7 Tips How to prevent hair loss

There are a number of ways to prevent hair loss in men that weren't around when your dad lost his hair. Here are seven tips to prevent hair loss, some old and some new, that may help you keep your hair even if you are already experiencing hair loss.

SEVEN TIPS TO PREVENT HAIR LOSS IN MEN

1. Keep your hair short. Longer hair puts more stress on the hair follicles, and you'll lose more hair as a result. Shorter hair also makes it easier to keep your scalp clean which is good for your hair.

2. Practice good scalp hygiene. This means washing your hair regularly, and making sure that you rinse it well. Also ensure that products you may apply to your hair are in between shampoos - such as mousse, or cream - are thoroughly removed when you wash your hair.

3. Eat a healthy diet, and take a quality multivitamin formulated for men. Good nutrition can help you keep your hair.

4. If you have a stressful job, learn how to relax and make sure you carve out some time for yourself to get your stress levels down. Stress causes your body to release hormones which can contribute to hair loss.

5. Apply a minoxidil product to your scalp according to directions. This is another reason to keep your short as it makes the product easier to apply. Minoxidil has been clinically proven to prevent hair loss and promote regrowth. You can purchase it in the form of Rogaine.

6. Take Propecia. This is available in pill form. Propecia blocks the enzyme that creates the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness.

7. Use a lasercomb, such as Hairmax. The FDA has recently approved the use of laser treatment for hair loss. Make sure to clean your scalp thoroughly prior to using the lasercomb.

7 Steps How to Avoid Hair Loss

1

Wash your hair regularly in warm water and use a deep conditioner.

2

Eat a balanced diet. Nutritional deficiencies, eating disorders and excessive amounts of certain vitamins, such as A and E, can cause hair loss.

3

Take care of your health. Chronic illness, high fevers and infections can contribute to hair loss.

4

Stay away from harsh chemicals - permanent hair color and perms are the most damaging - and avoid coloring your hair more than once every six to eight weeks.

5

Avoid hairstyles like ponytails and cornrows, which stretch and pull hair.

6

Keep in mind that it's normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day.

7

Consult your general physician or dermatologist regarding concerns about hair loss.

source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2343_avoid-hair-loss.html#ixzz10Pb28PLd

7 Tips Prevent Asthma Attacks

1. Max Out On Magnesium

This essential mineral helps relax the smooth muscles that line airways. People who were getting the most magnesium from foods were the least likely to have wheezing and supersensitive airways. Choose whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds as your best magnesium sources.

2. Consider Antioxidant Protection

Vitamins C and E, the trace mineral selenium and beta-carotene, a pigment found in orange and dark green leafy vegetables, all seem to offer some protection to sensitive lungs. You may want to consider consuming 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 international units of vitamin E and up to 200 micrograms of selenium a day through diet and supplements.

3. Declare War On Insects

Two kinds of bugs - dust mites and cockroaches - are well-known asthma aggravators. People actually inhale microscopic cockroach parts and dust mite feces, which sets off attacks. It is impossible to get rid of dust mites, which are found in every house and are kicked up through normal household activity. So minimizing their presence by encasing mattresses and pillows in plastic covers and washing your bed linens frequently in hot water. Banishing cockroaches can be a real hassle, too. Keep food in bug-proof tins or the refrigerator, clean up crumbs immediately and never leave cat or dog food out. Fix leaks so that there are no damp spots in your house, since mites require high humidity to live.

4. Stop The Acid

The same backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus that causes heartburn can bring on asthma, especially if you are lying down. People who do a lot of coughing at night are most likely to have this problem. To avoid acid-induced asthma, you can take acid-suppressing drugs, forgo late-night foraging and shed excess weight.

5. Relax With Massage

In one study people with asthma who got weekly 15-minute upper body massages reported drops in chest tightness, wheezing, pain and fatigue. Massage may make you more aware of the stress in your life, and awareness is, for most people, the first step towards reducing stress. Stress often makes asthma symptoms worse.

6. Breathe Better With Yoga

Try exhaling for twice as long as you inhale. This is a yoga breathing technique. To do this easily, breathe in normally, then exhale normally, but as you come to what seems like the end of your exhalation, continue for a bit longer without forcing out the breathe.

7. Turn Off The Fireplace

As cozy as fireplaces and wood stoves may be, they spew pollutants into indoor air. If you are having trouble controlling asthma, you are better off not using either of these in your house.

Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts."

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raymond_Geok_Seng_Lee

8 Quick breakfast ideas

Breakfast is often a victim of the a.m. time crunch. "Face it, breakfast is the one thing you can skip when you're in a hurry," laments Rarback. Simplify your morning routine with these eight tips from Rarback, and the American Dietetic Association:

1. Finish homework and pack school bags at night.

2. Decide what your children will wear to school before going to bed. Locate lost shoes for the next day.

3. Get up 15 minutes earlier.

4. Give up morning television and computer games.

5. Have healthy foods on hand. Shop for breakfast foods with your kids, taking into account personal preferences.

6. Set out cereal the night before. For a younger child, fill a zip-lock bag with her portion; she adds milk in the morning.

7. Allow older children to use the microwave oven. Most breakfast foods can be prepared in five minutes, or less.

8. Let kids eat in the car, or while walking to school.

source:http://life.familyeducation.com/breakfast/recipes/36176.html?detoured=1

5 Tips How to Prevent Asthma

A chronic but manageable condition, asthma occurs when the bronchial passageways in your lungs become inflamed. In turn, this causes your bronchial muscles to tighten up, forcing fluids into your air passageways. The result is difficulty breathing, which can range from minor to severe.


