Healthy Lifestyle Alternatives

As seasons change, so do our workouts.  In some parts of the country there isn’t the drastic difference in temperatures, but there is still a change.  If you are not a gym goer and don’t want to trek out into the snow and cold and like to stay comfortable in your own home, below are some new ideas to try out as the seasons change.

1) Yoga/Pilates

Take one day a week or if you can’t find the time for that, a few times a month to center yourself.  There are all shorts of resources on yoga; check on the internet, go to the bookstore, buy a dvd, whichever your preference is.  Take some time to balance your life, do some yoga and stretching in your own home, in a quiet room.

2) Indoor Spinning

If you already have a stationary bike, or a workout bike then all you need to do is hop on that seat!  If you don’t already have an exercise bike, look into purchasing one, or even turning your mountain bike into one.   Simply purchase an indoor trainer for your bike, mount it on there and you are ready to begin your own spinning class at home.  A workout of 30 minutes is always a good place to start.

3)    Eliiptical/Treadmill

Running on your own elliptical or treadmill is quite simple, you can even multi-task.  While running or walking; read a book or study for a test.  If those activities don’t work for you watch some tv, or your favorite show. As you start to get in more shape run for longer, and increase the resistance or incline.   See if you can challenge yourself to watch a full hour show!

4) Workout DVDS

If you are a busy working mom (or dad I suppose!), pick a night(s) a week to get together with a few friends.  Discuss between the few of you what kind of workout video you would be most interested in.  Go out a buy the DVD and start motivating each other to get a great workout in!  After you’ve gotten a good sweat in don’t forget to eat a healthy meal.  In the winter we tend to snack a lot more, and not eat as healthy.  Remember the key to staying in great shape is to still be eating the right foods.

Start cooking more and finding healthy recipes.  Plus it’s more comfortable to stay home then venture out into the cold weather

5)    Circuit Training

Circuit training has become more popular in the last few years.  If you are real cramped for time and just don’t have time and energy to go to the gym, circuits are a great way to keep your body in shape.  It can help your mobility, flexibility, strength and toning of your overall muscles in as short as 5 mins.  You can pick out different circuits to do each day for however long you feel your body needs and can handle.  An average time for any given circuit is 5 to 10 minutes.  Below are some websites that I believe show a few great circuit routines.

-       Ab Circuit    http://www.circuittrainingexercise.com/abdominal/abs-a-upper-body-workout-on-fitness-ball-training-w-tammy.html

-       Cardio Circuit

http://www.circuittrainingexercise.com/cardio/

-       Exercise Ball Circuit

http://www.circuittrainingexercise.com/exercise-ball/ten-minute-workout-with-fitness-ball.html

-       Resistant Band Circuit

http://www.circuittrainingexercise.com/resistance-bands/

-       Various Circuits

http://www.circuittrainingexercise.com/various/

Megan Gates is an outreach representative for Gym Source (gymsource.com) – a leading retailer of home gyms and various other fitness and exercise equipment.  Megan contributes written work to the blogosphere related to health and fitness.

A Healthy Lifestyle is only a few steps away.

Prior to this, are you aware that the sun is actually the main cause of 80% of the wrinkles that appear on your skin? If not, this is the best time to change perspectives. Since childhood, we have been taught that sun exposure is important in making our body stronger. It is true that UV rays can help in the production of Vitamin D.

However, the sun’s UV rays are stronger in this day and age. That being said, you are more susceptible to Photodamage. You only need 20 minutes of premeditated sun exposure for daily Vitamin D production. If you directly expose your skin to ultraviolet rays longer than that, you are thereby increasing your chances of acquiring more wrinkles and other skin problems.

The following are some of the common effects of excessive sun exposure:

1. Wrinkling of skin – UVA and UVB rays damage collagen fibers. As a result, collagen tends to age faster. Collagen is what creates structured appearance of the dermis. Without this, your skin will lose its original shape.

2. Age spots - The dermis tends to produce melanin as a way of counteracting UV damage. While youthful skin can still regulate melanin production, this becomes difficult to maintain as you get older. As a result, age spots and pigmentation problems appear.

3. Leathery texture of the dermis – You will eventually lose the core moisture-retaining properties of the dermis. This prompts the changes in dermis texture. Your skin will turn rough and leathery.

4. Yellow complexion – Darkening of skin tone will progress to worse conditions. Usually, people who are excessively exposed to the sun during their younger days might find themselves sporting yellow-colored skin when they get older.

5. Cancer – The sun also affects the cells of your integumentary system. Ultraviolet trays trigger the appearance of harmful free radicals. These are single electrons that follow a free pathway. They tend to snatch paired electrons, thereby damaging DNA and cells in the process.

