Acid Reflux/Heartburn Simple Steps to Relief

You've seen the advertisements: Acid reflux is a horrible disease that can cause damage to the oesophagus and lead to cancer. Are these claims realistic, or simply exaggerated to sell over the counter medications? The fact is that doctors don't even agree on the causes, treatments, and long-term risks related to heartburn, so you can believe what you want about the ads.

Heartburn is the uncomfortable feeling resulting from acid reflux, or GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease (try saying that out loud a few times). It can feel like a burning sensation (hence, the name), but can also feel like pressure in the chest, which is why it is sometimes confused with feelings associated with heart attacks.

Acid reflux occurs when the muscle between the stomach and the oesophagus gets weak or relaxes at the wrong time. The result is that the stomach contents, including the acid, move up into the oesophagus. Because the oesophagus doesn't have the protective lining that the stomach does, the acid literally burns the oesophagus.

What Works?

Several non-prescription drugs may be effective for mild to moderate acid reflux, such as antacids, which neutralize stomach acids. These include well-known over the counter medications such as Tums and Rolaids. Another option is H2 receptor antagonists, which reduce the production of stomach acids. These include Axid AR, Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, and Zantac 75. Pepcid complete is the only of these that combines an antacid with an H2 receptor antagonist. Which is the best treatment? One study found that Pepcid complete performed better than either an antacid alone or an H2 receptor antagonist alone.

Prescription drugs prescribed to treat acid reflux are called proton-pump inhibitors. These include Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix. While these are equally effective, one study did find that Nexium may heal esophageal sores faster.

Homeopathic Remedies

Combined with homeopathic remedies, heartburn may be treated effectively ! with les s reliance on over the counter or prescription medications. Together, these solutions may provide the answers where just one solution fails to deliver on the promise.

Natural options that may help reduce GERD include deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which may bring fast relief and help heal damaged lining. Aloe Vera juice may also act quickly to bring relief. For those with chronic problems, Gamma-oryzanol (rice bran oil) may be useful, as could choline, pantothenic acid, and thiamin. These natural solutions may provide more effective short-term relief as well as provide long-term dietary benefits.

Why Try a Homeopathic Remedy?

The benefits of natural solutions is that they are often less costly and reduce the chances of becoming reliant on a particular solution. Natural solutions include treating the cause as much as the affect, and experimenting with diet and alternative treatments may help lessen the cause of the problem. Additionally, all of the homeopathic remedies mentioned above can be used along with over the counter or prescription medications.

Does Acid Reflux Cause Cancer?

Studies on acid reflux and cancer vary. One study showed that chronic acid reflux increased the chances of oesophageal cancer by as much as eight times. Another study determined that the risk of cancer is not nearly as much as was once thought. Chronic acid reflux can lead to Barrett's oesophagus, or BE, which has been thought to lead to an increase in cancer. A study conducted by a group of medical doctors found that the risk of cancer from BE is not as much as previously thought, stating that BE will not cause cancer for most people.

What is not questioned is whether or not acid reflux is uncomfortable. Chronic GERD is difficult to live with, and experimenting with both traditional medications and natural remedies may be the best solution. As research continues on the causes and affects of GERD, additional options are likely to come along.

Andrew Kelly keeps you up to date with! the lat est Acid Reflux/Heartburn relief tips and strategies. Learn simple and effective methods to help stop the burning. To recieve your free info visit the Acid Reflux Relief Tips

Exercise Resistance! The Secret Barriers that Prevent Weight Loss

Getting started on an exercise program is one thing. Staying on it is the bigger challenge. We have all been there. New Years Eve comes around and wham! Instant motivation! It is only a small percentage however that sticks with it. Why? When you hear the term exercise resistance you of course think of strength training with weights, don't you? Well, it can also mean something else.

The phrase, Exercise Resistance or ER was coined in the mid 90's. It means, a conscious or unconscious block against participating in a regular active program. Studies show that some people have barriers built up from past experiences that give them a negative mindset toward exercise and food. This prevents a person from starting or following through on a fitness or diet program. This is more of an emotional feeling that controls a behavior more than anything.

I thought the golden years were supposed to be filled with relaxing things to do, not more activities I usually put off before? Have you ever just resented having to exercise now that you are older? Why should I start exercising? I will not follow through-never have. It will be just another failure of mine? Or how about not starting to exercise because you have a fear of failure? My favorite; why does Jane look like she does and I have to work so hard at it? It does not seem fair! Have you ever compare yourself to your youth or your best friend?

Each one of them; resentment, fear of failure, comparisons are barriers you build up only to at some point sabotaging your desire to feel good and get in better shape.

The answer to overcome these barriers is three fold. First, figure out HOW you are motivated. Second, WHERE your desires come from. And third, come to an understanding that these barriers are only illusions you have fabricated in your mind. THEY ARE NOT REAL! The bottom line is, until you work on your approach to weight loss and fitness, the numbers on the charts will not stick.

Click here for FREE Mini Course ==> http:/! /www.res olutions.bz Discover the five step common sense way to lose weight. A formula the medical and fitness industry DO NOT want you to know about! Greg Ryan is a well known author of the Changing from the INSIDE OUT, book series.

Syndrome X

1 in 4 have Syndrome X: Do You?

Syndrome X is an epidemic sweeping across the US. Currently, 25% of American adults are afflicted with the syndrome, though they

might not be aware of it. Also known as Insulin Resistance, a diagnosis of Syndrome X indicates a pre-diabetic state as well as an

increased risk factor for developing type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Syndrome X is a powerful wake up call and

an opportunity to make changes in your life to avoid the possibility of developing a serious and deadly health problem in the future.

What is Syndrome X?

Syndrome X is insulin resistance. It acts by interfering with glucose (sugar) delivery to your body?s cells. Normally, ordinary levels of insulin will escort glucose into your cells. With Syndrome X, your cell receptors do not recognize the insulin hormone and deny it access to deposit the glucose. With nowhere for the glucose to go, sugar begins to build up in your bloodstream. Your pancreas, unaware of the insulin resistance, steps up insulin production in an effort to pump out enough of the hormone to remedy the situation.

The overproduction of insulin inundates your bloodstream, potentially interfering with your kidney?s ability to process salt, which can raise your blood pressure. Levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your bloodstream may also increase which can cause damage to your coronary arteries. Left untreated, Syndrome X?s insulin resistance can ultimately result in type II diabetes and dramatically increases your risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to all diseases related to the cardiovascular system. It includes dysfunctions of the heart, arteries and veins that supply oxygen to vital life-sustaining areas of the body such as the brain, the heart itself and other vital organs. CVD comes in many forms and may not only damage blood vessels all over the body, but the hearts malfunctioning! can als o cause harm to almost every aspect of a person?s health.

Common, yet serious conditions that fall under the CVD umbrella are: atherosclerosis, angina, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and arrhythmia. Impacting the serious danger of such conditions is the fact that the majority of the cardiovascular diseases are sub-clinical, meaning that they often remain undetected for years, only becoming recognized once the situation has escalated to the point of requiring immediate and extreme attention.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. One in four adults are afflicted with some form of the disease, which amounts to roughly 61 million Americans. CVD is attributed to 42% of all deaths, taking almost 1 million lives each year. Every 30 seconds one person dies from CVD.

Type II Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health problem stemming from elevated blood sugar. The body?s metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats lead directly to the production of glucose, otherwise known as blood sugar. Glucose is needed to supply energy to every cell in the body. If glucose levels become too elevated, it presents a toxic danger to every organ in the body. In type II diabetes the cells are resistant to insulin, blocking the glucose?s entry.

While a half a million people die annually from complications associated with diabetes, others suffer serious health complications.

Diabetics often succumb to diabetic retinopathy, a condition that impairs the tiny blood vessels of the retina and causes approximately 12,000 new cases of blindness a year. Diabetics are also at increased risk of cataracts and glaucoma, heart disease, stroke, and peripheral neuropathy in which the body?s nerves are damaged.

