How To Save Money On Health Insurance Premiums Using HSA's

Opening a health savings account (HSA) can save you hundreds on your health insurance premium and help pay for out of pocket expenses and deductibles. Anyone younger than age 65 who buys a qualified health insurance policy with a deductible of at least $1,000 for individuals, $2,000 for families, can open an HSA. An HSA lets you set aside pretax money up to the amount of the deductible (with an annual maximum of $2,600 for singles; $5,150 for families). You can use the money tax-free for medical expenses, and anything left over grows tax-deferred. You can use the money for anything after age 65 without penalty, but you will owe income taxes on any money that isn't used for medical expenses.
In many cases, the cost savings from buying a high-deductible policy make up for the higher out-of-pocket medical expenses you'll have to pay -- not to mention the tax benefits.
The HSA Insider Web site (http://www.hsainsider.com) has a comprehensive list of insurers offering HSA-eligible policies and financial institutions providing the investment accounts. You can also search for a quality high deductible health insurance plan to complement your HSA at Best Insurance Deals (http://www.Best-Insurance-Deals.net).

How To Slay The Toxic Dragon In Your Life

How To "Slay The Dragon" In Your Life In Five Simple Steps
Any time you spend around that toxic dragon , you are adding another cup full of misery to your life. You must accept that the toxic person you are with will not change, does not want to change, and does not want you to change. The toxic people want to keep poisoning you with their behavior and feel that they have every right to do so.
Toxic people roam around freely and openly because they can. They take our energy, strength, love, and our precious time on this earth. This goes on and on and slowly before we know it, our lives are used up,our hearts and souls are ruined, and the dragon keeps on going like the energizer bunny.
This is a truth that each of us needs to understand. Some people cannot be around each other, be together, or even mix without harmful effects. There are definite mismatches that were never meant to be and certainly were not meant to continue.
Coming to grips with the fact that you must leave a toxic relationship is one of the most difficult things you will ever do. It is a life changing experience and you have to have the strength to do it.
Get Prepared To Slay The Dragon By Doing These Simple tasks:
Sit down with a friend, co worker, a neighbor, or a family member and review what is going on in the toxic relationship. You need someone who can help you put the whole situation in perspective. Unfortunately we may be so close we cannot see the forest through the trees. Maybe we have started to think all of this is our fault. (It isn't.) Make a list of what has been going on, the things that have been said or done which have left you feeling destroyed. Talk about how that toxic person makes you feel and how so far you have felt powerless to change things.
Realize that love and pain are not one and the same. You do not have a good or healthy relationship if you feel drained, used, hurt, and humiliated by that person. If you are angry, depressed, lonely, hurt when you are with this person, it is no good. It is not love. It is simply an addicition to the toxic drug of choice.
Is there a reason you have been sticking with this relationship which has nothing to do with your feelings? Are you staying in this relationship for your friends, for your parents for your kids? This is not good. The clock is ticking, your life is slipping away. You cannot stay in a toxic relationship for the sake of anyone else. The relationship has lost it's value if being around the person makes you feel horrible. Don't hold onto a hot potato.
Decide if you have to make the break and then do it permanently. No trial separations, no second chances, no giving it more time. Time will only suck more energy out of you and make the dragon stronger. This is asking a lot from you because you have become somewhat used to this toxic relationship. In some ways you find yourself attracted to it, maybe for money, security, sex, etc. Sometimes you have to give up a lot to get out.
Work on your health and physical fitness. Strong body, strong mind. Work on curbing any of your habits which are hurting you, like overeating or using alcohol or drugs. Make sure you are in shape to slay the dragon before you start. The dragon will not go away easily. There may be a confrontation and you need to be strong enough to handle it.
Only you can get yourself out of the toxic relationship. Only you can slay the toxic dragon. You have given the power away to someone who has no love for you. Now is the time to take back the power and take back your life.

How To Cure Your Incurable Nasal Allergy

Immunoglobulin E is an antibody, which is secreted from the white blood cell as a defense agent in our body. It helps us defending bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, which attack our body. Once the immunoglobulin E attaches to the mast cell, histamine chemical will be secreted from this cell. Histamine is the main cause of nasal allergy. It causes the blood vessel in the mucous membranes swelling and leaking of fluid. Swelling causes congestion inside the nasal passages and the leaking of fluid causes runny nose. When the nasal allergy becomes critical, mucous membranes will become inflammatory and itching.
Because the main cause of the nasal allergy is histamine, therefore, scientist has synthesized a few types of antihistamine medications to block the reaction of histamine with its receptors on cells and reduce the severity of the allergic symptoms. These medications are like diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, fexofenadine, loratadine, cetirizine, terfenadine, clemastine and astemizole. Diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, cetirizine and clemastine will cause drowsiness. While, fexofenadine and loratadine will cause less drowsiness. Terfenadine and astemizole won’t cause any side effect but they have interact effect with some of the antifungal and antibiotics medication
Besides, corticosteroids hormone is used to reduce the inflammation and itching in the nasal passages. Usually, inflammation is coming together with the nasal allergy. Actually, our body could secrete this hormone by itself from the adrenal gland. It controls the sensitivity of our body immune system. If the level of this hormone in our body is too high, it may cause our immune system inert to the attack from viruses or bacteria. If its level is too low, it will cause us become hypersensitive. Nasal allergy is due to the low level of this hormone. Therefore, applying this hormone onto the mucous membranes (topically) as a nasal spray or taken by mouth (orally) could reduce or prevent inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes by altering the actions of various cells of the immune system. Nowadays, this hormone is the most common medication that the medical doctor will prescribe to the patient who suffers critical nasal allergy. However, utilizing this hormone too frequent could cause some side effects such as burning sensation in the nose, unpleasant aftertaste and nosebleeds.
Nasal allergy could be cured by practicing yoga. Yoga is a stretching exercise combing with deep breathing. Many people are turning to yoga to cure various types of illness such as insomnia, anxiety disorders, back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia , infertility, menopause, shingles, stress and varicose veins. Practicing yoga is more natural than taking medicine and it does not have any side effect as long as you learn it from a qualify instructor. Once you have mastered the technique, you can practice it anytime when you are free.
Nasal allergy also could be cured using natural crystal. The main compound in the crystal is silicon dioxide. The variety of the crystal color is due to the existence of trace amount of transition elements. Different color crystal has different energy. We can see this energy using aura spectrophotometer. Nasal allergy is due to the insufficiency of certain energy in the patient body. By using crystal, nasal allergy patients can increase this energy in their body by absorbing from the crystal. Crystal is a tool that is used to transfer energy from the earth to our body. Our earth is a living planet and there are a lot of creatures living on its surface. Once the crystal energy has been completely consumed, we usually bury this crystal under the soil and let it absorbs the earth energy. Using crystal to cure nasal allergy is the most economic way and easiest method because it can be wore in our body as a wristlet or necklace whenever we want.

Dave's Shave Tips

Guys (and maybe ladies too), I have some good news about shaving. You have probably experienced some of the hassles and problems of this chore and are familiar with its inherent potential for being very annoying.
You may be frustrated with razor burn and dry skin after struggling with your daily shaving routine. You can bet I tried all kinds of different razors, shaving cream and even some aftershaves to see what I could do about this problem.
You want to know what I found after a lot of experimenting and trying different things? You probably have a neat handy little item that is common household fare and may be found in your kitchen. It's Olive Oil. You got it, olive oil!
The benefits to using olive oil for shaving are huge. It is such a natural lubricant that the right kind of razor will slide right across your face giving you smooth and soft skin and still getting the job of cutting the growth from your face. And the best part is that your skin will actually start to look younger after using olive oil to shave with over the long term.
Therefore, do not forget to apply some olive oil to your forehead when you shave too. The reason is that the rest of your face will become younger looking and you want your forehead to keep up. In retrospect, I remember reading about a famous Hollywood actress that mentioned that olive oil was her secret to having great skin.
You can bet that others are using olive oil to shave with too. I did a search right before deciding to share this information with you and sure enough there are other people out there that shave with olive oil.
One nice thing about it is that you don't have to use high quality olive oil. You can buy the inexpensive low grade olive oil that doesn't taste very good from your local supermarket to shave with.
A bottle will last a really long time. You can kiss your shaving cream goodbye. You can also leave out aftershave if you so choose. Your skin should feel great without it.
Now, let's talk about that razor of yours. Here is what I have found out about razors and am willing to share with you. Even though I use the great lubricant properties of olive oil to shave with, I still have found a few issues that using the right kind of razor can help with.
If your experience is similar to mine, you may have found that it is difficult to shave in the grooves of your neck and face, particularly under the jaw bone with typical razors. Even with olive oil you can still easily cut your face if you make the wrong movement. You might find that that Gillette's Mach 3 and olive oil are the perfect combination.
The Mach 3 has a nice swivel head with a great lubricating strip. This allows for the flexibility to really get into the nooks and crannies when used in combination with the olive oil. You will be able to get in there with a lot less fear of cutting yourself. It's not impossible, but the Mach 3 does make it a lot harder to cut the skin of your face.
You may be using another brand of razor with a lubricating a strip. So far, in my opinion, none have come close to the Mach 3 for safety and comfort. I do sometimes use a stiffer blade to make the vertical strokes because it can be really effective. But, when it comes time to dig into those nooks and crannies, I like to break out the Mach 3.
No, I don't work for Gillette and I am in no way associated with them. The reason I use a stiffer blade for the vertical strokes is because its effective and also less expensive. The Mach 3 blades are a bit on the expensive side, so you can save a little bit by just reserving them for the nooks and crannies. With the use of olive oil, you might be able to get a longer usage period out of a blade before needing to dispose of it.
For ladies, I suggest using a sparing amount of olive oil. The reason is that you will be covering a much larger area and too much olive oil can get a little messy. For us guys, we can probably enjoy the luxury of using more because it is easier to wash from the face.
I wish you the best of luck with your next shaving experience.
This article is for information purposes only. I cannot assume any liability for your use or misuse of this information. If you are not willing to assume the full risk and responsibility for the potential consequences from using this information you are advised not to use it. It's impossible to know the skill levels or abilities or available equipment of any individual out there, therefore I cannot be responsible for the use or misuse of this information. Your use of this information implies your consent to bear the full responsibility for any result that may come from its use or misuse.

