Saturday, July 21, 2007

Ayurveda for Stress Relief

Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. Stress is the internal distribution of force per unit area that balances and reacts to external loads applied to a body. Stress is not always a synonym for distress. The individual responds to stress in ways that affect the individual as well as their environment. Everyone is familiar with stress. We experience it in varying forms and degrees every day. In small doses, stress can actually be beneficial to us. It is only when the stress becomes too great, affecting our physical or mental functioning, that it becomes a problem. Increased stress increases productivity – up to a point, after which things rapidly deteriorate, and that level also differs for each of us. It’s much like the stress or tension on a violin string. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that cause fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others. True stress is an alternative definition in which the initial area is replaced by the current area. In engineering applications, the initial area is always known, and so calculations using nominal stress are generally easier. Winning a race or election may be more stressful than losing but this is good stress. When the stress tensor is needed to fully describe the state of stress in a body, it is useful to break the concept up into smaller parts that have physical significance.

Stress is nothing but uncomfortable state of mind. It is the state of mental or emotional strain. Ayurveda, the "Science of Life. Ayurveda believes this to be Maanas Dosha (mental disorder). There are several single herbs and compounds that give relieves in stress. According to ayurveda, human body is made of three doshas—vata, pitta and kapha, which are also present in the nature. These three doshas are in constant interaction with each other inside human body and, also outside of it, with the three doshas of nature. The three doshas govern all metabolic activities. When their actions in our mind-body constitution are balanced, we experience psychological and physical wellness. Brahmi is the most important rejuvenative herb in Ayurveda. Brahmi helps to awaken the crown chakra and balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Chandan-Calms down the stress by suppressing Pitta dosha. Yashtimadhu improves cognitive functions of the brain. Ashwagandha is proven anti-stress herb. This regulates the chemical-imbalance in the brain. It is also good for people who do physical labor or exercise a lot, to help the body adapt to physical stress. Ashwagandha increases the quality and quantity of Ojas, the master coordinator between the body and consciousness. It helps pure consciousness slide into the physiology.

Stress response (also called the fight or flight response) is critical during emergency situations, such as when a driver has to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. Stress vitiates Prana Vata, which governs the activity and energy of the brain. It can also be activated in a milder form at a time when the pressure's on but there's no actual danger - like stepping up to take the foul shot that could win the game, getting ready to go to a big dance, or sitting down for a final exam. Ayurveda, the ancient science of healing from India, considers one of its primary objectives to be preserving the continued good health of the healthy. It is provides a clear, concise, cohesive regimen to help people correct conditions such as stress response in a natural way. Vata dosha in general tends to get disturbed during travel. Drink Vata Tea or Worry Tea. These herbal teas are especially formulated to pacify Vata-related imbalances. Avoid carbonated or ice-cold beverages, because they disrupt digestion. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Ashwagandha nourishes the crucial mind-body connection and psychoneuro immune response (called PNI). It helps coordinate the mind and senses, as well, which is essential for good quality sleep. It is also a powerful Medhya Rasayana, which means that it enhances all three aspects of mind power (Dhi -- omprehension; Dhriti - memory; and Smriti -- recollection).

Tips of Ayurveda for Stress

1.Brahmi helps to awaken the crown chakra and balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

2.Chandan-Calms down the stress by suppressing Pitta dosha.

3.Yashtimadhu improves cognitive functions of the brain.

4.Ashwagandha is proven anti-stress herb. This regulates the chemical-imbalance in the brain.

5.Stress vitiates Prana Vata, which governs the activity and energy of the brain.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

New age Weight loss & quit smoking drugs available in market.

Rimonabant Acomplia works by selectively targeting and blocking the CB1 receptors, helping normalize the over-activation of the EC system and making hunger or cigarette pangs more manageable. Rimonabant is a new anti-obesity drug, developed by Sanofi-Aventis, a french pharmaceutical company. If you are overweight rimonabant weight loss drug may help you shed pounds.As per recent marketing survey, it shows Approximately 300,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are attributable to unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity or sedentary behavior
· Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight (BMI > 25, which includes those who are obese).
· Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese (BMI > 30).
Obesity: Obesity refers specifically to having an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Individuals with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese.
Rimonabant Working
Rimonabant works by blocking certain chemical pathways within the brain which make you feel hungry. The drug binds to special chemical receptors in the brain known as endocannabinoid receptors. This binding renders these receptors unresponsive to stimulation by chemicals known as ‘cannabinoids’.
In other words it should help suppress your appetite. The end result is you eat less and lose weight

Rimonabant Dosage

When talking about the dosage of Zimulti Rimonabant, the most important thing that you need to follow and consider is the directions given by your doctor. This diet pill is widely available in two dosages (10 mg and 20 mg). Very often the physicians do prescribe the 20mg dosage.

