Benefits of Supplementing With Creatine

What is creatine?
Creatine is an amino acid (amino acids are the building blocks of protein) which is made in the body by the liver and kidneys, and is derived from the diet through meat and animal products. Creatine (creatine monohydrate) is a colorless, crystalline substance used in muscle tissue for the production of phosphocreatine, an important factor in the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the source of energy for muscle contraction and many other functions in the body.

What does creatine normally do in the body?
In the body, creatine is changed into a molecule called "phosphocreatine" which serves as a storage reservoir for quick energy. Phosphocreatine is especially important in tissues such as the voluntary muscles and the nervous system which periodically require large amounts of energy.

Why do athletes take creatine?
Studies have shown that creatine can increase the performance of athletes in activities that require quick bursts of energy, such as sprinting, and can help athletes to recover faster after expending bursts of energy. Creatine is best for the serious bodybuilder. It helps increase muscle mass, rather than muscle endurance, so it’s not well suited for athletes participating in endurance activities. However, the increase in muscle mass may be due to water retention and not an increase in muscle tissue.

Why have I been hearing so much about creatine and neuromuscular disorders?
Two scientific studies have indicated that creatine may be beneficial for neuromuscular disorders. First, a study by MDA-funded researcher M. Flint Beal of Cornell University Medical Center demonstrated that creatine was twice as effective as the prescription drug riluzole in extending the lives of mice with the degenerative neural disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease). Second, a study by Canadian researchers Mark Tarnopolsky and Joan Martin of McMaster University Medical Center in Ontario found that creatine can cause modest increases in strength in people with a variety of neuromuscular disorders. Beal's work was published in the March 1999 issue of Nature Neuroscience and the second paper was published in the March 1999 issue of Neurology.

I want to start taking creatine -- is it safe?
For the most part, athletes haven't experienced adverse side-effects from taking creatine, although recently there have been a few reports of kidney damage linked to creatine usage. No consistent toxicity has been reported in studies of creatine supplementation. Dehydration has also been reported to be a problem while taking creatine.

Athletes generally take a "loading dose" of 20 grams of creatine a day for five or six days, then continue with a "maintenance dose" of 2 to 5 grams of creatine a day thereafter.

What are the side effects?
Little is known about long-term side effects of creatine, but no consistent toxicity has been reported in studies of creatine supplementation. In a study of side effects of creatine, diarrhea was the most commonly reported adverse effect of creatine supplementation, followed by muscle cramping.18 Some reports showed that kidney, liver, and blood functions were not affected by short-term higher amounts or long-term lower amounts of creatine supplementation in healthy young adults. In a small study of people taking 5–30 grams per day, no change in kidney function appeared after up to five years of supplementation. Muscle cramping after creatine supplementation has been anecdotally reported in some studies.

Benefits
• increases athletic performance
• increases muscle mass
• beneficial for muscular disorders

5 Healthy Tips To Weight Loss

The world is fascinated with weight loss, some for health reasons and others for cosmetic. No matter the reason, many people try harsh diets that never work, extreme exercise regimens that result in injuries or other weight loss program that end without success. The reason that none of these weight loss methods seem to work is because in order to stay with a program, you have to enjoy it. Not only that, but it has to be safe as well.

Below are 5 genuine tips to weight loss, which almost anyone can do without tossing out their favorite food or spending every spare minute in the gym. Realistically, any weight loss program will take time. If anyone promises you different, they are either not being completely honest or are simply uninformed. Follow one single weight loss program for 30 days, whatever it may be, and see if you have results. If not, move on to something else. In the meantime, check out several tips to getting started today.

Tip # 1
Walking. If you can set aside 30 minutes every day to enjoy a leisurely stroll, you will be strengthening your legs and your heart while burning some calories in the process.

Tip # 2
Use a mini cycle. These portable little exercise units offer the look of bicycle pedals set up on a metal bar, but without the high price or weight of a standard exercise bike. With a min cycle, you can pedal at your desk, on the couch or anywhere else that you can comfortably set and reach the pedals.

Tip # 3
Walk or take the stairs instead of an elevator. This is a terrific weight loss exercise without even noticing the extra effort. Something as simple as a few extra steps every day can go a long way where weight loss is concerned. The next time you go to the store, park in the middle of the parking lot and walk to the store. Avoid parking in the closest spot to the door, which is tempting, but opt to walk instead.

Tip # 4
You don’t necessarily have to cut out all of your favorite foods, but you should eat them in moderation. There is no single food that will completely hinder your weight loss attempt but, if consumed excessively, it may. For instance, simply limit your intake to one candy bar or, if you are being really careful, a miniature candy. There is no reason to cut out your favorite food when a conservative amount of the things we love can still have a place in our lives, including during the times that we are focusing on weight loss.

Tip # 5
Whatever your exercise routine, set aside a certain time each day to do it. Individuals who set a routine are much more likely to stay with it and find success than those who simply exercise whenever they have time. The goal to successful weight loss is to make time.

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or a doctor’s recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.

Exercise: Definition and Benefits

The health benefits associated with regular exercise are numerous. Specifically, exercise can help prevent heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, back pain, osteoporosis. In addition, it can help fight depression as well as promote improved stress management.

To maximize your overall health benefits, experts typically recommend that you perform 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity three or more times a week and some type of muscle strengthening activity and stretching at least twice a week. However, you can also achieve significant health benefits by completing 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, at least five times a week.

If you are just beginning an exercise program, starting at a slow pace with low-impact activities such as walking or swimming will allow you to improve your physical fitness level while safeguarding you from unwanted overuse injuries and burnout. Once you get in better shape, you can gradually integrate more strenuous and varied activities into your routine.

Positive Impact of Physical Activity
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing or dying from some of the leading causes of illness and death in the United States. Further, regular exercise effectively:

Reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.

Reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already Have high blood pressure.

Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer.

Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.

Helps control weight.

Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.

Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling.

Promotes psychological well-being.

The health benefits of exercise can be achieved by virtually everyone, regardless of age, sex, race or physical ability. Therefore, if you want to feel better, have more energy and live longer, simply follow a program of regular, moderate exercise and enjoy a better quality of life.

Health - Exercise As Power Source

This day and age it can be very difficult indeed to go to the gym.  Life is very hectic and busy, which will create a serious challenge for remaining  consistent with exercise each day.  Exercise is  however, just what we all need to reduce stress, and give the body the extra energy it needs to carry out normal living.

The best results of exercise are achieved through the use of refined techniques, functional exercises, cardio, the right nutrition, variety, awareness,  consistency, and motivation over a period of time.

The refined techniques mean correct form to isolate muscles or to target areas of the body.  Efficiency is need to ensure stimulation of the muscles.  With weight lift training, which is also known as  resistance training, you'll need to eliminate any type of momentum.  

It is also important to move the weight about using a full range of motion.  Full range of motion causes the muscle to contract for the right amount of time and help to ensure the right length of the tendons. The goal here is to strengthen the joints of your body by stimulating the muscles.

Cadence is also helpful, as it is a term that refers to the rate in which the resistance or the weight moves.  The best results with cadence are gained by slow movements which will cause the muscle to contract for a longer period of time.  You can mix in a series of fast and slow cadence, which is very beneficial with sports type  training.

Using the correct angles will achieve muscle isolation in target areas and help to decrease the risk of injuries, which is great for those using heavy weights.  

Functional type exercise is a popular technique that will stimulate the core and torso of your body while you work on another muscle group at the same time.  As an example, when you perform a dumbell press while lying on an exercise ball.

Your abdominal muscles and the core muscles will contract to hold your body into this position, while your chest and tricep muscles will push the dumbells up.  This type of exercise and challenge will cause maximum stimulation to your body and keep the workout interesting and refreshing.

Cardio is another exercise that is great for the heart and lungs.  The total number of calories you burn is very important along with maintaining the right heart rate.  The formula for your  heart rate is 220 minus your age times 60 for the lower number, then 220 minus you age and times 80 for the upper number.  

This is also known as fat burning zone.  Cardio will also de-toxify the body and help to strengthen the immune system along with other benefits.  The muscles will contract and pass the lymph along, which will allow the immune system to clear away dead cells and bring new ones in.

Anytime you exercise, warming up is very important, as it will prepare your body for the more  demanding workout of cardio.  You should always allow 15 - 30 minutes prior to weight lifting and 10 - 15 minutes prior to cardio exercises.  You should also stretch as well, as this will help get the blood flowing through your musles and get them limber as well.

An ideal schedule for working out is to warm up then follow with cardio.  You can lift weights on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday then cardio only on Tuesday and Thursday.

Even though you may think your schedule is simply too busy to maintain a schedule for working out, you'll find that adding exercise will actually add more time, as you'll have a lot more energy in your normal everyday life.  You can think of exercise as the batteries that will help to give your life power.

