Why Juicing Vegetables Causes Indigestion?

If you are a newbie in the world of fruits and vegetables, you will need some information about them to reap all the benefits. Take for instance vegetable juicing. Your first glass of freshly juiced veggies probably left you cringing, and you might have made up your mind never to have it again.

Here is what you have to understand before ticking vegetables off the list. The discomfort that you felt the day you had your first glass of vegetable juice is quite common. Most people experience symptoms of indigestion after consuming vegetable blends. Bloating, nausea, a burning sensation in the lower chest bone area (epigastrium), pain in the stomach, and a feeling of fullness after meals are signs that say your body is facing problems while trying to digest the food you have consumed.

Indigestion can be caused due to a number of factors. However, at this point, it is necessary to remember that you may be mistaking the discomfort caused due to the juice with indigestion. According to experts, vegetable juices actually aid digestion.

Certain vegetables contain large quantities of sugar. This excess sugar makes it difficult for your body to absorb the nutrients and break the food down. Some specific forms of naturally occurring sugars are also responsible for giving rise to indigestion-like symptoms. You need to remember that individual characteristics also have a role to play. The discomfort may also be related to underlying gastrointestinal problems that were triggered post consumption.

The large quantities of fiber present in vegetables also contribute to digestive problems that are related to vegetable juicing.

So, what is the way out?

To minimize the shock that the body suffers when raw vegetables are incorporated in the diet, it is often recommended that water and vegetable are blended together, and that the pulp is separated out before your drink the juice. You can take equal amounts of water and vegetables to go comparatively easy on your body while you are initiating a diet change.

There are certain vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cabbages, and cauliflower that do not go down as comfortably as others. They tend to irritate weaker digestive systems and cause gas and bloating. If you are specifically allergic to some vegetables, it will be wise to not eat them and reach for better varieties. You may also want to stay away from artificial sweeteners or sugar while preparing your juice.

It is also important that you drink your juice as soon as possible after preparation to prevent it from spoiling. Spoiled or infected vegetable juice leads to indigestion or indigestion-like problems.

Pasteurized juice vs. non pasteurized juice

Most of the packaged vegetable juices that are available in the market are pasteurized to destroy the natural bacteria present in the products and in the process, increase shelf life. While pasteurized juices are a lot less concentrated and much easier on the body than fresh homemade vegetable blends, the importance of live enzymes and friendly bacteria is up for consideration. They are, according to experts, beneficial for health in the long run.

You need to adapt your body to tolerate raw vegetable juices in their freshest forms in order to obtain the maximum benefits of nature's bounty.

Lou Harsh enjoys Healthy Juicing and writes more about the process and benefits of juicing on the website www.juicingandjuicers.com. You may click on the above links above to visit site.

Buy CPAP Nasal Mask and Sleep Well

You can treat your sleep apnea if you buy CPAP nasal mask. CPAP nasal mask is a triangular mask that you should wear over your nose. This is connected to a CPAP machine which continuously supplies regulated and pressurized air to your nostrils through a tube, which is connected via prongs that are fitted into your nostrils. There are also chin straps that hold your nasal mask in place.

CPAP masks are available in a number of brands that include Respironics, Fisher and Paykel, Comfortlite, Breeze, Mirage and ResMed. There are also some lesser known brands that are durable and at the same time, also suit your budget. If you have decided to buy, it is better you rent one first to try if it fits and suits you. A mask which cannot fit you properly can be very uncomfortable to wear and thus, will serve no purpose. CPAP masks are generally expensive. Therefore, there are a number of things you need to check for, before you buy this.

You have to buy a mask which has an excellent fit. You should feel very comfortable on wearing it. You have to choose a mask which does not leak. Leakages can cause quite a mess. Your mask should make no noise. It should be latex-free, easy to clean and it should also be easy to assemble. When you buy CPAP nasal mask, you should check if it is light enough on your face. You should not feel any kind of discomfort when you change your sleeping position during the night. You should also check the number of straps that the mask has. Ideally, they should be very minimal and they should also be quite flexible, so that you can adjust them to get an excellent fit.

Durability and efficiency are two more things that you have to check for, if you want to buy CPAP nasal mask. These masks should also be easy to wear, without too much of a fuss. You must try and buy a mask which has very minimal interruptions. It should allow you to wear your reading glasses so that you can watch TV or read a book while in bed. You should also be able to talk to your spouse with your nasal mask on.

CPAP nasal masks are generally expensive and cannot be returned or exchanged. Therefore, you have to be very careful whenever you buy CPAP Nasal mask. Renting one is a good idea before buying.

See more about Resmed CPAP mask.

How Can You Slim Down Without Building Muscles?

In this day and age, many people undoubtedly want to lose weight. Not all of those individuals want to build noticeable muscles during the process though. This is especially true for women, but the situation can arise for either sex. Weight loss can be achieved with enough hard work and dedication. Unfortunately, that can also lead to large muscle gains in certain exercisers. It is possible to slim down without bulking up though.

For starters, an individual will need to create an effective weight loss program. Proper diet and regular exercise are the key to success with any regimen. An individual needs to keep that in mind because there are no miracles involved with losing weight. Following a strict weight loss plan is the only way to succeed. Otherwise, barely noticeable losses are the result of being lazy while attempting to slim down.

When it comes to slimming down without developing muscles, an individual needs to be careful about their exercise. Of course, certain exercises and routines promote muscle gain more than weight loss. Lifting weights is usually not the best option for solely losing weight. A dieter is better off running on the treadmill and engaging in other cardiovascular activities than lifting heavy weights. Undoubtedly, weights are usually a bad idea.

Likewise, eating too many foods that promote muscle growth is a bad idea. A weight lifter's diet paired with exercises that promote growth will result in weight gain and bulking up. The exact opposite is true for a simple yet healthy diet and cardio-based exercise. An individual that follows such a plan should see efficient weight loss without bigger muscles. However, that does not mean a person cannot lift weights at all.

In fact, lifting weights can help a person slim down rather than bulk up in certain cases. That individual will need a normal weight loss diet though. Such a diet must then be paired with moderate intensity workouts that focus more on cardiovascular activities than actual weight lifting regimens. Without a doubt, a person will fairly quickly if they are proceeding in the right direction. He or she should feel out of breath like they just ran rather than feeling like their muscles are about to burst out of their arms.

Quite a few people run into issues involving muscle gains when attempting to lose weight. All that means is that their current weight loss program is not the right regimen. From there, changes need to be made so that a person is losing weight and not gaining muscle. A moderate amount of muscle is always recommended, but many individuals would rather be lean and fit than bulky. Fortunately, most people will not have too many troubles with their weight loss goals.

If you require more information, please visit my blog: bzhealthtips.com, bzhealthtips.blogspot.com

Low Thyroid - Alternative Treatments to Low Thyroid Problems

Predominantly, the medical world turns to prescription drugs to treat ailments. When it comes to thyroid issues this is no exception. Because the root of issues involved in overactive or under active thyroids can be found in the hormone distribution tasks the gland is meant to oversee, often prescription medicines to adjust those same hormone levels are seen to be the solution.

The result of a low or high functioning thyroid is an imbalance of hormones within the body that impacts metabolism, energy levels, mood, appetite and bowel movements among many other aspects of daily health. The cause of thyroid disorder is not as clear. Often times there are multiple causes contributing to thyroid problems, and all should be addressed to properly restore thyroid health.

Of the many discovered causes for thyroid disorder, the main ones are: diet, exercise, mood, environment, and genetics. Many times prescription drugs, aside from their range of harmful side effects, also fail to address the causes of thyroid disorder and instead create dependence. Drugs can address the surface symptoms, but must be taken constantly and over long periods of time. Since the causes of the health issue are not being address, there is also a high potential that the patient will have to constantly readjust their medications as their body adapts to the chemicals and they fail to continue providing relive.

Often times, alternative thyroid care will begin by addressing the potential causes for the ailment. Dietary adjustments may be recommended, an exercise routine shaped for the individual patient might be created, stress management techniques can be presented, and sleep habits will be addressed. In addition chiropractic care, vitamin supplements, and acupuncture can be applied with beneficial result.

Chiropractic care is often looked at for thyroid sufferers. Since chiropractors deal with adjustments to the nervous system, a system that controls ever cell and organ in the body, this type of treatment can certainly impact the thyroid. Many chiropractors also employ acupuncture in their practices, another form of alternative medicine that can help thyroid function.

Chiropractors are also generally more knowledgeable when it comes to vitamins, minerals, and herbs than a general physician is. Because physicians have a pharmaceutical presence in their classrooms from the start of their training, they are rarely adept at anything beyond prescription chemicals. Vitamins and herbs can be introduced into the diet, addressing thyroid issues and saving patients from complicated side effects.

It is important to know that any one of these alternative adjustments may not address thyroid function. A chiropractor can assist patients in discovering their individual path to healthy thyroid function. Through a combination of lifestyle adjustments specific to the individual thyroid in need, a healthy treatment can be found. When the causes as well as the symptoms are taken into account, it is apparent that the typical thyroid fix often falls short. Seek professional diagnosis and know that there are many treatment options.