1

Know what triggers your asthma attacks. No two cases of asthma are identical and thousands of different irritants, from smog to air that's too cold, can cause an attack. Understand your personal circumstances, and try your best to avoid situations that bring a heightened probability of causing an asthma attack.

2

Don't smoke. While this is sound medical advice for anyone, asthma or no asthma, it is particularly important that asthma sufferers take extra-good care of their lungs.

3

Communicate with your doctor. Managing asthma requires you to co-operate with your doctor to assess your triggers and form a step-by-step plan to manage them. Your doctor can help you form an effective strategy for using your medications and to prevent acute attacks, as well as recognizing situations that cause lung and bronchial irritation.

4

Use a breathing monitor. Many asthma sufferers use a home peak airflow meter to measure their optimal breathing capacity, so that in the event that their breathing becomes compromised, they can recognize the decrease in airflow immediately. This is particularly important because your lung functioning can sometimes be impaired even if you aren't showing any symptoms of restricted breathing or an impending attack.

5

Learn to spot the warning signs of a pending asthma attack. Even the slightest shortness of breath, cough or wheeze might be a sign that an asthma attack is pending. Keep your medication handy and treat any difficulty breathing early, so as to prevent the onset of a more severe attack. Acting early to treat an attack also allows you to cut down on the amount of medication that you need to use to relieve your symptoms. This will allow for better long-term management of your condition.

By an eHow Contributor
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5 Secret Relationship Resolutions

By David Zinczenko

Usually, this time of year, people are broadcasting their resolutions like they have their own cable TV audience.

They tell everyone and anyone they're givin' up soda, hittin' the gym, keepin' the garage clean. Hear me, hear me, I'm going to change! Usually, though, these resolutions stick about as well as wet masking tape.

Instead, this year, try changing up a few resolutions so you can focus on your partner, and do so (here's the catch) without telling them what's coming. Why? Because your moves will be a whole lot more effective if your partner never sees them coming. The benefits: You'll improve your relationships, score major points, and make someone other than yourself feel good, too.

Resolution #1: I Will Worship The Foot

There's nothing wrong with the traditional body parts we may focus our attention on. But if there's one thing that couples crave more and more as the relationship grows, it's non-sexual touch - touching that's sensual with a touch of sexual.

Give your partner regular foot massages (without being prompted), and my bet is that other kinds of touching will increase. Dramatically.

Resolution #2: I Will Be An Online Auction Hawk

You know a relationship is in a rut when the gifts become more mundane than Weather Channel background music. This year - be it for your partner's next birthday or Valentine's day or the next gift-giving event - take some time to really nail it.

Figure out something meaningful from their life and track down a unique item that hits the sentiment perfectly. You'll have to use your imagination and sleuthing skills to come up with a great idea, but you'll score big. Thoughtfulness will always trump another Best Buy gift card.

Resolution #3: I Will Initiate Romance More Often Than My Partner For One Month

I know, I know - you may already be doing so. But if not, make it a point to initiate the romance more often, because chances are, if your partner's doing all of it, then he probably feels a mix of fatigue and frustration. If you can initiate more, he'll give back what you want in the bedroom - ad infinitum. It's the things he craves - and you will, too.

Resolution #4: I Will Replace The Sink Soap

Too often, we get caught up in the relationship biggies - money, sex, communication. Of course, those hot buttons can be the source of many a fight. But you'll go a long way in smoothing out kinks in the relationship by making a conscious effort to put the seat down, put the roll on, clean the dried milk from the counter, or whatever it is that your partner finds to be your little, nagging problems. Fixing the little problems helps solve the big ones.

Resolution #5: I Will Not Let My Partner See Me Naked

Of course, there's nothing wrong with showing off your body, especially if you're also making a resolution to lose a few pounds. For the easiest and most effective way to a sexier you, this article will help you lose weight and look great without ever being on a diet by choosing the best foods each and every time!

But what you'll be doing here is building up the mystery until your partner absolutely has to see you naked. Have a robe, or sheet, or pair of pants all around you, until it's absolutely time to disrobe. The build-up, the anticipation, the mystery - ah, it's the nectar of new relationships that often gets spoiled in old ones.

8 Fun Moves That Firm All Over

By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief -

I pack a lot into my days, so I adore anything that does double-duty, whether it’s foundation that actually helps my skin instead of just camouflaging blemishes or a watch so bright and fun, it’s practically a bracelet. This multitasking approach applies to my workouts, too. I gravitate toward moves that target more than one spot, so I can get sleek all over in less time than it takes to work my muscles individually.

If you’re similarly pressed for time (and who isn’t these days?), you’ll love these eight simple firmers. Each move works several muscles from different angles for faster results, says Tahneetra Crosby, a 24 Hour Fitness master instructor who not only created them, but models them below (5 months after having a baby—clearly, something’s working!). Grab a chair and a set of dumbbells and do two sets of 10 to 12 reps of each move to tighten up all over in just 15 minutes twice a week. You’ll be firmer for sure! Want to slim down as you sculpt? Sign up for the SELF Challenge, a step-by-step, proven program to help you be your sleekest this spring and all year round.

Carving combo
Works biceps, abs, butt, thighs

(a) Stand with feet together, toes turned out, a weight in each hand in front of thighs, palms forward. Press sole of left foot into inside of right leg, knee out, as you do a biceps curl with right arm.
(b) Step left leg to side into a deep plié squat as you reverse the biceps curl, so left hand is raised, for one rep. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Tahneetra’s tip: If you’re a little shaky in the one-legged stance, engage your abs to feel instantly steadier.

