The 5-Step Alternative to Liposuction

Every day patients walk into doctors office requesting liposuction because they wish to lose weight, reduce their waistline or improve their figure, and they believe liposuction is the fastest and easiest way to accomplish those goals. When I ask if they have tried diet and exercise, the responses range from indignant distain to horrified disbelief.

Liposuction was the second most common cosmetic surgical operation performed in 2010, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, going under the knife does not have to be the answer. Here are five no-nonsense tips that will help you lose weight, tone your body and sculpt your figure to your liking -- without liposuction. It does take some work and sacrifice, but you'll save lots of money and feel so much better about yourself.

1) Eliminate White Starches from Your Diet

Some diets are just too complicated to follow. They involve counting calories, weighing food and subscribing to home-delivered healthy meals. Simply avoiding all white starches, like white bread, white rice and pasta, potatoes and sugar will help you to lose weight immediately and easily. White starches have a high glycemic index, which means they convert to sugar more readily in your body, which turns into fat. They stimulate more insulin production and keep fat around your belly, the worst place for bathing suits and the health of your heart!

2) Drink Water, Not Diet Soda

Proper hydration is a weight-loss pearl that many people forget. Drinking lots of water increases your energy level, making it easier to stay active and exercise regularly. Our body's metabolism is boosted by water intake because it works harder to raise the temperature of the water imbibed. Muscle tissue contains approximately 75 percent water, and adequate hydration helps maintain muscle tone, which increases the body's fat burning capacity. Doctors recommend drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, but that number should be increased in hotter or drier weather or when exercising. Tips to stay hydrated include keeping a bottle of water at bedside and at your desk at work, and be sure to drink water at every meal.

Recent studies have demonstrated that drinking diet soda actually causes a wider waist in humans because it can increase your appetite. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in diet soda, was shown in another study to raise the blood sugar in mice prone to diabetes. So stick to water while dieting to achieve maximum effects of hydration.

3) Aerobic and Weight Training at Least Four Times Per Week

The dirty little secret about weight loss is simple: Burn more calories than you eat and the fat will be shed! Aerobic exercise is only effective if you are working hard enough to sweat and increase your heart rate (pulse) to work hard enough to burn fat. The fat-burning zone is the zone at which you are doing enough work to burn fat, and this is related to your heart rate or pulse while exercising. The fat burning zone formula is the following:

Fat burning zone = 220 - (your age) x (.75)

The result of this formula tells you approximately how fast your heart must beat during the exercise period to burn fat. Yes, that means getting out there and sweating and working hard for at least 30-45 minutes, four times a week. To help you endure the pain, try exercising while watching your favorite movie or sporting event. I do cardio while watching Jets football games on TV -- it channels my enthusiasm and/or frustration for my team in a positive way and keeps me away from the beer and nachos! Compile several "workout playlists" on your MP3 player, consisting of your favorite upbeat music. The fervent beat will provide a nice cadence to your run or powerwalk and help you forget your misery.

Add weight training to your exercise routine to tone muscles, especially in your "problem areas." I am not recommending spot training, as I do not think it works. Rather, exercise large and small muscle groups to tone the body and contribute to overall weight loss. Circuit training is an effective tool that combines weight training with aerobic benefits. For beginners, it is a good idea to employ a certified trainer to show you how to use the weights to avoid injury.

4) Avoid Stress

Stress contributes to weight gain in various ways. It causes the release of the hormone cortisol, which can slow metabolism and alter blood sugar levels. It can cause unhealthy food cravings for sugar or carbohydrates. During times of particularly high stress, people eat in an attempt to fulfill emotional needs.

If you are tempted to eat when you're not hungry, find a distraction. Do not skip meals, especially breakfast. Identify comfort foods and keep them out of your home or office. Practice relaxation skills such as yoga, massage, meditation or exercise. Get adequate sleep and welcome encouragement and support from friends and family.

5) Be Realistic

I am always on the look-out for patients seeking cosmetic surgery with unrealistic expectations. These people will never be happy with their surgical result because they expect too much. The same philosophy applies to this plan that I have described. Set realistic goals for yourself so you will not be disappointed and will stick to the program. Understand that your age, genetics, schedule, home life and overall outlook all contribute to your outer appearance, and learn to be happy with what you have.