Denver Thyroid Doctor, Dr. David Arthur, DC, DACNB, FACFN, CCCN is a leading expert in low thyroid and thyroid disorders in Denver, Colorado. He works with women (and a few men) of all ages who suffer from thyroid issues. Dr. Arthur takes a unique, neurological and functional medicine approach to thyroid treatment. If youre suffering from thyroid problems and want answers and solutions, visit http://www.DenverThyroidExpert.com

Eat Fat To Save Your Hair

Your Hair Is A Beauty Statement, But Also A Reflection Of Your Internal Health

Your hair is a reflection of what your overall health status is. People use shampoos, and conditioners in an attempt to give their hair strength and flexibility. They use other hair products to give their hair volume and shine. They also hope that their hair will grow faster if they can only find the right product. The cost of pursuing beautiful, healthy, shiny hair amounts to billions of dollars.

Whether we like it on or not, beauty is judged by our outside appearance, and the quality and quantity of the hair that we possess are two of the main areas which people try to improve on. Hair is one of our most important defining features, and people judge their attractiveness by how beautiful their hair is.

People also believe that aging will automatically include the loss of healthy, vibrant hair, as well as the slowing down of its growth. What if the solution to hair problems was much simpler, and less expensive?

The hair on your head is dead

Apart from the soles of your feet, and your eyelids, palms and lips, your entire body is covered in minute hair follicles. The part of the hair that is responsible for the growth of your hair, lies beneath the skin. This is called the hair follicle. Right next to this hair follicle, is a tiny oil gland, which helps to keep the hair shaft lubricated and soft, as it grows up and out of the hair follicle. This is actually the part of the hair that is alive, because when it pops out of your skin, it is dead, and only being pushed up, to keep it growing, by a process of cell division that is occurring beneath the skin.

The part of the hair that you see is called the hair cuticle, which is the outside of the hair shaft. The hair cuticle is covered with a tiny layer of oil, which is provided by the tiny oil gland that lies next to the hair follicle. This layer of oil protects your hair from the elements, and helps to keep it flexible. If your diet doesnt contain the right fat, then this will result in dry, brittle, easily breakable hair. This means that you will have to supply conditioner regularly, as the hair will have been dry from when it emerged from the hair follicle. Because most people consume the wrong fats in their diets, dry, brittle hair is such a problem for many people.

Protein in your hair needs fat to work optimally

The specific protein that makes up your hair is called keratin. This protein provides strength to your hair, but without the right fats, it cant provide enough strength to protect your hair from dehydration and becoming brittle and breaking easily. The right kinds of fats are natural conditioners, because they are providing moisture from the inside, rather than from the outside. That tiny oil gland that lies next to the hair follicle needs the right fats to keep the hair shaft moist and flexible, as it moves out of your skin, to become a new hair.

A special growth signal that occurs within your skin, will determine the way your hair grows. Your general health, as well as the functioning of the cells and their membranes influences this signal. The cells and membranes are influenced by the nutrients in your diet, of which protein and fat make up a considerable portion. Using the right fats, you may even notice new hair growth, as these fats work on so many different levels within your body.

Protein - the second building block of strong, beautiful hair

Protein is the second building block of your hair. Protein is found in the animal flesh, as well as dairy products, but nuts, seeds, legumes and grains also provide excellent sources of protein. The body makes use of protein for the growth and maintenance of muscles, as well as helping to form hair, skin and nails. Many people are unaware that they may have a problem with the digestion and absorption of protein, which would negatively impact many aspects of their health, including the health of their hair.

The absorption of protein is strongly influenced by the health of your digestive system. The right fats can help to improve your digestion.

The stages of hair growth

The active growth stage of a hair follows a specific cycle, which occurs in three specific stages. The first stage is where the hair is in an active growth stage. A hair can grow for five years in this stage, increasing its length continuously. It would seem that the average persons hair grows about 1 cm a month. At the end of the active stage, the next phase occurs, where a signal marks the end of active growth.

The final stage is the resting stage, where the hair is ready to fall out, and be replaced by a new hair. When there is no cell division occurring in the hair follicle, the old hair will not be replaced, and you will end up losing more hairs than are being replaced.

These growth stages will be influenced by the nutrients that are available to the cells that are responsible for hair growth, and replacement. A special epidermal growth signal dictates how this cycle unfolds, and is dependant on the components of the cells that instruct hair growth and replacement to occur.

Provide conditioner for your hair from the inside

When you provide conditioner from the inside, through the nutrients that you eat, you are ensuring the right fats are present from the time the hair is formed. The protein, keratin, that your hair is made up of, work with the right fats to provide the raw materials to produce hair that is naturally healthy and strong.

Essential Fats are natural moisturizers, providing moisture from the inside, ensuring that the tiny sebaceous gland has the right fats to keep the hair cuticle moist as it moves up, through your skin, onto your scalp. This tiny gland will continue to moisturize the hair with the right fats, as new cells are pushed through the hair follicle, onto your scalp. This is how each hair stays flexible and moist, avoiding breakage.

The hair shaft also retains moisture more efficiently, providing a protection against dehydration. Although it may take up to 60 days to see a difference in the quality of your hair, the solution is a permanent one. When the right foundation foods are supplied, you can avoid the trap of searching for external solutions. You may also experience new hair growth, with the right nutrients providing the opportunity for hair replacement.

Other things that can cause hair damage, loss and thinning

There are some things that people do to their hair that can cause hair damage, and unfortunately there are some serious physical illnesses that cause hair loss and thinning. This is a basic list of factors that can influence the quality of your hair:

• Excessive hair treatments, like chemical processing, bleaching/dyeing

• Cushings syndrome, which is an adrenal gland disorder resulting in excessive cortisol production which leads to hair loss

• Stress, which also results on cortisol production, leading to hair loss

• Iron deficiency

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Certain medications

• Vitamin D deficiency

• Diabetes

• Autoimmune disease, like Lupus

• Hormonal imbalance

• Psoriasis

If you are experiencing other symptoms of ill health, besides hair loss or thinning, please see a health care practitioner.

Delia McCabe is a Nutritional Neuroscience Researcher. She has a Masters degree in Psychology and has been doing research for over ten years. Her specific area of interest is Essential Fatty Acids and how they effect brain and general health. She has discovered that many chronic illnesses and mental health problems can be traced back to a lack of Essential Fats. Find out if you are deficient by doing the quick assessment at http://www.deliahealth.com.

The Effects of Low Thyroid Levels in the Body

Thyroid is an important hormone which helps stimulate cellular energy production and other crucial hormones that in turn support the development and growth of the body. It is made by the pituitary glands which produce the thyroid stimulating hormone. Living with low thyroid levels in the body has proved challenging and difficult for affected persons. Low thyroid levels in the body affect overall health by slowing down the metabolism process and affecting energy production in the body. This alone greatly affects individuals who are thus unable to carry out their normal day-to-day activities due to feelings of exhaustion and weakness.

Low levels of the hormone affects a great deal of body functions thus exhibiting various telltale symptoms like unexplained weight gain, faint or irregular heartbeat, fatigue, variations in body temperature, dry skin, low or high blood pressure, weak muscles, constipation, chronic pain, sleep apnea, joint pain, head congestion, brittle nails, hoarseness and frequent infections. Low levels of thyroid are also associated with an increased risk of fatal heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. Most sufferers constantly suffer colds or constipation, or gain considerable weight without increasing the amount of food they eat. Now a days people are very concerned about their health.

Hypothyroidism is a condition that is caused by low thyroid levels in the body and it mostly affects women of age 50 or above. Most symptoms may go undetected for years. The main problem experienced in detecting the condition is that most of the symptoms are commonplace e.g. fatigue and low energy levels and people may dismiss these as being harmless or normal. If not taken care of however these normal symptoms can proceed to cause other fatal problems. The only way to make sure that your thyroid levels are safe is to have a complete thyroid check and blood work done at least once per year. So try this really good for health.

For those with the condition, replacement therapies are available to augment the low levels of thyroid hormone. These come in the form of natural supplements or medications which are administered by professional medics; these medications are usually very sensitive and have to be taken as per instructions. There are various natural supplements available in the market and these products can be purchased online at affordable prices. The internet has a wide range of products to choose from and it also offers you a chance to compare different prices.

The author has vast knowledge of low thyroid. For more information please visit www.weekendweightlosscenter.com.

Can I Order The Chef's Table Meals Without A Package On Nutrisystem?

I've noticed a high amount of interest on my blog regarding the new chef's table meals on Nutrisystem. I've had a couple of people ask me if it is possible to order these items separately or a la carte without having to order one of the packages. In case you didn't know, many of the diet's meals are available for individual purchase. So I went on the company's website to see if this was the case for these new entrées.

