There are many important health issues that seem to always come to the forefront in our world of today. Diseases like cancer, AIDS and heart disease, health issues that most people are more concerned about. The other health issues are that cause a panic, like bird flu and mad cow disease. These health issues are rare, but they get so much media attention that people start to worry more about them then the health issues they should be worried about.
The media’s goal is to create a story that will get people watching. They do offer great information, but usually it is blown out of proportion. The media plays a big role in the publics view of health issues. Unfortunately, the media is less concerned with people’s health then they may seem.
The media has a habit of turning a small issue not a big one. Bird flu is a good example. It never became as huge of a health issue as the media made it seem. They quoted medical professionals out of context often, making it look as though it was hitting the US. This type of media influence can be very bad.
When people focus more on what the media is saying about rare health issues they end up worrying and focusing on that particular issue. In the mean time they are forgetting to worry about the real health issues that offer a real threat towards them, like cancer or heart disease. The media may be helpful in many cases, but when it comes to health issues, people should take what the media has to say with a grain of salt and stick to discussing health issues with their doctor.
Believing in good balanced diet, taking vitamins and minerals. Daily exercise, yoga, stretching, breathing exercises, drinking enough water, meditation, relaxation, positive thinking, and trying to be happy.
By Leslie Tepper
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The Media and Health Issues
Key to the Ultimate Muscle Building - Fat Loss - Fitness - Success Mindset
A few years ago, I regularly had those brief but friendly verbal exchanges with a fellow gym member upon arriving at the facility each day for my muscle building workouts. You know the kind of interaction I'm referring to; just some small talk and friendly joking with someone you never get to know outside of that one specific setting. I recall having a conversation with him on one particular day that went something like this:
"Hey Scott… how's the training going?" "It's going great, Mike", I answered. "But I'm feeling a bit tired today." "Well… ", he said almost perfunctorily. " At least you're in here. You showed up for your workout and that's better than a lot of people"
Interestingly, I cringed a bit at the sound of those words. ‘At least I'm in here?' What if the muscles I had come to work that day were in dire need of one more day's rest? What if working them prior to that rest would be the catalyst that sends them down a spiral of over-training and inadequate recuperation? If that were the case, then showing up would be about the most counterproductive thing (in regard to bodybuilding) I could do that day.
Although Mike's point made sense within a specific circumstantial context, I detected traces of a mentality that's all too common among us and all too subtly damaging to human potential. This mindset rears its ugly head in every life context. It resides within each of us in varying degrees, depending on the life setting and circumstances. I will refer to it here as simply – the Motive-Driven Mentality.
The motive-driven mentality sits in direct contrast to the Outcome-Driven Mentality. The outcome-driven mentality is concerned with objectively measurable outcomes that result from our actions. By contrast, the motive-driven mentality is displayed when we congratulate ourselves for our intentions rather than concerning ourselves with the effects of our actions. When we hurt another person's feelings and the first thing out of our mouths is "I didn't mean it", we are (in that moment) saying: "judge me for my motives and forget about the actions".
Unfortunately, the tendency to be driven by motives is especially prevalent in the contexts of bodybuilding, fat loss, and fitness. It's displayed when gym members drift from one piece of workout equipment to another with no objective other than to "get a good workout". With such an ambiguous short-term goal, it's transparently revealed why the very same people will congratulate us for simply showing up at the gym. If we're not driven by the consequences of our actions, we end up patting ourselves and others on the backs for activity – no matter how blind that activity might be.
The best mindset for success in life is to be as outcome oriented as possible. This is vitally important in all life contexts where more success is sought, regardless of how we define that success. When frustration sets in due to our current lack of understanding of what strategies will bring forth the outcomes we desire, we must rein ourselves in before that flustered state leads us to letting our intentions feed our egos. If that happens, we've been bitten by the motive-driven mentality.
Reining ourselves in is mostly a matter of how we set and pursue goals. Those goals need to be specific and accompanied by measurable steps that beat a path to their achievement. For example: When I enter the gym, I know precisely what my objective is and what I need to do in order to meet it. I know how that objective sits within the path to my long-term goal and I know upon leaving the gym whether I've met that objective. The rewards of this mindset, accompanied by an effective workout strategy, have far exceeded any fleeting pleasure I once derived from workout spontaneity. In other words, the results from an outcome-driven mentality in bodybuilding have made those of the motive-driven ones pale by comparison.
