have been some fairly rare medically documented cases where the transmission was human-to-human in a similar manner to more conventional forms of influenza, through sneezing, coughing and other personal contact. Consuming pork products does not transmit H1N1.

How is H1N1 diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis requires a specimen from the respiratory system of the patient taken during the first four days of infection, and is then analyzed in a medical laboratory.

When was the last H1N1 outbreak?

The last major H1N1 outbreak took place at an army barracks in Fort Dix, NJ, in 1976. There have been no large scale outbreaks of H1N1 recorded since. However, H1N1 is the virus responsible for the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic which killed approximately 100 million people.

The ticking time bomb which is the global pandemic medical professionals have feared for so long may finally have been activated. Soon it may wreak unprecedented death and suffering on the entire Earth.

It may devastate cities, bring the greatest countries in the world to their knees and become the single largest pandemic in centuries. Some of the numbers being tossed around have included up to four times the number of dead as the 1918 pandemic. It could decimate an entire generation.

That's what H1N1 did the last time it was set loose to ravage the world. In 1918.

It could reach pandemic status next week, next month or next year. It could start any minute.

A single minute. It’s a TV advertisement. It’s a third of a pop song. It’s the time to make toast. It’s not a very long time.

However, many things can happen in a minute. Many hopes can fade in a minute. Many people can die in a minute. The clock starts. . .

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SWINE FLU VS. AVIAN FLU

SWINE FLU VS AVIAN FLU

I could remember years back when I first heard the name avian influenza (flu), it was all over the news and so many measures were put in place to check its spread or to totally eradicate it from the areas where it has been identified. I could see people wearing face masks to avoid being infected with the virus which could cause possible death. How much success was attained and how much jobs were lost there by cutting the incomes of the ordinary man.

Fear was in the air, poultries were checked and sometimes destroyed, importation and exportation were restricted at the time being and many stopped eating birds and bird products. In Africa for example, the government of many countries had to destroy about ninety percent (90%) of their poultry farms for fear of the flu, thereby increasing the number of unemployment in the country.

Flu, flu everywhere just like the avian influenza, the swine flu also is another threat to man since it kills when it infects the human body but what I do not know is if the same measures that were taken to stop the spread of avian flu will be taken too to stop its spread. I am concern because pork is my favorite and I do not think that killing all the pigs in farms infected with the virus will do any good to a pork lover like me.

My question now is Swine vs. avian flu which of this is more likely to be a threat to me. I will answer this question by first taking a close look at both of them so I do not give my fish to the cat to look after instead of the mouse, oh no not again no one of them.

SWINE INFLUENZA (SWINE FLU) like they said is a disease in pigs that takes care of the respiratory system in order words it is a respiratory disease. It is caused by type A influenza. Swine flu viruses like I am made to understand causes high level of illness and possible death and there can be an outbreak too when it attacks. The types of influenza type A virus Subtypes found in pigs are H1NI, H1N2,H3N2 and H3N1. Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed. In people the symptoms of swine influenza are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Others with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS is influenza A virus that infects birds along with its subtypes, although there is a substantial genetic difference between its subtypes but that does not mean that they are less active. The influenza A subtypes are H5, H7 AND H9, and each of this avian influenza Viruses can be partnered with any one of nine neuraminidase surface proteins; thus, there are potentially nine different forms of each subtype (e.g., H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H5N9). This really too much for the birds to bear and imagine what life will be if we have three subtypes of HIV virus and nine forms of each of these subtypes…. I think I will run away but anyway running away does not solve the problem.

o.k. let me talk about how it is been spread-this avian influenza viruses circulate among birds and certain birds, particularly water birds, act as hosts for these viruses by carrying the virus in their intestines and shedding it. The Infected birds shed these viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds can become infected with avian influenza virus when they come in contact with contaminated nasal, respiratory, or fecal material from infected birds. Fecal-to-oral transmission is the most common mode of spread between birds.

sometimes, the wild birds that are host to the virus do not get sick, but they can spread influenza to other birds, this is similar to a HIV infected patient whom can be said to be healthy for years without the symptoms all over him. Infection with certain avian influenza A viruses (for example, some H5 and H7 strains) can cause widespread disease and death among some species of domesticated birds.

Whoa none of the above contestant seems to be better than the other, therefore I leave the decisions to you to make and as for me I rather look after my well spiced fish than seek the help of the cat or mouse to look after. Why suffer so much from animal diseases when we still have human diseases to battle with. It amazes me to hear that countries like Mexico and the United States can be troubled this much by swine flu and even the world health organization( WHO) is yet to understand what this is all about not to talk of providing remedy to the situation.

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Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle

Tom Venuto stresses the importance of some principles such as no quick fixes, weight loss is not the same as fat loss and that the book is not even just about fat loss but more about making people healthier

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Encyclopedia of Foods

Encyclopedia of Foods
A Guide to Healthy Nutrition
The Encyclopedia of Foods: A Guide to Healthy Nutrition is a definitive resource for what to eat for maximum health as detailed by medical and nutritional experts. This book makes the connection between health, disease, and the food we eat. The Encyclopedia describes more than 140 foods, providing information on their history, nutrient content, and medical uses. The Encyclopedia also describes the “fit kitchen”, including the latest in food safety, equipment and utensils for preparing fit foods, and ways to modify favorite recipes to ensure health and taste