Here is how you get to the a la carte menu. Go to the company's main site. Look on the right side of the screen. Click on any of the women's packages. Once you see the list of all of the pages, scroll down to the very bottom of the page. While, there you should see a prompt that says "shop a la carte." Hit that prompt. Once you do, you'll be taken to the section of the site where you can order foods individually. You'll see a very large list of items available. I went to the "dinner" section of the site because the chef's tables meals are dinner entrées. As of this writing, I did not see any chef's table offerings.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the company will never offer these foods for individual purchase, but it does look to me that, at least as of right now, they are not selling them on an individual basis. This might eventually change though. It may help to know that the company is currently offering these meals free with auto ship packages. So you could theoretically order the cheapest package (which is the core) and still get 7 of these meals thrown in for free.

As of today, you would get a month's worth of meals for just a little over $250 and this includes those new chef's table items. Considering that many of the diet's dinner entrées cost at least $5.50 each, getting seven of these for free is around a $30 value and that is probably a conservative estimate. So although it looks like that right now, you'll need to order a package to try these meals, the packages are currently priced very aggressively and you will have enough meals to last quite a while.

Most of the time, ordering the foods separately works out to cost a lot more than buying a package. 30 days worth of dinners alone would cost well over $150. When you consider that the monthly package is just a little over $100 more and it gives you four additional meals each day for a month, it becomes a little easier to see how cost effective a package can be.

Want more tips on being successful on or starting Nutrisystem while saving money? Ava's Nutrisystem Information Website features articles meant to help you evaluate and have success with this diet. There's also a link to a free eBook and the latest coupons to help you get started. You can visit her at http://ava-alderman-weight-loss-articles.com/

Moxibustion - Like A Human Birthday Cake

After inserting the needles into her carefully chosen points, my acupuncture therapist proceeded to put blobs of moxa onto the end of selected needles and then lit each one. Whilst it was rather alarming to be turned into the equivalent of a birthday cake, the resulting warmth pervaded deep into my body, relaxing the muscles and rejuvenating my energy levels.

As they cooled down, it was as if the stresses and concerns that had been bottled up inside me had melted away.

Fast forward almost a year of monthly treatments later and it was a rather different story. She lit them and I was immediately aware of a very different type of heat, getting towards being uncomfortably hot.

When I mentioned this to Lorna, she said that was a sign that I was getting better and my energy levels were nearing where they should be. She recalled the first time she had received moxibustion - she was so cold and damp inside that it took three lumps of moxa on the same needle for her to feel any warmth at all.

Moxibustion is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine which utilises moxa made from the herb, mugwort. The mugwort is aged and then ground to a fluff which practitioners compress into a ball or form into cones.

These are then placed on the needle or directly on the acupuncture point and burnt to produce a nourishing, penetrating warmth similar to the heat from the sun.

Moxa can also be formed into larger cigar like sticks which when lit are used to heat up larger areas of the patients body. Moxibustion is essentially the relaxing deep heat treatment of Chinese Medicine.

When applied to specific acupuncture points in conjunction with acupuncture, direct moxibustion increases the effect of acupuncture. This is known in Chinese Medicine as tonification - boosting the body. The additional heat produced is a way of giving patients something "extra". It is therefore particularly effective for treating people who are feeling run down or suffering from energy depletion.

The stimulating effect of the heat from the moxa is also effective for increasing circulation. This is known in Chinese Medicine as dispersal - movement of stuck blood or energy. Moxibustion is therefore particularly effective in treating many of the different problems that are peculiar to women. It is believed that mugwort (the herb which is aged to produce moxa) is an emmenagogue - something which stimulates the blood flow to the pelvic area and uterus - so it is particularly useful for gynaecological and menstrual problems.

Like the sun, moxa produces a comforting dry heat helping to eliminate dampness and cold in the body, alleviating general aches and pains and supporting aging joints to fight against problems with rheumatism and arthritis.

An integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heat of Moxibustion boosts the bodys natural energies and is a regular part of the acupuncture treatments of Lorna Withers at Essex Acupuncture

My Journey In Sports Nutrition

Starting Out In The Gym - No supplement just exercise

Back in 2004, I just started to work full-time having received my first ever pay cheque I promptly signed up at my local gym. I really had no idea what I was doing, I had never been in a gym before so the free personal training sessions they offered really did help to get me going. The first few weeks were pretty tough going, constant aches and fatigue, not surprising I now realise I had been doing too much too soon. When lifting weights, especially in bodybuilding, the fibres in the muscle stretch and can tear (especially if you go too heavy too quick).

First Few Months - No supplement just exercise

During the first months I had no real structure to my workout I was basically doing what I felt like, I didn't really work opposing muscle groups; it was just a bit chaotic to say the least.
I enjoyed my workouts but I wanted to make sure I was getting the most out of it, I started to look up exercise routines & the different exercises for each muscle group.

What's Missing? - Supplementing whey protein

With my schedule now in place I began hearing from various people about 'supplements', I had absolutely no idea what they where talking about.

I mean I have my exercise schedule, that's all I need to build muscle right?

Well apparently not, I needed protein shakes, protein bars, creatine & apparently I should start 'bulking'. Having not understood why, or even how these things could help to build muscle I instantly purchased the first protein powder I could find, 'Promax'.

Not the wisest of choices, first I blindly bought something that I didn't have any understanding of, and secondly I had no idea what effect this would have on my body.

**MUST** always do the research before you decide to take anything, especially in sports nutrition there are lots of powders out there that have some 'scary' side effects (more about my own experience in part 2) As it stands 'Promax' had no adverse effects, as it only contains BCAA & whey protein which are fairly harmless. I religiously took 'Promax' two to three times a day, I didn't supplement anything else... not even a multi-vitamin. Bad times.

Solid As A Rock - 'dirty' bulking

Hmmmm... not quite, with my schedule & supplements I continued my workouts noticing some muscle gain but still retaining that fatty layer. Confused as I was I decided to start 'bulking', as I was recommended to do so, and again blindly walking down the path to no idea.

For me 'bulking' came across as 'eat as many calories as you can', but how wrong can you be. 'Bulking', in the bodybuilding sense is indeed ingesting lots of calories in an effort to gain more muscle mass, whilst not gaining excess fat. However, where the calories came from and the quality and nutritional value of the food mattered!!!

You cannot boost your calorie intake by eating a cheese sandwich, followed by a pie, followed by crisps; that is the wrong way to do it! These foods would be considered bad calories, all three contain proportional amounts of saturated fat, only the cheese would have any marginal nutritional value. So whatever you do, do not 'bulk' by shoveling fat laden foods into your body. I learnt the hard way

Creatine A Way Forward? - Supplementing whey protein & Creatine

After 3 years I was feeling fairly strong, I would mostly workout alone (accompanied by angry music) and would began to really push myself. I remember quite vividly, I was sitting on a bench with 2x 50Kg dumbbells, this was my first ever bench press at this weight. I'm getting myself psyched up and I see one of the old timers walking over (quite skinny short balding kinda guy) he looks at the dumbbells and asks if I'd like a spotter, I say no, he sits on the bench next to me just eyeballing these dumbbells. So I get in the zone again and blitz the first set, the guy gets up and walks away... no faith I assumed.

During the third year I discovered the secret powder known as 'creatine', most commonly 'creatine monohydrate', apparently it was great for muscle definition and firmness. So off I skipped blind as a bat to collect a tub of 'Creatamax', bit of a pattern here isn't there?

Now creatine can pose more danger to your body than whey protein, whilst creatine is naturally occurring by increasing the amount of creatine in the body it could potentially cause liver dysfunction, kidney damage, high blood pressure to name but a few possible side effects.

**MUST** check out the research before you take any supplement, consult your doctor if in any doubt.

My workout results, whilst using creatine, weren't really all that much better my muscles felt a bit firmer but that was about it. When taking creatine it is extremely important to keep fluid levels up, so drink water regularly.

Time Out - No supplements, no exercise

After 3 years training I took a year out, I went travelling and then settled back into a job before I began training again.

Let's take some time out to ingest my story so far, please remember to always do the research before you try or do anything that you aren't familiar with!

Gareth Coffey
http://www.garethcoffey.com

The Mediterranean Diet - Is It for You?

With dozens of studies supporting the same conclusion, there is no doubt that the Mediterranean diet is one of the worlds healthiest eating habits. Of course this did not happen by a stroke of luck. Researchers have identified four factors that determine a healthy lifestyle. Namely, a low-fat diet, moderate to no drinking at all, increased physical activity and non-smoking.

In terms of diet, the traditional Mediterranean diet definitely has it all. Research has proven that the kinds of foods (fat burning foods) in this diet have a lot of benefits for your health. People following this diet have less chances of contracting metabolic illnesses and have less chances of getting inflamed cells which reduces the chance of getting disease as well. The same thing can be said about Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease. Equally important is that people in this diet do live longer as well.

Apart from less chances of coronary heart disease and other similar diseases, the Mediterranean diet also lowers the chances of getting other diseases. People following this diet can rest easy knowing that they are adding improved quality, health and years to their life.