So much of success in life depends on our mental approach. Therefore, it's important for us to honestly assess our mental strategies and discover how they affect our outer ones. Above all, when we detect that we've succumbed to a tendency to be self-congratulatory for our terrific motives rather than the consequences of our actions, it's probably time to psycho-evaluate ourselves within the context in question. This can lead to an outcome oriented mentality, which provides a foundation for the ultimate success mindset.
By Scott Abbett
Living A Life of Wellness
In India, the word ‘Sadhu' has a holy connotation – a man of abstinence. In the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, ‘Sadhu' means right, holy. (Sanskrit was the classical standard language of ancient India, and some of the oldest surviving Indo-European documents are written in Sanskrit. It is the language of Hinduism and is the classical literary language of India.) In Hinduism, a sadhu means a practitioner of yoga who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (sanskrit for pleasure), artha (wealth and power) and dharma (duty). Imagine leading a life without pleasure wealth, power and responsibility.
This is true wellness, the kind that is felt from the inside. It's a philosophy I have always believed in, and is a part of new book Have you ever wondered what a Sadhu seeks? The Sadhu dedicates himself to the achievement of moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of God. It's a pursuit of divinity. Their lives are unique, and most of what they do is beyond the grasp of the average person.
Would you like to live a life free of worries, healthy and not worry about weight loss? The simplicity of their lives is fascinating. Depending on your own perspective, you can call these men crazy or enlightened. They have some strange, but intriguing ways.
The key is balance - living a life that is balanced with the right exercise, food, sleep, work and relaxation. It involves being in harmony with yourself, your environment and your friends and family.
Having been raised in a religious Hindu family, I met sadhus at least once a month. They usually dressed in plain colors, orange or white. I followed that they kept their needs simple. My family sadhu lived in a smaller temple round the corner from my home in Mumbai city. A typical day for him started with a glass of water and a piece of bread for breakfast. Lunch consisted of a piece of fruit or vegetable and it was the same for dinner. A mat on the floor was all he needed at bedtime. Sadhus are guided by religion and ancient principles of perfection rooted in simplicity. The belief is the soul is the ocean of knowledge, power and bliss.
So if this appeals to you, think of simple ways to rebalance your life and step out of the box, where the only thought is weight loss. Fitness is a lot more than just weight loss. It is a way of living, it is a sense of contentment with who you are, where you came from, and the direction in which you are going.
By Nitin Chhoda
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
NIDA Study Identifies Genes That Might Help Some People Abstain From Smoking
Findings Move Science Closer to Targeted, Improved Therapies
Scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, have for the first time identified genes that might increase a person's ability to abstain from smoking. The breakthrough research was conducted by Dr. George Uhl at NIDA's Intramural Research Program and a team led by Dr. Jed Rose at the Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research at
'This research marks the first time we�ve been able to identify genes involved in the ability to quit smoking,' says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. 'It marks a movement from identifying the genetics of addiction vulnerability to identifying the genetic basis of successful abstinence. This knowledge could impact the success rate of cessation programs by helping health care providers choose the most appropriate treatment based on individual differences.'
Dr. George Uhl and his colleagues performed a genome wide analysis on the DNA of two types of nicotine dependent individuals, one that was able to successfully quit the cigarette smoking behavior and one that was not.
'We identified 221 genes that distinguished successful quitters from those who were unsuccessful,� says Dr. Uhl. �We know the functions of about 187 of these genes, but 34 have functions that are unknown at present. We also found that at least 62 of the genes that we had previously identified as playing roles in dependence to other drugs also contribute to nicotine dependence.'
Genes that harbor variants that contribute to both success in quitting smoking and in vulnerability to become dependent on multiple substances include cadherin 13 (a molecule involved in cell adhesion, which governs how cells recognize and connect to their neighbors) and a cyclic G-dependent protein kinase gene (that plays a key role in normal brain development). In addition to genes implicated in intracellular signaling and intercellular interactions, a number of genes involved in other processes have also been identified. While many of the genes identified through this effort make sense because of their role in supporting new neural connections in the brain, more research is now needed to understand the actual mechanisms through which they may increase or reduce the rates of successful quitting.
Dr. Uhl says he and his colleagues have replicated this research in another sample, as he reported at the February 2007 meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.
'These findings provide ample justification for continuing the search for even more genetic variants associated with smoking cessation success,' says Dr. Volkow. 'We soon may be able to make use of this information to match treatments with the smokers most likely to benefit from them.'