Audience
The health conscious, educated adult looking for a comprehensive nutritional guide and the relationship between health and disease
Contents
Part I: A Guide to Healthy Nutrition:
Chapter 1: Optimizing Health:
The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI’s) America’s Health Goals The Dietary Guidelines for Americans The Power of the Food Guide Pyramid Other Voices: Guidelines of Health Organizations The Bottom Line: Optimizing Health
Chapter 2: The Nutrients and Other Food Substances:
The Macronutrients: Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats Carbohydrates Protein Fats The Micronutrients: Vitamins and Minerals Water On the Nutrient Horizon: Phytochemicals Supplements: Foods, or Functional Foods Nutrition and Your Stages of Life
Chapter 3: The Food-Health Connection:
Obesity High Blood Pressure Diabetes Mellitus Coronary Artery Disease Osteoporosis Cancer
Chapter 4: Planning Meals: Selecting Healthful Foods, Plus Two Weeks of Menus:
Plan to “Eat Well” Eat Breakfast What’s For Lunch? Snack Time What’s For Supper? Dining out Grocery Shopping: Another Key to Healthy Meals Foods and Issues You May Have Wondered About Two Weeks of Menus
Chapter 5: Preparing Healthful Meals:
Change Is God Creating Healthy Menus Food Safety Serving Safety Refrigerating or Freezing Food Clean It The Bottom Line on Food Safety
Part II: Encyclopedia of Foods:
Fruits:
Vegetables:
Grains:
Bread Cereals Pasta Rice
Dairy Foods:
Milk Yogurt Cheese
Meat & Other High-Protein Foods:
Meat Poultry Eggs Fish & Shellfish Legumes Nuts & Seeds
Fats, Oils, & Sweets:
Others:
Beverages Herbs & Spices
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Best Home Made Treatment for Fever

A rise in the temperature of the body is called fever. It is a symptom of infection. There are several reasons for Fever like infection, stress, viral, malaria, cold etc. Here are some useful home remedies which provide quick relief in fever:

* For brain fever use a cloth piece soaked in mixture of water and salt and applies on forehead. This will help you in high temperature.

* Drink onion juice because people believe this is the best treatment for fever.

* Add some turmeric powder to a glass of milk and drink it. Turmeric is best for blood purification.

* Add some salt in glass of water and drink till your body temperature gets normal.Take mixture of honey and mint juice. Drink regularly in every three hours it provide quick relief from Pneumonia.

* If vomiting, mix 1 tablespoon salt and cumin in lemon juice and drink, it will stop vomiting immediately.

* Mixture of lemon juice, holy basil juice, ginger juice with honey is best treatment for fever, cold, cough and weakness.

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Obesity in the US , How Bad is It?

As Americans we are facing a health crisis. Our population is growing fat at an alarming rate. It is estimated that thirty percent of the general population is considered obese. Sixty seven percent of the population is considered overweight. Obesity in the U. S. is increasing at a very steady rate.

To solve obesity in the U. S. takes a few steps. First we have to conduct research into the various causes of obesity. We have to educate the general populace as to the problem and how it can be solved on an individual basis. Finally all our health care professional must collaborate on the proper can of obese patients.

The top threat to health in the U. S. is obesity. It is estimated that there are over four hundred thousand deaths a year attributable to obesity in the U. S. The costs of dealing with obesity runs into the hundreds of billions (billions with a “b") of dollars.

Obesity affects lifestyle and leads to diminished self-esteem. It can lead to depression and embarrassment in social situations. The quality of life is reduced for people who suffer from obesity.

Not only are there the psychological problems mentioned earlier but there is a myriad of physical problems as a result of obesity. Serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes are all attributable in part to obesity.

Obesity in the U. S. is defined as any person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30 percent. It is caused by an imbalance in the intake and expenditure of energy (calories). A diet heavy in fat and calories and or a sedentary lifestyle are the major cause of weight gain. There are a number of factors to consider when diagnosing the cause of obesity. Genetic dispositions towards obesity, hormonal, environmental, behavioral and culture can all have effects on weight problems including obesity.

Obesity in the U. S. numbers are quite alarming. With over 130 million people considered overweight and 70 million people considered obese with 10 million of those people extremely obese (BMI > 40%), the problem seems to be running out of control. 62 percent of female Americans are considered overweight while 69% of male Americans have the same problem.

It is very interesting to look at the differences between men and women. For instance, men are more prevalent to be overweight than women with a spread of approximately 8% higher. However the statistics for obesity are higher with women than men with about a 7% spread.

It also appears that obesity in the U. S. has a relationship to whether the person is from a big metropolitan area or a smaller town or rural area. It is estimated that almost 18 million people in big centers are obese while just 10 million people in rural areas suffer from obesity.

As to different areas of the U. S. it appears that the south is the champion of obesity levels. Areas which did better include the mountain states e.g. Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and New England area. The ranges for the different areas range from 17% to 23%.

Obesity in the U. S. is rampant and with the research being done by various organizations, remedies are close at hand. The epidemic must be reversed.

Ken Glauser

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Penis enlargement the most talked topics between men.

Penis enlargement is one of the most talked topics between men. There are a lot of methods used for penis enlargement. Penis enlargement has become very high-flying as seen in a lot of products advertised in the market. Men who want their penises to be enlarged have increased in numbers.

Penis enlargement is the goal of a number of men dissatisfied with their penis size, it is just a macho thing that all men have, because they want to please their partner. In general, where there is a perceived problem with penis size, medical advice should be sought, rather than attempting self-treatment.

There is couple methods penis enlargement in the market today, some of them is:

Penis Enlargement Pills

Pills for penis enlargement are already in the market place in 15 years. There are over two hundred various brands of penis pills available. They simply cause erections to become slightly harder by making blood to pump faster. This may help to speed up increase the results of other techniques.