According to the ADA, two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease and stroke. A study reported in the November 2003 issue of Diabetes Care found that young people diagnosed with! type II diabetes between the ages of 18 and 44 are 14 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than those without diabetes.

What I Recommend to My Patients

In my medical practice I take a preventative approach to illness and disease. I believe strongly in the words of Hypocrites, ?Let food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food,? and always attempt to treat my patients with all natural alternatives before resorting to prescription medication. I have been recommending Metabolic Rx made by Perfectly Healthy to my patients with Syndrome X for years and with great success.

Metabolic Rx is a blend of glandular tissues, vitamins, minerals, herbs, digestive enzymes and antioxidants formulated to support the pancreas function and to help regulate the blood sugar levels. The all-natural vitamins combine together to aid in converting carbohydrates, proteins and fats into fuel for the body and to boost energy levels. The minerals are included to help metabolize glucose, boosting the immune system and the herbs help to reduce blood sugar levels and bring down blood pressure. Metabolic Rx also contains a powerful antioxidant to increase the cell?s glucose uptake and a digestive enzyme to help with the breakdown of starches and sugars from daily meals. The ingredients in Metabolic Rx are superior to any other product available on the market today, and I find that it has wonderful results with my patient?s.

Syndrome X does not have to be a death sentence, but it should be a viewed as a serious wake up call. If you are one of the millions of Americans afflicted with Syndrome X, take immediate action to prevent the onset of diabetes and heart disease. Only you can take the first step to good health! Call your doctor today.

Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy is the Medical Director of South Coast Medical Center for New Medicine in Tustin. Please visit her website at www.perfectlyhealthy.net for information and products.

LEIGH ERIN CONNEALY, M.D., M.P.H. received a Master?s in Public! Health from the University of Texas and her M.D. from the University of Chicago. She did her postgraduate training in family practice at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Connealy began practicing medicine in 1986. More and more of her patients started asking about alternative treatments and this prompted her to learn everything she could about nontoxic protocols. In 1992, she founded the South Coast Medical Center for New Medicine in Tustin, California, where she serves as Medical Director. Her practice is firmly based in the belief that strictly treating health problems with medications does not find the root cause of the illness. Her goal is to empower and educate individuals and their families through her treatment plans, lectures, newsletters and articles.

Hiatal Hernia Acid Reflux GERD Heartburn: Correction SelfAdjustment and Nutritional Aids

Correction

A hiatal hernia is a mechanical malfunction of the stomach and valve that controls the direction of food and secretions. As such, a mechanical approach can been adopted to correct the problem. Surgery can correct a hiatal hernia, but it is sometimes criticised for only weakening the area, and encouraging the problem to re-occur.

Another method is to manually bring the stomach down by hand. Only a trained professional can do this, so search for a chiropractor, massage therapist, or applied kinesiologist who understands how to manipulate the stomach by hand.

Self-Adjustment

It is advisable to get a trained professional to try and correct a hiatal hernia, but this is one technique that may be tried solely by the patient:

Drink a pint of warm water

Stand on your toes

Drop to your heels

Repeat these steps in succession. The theory is that the warm water relaxes the stomach and diaphragm. It also puts some weight in the stomach and the dropping action makes the water force the stomach down. This method can provide effective relief, depending on the severity of the hiatal hernia.

Nutritional Aids

Until a permament solution is found, some relief can be obtained through the right sources of nutrition. Firstly, there are herbs which help absorb the acidic secretions in the stomach and help stop them from making their way back to the esophagus. These are called mucilaginous herbs, and examples are slippery elm and comfrey.

These herbs assist in protecting the ileocecal valve from becoming irritated, and can aid the healing process after a permament mechanical solution has been implemented. Other items that should be on a hiatal hernia sufferer's shopping list include:

• Marshmallows: soothes the mucous membranes in the gastrointestinal system
• Papaya and Peppermint
• Chamomile Tea
• Safflowers
• Ginger Root
• Raw Cabbage Juice
• Balm
• Barley Water
• ! Brown Ri ce
• Celery
• Coriander
• Gentian
• Hops
• licorice

Gas in the abdomen can push the stomach up, so even after a mechanical correction, it is advisable to avoid foods known to cause gas, to reduce the risk of the condition returning. Be careful with combining foods and do not overeat.

There are further ways to treat a hiatal hernia and acid reflux naturally and safely. For more information visit: http://www.hiatalherniahelp.com

About The Author: Nick Willis maintains an information and support site for hiatal hernia sufferers. There is information specifically on treating acid reflux, and a health forum to share best practice and advice.

Lung Cancerthe Ultimate Destiny of All Smokers!

BRONCHOGENIC CARCINOMA :

A number of benign and malignant tumours occur in the lungs but the primary lung cancer, commonly termed bronchogenic carcinoma, is the most common. The lung is also the commonest site for metastasis from carcinomas and sarcomas. A histologic classification of various benign and malignant tumours of lungs as recommended by the World Health Organisation

It is the most common primary malignant tumour in men inindustrialised nations and accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths in both sexes. Currently, the incidence in females in the United States has already exceeded breast cancer as a cause of death in women. Cancer of the lung is a disease of middle and late life with peak incidence in 5th to 7th decades, after which there is gradual fall in its incidence.

ETIOPATHOGENESIS

1. Smoking

2. Atmospheric pollution

3. Occupational causes

4. Dietary factors

5. Genetic factors

6. Chronic Scarring

TUBERCULOSIS

Tissue response in tuberculosis represents classical example of chronic granulomatous inflammation in humans.the causative agent is tubercle bacillus or Koch�s bacillus called Mycobacterium tuberculousis causes tuberculosis in the lung and other tissues of the human body. The organism is a strict aerobe and thrives best in tissues with oxygen tension like in the apex of the lung.

Mode Of Transmission

1. Inhalation of organisms present in fresh cough droplets or in dried sputum form an open case of pulmonary tuberculosis.

2. Ingestion of the organisms leads to development of tonsillar or intestinal tuberculosis. This mode of infection of human tubercle bacilli is from self-swallowing of infected sputum of an open case of pulmonary tuberculosis, or ingestion of bovine tubercle bacilli from milk of diseased cows.

3. Inoculation of the organisms into the skin may rarely occur from infected postmorten tissue.

The author is the owner of a Successful Weight loss program. Also! the aut hor maintains a blog on General Medicine.

Is My Chest Pain Cause By Acid Reflux Heartburn Or From My Heart?

Usually, the early symptom of a heart attack is very similar to heartburn and can be mistaken as acid reflux heartburn. And this kind of mistake can be very dangerous as any delay of medical attention to a heart attack can cause serious consequences. Hence it is very important to understand whether it is heartburn acid reflux symptoms or a heart condition that is causing the chest pain. Let us find out the difference here.

The more likely symptoms that is related to acid reflux are that the pain can continue for hours, or retrosternal pain without lateral radiation. Also, pain that interrupts sleep, or that happened after meals, may be related to heartburn from acid reflux. Heartburn pain is also easily relieved with antacid agents, unlike heart disease or heart conditions.

Sometimes, one can have both acid reflux heartburn and heart disease issues both at the same time. Some people with coronary artery disease may develop chest pain from their acid reflux, which is believed that the acid in the esophagus may provoke nerves that temporarily impair blood flow to the heart, hence causing chest pain. This however, is probably not a heart attack. That is why it is important, especially for people with heart problems, to have their chest pain checked immediately by a doctor to determine the cause of the pain.

So what symptoms are immediate signs of danger? You must contact the doctor or call 911 immediately if you never had heartburn or acid reflux before, and that you are experiencing chest pain, pressure of chest and heart, and difficulty in breathing. This is confirmed sign of a heart attack! Also, if you take antacids but it does not relieve the chest pain within 10 to 15 minutes, call the doctor immediately.