Flatten your Abs

I don't have much of a problem with belly pouch or bulge, since I've been doing situps or crunches for most of my life. But most of you have not, so you might benefit by my experience. I know a small excercising trick that can literally whittle your waistline and work your abs at the sametime. If you work dilligently at it, that is.
Here is my trick: lie on your back with your knees bent, feet resting on the floor, bend your right leg sideways and rest your right ankle on your left knee. Link your fingers behind your head and situp, twisting your torso as you do, so that your left elbow touches your right knee. Then lay back down and repeat 20 times. If you're a beginner at abdominal excercise you may want to work your way up slowly, starting with five everyday and each week adding one on.
Do this excercise with both legs, resting your left ankle on your right knee as you repeat the selected amount of crunches.
I took my waist down an inch doing this excercise, and I've never gone back up. For more info on how to get really flat abs visit: http://hop.clickbank.net/?workgirl15/davidfit

What Is an Essential Fat?

You may have heard that essential fats are an important aspect to maintaining the health of your body. But what exactly are they?
Basically, there are two truly essential fatty acids, Linoleic and Linolenic. You may have heard of these referred to as Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids.
So, why are they called essential? The term essential in the life sciences refers to the fact that a nutrient cannot be synthesized by the body. Thus, you must have a dietary or supplemental source to supply your need for these acids.
You probably heard of the 8 essential amino acids. It's the same idea here but in this case we are referring to fatty acids rather than an amino acid.
These fatty acids exist in and are used in every cell of your body. So they are crucial to a cell's health and therefore to our health as people. The good news is that in North America, you generally get enough Omega -6 in your diet. Omega-3 has presented a question mark to researchers. Are we getting enough or not?
Fortunately, you can get Omega-3 from fish and certain nut oils. If you have any doubt at all, you can get Omega three from flax oil, which is in abundant supply at your local health food store.
Don't let the phrase essential fat or essential fatty acid fool you. These are not going to make you gain unwanted weight.
As those of us who truly understand weight loss and gain can tell you, the key to losing or gaining fat storage from your body centers around the bodies short term energy storage supply.
This article is for information purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or condition. Consult your primary health care provider if you have or suspect you have any physical ailments.

Who Says Penis Size Is Not Important?

Most men have been there at one time or another. That moment when total sexual exhilaration turns to pure panic and fear...fear that the "little astronaut" out on his moon walk has lost his space suit. Fear that the knight is no longer wearing his shining armor.
The number one reason that condoms break or slip off during the horizontal mambo is that the Johnson in question was not properly suited. Like shoes or bras, careful consideration must be given to condom size.
Yes, all men are created equal — but in very different shapes and sizes when it comes to the trouser department.
And while it may not be the size of the wave that floats your boat, when it comes to choosing a condom, your size does matter.
RESEARCHERS AGREE
A recent survey by Durex Condoms revealed that the length of an erect penis can range from four to nine inches, while penis widths can vary from just over one inch to more than two inches.
The Durex study also found that 50% of the almost 3,000 survey respondents felt that the condoms they regularly used did not fit properly; 25% said the condoms were "too tight," 10% said they were "much too tight," and 15% responded that the condoms were "too loose" or "much too loose."
Not surprisingly, 42% of those surveyed indicated that condoms should be "better shaped."
A whopping 44% of those surveyed reported they had experienced condom slippage or breakage problems in the past.
The Durex study concluded, "Given the wide range of penis sizes and the relatively narrow range of condoms designed to fit them, it is perhaps unsurprising to find that 50% of respondents felt that the condoms they use did not fit them properly".
The answers provided also indicate that condoms which don't fit properly are more likely to break during use..."
Another study performed by La Trobe University in Australia examined the effect of penis dimension on the probability of complete condom slippage and/or condom breakage in actual use.
A total over the course of the study, 16% of the men experienced at least one instance of breakage and 19% experienced complete slippage.
The study concluded that condom breakage was strongly associated with penis circumference, particularly for men with above-average girth.
In fact, each additional centimeter of penis circumference beyond the average 13.19 cm increased the risk of breakage by 50-100%.
Like the Durex study, the researchers concluded, "This finding suggests a need to increase either the range of condom sizes currently available or the [girth] of currently available condoms." of 3,658 condoms were used by 184 men.
ERECTION REJECTION
It is no secret that many men dislike wearing condoms. Some Men say that condoms interfere with sex, "get in way," or "kill the mood."
Most of the time however, these problems arise because the man has difficulty putting on the condom, or is concerned that the darn thing may slip off.
If a condom is difficult to put on due to size issues, the little soldier may suddenly be unable to stand at attention.
A survey conducted by the University of Sydney, Australia found that two-thirds of the men surveyed reported they "sometimes" or "often" lost their erection while trying to put on a condom.
Of course without an erection, a condom is impossible to put on at all.
While many men struggle to put on ill-fitting condoms that are too small, many others experience anxiety that the condom may slip off their slimmer girth.
This anxiety can also interfere with the ability to keep the flag at full mast. Condoms that are too loose increase the odds of slippage or leakage.
Paradoxically, one of the most common reasons condoms slip off is because they are too tight or too long — if not fully rolled down, the ring at the base can enter the man's partner and be dragged off.
Condoms that are too short also increase the risk of exposure to STDs.
When condoms are too tight, breakage and slippage is more likely to occur, and sensitivity can be significantly diminished.
The reality is that condom size is very important. Unfortunately, unlike penises, most condoms around the world today are made in a very narrow range of sizes.
In fact, the overwhelming majority of condoms does not refer to size at all, and simply are marketed as a "one size fits all" product.
While a few companies like Trojan have shown some sensitivity to the size issue by producing some larger sized models, very few such products exist, and even fewer are available for those needing a snugger fit.
Millions of men continue to struggle with the "one size fits all" mentality that the condom manufacturers apply to condom size, often leading to very unfortunate results.
Given the inherent difficulties in measuring customers to ensure a more tailored condom fit, condom producers simply continue to force round pegs into square holes.
That's why to fit a condom effectively and snugly, you have to up your size.

Shape Up! 4-Alternative Weight Loss Solutions

I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight loss programs I've tried. I don't know about you, but after a while I grow tired of talking heads touting empty promises. None of them helped me look the way I think I should and most of them left me agonizing over eating the same foods over and over.
What's a body to do?
In this article I've outline a few different ideas that I've found to really work. Ideas I continue to come back to again and again. Whether you need to lose a few pounds or are looking for a healthy lifestyle change, these 4 solutions will help get you started.
Solution #1: Use Creative Visualization
Creative visualization a great way to bring about lifestyle change. "Seeing" yourself thinner is one of the most successful ways to decrease your body size and improve body image. Guided imagery works by training your mind to stimulate changes within your body.
This can be accomplished using a few of my favorite tools:
Affirmations: Using affirmations will train your mind by stating or affirming your intentions. It will retrain your thinking toward positive thoughts.
When I use affirmations, I like to use positive statements such as these:
MY BODY IS BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE MY BODY!
To increase their effectiveness, I write these messages to myself on an index card or piece of paper and carry them with me. I review them several times throughout the day.
Tapes: If you are an auditory person, you will love the guided imagery and weight loss tapes available from Health Journeys ( http://www.healthjourneys.com ). Their positive learning tapes will walk you through the thought process of building a stronger, leaner body.
Books: One of my favorite positive affirmation books is Love Your Body! By Louise L. Hay. Inside this book, Louise has created affirmations for you. If you read through them each day you are sure to reap the rewards of loving your body.
Solution #2 Try An Herbal Wrap
If you need to lose a few extra pounds, you may want to try an herbal wrap. Herbal wraps help the body lose water and inches. You can get a wrap from your favorite salon however, they tend to be expensive. It's just as easy to give yourself a spa treatment at home. Herbal wrap products are everywhere. If you'd like to get a wrap but prefer the privacy of your own home, check out: http://www.slenderwrap.com
Some of the benefits of herbal wraps include: Weight loss Water loss Decreased inches Smoothness of Tissue
Solution #3 Stop When You Are Full
In her book Appetites, Geneen Roth gives us a simple outline to manage portion control. Her two major mantras are: take time to eat and stop when you are full. These are both shape-shifting ideas. To some people, including myself, food is a friend. Therefore the tendency to overeat stems out of emotion; food provides comfort and security. Others are in a hurry. Food and the need to eat are just obstacles that get in the way.
In effort to break free from these unhealthy behaviors, ask yourself several questions:
Am I enjoying what I am eating? Do I eat standing up or on the run? Do I continue to eat even after I know I am full?
Next, begin to carve out time to eat and enjoy food with friends or family. Or to take time to enjoy a nourishing meal even if you are alone. Eat to the point of being full, then stop. Most of the time, weight loss can be easily stimulated through portion control.
Solution #4 Keep a Food Journal
In addition to the aforementioned, it may be wise for you to keep a food journal. By tracking what you eat every day, you hold yourself accountable for everything you place in your mouth. It's simple to start. Record everything you eat for a week and document your weight each week.
At the end of the week take inventory of yourself. Have you gained weight? Lost? Remained the same? If you are gaining weight, simply cut back on your refined sugars (sweets) and heavy carbs like white rice or white potatoes. For these, substitute brown rice or sweet potatoes instead. Track your habits for a second week.
When you've reached the point in your eating program where your weight remains the same, you will need only consume a few less calories (or burn a few extra during exercise) each week to lose weight. Keep in mind: in order to lose weight, your body needs to burn more calories than it consumes. First, find your melting point, then adjust your portion control and exercise program accordingly.
In Conclusion: With just a few adjustments and an enjoyment of food – recognizing its beauty for nourishing your body - you can shift your focus from frustration to enjoyment. Give these alternatives to weight loss a try. Your health and your waist line will thank you for it.

