Cigarettes: What They Do To Your Health

Smoking is a bad habit. But does anyone really know how bad? The number of smokers is still so high that it is doubtful, especially that the amount of smokers around us makes it extremely hard to break that habit. That's why many smokers lull themselves into a false security, repeating the stories about healthy 90-year old smokers. The truth however, is quite different.

Why are people smoking? Te problem is that no one really knows, even the smokers themselves. Cigarettes devastate one's image and good look, they cause terribly bad breath and they are quite expensive. What is worse, they also affect the health of everyone around you, especially children. To make things even worse, the initial effects of nicotine intake - the feeling of relaxation - does not last long and soon disappear completely when body accommodates for the nicotine and ceases to react on this drug.

The Terrible Truth

First of all, you must understand the scale of the problem. Almost half-million people die every year because of smoking, mainly due to lung cancer and other respiratory problems. The cigarette smoke contains over 4000 harmful chemical compounds, almost a hundred of them are known to trigger cancer. In other words, we are willingly performing mass murder on ourselves - and we even pay for the chance of getting killed!

Smoking however, does much more than just cause lung cancer. It affects also the heart making it more probable to have a stroke, and increasing chances for developing allergies, respiratory problems such as asthma and other chronic diseases. This may happen both to smokers themselves, and to those who only inhale the smoke, for example children of smoking parents.

Another problem is the health of children. If a woman smokes during pregnancy, or if she spends a lot of time around smokers, the child will probably develop heart problems and smaller lungs. To tell the truth, this is not even a chance, but a certainty. Those children who apparently do not suffer from such problems had a potential of being extremely healthy sportsmen. They lost that chance only because their mothers inhaled cigarette smoke.

There is even more than that...

Smoking does not only kill us. It also makes us ugly.

First of all, smoking affects the color of your teeth, staining them yellow or brown. This makes dental cleaning every year a must. However, the gum problems that develop soon after are not so easily disposed of. Cigarette smoke prevents gums from receiving all necessary nutrients, making them weaker and eventually resulting in inadequate periodontal support for your teeth.

Change of color however, is only the first sign of coming problems. On average 18-year-old smokers lose five teeth before they turn 35. Other dental problems are also sad reality, especially that smoking slows down the healing process as inhaling the smoke prevents blood from circulating freely in the gums and mouth. Effect? Every extraction bears a real risk of the so-called dry-socket - a week of excruciating pain and great risk of infection. The risk is carried by both first- and second-hand smokers (though the latter are in slightly better position).

Compared to teeth loss and dry-socket problems other "niceties" of smoking look trivial. Nevertheless, they are also infuriating as well as 100% sure to show up. The changes include losing color by your skin, thinning of hair and its breaking off, and the terrible stink surrounding you, your clothes and your stuff. Even though you may not notice it at first - the change takes months and it's not easy to spot a difference building up during so long time - other people will see it for sure. So, if you notice that people start distance from you during parties or try not to sit next to you, it is probably either due to the odor they smell or to your weary and unattractive look. Either way, do not blame them - you have done it to yourself.

The time is running. With every cigarette you smoke, you cause irrevocably damage to your health and (reversible) negative change in your appearance. The only right thing to do is quitting smoking right her and right now. Of course, nicotine is addictive and giving up cigarettes is much more difficult than one may think. Fortunately, Cig-Arette is able to minimize the negative symptoms you may suffer during the withdrawal period. Try it and it'll help you get back in shape faster than you think!

Some Tips to Help You Quit Smoking Now

If you are wanting to quit smoking the most difficult step can be saying to yourself yes that is what I want to do. Once you have overcome that first hurdle it takes a tremendous amount of willpower to succeed. Today's society is slowly changing and making it an anti-social behavior however there is a long way to go. Society is still setup in such a way that it encourages smoking.

Some people think it is just nicotine that brings about an addiction to cigarettes. It is not only that. There are countless chemicals that can be found present in a cigarette. It is frightening when you see just what is in them. This makes you highly dependent on cigarettes, not just physically but also psychologically. It is why you need help to quit smoking. This article is about what you can do to increase you chances of success.

It is hard to go it alone when you have made the decision to quit. Get some help. Share you goal with someone close to you, make it known to your friends that giving up smoking is something you have decided to do. Also seek additional help in the form of a quit smoking program. There are paid options or free options. Just remember when you are successful you will be saving yourself a lot of money, not just on the cigarettes but through better health.

Did you start to smoke as it was something your friends did? Do you enjoy the smoke break catching up on what your mates have done, or what the latest gossip is? This is something that makes it hard to give up smoking. Sure you can still gossip but it is not the same without puffing on the cigarette.

Non smokers ofter wonder what the attraction is to smoking, for a smoker they know that it just seems right to be out socializing and puffing away on a cigarette. For this reason it can be harder to give up than it might be to overcome an addition to something illegal and frowned up like cocaine.

It is not uncommon that your smoking habit has formed strong associations with many everyday events and activities occurring in your busy life, for example, smoking during cigarette breaks at work. Next time your workmates ask you to take a smoke break go for a quick walk instead; this is one of the most essential quit smoking tips.

After deciding to quit you will find yourself wanting to have a cigarette. One way to take you mind off this is to take up a hobby. Have you always wanted to explore photography more than you do now, or build some model airplane. All of this is great to keep away from thoughts of having a cigarette. Ideally you should also exercise.

It is going to happen at times where your mind wanders to thoughts of puffing on a cigarette. When that happens it is important to overcome these urges and push though. Get out of the house if you can or do something that relates to your new found hobby to try to get back to your goal of quitting cigarette smoking. The challenge with your mind is one you will need to get passed to be successful.

When smoking your brain gets used to the movement of your hand with the cigarette to you mouth, this action is something you need to overcome. You need to do something else to replace this and get your mouth busy. Perhaps you can chew gum or suck on some candy, anything in moderation to replace the cigarette to mouth action is good. As long as it is enjoyable and relaxing it will offer relief from the cigarette cravings.

The key to quitting is keeping the urge to smoke out of your thought processes. All of these tips have that in mind. I need to emphasis the need to keep your mind occupied and not thinking of cigarettes. If you cannot do this you will be back smoking before you know it. On the other hand if you filter out the thoughts about smoking your goal to quit smoking can be achieved.

Is there any actual benefit to using wrinkle creams?

There are hundreds of anti aging skin care products available today. However, it is very difficult for a person to guarantee the effectiveness of any particular skin care product. What are the factors which must be taken into consideration while purchasing an anti aging cream?

Skin care experts state that how effective a particular anti aging skin care product is can be attributed to its constituent ingredients. Unfortunately, while one product may work for one person, it may not work for another person.

As a result of ongoing research in the field of dermatology, advanced anti aging skin creams can be found at many supermarkets and cosmetic stores. The development of wrinkles is linked not only to aging but also to many external factors.

Light from the sun contains harmful rays known as UVA and UVB rays which can lead to the development of wrinkles. Anyone who is in the sunlight too long can be susceptible to wrinkles. Pollution can also lead to these ugly wrinkles.

How can one stop or even reverse the deveolopment of wrinkles? There are quite a few questions which will lead to the desired answers on the usefulness of wrinkle creams.

The body naturally produces two proteins known as collagen and elastin. These proteins help ward off wrinkles. Sadly, aging can reduce the production of these agents. This can lead to wrinkles on the face, destroying our looks and youth.

So, anti aging skin care products may or may not work. Some do and some don't. At times it may take 3-4 weeks for a wrinkle cream to hinder the development of wrinkles.

How can one find more information on these wrinkle creams? Much more on this subject can be found on the World Wide Web. Reviews on the web can give valuable information on this subject. Consulting with a skin doctor about the 'best wrinkle cream' can also be a useful source of information.

Skin Cleansers: What You Need To Know

By: Real Salon Products
Skin cleansers are most likely one of the most basic beauty essentials in your arsenal when it comes to your skincare routine which are available in most general health departments.

Whether you are a guy or girl, young or old, a cleanser can do wonders for your skin or at conservative projections resolve a host of issues down the line.

You should be a discerning consumer when it comes to going for your cleanser- for instance you might not want to use animal based products or the things that might contain chemicals or any product that you look at comes from an unknown origin and not from a fly-by-night snakes oil salesman

Cleansers come in a variety of different sizes, prices, and combinations and make be made up of various different ingredients. Skin cleansers are proven to make your skin feel a lot more smoother and looking healthier and more youthful towards others.

Some popular ingredients of skin cleansers include aloe vera and chamomile which is suitable for sensitive skin types. You might need a more steady cleansing formula if you face a lot of grease and grime on your skin on a regular basis usually due to the nature of your work.

Particular brands may only remove light soils or mild environmental particles such as dust and sweat.

Germs that you're looking to disinfect; you should look at the label to see that it does indeed remove germs as well as clean any other to exfoliate the skin.

Another major thing that you want to consider is cleansers produced for use on various parts of the bodies, for instance there are hand cleansers that are marketed and sold separately from facial cleansers as well as other bodily cleansing products.

10000 Steps to a Better You

How does losing 35 pounds a year without drastically changing your diet sound? It can be done, and all it takes is 10,000 steps. Yes, you heard me correctly. 10000 steps a day can burn enough calories to trim off 35 pounds in one year.

I first heard about the 10,000 steps program when I vacationed with my mother last summer in the Hamptons. As we left the house that morning with my two sons, she strapped a pedometer to her belt. She checked it periodically throughout the day, and as I settled to relax on a bench toward the day's conclusion she remarked, "Ok, I'm going to walk around the park twice. I only have 500 more steps to go."