You have to constantly fight the ever-present effects of radiation. It is not yet too late to reverse the damages you can already see on your skin.

The Doctors Tips

1: Birth control pills or hormone replacement can make you sun-sensitive, so never be stingy with the sunscreen.  Use ENHANCEMENTS Mineral Peptides SPF 20 for easy sunscreen re-application throughout the day.

2: Heat (even cooking over a hot stove), hormones, and sunlight can cause brown spots on your skin. Keep cool and reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when exposed to the sun. Remember, no sunscreen lasts all day.

3: The aging rays in the UVA spectrum are present from sun-up to sun-down, 365 days a year, rain or shine, and even penetrate window glass. Reapply REVERSE UVA/UVB SPF 15 Sunscreen or ENHANCEMENTS Mineral Peptides SPF 20 throughout the day, especially before driving home to prevent the left side of your face from becoming more sun damaged than the right.

4: Skin hit a plateau? UseENHANCEMENTS Micro-Dermabrasion Paste 1-2 times weekly on stubborn brown patches and to boost the REVERSE Regimen results.

5:  Always wear UVA/UVB sunscreen and do not sunbathe. A single day of unprotected sun exposure canvirtually undo months of treatment.

6:  Use the REVERSE Regimen until your skin is bright and even toned, usually 2-6 months, then transition to the ANTI-AGE Plus Regimen.

7:  Hydroquinone can stain fingernails so use ESSENTIALS Gauze to apply toner and wash hands after use.

8:  Use the REVERSE Regimen to treat the décolleté, neck, hands, and other parts of the body prone to showing signs of sun damage.

9:  TheREVERSERegimen is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women., no matter how cloudy it is.

A Healthy Lifestyle is only a few steps away.

By Danny Siegenthaler and Susan Siegenthaler

The following article provides some insight into why good skin care is important and suggests a simple skin care regime anyone can follow to help your skin perform at its best.

Our skin’s functions are too many to go through here in detail, however it protects our ‘insides’ from the external environment, acting both as a barrier and a filter between ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ our bodies.

The skin helps in regulating our body’s temperature, like when we have a fever or we’re physically working hard, we tend to sweat, which is the body’s way to attempt to lower the temperature.

The skin also protects us from harmful substances entering our body, and it eliminates many toxins. This takes workload off our Liver and Kidneys to filter out by-products from our body’s metabolism. The skin also breathes!

These are just some of the important functions of our skin and as you can see, looking after your skin is vital, not just for your outer beauty, but for maintaining your inner health.

Now there is skin care and there is skin care… well, we all (hopefully) wash our body (skin) every day and we may even rub some body cream on and that is pretty much that. Women (most) go one step further when they make-up their face. Often using a cleanser and then a moisturiser before applying make-up. But is that really skin care?

I think not. I would consider it an attack on the skin rather than caring for it. You see, most of the products marketed to women are full of artificial colours, stabilisers, emulsifiers and other chemical, which are supposed to help in achieving a ‘beautiful complexion’.

Some products are advertising hormones, which are supposed to make your skin re-gain that youthful (no wrinkles) look – but more often than not these ‘hormones’ are artificial or synthetic and may well cause problems with the hormonal balance of the body. This is NOT Skin care – this is plain old manipulation and marketing.

Real skin care is much more than that and is more than just skin deep. Your skin is a living, breathing organ of your body. As such, just like every other organ in our body, it needs to be fed from the inside – it requires nutrients.

There are 4 basic ingredients to feeding the inside: 
Good nutrition: keep it simple, fresh and unprocessed. That is the best nutritional advice I can give. The simpler the food, the less processing and the fresher your food is, the better it is for you. Fresh fruit and vegetables contain so many of the nutrients we need to maintain our health. Sure have the odd processed, high in fat meal when you’re enjoying a meal out or have to attend a Luncheon or what ever. But make sure you have more natural foods than not. Keep the diet varied – don’t eat the same old, same old… risk a newveggie – one you haven’t tried before – you might like it …

Adequate rest and relaxation: don’t work yourself to an early grave – it’s not worth it. Make sure you get the sleep you need. Did you know that a study in England showed that your IQ (intelligence) drops if you do not have 8 hours sleep per night?

Think about it, do you get more work done if you feel well rested? Can you concentrate better if you’re not tired? – I bet you can.

Well, why not invest some additional time into rest and relaxation so that you gain an increase in energy and concentration? I’m sure you will find you will get more work done in less time if you’ve had sufficient rest.

Sufficient water intake: that’s a biggie. Most people (irrespective of were they live) will utilise around 3 litres of water per day – hey, don’t believe me, all the medical texts say so. Our body simply needs water to function.