Vitmain B-1

Did you know that vitamin B-1 has two other widely used names? Thiamine is a name used in the US and Aneurin is the popular name in Europe. Thiamin (without the e) is also used to refer to B-1.
Vitamin B-1 is important to your body's health. You probably have heard of beriberi before. It can have pretty severe effects on your nervous system, heart, brain, cellular health and energy levels to name a few problem areas affected by a deficiency of B-1.
Interestingly enough, a person with beriberi that has reached the point of barely being able to move, will often respond to a B-1 injection in just a few hours to the point that they will be able to get up and walk again. Beriberi is truly a deficiency disease.
Thiamine is important to the energy production system of every cell in your body. ATP or Adenosine Triphosphate is the energy currency that powers your body. There are a few pathways that your cell uses to make ATP, the major one being Kreb's cycle. Without sufficient quantities of B-1, your body is restricted in being able to produce the all necessary ATP.
Fortunately, especially in North America, you can get Thiamine from your diet. You can get B-1 from many foods. A few are pork, peanuts, whole grains and beans (legumes). There are other foods, this is just a short list for you convenience.
White rice has the hull stripped from it which causes the rice to become devoid of B-1. This leads to high incidence of beriberi in some Asian countries as rice is relied upon heavily upon as a staple food.
Some seafood may actually inhibit the absorption of B-1 in the digestive tract. Heat and radiation will destroy thiamine and alcohol will interfere with it's uptake from the digestive track.
Vitamin B-1 is a water soluble vitamin which means that an extra supply is not stored in your body tissues. A fat soluble vitamin, which B-1 is not, would be stored in body tissues. Vitamin B-1 must be continually obtained from your diet.
Some symptoms in the early stages of thiamine deficiency include irritability, fatigue, apathy, abdominal pain, drowsiness and poor concentration. Later stages of thiamine deficiency are much more severe and can manifest in a number of ways. A few manifestations are tachycardia (fast heart beat), vomiting, heart failure, weakness, itching, blue skin color, numbness and memory loss.
Alcoholics, dialysis patients, HIV patients, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients often suffer from thiamine deficiency. If you would like a more exhausting list of symptoms, risk groups and other information associated with B-1 deficiency, try emedicine.com.
Vitamin B-1 is available at your local health food store and drug stores without a prescription. A B-1 deficiency usually is accompanied by a deficiency of other B vitamins. Therefore, B-1 is usually taken within a B-complex and not usually taken alone.
Supplementation for pregnant mothers should be done under the advisement of a physician.
This article is for information purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe a solution to any health condition. If you have or think you have a health condition, consult your physician immediately.

Citric Fruits - A Healthy Food

New studies suggested once again that citric fruits including oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits help fight cancer, high cholesterol, and obesity.
Studies both at Texas A&M University and Kanazawa Medical University in Japan showed that compounds in citric fruits can help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Researchers at Texas A&M University found that freeze-dried grapefruit, similar to the whole grapefruit, can reduce the incidence of early colon cancer lesions in animals. The Japanese researchers found anti-colon cancer properties in nobiletin - a compound found in tangerines.
Grapefruit can also reduce the risk of cancer caused by smoking. A study on the cancer prevention was done by the researchers at the University of Hawaii. The researchers found that drinking 6 ounces of grapefruit juice a day reduces the activity of a liver enzyme that is thought to activate toxic chemicals in the smoke.
On another front, scientists from the USDA and a Canadian company isolated a compound - polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) - from orange and tangerine peels that can actually lower cholesterol in animals. They found that use of food containing 1% PMFs can lower cholesterol by 32 to 40%.
Grapefruits also promote weight loss. Researchers at Scripps Clinic in San Diego found that grapefruit may trigger weight loss by lowering insulin levels, an excess of which is linked to weight gain. Effect of grapefruits on weight loss was confirmed in humans. An early study by the same researchers confirmed that eating grapefruit or drinking juice with meal can help the obese lose weight.
Even the interaction of grapefruit juice with drugs, a bad trait for grapefruit, has been explored. Researchers at Texas A&M Citrus Center studied the interaction between grapefruit compounds and drugs in hopes that this interaction can be taken advantage of to increase bioavailability of drugs in humans.
These studies were presented in the American Chemical Society Annual Meeting being held in Pennsylvania during Aug. 22 through 26.

Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior

Proper nutrition is the fundamental basis for every aspect of your dog's life. It affects their health and longevity by offering an essential balance of proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates and the trace nutrients and minerals their bodies need for growth, repair and maintains of sound immune system.
Nutrition is a complex and integral part of your dog's ability to think clearly, lower stress levels and a produce a calmer behavior. Thinking takes a lot of energy. Dogs involved in a training program, expend tremendous mental energy focusing on the tasks presented to them. If your dog starts with minimal nutrition, they become lethargic, edgy or hyper active when asked to perform the simplest of tasks. They cannot focus and loss concentration after a short period of time or become confused. If the dog is continually asked to do something they cannot comprehend, confusion can lead to an aggressive form of acting out.
In training dogs, the first thing I look at is the dog's diet. I work from the inside out. Training becomes ineffective if the underlying causes for the behaviors are not changed. Hyper, unfocused and out of control dogs often are eating foods with high levels of cereal foods such as wheat, corn, and corn meal. Aggressive dogs eat food containing higher levels of incomplete protein which do not digest well. Shy and stressed dogs do not digest their foods well at all and often suffer from intestinal complications such as diarrhea. Their coats are often very dry and shed heavily.
One way to test the foods you are feeding is to soak the food in water for about 15 minutes. If it swells in size and becomes mushy, it is primarily cereal. Are you dog's stools often soft and loose or is the dog gassy? They are not digesting the food properly.
By looking at their food, you will do more to help balance their behavior, as well as, contribute to their health and longevity.
Life Abundance offers the best combination of food for all dogs concerned. The proteins are complete and digest easily. The carbohydrates are complex and do not turn into simple sugars producing energy swings of highs and low behaviors. The Probotics in the food balance and digest more easily, which is not only perfect for the nervous or shy dogs, but ensures all dogs are receiving the nutrition they need from food.
To search sites for food information go to http://www.healthydogfood.net.
Jeanne Perciaccanto, a certified trainer and Health educator. Information can be found at http://www.healthydogfood.net and http://www.ultimatedogtraining.com.

How Stressed-Out Are YOU?

Are you feeling stressed out? Too many things to do, too little time? One more thing added to the To-Do list and you feel like you'll explode?
Whoa there, no exploding allowed! You can handle it—just listen in.
Listen? To what?
To your self-talk. Not yourself talk, but your SELF-TALK. Listen in to the demands you're making of your time, but more importantly listen in to how you're saying them and what you're saying.
Many of us don't pay particular attention to what we're saying to ourselves. We've never been taught the importance of how damaging it can be to us nor have we been shown that we can use it to feel much better. You can literally un-stress yourself by using your own self-talk.
Listen in for –need-, -have-to-, -must-, type statements that you make to yourself.
"First I need to drop the kids off, then I have-to go to the grocery store, then I need to stop at the bank, then I have-to get home and work on those taxes before having to go back out and pick up the kids."
You've just created a lot of demands on yourself. And yes, in order for your life to continue like you want, you would prefer to do all those things exactly as you have envisioned. But you don't NEED to, HAVE-TO or MUST.
By using demanding statements on yourself, you open up a lot of opportunities to say irrational things to yourself that create stress.
When you use demanding statements, you then create a scenario of "what-if" in your head. And when the "what-if's" back-up, then watch out stress level!
"What if I don't get it done, what if I don't get there in time to get the kids, what if this, what if that." This is when you really go into stress mode!
Asking such open-ended questions is the origin much of your stress. You often answer with "that would be awful, that would be terrible" which compounds the stressful feelings even more.
Since awful and terrible are labels way beyond bad, (actually labels that are beyond definition) you've created a situation in your head that ends up with you saying to yourself "…and I couldn't stand it if that happened," or "…I couldn't stand feeling that way!"
It's indeed a vicious cycle of thinking that is common to all of us. Fortunately, once you know how, you can think your way out of these situations as quickly as you got in.
So where do you start?
First, flag such have-to, must, need-to statements in your head. Then replace the needs, musts and have-tos with preferences, desires, and wants.
Then when something doesn't go according to your desires, reduce the awfuls and terribles to simply, bad. Then rest-assure yourself that you can stand it.
What if you don't make it to the bank? What if you're late picking up the kids?? Well, it's not what you wanted, it may indeed even have consequences which may be bad, but in the overall scheme of things it isn't awful and you CAN stand it.
A great deal of stress is caused from within by this "I-can't-stand-it-it is."
Remember: whenever you hear yourself saying "need-to, have-to, got-to, etc" replace it with want-to or would like to. Substitute needs with desires; musts with preferences.
And remind yourself that awful things will not happen if your desires are not met. You may not like the results if things don't go your way, but you can indeed stand the feelings. It may not be good if things don't fall into place like you want, but the world will continue to spin and you will be able to handle it.
It takes some practice. Don't expect it to happen for you like magic. Pay attention to your self-talk, listen for the what-if statements, flag the must and need statements. Dispute them with wants and desires. Do it vigorously. With time it will become second nature, and you'll notice the lack of stress in your life.
Dr. David L. Thomas, LMHC

Is LASIK Right for Me?

