Thursday, September 27, 2007
Folic Acid Can Be A Key Protector Against Heart Disease
The somewhat misleadingly named folic acid is in fact one of the most important of the water soluble B complex of vitamins. In the form of folates it is found naturally in the body as well as in various common foods. As folic acid it has been extensively researched and is widely available as a food supplement.
Inadequate dietary intake of folates by pregnant women has been widely publicised as a cause of serious and even fatal birth defects. Research has also suggested a strong association between folate deficiency and an increased incidence of certain of the more common cancers.
The implications of these findings will be covered in subsequent articles in this series, but this article will focus on the role of folates and folic acid in regulating blood homocysteine, excessively high levels of which have been identified as a key risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Homocysteine is a protein formed as a perfectly normal by-product of the body's digestive processes and in optimally healthy individuals it will be removed harmlessly from the body But its effective removal is heavily dependent on the presence of adequate supplies of three B complex vitamins, B6, B12 and folic acid or folates.
The build up of excess homocysteine if these vitamins are not present in sufficient quantities can have severe consequences. A large 1997 European study of young and middle aged adults showed a more than doubled risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke for individuals whose blood homocysteine levels were in the top fifth of the normal range. In fact some sources attribute as many as 10% of heart attack fatalities and an even higher proportion of stroke deaths directly to high homocysteine levels. Since these are still two of the biggest causes of premature death and disability in the affluent Western world, such figures are particularly alarming.
The link between raised homocysteine levels and Alzheimer's disease is not quite so well established, at least in the view of orthodox medicine, but a number of studies have found a clear association. It has also been observed that sufferers from this appalling disease are more likely to be deficient in both folic acid and dietary folates. Not surprisingly perhaps, given that damage to blood vessels appears to be one of the principal effects of elevated homocysteine, it has also been strongly linked with vascular dementia.
The role of folic acid and folates in lowering blood homcysteine levels is well established, with one recent study showing 60% and 90% reductions when supplement regimes of 0.2 mg and 0.4 mg respectively were followed. And given that high homocysteine levels have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as Alzheimer's and other dementias, it might be thought self-evident that supplementation should be a powerful weapon against them.
Conventional medicine, however, continues to be cautious about recognising the link. Although there is good evidence from at least one ten year study that high levels of dietary folate can reduce heart attack risk by more than 50%, there appears not be the same direct corroboration for the effects of folic acid supplementation. Somewhat bizarrely, therefore, the profession finds itself recommending supplementation for the purpose of reducing the elevated homocysteine levels known to increase the risk of disease, but declines to recommend it as a specific protector against the disease itself. Not surprisingly, nutritional therapists show no such hesitation, and many recommend supplementation at levels far in excess of the officially Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 400 mcg (0.4 mg) a day.
But whatever the benefits of high dosage supplementation, it is clear in any case that a diet rich in folates can only be of benefit to the body's general health. This is because amongst the best and most readily available sources of folates are leafy green vegetables and orange juice which also provide a plentiful supply of valuable anti-oxidants.
A single cup of spinach or asparagus, for example, may provide as much as 130 or more micrograms (mcg) of folate; a small glass of orange juice perhaps 80 mcg. Pulses such as beans and lentils are also good sources, the latter providing around 180 mcg in just half a cup, beans between 80 and 140 mcg according to type.
Best of all, however, is fortified breakfast cereal, a single cup of which may yield between 200 and 400 mcg, reflecting the FDA's insistence on the addition of folic acid to refined grain foods, including bread.
Despite this official recognition of the importance of this nutrient, the US Food and Nutrition Board nevertheless recommends that folic acid intake should be limited to 1,000 mcg (1 mg) per day. But this is not so much because of any possible ill effects of the folic acid itself, but rather because it may cure megaloblastic (commonly known as pernicious) anaemia which is one of the symptoms of an underlying deficiency of vitamin B12. If the removal of this symptom means that the deficiency is consequently undetected and left untreated, the neurological consequences may indeed be severe.
But to the educated layman the solution to this potential problem appears readily apparent. It is simply to ensure, through supplementation if necessary, that a generous intake of vitamin B12 is also obtained. This should present no difficulty if the standard recommendation never to take one of the B vitamins in isolation is followed. These vitamins should always be taken as part of a supplement containing the entire complex, and for maximum benefit should preferably be accompanied by a comprehensive multi-mineral
Inadequate dietary intake of folates by pregnant women has been widely publicised as a cause of serious and even fatal birth defects. Research has also suggested a strong association between folate deficiency and an increased incidence of certain of the more common cancers.
The implications of these findings will be covered in subsequent articles in this series, but this article will focus on the role of folates and folic acid in regulating blood homocysteine, excessively high levels of which have been identified as a key risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Homocysteine is a protein formed as a perfectly normal by-product of the body's digestive processes and in optimally healthy individuals it will be removed harmlessly from the body But its effective removal is heavily dependent on the presence of adequate supplies of three B complex vitamins, B6, B12 and folic acid or folates.
The build up of excess homocysteine if these vitamins are not present in sufficient quantities can have severe consequences. A large 1997 European study of young and middle aged adults showed a more than doubled risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke for individuals whose blood homocysteine levels were in the top fifth of the normal range. In fact some sources attribute as many as 10% of heart attack fatalities and an even higher proportion of stroke deaths directly to high homocysteine levels. Since these are still two of the biggest causes of premature death and disability in the affluent Western world, such figures are particularly alarming.
The link between raised homocysteine levels and Alzheimer's disease is not quite so well established, at least in the view of orthodox medicine, but a number of studies have found a clear association. It has also been observed that sufferers from this appalling disease are more likely to be deficient in both folic acid and dietary folates. Not surprisingly perhaps, given that damage to blood vessels appears to be one of the principal effects of elevated homocysteine, it has also been strongly linked with vascular dementia.
The role of folic acid and folates in lowering blood homcysteine levels is well established, with one recent study showing 60% and 90% reductions when supplement regimes of 0.2 mg and 0.4 mg respectively were followed. And given that high homocysteine levels have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as Alzheimer's and other dementias, it might be thought self-evident that supplementation should be a powerful weapon against them.
Conventional medicine, however, continues to be cautious about recognising the link. Although there is good evidence from at least one ten year study that high levels of dietary folate can reduce heart attack risk by more than 50%, there appears not be the same direct corroboration for the effects of folic acid supplementation. Somewhat bizarrely, therefore, the profession finds itself recommending supplementation for the purpose of reducing the elevated homocysteine levels known to increase the risk of disease, but declines to recommend it as a specific protector against the disease itself. Not surprisingly, nutritional therapists show no such hesitation, and many recommend supplementation at levels far in excess of the officially Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 400 mcg (0.4 mg) a day.
But whatever the benefits of high dosage supplementation, it is clear in any case that a diet rich in folates can only be of benefit to the body's general health. This is because amongst the best and most readily available sources of folates are leafy green vegetables and orange juice which also provide a plentiful supply of valuable anti-oxidants.
A single cup of spinach or asparagus, for example, may provide as much as 130 or more micrograms (mcg) of folate; a small glass of orange juice perhaps 80 mcg. Pulses such as beans and lentils are also good sources, the latter providing around 180 mcg in just half a cup, beans between 80 and 140 mcg according to type.
Best of all, however, is fortified breakfast cereal, a single cup of which may yield between 200 and 400 mcg, reflecting the FDA's insistence on the addition of folic acid to refined grain foods, including bread.
Despite this official recognition of the importance of this nutrient, the US Food and Nutrition Board nevertheless recommends that folic acid intake should be limited to 1,000 mcg (1 mg) per day. But this is not so much because of any possible ill effects of the folic acid itself, but rather because it may cure megaloblastic (commonly known as pernicious) anaemia which is one of the symptoms of an underlying deficiency of vitamin B12. If the removal of this symptom means that the deficiency is consequently undetected and left untreated, the neurological consequences may indeed be severe.
But to the educated layman the solution to this potential problem appears readily apparent. It is simply to ensure, through supplementation if necessary, that a generous intake of vitamin B12 is also obtained. This should present no difficulty if the standard recommendation never to take one of the B vitamins in isolation is followed. These vitamins should always be taken as part of a supplement containing the entire complex, and for maximum benefit should preferably be accompanied by a comprehensive multi-mineral
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Menopause and Anxiety: How to Bring Natural Relief
Even though menopause is a natural stage that happens in life of a woman, it often creates anxiety due to misunderstanding of physiological changes. Menopause and anxiety should be understood as cause and effect due to the decline of estrogen level in a woman. Thus, proper treatment for menopause can effectively bring emotional relief and eliminate depression and low-esteem in women.
Emotional Changes in Menopause
Menopause is characterized by a permanent cessation of natural menstrual cycle of a woman. The production of the estrogen hormone reduces significantly in a woman during menopause causing her ovaries to stop producing eggs. As the estrogen level drops, the blood vessels expand rapidly leading to temperature rise in the the skin. This can further cause hot flashes that can be felt around the chest, shoulders, head, and neck. The sudden spread of warmth makes the woman to sweat and feel soaked. Many women also experience raid heart beating, insomnia, irritability, and restlessness. All those feelings then create psychological symptoms that include mood swings, depression and anxiety.
Sex and Weight Gain Factors
The feeling of anxiety during menopause could also be caused by misconception of sex and weight gain. There is a myth that a woman will lose her sexual desire during menopause, but in fact the midlife years can be a great time to enhance the sexual experience as there is no restriction from having to use birth control due concerns of possible pregnancy. In the case of vaginal dryness or painful intercourse, the woman can always apply lubricants or creams. After all, sex is about emotional feeling and is free of any hormonal changes.
Another factor that often leads to anxiety during menopause is the fear of weight gain. Biologically the fall of estrogen level can slow down the metabolism, which potentially results in weight gain. Because of this, it is important for women in menopause to maintain a balanced diet. Diet should be particularly high in Calcium and Phytoestrogens, chemicals that mimic and supplement estrogen-like hormones. Phytoestrogens are useful to maintain proper bone density post menopause. These chemicals can be found in soy bean, tofu, linseed, rice, oat, and red clover.
Other Useful Things to Do
Some other things that a woman can do to reduce anxiety and depression feelings during menopause are:
Regular exercise: doing routine exercise can significantly reduce hot flashes. Mild exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, swimming or lifting weight help to strengthen the bones and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.
Proper sleep: if a woman has trouble going to sleep during menopause, it will be a good choice to take a hot shower before bedtime or drink a glass of warm milk. Taking sleeping pill occasionally is also recommended, with doctor prescription.
Social activity: post menopause, some women find a new hobby like writing, gardening or pottery. Others meet old friends once a week for social. Basically, focusing on other useful things can significantly increase the quality of life post menopause.
Physiological changes in menopause are inevitable and normal. They may bring feelings of anxiety, depression, and moodiness. However, understanding on menopause treatment can greatly increase the awareness of psychological effects of it. Read an EXCLUSIVE Review
#1 Best Seller:
"MUSCLE GAIN TRUTH"
Emotional Changes in Menopause
Menopause is characterized by a permanent cessation of natural menstrual cycle of a woman. The production of the estrogen hormone reduces significantly in a woman during menopause causing her ovaries to stop producing eggs. As the estrogen level drops, the blood vessels expand rapidly leading to temperature rise in the the skin. This can further cause hot flashes that can be felt around the chest, shoulders, head, and neck. The sudden spread of warmth makes the woman to sweat and feel soaked. Many women also experience raid heart beating, insomnia, irritability, and restlessness. All those feelings then create psychological symptoms that include mood swings, depression and anxiety.
Sex and Weight Gain Factors
The feeling of anxiety during menopause could also be caused by misconception of sex and weight gain. There is a myth that a woman will lose her sexual desire during menopause, but in fact the midlife years can be a great time to enhance the sexual experience as there is no restriction from having to use birth control due concerns of possible pregnancy. In the case of vaginal dryness or painful intercourse, the woman can always apply lubricants or creams. After all, sex is about emotional feeling and is free of any hormonal changes.
Another factor that often leads to anxiety during menopause is the fear of weight gain. Biologically the fall of estrogen level can slow down the metabolism, which potentially results in weight gain. Because of this, it is important for women in menopause to maintain a balanced diet. Diet should be particularly high in Calcium and Phytoestrogens, chemicals that mimic and supplement estrogen-like hormones. Phytoestrogens are useful to maintain proper bone density post menopause. These chemicals can be found in soy bean, tofu, linseed, rice, oat, and red clover.