In addition, if you are experiencing shortness of breath, profuse sweating, nausea, dizziness, fainting, weakness, and pain from your chest, back, jaw, arms, these are all symptoms that you are having a heart attack. So seek medical attention immediately when you experience! d these symptoms.

Click for more top and latest info on heartburn acid reflux or visit http://acid-reflux.greenhealthinformation.com

Christopher Wen is the webmaster for greenHealth information site where he provides articles, news, and remedies to current health issues we faced in our everyday life. Check out his blog at http://greenhealthinformation.com

The Hopes of Overweight Children ? Lost in a Cloud of Smoke?

NEWSFLASH ? Smoking is bad for you. Is this a shocking piece of information? Not in this day and age. The American public is constantly bombarded with anti-smoking messages, many of which are even provided by the tobacco companies. While there is some indication that the campaign has been effective overall, the positive results of these efforts have leveled off in recent years and approximately 48 million Americans are still smokers.

The addictive nature of nicotine has been well documented, so it comes as no surprise that once you?ve established the habit, it?s a tough one to kick. The key is to intercept would-be smokers at a young age since it is estimated that about 90 percent of smokers begin the nasty habit before they reach 21. 90 PERCENT! What are we doing wrong here? There are countless anti-smoking school campaigns, laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors, yet still nearly 6,000 children under 18 start smoking each and every day.

Most kids can tell you that smoking isn?t good, that it poses a serious health threat and can cause cancer. But staring across the present day classroom, it?s immediately evident that health issues for today?s American children are far-reaching. In fact, about one out of every three of those children is overweight or obese. So despite the rehearsed promises and robotic proclamations of rhetoric that has been fed to them, obviously these kids today don?t understand the greater significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable death in the United State with over 400,000 Americans dying every year from some type of smoking-related disease. If the current trends continue, an estimated 6.4 million US children will suffer premature death from a tobacco-related illness. Not to be outdone, obesity is rapidly approaching epidemic proportions, threatening to overtake smoking as the number one preventable killer of Americans. It is projected that obesity may shorten the average life expecta! ncy of t he next generation by as much as two to five years.

Putting these two factors together seems a guaranteed recipe for disaster. With heart disease as the leading cause of death in America, and increased risk factors for both smokers and obese people, it seems children in the US may be unwittingly eating and smoking their way to a heart attack.

While it is true that smoking by itself has not been proven to directly cause high blood pressure, smoking and hypertension are a deadly combination that can lead to cardiovascular diseases. Weight problems and smoking then form an interconnected relationship. Obesity leads to high blood pressure. Smoking exacerbates high blood pressure. A Person faces greater danger of suffering a heart attack. In some instances, the formula may really be that simple. Looking at the millions of underage smokers suffering from weight issues, it seems our nation is inevitably headed in this direction.

To make matters even worse, it is a commonly held belief that smoking helps maintain a lower weight. An increasing number of teenagers, conscious of their weight, are turning to cigarettes in an attempt to diet. Not only has it proven to be an ineffective tool in their weight struggles, but now these same youngsters face even greater odds for stroke and heart attack with the introduction of a nicotine habit.

As a society, it is paramount that good examples are set. More than 60% of American adults struggle with their weight. 23% of US adults smoke. We cannot tell our children to live a healthy life as we puff on a cigarette pulling into the McDonald?s Drive Thru. A major overhaul seems in order. The focus should not just be on not smoking, or in simply eating better, but in making sensible, healthy decisions overall. Concentrating on only one issue, while ignoring another, is akin to treating a symptom rather than a disease ? a disease that can no longer be ignored and cannot be left untreated.

Jared Mitchell publishes articles on behalf of! the tea m at Quit Smoking Articles. Updated regularly our team of experts research and write articles related to current quit smoking issues. Visit us for the latest quit smoking articles and resources.

Use Nicotine Gum to help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms of quitting today.

Copyright http://www.qsarticles.com All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

What Helps With Heartburn...and What Hurts

What helps with heartburn for some people may not help for everyone. It is for this reason that there are so many different heartburn herbal remedies, over the counter and prescription medications. Almost everyone gets heartburn sometimes. They may simply wait on it to go away, try to figure out what food product caused it or they may take an antacid. Some people are allergic to antacids. Some people feel they have a chalky taste. And some people just don?t like to take anything that they consider unnatural. Heartburn herbal remedies typically contain fennel, ginger or mint oil, alone or in combination. Any of these may be what helps with heartburn for some people.

Just as what helps with heartburn varies from individual to individual, what hurts varies as well. It is commonly accepted that foods with a higher acid content are more likely to cause heartburn, but tomato sauce, which is highly acidic, does not cause heartburn in everyone. Certain foods may trigger heartburn and to clearly define which foods cause heartburn in a specific individual, it may be necessary to keep a food diary for several weeks, noting what foods are followed by heartburn. Changing ones diet may be what helps with heartburn the most. Some heartburn herbal remedies and over the counter acid reducers are designed to be taken before a meal to prevent the symptoms that follow eating highly acidic foods.

The typical American diet includes many foods that may cause heartburn. Fried foods, spicy foods and fats of all kinds can lead to heartburn. The tendency to eat two or three large meals as opposed to several smaller meals throughout the day probably causes a lot of cases of heartburn. Symptoms often follow large meals and lead to the need for antacids or heartburn herbal remedies. Eating a small meal every couple of hours may not only be what helps with heartburn, but what helps one lose extra pounds. Overweight people experience heartburn more often than those who are at their ideal weight. Many li! festyle changes that help with heartburn also help people lose weight. Losing weight is sometimes what helps with heartburn the most.

Other things that may lead to heartburn include stress, smoking, drinking alcoholic or carbonated beverages and even certain types of exercise. Moderate regular exercise is what helps with heartburn that is experienced frequently, for some people, but squatting, bending and running can bring on or worsen heartburn. Any exercise, other than a leisurely stroll, that follows a meal will generally bring on heartburn. For those who enjoy exercise that tends to bring on heartburn, there are heartburn herbal remedies designed to prevent heartburn with continued use. Chronic heartburn can lead to more serious problems. The lining of the esophagus is not resistant to stomach acid and can be eroded by it. Prescription medications are designed to help prevent chronic heartburn and/or heal the esophagus.

Efforts to reduce stress, eating in a relaxed environment, chewing slowly and well may be what helps with heartburn. Eating on the run often leads to searches for antacids or heartburn herbal remedies. It is next to impossible to avoid everything that may cause heartburn all the time, but it is possible to quit smoking, eat smaller meals, get regular exercise and avoid alcohol and carbonated beverages. Anyone who experience heartburn two or three times per week should have their symptoms evaluated by a physician. Heartburn herbal remedies, over the counter medications and even lifestyle and dietary changes may not be what helps with heartburn for everyone.

For more information about heartburn and other common digestive problems, visit www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton writes informational articles for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Visit us at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com

Cardio Enthusiasts: Discover a More Effective Training Method for Fat Loss and Heart Health!

It is common to hear fitness professionals and medical doctors prescribe low to moderate intensity aerobic training (cardio) to people who are trying to prevent heart disease or lose weight. Most often, the recommendations constitute something along the lines of perform 30-60 minutes of steady pace cardio 3-5 times per week maintaining your heart rate at a moderate level. Before you just give in to this popular belief and become the hamster on the wheel doing endless hours of boring cardio, I'd like you to consider some recent scientific research that indicates that steady pace endurance cardio work may not be all it's cracked up to be.

First, realize that our bodies are designed to perform physical activity in bursts of exertion followed by recovery, or stop-and-go movement instead of steady state movement. Recent research is suggesting that physical variability is one of the most important aspects to consider in your training. This tendency can be seen throughout nature as all animals demonstrate stop-and-go motion instead of steady state motion. In fact, humans are the only creatures in nature that attempt to do endurance type physical activities. Most competitive sports (with the exception of endurance running or cycling) are also based on stop-and-go movement or short bursts of exertion followed by recovery. To examine an example of the different effects of endurance or steady state training versus stop-and-go training, consider the physiques of marathoners versus sprinters. Most sprinters carry a physique that is very lean, muscular, and powerful looking, while the typical dedicated marathoner is more often emaciated and sickly looking. Now which would you rather resemble?