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at www.drugabuse.gov.
People from families prone to Parkinson's who drink coffee or smoke are less likely to develop the disease!
The researchers doubt that smoking and caffeine protect from Parkinson's, but say the information offers clues about how environment works with genes to cause disease.
Dr. William Scott of the University of Miami School of Medicine, who led the study, said the findings point clearly to dopamine -- a message-carrying chemical in the brain that falls to low levels in Parkinson's.
"Dopamine is important because both smoking and drinking caffeine affect dopamine in the brain," Scott said in a telephone interview.
Other researchers had noted that both smoking and drinking coffee seemed to reduce the risk of Parkinson's, but no one had tracked it in families prone to Parkinson's.
When a disease runs in families, it suggests that certain genes are causing it. "We need to consider these environmental associations while looking for genes that are involved in Parkinson's," Scott said.
Writing in the Archives of Neurology, Scott and colleagues said they studied 356 Parkinson's disease patients and 317 family members without the disease.
"Based on this paper we find that people who had Parkinson's disease were 40 percent less likely to say that they had ever smoked 100 cigarettes than their unaffected family members. A similar reduction was seen in the likelihood with coffee," Scott added.
"It seems that people with Parkinson's are less likely to have done these things over their lives -- to have smoked or to have consumed fairly large amounts of caffeine."
POSSIBLE PROTECTION
The researchers say they cannot yet say with certainty what effects coffee and cigarettes may have on the brain.
Mark Stacy of
But it is also likely, his colleagues said, that something else is going on. Perhaps people who later develop Parkinson's respond differently to the effects of caffeine and cigarettes.
"There is this notion, and it makes a lot of sense, that folks who are going to have have Parkinson's disease have lower levels of dopamine," said Duke neurologist Dr. Burton Scott, who also worked on the study.
"Those with higher levels of dopamine may be more likely to enjoy caffeine," he added.
The same team is now trying to pin down more of the genes associated with Parkinson's.
"I wouldn't make any lifestyle changes based on this, but I'd also think that with drinking my morning cup of coffee this morning that, hey there's at least one good thing that comes from this," William Scott said.
Parkinson's disease is caused when brain cells that produce dopamine die. The disease is progressive, affecting about 1 percent of people older than 65.
Symptoms start out with shaking and can progress to paralysis. There is no cure, although a number of drugs can make symptoms better for a time.
Exposure to pesticides is strongly linked with disease risk.
Reuters Health
Tips to help you quit!
First, the four "d's":
- Drink water.
With crushed ice if possible, to help flush the nicotine and other chemicals out of your system faster. This also satisfies the oral craving for awhile. Try using a straw — the same diameter as the cigarette. - Deep breathing.
This is good for you, as most people do not utilize their full lung capacity. Take 10 deep breaths, and hold the last one while lighting a match. Exhale slowly, and blow out the match. Take a Deep Breath Break instead of a cigarette break. - Delay.
Each day, delay lighting your first cigarette by one hour. After the first cigarette, when you have your next craving to smoke, delay for another 15 minutes or half an hour. Remember, as a smoker you were not in control of your habit; you smoked when your body needed nicotine. Now by delaying, you are calling the shots, you are in control of when you say NO. - Do something different.
Don't smoke when you first experience a craving. Wait several minutes, and during this time change your activity or talk to someone. Get out of the situation that makes you want to smoke.
For example, if you smoke after dinner, get up from the table and do the dishes, or go for a walk. Change the habit or activity that you normally do while smoking.
- Physical activity is necessary, if not imperative. Physical activity reminds you with each deep breath you take, how much better your body will be working. Begin to condition yourself physically — start a modest exercise regimen, drink more fluids, get plenty of rest and avoid fatigue.
- Smoke only under circumstances which are not especially pleasurable for you. If you like to smoke with others, smoke alone.
- List all the reasons why you want to quit. Every night before going to bed, repeat one of the reasons ten times.
- Change your eating habits to aid in cutting down. For example, drink milk, which is frequently considered incompatible with smoking. End meals or snacks with something that won't lead to a cigarette.
- Don't empty your ashtrays. This will not only remind you of how many cigarettes you have smoked each day, but the sight and smell of stale butts will also be very unpleasant.
- Save all your cigarette butts for one week in one large container as a visual reminder of the filth smoking represents.
- Throw away all cigarettes and matches. Hide lighters and ashtrays.