Good, Better, Best

When it comes to fats, people tend to think that these are all bad but this stigma could not get any worse. Saturated fats come from animal products while polyunsaturated fats are produced from plants, seeds and vegetable oil among others. Monounsaturated fats are considered the healthiest and ideally should be included in your diet in place of other kinds of fat.

The good news is that the Mediterranean diet revolves around this line of thinking. Of course it is by no coincidence that this is the reason for the health benefits you get from it. All this is thanks to the kind of staple foods included in all of Mediterranean cuisine. Mediterranean cuisine takes root from several countries each with its own distinct flavor. At the heart of these dishes though are certain foods that have been proven by research to be important for good health. These fat burning foods for vitality are responsible for all the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and making you feel better at the same time.

The health benefits from the Mediterranean diet all boils down to one thing. All the foods included in the diet are rich in essential vitamins and minerals that the body needs for vitality. Consuming these foods can more or less guarantee that you are getting enough of these nutrients, lose weight and become a healthier you. So, is the Mediterranean Diet for you?

My name is Al James. I am a freelance writer with a passion for keeping fit and helping others do the same through my writing. Being in my early 50s I found it difficult to lose weight. That is until I discovered the Mediterranean Diet Program. With this diet you will never go hungry and the program is packed full of great mediterranean diet recipes. I highly recommend it.

Going Vegetarian? Be Prepared for Lifestyle Challenges

Deciding to switch to a vegetarian diet and lifestyle can be a marvelously fun and rewarding experience. But be sure to cover all your bases before you begin. There are a number of important things to consider before you get started that will help to smooth out the transition. Just take the time to think things through a bit first.

For starters, youll want to define for yourself exactly why you want to give up eating meat. Is it for reasons of health, weight loss, religious concerns or maybe a keen interest in animal rights? Youll need to be very clear about this or youre liable to succumb to every difficult or challenging situation you encounter and lose your resolve.

Youll also soon find out that your decision to go meatless will very quickly affect other people around you. Ideally, your decision will elicit only support and encouragement from your peers. But your decision may affect others (especially those close to you) in a negative way. They may regard your decision as a rejection of their chosen lifestyle and become defensive toward you. You just need to be prepared if this happens and not overreact.

Do you prepare your own food at home? Do you eat out often with friends? Do you do a lot of traveling with others? Deciding to become vegetarian will pose challenges, not only for you, but for your companions and loved ones as well if you havent decided to take full responsibility for your decision. You dont want to become a burden on others just in order to please your personal fancy.

Its also a good idea to educate yourself a little about nutrition. Just because you dont eat meat doesnt mean that youve adopted a healthy diet. You can make a lot of very wrong health decisions regarding what to eat if your new diet is not nutritionally sound. Take the time to get an understanding of the basics of nutrition and your experience will be much more to your satisfaction. You can easily eat well and sleep well on a meatless diet if you first learn how to eat smart.

We started out as new, struggling vegetarians long before the days when you could find organic foods or tofu dogs at the local supermarket. Credible information and people with experience as vegetarians were a real scarcity back then. But we learned a lot and kept adapting and experimenting with new ideas and recipes.

We now have a very practical and satisfying vegetarian diet plan that we totally enjoy following and are very comfortable with. The emphasis of our meatless meal plans are on healthful vegetarian cuisine. Others may choose to emphasize a different focus. Whatever your decision, just be sure to do a little due diligence beforehand. It can mean the difference between starting on an enjoyable culinary adventure or suffering through a lot of negative emotions and hurt feelings. When avoidable, life is too short for the latter.

So, heres to enjoying your culinary adventure. Bon appétit!

After years of working as a chef in prestigious southern country clubs and hotels, my wife Skye and I decided to give up eating meat and become vegetarians. We had toyed with the idea on and off for years. But we finally decided to get out of the restaurant business and go meatless in earnest.

In the years that followed that decision, we tried all kinds of different diets and approaches to vegetarian cooking and gradually developed our own balanced, satisfying and healthy meatless diet and lifestyle.

Draw on our 35 plus years of experience, research and experimentation with healthy vegetarian cuisine.

We offer lots of useful tips, informative discussions, delicious recipes and the opportunity to interact with us with your comments and questions.

Just visit our website. http://MeatlessLiving.com/ We hope to meet you there soon.

All the best, David Boaz.

Threshold Ramps Give You the Advantage of Enhanced Maneuverability

When someone is confined to a wheelchair, one of the biggest challenges they face is maneuvering it over the metal plates that protect the base of doorways everywhere. Some of them can be as high as three inches, making it almost impossible to clear without some kind of help. Threshold ramps can make this challenge easier to handle and come in a variety of materials and sizes to fit any need.

Portable and Easy To Use

Threshold ramps are foldable and can be carried along when traveling inside and outside the home, or left in place for convenience. They do not have to be affixed in any fashion, and should be placed when needed at an angle that does not make using them dangerous. Some of them come in a fixed length, while others can be extended to at least three feet on either side of the doorway. Still others are best used in outdoor areas that are exposed to the weather or anywhere else that extra traction may be needed, like in a bathroom or shower area.

Plastic Ramps

Plastic ramps can be easily placed over any doorway threshold, up to six inches in height, and can be easily folded up for storage or transport. They are durable, with traction ridges built-in to handle most wheelchairs but may not be advisable for use with power chairs. The weight of power chairs and scooters can be in the range of more than a hundred pounds and with the added weight of the rider, may be more than a plastic ramp can handle. Always check the weight allowance on any ramp before purchasing one.

Aluminum Ramps

Aluminum is the material most often used in portable ramps, making them very lightweight when transporting them around. The extendable versions of these ramps make them very versatile for maneuvering about the home or office, and can be extended several feet on either side of the doorway. They are also good for overcoming curbs and steps with ease, as long as the angle they are placed at is within a safe climb for the wheelchair. Aluminum ramps are designed to hold more weight than most, making them perfect for use with scooters, power chairs and even heavy-duty wheelchairs.

Rubber

Finally, rubber threshold ramps are designed for areas where extra traction may be needed because of environmental conditions, as well as for providing smooth transition quickly over raised surfaces like sliding door frames and elevator doors. Built with molded treads, they are virtually non-slip in nature, making them perfect for use in the bathroom, kitchen, shower area, pool area or outdoor deck. Portability is even greater with rubber ramps, as they can easily be rolled up and stored in a pouch on the wheelchair, or even packed in a backpack or briefcase for use outside the home, or in the workplace.

Want to know more about how using threshold ramps can make life in a wheelchair easier? The experts at Mobility Specialists can answer any question you have about any mobility aids. Call them today to get all the information you need. Also, check our new page on Threshold Ramps.

 

Heart Healthy Diet - Watch What You Eat

Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States today. With poor diet and lack of exercise, the number of people who will die from heart disease will continue to rise. If you want to lower risk of heart disease, you need to take a long hard look at your current diet and daily routine. You may also want to get a physical and have a talk with your doctor about your current situation and what you can do to improve your health.

The first step is to go on a Heart Healthy diet. A heart healthy diet consists of eating lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and beans plus eating foods that are low in salts. If youve spent most of your life eating food high in saturated fats like fried foods, you may find it to be a bit of a struggle at first. However, you dont need to switch to a heart healthy diet overnight. You can do it slowly and gradually until you are used to it. Even small changes in your diet overtime can lower your risk of heart disease or heart attack. Well take a look at what you need to monitor when you begin your Heart Healthy Diet.

1. Watch your portions

Many people today simply eat more than the recommended serving. Its very important that you read the labels to determine exactly what is one serving. Youll find that one serving for a meal could be about the size of a deck of cards instead of a full plate. You should try to measure each serving in the beginning and eventually youll be able to figure it out by sight.

One way to avoid eating too much is to eat very small portions throughout the day. There is no law that says you have to eat three square meals a day. By eating many smaller portions, youll not only feel more satisfied, youll have more energy throughout the day.

2. Limit your intake of salt and sodium

Reducing salt and sodium in your diet will help you lower your blood pressure, which in turn, will reduce the stress on your heart. As much as possible, you should try to use as little salt as possible or no salt at all when preparing your meals. While your food will taste bland in the beginning, your taste buds will eventually adjust and appreciate the true flavor.

You should also make an effort to pick packaged foods that are low in sodium and try to avoid snacking too much on chips or fast food. You should also stay away from processed meats and canned foods not labeled as low-sodium, since they tend to be very high in sodium content. However, you will find that once you get used to eating foods low in salt, you will not enjoy snacking on chips and spam.

3. Limit your intake of saturated fats

Eating foods that are high in saturated fats is the big culprit in having high cholesterol. You should make every effort to cut down the amount of saturated fat you eat. It is actually not that difficult to do. You can reduce fat when you cook by grilling, steaming, baking or broiling. If you need to fry your dish, use olive oil or canola oil and cook it in a wok since they do not as much oil as regular frying pans. Removing fat from beef or pork and removing the skin from poultry can also reduce the amount of fat.