Another factor to keep in mind regarding the benefits of physical variability is the internal effect of various forms of exercise on our body. Scientists have known that excessive steady state endurance exercise (different for everyone, but sometimes defined as greater than 60 minutes per session most days of the ! week) in creases free radical production in the body, can degenerate joints, reduces immune function, causes muscle wasting, and can cause a pro-inflammatory response in the body that can potentially lead to chronic diseases. On the other hand, highly variable cyclic training has been linked to increased anti-oxidant production in the body and an anti-inflammatory response, a more efficient nitric oxide response (which can encourage a healthy cardiovascular system), and an increased metabolic rate response (which can assist with weight loss).

Furthermore, steady state endurance training only trains the heart at one specific heart rate range and doesn't train it to respond to various every day stressors. On the other hand, highly variable cyclic training teaches the heart to respond to and recover from a variety of demands making it less likely to fail when you need it. Think about it this way -- Exercise that trains your heart to rapidly increase and rapidly decrease will make your heart more capable of handling everyday stress. Stress can cause your blood pressure and heart rate to increase rapidly. Steady state jogging and other endurance training does not train your heart to be able to handle rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure.

The important aspect of variable cyclic training that makes it superior over steady state cardio is the recovery period in between bursts of exertion. That recovery period is crucially important for the body to elicit a healthy response to an exercise stimulus. Another benefit of variable cyclic training is that it is much more interesting and has lower drop-out rates than long boring steady state cardio programs.

To summarize, some of the potential benefits of variable cyclic training compared to steady state endurance training are as follows: improved cardiovascular health, increased anti-oxidant protection, improved immune function, reduced risk for joint wear and tear, reduced muscle wasting, increased residual metabolic rate following exercise, and an i! ncreased capacity for the heart to handle life's every day stressors. There are many ways you can reap the benefits of stop-and-go or variable intensity physical training. One of the absolute most effective forms of variable intensity training to really reduce body fat and bring out serious muscular definition is performing wind sprints.

Most competitive sports such as football, basketball, racquetball, tennis, hockey, etc. are naturally comprised of highly variable stop-and-go motion. In addition, weight training naturally incorporates short bursts of exertion followed by recovery periods. High intensity interval training (varying between high and low intensity intervals on any piece of cardio equipment) is yet another training method that utilizes exertion and recovery periods. For example, an interval training session on the treadmill could look something like this:

Warm-up for 3-4 minutes at a fast walk or light jog;
Interval 1 - run at 8.0 mi/hr for 1 minute;
Interval 2 - walk at 4.0 mi/hr for 1.5 minutes;
Interval 3 - run at 10.0 mi/hr for 1 minute;
Interval 4 - walk at 4.0 mi/hr for 1.5 minutes;
Repeat those 4 intervals 4 times for a very intense 20-minute workout.

The take-away message from this article is to try to train your body at highly variable intensity rates for the majority of your workouts to get the most beneficial response in terms of heart health, fat loss, and muscle maintenance.

Visit http://truthaboutabs.com/Training-and-Nutrition-Articles.html to receive your own personalized metabolic rate calculator as well as a free training/nutrition ebook that will revolutionize your fitness program.

Michael Geary is a nationally dual certified personal trainer (NCSF-CPT, AFAA-CPT), and author of The Truth about Six Pack Abs ?2004-2006.

Atherosclerosis Blocking or Narrowing of the Arteries

Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek word - athere that means porridge and skleros meaning hardening. These words conjure up an image in our minds of exactly what happens when atherosclerosis develops in the arteries. The plaque that forms and blocks up the arteries are made of atheroma. This is a mixture of cholesterol, fibrous tissue, dead muscle cells, platelets and sometimes calcium. Over the years this plaque gets bigger and bigger, reducing the blood flow and oxygen supply to the body's tissue. Atherosclerosis can affect arteries anywhere in the body, but most life threatening is when it blocks up the heart arteries or the arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the brain.

No artery in the body is safe from atherosclerosis and may effect the heart causing heart disease as the coronary vessels are easily blocked

? the brain, causing a stroke
? the legs, causing poor circulation (peripheral vascular disease) resulting in possible gangrene
? the intestine, causing sections to die.

There are often no early symptoms of athersclerosis, the first perhaps being a heart attack. It is vital therefore that you are aware of the risk factors and make lifestyle changes where possible to minimize your risk of atherosclerosis and other associated conditions. There are two categories of factors for atherosclerosis, those you can change and those you cannot.

Factors you cannot change are:

Age - As you get older the greater the risk of developing heart disease

Ethnicity - Some ethnic groups are more high risk suffering from atherosclerosis than others

Genetic inheritance - The health of your cardiovascular system and atherosclerosis often runs in families

Gender - Men are more likely to suffer from atherosclerosis, as women produce oestrogen, which protects them against the development of atheroma. The risks even out once women stop producing oestrogen

Diabetes - Diabetics are high risk as atherosclerosis is associated with high cholesterol l! evels. In diabetes, the fatty plaques develop much quicker, but with well-controlled glucose levels the risk is lessened. Another factor that is just as important to control is high blood pressure.

Factors that you can change are:

Smoking - Smoking cigarettes promotes atheroma forming within the arteries

High blood pressure - The risk of developing atherosclerosis increases with hypertension

High blood cholesterol level - Research has found that continued high cholesterol levels in the blood increases the risk of atherosclerosis

Obesity - Poor cardiovascular health in general and more risk in developing atherosclerosis are linked to obesity

Inactivity - Regular physical exercise will lower the risk of atherosclerosis

Cholesterol levels can be kept low by eating plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, high fibre foods and cutting down on animal fats found in full-cream milk, cheese, eggs and red meat. A person with very high cholesterol levels will probably take cholesterol lowering drugs as well as eating a low-fat diet. Recent studies have shown that these drugs improve the long-term risk of developing heart disease.

A person is never too young to worry about atherosclerosis as it can start even before you were born. It can also be present for years before it causes any symptoms - so the earlier you make changes the better for the future outcome.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Heart Disease

Easy Eating Tips for a Healthy Heart and a Longer Life

Heart disease is one of the major causes of death in the developed world and a huge amount of research has been carried out into its causes. Good diet is considered to be one of the major factors in the prevention of heart attacks. Here we discuss what you should and should not be eating to minimize your risk of heart failure.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Not all fats are bad. We need fats like omega 3 to survive. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid which is not present enough in the western diet. These are polyunsaturated fatty acids found predominantly in oily fish. It is also found in vegetarian sources such as walnuts, flaxseeds and in a variety of other seeds. Omega 3 is very effective in protecting the circulatory system and preventing heart diseases.

Omega 3 fatty acids can help slow down the production of thromboxane A2 and inflammatory cytokines which means that there is a reduced tendency of the blood to clot. Blood clots blocking the heart valves can cause heart attacks. Research has proved that those who eat a lot of Omega 3-rich foods have a lower risk of heart attacks than those who consumed less in their diet. A love of oily fish and the Omega 3s within are considered a major reason why the inhabitants of Okinawa, Japan have the longest life expectancy of any population in the world.

Antioxidants

The body also needs antioxidants to prevent heart disease and improve circulation. Antioxidants stop free radicals from damaging cells. Free radicals are formed naturally during metabolism and other physiological processes. Antioxidants are very useful in fighting and preventing cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. Some of the most common antioxidants are Lycopene, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Lycopene, found in tomatoes and red fruits, is a bright red carotenoid pigment. It is also the most common carotenoid in the human body. Tomatoes are an excellent source, because the processing of tomatoes increases the concentration of lycopene. Along with tomatoes, it can be fo! und in w atermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya and rosehip.