The subject of LASIK is a very interesting one. There is a lot to investigate and understand about the process of getting your vision corrected through laser surgery. I hope this article helps to point you where you need to go to do the best research. There are both pros and cons to consider before submitting to this type of surgery.
First, if you are already firmly set in your decision to have LASIK, read these pointers:
1. Make sure you go to a doctor who uses the new Interlase laser for making the corneal flap.
Why? Because the Interlase is 100 times more precise than the "old fashioned" method of using a microkeratome to cut the initial flap. Many speculate that most of the problems that come from LASIK surgery have been due to the impreciseness of the microkeratome device used to cut the cornea.
2. Most definitely insist on a custom wavefront laser to do the actual reshaping of the cornea.
Why? Because the custom wavefront can get rid of what is called higher order aberrations.
What does this mean to you? It means much sharper vision after the surgery and a significantly reduced chance of having halos, starburst and other "complications" from LASIK.
Repeating: Make sure you go to a surgeon who is using both Interlase and Custom Wavefront technology to do LASIK surgery. Relatively few practices have these new technologies. Consider that surgeons who invest in these technologies may have more of your interests at heart.
One of the top 5 LASIK surgeons lives in Kansas City. Check out his site: durrievision.com Look at the information on his site including the videos where he explains what LASIK is all about. Compare your perspective surgeons website to his and you may detect a difference.
Next, you should be aware of the potential problems of LASIK surgery as you review surgicaleyes.com you may find that these horror stories came from procedures that didnt use interlase and custom wavefront technology together. See-there is a reason to go with the newer technologies. You can email the people on this site and ask them questions about their procedures and the complications that they faced or are still facing.
One of the problems with LASIK, has been the LASIK 20/20 phenomenon. Some people do technically see 20/20 after the procedure but it is not normal. Instead, it is hazy or blurred. This is probably due to the higher order aberrations mentioned earlier. That is why it is important to get custom LASIK done. The custom wave front lasers can remove those aberrations, hopefully allowing you avoid the LASIK 20/20 phenomenon.
If your doctor says that you dont need the custom treatment, I would ask him if he has a custom wave front machine. There may be a few legitimate reasons to not have the custom procedure done, but I seriously doubt there are many.
If he doesnt have such a machine, I would wonder if his recommendation is based on the best thing for you as the patient. It always pays to get a second opinion anyway and in this case, you should.
These are your eyes that we are talking about and you owe it to yourself to get educated on every aspect of this surgery before undergoing treatment. The surgical eyes web site mentioned above is worth investigating. You need to know what could go wrong and how to choose a doctor and equipment that will allow you to avoid problems.
I will say it again. Try to go with Interlase to cut the corneal flap and try to go with a custom wavefront laser to reduce your risk of complications! I cannot stress this enough.
I went through a screening process to get LASIK done and was categorized as an excellent candidate. They even wanted me to participate in a study program that would save me about $600. I still turned it down. In the end, I decided that I didnt want to get my eyes lasered.
Of course, there is something to be said about not wearing glasses or contacts anymore and there are many happy patients out there. I just want you to be aware of both the pros and the cons.
Do you really need to have LASIK done? I think its worth it to investigate natural vision therapy and see what you can do about correcting your vision naturally before permanently etching your current prescription into your cornea.
Many people have gotten results from vision therapy. A few have even gotten rid of their glasses and /or contacts forever. An industry insider has informed me that this does happen but not very often.
There are a couple of books to check out on natural vision improvement if you are interested in that alternative. Relearning to See by Thomas Quakenbush is one that comes to mind.
The original pioneer in vision improvement was Dr. Bates. He was an early 20th century ophthalmologist who really stuck his neck out to go against the prevailing theories of the day (that still persist). Many of the people who he helped were very grateful, Im sure.
I have dabbled with naturally improving my vision. I have experienced a decrease of tension, but I have not recovered 20/20 vision. This type of improvement does take work and determination.
That is why there is LASIK today; everyone is different in their wishes and expectations. If you are in a hurry and you dont mind the permanent etching of a prescription in your cornea, LASIK might be for you.
I hope this helps you on your quest to learn more about LASIK Surgery and point you in the right directions to gain more information so that you can make an informed decision before deciding to undergo this often expensive elective procedure.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or suggest treatment for any health condition. Please consult a health care professional if you have or suspect you have any health related problem for proper diagnoses and treatment

Streching exercises

Stretching exercises are important before you begin your workout. Always remember to stretch before and after your workout. Stretching exercises also give you health and fitness by making you more flexible.
This helps you in all sorts of exercises, even running, you will find stretching the leg muscles daily will give you better performance at fitness exercises such as running.
Remember for optimal health and fitness always perform stretches, as we mature we become more and more less flexible, this is why it is good to stretch daily.
Stretching exercises for health and fitness are very easy to perform. The normal ones for legs such as touching the toes and hamstring stretches are your most common stretches. For arms you can do anything from arm twists. For your upper body a great stretching exercise is to perform twists side to side with a weightless barbell behind your neck. If you are are pursuing martial arts or want excellent flexibility in the legs then you can perform the splits each day, take it very easy when doing this if you are new to exercise, pushing your self could result in severe pain, and in some cases, even damage.
Visit http://www.weight-lifting-4u.com for further information.

Nutritional Nutrients

Nutrients form the basis for your body, emotional and spiritual needs. Fruit, vegetables, carbohydrates and fish and lean meat is important, but we've all heard the scare stories, 'Mad cow disease', 'bird flu', 'radioactive fish', 'GM crop nightmares' - and the coincidental timing of all these has made some consumers think twice about what they eat. Following these and many food-borne illnesses that have erupted across the international community, many people have made adjustments to their grocery lists, opting for organically grown meats and vegetables.
But what of the soil that each of these is derived from (cows eat grass too!). The sad fact is our soil is deficient. This is not only the result of a consistent showering of pesticides and fertilisers, but also through our own methods of farming that have only during the past 100 years or so become radically altered from our forebears gentle methods.
All over the world these food scares erupt - and while some may be founded in fantasy, others are quite frighteningly true. However, whatever you read or hear about, it really is up to you to decide what you want inside your body - and the good news is, that its easier than you might at first believe.
To be 100% sure that your food is safe and free from any harmful additives, you cannot go far wrong with organic fruit, meat and vegetables and free-range eggs. Even simpler, if you have a farmer near-by make their day (and a friend!) by buying their fresh eggs - you can see for yourself the chickens having 'free range' of the paddock. Or if you have access to the web, look at these informative sites: www.farmgatedirect.com www.freedomfood.co.uk And, when you make determined efforts to compare prices stacked on supermarket shelves, organic foods can be found to be often very similar!
But another way is to ensure that you have enough of the healthy stuff inside you is to ensure vitamins and minerals are inside you by supplementing. Hundreds of examples all competing for shelving space line the supermarket store aisles and it is all down to basics ingredients when hunting for the best one. The golden rule is, the minimum amount of additives or additional ingredients inside the capsule, equals the best natural product. And why is natural best? Because it suits the human body holistically.
Take the simple A, B and C Vitamins. Vitamin A is needed to help your eyes, skin and growth Vitamin B crowd help a fight multitude of ailments (PMS, epilepsy, exhaustion, mental/emotional breakdowns and also help the adrenal gland). Vitamin C is a crucial requirement on a daily basis to help boost energy, fight arthritis and offer protection for our immune system. Any physical, mental or emotional exertion can rid the body of it almost completely.
To ensure you received all or any one of these vitamins into your system, you'd need to eat a variety of liver, oily fish, nuts, dairy produce, whole grains, citrus fruits and juices, potatoes and salads. And there's also iron, zinc, iodine and calcium to think of - these are gained through consuming a whole bunch of other foods … most of us don't eat any of these foods - the majority of us stick to a familiar over-cooked (heat kills the enzymes needed to break it all down*), over-processed diet that simply lacks all of these! To ensure you get the best everyday, chose a vitamin supplement that has the best natural ingredients - ensure you take a little time to read all that's detailed on the side of the bottle. Simple really!
*NOTE: Ask us for our truly fascinating newsletter on Enzymes - it'll make you think twice about preferring overcooked veggies with your next meal!
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7 Incredible Lifesaving Tips to Manage Your Anger

Experiencing anger is extremely dangerous to your health. It causes your adrenaline and blood pressure to rise up at above normal levels. Moreover, you could end up hurting someone or doing something that you will regret later on.
Here are 7 fantastic tips to help you be the one in control of yourself, and not the hazardous madman called "Anger."
1) Relax and visualize.
Calm yourself down. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, imagine all those bottled-up fury come out of your nose and mouth. Release it and be free. Repeat this step over and over until you feel peace inside.
Then visualize being in a place where you feel most happy, calm, and relaxed. It may be a place like a beach, garden, scenic locations, or anywhere else you might think of. Just imagine being there and inhaling the essence of your serene environment. By doing this, you will not find it hard to attain inner peace.
2) Pour out your anger to safe outlets.
You had a big quarrel with your former friend. He betrayed your trust. You want vengeance and you're raving mad.
Hold it. Restrain yourself.
Try your best to get away from him as far as you can. You don't want to hurt anyone. Anger can possess your brain into doing something that you wouldn't dare do before.
How do you then release your anger if you can't restrict it anymore?
Buy a punching bag, then pour out all your rage in it. Punch it, kick it, strangle it. Imagine the punching bag is your enemy. When you're done, you will feel a sense of satisfaction. You may even punch and kick through thin air if you desire.
Another way to release it is "SHOUT!" Find a distant place where you can be alone - a place where no one can hear you. At the top of your voice, yell out loud "Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh." You can choose any word you like as long as you release all those angry demons out of your chest.
3) Forgive and forget.
Nothing could ease your mental and emotional pains better than by forgiving someone that has hurt you in the past. It is very unhealthy to burden yourself with unnecessary torture brought about by unpleasant memories of other people's demeaning acts.
Moreover, if they have taken something important away from you, would it make sense to also sacrifice your health and lifestyle? Of course not.
4) Exercise.
Engaging in exercises increases your endorphins. Your angry mood could miraculously change to a happy one if you get involved in exercises that you enjoy doing.
5) Have a circle of "sponge" friends.
Do you feel relieved when you voice out all your problems to close friends and relatives? That's the power of voicing out your inner feelings.
Always have someone to talk to when you're down, when you're depressed, when you're mad, or in any other occasion when you feel you have to get the thorns out of your chest.
6) Listen to soothing music.
It calms your soul. A 20 minute session of listening to relaxing music while resting comfortably could soothe the upset spirit. Take deep breaths often.
7) Pray.
Deadly consequences arise when people could not hold back their fury. Ask for guidance that you will be able to control your temper. Prayers bring inner peace to those who ask for it.
There you have it - 7 essential rules to release yourself from the treacherous killer known as "Anger." Manage your anger, save your life.

