How to get relieve from nausea applying acupressure therapy?

Nausea, with or without vomiting, is a miserable feeling. There are many condition when you can feel vomiting like as motion sickness, morning sickness, cancer treatments, and surgery anesthesia etc.

There are numerous causes of nausea and vomiting. But treating nausea means fixing the cause of the nausea. Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of an underlying disease and not a specific illness. Nausea is the sensation that the stomach wants to empty itself, while vomiting (emesis) or throwing up, is the act of forcible emptying of the stomach.

Vomiting is a violent act in which the stomach has to overcome the pressures that are normally in place to keep food and secretions within the stomach. The stomach almost turns itself inside out - forcing itself into the lower portion of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) during a vomiting episode.

Practitioners of Chinese medicine techniques have long used stimulation of points on the wrists through acupuncture or acupressure to relieve nausea.

How to find acupressure point and start pressing it? 

• Take your index finger and middle finger and place them on your wrist at the base of your palm to measure where your nausea acupressure point is. Find your acupressure point -- two or three finger widths down from the top crease in the wrist, centered in the groove between the two large tendons. This is known as the P6 point (or "inner gate").
• Take your thumb and index or middle finger and press firmly on the points on both sides of the wrist when you feel nauseous. You should feel relief in 10-30 seconds. Sometimes, however, it can take up to five minutes. 
• Tap your wrists together gently at the acupressure points while taking deep breaths. You can alternate with tapping the outsides of your hands together.

 Get a wristband that applies pressure to the correct spot. They usually have a knob or flat button positioned over the acupressure point. You might feel relief as soon as you put it on, but after your body grows accustomed to the pressure, you'll need to press down on the acupressure point for extra relief.

Medical scientists don’t know for sure how acupressure wristbands relieve nausea and vomiting. But the theories they have so far point to two possible explanations of how BioBands works -- The first is that using an acupressure wristband interrupts the nervous system signals that bring about nausea symptoms in the body. The second is that continual pressure to the P-6 acupressure points causes the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters that act as a natural painkiller within the body.

Wristband applies continuous acupressure to the P-6 acupressure point at the wrist to relieve nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, morning sickness, cancer treatments, and surgery anesthesia.

"The idea is to use it before you start vomiting," says acupuncturist Joseph M. Helms, M.D. Apply pressure to the webbing between your thumb and index finger on either hand. Use firm, deep pressure and a rapid massaging movement for several minutes, he says.

Using the same kind of motion and pressure, Dr. Helms says, rub with your thumb or thumbnail on the top of your foot between the tendons of the second and third toes. With any luck, your nausea will pass after a few minutes.

Picture and points are courtesy of 'wikiHow'

More links:
* Acupressure Wristbands Help Cancer Patients

http://ping.fm/koV0G

Acupressure therapy for toothache

Acrpressure is a proven therapy for pain relief. Every one of us some experience of toothace and severety of this ailment. Acupressure offers a good relief from pain due to any complication related to teeth or gums.

I practiced this therapy to one of my students (5 year old) who complained a severe pain in her teeth. I asked which tooth was hurting her? I hold the opposite side palm and pressed the finger tip relevant to the teech position for some time and started talking with her. After a few minutes my students said that she is now better and doesn't need to go back home. Second time my son suffered from severe toothache and I tried the acupressure treatment for relief by applying pressure on relevant finger. After half an hour he could go to sleep after relief from pain.

There are times when you need to use painkillers for the toothache, but if you have a good knowledge of accupressure, you can apply the skill yourself to get rid of discomfort until you get an appointment to a dentist.

Acupressure points to relieve tootache:

Point 1 : This is on the right foot. This point is located on the line starting from the intersection of second and third fingers and going till the middle of the ankle joint. From the intersection of the fingers it is located one inch above. Press this point for 3 minutes.

Point 2 : This point is on the right hand. It is located on the joint of the index finger and the thumb near the wrist. Press this point for 3 minutes.

Point 3 : Clench your teeth. On the right jaw below the right ear the jaw muscle will come out prominently. Press this point for 3 minutes.

Point 4 : This point is on the tip of the toes on the foot. If the pain is on the right side press the toe tips of the right foot and if it is on the left foot then press the toe tips on the left foot. Press the all the toe tips for around 3 minutes.

Point 5 : This point is tips of the fingers on the hand. Select the hand on based on the side where you have pain similar to previous Point 4. Press all the finger tips for a total of 3 minutes.

You can repeat it after 1 or 2 hours if needed.

Note: Remember that for pain relief you need to press the point for few minutes ss you need an anaesthetic effect) it is different from pressing the point with intervals in normal therapy sessions.

I have drawn the facing picture, and it shows the finger tip points relevant to the tooth you have problem. Pressing the finger tips for few minutes is a definite relief from tootache.

With thanks (source): 'Headfirstyoga'

How to adopt Acupressure therapy for diabetes?

Acupressure can reduce the sugar level significantly in patients with diabetes, no matter what type it may be (types I and II both can be tackled with acupressure)

Acupressure stimulates different pressure points in the body and can help improve a person’s normal health levels. By tapping into these specific pressure points, you are helping your body release healing mechanisms. These healing mechanisms are normally trapped by stress and fatigue you subject your body to daily.

Ancient Chinese medicine teaches us that by releasing these “pressure points”, we are also releasing any negative energy that may be associated with that particular pressure point. This can have a huge healing benefit on the body. While acupressure can provide great results, it is still advisable that you speak to your health care provider before undergoing this type of non-conventional healing program.

If you are seriously considering acupressure as a treatment option, you must ensure that it is performed by a licensed practitioner. Check credentials, references and ensure that this person has the knowledge needed to perform successful acupressure sessions. Discuss your expectations of the treatment and ask if she/ he can share any success stories from previous patients with you. You might even want to ask if he/she has cured diabetes using acupressure.

Before you start acupressure, you should educate yourself as much as you can about this ancient medical practice. Go online and learn what it is all about. You need to be mentally prepared about the treatment, so find out as much information as you can about it. It might help if you knew which pressure points on the body apply to diabetes.

There are no negative side effects when using acupressure as a natural treatment for diabetes. If you experience any pain or discomfort, you should report this with your practitioner.

Though it has no side effects, it is advisable to research about Acupressure and its effectiveness in internet and consult the family doctor.

* 'Healthy-ojas.com' offers pressure points which can help you cure from Diabetes

Learn about psychic abilities and share your experiences online

A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception (ESP), or is said by others to have such abilities. Many people proclaim to have psychic abilities and some make a living as professional psychics or earn celebrity hosting their own TV or radio programs. Individuals such as Gary Spivey, John Edward and Sylvia Browne either have their own television shows or are frequently featured on talk shows.

Psychic ability can not be learned. You're either born with the gift or you aren't.

'Psychic Experiences' is a free, online source for sharing real psychic experiences and learning more about psychic abilities, the paranormal and parapsychology.

It covers major topics surrounding issues ranging from psychic investigators, remote viewing, famous psychics, mediums, skill development for the seriously minded

Site also offers psychic tests designed to measure your degree of psychic abilities (or spiritual gifts) or to be used as tools to develop your psychic talents.
(These are for entertainment purposes, not to be taken so seriously. They may help you confirm what you already know, but real life is the only real test.)

Useful links:

* 'Infinite Advice' offers Psychic advice and free psychic articles.

* 'Psychic Review Online' A useful resource for people interested in psychic reading. It offers reviews, articles and necessary information about psychic scams around.

* 'Spiritual Experiences' source for spiritual, religious and mystical experiences, the study of spirituality, religion, enlightenment and teachers.

Why use herbal and home remedies to cure and how to use these remedies effectively?

Using herbal or home remedies might be due to these reasons:

High cost of prescription medication, not having health insurance or severe side effects. Whatever reason may be, there are alternative and herbal options for almost any ailment you may have. Still you need to learn more about the effective use of herbal or home remedies. This article offers useful tips and ideas to use herbal and home remedies to get cure and better results.