Other Useful Things to Do
Some other things that a woman can do to reduce anxiety and depression feelings during menopause are:
Regular exercise: doing routine exercise can significantly reduce hot flashes. Mild exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, swimming or lifting weight help to strengthen the bones and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.
Proper sleep: if a woman has trouble going to sleep during menopause, it will be a good choice to take a hot shower before bedtime or drink a glass of warm milk. Taking sleeping pill occasionally is also recommended, with doctor prescription.
Social activity: post menopause, some women find a new hobby like writing, gardening or pottery. Others meet old friends once a week for social. Basically, focusing on other useful things can significantly increase the quality of life post menopause.
Physiological changes in menopause are inevitable and normal. They may bring feelings of anxiety, depression, and moodiness. However, understanding on menopause treatment can greatly increase the awareness of psychological effects of it. Read an EXCLUSIVE Review
#1 Best Seller:
"MUSCLE GAIN TRUTH"
Monday, September 24, 2007
Effective Herbal Treatments for Menopause
People today are becoming increasingly aware of how effective herbal remedies can be for various medical conditions from migraines to skin conditions. Many women have found that using an herbal remedy to deal with their menopause symptoms are a better choice than the prescription drugs a physician might offer. Women have many different choices when it comes to herbal remedies. The key is learning which ones work best and which ones provide the best relief for your personal set of symptoms.
Menopause symptoms are caused when the ovaries slow their production of various hormones including estrogen. These hormone fluctuations can wreak havoc with a woman's body. Women may experience hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, unexplained weight gain, and mood swings. Women may even experience exhaustion. It can be so difficult to contain these symptoms without allowing them to cause stress in the life.
Prescription drugs can provide some relief from these symptoms; however, there are some drawbacks to using prescriptions. Some have serious side effects that can be worse than the symptoms themselves. For example, some of the prescriptions available for hot flashes cause itchy rashes all over the body. Other prescriptions have long term health effects including devastating diseases like cancer. Treating your symptoms with a safe, natural herbal remedy is often the best way to handle menopause.
As you begin the search for the right remedy, you might be a bit surprised and overwhelmed at the number of products on the market. Choosing the right product for you can be a difficult task. There are several people you might want to talk to as you start your search.
First, consult your gynecologist. They will be able to tell you which herbal remedies are safe for you and which are not. Moreover, they can let you know which methods are working for their other patients and which have proven to be completely ineffective.
In addition to your doctor, you might talk to an herbal store consultant. They talk to a number of women who are dealing with the same symptoms that you are. As a result, they can guide you in the right direction.
One of the most popular herbs to deal with menopause symptoms is Black Cohos. This herb helps with a number of different menopause symptoms including night sweats, hot flashes, and anxiety. This herb has been extensively studied, and the studies have all pointed to its effectiveness.
Pasque Flower has also proven to be a great herbal remedy to deal with menopause symptoms by offering the same effect a mild sedative might have.
An herb combination called MellowPause might also help your symptoms. It has a soy base, and it combines the power of Black Cohosh and Pasque flower to help you fight insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings.
Menocore is another herbal combination that will help with the same symptoms. It contains a number of different natural herbal products.
One final product that might relieve your symptoms is Triatone. The ingredients list on this includes Black Cohos, Chasleberry, Dong Quai, Isoflavones, and Licorice Root. This product not only relieves many of your symptoms, but it also helps to give you a good sense of well being.
Menopause symptoms are caused when the ovaries slow their production of various hormones including estrogen. These hormone fluctuations can wreak havoc with a woman's body. Women may experience hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, unexplained weight gain, and mood swings. Women may even experience exhaustion. It can be so difficult to contain these symptoms without allowing them to cause stress in the life.
Prescription drugs can provide some relief from these symptoms; however, there are some drawbacks to using prescriptions. Some have serious side effects that can be worse than the symptoms themselves. For example, some of the prescriptions available for hot flashes cause itchy rashes all over the body. Other prescriptions have long term health effects including devastating diseases like cancer. Treating your symptoms with a safe, natural herbal remedy is often the best way to handle menopause.
As you begin the search for the right remedy, you might be a bit surprised and overwhelmed at the number of products on the market. Choosing the right product for you can be a difficult task. There are several people you might want to talk to as you start your search.
First, consult your gynecologist. They will be able to tell you which herbal remedies are safe for you and which are not. Moreover, they can let you know which methods are working for their other patients and which have proven to be completely ineffective.
In addition to your doctor, you might talk to an herbal store consultant. They talk to a number of women who are dealing with the same symptoms that you are. As a result, they can guide you in the right direction.
One of the most popular herbs to deal with menopause symptoms is Black Cohos. This herb helps with a number of different menopause symptoms including night sweats, hot flashes, and anxiety. This herb has been extensively studied, and the studies have all pointed to its effectiveness.
Pasque Flower has also proven to be a great herbal remedy to deal with menopause symptoms by offering the same effect a mild sedative might have.
An herb combination called MellowPause might also help your symptoms. It has a soy base, and it combines the power of Black Cohosh and Pasque flower to help you fight insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings.
Menocore is another herbal combination that will help with the same symptoms. It contains a number of different natural herbal products.
One final product that might relieve your symptoms is Triatone. The ingredients list on this includes Black Cohos, Chasleberry, Dong Quai, Isoflavones, and Licorice Root. This product not only relieves many of your symptoms, but it also helps to give you a good sense of well being.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Women Menopausal Changes
When women go through the change of life, it could bring on heart disease as well. The clotting agent fibrinogen (a soluble protein in the blood made by the liver and made insoluble because of damage tissue), increases when a woman is post-menopause; the body experiences less estrogen production and the cholesterol levels changes, thus the change of life. Estrogen is a protective factor against heart disease for women, until menopause, at which time it declines, thereby removing the protection. The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center explains the connection between women and heart disease and menopausal changes.
The amount of risk caused by each change is unknown, but in most cases there is a greater risk with each change. Heart disease is two to three times greater after menopause than before. These same risks are in women who have had a hysterectomy as well. More women over the age of sixty die of heart attacks than men; women's symptoms are different than men and are often mistaken for something less serious.
Wake Forest University-Baptist Medical Center suggests reduced levels of estrogen caused by stress increase risk of heart attacks and strokes. Stress can cause damage to arteries, thus creating problems. Heart disease includes the narrowing of the arteries that bring oxygen to the heart, inborn defects, diseases of the heart muscles and heart failure. Two hundred and fifty thousand American women die each year from this disease and, as women age the risk increases. It is the leading killer in America.
Doctors in the past, treated women with hormone replacement therapy to prevent heart disease during menopause and post-menopausal. After a study of women and heart disease it was confirmed that this therapy was not the right treatment for heart disease prevention.
A new study revealed that women taking hormone replacement therapy medication containing female hormones, commonly estrogen plus progestin (synthetic progesterone), health risks exceeded the health benefits and the study was stopped early. There were 161,809 women, ages ranging from 50-79. Breast cancer increased 26%, heart attacks increased 29%, strokes increased 41%, and blood clots increased more than 50%.
However, the study did show 34% fewer hip fractures and there were other benefits. The risk factor s outweigh the benefits. For a short-term treatment, some women may consider HRT, but it should be based on individual health history. To read the full report: Medline Plus-Encyclopedia
There are other things that will help women to adjust to menopause and have a healthy heart. They are to stop smoking, maintain the proper weight, exercise regularly, cut down on the fatty foods, keep an eye on your cholesterol, and blood pressure levels. According to The Nurses Health Study, folic acid, B-6 and B-12 played a role in reducing the risk of heart attack or death among women of heart disease when one group consumed more food and supplements than the other group.
If hormone replacement therapy is chosen, remember to eat healthy and exercise which will maintain healthy heart muscles. Be sure to have regular check-ups and call your health care provider if anything unusual occurs.
The amount of risk caused by each change is unknown, but in most cases there is a greater risk with each change. Heart disease is two to three times greater after menopause than before. These same risks are in women who have had a hysterectomy as well. More women over the age of sixty die of heart attacks than men; women's symptoms are different than men and are often mistaken for something less serious.
Wake Forest University-Baptist Medical Center suggests reduced levels of estrogen caused by stress increase risk of heart attacks and strokes. Stress can cause damage to arteries, thus creating problems. Heart disease includes the narrowing of the arteries that bring oxygen to the heart, inborn defects, diseases of the heart muscles and heart failure. Two hundred and fifty thousand American women die each year from this disease and, as women age the risk increases. It is the leading killer in America.
Doctors in the past, treated women with hormone replacement therapy to prevent heart disease during menopause and post-menopausal. After a study of women and heart disease it was confirmed that this therapy was not the right treatment for heart disease prevention.
A new study revealed that women taking hormone replacement therapy medication containing female hormones, commonly estrogen plus progestin (synthetic progesterone), health risks exceeded the health benefits and the study was stopped early. There were 161,809 women, ages ranging from 50-79. Breast cancer increased 26%, heart attacks increased 29%, strokes increased 41%, and blood clots increased more than 50%.
However, the study did show 34% fewer hip fractures and there were other benefits. The risk factor s outweigh the benefits. For a short-term treatment, some women may consider HRT, but it should be based on individual health history. To read the full report: Medline Plus-Encyclopedia
There are other things that will help women to adjust to menopause and have a healthy heart. They are to stop smoking, maintain the proper weight, exercise regularly, cut down on the fatty foods, keep an eye on your cholesterol, and blood pressure levels. According to The Nurses Health Study, folic acid, B-6 and B-12 played a role in reducing the risk of heart attack or death among women of heart disease when one group consumed more food and supplements than the other group.
If hormone replacement therapy is chosen, remember to eat healthy and exercise which will maintain healthy heart muscles. Be sure to have regular check-ups and call your health care provider if anything unusual occurs.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
10 Smashing Tricks To Burn Yourself To A Gorgeous Body
Most folks I know start off the New Year by making resolutions to lose weight and get in shape. often, this mission is often easier said than done. Some last a little longer than others, but for most, impetus starts to fizzle soon into the next buffet engagement.
Have no fear: ten delightful tactics can empower you to motivate your self to a better body. Whether you are looking to lose a lot or just a few pounds or you want to exercise more to tone your body, you can create an action plan that can help you stay motivated.
Conviction: Conviction is the primal way for you to motivate yourself to exercise more or to stick to a diet. Faith in yourself is also known as self-efficacy and it means that once you believe that you can do something, no matter how hard, you do it. Those that have a lot of self-esteem believe that they have the power to make changes in themselves. Those without solid self-confidence will find that they will have a much more difficult time sticking to any fitness plan and will not exert much effort.
Support: A staunch support system of friends and family keeps almost anyone motivated to reach their goals. When a person starts a new fitness plan or diet program, many changes need to happen. It is important to surround yourself with others that can support you and understand your personal goals. Let those around you know that you need them to support your new goal and try to include them in your objectives.
Positive Mind-set: Your enthusiasm will soar if you keep a positive attitude towards your new fitness goals. Think about the positive aspects of a healthier lifestyle and exercise plan and keep that in mind you may be tempted to skip a day at the gym. When following any fitness plan, it is also important to remember that you may have setbacks or you may not achieve your goals as fast as you had hoped. Keeping your stance positive even during the rough times will help you stay focused on your goals.
Follow Through: You will find that you have an easier time staying motivated when you make a plan and keep at it. Without understanding each step you need to take to reach your goals, it will be harder to focus on the destination. For example, if you are trying to eat healthier, write down what foods you want to eliminate and foods your want to add to your diet. As you progress, compare your results with your plan and that will help you stay the course.
Keep Organized: Keeping organized will keeps the motivation burning to stay on the new fitness plan. If you plan on going to the gym a few times a week, you can get everything you need ready to go the night before. Have your shoes, gym clothes and membership card by the door. Not only will this make it easier for you find exactly what you need, but it will also serve as a visual reminder of your goal. Keep your days planned out and schedule time in for healthy cooking or burning the asphalt.
Forms of Motivation: Intrinsic and extrinsic are both types of motivation. Understand what they mean and which one helps keep you motivated. Those who are intrinsically motivated do not need outside forces, such as rewards to stay focused. They have the power from within to stay motivated. Other forces, such as rewards or praise from others, motivate those who are motivated extrinsically. Most people feel motivated both ways. Understand what kind of motivation keeps you passionate.