X-Factor firmer
Works back, shoulders, hips, butt

(a) Lie facedown with arms and legs extended. Lift arms and legs off floor a few inches without arching back; hold for five counts.
(b) Extend arms and legs to sides, forming an X (as shown); hold for five counts. Return to center, then lower to start for one rep. Do 10 reps.

Tahneetra’s tip: Fix your gaze on the floor to keep your spine in a neutral position. This simple adjustment protects your neck.

Chair chiseler
Works chest, abs, hips, butt, hamstrings

(a) Lie faceup with calves and heels on the seat of a sturdy chair; hold a weight in each hand, arms extended to ceiling.
(b) Press through heels as you lift hips off floor until torso forms a straight line from knees to shoulders; at the same time, lower arms out to sides just above floor. Return to start for one rep. Do 12 reps.

Tahneetra’s tip: Squeeze in bonus booty toning by tightening your tush on the liftoff.

Torso tightener
Works obliques, abs, butt, thighs

(a) Stand with feet wider than hip-width apart, toes turned out, arms down. Lower into a plié squat as you bend torso to left, reaching right arm overhead and left arm, palm up, across waist (as shown).
(b) Return to standing as you straighten arms at shoulder height and extend left leg to side at hip level (as shown) for one rep. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Tahneetra’s tip: For the best waist whittling, stay vertical—no bending forward or backward.

Toning twist
Works biceps, obliques, butt, thighs

(a) Stand with feet wide, toes turned out; hold one weight with both hands, elbows bent, in front of chest. Lunge to left side, straightening arms to lower the weight past left knee.
(b) Stand and twist hips and torso to right, left heel raised, as you do a biceps curl. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Tahneetra’s tip: As you twist to the side, flex your calves to chisel your lower legs—a plus for skirt season!

Get your kicks
Works shoulders, biceps, abs, butt, thighs

(a) Lie on right side, legs stacked with right knee bent and right hip lifted, right elbow and forearm supporting body, a weight in left hand on hip. Raise left leg off floor in a straight line at hip height; bend left elbow and bring weight to right shoulder.
(b) Gently kick left leg forward, foot flexed, as you straighten left arm, reaching weight toward toes, for one rep. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Tahneetra’s tip: Save your knees, please. Keep joints soft, not locked, on the kick.

Back in action
Works shoulders, back, triceps, butt, thighs

(a) Kneel on all fours with a weight in right hand; extend left leg straight behind you, toes touching floor. Bend left knee and lift left leg in line with hip, as you bend right elbow and draw weight to rib cage.
(b) Straighten left leg and right arm behind you. Return to all fours. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Tahneetra’s tip: Press shoulder blades together during the rowing movement to buff your upper back.

Hip-hop honer
Works shoulders, triceps, chest, back, butt, thighs

(a) Stand with right hand gripping the back of a sturdy chair, a weight in left hand at side. Bend left knee and raise leg until thigh is almost parallel to floor as you extend left arm to shoulder height (as shown).
(b) Lean torso back as you push and straighten left leg forward, foot flexed, and draw left elbow back, bringing weight to armpit (as shown), for one rep. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Tahneetra’s tip: Don’t be afraid to get funky! Find a rhythm and pick up speed to burn more calories.

sourcehttp://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/16025/8-fun-moves-that-firm-all-over/

Slimming, Simple Dinners

Slimming, Simple Dinners
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief


While I love to eat, I’m not exactly a world-class cook. Not even close. In the Danziger house, we often dial for dinner, and as long as it’s fairly healthy, I try not to harbor any guilt about takeout. But on nights when I do make dinner, I like it to be fast, nutritious and of course, delicious. These five meals, developed by Willow Jarosh, R.D., and Stephanie Clarke, R.D. of New York City, are just my type—filled with flavor and nutrients, not calories (each contains about 550). They’re quick enough to whip up on nights when you’re solo and don’t feel like a big to-do, and you can also double, triple or quadruple them if you’ve got company. Dinner is served (not delivered)!



Spiced Salmon Over Brown Rice Rub a 4-ounce wild salmon fillet with 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder (or a dash each of cinnamon, clove, ginger and black pepper). Bake at 350 degrees until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Serve over 1 1⁄3 cups cooked brown rice with 1 1/2 cups broccoli stir-fried with 2 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp chopped garlic. Pesto-Portobello Napoleon Bake 1 portobello cap on a baking sheet coated with olive oil cooking spray at 350 degrees until mushroom is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Sauté 1 1/2 cups baby spinach in olive oil cooking spray over medium heat until wilted. Spread 1 tablespoon prepared pesto onto baked mushroom cap. Top with 3 oz grilled skinless chicken breast, spinach and 1 tbsp grated Parmesan. Serve over 1 1⁄3 cups cooked quinoa.



Farfalle With Veggies in Creamy Marinara Combine 1 1/2 cups cooked whole-wheat farfalle, 1⁄3 cup part-skim ricotta and 1⁄3 cup reduced-sodium marinara sauce in a saucepan over low heat. Warm mixture until steaming hot, stirring occasionally. Serve pasta with 8 asparagus spears sautéed in 1 tsp olive oil and sprinkled with 2 tsp grated Parmesan.


Black Bean, Zucchini and Smoked Gouda Baked Burrito Fill an 8-inch whole-wheat wrap or tortilla with 3/4 cup reduced-sodium canned black beans, rinsed and drained; 2 tbsp grated smoked Gouda cheese; and 1/4 cup each zucchini, chopped onion and red pepper, all sautéed in 1 tsp olive oil. Roll into a burrito, spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray, and broil until golden brown and crispy on the outside. Top with 2 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt and 1 tbsp prepared salsa. Serve with 3/4 cup chopped zucchini sautéed in 1 tsp olive oil and 1/2 tsp chopped garlic. Serve with half a large pear, sliced and sprinkled with fresh lemon juice. source:http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/16602/slimming-simple-dinners/

Tips For Better Sleep

by Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D. a Yahoo! Health Expert for Nutrition

Like millions of other Americans, I often have trouble with insomnia — either I can't fall asleep, or I awake prematurely and am unable to get back to sleep. The following sleep tips, compiled from various sources, may prove helpful to some of my fellow insomniacs.