Not all herbal remedies work the same for everyone though. Sometimes this is just due to differences in body chemistry. Just as you can be allergic to some types of food and prescription medications while others are not, you can have or not have a response to herbs that others do not.

Often though, the primary problem encountered when using medicinal herbs for health problems, is wrong uses. Many people for instance, will buy herbs and supplements based on savvy product packaging, advertising and marketing. Many hard pill tablets for instance, will have some herbs in them, but that's not all. Those pills often have many other miscellaneous ingredients in them which can counter-effect the herbs. And in many cases, the pills only have a small amount of actual herb in them: Too small an amount to be of any use.

Hard pill tablets don't dissolve well in water or our bodies, so they're not able to be mixed up into tea, poultice or salve form. And if they're too hard to mix into these forms, they're not likely to be dissolved well inside our bodies either, thus they won't do us much good when taking them. If the pills also have very little actual herbal content in them, they're also of little use for medicinal means.

So the first step in learning to use medicinal herbs for yourself or your family, is to learn to buy true 100% herbs. The best kind are those which come in gelatin capsules, and have the ground herb inside them. These can be opened up and the herb powder poured out, or simply dropped into a mixture and after a few minutes the gelcap will dissolve, leaving just the powdered herb.

Part of learning how to buy herbs involves becoming adept at reading the labels. There are many products on the market today which appear to be one thing, when closely looking at the label tells you there's more to the picture.

Reading the labels will also help you understand dosage needs too. Since herbs are sold as food supplements only in the United States, there are no medicinal related dosage instructions on them. Part of learning to use medicinal herbs for medical purposes involves learning which dosages work best for which problems.

Herbs can come in many different dosage amounts too. If you're constipated and decide to take some Alfalfa or Chlorophyll to relieve the problem, you'll have drastically different results if you're taking 60mg instead of 600mg. 600mg is very likely to move your bowels within an hour or two of taking it, whereas 60mg or even 100-250mg might not do the trick.

This same example applies when you're taking herbs to relieve a headache, or kill an ear infection. White Willow for instance, often comes in capsules of 300mg. So taking two of these might work for a headache, but that's not the same dosage as regular Tylenol is. So you may find you actually need three white willow pills if your headache is fairly bad.

The opposite can happen in this respect too though. It's not uncommon to find Cayenne pills which are much stronger than they need to be for taking as a daily supplement. And since they're so strong, they can often make your stomach burn if you take them without food.

Another common problem people have when trying to use herbs as medicine, is a lack of knowledge, or mis-understanding of either the herbs they're using, or the symptoms they're having. This problem is not restricted to herbs and alternative remedies though, we see it happen often with over the counter medications too.

Many women for instance, who have never had a vaginal yeast infection, will go to the drugstore and buy anti-fungal ointment to treat it when they think they have one. This often causes the side effect of making them more susceptible to getting a yeast infection, because the bacteria in their body has had the opportunity to become resistant to the anti-fungal medication she used.

Now to the best of my knowledge, there is no resistance build up effect by bacteria and germs against herbal remedies, but there are plenty of times someone takes the wrong herbs for the problems they're having.

A common example actually, is the use of Echinacea. This herb has become quite popular in the last five to ten years, but many people think it's supposed to keep you from getting sick with a cold or the flu. And when it doesn't, they think using herbal medicine is a bunch of bull. The problem though, is that Echinacea doesn't actually keep you from getting sick. It can help keep you from getting AS sick as you normally would. And it can help you to shorten the amount of time you're sick. But it doesn't normally keep you from getting sick completely.

And again, if you're buying the trendy products which "contain Echinacea" instead of buying actual herbs, you're not going to see much - if any - success from these products.

An example of how some people use the wrong things for treatment, is kidney stones. Most kidney stones are calcium based, and these can be dissolved fairly easily with simple lemon juice. There are several other types of kidney stones however, and if you have one of those kinds, the lemon juice remedy may not work for you.

It's also important to reiterate the importance of being fully aware of what you're using too. If you go to the store and buy powdered lemonade, it's not likely going to have much - if any - real lemon juice in it. In fact, many things called "lemonade" in the store, are actually just lemon flavored sugar drinks. And these will not help with any kind of kidney stones. You must buy and use real lemon juice, or better yet: Real lemons to get fresh squeezed juice from.

There's another very important trend you should know about where herbal remedies are concerned, because we've seen it far to often in recent years and it really causes a lot of confusion for many people.

Garlic is an herb you will see mentioned for use in many remedies. This is because garlic is quite powerful. It is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and anti-fungal herb.

The primary healing compound in Garlic is called Allicin. One milligram of allicin has the same potency as 15 standard units of Penicillin. Allicin however, is also the source of the strong smell Garlic has. And unfortunately, it has become popular these days to buy "odor free" Garlic tablets, capsules, pills and liquids. What people don't realize though, is that without the odor, the garlic is almost powerless. Because it's primary healing ingredient has been removed along with the odor. This is unfortunately another marketing and sales tactic. Many people don't want to have "garlic breath" all day long, so the idea of getting all the healing benefits without the smell is quite appealing. It's a waste of time and money though, because again: It will not work if it's odorless. A better option is to eat some fresh parsley or take any other herb which is also high in Chlorophyll, to neutralize the garlic smell.

And last but not least for this part of our series, you need to be aware that some herbs can have side effects, and interactions with other medications - herbal or prescription.

There are herbs which will cause problems if too much is taken for instance. The cayenne example we gave earlier is a common one, if you take a large dose of cayenne in pill form without eating, you will get a burning sensation in your stomach. This hurts for some people.

Other herbs have more severe consequences though. If an insulin dependent diabetic takes too much golden seal for instance, they could go into shock because golden seal is a natural source of insulin. The same applies to hypoglycemics, too much golden seal can drop their blood sugar levels too low.

A popular herb used for hot flashes during menopause is Black Cohosh, and this herb can cause headaches if too much is taken. Other herbs can cause spikes in blood pressure, and there are even some which will cause a pregnant woman to have a miscarriage.

So it's very important to learn everything you can about all the effects an herb has. Often herbs will become popular for just one reason, and no one has any idea the same herb can be used for a variety of other things, or may cause a variety of other problems.

And be sure you learn how to read labels, to make sure you're getting the proper potency of herbs you buy, and to be sure you're not adding misc other chemicals into your system that could be potentially harmful.

Statements made in this article may not be approved by the FDA, and should not be taken as professional medical advice.


Source: 'HerbalRemedies.info'

* More articles on 'Herbal remedies'

How to keep food safely to avoid the risk of food poisoning ?

People who get the food poisoning can describe how much pain and troulble they have to face during the whole period. Even after recovering from it, you need to check your food for few days. This post is about the causes which can produce poison in food and how to keep food safely to avoid risks of food poisoning.


Food poisoning is not only meant by having stomach trouble, vomating or diarrhea, it may go with fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches and nasty bouts of cramps which could take from several hours to days to appear.  Food poisoning is caused by bacteria in food which can double in number every 20 minutes at room temperature, and a few thousands to lay you low. 


You can’t see, smell, or taste them, but millions of bacteria are all around you. Most are harmless; some, like E. coli and salmonella, are a menace to your digestive system. These bugs may already be present in raw meat, poultry, fish, or eggs — they thrive on protein — or you may introduce them yourself if you forget to wash your hands before handling food. They will be happy to infest any kind of food as long as it’s moist and warm enough and not too salty or acidic.