Slimming Solutions

Here are 5 solutions to slimming:
1. Set Mini-Goals: Try setting short-term or "mini" goals to help you achieve your goal of shedding the excess weight. Keep in mind that your mini goals should be specific and realistic, and they should have a measurable outcome. Setting your target in specific, measurable terms will increase your chances of accomplishing your long term goal of losing those unwanted pounds. In addition, remember to be realistic. If you've been consuming over 2000 calories, dont try cutting back to 1400 overnight. And if you haven't exercised all year, dont aim to run three miles each day.
2. Budget your foods: If you can budget your money, you can budget your foods. Aim to have a specific amount of fruits, vegetables, starches, proteins and fats throughout the day, or for each meal. By limiting the amounts of each type of food, you will be able to stay within a calorie level that will enable you to loose weight.
3. Keep a food journal: Keeping a food journal helps you to avoid what is called "unconscious eating" - eating that leads to consumption of excess calories, beyond what you may have ever intended to consume. In fact, research actually shows that keeping a food journal will help you to loose weight!
If emotional eating is a big sticking point for you, then journaling your moods, such as stress, boredom or anger can help you pinpoint problem areas, which in some cases may serve as triggers to overeating. Once you understand the problem, you can find a solution that does not involve opening the boxes of cookies or the jar of jellybeans.
4. Get moving: If you dont have time to get to the gym or to your aerobics class, be sure to engage in some physical activity at some point during the day. Believe it or not, even light physical activity can help you shed excess pounds and get into shape.
Burning an extra 500 calories each day will help you to loose one pound per week. So, be sure to take advantage of the longer days with outside walks and outdoor activities. In addition to burning excess calories, getting out of the house to get your body moving will keep you away from the refrigerator.
5. Drink lots of water: Water will help to curb your appetite; it will also keep you hydrated during the hot months ahead, And here is an added bonus: Cold water helps you to burn calories! That's right - the process of bringing cold water to your body's own temperature involves expending energy, or calories. So carry a water bottle with you at all times, and aim for at least eight ounce glasses each day (or ten if you exercise).
Read more health articles here: http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/articles/index.htm

Healthy Habits

Incorporate these HEALTHY HABITS in your life
Following healthy habits can statistically increase your lifespan by up to 11 years! That's a lot of extra time to get to live, and you can add it to your life by following a few simple habits:
1. Never skip your breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Still, many of us skip it thinking that it will help us shed pounds. When you skip breakfast your blood sugar levels, as well as other nutrient levels drop, depriving you of the required nutrition and energy for the rest of the day. Breakfast eaters have a more positive attitude toward school and work, and they perform better.2. Bite into something good. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Fruits are cool and juicy, so they get you the water you need to stay hydrated and they also provide the vitamins and nutrients that fat-free snack foods don't. They're good and they taste sweet - and some contain antioxidants that help prevent aging.
3. Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don't eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal.
4. Quit smoking. Now, studies show that quitting smoking, you can restore your heart function back to that of a non-smoker within a few years. You'll breathe easier, cut down your chances for heart disease, cancer, and more. But you knew that, right? Also, if you're not a smoker, stay away from those who do. Secondhand smoke is a major killer - don't be afraid to tell people gently that you'd prefer it if they didn't smoke around you.
5. Exercise Daily! You don't have to be a professional athlete - just make time for 15-20 minutes of exercise daily. Take a walk, dance crazily to music, go for a jog, play volleyball on the beach, whatever it takes to get your heart pumping for a little while.
6. Get your sleep. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night can extend your life. Your body has time to recharge every night so it's fresh and ready to face the onslaught of the next day.
7. Every day, devote a little time for yourserlf. Take some time out of your "busy" schedule. First, eliminate all forms of intrusion. Then close your eyes, breathe deeply and let your thoughts float downstream like a log carried by the river. You can practice meditation or relax in a hot bath with aromatherapy. When a thought comes up, just watch it float away.
Read more health articles here: http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/articles/index.htm

Food Sources That Boost Glutathione Naturally

Glutathione, the body's master antioxidant and detoxifier, is one of the 14 "Superfoods" listed in SuperFoods Rx : Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, co-authored by Dr Steven Pratt.
Glutathione levels cannot be increased to a clinically beneficial extent by orally ingesting a single dose of glutathione. (1) This is because glutathione is manufactured inside the cell, from its precursor amino acids, glycine, glutamate and cystine.
Hence food sources or supplements that increase glutathione must either provide the precursors of glutathione, or enhance its production by some other means.
The manufacture of glutathione in cells is limited by the levels of its sulphur-containing precursor amino acid, cysteine.
Cysteine - as a free amino acid - is potentially toxic and is spontaneously catabolized or destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract and blood plasma. However, when it is present as a cysteine-cysteine dipeptide, called cystine, it is more stable than cysteine.
Consuming foods rich in sulphur-containing amino acids can help boost glutathione levels. Here are some food sources and dietary supplements that help boost glutathione levels naturally.
1. N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC)
It is derived from the amino acid L-Cysteine, and acts as a precursor of glutathione. NAC is quickly metabolized into glutathione once it enters the body. It has been proven in numerous scientific studies and clinical trials, to boost intracellular production of glutathione, and is approved by the FDA for treatment of accetaminophen overdose. Because of glutathione's mucolytic action, NAC (brand name Mucomyst) is commonly used in the treatment of lung diseases like cystic fibrosis, bronchitis and asthma.
2. Milk Thistle, Silymarin
Milk thistle is a powerful antioxidant and supports the liver by preventing the depletion of glutathione. Silymarin is the active compound of milk thistle. It is a natural liver detoxifier and protects the liver from many industrial toxins such as carbon tetrachloride, and more common agents like alcohol.
3. Alpha Lipoic Acid
Made naturally in body cells as a by-product of energy release, ALA increases the levels of intra-cellular glutathione, and is a natural antioxidant with free radical scavenging abilities. It has the ability to regenerate oxidized antioxidants like Vitamin C and E and helps to make them more potent. ALA is also known for its ability to enhance glucose uptake and may help prevent the cellular damage accompanying the complications of diabetes. It also has a protective effect in the brain.
4. Natural Foods That Boost Glutathione Levels
Asparagus is a leading source of glutathione. Foods like broccoli (2), avocado and spinach are also known to boost glutathione levels. Raw eggs, garlic and fresh unprocessed meats contain high levels of sulphur-containing amino acids and help to maintain optimal glutathione levels.
5. Undenatured Whey Protein Isolate
Whey protein contains proteins like alpha-lactalbumin which is is rich in sulphur-containing amino acids. Heating or pasteurization destroys the delicate disulphide bonds that give these proteins their bioactivity. Undenatured whey protein is a non-heated product that preserves bioactive amino acids like cystine. It has been shown in numerous scientific studies and clinical trials to optimize glutathione levels.
6. Curcumin (Turmeric)
Treatment of brain cells called astrocytes, with the Indian curry spice, curcumin (turmeric) has been found to increase expression of the glutathione S-transferase and protect neurons exposed to oxidant stress. (3)
7. Balloon Flower Root
Changkil saponins (CKS) isolated from the roots of the Chinese herbal medicine, Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), commonly called Balloon Flower Root or Jie Geng, have been found to increase intracellular glutathione (GSH) content and significantly reduce oxidative injury to liver cells, minimise cell death and lipid peroxidation. (4)
8. Selenium
Selenium is a co-factor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Selenium supplements have become popular because some studies suggest they may play a role in decreasing the risk of certain cancers, and in how the immune system and the thyroid gland function. However, too much selenium can cause some toxic effects including gastrointestinal upset, brittle nails, hair loss and mild nerve damage.
Disclaimer: The information here is not provided by medical professionals and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Nutritional supplements, while usually benign, can produce adverse reactions in some people. As with prescribed drugs, long-term effects from supplements are often unknown. Pregnant women and children should not take supplements except after consultation with their healthcare provider. Never exceed the recommended dosage on the container. If you observe adverse effects stop taking the supplement immediately and contact your healthcare provider.
References:
1. The systemic availability of oral glutathione
Witschi A, Reddy S, Stofer B, Lauterburg BH. [Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1992;43(6):667-9.]
2. Dietary approach to attenuate oxidative stress, hypertension, and inflammation in the cardiovascular system
Wu L, Ashraf MH, Facci M, Wang R, Paterson PG, Ferrie A, Juurlink BH. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 May 4;101(18):7094-9. Epub 2004 Apr 21.]
3. Can Curry Protect Against Alzheimer's?
American Physiological Society (APS) Press release; 16-Apr-2004
4. Protective effect of saponins derived from roots of Platycodon grandiflorum on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative hepatotoxicity
Lee KJ, Choi CY, Chung YC, Kim YS, Ryu SY, Roh SH, Jeong HG. [Toxicol Lett. 2004 Mar 7;147(3):271-82.]