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Posted in: health tips,liposuction news,Weight loss tips

Snoring Information

One of the most annoying health conditions, snoring, more than being a disorder, is a source of embarrassment for the affected person. It is most commonly noticed in adults, though young people cannot be completely excluded from the potential list of people affected by it. 

Snoring occurs when air flows past the relaxed tissues in your throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe. This leads to the production of hoarse or harsh sounds. Loud sounds, followed by heavy breathing, make up the only symptom found during snoring.

There are various reasons due to which a person snores. To know more about the causes and symptoms of snoring, go through the following lines.

Causes Of Snoring 

*Mouth anatomy

*Overweight

*Alcohol consumption

*Nasal problems

*Deviated nasal septum 

*Sleep apnea 

*Narrowing of the area at the back of the throat

*Sleeping on the back

*Excessive smoking

*Asthma 

*Cold or flu 

*Receding lower jaw

*Blocked nose 

*Having a large uvula or enlarged tonsils

*Having low levels of thyroid hormone 

*Menopause 

*Inflammation and irritation to the nostrils and throat

*Allergies 

Symptoms Of Snoring 

*Loud sounds, followed by heavy breathing

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Posted in: health tips,snoring information gist

Obesity Information

Obesity is a condition of the body, wherein there is an increase in the body adipose tissue (fat tissue) mass. The food that we consume on a daily basis provides us with the nutrients required for proper functioning of the body.

The calories present in food items are used in the form of energy, by our body, for accomplishing various physical tasks. However, regular binging on high calorie food leads to an accumulation of excess calories in the body, as fat, resulting in obesity. To know more about the causes and symptoms of obesity, read through the following lines.

Causes Of Obesity

.Genetic factors

.Physical inactivity 

.Emotional or psychological factors

 .Stress

 .High-fat / high calorie diet

 .Medical problems

 .Quitting smoking

 .Certain medications 

 .Wrong combination of food

 .Pregnancy

 .Overeating

 .Family Influence

 .Eating too much sugary foods 

.Slow metabolism Weight cycling, caused by repeated attempts to lose weight by dieting, followed by binge eating

. Underlying illness, such as hypothyroidism

. Eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder 

.Insufficient sleep

 Symptoms Of Obesity

 .Breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

.Certain types of cancers, such as prostate and bowel cancer in men and br*ast and uterine cancer in women

 .Coronary artery (heart) disease

 .Depression

 .Gallbladder or liver disease 

.Gastroesophageal reflux disease

 .(GERD) High blood pressure

.High cholesterol Joint disease, such as osteoarthritis Stroke Diabetes (type 2) Joint problems, for example arthritis Heart disease Heartburn Snoring Problems with fertility and pregnancy Urinary incontinence Shorter life expectancy Negative self-image Social isolation Discrimination Difficulty in undertaking normal tasks Difficulty in maintaining personal hygiene

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Posted in: health hazards,obesity information

MICROWAVE COOKING IS DANGEROUS

There have been very few scientific studies done on the effect of eating food microwaved food. This is rather surprising when you think about the fact that microwaves have been with us for only a few decades - and that in that time the incidence of many diseases has continued to increase.

Two researchers, Blanc and Hertel, confirmed that microwave cooking significantly changes food nutrients. Hertel previously worked as a food scientist for several years with one of the major Swiss food companies. He was fired from his job for questioning procedures in processing food because they denatured it.

He got together with Blanc of the Swiss Federal Institute of Biochemistry and the University Institute for Biochemistry. They studied the effect that microwaved food had on eight individuals, by taking blood samples immediately after eating. They found that after eating microwaved food, haemoglobin levels decreased. "These results show anaemic tendencies. The situation became even more pronounced during the second month of the study".