4. Limit your alcohol

If you are a daily drinker, you should limit your alcohol intake to no more than two drinks a day for men and on drink a day for women. Actually, having some alcohol with a meal has shown some health benefits. For example, in the Mediterranean diet, its recommended that you have one serving of alcohol, like a six ounce glass of wine, with one of your meals. However, drinking more than the recommended amount can cause all sorts of health issues besides heart disease like liver damage.

By simply watching and monitoring what you eat and how much you eat will have an impact on your health. As long as you do everything in moderation, you will make great strides in reducing your risk of heart disease or heart attack. Coupled with eating healthier foods and working with your physician, you can expect to have a long and healthy life.

Visit our website at freewritings.info to read more about health article and other interesting topics including technology,gaming,musics and internet marketing

How Band-Aids Work

As a kid, you very well fear having wounds because they are extremely painful. In fact, the smaller the wound is, the pricklier it feels. One of the items your parents do to appease you is applying a band-aid to your wound.

Band-aids are adhesive bandages created and manufactured by Earle Dickinson for Johnson & Johnson's company in the 1920s. The term "band-aid" is actually a brand name but over time and due to the name's popularity, the same has also become synonymous to the general adhesive bandages. This is still true even if other brand names have already sprung up for sale to the general market. In terms of appearance, band-aids have also evolved in the design and the tri-dimensional sterile pads in the middle. With regard to the look of the bandages, the major objective is to make children fear less the sterilization of their wounds through the use of colorful designs and cartoon characters like Hello Kitty, Barbie, Spiderman, and even Dora the Explorer.

Bandages are used for the immediate covering of your small wounds and scratches. This is done to avoid exposing the wounds and scratches to dirt and other external objects that can cause infection. Also, it is suggested to be used after you have thoroughly cleaned your wounds with soap and water or sometimes, when it is graver, with alcohol and antiseptic.

This first aid kit works like a replacement to the scab that is usually formed by your skin to protect the wound and its insides from bacteria that causes infection. Also, it is found to be absorbent of the blood that your wound secretes and that eventually forms a scab or protective skin over the scratch. You might notice even the school nurse prefer the use of a band-aid, rather than leaving the wound open, although it prevents scabs from forming. Scabs that form over wounds have a tendency of cracking and opening up, which may even happen before the internal wound has totally healed. This would lead to more infection and possibly longer healing time. But when a band-aid is used, the covering is ensured to be in place due to its adhesive side that is attached to your skin for as long as the wound takes to heal from the inside.

Band-aids are highly purposeful especially in ensuring that small wounds and blisters do not develop and become more of a problem to you.

Hi. I'm Rachel Berret, a big advocate seeing an osteopath for your health complaints. I have a great osteopath Melbourne that helps me overcome my own aches and pains such as back pain, neck pains and headaches.

History and Health Benefits of Chiropractics

Daniel David Palmer founded Chiropractic in the year 1895. He was then a magnetic healer who came into a conclusion of curing disease by manipulating the spine. In his earlier days, he had kept the details about the studies very secret and it was in the year 1898 he began to teach his findings to the world. The patient who was cured with this healing method was Harvey Lillard. It took Palmer lot of years to start the Palmer school of Chiropractic. Later his son took over the school and began promoting the treatment.

Positive effects of the Treatment

Many people across the world have claimed of having cured with the treatment. However, the opinions on the treatment methods and the results obtained have differed in many cases. Various studies on the topic spinal manipulation did not agree with the results provided by Palmer. Indeed, it took over a decade since Palmer found the disease that really proved the treatment was effective for various health issues especially lower back pain, headaches, migraine, neck pain and few joint conditions.

Since then the treatment procedures and the effectiveness gained popularity across the world. The treatment method is less expensive and effective. One of the main advantages of undergoing the treatment is the cure comes in quicker than other traditional treatment procedures.

Apart from the above mentioned health condition, use of treatment for pediatric health problems are also cured by this method. The main ideology of the treatment is based and related to the manipulation of spinal.

Easy Cure Treatments with Chiropractic

Now let us see few of the medical conditions from which you can relieve quickly with this treatment method. As mentioned above many diseases can be cured with this treatment method. Here is a list of medical conditions from which you can get relief with this treatment method.

Low Back Pain: This medical condition is found in many people across the world. Even though there are several treatment methods for the condition, several people suffering from this condition were able to get relief from the issue. The treatment for lower back pain begins and ends with the spinal manipulation.

Neck Pain: Spinal manipulation has effective control over neck. Spinal manipulation with spinal mobilization has been found effective in curing neck pain and all other neck related health conditions.

Headache: The chiropractic treatment method of spinal manipulation has been found effective of gaining control over headache and migraine. Even though there were not any evidence it was effective, recent studies on spinal manipulation has agreed that spinal manipulation can cure headache and migraine.

Hip Osteoarthritis: The spinal manipulation and its effects has been recorded to an extent, which shows evidence of curing hip osteoarthritis along with shoulder pain, leg conditions, and upper limbs. These are few more health conditions that can be cured with the spinal manipulation.

Chiropractic is a good treatment method as it can cure various medical conditions. In addition to that, it also has positive effects on few psychological conditions such as stress, tension etc.

Minneapolis Chiropractors: Office of the best chiropractic doctors in Minnesota. Please visit Minneapolis Chiropractors for your chiropractic treatment.

How to Buy Eyeglasses Smartly:

With the living index increasing at a fast pace and salaries not increasing proportionately in todays world, it is very important that we shop smartly. Every day, many online optical stores promising cheap and reasonable eyeglasses are being launched. So you need to make sure that you buy eyeglasses according to your requirements and that they are of good quality. Being an online retailer for quite a while now, let me share some of my experiences on how to buy eyeglasses online smartly according to your requirements:

• Understand what you need: many a time I have noticed that we buy eyeglasses without having a proper understanding of our need. I have come across many buyers who order eyeglasses which are not as per their requirements and end up wasting money. To avoid this, it is always a good idea to ask for recommendations from your optometrist when you go for an eye exam. If you are not sure which eyeglasses to buy which would satisfy your need, contact the seller (customer service) from Contact Us page of their website. They are trained professionals and hence will be able to provide you with all the information that you need.


• Spend time searching for eyeglasses: its always better to browse online before buying a product. Most of the online stores offer a Wish List link on their website wherein you can save products that you like. Use this feature to get the best prescription glasses.


• Keep your frame measurement handy: Many times we tend to buy eyeglasses online that are too small or too large. Since we cannot try the frames it is important that you measure the frame size and keep it handy. All online eyeglass retailers have the frame size mentioned on their website. Make sure that you match the total width of the frame you intend to buy with your measurement so as ensure that the frame is a perfect fit.


• Keep searching for different stores: online optical stores always have something to offer in terms of deals and discounts. Make sure that you browse through as many stores online as possible to get the best deal.


• Prescription: prescription plays one of the major roles in purchasing eyeglasses. If there is a point missing or a sign missing the glasses will be cut out of order. Make sure that you enter the correct prescription and if possible upload the scanned copy of the prescription along with your order. This will make sure that the lenses are processed accurately.

I am sure that the above tips would definitely help you in ordering the right eyeglasses and getting the best deal for them. So shop smart, and enjoy!

Optic store online is the fastest growing online optical shop which selling high quality Prescription Eyeglasses Online, Prescription Sunglasses Online and other eye wear in all type range.

Why Do Even The Most Effective Plantar Fasciitis Treatments Fail?

Plantar fasciitis is well understood and the treatments for it are hugely effective. So why is it that so many people continue to suffer with this excruciating foot pain?

Excruciating foot pain is no laughing matter as sufferers know only too well. And yet, foot specialists know that plantar fasciitis is caused when the long foot tendon becomes overstretched and damaged; causing it to become aggravated, inflamed and painful. Specialists know both how, and why, the plantar fascia becomes overstretched. And doctors know which groups of people are at risk.

In addition, treatments for plantar fasciitis are readily available, easily discovered online and offline, and are simple to follow and highly effective. And yet many people continue to suffer with foot pain agony because the treatments do not work for them. Why is this?

The reason why plantar fasciitis is so difficult to cure initially stems from the location of the condition itself, namely on the soles of the feet. This is probably the most awkward part of the body to treat because of the huge stresses and strains that the feet are placed under during everyday movement.

One of the most effective ways to treat foot pain is to stay off the feet, resting them as much as possible and elevating them to reduce the inflammation which causes the pain. And feet are notoriously difficult to rest in todays modern society! With increasing stresses and the overwhelming pressures to "get things done" it is very difficult for anyone with even a semi-active lifestyle to stay off their feet and allow their foot injury to heal.

And this is why many people opt to treat their condition in their sleep, using night splints. These are highly effective treatments for this type of foot pain. They are designed to be worn overnight and hold the foot in a flexed state so that the plantar tendon is stretched out, allowing it to heal naturally in an elongated state. This minimizes the risk that it will stretch suddenly and tug painfully on the heel bone when the first steps are taken in the morning.