The daily recommended intake of Vitamin C is 40mg to 90 mg. Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. The daily recommended intake of Vitamin E is 6 mg to 19 mg. Soybean, broccoli, almonds, and peanuts are excellent sources. A person eating a balanced diet would get enough of both the vitamins. Smokers, pregnant women and those under stress may need a little more.

Grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extracts could help prevent heart disease and improve circulation. It is rich in flavonoids, which are phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. These help improve blood circulation and strengthen blood vessels, benefiting people with heart disease and cancer. Some studies point out that using grape seed oil would increase good cholesterol by 14% and reduce triglycerides by 15% in just one month1.

Calcium

Calcium is an important mineral in regulating heart and muscle contraction and nerve conduction. It works effectively with magnesium and Vitamin D is needed for its absorption. Ionized calcium is one of the most important minerals in maintaining heart functions. As it stimulates muscle contraction, it supports the relaxation phase of the heart. Calcium deficiency, especially in the elderly, has been linked to arteriosclerosis and hypertension, which could lead to heart disease. Calcium is found in dairy products, dark leafy vegetables, soybeans, figs and more. The daily units recommended are 360 grams at birth, increasing to 800 grams from the age of one to 10 years. Adults may need up to 1200 grams, as calcium absorption slows down with age.

Folic Acid

Research suggests that folic acid helps the elderly reduce the risk of stroke, thrombosis and heart disease, if they increased the recommended levels of folic acid by three times. However it is wise to talk to the doctor before radically increasing folic acids levels as it may have other side effects.

References

1.Vigna GB, Metabolism. ! 2003 Oct ;52(10):1250-7

Iris is a Canadian trained physician who has been involved in the nutritional world for over 15 years and has a major interest in traditional Chinese medicine. Iris currently works as a medical advisor to Mitamins, the custom made online supplements company.

Mitamins Health Directory Informative health information and custom nutrition formulas for a huge array of health concerns from Allergies to Osteoporosis.

Holistic Healthcare versus Traditional Western Medicine

The Western medicine community recently asked the question: Will Alternative Healthcare, a.k.a. Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine (WM) merge? This question implies there is reason to wonder and/or we need to consider the benefits a merger might create. The consideration of merging Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine is analogues to comparing apples to oranges. The only comparison between apples and oranges is that they are both fruit?but the comparison ends there. Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit Healing and Western Medicine is diametrically polar opposites with nothing in common, except the subject (you). I will explain.

In order to understand the ideology of Western Medicine, you need to examine the language used by doctors and researchers. Their choice of words reveals their belief systems and the models they use to understand the way they think healing works. When observing the state of Western Medicine and the unprecedented influence of pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, an interesting paradox arises. The drug companies claim that pharmaceuticals and OTC can do wonders for people: lower cholesterol, end clinical depression, reverse osteoporosis, eliminate allergies, cure cancer, cure MS, calm children and many other similar promises.

If prescription or OTC drugs are so good for people, where are all the healthy medicated customers? The truth is, there aren't, any. There's nobody taking twelve prescriptions or OTC drugs with a clean bill of health. In fact, the more prescriptions a person takes, the worse their overall health. And if you approach the healthiest people you can find and ask what prescription drugs or OTC drugs they're taking in order to be so healthy, they'll give you a confused look: Healthy people don't take prescription or OTC drugs!

This sort of language is not uncommon from researchers in Western Medicine. They perceive the hum! an body as a battleground on which wars are waged against invaders (viruses, bacterial infections and tumors). Beginning with the Victorian era, Western society has become addicted to quick fixes and results with no effort. Western Medicine has in some instances provided this result. When Western Medicine doesn?t produce a ?quick fix? result the answer is: ?Sorry, it couldn?t be helped?the surgery was a success, the patient died.? It is interesting to note the AMA reports a dismal success rate?approximately 250,000 people die each year due to misdiagnosis and/or the treatment does little or nothing to improve the person?s health. In other words these people didn?t die due to an illness they died due to the wrong treatment.

Western Medicine?s theory and doctrines fail to recognize that diseases are not separate from the person. In fact every disease can be more accurately called an expression of the patient's lifestyle, beliefs, and energies. Cancer is not a tumor, for example: it is a systemic disorder that can only truly be cured by helping to support the body, not by attacking it with chemical bombs or knives. The tumor is merely one physical expression of the systemic disorder, and simply removing the tumor does nothing to cure the disease. The body is designed to heal itself?given it has the proper care?nutrition, herbal supplements, spiritual and emotional well-being.

The body is designed to heal itself provided it has the proper support to do its job. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced chee), or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body. Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditatio! n, acupu ncture, and remedial massage.

Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing has existed since the beginning of time amid religious beliefs and practices, along with the mystery, superstition, fear, and misunderstanding. Holistic Healing is now becoming recognized regardless of what anyone chooses to believe or think. Ask almost anyone about their spiritual well-being and they will probably tell you, Yeah, I am a spiritual person, I go to church frequently.? Therein, the confusion arises out of the association of healing with religion. The majority of people, including religious leaders, do not understand the difference.

Definition: HEAL 1. To restore to health or soundness, 2. To set right, repair, 3. To restore a person to spiritual wholeness, 4. To become whole and sound, to return to health.

Definition: SPIRIT 1. The vital principle or animating force within living beings, Incorporeal consciousness. There are about twelve more elaborations mostly to do with various religious implications.

Definition: RELIGION 1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe, 2. A set of beliefs, values and practices based on the teachings of a religious doctrine.

Thus, based on Western Medicine?s common interpretations of how things 'ARE', many paradoxes are created. The resultant effect is confusion and un-wellness. The Truth, as Carl Jung and others have carefully worded in their writing, is this: Every Thing in the universe is Energy and Consciousness. How anyone thinks or feels about that Fact cannot change it. The purpose of All religions is the recognition that humans have a part of themselves that is not physical and there is a need to explore and experience this aspect of themselves. Part of the intent is to discover one's purpose and to live in the best way possible. Another part of that goal also includes the attainment of Truth and Spiritual Wellness. However, the result of religious teachings with ! regard t o our Spiritual health has been an abysmal failure. If the most important aspect of our being is our Spiritual self, and it has been neglected, it is a miracle we have existed this long.

Many churches are in a state of extreme confusion in an attempt to avoid accepting the ?Truth.? The greatest struggle is how to incorporate all the now known knowledge and assimilate it into the religious dogma and theology. The problem is the impossibility of reconciling the obvious flaws in most theology and doctrine. The obvious shortcomings and how political and nationalistic and other special interests and agendas have resulted in a history filled with disappointment, tragedy, confusion and religious wars.

In many cultures it has always been thought and/or known that we are spiritual beings, the biggest exception is in western industrialized cultures that we believe we are people who happen to have a soul. Eastern philosophy believes we are a soul first, housed in this thing called a ?body.? The most beautiful and simple interpretation of how everything 'IS' can be found in the Native American tradition. Everything in the universe is Spirit, each thing in it is of the same Spirit and it is all Connected. This is exactly what we are beginning to understand in science and quantum physics, that everything in the universe is made of the same thing and has a consciousness about it. The two things that frustrate scientists the most is the fact that all these things operate across time, space and dimensions they do not yet understand, and the ability of things to operate on inter-dimensional and multi-dimensional levels. A high degree of new understanding about the science and physics of what spiritual really means is now mostly coming from independent researchers. High-tech and aerospace research physicists and scientists, all seem to have a more concise and accurate understanding of Spirit and the Spiritual than those from a theological background.