Who knows what results they would have found if they had studied people who ate microwaved food for a year or more? The violent change that microwaving causes to the food molecules forms new life forms called radiolytic compounds. These are mutations that are unknown in the natural world. Ordinary cooking also causes the formation of some radiolytic compounds (which is no doubt one reason why it is better to eat plenty of raw food), but microwaving cooking causes a much greater number. This then causes deterioration in your blood and immune system.

EFFECT OF MICROWAVE

 1. Heating prepared meats in a microwave sufficiently for human consumption created:  *d-Nitrosodiethanolamine (a well-known cancer-causing agent) 

* Destabilization of active protein biomolecular compounds 

* Creation of a binding effect to radioactivity in the atmosphere 

* Creation of cancer-causing agents within protein-hydrosylate compounds in milk and cereal grains;

 2. Microwave emissions also caused alteration in the catabolic (breakdown) behavior of glucoside - and galactoside - elements within frozen fruits when thawed in this way; 

3. Microwaves altered catabolic behavior of plant-alkaloids when raw, cooked or frozen vegetables were exposed for even very short periods; 

4. Cancer-causing free radicals were formed within certain trace-mineral molecular formations in plant substances, especially in raw root vegetables;

5. Ingestion of micro-waved foods caused a higher percentage of cancerous cells in blood;

6. Due to chemical alterations within food substances, malfunctions occurred in the lymphatic system, causing degeneration of the immune system=s capacity to protect itself against cancerous growth;

7. The unstable catabolism of micro-waved foods altered their elemental food substances, leading to disorders in the digestive system; 

8. Those ingesting micro-waved foods showed a statistically higher incidence of stomach and intestinal cancers, plus a general degeneration of peripheral cellular tissues with a gradual breakdown of digestive and excretory system function; 

9. Microwave exposure caused significant decreases in the nutritional value of all foods studied, particularly:

* A decrease in the bioavailability of B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotrophics

* Destruction of the nutritional value of nucleoproteins in meats

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Posted in: health tips,healthy diet,WICROWAVE IS DANGEROUS

What Causes Tiredness

Causes Of Tiredness

* Feeling tired is directly related to many sleeping disorders. How’s your sleep working out for you? Sleeping too little or sleeping too much? 

* It doesn’t make a difference as doing either of the two for a consistent period of time can make your body feel deprived of any real energy. Many diseases, from common cold to malaria can lead to feeling fatigued throughout the day. Many chronic illnesses like unfavorable heart conditions or cancerous formations and their medications have a sedation effect on the body that can make you feel more lethargic than what you actually are.

* Apart from physical factors like being overweight or underweight, psychological factors play an equal role in enhancing the state of lethargy in your body.

* Depression, anxiety, too much stress, consistent feeling of bereavement can affect you body’s energy levels, psychologically more than physically. Let alone alcohol and drug abuse, even little consumption of them can throw your energy levels off track and can make feel tired all day.

* Moreover, using alcohol and drug as an option for stress relief won’t help at all but will further alleviate your lethargic condition. Long working hours at work, constant shift changes, hard physical labor, stressful work environment, and even boredom at workplace only contribute to your level of tiredness.

* Having to concentrate hard on your work drains a lot out of you and can raise the stress and anxiety levels; further ruining the condition. Are you eating right? Ask yourself honestly! Not having a proper dietary schedule with all the food grades covered properly is sure to make your body long for more energy for whatever work you do.

* Lack of any physical activity or exercise can also take you towards a more inactive state of being tired. In women, pregnancy can lead to extreme tiredness as the baby growing inside withdraws its energy from the mother’s body, leaving her deprived of the much-needed nutrients.

* That’s why it is recommended for pregnant women to maintain a healthy and regular diet which will not only affect the baby, but the mother too in a positive way. Apart from these, causes for tiredness also include jet lag, some type of poisoning, boredom, inactive thyroid gland, burn out, alcohol or drug withdrawal, vitamins and iron deficiency, low blood pressure, and low blood sugar Tiredness can disrupt the daily routine of a person completely. As such, it is very important to find out the underlying cause for it and take proper care!

