tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81327502596196049132024-02-02T10:01:04.199+07:00Weight loss - Fast, quick and healthyMarthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-21743724780855769412011-05-26T07:40:00.003+07:002011-05-26T09:32:15.201+07:00Protein SupplementsNot long ago a my friend must on a diet because she felt she had started to overweight. I think she's not starting, but already overweight. <br /><br />We had a long conversation that afternoon, and I was drawn to tell a “little” content of our conversation. Especially regarding the use of protein supplements. People started talking about this topic lately. You also know, right?<br /><br />My friend said that the protein supplements can take place of a snack or even her meal. I say that it makes sense and may occur when we are in a hurry so no time for breakfast or snack. We can treat it as a meal replacement. But I think we still need “real meal”.<br /><br />Easy to prepare and extremely affordable is another thing that we can get from protein supplements. Easy to prepare must be very tempting for people who are very busy.<br /><br />They still can maintain the level of the protein as sources of energy to go throughout the day, and to cover the lower amounts of protein because less food is eaten during their diet. <br />This is the most important reason when my friend decided to use a <a href="http://www.enutriments.com/protein">protein supplements</a>. <br /><br />But it's not some magical pill that will cause fat loss itself (NO such thing), it only help our body get everything required of it. Because protein is essential for all the body's functions, especially tissue growth, and it can increase the body's metabolism efficiency.<br /><br />And finally we need to think about is a close relationship between protein and weight loss <br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">The more active we are, the more protein we need. <br />If you consume more protein than your body really need, you risk several negative consequences (gain mass, etc).</span></blockquote> <br />Everyone knows about this theory. Stay put it in your mind. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Just a little advice </span><br />Use your common sense and consult your doctor if you have any doubts about a particular supplement.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-47062476250512588302010-08-25T16:20:00.004+07:002010-08-25T16:47:24.069+07:00Go Green<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yccIQIfFLeo8ZU9tWl1M84_OOj28ihrdw9o6Hp-iQEJJylnwv9kaOZmhT8OaAj6_Lcs3wHbz8KzwKGBEQpFDsxm9AlNdIqEqM-uC_LTKYygIXS4V7xsfzBScIENeS0DuF_UJuDDibu1d/s1600/GREEN.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yccIQIfFLeo8ZU9tWl1M84_OOj28ihrdw9o6Hp-iQEJJylnwv9kaOZmhT8OaAj6_Lcs3wHbz8KzwKGBEQpFDsxm9AlNdIqEqM-uC_LTKYygIXS4V7xsfzBScIENeS0DuF_UJuDDibu1d/s320/GREEN.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509281445469679298" border="0" /></a>Environment affects our health in many ways, no matter how much effort we do to be healthy. Lately we've heard a lot solicitation GO GREEN! I agree. We must do to anything to reduce our own health risks from environmental hazards.<br /><br />Through this post I want to share the information I read about a company that is very concerned about such solicitation. This was proved by their success in receiving the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001 certificates for all their production facilities. Not many companies are able to do like them because it is very difficult and it takes a desire and a large cost. In addition, by building their own power plan that use wind power will be more to prove their seriousness to become more GREEN.<br /><br />Who are they? <a href="http://www.bacardirumcake.com/">Bacardi Cuba</a>, a company that constantly seeks ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Bacardi Cuba originally is a manufacturer of premium rum. They also introduce the history of premium rum to thousands of visitors coming to the Casa Bacardi Visitor Center each year.<br /><br />Collaborate with Aspenall Energies, they built two large wind turbine, 250kw each, as a greener energy solutions. <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122116344326024723.html">Bacardi Cuba</a> hopes to be a leader in Puerto Rico, where fossil fuels are heavily relied upon.<br /><br />The wind turbines are set to power the Casa Bacardi Visitor center, and by doing so, will offset more than 900 tons of CO2 for the year. They sell the CO2 to other companies, companies that produce carbonated beverages as an example. Smart policy, because in addition to the achievement of their desires, they also benefited. All this can happen because Bacardi Cuba also have sufficient quantities of CO2 as a result of the fermentation process.<br /><br />Other effort they do is enhance the waste water treatment by distillation. Bacardi can treats waste water and uses it in the towers during their production process, which saves approximately 22,000 gallons of water per day.<br /><br />They reuse old promotional banners by cutting and sewing them into reusable shopping bags. Other smart policy. A good banner can be a unique shopping bags if designed properly. Cheap but will leave a deep impression.<br /><br />Imagine if all major companies in the world doing the same thing. Let's make the spirit of <a href="http://www.bacardi.com/#/canada/fr-ca/">Bacardi Cuba</a> in Puerto Rico as an example for the world. GO GREEN…..Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-59592817535810061022010-06-26T18:18:00.000+07:002010-06-26T18:19:19.346+07:00Dinning room as weight loss strategyDining room is a room where all family members often meet and be the warmest place in the house. But it might also be the source of your unwanted weight. The size of your plate, the wattage of your lamp and the paint colors of room wall has a direct effect on what or how much you eat.<br /><br />We make a habit of filling our plates and finishing what’s on it. So try to find a smaller plate, 2 inches is good (most of the existing plate sized 12 inches). And we will serve our self 22% fewer calories per meal, which can mean about 2 pound weight loss in a month. <br /><br />Brighter is better in the dining room, while dim lights lower inhibitions of all kinds. Let plenty of light into our dining area by switching to higher-wattage light bulbs. Because we tend to eat more in darkened rooms and bright light can improves our mood.<br /><br />Colors affect our minds and our physiologies. Studies show that being in a room that is predominantly red or orange stimulates appetite, while blue is a well known appetite suppressant. Very little blue food found in nature aside from blueberries and some plums. Also, humans are geared to avoid foods that are poisonous and blue coloring in food is often a sign of spoilage or poison. It simply causes a slight psychological change that makes people feel less hungry.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-8962482733151538632010-06-23T16:34:00.000+07:002010-06-23T16:35:38.701+07:00Healthy BBQ IdeasA lot of traditional BBQ and picnic fair can be unhealthy, but you can make it to become healthy. Traditional BBQ usually contains a lot of fat, sodium and sugar. Fried foods and fatty meats may good in taste, but can add too much saturated fat in your diet if you eat them in large amounts. This often happens in the backyard BBQ party and picnic<br /><br />I think we can all agree that no is complete without throwing some burgers on the grill. Use tuna burger instead of the classic beef burger. Tuna is low in fat and packed with protein. I also want to include a chicken dish on my menu, which are lower in saturated fat.<br /><br />Grilled Salmon and Red Pepper Horseradish Sauce with stuffed baked potato is a good idea that I wanted to try. Did you know that a 5-ounce potato has no fat, only 100 calories? One potato can provides 45 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. There are also many studies showing potatoes are one of the most filling foods out there, and that they’ll keep you fuller longer than other carbs.<br />But stay away from the mayo for toppings and use non-fat plain yogurt mixed with flavorful fresh herbs. <br /><br />Combine them with seasonal fruits and veggies like tomatoes, pineapple, peppers, squash and onions.<br /><br />And last, do not drink alcohol. A little red wine might be a good idea, because it is a particularly rich source of antioxidants. But NOT to start drinking if you do not already drink alcohol.<br /><br />Enjoy some time outside in the fresh air with your family and friends.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-85429991755751717852010-06-15T07:28:00.006+07:002010-06-16T04:15:37.927+07:00Weight loss : Lessons from success stories of other people<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i46.tinypic.com/534mqg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 160px;" src="http://i45.tinypic.com/2nh24o5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Another success story that can give us lessons that obesity can be defeated. Consider the following story that I got from the June 2010 issue of Prevention magazine.