The problem is that some people find that plantar fasciitis night splints uncomfortable and hot to wear overnight. And although there are a wide variety of splints to choose from, a lot of folks give up on them as soon as they have a bad experience, rather than find an alternative and possibly more suitable night splint. But there is another problem.

Night splints only work if they are worn all night AND for enough nights to allow the plantar injury to heal.

Many people simply do not wear a night splint for long enough to allow it enough time to cure their condition effectively.

And this pattern can also be seen for other treatments. Exercises, taping, massage etc are all effective treatments for plantar fasciitis, but ONLY if given sufficient time to work. The human body takes time to heal. The world may have speeded up, but the healing time of the human body has not.

If you have plantar fasciitis and the treatments for it are not working, ask yourself honestly whether you have actually given them time to work. Plantar fasciitis treatments are effective. Give them time to work and you too could cure your foot pain for good.

For more information on treatments for plantar fasciitis, visit http://www.plantarfasciitispainreliefs.com/freeecourse/ and sign up for your free eight day e-course or check out http://www.squidoo.com/Plantar-Fasciitis-Relief and start curing your foot pain today.

Safe to Use Cold Sore Remedies

Many people experience the problem of having cold sores pretty often. What sucks is that their aren't any type of cures that are 100% certain to be effective. Even though their are a good amount of treatments available, not all of them are trustworthy and effective.

The use of bleach as a cold sore remedy should be avoided. The reasoning for this is bleach is toxic to your body and may have negative side effects.

Don't apply ice, salt, or toothpaste onto your sore as a way of treatment. Applying ice on your skin can harm the cells and cause frost bite. Then adding the salt further harms your skin cells. Toothpaste consists of chemicals which are bad for your skin and can cause more complications.

So that you can treat a fever blister properly you need to understand that the root cause of it is a virus. The very best types of treatment are those that are proven to do well against viruses.

Cat's claw, lemon balm, and peppermint are a few organic cures that are recognized to do well in fighting viruses. For prevention you need to add some of these herbs to your regular diet. These herbs not just treat fever blisters but other medical issues as well. What I like best about these remedies is that they are natural and safe for your health.

The proper way of taking in these natural anti-viral remedies is to use them as part of a tea. However, for individuals who don't desire to drink tea it can also be purchased in capsule form. To eliminate your cold sore please take a few capsules a day every day until the they are gone.

There are a number of other benefits by utilizing these remedies. Peppermint is known to do wonders for your gastrointestinal system. The lemon balm is renowned for its relaxing effect and those that use it tend to sleep better. Finally, cat's claw has amazing body's immune system strengthening effects.

You are prepared to battle the herpes simplex virus and get rid of the cold sore with these herbal cures which have been recommended. The benefits don't end here, if you begin to use them the minute you are feeling that the cold sore is establishing, the cold sore will not grow to its full strength and will go away without creating a lot of fuss and irritation.

For more great information on cold sores, fever blisters, and their remedies check out the site: Cold Sore Remedies

Learn Why You Need A Pure Water Faucet And A Filter On Your Shower As Well

Here you will learn the features that are necessary to create a truly pure water faucet, something that every homeowner will benefit from. You will also learn why it is important to think about your showerhead, too.

We should all be concerned about the purity of what we drink, but we should also be concerned about the purity of the liquid we shower in. In practically all areas serviced by public treatment facilities, disinfectants are added to the freshwater in order to prevent outbreaks of waterborne illnesses.

However, disinfecting the freshwater always leads to the creation of toxic byproducts. Research has shown that exposure to the byproducts significantly increases a persons lifetime risk of cancer. Because cancer is one of our biggest killers and the risk of cancer increases with age, everyone should try to limit their exposure to carcinogens.

At one time, the threat was thought to be minor, because it was thought that the only risk was from consuming the byproducts. Today, scientists have proven that exposure occurs during a shower or bath.

It occurs when the water is boiled for cooking or sterilization. It occurs when we swim in chlorinated pools and even when we wash dishes by hand. So, there are multiple sources of exposure.

Most of the toxic byproducts are called THMs. So, when you are comparing the features of a pure water faucet, you want to look for one that filters out THMs.

In order to do that, the faucets must have some type of filter that fits under the sink. Showerhead replacements are available with all of the elements needed in a single hang-down unit.

Most people are aware that the metal the faucets are made out of is important.

They should be lead-free, for example. The risk of lead exposure is greatest in older homes where the pipes or the solder joints contains some amount of lead. Chlorine degrades the pipes and causes the lead to be released in the pipeline.

Not only should a pure water faucet be lead-free, the attached filtration system should include an ion exchange step to remove all traces of lead from the liquid.

Otherwise, the risk associated with aging pipelines, whether in the house or in the citys infrastructure, is not addressed.

There are other features to look for in a pure water faucet and in showerhead replacements. The two mentioned here may be the most important, but it never hurts to learn about the others.

Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Water Purification Systems. Visit his website now at: http://water-safe-and-pure.com to discover which Water Purification Systems Gordon recommends after far ranging comparisons.

The Advantages Of Alkaline Water

If you need a healthful physique and also life-style, it is important which you attempt to maintain a substance balance in your body. When the level of acidity ranges are extremely high, it can cause a few medical issues. These problems range from heartburn, UTIs, weight obtain, loss of power and can actually cause far more significant problems including cancer malignancy as well as heart disease. To be able to harmony pH ranges, alkaline water can be a fantastic assist.

Alkaline water is nor fairly neutral or acidic and depends on the basic aspect of the pH size. Many feel that this sort of Water has numerous advantages if you want to ensure continued wellness. Most of the foods that we consume are acknowledged to significantly raise the amount of acidity within our entire body. Its usually suggested by means of acid reflux soon after ingesting these foods.

Alkaline Water has the ability to counteract the acidity and also normalize the actual ph levels in the body. Some of the great things about this kind of "Water" which have been observed tend to be much better digestive function, lowered heartburn, increased levels of energy and better hydration of the tissue in your body.

It is important that our entire body stays hydrated and health experts advise that we should consume no less than 2 litres or even roughly half a quart of water every day. Many people will drink regular faucet water, it really is much more good for drink alkaline or even ionized Drinking water. This particular Drinking water may counteract any stored acids and harmful toxins then remove them from the body.

Aside from the mentioned above rewards, research has also demonstrated that ionized water could possibly help the body resist illness as well as reduce the process of aging. This is done with the efficient water on the skin tissues and also tissue within the body. Better hydration of those tissues helps to ensure that skin stays company as well as elastic in order that no lines or wrinkles start to seem.

Ionized Drinking water helps as well your body renew essential nutritional vitamins like sodium, the mineral magnesium as well as calcium supplement. It may also advertise and maintain the normal blood circulation in your body to ensure that nutrition inside the blood vessels can be come to the parts of the entire body where they may be required. Ultimately this gets rid of as well as eliminates any kind of waste which collects in your body.

If you are feeling worn out and distressed or happen to be having issues with acid reflux then you definitely should consider some great benefits of consuming alkaline drinking water. Together with ongoing consumption, its easy to start to feel refreshed and also energetic and can begin living fitness.

Deno Miguel is a devoted nutritionist. He has been very fastidious when it comes to healthy lifestyle, with the help of Alkaline Water he is now confident. Experience what his family have, try Alkaline Water today.

How to Apply Mineral Makeup

Mineral makeup made it into the modern era in the 1970s. However, it was around long before that. Ancient men and women decorated their faces and bodies with minerals, producing colors on their skin. Todays mineral makeups use the same basic idea of finely grinding minerals into a powdery base. Also, other minerals and dyes can be added to produce different consistencies and colors.

A great many companies have produced mineral based cosmetics. These include such brands as Bare Minerals and Sephora. In fact, many of the cheaper drug store brands are coming out with their own lines as well. What sets the best varieties apart from the rest is the fact that the purest minerals contain no parabens or unnatural dyes. These dyes and chemically produced products are not really much better for the skin than any other common drug store makeup product.

However, the purest of the mineral varieties can actually improve the health of the skin. There are many botanical in the minerals which come straight from the natural earth. These produce a healthy glowing look to the skin. Also, they have been proven to erase or at least decrease the look of wrinkles.

It is important to understand the best ways to apply this makeup since it responds quite differently than non-mineral products. The first method uses a kabuki brush which has very closely packed bristles which pick up a great deal of product. This brush produces a more opaque coverage which will need to be buffed into the facial skin in order to not appear conspicuous or streaky. Some women who have sensitive skin may not be able to use this method. The more common approach is to use a fluffier and softer brush which will lightly dust the minerals onto the face in a very natural fashion. Mineral based cosmetics are great for giving the appearance of a very natural healthy beauty. Something we can all use a little more of when applying cosmetics!

Mineral makeup is continuing to grow in popularity as women around the world flock towards natural products. Not only is it good for the environment but it also produces amazingly healthy results on the skin. One should simply look for the products that do not contain unnatural chemicals or dyes.