Eliminate Negative Thoughts and Lose Weight

You think thousands of thoughts each day. You talk to yourself more than anyone else. You are your most trusted advisor and confidant. Many of the conversations that you have with yourself you would never share with anyone else because to do so would expose the ôrealö you. The you that is filled with self doubt, worries, sadness, guilt, hurts and disappointments.

But this is not the ôreal youö at all. This is the you that your ego and belief systems have constructed. These negative beliefs have been constructed by you, and accepted by you as truth. The sad thing is that nothing can be further from the truth.

Where did these false ideas about you originate? They mostly came from others; parents, teachers, co-workers, and friends. They might have planted the seed by saying something like ôshe is fatö and you have cultivated those comments to the point that they have become your truth.

You are allowing your entire life to be controlled by some obscure comments made years ago.  Nobody has the right or power to dictate who you are.  Only you know who you truly are and what’s in your heart.

When you were born you entered this world without the burdens of you current negative belief system.  You entered this world as a beautiful bundle of joy filled with unlimited potential and possibilities.

I’m here to tell you that you have not changed.  You are still and will always be a beautiful bundle of joy with unlimited potential and possibilities.

The only difference is what you give your attention to.  Let me ask you a question.  If you stopped all the negative talk that you currently have with yourself such as;
- I’m too fat
- Why would anyone want to love me
- I will never be thin
- I always fail

And the list can go on and onà  How would you feel ?  Do you think that you would feel emotionally lighter ?  Do you think that you would feel happier ?  Do you think that you would feel more confident ?

Now how do you think your life would change if you were to go one step further and modify your self talk by only speaking positively about yourself.  If you take some time and focus on what you like about yourself and focus on only that your emotional state will become positive to the point that you will be able to accomplish anything.

Once you begin looking for the positive things within you, you will be surprised to realize your magnificence has always been there just below the surface.  You have never been anything other then that shining bundle of joy that entered the world years ago.  It’s easy to uncover positive aspects of yourself by asking some questions.

- What am I good at?
- Who has benefited by me being in the world?
- Who am I, what is in my heart that only I    know?
- What do I like about my body?

Your goal is to feel good now.  How do you feel now?  If you only observe what you feel is positive about you, you will feel good, you will be happy.  Decide right here and right now how you want to feel.  Decide that you will always look for the good within you and appreciate that goodness.

So what does all of this have to do with losing weight?  Everything!!!  Your emotional state is the control valve that determines what you draw into your experience.  How you talk to yourself creates your beliefs and programs your subconscious.  So you need to ask yourself do you want your beliefs and subconscious programming to be based on false negative thinking.  Or do you want your beliefs to be based on the truth, that you are and always have been a perfect being.

Begin today to love and nurture yourself. Allow the joy, playfulness and enthusiasm that you naturally had as a child begin to flow into your everyday experiences.  Allow yourself to celebrate each and every success no matter how small.  Love and appreciate yourself every opportunity you have.  Do this everyday and watch your weight begin to dissolve just as your old negative beliefs about yourself begin to dissolve.

Are You Struggling With Weight Loss Management?

It doesn’t matter whether you are trying to lose five pounds or more than 50 pounds; all of the same simple laws of physics determine whether or not you will lose weight and how fast your weight loss will occur. While everyone is different, if everyone remembered these simple guidelines and put them into practice, then they would find that these guidelines would generally lead to weight loss without the aid of any special diet plans, books, or medications.

Our weight is determined by the amount of energy that we take in as food, and the amount of energy we expend in the activities of our day. Energy is measured in calories. If your weight remains constant, you are probably taking in the same amount of calories that you are burning each and every day. If you’re slowly gaining weight over time, it is likely that your caloric intake is greater than the number of calories you burn through your daily activities.

Everyone is in control of the amount of food he or she consumes each day, so as a result, our intake of calories is something we can control with relative simplicity. To some degree, we are also able to control our output of energy, or the number of calories we burn each day. The number of calories we burn each day is dependent upon:

1. Our basal metabolic rate (BMR)
2. The number of calories we burn per hour simply by being alive and maintaining bodily functions and
3. Our level of physical activity

For some people, due to genetic (inherited) factors or other conditions, their resting metabolic rate can be slightly higher or lower than average. Our weight also plays a role in determining how many calories we burn at rest û the more calories that are required to maintain your body in its present state, the greater your body weight. As an example, a person that weighs around a hundred pounds requires less energy (food) to maintain body weight than a person who weighs 200 pounds.

Lifestyle and work habits partially determine how many calories we need each day. Someone whose job involves heavy physical labor will naturally burn more calories in a day than someone who sits at a desk most of the day (a sedentary job). For people who do not have jobs that require intense physical activity, you need exercise or increased physical activity to increase the number of calories burned.

As a rough estimate, an average woman aged 31-50 who leads a sedentary lifestyle needs about 1800 calories per day to maintain a normal weight. A man of the same age requires about 2200 calories. Participating in a moderate level of physical activity (exercising 3-5 days per week) requires about 200 additional calories per day.

In order to lose weight rather than maintain it, you will want to eat sensible, well balanced meals with small portion sizes, cut down or reduce your intake of daily calories, try with your best efforts to eliminate fats from your diet and ensure that you exercise on a regular basis.

Blame It On Iodine

If you are seriously trying to lose weight, chances are have tried several different programs. Many of you are still not getting down to your desired or ideal weight. One big reason could be that you are having problems with one little molecule.

Iodine is the basis for the extremely important Thyroid Hormone in your body. That hormone regulates everything from your metabolism to your digestion. Because it usually slowly creeps up on you, it is very common to not realize that there has been a change in your energy level, memory, mentrual periods and skin texture. You could even be losing your hair over this one.

The lack of enough Thyroid Hormone in your body is called Hypothyroidism. There are several things that Hypothyroidism will cause that make you gain weight. First of all, it decreases your basal metabolic rate and overall metabolism. That is the rate that you use up energy. Basically what that means is that the normal muscle tone is lost and your muscles tend to be much more relaxed than normal. Your internal organs that use muscles will also be affected. You will probably notice that mostly by a change in your bowel habits. You will tend to become constipated. Just what you needed!

Muscles need to remain toned to keep your joints in the proper position. So, they will always normally be a little tight. This uses calories (yeah!). Obviously, when they are more relaxed than normal, you tend to gain weight.

Secondly, lack of Thyroid Hormone will make you lazy. At least that is my excuse. hehe.

Dr. Oliver Sacks (made famous in the movie Awakenings) describes one man that had to be helped out of bed in the morning. He was then fed and led to a chair in the corner. In the evening he was led back to bed. During the day he would not even talk. This happened day after day for years! Finally, for some reason, he ended up at the doctors office and was found to be severely hypothyroid. He returned to normal with treatment, but did not even remember all those years where he was a zombie.

If you suspect that you might have hypothyroidism consider these associated symptoms: dry skin, brittle nails, constipation, irregular or heavy menstrual periods (if you are male, you probably won't develop this one), feeling tired and weak, cold skin, coarse, retaining water or thinning hair. Any, or all of these can occur.

You have an increased chance of getting this condition if you have a swelling in the front of your neck called a goiter, diabetes, patches of light skin (not always, but there is a specific condition causing this that also affects the thyroid), iodine deficiency and some medications. Some women develop this as a complication of pregnancy.

If you always buy salt with no iodine, there is a slight chance that you could develop hypothyroidism as a result of the lack of iodine. Remember, iodine is part of the thyroid hormone molecule. Without iodine, your body cannot make the hormone.

When you think you may have hypothyroidism, you should see your medical doctor to get a blood test. One thing that most doctors won't tell you is that you need to be otherwise feeling pretty good during the test. There is one condition called Euthyroid Sick Syndrome that will cause low Thyroid Hormone levels when you are sick. But the hormone levels can return to normal when you get well. So, it is better to get the levels checked when you get well in order to have an accurate test.

Assuming that you have guessed right, your doctor will prescribe a thyroid hormone supplement that will get you feeling better. The only problem at this point is that it is often tricky to get the right amount into your system. You will often bounce back and forth between feeling weak and tired and feeling jittery. But with your doctors help, that should diminish fairly quickly.

The good news is that once your thyroid is in control, you are going to feel much better, have more energy and be back on track with your weight control.

Acomplia Augments the Age Old Theory of Obesity Reduction

Obesity as such is defined as a disease by the medical community. Though there are certain theories on what causes obesity there has been no concrete proof of it. Thus the theories related to the obesity are vague in nature. To move out of obesity there can be no better method than the age old theory of controlled dieting and physical exercises. But the process is time consuming so many a people leave it for the sake of other options like diet pills, fat burning pills, surgery, liposuction, acupressure and acupuncture.