Bacteria can survive on kitchen surfaces for hours and spread to other foods that way, so keep things clean. Be especially careful to wash anything that comes in contact with raw meat or eggs before using it again. (Don’t use the same platter to carry both raw and cooked meat to and from the grill, for example.) A thorough scrubbing with hot soapy water is plenty good enough. The new antibacterial cleaners can’t do much better. And don’t forget to wash your towels often in hot water and sterilize your sponge every few days by throwing it in the dishwasher. Replace the sponge every few weeks.

Won’t cooking kill bacteria?

Cooking food to 160 degrees Fahrenheit will kill most bacteria. Some meats need to be even hotter — for example, all poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Don’t guess by the color; use a meat thermometer.) But if the food has been at room temperature for more than two hours, bacteria may have accumulated to dangerous levels and formed heat-resistant toxins that cannot be killed by cooking. Even cooked food can become contaminated this way, so get those leftovers into the fridge as soon as you can.
Is my refrigerator cold enough?

Your fridge should be set no higher than 40 degrees F (again, use a thermometer). Cold slows down the growth of bacteria. Store leftovers in shallow containers so that they’ll cool quickly. And don’t overstuff your fridge; air has to circulate to keep the food cold. Even at this low temperature, bacteria will start to go to work on your leftovers within a few days. When in doubt, throw it out!

These tips are courtesy of ‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’, 
‘U. S. Department of Agriculture’,
‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’ etc,

First published at 'factoidz': How to Keep Your Food Safely and Avoid the Risk of Food Poisoning?

Be a writer for Natural News and earn online

If you are a writer/freelancer and want to earn online then 'Natural News' is a place to start with. If you love to write about news reporting on specific topics relating to health, nutrition and many others then you can join them. (They don't need opinion pieces or satire pieces, only fact-based reporting on current events.)

You join the network for free and earn from your adsense account. Good news is that your articles or posts get a good exposure and you don't need to promote it yourself.

Why you should join this network?

• Each business day, articles links and pictures are emailed out to over 100,000 NaturalNews subscribers who click and read the news items that interest them.

• News items published on NaturalNews are automatically syndicated via RSS, reaching tens of thousand of additional readers each day.

• Google News spiders all NaturalNews articles within minutes of their publication, providing valuable article publicity through the Google News pages.

Requirements for Participation:

To participate in the WebSeed Citizen Journalism project, the requirements are:

1. You need to be willing to write news reports about a specific topic area (such as infant nutrition, for example, or pet health). You may coordinate with NaturalNews editors and choose from the available topic areas to get a "beat" that you like best.
- You should submit at least one artilce a week.

2. You must have high quality writing and editing skills that allow you to submit ready-to-publish article content. NaturalNews does not provide intensive editing services, and we will reject articles that contain too many errors. Writing quality must be highly professional, which usually means you must have experience or training as a professional news writer in order to participate.

3. You must be willing to agree to the terms of non-plagiarism and financial independence (i.e. you cannot take money from companies to write about them, nor can you write about a company or product in which you have a direct financial stake).

4. You must have a Google Adsense account.

5. You must be willing to monitor the news headlines on your particular topic ("beat"). This will allow you to find story ideas and stay informed about your area of expertise.

How it work?

Google pays you directly for the Adsense earnings generated by the ads appearing above your news article. This provides a small but ongoing revenue stream for your article content, and it continues to generate revenue over time because your article stays posted on NaturalNews.com indefinitely.

The more articles you contribute to NaturalNews, the more Adsense earnings you will accumulate over time.

They need news reporting on specific topics. Articles should be a minimum of 400 words long, and can be up to 2000 words.

How to get started?

If you would like to participate in the beta launch of this program, you may apply at: NaturalNews

Nutritional and natural methods can help us prevent from disease

Many health related sites are now created by health professionals which makes the information more valuable. You can find the latest news, medical research and relative useful stuff at these sites. Nutritional and natural methods can help us prevent or reverse disease. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD has proved it by applying his high nutrient and vegetable diet to a lot of patients. Joel Fuhrman M.D. is a physician who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods. His private practice is located in Flemington, New Jersey.

'DiseaseProof' is the official blog of Dr. Joel Fuhrman MD. who promotes his high-nutrient, vegetable-based diet for optimal health and disease prevention. He believes that high-nutrient eating, as a therapeutic intervention, is more effective than drugs and surgery at restoring health from chronic diseases.

The site serves as a forum to promote discussion on diet, fitness, health and green living. The posts at the blog and site are very valuable and useful for health professionals, patients or as a general source of information. There are many patient or success stories,

'Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss' by Dr. Fuhrman:

Dr. Fuhrman offers his healthy, effective, and scientifically proven plan for shedding radical amounts of weight quickly, and keeping it off. The key to this revolutionary diet is the idea of nutrient density, as expressed by the simple formula Health=Nutrients/Calories. When the ratio of nutrients to calories is high, fat melts away and health is restored. Losing 20 pounds in two to three weeks is just the beginning. Designed for people who must lose 50 pounds or more in a hurry, EAT TO LIVE works for every dieter, even those who want to lose as little as 10 pounds quickly. You can buy the paper back at 'Amazon'

* Download ebook for free: 5.5MB, 299 pages 'Eat to live''Download link'

* 'Official site of Dr. Fuhrman'

Link: 'Disease Proof'

You can get free e-book exclusive eBook "Break Free of the Diet Traps" and receive the Nutrient Rich Daily Tip by subscribing.

False claims of weight loss diets and products and reality behind these ads

Is there any reality behind the ads that promise quick and easy weight loss without diet or exercise? There are false claims of weight loss programs and products around the world for many years. Before you spend money on products that promise fast and easy results, weigh the claims carefully.

The cost of weight loss and obesity related health care treatments is staggering…Americans alone spend around $114 billion every year! And even with all this interest in losing weight, we continue to pack on the pounds like never before…

- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or
obese…up about eight percent from earlier estimates.

- Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or almost nine
million are overweight…triple the rate in 1980!

- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese.

When it comes to evaluating claims for weight loss products, the Federal Trade Commission recommends a healthy portion of skepticism.

Think twice before wasting your money on products that make any of these false claims:
Wouldn't it be nice if—as the ads claim—you could lose weight simply by taking a pill, wearing a patch, or rubbing in a cream? Too bad claims like that are almost always false.

Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity so you burn more energy. A reasonable goal is to lose about a pound a week. For most people, that means cutting about 500 calories a day from your diet, eating a variety of nutritious foods, and exercising regularly.

"Lose weight without diet or exercise!"
Achieving a healthy weight takes work. Take a pass on any product that promises miraculous results without the effort. Buy one and the only thing you’ll lose is money.

“Lose weight no matter how much you eat of your favorite foods!”
Beware of any product that claims that you can eat all you want of high-calorie foods and still lose weight. Losing weight requires sensible food choices. Filling up on healthy vegetables and fruits can make it easier to say no to fattening sweets and snacks.

“Lose weight permanently! Never diet again!”
Even if you’re successful in taking the weight off, permanent weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes. Don’t trust any product that promises once-and-for-all results without ongoing maintenance.

“Block the absorption of fat, carbs, or calories!”
Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that there’s simply no magic non-prescription pill that will allow you to block the absorption of fat, carbs, or calories. The key to curbing your craving for those “downfall foods” is portion control. Limit yourself to a smaller serving or a slimmer slice.

“Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!”
Losing weight at the rate of a pound or two a week is the most effective way to take it off and keep it off. At best, products promising lightning-fast weight loss are false. At worst, they can ruin your health.

“Everybody will lose weight!”
Your habits and health concerns are unique. There is simply no one-size-fits-all product guaranteed to work for everyone. Team up with your health care provider to design a personalized nutrition and exercise program suited to your lifestyle and metabolism.

“Lose weight with our miracle diet patch or cream!”
You’ve seen the ads for diet patches or creams that claim to melt away the pounds. Don’t believe them. There’s nothing you can wear or apply to your skin that will cause you to lose weight.

Source: Advice from the Federal Trade Commission

Useful links and resources:

* How Eating Can Help You With Weight Loss?