Reward Yourself: Incentives can be a great motivator, especially in a new fitness plan. Give yourself a small reward when you meet each of your goals. This will help you get to your final goal. You may choose to buy yourself a new shirt when you lose ten pounds or maybe go see a movie. Whatever appeals to you would stoke the flames of zeal.
Heroes: When you are trying to get a better body through a fitness plan, look for a hero. That person does not have to be famous, but anybody you look up to. Maybe it is someone you know with zest for healthy living. Use that person to emulate when your spirit wanes.
Knowledge is Power: As soon as you commit yourself to a new fitness plan, arm yourself with piles of information. Compare different diets and exercise plans. Learn the ins and outs of each one and you can make confident informed decision.
Varied Pursuits: Another great way to stay motivated is by diversifying activities. When you start to feel upset, you can set it aside and do something you really love. It might even be possible to include what you love doing to help you achieve your fitness aims.
Have no fear: ten delightful tactics can empower you to motivate your self to a better body. Whether you are looking to lose a lot or just a few pounds or you want to exercise more to tone your body, you can create an action plan that can help you stay motivated.
Conviction: Conviction is the primal way for you to motivate yourself to exercise more or to stick to a diet. Faith in yourself is also known as self-efficacy and it means that once you believe that you can do something, no matter how hard, you do it. Those that have a lot of self-esteem believe that they have the power to make changes in themselves. Those without solid self-confidence will find that they will have a much more difficult time sticking to any fitness plan and will not exert much effort.
Support: A staunch support system of friends and family keeps almost anyone motivated to reach their goals. When a person starts a new fitness plan or diet program, many changes need to happen. It is important to surround yourself with others that can support you and understand your personal goals. Let those around you know that you need them to support your new goal and try to include them in your objectives.
Positive Mind-set: Your enthusiasm will soar if you keep a positive attitude towards your new fitness goals. Think about the positive aspects of a healthier lifestyle and exercise plan and keep that in mind you may be tempted to skip a day at the gym. When following any fitness plan, it is also important to remember that you may have setbacks or you may not achieve your goals as fast as you had hoped. Keeping your stance positive even during the rough times will help you stay focused on your goals.
Follow Through: You will find that you have an easier time staying motivated when you make a plan and keep at it. Without understanding each step you need to take to reach your goals, it will be harder to focus on the destination. For example, if you are trying to eat healthier, write down what foods you want to eliminate and foods your want to add to your diet. As you progress, compare your results with your plan and that will help you stay the course.
Keep Organized: Keeping organized will keeps the motivation burning to stay on the new fitness plan. If you plan on going to the gym a few times a week, you can get everything you need ready to go the night before. Have your shoes, gym clothes and membership card by the door. Not only will this make it easier for you find exactly what you need, but it will also serve as a visual reminder of your goal. Keep your days planned out and schedule time in for healthy cooking or burning the asphalt.
Forms of Motivation: Intrinsic and extrinsic are both types of motivation. Understand what they mean and which one helps keep you motivated. Those who are intrinsically motivated do not need outside forces, such as rewards to stay focused. They have the power from within to stay motivated. Other forces, such as rewards or praise from others, motivate those who are motivated extrinsically. Most people feel motivated both ways. Understand what kind of motivation keeps you passionate.
Reward Yourself: Incentives can be a great motivator, especially in a new fitness plan. Give yourself a small reward when you meet each of your goals. This will help you get to your final goal. You may choose to buy yourself a new shirt when you lose ten pounds or maybe go see a movie. Whatever appeals to you would stoke the flames of zeal.
Heroes: When you are trying to get a better body through a fitness plan, look for a hero. That person does not have to be famous, but anybody you look up to. Maybe it is someone you know with zest for healthy living. Use that person to emulate when your spirit wanes.
Knowledge is Power: As soon as you commit yourself to a new fitness plan, arm yourself with piles of information. Compare different diets and exercise plans. Learn the ins and outs of each one and you can make confident informed decision.
Varied Pursuits: Another great way to stay motivated is by diversifying activities. When you start to feel upset, you can set it aside and do something you really love. It might even be possible to include what you love doing to help you achieve your fitness aims.
Want To Improve Your Life? Try Ashtanga Yoga
One of the philosophies of Yoga is called Patanjali and comes from the Sanskrit for its definition of Ashtanga Yoga. Ashta means 8 and Anga means limbs and these 8 limbs are intended to help the Ashtange Yoga devotee to live a healthy life. The practice of this form of Yoga is intended to help us minimize stress in our lives, which if course is a good thing, or at least minimize its effect. It also strengthens our endurance.
Ashtanga Yoga was made popular by the Yoga guru Shri K Pattabhi Jois.
There is a different term in western Yoga to describe what is in effect a form of Ashtanga Yoga. This term is Power Yoga. Power Yoga is modeled on Ashtanga yoga.
The 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are as follows:
Asana is the discipline of performing Yoga exercises for the betterment of your body and spirit.
Niyama is for taking control of your life. Control comes from personal restraint. Niyama is the combination of joy (santosh), patience (tapa), self study (swadhyaya), purity (shoucha) and love of god (esgwar pranidhan).
Yama is to enable us to dwell on the good and honorable of human behavior. This is comprised of non violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), celibacy (brahmacharay), and the ability to stay clear of envy, jealousy and other possessive and destructive behaviours (aparigraha). Stealing is also resisted (asteya).
As with many other branches of Yoga the breathing is controlled and this is Pranayma.
Dharna is to help us concentrate on personal learning to improve our understanding of our place in the overall scheme of life, and to form long term goals or a firm mission for our life.
Pratyahara is to help us isolate ourselves from the hustle and bustle and background noise of the world to allow our minds to focus within and become a haven for positivity.
Dhyana is to help us concentrate on our mission and long terms goals from the pursuit of meditation
Samadhi is the attainment of a state of bliss and peace, the ability to find and focus on our life mission and to continually strive to reach the final goal of personal enlightenment.
As can be seen Ashtanga Yoga has some lofty ends. It is practiced in a series of stages where the student of progresses at their own pace to achieve their goal.
This starts with the Yoga Chikitsa which is a form of Yoga therapy which is intended to detox the body and to build strength and stamina. It takes around 2 hours to complete the 75 poses involved. The start of the exercises is the surya namaskar (the sun salutation) and then the student moves on to a series of standing exercises and sitting exercise followed by inversions and relaxation exercises.
The second set in the series of 6 is called the nadi shodana and it helps with strengthening the nervous system. These exercises follow the same sequence as the first set of exercises but with the inclusion of some extra exercises.
The final set of 4 from the series is called sthira bhaga meaning divine permanence. This the final and advanced form of the practice and is only for students who have finally mastered the intitial exercises.
The pursuit of Yoga, including Ashtanga Yoga, is a lifetime passion. It isnt easy and requires discipline, but the discipline is worth it.
Ashtanga Yoga was made popular by the Yoga guru Shri K Pattabhi Jois.
There is a different term in western Yoga to describe what is in effect a form of Ashtanga Yoga. This term is Power Yoga. Power Yoga is modeled on Ashtanga yoga.
The 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are as follows:
Asana is the discipline of performing Yoga exercises for the betterment of your body and spirit.
Niyama is for taking control of your life. Control comes from personal restraint. Niyama is the combination of joy (santosh), patience (tapa), self study (swadhyaya), purity (shoucha) and love of god (esgwar pranidhan).
Yama is to enable us to dwell on the good and honorable of human behavior. This is comprised of non violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), celibacy (brahmacharay), and the ability to stay clear of envy, jealousy and other possessive and destructive behaviours (aparigraha). Stealing is also resisted (asteya).
As with many other branches of Yoga the breathing is controlled and this is Pranayma.
Dharna is to help us concentrate on personal learning to improve our understanding of our place in the overall scheme of life, and to form long term goals or a firm mission for our life.
Pratyahara is to help us isolate ourselves from the hustle and bustle and background noise of the world to allow our minds to focus within and become a haven for positivity.
Dhyana is to help us concentrate on our mission and long terms goals from the pursuit of meditation
Samadhi is the attainment of a state of bliss and peace, the ability to find and focus on our life mission and to continually strive to reach the final goal of personal enlightenment.
As can be seen Ashtanga Yoga has some lofty ends. It is practiced in a series of stages where the student of progresses at their own pace to achieve their goal.
This starts with the Yoga Chikitsa which is a form of Yoga therapy which is intended to detox the body and to build strength and stamina. It takes around 2 hours to complete the 75 poses involved. The start of the exercises is the surya namaskar (the sun salutation) and then the student moves on to a series of standing exercises and sitting exercise followed by inversions and relaxation exercises.
The second set in the series of 6 is called the nadi shodana and it helps with strengthening the nervous system. These exercises follow the same sequence as the first set of exercises but with the inclusion of some extra exercises.
The final set of 4 from the series is called sthira bhaga meaning divine permanence. This the final and advanced form of the practice and is only for students who have finally mastered the intitial exercises.
The pursuit of Yoga, including Ashtanga Yoga, is a lifetime passion. It isnt easy and requires discipline, but the discipline is worth it.
Monday, September 17, 2007
10 Most Common Toxins In The Human Body
Over a lifetime (or in the case of an ecological disaster, an alarmingly short time), the human body assimilates a number of toxins. Some of these are in such trace amounts that we really needn't worry about them, but it is still wise to avoid as many toxins in the diet and the environment as possible. Here are ten of the most common toxins found in human blood and cells:
Free Radicals
These are the toxic waste products of the process of oxidation within our bodies. Oxidation (like rust on iron) is what causes the deterioration of cells, like a bruised apple when it goes brown and mushy. This goes on at a cellular level within the human body and accelerates the aging process.
The effects of free radicals can be reduced by the consumption of anti-oxidant-rich red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, along with increasing our exercise and eating less.
Mercury
The commonest sources of Mercury are amalgam fillings and the eating of large marine fish such as tuna. Mercury is implicated in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, heart failure, irregular heartbeat and even some cancers. There is debate as to whether it is worthwhile to have amalgam fillings removed and replaced. Similarly, the health benefits of eating oily marine fish should be weighed carefully against the risks of mercury consumption.
Sugar
Refined sugar is known as "the white death". We all know it's bad for us, that it contains calories without nutrients. Too much of it can cause insulin resistance, diabetes. The answer is simple; eat less white sugar.
Caffeine
Many people enjoy caffeinated drinks and find that they give them a much-needed "high" in times of fatigue. Don't forget that caffeine is quite a powerful drug and taking yourself off it can cause quite severe withdrawal symptoms. Some people are "allergic" to caffeine and it can cause irrational mood swings and exacerbation of PMS, even heartbeat irregularities. Best to wean yourself off it.
C-Reactive Protein
Perhaps it is wrong to consider this a toxin in itself, but its presence in the blood is an indicator of inflammation in the body. A high reading of C-Reactive Protein in the blood can indicate a propensity to heart attack. It is elevated by infections, inflammatory conditions, insulin resistance, and certain hormones such as those in the contraceptive pill or HRT. It is thought that a preventative dose of aspirin may be effective in reducing the level of C-Reactive Protein.
Cholesterol
A buildup of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or "bad" cholesterol in the blood is implicated in heart disease via hardening of the arteries. Avoid high cholesterol by eating less saturated fats, exercising regularly, eating supplements rich in plant sterols or (as a last resort) Statins (prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs).
Cortisol
This is produced by the body at times of worry and stress, therefore it is commonly called the stress hormone. Eliminate cortisol by exercising, laughing, relaxing, enjoying a hobby and not allowing your own personal stresses to fester and thrive within you!
Pesticides
We encounter these in our own gardens (unless we garden totally organically) and on most bought fruits and vegetables. At least trace amounts are probably found in most people's bodies. Either buy organic or make sure you thoroughly wash any fruit and veg you buy.
Dioxins
These are unwanted byproducts of heating processes and can increase cancer risks. They are suspected as contributory factors in diabetes, low sperm counts and behavioral problems. They are everywhere so it is hard to avoid them on an individual level. Buying organic produce and avoiding saturated animal fats (which tend to harbor dioxins) may help.
Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an amino acid. It can contribute to the risks of heart disease, Alzheimer's, furring of the arteries, toxicity in pregnancy, or even birth defects.