For mineral makeup, lash extensions, tinted moisturizer and tons of health and beauty tips visit SmartMusings.com

Gym Precautions for Beginners

Like any other strenuous activity that you might engage yourself in, there can be unprecedented injuries caused by the wrong use of equipments when you go to the gym. Its not something that you have to be too afraid of, but it is important once the consequences of such practices are thought of. The gym can also be a place of great distress when the weights accidentally fall onto your feet, or when you cant continually lift your weight while doing a bench press or even when you accidentally turn the treadmill too fast to a point where you might fall off. So in this case, various gym precautions should be practiced.

Wear something appropriate

Gym precautions start with what you wear. A lot of people tend to forget what is to be appropriately worn in the gym. This does not necessarily mean you have to sport a skimpy tank top or a pair of unflattering tights. Wear something light and comfortable. Dont wear anything that has too much leftover cloth on the sides. Wear proper footwear and if possible, wear some gloves. This is especially the case if youre looking to do some heavy lifting.

Dont forget to warm up

When it comes to warming up, theres no debate about how important it is to get the proper stretch before engaging yourself on any workout. Do some dynamic stretching and a five minute jog so that you can get your mind and body in the right state for what is to come.

Get a Spotter

When you work out, its natural that what youll do will involve heavier lifting. You want to do most of the harder workouts while your tank is still full and while you still have most of your energy. So for such, one of the most important gym precautions that you have to think about is getting a spotter. You can never be too sure with what you lift, especially if youre adding more weight to the bars. Disregard what your machismo is telling you, There is nothing wrong about getting help when you work out. All gyms have trainers, and their job is not just limited to helping you out with your lifting. These people can also give you some valuable insight on improving your workout plan.

Limit your Reps and Sets

This is one of those gym precautions that you have to do in order to make your time in the gym worthwhile. When you work out, always look at the numbers. It is important for you not to go beyond what is planned. You might have the urge to do more reps and sets on your routines, but that doesnt mean that you should. Part of the workout is how many times it has to be done. If you go beyond that, the tendency is that you will just tire out on something that doesnt work.

Above all else, always play it safe. Never do anything drastically different. Remember, working out is also a progression. Eventually, you will have the capacity to do bigger and harder workouts in the future. But for now, keep these aforementioned gym precautions in mind.

If youd like more information on Gym Precautions and other useful fitness tips, Go to http://www.fitnhealthysolutions.com

Two Reasons Why Failures Occur When A New EMR Is Implemented

Implementing a new EMR will present many opportunities for failure. Your challenges may or may not be at the failure level. Some will surely not appear to be what they really are.

Relatively speaking the software and technology changes in an EMR transition will be the easy part. Bringing your staff up to speed on the new EMR will take time, patience, training and retraining. It will probably take a year or more to feel comfortable with the software and perhaps longer before you have integrated most of the salient features of the technology.

An EMR is not a standalone product. It is integrated with a Practice Management System or Patient Billing System, either tightly or via an interface. The EMR is continually being enhanced to accommodate Meaningful Use, ANSI 5010 and ICD-10 as well as other features and improvements. It has links to e-prescribing, voice recognition, appointment reminder, labs and hospitals, state and local agencies for immunization reporting and more.

Your EMR is also under the control of an operating system, probably some version of MS Windows. That control is growing more useful AND ominous with every release. You have printers, fax machines which may be physical or logical, scanners and auto phone dialers. You may have tablets and smart phones attached or with remote access. Your server may be in-house, in the Cloud or provided by SaaS (software as a service).

You may or may not use a data conversion to get your data into the new EMR, either way you will face problems.

Simply stated you have a complex technology environment which is growing in its integration, data sharing and complexity. And your dependency on your "system" is becoming indispensable.

At first glance the staffing considerations do not appear quite so complex. But there are several disciplines represented in medical clinics. First are the medical professionals, doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses. On the business side there are the management, accounting, marketing, billing and coding, receptionist, and technology skills. In the end, people present the bigger problem with the greater number of opportunities for failure.

The difficulty presented by technological complexity can be minimized in three significant and relatively easy ways to achieve.

1. Hire professionals either on staff or as consultants, depending on your need. Do not go cheap. Do not let someone on your staff (or a relative) who seems to know a lot about computers but for who technology is not a first language, drive this effort.

2. Get it done right before you implement your EMR. Plan, test and re-test.

3. Get regular maintenance. This will cost extra up front but be less expensive in the long term. Don't wait for a problem to show itself. By then the repair work will be far greater as will its cost and you may also encounter lost or damaged data.

The challenges presented by staff require what they always have, new or revised office procedures, testing, training, hand holding, patience and time. In short it is a lot of work to bring your staff up to speed.

Office procedures need to be reviewed and revised often during the implementation process to accommodate and adjust to the software, to changes in the staff where new talent is added or a talent loss occurs, and the addition of new medical services. It is unreasonable to expect a resolution to internal changes of this nature in the first or second try. Give it some time and make adjustments as you learn.

In summary, don't underestimate the complexity of implementing a new EMR.

KW Norris is an IT professional, consultant and Sales Executive. KW works with medical clinics and medical software vendors to provide the best technology solutions available to improve quality and efficiency in the medical office. If you need a technology solution, KW can help you find it.

KW Norris
Technology Consultants, Inc.
4125 SW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006
503-356-4105 ext 11, 503-939-9223 cell phone, 503-356-4109 fax
kw@tech-consultants.com, http://www.tech-consultants.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kwnorris

Solving Your Challenges With Plan-Do-Check-Act

Most men lead lives of quiet desperation...Henry David Thoreau

Recently I was talking to one of my clients about self-improvement. I asked him, "How many people get up in the morning and think about how they could be better today than they were the day before." He answered, "Not enough." and added the quote above. Later as I considered his answers, I agreed that many do indeed live lives that lack direction and purpose, just getting by day to day, trying to survive their challenges.

In some ways I think that these conclusions also apply to businesses, including healthcare. Many organizations do not try or do not understand how to improve outcomes, whether a service or product for their clients. They do not keep a focus on their mission and strategic plan. Rather, they face their challenges in a rather haphazard fashion, sometimes succeeding but often failing. For instance, from a recent poll by the Medical Group Managers Association, most of their member sites have not checked to see if they are compliant with the new HIPPA standards which are to be in place on January 1, 2012. They have not planned ahead for this.

Some businesses do focus on being a better organization each day and know how to solve their challenges. Many of these organizations have tools and processes which they consistently employ to help them improve, such as the Toyota Production System (Lean), Total Quality Management and Lean Six Sigma. At the heart of each of these is the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (PDCA), which was developed by Walter Shewhart. The PDCA cycle can be implemented as a problem solving technique by most organizations with some brief training or study. There are many excellent books and articles that focus on this problem solving approach; a good source of them is the web site of the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org). Short training sessions with experts can help a staff achieve fluency in its use. Organizations that want to develop a deeper understanding of PDCA may seek more extensive training or coaching.

I will briefly describe and illustrate the Plan phase of PDCA in the remainder of this article. It can be used to solve challenges such as the implementation of an EHR, implementing evidence based practices, and designing processes which improve the outcomes for your patients while helping staff and physicians find more time to get important things done, such as spending more face time with patients.

Know Your Goals. The first thing to identify is your goals. Do you want to improve the outcomes for patients with chronic diseases? Do you want to find more time to do things you deem important in your practice, such as creating a positive work environment? For larger organizations, these goals are often found in their strategic plan. Some goals are dictated by challenges forced upon providers by outside organizations, such as using ePrescribing.

Prioritize Your Challenges. Leaders in management and senior physicians should work on challenges that have an impact on more staff, which are more complex and which may require greater funds to solve, though high costs can sometimes be avoided. For instance, the leadership team would be responsible for the adoption of EHRs. Other staff can focus on challenges which affect them but are not readily apparent to all staff. For instance, the receptionist, front office staff and office manager at a small ambulatory site can work on organizing supplies and making sure that there are no unexpected disruptions in their availability.

Once staff and physicians have identified the challenges it should prioritize them. Focus first on those that affect patient safety and outcomes as well as the bottom line. For instance, it is imperative for many organizations to upgrade to the HIPPA 5010 standards as there will be significant financial problems for those who are not up to date by January 2012. Billing can be greatly impacted for those who are not up to date by then.

Form a Team to Design a Solution. Very few challenges can be solved by just one staff person effectively. Thus, it will be necessary to form a team comprised of staff who are currently involved with the challenge. For instance, in the case of HIPPA 5010 an IT staff person or staff member in charge of software, office manager, physician, and billing staff should be involved at a medium sized primary care site. A manager or physician should identify a leader of this team. This person will be responsible for the work of the team and for the implementation of the plan that it develops. It is very important that one person be in charge and responsible for the outcomes. It is not necessary for the leader to be a senior staff member, just someone who is respected by other staff and is energetic.