* 7 Bad Eating Habits You Should Change Immediately

Spiritual Experience From the Brain

I strongly believe that life is a continues journey of learning. During our life there are lots of lessons and motivational stories/happenings around us helping us learn from it. The blog I am going to write about is from a neurosurgeon who has learned valuable life lessons from his patients.

'Spiritual Experiences from the Brain' is created by a neurosurgeon Dr. Harold J. Colbassani who is a Diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. It covers 'Lessons of hope and inspiration from patients he have treated with brain tumors and other neurological emergencies'

Dr. Harold J. Colbassani says: 'My patients who have fought through terminal brain cancer have taught me the importance of relying on God for all things. It is these stories and the lessons they have taught me I would like to share.'

The real life stories are very inspiring as there is something to learn. There may be thousands of doctors doing their jobs but there are few who look at these happenings with a different perspective.

Useful links:
* Why a prayer a day keeps the doctor away?

Are energy drinks safe for your health?

Thirty-one percent of U.S. teenagers say they drink energy drinks, according to Simmons Research. Not only teens but people of all ages are taking energy drinks to get a shot of freshness or energy.

But are they safe for your health?

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the labels of popular energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Rockstar, should contain warnings about the amount of caffeine they contain and the potentially harmful side effects they could cause.

In recent years, a number of different energy drinks have been introduced to provide an energy boost or as dietary supplements. They contain high levels of caffeine as well as other additives,such as taurine, ginseng and carnitine that act as stimulants.

Scientists from Johns Hopkins have spent years evaluating the effects of caffeine and the impact these high-caffeine energy drinks can have on a person’s health. While a typical 12 ounce soft drink has about 35 milligarms of caffeine, some energy drinks contain up to 500 milligrams. The researchers suggest that most consumers are unaware of the caffeine content in these energy drinks or about the potential dangers, and that information should be added to the product labels.

In addition, many of these drinks are heavily marketed in bars or for use in combination with alcohol, which could further increase the health risks for consumers.

Energy drinks may pose various health risks, including:

Restlessness and irritability. The caffeine in energy drinks can make you irritable, restless and nervous. Excessive caffeine is also associated with headaches, tremors, nausea and insomnia.
Increased blood pressure. The caffeine in energy drinks can increase your blood pressure and make your heart beat faster. In some cases, this can trigger potentially dangerous changes in heart rhythm. Mixing energy drinks and alcohol compounds the effect, since alcohol also makes your heart beat faster.
Possible dehydration. Some studies suggest that the caffeine in energy drinks may increase the risk of dehydration during exercise, but results are mixed. Other studies don't associate caffeine with dehydration.
Weight gain. The sugar in most energy drinks can contribute to weight gain, especially for people who don't exercise regularly and those who struggle with their weight.
In addition, excessive amounts of energy drinks have been associated with manic episodes, seizures, chest pain, heart attacks and sudden cardiac death.

Suggestions from: Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist- Edward R. Laskowski, M.D

Useful links:

* Teens Abusing Energy Boosting Drinks, Doctors Fear

* An important report (I suggest readers to read comments section at the bottom of the report): Energy Drink Health Risk Warnings Needed According to Researchers

* An interesting site with reviews, news and other information about energy drinks is: 'Energy drink review'

* 12 Harmful Ingredients in Power Drinks, Colas and Artificial Juice Drinks

The Miracle Food Honey and its benefits

Honey is miracle food which has healing properties for many ailments. The amazing benefits found in honey have less to do with nutritional value and more to do with antioxidant and microbial properties that are unique to this natural sweetness.

Honey is composed of simple sugars, such as sugar-like glucose and fructose that are used quickly by the body. It was man's first and most reliable source of sweetener and an excellent substitute for sugar.

Honey is a remarkable viscous liquid, prepared by the bees from the nectars of various plants. It has occupied a prominent place in traditional medicines throughout world history. The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans employed honey for wounds and diseases of the gut. When the Children of Israel were in Egypt or journeying through the desert, their promised goal was a 'land flowing with milk and honey'.

The Quran describes the process of its formation by bees and the medical values of it and of the other bees' products.
Honey is mentioned in the Bible 61 times and two times in the Quran.

The four main products from the bees are:- Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen, Propolis and Honey.

They have been used for last few centuries by civilizations around the world to treat a wide variety of ailments and medical conditions.

They are multipurpose substances that in some forms can be applied externally to the skin and in other forms ingested as a food or supplement.

Bee Products are Mother Nature's most incredible gift to our planet, packed with vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids, bee products may provide us with essential nutrition to help with our fast-paced lifestyles.

It follows that the Quran tells us about the healing effects and the medical values of the Bees products that include the Honey.

On the other hand, the Bible says nothing about the Bees products and about their healing effects.

Healing effects of miracle food honey:

Antibacterial and antifungal properties: These properties of honey are well established. Undiluted honey inhibits the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, certain gut pathogens and fungi such as Candida albicans. At a concentration of 30-50%, honey has been shown to be superior to certain conventional antibiotics in treating urinary tract infections. The exact mechanism of the anti-microbial effect of honey remains obscure. Low pH, osmotic disruption of pathogens and the presence of bactericidal substances, collectively called inhibine may all play a part.

Anti-diarrhoeal properties: At a concentration of 40%, honey has a bactericidal effect on various gut bacteria known to cause diarrhoea and dysentery such as Salmonella, Shigella, enteropathogenic E. coli and Vibrio cholera. In one study, honey given with oral rehydration fluid was shown to reduce the duration of bacterial diarrhoea in infants and children.

Wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties: Honey is of value in treating burns, infected surgical wounds and decubitus ulcers. Honey is very viscous, enabling it to absorb water from surrounding inflamed tissue. For example, a study in West Africa showed that skin grafting, surgical debridement and even amputation were avoided when local application of honey to wound promoted healing, whereas conventional treatment failed.

In another study, wound healing was accelerated by application of honey in women who had undergone radical vulvectomy for vulval cancer. Also, it has been suggested that honey may be useful in the treatment of chronic, foul smelling ulcers seen in leprosy.

Anti-tussive and expectorant properties: These anti-cough properties of honey are related to its capacity to dilute bronchial secretions and improve the function of the bronchial epithelium.
Nutritional properties

Uncontaminated honey is a healthy, easily digestible, natural and energy rich food. It contains carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes and vitamins. One tablespoon of honey provides 60 calories and contains 11g of carbohydrates, 1mg of calcium, 0.2mg of iron, 0.lmg of vitamin B and 1mg of vitamin C.

Honey is widely available in most communities but its medical potential remains grossly underutilised. Its mode of action remains incompletely understood and the healing properties of honey in other clinical and laboratory situations requires further evaluation. The miraculous beneficial properties of honey, so beautifully ex-pressed in the holy Qur'an and Sunnah 14 centuries ago expose the reluctance of modern science to accept and exploit this 'traditional remedy'.

Sources: The Honey in Bible and Quran
- Bees and the Hidden Miracles of Honey

More studies:

* The healing power of honey: From burns to weak bones, raw honey can help

* 'Honey Nutrition Facts'

Healing and cure from asthma with the help of acupressure therapy

Being in a country with the a humid atmosphere and increasing pollution, 9 out of 10 kids around the capital city show some kind of asthma symptoms. My son has asthma from the age of 3 which is much improved as I believe and try to use alternative therapies for the prevention and treatment of asthma. This post is a help for people having asthma or related symptoms to get prevention and healing using the acupressure therapy.

I have mentioned and given links which are suggested by various acupressure practitioners, but don't be confused as there are many pressure points around the human body which can be used for the healing and cure of asthma. You may chose the points according to your ease and keep pressing these points.

Note: Never discontinue any prescribed asthma medication without the approval of your doctor.