The Reality and The Truth of Spirit?In plain language,! there i s only One God or Universal Energy that Is Everything. There is only One Consciousness. We are only one individuated expression of The One. All the dogma, theology and religious beliefs anyone chooses to pile on this truth is commonly referred to as Bunk. It is the lack of true knowledge and the application of these distortions, which have been the source of all emotional, physical and spiritual problems. Spirit is alive, it is something that is lived and experienced, the surest way to destroy or suppress it is to organize it and institutionalize it.

Spiritual Experiences teach us: Everything we think or feel affects oneself and others. We need to realize every feeling?anger, fear, hate, sadness, judgment?are mind generated emotions and need to be modified or eliminated. Left to fester?anger, fear, hate, sadness, judgment, creates physical reactions. For every physical reaction, a.k.a. symptoms?i.e. colds, cancer, MS, and everything from A to Z, there is a direct link to mind generated emotions. When these mind generated emotions are eliminated and the wounds created from long term and dysfunctional expressions are healed, the physical manifestation labeled as illness by Western Medicine is eliminated.

The bottom line is Health and Well-Being is affected by two factions?Doctors and Ministers. Doctors are trained as mechanics who work on the physical mechanism. They are in the Business of ?Treatment.? They are Not Trained in the Art of Healing. Most doctors do not even understand the most rudimentary concepts of Healing. Most do not realize how they can produce damage and even induce death sentences on their patients.

There is little difference in the effects produced by an intentional damaging curse or a prayer prayed improperly, bad advice or simply some random negative thought. Ministers are trained in traditional theosophical dogmatic perceptions specific to the cultural religious views they ascribe to. Most people have little concept about True Spirituality or how the universe real! ly opera tes. As a consequence they convey misinformation, half-truths, superstitions and fears along with a multitude of associated damaging information into a person's consciousness. The result of which is Confusion and Paradox?which leads to distress, disease and un-wellness.

Both the good in our lives and the dis-eases we have are the results of our experiences, conditioning and beliefs. It is the experiences, conditioning and beliefs that are counter to our true nature that causes the damage. No matter how dire a client?s predicament seems to be, I Know if they are ?Willing? to do the emotional and spiritual work of releasing old habits, beliefs and forgiving, everything can be healed. The word ?incurable? used by Western Medicine really only means that the person can not be ?cured? by ?outer? methods and that they must Go Within to effect their healing. The condition was created as a way to cope?it came from within and can be healed from within. Reference: Heal Your Body, Louise L. Hay

Since Holistic/Metaphysical Healthcare focuses on supporting the Mind, Body, Spirit to heal itself as it is designed to do and Western Medicine perceives the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged with chemical bombs and scalpels against invaders, how can these divergent ideologies be merged?

The answer: They can?t be?i.e. water and vinegar doesn?t mix?it is metaphysically impossible. Likewise, it is metaphysically impossible to merge Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine. Anyone who would consider such a merger does not understand the laws of Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

How Diabetes Causes Heart Attacks

A recent study from Washington University in St Louis may explain why more than 75 percent of diabetics die of heart disease (Journal for the American College of Cardiology, February 7, 2006). The heart muscle of diabetics uses a much higher percentage of fat for energy than that of non-diabetics, to markedly increase risk for heart attacks.

The energy source for heart muscle is mostly sugar and fat, and to a lesser degree, protein. Muscles need far more oxygen to process fat than to process sugar. The blood supply to heart muscle comes from large arteries on the outside of the heart. Diabetics have narrowed arteries because high blood sugar levels cause plaques to form and reduce the diameter of the coronary arteries. The increased need for blood flow from burning fat and the decreased blood flow from narrowed arteries put diabetics at very high risk for heart attacks, heart failure and sudden death. The increased use of oxygen increases blood levels of oxidants that further damage the inner linings of arteries.

Another study from Sweden shows that many people discover that they are diabetic only after they have had a heart attack. Researchers recorded blood sugar levels in men who had had heart attacks and then did sugar tolerance tests at discharge and three months later. They found that 35 percent had diabetic sugar tolerance tests at hospital discharge and 40 percent had impaired sugar tolerance tests three months later (Lancet, Volume 359, 2002).

Therefore, 40 percent of people who have heart attacks are diabetic, even though they may not know it. Many of the diabetics had normal HBA1C blood tests, the standard test to measure diabetic control. Furthermore, the patients who were unknown diabetics had a much higher rate of sudden death from their heart attacks than those who were not diabetic. The authors recommend that all people with heart attacks be tested for diabetes.

For my recommendations on how to control diabetes, see

Heart and Cardiovascular Health One Of The 7 Secrets Of Living To 120

As for keeping a heart healthy, consider this. The odds for a healthy heart are not cardiovascular friendly. In fact, the statistics speak for themselves.

Over 1,000,000 die each year due to heart disease.
500,000 women every year die from heart disease, making it a concern for both men and women.
Every 60 seconds someone dies of a heart attack.
Sudden Cardiac death (SCD) accounts for 300,000 deaths each year - 1 every 60 seconds.
Get this, 95% die before reaching the hospital.
100,000 athletes die each year from SCD. Sixty percent of our youth are at risk for heart disease.
Heart attacks kill more people than the next nine causes of death, combined.
Putting it into perspective, heart disease is like Seven (7) Boeing 747 planes crashing with no survivors, everyday. WOW!

The human heart pumps five quarts of blood every minute, and it beats 10,000 times each day for 50, 75, 100 years or more. That is right. The human body contains about five quarts of blood. Day after day, year after year, this organ, about the size of a man's fist, pumps approximately 45 million gallons of blood through the body over a 50-year period. In short, blood is the life of our bodies while the heart is the power that keeps it circulating. It is a fact that the number one cause of death in America is heart disease.

If the heart goes, it is all over! This makes protecting the heart a number one priority for every living being. Newspapers tell the same story in the obituary columns across this nation. A young man or woman in the mid-years of life die of heart attacks daily. The untold part of most of the obituaries is that the heart attack victim was a picture of health. So what happened? Is this a familiar picture? This is sad and frustrating for the loved ones of heart attack victims who are left behind. And the big question always is, ?What could have been done?'' The old adage says, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'' What is prevention and how can it be attained?As! a rule, having nature and common sense as a foundation, is definitely a plus. One preventative step is to realize that all life on earth has been and is currently dependent on the vegetable or herb kingdom. This is true for not only sustaining life but for maintaining health. Of course, there are no guarantees for results, but nothing usually is guaranteed. A popular heart enhancer is herbs, which are swiftly gaining much recognition and usage although they have been used for thousands of years. These herbs, even before Hippocrates time, were covered in the Old and New Covenants of the Bible, King James Version, Ezekiel 47:12 and Romans, 14:2, where it states, ?...if you are weak, eat herbs (vegetables)?. Revelation 22:2 ?...and the leaves are for the healing of nations. Again in Psalms advice about consumption of herbs is given, 104:14, ?...and the herb for the service of man.

http://www.robertbarner.com

Dr. Robert Barner, has a B.S. in education and is a practicing Chiropractor, Herbalist, and Health Consultant. Author and publisher of the books, The 7 Secrets Of Living To 120: Men's Prostate Health and The Bible's Answers To Health And Longevity. Overcame a serious health challenge of heavy metal poisoning that almost had him in a wheel chair. He knew that if he kept his heart healthy a solution would present itself to regain the lost health. A healthy success today. The book 7 Secrets takes into consideration the 8 societies in the world that live the longest and how to apply those principles to our daily lives. Also, what 5 medical doctors have shared with the medical community on health but their research and results have been hidden. He believes that at any age a person should be able to do the activities that they like and pursue their dreams. http://www.robertbarner.com

Are You Aware of Your LDL and HDL Levels Do You Even Know What They Mean?

Although there is a lot of talk about cholesterol and the need to lower it in the news today, many people are surprised to learn that there are actually two kinds of cholesterol and one of them is actually good for your body. In order to understand how to better handle your cholesterol, it?s important to understand the difference between the kind of cholesterol your body needs and the kind that puts you at risk for serious health conditions.