- Visit the dentist and have your teeth cleaned to get rid of tobacco stains. Notice how nice they look, and resolve to keep them that way.
- Keep very busy on the big day. Go to the movies, exercise, take long walks, go bike riding.
- Buy yourself a treat, or do something special to celebrate.
- The first few days after you quit, spend as much free time as possible in places where smoking is prohibited, e.g., libraries, museums, theatres, department stores, churches smoke-free restaurants, etc.
- Until you are confident of your ability to stay off cigarettes, limit your socializing to healthful, outdoor activities or situations where smoking is prohibited.
- If you must be in a situation where you'll be tempted to smoke (such as a cocktail or dinner party) try to associate with the non-smokers there.
- Look at cigarette ads more critically to better understand the attempts to make individual brands appealing.
- Change your habits to make smoking difficult, impossible, or unnecessary. Try activities such as swimming, jogging, tennis, or handball. Wash your hands or the dishes when the desire for a cigarette is intense.
- Do things to maintain a clean mouth taste, such as brushing your teeth frequently and using a mouthwash.
Vitamins For Energy
Energy is what you need to face the day with a smile and the means to perform just about any task. Taking energy supplements, however, is not the only way to boost your energy levels. Another way of achieving this is by carefully choosing which foods you eat.
Vitamins that Can Boost Your Energy Levels
Vitamin B12 - Also known as riboflavin, Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin which means that it isn't produced by the human body but found in external sources. It does however stay in the liver once ingested by the body. Vitamin B12 can be found in dairy products like butter and milk, red meat, and fish.
The main function of Vitamin B12 is to help in forming red blood cells (RBCs). Other functions include digesting carbohydrates (a very good source of energy) and fats, facilitating the synthetic production of protein (it's not called the building blocks of life for nothing!), and absorbing other kinds of foods. With sufficient Vitamin B12 in your body, your longevity is immediately increased and you'll find yourself less prone to getting exhausted.
Intake of Vitamin B12 in your body may be decreased if you're experiencing any digestive disorder or taking any antibiotics. Without enough Vitamin B12 in your body, your depleted energy levels will manifest itself through signs of moodiness, dizziness, and having memory difficulties.
You can take a blood test to know if you have the required amount of Vitamin B12 in your body.
Vitamin B9 - Considered as one of the most popular sub-vitamins in the Vitamin B family, Vitamin B9 or folic acid is also used to help in producing red blood cells. Its popularity however doesn't mean that most people enjoy adequate amounts of it from their diets; the opposite in fact is true. This is possibly due to the fact that Vitamin B9 can be easily gotten rid of through cooking.
Dietary sources of Vitamin B9 include salmon, milk, whole grain breads, avocado, and various types of fruits and vegetables.
Without adequate levels of Vitamin B9 in your body, you can not only suffer from frequent bouts of fatigue but you may also encounter problems with fertility (for males), depression, and bowel disorders. On the other hand, having the required amount of Vitamin B9 in your body not only increases your energy levels but gives you better protection as well against diseases like osteoporosis, cancer, and Alzheimer's Disease.
Detecting the quantity of Vitamin B9 in your body can also be achieved through blood tests.
Vitamin B1 - Also known as thiamin, Vitamin B1 is one of the lesser-known variants of Vitamin B, but this certainly doesn't mean it's less significant in giving your body sufficient energy. The main function of Vitamin B1 is in helping in the assimilation, digestion, and excretion of carbohydrates, allowing you to reap the benefits without suffering too much from its downside. Possible dietary sources of Vitamin B1 are cereals, red meat, and egg yolk.
Vitamin E - Unlike the various sub-vitamins previously discussed, Vitamin E is fat soluble which means it's produced by the body. Vitamin E however can also be found in cereals, nuts, egg yolk, and pure vegetable oils. It may not have a direct energy-boosting benefit similar to other vitamins, but it still manages to help by promoting the body's growth and development.
Make sure that your diet includes all these vitamins, take supplements when necessary, and you're sure to be as energetic as possible!
Author: Mario Churchill
Find Out If Aromatherapy Products Are Safe For Your Children To Use Under Your Supervision
There are many children that do have certain allergies and as most of you already know, they also have very sensitive skin most of the times, so you have to be real careful as to what products you use on them. In this article I want to provide you with more information about aromatherapy products, so that you can find out if they are safe for your children and how important it is that you never allow your children to use these types of products without your supervision. If used properly, after first finding out if your child is going to be sensitive to the products, your child can truly benefit tremendously from these types of amazing products. Aromatherapy products can be very beneficial to your children and as long as they are used under your supervision, they can enjoy the wonderful products just as much as you do.