• Only use your bed for sleeping or having sex, not for reading, doing paperwork, watching TV, snacking, or making phone calls.
• If you've been lying in bed but are beginning to fear you're not going to drop off, try some of these techniques: Count sheep or count backwards from 100 (one of my favorites) to stop yourself from thinking about the problems of yesterday or tomorrow; breathe deeply for awhile; or visualize some peaceful place.
• If you can't get to sleep after lying in bed for 30 minutes or more, get up for awhile. What to do? Try reading something incredibly boring.
• Develop a bedtime routine.
• Keep regular bedtime hours.
• Before bedtime, avoid tobacco and caffeinated beverages (not just coffee, but other drinks like tea, cola, and Dr. Pepper).
• Avoid alcohol right before bedtime — a nightcap might get your mind fuzzy enough to put you to sleep, but such sleep may be interrupted by periods of awakening. By contrast, the stress-lowering effect of a drink with dinner may help to promote sleep later.
• Avoid naps (or falling asleep in front of boring TV programs, as I do).
• Try to get up at the same time every day rather than sleeping in on weekends.
• Exercise every day, but not shortly before bedtime since exercise gets the adrenaline going.
• If you use an illuminated clock for a wakeup alarm, place it where you can't keep looking at it to check the time.
• Buy a firm mattress and keep your bedroom well ventilated (a cool temperature works best for me).
• And you might also try some of these: a warm bath, warm milk, light bedtime snack, massage, or quiet music (which turns itself off automatically).
• Use earplugs for extreme quiet.
• If you have a painful joint or a headache, take a pain pill before bedtime (but be sure it doesn't contain caffeine).
• Avoid stimulating reading or television shows late at night.

If the insomnia stubbornly persists, check with your doctor to make sure some underlying health problem (such as depression, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) isn't keeping you awake. If all is well, you might ask for one of the several types of prescription sleeping pills that can be useful in the short term.

More By This Expert

• Migraine Headaches are a Risk Factor for Strokes
• Radiation Exposure from Airport Body Scanners
• Mammography Screening: Following the Evidence

Weight Loss: 6 Tips

New Year's Weight Loss: 6 Tips

By Dr. Maoshing Ni

It is a time-honored tradition to make resolutions at this time of year. If your resolution is to lose weight - and keep it off, then keep reading! Here are six simple tips that will have you losing weight in a balanced and healthy way.

1. Lose weight with water.


Water is essential for everybody - it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven't been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight.

By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water and sliced lemons, and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. If you are still not sold on the merits of water, try this on for size: water is a natural appetite suppressant.

2. Soup up your weight loss program.
A simple dietary change will have you shedding pounds: eat a bowl of soup at least once a day. Nutritious, low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body. People who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories but don't eat soup. Go for homemade soup whenever possible, as canned soups are loaded with salt and chemicals.

3. Eat early to keep weight off.
The human body follows a circadian rhythm, which means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently than when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tend to lose weight and have more energy; however, eating the same things at dinner tend to increase tendencies toward weight gain. I suggest that you eat your last meal of the day by 7 p.m.

4. Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
Follow an eating schedule with five little meals every day. Eating steadily through the day keeps you from becoming famished and overeating at your next meal. Make a low-fat trail mix from raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried plum, and apples and have it available at all times to avoid the tempting lure of high-calorie snacks.

5. Adopt a balanced approach to your diet.
Most of the fad diet programs out there nowadays are extreme in a few recommended foods, or else deprive the body of food altogether. This works in opposition to our metabolism and the results usually don't last, producing a yoyo effect that depresses your metabolic function - not to mention your self-esteem. We are natural beings that need a balance of nutrition from all sources.

Your diet should consist of a balance of organic sources of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Instead of white rice and pasta, opt for brown rice, bulgur, millet, or buckwheat.

Eat more green, chlorophyll-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and asparagus. Eliminate candy, sugar, soda, and all simple sugars from your diet. Excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain. Also, keep dairy to a minimum because most dairy products are high in saturated fat. Avoid fatty foods, processed or fried foods.

6. Walk off the weight.
The No. 1 cause of weight gain is inactivity. Physical activity is the key to speeding up your metabolism and burning excess calories. The best way to be physically active is to use your legs! Walk as often and as long as you can. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Step outside during your break at work and take a walk around your building. Consider joining a local hiking club. Try taking a walk 30 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes in the early evening.


May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

source:http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/8305/new-years-weight-loss-6-tips/

7 Pointers to Lift a Bad Mood

Going Up! 7 Pointers to Lift a Bad Mood

By Dr. Maoshing Ni

No one can live a long and healthy life without the will to go on; sometimes mood swings can make us feel that life is too much for us.

A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness. Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health.

1. A Laughing Matter
"Laugh Therapy," pioneered by Norman Cousins, has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer.

Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being - in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people liver longer and healthier lives. So read your favorite comics, watch your favorite comedies, and laugh it up!