A patient of asthma shows symptoms of wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest which is due to inflammation of the bronchioles (the tubes that carry air within the lungs). During an asthma attack, this swelling worsens, and the bronchial tubes narrow. Asthma can also make mucus glands work overtime, producing a thick, sticky fluid that congests the airways.

Asthma attacks are often triggered by allergies. Strong emotions such as fear and anxiety can also kick off an attack. See a doctor if you think you have asthma.

Natural remedies in conjunction with medical care and used with your doctor's approval may provide relief, according to some health professionals.

Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., director of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California, and author of Acupressure's Potent Points. He suggests pressing the Lu 1 points to breathe easier. To find these points, also named Letting Go, make fists in front of your chest with your thumbs pointing up. Place your thumbs on the outer portion of your chest, pressing on the muscles that run horizontally below your collarbone. You?ll find a sensitive, knotted spot on each side of your chest. Underneath each spot is Lu 1. Let your head hang forward, then breathe slowly and deeply as you press the points with your thumbs for two minutes.

Pressing the Lu 1 points is helpful for prevention as well as relief of asthma attacks.

You can also press the B 13 points, called the Lung Associated points. Each point is situated one finger-width below the upper tip of the shoulder blade, between the spine and the shoulder blade. Try using tennis balls to press these hard-to-reach points. Lie on your back with your knees bent, placing a pillow under your head for comfort, if you wish. Raise your shoulders slightly while you reach behind your back with your hands to position the tennis balls. Now cross your arms over your body and breathe deeply, letting your weight sink into the floor. Let the tennis balls press into your shoulder muscles for a few minutes or for as long as it feels comfortable.

Source: 'Mother nature'

Useful links and resources:

* 'YouTube' videos for acupressure points.

* Video of 'Acupressure points for asthma' at eHow.

* 'Instructions for acupressure points' with pictures showing the exact location of pressure points.

* 'Asthma Acupressure'

Suggested diet tips for asthma patients

Alternative therapy, along with your health practitioner's suggested medication and following diet or food tips can help you prevent and heal from next asthma attack. These diet suggestions would trigger the healing process so check the routine diet and make changes accordingly.

Diet tips for asthma patients:

• Eat a healthy whole-foods diet based on lean protein foods, such as fish; fresh vegetables and fruits; and whole grains. Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, and tuna, which are high in omega-3 essential fatty acid, have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Eating fish three or four times a week can be very beneficial.
• Include onions in your diet. Onions contain diphenyl-thiosulfinate, an anti-inflammatory compound with anti-asthmatic effects. Moreover, some researchers believe that asthma has its roots in infection by an organism known as Chlamydia pneumonia, and onions have natural infection-fighting properties as well.
• Avoid saturated fats, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, and simple carbohydrates, such as refined sugar.
• If you have sensitivity to dairy foods, avoid them. Remember that dairy foods tend to increase the production of mucus.
• Beware of foods such as nuts, citrus fruits, whole-wheat products (especially yeasted breads), seafood, and foods containing additives like preservatives or food dyes, as well as contact with animals. Any of these things can cause or exacerbate an allergy-induced asthma attack.
• Certain food additives, especially metabisufite, can be dangerous for individuals with asthma. Sulfites are commonly found in commercially prepared foods such as dried fruits. They are also used by many restaurants to keep fruits and vegetables at salad bars looking fresh and attractive. If you have asthma, it's best to avoid salad bars and to buy only unsulfured dried fruits. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can also cause problems for some people with asthma, so avoid food products prepared with this additive. You should also be aware of "hidden" sources of MSG. these often show up on food labels as "hydrolyzed protein," "autolyzed yeast," "sodium caseinate," and "calcium caseinate."
• Following an asthma attack, drink plenty of fluids once your condition is stable enough for you to do so. It is important to thin secretions so that they are easily coughed out.
• If you suffer fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, and have difficulty losing weight, ask your physician to check your thyroid function. Asthma is often exacerbated by low thyroid function.

Source: 'Asthma diet'

More studies:

* Nutritional supplements for asthma are intended to prevent or support recovery from an asthma attack, rather than to treat. Read more at: Asthma Nutritions & Supplements

Live longer and healthier eating healthy foods

Everyone wants to live longer and healthier. Without health living longer is not a good experience. So it is true that 'Health is Wealth'! This article is about healthy foods which can keep us healthy and live longer. I have collected the same topic posts at one place so you don't miss any information relating to the topic.

How to keep health in good condition and save from diseases or aging?

The simple answer is that living a simple life, keep watching the food we take can help us live longer and healthier. The nutrition research has never been more consistent: A high-carbohydrate, plant-based diet is best for long-term health and weight maintenance.

As discussed on Oprah Winfrey's recent show on longevity it is possible to live to 125 or maybe 150.
Eating large quantities of fruit and vegetables, plus time for daily exercise can help you live healthier. By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity. Obesity accelerates aging even faster than smoking, according to scientific research.

North Carolina Research Campus is created to study the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. According to them the healthiest foods on earth are:

List of Healthiest Foods on Earth

• Pineapple Speeds post-surgery Promotes joint health Reduces asthma inflammation
• Blueberries Restore antioxidant levels Reverse age-related brain decline Prevent urinary tract infection
• Spinach Helps maintain mental sharpness Reduces the risk of cancers of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate Top nutrient density
• Red Bell Pepper Reduces risk of lung, prostate, ovarian and cervical cancer Protects against sunburn Promotes heart health
• Broccoli Reduces diabetic damage Lowers risk of prostate, bladder, colon, pancreatic, gastric and breast cancer Protects the brain in event of injury
• Tomato Reduces inflammation Lowers risk of developing esophageal, stomach, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer Reduces cardiovascular disease risk
• Apple Supports immunity Fights lung and prostate cancer Lowers Alzheimer’s risk
• Artichoke Helps blood clotting Antioxidant Superfood Lowers “bad” cholesterol 
•  Arugula Lowers birth defect risk Reduces fracture risk Protects eye health
• Asparagus Nourishes good gut bacteria Protects against birth defects Promotes heart health
• Avocado Limits liver damage Reduces oral cancer risk Lowers cholesterol levels
• Blackberries Build bone density Suppress appetite Enhance fat burning
• Butternut Squash Supports night vision Combats wrinkles Promotes heart health
• Cantaloupe Bolsters immunity Protects skin against sunburn Reduces inflammation
• Carrot Antioxidants defend DNA Fights cataracts Protects against some cancers
• Cauliflower Stimulates detoxification Suppresses breast cancer cell growth Defends against prostate cancer
• Cherries Alleviate arthritic pain and gout Lower “bad” cholesterol Reduce inflammation
• Cranberries Alleviate prostate pain Fight lung, colon and leukemia cancer cells Prevent urinary tract infection
• Green Cabbage Promotes healthy blood clotting Reduces risk of prostate, colon, breast and ovarian cancers Activates the body’s natural detoxification systems
• Kale Counters harmful estrogens that can feed cancer Protects eyes against sun damage and cataracts Increases bone density
• Kiwi Combats wrinkles Lowers blood clot risk and reduces blood lipids Counters constipation
• Mango Supports immunity Lowers “bad” cholesterol Regulates homocysteine to protect arteries
• Mushrooms Promote natural detoxification Reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer Lower blood pressure
• Orange Reduces levels of “bad” cholesterol Lowers risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, breast and stomach, and childhood leukemia Pectin suppresses appetite
• Papaya Enzymes aid digestion Reduces risk of lung cancer Enhances fat burning
• Plums and Prunes Counter constipation Antioxidants defend against DNA damage Protects against post-menopausal bone loss
• Pomegranate Enhances sunscreen protection Lowers “bad” cholesterol Fights prostate cancer
• Pumpkin Protects joints against polyarthritis Lowers lung and prostate cancer risk Reduces inflammation
• Raspberries Inhibit growth of oral, breast, colon and prostate cancers Antioxidant DNA defense Lower “bad” cholesterol levels
• Strawberries Protect against Alzheimer’s Reduce “bad” cholesterol Suppress growth of colon, prostate and oral cancer
• Sweet Potato Reduces stroke risk Lowers cancer risk Protect against blindness
• Watermelon Supports male fertility Reduces risk of several cancers: prostate, ovarian, cervical, oral and pharyngeal Protects skin against sunburn
• Banana Increases Fat Burning Lowers risk of colorectal and kidney cancer, leukemia Reduces asthmas symptoms in children. 