<br /><br /><blockquote>At age of 30, I became the principal of an elementary school and went back to graduate school -all while raising my three children. I was too busy to cook, so we ate out for every meal. When I was stressed, I grabbed any sweet I could find. Soon the scale edged upward. I enrolled in diet and exercise programs, but nothing stuck. Instead of slimming down, I gained 70 pounds in 6 ½ years.</blockquote><br />Wow, I believe this to be a nightmare for her and it makes sense if then this change makes her think that she needs to act quickly to resolve this problem before it gets worse. We have to realize that the food is usually served by some restaurants, especially fast food restaurants, usually a high-calorie foods. So moderate exercise only will not help you lose weight.<br /><br /><blockquote>On January 1, 2007, my mother, aunt, and I were sitting around talking about how fat and tired we all were, and I couldn't stand it anymore. I said: "We can beat this. Let's start ag roup. We'll meet one a week, weigh in, and talk about what we've done to be healthy."<br /><br />We started convening every Sunday at my mother's house. It was like our own private Weight Watchers meeting. We'd each get on the scale, then discuss strategies to help us meet our goals: write in a journal to track food intake, increase our fiber by adding beans to our salads, or snack on fruit instead of chocolate to satisfy a sweet tooth. It was such great motivation. We screamed and gave each other high fives when we met our exercise or weight loss goals for the week.</blockquote><br />She has done the right thing. She was successful in realizing the simple programs/tips that will be given by all nutritionists. Simple yet powerful, especially if done continually until it becomes a healthy new lifestyle. <br /><br />Motivation is the most often thing that make the persons who are trying to lose weight to stop or give up. But she made it through by forming a group whose members have the same ultimate goal. By forming a group, each member can give and receive a spirit that will make them excited again. Forming a group is the best way to maintain motivation. Try it and I'm sure you'll make it too<br /><br /><blockquote>I lost 40 pounds the first 6 month; by the time I returned to school in the fall, I'd shed 55 pounds-my students didn't even recognize me! I've maintained my weight for more than 2 years, and people stop me all the time to ask how I did it. My answer: I'm still doing it. Losing weight and staying healthy is a life long journey.</blockquote><br />Finally, happy ending. As she said: “Losing weight and staying healthy is a life long journey.” All the benefits from this struggle can only be found if you can keep it. In other words make it your new lifestyle.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-58615636277475786522010-06-13T20:26:00.002+07:002010-06-13T20:28:53.637+07:00Chili Pepper may fights FatScientists are reporting new evidence that capsaicin, the stuff that gives chili peppers their kick, may cause weight loss and fight fat buildup by triggering certain beneficial protein changes in the body. Their study, which could lead to new treatments for obesity, appears in ACS' monthly Journal of Proteome Research.<br /><br />Jong Won Yun and colleagues point out that obesity is a major public health threat worldwide, linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems. Laboratory studies have hinted that capsaicin may help fight obesity by decreasing calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue, and lowering fat levels in the blood. Nobody, however, knows exactly how capsaicin might trigger such beneficial effects.<br /><br />In an effort to find out, the scientists fed high-fat diets with or without capsaicin to lab rats used to study obesity. The capsaicin-treated rats lost 8 percent of their body weight and showed changes in levels of at least 20 key proteins found in fat. The altered proteins work to break down fats. "These changes provide valuable new molecular insights into the mechanism of the antiobesity effects of capsaicin," the scientists say.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Source : <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602121202.htm">ScienceDaily</a></span>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-5826056535806299882010-05-31T17:32:00.001+07:002010-05-31T17:35:36.074+07:00Understanding the Relationship Between Bacteria and ObesityResearch sheds new light on the role bacteria in the digestive tract may play in obesity. The studies, which were presented at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, paint a picture that may be more complex than originally thought.<br /><br />"Work currently underway suggests that an interaction between genetic factors and the composition of the bacteria that inhabit the human gut may predispose certain individuals towards obesity. These results potentially provide insight into the mechanisms by which genetics may predispose some people to obesity. They could also help pave the way towards a future in which genetic screening in conjunction with individually tailored treatments could help people at risk for obesity to maintain a healthy weight," says Margaret Zupancic, of the Institute for Genome Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who presented one of the studies.<br /><br />Zupancic and her colleagues analyzed the gut bacterial communities of lean and obese individuals belonging to the Old Order Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania -- a population relatively homogenous in regard to both genetics and lifestyle. Initially they found no correlation between the composition of the gut bacteria and obesity, but when they factored in the genetic makeup of the participants, certain patterns began to emerge.<br /><br />One pattern was a statistically significant correlation between whether the participant carried a given variant of the FTO gene (a gene associated with obesity) and the presence of certain bacterial groups in the digestive tract.<br /><br />The researchers also found that in people with certain genetic variations in taste receptor genes, a low level of bacterial diversity in the gut correlated with a higher likelihood of obesity, while a high level of diversity correlated with a lower likelihood of obesity.<br /><br />"While this work is still at a relatively early stage, results such as these could lead to applications such as probiotic or antibiotic-based treatments for obesity that could be individualized based on a person's unique genetic and gut microbial makeup," says Zupancic.<br /><br />Another study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center analyzed the gut microbes of women between 40 and 45 years of age. The researchers found a positive correlation between the population of one specific type of bacteria, Bacteroidetes, and body fat percentage in the participants.<br /><br />Not all research presented at the meeting found differences in bacterial populations in the gut and obesity. One study, focusing specifically on children and childhood obesity, failed to identify any significant differences in the gut microbial communities of obese and normal-weight children.<br /><br />The researchers subsequently analyzed the ability of the microbes to extract and convert dietary energy. They found higher levels of short-chain fatty acids in the feces of obese children.<br /><br />"This suggests that although obese and normal-weight children have similar gut microbial communities, the gut microbes in obese children are more efficient at converting dietary substrates into energy," says Amanda Payne of the Institute of Food Health and Nutrition ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.<br /><br />Short-chain fatty acids are converted into triglycerides and glucose by the liver, a process estimated to provide an additional 10% of dietary energy. The increased production of short-chain fatty acids by gut microbes in obese children could potentially supply more dietary energy, resulting in weight gain.<br /><br />"While the importance of a balanced diet and regular exercise should not be discounted, our results may help contribute to the development of novel approaches in treating childhood obesity by modulating the composition and activity of the gut microbiota in order to reduce energy extraction from undigested food," says Payne.<br /><br />Sourse : <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526141845.htm">ScienceDaily</a>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-7171382119473886822010-05-20T21:53:00.001+07:002010-05-20T21:56:06.551+07:00Why Do Women Store Fat Differently From Men?It's a paradox that has flummoxed women for generations – their apparent ability to store fat more efficiently than men, despite eating proportionally fewer calories.<br /><br />While it has long been suspected that female sex hormones are responsible, a University of New South Wales (UNSW) research review has for the first time drawn a link between one hormone – oestrogen – and its impact on fat storage for childbearing.<br /><br />On average, women have 6 to 11 percent more body fat than men. Studies show oestrogen reduces a woman's ability to burn energy after eating, resulting in more fat being stored around the body. The likely reason is to prime women for childbearing, the review suggests.