2. Amino Acid for Restored Mindset
When an imbalance or deficiency is creating a bad mood, the Europeans use supplements of a natural compound found in human cells to regulate mood and restore a healthy mindset. SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is produced from methionine, an amino acid that plays a role in the production of uplifting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

One study indicated that SAMe worked on patients who had unsuccessful results with conventional antidepressants. To get a boost from SAMe, take a supplement combining it with vitamins B6 and B12.

3. Hands-On Healing
Human touch increases the production of endorphins, growth hormone, and DHEA, all of which lengthen your life span and lower the negative impact of stress. Studies have found that patients who are regularly touched recover faster than those who are not touched. So give someone a hug and feel both of your moods improve.

4. Boost Your "Youth Hormones"
You don't need pills to flood your body with a rejuvenating flood of growth hormones. Research has found that doing squats and leg presses will greatly increase your natural production of the "youth hormone". Increased growth hormone translates to an elevated mood, among other physical benefits. Keep it up with weight training, knee bends, push-ups, and rowing.

5. Take a Bracing Breath
Breathing correctly is important for dispelling the toxins and wastes from your body; in fact, it is estimated that we expel only about 30 percent of toxins in our bodies through the bowels and bladder-the rest is all respiratory. Breathing is also a great way to clear your mind, boost your energy, and improve your mood. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic, breathing daily with mind-body disciplines such as tai chi, yoga, qigong, and meditation.

6. Smell the Joy
Research has shown that smell has a definite impact on our bodies and minds. When you stimulate the olfactory nerves inside your nose, you activate the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with moods and memory. This concept is instrumental to aromatherapy, a natural health tradition that makes use of the healing powers of plants with strong scents.

Aromatherapy recommends treating depression with jasmine, eucalyptus for exhilaration, and grapefruit to increase alertness and joy. Just put a dab of the essential oils from these plants on your temples, back of your neck, or acupressure points. Another option? Boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.

7. Feel Fine with Flowers
There is a reason that flowers are the traditional get-well gesture. Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods; they can uplift a patient's mood and even combat stress. One study found that during a five-minute typing assignment, people sitting next to a flowering bouquet were more relaxed than those who sat near foliage-only plants.

I hope these tips help the good feelings flow! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

More By This Expert

• Natural Pain Relief for Back Pain
• Soup Therapy: Detoxify, Lose Weight, and Boost Immunity
• 5 Secrets to Winter Health and Energy

source:http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/6715/going-up-7-pointers-to-lift-a-bad-mood/

What is influenza (flu)?

Influenza - Topic Overview

By Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS

What is influenza (flu)?

Influenza (flu) is a viral infection. People often use the term "flu" to describe any kind of mild illness, such as a cold or a stomach virus, that has symptoms like the flu. But the real flu is different. Flu symptoms are usually worse than a cold and last longer. The flu usually does not cause vomiting or diarrhea.

Most flu outbreaks happen in late fall and winter.

What causes the flu?

The flu is caused by influenza viruses A and B. There are different strains, or types, of the flu virus every year.

What are the symptoms?

The flu causes a fever, body aches, a headache, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. You will probably feel tired and less hungry than usual. The symptoms usually are the worst for the first 3 or 4 days. But it can take 1 to 2 weeks to get completely better.

It usually takes 1 to 4 days to get symptoms of the flu after you have been around someone who has the virus.

Most people get better without problems. But sometimes the flu can lead to a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection, a sinus infection, or bronchitis. In rare cases, the flu may cause a more serious problem, such as pneumonia.

Certain people are at higher risk of problems from the flu. They include young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with long-term illnesses or with impaired immune systems that make it hard to fight infection.

How is the flu diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. This usually gives the doctor enough information to find out if you have the flu, especially if many cases of a similar illness have occurred in the area and the local health department reports a flu outbreak.

In some cases, the doctor may do a blood test or take a sample of fluid from your nose or throat to find out what type of flu virus you have.

How is it treated?

Most people can treat flu symptoms at home. Home treatment includes resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking medicine to lower your fever.

If you think you have the flu, your doctor may be able to give you medicine that can make the symptoms milder. But you need to start taking it within 2 days of your first symptoms.

Can the flu be prevented?

You can help prevent the flu by getting the flu vaccine every year. The best time to get the vaccine is in October or November, just before the start of flu season. You can get the vaccine as a shot or in a spray that you breathe in through your nose.

Almost anyone over 6 months old can have the flu vaccine. The vaccine is especially important for people who are at higher risk of problems from the flu, including:¹

• Children 6 months through 4 years of age.
• Adults ages 50 and older.
• Adults and children who have long-term health problems or an impaired immune system.
• Women who will be pregnant during the flu season.

The flu vaccine is also recommended for health care workers and anyone who lives or works with a person who is at higher risk of problems from the flu. Your doctor can help you decide if the flu vaccine is a good choice for you.

The vaccine usually prevents most cases of the flu. But even if you do get the flu after you've had the vaccine, your symptoms will be milder and you'll have less chance of problems from the flu. You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about influenza (flu):	What is influenza (flu)? What causes the flu? What are the symptoms of the flu? How happens during the flu? What increases my risk for the flu? How common is the flu? Should I get a flu shot? Should I take antiviral medicine for the flu?
Being diagnosed:	Who can diagnose the flu? How is the flu diagnosed?
Getting treatment:	When should I call my doctor? How is the flu treated?
Ongoing concerns:	What problems can the flu cause?
Taking care of yourself:	What can I do at home to feel better?

Author:Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS

Medical Review:Kathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineW. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease

source:http://health.yahoo.com/flu-overview/influenza-topic-overview/healthwise--hw122014.html

Migraine Headaches

Migraine Headaches - Topic Overview

By Monica Rhodes

What are migraine headaches?