Penis Enlargement Patches

Patches are really distinct from Enlargement Pills. Unlike Enlargement Pills, Patches bypass your body digestive tract. Pills give the body a burst of nutrients all at once. Normally, the body is incapable to absorb it, and the important nutrients pass right through the digestive tract.

Penis enlargement patch in theory should give you the benefit of gradual release of the ingredients into your system, which in turn also in theory would mean you are getting the benefit of consistency.

Although enlargement patches are new on the market, they quickly gain popularity because of their convenience in use. When patch products enter the field of penis enlargement, they benefit from years of research and the latest up-to-the-minute know-how on transdermal pharmaceutical delivery.

Penis Enlargement Devices

Penis Enlargement Devices are getting more popular as non surgical alternatives to penis surgery. They work by applying a constant traction force along the length of the penis, thereby triggering the growth function of the penis. Often a mandatory tool for after surgery treatment, these penis enlargement products are indispensable to the patient if he hopes to achieve permanent increases in penis girth and length. In fact, some doctors even recommend them as viable alternatives to penis surgery.

Benefit of penis enlargement devices is increases the number of cells, Increases the length of the penis when flaccid and when erect, increases the girth when flaccid and erect, increase in the girth and length is permanent, In no way affects the erection, ejaculation or performance.

Penis Enlargement Exercise

The main principles of penis enlargement exercises are to improve circulation to the penis and to increase the volume of blood held within the erectile tissue. It is the erectile tissue that engorges with blood when sexually aroused resulting in an erection. The theory goes that if the erectile tissue can be encouraged to hold a greater volume of blood than it could otherwise naturally accommodate, then this will in turn result in a larger penis size both when erect and flaccid.

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Does Your Family’s Health Matter to you?

I see absolutely no reason why you should continue to put your family's health at risk when you can do a whole lot to protect them from the many air pollutions that exist today. If you love your children and spouse as much as you say you do, then you should pay special attention to taking care of their health from the many air pollutants that exist all around them today. What am I talking about? I am talking about the need for you to get a good air filter for your home to protect your family from air pollutions.

In this time and age that we live in today there's a great deal of pollution all over the place, especially air pollution. Many people wrongly think that the only place that the air is polluted is outside of their homes or offices, but that's far from the truth. In fact, it has been proved that there's much more air pollution in a room than outside, that's why there's the need for special room or home air filters and office air filters to help get rid of the air pollutants that are dangerous to health. Didn't the experts say that 'what you don't see also kills'. In this case, there are lots of air pollutants that cause so much damage to our health, and yes... we don't see them!

I know several folks might frown at this insightful writeup about the importance of air filters because of the money they "think" it will cost them to buy and use air filters for their homes. But think of this - how much will it cost you NOT TO GET AN AIR FILTER?! What if one of your kids or spouse falls seriously sick as a result of the air pollutions? What will it cost you to treat them?! I am sure that will cause a change in your mind, don't you agree? Like the wise once said... prevention is much better than cure. So, I suggest you get an air filter for your home and office to protect yourself, your family and even your employees from as much air pollution as possible.

In conclusion, take your time to search for a very good air filter. There are many good air filters out there and many good types. Seek a good air filter review site to learn about the best types of air filter and how to buy them for less than you should. Yes, if you look hard enough, there are good bargains for air filters, especially on the Internet. That's right, you can get cheaper air filters on the Internet than you would get if you bought offline. Why? I don't know, but buying air filters online is far cheaper than buying them offline. Some of the good types of air filters I know include Industrial air filters, Performance Air Filter System, Personal Air Filter Purolator, Air Filters Racing, Air Filters Room, Smi Air Compressor Filter, Trion Air Filter, Uni Air Filters, Whole House Air Filter and Wix Air Filters... to mention only a few.

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The methods to get down cholesterol without medicine

Getting Down high cholesterol levels will lengthen your life and raise the quality of life because it reduces the hazard of heart disease and stroke. Whenever possible it's safest to control cholesterol points without medicine, first. Constantly consult with your primary care physician about this. Even if you feel yourself demanding medicine to lower cholesterol, you may ask less if you can reduce the degrees about without medicine. The methods to get down cholesterol without medicine:

1. Diet
2. Working out


DIET


Diet exchanges can be hard and challenging, but once you develop recent eating usage and begin feeling healthier, it will bring fewer attempt. The methods to switch your food eating habits to aid in decreasing cholesterol levels :

Eliminate and cut foods that are higher in cholesterol - some suggest that cholesterol that occurs from food should be fewer than 300 mg per twenty-four hours. For those with high cholesterol who wish to take down their cholesterol may need to keep down the amount to 200 mg. Foods which have high cholesterol levels:


1. Eggs (mainly the yolk)
2. Chicken
3. Liver
4. Beef
5. Hotdogs
6. Butter
7. Sponge cake
8. Ice cream
9. Processed and deep fried foods

Limit foods that take trans fat or saturated fats- your human body will produce cholesterol from both saturated fats and trans. The government has intervened and implemented rules regarding trans fat. Most fast food eating places adopted voluntarily with the recent guidances while others were forced to. Some needed a little longer due to the desire to have exchanges but didn’t desire to convert the taste of their products. The head requires some fats for proper function, so be certain you don’t wipe out every fat from your diet.

Upgrade soluble fiber- it binds with fatty acids and gets the stomach to empty more slowly so that the rate of sugar release and absorption is prolonged. Soluble fiber shrinks the cholesterol that is absorbed in the intestines. Sources of soluble fiber:

1. Oats/bran
2. Nuts
3. Barley
4. Fruits
5. Vegetables
6. Flaxseed

Increase healthy foods to take down your fish, cholesterol-fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and lean meats will aid cut cholesterol.