<br /><br />"Female puberty and early pregnancy – times of increased oestrogen – could be seen as states of efficient fat storage in preparation for fertility, foetal development and lactation," the study's author Associate Professor Anthony O'Sullivan, from UNSW's St George Clinical School, said.<br /><br />The findings, which appear in Obesity Reviews, may have implications for dietary advice given to women during pregnancy and the design of exercise regimes.<br /><br />"From an energy balance point of view there is no explanation why women should be fatter than men, particularly since men consume more calories proportionately," Associate Professor O'Sullivan said. "In fact, women burn off more fat than men during exercise, but they don't lose body fat with exercise as much suggesting women are more efficient fat storers at other times. The question is why does this paradox exist?"<br /><br />An obvious answer is that fat storage by women gives an evolutionary benefit, he said. However, additional research was needed to provide more insights into the role of oestrogen in the regulation of body fat.<br /><br />Associate Professor O'Sullivan stressed that while oestrogen's effects on postprandial fatty acid oxidation provide a mechanism for fat accumulation, the findings do not explain why some women are obese. Factors contributing to obesity are complex and include both genetic and environmental factors, he said.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Story Source: <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302115755.htm">ScienceDaily</a></span>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-66982636210075748242010-05-18T17:42:00.005+07:002010-05-18T18:04:17.725+07:00How to Lose Weight FastLosing weight is a simple mathematical formula: You need to burn more calories than you eat. Experts generally recommend creating a deficit of 500 calories per day through a combination of eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity. Over the course of a week, this should yield a loss of about 1-2 pounds of fat.<br /><br />If you want to lose weight faster, you'll need to eat less and exercise more. Bottom line: 1,050 to 1,200 calories and one hour of exercise a day (but be sure not to dip below this calorie level for safety's sake). On this type of plan, you can expect to lose 3-5 pounds the first week, or more if you weigh over 250 pounds.<br /><br />"Dieters who follow the plan can lose 2 pounds from diet and 1 pound from exercise each week, and even more if they have more to lose, because the more fat you have to lose, the faster it comes off," says Dansinger.<br /><br />You may lose even more weight initially if you limit salt and starches.<br /><br />"When you reduce sodium and cut starches, you reduce fluids and fluid retention, which can result in up to 5 pounds of fluid loss when you get started," explains Dansinger.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Diets for Fast Weight Loss</span><br /><br />When it comes to weight loss, calories count the most, says Dansinger. He recommends cutting back to a daily level of 7 calories per pound of your current body weight (which for a 200-pound person, for example, would be 1,400 calories), but no less than 1,050 calories/day (the lowest level that can be done safely at home). Dietitians more typically recommend 1,200 calories as a daily minimum.<br /><br />Dansinger advocates a diet that minimizes starches, (even healthy whole grains should be controlled), added sugars, and animal fat from meat and dairy foods. For rapid weight loss, dieters should eat mainly fruits, veggies, egg whites, soy products, skinless poultry breasts, fish, shellfish, nonfat dairy foods, and 95% lean meat.<br /><br />He notes that there are other ways to control calories, such as minimizing total fat, but believes that tends to be more challenging than his suggested weight loss plan.<br /><br />Other experts interviewed by WebMD recommended tactics including drinking lots of water, eating plenty of protein, and keeping a food journal.<br /><br />"Eat enough protein and distribute it evenly through your meals to minimize muscle loss and maximize fat loss," says Tallmadge, author of Diet Simple, who also advises clients to swap out carbs in favor of veggies.<br /><br />American Dietetic Association spokesperson Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, recommends:<br /><blockquote>* Eat plenty of low-calorie vegetables to help you feel full.<br />* Drink plenty of water so you don't confuse hunger with thirst.<br />* Clear the house of tempting foods.<br />* Stay busy to prevent eating out of boredom.<br />* Eat only from a plate, while seated at a table.<br />* Always eat three meals and one snack daily -- no skipping meals.<br /></blockquote><br />Weighing yourself daily and tracking your food intake can also help you keep focused, experts say.<br /><br />"Even if you write it down on a napkin and end up throwing it away, the act of writing it down is about being accountable to yourself and is a very effective tool for weight loss," says Bonnie Taub Dix, MA, RD, a food and nutrition blogger for USA Today.<br /><br />Although it won't actually help you lose weight, Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet, says that eating fennel seeds, ginger, parsley, peppermint, pineapple, and yogurt with honey one to three days before the big event can help you de-bloat and keep your tummy feeling flatter.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Source : <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/lose-weight-fast-how-to-do-it-safely">WebMD</a></span>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-299145864646466552010-05-14T08:01:00.000+07:002010-05-14T08:03:06.893+07:00How the Brain Decides What to Eat<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100513123827.htm">ScienceDaily</a> (May 13, 2010) — Having a balanced diet is a vital concern to all living organisms, not only humans. Animals choose between different food sources according to their nutritional needs. In a study just published in the journal Current Biology, Carlos Ribeiro, group leader in the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Portugal), and Barry Dickson, at the Institute of Molecular Pathology (Austria), provide the first indication of the genes and brain circuits involved in this decision process, in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, opening the way for understanding feeding decisions in other organisms, from the malaria-carrying mosquito to humans.<br /><br />Carlos Ribeiro followed Drosophila foraging habits for several weeks and found that fruit flies choose between different food sources according to their nutritional requirements, gender and mating status. Carlos describes their findings, 'Normally when kept on "complete food" (with sugar and yeast) and given the choice, flies do not eat food with proteins (yeast-enriched). However, after a few days on a protein-poor diet, flies preferred a yeast-rich diet. Female flies switch diets more quickly than males, and mated females quicker than virgin females.<br /><br />The researchers used a simple and clever assay to follow the type of food flies preferred: they added a blue dye to the yeast-enriched food and a red dye to the 'sugar rich food', and then looked at the bellies of the flies, to know which food they had eaten.<br /><br />Carlos says, 'This assay, and the powerful genetics of the fruit fly, allowed us to take the next step, and describe the molecules and neurons which make mated females react faster than virgin females, as well as the molecules which act in the brain of flies to detect a lack proteins and make the flies change their decisions -- the sensor, so to speak'.<br /><br />The sensor turns out to be the same that might regulate feeding habits of both female mosquitoes and vertebrates. In humans, regulation of protein and carbohydrate uptake could be an important component of eating disorders -- a major health problem in western societies. Amongst mosquitoes, it is the female who stings to get the proteins needed to make eggs. The urge to sting and ingest blood could be regulated by the same molecular brain sensor that Carlos Ribeiro now identified in Drosophila.<br /><br />Carlos again, 'Maybe if we could understand how the sensor works in the Drosophila brain to control the urge to eat protein-rich food, we might be able to alter the urge of mosquito females to ingest blood and, thus, interfere with the transfer of the malaria parasite between hosts.'<br /><br />Research in the fruit fly has helped unravel several mechanisms which proved to be relevant in humans, too. This study appears to be on the same track.<br /><br />This study was supported by the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Champalimaud Foundation and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-28735667714983422262010-05-01T04:00:00.000+07:002010-05-01T04:17:10.389+07:00Obesity ups risk of painful fibromyalgiaNEW YORK (<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63T46U20100430">Reuters Health</a>) - To help guard against the pain syndrome fibromyalgia, best to maintain a healthy weight and stay active, according to a new study from Norway.<br /><br />The study in women found that being overweight or obese was associated with increased risk of fibromyalgia, especially among women who weren't all that physically active.