Migraines are painful, throbbing headaches that last from 4 to 72 hours. When you have a migraine, it may be so painful that you are not able to follow your normal routine or do your usual activities. But even though they make you feel bad, migraines do not cause long-term damage.

Migraines are a disease. You cannot just "will them away." Talk to your doctor about your migraines. There are treatments that can help you manage them.

What causes migraines?

Experts are not sure what causes migraines. It may have something to do with the blood vessels in your brain.

Migraines run in families, but it is not clear why some people get migraines and others do not.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of a migraine is a throbbing headache on one side of your head. You may also feel sick to your stomach and vomit. Activity, light, noise, or odors may make the migraine worse. The pain may move from one side of your head to the other, or you may feel it on both sides at the same time. Different people have different symptoms.

Some people have an aura before the migraine begins. When you have an aura, you may first see spots, wavy lines, or flashing lights. Your hands, arms, or face may tingle or feel numb. The aura usually starts about 30 minutes before the headache. But most people do not have auras.

How are migraines diagnosed?

A doctor can usually tell if you have a migraine by asking about your symptoms and examining you. You probably will not need lab tests, but your doctor may order some if he or she thinks your symptoms are caused by another disease.

Many experts think you have migraines if:¹

• You have 5 or more headache attacks without an aura or you have 2 attacks with an aura.
• Your headache lasts from 4 to 72 hours without treatment.
• You also feel sick to your stomach and may vomit. Light and noise may make your headache worse.

How are they treated?

You can usually manage your migraines. First try an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Brand names include Advil, Motrin, and Aleve.

If over-the-counter medicine does not work, your doctor can prescribe stronger medicine that stops the migraine as it is starting. You may not be able to use some medicines if you are pregnant or have other health problems, such as heart problems or high blood pressure.

When you feel a migraine coming on:

• Stop what you are doing, and take your medicine. Do not wait for the migraine to get worse. Take your medicine exactly as your doctor told you to.
• Take it easy. Rest in a quiet, dark room. Close your eyes, and try to relax or go to sleep. Do not watch TV or read. Put a cold pack or cool cloth on the painful area.

If the first treatment you try does not work, try something else. It may take time to find what works best for you.

Some people also use other kinds of treatments, such as acupuncture. These may help reduce the pain or the number of migraines you have. But experts need more research to see if they really work.²

Be careful when you use your migraine medicines. Taking them too often can cause you to get another headache when you stop taking the medicine. This is called a rebound headache. If you find you are taking your medicines very often, talk to your doctor before a problem starts.

Can I reduce how often I have migraines?

You may be able to reduce how often you have migraines by staying away from things that cause them. These are called "triggers." Common triggers include chocolate, red wine, cheese, MSG, strong odors, not eating, and poor sleep habits. It may be helpful for you to track and write down your triggers. You may be able to avoid the trigger and more migraines.

If you have migraines often, your doctor may prescribe medicine that helps prevent them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about migraine headaches:	What is a migraine headache? What causes migraines? Can I prevent migraines? What are the symptoms of migraines? What happens in migraines? What increases my risk for migraines? How common are migraines? Are there different types of migraines?
Being diagnosed:	How are migraines diagnosed? Who can diagnose a migraine?
Getting treatment:	How are migraines treated? What medicine will I need to take?
Living with migraines:	What can I do at home for my symptoms? How can I avoid migraine triggers? How can I manage a headache at home? Should I take medicine to prevent migraines? What can trigger a migraine?

Author:Monica Rhodes

source: http://health.yahoo.com/headache-overview/migraine-headaches-topic-overview/healthwise--hw116876.html

4 Must-Know Restaurants Secrets!

Eat This, Not That
by David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding a Yahoo! Health Expert for Nutrition

If being an anonymous blip on a giant corporation’s assembly line makes you feel like a character in some bleak sci-fi movie, we’ve got good news. There are plenty of ways to fight back—to enjoy all the convenience of modern restaurants and all the foods you still like to eat without paying extra money every 6 months for a new pair of pants.

You see, all major restaurant chains—from the fast-food purveyors to the sandwich shops and coffee bars to the sit-down dinner joints with their vaguely Italian/Mexican/Chinese/whatever themes—operate with the same set of secrets, secrets they don’t want their customers to know. And if you know these secrets, well, guess what? The power to eat what you want and still stay slim is in your hands. Lucky you!

This list of sneaky secrets, straight from the book Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide will help you start taking back control! And, even better, we’ve created an Eat This, Not That! iPhone app—it’s like having your own personal nutritionist at your fingertips!

Secret #1: Don’t get “supersized”
Sure, it feels like you’re getting a bargain because you’re getting proportionately more food for proportionately less money. But a “value meal” is only a value for two sets of people: the corporations that make the food and the corporations that make liposuction machines and heart stents. Because food is so inexpensive for manufacturers to produce on a large scale, your average fast-food emporium makes a hefty profit whenever you supersize your meal—even though you’re getting an average of 73 percent more calories for only 17 percent more money. But you’re not actually buying more food. You’re buying more calories. And that’s not something you want more of.

Secret #2: Remember, the waiter is a salesperson
A 2005 study published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services found that you’re more likely to order a side dish when the server verbally prompts you. (“Do you want fries with that?”) Restaurants know this, and now you know it, too. When the waiter makes a suggestion, remember his job is not to make you happy. His job is to extract money from your wallet and insert fat in its place.

Secret #3: Don’t get too excited
You eat out all the time. A 2008 study in the International Food Research Journal found that people are less likely to make healthy restaurant choices when they feel that they’re dining out for a “special occasion.” And as we said, dining out used to be special. But before you head out to your next meal, really take stock of how many times you’ve eaten out this week. If you’re eating every meal at home and dining out truly is a once-a-week splurge, then don’t worry about it so much. But if you’re like most of us, eating out is probably more like a once-a-day splurge. And if that’s the case, remember, there’s nothing special here. Eat smart today because you’ll have to do it again tomorrow.