The secret? Walking. By walking 10000 steps a day, you can burn as many calories as you do when engaging in any of the following activities:

Swim 90 minutes

Bike ride for 70 minutes

Play 10 holes of golf (subtract the cart)

Walk 50 blocks

Play soccer for 90 minutes

Work two hours in your garden
But how do you fit in 10,000 steps? Count every step you take during the day -- Mom clips on her pedometer first thing in the morning and takes it off before going to bed. Add in those extra steps with any of the following suggestions:

Park at the extreme far end of the lot at the mall.

Leave your car and walk to work. Or park three blocks further away in the morning and walk.

Walk the dog.

Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

Get up and do it yourself. Instead of asking one of your kids to retrieve something for you, take a little walk. Believe me, those little trips add up.

Go sightseeing. As a bonus, either good or bad, you'll also freshen up your perspective on your hometown.

Walk to the grocery. If you're just heading out to pick up some whole weat bread, leave the car at home and take a walk.

On the phone? Walk and talk at the same time. You can do 2000 steps during a 15 minute phone call... easy.
Don't think about your speed -- the idea is to get moving. In fact, if you're puffing too hard to say hi to a friend, you're walking too hard. Slow down. At the ideal pace you should be able to carry on a conversation, but not belt out an opera.

100000 steps may seem a smidge daunting at first, but just keep in mind that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Lace up those walking shoes, and let's roll.

Don't Make Excuses for Not Exercising

It's old news that exercising is the single best way to beef up your weight loss regiment. The activity perks up your metabolism and thus eats up more calories. In addition, the more you exercise, the better the effect on losing weight. Exercising creates and strengthens muscle mass, which is denser and more compact than fat. This means your body must expend more effort to pump blood through it, and it requires more nutrients to keep it healthy. The end result: even at rest, your body naturally burns more calories.

Alas, the prospect of exercising tends to elicit moans from most people. There's all the logistics to work out -- the time, equipment, expense and the sheer, utter monotony of it all. Negative thinking about exercise can sabotage any good intention. Here's a list of answers for some of the most commonly used excuses people build against exercising.

I don't have the time to exercise.

Exercise can be one of the most important things you'll do for your health today. Make time to exercise. If you're doing traditional workouts, move your weights and mats right out into the family room and make use of your television time. Instead of relaxing in a chair while you watch the news or your favorite TV show, be active. Run in place, do leg lifts or pump weights. Use the time in your car to tighten and tone muscles with isometric tummy tighteners. Elimate the elevator from your daily life. Exercise does not have to be a solid hour at the gym three times a week. Anything that revs up your engine is great for your body.

I don't have the right equipment at home.

Equipment is not necessary to exercise. A brisk walk around the block is good for you -- and it burns over 200 calories. And Vacuuming your carpets can burn nearly as much. Flip on the radio or pop in your favorite high-energy CD and dance. Don't fool yourself into thinking that your "exercise" has to be a meticulously planned workout to use all the right muscles in the right order with the right tension. Exercise means being active.

We can't afford a membership to the gym.

If you'd rather exercise at a gym (and use their fitness machines, whirlpools, swimming pool and trainers), there are many ways to make it affordable. Check with your health insurance company to see if they offer something called "incentives." Most of the major insurance companies, including Blue Cross, cover part or all of fitness club memberships included in your benefits. If yours doesn't, or if you don't have health insurance, call your local YMCA or YWCA. Most offer sliding fee scales for memberships to their facilities.

But exercise is such a pain.

According to who? You can make getting your daily exercise fun. Play a game. Go dancing. Call a few friends and plan a weekend hike in the state park. Exercise doesn't have to be routine or boring. Stop thinking of it as a chore; think of it as recreation. You will be amazed what a difference it makes.

Eat Fish, Lose Weight, and Feel Better

Scientists have known for some time that diets rich in seafood were associated with better weight control. For example, a study published in October of 2004 showed that a diet high in fish reduced both body weight and blood levels of leptin: a hormone that promotes storage of calories as body fat.

The finding that fish-rich diets suppress weight-gain-promoting leptin is important. But, as it turns out, the leptin-suppressing effect of fish may not fully explain its role in controlling weight.

The exciting results of a new study in mice show that EPA and DHA—the long-chain omega-3s abundant in salmon, sablefish, tuna, and sardines—likely account for a substantial part of the weight control benefits of fish.

In fact, people in search of "fat-burners" may need look no further than the fish in their refrigerators, or their bottle of omega-3 supplements.

How omega-3s affect weight gain

Czech researchers tested the effects of EPA and DHA from fish oil on mice and recorded these results:

Weight gain resulting from a high-fat diet was reduced when EPA and DHA intake was increased from one percent to 12 percent of total dietary fats.
Accumulation of adipose (fat-cell) tissue was reduced, especially in the abdominal region, where weight gain in humans is associated with higher risk of heart disease.
Diets high in EPA and DHA improved metabolism of fat and glucose (sugar).
The scientists concluded that EPA and DHA reduce accumulation of body fat in the animals by limiting the increase in size and numbers of their bodies' fat cells: increases that would otherwise result from diets lower in omega-3s relative to other dietary fats.

Lead researcher Morten Bryhn offered this explanation of the benefits of diets high in omega-3s: "A diet rich in red meat and vegetable oils [as in the standard American diet] increases accumulation of fat in fat tissue because of a chronic disarray of genes responsible for handling fatty acids and carbohydrates. The number of fat cells increases, and turnover of carbohydrates into fat is facilitated. Genes are constantly programmed to a situation of starvation and they need to be reprogrammed. Omega-3 fatty acids from seafood seem to do exactly that."

Patient, holistic approach pays off

Dr. Bryhn noted that the process of reprogramming genes is slow, and that the weight-reducing results of increasing one's intake of omega-3s (from fish or supplements) are not immediate.

He also offered these words of wisdom: "Weight control should be a combination of reduced intake of red meat, saturated fat and foods containing vegetable oils and carbohydrates; regular exercise; and increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids high in DHA." Well said!

Lose Ten Pounds in Ten Days

Is it really possible to lose ten pounds in just ten days? Yes, actually, but it's not always easy, or the healthiest choice. And sometimes it's not very smart.

A healthy rate of weight loss is about one to two pounds each week. Many people want to lose much more than that, and much faster. Maybe they're getting married soon, or their high school reunion is coming up next week, and they've waited till the last minute to try and shed a few extra pounds.

Regardless of why you want to do it, let's look at a few tactics that work.

1. Go on a juice fast. Pick one that's known to work such as the lemonade diet or the hollywood diet, and follow the instructions to the letter. You can't always just pick your favorite fruit or vegetable, mix it up with some ice in the blender, then drink only that every day. In many cases this might work, but in most it won't. Often the fruits we love most are the highest in sugar content, and if you're drinking that fruit as a juice you're probably drinking almost pure sugar. And that won't help you lose weight. Following a fast that's known to work is your best bet for weight loss success.

2. If a juice fast sounds too drastic or difficult for you, try dropping your calorie intake dramatically instead. If, for instance, you know you need 1500 calories a day to maintain your current weight, you could try limiting yourself to just 1000 or 1200 calories instead. This is also difficult to do, and you have to be very careful about what you choose to eat (avoid junk foods, of course). Doing this is not as drastic as a juice fast, but it's still a huge burden on your body. Be sure to take a good multivitamin or, even better, a nutritious super green food during this time. Once again, use your calories wisely. Eat good healthy foods.

3. Hike cross-country. Or do something similar and equivalent in your local neighborhood. Seriously, if you spent all day long walking, jogging, or doing other active exercising, there's a very strong chance you'll lose the weight you want quickly. Now this is not an overly reasonable or feasible option for most of us. If you have to work 8 hours a day, you can't be out somewhere exercising your tail off. And if you're not in great shape to begin with, you probably won't be able to last even one hour doing intensive exercises.

4. Go on a low carb diet. Unlike the first two options above, this might be the easiest and safest way for most of us to lose ten pounds in just ten days. Choose a diet plan that really restricts your carb intake such as the infamous Atkins diet, and stick with it. Most people lose 5-12 pounds just in the first 5-7 days of being on this diet. That weight loss is usually water weight more so than fat, but it's weight none the less.

Metabolism and Fat

Did you know that simply boosting your metabolism can make you lose weight? Those people who seem to be able to eat anything can usually do so because they have a high metabolism. Some people are simply born with it, but anyone can actually force their own metabolism into higher gear, and start burning fat from their bodies at a much faster rate.

People with high metabolisms can burn more calories no matter what they're doing. Sleeping, eating, watching tv, or otherwise: they're burning more fat and calories just because their metabolism is high. Someone with a lower metabolism will have to put more effort into burning the same amount of fat and calories, simply because their body is using its fuel less effeciently.

If you're not sure what metabolism actually is, here's an easy definition: metabolism is the amount of energy your body uses to maintain itself. This maintenance includes processing, using, transporting, acquiring, and disposing of food and nutrients. So your body burns units of energy -- better known as calories -- to process the food you put into it.

Take note of some of these interesting words too, like "acquiring." This means your body actually uses energy when you eat and digest foods. Some foods take more energy to eat and digest, so they'll use more energy. "Using" is another interesting bodily process to think about. If your body has to work hard to get nutrients out of food you eat, it will use more energy in the process.

That's why you're always encouraged to eat things high in fiber for instance. If you've ever had a real piece of high fiber bread, you probably noticed you have to chew it more before you can swallow it. In fact, just pulling a piece off the loaf takes more effort than tearing off a piece of simple white bread. Since the high fiber bread is more complex, it takes more effort to chew, and it takes your body more effort and energy to break it down and put it to use.

In the same way, it takes more work to eat a steak -- no matter how tender it might be -- than it does to eat a piece of cake. And it takes more work to eat raw brocolli than cooked.

In fact, in some cases, you can actually use more energy -- or calories -- digesting and using certain foods than you get from the foods to begin with. In other words, you're using more calories than you're eating.