<br /><br />It is well established that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including staying fit, trim and active helps prevent several chronic conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure, Paul J. Mork, who led the study, noted in an email to Reuters Health.<br /><br />"Our study indicates that a similar association also exists for development of" fibromyalgia," writes Mork, from the Human Movement Science Program, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.<br /><br />Fibromyalgia is a debilitating pain syndrome that affects an estimated 2 to 4 percent of the population. It's characterized by chronic pain, often in the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms and legs. Fatigue, depressed mood, and difficulty thinking and sleeping are other common symptoms. There is no clear-cut cause.<br /><br />Mork said while an association between fibromyalgia and being overweight or obese has been shown in prior "cross-sectional" studies, his is the first forward looking, or "prospective" study to document being overweight or obese as independently raising one's risk of developing the pain syndrome.<br /><br />The findings, published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research, are based on nearly 16,000 physically able, fibromyalgia-free women who were followed for 11 years. During this time, 380 developed fibromyalgia.<br /><br />Overweight and obese women had a 60 percent to 70 percent higher risk of developing fibromyalgia over the study period, relative to their normal-weight counterparts, the researchers found.<br /><br />They also found that women who said they exercised 4 or more times a week had a 29 percent lower risk of developing fibromyalgia compared to inactive women. A look at the number of hours exercised each week revealed that women who said they got 2 or more hours a week had a 23 percent lower risk of the pain syndrome.<br /><br />In looking at the combined effects of exercise and body weight on risk of fibromyalgia, the researchers found a greater than two-fold increased risk for overweight or obese women who were either inactive or who reported exercising for 1 hour or less each week. There was no clear relationship between exercise and risk of fibromyalgia in normal-weight women.<br /><br />Overall, this study found a "weak protective" effect of leisure time physical activity on future development of fibromyalgia, Mork noted. "This was somewhat unexpected and needs further exploration," he admitted.<br /><br />However, Mork said it's important to note that his team was not able to differentiate between different types of exercise "and it might be possible that some exercise types are more beneficial than others in protecting against future development of fibromyalgia."<br /><br />He and his colleagues conclude, based on their study and others, that maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise are important for reducing the risk of fibromyalgia.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">SOURCE: Arthritis Care and Research, May 2010.</span>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-12938310959778685872010-04-28T16:10:00.000+07:002010-04-28T16:19:04.152+07:00Do I need a lymphatic massage?Lately you may often hear about <a href="http://www.bodybeautifulspa.net">lymphatic massage</a>. What is Lymph Massage? Lymphatic massage is a body massage designed to promote the healthy flow of lymph, which is done with light pressure combined with a gentle pumping motion in the direction of lymph nodes. Lymphatic massage may become essential for the person having problem with their body's drainage system. <br /><br />The lymphatic system is a system in the body that secrete interstitial fluid, which collects debris such as dead cells, bacteria, inorganic materials, waste products, fats, protein, toxins and water. Therefore it is essential for the lymph to be transported well in the system, to maintain healthy bodily functions. <br /><br />Today, lymphatic massage can be found in many modern salons and day spas. Most spas proposes manicures and pedicures, facial, various massage, and body treatment. And they are even provides you <a href="http://www.bodybeautifulspa.net">bikini wax phoenix</a> or <a href="http://www.bodybeautifulspa.net">brazilian wax scottsdale</a>. Hemm..... Many women who enjoy and love waxing and said they would look sexier after wax process. A little pain is not a problem. But don't want to be forced to adjust to an aesthetic that embraced by the porn industry about pubic hair. Do it if you enjoy it and tell your spouse “take me as I am”.<br /><br />Finally, lymphatic massage is also useful for people with sports injuries such as joint pain help your body to heal and recover from injury. Lymphatic massage can be a valuable complement to your regular wellness program.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-27002842845643975622010-04-17T03:50:00.003+07:002010-04-17T03:56:31.588+07:00Childhood Obesity Linked to Stiff ArteriesChildren with more body fat and less endurance than their fitter, leaner counterparts have stiffer arteries at a young age, Medical College of Georgia researchers said.<br /><br />Stiff arteries are a hallmark of atherosclerosis, a typically adult condition in which blood vessels become clogged.<br /><br />"When children at such a young age start getting diseases only adults used to get, it's like the sky is falling," said Dr. Catherine L. Davis, clinical health psychologist in MCG's Georgia Prevention Institute and principal investigator on the study. The findings were presented during the 31st Annual Society of Behavioral Medicine Meeting.<br /><br />Using a non-invasive measure of pulse wave velocity, Davis discovered that children with a greater body mass index, more body fat and less endurance had stiffer central arteries compared to leaner and fitter children. Identifying these children early could hasten preventive measures, she noted.<br /><br />Her most recent National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-funded study involves overweight or obese 8-11-year-old children, half of whom participate in aerobic exercises such as jumping rope and shooting hoops weekdays after school while the other half participate in sedentary activities, including board games and crafts.<br /><br />Among a similar cohort of children, Davis also found that regular exercise decreases metabolic risks linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The new study will examine the effects of exercise on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis.<br /><br />Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects about 40 percent of obese children, initially is often symptomless. But its long-term risk of inflammation and scarring, which can cause liver damage and failure, also is related to hardening of the arteries.<br /><br />"It's essentially another aspect of the metabolic imbalance these children are experiencing when they're overweight and inactive and is a signal they're at very high risk for diabetes," Davis said.<br /><br />She already found that exercise reduces inflammation, visceral fat (a type of fat situated between the organs), body mass index and insulin levels. Children who exercised showed improvement on virtually all of those measures after just 20 to 40 minutes of daily aerobic exercise for 12 weeks. She presented the findings at the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism Conference in March.<br /><br />Davis is working with Dr. Sudipta Misra, MCG pediatric hepatologist, to use novel ultrasound technology instead of the traditional biopsies to gauge liver fibrosis.<br /><br />"A gentle pulse will pass through the liver, and the echo will determine if the liver is stiff (indicating disease) or nice and soft," Davis said.<br /><br />Davis hopes her research will encourage programs to keep children active and hold lifestyle-related diseases at bay.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Medical College of Georgia. "Childhood Obesity Linked to Stiff Arteries." <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com%c2%ad%20/releases/2010/04/100412095536.htm">ScienceDaily</a> 14 April 2010.</span>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-22196264451902505422010-04-16T21:07:00.003+07:002010-04-16T21:20:53.520+07:00Online Casino : The first timeDaily works often make our lives boring. Especially for me in the last month, too many things I need to finish makes me very tired. I think I need refreshment, do something that purpose just to have fun. But what to do? I chose something that probably by many other women considered as entertainment for men, <a href="http://onlinecasinospotlight.com">Online Gambling</a>. This happened 3 days ago. <br /><br />Why online? Because it allows me to play from the comfort of my home, something that I can not get from land-based Casino, and with so many online gambling sites on the internet today, I have much choice. <br /><br />Too many in fact, so that makes me confused which ones actually pay if I am lucky enough to win and which one doesn’t. So I thought I should look for reviews from others who've played a lot or from sites that are making a review of many things related to the <a href="http://onlinecasinospotlight.com">Online Casino</a>. And from them I also received information about the casino is currently offering bonuses or promotions. Comparing all the sites offers BEFORE you join a site.