Roadblocks To Wellness

Have you noticed that as we live in the 21st century, health and wellness is becoming the 'in' thing. Ever wondered why, with the heightened awareness of being healthy, 1 out of 2 Americans are overweight, and 1 out of 3 are obese. In fact, 1 out of 5 children are obese. If we are all eating 99% fat free food, why are more than 60% of the western world either obese or overweight?
There seems to be several roadblocks that make paving our way to wellness difficult. They are real and they are working. Never before in our history have we as a nation been so fat! And it's not just about how you look. It's about your life and how long you will live.
Let's look at some of these roadblocks and how changing our thinking can help pave the way to weight loss:
1. Marketing for profit not fact!
The snack food industry's main concern is profit. Last year alone the snack food industry racked up $50 billion in sales. Let's face it, when taste and nutrition collide, taste always wins. These types of foods such as soft drinks, potato chips, corn chips, peanuts, french fries, pretzels, cookies or candy bars, where taste prevails and you can't just eat one are know as trigger foods. This occurs at the expense of our health and wellness. Nutritional research has documented that these types of foods, high in carbohydrates, trigger the brain to crave more, thus the name 'trigger foods'. Trigger foods are a huge roadblock when trying to lose weight and get healthy. Learn to have control over these foods rather than allow them to control you.
2. Diet-hype!
Diets today are confusing! Creators of such diets will tell you anything to sell you everything! One reason diets fail is because they may promise something that doesn't really happen. They may offer a little secret that you can do some trick like eliminate all sugars or fats and you'll keep the weight off. When the weight doesn't come off it becomes frustrating and discouraging. You move onto the next diet fad you've heard about and the cycle starts over again. The fact is, there IS no secret to weight loss and maintenance. If you are eating a diet with the appropriate protein requirements and the right carbohydrates, avoiding trigger foods and staying within your resting metabolic rate you will lose weight. It is always about healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.
3. Obscene proportions!
Have you ever noticed when you eat at a restaurant servings are no longer a plateful but rather a platterful? Portions have exploded since the 70's. There is constant competition in the restaurant industry today. Why are portion sizes expanding? People may spend $6 on a dinner but they want to take home a doggie bag. They want a big portion so they feel they have got their money's worth. Many would agree that if they went to a restaurant and got a small portion, they would not be satisfied and would likely go to another restaurant next time. This leads to constant competition for quantities of food for low cost. And the cheapest way to make more food is to add more hidden fat and sugar. In fast food restaurants, supersized servings of french fries and sodas are often two to five times larger than when they were first introduced. Jumbo portions appeal to our pocketbooks, but assault our waistlines! It really contributes to the obesity epidemic!
4. Unrealistic Expectations!
Fashion focuses on beauty, glamour and extreme thinness. Less than 10% of the population genetically fit the professional model height and weight charts. Yet men and woman are sold this image everyday. They are told this is normal, this is attainable, but it is a lie! It is psychologically unhealthy. The fact is 70% of women feel depressed after looking at pictures of models. When trying to reach a model-like shape as your goal it often feels unattainable and impossible, it makes weight loss and wellness more difficult and frustrating. Learn what your healthy weight range for your height is and strive for that!
5. Instant Quick Fix Society!
Ironically, society is perhaps one of the biggest roadblocks to wellness today. We live in a quick fix, lipo-suction, instant-coffee convenience world. We are a society that craves fitness, beauty and loathe fatness. We want instant, convenient results. We don't welcome delayed gratification. Lipo-suction, while definitely helpful for some, in general terms is the dieter's instant coffee. The truth is, quick fixes often are short term. For example, on a typical diet, losing 45 pounds in 3 weeks is not nearly as healthy as losing it more slowly and stands a better chance of being put back on. Patience and understanding can be a virtue and mean permanent wellness.
These roadblocks now find themselves not only in America but extending into countries all around the world. Take a look at a few world wide facts:
Countries that traditionally had healthy diets, like Japan, now have an incidence of obesity that has increased from 5% to 20%, suggesting that the obesity epidemic doesn't solely lie in America.
In poor countries around the world, as soon as they are introduced to American foods, the richer classes become obese and the poorer classes remain malnourished. In fact, in some parts of Africa, obesity afflicts more children than malnutrition! McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Hungry Jacks, and Pizza Hut are only a few of the fast food companies leading western countries into obesity.
There are 158,000,000 Type 2 diabetics in the world today. This disease is closely related to obesity, because 95% of diabetics are obese. It is estimated that in the next ten years, there will be 212,000,000 diabetics in the world and 80% of all heart disease will occur in Type 2 diabetics.
Wellness is a way of life that changes everything; the way you feel, the way you relate to people, the way you look, and how long you will be around for your family. The problem is people don't know what to do. With these roadblocks they are overwhelmed, they think there is no answer. The good news is there are answers! Begin by educating yourself with a few health and nutrition tips. It doesn't have to be difficult. Weight loss and wellness is a process that not only gives you physical results but changes your thinking and ultimately your behavior forever. With the right information, there is no roadblock strong enough to stop you on your way to lasting good health!

Be Aware Of Your Reasons

You have decided that you want to lose weight and improve your health. What is the first step? Start by asking yourself what your reason(s)is for wanting to make this change.
This may sound trivial, but if you do not have a conscience and powerful reason for wanting to lose weight, you will find plenty of reasons not to.
I'm assuming that, like me, a lot of you have tried and failed at some previous attempt to lose weight in the past. For me, the last time was about 2 1/2 years ago. I had lost about 50 pounds, which I had killed myself to do, and had kept it off for about 6 months. Two later, I gained back the 50 pounds plus another 8 pounds.
I had plenty of excuses. My wife and I bought our first house, my second son was born, I took a part-time job in the evening, ect... I kept finding excuses not to work out and my diet soon followed and went down the tubes.
After working so hard why did I let this happen?
I believe now that it came down to the fact that my reason for wanting to stay lean and healthy had changed. When I first began, I kept looking at pictures of myself at nineteen and I wanted to look like that again. There was nothing I could do about the thinning hair, but I could change my body. But somewhere along the way, looking like I did twelve years ago was no longer important.
The point to all of this is that you need to consciously pick a reason and write it down. It will probably be more than one and they should be something that is important to you. Important enough to get you through those rough days ahead when you feel like quiting.
Post you reasons somewhere that you will see them everyday. At your desk, ect... I like to place mine on the refrigerator so when I get that craving for some ice cream I have to stop and ask myself if it is worth it. It feels so good when I reach in and grab a bottle of water instead.
We all are starting from a different place. We all have reasons why we are where we are. We all have reasons why we don't want to be here anymore. Knowing these reasons and being aware when they change will help you greatly in achieving your goals.

Asbestos and Cancer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos related cancer, you may want to seek legal advice. Typical legal settelements can reach five million dollars.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

The Simplest Asthma Solution

During the Democratic convention the Reverend Al Sharpton quoted a shocking statistic: One third of the children in Harlem suffer from asthma. This shouldn't be completely surprising since asthma cases have been consistently increasing over the years, especially in the cities, escalating recently during the rollback of some key environmental laws, but it is a trend we must turn back.
While parents have only limited control over the environment where they raise their children, there is a personal environmental decision they can make that may dramatically reduce the symptoms their children experience. It all comes down to detergent, and not just any detergent. It is the detergent that they use to wash their children's clothes and sheets. The biggest selling detergents in the United States contain large amounts of irritating phosphates, which are not only a major irritant to the skin and respiratory system, but a source of serious pollution, and a component in global warming.
If you are wondering if your laundry detergent contains phosphates just read the label, it is listed there. In most industrialized countries phosphate detergents are outlawed for good reason, but in the United States the chemical industry has a strong lobby and cheap phosphates help manufacturers keep their costs low, so their use continues. The next time you walk though the laundry detergent section of your supermarket, take a deep breath and notice how much the smell irritates your nose and lungs.
What kinds of detergent contain low, or no phosphates? Baby detergent! No mother would dream of washing their newborn's clothes and sheets in the family's powdered detergent! That would give their baby's delicate skin rashes, not to mention an increase in crying and crankiness. There are many readily available natural detergents that are phosphate-free and it's worth the time to find them.
We have noticed tremendous improvements for both children and adults when their clothes and sheets are consistently washed in a phosphate-free detergent. By itself this change may not alleviate all of the symptoms of asthma and those related skin rashes, but it clearly removes an insidious irritant from the equation.
It might be helpful to explain why this simple change is so effective. Testing in Europe shows that, while sleeping, people are between two thousand and ten thousand times more sensitive to chemical and electromagnetic pollution than while they are awake. When a child's pajamas are washed with a chemical irritant and they sleep on bedclothes containing those same toxins, their immune system is challenged nightly, during a time when they are most vulnerable. Their body's nutritional reserves are consumed in that battle and they are less able to defend themselves from the pollutants they encounter during their day. Asthma and allergies are not produced by a single irritant, but by an accumulation of minor irritants that eventually overwhelm the body's ability to adapt. It is not a huge leap to imagine that removing a respiratory irritant from the sleeping environment, where a person spends one third of their time, is going to produce an improvement in a child's ability to breathe.

What Causes Bad Breath Anyway?