If you do not drink at least this amount, your body will either not function well (on some level) or it will take it from where ever it can. That is called dehydration. You know, dry lips, dry flaky skin, parched mouth, cracks on you tongue, premature wrinkles… the list goes on. So, drink up (water, mind you) or shrivel up – it’s up to you.

Fresh air and sunshine: well, what can I say. Taking a deep breath of air and tell me it doesn’t feel great… Well? Oxygen is the stuff of life. Fill your lungs with it. Here I could go into how most of us do not know how to breath properly, but I’ll save this for another article.

So what does all this have to do with skin care? 
Well, that is the point of putting quality products on your skin, when you do not give it the stuff of life from the inside? The cells that make up your skin need the right nutrients for proper development, growth and all that… You can help your skin by using good quality skin care products, but you have to support this from the inside as well. Only in that way can you expect to get good results from proper skin care.

So what’s proper skin care?

Well, for starters there are 3 basic steps.

1. Cleanse and Condition

2. Hydrate and Tone

3. Moisturise and Revive.

OK. Cleansing the skin seems obvious and I know, you do know how to use soap – wrong, this is one sure way to make your skin dry-out quicker. Most soaps remove the natural oils of the skin, change the natural pH levels and do nothing to remove the dead layers of skin, which can block your pores and lead to blackheads. And, oh no, not pimples! The skin produces oils and acids to help it function, to protect it from loss of excessive moisture, to form a barrier… etc. So please do not use soap or detergents unless it is necessary.

Using a loofah or a gentle ‘scrub’ will remove the dead skin cells and this in turn will promote better blood circulation and help your skin to breath.

The next step is to hydrate and tone the skin. Say what? 
Well, you’ve just removed the dead skin layers, rubbing the skin with a loofah and or a specially formulated cleanser, now it’s time to remove the residue, sooth the skin and prepare the skin for getting a good feed of nutrients from the moisturiser.

Preparation of the skin prior to putting on the moisturiser is not dissimilar to preparing a surface about to receive a new coat of paint. You wouldn’t just paint over a wall that hasn’t been cleaned and prepared for the new paint, would you? It would be a waist of time and money… well, good skin care is the same. You first get rid of the old layer of paint, than you give it a primer and finally the top-coat.

Ah, I already use a moisturiser… 
Great, at least that’s a step in the right direction. But, have you looked at the ingredients? Are they natural, or are there numbers and words you don’t recognise on the label? If so, then consider that your body absorbs these substances and if they are not useful, (preferably of a natural kind) then the body has to eliminate them – and that’s more work and not necessary.

In some cases, the body actually can’t eliminate these substances and has to store them. This is a potential problem and could cause health issues down the track. Pure essential oils, or herbal extracts are usually good ingredients to have in your skin care products.

So there you have it – the importance of good skin care. These steps, if you follow them, will help you to achieve the results you want and your body will thank you too.

About Authors:
Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapists, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

The key to great skin is great skincare. The key to great skincare is using products developed to address your personal skin concerns.

A Healthy Lifestyle is only a few steps away.

By Dr. Scott

Sugar Brain

You open a can of soda and pour that sugary drink into your mouth. The sugar travels down your throat and into your stomach; the sugar then has a very short trip from your stomach into your blood stream. As that sugar starts to move its way throughout your body, it eventually makes its way to your brain. You brain is happy with this shot of sugar you just gave it, because, while it only makes up only two percent of the body weight, your brain uses one-half of all the sugar energy in the body.1

But, is there such a thing as too much sugar for your brain? And that soda you just drank, it will cause your blood sugar to skyrocket and eventually drop; what happens to your brain then? And what about other sugar-brains questions: doesn’t sugar make you or your kids hyperactive, and doesn’t sugar change your mood?

The short answer to these all these questions is: we don’t know. Scientific studies on the effects of sugar on the brain are sparse at best and most medical professionals and organizations will say that sugar has nothing to do with mood or hyperactivity. If you are surprised by that stance, you are not alone.

Most parents have witnessed firsthand the effect of sugar on little kid’s brains. Most adults will tell you that they have experienced a sort of mentalfog from eating too much sugar, not to mention the sugar high and the sugar crash. But none of these experiences mean anything to researchers who report that there are no such things as sugar highs or lows or that hyperactivity could be caused by too much sugar.

But just because there isn’t much research on how sugar and foods that act like sugar and how they affect mental function, doesn’t mean there isn’t any. This article will piece together the bits of information out there on sugar and brain function to get a better understanding of what sugar is doing to our brains. As usual, I will be including not only sugar, but foods that act like sugar in the discussion.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Let’s start with a brain chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is the key to understanding what happens when sugar hits our brain.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is responsible for the development of new brain tissue. If you didn’t have this ch

emical in your brain, your brain wouldn’t develop properly and you would die very soon after birth. The key to BDNF is to understand what it does: it helps to create new neurons (nerve tissue), and, therefore new memories.