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Posted in: hearth gist,what causes tiredness

CAUSES,SYMPTOMS & REMEDY OF BODY ODOR

Body odor is the unpleasant smell which comes from a person's body, beacuse of the bacteria growing on it. The notion amongst people that perspiration or sweating causes body odor is wrong. It may surprise you, but it is not perspiration that causes leads to body odor, but the bacteria that gets accumulated on the skin. 

The bacteria release unpleasant smelling chemicals, which, in turn, cause body odor. These bacteria multiply rapidly in the presence of sweat and this is why, people smell more when they perspire.

Using deodorants only worsen the situation as it contains various toxic chemicals, which further aggravate the problem.

However, the problem of body odor can be sorted out by resorting to home remedies. Read on to how to cure the problem of body odor naturally.

 Home Remedy For Body Odor

*To prevent body odor, drink a glass of water in the morning, on an empty stomach, along with 500 mg wheat grass. The chlorophyll present in the grass will help in reducing body odor.

*You can also apply baking soda to your armpits as well as to your feet, to reduce body odor. While bathing, add alcohol or white vinegar to a mug of water and use it to rinse the armpits. This will definitely help in lessening the body odor. 

*One of the simple home remedies for body odor is to put a few drops of rose water in the bathtub, before taking bath. It will give you a long lasting freshness and serve as a good substitute for deodorant.

*To reduce the pH of the skin and eliminate armpit odor, one can use apple cider vinegar instead of deodorant. Put it in a mug of water and use it to rinse the armpits, while bathing.

*Take showers, at least thrice in a day, in the summer season, when one tends to sweat a lot. Prepare a homemade deodorant with the juice of about two dozen radishes and 1/4 teaspoon glycerin. Mix the liquids well and pour into a spray-top bottle. Spray this in the armpits to fight body odor. 

*Remember to store it in fridge. During summers, you can apply the baby powder or talc to your armpits, in place of deodorants.

Pour some white vinegar on a cotton ball and wipe your underarms with the cotton. While the vinegar smell would fade in some time, you would remain smell-free for the rest of the day.

*Mix two drops of the tea tree oil (essential oil) and one ounce of water. Pour this in a spray-top bottle and use as a deodorant. Since tea tree is an antibacterial herb, it would act favorably in preventing body odor.

*Mix 10 drops of the essential oil in 30 ml water. Apply this mixture on the armpits to reduce body odor. Turnip juice is also effective in removing body odor. Grate a turnip and squeeze the grated pieces to extract the juice. Apply this juice on your underarms.

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Posted in: body odor causes,body odor gist,health tips,symptoms and remedy

Quitting Smoking Could Give Memory a Boost

In addition to the many known health benefits of quitting smoking, researchers have now discovered another good reason to kick the habit — it may help improve your everyday memory. The team at Northumbria University in Newcastle, the United Kingdom, gave memory tests to 27 smokers, 18 former-smokers and 24 never-smokers.

The test involved remembering to do assigned tasks at different locations on the university campus. Smokers remembered only 59 percent of the tasks, compared with 74 percent for former-smokers and 81 percent for never-smokers.

We already know that giving up smoking has huge health benefits for the body but this study also shows how stopping smoking can have . . . benefits for cognitive [brain] function, too,” researcher Tom Heffernan, of the Collaboration for Drug and Alcohol Research Group at Northumbria, said in a university news release. 

He said this is the first study to examine the effect that quitting smoking has on memory. “Given that there are up to 10 million smokers in the U.K. and as many as 45 million in the United States, it’s important to understand the effects smoking has on everyday cognitive function — of which prospective memory is an excellent example,” Heffernan said.

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Posted in: health tips,quitting smoking could give memory boost.,smoking news

China cuts childbirth mortality rate by promoting hospital births

has slashed the death rate of newborn babies by almost two-thirds in 12 years by promoting hospital births, research has shown. Deaths fell from 24.7 per 1,000 live births in 1996 to 9.3 in 2008.

Only half of women gave birth in hospital at the start of that period, whereas by the end almost all did so outside the most deprived rural areas. The study, led by Xing Linfeng and Yan Guo of Peking University and published in the Lancet, was based on data from 37 Chinese urban districts and 79 rural counties. 