Eating habits, lack of exercises, general lethargy and heredity are considered to be some the important factors which contribute to form fat inside your body. Fat burning pills are for short term use only and if you discontinue it the fats come up again. Surgery and liposuction are costly plus the effects of it are limited. With acupressure and acupuncture the results have not been up to the mark. So, the best option left is the combination of diet pill with restricted diet program and physical exercises.

And the latest weight loss diet pill is Acomplia (Rimonabant). It has been developed by Sanofi-Aventis. It is does not make one loose weight rather it makes him to have a low appetite. And as appetite gets lower his food intake too lowers. Acomplia is a new kind of drug named CB1 blocker. It blocks CB1 receptors in the brain and in near by organs which are important for lipid and glucose metabolism, adipose tissue, gastrointestinal tract, and the liver. CB1 receptor plays a vital role in regulating body weight and controlling energy balance.

Acomplia (Rimonabant) is now available for sale in the UK and EU but it is not available for sale in US as it has not been approved by FDA. Though the manufacturer of Acomplia (Rimonabant) instruct of taking a pill a day, the instruction of a doctor should be followed in case of its medication. Pregnant women, breast feeding women and children should avoid this medicine unless prescribed by the doctor. An individual with a history of blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes or allergy must tell his medical history to the doctor.

Acomplia has mild and short-term side effects like û nausea, dizziness, depression and irritability. As the drug is new other side effect too may come up. In case of side effects one should consult his or her doctor. He is the right person to advice you in that regard.

No medicine has been useful in treating a disease unless instructions are followed. That applies in case of Acomplia too. It is only the exercises and restricted diet which will guide you to a bright and healthy future. Acomplia is only for fastening the pace of the weight loss.

Don’t Fall For These Weight Loss Gimmicks!

Have you heard about the new weight loss patch? You wear it behind your ear, and it speeds up your metabolism and helps you control your appetite. It sounds pretty reasonable, doesn't it? After all, if someone had told you five years ago that you could quit smoking by sticking a circle of fabric on your skin would you have believed them?

Unfortunately, this one isn't true. According to Dr. Michael Myers, who maintains the popular web site weight.com, it's just another of the hoaxes that clever promoters are using to bilk you out of your money. Weight loss is a gold mine, and unscrupulous operators will use any gimmick to convince you that their product is the magic cure that will melt away your pounds without any effort on your part.

Here are a few of the current weight loss gimmicks and the truth about them.

The Diet Patch

Transdermal delivery of medication is a reality, and there are certain medications that are absorbed readily through the skin. However, the most common active ingredient used in diet patches on the market is 'fucus vesiculosus', a seaweed that is a major source of iodine. Iodine was once a recommended treatment for obesity, because it helps promote healthy thyroid function. It was abandoned because of side effects and the untoward effects when treatment with iodine ceases. In other words, it's an outdated medication being revived for delivery in a new way.

Wash your fat away with slimming soap!

The claim is that this is an ancient Chinese soap that contains a unique blend of ingredients derived from seaweed which will 'emulsify' the fat. Further, it comes in several different versions, including one that is specifically meant to give you 'beautiful thighs'. In all truth, the ingredients sound like they'd do a lovely job of softening and toning your skin, but there's not an ounce of research quoted anywhere that can be checked for the results. Until I see the proof, I'll just figure that any weight loss resulted from vigorous scrubbing - not the ingredients!

Magnetic Weight Loss... earrings

Yes, earrings. According to the press, it's another ancient Chinese Secret that has to do with balancing the magnetism in the body. By wearing a magnet near the ear, you can suppress hunger, increase metabolism, speed up the healing process and reduce pain.  Again, though there's mention of 'studies', none are cited, and I couldn't find any in any medical journals. It won't kill you, at least, and the earrings are pretty, but I wouldn't put much stock in their weight loss properties.

All of these new weight loss discoveries should be filed in the ôYeah rightö file, right next to sauna wraps, copper bracelets, and electro-slimming belts. If it sounds too good to be true, remember, it probably is. The only gimmick to weight loss is to eat less and move more!

5000 Year-Old Medical Secret Unearthed!

When you get sick, you go to the doctor. And the doctor will, of course, prescribe medicines. You will go and buy medicines. You take them, and hopefully, you get well.

This is how the health profession goes on nowadays – a cycle of diagnosis and prescription.

If anyone were to give you herbs for medicine, you would probably say that that person was a quack.

But nowadays, studies are being conducted to see if there are really is any merit to what is called natural medicine.

Natural medicine is the use of natural methods, herbal medicines, and traditional practices to heal ailments. Every culture has a form of natural medicine. In ancient cultures, village medicine men served as the doctors of the community, passing on medical knowledge to the apprentices that followed them.

Many categories of the healing methods fall under natural medicine. Among these are traditional medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine.

Usually, natural medicine refers to medical practices that were in place before the advent of modern medicine.

This includes herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, which is prevalent in Chinese, Ayurvedic(or Indian), and Greek medicine.

Upon the advent of modern medicine, many professionals discarded the use of herbs in favor of man-made medicine. The fact that these treatments are based on the healing properties of some herbs was forgotten.

For example, opium, digitalis, quinine, and aspirin all have their roots in traditional medicine.

Natural medicine can be considered as a lost art. This does not mean that it has lost efficacy over time. In some cases, natural therapy is actually better than modern medicine. This leads some doctors to seriously consider and study the possible uses of natural medicine

Before we continue, it is important to stress that not all the natural remedies are legitimate. It would help to only try those remedies which have been thoroughly studied and are relatively risk free.

Take herbal medicine for example. There are many well-documented and studied herbal remedies available. However, only those that deal with minor ailments such as cough, colds, fever, skin rashes, and its ilk are likely to be recommended by health professionals. These remedies are sometimes superior to synthetic medicine. This is because herbal medicines are less likely to cause negative side effects.

Currently there are numerous organizations that study the effects and advocacy of natural medicine – among which is herbal medicine. Some governments and health agencies openly advocate the use of natural methods since they are inexpensive and relatively risk-free.

As their studies compile, more herbs and treatments are added to the list of accepted medicines. However, many herbs and treatments have been proven to be bogus medicine. This represents a challenge for both the user and the agencies because they have to ascertain that the treatments they either use or advocate are legitimate.

There exist today many alternative medical treatments that fall under natural medicine. However, not all of them have been proven to be effective. You could mention homeopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medical treatments. It would pay to consult the experts as to the legitimacy of these treatments.

Natural medicine should also be thought of as an accompanying medicine. Right now, the current collective medical thought suggests that natural medicine be used only to supplement accepted modern medical practices. In that case of minor ailments your expert we actually advise you to take natural therapies instead.

The practice of modern medicine revolves around diagnosing an illness and prescribing treatments for such. Natural medicine is helpful because it suggests that treatment be not necessarily given only when sick. Natural medicine strives to make each patient practice good health habits. These habits include good diet, healthy living, and the regular natural treatment.

It is this same line of thought that leads our parents to tell us to eat our vegetables. Yes, a healthy lifestyle and will do no harm to our well-being. And this is the foundation of natural medicine – may it be massage, herbal medicine, aromatherapy or others.

It is funny but true that science, in its quest for excellence, is studying the knowledge of sages past. This, surprisingly, leads us back to the remedies nature offers. The possibilities of finding remedies to everyday illnesses in natural medicine are encouraging. So staying tuned to studying these remedies is worthwhile until we can verify that these therapies are truly helpful to our health and our society.

11 Fail Proof Habits for Producing a Floodgate of Energy

Feel less tired, more alive, and energized by adopting the following energy
boosting strategies:

* Always eat breakfast

Believe it or not, the first meal of the day is the most important one which
provides your body the required fuel to keep you going throughout the day.
Never miss breakfast; snack on an energy bar, a banana or apple, or drink a
glass of juice, if you’re in a hurry.

* Eat smaller meals and more often

Studies have proven that by eating smaller and healthier meals actually
give you more energy as opposed to bigger meals which often make you feel
tired and sleepy! Try to eat a healthy snack every four hours to maintain your energy levels.

* Exercise!

Walk, jog, or cycle at least fifteen minutes everyday. Any kind of physical
activity will boost your energy levels. Find time between breaks, classes,
before or after work. Plan ahead and establish a schedule for exercising.
You’ll notice an immediate difference in energy!

* Feed your cells!