You want as much BDNF around as possible if you want to learn, grow, and have normal brain functioning.

Research has shown that high sugar diets (along with high fat diets and lack of essential fatty acids) decrease a BDNF. In fact, the relationship between BDNF and sugar gets even more interesting: low amounts of BDNF actually leads to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and even diabetes. This means that high sugar in the blood leads to low BDNF, and then low BDNF leads to a worsening of blood sugar control, which leads to high blood sugar, which leads to worse blood sugar control… and the cycle continues.

In an interesting study on rats, it was discovered that the animals that had the best ability to learn spatial and memory tasks also had the highest amount of BDNF. It took only two months on a hig

h sugar and high fat diet to significantly reduce BDNF in the brains of the experimental animals and for the reduction to have an effect on the animal’s ability to perform spatial and memory tasks.

Low BDNF is no small thing as it has also been associated with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Huntington’s disease, Rett syndrome, and schizophrenia.

But there is much more to the sugar-brain story than BDNF, let’s take a look.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the best places to start when discussing how sugar affects our brains. There are quite a few clinical studies that link the consumption of grains (foods that act like sugar) with schizophrenia. It has long been thought that people who are schizophrenic may have a problem with the protein found in many grains (gluten) and there is a strong association between schizophrenia and Celiac disease.

Interestingly, there is also a close association with poor blood sugar control (metabolic syndrome) and the severity of schizophrenia:

It appears that the same dietary factors which are associated with the metabolic syndrome, including high saturated fat, high glycemic load, and low omega-3 (PUFA), may also be detrimental to the symptoms of schizophrenia.

These researcher show that once again, a diet low in essential fatty acids (omega-3) and high in fat and sugar will decrease BDNF and it makes me wonder if sugar and foods that act like sugar may be the “smoking gun” in schizophrenia.

Depression and Anxiety

As a hint that how we live and what we eat have some effect on our moods, it has long been known that coronary heart disease and diabetes all are common in people with depression. This means that the same dietary conditions that create heart disease and diabetes also can lead to depression. Interesting…

Sugar consumption in population studies have been shown to have a close link with major depression. Researchers suggest that the sugar and brain association may be due to the oxidative stress that sugar can cause or the change in beta-endorphins (brain chemicals that make us feel good) that comes about because of sugar use.

Anxiety, too, has been closely linked with sugar use in a number of studies.

Children

Perhaps the biggest questions arise when discussing children, mood, behavior and sugar. While any parent would tell you that sugar can dramatically change the behavior of a child, the medical community is silent. There have been a few studies that show an association between high blood sugars and problem behaviors, but these studies have mostly been performed in children who already have blood sugar problems (such as diabetes). More studies need to be done and need to be done in children with normal blood sugar.

Autism is an interesting exception to the lack of research. A review by the prestigious Cochrane review admitted that many of the studies linking foods that act like sugar (grains) and gluten to autism have been of poor quality, but they do point to one study that does show a relationship between a gluten-free diet and improvement in the symptoms of autism. While far from conclusive, these studies open the possibility of a solution for the growing epidemic of autism.

Brain Plan

Okay, let’s say you actually want to take care of your brain. What is the best way to go?

Avoid grains and sugars: Read my book Sugarettes or take the 30 Sugar Free Days Challenge, and get yourself off sugar and foods that act like sugar.

Exercise: It has been shown that exercise is great for your brain, and it increases BDNF.

Supplement: Your brain thrives on vitamins, especially the B vitamins and make sure you are taking some form of omega 3 oils (fish oils).

We can take care of our brains much better than we do and knowing that the foods that we put into our mouths can dramatically how we think, how we feel and act, and which diseases we get means that your brain and how well it functions is in your hands. You have a choice and what you eat and drink can make dramatic differences in how you think, feel and behave.

A Healthy Lifestyle is only a few steps away.

By Chris Loughrey
see more articles by Chris here.

There’s a lot of myths and hearsay when it comes to looking after your health and fitness. Some of them are silly, some of them are just innocent mistakes that are born out of simple assumptions.

But there are others which are genuinely detrimental and can do lasting damage to you and your long-term health & fitness ambitions. Lets highlight 3 of the biggest culprits!

1) The less you eat, the more weight you’ll lose.

This is one of the oldest myths around, born from calorie controlled diets. The critical thing here is to a certain extent, it’s true. If you take in less energy than you expend, you’ll make up the shortfall by using bodyfat. However the problem is that it can be taken to extremes.