For more reading:  A Recipe For Longevity: 33 Of The Healthiest Foods On Earth

Useful links and resouces:

* The healthiest diet on earth: A brand-new food pyramid reveals what to eat

“healthy food hot list” consisting of the 29 food, helping you fulfill your nutrition and calorie needs while decreasing your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Along with each description is a suggestion as to how to incorporate these power-foods into your diet.
More at: The 29 Healthiest Foods on Earth

In Depth: The Healthiest Foods On Earth

The only thing these diets have in common is that they're all based on whole foods with minimum processing. Nuts, berries, beans, raw milk, grass-fed meat. Whole, real, unprocessed food is almost always healthy, regardless of how many grams of carbs, protein or fat it contains.

All these healthy diets have in common the fact that they are absent foods with bar codes. They are also extremely low in sugar. In fact, the number of modern or ancient societies known for health and longevity that have consumed a diet high in sugar would be ... let's see ... zero.

Real food--whole food with minimal processing--contains a virtual pharmacy of nutrients, phytochemicals, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and healthful fats, and can easily keep you alive and thriving into your 10th decade.

Berries, for example, are phenomenally low in calories, high in fiber and loaded with plant compounds that improve memory and help fight cancer. Studies have consistently shown that nut-eaters have lower rates of heart disease. Beans are notorious for their high fiber content and are a part of the diet of people--from almost every corner of the globe--who live long and well.

Protein--the word comes from a Greek word meaning "of prime importance"--is a feature of every healthy diet ever studied. Meat , contrary to its terrible reputation, can be a health food if--and this is a big if--the meat comes from animals that have been raised on pasture land, have never seen the inside of a feedlot farm and have never been shot full of antibiotics and hormones.

Ditto for raw milk, generally believed to be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet by countless devotees who often go to great expense and inconvenience to obtain it from small, sustainable farms. Wild salmon, whose omega-3 content is consistently higher than its less-fortunate farm-raised brethren, gets its red color from a powerful antioxidant called astaxathin. The combination of protein, omega-3s and antioxidants makes wild salmon a contender for anyone's list of great foods.

Another great food: eggs--one of nature's most perfect creations, especially if you don't throw out the all-important yolk. (Remember "whole" foods means exactly that--foods in their original form. Our robust ancestors did not eat "low-fat" caribou; we don't need to eat "egg-white" omelets.)

There are really no "bad" vegetables, but some of them are superstars. Any vegetable from the Brassica genus--broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale--is loaded with plant chemicals called indoles, which help reduce the risk of cancer.

In the fruit kingdom, apples totally deserve their reputation as doctor-repellants: they're loaded with fiber, minerals (like bone-building boron) and phytochemicals (like quercetin, which is known to be a powerful anti-inflammatory and to have anti-cancer properties). Some exciting new research suggests that pomegranate juice slows the progression of certain cancers. Other research shows it lowers blood pressure and may even act as a "natural Viagra."

Tea deserves special mention on any list of the world's healthiest foods. The second most widely consumed beverage in the world (after water), all forms of tea (black, oolong, white, green and the newer Yerba Matte) are loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Some types (green tea, for example) contain plant chemicals called catechins which have decided anti-cancer activity

 In group of plants--onions, garlic and shallots. Garlic has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties; hundreds of published studies support its antimicrobial effects as well as its ability to lower the risk of heart disease. A number of studies have shown an inverse relationship between onion consumption and certain types of cancer.

A healthy diet doesn't have to contain every one of the "healthiest foods on earth," but you can't go wrong putting as many of the above mentioned foods in heavy rotation on your personal eating plan.

Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS, is a board-certified nutritionist and the author of seven books on health and nutrition, including The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy and The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth.
Source: The Healthiest Foods On Earth 

Another article relating to the topic:

* The Healthiest Foods on Earth by Vitanetonline.com

Home remedies can help you get rid of fatigue

Home remedies can help you get rid of common tiredness or fatigue in easy way as these things are usually easily available in your kitchen. Whatever the reason for your tiredness may be, you can find these remedies work for you.

• Lavishly apply coconut oil or some Ayurvedic hair oil on your head and retain it for 30-90 minutes before bathing.
• Heaping teaspoon of kuzu powder in 2 teaspoons water and add to 1 cup cold water. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to the simmering point, and stir constantly, until the liquid becomes a transparent gelatin. Stir in 1 teaspoon tamari soy sauce and drink while hot.
• B Vitamins: The patient should also take natural vitamins and mineral supplements as an effective assurance against nutritional deficiencies as such deficiencies cause fatigue. Lack of pantothenic acid, a B vitamin, in particular, leads to extreme fatigue as deficiency of this vitamin is associated with exhaustion of the adrenal glands. A daily dosage of 30 mg of pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 is recommended.
• Banana, milk, nuts, green leafy vegetables, peas, pulses, whole-grain cereals, rice polishing and yeast should be consumed for the same.
• Fatigue is also caused by dehydration. Make sure you drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day. If you know in advance that you will be sweating and exerting yourself, start filling up your body with water the day before.
• Apply a hydrating mask on the face. Put a slice of cucumber on each closed eyelid. lie down and rest for 10 minutes. Remove the cucumbers and for the next 5 minutes hang your head off the side of the bed allowing the blood to circulate. After you remove the mask hydrate with your favorite moisturtzer. You will feel like a new person.
• Brown Rice Cream: Used in cases when a person in a weakened condition needs to be nourished and energized or when the digestive system is impaired. Dry-roast brown rice evenly until all the grains turn a yellowish color. To one part rice, add a small amount of sea salt and 3?6 parts water, then pressure cook for at least 2 hours. Squeeze out the creamy part of the cooked rice gruel through a sanitized cheesecloth. Eat with a small volume of condiment, such as umeboshi plum, gomasio (sesame salt), tekka, kelp, or other seaweed powder.
• Chew the seeds of a cardamom three to four times a day. If you don''t like the idea of chewing cardamom seeds, you can also boil one or two cardamom in a glass of water and drink it. Add sugar or honey for taste.

Tips courtesy of: 'The free library'

Why we feel tired and tips to get rid of fatigue?

Most people know exactly why they feel tired. You may know that you're always tired because you work too much, but what about the people who's jobs aren't particularly demanding, they get all the sleep that they need and their lives aren't really that stressful.

So why do they feel tired all the time?

In most cases, the answer is simple – the modern lifestyle is responsible for tiredness. Tiredness is a direct result of the way we live our lives. We eat different kind of foods than our grandparents did, our jobs are different, the way we spend our pastime has changed, as well as the way we sleep… And the result of all this – we feel tired all the time.

If you experience high levels of exhaustion and fatigue in the course of the day there are 2 issues that you may be facing. Either you are not getting enough sleep or you are suffering from a condition like hyperthyroidism or a viral infection.

Often the cause of this condition is also lack of exercise, poor diets and lifestyle. This condition can be hazardous to all aspects of your life and also impact others in your life.

Tips to get rid of fatigue:

If lack of sleep is causing this condition then try and squeeze in a few extra minutes of rest. Ideally you would need to get 7 hours of sleep everyday.
Sleeping in the afternoons over the weekend is a good option if you are suffering due to lack of sleep. During the week you can use your lunch hour to grab a few minutes of rest. Bite into a chicken sandwich quickly and then get a few minutes of rest.