Now there are many ways to increase your metabolism. The one you hear about most is exercise. Muscles burn more calories than fat does, so simply strengthening and toning your muscles can help you increase your metabolism.

You can also increase metabolism by changing how you eat. Note some of the examples I gave above, then try to pick foods to eat that will take a little more effort and work for your body to process. These simple changes in your day to day life can make a world of difference with increasing your metabolism, and that will help you start burning the extra fat off in no time.

Coping With Diabetes Through The Diabetic Diet

Living with diabetesmeans that you will have to modify your lifestyle. Primarily, there will be restrictions and limitations, especially on the foods that you eat. This is where the diabetic diet comes in for you to be able to cope with the disease. The diabetic diet is basically concerned about reducing and maintaining your weight. Other than that, it is a measure to manage and control your diabetes. It ought to keep your blood glucose levels in control. With the diabetic diet, balance is employed on your carbohydrates, fats and protein intake. Meal planning is essential in a diabetes dietary measure.

A meal plan has to be carefully tailored to suit your needs and tastes, your lifestyle and your activity level. For an effective recommendation for your diabetic diet, it is best that you consult your nutritionist or doctor. Carbohydrate intake is generally controlled to regulate your blood glucose levels. Of your meal plan, 60% must be composed of carbohydrates, and fat content should make up 30- 35%. The main point of a diabetic diet is for you to eat regularly with a consistent amount of calories. As a diabetic, your calorie and nutrient needs have to be provided, and at the same time, your blood glucose levels are kept to the normal range as possible.
But a diabetes dietary meal plan often depends on which type of diabetes you are suffering from. Each type of the disease has its own challenges and level of restriction. In this case then, a diabetic diet may differ from one patient to the other. If you have type 2 diabetes, chances are your dietary restrictions may not be so high. A diabetic diet for you would primarily be somewhat like a heart healthy diet. You will most likely be advised to limit your fat intake while consuming ample fiber rich foods. Such a dietary measure would be fairly easy to keep to.

But if you have type 1 diabetes, you are more likely to have more restrictions. In fact, your meal plan might even be more individualized. Your physician or nutritionist is the best person to design a customized meal plan for you. Living with diabetes entails that you rigidly keep to health measures. A diabetic diet is one of the means of coping with the disease. To have an effective meal plan designed to fit your condition, consult your doctor or dietitian regularly. Ask questions on matters that you want to know, and inform them of your habits and lifestyle in general.

Check in with your health care provider on your progress as well as problems which you may have encountered. Give thorough information to your doctor so that your condition will be properly assessed and managed. You might also consider seeing an herbalist or alternative health care practitioner to augment your treatment. Alternative therapies can be a helpful complement to your traditional treatment. Natural supplements as well can help you cope with diabetes. They can be effective in managing the disease. One such natural diabetes supportsupplement is available in the Healthzine.org store. The natural supplement is Optimum Diabetics. Optimum Diabetics have been proven by thousands to be safe and effective.

It is made up of natural and herbal ingredients which make for its efficacy. With optimum Diabetics, you can enjoy a good quality of life and your diabetic health measure will be boosted.

Options For Treatment Of Ringing In The Ears

Noise is generally annoying. What more if it's in your ears and constantly bothering you? Such can be the case with ringing in the ears. Ringing in the ears is otherwise known as tinnitus, and it affects millions of people all over. The condition of ringing in the ears varies in severity. For others, it can just be a mild buzzing, humming or ringing. It can happen intermittently for a few seconds and then disappear. But for some people, tinnitus can be significantly irritating. That buzzing, humming or ringing sound can be so loud. In fact, it may even get in the way of their normal functioning.

Whether ringing in the ears is mild, moderate or severe, treatment is best sought. One ought to know that this condition is not normal. One should seek medical attention from a doctor or from an expert. That way, tinnitus can properly be diagnosed and the appropriate treatment can be applied. But the fact is, only a handful of people seek treatment for tinnitus. Tinnitus can become a serious condition. It may be difficult to live and cope with, and it could be discomforting. Tinnitus might be a real annoyance for those suffering from it. It can get it the way of one's daily routine and activities.
Ringing in the ears can interfere with lives as much as others may think it minor. Imagine that irksome noise following one everywhere. Nagging and exasperating it can be. There are known treatments for tinnitus, and their effectivity depend from person to person. Like for instance, through surgery. Surgery is an option for treatment, but it can be risky and expensive. It may work for some, but it entails a lot of cost. Undergoing surgery for tinnitus requires several check-ups and visits to the doctor. Costs can add up, and in the long run, one would end up spending more money.

Surgery is an appealing treatment it seems, but not too many can afford it. It is among the least popular means for treatment of tinnitus. Then there is hypnotherapyor hypnosis. This option for treatment remains controversial. After all, whether hypnosis really is effective is debatable. Hypnotherapy worked for some, though, and for others did not. For this treatment measure, the service of a skilled hypnotherapist is required. It may end up to be costly as well. And not many hypnotherapist specialize in treating ringing in the ears. Then there are herbal and natural remedies which seem more workable for many.

One can search online for such means and there are quite many. It could initially take some trial and error to see which ones work, but the most suitable one can be found. But one has to be wary of course. While in the process of finding the most suitable treatment for tinnitus, they have to ensure their safety. For some people, ringing in the ears has been a condition they lived with for so many years. For all those years, the condition may have been so wearing to live with. It may take patience and a lot of conscientiousness, but it is possible to remedy the condition.

Choose A Better Life, Stop Smoking Weed

Maybe you have finally come to a point when you said "I should stop smoking weed". This is a major turning point in your life, and doing so will be life-changing – in a good way. You see "weed" or marijuana can ruin or inhibit your life as it did to many people. Sure, marijuana is not as potently dangerous as cocaine or heroin or ice, but nevertheless it can cause you damage. Marijuana may not cause heart disease or cancer as much as smoking does, but it can incapacitate you. All in all, smoking weed will do you no good.

In fact, it can bring you much harm. It can deprive you of well-being and a good quality of life. So deciding to quit smoking weed is one of the best decisions you can ever make. In your journey to stop smoking weed, the following tips and insights may be useful. First thing to be successful in your goal is you must understand your addiction. You might be wondering why you are addicted to marijuana. Cigarettes contain chemicals like nicotine which make a person addicted to them. This would lead to them having physical cravings to smoke. Marijuana contains no such chemicals.
Your addiction to it is not physical, but rather mental or psychological. It is possible that you became addicted to marijuana because it makes you feel comfortable. You like the "high" which comes with smoking weed. And this is what you feel you always need- you crave for it. This is your addiction- it is mostly psychological. The next thing for you to do is to understand this psychological need or addiction. Ask yourself why you are smoking weed. Is it because you want to escape a harsh reality? Or could it be that you are bored- marijuana gives an alteration to your life.

Or perhaps it is because your friends smoke marijuana, too? There are varied reasons why people get addicted to weed. But in your case, you've got to understand the core of your addiction. This is one of the best ways for you to set yourself free. Now that you understand it, you also have to find something to replace your addiction. This does not at all mean that you will find another drug to use. Rather, look for a fulfilling hobby or activity to fill the void that marijuana used to fill. You must develop coping mechanisms whenever you have the urge to smoke weed again.

Then, you have to develop and strengthen your will to quit. You now know that your addiction to marijuana is not chemical but psychological. So this would all go down to your willpower. It doesn't mean that you have weak willpower when you have the urge to smoke, but rather you have to fight that urge. Psychological addiction can be very difficult to break free from especially if you've had it for years. But it is possible for you to break free, even if at first it seems hopeless. Take little steps at a time and take it one day at a time.

Seek support from people you know like friends and family. And stay away from people who have been smoking weed. Choose to take another path, a better one. Choose to live a life of health and wellnessand freedom. In the end you will realize that you've made the right decision.

Reading Glasses For Fashion And Functionality

It used to be that people wearing reading glasses look nerdy. When it comes to girls, they say, "Guys don't make passes at girls wearing glasses". Well, gone are those days because reading glasses are now trendy. Other than serving their purpose of giving better vision, glasses can be fashionable, too. But first things first- what are reading glasses or spectacles for? When should a person wear them, and why? When a person finds it difficult to read at normal length, then they might need to wear reading glasses. Or perhaps when one has to screw up their eyes to be able to focus on things.

These are possible indications that spectacles are needed. And people over 40- they generally need single-vision reading glasses. There are two main types of frames for these accessories. Primarily there are full frames, and smaller Franklin spectacles. For the full frames, they have the entire lens made according to a reading prescription. As for the Franklin glasses, they sit lower down on the nose. They look much more like half-eyes. Before deciding on whether one needs these accessories, consultations with the ophthalmologist and optometrist may be necessary. Ophthalmologists are those doctors specializing in the treatment of eye and vision problems.
As for optometrists, they examine the eye, make a diagnosis and then make a prescription for glasses. Optometrists are not at all medically qualified. An optometrist would generally give a prescription with a number by which the suited spectacles will be made. An eye examination by an ophthalmologist is often recommended. That way, eye and vision problems can be determined, or otherwise ruled out. Spectacles for reading are for people who constantly look at objects closely and for an extended period. Spectacles for computer use on the other hand are different, especially in design. Computer glasses when used would make objects from across the room look blurry.

Franklin spectacle or the half-eyes are for individuals who need to read and then look up after some time. Say for instance a consultant who needs to look down to read and write then look up to discuss something. Today, spectacles are of a wide range, and not monotonous looking like they used to be. Some of the models are compact and foldable. They may even come with small, handy and attractive cases. Frames may be gold or silver rimmed or made of stainless steel. What's more, they can be flattering and interesting. They can even come in trendy plastic and in various shapes and colors.