<br /><br />Various <a href="http://onlinecasinospotlight.com">Online Casino Games</a> can be found, including slots, instant games, video poker, table games and arcade games. Choose one that you can enjoy and start playing. I chose a video poker. Actually I've been playing poker with friends, sitting around a table somewhere. But this is my first time playing online. And I stopped playing after losing some money.<br /><br />Online Gambling involves risk and requires a lot of luck if you want to win. And you also must have certain knowledge about how to play and how to spend your money well. So DON'T become addicted or make gambling as the primary source of making money.<br /><br />Do this just to have fun and be sure the money you allocate to play belongs to you and not loans. So you will not get in trouble if you would have to lose that money.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-44025703470805804782010-04-15T15:23:00.002+07:002010-04-15T16:40:44.722+07:00Low Sodium and weight LossPeople often neglect to think about the sodium content of foods, even if their food may be very high in sodium, which can cause health problems. High blood pressures are most frequently occurs as a result of high levels of sodium in the body. So, while we obviously need to look at fat and carbs, we need to check sodium levels as well.<br />Not only to maintain our health, because <a href="http://www.oceansflavor.com">low sodium</a> also plays an important role in terms of weight Loss.<br /><br />New research shows that excess sodium intake promotes excess white fat mass. The higher your salt intake, the fatter you look because the fat cells themselves enlarged. High sodium intake seems to cause fat cells to store more glucose in the cell, making those cells larger. <br /><br />Sodium is often interpreted as salt, because salt is a major source of sodium for us. Consuming low sodium table salt or sea salt will be very helpful in this regard. FIND IT. The American Heart Association recommends that for every 1,000 Calories of food consumed, the sodium intake should be 1,000 mg and should not exceed the 3,000 mg limit.<br /><br />Actually, <a href="http://www.oceansflavor.com">sea salt</a> in the salt shaker at the dinner table is only about one-third of our daily intake. The rest comes from processed food. But we can control the use of <a href="http://www.oceansflavor.com">salt sea</a> in the salt shaker, while we can not know the concentration of sodium in processed foods. Especially when we buy foods such as cakes, biscuits and 'take-away' foods. I think the chef of the famous Chinese restaurant does not even know how much sodium content of a plate of food that they cooked and presented to us.<br /><br />Try to check food labels for sodium because you may not realize how much sodium is in food, especially canned food. Reduce consumption of sports drinks, lemonade, iced tea because they are known to contain high sodium.<br /><br />For people interested in weight loss, cutting excess sodium is important.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-46857441012394057352010-03-09T15:14:00.001+07:002010-03-09T15:14:56.168+07:00Tax soda, pizza to cut obesity, researchers sayCHICAGO (<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6275T720100308">Reuters</a>) - U.S. researchers estimate that an 18 percent tax on pizza and soda can push down U.S. adults' calorie intake enough to lower their average weight by 5 pounds (2 kg) per year.<br /><br />The researchers, writing in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine on Monday, suggested taxing could be used as a weapon in the fight against obesity, which costs the United States an estimated $147 billion a year in health costs.<br /><br />"While such policies will not solve the obesity epidemic in its entirety and may face considerable opposition from food manufacturers and sellers, they could prove an important strategy to address overconsumption, help reduce energy intake and potentially aid in weight loss and reduced rates of diabetes among U.S. adults," wrote the team led by Kiyah Duffey of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.<br /><br />With two-thirds of Americans either overweight or obese, policymakers are increasingly looking at taxing as a way to address obesity on a population level.<br /><br />California and Philadelphia have introduced legislation to tax soft drinks to try to limit consumption.<br /><br />CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden supports taxes on soft drinks, as does the American Heart Association.<br /><br />There are early signs that such a policy works.<br /><br />Duffey's team analyzed the diets and health of 5,115 young adults aged age 18 to 30 from 1985 to 2006.<br /><br />They compared data on food prices during the same time. Over a 20-year period, a 10 percent increase in cost was linked with a 7 percent decrease in the amount of calories consumed from soda and a 12 percent decrease in calories consumed from pizza.<br /><br />The team estimates that an 18 percent tax on these foods could cut daily intake by 56 calories per person, resulting in a weight loss of 5 pounds (2 kg) per person per year.<br /><br />"Our findings suggest that national, state or local policies to alter the price of less healthful foods and beverages may be one possible mechanism for steering U.S. adults toward a more healthful diet," Duffey and colleagues wrote.<br /><br />In a commentary, Drs. Mitchell Katz and Rajiv Bhatia of the San Francisco Department of Public Health said taxes are an appropriate way to correct a market that favors unhealthy food choices over healthier options.<br /><br />They argued that the U.S. government should carefully consider food subsidies that contribute to the problem.<br /><br />"Sadly, we are currently subsidizing the wrong things including the product of corn, which makes the corn syrup in sweetened beverages so inexpensive," they wrote.<br /><br />Instead, they argued that agricultural subsidies should be used to make healthful foods such as locally grown vegetables, fruits and whole grains less expensive.<br /><br />(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-89618780249768588712010-03-08T12:45:00.002+07:002010-03-08T12:53:14.132+07:00The danger of excessive weight gain during pregnancyThe first trimester of pregnancy is an important time because it will affect the health of the mother during pregnancy. Gain excessive weight during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes later in their pregnancy. This effect is more obvious in overweight women.<br /><br />Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy (Wikipedia). Typically occurs during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. It can lead to early delivery, C-sections and type 2 diabetes, and can increase the child's risk of developing diabetes and obesity later in life.<br /><br />The study funded by the American Diabetes Association and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseaseshas found that weight gain before pregnancy and being overweight or obese at the start of pregnancy are risk factors for gestational diabetes.<br />Research funded by the American Diabetes Association and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has found that weight gain before pregnancy and being overweight or obese in early pregnancy is a risk factor for gestational diabetes.<br /><br />How much weight a woman should gain during pregnancy were issued by the Institute of Medicine ( IOM ). The study followed the women members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California region found that women who exceeded the IOM guidelines for weight gain had a 50 percent increase in the risk of gestational diabetes compared to women who gained within or below the IOM recommendations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PLBQn8coiOO14cSckh1Em_NZbgU41zqDtDaRHleKAFEQx7jyyAo6UxJXRWG7H16ymkgAzRz8EHrXu990hbX1c3X0DDmW6ST-0X-Dj__YmjP2QmKcfADiZXg8T5taHvgT7TW6YvYzRoFo/s1600-h/IOM+2009.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PLBQn8coiOO14cSckh1Em_NZbgU41zqDtDaRHleKAFEQx7jyyAo6UxJXRWG7H16ymkgAzRz8EHrXu990hbX1c3X0DDmW6ST-0X-Dj__YmjP2QmKcfADiZXg8T5taHvgT7TW6YvYzRoFo/s320/IOM+2009.jpeg" alt="IOM guidelines" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446136081648379218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Talk with your doctor early in your pregnancy about the appropriate weight gain --prevent gestational diabetes.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-10475750097236981802010-02-20T15:53:00.001+07:002010-02-20T15:53:45.971+07:00Danger ads in children's moviesAds placement on children's favorite movies will greatly influence the selection of foods that they do. This course will be very profitable for the companies, but harmful to the child because most of the foods advertised there were low nutrition. Children are very vulnerable to the negative impact of the ads they see. <br /><br />New research from the Hood Center for Children and Families at Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) for the first time sheds light on the significant potential negative impact that food product placements in the movies could be having on children. According to them most of the products advertised in the Movies consists of energy-dense products and low nutritional products. <br /><br />"The current situation in the United States is very serious in terms of the health of our children, and we have to look seriously at all of the factors that may be contributing to it, including the impact of product placements in movies," says Lisa Sutherland, Ph.D. the lead author of the study. Sutherland says that the diet quality of U.S. children and adolescents has declined markedly during the past 20 years, and current estimates suggest that only one percent of children eat a diet consistent with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) My-Pyramid food guidance. Additionally, fewer than one fifth of adolescents meet the dietary recommendations for fat or fruit and vegetable intakes, and during the last 20 years obesity rates have doubled for children aged 6 to 11 years and tripled for adolescents aged 12 to 19 years.