It is important to get a few minutes of exercise everyday. Lethargy can also be the cause of fatigue and constant tiredness. If this is the cause then your only solution is to exercise for a few minutes daily.

Swimming and cycling in the summer season and walking in winter are great ways to exercise. Enroll for a yoga class to help you get some exercise during the week.
Meditating for a few minutes everyday is a good way to reduce stress and induce quality sleep. If you are at unrest then meditate for a few minutes before you head to bed. This is a great way to relax and get quality sleep. You will wake up refreshed and energized.

While resting and exercise is important you also need to focus on your diet. If your meals are high in fat and low on nutrition you are not going to be energized. For this reason it is important for you to eat healthy and nutritious food.
Protein and fiber rich foods are great as they help to increase your energy levels and keep your hunger pangs away thereby preventing any junk food binges.

Add nuts and dry fruits to your diet. These are known to be rich sources of vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body.

Don’t depend on coffee and tea too much to keep you alert; in the long run they will loose their effect on your body and create dependence.

Suggested food servings per day for a healthy diet

It is difficult to maintain a food or diet chart for every person because every person's needs are different according to their body structure and life style. Active persons need more nutritious and healthy food but people with less active life style may need less calories per day. More over we need to learn what is meant by 'serving' as we need to take balaced food to keep us healthy.

Recommended Daily Servings for Each of the Food Groups:

The food pyramid commonly referred to by people to determine how much of each food group they need to consume is not actually accurate for everyone. The suggested servings per day are for a typically normal person. But for those of us who are more active, we need more sustinanance. If you frequently (meaning 2 or more times a week) exercise or lift weights, you are not getting enough calories to live on. By eating a well-balanced diet, you will feel more energy and see faster results whether you are trying to lose or gain weight.

You should be aiming for 55-60 percent of carbohydrates, 25-30 percent of protein and 15-20 percent of fat at each meal.

Eat every couple of hours throughout the day to prevent hunger.

Make sure you eat from every food group at most sittings.

• 1 carbohydrate gram is equal to 4 calories.
• 1 protein gram is equal to 4 calories.
• 1 fat gram is equal to 9 calories.

SERVING SIZE FOOD

• size of a baseball medium fruit
• size of palm 3 oz meat or fish
• size of fist 1 cup vegetables
• ice cream scoop 1/2 cup cooked pasta
• dice or domino 1 1/2 oz cheese
• thumb tip 1 tsp butter/marg
• large handful 1 cup dry cereal

FOOD GROUP SUGGESTED SERVING

• dairy 2-3 for men
• 2-3 for women
• lean meat 3-4 for men
• 2-3 for women
• fruits 4 for men
• 3 for women
• vegetables 5 for men
• 4 for women
• breads 11 for men
• 9 for women

‘Nal.USDA.gov’ suggests: The Pyramid calls for eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients you need and at the same time the right amount of calories to maintain healthy weight.

Use the Pyramid to help you eat better every day…the Dietary Guidelines way. Start with plenty of breads, cereals, rice, pasta, vegetables, and fruits. Add 2-3 servings from the milk group and 2-3 servings from the meat group. Remember to go easy on fats, oils, and sweets, the foods in the small tip of the Pyramid.

What Counts as One Serving?

 

The amount of food that counts as one serving is listed below. If you eat a larger portion, count it as more than 1 serving. For example, a dinner portion of spaghetti would count as 2 or 3 servings of pasta.

Be sure to eat at least the lowest number of servings from the five major food groups listed below.
You need them for the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and protein they provide. Just try to pick the lowest fat choices from the food groups.
No specific serving size is given for the fats, oils, and sweets group because the message is USE SPARINGLY

• • Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese 1 cup of milk or yogurt 1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese 2 ounces of process cheese
    
  • Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans, 1 egg, or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter count as 1 ounce of lean meat
    
  • Vegetable 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables 1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw 3/4 cup of vegetable juice
  • Fruit 1 medium apple, banana, orange 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit 3/4 cup of fruit juice  
  • Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta 1 slice of bread 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta  

Useful links:

* Food Guide Pyramid: Food Groups & Servings

* ‘Recommended Daily Servings for Each of the Food Groups’ from ‘Live Strong’ site.

* 'Serving sizes'

  

Smokers at a great risk of lung cancer and Mesothelioma

Lung cancer is being associated with smoking and it is commonly believed that smokers are at a great risk of having lung cancer. Now a day we are familiar with another kind of cancer which has almost same symptoms like lung cancer but it is different from it. It is called 'Mesothelioma' and it can develop in the tissues covering the lungs or the abdomen.

Mesothelioma is strongly associated with exposure to asbestos and fiber glass but smoking has been linked to an increased incidence in mesothelioma. So smokers are at great risk of having lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Main causes of lung cancer: In most people, lung cancer is related to cigarette smoking. Although some people who have never smoked get lung cancer, smoking causes 9 out of 10 cases.
The second most important risk factor for lung cancer is exposure to radon gas. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep out of the soil. Other, less important risk factors include air pollution, exposure to certain chemicals(like as asbetos), previous lung disease, family history of lung cancer, past cancer treatment and having poor immunity.
The more you smoke, the more likely you are to get lung cancer. But the length of time you have been a smoker is most important. Cigarette smoking is the main cause of lung cancer.
Let’s learn what is Mesothelioma:  Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can develop in the tissues covering the lungs or the abdomen. It is a cancer of mesothelial cells.
Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma or lung cancer may include:
* Coughing
* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* Difficulty Sleeping
* Weight Loss
* Pain in chest and abdomen
* Fluid in the chest
The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis).

 In most cases of mesothelioma, it takes decades for the disease to cause symptoms.
Although a serious hazard to your health, asbestos is an excellent insulating material. It is used in many products that need to withstand high heat such as home insulation and construction, brake pads, electrical equipment, hot water piping, boilers, ship engines, and welding supplies. People who have worked in these industries should be screened regularly for the development of lung disease.

While smoking has not been found to cause mesothelioma, smoking has been linked to an increased incidence in mesothelioma in asbestos exposed workers. Therefore, if you have had occupational e exposure to asbestos, smoking could raise the risk of developing mesothelioma.

Ifyour symptoms suggest you may have mesothelioma, you doctor will order a number of tests. Imaging studies like X-rays, CT scans and MRI show any abnormalities within the lungs. A complete blood count and levels of specific proteins can help make the diagnosis. However, the diagnosis of mesothelioma cannot be made by blood work and imaging studies in every case.

Note: If you have these warning signs you should consultant a qualified medical professional immediately. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Source: ‘Mesotheliomasos’

* ‘Asbetos.com’- is spreading awareness about the dangers of asbestos cancer (mesothelioma). Their goal is to offer a one-stop resource on all asbestos and mesothelioma-related issues ranging from occupational exposure to treatment options.

How to manage stress related weight gain?

 When depressed you loose the control over your eating habits. It results in more calorie count to produce high cholesterol and weight gain.  Studies prove that there is a link between our stress level and weight gain. So what are the techniques to manage stress related weight gain?

 Try these stress management techniques to combat stress-related weight gain:

• Recognize the warning signs of stress, such as anxiety, irritability and muscle tension.
• Before eating, ask yourself why you're eating — are you truly hungry or do you feel stressed or anxious?
• If you're tempted to eat when you're not hungry, find a distraction.
• Don't skip meals, especially breakfast.
• Identify comfort foods and keep them out of your house or office.
• Keep a record of your behavior and eating habits so that you can look for patterns and connections — and then overcome them.
• Learn problem-solving skills so that you can anticipate challenges and cope with setbacks.
• Practice relaxation skills, such as yoga, massage or meditation.
• Engage in regular physical activity or exercise.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Get encouragement from supportive friends and family. 
Source: How do I control stress-induced weight gain?