Handmade frames are for those who prefer something exclusive. Spectacles are available with features like magnifiers. Magnifiers can enable wearers to read really small print, or even when the lights are dim. It must be noted that the better the spectacles are made, the more likely they will be durable. Thus, they can stay for a longer time and would suit better one's vision needs. However, they might be a bit costly, especially if they have been purchased from a reputed maker. So when one wants style with functionality for reading glasses, there are several and varied options. Along with better vision can come a trendy persona.

Choosing The Right Shampoo For Healthy, Silky Hair

Everybody wants to have smooth, silky and beautiful hair. But many things can get in the way of having it. For one thing, you may not be using the right shampoo. There are many and all sorts of shampoos in the market today. But then again, many might not stand true to their claims, or can even be damaging. This could be owing to their ingredients- they might be chemically laden and are harsh. Remember that when you are using the wrong shampoo, your hair might become dry. Or worse, it can result to hair loss. Different shampoo manufacturers generally have their own formulas.

If the product works well for your hair, then you can feel the freshness that it delivers. But on the other hand, if it is not suitable, it can result to hair loss. If you find that a shampoo doesn't suit you well, it's best that you stop using it. You may be sensitive to one of its ingredients, thus you don't get the results that you want. Following are some tips on shampoos and which would be appropriate. Ads for shampoos can rather be confusing. It's not really the expensive ones which truly stand true to their claims. A cheap and expensive product can deliver the same results.
Making the right choice can mean that you will gain the best advantages. Take note of the ingredients stated in the label. Remember that extracts are not the same as an essence. Extracts are those substances which have natural sources. They are the shampoos' elements which have active ingredients. Essences on the other hand are just the same smell of the extracts. Essences may not necessarily give the same results as extracts. The more extracts a shampoo has, the more expensive it usually is. You can use a mild product for everyday washing. That way, you can keep your scalp clean and you would get no irritation.

For this purpose, try a natural shampoo. Such an option would be better than using a strong antidandruff product every two or three days. This can be damaging to your hair in the long run. Using an antidandruff product for the long term can cause scalp dryness. This in turn can result to dry skin falling as white particles. Washing daily with a natural shampoo is advisable. And if ever you would use an antidandruff product, do so only twice a week in between normal shampoos. And make sure that your natural shampoo is suited for daily use. There are natural products which may have strong extracts.

Shampoos are for cleaning the hair while conditioners are for gluing the thin layer on your hair. To maximize the effect of your conditioner, use it separately rather than as 2 in 1 products. Conditioners are to be used only on your hair and not on your scalp. If you are not able to thoroughly wash the conditioner from your scalp, it can be itchy. For a clean and healthy scalp, use the right shampoo. Choose the suitable product and your hair will be clean, smooth, silky and healthy as well.

Fit For Life And Can Hurdle Challenges

One of the best goals you can ever aim for is to be fit for life. Being fit for life means you have to engage in a regular health and fitness regimen. It may seem a struggle at first, but hang in there. In time you will eventually realize that exercising and striving to be healthy is challenging yet worthwhile. What does it mean to be fit for life? It means that you are constantly striving for health and fitness. It means a health and fitness regimen is a part of your lifestyle. Or better yet, it IS your lifestyle.

Such is probably one of the best endeavors you can ever take part in. When you are fit, it means you are able to handle stress better. You might already know that stress is among the primary health detriments and it can kill in the long run. But being fit physically, mentally and emotionally means you can face challenges and stresses head on. By all means, you are well-equipped and going out into the battle with your defenses on. Being fit for life is often measured by a person's physical fitness. By being in a state of good physical fitness, it means you are in good physical health.
Regular physical activity, nutrition and getting enough rest are the means to attain good physical health. Rest is needed by the body to allow full recovery. As for exercise, it is a means to fortify the body and to boost its endurance. People who are fit and healthyare able to cope and contend with the daily stresses of life better. In a physical and emotional sense, they are capable and stable. Among the best stress busters are regular exercise and massage therapy. So is a nice hot bath which can soothe the nerves and is undoubtedly relaxing. How is it to gauge your physical fitness level? Primarily you have to take into account your body's flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular endurance and your body's composition, balance, speed and agility.

It takes sacrifices of time and effort to become fit for life. But ultimately you will realize that the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. For one thing, you will not be likely to be overweight. You can have an attractive physique which most people often envy. And here's one more good thing- your urge to eat will be reduced. Yes, exercise can do that and your fluid intake will be increased as well. You will also have better circulation and by all means this will boost your overall health. Physical fitness does have its rewards on your mental health, too.

For instance, you can gain peace of mind and a boosted self-confidence. You will have a general assurance and readiness to hurdle not just physical but mental and emotional challenges as well. So, aren't these enough reasons for you to aim for health and fitness for life? Hang in there when starting out seems to be a struggle. In a few short weeks of hitting the gym or doing your aerobics program, you will feel the difference. In time, you will realize that exercising is a good investment of your time and you will be encouraged to keep to your regimen.

Even something as simple as walking would be a beneficial physical activity. So are swimming and running, water aerobics, aero boxing, martial arts, cycling, strength training and a wide variety of gym programs.

Being Overweight And In The Dating Arena

So you are overweight and you ask yourself "Can I still get a quality woman even though I'm not as fit and trim"? Well, the answer depends on what you can offer a woman despite you being overweight. Take note of your lifestyle. Are you all about merely watching tv and going to work, then going to bars and nightclubbing? If so, then chances are you won't get a quality woman. Women who want lasting relationships look for emotional fulfillment from a man and his lifestyle. But this doesn't mean that you have to be very rich, of course. The point driven here is that you ought to have a good quality and active lifestyle.

Where a woman can have fun and learn a lot from being with you. Where your company would become engaging as you're a well-rounded, healthy person (personality wise, too). But see if you're a couch potato. What would a woman literally get from you. You basically don't have a life, so what would you offer a woman? Certainly not fun, or an enjoyable company. Maybe not even an interesting conversation because you're all about tv, not life. Sure there are women who are attracted to the "teddy bear" type. But they would want an interesting person to go with that.
Looks matter, but your appealing and charming personality can compensate for you being overweight. Looks sometimes only matter when a man has nothing to offer a woman, you know. So look for other avenues wherein a woman can find you attractive and interesting. Your chances of attracting the opposite sexwill have to do with the kind of life you live. You must also understand how it is to attract them. Make it a point that you make women realize that you are a quality person despite you being overweight. That you're smart and witty and charming. And that most of all, you have a healthy personality.

Your active lifestyle is a plus point for making you interesting. It shows that you are a motivated person and it can help with you losing weight as well. And of course, weight loss should also be in your agenda. Not necessarily for you to look fabulous, but for you to be positive and healthy. Exercise regularly and eat healthily. These would make you feel good about yourself and will make you feel confident. These two are crucial factors in attracting the opposite sex. Sometimes it's all about attitude, and not necessarily looking perfect. Sure you may not be perfect, but you have something worthwhile to offer, that's the point.

It can be a fun and pleasant company, an interesting personality, or a smart, witty and charming boyfriend. Or somebody who's warm, responsible and affectionate. So get a life first, and get active. Have something worthwhile to engage in, and you will soon be ready to go out in the dating arena. Looks are only superficial, and show those women that you are somebody substantial. A teddy bear on the outside, yet a real man on the inside.

If you have decided to finally quit smoking, then it's a good, life changing choice. Perhaps you want to quit because you are simply aware of the dangers of smoking. Most smokers usually are, but you, you have decided to take action. This is certainly something commendable. But there is a challenge entailed when you want to quit smoking. Hurdles and obstacles to cope with and overcome. They can be difficult, but yet it is possible to succeed. Among the major hurdles you've got to contend with is nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine in itself is not harmful, but it's the element in cigarettes which make them addictive.

As your system has been accustomed to the substance, drastically stopping its ingestion can cause withdrawal symptoms to occur. Some of these nicotine withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, nausea, feeling stressed and feeling irritable to name a few. These are more apt to manifest especially if you aim to quit through "cold turkey". Quitting through "cold turkey" is rather drastic and more uncomfortable. This will cause a sharp shock to your system, and withdrawal symptoms are most likely to happen. And besides, success rates of smoking cold turkey are small. In fact, it may be unreasonable for you to quit through such means.
You can use the aid of nicotine replacement therapyor NRT products. Remember that nicotine alone is not a harmful substance. So when you smoke, it's the other 4,000 or so of chemicals in cigarettes which are rather damaging to your health and well-being. Nicotine is simply that substance which makes cigarettes addictive. So try cutting down on your smoking first, like 10-20% every week. And then when you get the craving, use NRT products. There are patches, gums, sprays and inhalers for that. NRT products serve as a fall back when your body craves for nicotine. That way, nicotine withdrawal may not be so discomforting and traumatic to your system.

As there are varied NRT products, you can choose one which you like or you think is most suitable. It all goes down to your personal choice although there is a new product which you could find more convenient. The product is called nicotine water, and it's increasingly becoming more popular. Isn't it more convenient to just drink (nicotine) water when you get the urge to smoke? It can be better than wearing a patch or chewing a gum or using sprays and inhalers. And what's more, this organic supplement can also promote health and a general sense of well being.

It can also help boost your attention and memory. Nicotine water is likewise seen to help with the treatment of depression and obesity. Your health in general can be promoted with this organic supplement. It is commendable that you've decided to quit smoking. In the process of doing so, keep your will and determination at hand. NRT products are also there to aid you in your endeavor to live a better, healthier life. It takes making the proper choice along with your resolve to be successful in your undertaking. Making health and well-being your priority is one of the worthy goals you can ever aim for.