The essential oils that are part of the aromatherapy kits will include products that can help your child rest better at night, improvement in their mood throughout the day and their overall health and mental wellness. Usually if a baby cries a great deal, it is because they can not express their thoughts or concerns through speaking and they are usually trying to tell you something. Sometimes they are hungry, other times they might have a bit of a tummy ache, no matter what it is, if you begin using aromatherapy products with your child, you will notice quite a big difference in their mood and overall attitude fairly quickly. It is so important to pamper your children and make them feel good as often as possible and they normally will respond in a very positive manner, just wait, you will see! By using aromatherapy with your children, you will have the opportunity to see just how much better it makes them feel and even sometimes behave. There are ingredients in these types of products that are very soothing to a child, as well as to adults and often times we all need to be soothed one way or another, it really tends to make all that stress just disappear.
There are some ingredients in aromatherapy products such as lavender, which can help to ease your child's pain from a terrible earache and we all know just how terrible earaches can be for the children. Using some of the essential oil products in the children's bath will really be beneficial as well because often times some of these products can really relax the heck out of the, helping them to rest better once they do go down for the night. Always talk with your family doctor before you ever use any aromatherapy products on your children, just to make sure that they see it to be suitable as well and to make sure that they do not have any concerns regarding aromatherapy products. Everyone that has experimented with such products are generally very much pleased and can not wait until more new and improved products are available on the market.
Author: Nancy Arlington
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
When Selecting Your Dietary Supplements, Watch Out For These 3 Key 'Bad Boys'
Sometimes we all need a little extra push in the right direction. Even when carrying out a weight loss plan of consistent exercise and a healthy diet, an extra aid may be that extra boost we're looking for. Dietary supplements can offer a leg up. Supplements can, in conjunction with your other efforts to lose weight, assist in reducing appetite, burning fat and carbohydrates, and supplying you with extra vitamins for energy and effective weight control. However, when searching for the best dietary supplement for you, there are a few things that should be considered.
Not all weight loss supplements are necessarily effective, and certainly not all are healthy and safe. There are 3 key things that are especially important to watch out for when selecting a dietary supplement.
1.) Ephedra is Extra Bad - In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Also known as ma huang, the Chinese name, ephedra became a particularly concerning substance in the late 1990s with serious complaints of adverse side effects and even several deaths attributed to use of the substance. It functions as a stimulant (stimulants are known to suppress appetite), and has been proven to lead to short-term weight loss, but it is highly unlikely to yield long-term benefits. Even though ephedra is outlawed by the federal government, it still exists in prescription drugs and as ma huang, and could even be found in some less-known dietary supplements. Better to stay away from it.
2.) Caffeine is Lousy - Caffeine is what starts at least a good half of our nation out in the day, and as a standalone substance is not bad. But relying on caffeine to suppress appetite is an ineffectual and unhealthy way to approach weight loss. We all might have our cup or two of coffee in the morning, which won't hurt us at all. But start taking a dietary supplement which has at least the equivalent amount of caffeine as those two cups, and we double our daily intake of caffeine. High dosages of caffeine are potentially dangerous. A sustained level of excessive caffeine intake can lead beyond just extreme urination: diarrhea, high blood pressure, and addiction aren't the best places to look to lose weight. So, keep drinking your cup of coffee, and look for a caffeine-free dietary supplement.
3.) Dietary supplements just plain aren't for everybody - Some individuals will react better to dietary supplements than others. Certain chemicals or unique herbs may respond negatively to other substances already present in a person's system. If you are taking medication, or have diabetes, it would be wise to consult your physician before deciding on a dietary supplement. In fact, it may be best to consult your doctor when you choose a dietary supplement anyway - he or she may have a suggestion that they feel might work especially well for you.
Not all dietary supplements are bad. In fact, there are a lot of good ones out there - ones that are safe, effective, and will work for you and your unique system. Keep these three guidelines in mind, and you may just be able to get an extra boost to send you on your way to looking and feeling great.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_T_Smith
Monday, May 28, 2007
Did you know that obesity is now classified as a disease and that physicians are compelled by medical ethics to offer treatment for all diseases? Weight control experts believe that obesity carries medical risks so severe that for a physician to delay offering treatment would be a form of malpractice. What does your doctor say about your weight?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Neshah