If you feel run down and extreme fatigue often or just sometimes, this may be a sure sign that the cells in your body are not receiving enough nutrients. When our body does not get its required dosage of nutrients from our diet, we become exhausted much faster. A powerful way to feel more energized is to supplement our diet with Cellfood. Personally, I take Cellfood every day like clockwork; because of Cellfood I feel more energetic, I sleep less, and I don’t easily get so tired. For information on Cellfood go to: http://www.chronic-fatigue-aid.com/cfs_articles.html

* High energy foods

Consider adding high energy foods to your diet such as low-fat cheese, milk,
yogurt, beans, eggs, fish, poultry, and lean meat.

* Hoodia Gordonii

To get an added natural flow of energy, consider taking Hoodia Gordonii. This amazing cactus-looking plant is fast becoming popular around the world. To learn all of its benefits, visit: http://www.hoodia-way.com

* Juice

Drink a whole glass of organic apple or pure orange juice. These two will provide you with plenty of energy, especially when you are running low!

* Water

Drink water on a regular basis.

* Reduce caffeine consumption!

A great way to help maintain your energy levels is to reduce or eliminate caffeine from your diet. Remember: caffeine is a stimulant and will make you jittery.

* Vitamins

Take supplements of vitamins C, E, and B6. Or, eat foods rich in these vitamins like oranges, almonds, peanuts, and pecans.

* Minerals

Take iron as a supplement; it will boost your overall energy.

10 Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack

A heart attack is known as a myocardial infarction. This occurs when the heart muscle is damaged or does not receive enough oxygen. Many cardiac related problems occur due to blockages in arteries that carry purified blood away from the heart to different parts of the body. Another cause is the formation of blood clots.

Very often, it is quite difficult to differentiate between a heart attack and heartburn. The common signs of a heart attack are a tightness, pain, or discomfort in the chest. Sweating, nausea, and vomiting that are accompanied by intense pressure in the chest. A radiating and intense pain in the chest that extends from the chest to the left arm. A shortness of breath for more than a few minutes.  If you have any of the above you must consult the doctor or go to the emergency rooms.

If you even think you are having a heart attack you must call for a cardiac care ambulance, and put under your tongue a sorbitrate or chew an aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin don’t take one. At the hospital care will include rapid thrombolysis, cardiac catheterization, and angioplasty. They will also administer intravenously clot busting medications.

The risk factors for a heart attack include: smoking, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol, hypertension, family history of heart diseases, atherosclerosis, lack of exercise, obesity, and fast foods.

Reduce the risks of a heart attack by:

1.    Quitting smoking.

2.    Eating healthy. Avoid fatty foods, excess salt, and red meats.

3.    Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes.

4.     Ensuring regular exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Walking is most beneficial.

5.    Preventing obesity. Doing all you can to maintain weight.

6.    Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle.

7.    Practicing meditation.

8.    Doing regular relaxation and breathing exercises.

9.     Undergoing periodic cardiac evaluations.

10.    Including foods that are rich in anti-oxidants in your diet.

A killer disease, according to the American Heart Association approximately 58.8 million people in the US suffer from heart diseases. And, about 950,000 Americans die of heart ailments each year. Heart diseases and death from it can be prevented by maintaining your health. Find a balance in life between work and other activities, abandon the couch for the outdoors, don’t watch sports on television play sports instead and you can hope to live a long and fulfilled life.

Be a well informed and caring citizen, read all about heart diseases and preventive care at: University of Maryland Heart Center for Preventive Cardiology --http://www.umm.edu/heart/preventive.html; or the American Heart Association  --http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000; or the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion -- http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec802720b8/ .

The norm prevention is better than cure could lead a whole nation towards good health and well being.

11 Fail Proof Habits for Producing a Floodgate of Energy

Feel less tired, more alive, and energized by adopting the following energy
boosting strategies:

* Always eat breakfast

Believe it or not, the first meal of the day is the most important one which
provides your body the required fuel to keep you going throughout the day.
Never miss breakfast; snack on an energy bar, a banana or apple, or drink a
glass of juice, if you’re in a hurry.

* Eat smaller meals and more often

Studies have proven that by eating smaller and healthier meals actually
give you more energy as opposed to bigger meals which often make you feel
tired and sleepy! Try to eat a healthy snack every four hours to maintain your energy levels.

* Exercise!

Walk, jog, or cycle at least fifteen minutes everyday. Any kind of physical
activity will boost your energy levels. Find time between breaks, classes,
before or after work. Plan ahead and establish a schedule for exercising.
You’ll notice an immediate difference in energy!

* Feed your cells!

If you feel run down and extreme fatigue often or just sometimes, this may be a sure sign that the cells in your body are not receiving enough nutrients. When our body does not get its required dosage of nutrients from our diet, we become exhausted much faster. A powerful way to feel more energized is to supplement our diet with Cellfood. Personally, I take Cellfood every day like clockwork; because of Cellfood I feel more energetic, I sleep less, and I don’t easily get so tired. For information on Cellfood go to: http://www.chronic-fatigue-aid.com/cfs_articles.html

* High energy foods

Consider adding high energy foods to your diet such as low-fat cheese, milk,
yogurt, beans, eggs, fish, poultry, and lean meat.

* Hoodia Gordonii

To get an added natural flow of energy, consider taking Hoodia Gordonii. This amazing cactus-looking plant is fast becoming popular around the world. To learn all of its benefits, visit: http://www.hoodia-way.com

* Juice

Drink a whole glass of organic apple or pure orange juice. These two will provide you with plenty of energy, especially when you are running low!

* Water

Drink water on a regular basis.

* Reduce caffeine consumption!

A great way to help maintain your energy levels is to reduce or eliminate caffeine from your diet. Remember: caffeine is a stimulant and will make you jittery.

* Vitamins

Take supplements of vitamins C, E, and B6. Or, eat foods rich in these vitamins like oranges, almonds, peanuts, and pecans.

* Minerals

Take iron as a supplement; it will boost your overall energy.

Five Step Roadmap for Losing Weight

Sadly, there are no magic remedies, diet pills, or supplements for losing weight that come anywhere close to Trimspa. Even then it takes desire, persistence and lots of accurate information seasoned with ample amounts of supportive and caring guidance, to succeed.

Through the trials and tribulations of many failed weight loss plans we now know that if you try to manage your weight by making radical changes in your diet and lifestyle, you will eventually fail...around 95% of the time!

For a diet plan to be successful it must fit within the boundaries of normal day-to-day habits and activities. It must allow for the consumption of familiar foods in familiar and traditional social settings. The exclusion of taboo foods or your favorite fast food restaurant is generally a set-up for eventual dieting failure.

When you stop to think about, isn't it usually the things you are told that you can't do or have, that you desire the most? It's a part of human nature. We want what we can't have! Take it away from us, and surely this is exactly what we will want and crave the most...and this includes the foods we eat. Even the most highly regarded sources of information agree that we tend to focus on what we can't have.

So, a good plan for losing weight should not try to radically change your eating behavior. The plan should adapt to your daily activities and eating behavior. And of course any good plan should incorporate the benefits of good nutrition, convenience and practicality.

The bottom line is that we are all very busy people without a lot of time to spare. We're not about to turn our busy lifestyle upside down to follow some restrictive plan for losing weight. Oh...maybe something like this will work for a short period of time, but the facts don't lie. Short term loss is long term gain (in weight that is!). Although the crash weight loss diets may work for a short while, most of us will find that before long the pounds begin to creep back on...and there is good reason for this.

- We’re not going give-up eating at fast food and sit-down restaurants when we need a quick meal.

- We're not going to give-up eating with business associates, good friends and family or any other special meal occasions where dieting guidelines are difficult (or impossible) to follow.

- We're not going to completely eliminate the foods we love and crave.

- And we're most definitely not going to waste precious time preparing special dietary meals from scratch every day!

It's important to know that you don't have to stop doing any of the above to lose weight.

You can look and feel like a million bucks, take years off your appearance and have the energy and vitality to accomplish your dreams, by following a few simple guidelines. Here they are...

1) Take it one step at a time.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Trimspa is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about  how and why Trimspa works.

Some of the greatest accomplishments in life begin by taking one small step at a time. When we are challenged to think deeply, encouraged by others to succeed, and ultimately inspired to take action, great things start to happen!

If you have important weight loss goals you are not achieving, try to spend less time worrying about all the possible
causes and start concentrating on how you can make progress.

This is one of the keys to moving forward and a simple, but powerful tool for success.

Step #2 û Assess your dietary needs and lifestyle.

Awareness is the key!

Learn about your specific dietary needs (caloric intake) and daily energy requirements. We're talking a basic understanding here, and not having to go into any great detail.

Step #3 - Seek advice from friends and trusted authorities.

Don't believe everything you hear! There are thousands of diet scams on the market. When you find a trusted source, ask as many questions as you can about diet and exercise. Find out what has worked for others. But always be on-guard for quick fix approach...it won't work! Trimspa is not such an approach, but a tried and tested method to weightloss

Step #4 û Start creating a SYSTEM of support.