Breast Tenderness, Alternative Medicine And Being A Woman

You may be all too familiar with breast tenderness before the onset of and during your menstruation. It can quite be uncomfortable with your breast swelling, and just a slight touch would cause pain. But breast tenderness is common among women during their menstrual cycle. Some women have it, while others don't. If ever your breast becomes tender during your period and your friend's does not, it doesn't mean that you have a problem. It's just a matter of individual and physiological make-up differences. This is something you have to be aware of. It helps as a woman for you to get to know your body and what transpires each menstrual cycle.

That way, you can be aware and you will have thorough knowledge about yourself. When you are, then you won't likely to be alarmed when things you think are "irregularities" would happen. Breast tenderness generally happens due to the hormonal changes in the body. Such changes can be alleviated by living a healthy lifestyle. By this, it means proper nutrition and regular exercise. You can also make use of alternative medicine treatments to deal with them. Alternative medicine treatments work with principles different from conventional medicine. Alternative therapies are primarily concerned with natural healing modalities. They either make use of herbal remedies and other modes of natural treatments.
The point behind these is to instigate the body's natural ability to heal itself. Apparently, such an approach is less likely to have side effects. Alternative medicine is concerned with holistic wellness- that of the mind, body and spirit. As such, it does not only focus on the physical aspect of the treatment. Other means such as stress relief and spiritual wellness are encouraged as well. Alternative medicine works for the long term, thus results may not be instant. But such an approach is all about healthy living and prevention of diseases. Hormonal changes in which breast tenderness might result can be dealt with by alternative treatments.

You can consult an alternative medicine practitioner concerning this. They have the skill and the expertise to determine which sort of treatment would suit you best. You can manage breast tenderness and hormonal changes with your lifestyle approaches. Make sure that you exercise regularly and that you eat healthily. That way, the processes and workings of your body would be boosted and would go along smoothly. These health measures will in fact alleviate not only breast tenderness but other menstrual symptoms as well. They can be headaches, cramps and body pain to name a few. But all in all, a healthy lifestyle brings countless rewards.

As a woman, you ought to make means to keep yourself healthy. You have a vulnerable reproductive make-up, thus you need to boost your overall health. Remember, you have pregnancy, childbirth and menopauseto deal with. Those conditions can be challenging in themselves, so you have got to be prepared. Do so by living a healthy lifestyle. Exercise regularly, eat healthily and take quality supplements. These are the pillars of good health and yet the basics. No need to complicate things as these foundations can go a long way when properly implemented.

Taking The Option Of Diet Pills For Weight Loss

Weight loss just seem to be within many people's agenda these days. Countless of people are suffering from weight issues and obesity. Shedding off excess flab, fats and pounds seems to be expedient for them. That's perfectly understandable as being overweight brings with it cosmetic drawbacks. It may not be appealing for some having bulges here and there. What's more, obesity also entails health detriments. Among them are diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular diseases. What about you- are you in for the quest of weight loss? And if so, why- is it really for the purpose of becoming healthy? Most probably you want to lose pounds because you want to look good.

That is reasonable as many often do so. But have you got the patience for losing weight the right way? Would you have the will to exercise regularly and limit your diet, or eat healthy foods? These are the means for healthy weight loss, and are you in for the challenge of it? Yes, it can be challenging, and the results may come in slow. Losing of pounds healthily is slow, yet steady and permanent. But we now live in a fast paced world where people become generally impatient. Most everybody wants instant results, even when it comes to shedding off the pounds.
For these people, and even for you, the most convenient answer it seems is to take diet pills. There is a wide variety of diet pills in the market today- an indication of their popularity. Diet pills just come in handy when people want to lose weight fastand quick. After all, it is tedious to exercise, and dieting or eating healthily is no fun at all. Diet pills are so convenient as you think you would look slim in a matter of weeks, or even days. But the question remains- are diet pills safe? Remember that they often come with side effects.

Some of them are heart palpitations, dry mouth, dizziness and light headedness, diarrhea, and insomnia. And these are but to name a few. Did you know that diet pills can also bring about heart disease and hypertension? These hold true for some diet pills in the market, especially pharmaceutical ones. So if you're thinking of taking them, it's best that you take the necessary precautions. Consult your doctor are follow what they say. Take the pill as recommended and not more than what you're supposed to. Remember, taking them improperly may come with consequences. What's more, there is the peril of addiction.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you're taking other medications before taking the pill. And also if you suffer from addictions such alcoholism or drug addiction. It always pays to be cautious, especially when you want to look good! Otherwise, you might not get the result, or worse, you'd get what's contrary to it. But more importantly, always remember that the best means for being trim and slim is through healthy weight loss. As plain and simple as exercising regularly and eating healthy. In time, you will not only shed off the pounds and the flab, but your overall health will be boosted as well.

The Low Carb Diet And Its Weight Loss Benefits

All sorts of fad diets have come and gone. Some of them may have gone as quickly as they came, yet there are those who have survived. Among these diets which have withstood years is the low carb diet. Many people have resorted to the low carb diet due to its benefits. For weight loss and for warding off or alleviating certain conditions, this diet plan has been effective. Are you trying to lose weight or perhaps maintain it? The low carb diet might just be the solution to your goal. This plan is somewhat similar to a high fat and moderate protein diet.

You will basically be allowed to eat until you are full, provided that you eat only recommended foods. There is not so much deprivation in this sense. You won't be even left craving for more foods. Some conditions which can benefit from a low carb plan are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and hypoglycemia. And more so, it can address obesity. Indeed, it is one of which is worthwhile among the fad diets. When you are overweight, going low carb will be helpful. And even if you are not overweight, you can make use of this plan as well.
That is for you to maintain your weightor to keep your blood sugar and cholesterol in check. Did you know that the low carb diet is known to strike at the true cause of obesity? This might be interesting to note as obesity causes other health issues as well. Such is why many doctors and nutritionists advocate the low carbohydrate plan. There are various versions of this diet plan. Experts are looking into the nature of each and trying to determine their benefits. Going low carb is one of the hottest fads which has swept the world. This plan is acclaimed due to its popularity and well-known health benefits.

Following this nutritional approach, you can easily lose pounds and inches. And quite many people have attested to this. And if you're into maintaining your weight, this diet plan produces apparent results, too. Keeping to it will make you not likely to gain pounds, and it would be easier for you to stick to your weight. Many people may have had the experience of being able to trim down, only to become heavy again. The problem could be that their weight loss scheme may no longer be effective, or that they have slacken down on their compliance. If this is a problem for you, the limit your carbohydrate intake and adhere to your weight loss program.

With this measure, you can also boost your general health. So if its being fit and trim and healthy at the same time that you aim for, limited carbohydrates might be the answer for you. As there are many and varied versions of it, you can choose which one would suit you best. You can consult a nutritionist or your doctor for this purpose. You also have to make sure if it is suitable for you to go on a diet. And when you are, make means to incorporate dieting with regular exercise. That way, results will be better and more guaranteed.

Here's why you loosen up and lash out when you are drunk

London, May 5 (ANI): A new study from US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Bethesda, Maryland has shed light on what happens in the brain during intoxication, by discovering that booze dulls the brain's ability to detect threats.

The team of researchers led by Jodi Gilman conducted their study over 12 healthy "social drinkers"

They took MRI scans to examine the brain activity of the individuals, both when sober and after they had been given alcohol intravenously that increased their blood levels to nearly 0.8 grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres.

In both conditions they were shown pictures of either frightened or neutral faces.

The findings revealed that that alcohol influenced the way the brain reacted to the images.

Without alcohol, the amygdala - which is involved in processing emotional reactions - lit up in response to the frightened faces, but with alcohol, it was less active, reacting equally to neutral and fearful faces, reports New Scientist.

The reason why alcohol makes you loosen up and lash out is that it weakens the amygdala's ability to detect threats.

The researchers also found that alcohol stimulated reward circuits, such as the nucleus accumbens that gives rise to pleasurable feelings. (ANI)

Five-in-one wonder pill could prevent 80% heart attacks, strokes in over-55s

London, May 5 (ANI): British scientists have developed a new wonder "poly-pill," which, according to them, could prevent 80 per cent of heart attacks and strokes in the over-55s.

The team has claimed the miracle five-in-one pill could stop over 100,000 premature deaths each year.

They also said that one in three people could live an extra 20 years without a heart attack or stroke.

The researchers believe that the pills, which contain a cholesterol-busting statin, three medicines to lower blood pressure, and folic acid, could be available within five years.

Its developers, the London-based Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, say they hope to get the price down to 1 pound a day.

Scientists there have been working on the pill for more than five years, but the first samples became available only last week.

"We want to get it out there so people can use it," the Telegraph quoted Professor Nicholas Wald, the institute's director, as saying.

"Our mission is to make it available to everyone over 55 at an affordable price.

"The founders of our group would like this pill to be available to everyone for about 1 pound a day," he added.

Government heart disease chief Professor Roger Boyle has given the drug his support and wants it prescribed on the NHS.

However, it could take years to hold the necessary clinical trials and secure a licence.

Professor Boyle said: "It would certainly have a big impact, and we need to remember that one-third of deaths are due to cardiovascular disease, despite substantial reductions over the past few years.

"Although we have seen a decrease in death rates, heart disease remains our country's biggest killer. It kills more than all the cancers put together." (ANI)

Health conscious America junks smoking, embraces fast food

Los Angeles, May 5 (IANS) This is one of the many contradictions of American society: smoking is banned on health grounds in most public places - but not in the outdoors - while no steps are considered necessary to check the burgeoning consumption of junk food that is definitely considered a health hazard.

Thus, you have a situation in which smoking is banned in government offices, restaurants and even hotel rooms - but not in the areas surrounding these places.

So much so that a stern warning, very carefully worded, greets visitors to a swanky beach resort and spa an hours' drive from here.

'Enjoy your non-smoking room', reads the notice in bold capitals, adding: 'A $250 cleaning fee will be charged for smoking in this room'.

The ban also extends to the various restaurants and party rooms of the hotel.