The decline is spectacular across all the regions," said Professor Carine Ronsmans of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who co-authored the study. "I think the Chinese government can be congratulated on its efforts to reduce neonatal mortality and maternal mortality – which has declined just as much." She added: "It's a combination of strengthening facilities, training providers, equipping them with the skills and drugs to offer better care – and, through insurance, encouraging families to give birth in hospitals.

It has moved away from the midwife programme to one that supports doctors – although in China, doctors range from someone trained for three to four years to what we would call an MD." There was still some disparity, with babies in poorer areas four times as likely to die as in wealthier urban areas – apparently reflecting poorer quality services in township hospitals.

In urban China, babies born in hospital have a very low newborn mortality rate of 5 per 1,000, almost that of the UK, which is 3 to 4 per 1,000," said Ronsmans. Ronsmans said separate research they had done had shown that there was very little variation between socioeconomic groups in the uptake of maternity services, even though the health insurance programme that China has introduced in rural areas covers only part of the cost of hospital births.

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Posted in: childbirth mortality rate in china,childrens health,health tips

2 Doctors Suspended For Negligence In Abuja

ABUJA – Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has suspended two doctors for negligence on the death of one Mrs. Chinwedu Ukwuoma, during child birth.

The council, through the chairman, Dr. Roger Makanjuola, said the twosome, Dr J.E.N. Okonwo, a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist and proprietor of Jeno Hospital, Enugu and Dr Christian Ogbuokiri, a registered medical practitioner and senior registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology, should be suspended for three months and six months respectively.

The charge read by the chairman states that Okonwo was negligent in the management of one Mrs. Chinwedu Ukwuoma who was a patient in the said hospital on diverse days between October 17 and October 19, 2003.

It also accused Okonkwo of failing to adequately record properly all his findings during the patient’s ante-natal visits, neither did he follow up the patient adequately during such ante-natal visits up to the time of her admission for delivery on October 18, 2003.

Read other health news

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Posted in: doctors negligence news,health hazards

Sugar's effect on your health

There is something called a "phagocytic index" which tells you how rapidly a particular macrophage or lymphocyte can gobble up a virus, bacteria, or cancer cell. It was in the 1970's that Linus Pauling realized that white blood cells need a high dose of vitamin C and that is when he came up with his theory that you need high doses of vitamin C to combat the common cold.

We know that glucose and vitamin C have similar chemical structures, so what happens when the sugar levels go up? They compete for one another upon entering the cells. And the thing that mediates the entry of glucose into the cells is the same thing that mediates the entry of vitamin C into the cells. If there is more glucose around, there is going to be less vitamin C allowed into the cell. It doesn't take much: a blood sugar value of 120 reduces the phagocytic index by 75%.

So when you eat sugar, think of your immune system slowing down to a crawl. Here we are getting a little bit closer to the roots of disease. It doesn't matter what disease we are talking about, whether we are talking about a common cold or about cardiovascular disease, or cancer or osteoporosis, the root is always going to be at the cellular and molecular level, and more often than not insulin is going to have its hand in it, if not totally controlling it.

The health dangers which ingesting sugar on an habitual basis creates are certain. Simple sugars have been observed to aggravate asthma, move mood swings, provoke personality changes, muster mental illness, nourish nervous disorders, deliver diabetes, hurry heart disease, grow gallstones, hasten hypertension, and add arthritis. Because refined dietary sugars lack minerals and vitamins, they must draw upon the body's micro-nutrient stores in order to be metabolized into the system.

When these storehouses are depleted, metabolization of cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher blood serum triglycerides, cholesterol, promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid storage around organs and in sub-cutaneous tissue folds.

Here is a list of ways sugar can affect your health:

Sugar can suppress the immune system. 

Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.

Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children. 

Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides. 

Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children. 

Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs). 

Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs). 

Sugar can cause hypoglycemia. 

Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection. 

Sugar can cause kidney damage. 

Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. 

Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency. 

Sugar can cause copper deficiency. 

Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. 

Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose. 

Sugar can promote tooth decay. 

Sugar can produce an acidic stomach. 

Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children. 

Sugar can lead to periodontal disease. 

Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair. 