Converting the direction you eat may get the beneficial side impact of weight loss. This is advantageous because sometimes even a 5-10 lb weight loss can take down cholesterol levels. Decreasing cholesterol too drastically will cause the body to produce its own cholesterol and that is more complicated to control and often will take medication.

Cholesterol is wanted for the following :

1. Fixing cell and broken tissue
2. Antioxidant properties
3. Part of every cell
4. Necessary for correct brain use and memory
5. Bile (aids in digestions) portion
6. Shaping of hormones
7. Keeps inflammation
8. Portion of vitamin production

Consume a high protein immune globulin supplement – a report released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005 81 (4) p 792) discovered that men and women who carried reasonably high cholesterol, between 210 and 270 whole calculate, experienced a 6% drop in all cholesterol after only 3 weeks of having an immune globulin supplement.

Of importance to mark, the LDL cholesterol point dropped 7% while the HDL cholesterol degree stayed constant.

EXERCISE
HDL (positive cholesterol) raises with exercise and will contribute to taking down high cholesterol degrees.
Doing exercise at least 4 days out of the week- when the workout is mild activities ; it's advisable to strain to do it every twenty-four hours. Conventional exercises, weight lifting, and running aren’t the only exercises you can do to aid reduce cholesterol; the following activities can be part of cholesterol taking down workout habits:

1. Walking
2. Gardening
3. Chores
4. Dancing

Exercise at least thirty minutes per twenty-four hours- the minutes can be separated into lesser workout sessions as long it amounts thirty minutes by the end of the day.

Life-style exchanges like eating right and exercising take time to become portion of a daily act. Stick with it and the benefits will be valuable. When efforts to take down your cholesterol haven't been successful, your doctor may decide to put you on medication to take down your cholesterol levels.

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Obesity Linked to Heart Failure Risk

Swedish studies add heart failure to the list of cardiac problems linked to overweight and obesity.

"The take-home message is that body-mass index, however we measure it, is associated with the risk of heart failure," said Emily B. Levitan, a research fellow at the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She is lead author of a report in the April 7 issue of Circulation: Heart Failure.

That report gave results of two studies, one of 36,873 Swedish women and one of 43,487 Swedish men, who were followed for six years and tracked for body-mass index (BMI) and the incidence of heart failure. Overweight is defined as a BMI between 25 and 30, and obesity as a BMI of 30 or higher. By that definition, 34 percent of the women in the study were overweight and 11 percent were obese, while 46 percent of the men were overweight and 10 percent were obese.

A gender difference emerged from the study of waist circumference in men and women. In women, BMI was associated with heart failure risk only among those who were fattest at the waist. In men, each one-point increase in BMI was associated with a 4 percent increase in heart failure risk, no matter what the waist size.

These are several possible explanations for the difference, Levitan said. "One is that the type of heart failure that men and women get is different," she said. "Another is that overall body size is more important than body shape in men."

Whatever the reason, the lesson for both men and women is that weight control can reduce the risk of heart failure, Levitan said.

"For many years, at least among physicians, we were taught that obesity in and of itself was not a risk factor for heart failure," said Dr. Muriel Jessup, professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. "We knew it to be a risk factor for coronary disease, but heart failure is a separate condition."

Coronary disease is blockage of heart arteries that can eventually cause a heart attack. Heart failure is the progressive loss of the heart's ability to pump blood.

While many patients who have heart failure also have coronary disease, this is not always so," Jessup said.

"These studies look at the impact of obesity and go a long way toward helping us understand why that is so," Jessup said.

The study, done among the ethnically homogeneous Swedish population, "can help us get insights into why some racial groups have early heart failure," she said. A study reported last month that heart failure tends to occur at least a decade earlier in blacks than in whites, Jessup noted.

While the incidence of coronary disease among Americans has been going down, heart failure has increased, she said. One reason is that methods of preventing and treating coronary disease have improved, Jessup said. "People don't die of myocardial infarction [heart attack] but go on to have heart failure," she said.

The link between excess weight and heart failure "is another reason for people to watch their weight and another signal to physicians to be more aware of following their obese patients," Jessup said.

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Women Smell Better than Men !!

Body odor reveals more than when we last showered - it also packs important biological information. And apparently women are better at catching the scent of body odor than men, a new study found.

"It is quite difficult to block a woman's awareness of body odor. In contrast, it seems rather easy to do so in men," said Charles Wysocki, a behavioral neuroscientist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.

The researchers think women are more attuned to underarm stink because the biological data it contains helps them choose mates. The fact that most women are even better at smelling male body odor than female body odor seems to support this idea.

Wysocki and colleagues asked women and men to rate the strength of underarm sweat samples collected from both genders. When the scent was presented on its own, it smelled equally strong to both women and men. But when the researchers combined the body odor with other fragrances, the smell was often masked for men, though women could usually still detect it.

The study tested 32 fragrances to see how well they could hide B.O. Among the male subjects, 19 of the fragrances did the trick, though among women, only two of the scents successfully overpowered the sweaty stench.

"Our studies indicate that human sweat conveys information that is of particular importance to females," Wysocki said. "This may explain why it is so difficult to block women's perception of sweat odors."

The scientists also tested the female volunteers' reactions to odors from men versus odors from women. They found that even though the female sweat smelled just as strongly as the male sweat did, it was easier to mask with perfumes. About 19 percent of the fragrances tested successfully reduced the strength of male underarm odor, while more than 50 percent decreased the intensity of female underarm odor.