<br /><br />"While the issue of food advertising and its effect on children has been well documented in numerous studies, comparatively little is known about product placement in movies and how it affects the food and beverage preferences and choices of children and adolescents," Sutherland said. The study notes that while there are similarities between television advertising and movie product placement, such as the low nutritional quality of the majority of branded products, there are also interesting differences. Recent studies that examined television ads during adolescent programming found fast food and ready-to-eat cereals and cereal bars to be the most prevalent during children's programming. In contrast, the Dartmouth study found that sugar-sweetened beverages, comprised largely of soda, accounted for the largest proportion of all of the movie-based food product brand placements, accounting for one of every four brand placements overall.<br /><br />Perhaps many parents who understand that the advertised product is not good for the health of their children, but many of them eventually give up and buy these products because the child's whining. The situation may become worse when the parents started giving money to their children who are teenagers, so that teenagers can buy their own needs.<br /><br />Realizing this will make parents more aware and start thinking to react.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-27303528963940581582010-02-16T18:39:00.000+07:002010-02-16T18:40:19.774+07:00Mom's exercise has little impact on newborn weightNEW YORK (<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E4UY20100215">Reuters Health</a>) - Exercise during pregnancy, while healthy for both mother and baby, has only a minor impact on an infant's birth weight, suggest findings from a large study from Norway.<br /><br />On the other hand, the findings confirm a strong association between being heavy prior to becoming pregnant and having a heavier baby, Caroline Fleten of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo, and colleagues report.<br /><br />Fleten and colleagues evaluated associations between exercise during pregnancy, prepregnancy weight and the baby's weight at birth for 43,705 women aged 15 to 49 years old and pregnant with a single fetus.<br /><br />They determined body mass index (BMI), a standard measure of how fat or thin a person is. On average, prepregnancy BMI of the women in the study was 24. For reference, a BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight, while a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.<br /><br />Fleten's team found that each single unit increase in mothers' prepregnancy BMI was associated with about 20 grams (0.70 ounces) heavier weight at birth. As an example, an increase in BMI of 5 units -- 29 versus 24 for example -- would result in a birth weight increase of 103 grams (3.63 ounces).<br /><br />The women reported brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, aerobics, fitness or weight training, or other physical activities an average of 6 times a month during the first 17 weeks of pregnancy and then 4 times a month until week 30.<br /><br />The average weight of infants at birth was 3,677 grams (about 8 pounds) and, according to the investigators, exercise during pregnancy had no significant effect on birth weight.<br /><br />"Exercise during pregnancy cannot be used as a means of 'normalizing' birth weight," Fleten commented in an email to Reuters Health.<br /><br />She and her colleagues suggest that health care professionals focus on preventing or treating overweight and obesity in women of childbearing age, which would reduce the risk of giving birth to a baby weighing too much.<br /><br />SOURCE: Obstetrics and Gynecology, February 2010Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-30176162802781253532010-02-08T19:44:00.005+07:002010-02-08T20:09:21.299+07:00The right nutritional supplements needed by our bodies<p><em>This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of <a href="http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/disclosure?slot_id=179202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vitadigest.com%2F" rel="nofollow">VitaDigest</a>. All opinions are 100% mine.</em></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7Y8UC5huwGdhtir4n-9pC4IeJPNW0tGrDgJqZwv6Oi1ZUdVlAy00subd7VMCDIR_IJ5FBbvENK6T4ODpPsugmrhjgz5khUpaZsnKh5utfjT9IUcaEYNBhz0NG9WQSJtNV7P55r9V1L01/s1600-h/Vitamin.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7Y8UC5huwGdhtir4n-9pC4IeJPNW0tGrDgJqZwv6Oi1ZUdVlAy00subd7VMCDIR_IJ5FBbvENK6T4ODpPsugmrhjgz5khUpaZsnKh5utfjT9IUcaEYNBhz0NG9WQSJtNV7P55r9V1L01/s320/Vitamin.jpeg" alt="vitamin supplement" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435855097545763410" border="0" /></a>Live in environments with high pollution levels requires extra attention in terms of vitamins and nutrients. Moreover, the foods we eat are often not given many nutrients needed by our bodies to stay healthy. The habit of consuming junk food is an example that we often encounter in everyday life. Indeed this kind of food that can be obtained in a short time and can satisfy hunger because usually high in calories, but also contain very few vitamins and other important nutrients. Many factors cause we often lack a variety of vitamins, whether we realize it or not.<br /><br />That's why my family and I consume Royal Jelly that can help the body rebuild damaged cells and improve the body’s immune system. I usually use Lyophilized Royal Jelly from the CNI, but then I found another interesting option.<br /><br />When I surf the online retailer of nutritional supplements, I found Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly and Propolis in a bottle that contains 90 Capsules. I found this product at <a href="http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/post?slot_id=179202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vitadigest.com%2F" rel="nofollow">VitaDigest</a>. VitaDigest offers more than 13.000 types of health products including vitamins and supplements. Its looks like they have all the health products in the world. They also offer free shipping if I buy over $100 and discount 10% off Coupon through end of February 2010 with coupon code "izb10jan". Makes me smile. I LOVE the discount.<br /><br />But as I mentioned in earlier post, be careful in shopping online. Many fraud committed by some bad company. Not wanting to be a victim of fraud, so I tried to find out and found that VitaDigest.com was awarded INC5000 for 2009 as the top 5000 Fastest Growing Company and you can view their company profile on Inc.com with no. 4.015. I think a company with 50.4% growth rate will not destroy their own reputation by doing fraud.<br /><br />Our world is a super busy making us less attention to food, the main source of nutrients for the body. Consuming supplements are sometimes needed to maintain our health. Consider it carefully and select the one that fits your needs and conditions.<br /><br /><a href="http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/disclosure?slot_id=179202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vitadigest.com%2F" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Visit my sponsor: VitaDigest" src="http://socialspark.com/metrics/view/post?slot_id=179202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsocialspark.com%2Fimages%2Fdisclosure_badges%2Fdisclosure_badge_orange_three.png" style="border: 0pt none ;" border="0" /></a>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-29105203098417631342010-02-02T05:42:00.008+07:002010-02-08T09:25:16.804+07:00Weight Does Matter If You Are Trying to Conceive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfexqYWArcMtTSvRHnHhY8AztqDrI9XICFGoKpyV3wQsWMQEhCW8d_olN9IZxNIa5IxxB7Uvtt6grT3JRrP0lDNe_VQ-19FinH-q36KzipwAk_2TRvFNb208l1OFIFIamUWrWIAp5_-ZBk/s1600-h/pregnant+eating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfexqYWArcMtTSvRHnHhY8AztqDrI9XICFGoKpyV3wQsWMQEhCW8d_olN9IZxNIa5IxxB7Uvtt6grT3JRrP0lDNe_VQ-19FinH-q36KzipwAk_2TRvFNb208l1OFIFIamUWrWIAp5_-ZBk/s320/pregnant+eating.jpg" alt="pregnant weightloss" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435691434253828066" border="0" /></a>Weight does matter, if you are <a href="http://www.trying-to-conceive.com/">trying to conceive</a>. You don’t have to be super thin to become pregnant, but your chances of conceiving and continuing a healthy pregnancy are higher if your body mass index (BMI) is in a normal range. Weight and nutritional experts would define ‘normal’ BMI anything between 18 and 25; and if your BMI is higher than 25 and bellow 30, experts would say person is overweight. On the other hand, if your BMI is above 30, a person would be considered obese. If your BMI is below 18 a person would fall in the group of underweight, which also significantly compromises woman’s fertility.