Sugar can increase total cholesterol. 

Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity. 

High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. 

Sugar can contribute to diabetes. 

Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis. 

Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity. 

Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance. 

Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease. 

Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure. 

Sugar causes food allergies. 

Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream. 

Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy. 

Sugar can contribute to eczema in children. 

Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage. 

Sugar can cause atherosclerosis. 

Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries. 

Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver. 

Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver. 

Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney. 

Sugar can cause depression. 

Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention. 

Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance. 

Sugar can cause hypertension. 

Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines. 

Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly. 

Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes. 

Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets. 

Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.

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Posted in: heath gist,suger effects

3 Ways to Spot Br*ast Cancer

Early detection of br*ast cancer is key (and the closest thing to prevention we have), because a tumor is a lot easier to treat if you, your doctor, or a mammogram can catch it while it's still small.

Screenings are for when you have no symptoms of disease but want to be sure something isn't lurking that you haven't spotted yet, says Peter M. Jokich, MD, director of the Rush Br*ast Imaging Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Women who don't have any br*ast cancer symptoms should consider committing to three kinds of routine screenings:

1.br*ast self-exams at home

2.clinical br*ast exams and, each year after you turn 40,

3.mammograms—this is the one that shouldn't be skipped, experts say.

Other br*ast cancer tests—diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, and biopsies—are for women with symptoms who, for example, "feel a lump, have redness on the skin of their br*ast, or have discharge from the nipple," says Dr. Jokich.

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Posted in: br*ast cancer tip.,ways of spotting bre*sts cancer

Eating for Eye Health

The eyes are most often exposed to the damaging effects of the surrounding environment, and unfortunately they are most frequently unprotected. Diffuse light, cigarette smoke, car exhaust gases or simply the dusted, dry air can affect our sensitive visual system.

But apart from avoiding external damaging factors, we must also include in our diet food items that contain substances which are vital for the good health of our eyes. Those so much talked about, vital substances called "antioxidants" can protect our organism from free radicals. These beneficial substances include vitamins A, E, and C, as well as micro-elements such as selenium and carotenoids.

From a nutritional point of view, the American National Eye Institute conducted a research which has demonstrated that there are indeed certain nutrients that can ensure the protection of our eyes. The most significant foods that can prevent ocular degeneration are the ones which are rich in beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zeaxanthin and lutein, zinc and omega-3 fats. Among these excellent foods we could of course mention carrots.

They are full of beta carotene, which is an antioxidant that reduces the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration process. Carrots can be part of salads, soups or they can be part of a side dish for lunch or dinner. They can be added to most anything: hummus, salsa, peanut butter, guacamole and low calorie dressings. Some other foods that are excellent for the good health of our eyes include broccoli, bell peppers and Brussels sprouts. They all provide a good quantity of vitamin C, which is yet another essential antioxidant for the protection of our eyes.

These veggies can be steamed, roasted, added to omelets or soups. Also, they may be combined for a delicious "pasta primavera" (spring time pasta), with a little bit of oil and garlic. Of course, not only fruit and veggies are good for the eyes. Apparently, the meat which is healthiest for the eyes is the ostrich meat. This kind of meat can actually be a substitute for turkey, chicken, pork or lamb meat. It has the quality of absorbing all kinds of seasonings and it contains zinc, iron and a lot of proteins. Zinc is actually one of the most essential ingredients for the maintenance of healthy eyes. 

Zinc is contained by the retina. This substance is responsible for the good functioning of enzymes which are actually meant to ensure the eyes’ health. Turkey meat also contains a lot of zinc and the B-vitamin niacin which can protect the eyes against cataracts disease. Turkey meat can be used in sandwiches, salads, chili and tacos or burgers. Another veggie which contains high levels of beta carotene is the sweet potato. As their name suggests, sweet potatoes do indeed have a sweet taste. These vegetables can be included in recipes for dinner side dishes.

They can be baked with a small quantity of oil or they can be used for the famous French fries. Another amazing food that can do wonder to one’s eyes is spinach. This one contains four essential ingredients that can protect one’s eyes. Thus, spinach contains vitamin C, high quantities of zeaxanthin, lutein and beta carotene. All these antioxidants can be found in the macula’s tissue. They have the special capacity of absorbing 40%-90% of the intensity of blue light, and therefore can act like a sort of eyes’ sunscreen. 

