October 29, 2007

Cholesterol Lowering Diets

What do you think of your eating habits? Are you a health nut or do you scarf down any old thing you can get your hands on? This really is a crucial concern that should stir issues in everyone's minds. We all need to keep on top of our health because no one is going to do it for us. Only you can better your diet. One of the main concerns regarding diet is cholesterol. If you have no clue as to where you stand with cholesterol, then I suggest you visit your family doctor. It may be that he/she recommends one of the contemporary cholesterol lowering diets. This would mean that yours is too high. We all really do need to pay better attention to what we eat. Our lives depend on it.

There are a number of effective cholesterol lowering diets now days. This topic is only growing as time moves forward. Sadly health issues aren't improving. For some odd reason, people insist on eating quick, fatty foods. I laughed the other day when my teenage daughter was talking about her job at the grocery store. She looked me dead in the eye and said "Man, people really are what they eat!" She told me about all the obese folks that come through her line buying only junk food and frozen meals. Then there are the few that purchase all health food and their in great shape and look vibrant. I believe that was a serious wake-up call for her. She no longer doubts the benefits of a healthy eating routine. These days since so many people have let themselves get way overweight, a whole slew of cholesterol lowering diets have hit the food scene. I honestly think this is a warning/wake-up call that should be heeded by every human being. We all know that high cholesterol can lead to a heart attack or stroke. By then it may be too late. Do you really want to be that person on the news that kicked the bucket at the age of 42? This is a sad reality for those who eat poorly and disregard the cholesterol lowering diets.

If you are interested in learning more about cholesterol lowering diets and eating healthy, then I suggest you hop online for a closer look. All the information you need is at your fingertips and doesn't cost you a cent. Find out which cholesterol lowering diets sound ideal for you today.

Tags: , , , ,

Spread the word

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl Wists Yahoo! Help

Permalink • Print • Comment

November 3, 2006

Are You Feeling Depressed?

Depression can hit some folks out of no where and this is often a melancholic state that can't be cured by vast amounts of chocolate or your very dessert. Depression is more serious than most folks care to think about and this is where I found myself at age 42.

I was at work one day and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Depression! I had been noticing my mood shifting from one extreme to another. My husband also noticed it but didn't know what to do. One day I felt good and the next day down. It had gotten to the point I didn't enjoy simple things like going to the movie or an outing with my family.

So this one day at work I just wanted to walk away from it all. It was not to the point where I wanted to harm myself but I was so depressed until I just wanted to cry my eyeballs out. I knew at this point I needed to do something. So I made an appointment with my doctor and to top it all off I also had gained 20 pounds in 3 months which really made me depressed.

So what follow was a world-wind of test from an MRI to blood work.  Through all of this, the only thing they found was my prolactin level was low.  But to make a long story short, I was suffering from an underactive thyroid even though it was not diagnosed in my blood test. 

Did you know an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism causes depression, weight gain, low sex drive, insensitive to cold and heat, high cholesterol and hair loss? The thyroid gland regulate so many functions in our body and is very important for overall health. Even though my doctor did not put me on thyroid medication, she did prescribed Sarafem (prozac). 
  
I did not want to take prozac so I looked for an alternative treatment to help me with my underactive thyroid and what I found was Thyromine.  This product has worked wonders. I feel better and I stopped gaining weight and started losing. I'm no longer running from my husband if you know what I mean. So if you are suffering from depression, it could very well be your thyroid. Thyromine has worked wonders for me I am sure it will for you.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Spread the word

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl Wists Yahoo! Help

Permalink • Print • Comment

October 31, 2007

Is Acidophilus Good for Your Digestive System?

There are good and bad bacteria as far as our health goes. With 60 to 70 million Americans suffering from various digestive diseases, that means we need to pay attention to those little critters working 'round the clock inside of our bodies.

Acidophilus, a common organism in yogurt and cultured milk products, such as kefir, that are said to foster a healthy balance of bacteria in the stomach. It's one of the "good" or "friendly" ones, out of about 400 types of bacterial that live in our intestinal tract and, for women, in the vagina as well. It's helpful because it aids manufacturing of B vitamins and production of lactase and other antibacterial agents.

Without good bacteria, also called probiotics, living in the gut, digestive processes go haywire. In a healthy state, our bodies just naturally maintain the proper balance. Some of the things that disrupt the natural functioning of our gut are preservatives and other additives in our foods, diets with a very high content of fat, birth control pills, alcohol consumption, and even stress.Acidophilus supplementation can help when things are out of balance.

Eating yogurt won't necessarily help. You have to read the labels because some of the yogurt on grocery store shelves don't actually contain any viable acidophilus due to the fact that they've been highly processed. It's difficult to process foods so that we're safe from harmful bacteria and yet keep the helpful bacteria alive.