How to identify the sources of stress and manage it?

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses.
Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather?

Do you define stress as an integral part of your work or home life (“Things are always crazy around here”) or as a part of your personality (“I have a lot of nervous energy, that’s all”).

Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events, or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional?

Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.
How we become victom of stress?

There are many causes and reasons of being stressed among which may be:

Life Crisis: Research has proven that the experiences that we have encountered over the years are likely to cause diseases which do not manifest until later on in life.
The death of a spouse or a truly loved one causes the highest level of stress, followed by divorce and a marital separation.
The conflicts intertwined with relationships with people close to you cause you the most stress.
Occupational Stress: As humans, more of our time is spent working compared to any other awake activity.
Occupational stress is a result of a factor or a combinations of factors at work. It impacts the worker, disrupting their psychological or physical wellbeing. It can be caused by a number of factors including work overload and stimulus underload. Work overload results from the burden of excess work. It may also be caused by the ambiguity of the task required of the worker. Stimulus underload happens when there are not enough tasks for the worker to undertake. It can cause job dissatisfation, post traumatic stress syndrome, and increase the level of cholesterol and the heart rate.
Social Networks Disintegration:  Relationships have been proved to be one of the more important aspects of our human life, especially to our psychological and physical well being.
Thus if someone who you truly cherish passes away, your social network begins to disintegrate as feelings of loneliness start to take over. This is because as humans, we need the warmth and love that relationships bring to us and the removal of one of these relationships can be heartbreaking.


What happens to you when you are stressed?

Diseases - Stress has been the reason for 50-80% of diseases.


Insomnia - The inability to fall asleep.

Hypertension - High blood pressure, which can lead to lethal complications.

Aging - Research has proven that people age faster when they experience more stress.
 
Quotes: ~ to help you relieve stress in your life ~

"Blame is a senseless action. You are the master of your own destiny, you can achieve whatever you desire and the only force that stands in your way is your own fear. So utilise your power to decide and do it!"

'Daily Strength' - A place to share and support each other

After the huge success of 'Facebook' 'Hi5' and related community/networking sites, there are more sites coming with the same or different theme. 'DailyStrength' is also an online community site with a difference.

"DailyStrength is a social networking website where users provide one another with emotional support by discussing their struggles and successes with each other."

The site contains online communities that deal with different medical conditions or life challenges. As of November 4, 2007, DailyStrength has created over 500 support groups focused on issues such as depression, divorce, parenting, and a wide variety of cancers.


The site is free for members. The site provides members with continual support as someone is always available to talk. Medical professionals are also available to contact and treatments for a variety of illnesses and problems are also listed on the site.

The users are asked to describe medical and psychological treatments they have undergone. They indicate what conditions those treatments were for, whether they were effective and provide a narrative about the experience. That information is then aggregated by condition and treatment – so it’s easy to see what a large number of people have done in response to a condition or what it’s really like to undergo a certain treatment.


Have you been thinking about using Lexapro? Out of 58 people who have used it on DailyStrength, only 45% found it helpful. That’s interesting information, presuming the complainers aren’t employees of a competing drug company or PR firm.
The discussion and support function is likely to prove quite valuable to users as well.
There are 25,000 treatments in the database. Each treatment and condition has a discussion space, syndicated Yahoo! news and an excerpt from the Wikipedia entry on the subject.

The company pays four medical doctors to participate on the site and DailyStrength is careful to advise against or delete medical recommendations posted by users. It is a good way for patients to educate themselves before and after visiting a medical office.

The site also has a resources section where you can find, for example, a long list of user contributed recipes for gluten free food.

The site is primarily targeting women,  prime audience for social networks

  Site link: 'Daily Strength.org' 

Currently, DailyStrength is operated by some very passionate and dedicated people that get great satisfaction knowing that site can be a positive force for everyone who faces challenges in their lives.

Managing cholesterol level helps reduce depression

University of Montpellier analysts demonstrate us how depression is linked to cholestrerol levels and gender.

Do you know the Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and University of Montpellier financed scientists suggested that managing 'good' and 'bad' levels of cholesterol can help reduce mood disorders among seniors?

In a newly released issue of the academic journal Biological Psychiatry (http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com) released in July 2010, leading researcher Dr. Marie-Laure Ancelin of INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale http://www.inserm.fr) documented that gender-specific regulation of cholesterol may help stop depressive disorders in the aging adults.

French analysts observed a considerable group of women and men aged sixty-five and older for seven years.

They established that depressive disorder in women was associated with lower levels of "good" high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which puts them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart stroke.

On the other hand, depressive disorder in men was associated with low levels of "bad" low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This association was strongest in men with a genetic vulnerability to depression related to a serotonin transporter gene.

Therefore, proper regulation of HDL-C and LDL-C levels may help reduce depression in the seniors, the study concluded.

The analysis appeared in the July 15 issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry (Reference: http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(10)00393-8/abstract).

Major diet sources of cholesterol include dairy products, egg yolks, beef, pork, poultry, and shrimp. Plant products such as flax seeds and peanuts incorporate cholesterol-like substances called phytosterols.

Total cholesterol is described as the sum of HDL (High-density lipoprotein), LDL (Low-density lipoprotein), and VLDL (Very-low-density lipoprotein). Usually, only the total, HDL, and triglycerides are measured.

It is suggested to have cholesterol tested more often than five years if a person has total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or higher, or if a man over age forty five or a woman over age fifty has HDL (good) cholesterol lower than 40 mg/dL, or exist other risk elements for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

So...what can you do to increase your HDL (good) and decrease your LDL (bad) levels?

These tips can help you increase your good cholestrol and decrease your bad level:

1. Exercising can substantially increase HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL cholesterol.

2. Smoking has been shown to lower HDL while raising LDL cholesterol.

3. Prepared, trans fats at the same time raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol.

4. Monounsaturated fats such as those found in essential olive oil and avocados increase HDL and reduce LDL.

5. Fatty fish like salmon and sardines contain omega-3 fats that raise HDL and lower LDL.

6. Whole, intact grains contain dietary fiber and niacin, both of which raise HDL and may lower LDL.

Now it's all to you...

About the author - Betty Doyle publishes articles for the http://www.depressionpills.net/ blog. It's a nonprofit website specialized in her personal depression journey. The blog focuses on giving energy and hope to any individual who is suffering from depressive disorder and promotes those people to find the energy to fight back against the effects of depression. This way she wants to support alleviate some of the stigma mental illness depression can cause and help the public perception of mood diseases.

Learn about yoga and acupressure at - Head First Yoga

I love to read personal blogs with valuable stuff, because these kind of blogs consist posts based on blogger's own thoughts, ideas or experience. I have been practicing yoga for a long time and after quitting this useful practice, I am now addict to meditation which is satisfying and relaxing for me.

'Head First Yoga' is a personal blog from Nilendu Bhattacharya who has keen interest in Yoga and practicing it for more than 8 years. He does it to get confidence and peace.

He has good knowledge of Acupressure which he believes that it is cheapest and most easy healing technique. Professionally he is a Software Product Manager at a local company.

His blog 'Head First Yoga' is about yoga, but there are valuable posts about acupressure therapy. He is a practicing yogi and acupressures and it is clearly shown from his articles. He has written articles on the basis of his own experience.

Few acupressure related posts are:

• Treating Headache with Acupressure
• Acupressure and Home Remedy tips For Ear Pain
• Treat Leg Pain with Acupressure

These posts not only explain the pressure points but he has given pictures as well.

Aim:(In his own words)

'My Purpose is to spread the knowledge of Yoga and Acupressure so that people can attain healthy body and mind in natural way.
My motto is You should Choose what you Want to Achieve and go after that.'

He hosts another blog 'Pactips' where he talks about Goals, Lifestyle and Money.