Rimonabant Side Effects

Rimonabant Side effects observed during the trials include nausea, dizziness, anxiety and painful joints. A full list of side effects will be available when Rimonabant drug is prescribed to you. We do not know as yet if there will be any influence on the mental state as the endocannabinoid system is yet to be fully evaluated.

Rimonabant : No More Obesity

An obese not only struggle against his excessive weight but also faces threats like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol to name a few. He wants to lead a healthy life but in spite of several endeavors ended up with zero. When all possibilities of a slim trim figure seem faded, comes Rimonabant diet pill, the miracle drug manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis.

Chantix Smoking Stats

Smoking kills 400,000 people a year in the United States alone, that’s almost 1,100 every day. The figures for the UK are around 121,000 people a year, or approximately 330 per day. Approximately 38% die of cancer, 28% die a slow and agonizing death from chronic lung disease and emphysema, and the other 34% die of heart disease and other circulatory problems.

Smoking is one of the major causes of male impotence, increasing the risk of erective dysfunction by some 50%, and affecting as many as 120,000 males in the UK alone. It has been reported that a male experiencing erectile dysfunction, should take this as a warning that blood vessels are being damaged, and this includes the blood vessels in and around the heart.

Chantix Working

Chantix acts at sites in the brain affected by nicotine and may help those who wish to give up smoking in two ways: by providing some nicotine effects to ease the withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the effects of nicotine from cigarettes if they resume smoking.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

The Why, What, and How of Buying Viagra

Affected by impotence, millions of modern men today have taken recourse to Viagra (sildenafil citrate), the first oral pill to treat erectile dysfunction. Produced by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, this drug is also approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is known to have been enormously effective in helping men having and maintaining an erection.

Why do people buy Viagra?

Impotence is caused by both medical and psychogenic reasons. And Viagra is tested to be effectual in overcoming the dysfunction for both as this drug does not cause erection directly; it only improves the response to sexual arousal. That is why men rely on Viagra. It enhances nitric oxide discharge in the body, which usually happens when a person is sexually stimulated. Nitric oxide relaxes the smooth muscles and allows more blood flow into certain penile areas, thus causing an erection.

What to consider while buying Viagra?

Viagra is sold as oral tablets of 25mg, 50mg and 100mg strengths, each priced at around US$ 10/pill. It is generally advised to start with the medium strength and then move up or down to 25mg or 100mg, as the need be. Viagra is consumed once everyday about 30 minutes to 3 hours before sexual intercourse.

For those who don’t know, Viagra tablets are blue in color and diamond-shaped. And you will find the words "Pfizer" and "VGR xx" written on either side. Here, the “xx” represents "25", "50" or "100", the dosage strength in milligrams.

It is also important to consider the side-effects of Viagra while buying. Its serious side-effects include hypotension, priapism, stroke, myocardial infarction, increased intraocular pressure, ventricular arrhythmias, etc. And among the most commonly reported fallouts of this drug are headache, stomach ache, sneezing, palpitations, flushing, prolonged erections, photophobia, and visual impairment (color and light perception changes, vision gets blurred).

Another word of caution for patients treated for HIV with Protease inhibitors. Ideally, they should no use Viagra, and if at all they do, it is best to limit the intake and/or consult a doctor. Viagra is also not recommended for people having nitroglycerin, as this may adversely impact and lower the blood pressure levels.

How do people buy Viagra?

First and foremost, remember that Viagra is not sold over-the-counter. It is available only by prescription. Ask a licensed medical practitioner about the dosage you will need. It is always wise to get medical advice before you buy Viagra. Your entire medical history needs to be assessed before administering this drug.

There are also many online orders for Viagra delivery around the world. There is Viagra US, Viagra UK, Viagra for Asians and more. But in all cases, it is delivered only after thorough medical profile check.