Say you are an average woman looking to lose some extra pounds, your daily calorie intake should be around 2000 in order to maintain your weight. So you decide to cut down to around 1600-1700 cals per day in order to make a calorie deficit and lose weight. The first week you lose some weight, great! Surely if I take in even fewer calories, my weight loss will be even bigger? WRONG! This will confuse your metabolism and cause it to slow so that the calories you do take in will be stored because your body thinks you are starving. Coupled with this is an increase in the stress hormone cortisol which also encourages weight gain. Pretty soon your weight loss will stall and you’ll lose faith, the classic “yo-yo” diet. It can then take months for your metabolism to recover, during this time you’ll probably gain back all the weight you lost, plus a few pounds extra.

There is a “sweet-spot” for calorie intake when you are trying to lose weight. You need to cut out enough to encourage your body to lose fat, but also enough so that your metabolism is happy to go along with you. It’s a delicate balance and one which needs to be constantly monitored. So be careful the next time you see “lose 15lbs in 7 days!”, it’s a trap that can lead to more harm than good.

2) Carbs are bad for you

Atkins, the most ridiculous of all fad diets has a lot to answer for. This “revolution” started a new cult of people who believed that carbohydrates, in all their forms, were the work of the devil.

The truth? Carbs, be they derived from breads, cereals, rice, pasta, vegetables or fruits, are essential to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. They are the human body’s primary source of energy because your body finds them very easy to assimilate and turn into glycogen (your body’s energy “currency”). They are the major component of a normal diet and are used to build lean muscle tissue (protein only maintains muscle, its doesn’t build it), what gets lost in translation is that good quality carbs are what is needed. So avoid white bread and eat wholegrain, have smaller amounts of pasta, avoid processed cereals and have rolled oats instead.

A balanced mix of good carbs, proteins and fats ensures your diet is functioning properly, eliminating a food group is madness. Oh and by the way, the Atkins diet has been proved to be a simply a fancy calorie control diet, you think you’re eating more because it’s all meat and eggs but this same protein diminishes your appetite and overall daily intake. Good? Maybe, but it got all the same problems I mentioned in point 1. It’s basically the low-fat diet fad from the 1980′s. Proof that there really is money in old rope!

3) Eating late at night makes you gain weight

I love this one because it’s based on zero scientific evidence and it’s managed to become a sort of dietary boogie-man. “Ooohhh, as soon as 6pm arrives I can’t eat or terrible changes will occur!”, when I hear this I feel like I’m watching the movie Gremlins (“The most important rule of all, no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never, never feed him after midnight.”)?!

The truth: Calorie intake is measured over a 24 hour period, not “when you are awake”, you also burn a lot of cals when you are asleep as this is when your body repairs itself from your day’s exertions. Your weight loss or gain is determined by factors far more important than what the time is, total calories consumed and activity levels being the two main ones. Plus, going to bed hungry every night is soul-destroying and means you are far less likely to maintain good nutritional habits. So if you are hungry at 9pm, EAT! Just make a sensible, healthy choice.

So there you have it, ignore these myths and you’ll give yourself a much better chance of achieving your goals.

The real truth is that a balanced, healthy diet coupled with a good exercise program is all you need. No controversy, no gimmicks, no fuss.

Enjoy your health

Chris

Chris Loughrey is a personal trainer specializing in weight control, diabetes management & online personal training. Fully qualified and accredited by the European Health & Fitness Association (EHFA) he also deals with sports injury rehab and is a qualified Neuromuscular Therapist (NMT). You can find him on the web at http://www.my-personaltrainer.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Loughrey

Creating a healthy lifestyle is a way of living. Making changes that you know are good for you. Changes that can help achieve you healthy lifestyle goals.

Author: Mandy Sherwood

Healthy living simply means having the courage and motivation to exchange detrimental unhealthy habits for a good healthy lifestyle. Healthy living translates into creating optimum physical, mental and spiritual health with a nutritious, positive, active and healthy lifestyle. Healthy living is about taking responsibility and making smart healthy choices for today and for the future.

What is the best way to lose weight, exercise and eating healthy of course? The most important criteria for living a happy healthy lifestyle is healthy eating, plenty of exercise, positive attitude to life, rest and relaxation as well as a healthy social life. Studies have shown healthy people have healthy relationships and that they socialize regularly for companionship, as well as sharing ideas and mutual support of a healthy lifestyle.

Studies have shown that people who don’t have easy access to a supermarket tend to have a less healthy diet and are more likely to be overweight, even if their neighborhood features a variety of restaurants, including healthy ones. So to begin your new healthy lifestyle you need to begin by replacing all the bad carbs in your diet with good healthy carbohydrates. Remember it’s never too late to change your habits, and by establishing a healthy lifestyle now, you’ll continue to reap the rewards in the future.