Its build-up can be caused by kidney disease, genetics or vitamin deficiencies. Supplementation of Vitamins B12, B6 and Folic Acid may be wise. These vitamins enable the conversion of homocysteine into less dangerous amino-acids in the body.
We are all exposed to toxins in the environment and our food over our lifetimes. Some are easy to avoid, others less so. Clean living and regular detox programs are probably the best we can do to avoid overexposure to toxins.
Free Radicals
These are the toxic waste products of the process of oxidation within our bodies. Oxidation (like rust on iron) is what causes the deterioration of cells, like a bruised apple when it goes brown and mushy. This goes on at a cellular level within the human body and accelerates the aging process.
The effects of free radicals can be reduced by the consumption of anti-oxidant-rich red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, along with increasing our exercise and eating less.
Mercury
The commonest sources of Mercury are amalgam fillings and the eating of large marine fish such as tuna. Mercury is implicated in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, heart failure, irregular heartbeat and even some cancers. There is debate as to whether it is worthwhile to have amalgam fillings removed and replaced. Similarly, the health benefits of eating oily marine fish should be weighed carefully against the risks of mercury consumption.
Sugar
Refined sugar is known as "the white death". We all know it's bad for us, that it contains calories without nutrients. Too much of it can cause insulin resistance, diabetes. The answer is simple; eat less white sugar.
Caffeine
Many people enjoy caffeinated drinks and find that they give them a much-needed "high" in times of fatigue. Don't forget that caffeine is quite a powerful drug and taking yourself off it can cause quite severe withdrawal symptoms. Some people are "allergic" to caffeine and it can cause irrational mood swings and exacerbation of PMS, even heartbeat irregularities. Best to wean yourself off it.
C-Reactive Protein
Perhaps it is wrong to consider this a toxin in itself, but its presence in the blood is an indicator of inflammation in the body. A high reading of C-Reactive Protein in the blood can indicate a propensity to heart attack. It is elevated by infections, inflammatory conditions, insulin resistance, and certain hormones such as those in the contraceptive pill or HRT. It is thought that a preventative dose of aspirin may be effective in reducing the level of C-Reactive Protein.
Cholesterol
A buildup of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or "bad" cholesterol in the blood is implicated in heart disease via hardening of the arteries. Avoid high cholesterol by eating less saturated fats, exercising regularly, eating supplements rich in plant sterols or (as a last resort) Statins (prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs).
Cortisol
This is produced by the body at times of worry and stress, therefore it is commonly called the stress hormone. Eliminate cortisol by exercising, laughing, relaxing, enjoying a hobby and not allowing your own personal stresses to fester and thrive within you!
Pesticides
We encounter these in our own gardens (unless we garden totally organically) and on most bought fruits and vegetables. At least trace amounts are probably found in most people's bodies. Either buy organic or make sure you thoroughly wash any fruit and veg you buy.
Dioxins
These are unwanted byproducts of heating processes and can increase cancer risks. They are suspected as contributory factors in diabetes, low sperm counts and behavioral problems. They are everywhere so it is hard to avoid them on an individual level. Buying organic produce and avoiding saturated animal fats (which tend to harbor dioxins) may help.
Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an amino acid. It can contribute to the risks of heart disease, Alzheimer's, furring of the arteries, toxicity in pregnancy, or even birth defects.
Its build-up can be caused by kidney disease, genetics or vitamin deficiencies. Supplementation of Vitamins B12, B6 and Folic Acid may be wise. These vitamins enable the conversion of homocysteine into less dangerous amino-acids in the body.
We are all exposed to toxins in the environment and our food over our lifetimes. Some are easy to avoid, others less so. Clean living and regular detox programs are probably the best we can do to avoid overexposure to toxins.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Stem Cells - The New Frontier
One day in the not too distant future, modern medicine will change completely, and stem cells will be used to treat and cure serious conditions that as of right now are still considered untreatable and irreversible. We won't even need doctors anymore. Every time something goes wrong, you'll just pop offer to your local stem cell treatment facility to get a tune-up with some freshly grown injectable stem cells engineered to cure your newest malady.
What are stem cells? Stem cells are cells that haven't decided what they want to be yet. They are undifferentiated, non-specific human cells with a full complement of DNA that have not yet transformed into anything specific, such as the cells in your hand, or the cells in your hair follicles. These stem cells are capable of being a mechanic for your body; they can repair you by undergoing cell division to manufacture whatever cells are needed in order to replace old, damaged, or diseased cells that are no longer viable and need to be replenished.
Stem cell lines, once isolated, are very easy for scientists to work with because they can continue to make stem cells for testing from the original stem cell line, due to the fact that those original lines are basically immortal, providing scientists with an unlimited supply that they can use for experimentation.
Currently, stem cell treatments are not available for most conditions and are usually only utilized in bone marrow transplants and not much else. The primary challenge that researchers face, as they attempt to perfect the usage of stem cell treatments, is to prevent the patient's immune system from rejecting the injected stem cells. A similar dilemma occurs with organ transplants, as the recipients' immune system can reject the donation.
There have been a few successful, high risk experiments that utilized stem cells to reverse a debilitating condition. One of the most noteworthy examples occurred within the past 2 years, as scientists injected stem cells into the area where a test patient had been suffering from acute arthritis, and the results were astonishing. The stem cells divided into healthy joint cells that integrated themselves into the inflamed area and reversed the arthritic condition. The stem cells that were used had been taken from the patient's sibling to prevent rejection.
Stem cells will ultimately be the final frontier of medicine, providing cures for diseases that scientists have struggled with for years, such as Alzheimer's, heart disease, and Parkinson's. However, there is much opposition to the research. Prominent religious leaders and idealogues are opposed to research that uses embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are created through fertilization by not allowing the stem cells to differentiate into a fetus and then isolating the cells for experimentation. The religious right feels that this act is tantamount to abortion. However, if stem cell research is to reach its full potential, the creation of further embryonic stem cells will be a necessity, as the existing stem cell lines are not enough to support adequate research.
In the end, science will likely win, as some states have already funded stem cell research that uses both existing lines and embryonic stem cells. It may take some time, but the cures that will result from the usage of stem cells are far too important too dismiss in favor of religious concerns.
What are stem cells? Stem cells are cells that haven't decided what they want to be yet. They are undifferentiated, non-specific human cells with a full complement of DNA that have not yet transformed into anything specific, such as the cells in your hand, or the cells in your hair follicles. These stem cells are capable of being a mechanic for your body; they can repair you by undergoing cell division to manufacture whatever cells are needed in order to replace old, damaged, or diseased cells that are no longer viable and need to be replenished.
Stem cell lines, once isolated, are very easy for scientists to work with because they can continue to make stem cells for testing from the original stem cell line, due to the fact that those original lines are basically immortal, providing scientists with an unlimited supply that they can use for experimentation.
Currently, stem cell treatments are not available for most conditions and are usually only utilized in bone marrow transplants and not much else. The primary challenge that researchers face, as they attempt to perfect the usage of stem cell treatments, is to prevent the patient's immune system from rejecting the injected stem cells. A similar dilemma occurs with organ transplants, as the recipients' immune system can reject the donation.
There have been a few successful, high risk experiments that utilized stem cells to reverse a debilitating condition. One of the most noteworthy examples occurred within the past 2 years, as scientists injected stem cells into the area where a test patient had been suffering from acute arthritis, and the results were astonishing. The stem cells divided into healthy joint cells that integrated themselves into the inflamed area and reversed the arthritic condition. The stem cells that were used had been taken from the patient's sibling to prevent rejection.
Stem cells will ultimately be the final frontier of medicine, providing cures for diseases that scientists have struggled with for years, such as Alzheimer's, heart disease, and Parkinson's. However, there is much opposition to the research. Prominent religious leaders and idealogues are opposed to research that uses embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are created through fertilization by not allowing the stem cells to differentiate into a fetus and then isolating the cells for experimentation. The religious right feels that this act is tantamount to abortion. However, if stem cell research is to reach its full potential, the creation of further embryonic stem cells will be a necessity, as the existing stem cell lines are not enough to support adequate research.
In the end, science will likely win, as some states have already funded stem cell research that uses both existing lines and embryonic stem cells. It may take some time, but the cures that will result from the usage of stem cells are far too important too dismiss in favor of religious concerns.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
10 Smashing Tricks To Burn Yourself To A Gorgeous Body
Most folks I know start off the New Year by making resolutions to lose weight and get in shape. often, this mission is often easier said than done. Some last a little longer than others, but for most, impetus starts to fizzle soon into the next buffet engagement.
Have no fear: ten delightful tactics can empower you to motivate your self to a better body. Whether you are looking to lose a lot or just a few pounds or you want to exercise more to tone your body, you can create an action plan that can help you stay motivated.
Conviction: Conviction is the primal way for you to motivate yourself to exercise more or to stick to a diet. Faith in yourself is also known as self-efficacy and it means that once you believe that you can do something, no matter how hard, you do it. Those that have a lot of self-esteem believe that they have the power to make changes in themselves. Those without solid self-confidence will find that they will have a much more difficult time sticking to any fitness plan and will not exert much effort.
Support: A staunch support system of friends and family keeps almost anyone motivated to reach their goals. When a person starts a new fitness plan or diet program, many changes need to happen. It is important to surround yourself with others that can support you and understand your personal goals. Let those around you know that you need them to support your new goal and try to include them in your objectives.
Positive Mind-set: Your enthusiasm will soar if you keep a positive attitude towards your new fitness goals. Think about the positive aspects of a healthier lifestyle and exercise plan and keep that in mind you may be tempted to skip a day at the gym. When following any fitness plan, it is also important to remember that you may have setbacks or you may not achieve your goals as fast as you had hoped. Keeping your stance positive even during the rough times will help you stay focused on your goals.
Follow Through: You will find that you have an easier time staying motivated when you make a plan and keep at it. Without understanding each step you need to take to reach your goals, it will be harder to focus on the destination. For example, if you are trying to eat healthier, write down what foods you want to eliminate and foods your want to add to your diet. As you progress, compare your results with your plan and that will help you stay the course.
Keep Organized: Keeping organized will keeps the motivation burning to stay on the new fitness plan. If you plan on going to the gym a few times a week, you can get everything you need ready to go the night before. Have your shoes, gym clothes and membership card by the door. Not only will this make it easier for you find exactly what you need, but it will also serve as a visual reminder of your goal. Keep your days planned out and schedule time in for healthy cooking or burning the asphalt.
Forms of Motivation: Intrinsic and extrinsic are both types of motivation. Understand what they mean and which one helps keep you motivated. Those who are intrinsically motivated do not need outside forces, such as rewards to stay focused. They have the power from within to stay motivated. Other forces, such as rewards or praise from others, motivate those who are motivated extrinsically. Most people feel motivated both ways. Understand what kind of motivation keeps you passionate.
Reward Yourself: Incentives can be a great motivator, especially in a new fitness plan. Give yourself a small reward when you meet each of your goals. This will help you get to your final goal. You may choose to buy yourself a new shirt when you lose ten pounds or maybe go see a movie. Whatever appeals to you would stoke the flames of zeal.
Heroes: When you are trying to get a better body through a fitness plan, look for a hero. That person does not have to be famous, but anybody you look up to. Maybe it is someone you know with zest for healthy living. Use that person to emulate when your spirit wanes.
Knowledge is Power: As soon as you commit yourself to a new fitness plan, arm yourself with piles of information. Compare different diets and exercise plans. Learn the ins and outs of each one and you can make confident informed decision.
Varied Pursuits: Another great way to stay motivated is by diversifying activities. When you start to feel upset, you can set it aside and do something you really love. It might even be possible to include what you love doing to help you achieve your fitness aims.
Have no fear: ten delightful tactics can empower you to motivate your self to a better body. Whether you are looking to lose a lot or just a few pounds or you want to exercise more to tone your body, you can create an action plan that can help you stay motivated.
Conviction: Conviction is the primal way for you to motivate yourself to exercise more or to stick to a diet. Faith in yourself is also known as self-efficacy and it means that once you believe that you can do something, no matter how hard, you do it. Those that have a lot of self-esteem believe that they have the power to make changes in themselves. Those without solid self-confidence will find that they will have a much more difficult time sticking to any fitness plan and will not exert much effort.