The new study, published in the Flavour and Fragrance Journal, fits in with other research on how women use their sense of smell romantically. A study published in December 2008 found that women can tell when a man is interested from the scent of his sweat. The scientists found that women's brains responded differently when smelling sweat samples from men who were sexually aroused and men who weren't.

Men also use their noses to choose mates, research has shown. A January 2006 study found that the scent of a woman's body odor is more attractive to men at certain times in the female's monthly cycle. Female underarm sweat seems to communicate when a woman is fertile, making her more desirable to men.

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Women Smell Better than Men !!

Body odor reveals more than when we last showered - it also packs important biological information. And apparently women are better at catching the scent of body odor than men, a new study found.

"It is quite difficult to block a woman's awareness of body odor. In contrast, it seems rather easy to do so in men," said Charles Wysocki, a behavioral neuroscientist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.

The researchers think women are more attuned to underarm stink because the biological data it contains helps them choose mates. The fact that most women are even better at smelling male body odor than female body odor seems to support this idea.

Wysocki and colleagues asked women and men to rate the strength of underarm sweat samples collected from both genders. When the scent was presented on its own, it smelled equally strong to both women and men. But when the researchers combined the body odor with other fragrances, the smell was often masked for men, though women could usually still detect it.

The study tested 32 fragrances to see how well they could hide B.O. Among the male subjects, 19 of the fragrances did the trick, though among women, only two of the scents successfully overpowered the sweaty stench.

"Our studies indicate that human sweat conveys information that is of particular importance to females," Wysocki said. "This may explain why it is so difficult to block women's perception of sweat odors."

The scientists also tested the female volunteers' reactions to odors from men versus odors from women. They found that even though the female sweat smelled just as strongly as the male sweat did, it was easier to mask with perfumes. About 19 percent of the fragrances tested successfully reduced the strength of male underarm odor, while more than 50 percent decreased the intensity of female underarm odor.

The new study, published in the Flavour and Fragrance Journal, fits in with other research on how women use their sense of smell romantically. A study published in December 2008 found that women can tell when a man is interested from the scent of his sweat. The scientists found that women's brains responded differently when smelling sweat samples from men who were sexually aroused and men who weren't.

Men also use their noses to choose mates, research has shown. A January 2006 study found that the scent of a woman's body odor is more attractive to men at certain times in the female's monthly cycle. Female underarm sweat seems to communicate when a woman is fertile, making her more desirable to men.

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Baby obesity: Rapid infant weight gain linked to childhood obesity

Report in journal Pediatrics says sudden weight gain in early infancy is more important than how much a baby weighs at birth

By Deborah L. Shelton | Tribune reporter
March 30, 2009

Rapid weight gain during the first six months of life appears to increase the chances that a child will be obese by age 3, according to a new study in the April issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The study found that sudden weight gain in early infancy was more important than how much a baby weighed at birth, the weight of the infant's parents, or the number of pounds put on by the mother during pregnancy.

"The perception has been that a chubby baby and a baby that grows fast early in life is healthier and all the baby fat will disappear," said the paper's lead author, Dr. Elsie Taveras, an assistant professor in Harvard Medical School's ambulatory care and prevention department. "But [that] is not the case."

Taveras was quick to point out, however, that parents should not put their chunky babies on diets.

"More work needs to be done to determine why rapid weight gain in infancy occurs before we can develop policy, clinical protocols and interventions," said Taveras, also a co-director of One Step Ahead, a pediatric overweight prevention clinic at Children's Hospital Boston.

Health professionals have been struggling to understand why the nation's children are ballooning in weight, as childhood obesity has been linked to a host of chronic diseases later in life.

Other studies have looked at the link between obesity and birth weight, but the Pediatrics study was the first to look at rates of weight gain in relation to body length during infancy as a factor.

The study involved 559 mother-child pairs living in the Boston area; 72 percent were non-white and about 33 percent had a household income of less than $70,000.

Researchers used measures of body weight and length together—referred to as weight-for-length—because the combination gave a better picture of a child's body fat composition than weight alone, like the body mass index for adults.

The link between rapid infant weight gain and obesity by age 3 was striking, even after adjusting for factors such as being born premature or underweight. For example, an infant weighing 18.4 pounds after six months had a 40 percent greater risk of obesity at age 3 than did an infant of the same birth weight who grew to 16.9 pounds.

Taveras said the study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, did not look at why some infants gained weight suddenly. Possibilities include prenatal factors or too-frequent feeding.

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Effects of Valerian Root Tea: Anxiety and Nerves

The effects of Valerian root tea, an herb, on anxiety and nerves have been studied of over 2000 years. Valerian root is good for relieving acute stress, pain, anxiety and spasm. If you are the type of person who keeps your emotions locked up, Valerian's effect can help ease the mental and physical tension that is a result of those boxed up tensions. Follow a few guidelines when taking Valerian root. If you are severely depressed or have sluggish organ functions you shouldn't use Valerian root. For chronic conditions, you can use it for up to 10 days at a time. Larger doses are recommended for acute stress, anxiety and sleeplessness.

Valerian root tea is good for anxiety, emotional distress and paranoia. Insomnia can benefit from taking Valerian root. It can be stimulating and calming for people who have minor depression and can benefit eyesight. With insomnia, taking a dose nightly for up to 4 weeks is effective. It can improve the quality of sleep and help you sleep fall asleep faster.

If you suffer from anxiety and nervousness Valerian root has been reported to reduce some symptoms. Combining Valerian with other herbs such as St. John's word may improve the effectiveness when treating anxiety. Some side effects have been reported when using Valerian. It's been said to cause headaches, stomach upset, dizziness and excitability. Low body temperature or hypothermia has also been noted. If used longer than 2 to 4 months, insomnia may occur. Another side effect is reduced concentration immediately after taking Varian.