Eating a balanced healthy diet and being active in your daily life are the two best things to help you keep healthy and young. Eating healthier as a family can be the first step in improving your own habits. Eating right, getting physically fit, emotional wellness, spiritual wellness and prevention are all apart of creating a healthy lifestyle. Eating a serving of meat, fish or eggs and three dairy food items each day will provide protein, minerals (especially iron and calcium) and B vitamins. Don’t forget healthy eating requires including plenty of colorful vegetables, fruit, whole grains and other high fiber foods in your daily diet and eliminating refined high glycemic foods.

Your attitude is the driving force of healthy living. Smoking, excess sodium, caffeine, alcohol, bad news and negative people can all undo a healthy  lifestyle. By taking steps toward healthy living, you can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other serious diseases.

For ways to get some whole fruit and vegetables goodness into your families diet consider fruit smoothies recipes or if you haven’t yet got a smoothie maker then check out blenders smoothie makers.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1748722_26.html

Creating a healthy lifestyle is a way of living. Making changes that you know are good for you. Changes that can help achieve you healthy lifestyle goals.

By Dr. Steven Zodkoy

This the number one question heard in my office and in physicians’ offices throughout America. There is a strong relationship between weight gain, difficulty in loosing weight and feeling sick. Candida Albicans, an opportunistic fungus, is often the link between weight gain, feeling ill and the difficulties people have with loosing weight. Focusing on removing Candida Albicans from the body rewards the dieter with a feeling of well being and weight loss that is steady, sustainable and healthy. 
Americans are embracing the low carbohydrate diet for its ability to reduce their waist size and weight even when other diets have failed. The more important benefits of a low carbohydrate diet are usually lost in our obsession with weight. Low Carbohydrate diets have been used by nutritionists and holistic physicians for decades to control Candida Albicans. The weight loss and feeling of well being that accompanies a low carbohydrate diet is mostly associated with controlling this serious, but often over looked health condition.

I often see patients in my office who want to lose weight and have tried every diet and pill on the market with little success. During their history they often reveal a list of symptoms and complaints that they feel have no relationship to their weight problem. These patients do not realize that their weight problem and their other complaints are symptomatic of a more serious health condition known as systemic Candida Albicans. By concentrating on treating the underlying Candida Albicans my patients are able to loose weight and improve their overall health.

Betty F. . . was consulting with me for continued weight gain. She was finding it difficult to stick to a diet and exercise, partly since she saw such limited results. During her consult she admitted to gas, indigestion and fatigue. Her history included birth control pills, antibiotic use and several yeast infections. Her treatment plan included a low carbohydrate diet, nutritional supplements, and anti fungal herbals. She returned is 4 weeks, she had been able to stick to the diet with much greater ease, she felt more energetic and had no more gas. She was even happier that she had been able to loose 9 lbs. She reached her goal of a total weight loss of 22 lbs over the course of 3 months and has been able to keep it off. She now sticks to a sound diet and only takes a multi nutrient with herbals.

Candida Albicans is opportunistic yeast that often over whelms the body after antibiotic, may be passed from person to person with the exchange of body fluids, and from direct contact. It may be found in the reproductive tract, the mouth, the GI tract and in the blood. There are several common signs of Candida Albicans including vaginal yeast infections, thrush, jock itch and athlete’s foot. Candida Albicans has been linked to a number of health conditions including; asthma, depression, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, hypoglycemia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), learning disabilities, menstrual problems, Migraines, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCSS), Prostatitis, sinus problems, and Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

One of the major secondary problems associated with Candida Albicans is weight gain. A number of the problems associated with loosing weight and staying with a diet are doing to Candida Albicans. A person with systemic Candida Albicans will often crave sugar and simple carbohydrates because this is the main source of nutrients for yeast. Mood swings and depression are often associated with the rapid change in blood sugar levels caused by the yeast. Patients often complain of gas and bloating caused by the fermentation of foods in their intestines by the yeast which naturally release gas, just like in Champaign and beer. The fermentation of foods in the intestine may also lead to alcohol production that is absorbed through the gut and may lead to symptoms of confusion, altered behavior, and difficulty concentrating. Determining whether you have a Candida Albicans can make a big difference on how easy you will be able to lose weight and keep your weight loss off. 
Questions to determine if you may have Candida Albicans:

1. Have you used antibiotics in the last 2 years?

2. Do you have gas or bloating?

3. Do you have sugar cravings?

4. Do you have low blood sugar?

5. Do you have history of yeast infections, vaginal, oral, athletes foot, or jock itch?

6. Does your partner have a history of yeast infections, vaginal, oral, athletes foot, or jock itch?

7. Are you sensitive to smells?

8. Are you sensitive to alcohol?

9. Do you suffer from symptoms that your doctor cannot explain like; headaches, migraines, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, IBS, menstrual or sinus problems?