Support: A staunch support system of friends and family keeps almost anyone motivated to reach their goals. When a person starts a new fitness plan or diet program, many changes need to happen. It is important to surround yourself with others that can support you and understand your personal goals. Let those around you know that you need them to support your new goal and try to include them in your objectives.
Positive Mind-set: Your enthusiasm will soar if you keep a positive attitude towards your new fitness goals. Think about the positive aspects of a healthier lifestyle and exercise plan and keep that in mind you may be tempted to skip a day at the gym. When following any fitness plan, it is also important to remember that you may have setbacks or you may not achieve your goals as fast as you had hoped. Keeping your stance positive even during the rough times will help you stay focused on your goals.
Follow Through: You will find that you have an easier time staying motivated when you make a plan and keep at it. Without understanding each step you need to take to reach your goals, it will be harder to focus on the destination. For example, if you are trying to eat healthier, write down what foods you want to eliminate and foods your want to add to your diet. As you progress, compare your results with your plan and that will help you stay the course.
Keep Organized: Keeping organized will keeps the motivation burning to stay on the new fitness plan. If you plan on going to the gym a few times a week, you can get everything you need ready to go the night before. Have your shoes, gym clothes and membership card by the door. Not only will this make it easier for you find exactly what you need, but it will also serve as a visual reminder of your goal. Keep your days planned out and schedule time in for healthy cooking or burning the asphalt.
Forms of Motivation: Intrinsic and extrinsic are both types of motivation. Understand what they mean and which one helps keep you motivated. Those who are intrinsically motivated do not need outside forces, such as rewards to stay focused. They have the power from within to stay motivated. Other forces, such as rewards or praise from others, motivate those who are motivated extrinsically. Most people feel motivated both ways. Understand what kind of motivation keeps you passionate.
Reward Yourself: Incentives can be a great motivator, especially in a new fitness plan. Give yourself a small reward when you meet each of your goals. This will help you get to your final goal. You may choose to buy yourself a new shirt when you lose ten pounds or maybe go see a movie. Whatever appeals to you would stoke the flames of zeal.
Heroes: When you are trying to get a better body through a fitness plan, look for a hero. That person does not have to be famous, but anybody you look up to. Maybe it is someone you know with zest for healthy living. Use that person to emulate when your spirit wanes.
Knowledge is Power: As soon as you commit yourself to a new fitness plan, arm yourself with piles of information. Compare different diets and exercise plans. Learn the ins and outs of each one and you can make confident informed decision.
Varied Pursuits: Another great way to stay motivated is by diversifying activities. When you start to feel upset, you can set it aside and do something you really love. It might even be possible to include what you love doing to help you achieve your fitness aims.
Monday, September 10, 2007
10 Powerful Keys To Healing Yourself
1. Be Present
Live in the now. The past is gone. You can never go back and make it right. You can never re-live a life that was yesterday. Live positively in the present moment, no matter what is occurring. It is All right and perfect. Do not look ahead and dread what may come. Our mind creates a lot of chatter and makes us afraid in order to keep us safe. Tell your mind "Thanks for sharing" and affirm "I am here, I am present". You are always at choice and you know how to make this day beautiful.
2. Nature
Sit on the lawn or next to a tree. Feel the pulse of the earth, the grandeur of the sky, the coolness of the breeze on your face, or the warmth of the sun on your face. Smile at nature, say hello to the bugs and all the animals you meet. Take a walk in a park or hike on a trail.
3. Exercise
Daily exercise gives you a break from your mind chatter, helps pump your heart, circulates your blood, clears toxins from your body, charges you with energy and has many other benefits. Choose an activity that is fun and mix it up. Do walking one day and yoga another day. Take a Tai Chi class and meet new people. The list of possibilities is endless.
4. Spirituality
Recognize and know you are important and unique. Meditate, or sit quietly, and be in the moment. Read books that are uplifting and have positive messages. Give thanks for your health, your home, your friends, all the joy and happiness in your life and all the good that surrounds you.
5. Forgiveness
It is time to let it go. Forgive all parts of yourself to be whole and perfect. Forgive yourself for any past mistakes or shortcomings; forgive the child within for being afraid; forgive the teenager that spoke words of anger; forgive the young adult for not being a risk taker. Forgive others in the past. Forgive your parents, your siblings and relatives. Let go of all grudges. Forgiveness is about coming to peace within yourself.
6. Bubble Bath
Give yourself permission to relax and savor quiet times. Read a book for fun. Spend that extra money and get a massage or a facial. Do something selfish for yourself.
7. Nutrition
Listen to your body. Feed it good nutritious food. Take a high quality multi-vitamin or a liquid supplement. Most health challenges can be reduced or eliminated with a dietary supplement.
8. Let Go of Judgment
Give up judgement and give up blame. Never speak critically of others or yourself. Speak words of encouragement to yourself and everyone you meet. Accept everyone for who they are and embrace their differences.
9. Service To Others
Reach out and lend a hand to a friend in need. Offer unconditional service to others. Be a great listener and really listen to people when they speak. Find ways to help others to lift their spirits and help lessen their burdens.
10. Love
Love yourself and use positive words of encouragement. Compliment strangers and make others smile. Speak from a loving heart and shine with joy.
Live in the now. The past is gone. You can never go back and make it right. You can never re-live a life that was yesterday. Live positively in the present moment, no matter what is occurring. It is All right and perfect. Do not look ahead and dread what may come. Our mind creates a lot of chatter and makes us afraid in order to keep us safe. Tell your mind "Thanks for sharing" and affirm "I am here, I am present". You are always at choice and you know how to make this day beautiful.
2. Nature
Sit on the lawn or next to a tree. Feel the pulse of the earth, the grandeur of the sky, the coolness of the breeze on your face, or the warmth of the sun on your face. Smile at nature, say hello to the bugs and all the animals you meet. Take a walk in a park or hike on a trail.
3. Exercise
Daily exercise gives you a break from your mind chatter, helps pump your heart, circulates your blood, clears toxins from your body, charges you with energy and has many other benefits. Choose an activity that is fun and mix it up. Do walking one day and yoga another day. Take a Tai Chi class and meet new people. The list of possibilities is endless.
4. Spirituality
Recognize and know you are important and unique. Meditate, or sit quietly, and be in the moment. Read books that are uplifting and have positive messages. Give thanks for your health, your home, your friends, all the joy and happiness in your life and all the good that surrounds you.
5. Forgiveness
It is time to let it go. Forgive all parts of yourself to be whole and perfect. Forgive yourself for any past mistakes or shortcomings; forgive the child within for being afraid; forgive the teenager that spoke words of anger; forgive the young adult for not being a risk taker. Forgive others in the past. Forgive your parents, your siblings and relatives. Let go of all grudges. Forgiveness is about coming to peace within yourself.
6. Bubble Bath
Give yourself permission to relax and savor quiet times. Read a book for fun. Spend that extra money and get a massage or a facial. Do something selfish for yourself.
7. Nutrition
Listen to your body. Feed it good nutritious food. Take a high quality multi-vitamin or a liquid supplement. Most health challenges can be reduced or eliminated with a dietary supplement.
8. Let Go of Judgment
Give up judgement and give up blame. Never speak critically of others or yourself. Speak words of encouragement to yourself and everyone you meet. Accept everyone for who they are and embrace their differences.
9. Service To Others
Reach out and lend a hand to a friend in need. Offer unconditional service to others. Be a great listener and really listen to people when they speak. Find ways to help others to lift their spirits and help lessen their burdens.
10. Love
Love yourself and use positive words of encouragement. Compliment strangers and make others smile. Speak from a loving heart and shine with joy.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Common Blunders with Contacts
Because contact lenses have become easy to acquire, and even more easy to take care of, sometimes it becomes overlooked that the contact lenses are still something prescribed by a medical practitioner. This causes the lenses to be not properly cared for, causing great danger to the wearer. One of the biggest blunders is the wearing of disposable contact lenses for too long.
While disposable contact lenses have proven to be a great invention, they only cause more users to disregard care instructions and doctors’ instructions and either sleep in them or leave them in for too many days. The usage instructions that are printed on the box of disposable lenses is only a suggestion for their use, and often an eye care professional will suggest different care, asking you to change them out either more or less often. They will always know best how to take care of your personalized eye care. This rule goes for whether your contacts are daily use, weekly use, or monthly use.
The following stats from the American Academy of Ophthalmology speak for themselves. Extended Wear contact lens wearers show a five to fifteen times greater risk of developing ulcerative keratitis (ulcers in the cornea) over daily wear users. Ulcerative keratitis is seen nine times more in elderly people using extended wear lenses. It’s also nine times greater in people that are using their daily wear lenses overnight. Cases of ulcerative keratitis gets increasingly greater, depending on how many consecutive days extended wear lenses are left in.
In the last year alone, 94% of those diagnosed with fungal eye infections wore soft contact lenses, and 34% of those required a corneal eye transplant. Of course, there was the 2006 Fungal Eye Infection Outbreak during this time, and some of that has been traced to ReNu With MoistureLoc contact lens solution with has since been pulled from shelves. The solution was creating a film in the contact lens case that encouraged the growth of a fungus. The fungus was picked up in the patients’ homes.
In addition to fungal eye infections, protein deposits that accumulate on extended wear lenses can cause Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, soft spongy bumps that accumulate under the upper eye lids, and sometimes they can resemble cobblestone. This condition may itch and also have a stringy mucous discharge. This is caused by the contact lens rubbing up against the eyelid for too long of a time. Patients may need to go without wearing contact lenses for a short time after being diagnosed with this, or switch to a different brand.
If you suspect you have either of these diseases, you should contact your eye care professional as soon as possible. Otherwise, there are a number of safety precautions you can undergo to ensure a long healthy life for your eyes. The first rule of thumb is to always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses. Disinfect your lenses when taking them out and before reinserting them. Never reuse old solution, and always start with fresh. Discount Contact Lenses has a great selection of solutions to fit individualized needs. Only wear your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
While disposable contact lenses have proven to be a great invention, they only cause more users to disregard care instructions and doctors’ instructions and either sleep in them or leave them in for too many days. The usage instructions that are printed on the box of disposable lenses is only a suggestion for their use, and often an eye care professional will suggest different care, asking you to change them out either more or less often. They will always know best how to take care of your personalized eye care. This rule goes for whether your contacts are daily use, weekly use, or monthly use.
The following stats from the American Academy of Ophthalmology speak for themselves. Extended Wear contact lens wearers show a five to fifteen times greater risk of developing ulcerative keratitis (ulcers in the cornea) over daily wear users. Ulcerative keratitis is seen nine times more in elderly people using extended wear lenses. It’s also nine times greater in people that are using their daily wear lenses overnight. Cases of ulcerative keratitis gets increasingly greater, depending on how many consecutive days extended wear lenses are left in.
In the last year alone, 94% of those diagnosed with fungal eye infections wore soft contact lenses, and 34% of those required a corneal eye transplant. Of course, there was the 2006 Fungal Eye Infection Outbreak during this time, and some of that has been traced to ReNu With MoistureLoc contact lens solution with has since been pulled from shelves. The solution was creating a film in the contact lens case that encouraged the growth of a fungus. The fungus was picked up in the patients’ homes.
In addition to fungal eye infections, protein deposits that accumulate on extended wear lenses can cause Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, soft spongy bumps that accumulate under the upper eye lids, and sometimes they can resemble cobblestone. This condition may itch and also have a stringy mucous discharge. This is caused by the contact lens rubbing up against the eyelid for too long of a time. Patients may need to go without wearing contact lenses for a short time after being diagnosed with this, or switch to a different brand.
If you suspect you have either of these diseases, you should contact your eye care professional as soon as possible. Otherwise, there are a number of safety precautions you can undergo to ensure a long healthy life for your eyes. The first rule of thumb is to always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses. Disinfect your lenses when taking them out and before reinserting them. Never reuse old solution, and always start with fresh. Discount Contact Lenses has a great selection of solutions to fit individualized needs. Only wear your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
10 Tips For Choosing Healthy Cosmetics And Personal Care Products
The cosmetic and personal care product industry is a multi-billion dollar a year industry ... and growing. New products are coming onto the market every day.
Manufacturers play to your emotions in their advertising and packaging. They tell you their products will make you look more beautiful, younger, sexier and help you attract your perfect mate. They promise to erase blemishes, wrinkles, make your skin smoother and softer. In fact, any flaws that you see in yourself, real or imagined, there is most likely a product on the market that promises to fix it.