About 85% of our happiness and well-being is determined by the quality of our relationships with other people. Loving, caring relationships and a network of friends, family, and colleagues lowers stress, increases longevity and helps us to accomplish our goals in life (including losing weight).

We are social creatures and we do our best when we have friends to cheer us on, offer support, give advice and hold us accountable when necessary. This makes it easy for us to succeed. So, surround yourself with people, tools and activities that make it easier to succeed than to fail! Arrange your living environment and social situations so that every thing around you pulls your forward!

Step #5 û Use your resources.

Read motivational tips, general health information and any other literature you can get your hands-on. Information is power!

Step #6 û TAKE THE FIRST STEP!

Visit www.trim-spa.co.uk and order your fist bottle.  What have you got to lose but excess weight?

There you have it. So, get started today on your Road to Success!

You can't predict when knowing something extra about Trimspa will come in handy. If you learned anything new about weightloss in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

10 Easy Ways to a ‘Healthy-Diet’ for Kids

Creating a Healthy Home can be easier than you think.

Creating a nutritionally healthy home is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the health of your child. To start, make smart food choices, and help your child develop a positive relationship with healthy food. Your children will learn their food smarts from your example.

Here are the top 10 tips for getting children to eat healthy food:

1. Do not restrict food. Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can also have a negative effect on growth and development.   Also by restricting food you will actually increase the risk of overeating later in the day which will cause weight gain.

2. Keep healthy food at hand. Children will eat what's readily available. Keep fruit in a bowl on the counter, not buried in the crisper section of your fridge. Remember, your child can only choose foods that you stock in the house, by limiting ‘junk food’ you will, by default, teach your child how to choose healthier foods.

3. Don't label foods as "good" or "bad." Instead, tie foods to the things your child cares about, such as sports, academics and hobbies. Let your child know that lean protein such as turkey and calcium in dairy products give strength to their sports and academic performance, the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables add luster to skin and hair and the carbs in whole grains will give them energy to play.

4. Praise healthy choices. Give your children a proud smile and tell them how smart they are when they choose healthy foods. Kids thrive on positive reinforcement!

5. Don't nag about unhealthy choices. If your child chooses unhealthy foods infrequently, ignore it. However, if your child always wants fatty, fried food, redirect the choice. You might try roasting potato sticks in the oven (tossed in just a bit of oil) instead of buying french fries. Or, if your child wants candy, you might make fresh strawberries dipped in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy? Then keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for quick snacks.  With consistent effort taste buds change and soon your child will be craving healthy foods.

6. Never use food as a reward. This could create weight problems in later life. Instead, reward your children with something physical and fun -- perhaps a trip to the park or a quick game of catch.

7. Sit down to family dinners at night. If this isn't a tradition in your home, it should be. Research shows that children who eat dinners at the table with their parents have better nutrition and are less likely to get in serious trouble as teenagers. Start with one night a week, and then work up to three or four, to gradually build the habit.

8. Prepare plates in the kitchen. There you can put healthy portions of each item on everyone's dinner plate. Your children will learn to recognize correct portion sizes.  Too often people go for seconds and even thirds just because the food is right there.  You might notice that you need less food to feel full!

9. Give the kids some control. Ask your children to take three bites of all the foods on their plate and give it a grade, such as A, B, C, D, or F. When healthy foods - especially certain vegetables -- get high marks, serve them more often. Offer the items your children don't like less frequently. This lets your children participate in decision making. After all, dining is a family affair!

1. Consult your pediatrician. Always talk with your child's doctor before putting your child on a diet, trying to help your child gain weight, or making any significant changes in the type of foods your child eats. Never diagnose your child as too heavy, or too thin, by yourself.  If weight change is recommended seek the help of a Dietitian.

Why the Mediterranean Diet Is Good for You

The Mediterranean Diet has been widely recommended by nutritionists and medical professionals for many years now thanks to all of the health benefits the diet provides. It is also a largely preferred diet by people of all ages because of the delicious and inexpensive options this diet provides. However, for elderly and senior participants, the Mediterranean Diet has many pros such as decreasing the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

How Has It Been Studied?

Back in 1980, a professor by the name of Ancel Keys investigated heart-related deaths in many different countries. Keys found that cardiovascular-related deaths were much higher in Greece, Italy, and Japan while they were much greater in the United States and Finland. The Mediterranean lifestyle and diet were then investigated in hopes of better understanding why people in this area lived longer and healthier. It was concluded that diet played a large role.

What Does It Include?

Rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes, grains and peas, the Mediterranean Diet incorporates many highly preferred foods, including chicken and fish. Red meat is usually eliminated from the Mediterranean Diet as well as saturated fats. Good fats from olive oil and nuts are encouraged. Red wine is also allowed on occasion, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Lifestyle is also part of this diet, and exercise, activity and not smoking is recommended. Staying away from sweets is an important part of this lifestyle change as well, as it is believe that refined sugars increase inflammation in the body. This diet incorporates grazing on healthy foods throughout the day. Ones that provide nutritional benefits while being health for you.

Proportions

In addition to eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, grains and lean proteins, the Mediterranean Diet recommends that portion control is utilized. Rather than eating three very large meals each day, it is suggested that smaller meals be given throughout the day. Each meal should incorporate the details of the diet, but portions should remain small. Basically just enough to satisfy hunger, but not overwhelm the body. Overeating not only leads to obesity, but also, the heart has to work harder in order to digest a big meal. This is especially true if the meal is high in saturated fats and hard to digest ingredients, such as red meat.

More many people, living in the Western society can be stressful and unhealthy. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, and issues like dementia and Alzheimer's being so prevalent, more and more seniors, caregivers and medical professionals are recommending a healthy diet to help combat issues. Sleep apnea, obesity, high blood pressure and cancer are also common concerns but can be often prevented by following a diet such as the Mediterranean Diet. Article Source

4 Workout Routines to Set Your Day Right

Have you ever woke up in the morning with your body feeling heavy as lead, and a thousand needles seem pricking every joint of your body?

Then you try to get up, only to plop down on bed, with a dozen reasons why you should go back to bed and have a few more minutes of sleep.

We all have mornings like this - especially if the years are piling up on us. But if they come too often, watch out. You are set up for an unhealthy life.

They become a siren's song that lulls you into lethargy. Even a single day is bad because it will be followed by another and another, until it becomes a habit.

And habits are always looked at unfavorably and are darn difficult to break..

No matter how strong the temptation is to laze in bed a few minutes more, get up, with all your power; get up and shake those lazy bones and start getting physical.

Why?

Because physical activity, at any age, contributes to overall feelings of wellness. It becomes very vital I if you are at the prime of your life, or beyond.

According to the Mayo Clinic, regular workouts help control blood pressure, body weight and cholesterol levels. It reduces the risk of hardening of the arteries, heart attack and stroke; it strengthens muscles, tendons, ligaments, and many others.

Health benefits aside, getting up from bed and doing your workout routine, banishes feelings of lethargy and primes you up for the day; it gives you feelings of physical wellness.

A 30 min exercise, enough to forms beads of perspiration on your forehead, is all you need for the happy hormones to put a pleasant smile on your face.

Skeptics may scorn at this. But as soon as their doctor tells them that their cholesterol levels are high, their blood is as sweet as honey, or their weight makes them good candidates for a cardiac arrest, it sets them on a panic mode.

They immediately gulp down anti-cholesterol pills, go on a crash diet, and refrain from food that can worsen their blood sugar levels.

So where are you now? Are you still in bed, lazing, as if these things won't happen to you or are you on the road shrugging off your drowsy feelings?

If you belong to the former, it is best to re-arrange your priorities now. Getting sick is a lot more expensive that staying healthy.

Devise a workout routine now before your medical bills become more expensive than a membership in an upscale gym or wellness club.

It need not be fancy, or expensive or time-consuming. Anything will do as long as it promotes physical, mental and cardiovascular health.

Here are 4 simple workout routines you can start with.

If you don't have an idea what a tricep or bicep is, try these out and work on something else later:

1. Aerobics:

Is the collective term used to describe any activity that increases the beat rate of the heart.

It can be done with at home (by pacing in your room or the living room), in any space you can move around unhindered.

If you want to put more fun or socializing into it, join any aerobics group in your neighborhood. They are sprouting everywhere.

It can take the form of yoga, bicycling, tai-chi, or dancing, i.e., line, square or ballroom.

2. Strength:

One of the direct effects of aging is the loss of muscle mass. This shows as sagging skin beneath the chin, the underside of your forearms, softening of eh thighs and tummy.

To avoid this, work your muscles up by lifting 1 to 2 pound dumbbells at least twice a week.