People taking a high dose of Valerian might also have a hangover effect and withdrawal might be noticeable if you suddenly stop taking the dose. As with any drug, the positive effects of Valerian root tea on anxiety and tension can outweigh the side effects.

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How Long Can a Person Live Without Food

Several factors determine how long a person can live without food. The reasons why can be psychological, necessity or forced. The answer to how long a person can live without food depends on a person's body and weight, your state of mind, your will power and climate and hydration rate.

* First, you need to know who's asking and why they want to know.
* Are they an adventurer in survival training?
* Are they planning a protest with a hunger strike?
* Is it a question for a biology quiz?
* Is there an eating disorder?

There are three main factors that influence survival without food: water, body weight and your overall health.

The most important need for survival is water. Doctors confirm the average person lives about 4 to 6 weeks without food. However, the body can last only a couple of days without water. When you don't get enough water to stay hydrated you become lethargic, dizzy, confused, and eventually die. Mahatma Gandhi went on a hunger strike at age 74, protesting for India's independence. He survived 21 days even though he was of slight build. He allowed himself sips of water to survive. On the other hand Jewish hostages of the holocaust basically starved to death even though they consumed food. The amounts they ate were witnessed to be only between 300 and 600 calories a day.

In biology the rule of thumb for survival is the rule of three. In other words 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water or 3 weeks without food leads to death. But the statistics for total starvation are insufficient. One report of political prisoners in Northern Ireland showed that survival without food lasted between 46 and 73 days for 10 individuals. Terminally ill patients often refuse food and water in an attempt to end their lives. They live anywhere from 10 to 14 days.

With ample body fat, an person can last longer without food. If the person is obese,they may last between 4 and 25 weeks. The length of time is often dependent on the rate of metabolism to burn stored fat and energy. The rate of how long a person can live without food depends on many factors.

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Are Boys Food Needs Different

Are boys food needs different from girls or adults? Boys tend to have high-energy needs and can be more athletic. They need food that appeals to them while providing the extra nourishment to keep them healthy. A menu for boys’ food should consist of a balanced diet without a lot of junk food. Boys like things that are crunchy, greasy, salty or sweet.

Here are some suggestions for your boys to try:

Crunchy: You might as well give the broccoli, carrots and celery to the local rabbit shelter. Boys and girls probably aren’t going to eat them alone. Try serving carrots and celery with peanut butter dip or broccoli with a low fat dressing. They’re sure try them. Apple or pita chips, homemade tortilla chips and crispy English muffin pizzas are more winners in boys’ food category.

Salty: Try to avoid too much salt. It’s not any healthier for boys than adults. Just use a lighter touch when seasoning your stuff. Look for lightly salted peanuts, pretzels and unbuttered popcorn to satisfy that craving for salty food.

Greasy: Stay away from the greasy fried foods. French fries prepared in the oven are just as good but a whole lot healthier. Grill hamburgers instead of pan-frying. Add healthy cheese for a savory treat. If you have to fry foods, use lighter, healthier oil like peanut oil.

Sweet: Do they crave sweets? Fresh fruit is filled with natural sweetness. Add low fat yogurt or pudding to the fruit for more enticement. Low fat whipped cream, frozen yogurt, low fat ice cream or flavored gelatins are all good options as well. Try adding a little dash of cinnamon sugar mixture to toast or cereal. Instead of sugary empty calorie sodas, offer milk or flavored water.

A boys food needs different from girls can be met by providing appealing, nourishing options.

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Faithless and Insomnia: New Hope

Insomnia patients have felt faithless and insomnia had no help. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, addresses those fears. Requiring four one-hour sessions every other week, CBT troubleshoots the patients’ problems.

The heart of CBT helps patients address their poor sleeping plan through behavioral or mental strategies as well as to control and maintain the condition of the patient to get the consistent treatment. Patients begin to understand what they need to sleep and how their sleep systems work through cognitive therapy practices. This helps them get rid of their anxiety thinking that promotes insomnia.

Negative thoughts like “you'll never fall asleep” your body generates that mental and physical anxiety your thinking is always the obstacles for insomnia disease. However, doing cognitive therapy changes your behavioral responses by retraining your body's natural sleep pattern. Some of the strategies include restricting sleep time to actual time asleep, waking at a set time every day and keeping external and internal invasions away. Doing a way with daytime naps and “resting their eyes” is also part of the therapy.
CBT is a form of sleep education. The therapy lists recommendations for getting good sleep. Things such as avoiding alcohol, nicotine and strenuous exercise close to bedtime, having a bedroom that is cool, quiet and without a TV are stressed or even perform a hard exercise period in the evening will also helps you to fall asleep very easily. Patients who are dependent on sleeping medications can also benefit through CBT. The drugs have been shown to increase your sleep by only a few minutes. And they can be addictive. Patients who have become faithless and insomnia is a nightly occurrence, are often the ones who are using the sleep medication. They're concerned about the long term effect but are scared to do away with the medication.

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Heart disease & stoke

The UK has one of the highest rates of death from heart disease in the world - one British adult dies from the disease every three minutes - and stroke is the country's third biggest killer, claiming 70,000 lives each year.
Heart attacks occur when blood flow is blocked, often by a blood clot, while strokes are caused either by blocked or burst blood vessels in the brain. A range of other conditions, including heart failure, when blood is not pumped properly around the body, and congenital heart defects can also cause long term problems, and even death, for sufferers.