Can you believe all the claims you read or hear about these products? Is there really truth in advertising? Where do you find the answers to these questions? How can you really be sure that a product will do what the manufacturer says it will? And most importantly, how do you know that the products are healthy and safe to use?
Here are some things for you to look out for when choosing products you’re going to use on your skin:
1. Magazine and other print ads
They're designed to make you want to buy. They promise you radiant skin, a healthy glow, age-defying skin care, purity, safe and effective products made with natural ingredients. They make the product sound so good and good for you that you just want to go out and buy it. But don't buy yet. You need more information.
2. Radio and TV ads
In 30 seconds or less, you'll hear all the wonderful benefits you'll receive from choosing their products – softer, silkier, healthier hair; smoother, younger-looking skin and more. Manufacturers spend a lot of money trying to convince you to buy their products. Don't jump up and rush to the store after seeing or hearing one of their compelling ads. They're not telling you everything you need to know.
3. Celebrity endorsements
Companies pay celebrities a lot of money to endorse their products. They hope you'll think that because the celebs say wonderful things about their products, you'll want to use them too. Don't fall for this.
4. Samples in the mail
What better way to get you to try their product than to give you a little bit to test on yourself? You get to experience first hand how the product smells, feels, lathers, absorbs, etc. Now while you may like how it smells, performs and the result you get, you still don't have enough information to assess the health and safety of the product.
5. "Natural" on the label
This suggests that the product is made of ingredients from natural sources. However, there are no industry standards for what "natural" means. The product may contain all natural ingredients, just a few natural ingredients added to a synthetic product or no natural ingredients at all.
6. "Organic" on the label
Beware of products that claim to be 95%, 90% or some other high percentage organic on the label. According to cosmetic chemist Paul Lieber, it's physically impossible for more than 30-40% of the ingredients to be organic, unless it's organic oil. Why? Because typically 60-70% of a product is water and water cannot be certified organically grown, even if it's distilled or processed with organic herbs or essential oils.
7. Hypoallergenic
This doesn't mean the product won't cause allergic reactions. There are no standards defining hypoallergenic. It just means the manufacturer believes it's less likely to cause allergic reactions. In many cases, it's not even tested; only fragrances are removed.
8. Pretty labels
Manufacturers spend a lot of money designing labels to make you think their product is natural, herbal, healthy and will do amazing things if you use it. The truth is ... the information on the front of the label doesn't tell you anything about the health and safety of the ingredients inside the package. Don't base your decision on what's on the front of the label.
9. The ingredients list
This is the most important piece of information that you absolutely must read before you buy any product. The ingredient list is where you find out if the product really contains safe and healthy ingredients or not. This is not what the manufacturers wants you to read on their labels. That's why they make it so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read it. Buy one and carry it with you in your pocket or purse. Take it out when you're trying to read that microscopic print.
10. Incomplete ingredient lists
Many companies, because of increased consumer awareness of the ingredients in skin care products will list only the known herbal and healthy ingredients on their website or in their advertisements. If you don't read carefully, you may think that what they list is the complete list of ingredients in the product ... that is until you buy the product and read the full list of ingredients on the label. Beware of this deceptive practice.
Now, you may be wondering how you're supposed to know if the ingredients on the label are safe or not. Most of the ingredients are not listed in plain, understandable, everyday language. Well, you don't need to hire your own personal cosmetic chemist. There is a simple solution. Dying To Look Good is an easy-to-use book, written in plain, understandable language, that classifies ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products according to safety and lists products that are safe and healthy to use. If you check the ingredients on all product labels before you buy with the list of ingredients in Dying To Look Good, you will be able to confidently choose products that are safe and healthy.
Manufacturers play to your emotions in their advertising and packaging. They tell you their products will make you look more beautiful, younger, sexier and help you attract your perfect mate. They promise to erase blemishes, wrinkles, make your skin smoother and softer. In fact, any flaws that you see in yourself, real or imagined, there is most likely a product on the market that promises to fix it.
Can you believe all the claims you read or hear about these products? Is there really truth in advertising? Where do you find the answers to these questions? How can you really be sure that a product will do what the manufacturer says it will? And most importantly, how do you know that the products are healthy and safe to use?
Here are some things for you to look out for when choosing products you’re going to use on your skin:
1. Magazine and other print ads
They're designed to make you want to buy. They promise you radiant skin, a healthy glow, age-defying skin care, purity, safe and effective products made with natural ingredients. They make the product sound so good and good for you that you just want to go out and buy it. But don't buy yet. You need more information.
2. Radio and TV ads
In 30 seconds or less, you'll hear all the wonderful benefits you'll receive from choosing their products – softer, silkier, healthier hair; smoother, younger-looking skin and more. Manufacturers spend a lot of money trying to convince you to buy their products. Don't jump up and rush to the store after seeing or hearing one of their compelling ads. They're not telling you everything you need to know.
3. Celebrity endorsements
Companies pay celebrities a lot of money to endorse their products. They hope you'll think that because the celebs say wonderful things about their products, you'll want to use them too. Don't fall for this.
4. Samples in the mail
What better way to get you to try their product than to give you a little bit to test on yourself? You get to experience first hand how the product smells, feels, lathers, absorbs, etc. Now while you may like how it smells, performs and the result you get, you still don't have enough information to assess the health and safety of the product.
5. "Natural" on the label
This suggests that the product is made of ingredients from natural sources. However, there are no industry standards for what "natural" means. The product may contain all natural ingredients, just a few natural ingredients added to a synthetic product or no natural ingredients at all.
6. "Organic" on the label
Beware of products that claim to be 95%, 90% or some other high percentage organic on the label. According to cosmetic chemist Paul Lieber, it's physically impossible for more than 30-40% of the ingredients to be organic, unless it's organic oil. Why? Because typically 60-70% of a product is water and water cannot be certified organically grown, even if it's distilled or processed with organic herbs or essential oils.
7. Hypoallergenic
This doesn't mean the product won't cause allergic reactions. There are no standards defining hypoallergenic. It just means the manufacturer believes it's less likely to cause allergic reactions. In many cases, it's not even tested; only fragrances are removed.
8. Pretty labels
Manufacturers spend a lot of money designing labels to make you think their product is natural, herbal, healthy and will do amazing things if you use it. The truth is ... the information on the front of the label doesn't tell you anything about the health and safety of the ingredients inside the package. Don't base your decision on what's on the front of the label.
9. The ingredients list
This is the most important piece of information that you absolutely must read before you buy any product. The ingredient list is where you find out if the product really contains safe and healthy ingredients or not. This is not what the manufacturers wants you to read on their labels. That's why they make it so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read it. Buy one and carry it with you in your pocket or purse. Take it out when you're trying to read that microscopic print.
10. Incomplete ingredient lists
Many companies, because of increased consumer awareness of the ingredients in skin care products will list only the known herbal and healthy ingredients on their website or in their advertisements. If you don't read carefully, you may think that what they list is the complete list of ingredients in the product ... that is until you buy the product and read the full list of ingredients on the label. Beware of this deceptive practice.
Now, you may be wondering how you're supposed to know if the ingredients on the label are safe or not. Most of the ingredients are not listed in plain, understandable, everyday language. Well, you don't need to hire your own personal cosmetic chemist. There is a simple solution. Dying To Look Good is an easy-to-use book, written in plain, understandable language, that classifies ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products according to safety and lists products that are safe and healthy to use. If you check the ingredients on all product labels before you buy with the list of ingredients in Dying To Look Good, you will be able to confidently choose products that are safe and healthy.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
10 Common Symptoms Of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a condition of Hyperglycemia ( Increase level of Glucose in Blood). Most of the times Diabetes is asymptomatic, however It is very important to diagnose diabetes as early as possible to prevent early and late complications of Diabetes. This is only possible, if you have some knowledge about common symptoms (often misspelled as "symtoms") of Diabetes Mellitus.
Glucose is an important source of energy for cells of our body. Glucose enters the cells and metabolized to provide energy. How does glucose enter in cells? It enters the cells with help of Insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by Pancreas. Suppose there is no insulin, or insulin production is decreased. Obviously, Glucose level in blood will increase and we will have a condition what we call as Diabetes Mellitus.
There are many symptoms of diabetes but we will focus here on most common symptoms of Diabetes.Here is list of these symptoms.
Increase Thurst
Frequent urination
Fatigue and weakness
Blurred vision
Abdominal pains
Nausea and vomiting
Weight loss or gain
Skin infections like abscess, pimples
Impotence
Fluid retention (especially in legs and feet)
Chronic itching
Poor healing of skin wounds
Decreased tolerance to cold
Increase heart rate
Dry scaly skin
Numbness of fingers and toes
Extreme hunger pangs
Hot and sweaty with clammy perspiration
Heart tremors and palpitations
Apprehensive with no obvious reason
Nervousness
Disoriented, confused, inability to concentrate
Frequent headaches, dizziness
Mood changes
How will we relate these symptoms with Diabetes. Remember, most of symptoms are directly related to higher levels of Glucose in Blood.
Increase Thurst and Urination:
Two symptoms that occur in many people with the disease are increased thirst and frequent urination.Increase level of glucose in blood leads to increase excretion of glucose by Kidneys. Glucose will take more and more water with it, so diabetic patient will have frequent urination which will lead to increase thurst. To quench your thirst, you drink a lot of water and other beverages, and that leads to more frequent urination. There is another condition Diabetes Insipidus, disease of pituitary gland in brain, where we also see increase thurst and urination.
Extreme hunger, fatigue and weight loss Extreme hunger:
Fatigue and weight loss are also related with hyperglycemia. Without insulin like Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, or Decrease Insulin like Type 2 diabetes, Glucose can not enter in cells which is main sourse of energy for cells, so cells will lake this energy and patient will have weight loss and fatigue.
Headaches, dizziness, irritability:
Brain needs a constant supply of energy, if brain cells don't receive enough energy, we become tired; most tired people tend to be less tolerant and more irritable!
Dry itchy skin:
Normal skin cells require gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which our body makes via a complex metabolic process. In older people and diabetics, this process is impaired and not enough GLA is produced; this results is chronic, severely dry and itchy skin and condition is aggravated by soaps, hot baths, detergents, environmental conditions; it is usually worse during the winter months and most commonly affects legs, feet, and hands but can affect other areas of the body aswell.
Blurred vision Blurred vision:
Well, Diabetes can also affect your eyes aswell. Again cause is High Glucose Level. High glucose in blood vessels increase process of atherosclerosis resulting in thickening of blood vessels. chronically high levels of glucose damage blood vessels in different organs of the body, usually starting with the retina of the eye and the kidneys and heart; eventually some blood vessels are lost and remaining ones become leaky which allow blood and fat to seep out of damaged blood vessels. This makes the retina bleed and swell which causes blurred vision. Over a period of years, however, diabetes can also cause new blood vessels to form in your retina of eye, as well as damage old vessels. For most people this causes only mild vision problems. But for others, the effects may be much more serious. In some cases, diabetes can also lead to blindness.
Tingling/burning pain in the feet:
Another important symptom of Diabetes. It may be the first symptom of diabetes. Our hands and feet are supplied by Neurons, as we said earlier that due to diabetes blood vessels become thick, similary is the case with neurons, blood supply to these neurons decreases due to thickening of blood vessels which leads to degeneration of peripheral nerve fibers (Neurons) throughout the body which commonly leads to a lack of feeling in the feet, advances up the legs and then the hands and is the most common reason for lower limb amputations. It can also be very painful. If there is Loss of motor nerve fibers it leads to muscular weakness. If there is loss of sensory nerve fibers leads to loss of feeling and numbness in hands and feet. Loss of autonomic fibers cause the loss of functions not normally under conscious control like digestion, heartbeat, blood pressure, and sweating. Neuropathy symptoms tingling, burning, aching, prickling, sharp jabs of needlelike pain can also be caused by nerves that are damaged or are healing.
Slow-healing sores or frequent infections:
Bacteria love high glucose, Diabetes affects your body's ability to heal and fight infection. Urinary track infections and vaginal infections can be a particular problem for women.
Diagnose your diabetes as early as possible to keep yourself away from complex complications of diabetes Mellitus.