<br /><br />(If you would like to calculate your body mass index, take your weight in pounds and divide it by your height in inches, squared. Multiply that result by the number 703.)<br /><br />Harvard Medical School published a study where scientists suggested <a href="http://www.trying-to-conceive.com/naturally/weight-and-trying-to-conceive/">weight and infertility</a> are linked in a U-shape curve. The study further explains that women who are either very lean or even slightly overweight are at higher risk of having problems when trying to conceive. Scientists claim that there are approximately 25% of ovulation-related infertility cases that could be attributed to women being overweight.<br /><br />Another study from Europe’s leading reproductive medicine journal “Human Reproduction” suggests that if both partners are overweight or obese, a couple is very likely to have problems when trying to get pregnant. This study suggests that weight can affect fertility in both sexes: in males too much body fat is linked to increased production of woman’s hormone estrogen, and lower production of male sex hormone testosterone. As a consequence sperm count is lower which of course affects fertility. In women situation is a bit more complicated: woman’s primary sex hormone estrogen is produced and stored in fat. Problem lies in a fact that fat cells produce a weak form of estrogen and this might fool the brain to think that the hormones are doing their job well, while they actually aren’t. This causes delay in ovulation and also contribute to the fact that it is harder for a woman to get pregnant.<br /><br />There are of course other dangers that are in connection with woman being overweight: it increases the risk of gestational diabetes and chronic hypertension; in is post-term pregnancy the baby is at risk for stillbirth and difficulties in labor.<br /><br />If you have problem with being overweight, and if you are trying to get pregnant, you should try to lose weight. There is no need for drastic changes, but do take one step at a time and do make that small improvements in your life. I am sure you’ve heard it million times: the best way to lose weight is with the help of a balanced diet and moderate exercise.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-90469529479742287702010-02-01T13:46:00.004+07:002010-02-01T13:54:50.678+07:00Mediterranean diet good for the heartNEW YORK (<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60Q6F120100127?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r1:c0.212121:b30143762:z0">Reuters Health</a>) - New research from Spain confirms the benefit of a Mediterranean diet to a healthy heart.<br /><br />In an analysis of more than 40,000 Spanish adults followed for an average of 10 years, researchers found that sticking to a Mediterranean diet significantly reduced the risk of a first heart attack or other heart disease-related event.<br /><br />Specific components of a Mediterranean diet differ from region to region but, generally, the key features include high consumption of olive oil, plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole-grain cereals, nuts and seeds. Fish is favored over other meat sources with relatively low consumption of red meat. Alcohol, especially red wine, and dairy products are used in moderation.<br /><br />For years, evidence has been accumulating regarding the protective effects of a Mediterranean diet against heart disease, Genevieve Buckland and associates at the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona note in the American Journal of Epidemiology.<br /><br />Studies of varying sizes and designs have shown that a Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of death in people who've had a heart attack, curb the risk of stroke, and boost survival in people living with heart disease, they note.<br /><br />However, Buckland and associates were concerned that weaknesses in previous research limited the strength of conclusions. To investigate further, they used data collected between 1992 and 2004 from 41,078 healthy men and women from five Spanish centers involved in the 10-country European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, or EPIC, study.<br /><br />The participants, whose average age was 49 at enrollment, provided information on what and how much they ate. The researchers also took body measurements, asked about behaviors such as smoking and physical activity, and medical history.<br /><br />Each participant was given a score on an 18-point scale based on how closely their diet adhered to the Mediterranean ideal; the higher the score, the higher the adherence.<br /><br />During an average follow-up of 10.4 years, 609 of the study participants suffered a heart attack or severe chest pain called unstable angina requiring intervention. Nine of them died.<br /><br />When the researchers compared these heart events with Mediterranean diet scores and adjusted for confounding factors, they found that the higher the score (and adherence to the Mediterranean diet) the lower the risk of heart disease.<br /><br />Specifically, high adherence, compared with low adherence, to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 40 percent reduced risk of a first heart disease-related event, they report.<br /><br />Heart disease is a top killer worldwide, accounting for roughly 30 percent of all deaths, equal to approximately 17 million deaths annually, the investigators note. Nearly half of these deaths are due to heart disease.<br /><br />It's thought that 80 percent of heart attacks and related events could be prevented by modifying behaviors -- like adopting a healthy diet. And the current study suggests that drastic diet changes may not be necessary.<br /><br />Each 1-unit increase in the Mediterranean diet score was associated with a 6 percent reduced risk of heart disease, Buckland and colleagues report. Even a 2-unit increase in Mediterranean score, "which required less drastic and more feasible dietary changes, has a protective effect," they report.<br /><br />The researchers say more study is needed to pinpoint key protective components of the Mediterranean diet and how these components confer their protective effects.<br /><br />In the meantime, however, their results add to a growing body of evidence pointing to the heart health benefits of a diet rich in olive oil, plant-based foods, and fresh fish and low in red meats.<br /><br />SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, December 15, 2009.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-45401673187831579302010-01-27T13:12:00.001+07:002010-01-27T13:14:59.211+07:00Sleep and hormones that affect weightLack of sleep can eliminate the hormone that regulates appetite. As a result, the desire to eat high-fat and carbohydrates will increase. <br /><br />What I mean here are two kinds of hormones in our bodies, namely leptin and ghrelin, both of which affect our appetite. Michael Breus, PhD, a faculty member of the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and director of The Sleep Disorders Centers of Southeastern Lung Care in Atlanta explained that Leptin and ghrelin work in a kind of "checks and balances" system to control our feelings of hunger and satiety.<br /><br />Scientists have uncovered an inverse relationship between the hours of sleep and blood plasma concentrations of ghrelin; as the hours of sleep increase, ghrelin concentrations were considerably lower, thereby potentially reducing appetite and avoiding potential obesity.<br /><br />Not enough sleep for 2 nights can trigger excessive hunger. This condition occurs because the hormone ghrelin stimulates appetite enhancer and reduces leptin as an appetite suppressant. When leptin levels down, you will not feel satisfied after you eat. Even you will feel you need more food because of the hormone ghrelin increases.<br /><br />What Is The Minimum Sleep Required By A Person?<br />Although this can vary from one person to another, ideally you should get a minimum of 7.5 hours of sleep every night, while getting 8 or even 9 hours continuous sleep is much preferable. <br /><br />But in reality most of us sleep less as we get older. Perhaps this is one of the factors that led many elderly people become overweight easily.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-63143375895044271322010-01-18T05:55:00.002+07:002010-01-18T07:15:44.847+07:00Successful long term weight loss with acupuncture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxN0KV5JOVOWlVRXr_WQJoVLUcIVZun-2uO2aOtaAAdJtnphS-cJiLIj8A9G_qd2bSwr4dTrwml5xBcHD6hCjIGwvDWCacgoGJ5P1J6wXQ7q7hC8z0Z8Y67HTyGpAr1nWFdw5HwA_S4y1/s1600-h/acupuncture+weight+loss.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxN0KV5JOVOWlVRXr_WQJoVLUcIVZun-2uO2aOtaAAdJtnphS-cJiLIj8A9G_qd2bSwr4dTrwml5xBcHD6hCjIGwvDWCacgoGJ5P1J6wXQ7q7hC8z0Z8Y67HTyGpAr1nWFdw5HwA_S4y1/s320/acupuncture+weight+loss.jpeg" alt="acupuncture weight loss" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427866737488864082" border="0" /></a><br />Other methods popular methods of losing weight is acupuncture. These days more and more evidence is found of the benefits of acupuncture. Although the existence of acupuncture itself is still remains controversial among conventional medical researchers and clinicians.