If you don't have these, use your own body weight to lunges, squats, and modified push-ups.

The objective is neither to be an Arnold Schwarzenegger, nor a deflated balloon, but to be the best of yourself, despite your age.

3. Balance:

Another direct effect of aging is the loss of balance.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that "falls" are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and the most common cause of trauma admissions among Americans in their senior years.

To avoid being a part of the statistics, devise a workout routine that maintains or improves your sense of balance.

Or you can try this:

* Stand directly behind a heavy chair, like a dining room chair, that won't easily slide or tip over.

* Rest one hand on the back of the chair while the other hand on your hip.

* Raise your right leg, slightly bent at the knee. Hold until the count of ten.

* Put your leg down and relax.

* Repeat the routine with the left leg.

4. Flexibility:

Another effect of aging is the loss of flexibility.

Having problems reaching for objects on high kitchen selves or bending the hip pains when you bend own? That's loss of flexibility.

Have you had pain in the neck for craning so much to the left field while watching your favorite baseball game? That's loss of flexibility.

To cope with this, try this workout routine at home:

* Whether standing or sitting, slowly turn your head to the right until you feel a slight stretch. Don't tilt your head backward or forward.

* Hold this position for 10 to 30 seconds.

* Then slowly turn your head to the lift, and hold for just as long.

You can do stretching exercises to other parts of your body.

See how easy they are? And you can do them at home, in your pajamas or nightties. No need to drive to the gym, no need to buy expensive gym wear and they don't take much of your time, do they?

With as little as 30 mins a day, you can have physical wellness that sets your day right.

These 30 mins, could prolong your life, help you avoid expensive medical bills and make you look younger than you really are. Article Source

Treating Dry Skin After Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is never something anyone wants to go through but for many it is the difference between life and death. There are many side effects to this type of cancer treatment and dry skin is one of the most common. The dry skin is more associated with the medications that are used during the treatments rather than the chemotherapy itself. Coping with skin issues, however, is often much easier than coping with some of the other side effects such as hair loss.

Is Your Skin Dry?

If you did not pay much attention to your skin before you started your chemotherapy sessions then you may not know what to expect. There are some common signs that you can watch for that can alert you as soon as it becomes an issue:

· Skin Feels Tight

· You Start to Itch More

· The Skin Looks Scaly

· Your Skin Starts Peeling

· There is Cracking of the Skin

These symptoms go from the earliest signs to the final signs of drying skin. Once you notice your skin is becoming tighter, you should start taking measures to hydrate it. Once the skin gets to the cracking stage, there is more pain associated with the dry skin. You may even notice the big cracks are starting to bleed.

Treating the Dry Skin

If you notice any of the symptoms above your skin is in distress and needs to be rehydrated. The first thing you can do is drink more water. This is the first thing your oncologist will tell you, too. All of your cells need water to thrive, including skin cells. The medications and radiation from the treatments really dry out the body and is what causes the dry skin issues.

Here are some other tips to keeping your skin well hydrated:

· Avoid bathing or showing in very hot water.

· Do not linger while showering or bathing.

· Use soothing scent free-soap.

· Moisturize with body butter directly after your shower and reapply liberally.

· Use a SPF 30 or higher sunblock any time you go outside.

· Products with ammonium lactate help with severe dry skin.

· Do not rub skin dry; pat it with a soft, absorbent towel instead.

Dry skin is a common side effect from chemotherapy. While it is uncomfortable, it can be painful if the above tips are not followed. Peeling and cracking skin can cause scarring if the cracks get too deep under the epidermal layer. The main tip to remember is to keep your skin moisturized from the inside and out. Article Source

How to Make and Decorate an 'Old Glory' Cake

Are you celebrating the Fourth of July? Or maybe you're welcoming home a beloved member of our armed forces? Whatever the reason, an Old Glory flag cake can bring out the patriotism at any event. This article explains how to make an Old Glory cake that's red, white, and blue all over!

By adding icing coloring to your cake batter, you can give different layers of your cake their own color, allowing you to create red and blue layers inside. Paste coloring is a great choice, as its thickness keeps you from diluting the batter. Using a shaped pan gives you the appearance of a flag and a guide for your icing later on.

Once you've colored your individual cake layers, go ahead and bake them according to the directions for the type of cake you made. The tops of these cakes will be rounded when finished. You will want to take a knife and slice through the crown of the cake in order to create a flat surface to place the next layer on.

Cake makes up the red and blue layers of this particular cake. The white layer is created using vanilla ice cream. I recommend putting plastic wrap in the pan to serve as a layer between the pan and the ice cream. Wrapping your ice cream in plastic wrap prevents the ice cream from absorbing other flavors in the freezer, and makes it easier to remove it from the pan when you're ready. Simply place the frozen ice cream on top of the bottom cake layer, and then place the top cake layer on the ice cream.

Butter cream icing is used on the sides of the cake. Because of the size of this particular cake, you will need a lot of icing, so don't be stingy! A liberal application of icing will ensure that any gaps between your layers of the cake get filled.

Putting white butter cream icing on the top of the cake is optional. If you prefer, you can choose to place your colored icing directly onto the cake instead. Using either a tube icing or an icing bag with a star tip, squeeze your star-shaped dots onto the cake. For the starry field of the flag, put your blue dots close together to make the background, and then follow up with white dots to make the actual stars.

To make the stripes of the flag, simply take an icing bag with red icing and run it along the part of the cake where the stripes go. You will probably need three passes with the icing bag to fill in one stripe. Next, switch to the icing bag with white icing and repeat. Article Source

'Brimming With Roses' Cake - How to Decorate This Elegant Cake

Sometimes, an elegant occasion demands an equally elegant cake. A 'Brimming With Roses' cake is perfect to create for any elegant occasion you want to celebrate. As you might guess from the title, this cake's surface is literally covered in rose decorations, while subtle, dignified designs accent the sides of the cake.

The tools that are required to make these wonderful roses are a flower nail, a 104 petal tip, and a large round tip - a number 12 tip is most popular for these roses.

To make each rose decoration, the first step is to put some icing on the base of the nail, such as royal icing. Place a piece of wax paper on the nail base before applying the icing. If you choose to use butter cream icing instead of royal icing, then this step is not necessary. Be sure that the mound of icing is a little over half an inch high.

Once the mound is created, the center petals of the rose are created by holding the icing bag at a 45-degree angle to the side of the mound and, while applying a consistent pressure, rotating the mound by twirling the nail so that a petal is created that wraps around the initial mound. The outer petals come next, by using the petal tip and moving the icing bag up and down around a third of the center petal. This process is repeated two more times to surround the center with outer petals. Two more rows, of five and seven petals each, are added to create a total of four petal layers.

Prior to decorating the surface of the cake with your roses, you need to apply icing to completely cover your cake. You can use butter cream, royal icing, or even fondant. Just be sure that the top is smooth. A spatula dipped in hot water can be run across the cake to smooth it out (fondant should not need smoothing, so do not use this trick on fondant). Another popular method is to take parchment paper and place it down prior to smoothing with the spatula. This prevents the spatula from accidentally slicing into the icing.

Once the icing has dried a little bit, you will use a pattern press to lightly impress a pattern into the icing on the side of the cake. This pattern is then used to add beads to the cake by holding an icing bag at a 90-degree angle to the side of the cake. Larger beads are also used at the base of the cake.

It is now time to add the roses that you created earlier to the top of the cake. Using the butter cream icing bag, add a small, round mound of icing to the surface of the cake. Then, carefully slide the rose onto the mound of icing. The butter cream icing acts as a glue to hold the rose in place. Repeat this step for each flower.

Finally, you will want to add leaves to the cake. This will further accent the floral design, and it will help fill in gaps between the roses on the cake. Using a leaf tip and green icing, simply squeeze the icing onto the cake and pull up on it as you release pressure on the bag to pull the icing out into a leaf shape.

You can easily modify the above steps to decorate cupcakes that will match your cake. Whether or not you decide to add cupcakes, your cake is sure to be the center of attention. Article Source

Add Flavor to Meals Without Adding Carbs

With all of the low-carbohydrate and no-carbohydrate frenzies lately, you should be aware that adding a dry seasoning blend of quality herbs and spices to your recipes will boost flavor without adding carbohydrates or calories.

I believe in making food exciting - an emotional experience - with bold, but not overpowering, flavors to enhance what you are cooking so the first bite tastes as good as the last.

A dish can come alive with a dusting or sprinkling of one of my Magic Seasonings to replace salt and pepper. Freshness and quality are key - I don't have a freezer or microwave in my restaurant, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen.