10. Do you feel fatigued all the time?

11. Do you have a hard time concentrating?

12. Do you just not feel right?

Candia Albicans can be diagnosed by a blood analysis by your physician, though many traditional physicians do not regularly order this test. A major problem with treating Candida Albicans is the low regard most physicians place on controlling it spread. A recent study showed that 27% of nurses and 33% of doctors have Candida Albicans on their hands in a hospital. You can get a reasonable idea if you have problems with Candida Albicans by answering the questions in the box above. A yes answers to 6 or more questions above, associated with any of the signs or symptoms listed above, is a good indicator that you may have a Candida Albicans problem. Dr. Mark Leder, a chiropractor and nutritionist in NYC, states ” I have treated thousands of women for weight loss and I find that over 75% of them are suffering from Candida Albicans. I tell them, you want to loose weight,? You want to be healthy? Deal with the Candida problem and everything else will follow.” A low carbohydrate diet is the first step to dealing with Candida Albicans, but an herbal anti fungal is just as important.

When Candida Albicans presents itself as a vaginal yeast infection or athletes foot will often be treated with medication. Medications may be oral or topical and can be in prescription or over the counter strength. The problems with medications is that they are often short term and or do not get to the root of the problem. To properly reduce the amount of Candida Albicans in the body a low carbohydrate diet is the first step. Nutritional and herbal supplements are also key components. Regular intake of natural anti fungal supplements gives the body a chance to gentle and slowly reduce the amount of Candida Albicans in the body. There are a number of natural anti fungal herbals and products available on the market, but quality and effectiveness vary greatly. One of the best products available, through physicians offices only, is called RxBotanicals Diet Enhancer which contains powerful anti fungal and natural herbal relaxants. The combination of anti fungal and natural herbal relaxants found in RxBotanicals Diet Enhancer gentle lowers the amount of Candida Albicans in the body while making the dieting experience easier and more successful.

America will continue to focus on the weight loss associated with low carbohydrate diets. Nutritionists and physicians will continue to embrace the multitude of health benefits associated with a low carbohydrate diets with herbal remedies and its relationship to reducing Candida Albicans in the body.
Questions or comments can be addressed to Dr. Steven Zodkoy at 732-308-0099 or szo9935741@aol.com

Dr. Steven Zodkoy is the director of Monmouth Advance Medicine in Freehold, NJ. Dr. Zodkoy is a Chiropractor, a Certified Nutritional Specialists, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a Diplomat American Board of Clinical Nutritionists. He is frequent expert for news broadcasts, contributing author for magazines and consultant to nutritional companies.

Creating a healthy lifestyle is a way of living. Making changes that you know are good for you. Changes that can help achieve you healthy lifestyle goals.

Written by Christine Simmons, contributing author for HealthAssist.net

When you feel like eating something, what comes to mind first? For me it’s the purely the taste. Then my inner-brain kicks in and thoughts of portion size, calories, fats, & sugars, slowly convince me to make a smart choice.

 Weight Gain aside, I would rarely think of any other complications or side effects the food may cause. Side effects are attributed to medications or medical procedures, but not food, right? Well, guess again. Turns out, the food we eat may also cause side effects. Some side effects are serious, some are disturbing, and some may put you into embarrassing situation.

 Here is a list of 10 common side effects caused by the food we eat:

Body Odor. Researchers found that red meat consumption negatively influences on body odor.

Acne. Foods that are high in saturated fat and trans fatty acids increase the sebum production in the body, which in turn increases acne. Researchers suggest that there is a positive association between milk consumption and acne.

Allergy. Allergy is a number one foods side effect. In theory, any food can cause an allergy. But in fact there are 8 foods to blame for 90% of allergic reactions to food: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (including Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts), fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.

Candidiasis (Yeast Infection). Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the normal yeast in the body, so foods that affect the yeast levels may contribute to a yeast infection. These foods are: sugars, vinegar, starches, refined carbohydrates, yeast and yeast containing products.

Heartburn and Acid Reflux. There is a relatively long list of foods that cause heartburn. Some foods cause the lower esophageal sphincter – a muscle that helps to keep stomach contents out of the esophagus – to become weaker, and some cause the stomach to produce more acid than usual. Both of these problems can increase acid reflux. Most common food triggers for heartburn are citrus fruits, fried and fatty foods, vinegar, tomatoes, chocolate.

High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia). Cholesterol is found mostly in animal foods. Consumption of cholesterol-rich foods can elevate blood cholesterol level, which may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol foods are: brains (beef, pork, lamb), eggs, organ meat (liver, kidneys, spleen).