Cholesterol is a natural substance that is found in everyone?s bloodstream and cells. The body uses it to produce cell membranes as well as hormones in addition to performing a number of other necessary bodily functions. The problem begins when the body begins to build up too much cholesterol. This can happen in one of two ways.

First, the body naturally produces its own cholesterol in order to aid with the important body functions just mentioned. The remainder of the cholesterol comes from the foods we ingest, mainly meats, fish, eggs, butter, cheese and milk. Vegetables and plant products do not produce cholesterol. Foods that contain trans-fats and saturated fats cause the body to produce even more cholesterol.

Because cholesterol resembles a fat like substance, it can?t dissolve and must be transported from to and from the cells where it is needed by lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein is what is most commonly referred to as bad cholesterol. When your body contains too much LDL cholesterol, a tremendous strain is placed on your heart, making you more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes. High density lipoprotein, on the other hand, is naturally manufactured by the body and works in the body?s defense.

Do you know the warning signs for high cholesterol?

Are you aware of your LDL and HDL levels ? do you even know what they mean?

If you don?t know the answers to these questions and how to lower your cholesterol, you owe it to your family and yourself to find out. If you don?t know the answers to these questions and how to! lower y our cholesterol, you owe it to your family and yourself to find out. You can find the answers to all these questions in an outstanding book titled Lowering Your Cholesterol,written without jargon in an easy to understand style.

Sadly, thousands of men and women ignore the warning signs until it?s too late ... now is the time to take control of your cholesterol and your life!

Emily Clark is editor at Cholesterol Health News, and the eBook Lowering Your Cholesterol.

Homocysteine Heart Disease Risk Factor: What You Don't Know Can Kill You

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are still the number one health problem in the United States. Approximately 35% of all heart attacks occur in people with normal total cholesterol levels.

Research has shown that high levels of an amino acid called Homocysteine contributes to the progression of heart disease. Many researchers believe that the connection between Homocysteine and atherosclerosis is even stronger than the case against cholesterol. Some studies have shown that for each 5 micromoles per liter increase in homocysteine level, your risk for heart disease can increase by as much as 60 to 80%. The American Heart Association has indicated that a reasonable therapeutic goal for homocysteine levels should be less than 10 micromoles per liter.

How Homocysteine causes damage

Homocysteine injures the walls of arteries. Injured artery cells absorb LDL, or bad cholesterol. Homocysteine promotes the growth of smooth muscle cells in the artery which in turn narrows the lumen of the artery. As levels increase, you are at increased risk for the formation of blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Risk factors for increased Homocysteine levels include :

• Smoking and tobacco use
• Post-Heart Attack or Stroke
• Kidney Failure
• Advanced Age
• Post menopause
• Chronic, excessive alcohol consumption

How Homocysteine levels become elevated

Homocysteine levels rise when your body does not have the necessary co-factors to breakdown Homocysteine.

The necessary co-factors to breakdown homocysteine to Cysteine and Methionine are Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B6.

How to protect yourself against high levels of Homocysteine

• Have your doctor check your Homocysteine level
• Take adequate amounts of Folate. Natural Folate obtained from food is only 50% absorbed by the body when taken orally. Folic Acid, the synthetic form of Folate, is 100% absorbed after oral adminis! tration. Liquids are better absorbed than pills.
• Take adequate amounts of Vitamin B12. The average diet supplies 5 to 15mcg per day in a form that is available after normal digestion. Recent studies have shown that at least 800mcg to 1mg of B12 given orally is necessary for proper gastrointestinal absorption.Liquids are better absorbed than pills.
• Take adequate amounts of Vitamin B6. The need for B6 increases when the amount of protein increases in the diet. Liquids are better absorbed than pills.

Increased doses of Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B6 have been shown to reduce elevated Homocysteine levels by up to 72%.

Prescription formulations of these vitamins with levels as high as 2.5mg of Folic acid, 1mg of B12, and 25mg of B6 have been shown to normalize plasma Homocysteine levels in patients at risk for coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis and stoke.

It is reasonable to assume that judicious dietary supplementation with these vitamins may aid in preventing these illnesses.

Dr. Messina became a Board Certified Family Practitioner in 1985. He had a solo practice until 1994. At that time he helped form a group Family Practice in which he was Vice President. He left group practice in 1997 and became Medical Director of a Wellness Center. He was responsible for coordinating the efforts of nutritionists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, exercise physiologists, and Chinese medicine practitioners into patient care plans.

He became Medical Director of an independent clinical research facility in 2000. He has been the Principal Investigator in over 50 clinical trials involving osteoarthritis, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, dry eye, migraine, and diabetes prevention.

He has served as consultant to a nutritional company, and has formulated nutritional supplements.

Visit Dr. Messina's website at =>http://Physicianformulated.com/

Preparing for a Healthy Future: An Interview

Interviewer: We read in the news regularly now about how social security and Medicare benefits will be drastically reduced for the tens of millions of ?baby boomers,? and too many people know from personal experience right now how expensive conventional health care is, to a point where many can?t afford what they need. How does Oriental medicine fit into this scenario?

Kitty: Well, people have always tried to stay healthy; Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th century American philosopher summed it up this way: ?Health is the first wealth. What?s different today is that our conventional health care system is so technology driven, and while many of its tests and procedures are useful, they are also so expensive that its benefits are becoming of little value to the millions of people who can?t afford them. So it?s important for people today to know about the ancient Chinese doctors and philosophers who knew that people of their time ? like people today ? needed an affordable, natural way to stay healthy to be able to live the best life possible. Their successful methods and treatments, thankfully, are still available today in what?s being called Oriental medicine.

Interviewer: Based on what you?ve written in other articles on the BIOM website, it seems like the old adage, ?An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? applies to how Oriental medicine works. And since it seems like people, in general, have moved away from the belief that ?technology? will fix all of our problems, what does Oriental medicine offer in way of ?prevention??

Kitty: Developing a ?preventive? mindset is the first step, and the catalyst for taking that step is the situation you mentioned: existing systems that we?ve become dependent on are not as dependable as we thought they were. It?s similar to the way we depend on the grocery store to have the food we need. It?s a great convenience that none of us want to do without, but because it?s so convenient we have forgotten how to grow food in our own gardens. Oriental me! dicine i s built upon ?common sense? ? a sense which isn?t so ?common? anymore. The way I practice Oriental medicine helps people learn how to get back in touch with that sense, while at the same time rebuilding their resistance to disease.

Interviewer: What do you tell young people about maintaining and protecting their health?

Kitty: Kids feel like they?re immortal, and that?s a wonderful feeling; a testimony to the power of health that runs through them. This feeling of immortality is also a danger because the habits and attitudes young people form today, directly affect their health in middle and later years of life. I find that Oriental medicine benefits people most when they?re still young and strong. And children are most likely to reap the benefits of Oriental medicine if their parents understand the basics of 5 Element Diet and Nutrition, and what used to be called ?physical education,' and in Oriental medicine, we call Chi Kung.

Interviewer: So you?re basically suggesting that people need to think ?outside-the-box,? because Oriental medicine is so different from the conventional medicine they?ve been relying on since they were children?

Kitty: Considering that ?the box? is disintegrating (as represented by the skyrocketing cost of conventional medicine, and the unwinding of the Social Security and Medicare systems), the affordability and effectiveness of Oriental medicine should be part of everyone?s set of health care options.

It?s time to open up to new possibilities to make sure you get the health care you need.

Kitty Bradshaw is a licensed acupuncturist, with an advanced clinical degree in Oriental Medicine. Studying and working with Oriental Medicine since 1986, Kitty combines Traditional Oriental Medicine with Taoist healing methods to offer healing possibilities beyond the level of standard health care. Her deep understanding of Chinese medical herbs, combined with her intuitive abilities to diagnose and treat difficult problems, has helped many people regain a! nd maint ain their health.