Here are some of the potential benefits of supplementing your diet with acidophilus. A really big one is the suppression of candida, a type of yeast that can be very harmful, especially to our reproductive system and urinary tract. If you like to visit other countries, you'll be happy to know that supplementing your diet with acidophilus while abroad can help thwart proliferation of infectious organisms people commonly encounter in countries that do not have highly developed systems of public health.

It can also help control both diarrhea and constipation. And it helps reduce internal gas, bloating and bad breath. Some find that it even helps counteract lactose intolerance and helps lower cholesterol due to its enhancement of the body's ability to absorb fats. There's more. It may also enhance immune system function, aid in the treatment of respiratory infections such as sinusitis and bronchitis, and lower the risk of asthma, hay fever and eczema. Not bad for an organism too tiny to see with the naked eye.

Tags: , , , ,

Spread the word

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl Wists Yahoo! Help

Permalink • Print • Comment

November 1, 2006

Evening Primrose For Menstrual Health

There is a long tradition, going back many centuries, for using plants and flower extracts in the treatment of various ailments. Evening Primrose Oil is one such example. The plant species is said to have originated in Central America and Mexico, and Native Americans are known to have believed in its healing properties. There are various species with differently colored flowers, yellow being the most common. Some are also red, pink, white or purple. The flowers open in the evening, hence the name. Bees and moths pollinate the flowers.

The wild plant grows in the most inhospitable of places, bringing welcome color to wasteland and ground adjoining railway tracks and roads. In addition to the Evening Primrose Oil, the rest of the plant is also put to use. Young roots provide a vegetable which resembles the flavor of a pepper, and some people use the shoots in salads. Of course, some people just like Evening Primrose plants for the attractiveness it adds to the garden. In the past, people used to take the plant and make an infusion from it, which was used to treat gastro-intestinal problems and asthma symptoms. The plant was also used to make poultices, believed to soothe bruises and quicken the healing of wounds.

So, what are the claims made by the defenders and enthusiasts, concerning Evening Primrose Oil? It has been used as a sedative and as a pain killer. The most common use of evening primrose is for menstrual health.  It helps ease pre-menstrual tension, menstrual cramps and breast tenderness. Other conditions treated by the oil include whooping cough, high cholesterol levels and low immune system. Skin conditions are said to be helped by Evening Primrose Oil, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne  and rosacea (hot flushing).

In modern times, the oil is usually sold in the form of capsules. There are many claims made for the benefits of  Evening Primrose Oil. The medical establishment say that some of these claims go too far and no benefits have been proved in clinical trials. The consensus is, there may be an  exception to this, in that rheumatoid arthritis could be helped. The oil has been seen to reduce blood pressure levels in animals but it's difficult to quantify the effects in humans. The Evening Primrose Oil is pressed from the plant's seed which contains an Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) and there lies its therapeutic value. Others argue that you can get sufficient EFA from a good diet.

The debate will rage on, no doubt. It's good advice however, that you consult your Doctor before taking Evening Primrose Oil, especially if you are pregnant, breast feeding or are suffering from epilepsy. The oil can sometimes interact unfavorably with other supplements, herbal remedies or prescribed drugs. Most people agree, that in the majority of circumstances, Evening Primrose Oil will do no harm and any side affects are likely to be headaches, stomach pains or rashes.

Spread the word

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl Wists Yahoo! Help

Permalink • Print • Comment

October 5, 2007

Evening Primrose Oil

There is a long tradition, going back many centuries, for using plants and flower extracts in the treatment of various ailments. Evening Primrose Oil is one such example. The plant species is said to have originated in Central America and Mexico, and Native Americans are known to have believed in its healing properties. There are various species with differently colored flowers, yellow being the most common. Some are also red, pink, white or purple. The flowers open in the evening, hence the name. Bees and moths pollinate the flowers.

The wild plant grows in the most inhospitable of places, bringing welcome color to wasteland and ground adjoining railway tracks and roads. In addition to the Evening Primrose Oil, the rest of the plant is also put to use. Young roots provide a vegetable which resembles the flavor of a pepper, and some people use the shoots in salads. Of course, some people just like Evening Primrose plants for the attractiveness it adds to the garden. In the past, people used to take the plant and make an infusion from it, which was used to treat gastro-intestinal problems and asthma symptoms. The plant was also used to make poultices, believed to soothe bruises and quicken the healing of wounds.

So, what are the claims made by the defenders and enthusiasts, concerning Evening Primrose Oil? It has been used as a sedative and as a pain killer. The most common use of evening primrose is for menstrual health. It helps ease pre-menstrual tension, menstrual cramps and breast tenderness. Other conditions treated by the oil include whooping cough, high cholesterol levels and low immune system. Skin conditions are said to be helped by Evening Primrose Oil, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and rosacea (hot flushing).