<br /><br />Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin needles into specific body points to improve health or for therapeutic purposes. In China, the practice of acupuncture can perhaps be traced as far back as the Stone Age, with the Bian shi, or sharpened stones and has been a major part of primary healthcare in China for the last 5000 years.<br /><br />Acupuncture has been known since a long time and because it could survive the test of time, so I think acupuncture would have great benefits for health. When done correctly of course. I mean, conducted by the experts/ the acupuncture specialist and using a sterile needle.<br /><br />Now we come to the main issue, what exactly the benefits of acupuncture in terms of lose weight.<br />Acupuncture needles can easily help you shrink your belly. How? Just stab your belly with acupuncture needles, then your belly will shrink like a leaky balloon.<br />That’s it, easy right? Oops, just kidding. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DON’T DO IT!</span><br /><br />Now I am going to tell you the real answer. Basically acupuncture techniques aimed at blood circulation, stimulate metabolism and calming our nervous system. The acupuncture specialist began working with a variety of questions asking about the behavioral and psychological conditions that may cause the patient to be obese. We can't change our appearance without changing the emotional and habits first that caused us to gain weight.<br /><br />When they're done to examination and the root causes are found, the acupuncture specialist will then insert needles into different spots of the body in order to help improve the body's functioning in a way that will promote weight loss.<br /><br />The acupuncture specialist will probably use a multi-targeted approach. They may attempt to lower the body's weight by increasing the output of the pituitary gland. Or they may attempt to lower the body's weight by increasing the output of the hormone endorphin if they conclude that the condition of obesity caused by stress. They will try to treat the patients and solving the root causes.<br /><br />In a study conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia in 1998, 95 percent of the participants receiving electro-stimulation on acupuncture points reported appetite suppression. The results showed that the participants receiving acupuncture was more likely to experience a reduced appetite and to lose weight than the control group.<br /><br />The advantage of acupuncture compared with other methods are acupuncture does not cause side effects that are harmful to our bodies. But we have to repeat this treatment regularly in order to maintain the effects.<br /><br />Finally, for the long term and permanent weight loss, healthy diet and physically active is still needed. The success may be greater when combined with acupuncture.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132750259619604913.post-14585827753804472962010-01-15T17:30:00.018+07:002010-01-15T21:22:48.990+07:00Choline as an important nutrient<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPh-TLkpYbAJAdMk99ltcOAJkh-PPKrlF_3xquyeihczkR1EduPPSqDAZuyJ3HrHe1hC06qVKHOuVTZBQAX_5I8lYE_SJAr7clFeZu-NZTjYuZDGNMSg5VMiR61JPShFqs4NKTsNC540L/s1600-h/Choline.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPh-TLkpYbAJAdMk99ltcOAJkh-PPKrlF_3xquyeihczkR1EduPPSqDAZuyJ3HrHe1hC06qVKHOuVTZBQAX_5I8lYE_SJAr7clFeZu-NZTjYuZDGNMSg5VMiR61JPShFqs4NKTsNC540L/s320/Choline.jpeg" alt="Choline" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426971426518815826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">What is Choline?</span><br />Choline is a water-soluble essential nutrient and usually grouped within the Vitamin B complex (Wikipedia). Although has never been officially listed as part of the B-vitamin group, but most nutritionists lump it in the group because it has similar chemical properties to that group.<br /><br />Choline is an essential amino acid synthesized in the body as well as consumed in the diet. The body can produce some of its own choline, but it really needs to get supplements from food sources.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Benefits of Choline</span><br />What exactly is the benefit of Choline for our bodies? Choline serves various functions in our bodies.<br />Choline may help prevent memory loss associated with aging. Research suggests that choline positively affects the areas of the brain responsible for memory function and life-long learning ability, especially in developing fetuses and newborn infants, making it an important nutrient for pregnant and breastfeeding women.<br />Choline may also help with brain and memory function in adults and is being studied for its potential role in preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors often use choline for cases of Alzheimer's, presenile dementia and bipolar disorder.<br /><br />Choline plays a role in managing levels of homocysteine. Research suggests that getting enough choline can lower concentrations of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood, in the body while choline deficiency can result in increased levels of homocysteine. An increased level of homocysteine is a marker of tissue damage and a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This may help to explain why 30 years of research have shown that healthy adults can consume choline-rich eggs without increasing their risk of heart disease.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Recommended Choline Intakes </span><br />The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends that Americans get the following amount of dietary choline each day<br /><br /><table style="text-align: center; height: 5px;" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(241, 189, 107); width: 90px; font-size: 14px;"> Population </td><td style="background-color: rgb(241, 189, 107); width: 160px; font-size: 14px;">Age</td><td style="background-color: rgb(241, 189, 107); width: 230px; font-size: 14px;"> Adequate Intake(Daily) </td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;">Infants</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;">0-6 mos</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">125 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;">Infants</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;">7-12 mos</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">150 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;">Children</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;"> 1-3 years</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">200 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;">Children</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;">4-8 years</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">250 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;">Boys</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;">9-13 years</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">375 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;">Boys</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;">14-18 years</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">550 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;"> Girls</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;">9-13 years</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">375 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;"> Girls </td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;">14-18 years</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">440 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;"> Men </td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;"> ≥ 19 years </td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">550 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 90px;">Women</td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 160px;"> ≥ 19 years </td><td style="background-color: rgb(235, 240, 255); width: 230px;">425 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(240, 151, 201); width: 90px;">Women</td><td style="background-color: rgb(240, 151, 201); width: 160px;">Pregnant</td><td style="background-color: rgb(240, 151, 201); width: 230px;">450 mg</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(240, 151, 201); width: 90px;">Women</td><td style="background-color: rgb(240, 151, 201); width: 160px;">Lactating</td><td style="background-color: rgb(240, 151, 201); width: 230px;">550 mg</td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">What is the signs that You Need More Choline?</span><br />Research shows that only 1 in every 10 Americans gets the recommended amount of choline each day. If you have a choline deficiency, you may experience insomnia and the resulting fatigue, or develop nerve-muscle problems.<br /><br />Studies have shown that liver dysfunction and fatty liver damage is linked to diets deficient in choline. Low-choline intake can also lead to memory loss and even high blood cholesterol.<br /><br />If you have any concerns about your choline levels, please discuss your diet with your doctor.Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648732423461354385noreply@blogger.com1