Collect Data. How will you know if you are advancing towards your goals? You should collect data! First decide what you will measure. If you are adopting ePrescribing, you would want to see how much time each day is spent by staff and physicians providing prescription services, including time taken for refills and for faxing back and forth to pharmacies. Then, as you implement an ePrescribing system, measure how much time these services take at various stages of implementation. As staff become more fluent with the software and as they develop new workflows, the time taken should decrease significantly.

Design a Plan. The team working on the challenge should create a document which lists the goals of the of the PDCA project, who is responsible for the project, the steps to take to reach the end and a timeline for completion. If the project is large, I would advise breaking it into smaller, sequential projects that are easier to manage and easier to achieve. For instance, in the adoption of an EHR the first project would involve research into finding ones that meet the needs of the staff. After an EHR is purchased, the second cycle of the PDCA project would be the implementation of some of the features of the EHR into the daily work of the physicians and staff.

Plan-Do-Check-Act is a rational process that businesses can effectively use to solve their challenges. It is based upon the scientific method, which is the basis of much of the work of medicine. One physician recently described on KevinMD.com, a medical blog, that he uses this approach frequently with his patients. It makes sense, then, to adopt this technique for the improvement of the services and work of all staff at a healthcare site. If you are not using such an approach now, you should Plan to do so.

Donald Bryant helps healthcare providers meet their challenges. Go to http://www.bryantsstatisticalconsulting.com to get the free article "7 Challenges in Healthcare and How to Solve Them" with tips you can use to start improving patient health, improving the bottom line, finding more time to get things done and to learn more about Lean Healthcare. Mr. Bryant is a certified Lean Healthcare facilitator.

What to Remember When Choosing a Health Plan For You

One thing that you should always keep in mind about life is that it is quite unpredictable. This is especially true when it comes to your health. Even if you try to keep yourself as healthy as possible, there are things that you may not be able to avoid. If you get sick or meet an accident, paying for your medical bills is one of your utmost concern. At the same time, you also need to face the problem of missing or losing your work, especially when you get a disability from the incident.

When this happens to you, you may have a hard time going through with all the bills without having an income to support yourself. That is why it is important that you shield yourself and get a suitable health plan. Not only does it help you through the medical bills, it also determines the quality of medical care that you can be provided with.

However, in getting the right one, there are some things that you need to remember:

1. Your preferred physician - if you already have a doctor who you would want to keep seeing, you should first confirm whether or not they are included in the health plan that you are considering to get. Certain plans will only cover certain doctors in their network.

If you'll need to choose a new doctor who is covered by your health plan, try to look into their credentials first. You can do this by phoning the medical office they work in. You should also try to find out what time they are available and where are they located.

2. Having pre-existing conditions - some people may have pre-existing conditions prior to enrolling into a health plan. If you do have one, never assume that any plan will automatically cover your condition. To be safe, make sure that you inquire and look for one that does.

There are varying policies when it comes to pre-existing medical conditions. Certain health plans may exclude it from your coverage, while other will provide you with full coverage. Some will often something in between, like providing coverage for a limited period of time.

3. Consider your needs and the costs - in picking out a suitable plan, you should try listing down your priorities and what you think you need to be covered. You can list down things like maternity coverage if you're planning to have a child, prescription coverage, etc. Listing down the things that you need can help you determine which kind of health plan to go for.

If you have a list of your priorities, you can then shop for different offers and compare which ones provide suitable coverage for a price that you can afford. If you're having a hard time finding one, then you might want to consider using an insurance broker. They can help you find health plans that are most suitable for your needs. In order to find a reputable one, make sure that you check their credentials.

Ricky S. Solomon is a nurse who loves writing for Uniformhaven.com which sells landau scrubs free shipping and urbane scrubs free shipping as well as a host of additional products.

Emotional Freedom Technique Secrets

If you want to let your mind free of emotional baggage of the past, emotional freedom technique (EFT) can prove out to be an excellent alternative therapy for you. This is not just because EFT is effective, but also because this relaxation technique can also be beneficial for promoting the sense of well-being and self-confidence, to say the least.

Before we read more about EFT, it is important for us to note that this form of treatment (acupuncture without needles) is all about treating emotions and complications with positive affirmation and tapping by fingers. It can be used by male or female, old or young -- irrespective of the degree of emotion, trauma, or depression. Emotional freedom technique is nothing but forgiveness and the stimulation of positive energy flowing throughout the body and mind.

This forgiveness is nothing but the kindness to forgive self for giving a new meaning to life. It is all about forgiving self of all past failures, negativity, low esteem, fear, and anything that is coming against leading a positive life. In short, EFT is an ultimate mind-body-soul detox that helps in attaining a place of truth that offers satisfaction and peace of the highest levels besides liberating the mind and body from draining attachments and toxic emotions.

It is worthwhile for you to note that satisfaction and peace achieved with EFT is forgiving self to release it from illusions and not about binding to these illusions by withholding forgiveness. EFT helps you believe in the theory of self improvement that is all about stop condemning the world you look upon and stop holding the past against everyone and everything. It is also about remembering who you are, forgiving yourself of all negative emotions, and look on the brighter side of life that is so full of energy, positive vibes, happiness, and satisfaction.

In other words, one can conclude that EFT is about shifting regulating energies of the body to enhance the joy of life so that one can actually have a feel of the best of emotional and physical health while reaping the best of both worlds. By releasing the cause of negativity (fear), we can end its symptoms such as anger, hate, sadness, envy, and betrayal so that the reasoning mind can make good decisions. When we do that, we actually release both the judge and the victim to start a cycle of self-acceptance and avoid self-rejection to experience love for ourselves.

James Goodridge is an expert columnist for many health journals and authored sites. The beauty of James writing lies in his ability to connect with his readers almost instantly, making it easier for them to ingest the same in their daily schedules as well. Get access to qualified information on emotional freedom technique (EFT) by accessing Re-Create Life - EFT. For more articles on EFT training, you can visit http://www.re-createlife.com/

Human Sight Vs Canine Sight

As the saying goes, a dog is mans best friend- yet the interesting thing is that although we rely on our canine pets to see for those who cant; to protect us against those who want to harm us; and to know who their owners are and to love them unconditionally, few of us really know what it is that they actually see on a day to day basis.

For people who take their pets to be a part of their families and lives, it is almost unbelievable that we would not take a wider interest in knowing what and how our pets see the world and how that differs from the human optical world. Knowing these differences may help people to better understand, love and view their furry friends.

While dogs cannot see as much detail as humans can, their field of vision happens to be wider because of the placement of their eyes. Therefore, although your dog may not pay the attention to detail that a human friend would, your dog will be able to spot an intruder far sooner than you would. In addition, dogs are ultra-sensitive to moving objects (and movement in general) and so, will spot any movement up to a mile away - this is precisely what makes them such an invaluable support for the blind and such excellent search and rescue companions (not to mention hunters). It is necessary to add that dogs could be considered far-sighted as their close-up vision is far inferior and they do not and cannot focus at close range and will generally see things as being fuzzy. They also do not have proper depth perception.

Another interesting fact is that while dogs do not have clear day vision, their night vision is far superior to humans. While we head off to the optometrist for glasses to wear at night - like while driving, a dog becomes an even better watch-dog when the sun sets.

Interestingly, in stark contrast to humans, one should know that a dog who becomes blind generally adapts well to his new condition as sight is least strong of his five senses, with smell and sound being the two strongest. Just as humans who become blind will need time to adjust, so too will a dog - they just do so quicker than their human masters. A noticeable similarity between dogs and humans is that both can note down failing eyesight as one of the downsides to the aging process.

For years now, the myth has circulated that dogs are completely color blind and cannot see or distinguish color at all. Studies have disproved this theory and shown that just as humans (mostly males) can be colorblind, and still detect some color, so can dogs. For canines, red and orange are generally the only two indistinguishable colors, while blue and yellow are the most distinguishable. Today, one would describe a dog as being red-green color blind.

Just like humans, dogs also face a possible host of eye problems and conditions - including cataract, pink eye, glaucoma, dry eye, tumors and infections - just to name a few. Moreover, just as humans need to visit their eye doctors when eye disease seems to be lurking; so too should they see to it that their dogs are afforded the same right. Sure signs that they are up for a veterinary visit include them rubbing their eyes, avoiding light and rubbing their faces on the ground. An excess of tears or red eyes are other tip offs.

Where we find solutions for our optical problems, the nature of a dog is to adapt accordingly and use his other senses as compensation. In the end, probably the greatest difference between the visual ability of humans and canines is that where humans have the simple solution of visiting their eye doctor, updating their eyeglasses prescription and choosing to buy glasses which will correct their visual inefficiencies, the same is not available for dogs.

Hillary Glaser is a social networking specialist and expert in cross-media promotion, currently working on promoting prescription eyeglasses. She is the Director of Marketing and Special Projects for GlassesUSA.com - the easiest way to buy glasses online, which now offers free shipping on all US orders with the code FreeShip10.