Several research results have attested that if we eat foods which contain a large quantity of zeaxanthin and lutein, our macula’s pigment density can be increased. This means that our retina is better protected, and therefore there is a much lower probability of macular degeneration for our eyes. Spinach is generally eaten as a side dish. However, it can be a delicious salad or omelet ingredient. It is low in calories and rich in vitamins, so there is no reason why to avoid such a beneficial healthy food. The key is to give it a good taste, without overcooking it so as not to lose its nutritive qualities.

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Posted in: eating for eye care,healthy diet

How Does Fear Affect the Human Body?

How does fear affect the body? The general perception is; heart palpitation, unexplained sweating, clenching of the fist and teeth, change in eye movements and face expressions and a numbed thought process. These effects are observed by all of us when we sense fear or a dangerous stimuli.

 Fear is one of the negative emotions and is described as the survival mechanism used by the body when it perceives threat. When the mind senses dangerous stimuli, the negative feeling of fear is provoked in the mind. The fear you experience when someone screams loudly in your ears or when exams approach is altogether different from the above symptoms! You would definitely experience negativity, that will show some effects on the body. Also I would like to mention, there is a difference between fear and phobia, phobia is excessive and unrealistic fear of something. Let's now discuss in detail the various effects of fear on the human body.

Consequences of Fear on the Human Body 

We all fear something or the other. Even if you think you are fearless, a sudden provocation from a friend or sudden appearance of a ghost (a false ghost) in the midnight will scare the hell out of you. According to studies, fear of spiders, cockroaches, height, water, enclosed spaces, needles, tunnels, public speaking and fear of terrorism are some of the common fears among the general community.

A look into the 'little Albert experiment' of John B. Watson, reveals that fear can be conditioned into a person's mind through exposing him to the repeated events. It is also provoked when the person sees dangerous consequences of an event on others and knows that he has to go through a similar experience. Bad events of the past condition the mind of the person to fear a particular thing or event. For example, if a person had closely survived a fall from a tall building, and was hurt badly, he will fear height in the future.

Some of us have innate fear of certain things. Did you know? Fear is also categorized, a severe case of fear being paranoia, which is classified as a psychological disorder and can also affect the behavior of the person. The symptoms of paranoia differ from person to person, the chief symptom being delusion. Brain is the controlling structure of human existence. Amygdala, located in the temporal lobes of the brain, is the key brain element that controls the processing of negative emotions. Rapid changes are observed in this structure when the body is exposed to the stimuli it fears.

There are also other brain structures that show response when exposed to fear. The fear response shown by the body is controlled by another structure called autonomic nervous system. These changes in the amygdala and other brain structures are reciprocated by the body through the common signs of fear; goose bumps, increased heartbeat rate, sweating, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, difficulty in digestion, increase in the frequency of urination, are the visible effects of fear on the body. Constant fear and living under stress also affects the mind negatively giving invitation to a whole lot of diseases. So, mentioned above were the details of how fear affects the human body.

Fear is one of the negative emotions that is in the mind and is easy to beat. Fear is natural to humans, but let it not affect your mind, as it is nothing but the body's natural response to stimuli. It can be quite difficult to cope with extreme cases of fear, those which are classified as phobias. But even overcoming phobias is not an impossible thing. Conditioning the mind, meditation and counseling are some of the best ways to overcome fear and phobia of any kind. About, how fear affects our body, it only affects us negatively with some visible effects which were discussed earlier in the article.

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Posted in: effect of fear.,hearth gist

Exercise can curb hunger, new research finds

Maybe you've heard the recent downer reports that exercise won't make us thin because it makes us hungry, particularly for junk food. Or could be, you've noticed firsthand that you eat a lot more on gym days than on days off. Either way, it raises the question:


If working outonly sets us up to blow our diet, what's the point? For starters, some research suggests exercise doesn't always cause hunger but can curb it. "Exercise may lower levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite in the short term, while raising levels of peptide YY, a hormone that suppresses appetite," says study author David Stensel, Ph.D., reader in exercise metabolism at Loughborough University.