In the early years, patrons of K-Paul's would ask me what type of seasoning I used on my dishes. In response, I would usually tell them I used a mixture of many spices, and I would give them a small bag as a sample. Slowly, people began getting embarrassed to ask for more samples, and they offered to pay for them. So, I started bottling my spice mixtures and selling them at regional stores. Ultimately, K-Paul's was the birthplace of Magic Seasoning Blends. My seasoning blends are all natural with no MSG and no preservatives.

Today, my Magic Seasonings are distributed to supermarkets

nationwide. Through these seasonings, I am happy to spread the joy of great food to people everywhere.

In my native Louisiana, people start talking about what they are having for lunch and dinner at breakfast. Food is simply part of our culture. Food excites us.

In Louisiana, meals aren't just about eating; they are about eating well. And meals are seen as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends. I want you and your family to enjoy the bonding experience of sharing wonderful meals together.

You don't have to sacrifice flavor when you reduce the fat and carbohydrates in your family meals. Simply sprinkle your favorite Magic Seasoning Blend on fish, vegetables or meat before you begin the cooking process. The blends work well with all types of cuisine, from Italian to Mexican to French to Chinese.

Digital Scales Types and Uses

Digital scales are electronic devices used to measure weight. Digital scales come in a variety of sizes and colours and are made from a variety of materials. Digital scales differ from traditional scales because they function based on the principle of load cell technology in which electronic load cells sense the weight of objects under certain conditions. Once the weight is calculated it is transferred to digital or electronic signals and then displayed in a digital format. They are available in different models, brands, sizes, and shapes, and usually come with batteries as well as calibration weights, scale pads, and trays. Digital scales, like every other type of product, vary in prices and quality
There are various types of digital scales available on the market. Digital scales are classified based on how they are used. Nevertheless, scales of one type can be used for other purposes as well. The most popular types of digital scales are bathroom, kitchen or food, postal, point of scale, pocket size and laboratory digital scales. Recently, scales have been taken to the next level and are able to make other calculations aside from weight. These scales are referred to as smart scales and can calculate calories and other nutritional information.

In general, kitchen food, diet, and nutritional scales are used to calculate the amount of food one consumes and allow, therefore, the calculation of the caloric intake. These types of digital scales are used by anyone who watches what and how much they eat and vary sizes, detail and of course price. These types of digital scales accompany other technological nutrition calculating tools.
Bathroom digital scales are the ones used to measure the weight of someone’s body. They are the evolutionary equivalent of the traditional bathroom scale and are used to get exact information of someone’s body weight. These types of scales are referred to as bathroom scales because they are most often kept in the bathroom of a home.

Postal scales are used to weigh small to medium sized objects and are referred to as ’postal’ because they are widely used at post offices to weight mail and parcels. Most digital postage scales available on the market are programmed in a way that calculates the exact postage required to mail a certain size and weight object to a particular destination. They are ’smart’ scales, just like some digital food scales.  in a way that the scales are programmed with postal rate information. This helps the scales to adjust rates each time the value changes and to display the right amount for postal services.
Digital scales come in various sizes and sensitivity as well. Aside from all of the above types of scales, smaller ones exist to measure the weight of smaller objects. Jewellers use these types for weighing gold, silver and other valuable items. These types are extremely accurate. There is no space for error when a few grams can be worth a thousand dollars. In this category belong smaller and more versatile types of scales that have highly portable features. They are referred to as pocket scales, because they usually can fit in your pocket.

Lastly, one more highly accurate type of scale is the scientific or laboratory scale used primarily in medical and scientific fields. These types can weigh a grain of rice, or in some cases a particle of dust.

As you can see digital scales vary in types, sizes and accuracy. Depending on what you want to weigh you can find a digital scale that suites your needs.

Exercise Your Back Pain Away!

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some time in their life.

The traditional treatment for low back pain is increasing core strength to increase flexibility on tight muscles, provide better stabilization of the spine and exercises to correct the muscle imbalances. The muscles surrounding the spine provide stability and support of the spinal column. All the muscles between the hips and shoulders are included. These muscles are referred to as the core muscles. Back pain can be caused by muscle imbalances of any of these muscles. If the back of the thighs are weaker than the front of the thighs, there will be uneven pull on the front of the spinal column. This muscle imbalance can be caused from long periods of standing or sitting, improper strength training or running, this lordotic curve or sway back of the vertebral column can be painful.

There are more effective ways to integrate core strength training exercises into every exercise you perform, than by doing traditional crunches. One way is to use effective breathing. The following "Pilates" style breathing technique can be added to any strength training exercise. While performing a leg press, inhale during the bending part and exhale during the press. This deep breathing technique needs to be incorporated with the resistance or force of the exercise. You will utilize the diaphragm muscles which help to provide spinal support and lengthen the spine, by breathing from your diaphragm instead of shallow upper chest breathing.

The tummy tuck and bridge lift and can help reduce back pain and strengthen the core muscles. The tummy tuck is simply a pelvic tilt drawing the abdominals away from the floor. Simply lie face down and squeeze the glutes to lengthen the spine. Reach the tailbone down towards the heels instead of pressing into the thighs. Perform 10-12 repetitions of each exercise alternating them until you have completed 2-3 sets. For the bridge, simply place the feet on a bench or on the floor and scoop the pelvis upward; the rib cage should stay low to reduce the spine muscles irritation. This will relieve stress on the back and focus the muscle contraction into the hamstrings and glutes.

The lumbar side stretch, hip flexor stretch, and calf stretches can help to alleviate pull on the spine.

For the hip flexor stretch, bring one foot forward in a bent knee, 90 degree angle (knee to hip and knee to ankle) while the other leg is on the floor behind with foot pointing toward the ceiling. This stretch helps to open the muscles in the back on the sides of the spine near the hips. Squeeze the glutes to deepen the stretch with each exhaled breath. You should feel a stretch on the back leg, in the front of the thigh and the hamstrings on the front leg.

For the lumbar side stretch bring the legs wide with knees bent while sitting or standing. Bring one hand down towards the foot inside the thighs and the other behind the head.

The last stretch opens up the Achilles tendon; the most distant pull on the spine of the body. Place an object under your foot and lean your body weight forward. Keep a fluid breath while holding all stretches for 10-30 seconds .You should feel a stretch behind the knee and shin.

By exercising core muscles you will be able to continue working out without sacrificing your back.  Check with your doctor before starting ANY exercise program!

Can a 30 Minute Workout Really Work?

If you talk to almost anyone who goes to the gym to workout and ask them how long a good workout usually takes, they will often answer with; “it takes a good hour to get in a good workout”, or even; “if I don’t spend 1 ½ to 2 hours in the gym, I just don’t get enough from my workout”.

Based on these kinds of typical responses, you can imagine how surprised many of these same people appear to be when I tell them that I only workout for 30 minutes a day, yet still get the kind of results that they do! Many of them will say, no way you only workout for 30 minutes a day! How can you ever get results doing that?

The plain fact is there are a lot of people who have such busy schedules that finding more than 30 minutes to dedicate to a workout is just impossible. It’s not that they don’t want to do it; there just aren’t enough hours in the day to be in the gym for 1 to 2 hours at a time.

If there was a way to get an effective workout in 30 minutes however, then perhaps they could spend half of their lunch hour in the gym, and the other half eating their lunch. That would be perfect, wouldn’t it? But is it really possible to do a workout in 30 minutes that will bring real results? The answer is a definite yes, but you will need a few simple strategies to make it happen.
 Here are some tips on how to make your workouts really work in only 30 minutes a day.

To start with, make sure you have a plan for each day. Write down all of the exercises you will be doing for that day and write down all of the weights you will be using for each exercise. Write down how many sets you will be doing for each exercise and how many repetitions you will be doing during each set.

Do split body part routines. For example, on Monday and Thursday, do legs, arms and abs. On Tuesday and Friday, do chest, back and shoulders. This way you only have half of your body parts to work on each day cutting down significantly on time spent in the gym.

Upon arriving at the gym, set up as many things as you can in advance so that when you get started, you can keep moving from one exercise to the other without wasting time getting the next piece of equipment set up. This way, you can go strait through each exercise without stopping, take 1-2 minutes rest, and then simply repeat until you finish all of your sets.

Avoid socializing. While being friendly is ok, don’t let yourself get distracted by having a conversation with others in the gym. Remember, you only have so much time and 5 minutes spent talking rather than exercising is 5 minutes wasted. Explain to people wishing to talk to you that you are on limited time and you just can’t stop what you are doing at the moment or better yet, put on a pair of headphones before you begin your workout; they’ll get the clue.

Always do your weight training and cardio training separately. On days you are not doing weight training, you can spend 30 minutes on the treadmill or on the stair climber. This way you are still only working out for 30 minutes. Combining the two only means you will have to spend more time in the gym and time spent in the gym is what you are trying to cut down on.