HEART DISEASE
The heart pumps blood around the body carrying oxygen and other nutrients to the areas that need it. When this process is interrupted, or does not work properly, serious illness and even death can result.
The risk of heart disease is greater for people with poor diet, who smoke and do not exercise, and men are more likely to suffer from it than women.
A range of tests and treatments, including drugs, heart bypass surgery and transplants, exist to alleviate symptoms or save the lives of sufferers.


STROKE

There are two types of stroke - those caused by blood clots in the brain and those that occur when blood vessels burst. In both cases, the brain is starved of oxygen, damaging or killing cells.
Sufferers are often left with difficulty talking, walking and performing other basic tasks. The chance of suffering a stroke is cut by eating healthily, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol. People at risk of stroke are often treated with aspirin.
After a stroke, various drug treatments are available and rehabilitation is commonly used to improve patients' speech and movement.

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Cancer: The facts

One in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer during our life.

The disease tends to affect older people - but can strike at any time.

Excluding certain skin cancers, there were more than 270,000 new cases of the disease in 2001 - and the rate is increasing by about 1% a year.

Some cancer, such as breast, are becoming more common, while new cases of lung cancer fall away due to the drop in the number of smokers.

However, while the overall number of new cancers is not falling, the good news is that successful treatment rates for many of the most common types are improving rapidly.

BBC News Online has produced, in conjunction with Cancer Research UK, a guide to some of the most common forms of cancer and the treatments used to tackle them.

To learn more about different types of cancer, and to read the experiences of patients, click on the links to the right.

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Study finds stress link to asthma

Stress 'causes asthmatic babies'

Pregnant women who suffer from stress are more likely to have a child with asthma, according to research from Children of the 90s study.

Researchers working with about 6,000 families in Bristol found anxious mums-to-be were 60% more likely to have a baby who would develop the illness.

The findings show 16% of asthmatic children had mothers who reported high anxiety while pregnant.

Mothers-to-be who were less stressed had a lower incidence rate.

Key findings

Professor John Henderson, from the Children of the 90s team, said: "Perhaps the natural response to stress which produces a variety of hormones in the body may have an influence on the developing infant and their developing immune system that manifests itself later on."

The Children of the 90s study - carried out by the University of Bristol - has been following 14,000 children.

They are regularly tested and monitored to see how different lifestyles affect growth, intelligence and health.

The aim is to identify ways to optimise the health and development of children.

Key findings to come out of the project include left-handed children do less well in tests than their right-handed peers and women who eat oily fish while pregnant have children with better visual development.

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Test 'sheds light on back pain

A simple technique could help doctors differentiate between patients with different causes of back pain and thus improve treatment, a study suggests.

Researchers writing in PLoS Medicine have devised "bedside" tests which distinguish between neuropathic - nerve damage - and other causes of pain.

Neuropathic pain is commonly described as "burning" or "stabbing" but it is often difficult to formally diagnose.

Back pain is the most commonly cited reason for being absent from work.

A team from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US and Addenbrooke's in the UK recruited more than 300 patients with chronic back pain.

Some had a known history of nerve damage caused by diabetes or shingles, while others had low back pain with or without evidence of spinal nerve root damage.

Question time

By carrying out detailed comparisons of the patients, researchers were able to formulate a set of six questions and 10 physical tests which distinguished between the two groups.


Although back pain is very common, in many cases we still have a poor understanding of where the pain is coming from
Dries Hettinga
BackCare

The results, they said, were superior to existing screening tests for neuropathic pain and even to MRI scanning of the spine, which can be misleading as many people have damage to their spinal discs without any pain.

In most types of neuropathic pain, all signs of any injury have usually disappeared but certain nerves continue to send pain messages to the brain.

Traditional pain killers often do not help - other options include antidepressants, and physical as well as psychological treatment.

"Currently clinicians measure pain only by asking how bad it is, using scales from mild to moderate to severe or asking patients to rate their pain from one to 10," said lead author Joachim Scholz, an assistant professor of anaesthesia.

"This approach misses key characteristics that reflect the mechanisms causing the pain.

"The treatment of neuropathic and nonneuropathic pain is quite different, and if a diagnosis is wrong, patients may receive treatment, including surgery, that does not improve their pain."

Dries Hettinga, head of research & policy at the charity BackCare, said: "Although back pain is very common, in many cases we still have a poor understanding of where the pain is coming from and how to tailor treatments to individual cases.

"This is why the diagnostic tool that the researchers developed could make a big difference to many people with back pain.

"People with neuropathic back pain need a different treatment approach than those with non-neuropathic pain and an accurate and easy to use tool to distinguish the two types of pain would not only benefit people with back pain, but also help to tailor treatments for people with back pain and thus decrease costs."

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Good Fats Can Help You Lose Weight

Good fats can help you lose weight. For over 30 years, fats have been considered responsible for the extra pounds. Diets entirely excluded the fat intake, although the human body needs fat to function properly! Persons who have excluded the fat from the menu were observed imbalances and diseases of certain organs, which until now were considered as obesity effects.

It was found that obesity and diseases have appeared because of a diet that excluded the "good "fat. Excluding fat from daily menu leads to obesity! In the United States, studies have shown that obesity has increased by 20% in the last 20 years due to the exclusion of fats from the daily menu. Although in 1960 the U.S., 45% from the calories eaten in a day were fat and only 13% of them were obese. In 2007, 33% of daily calories came from fat, but the rate of obesity has increased to 34%! Thereby, although Americans consume less fat, they tend to be much more obese than before. In other words, fat can help you maintain your weight, with the condition to know how and what to eat! The problem is that when it comes to fat, people don't know the difference between the bad one and the one that body needs. Even if only we consume good fats, you need to know that you may not make excesses! Fats are essential for a healthy body.