Bonus tip: Download our free Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week—and save calories, time, and money!

Secret #4: Start small
Here’s the good news: No one is going to stop you from ordering seconds. So be like any good businessperson, and start small. Here’s exactly how expensive it really is whenever you go for the “bargain”:

• 7-Eleven: Gulp to Double Gulp Coca-Cola Classic: 37 cents extra buys 450 more calories.
• Cinnabon: Minibon to Classic Cinnabon: 48 more cents buys 370 more calories.
• Movie theater: Small to medium unbuttered popcorn: 71 additional cents buys you 500 more calories.
• Convenience store: Regular to “The Big One” Snickers: 33 more cents packs on 230 more calories.
• McDonald’s: Quarter Pounder with Cheese to Medium Quarter Pounder with Cheese Extra Value Meal: An additional $1.41 gets you 660 more calories.
• Subway: 6-inch to 12-inch Tuna Sub: $1.53 more buys 420 more calories.
• Wendy’s: Classic Double with Cheese to Classic Double with Cheese Old Fashioned Combo Meal: $1.57 extra buys you 600 more calories.
• Baskin Robbins: Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Kids’ Scoop, to Double Scoop: For another $1.62, you’ve added 390 calories.

The bottom line on all this? For just a hair more than 8 bucks, you’ve bought yourself an additional 3,620 calories. If you ate each of these once a week, and you were to switch to the smaller size each time—again, still all your favorite foods, just in a more reasonable size—you’d save about $417 a year. It’s not going to buy you a new car, but it could put you on a plane to the Bahamas. But far more important than that is what it will mean to your waistline, because in saving that $417, you’ll also save 188,240 calories in a year—enough to shave a whopping 54 pounds of flab off your body! (Hey, take the 400 bucks and buy some new pants!)

See our eye-popping list of the 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America for a jaw-dropping lineup of the BIGGEST and most outrageous secrets the restaurants don’t want you to know. And for tons more great nutrition and weight loss tips like these, sign up for the Eat This, Not That! newsletter—it’ll help you cut hundreds of calories from your daily diet, without ever feeling deprived!

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TW-Eat This! Follow Eat This, Not That! author Dave Zinczenko on Twitter for his best health, fitness and nutrition secrets!

Check out the cutting-edge guide to fast and easy weight loss, the brand-new Big Book of Exercises.

Get more nutrition, health, and fitness secrets from Men's Health: Subscribe today with this special offer and save 50% off the cover price.

More By This Expert

• 4 Must-Know Restaurants Secrets!
• 11 Foods Your Dentist Wouldn't Touch
• Top Weight Loss Foods for 2010

source: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/42707/4-must-know-restaurants-secrets/

A healthy diet for children

A parent is always concerned about the health of the child. Children are always fussy when it comes to eating nutritious food. They like eating junk foods like burgers, chocolates, ice creams and chips etc. Eating junk food will not be beneficial to the health but on the contrary will create a bad impact on the health. Children force their parents to get junk food. Mostly the parents agree to buy junk food for the child just to see him happy. Parents try to fulfill the child’s demands
without being concerned about the bad effects of eating junk food. Children may not know the consequences of eating junk food. It is the parent’s duty to alert them from such bad eating habits.

These days it is very common to see people who have wrong food habits. We can easily see the market filled with different types of junk food. Eating junk food has become a common lifestyle in today’s world. People, who rely on junk food, don’t posses a healthy life style and are thus victims of diseases. As the child is growing, it is essential to give him the right nutrients through right eating habits. If he lacks in nutrients through poor eating habits then this will act as an obstruction towards easy growth of the body. So parents should pay good attention to the child’s health by following the right food eating pattern.

Taking care of the child does not mean having a fat child or having an under weight child by reducing the required amount of diet in the child from fear of obesity. These are the two extreme cases of following a wrong health care pattern in a child. Essential nutrient’s, in the form of calcium etc should be given to the child in his growing period. To achieve this goal, they need to follow a diet health weight chart or nutrition chart plan. Your physician should be able to monitor your diet health plan schedule program. A pediatric will assist you by providing feedback towards your child’s eating habits and thus will prescribe a healthy diet which is needed for the child’s growth. Parents can certainly benefit from advice taken from a Pediatrician and nutritionists who play an important role in specifying a healthy meal plan for the child.

A dietician, strongly believes that by depriving a person from eating food, is not the right way to loose weight. When the person is back on its normal eating schedule, he is likely to eat more.

Parents can follow the below mentioned tips towards a healthy diet plan:

1. Do not bring junk food at home.
2. Replace chips with child crackers and peanut butter for children.
3. Instead of dry fruits, you can give fruit roll – up.
4. Develop a creative mind while preparing food. For example: You can mash the cauliflower or add cheese to broccoli and you can use ketchup with pinto beans.
5. You can replace fat cookies with vanilla wafers, animal crackers, graham crackers and fig cookies.
6. Instead of eating chips or crackers jack, you can use pretzels in your food.

source: http://www.helpfulhealthtips.com/how-to-follow-a-healthy-diet-for-children/

Effects of junk food?

Effects of junk food?