Lastly, it must be borne in mind that Viagra consumption does not provide any biological resistance to AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Lowering the Cholesterol Levels the Natural Way

Studies have shown that the number of people who are obese or overweight has gone up through the years. This is attributed to the type of food being served in schools and fast food joints as well the lack of physical activity as the person grows older.

The problem goes farther because this means that many more Americans will suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes in the future. The good news is that this can be prevented before it is too late.

The natural way to lower the cholesterol will be by making some lifestyle changes and exercising regularly. This will help the individual lose weight, which is directly related to the cholesterol levels in the human body.

When people think of dieting, many think this means saying goodbye to some of life’s more juicer foods but it is not. The person will just have to limit the consumption and add new things that are healthier.

More often, this will require eating foods that are high in fiber and low in saturated fats. A few examples of these are artichokes, corn, fish, garlic, legumes, mushrooms, nut, olive oil, soy milk and whole grains.

The individual should not forget to have some fruits and vegetables as well since these are rich in sterols that are known to keep the cholesterol levels down. All of these products are affordable and can easily be purchased in the supermarket.

Aside from eating properly, the person must also take the necessary precautions when consuming liquids. This means drinking a glass of red wine moderately, reducing the consumption of beer, drinking fresh juices, non-fat milk and water.

Apple juice for example has been known to reduce cholesterol levels by up to 50% when taken regularly. Other fruits can also do the same so cutting this and putting it into a blender can do the trick or getting this in bottled form.

The next step to lowering the cholestesterol levels naturally is through exercise. This can be achieved in many ways such as brisk walking, jogging or running around the neighborhood. Learning a new sport and doing it regularly is another option.

Those who want to be looked after by a personal trainer can check out the gym since there are professionals that can create a program to achieve the person’s desired results. This will be a combination of cardio-vascular exercises as well as weight lifting to burn the calories and lower the cholesterol levels.

There is another way to reduce the cholesterol levels but is only used as a last resort if these two do not work. The individual will be required to use medicine to make it happen. There are a lot of products out there and studies have shown this can drop the cholesterol levels by as much as 15% to 30%.

The person should be aware though that these drugs have certain side effects so it is best to consult a doctor first to make sure it is safe to use.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Dangers of Obesity

Are you obese? Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used to measure obesity. Prior to 2005, once your BMI hit 30 or higher, you are no doubt obese. But since 2005, World Health Organization (WHO) has revised the BMI for obesity level downwards for Asians because of their smaller frames. Now, an Asian is considered an obese if his BMI is 27.5 and above. This implies that an Asian has increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes at low BMI levels.

BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms over the square of your height in metres. Weighing heavy does not necessarily leads to obesity. Look at the heavyweights - their weights came from their muscle mass. Of course for us as common people, heavy weight means overweight!

The logic is simple: if we consume more calories than we use, the excess calories are stored in our bodies as fat. When you are obese, it simply means you are carrying too much fat in your body. Therefore, obese people run a higher risk of suffering from high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Many factors contribute to weight gain. They affect the way your body burns calories, thereby causing you to gain weight or not.

Lifestyle

Our long working hours and other commitments often becomes our excuses not to cook nutritious meals. Instead we head for the nearest fast food outlet or food center even though we know these prepared foods are often high in fats and calorie and the portion sizes are usually too large. On top of that, many of us lack exercise which is vital to burn away the excess calories. The end result: the excess calories turn into fat.

Psychological factors

Some people over-eat to cope with emotions problems such stress, depression or boredom.

Genetics

Your genes actually affect the amount of body fat you store and where the fat is distributed. Take a look at your parents - are they obese?

Age

Our muscle mass decreases with age. We also become less active. This in turn leads to a decrease in metabolism and calorie needs. Therefore, if we do not reduce our caloric intake as we age, we will most likely gain weight. Medical Problems

Problems like low thyroid function, arthritis, excess production of hormones by the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome) or other hormonal balances, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Alcohol

It's no myth drinking will make you fat. Think about this - one regular beer is about 150 calories.

If you need some help with your obesity problem, approach a qualified doctor who may recommend the following treatments:

1. Mesotherapy

Painless procedure whereby the mesoactive substance are injected into the targeted body areas such as tummy, thighs, hips and arms. The mesoactive ingredients will stimulate the metabolism of fat cells and accelerate their elimination.