Glucose is an important source of energy for cells of our body. Glucose enters the cells and metabolized to provide energy. How does glucose enter in cells? It enters the cells with help of Insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by Pancreas. Suppose there is no insulin, or insulin production is decreased. Obviously, Glucose level in blood will increase and we will have a condition what we call as Diabetes Mellitus.
There are many symptoms of diabetes but we will focus here on most common symptoms of Diabetes.Here is list of these symptoms.
Increase Thurst
Frequent urination
Fatigue and weakness
Blurred vision
Abdominal pains
Nausea and vomiting
Weight loss or gain
Skin infections like abscess, pimples
Impotence
Fluid retention (especially in legs and feet)
Chronic itching
Poor healing of skin wounds
Decreased tolerance to cold
Increase heart rate
Dry scaly skin
Numbness of fingers and toes
Extreme hunger pangs
Hot and sweaty with clammy perspiration
Heart tremors and palpitations
Apprehensive with no obvious reason
Nervousness
Disoriented, confused, inability to concentrate
Frequent headaches, dizziness
Mood changes
How will we relate these symptoms with Diabetes. Remember, most of symptoms are directly related to higher levels of Glucose in Blood.
Increase Thurst and Urination:
Two symptoms that occur in many people with the disease are increased thirst and frequent urination.Increase level of glucose in blood leads to increase excretion of glucose by Kidneys. Glucose will take more and more water with it, so diabetic patient will have frequent urination which will lead to increase thurst. To quench your thirst, you drink a lot of water and other beverages, and that leads to more frequent urination. There is another condition Diabetes Insipidus, disease of pituitary gland in brain, where we also see increase thurst and urination.
Extreme hunger, fatigue and weight loss Extreme hunger:
Fatigue and weight loss are also related with hyperglycemia. Without insulin like Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, or Decrease Insulin like Type 2 diabetes, Glucose can not enter in cells which is main sourse of energy for cells, so cells will lake this energy and patient will have weight loss and fatigue.
Headaches, dizziness, irritability:
Brain needs a constant supply of energy, if brain cells don't receive enough energy, we become tired; most tired people tend to be less tolerant and more irritable!
Dry itchy skin:
Normal skin cells require gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which our body makes via a complex metabolic process. In older people and diabetics, this process is impaired and not enough GLA is produced; this results is chronic, severely dry and itchy skin and condition is aggravated by soaps, hot baths, detergents, environmental conditions; it is usually worse during the winter months and most commonly affects legs, feet, and hands but can affect other areas of the body aswell.
Blurred vision Blurred vision:
Well, Diabetes can also affect your eyes aswell. Again cause is High Glucose Level. High glucose in blood vessels increase process of atherosclerosis resulting in thickening of blood vessels. chronically high levels of glucose damage blood vessels in different organs of the body, usually starting with the retina of the eye and the kidneys and heart; eventually some blood vessels are lost and remaining ones become leaky which allow blood and fat to seep out of damaged blood vessels. This makes the retina bleed and swell which causes blurred vision. Over a period of years, however, diabetes can also cause new blood vessels to form in your retina of eye, as well as damage old vessels. For most people this causes only mild vision problems. But for others, the effects may be much more serious. In some cases, diabetes can also lead to blindness.
Tingling/burning pain in the feet:
Another important symptom of Diabetes. It may be the first symptom of diabetes. Our hands and feet are supplied by Neurons, as we said earlier that due to diabetes blood vessels become thick, similary is the case with neurons, blood supply to these neurons decreases due to thickening of blood vessels which leads to degeneration of peripheral nerve fibers (Neurons) throughout the body which commonly leads to a lack of feeling in the feet, advances up the legs and then the hands and is the most common reason for lower limb amputations. It can also be very painful. If there is Loss of motor nerve fibers it leads to muscular weakness. If there is loss of sensory nerve fibers leads to loss of feeling and numbness in hands and feet. Loss of autonomic fibers cause the loss of functions not normally under conscious control like digestion, heartbeat, blood pressure, and sweating. Neuropathy symptoms tingling, burning, aching, prickling, sharp jabs of needlelike pain can also be caused by nerves that are damaged or are healing.
Slow-healing sores or frequent infections:
Bacteria love high glucose, Diabetes affects your body's ability to heal and fight infection. Urinary track infections and vaginal infections can be a particular problem for women.
Diagnose your diabetes as early as possible to keep yourself away from complex complications of diabetes Mellitus.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
10 Powerful Keys To Healing Yourself
1. Be Present
Live in the now. The past is gone. You can never go back and make it right. You can never re-live a life that was yesterday. Live positively in the present moment, no matter what is occurring. It is All right and perfect. Do not look ahead and dread what may come. Our mind creates a lot of chatter and makes us afraid in order to keep us safe. Tell your mind "Thanks for sharing" and affirm "I am here, I am present". You are always at choice and you know how to make this day beautiful.
2. Nature
Sit on the lawn or next to a tree. Feel the pulse of the earth, the grandeur of the sky, the coolness of the breeze on your face, or the warmth of the sun on your face. Smile at nature, say hello to the bugs and all the animals you meet. Take a walk in a park or hike on a trail.
3. Exercise
Daily exercise gives you a break from your mind chatter, helps pump your heart, circulates your blood, clears toxins from your body, charges you with energy and has many other benefits. Choose an activity that is fun and mix it up. Do walking one day and yoga another day. Take a Tai Chi class and meet new people. The list of possibilities is endless.
4. Spirituality
Recognize and know you are important and unique. Meditate, or sit quietly, and be in the moment. Read books that are uplifting and have positive messages. Give thanks for your health, your home, your friends, all the joy and happiness in your life and all the good that surrounds you.
5. Forgiveness
It is time to let it go. Forgive all parts of yourself to be whole and perfect. Forgive yourself for any past mistakes or shortcomings; forgive the child within for being afraid; forgive the teenager that spoke words of anger; forgive the young adult for not being a risk taker. Forgive others in the past. Forgive your parents, your siblings and relatives. Let go of all grudges. Forgiveness is about coming to peace within yourself.
6. Bubble Bath
Give yourself permission to relax and savor quiet times. Read a book for fun. Spend that extra money and get a massage or a facial. Do something selfish for yourself.
7. Nutrition
Listen to your body. Feed it good nutritious food. Take a high quality multi-vitamin or a liquid supplement. Most health challenges can be reduced or eliminated with a dietary supplement.
8. Let Go of Judgment
Give up judgement and give up blame. Never speak critically of others or yourself. Speak words of encouragement to yourself and everyone you meet. Accept everyone for who they are and embrace their differences.
9. Service To Others
Reach out and lend a hand to a friend in need. Offer unconditional service to others. Be a great listener and really listen to people when they speak. Find ways to help others to lift their spirits and help lessen their burdens.
10. Love
Love yourself and use positive words of encouragement. Compliment strangers and make others smile. Speak from a loving heart and shine with joy.
Live in the now. The past is gone. You can never go back and make it right. You can never re-live a life that was yesterday. Live positively in the present moment, no matter what is occurring. It is All right and perfect. Do not look ahead and dread what may come. Our mind creates a lot of chatter and makes us afraid in order to keep us safe. Tell your mind "Thanks for sharing" and affirm "I am here, I am present". You are always at choice and you know how to make this day beautiful.
2. Nature
Sit on the lawn or next to a tree. Feel the pulse of the earth, the grandeur of the sky, the coolness of the breeze on your face, or the warmth of the sun on your face. Smile at nature, say hello to the bugs and all the animals you meet. Take a walk in a park or hike on a trail.
3. Exercise
Daily exercise gives you a break from your mind chatter, helps pump your heart, circulates your blood, clears toxins from your body, charges you with energy and has many other benefits. Choose an activity that is fun and mix it up. Do walking one day and yoga another day. Take a Tai Chi class and meet new people. The list of possibilities is endless.
4. Spirituality
Recognize and know you are important and unique. Meditate, or sit quietly, and be in the moment. Read books that are uplifting and have positive messages. Give thanks for your health, your home, your friends, all the joy and happiness in your life and all the good that surrounds you.
5. Forgiveness
It is time to let it go. Forgive all parts of yourself to be whole and perfect. Forgive yourself for any past mistakes or shortcomings; forgive the child within for being afraid; forgive the teenager that spoke words of anger; forgive the young adult for not being a risk taker. Forgive others in the past. Forgive your parents, your siblings and relatives. Let go of all grudges. Forgiveness is about coming to peace within yourself.
6. Bubble Bath
Give yourself permission to relax and savor quiet times. Read a book for fun. Spend that extra money and get a massage or a facial. Do something selfish for yourself.
7. Nutrition
Listen to your body. Feed it good nutritious food. Take a high quality multi-vitamin or a liquid supplement. Most health challenges can be reduced or eliminated with a dietary supplement.
8. Let Go of Judgment
Give up judgement and give up blame. Never speak critically of others or yourself. Speak words of encouragement to yourself and everyone you meet. Accept everyone for who they are and embrace their differences.
9. Service To Others
Reach out and lend a hand to a friend in need. Offer unconditional service to others. Be a great listener and really listen to people when they speak. Find ways to help others to lift their spirits and help lessen their burdens.
10. Love
Love yourself and use positive words of encouragement. Compliment strangers and make others smile. Speak from a loving heart and shine with joy.
Monday, September 3, 2007
The Way to Wellness" It's time to start a Healthy life: your 7 days program
How many times have you gone to sleep at night, swearing you'll go to the gym in the morning, and then changing your mind just eight hours later because when you get up, you don't feel like exercising?
While this can happen to the best of us, it doesn't mean you should drop the ball altogether when it comes to staying fit. What people need to realize is that staying active and eating right are critical for long-term health and wellness -- and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The more you know about how your body responds to your lifestyle choices, the better you can customize a nutrition and exercise plan that is right for you. When you eat well, increase your level of physical activity, and exercise at the proper intensity, you are informing your body that you want to burn a substantial amount of fuel. This translates to burning fat more efficiently for energy. In other words, proper eating habits plus exercise equals fast metabolism, which, in turn gives you more energy throughout the day and allows you to do more physical work with less effort.
The true purpose of exercise is to send a repetitive message to the body asking for improvement in metabolism, strength, aerobic capacity and overall fitness and health. Each time you exercise, your body responds by upgrading its capabilities to burn fat throughout the day and night, Exercise doesn't have to be intense to work for you, but it does need to be consistent.
I recommend engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise four times per week for 20 to 30 minutes per session, and resistance training four times per week for 20 to 25 minutes per session. This balanced approach provides a one-two punch, incorporating aerobic exercise to burn fat and deliver more oxygen, and resistance training to increase lean body mass and burn more calories around the block.
Here's a sample exercise program that may work for you:
* Warm Up -- seven to eight minutes of light aerobic activity intended to increase blood flow and lubricate and warm-up your tendons and joints.
* Resistance Training -- Train all major muscle groups. One to two sets of each exercise. Rest 45 seconds between sets.
* Aerobic Exercise -- Pick two favorite activities, they could be jogging, rowing, biking or cross-country skiing, whatever fits your lifestyle. Perform 12 to 15 minutes of the first activity and continue with 10 minutes of the second activity. Cool down during the last five minutes.
* Stretching -- Wrap up your exercise session by stretching, breathing deeply, relaxing and meditating.
When starting an exercise program, it is important to have realistic expectations. Depending on your initial fitness level, you should expect the following changes early on.
* From one to eight weeks -- Feel better and have more energy.
* From two to six months -- Lose size and inches while becoming leaner. Clothes begin to fit more loosely. You are gaining muscle and losing fat.
* After six months -- Start losing weight quite rapidly.
Once you make the commitment to exercise several times a week, don't stop there. You should also change your diet and/or eating habits,' says Zwiefel. Counting calories or calculating grams and percentages for certain nutrients is impractical. Instead, I suggest these easy-to-follow guidelines:
* Eat several small meals (optimally four) and a couple of small snacks throughout the day
* Make sure every meal is balanced -- incorporate palm-sized proteins like lean meats, fish, egg whites and dairy products, fist-sized portions of complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat bread and pasta, wild rice, multigrain cereal and potatoes, and fist-sized portions of vegetable and fruits
* Limit your fat intake to only what's necessary for adequate flavor
* Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water throughout the day
* I also recommend that you take a multi-vitamin each day to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
I suppose that's all I can think of for now. I should extend my thanks to a doctor friend of mine. Without him, I wouldn't be able to write this article, or keep my sanity.