Kidney stones. People whose diets are high in animal protein and low in fiber and fluids may be at higher risk for stones. Several studies have shown that increasing dietary calcium and restricting salt, animal protein, and foods rich in oxalate, such as rhubarb, spinach, cocoa, nuts, pepper, and tea, can help prevent calcium oxalate stones from returning [2].

Memory and Cognition Impairment. Among older adults whose diets are high in saturated fats and trans fats, a high intake of foods containing copper may cause a fast decline in their ability to think, learn, and remember, according to the study from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago [3]. The research studies have linked fat intake, especially that of saturated and trans fats, to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive difficulties.

Edema and Water Retention. Foods high in salt, sodium or sugar may cause the body to retain considerable fluids and worsen edema. The body needs a constant concentration of salt in its tissues. When excess salt is taken in, the body dilutes it by retaining fluid.

Migraine and Headache. Foods may trigger not only migraine but also tension type headache, which feels like tightening of a band around the head, making the whole head ache. Foods cause headaches by affecting the brain chemistry or changing the size of blood vessels. Certain foods cause headache in most vulnerable people because of their high content of the amino acids tyramine and phenyethyamine. The tyramine increases blood flow to the brain,which can lead to a headache. Common headache food triggers are aged cheese, beer, red wine, chocolate, nitrite-containing foods.

Creating a healthy lifestyle is a way of living. Making changes that you know are good for you. Changes that can help achieve you healthy lifestyle goals.

Press Release: by: NaturalNews, citizen journalist

Breast cancer survivors’ beliefs about what may have caused their cancer are connected to whether they make healthy lifestyle changes after a cancer diagnosis. This is the finding of a research study appearing in the August 2006 issue of Psycho-Oncology by researchers at The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School.
“We found that breast cancer survivors who believed that an unhealthy behavior – such as consuming an unhealthy diet, contributed to their cancer – were more likely to say that they had changed that behavior since their diagnosis,” says lead author Carolyn Rabin, PhD, a psychologist at The Miriam Hospital’s Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine. “Likewise, breast cancer survivors who believed that a healthy behavior- such as consuming a healthy diet, could ward off a cancer recurrence – were more likely to say that they had adopted that behavior since their diagnosis.”

Due to advances in detection and treatment, there are now more than 10 million Americans who are cancer survivors, according to the American Cancer Society. However, researchers have not yet determined why some cancer survivors are motivated by a cancer diagnosis to make healthy lifestyle changes, while others are not. This question prompted the study by researchers at The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School.

The researchers cite evidence from past studies indicating that many cancer survivors are not leading healthy lifestyles ƒ{ 50 percent of breast cancer survivors consume fewer than the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, 23 percent consume more than 30 percent of their calories from fat, and 28 to 43 percent lead sedentary lifestyles. In addition, more than 50 percent of cancer survivors who smoked prior to diagnosis continue to smoke.

“Adopting a healthy lifestyle is an important strategy for cancer survivors since, in addition to a cancer recurrence, they may be at increased risk for the developing other medical problems, such as cardiac or pulmonary disease, as a result of their cancer treatment. The goal of this study was to develop a better understanding of why a cancer diagnosis appears to serve as an impetus for some survivors to adopt healthy behaviors, while others do not,” says Rabin.

Researchers assessed breast cancer survivors within three months of thesurvivor completing all surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatment for cancer and a second time three months later. Study participants completed measures assessing beliefs about the cause of their cancer; beliefs about behavioral strategies that may reduce the chance of cancer recurrence; diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption; and any changes in health practices since their cancer diagnosis.

Findings indicated that survivors who believed that unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise or alcohol consumption contributed to their cancer were more likely to modify the relevant behavior. The most robust relationship between beliefs and behavior change was found for changes in diet.

“This study suggests that cancer survivors develop their own understanding of the causes of their cancer and the behavior changes that may prevent recurrence, and then take an active problem-solving approach to help reduce risk of a future cancer,” says co-author Bernardine Pinto, PhD, a psychologist at The Miriam Hospital’s Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.

Given the role of health behavior changes in reducing medical risks, these findings have important implications for maintaining the health of cancer survivors. The authors note, however, that even though survivors’ beliefs about what caused their cancer may prompt healthy lifestyle changes, these beliefs may not be accurate.

“This research highlights the important role that survivors’ beliefs about their disease have in their life post-cancer diagnosis. Ultimately, we hope that cancer survivors will take a holistic approach to maintaining their health so that they do not dismiss an opportunity to make a healthy lifestyle change. Behavior modification may not impact their chance of a cancer recurrence, but can help reduce other serious medical risks,” says Rabin.

Contact: Megan Martin mmartin@lifespan.org 401-793-7484 Lifespan

Creating a healthy lifestyle is a way of living. Making changes that you know are good for you. Changes that can help achieve you healthy lifestyle goals.