At the same time, ashtrays are liberally provided in various other parts of the hotel - but outside the building complex.

This results in a situation where clusters of individuals gather outside the main entrance, fighting for space to puff away even as scores of individuals, including large numbers of women and children, make their way in and out of the hotel.

'Yes, it is a contradiction in terms,' admitted a hotel official, adding that the ban had nothing to do with any government regulation.

'These days, it is rather fashionable to keep up with the others, as it were, in declaring our commitment to promoting good health by encouraging people to give up smoking,' he said.

Wasn't this policy self-defeating in that it was not only failing to prevent people from smoking but also contributing to the pollution of the atmosphere at large?

Sheepishly admitting that this was so, the official said he was not the one responsible for laying down the hotel's broader policies.

Then, given the hotel's health concerns, why was it offering a vast array of junk food at its various outlets?

'Yes, I agree that junk food is unhealthy but that's what our clients want and since we are a service industry, we serve what our clients demand,' was his reply.

So much for logical answers!

School age children at greater risk from lead exposure

Washington, May 5 (IANS) School age children are at greater risk from lead exposure than toddlers, according to a Cincinnati Children's Hospital study.

'Although we typically worry about protecting toddlers, our study shows that parents and paediatricians should be just as, if not more concerned about lead exposure in school-aged children,' said Richard Hornung, of Cincinnati Children's Hospital and a co-author of the study.

The most common sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint in older homes, contaminated soil, household dust, drinking water, lead crystal and lead-glazed pottery.

While extreme exposure to lead can cause neurological disorders like muscular disorientation, convulsions and coma, lower lead levels have been linked with measurable deficits in children's intelligence and behaviour problems.

These include hyperactivity, or ADHD, lowered performance on intelligence tests, and deficits in fine motor function, hand-eye coordination and reaction time.

Chronic lead exposure in adults can cause increased blood pressure, decreased fertility, cataracts, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain as well as problems with memory or concentration, reports Sciencedaily.

The researchers found that blood lead concentrations (BPb) at age of six, compared to toddlers, are more strongly associated with IQ and reduced volume of grey matter in the brain, operative in planning, complex thinking and moderating behaviour.

Overall, the children's average BPb levels peaked at 13.9 micrograms of lead in decilitre (one tenth of a litre) of blood at age two, then declined to an average of 7.3 micrograms per decilitre by age six.

For children, however, with the same average blood lead levels through age six, those who received more of their exposure at age six had substantially greater decrements in intellectual ability than those more heavily exposed at age two.

'Lead toxicity is difficult to recognise in a clinical setting, but it can have devastating effects,' said Bruce Lanphear, director of the Cincinnati Children's Environmental Health Centre and a co-author.

These findings were presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the Paediatric Academic Societies in Honolulu.

Bhopal kids drinking poison water: Dominique Lapierre

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) Expressing solidarity with the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, French author and activist Dominique Lapierre has said the children growing up in the affected area are drinking "poisoned water".

After visiting the survivors who were protesting near Jantar Mantar here Sunday evening, Lapierre has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to listen to their problems.

'I have myself drunk a glass of the poisoned water, and I suffered an immediate skin rash and throat irritation. This is what the Bhopal children are today condemned to drink,' he said in a statement Monday.

Lapierre, who has co-authored 'Five Minutes Past Midnight in Bhopal', has donated the royalty from the book to a charity clinic that is providing health care to the survivors and their children.

On the night of Dec 3, 1984, a Union Carbide subsidiary pesticide plant in Bhopal accidentally released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas, killing approximately 3,800 people.

The incident, known as one of the world's worst industrial disasters, left hundreds of thousands suffering from various diseases after chronic exposure. Contaminated groundwater around the plant area still continues to infect people with various ailments ranging from skin problems to birth defects.

'I have given five years of my life to tell the story of the Bhopal disaster and meet its victims. This is a very precious cause close to my heart. I am sure that in his generosity, Dr. (Manmohan) Singh will accept to receive those heroic people of Bhopal fighting for their right to live with dignity,' Lapierre said.

Nearly 50 survivors, their children, and activists working for them have been protesting here for the past 39 days.

Yoga is Koda's mantra to run a coalition

Ranchi, May 5 (IANS) It is his daily yoga practice that keeps him fit and cool-headed enough to run a coalition government despite being an independent legislator, Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda said Monday.

'Yoga is the mantra to run a coalition government. Running a coalition government is not an easy task. I practice yoga daily, which keeps me fit and cool,' Koda told reporters here.

Koda has registered his name in the Limca book of records for running a government for more than a year despite being an independent legislator. He is now aiming for the Guinness World Records.

Koda took charge in September 2006 by ousting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by Arjun Munda. He has been successful in running the government for the last 20 months.

His key allies are the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The Congress on a few occasions has threatened to pull down the government.

Koda started his career as a member of the Sangh Parivar and won an assembly election for the first time on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket in 2000. In 2005, the BJP denied him a ticket and he fought the election as an independent candidate and won. He became a minister in the NDA government headed by Arjun Munda in 2005 and pulled it down with the support of three other independent legislators.

Koda wants his legislators and ministers to practice yoga. 'I suggest that ministers and legislators practice yoga. Yoga gives strength and energy,' he enthused.

Teens exposed to alcohol most likely to become 'heavy drinkers' later

Washington, May 5 (ANI): Teens who are exposed to alcohol are more vulnerable to become "heavy drinkers" in future, revealed a new study on rodents.

The study also cited that while no one can become alcohol dependent (AD) without repeatedly drinking alcohol, but not everyone who does so will become AD.

The findings suggested that some characteristics - adolescence, novelty seeking, reaction to stress, and response to first alcohol exposure - may influence the likeliness to develop AD.

"We know that adolescence is a vulnerable time. People who start drinking the earliest tend to be the most likely to develop drinking problems. But we also know that not all adolescents get into trouble with alcohol and other drugs," explained Nicole L. Schramm-Sapyta, research associate in the department of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University Medical Center.

For the study, the researchers examined 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats that were 28 days old - the equivalent of rodent adolescence. Then they measured how much each rat drank in special lickometer cages. The rats were habituated to the cages with water, which was then switched to an alcohol solution for three nights, followed by a choice between the water or alcohol solutions for 10 consecutive nights. After two nights of abstinence, the rats were once again given a day's choice between the water or alcohol solutions in order to measure relapse-like behaviour.

"Our key finding is that drinking patterns may be established after only a few exposures to alcohol. Rats that demonstrated a 'taste' for alcohol after only three nights of drinking were very likely to be the biggest drinkers after longer-term exposure to alcohol," said Schramm-Sapyta.

"The adolescent drinking in this study likely relates to those rats with low sensitivity to the sedative effects of alcohol, coupled with high consumption for adolescents in general. These findings support the interaction of genetics and environmental exposure to alcohol during adolescence as determining life-long drinking. They also support the hypothesis that adolescent drinking may predict risk of alcohol problems," commented Fulton T. Crews, Director of the Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina.

Schramm-Sapyta said that one more key finding of the study was that the measures of novelty seeking and stress responsiveness were not related to drinking outcomes.

"This suggests that there are other characteristics that we as scientists should be looking for, which are related to the early experiences of drinking," she said.

She then linked these to humans, and said that people who drink to excess when they first begin might be at higher risk for developing alcoholism.

"The findings suggest that early 'big drinkers' are the people who should be targeted for alcoholism-prevention efforts," she said.

Both Schramm-Sapyta and Crews said these findings have important implications for parents, as well as parental monitoring.

The results are published in the latest issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. (ANI)

Women without BRCA mutations at greater risk for breast cancer recurrence

Washington, May 5 (ANI): High-risk women with breast cancer who do not have a BRCA1/2 mutation may face a greater chance for developing a second breast cancer than previously thought, suggests a preliminary analysis of ongoing research.

The finding also raises questions about the use of sentinel node biopsy with prophylactic mastectomies in high-risk women.

The increased risk of developing breast cancer is already understood for women with the disease who test positive for a BRCA1 or 2 mutation.

Many of these women opt to have their breast surgically removed (prophylactic mastectomy) to cut their risk of developing breast cancer or developing a second breast cancer. The role of sentinel node biopsy remains controversial in this group.

"We know more about counselling women regarding prophylactic mastectomy if they have a BRCA mutation," said lead author Shawna C. Willey, MD, FACS, a member of the Breast Cancer Program at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and director of the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at Georgetown University Hospital.

"In high-risk women who have cancer but don't have a known mutation, we generally advise that the risk of developing a second cancer in the same or opposite breast is lower than it is for women who test positive for a mutation. This latest analysis has us re-thinking our approach," Willey added.

The study recruited women in a familial cancer registry at Lombardi who were enrolled between 1998 and 2007. The registry participants had at least a 10 percent probability of carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation based on personal or family history of cancer.

The cohort for the study involved 119 women. 74 women had a BRCA mutation (group 1) and 45 did not test positive for the mutation (group 2).

In-group 2, women already had known malignancies and had preoperative genetic testing.

All the women opted to have a mastectomy to remove their affected breast (group 2) or surgery to remove both breasts (both groups). They all had both breasts removed, but in Group 2 they all had a unilateral prophylactic mastectomy.

"We examined the rate of occult malignancies in both these groups of women in the prophylactic mastectomy specimens. What we found was interesting. There was a higher than expected presence of disease in the women who did not test positive for a BRCA mutation," Willey said.

"The higher rate of occult cancers in group 2 may be because they all had contralateral known malignancies, but this study supports the use of prophylactic mastectomy as an option for these women as it is for those who have a BRCA mutation," Willey added. Willey said that further studies should address the role of sentinel node biopsy for high-risk women who are receiving prophylactic mastectomy.