We have all suffered from an occasional case of bad breath. It's estimated that 50 to 65 percent of the population suffer from bad breath. A few unfortunate people suffer from chronic bad breath, seeming never to get rid of the foul odor that escapes every time they open their mouth. But what is the main cause of bad breath?
Like all living organisms, we have a variety of other organisms that live in or on us in a constant balance of life. In case of bad breath, the main cause is the bacteria that normally occur within your mouth; or more specifically the waste products these bacteria produce from their normal biological life.
Life of Bacteria in Your Mouth
Your body is a host to billions of bacteria, and the majority of them are beneficial to you; there are bacteria in your stomach which aid food digestion, there are helpful bacteria on your skin which protect you against other harmful bacteria, and there are bacteria that just love the environment of your mouth. The last type is called anaerobic bacteria.
Anaerobic bacteria live best in conditions where there is no oxygen. There are plenty of places for anaerobic bacteria to live in your mouth; under the gum line, on the back of your tongue, between the teeth, and just about any place in your mouth that may be covered by a thin film. It is the waste products of the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath.
Again, a person's mouth is home to hundreds of different species of bacteria. There is a constant battle going on in your mouth at all times. A battle for living space between that cause bad breath and those that don't. The precise balance between these types of bacteria, determines the freshness of your breath.
How Do They Cause Bad Breath?
Through normal living process, these bacteria produce waste products in your mouth. The most common of these are volatile sulfur compounds with very unpleasant odor. These compounds are referred to as "volatile" because they readily evaporate when exposed to air under normal temperatures. This volatility of these compounds can offend those around you very quickly.
While these volatile sulfur compounds are principal factor of bad breath cause, the anaerobic bacteria produce numerous other compounds that also have such offensive odors. They include: Cadaverine - creates the smell associated with corpses Putrescine - causes the odor of decaying meat Skatole - has the characteristic smell of human feces Isovaleric Acid - produces the smell of sweaty feet
What Do Anaerobic Bacteria Eat?
The waste products mentioned above are produced as anaerobic bacteria digest proteins. Therefore, anytime you eat a source of protein, the bacteria in your mouth get a meal too.
Even without an obvious source of protein, the anaerobic bacteria in your mouth can find a protein source anytime. There are many natural protein sources in your mouth, from dead skin cells to proteins found in saliva.
Conclusion
While you can't do anything about the fact that bacteria live in your mouth, it is important to realize that the disturbed balance between anaerobic bacteria and other types is a key factor in the cause of bad breath. You should do everything you can to make the conditions of your mouth as unattractive to anaerobic bacteria as possible.

Listen to your Body, It is Wiser than You Think!!

Each year millions of dollars are spent on vitamin pills in the United States. Over two-thirds buy them because their doctors have recommended that they do. Others do so independently.
Those who do so independently either take one pill each day and expect that it will deliver all the vitamins that are needed for the whole day or take an arsenal of pills, and powders.
No two people have the same nutrient requirements. I may need a bit more Vitamin C, or you may need a bit more Protein than I do. Not only are we different genetically, but our lifestyles affect our nutrient needs.
Physical disabilities and illnesses also affect the amount of supplements we need to ingest on a daily basis. Another factor is the amount of medications you take.
What risk is involved when we take too much of one kind of vitamin supplement?? Taking vitamins A and D alone can cause an overdose , which has serious ill effects. Powdered bone is a poor source of Calcium as it has been found to have large amounts of lead. Kelp tablets have been found to contain raised levels of arsenic. Vitamins C and E in large doses are toxic in some people.
Example:
Jane is a middle-age woman who is concerned about bone loss. She decides to take a Calcium supplement by its self. The problem here is that calcium needs Vitamin D to help the absorption of Calcium. Her body will eliminate the unwanted Calcium, therefore she is receiving no benefit from the calcium. The money she has spent on the Calcium has been wasted.
It is vital that when you begin to take a vitamin, mineral and other supplements that you take a multivitamin which has the balanced nutrients that we require. Take only the recommended dosage. Absorption is the key to a successful vitamin supplement regime. The truth is our bodies will regulate how many nutrients we need each day.
How do we know if we need a vitamin, mineral, or other supplement? You eat irregularly for long periods of time. You eat a large amount of fast foods and prepared foods. Your exercise regime warrants the need for more nutrients. Your doctor has recommended that you do so. You consume less than 1500 calories each day.
The fact remains that the best way to maintain a healthy body and mind is to have a balanced source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The main source should be through our daily consumption of foods. But as our lives move at a faster pace it is necessary to take steps that will help us ensure we are receiving the nutrients we require daily.
It is important to find the balance between nutrition through food and nutrition through a multi-vitamin supplement.

Tanning The Natural Way

This is a call to everybody. Save your skin, now before it’s too late! Having a tan makes you look more healthy and gorgeous. But how do you do it without bad consequences?
There are a lot of people who would like to have golden brown skin. It is not a new sight when people go to the beach to lie almost naked under the sun just to have an equal tan. But, it is not so safe to do just that because of the super harmful UV rays. Instead of getting only a perfectly golden skin, one might suffer a serious case of skin cancer later, too.
There are plenty of options in tanning today. More modern ways are undergoing medical treatment to acquire a sun-less tan. However, there are still some modern techniques that use radiation powered machines to tan the skin. And radiation is also bad to the health.
There are more techniques that could give a person a perfect tan. But most of them cost so much because they are highly specialized techniques and reduces (or even eliminates) usage of radiation or UV rays. But to an average person who desires to have a golden skin, it would not be very practical to pay so much to have the desired healthy golden skin.
There are ways to achieve a perfect tan without exposing yourself to the sun and spending so much on skin clinics. There are ready-to-use products that are safe to use and are inexpensive compared to the services offered in skin clinics.
Here are some tips for a safe, sunless and costless tanning right in your homes. Remember that before applying those sunless tanners, the body must first be thoroughly cleaned and exfoliated by using loofah or soft cloth to wash off dust and dead skin cells. This way, even tan will surely be achieved. Use moderate amount on knees, elbows and other parts with thick, dry skin, as they will appear darker. Use a sponge paintbrush, about two to three inches in size, in applying tanner on the back. When applying in the face, avoid spreading in and around the eyes. After application, immediately wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Use a make-up wedge when applying at the backs of your hands in smooth even strokes as well as on your feet and between the toes. Apply the tanner using both horizontal and vertical strokes or circular motion.
When using a spray tanner, avoid saturating it. Instead, spray and blend quickly and thoroughly over one body part then do the same to the rest of the body. After making sure the tanner is applied evenly, wait for about one hour before applying any moisturizer or foundation or going swimming/bathing. Also, avoid contact with carpets, fabrics, clothing, and furniture. If necessary, and for a deeper tan, repeat process.
A very important reminder for you: Stay away from the sun from 10:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. That is when the sun is most harmful. Remember that wanting a beautiful skin is not merely an act of vanity. Taking care of your skin is also taking care of your health. Protecting it from the sun is the most important gift you could give your skin. Have a beautiful and safe tan just right in your home without spending so much.
Copyright © Sphinx Cyberworld Ventures

Home Healthcare Careers

One of the fastest growing sectors of the medical industry is that of home health. There are many reasons for this growth, but most important are:
The number of aging and infirm citizens in the country.
The lower cost of care in relation to hospitals and long term care facilities.
The fact health providers consider home care to be the most humane and compassionate form of care.
Because of the rapid growth in this category of healthcare, a variety of employment opportunities have become available. Many hospitals are turning to home health as a method to recapture revenue that would be otherwise lost. Despite the efforts of hospitals to enter the home care market, private companies dominate home health. Since these are primarily businesses that have not been in existence for long, they need to hire not only for in home providers, but also for support and administrative positions.
The future demand for home care will be staggering. In 1997, over 22.4 million households provided home care to a loved one over 50. Over time, this drain on physical and emotional resources will result in a desire for outside help in the home. Additionally, Medicare funding of short term home health care is projected to more than double by 2010. Meanwhile, workers employed in the home health field actually dropped by 29,000 in 2000. The projected employment outlook for just home health aides leads all medical job categories at a whopping 66.8%!
One may think the vast majority of home health related jobs are lower paying aide jobs. Fortunately, this is not the case. As previously mentioned, private home health companies will need to increase their administrative and support positions like medical coders, accounting and billing, medical secretaries, nurse managers, shift schedulers, information technology and marketing. Working for a home health company doesn't necessarily dictate providing direct patient care.
Even among the patient care positions, there is a lot of variety. Though patient care is primarily provided by lower paid home health aides; as demand increases, wages are expected to rise. There are also a lot of opportunities for CNAs, LPNs and registered nurses (RNs). Some patients only require short term care – a few hours a day, or for a fixed period of time. Others require long term care – 24/7 for the rest of their lives.
The bottom line is, there are a lot of employment opportunities in the field of home healthcare. The best paying jobs will be those that require some post secondary training. There is also a lot of variety of work needed, not all employment will provide patient care. If you want a solid future, in one of the most stable industries in the country, studying to be part of the home healthcare market is a wise choice.
Home Healthcare Job Fields
Certified Nurses Aid - CNA
LPN
Registered Nurse
Physician's Assistant
Nurse Manager
Medical Coder
Medical Secretary
Medical Administration
Information Technology
Sales and Marketing
Operations Manager
Find a school in your area - www.top-colleges.com

Top Ten Reasons Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy Works

Studies and research show natural HRT really works. By using natural progesterone you can reap the benefits in the following ways:
1. No side effects: It's a natural hormone to the body with no undesirable side effects, when used as directed. Don't mistake this with synthetic progestins, which are unnatural. Tests show they can cause harmful side effects including, partial loss of vision, birth defects, and breast cancer.
2. Alleviates symptoms: Natural progesterone alleviates symptoms typically associated with menopause and andropause.
3. Menopause comes naturally: Natural NRT allows you to experience menopause naturally—at your own pace—instead of artificial delays or interference with drugs like birth control pills.
4. Easy to test: Determining the need for HRT is easy with a simple saliva test that can be taken in the privacy of your own home.
5. Inexpensive: Natural progesterone can be bought over the counter in the United States, eliminating dependency upon a physician for prescriptions and keeping the costs down. Be aware that not all progesterone is created equal. Many of the recognized brands are full of fillers/chemicals that can build up in the body.
6. Safe: It's safe for women ages 9 to 99 years old. It's safe for men too and can be used as long as it is needed. The name progesterone stands for pro-gestational hormone. It's so safe it's given to pregnant women to prevent premature birth.
7. Relieves PMS: Natural progesterone can be used to relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. You don't have to suffer.
8. Produces well-being: It's has been dubbed the "happy hormone." Most women notice a leveling off of their emotions when they get their progesterone levels up to where they should be, especially if they have been a victim of estrogen dominance. Some women actually report a feeling of well-being or euphoria.
9. Reduces stress: In experiments, progesterone was found to be the basic hormone of adaptation and of resistance to stress. The adrenal glands use it to produce their anti-stress hormones, and when there is enough progesterone, they don't have to produce the potentially harmful cortisone. With progesterone deficiency, we produce too much cortisone, and excessive cortisone causes osteoporosis, aging of the skin, damage to brain cells, and the accumulation of fat, especially on the back and abdomen.
10. You have more freedom: Because natural progesterone is safe, hormone levels can be tested at home, and is available over the counter, you have the freedom to be proactive in your menopause care.
For more information go to: www.menopause-pms-progesterone.org
For the most natural progesterone (bio-identical) go to: www.oasisserene.com
You can find out more about progesterone in my eBook, Balancing Your Hormones Without Drugs…You Can Feel Good Again. For a free subscription to the worldwide e-newlsetter, Advanced Health & Wellness visit us at www.oasisadvancedwellness.com.