2. Carboxytherapy

Get rid of ugly cellulite by improving local tissue metabolism and perfusion. This is done by injecting carbon dioxide using a tiny needle about 0.3mm in diameter. This is rapid, comfortable and effective for most patients.

3. Liposuction

This procedure can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas including chin, cheeks and neck. Usually used for stubborn areas that do not respond to traditional weight-loss methods.

4. Abdominoplasty

Known as "tummy tuck", it is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of abdominal wall. It can effectively reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen but it does leave a permanent surgical scar.

Whichever treatment you choose, you still have to ensure a healthy diet and exercise regularly to keep the weight off.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Weight Gain Diet Foods

Weight gain diet foods are essential to help you gain extra pounds of healthy weight. Skinny people need to know what kind of food and how much to eat. Eating the wrong foods such as high carbs like fries, chips and other junk food is a sure way to create future health problems downstream like hypertension, heart diseases and diabetes. We will look at some of the proper weight gain diet foods you should include in your daily diet and the portions you should be consuming to gain weight quickly and healthily.

There is a right way to eat for weight gain. Instead of eating everything within the 3 basic meals, distribute your food intake into 5 or 6 meals – 3 main and 2 light ones. This would aid your calorie intake and maintain a healthy balance.

In order to gain weight, it simply means that you have to eat more than what your body requires for the day. This is translated to eating more than your daily calorie requirement to maintain the calorie-burning activities you perform. Eating just enough to meet your daily needs would only keep your weight constant, and not add any additional weight. Studies have revealed that in order for a person to gain extra 1 pound, the person needs to increase his/her calorie intake above what he/she needs by 3500 calories. Assuming the additional weight gain is achieved within a week, this equates adding 500 calories per day to the meals consumed. An average male adult requires about 2000 odd calories per day. If you want to know the exact calorie counts you need to consume, head to my blog to find out your Basal Metabolic Rate.

If you are interested in the kind of weight gain diet foods you can try the following:

1. Milk (3 Glasses)

Milk is packed with protein, the ingredient necessary to put on muscle mass. Start the day with a glass of milk, drink it over the next few meals until you are done with more than 3 glasses.

2. Fruits & Vegetables (5 Servings)

Eating fruits and vegetables help prepare our bodies for healthy weight gain. They are rich in fiber and vitamins, and aid us in digesting our weight gain diet foods.

3. Breads

Choose hearty and dense breads such as oat bran and whole wheat rather than light white breads. Eat them with generous servings of peanut butter and jam.

4. Cereals

Cereals make great weight gain diet foods. Eat more dense cereals such as muesli, grape-nuts, granola, shredded wheat and bran or wheat chex. Avoid flaked cereals. Remember to use low fat milk instead of water when preparing hot cereals and garnish with nuts and dried fruits.

5. Beverages

Drink more filling beverages like shakes, milk, fruit juices instead of water, tea, coffee and sodas. Go for the higher calorie content.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Now We've Done It: Texas Fights The Overuse of Antibiotics

Most of us have done it: at some point, we caught a bad cold or flu and, feeling miserable, dragged (or, if you prefer, drug) our shaking bodies into the doctor's office to beg for a prescription, believing a few pills will somehow make it all better. "Come on, Doc," we said, "Give me something. I'm under a deadline, here. My health insurance will cover it."

Unfortunately this attitude, and many physicians' willingness to prescribe antibiotics when they are unnecessary -- at times even when they have absolutely no effect on the illness creating the problem -- has lead to a serious problem in creating drug-resistant bacterial strains in Texas and the rest of the United States. Knowing most health insurance policies with prescription coverage will pay for a simple antibiotic makes the temptation all that much harder to resist. Dr, Richard Besser, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, describes it as "the whole culture of overprescribing."

Approximately 150 million unnecessary prescriptions are written every year -- 50 million of which are for viral infections, diseases completely unaffected by antibiotic medication. That means residents of Dallas, Houston, and Austin are just as guilty as the rest. Simply having an infection doesn't warrant antibiotics; it's the kind of infection that determines whether such treatment is necessary and useful. Antibiotics are, indeed, a miracle drug, first created in the 1940s with the advent of penicillin, and absolutely life-saving for certain conditions. The key is understanding when antibiotics are appropriate, and when they are not.

Antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses. Viruses and bacteria are two completely different kinds of organisms, and require different elements to survive, and therefore different methods for combating them. Bacteria are much simpler, and actually much easier to fight -- as long as they are not drug resistant. Strep throat, urinary tract infections, wound and skin infections, most ear infections, and some sinus infections are caused by bacteria. The common cold, the common flu, most sore throats, and most coughs, however, are not. They are viral, and Western medicine does not currently have a medication that effectively fights common viruses.

The problem comes after six decades of antibiotic use and overuse. Bacteria multiply in the millions, and, like any organism, learn to adapt to what seeks to harm them. Because their individual life cycles are relatively short, and because of this rate of reproduction, their ability to adapt is much faster than our own.

When an antibiotic is taken as prescribed and fails to kill all bacteria in an infection, it usually means those survivors have learned to resist that drug. They can then pass on that information to other bacteria in the body, making them resistant as well. When, consequently, a stronger drug is tried to fight the same infection and, it too, proves ineffective, the creation of a "superbug" begins -- a dangerous strain resistant to most, or all known, medications. The longer it takes to kill the infection, the longer such a superbug can be transmitted to others Just think of the consequences of the rapid transmission of a superbug in cities like Dallas, Houston, or Austin.
One of the best, and most disturbing examples of this phenomenon is pneumococcus, which is a bacterial strain that causes pneumonia, ear infections, and sinusitis. Its resistance has been increasing in recent years, and, because it causes infections that are so common, a pneumococcus strain completely resistant to all known drugs would prove absolutely pandemic.

Even vancomycin (Vancocin), an extremely potent antibiotic pulled out only when all other medications have proven ineffective, has met its bacterial match. The use of antibiotics previously prescribed only for high-risk situations, such as with cancer or organ transplant patients, is also on the rise due to the necessity of replacing older, weaker drugs with stronger ones. Soon, even vancomycin will fall down in the hierarchy of drugs to try when nothing else works.

Unnecessary antibiotic use may do more immediate harm than good, as well. Certain bacteria are good for you, believe it or not, and are necessary for various normal body functions. The digestive system, for instance, depends upon a healthy count of beneficial bacteria to do its job. Acidophilus and other probiotics keep the digestive system on track, but antibiotics are indiscriminate and will attempt to kill all bacteria in the body -- good or bad. These beneficial strains, then, need to be replenished -- either by the body or through supplements -- after a course of antibiotics, as an insufficient number may lead to irregularities and other types of infections, such as yeast.

But there is hope. The primary reason resistant strains have been created in Texas and across the United States is the overuse, and misuse of antibiotics. If we, as a public, can slow our usage of them, and use medications only when absolutely necessary, this problem can be considerably slowed. Our conscious efforts, in fact, may prevent future antibiotic-resistant pandemics.

What You Can Do:

It can't be said enough: Use all medications, particularly antibiotics, only when absolutely necessary. If you feel ill, of course, seek the advice of a medical practitioner, and find out for sure with what you are dealing. Don't beg for an antibiotic, however, when it's not necessary. Viruses are not affected by bacteria, so find alternatives to deal with that cold or flu! Zinc, for instance, has proven to reduce the duration of the common cold and flu by up to four days. Other natural methods are also extremely helpful in shortening the duration of illnesses and combating their symptoms.

Always take the full course of antibiotics prescribed, even if you start feeling better. You can start feeling much better well before all the dangerous bacteria in your system have been killed. Stopping a course of antibiotic treatment before it's been completed only creates prime opportunities for the infectious bacteria left to become resistant.

Never take antibiotics without a prescription. There are many types of antibiotics used to fight many strains of bacteria, all of which work in a slightly different way. You need to make sure you are getting the right prescription, taking the correct dose, and taking it as long, but not longer, than you should.

Keep healthy! By revving up your immune system to its maximum capabilities, you'll need antibiotics less. Wash your hands, exercise, eat right, and take vitamins if you feel them beneficial. After all, who wants to be sick?

The tendency for most Americans to search for that "magic bullet" is, perhaps, a natural one. After all, so many resources are so readily available to most of us in this country -- why shouldn't one for getting over the cold or flu be, too? But, unfortunately, some things just don't come that easily, and the overuse, and misuse, of antibiotics has created a major problem. Superbugs are very real, and if we don't all do our part in controlling them, there soon could be even bigger problems. So stay healthy, take care of yourself, and for your own sake, do what you're told -- at least this time.

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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'.