That's only if the workout is intense (if you can chat, forget it), but the more intense it is, the longer the benefit seems to last. "It may be that your body needs to circulate more blood to prevent overheating," Stensel explains. Because eating would cause blood to flow to the stomach instead to aid digestion, your body dampens your appetite to prevent that.

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Testosterone drops when men become fathers

The hormone that defines the male of the species slumps dramatically when men become fathers, researchers have found. Blood tests on 624 men in the Philippines revealed that levels of testosterone dropped substantially over a five-year period in those who had children.

 Men who devoted at least three hours a day to childcare had even less testosterone, suggesting that looking after dependent children helped suppress the hormone. Testosterone is responsible for the male body shape, the distribution (and loss) of hair and a man's s*x drive. Previous studies have shown that fathers tend to have lower testosterone, but it was unclear whether men with reduced levels were more likely to have children, or whether parenthood pushed testosterone down. 

It's not the case that men with lower testosterone are simply more likely to become fathers," said Lee Gettler, an anthropologist at Northwestern University in Illinois. "The men who started with high testosterone were more likely to become fathers, but once they did, their testosterone went down substantially.

Christopher W Kuzawa, a co-author on the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said fathers seemed "biologically wired" to help raise children. "To see dramatic changes in response to family life is intriguing," said Allan Pacey, an andrologist at Sheffield University. "The observations could make some evolutionary sense if we accept the idea that men with lower testosterone levels are more likely to be monogamous with their partner and care for children. However, it would be important to check that link between testosterone levels and behaviour before we could be certain."

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High blood pressure genetic clues

More than 20 new sections of genetic code have been linked to blood pressure by an international team of scientists.

 Almost everyone will carry at least one of the genetic variants, according to studies published in Nature and Nature Genetics. Researchers believe their findings could be used to develop new treatments. 

The British Heart Foundation said lifestyle was still key to a healthy blood pressure. High blood pressure - or hypertension - can run in families as well as being influenced by obesity, exercise and the amount of salt in the diet.

 While the lifestyle risks are well known, the genetic element of hypertension has been poorly understood. Researchers now say they have made a "major advance" in understanding the role of genes.

In the first study, scientists from 24 countries around the world analysed data from more than 200,000 people. They identified 16 new points on the genome which were linked to blood pressure. One of the lead researchers, Prof Mark Caulfield, from Barts and The London Medical School, said each genetic variant was in at least 5% of people, while some were much more common. "This is having an influence across the population," he said. Uncovering the genetic basis of blood pressure has revealed processes in the body which could one day be targeted with drugs.

 One series of chemical reactions involving nitric oxide, which opens up blood vessels, has been highlighted as a potential target. Gene puzzle Prof Caulfield said: "There is substantial potential for moving the findings from the lab to the clinic. "There are, in development or in existence, drugs which could be considered."

 However, researchers say they have still uncovered only 1% of the genetic contribution to blood pressure. A second study, presented in Nature Genetics, identified a further six new stretches of genetic code. 

 The British Heart Foundation's medical director, Prof Peter Weissberg, said: "Researchers from across the world have now identified some of the genes linked to blood pressure control, which could pave the way for new treatments in the future. "But your genes are only one piece of the puzzle. You are less likely to have high blood pressure if you stick to a healthy diet, do plenty of exercise, and maintain a healthy weight."

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Posted in: health tips,High blood pressure news

Health Tip: Dealing With Dizziness During Pregnancy

It's common for women to feel dizzy during pregnancy, for reasons that include pressure on blood vessels caused by the expanding uterus, and the need to eat more food.

There are many steps to reduce these dizziness, these are the steps outlined by the Womenshealth.gov website.Regular practice of the steps below will yield positive response to dizziness. 

• Stand up slowly.
• Try not to stand for long periods.
• Don't skip regular meals.
• Lie down on your left side when resting.
• Wear loose-fitted clothing.

Read other health tip

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