Lower Your Cholesterol and Increase Your Chance of Stroke

Recently, The New York Times published an article entitled – "U.S. calls for major cholesterol reductions" and which was also printed in numerous local papers.
Sounds like a great way to fight heart disease, right?
Let's take a look at what the article does not tell you about lowering your cholesterol. Because you must understand the effects of artificially lowering your cholesterol levels without implementing other strategies which are crucial to your health.
Because the fact of the matter is the Framingham Heart study - which has followed people for over 5 decades - proved without a doubt that LDL cholesterol is just one of many misleading factors of heart disease.
In fact, LDL cholesterol levels are only a very minor factor of heart disease and only under certain conditions.
Here is a quote from Christie Ballantyne, M.D., a cardiologist from the Baylor College of Medicine – "The majority of people who end up having heart attacks or stroke don't have high cholesterol."
Here is another quote from an article in the Red Flags Daily By Malcolm Kendrick, M.D. who talks about the Framingham Study results as published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"There is a direct association between falling cholesterol levels over the first 14 years and mortality over the following 18 years."
You guessed it, the mortality rate goes UP.
Scientific research has also proved without a doubt that as people lower their LDL cholesterol level, their chances for stroke go up.
Using cholesterol lowering drugs may artificially lower cholesterol levels, however, they will also increase the death rate from stroke. And because of toxicity to the body, you will also face liver and kidney failure.
You see, your body not only produces cholesterol, it also needs cholesterol for a variety of functions. Cholesterol is an essential part of each and every cell membrane.
Cholesterol also provides the critical starting point and building block for the steroid hormones in our bodies. These hormones include testosterone and estrogen.
As you can see, cholesterol itself is not bad. It is the oxidation of cholesterol which is just one of the factors of developing heart disease.
Oxidation of cholesterol is the more specific problem which would enable the cholesterol to become "sticky" and start to form plaque in the walls of the arteries.
We have all seen an apple cut open and watch as it turns brown - this is oxidation. Your body will oxidize on the inside unless steps are taken to help prevent this.
The way to keep oxidation from damaging your cholesterol is to zap them with antioxidants!
You can keep oxidation of cholesterol in check by eating plenty of food and supplements which are rich in anti-oxidants.
A few of the most powerful anti-oxidants are:
CoenzymeQ10
Vitamin E
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
And the mother of all anti-oxidants - Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA).ALA is produced naturally by your body but, as you age, your body produces less and less.
Low cost food sources which you can easily get, which are high in omega 3's and the right fats to help keep your cholesterol levels in balance.
Garlic
Ginger
Olive oil
Olives
Almonds
Walnuts
Flaxseed
Eggplant
Okra
Organic Eggs
Fresh fruit
These are easily purchased, safe, proven and natural ways to prevent cholesterol from becoming a problem.
And if you are someone who truly needs to lower their cholesterol, there is an organic plant alcohol from sugar cane which is one of the most powerful ways to reduce bad cholesterol levels. It's called - Policosanol.
As for the majority of you, focus on raising your HDL cholesterol levels because as you raise your good cholesterol it decreases the concern about your LDL levels of cholesterol and gives you a better total cholesterol profile.
Some of the best ways to improve your "Good" or HDL cholesterol is through:
Exercise.
Vitamin D
Niacin
Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with raising HDL cholesterol levels
Sources:
Framingham Heart Study conducted on healthy people since the 1950s. cholesterol misleading as only one of 240 factors in heart disease.
Health Sciences Institute e-alert "Cholesterol Cowboys", August 2nd , 2004, Jenny Thompson
Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men – "Ignore the hype focus on cholesterol that matters" April 4, 2004
Hyman, Mark M.D., Liponis, Mark M.D., Ultra-Prevention, The 6-Week Plan that will Make you healthy for life, New York, Scribner, 2003
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The Tibetan and Chinese health Secret: If you read one health report a year, this should be it!

It seems as if the health of America is failing. One million Americans will die of circulatory disease this year. Six hundred thousand lives will be cut short by cancer as well. How did we get in such a mess? I'm not sure. But there is a way out that is starting to generate a real buzz! Since CNN and the gang won't talk about it I decided to write is article.
Dear readers, I want to introduce you to the most nutrient dense food on the earth; wolfberries, or more specifically Lycium Barbarum.
The western scientific community have verified what Chinese and Tibetan health practitioners have known for thousands of years. Wolfberries are the healthiest known food on our planet.
In this report I will be talking specifically about wolfberries. In my research on the subject I found that not all wolfberries are created equal. The three most potent berries in the wolfberry family are Tibetan Goji berries, Chinese Xinjiang wolfberries and Chinese Ningxia wolfberries which all belong to the Lycium genus.
Wolfberries, a national treasure in China, have been used in traditional Chinese folk medicine for over 5,000 years. Ancient Chinese medical texts celebrated wolfberries for their wide range of health benefits including strengthening the 'chi" or life force of the body. The people who consumed this fruit apparently lived free of common diseases like arthritis, cancer and diabetes. Moreover, their life expectancy has reached over 100 years!
In 1988, the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute conducted detailed chemical analysis and nutritional composition studies of the dried wolfberry fruit. Hold on to your socks, this is what they discovered. In addition to being packed with vitamins B1 and B6 (which is needed by the body to convert food into energy), and vitamin E (which has never been found in fruit before), wolfberries contain more protein then whole wheat, 18 amino acids (8 of them essential for life), 21 trace minerals (including significant amounts of zinc, iron, copper, calcium, selenium, phosphorus and germanium; a very rare anti-cancer agent almost never found in food), more beta carotene than carrots, 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges, essential fatty acids (required for the production of hormones and smooth functioning of the brain and nervous system) and is the richest source of carotenoids (natural fat-soluble pigments that play a critical role in vitamin A activity in humans) of any food on the planet. That's not all.
Here is a short list of other health promoting compounds found in Lycium Barbarum:
Beta Sitosterol: An anti-inflammatory agent found to lower cholesterol, and used to treat sexual impotence and prostrate enlargement.
Zeaxanthin and Lutine: Valued for their role in protecting the eyes.
Betaine: Used by the liver to produce Choline which assists detoxification reactions in the liver. Betaine is known to protect DNA, enhance memory, promote muscle growth and protects us from fatty liver disease.
Cyperone: A sesquiterpene used in treatment of cervical cancer. It is also known to benefit heart and blood pressure problems as well as menstruation problems.
Solavetivone: A powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent.
Physalin: A natural compound that boosts the immune system. Found to be effective in treating leukaemia, hepatitis B and cancer.
A laboratory procedure was recently developed to measure the amount of antioxidants the foods we eat contain. The procedure known as ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) was developed by Dr. Guohua Cao at USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, USA. ORAC is one of the most sensitive and reliable methods for measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb free radicals. It is the only test to combine both time and degree of inhibition of free radicals.
According to Tufts University, the average person needs approximately 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units per day to have a significant impact on plasma and tissue antioxidant capacity. Three servings of fruits and vegetables per day provide approximately 1200 ORAC units. This means the average person is short by up to 3800 ORAC units each day, depending on the fruits and vegetables they are choosing and their body's requirements. To make up the difference, experts recommend supplementing our diet with high ORAC foods to become and stay healthy and slow down the aging process caused by free radical damage.
Lycium Barbarum was rated the food with the highest antioxidant ability coming in at an amazing 3,472 ORAC units per fluid oz. Some of the other notable mentions are vitamin E oil at 3,309, pomegranates at 3,037, blueberries 2,400, raspberries 1,220.
Furthermore, wolfberries have been found to have extremely high levels of immune-stimulating polysaccharides. What are polysaccharides? Polysaccharides are very large, long-chain sugar molecules that are nourishment for macrophages (large white blood cells) in the gut wall. The macrophages are then transported to other immune cells, setting off a chain of defensive events in our bodies.
Several years ago German researchers isolated polysaccharides from Echinacea purpurea (often used in medicinal formulations) and mixed them with macrophages in test tubes. They found that the polysaccharides profoundly activated the macrophages, stimulating them to effectively kill tumour cells! Also it was found macrophages increased their production of interleukin, a chemical which spurs the immune system to greater activity, and the polysaccharides also enhanced the activity of B lymphocytes, immune-system cells which fight bacterial infections.
Below are the results of a 2002 study on the effects of a Ningxia wolfberry product on phagocytes. First, why should we care about phagocytes? Phagocytes are a crucial component of the immune system and are found in the spleen. They digest foreign substances that invade the body including bacteria and other disease causing organisms. Having large numbers of phagocytes in the spleen will enable the body to more quickly eliminate foreign substances and thus prevent the development of potential illness.
The effects were astounding. Spleenic phagocyte cell counts (immune cells) increased by 81% and the ORAC (antioxidant capacity) the subjects' whole blood increased as well. Essentially, you could say the subjects' blood became younger.
I believe this little fruit can change the health of the world. Tell your friends about it. If more people knew about wolfberries maybe CNN would stand up and take notice too!
Thank you for spending the time to read my article. My hope is that you have learned something useful and will put that knowledge to use for your own sake and the ones you love.