Junk food is very tasty and no one goes by not noticing it and wanting to bite into it. Resisting junk food is difficult, but with age, taking in junk food is something to be desisted as they do not have a healthy effect on the body. How harmful can junk food be exactly on your body? …

Here’s a look on why you need to cut down on junk food eating:

• Junk food is made using a lot of saturated fats. Such fats are unhealthy and on digestion can release a lot of toxins into your body. You body gets food but not healthy food.
• Junk food is sometime made using ingredients that are not very clean. This can in the long run spoil your stomach, liver and intestines.
• Junk food does not contain vitamins and minerals and much of the nutrients seen in properly cooked food and in raw food. The body is not getting the necessary vitamins and minerals necessary to have good health and immunity from diseases. Consequently, it makes the person having such food very prone to illnesses.
• Junk food makes you put on weight. People who have obesity or morbid obesity are those who have a preference for junk food and snacking.
• Eating junk food can make you prone to diabetes, because it contain too much of sugar. You cn also become susceptible to heart disease and blood pressure because of the salt and high fats found in this kind of food.
• Packed junk food contains preservatives and coloring, both of which contain carcinogenic substances.
• In the long run, junk food actually fastens the effects of aging. People show signs of old age faster because of continuously eating junk food. This is because continuous eating of junk food exposes the body to long periods of bad nutrition. The result is release of free radicals which are the chief factors responsible for aging effect.

The habit of taking in junk food is seen particularly with children, teenage and young adult and in the long run it can tell on their health. The main factor that attracts people to eat junk food is their taste. This taste must be substituted with food that is cooked well and delicious, but at the same time healthy for the body while intake eating salads and fruits must be take up and even increased.

source http://www.helpfulhealthtips.com/what-are-the-ill-effects-of-junk-food/

Long Life

People have become sicker,
more depressed, more obese, and more dependent on medications and prescription drugs than any other time is history.
Food manufacturers, marketing firms, health professionals have long advocated that eating cooked food is the fundamental pillar of good health. We believe that the eating of cooked food has exactly the opposite effect, leading to a state of decadent existence, which is confirmed, by the toxic condition of our bodies manifested in the high rates of heart trouble, diabetes, cancer, emphysema, premature senility and premature deaths.

The Problem

For generations, billions of people who have lived and are living have rarely if ever eaten anything but cooked food. The intense heat used in cooking food destroys the enzymes within it, and when consumed, leaves a coating on the intestinal walls. Over time, this coating accumulates, putrefies and causes Toxemia, resulting in the colon becoming sluggish and distorted and resulting in constipation, inflammation of the colon, diverticulosis (the presence of saclike herniations of the mucosal layer of the colon through the muscular wall, common among older persons and usually producing no symptoms except occasional rectal bleeding), and other disturbances result. Cooked and processed foods result in progressive degeneration of the cells and tissues. The lack or deficiency of certain elements, such as vital organic minerals and salts, and consequently of vitamins, from our customary diet is the primary cause of nearly every sickness and disease. The body has an inherent tolerance. When we eat anything that is “not good” for us or that is incompatible with our nutritional requirements and balance, we suffer. We are warned and punished by pain or by cramps, leading eventually to disease and perhaps to one of the aliments that afflict humanity. Such punishment may not manifest immediately, nor be immediately apparent, but because of the body’s miraculous tolerance we will be kept waiting for days, perhaps months or maybe years, before the long-range retribution called by nature for the infraction of her laws, catches up with us. Thus, one can eat four or five big meals a day, and yet the body may be starved through the lack of the vital elements in the food and the disturbance of the enzyme balance.

The Solution

The human body is dependent on quality of food. The only way to restore our bodies and minds to their natural state of vitality, strength, stamina, and wholeness would be to consume raw food, preferably fruits and vegetables. Fruit juices are the cleansers of the human body and vegetable juices are the builders and regenerators of the body. They contain all the amino acids, minerals, salts, enzymes, and vitamins needed by the human body, provided they are used fresh, raw, and without preservatives. The nutritional and recuperative value of fresh vegetable and fruit juices are invaluable to a life free from ailments. The element which enables the body to be nourished and live, that element which is hidden within the seeds of plants and in the sprouting and growth of plants, is a life principle know as enzymes. Enzymes have been described as complex substances that enable us to digest food and to absorb it into our blood, and is claimed to digest cancers. Enzymes are an intangible magnetic Cosmic Energy of Life Principle, not a substance, which is intimately involved in the action and activity of every atom in the human body, in vegetation, and in every form of life. They are catalysts and cause a reaction without changing, destroying or using up the enzymes themselves in the process. Where there is life, there are enzymes. They are sensitive to temperatures with most not able to survive above 50 degree Celsius. They can remain dormant at low temperatures for many years and reactivated when thawed to body temperature. All repair and regeneration of our body must come from within. Toxemia is blood poisoning resulting from the presence of toxins, as bacterial toxins, in the blood. In order to regain and maintain the proper balance of health, most of the food we eat must contain live, vital, organic elements. These elements are found in fresh-raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. A balanced diet should thus contain as the main course, a salad composed of a variety of vegetables – raw vegetables. Fruit and vegetable juices furnish the body with the live elements and vitamins deficient in the cooked and processed foods.
Here is a simple Enzymes Nutrition Guide











- Eat all the raw fruits and vegetables you wish – the more the better










- Eat fresh fruit or nuts as snacks
- Avoid alcohol, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and caffeinated beverages, dairy products, meat, soda, and sugar Why Not Eat the Whole Vegetable or Fruit Instead Of Extracting The Juice and Discarding The Fibres? The digestive processes required to separate the mineral elements from the fibers involve labor and time to be expended by the digestive organs, and the means with which to nourish such energy is derived from the food. By separating the mineral elements and the distilled water in the food from the fibers, this liquid food is digested in a matter of minutes. source http://www.enzymes.com.sg/