In summary, just remember to write out a plan for each day, split those body parts on different days, keep moving during your routine, don’t socialize, and don’t do weights and cardio on the same day and you will see excellent results in only 30 minutes a day.

Do You Visualize Whilst You Are Doing Breathing Exercises?

Q. I find breathing exercises very boring is there anything I can do to make less boring?

Have you ever used visualization when you are doing your breathing exercises, a lot of people think that breathing exercises are only a manner of sitting down and concentrating as they inhale exhale, which to the outsider can seem as being very boring and monotonous but here's a few things you can try out the next time, try…

• concentrating on a particular colour on inhalation and another colour on exhalation (for example some colour you link with calmness or purity, and another colour for stress or impurity)

• having a picture in your mind of your body and as you breathe in, think of all the extra parts of your lungs that have been under used because of bad breathing habits.

• Taking a breath and picturing the air coming into your body from different areas (such as the soles of the feet for example.)

It can especially seem complicated for beginners when starting out to do breathing exercises as you can’t see the muscles that they are working on but by visualizing their lungs in action in their mind it makes it all the easier to do…and remember when you’re doing your breathing exercises you're not really learning anything new but undoing all the bad habits you've picked up over the years.

Don’t Fall For These Weight Loss Gimmicks!

Have you heard about the new weight loss patch? You wear it behind your ear, and it speeds up your metabolism and helps you control your appetite. It sounds pretty reasonable, doesn't it? After all, if someone had told you five years ago that you could quit smoking by sticking a circle of fabric on your skin would you have believed them?

Unfortunately, this one isn't true. According to Dr. Michael Myers, who maintains the popular web site weight.com, it's just another of the hoaxes that clever promoters are using to bilk you out of your money. Weight loss is a gold mine, and unscrupulous operators will use any gimmick to convince you that their product is the magic cure that will melt away your pounds without any effort on your part.

Here are a few of the current weight loss gimmicks and the truth about them.

The Diet Patch

Transdermal delivery of medication is a reality, and there are certain medications that are absorbed readily through the skin. However, the most common active ingredient used in diet patches on the market is 'fucus vesiculosus', a seaweed that is a major source of iodine. Iodine was once a recommended treatment for obesity, because it helps promote healthy thyroid function. It was abandoned because of side effects and the untoward effects when treatment with iodine ceases. In other words, it's an outdated medication being revived for delivery in a new way.

Wash your fat away with slimming soap!

The claim is that this is an ancient Chinese soap that contains a unique blend of ingredients derived from seaweed which will 'emulsify' the fat. Further, it comes in several different versions, including one that is specifically meant to give you 'beautiful thighs'. In all truth, the ingredients sound like they'd do a lovely job of softening and toning your skin, but there's not an ounce of research quoted anywhere that can be checked for the results. Until I see the proof, I'll just figure that any weight loss resulted from vigorous scrubbing - not the ingredients!

Magnetic Weight Loss... earrings

Yes, earrings. According to the press, it's another ancient Chinese Secret that has to do with balancing the magnetism in the body. By wearing a magnet near the ear, you can suppress hunger, increase metabolism, speed up the healing process and reduce pain.  Again, though there's mention of 'studies', none are cited, and I couldn't find any in any medical journals. It won't kill you, at least, and the earrings are pretty, but I wouldn't put much stock in their weight loss properties.

All of these new weight loss discoveries should be filed in the ôYeah rightö file, right next to sauna wraps, copper bracelets, and electro-slimming belts. If it sounds too good to be true, remember, it probably is. The only gimmick to weight loss is to eat less and move more!

Culturally Specific Programs Urged in Diabetes Care

Diabetes remains an epidemic in the U.S., but experts are now more concerned that certain populations may not be getting the right kind of treatment because of their ethnic and cultural beliefs.

Physicians can't use a one-size-fits-all approach to treating patients with diabetes; physicians, families and community leaders must work together to develop culturally specific programs, according to Dr. Kevin McKinney, Minority Health Affairs Committee chairman of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Cultural viewpoints of medicine and disease only compound the issue, said McKinney, who spoke at a recent American Medical Association media briefing on diabetes.

For instance, in some societies, religion influences one's physical and emotional well-being equally. When an illness occurs, a family may seek out the advice of a religious leader before consulting a physician, which would delay treatment and increase the risk of complications.

"Most people in these communities don't even know they're at risk," McKinney said. "They may know about diabetes and its effects, but they're unaware that living a healthy lifestyle can help reduce their risk."

McKinney stresses that education is the key to eliminating the prevalence of diabetes in certain communities and suggests programs that pair education with a cultural activity.

"Programs held at community and religious centers can focus on diabetes risk factors and some of the healthier approaches to traditional foods that may help in reducing those risks," McKinney said.

More than 21 million Americans now have diabetes - a number that experts say may climb as high as 31 million by the year 2050. Every 24 hours, another 4,100 people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease.

But despite these dire statistics, Dr. Frank Vinicor, director of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says that the medical community is making great strides to combat this epidemic.

"We know that you do not have to develop type 2 diabetes if you're at high risk, and that if you do have diabetes, you don't have to lose your eyes, your feet or your heart," Vinicor said at the briefing.

The overall outlook for diabetes is beginning to improve, Vinicor said.

"The rates of amputations and end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes are actually beginning to fall," he said. "The preliminary data indicate that fewer people with diabetes are dying. So we're seeing some light at the end of the tunnel."

The Different Causes of Visual Hallucination and Its Signs and Symptoms

Hallucination is the perception of something real when there is no external stimulus. They are vivid, but substantial, can be seen in the objective spaces. The experience is much different from usual act of dreaming as the person is fully awake and witness illusion. The hallucination may be auditory, visual, tactile. Visual hallucinations occur when physical, emotional and environmental factors like stress, tension, mental illness and extreme fatigue creates a mechanism within the brain, facilitating a distinction between conscious perceptions to the misfire. It occurs when you are totally conscious and appears in the form of sounds, voices, visions, smells, taste and tactile feeling.

The use of drugs and medications

This is the prime cause of abnormal sensory perception occurring in person who is totally conscious and awake. The psychometric medication has tremendous side effects and is hallucinogenic. LSD, mescaline, psilocybin have hallucinatory effects. Even the prescription drugs can cause hallucination. The prolonged usage of medicines and over dosage can show signs of Parkinson's disease. Thorazine, Haldol are mainly prescribed for psychiatric disorders and should be taken in control.

Withdrawal symptoms

A withdrawal from hallucinogenic drugs also shows symptoms of hallucinations. Those who suffer from mental illness, report about hallucinations. If you stop taking drugs like cocaine or crack, marijuana, heroine, it will cause some amount of mental disturbance in the form of hallucinations.

Physical and emotional stress

Sleep deprivation and mental tiredness can also cause hallucination. Too much of stress blurs the line between wakefulness and sleep. A minimum of 7 hours of sleep is necessary.

The neurochemical activity within the brain

The neurochemical or electrical activity within the human brain causes a touch sensation or the aura. It gives the warning of migraine and epileptic attack. Auras can also involve smell and tactile sensation. Brain damage can also cause hallucinations.

Usual symptoms of hallucinations

Muscular stiffness does occur on the neck and the limbs. Stiffness may be severe to the extent of restricting full mobility.
Prior to falling asleep, the person starts seeing vivid dreams. He/she hears sounds, see images which are actually not there. This is called the hypnologic hallucination.
The posture becoming imbalanced due to the Parkinson disease
The Schizophrenia symptoms ranges from mild to severe. Then suffering from it requires specialized and intensive care.
Instances like seeing objects and people nearby are common. It may also happen that the person starts spending time with the imaginary friends and talks to the ones who are actually not there.
Mood swings are common here when one can become extremely happy at one moment and becomes depressed after a few minutes. Hence, the person fails to maintain a good rapport with friends and colleagues.
Social withdrawal is the direct consequence of emotional instability. He wants to stay alone and dreads from mixing up with others.
Feeling perplexed, frightened and confused all the time is common.
The terrible mental illness to the point of seeing images when nothing is there can be dangerous. The internal imagery overwhelming the sensory input, sharing the neutral pathways is manipulated to match with one's expectation. The problem may be resolved be seeing an eminent psychiatrist.

Hearing voices is the common human occurrence when one suffers from illness, unemployment, undergoes a divorce or suffers from any brain injury. The voices can be dangerous and threatening. Hence, Hearing Voices Network Cymru is your one stop destination that offers a complete treatment, support and care for the mental illness, Visual hallucinations, hearing voices, psychosis treatment. The Network of the center is spread across 29 countries and it aims at offering a comprehensive cure and treatment.  Article Source