The human body needs fat to function normally. 60% of the brain is fat so lipids are very important for it to function properly for a fast learning, memory and an overall good mood. Fat can also protect the cells from the body and help them to regenerate and is an important source of beneficial compound to the cell membrane. All bodies need fat to function normally 60% of heart energy is produced by burning fats.

Good fat should not miss from the daily menu if you do not have heart problems! Nerves, lungs and eyes need fat to function normally and to keep away diseases. Good fat can help your digestion; slowing it and allowing the body to absorb the nutrients before the stomach digest the food. Fats can reduce the inflammations and they are very good for a strong immune system. Fats are of several types: Monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated and trans fats. Monounsaturated fat comes from olives, hazel-nuts, avocados, nuts, almonds, peanuts or pumpkin seeds. Mediterranean Diet proposes a rich menu in these fats, which help those who follow this diet to be healthy and have a strong immune system, having the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease in the world!

Polyunsaturated fat derived from sunflower, corn, soy or fish. This includes Omega 3 fatty acids, which protects your cardiovascular system and brain. Saturated fat derived from red meat, whole milk, coconut oil, palm oil, and very little from the chicken and fish meat. These fats increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, because they have so much cholesterol. Trans fat (hydrogenated or fat such as margarine) are very dangerous for your health and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease! You can find these in snacks, fast food meal type and most of the foodstuff that we buy form stores (crackers, cookies, candy, instant puddings and creams, etc.).

The first two categories are considered good fats, saturated ones are not recommended (especially in excess) and the trans ones are truly dangerous to your health! What kind of fat contains your food from your store place? Many of the products we use every day contain several types of fats. Try to choose the unsaturated (mono are ideal), which will help you to have a healthy body and to maintain your form.

Eliminate trans fat from your daily menu and you'll keep away cardiovascular disease! Although you thought that margarine helps you stay in form, you ware wrong because they are rich in trans fats and it was a real danger to your health and can lead to obesity! Omega 3 are a real source of health! Omega 3 fatty acids should not miss from the menu of healthy diets! Recent studies have shown that Omega 3 acids protect you from cardiovascular disease, liver cancer, depressions and neurological disorders (including Parkinson, Alzheimer or Dementia). Whether you choose to eat fish meat (salmon or tuna) or you choose fish oil supplements, Omega 3 acids will help you to have a healthy body and maintain your weight and form.

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Fasting Tips For Managing Obesity

Are you looking for fasting tips that will help you enjoy a life free of unsightly fat? Chances are, you have uncovered all kinds of information that may appear contradictory. For example, some references may indicate that you should only drink water when fasting. Or, you may read about fruit juice fasting, and special recipes dedicated to cleaning out your internal organs. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that you feel puzzled about which fasting regimen to use.

Typically, the best fasting tips will help you eliminate toxins from your body, as well as ensure that your metabolism gets shaken up enough to burn fat. In many cases, fasting regimens last too long, or they are scheduled in such a way that your body adapts to the routine. Therefore, it will be to your advantage to look for routines that enable you to make use of intermittent fasting. You may also want to look for a plan that makes use of exercise to burn fat even faster. This will help preserve and build muscle tissue, as well as ensure that you are gaining the most benefit from fasting.

Depending on your interests, you may want to look to other cultures for fasting tips. Among other things, you will gain all kinds of information about the best times of year for fasting, as well as the kinds of foods to avoid. Chances are, if you dig deeper into the history of these traditions, you may find information about diseases specific to certain geographic locations. As may be expected, if you discover that the foods you eat are imported from certain areas, it may also be of some help to avoid specific foods at certain times. You may even be able to align metabolism boosting fasts with these time periods for an optimal effect.

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Diabetes Mellitus is #6 cause of death by disease in U.S.

By: Pamela Egan, FNP-C CDE

I am diagnosing more and more new diabetics each week in our clinic. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease pose significant threats to our health and well being. When is the last time that you were screened for diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus ranks as the sixth leading cause of death by disease in the United States today. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, and this number is growing. It is estimated that nearly one-third of those with diabetes are not diagnosed and therefore not receiving care for this disease.

Since 1990, the prevalence of diabetes has increased by 61%. Not surprising, this increase in diabetes corresponds with the increase in obesity. I was walking in my neighborhood this morning and noted that the school bus stopped to pick each child up at their driveway. When I was a child, we had to walk one block to meet the school bus. Are we really helping them by doing this? It’s no surprise that the obesity epidemic is essentially triggered by excess calorie consumption and sedentary lifestyles.

Obesity, especially abdominal fat, has become an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It is also a sign of insulin resistance, vascular inflammation, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

We are seeing more and more children who are overweight classified as both Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes. Many are treated with insulin but without treatment for their insulin resistance. This lack of treatment is compounding their complications.

Type 1 is an autoimmune disease of the pancreas resulting in a lack of insulin and comprises about 5 – 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes in childhood have a high risk of early heart disease.

Type 2 comprises about 90 – 95% of all diabetics. Plasma insulin levels are normal to high. Many have insulin resistance that needs to be reversed. Insulin is the fat storing hormone and an inflammatory hormone. Too much insulin in the blood can actually lead to coronary artery disease. Adults with diabetes have a 2 -4 fold increased risk of stroke and a 3-fold increased risk of heart disease, not to mention peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease and many other disorders.

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease cause nearly 1 million deaths per year and result in over $620 billion in health care costs.

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