In modern times, the oil is usually sold in the form of capsules. There are many claims made for the benefits of Evening Primrose Oil. The medical establishment say that some of these claims go too far and no benefits have been proved in clinical trials. The consensus is, there may be an exception to this, in that rheumatoid arthritis could be helped. The oil has been seen to reduce blood pressure levels in animals but it's difficult to quantify the effects in humans. The Evening Primrose Oil is pressed from the plant's seed which contains an Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) and there lies its therapeutic value. Others argue that you can get sufficient EFA from a good diet.

The debate will rage on, no doubt. It's good advice however, that you consult your Doctor before taking Evening Primrose Oil, especially if you are pregnant, breast feeding or are suffering from epilepsy. The oil can sometimes interact unfavorably with other supplements, herbal remedies or prescribed drugs. Most people agree, that in the majority of circumstances, Evening Primrose Oil will do no harm and any side affects are likely to be headaches, stomach pains or rashes.

Tags: , , , ,

Spread the word

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl Wists Yahoo! Help

Permalink • Print • 1 Comment

December 1, 2007

Finding the Best Weight Loss System

So it's no secret anymore that America is one of the most overweight countries today. Our weight issues have been a hot subject in the media and news for several years now, and new trendy diets and weight loss programs have been spawning out of control. If you are like many millions of other Americans and are overweight, you're probably very interested in finding the best weight loss system possible. Are these new trendy diets the way to go? What about medication, or even surgery?

The rise in the use of both medication and surgery is to me a little scary. While they are both the best weight loss methods with respect to losing weight fast, they are also the most risky, and have vastly more side effects and dangers compared to dieting and exercise programs.

Surgery, whether it's liposuction or a gastric bypass, is always inherently risky. While liposuction is definitely the safer of the two common forms of weight loss surgery, it remains very expensive, and can leave you with a pretty vicious scar. Gastric bypasses are more drastic, and can lead to serious tissue damage, medical conditions and nutrient deficiencies. So surgery is the best weight loss procedure in that it gets the weight off fast, but because of its danger and high cost, it really should be reserved for people that suffer from obesity that is causing serious and immediate adverse health effects.

Medication is less drastic than surgery, but not by a lot, and in itself has plenty of dangers associated with it. Regardless of what you hear advertised, any drug or ?herb' that suppresses your appetite will have some potentially harmful side effects, and shouldn't be taken without talking to your doctor first. As tempting as they may be, medications aren't the best weight loss method for most people, and should be reserved for more serious forms of obesity.

Unfortunately, its good old diet and exercise that is the best weight loss method in the end. The good news is our understanding of both diet and exercise is improving. We now know that starving yourself is not the answer. Actually, studies today are showing that the best weight loss diets are the ones that encourage you to eat a lot and often, but stick to healthier foods. Foods high in fiber, vegetables, lean protein, and low fat, eaten throughout the day will help you maintain a high metabolism. If you're hungry, eat! Starving will slow down your metabolism considerably, so keep eating but just eat healthy things.

Tags: , , , ,

Spread the word

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl Wists Yahoo! Help

Permalink • Print • Comment

December 4, 2007

Causes for Hair Loss

How's the dew looking these days? Is it just as thick, shiny and vibrant as it was back in high school? Or, are you starting to reflect sunlight off your head? That's always a major bummer. No one likes to say bye bye to their snazzy dew. For some it's their best feature in the first place. Regardless, there is not a lot we can do with the old gene pool. After all, this is probably one of the primary causes for hair loss. However, there are several ways to battle this affliction once it rears its ugly head. It's high time to see a trichologist, ladies and gentlemen. There's no reason why you have to say goodbye to your hair. Do you have a computer handy?

Do you know the major causes for hair loss? Well, if you don't already, then let me fill you in on the secrets of the follicle. First of all, most likely one of the greatest causes for hair loss is genetics. So, how can you tell if you will lose your head fuzz? It has a lot to do with your family tree. You'll want to check out your grandfather. Your mother's father to be more specific. How was his hair looking the last time you saw him? If he's 70 years old with a full head of hair, then that's a pretty good sign. This is basic biology, folks. Now, if your mother's father passed away at a young age, then there may be nothing to go on. I used to look at my father and wonder if I would lose my dew, but I still haven't after 30 years. Not to say that it won't happen, but it's looking good so far. However, for the longest time, I thought his baldness would have an impact on me, but it shouldn't according to science. Then there are a few other causes for hair loss. One of the major ones being stress. Yes indeed, stress can often be the culprit of a thinning hair dew. What does this tell you? Well duh! It tells you to take life as it comes and don't worry about things. Worrying won't benefit you in any way regardless.

For more information on causes for hair loss, you can get on the World-Wide-Web for a closer look. Sort through a variety of new-age treatments and remedies for thinning hair. Maybe you're looking to do something about your hair loss. Hey, the sooner the better.

Tags: , , , ,

Spread the word

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl Wists Yahoo! Help

Permalink • Print • Comment