The study was presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons's annual meeting in New York City. (ANI)

Natural Beauty Tips for Eye Care

Beautiful eyes are the first thing that one notices in your look. It counts much if you take proper care of them and make it shine with your inner self-confidence. In the cosmetic market, you can find number of eye care kits and eye makeup cosmetics. But as you know that our eyes are the most sensitive part in our body, so rather than going for synthetic beauty cosmetics for eye care, you must try natural beauty treatments for your eyes.

Natural Remedies for Eye Care

1. Keep equal amount of triphala powder and sugar candy (powdered) in a glass jar and take one teaspoonful with one teaspoonful of honey on an empty stomach morning and evening and drink 250 gm of milk over it for 2-3 months. This cures all the diseases of the eyes.

2. To make eyes beautiful, after washing the eyes with triphala water apply olive or almond oil around the eyes and massage gently. It makes eye muscles strong and soft and the skin around the eyes looks healthy.

Home Remedies for Dark Circles Under the Eyes

1. Apply cucumber juice on the black circles with cotton for 2-3 weeks regularly.

2. Mix equal amount of almond oil and honey and apply a few drops on black circles for 2-3 weeks. Both wrinkles and black circles are cured.

3. Dip five almonds in water, peel them and chew nicely in the morning or make a paste and take along with 250 grams of milk daily for 21 days.

4. Do not take oils, spices, tea and other hot products.

5. Take 125 gm of tomato juice and squeeze half a lemon in it. Mash 5-7 leaves of spearmint in it. Add black salt according to taste. Drink this once on the morning and evening to be relieved of constipation, worm infection and acne.

6. Take iron and calcium rich diet as their shortage are one of the dominant factors for black circles under the eyes.

Disclaimer: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Effective Home Remedies for Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common disorders in which either the pancreas produces insufficient amounts of the hormone insulin or the body cells become resident to the hormone's effects. Managing diabetes is not very tough if you are quite sincere to your health. Plan your routine and diet and you will wonder how easy it is to tackle diabetes.

1. Eat green vegetables, coriander, cucumber, cabbage, coconut, chenopodium album (bathu), creeper of pumpkin, cucumber, cabbage, bitter guard, carrot, tomato, lemon, radish, onion and ginger.

2. Eat fibre rich food like apple, figs, guava, lemon and orange. Grains rich in fibres are barley, oatmeal, maize, wheat flour, jowar, bajra, whole wheat, rice flakes, refined wheat flour (without husk) and puffed rice. Other sources of fibre are coriander seeds, cumin seeds, dry pepper and turmeric.

3. Soak 90-100 seeds in 250 gms of water in the evening. Mash them in morning, sieve in a cloth and drink mixture regularly. Take daily for two months to cure diabetes.

4. Take juice of bilva and parijataka leaves in equal parts for natural remedy of diabetes. Take two teaspoons of it twice a day.

5. Eat grapefruits regularly for diabetes natural remedy.

6. Boil 3-4 fresh leaves of mango tree in the morning and drink. It is also very effecting in curing diabetes.

7. Take soyabean in your diet. It does not contain sugar and is a good source of energy for diabetes.

8. Do regular exercises to reduce the chances of developing coronary artery disease and also improves control over diabetes.

9. Avoid exertion and always try to stay free from tension.

10. Avoid sweets, chocolates, rice, banana, grapes, mangoes, dry fruits, oils, cakes and pastries.

11. Drink half-cup karela (bitter gourd) juice daily. It is an effective natural home remedy for diabetes.

12. Avoid drinking alcohol (including beer, gin, wines and whisky).

13. Lower your fat intake for obese diabetic patients. Do regular morning walk and exercises to reduce weight.

14. Avoid infections, burns and injuries as they develop ketosis in such stressful conditions.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Safe Surgical Weight Loss Methods

By: Lesley Lyon

Surgical Weight Loss or otherwise called as Bariatric surgery has been available for the past several years. However, bar iatric surgery is not a magic cure and is not an easy option for people suffering from morbid obesity. It is a drastic step rather that involves the usual risk and pain of any other major gastro-intestinal surgical operation. In this type of surgery, the size of the stomach is hugely reduced by using different techniques.

After this surgery, the person cannot eat much at a time, which can lead to dramatic weight loss, to the range of about twenty percent over the next one to two years. But the large question is, if it is significant. There are considerable health costs involved by being obese and with having undergone the surgery. i.e., serious heart problems may occur by being obese on one hand while on the other, various health problems or even a huge risk of death is associated by having the weight loss surgery.

Who can qualify for surgical weight loss?

National Health Institute, The Unites States has approved certain standards in determining whether an individual is qualified as morbidly obese. Generally obesity is measured using body mass index or BMI that is determined by dividing the weight of a person in kilograms by the height of the person in meters squared. Individuals with a BMI greater than 35 to 40 associated with other severe disorders qualify for the weight loss surgery. It is also a common requirement that the patient should have had a failed attempt earlier at other weight loss programs for a minimum of 18 months period.

After having met with the NIH standards and disorders assessed, the psychological state of the patient is assessed by most doctors, which may also require consultation with a psychiatrist to evaluate the issues like familial relationships, body image and addiction. Finally the decision to perform the surgery is made by taking into account all these issues. Many people who inquire about the weight loss surgery do not receive surgery and instead counseling is done on other weight loss programs that do not require surgery because of the stringent legal requirements.

Types of weight loss surgery

Billiopancreatic Diversion is a rare type of weight loss surgery in which almost three-fourth of the stomach is completely removed and the rest is connected to the last segment of the small intestine. Several post surgery problems associated with this surgery are loss of bone density for life, Dumping syndrome and anemia.

Roux – en Y gastric bypass is another method. The stomach is either sewn or stapled in the upper half portion in this method thereby creating a smaller stomach above the stomach. The food bypasses here as the intestines are connected to the smaller stomach. The amount of food intake reduces and the weight loss occurs rapidly. This weight loss surgery is more invasive and time to recover is more for the patients. The success rate of this weight loss surgery is stated to be quite high.

Another type of weight loss surgery similar to the above Roux – en Y gastric bypass surgery is the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. In this method, the upper part of stomach is stapled and the intestines left intact.

In the Lap Band Weight Loss Surgery, a new stomach pouch is produced inside the stomach. This can be done by Laparoscopic method. Patients now prefer this type of surgery, as the post surgery health complications are less.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Lose Fat Easy

By: Karl Ross

Most of the people believe that finding the perfect diet will cause them to lose weight in no time. Well, most of the people are wrong. It is not important what king of diet they choose they always fail to keep it in the long run. The secret is not in selecting the perfect diet but instead work on your eating behavior, this and only this is the key to losing fat easy.

Eating therapy helps in losing weight and more important, in keeping it in optimal range for a long time. The reflexes lead to impulse eating, in addition that and bad eating habits, lead to a situation were food is being consumed without limits or any second thoughts. This is exactly what the behavior therapy is tackling, in order to change the bad habits and turn them into useful healthy way of thinking and eating.

The therapy is divided to four parts:
• Measuring and describing the current eating process.
• Describing the events that create the need to eat.
• Learning how to control the craving for food.
• Eliminating the old eating habits, and develop new healthy ones instead.

Actually, most of the time eating is triggered by external stimulating and not as result of real hunger. They can be developed to mental and physicals. Mental could be related to fears, stress, tension, disappointment, etc. Physical could be the smell of fresh bread or the sight of chocolate cream cake at the counter.

Mastering eating behavior means not to response to all types of stimulating. Instead, eat three main meals a day plus three light meals between them. The technique is to draw the attention from eating to other activities such as: talking on the phone, sports, talking to someone, read a book, or play a game. What ever keeps the mind busy and stops the craving to eat.

Additional ideas to support eating behavior therapy:
1. It is best to keep only healthy food at home. This is an easy way to avoid bad food.
2. Cutting down the time of making food, will keep the mind less busy with food thoughts.
3. Drink coffee with law calorie sweeten.
4. It is best to drink lots of natural tea.
5. Eating slowly has two main positive affects: the food is better consumed and the hunger disappears when eating less food.
6. If you feel hungry 20 minutes pass meal time: drink something or have fruits.
7. Eating should take place at the same place and not at random locations.
8. Shopping list should be prepared at home. The key is adhering to it no matter what we saw latter on at the supermarket.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Red Wine Protects the Prostate

Researchers have found that men who drink an average of four to seven glasses of red wine per week are only 52% as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as those who do not drink red wine, reports the June 2007 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch. In addition, red wine appears particularly protective against advanced or aggressive cancers.

Researchers in Seattle collected information about many factors that might influence the risk of prostate cancer in men between ages 40 and 64, including alcohol consumption. At first the results for alcohol consumption seemed similar to the findings of many earlier studies: There was no relationship between overall consumption and risk.

But the scientists went one step further by evaluating each type of alcoholic beverage independently. Here the news was surprising-wine drinking was linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. And when white wine was compared with red, red had the most benefit. Even low amounts seemed to help, and for every additional glass of red wine per week, the relative risk declined by 6%.

Why red wine? Doctors don't know. But much of the speculation focuses on chemicals-including various flavonoids and resveratrol-missing from other alcoholic beverages. These components have antioxidant properties, and some appear to counterbalance androgens, the male hormones that stimulate the prostate.

Many doctors are reluctant to recommend drinking alcohol for health, fearing that their patients might assume that if a little alcohol is good, a lot might be better. The Harvard Men's Health Watch notes that men who enjoy alcohol and can drink in moderation and responsibly may benefit from a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and cardiac death.

Sex Possible and Fun in Age, But not Like When You Were 18!