Enjoy life, we all deserve it.
While this can happen to the best of us, it doesn't mean you should drop the ball altogether when it comes to staying fit. What people need to realize is that staying active and eating right are critical for long-term health and wellness -- and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The more you know about how your body responds to your lifestyle choices, the better you can customize a nutrition and exercise plan that is right for you. When you eat well, increase your level of physical activity, and exercise at the proper intensity, you are informing your body that you want to burn a substantial amount of fuel. This translates to burning fat more efficiently for energy. In other words, proper eating habits plus exercise equals fast metabolism, which, in turn gives you more energy throughout the day and allows you to do more physical work with less effort.
The true purpose of exercise is to send a repetitive message to the body asking for improvement in metabolism, strength, aerobic capacity and overall fitness and health. Each time you exercise, your body responds by upgrading its capabilities to burn fat throughout the day and night, Exercise doesn't have to be intense to work for you, but it does need to be consistent.
I recommend engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise four times per week for 20 to 30 minutes per session, and resistance training four times per week for 20 to 25 minutes per session. This balanced approach provides a one-two punch, incorporating aerobic exercise to burn fat and deliver more oxygen, and resistance training to increase lean body mass and burn more calories around the block.
Here's a sample exercise program that may work for you:
* Warm Up -- seven to eight minutes of light aerobic activity intended to increase blood flow and lubricate and warm-up your tendons and joints.
* Resistance Training -- Train all major muscle groups. One to two sets of each exercise. Rest 45 seconds between sets.
* Aerobic Exercise -- Pick two favorite activities, they could be jogging, rowing, biking or cross-country skiing, whatever fits your lifestyle. Perform 12 to 15 minutes of the first activity and continue with 10 minutes of the second activity. Cool down during the last five minutes.
* Stretching -- Wrap up your exercise session by stretching, breathing deeply, relaxing and meditating.
When starting an exercise program, it is important to have realistic expectations. Depending on your initial fitness level, you should expect the following changes early on.
* From one to eight weeks -- Feel better and have more energy.
* From two to six months -- Lose size and inches while becoming leaner. Clothes begin to fit more loosely. You are gaining muscle and losing fat.
* After six months -- Start losing weight quite rapidly.
Once you make the commitment to exercise several times a week, don't stop there. You should also change your diet and/or eating habits,' says Zwiefel. Counting calories or calculating grams and percentages for certain nutrients is impractical. Instead, I suggest these easy-to-follow guidelines:
* Eat several small meals (optimally four) and a couple of small snacks throughout the day
* Make sure every meal is balanced -- incorporate palm-sized proteins like lean meats, fish, egg whites and dairy products, fist-sized portions of complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat bread and pasta, wild rice, multigrain cereal and potatoes, and fist-sized portions of vegetable and fruits
* Limit your fat intake to only what's necessary for adequate flavor
* Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water throughout the day
* I also recommend that you take a multi-vitamin each day to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
I suppose that's all I can think of for now. I should extend my thanks to a doctor friend of mine. Without him, I wouldn't be able to write this article, or keep my sanity.
Enjoy life, we all deserve it.
"Correct your acid / alkaline balance with the water you drink: what the experts say"
In health circles there has been much recent talk about acid
/alkaline imbalance. Let's see if we can clarify how experts
recommend we correct this imbalance.
The problem
Your body functions best when neither too acid nor too
alkaline. Unfortunately almost all of us have become acidic due
to diet, drinks and stress -- both psychological and from
pollution. Acids can build up in our body, causing systems to
be out of balance.
The effects
According to Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky, "Acid wastes build up in
the body in the form of cholesterol, gallstones, kidney stones,
arterial plaque, urates, phosphates and sulfates. These acidic
waste products are the direct cause of premature aging and
the onset of chronic disease."
When this occurs, the body will restore its optimal pH by
depleting certain minerals, such as potassium, calcium and
magnesium, from organs and bones. In addition, your immune
system may become fatigued from dealing with an excess of
acid. Your body then stores acidic wastes in 'hiding places'
such as muscles etc. rather than releasing the acids into the
bloodstream.
As Dr.Robert Atkins, the well-known author, health and diet
expert, notes: "Just about every condition I can think of, from
arthritis to diabetes to cancer, is associated with acidity."
"The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What
does matter is that they all come from the same root
cause...too much tissue acid waste in the body!" Theodore A.
Baroody, ND, Ph.D.
What can be done?
A vast body of research reveals that you can help neutralize
acid build-up in the blood and maintain a balanced pH, by
taking some simple steps, such as:
-- Exercise
-- Avoiding highly acid-forming food and drink
-- Drinking the right water
What is the "right" water?
"International studies show that populations with little or no
history of illness, such as cancer, drink higher pH (alkaline)
waters. After all potential risk factors were considered and
factored out, it became evident that they had been drinking
waters with a pH of 9.0 to 10.0." Dr. Leonard Horowitz in
"Aids and Ebola"
Alkaline ionized water "first came to notice in Japan, where
researchers noted that people drinking water that came from
certain fast- moving rocky mountain streams enjoyed
extraordinarily good health. It turned out that this naturally
occurring water was alkaline and had a different structure and
electrical properties." Larry Clapp, PhD. in "Prostate Health in
90 days"
Alkaline water is produced at home with a small kitchen
appliance called a water ionizer (long in use in Japan and
Korea). As water ionizers have become popular in North
America, more health professionals have had the opportunity
to evaluate their effects on clients:
Sue Pollock, N.D. writes, we can "assist the body in being
more alkaline with ...drinking alkaline water."
"I believe that the best water is water that is alkaline
(reduced) and purified using a small device known as a water
ionizer." (Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky)
"It is my opinion that ionized water will change the way in
which all health practitioners and the public approach their
health in the coming years." Dr. T. Baroody in "Alkalize or Die."
Why not just rely on a change of diet?
According to Sang Whang, researcher and author of "Reverse
Aging", the danger is that we might omit important foods:
"Since the waste products that we are trying to discharge are
acidic, the right kind of water is alkaline water...My personal
recommendation is to enjoy the foods that we like, but do not
over-eat or exclude any food. Eat in moderation following the
professional dieticians' "balanced diet" concept, and let
alkaline water do the job of cleansing acidic wastes."
/alkaline imbalance. Let's see if we can clarify how experts
recommend we correct this imbalance.
The problem
Your body functions best when neither too acid nor too
alkaline. Unfortunately almost all of us have become acidic due
to diet, drinks and stress -- both psychological and from
pollution. Acids can build up in our body, causing systems to
be out of balance.
The effects
According to Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky, "Acid wastes build up in
the body in the form of cholesterol, gallstones, kidney stones,
arterial plaque, urates, phosphates and sulfates. These acidic
waste products are the direct cause of premature aging and
the onset of chronic disease."
When this occurs, the body will restore its optimal pH by
depleting certain minerals, such as potassium, calcium and
magnesium, from organs and bones. In addition, your immune
system may become fatigued from dealing with an excess of
acid. Your body then stores acidic wastes in 'hiding places'
such as muscles etc. rather than releasing the acids into the
bloodstream.
As Dr.Robert Atkins, the well-known author, health and diet
expert, notes: "Just about every condition I can think of, from
arthritis to diabetes to cancer, is associated with acidity."
"The countless names of illnesses do not really matter. What
does matter is that they all come from the same root
cause...too much tissue acid waste in the body!" Theodore A.
Baroody, ND, Ph.D.
What can be done?
A vast body of research reveals that you can help neutralize
acid build-up in the blood and maintain a balanced pH, by
taking some simple steps, such as:
-- Exercise
-- Avoiding highly acid-forming food and drink
-- Drinking the right water
What is the "right" water?
"International studies show that populations with little or no
history of illness, such as cancer, drink higher pH (alkaline)
waters. After all potential risk factors were considered and
factored out, it became evident that they had been drinking
waters with a pH of 9.0 to 10.0." Dr. Leonard Horowitz in
"Aids and Ebola"
Alkaline ionized water "first came to notice in Japan, where
researchers noted that people drinking water that came from
certain fast- moving rocky mountain streams enjoyed
extraordinarily good health. It turned out that this naturally
occurring water was alkaline and had a different structure and
electrical properties." Larry Clapp, PhD. in "Prostate Health in
90 days"
Alkaline water is produced at home with a small kitchen
appliance called a water ionizer (long in use in Japan and
Korea). As water ionizers have become popular in North
America, more health professionals have had the opportunity
to evaluate their effects on clients:
Sue Pollock, N.D. writes, we can "assist the body in being
more alkaline with ...drinking alkaline water."
"I believe that the best water is water that is alkaline
(reduced) and purified using a small device known as a water
ionizer." (Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky)
"It is my opinion that ionized water will change the way in
which all health practitioners and the public approach their
health in the coming years." Dr. T. Baroody in "Alkalize or Die."
Why not just rely on a change of diet?
According to Sang Whang, researcher and author of "Reverse
Aging", the danger is that we might omit important foods:
"Since the waste products that we are trying to discharge are
acidic, the right kind of water is alkaline water...My personal
recommendation is to enjoy the foods that we like, but do not
over-eat or exclude any food. Eat in moderation following the
professional dieticians' "balanced diet" concept, and let
alkaline water do the job of cleansing acidic wastes."
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Soft Contact Lenses: What You Need to Know About Them
Soft contact lenses are made up of flexible plastic called the hydrophilic. When soft contact lenses are used, they absorb water in the eyes (hence they are termed as hydrophilic) and become pliable and soft. The nature of the soft contact lens makes it possible to fit perfectly on the eyes. Soft contact lenses are popular because they are used in the correction of vision and the property to contour comfortably to almost all the eyeballs without any problem, due to the right fit of the soft contact lenses and as they do not pop up like the rigid lenses.
Soft contact lenses offer wide range of solutions to conditions like near or far sightedness, bifocal vision problems and colored ones. A specialized type of soft contact lens is available these days to even reshape the cornea during nightwear. This makes the wearer to get a clear vision without even wearing the contact lenses during the day. The main disadvantage is that it is not a permanent solution and has to be worn compulsorily every night for good sight next day. Soft contact lenses protect the eyes from protein or lipid deposits and bacterial or fungal growth.
Soft lenses mold well on the eyeball, hence chances of dust particles entering the eye and causing irritation is minimized. Since soft contact lenses are made up of a special kind of material which is not only smooth but also has the capacity to retain moisture very well, making the surface of the contact lens stay wet, abrasion of the eye is avoided. The soft contact lenses are more permeable, allowing free flow of oxygen. Keeping the eyes oxygenated leads to a healthy eye, as they do need good amounts of oxygen.
Soft contact lenses need more care for maintaining them properly. It is good to go for disposable kind of soft contact lenses if the person can afford them, as they are a bit costly. If it is not of a disposable kind, it needs to be cleaned and stored in a solution. Care needs to be taken not to allow them to dry. If not cleaned properly, it may lead to eye irritation and infections.
Soft contact lenses offer wide range of solutions to conditions like near or far sightedness, bifocal vision problems and colored ones. A specialized type of soft contact lens is available these days to even reshape the cornea during nightwear. This makes the wearer to get a clear vision without even wearing the contact lenses during the day. The main disadvantage is that it is not a permanent solution and has to be worn compulsorily every night for good sight next day. Soft contact lenses protect the eyes from protein or lipid deposits and bacterial or fungal growth.
Soft lenses mold well on the eyeball, hence chances of dust particles entering the eye and causing irritation is minimized. Since soft contact lenses are made up of a special kind of material which is not only smooth but also has the capacity to retain moisture very well, making the surface of the contact lens stay wet, abrasion of the eye is avoided. The soft contact lenses are more permeable, allowing free flow of oxygen. Keeping the eyes oxygenated leads to a healthy eye, as they do need good amounts of oxygen.
Soft contact lenses need more care for maintaining them properly. It is good to go for disposable kind of soft contact lenses if the person can afford them, as they are a bit costly. If it is not of a disposable kind, it needs to be cleaned and stored in a solution. Care needs to be taken not to allow them to dry. If not cleaned properly, it may lead to eye irritation and infections.
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About Me
- Naina
- Evangelist N CEO, Green N Brown, leading and fastest growing online store for eco-friendly products. Devoted to help people make greener choices in their everyday lives. Committed to 'Greening the Planet' and driving the Green Revolution 'bottoms up'.