Aging is one phenomenon that no matter how much we dislike is bound to happen. It is as sure as death. Infact it won't be wrong to say that it is the prelude to death. The gradual process of decaying of each and every organ is the way of guiding every living being to its worthy end by Nature. In fact we need not be over observant, to notice that most of the things that find an existence in this world meet its end at some point of time. The sad thing with human beings is that we are the most blessed of all the existences in this whole universe and still we find it most difficult to come to terms with this rule of Nature. We want all our energies and acumen at their prime for our entire life. Unfortunately, Nature has already laid down the rules.

When we say a person is aging what we actually mean is that the person is losing his or her vitality and stamina as the organs are growing older with time. Smart is he who comes to terms with this fact and mends his lifestyle accordingly. Growing old is as natural as eating, drinking and sleeping. It is bound to happen. The only difference is that it is not to our liking. Fighting this natural phenomenon will only bring greater pains and troubles. The trick lies in enjoying the life that we have been gifted for a short while and age gracefully and with dignity.

Fighting an all powerful natural phenomenon will bring us no good rather it will only frustrate us more. Doing things that don't suit a person's age makes him a laughing stock. Therefore it is very important for the human beings that they see the process of aging in the correct light and prepare oneself for it.

Deviating from the topic a bit, sex is also one of the most basic requirements of human existence. Life without sex can be nothing less than death. Sexual disturbances are of much more implications than we can gauge. They can multiply manifold to bring in problems both in the personal and professional front of a person. Now coming back to our topic of aging, it is unavoidable that the sex life of a couple will also experience bumps with advancement in age. If we come to think of it in relation to the other organs, it is only natural. But unfortunately for the human beings we want our sexual life to be full of vigor and excitement as it was when we were 18 or for that matter when we were young, which is actually out of question. It is not possible to experience the same level of sexual acumen at all the stages of our life. No doubt sex is important in life and human beings crave for sexual satiation all through life, but there are other ways of seeking satisfaction. There is no point in pushing oneself beyond a point that will only have us face to face with failure. Sex is possible and can be fun even at an advanced stage but for that we need to be aware of our age. And in case a man experiences instances of impotency or technically speaking erectile dysfunction which is common in this age, than he can go for ED drug Levitra. Levitra online is available and can be bought on medical prescription. Press on the prescription before you buy levitra online.

3 All Natural Weight Loss Tips for Natural Weight Loss

I have often been asked by people what are some all natural weight loss techniques. Over the years weight loss has become a pretty complicated topic with so many books and pills that sometimes it can be difficult to identify all natural weight loss tips and ideas that actually do work.

Not to overwhelm you in this article, I thought I would discuss three of my favorite all natural weight loss tips that I hope will provide you with a place to start and lose weight on your own terms.

The first all natural weight loss habit I would start with is drinking more water. In particular drinking more water especially in the morning seems to have a huge benefit to the body when it comes to jump starting the metabolism and actually losing weight.

The first thing I would do in the morning is drink a big glass of water with some lemon in it before you do anything else.Then challenge yourself to drink at least 1.5 liters of water by lunchtime. This will help create a bowel movement in the morning that will help stimulate the body to release more fat.

The next all natural weight loss habit I would do is learn how to do interval training with your exercise. So often I see people at the gym doing the same old same old using the same intensity for the whole workout.

So how do you change of the intensity of the workout? Next time you are exercising find a way to increase the speed or power of your work out for brief periods of time essentially working out slow then fast then slow then medium then fast
then slow. There are lots of great reference books on interval training, so take some time to research.

The final all natural weight loss tip that I would start doing is find a way to consume a plant based diet. This means no meat, dairy ( milk and cheese). The higher quantity of fruits and vegetables that you consume helps stimulate
the metabolism for fat loss and helps alkalize your body, which is your body's natural state anyway.

All natural weight loss is easy. It really is about making changes to your normal activities of daily living. Challenging yourself to be consistent in changing the habit. Once the habit is changed over the course of month, it becomes the new you and your body will start to normalize in weight.

Weight loss is a system. Do something different everyday and change is inevitable.

Start slow. Take one of these all natural weight loss tips and working on changing it to become a habit then work on another one. Don't worry about changing things over night. Find a way to change your lifestyle and your body will change with it.

Simply drink more water, change your exercise routine to train with intervals and challenge yourself to eat a plant based diet. Do those things and weight loss will be easy.

Sure Shot Younger Looking Skin Formula!

With big brands spending millions of dollars on advertising, people think that these products will be the best. But have you ever turned over the product and read the list of ingredients and checked each over the internet for the side effects or the harm it can actually cause your skin?

Don't go on the flawless face and lustrous hair of the models advertising these products as half of it is actually digital photography! Think for yourself and learn about organic skin care products. There are many home made creams and secrets that can make you look absolutely fabulous or if you do not have the time to make these concoctions, go in for healthy natural organic skin care products right from moisturizers to face washes and creams to lotions.

Skin is a good absorbent and medically many medicines are introduced into the body with the help of skin especially skin patches. So, if you apply high chemicals infused cosmetics and skin care products, think what you skin is absorbing!

So, why abuse your skin and body - go in for gentle body care products that not only nourish your skin but also help you get flawless beautiful skin with no side effects. Costs may be a little higher than the normal chemical skin care products but after all that shows the quality of the product.

Most herbal and skin acre products have essential oils, which are the real essence and extract of a plant so you have natural fragrances and the benefits of aromatherapy in these products. Your skin will absorb all the qualities of essential oils and become soft, supple and rebuild the elasticity in the skin. Lemon, sage, lavender, chamomile, cedar wood, sandal are few of the essential oils used in skin care products and each has a positive benefit on your health.

There are many reputed stores both near you and online which stock only genuine, organic skin care products. You can be sure of the product quality and your skin type before you buy any product. Choosing what is good for you may become difficult when you see so many products, but get only reputed, good quality organic beauty care products, skin care creams, oils and lotions so that you really find signs of aging eliminated while your skin starts looking fresh, hydrated and beautiful.

Leave the world of chemicals and welcome Nature's bounty and miracles into your life. It is time to say hello to fresh, younger you again!

Top 10 Reasons Why you should NOT "go" on a Diet

The only thing growing faster than the $65 billion diet industry is the American waistline. If one of your New Years resolutions was to Go on a Diet, the only place I guarantee you will go....is up in weight.

It's a Fact - Diets will only make you fatter.

When it comes to the latest in Diet fads, we are quite gullible and easily tempted by a Diet's empty promised. Reason being....the diet industry KNOWS we are in search of the "quick fix" and will only play with our emotions - our desperation for the quickest way to relieve looking and feeling fat.

Diets are nothing more than Temporary Solutions with many lingering, negative side effects.

Here are the Top 10 Reasons Why you should NOT "go" on a Diet

1. Diets do NOT work.

Diets have a 99% Failure Rate. Have you noticed a pattern yet? Lose weight....quickly regain it? Over time, studies show if you diet you are more likely to be overweight than people who eat normally and make small gradual changes to their lifestyle. No, the Law of Averages does not apply to this faulty system.

2. Dieting can be Dangerous.

Any time you severely restrict the amount or types of foods you eat you put your health and life at risk. Dieting has been related to injuries and sudden deaths from electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, and heart arrhythmia's. Weight cycling, or yo-yo-ing weight, is associated with higher death rates - especially if some type of pills are being used. At no point should you ever place weight loss above your health.

3. Dieting Destroys your Metabolism.

Diets will cause your weight to quickly cycle up and down. Sure, you may lose weight quickly because you are simply not eating enough. In the initial stages, the first seven to nine pounds lost are water, presenting a real danger of dehydration and mineral deficiencies. Even more terrifying ins the break down of lean muscle due to inefficient nutrients and calories. If you are losing more than 3-4 pounds a week, you can be sure this is what is happening - very little fat is lost this state.

Now, any muscle loss will cause your metabolism slow to a crawl. The cumulative effect takes place for you cannot survive very long on very low calories (1200 or less) and you will eventually eat more - on top of a slower metabolism. All those excess calories will be stored as fat - causing rapid weight gain.

4. Dieting is Exhausting.

Diets are just reduced calorie Fads disguised by a clever gimmick. "Lose weight while you sleep" "Eat all you want and still lose weight" Not eating enough or cutting out certain food groups means your body may not be getting the energy it needs, or may lack certain nutrients. You will feel exhausted, light headed and experience some not-so-fun mood swings.

5. Dieting is Disruptive.

Dieting negatively affects your normal eating patterns. Diets can lead to binge eating, overeating and chaotic eating. When you diet, it is common to override your internal signals telling you to eat. You end up trying to use willpower or resist hunger signals and may even go as far as taking appetite suppressants. This results in being unable to know when you really are hungry or wore....when you're full.

6. Dieting can lead to eating disorders.

Experts state that the high rates of eating disorders in the U.S. are due in part to people dieting, losing weight, rebounding, and becoming chronic dieters.

7. Dieting Causes Food Obsessions.

If you spend a large amount of time and energy depriving yourself of food or certain types of food - you will spend more time thinking about food and become obsessed attempts to control your weight by what you choose to eat or not eat. How long do you want to live like this?

8. Dieting Diminishes Women.

There is way too much attention focused on our appearance and an arbitrary number on the scale. In the midst of this focus - we end up avoiding what really matters to us - our dreams and ambitions. Even worse, it erodes our confidence and self-respect.

9. Dieting Intensifies Negativity.

If you diet, you are more judgmental and critical of yourself and others. Once again, wasted time and energy.

10. Diets Put Your Life on Hold.

Does this sound familiar...."I'll be happy when I weigh "x pounds." Guess what, the issues in your life are not related to your weight. Take responsibility and take back control of your life. Decide to be happy now and do what it takes to live a lifestyle that reflects your priorities.

So this year resolve to NOT go on a Diet. Set Yourself Free from this miserable, guaranteed to fail weight loss cycle. Do NOT let the diet industry make money by taking advantage of you. It is time to stand up for yourself and take control.