For a FREE phone consultation to find out how Oriental Medicine can work for you, go to http://www.biom.net to contact Kitty and sign-up for BIOM's complimentary newsletter.

Heart Rate Monitors an Overview

A heart rate monitor is a device that allows users of exercise machines to check their heart rate whilst training. It usually consists of two elements, a wrist receiver and a chest strap. The chest strap uses electrodes to monitor your heart rate, and if the device is connected to your exercise machine, its console will show your heart rate to you. Wrist receivers usually come in the forms of watches that measure your pulse by calculating the time before blood pumps through your wrist veins. Heart rate monitors are becoming more and more popular and most high-quality exercise machines come with a heart rate monitor of their own.

If you are suffering from heart or blood pressure problems, having a heart rate monitor while training is a must. Not only will you be able to see how your heart handles physical effort, but you will also be able to control your heart rate by adjusting speed settings on the exercise machines. Some treadmills and elliptical trainers come with a built-in heart-rate management system, which automatically slows down the machine if your heart rate is too high. This is useful, as it helps avoid many heart-related problems that used to occur in the past with people training harder than their heart could handle.

Even if you do not have heart-related problems, it is still a good idea to use a heart rate monitor from time to time. This way, you will be able to track how your body handles intense effort. To make sure you are healthy and there will be no problems in the future, you should make a daily pulse-rate table for one or two weeks, while training at the same intensity. You will notice if there are extreme pitfalls or ascendings in your pulse, but the best thing to do would be to show this report to your doctor, who will immediately notice any forthcoming troubles.

If you are planning to buy a quality heart rate monitor, one of the more popular manufacturers around is Polar. Polar technology has been around for two decades now and the company has achieved the stat! us of be ing the industry leader in the heart rate monitors field. They have different series for heart rate monitors, ranging from beginners and intermediates to professional athletes. You can also choose your heart rate monitor from different categories, depending on what your needs are: Cardiac Rehab, Jogging, Cycling, Swimming (this includes a waterproof monitor-watch), Fitness, Weight Management and so forth.

Heart rate monitors mean a big step forward in home exercising, as they may help to prevent and avoid many cardiac problems. Always pay attention to your heart rate monitor and try not to push your heart over the limits. Consult a doctor about what the normal pulse rate should be for your body type, in an effort regime. Combine this data with an exercise machine that supports heart rate measuring systems and displays them on their console, or even better, one that adjusts its speed to your pulse rate.

Sophie Goldman is a writer for The Exercise Equipment Blog at http://www.exercise-equipment-today.com, where she also likes to muse about treadmills and elliptical trainers.

Matters of the Heart

Preventive measures that can help reduce the risk of heart attacks

The risk of having a heart attack has increased with the changing life style. Besides what we do to our body ourselves, our environmental factors also contribute greatly to our health. Regardless of where you live, you?re your ethnicity, and income, these risk factors are the same. Here remain a few ways by which you can prevent heart attacks.

Smoking

Cigarettes, cigars, filtered or non-filtered ? all smokers have triple the risk for a heart attack than a non-smoker. So try to quit smoking if you?re a smoker or at least cut down.

Blood Cholesterol

People with high LDL cholesterol are twice as likely to have a heart attack. The first course of treatment is a change in lifestyle: Getting your body to a healthy weight is important, try eating a high fibre diet and avoiding saturated fats.

Your Waistline

Men and women with an ?apple shape?, a wider midriff compared to their hips, also known as ?android obesity?, have an increased risk for heart disease. Men with waistline over 40 inches and women over waistline over 35 inches have double the risk of heart attack. So much individuals should take extra care about their living habits.

Psychological Stress

Some people may think that stress is not preventable, but developing strategies to cope with anxiety, tension and anger can decrease your risk. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly and eating nutritiously give you ammunition to deal with psychological stressors.

Diet

People who eat fruits and vegetables every day have a 30-per cent lower risk of heart attack. How simple is that? Eat at least five cups of vegetables, and two to three cups of fruits a day. Exercise

Twenty five percent of all heart attacks could be prevented if everyone exercised regularly. Accumulated activity is fine, such as taking a half hour walk in the morning, may be a 15 minute walk in the afternoon, and one after dinner.

Alcohol!

I f you don?t drink, don?t start. However this recommendation has everything to do with moderation. One to four drinks per week is considered moderate, and is associated with lower rate of heart disease. Alcohol contributes to the other dieses, including cancer. Taking care of yourself is serious business. It?s a job that most individuals do without 100 per cent focus. But remember that at at the end of the day it is your body and it is up to you to treat it well and maintain it so it is always healthy.

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Heartburn: Natural Relief and Remedies

Although there are many over the counter and prescription medications available that may be effective for helping heartburn, natural relief may be as simple as changing your diet. Spicy, fried and fatty foods are all common heartburn triggers. Avoiding these may be all you need to do to prevent heartburn. Most people experience heartburn occasionally, which is why there are so many products for helping heartburn. Natural relief may require a little more effort than taking an antacid, but prevention is important. Chronic heartburn can lead to more serious conditions such as erosion of the esophagus and even cancer.

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. The lining of the esophagus is not as tough as the lining of the stomach, which is why chronic heartburn may lead to erosion of the lining of the esophagus. Preventing and helping heartburn will protect the esophagus from further damage, but sometimes medications are necessary to promote healing, when damage has already been done.

There are many herbs and botanicals that have been used historically for heartburn natural relief. One common item often recommended for helping heartburn is fennel seed. You probably have some in your spice rack. You can make a soothing tea using one or two teaspoons of fennel seeds in eight ounces of water. Drinking the tea provides heartburn natural relief for some people.

Another herb commonly recommended for heartburn natural relief is peppermint. You will often see peppermint oil listed as an ingredient in over the counter medications for helping heartburn and relieving gas. However, some doctors advise that eating peppermint or mints of any kind may bring on heartburn in some people. It is often helpful to keep a food diary for a few months, noting which foods seem to bring on heartburn and which remedies are helping heartburn. The causes and effective remedies seem to vary among individuals.

! If you l ike rhubarb, chewing on a piece may provide heartburn natural relief. Rhubarb, when in season is available in many grocery stores. It is fairly easy to grow, as well if you have a garden, but it does not keep well and has a very short season. You can chop it and freeze it, chewing on a chunk when needed. Rhubarb was used by Native Americans as a remedy for helping heartburn and indigestion.

Plant enzymes are becoming more popular for helping heartburn and other digestive complaints. The typical American diet is too high in fat and too low in plant foods. Eating more vegetables (except tomatoes which are highly acidic) may provide heartburn natural relief and prevention. Dietary changes are usually recommended, even when taking medications designed to prevent heartburn.

Patsy Hamilton writes informational articles concerning heart burn and other digestive disorders for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Visit us at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com

For more information about heartburn natural relief, visit www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

These Heart Exercise Principles Can Turn The Clock Back 30 Years

Although we've been touting the benefits of heart health exercise for fifteen years, a study published in Circulation: The Journal of the American Heart Association stunned even us. The report's bottom line: six months of regular exercise can reverse 30 years of aerobic decline.

The groundbreaking findings were the result of two separate studies conducted in 1966 and 1996. The first study focused on the negative impact of bed rest on physical activity and provided baseline information for the five men involved in the studies. The second study concerned itself with the positive effects of a six-month exercise and fitness program for the same men.

During the 30-year period the fitness level of the subjects, now 50-51 years old had declined significantly. Their cardio fitness had dropped 12%, body weight was up 25% and body fat increased by 100%. By the end of the six months training their cardiovascular fitness had risen by 14%...higher than 30 years earlier.

Darren McGuire, M.D., author of the study noted, An endurance exercise program using a relatively modest intensity of training was able to return the group to levels of aerobic power they had 30 years before.

Another landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine was just published that shows that one's level of fitness is the most important factor in living longer.

Fitness was the strongest predictor of mortality we found. reports study leader Dr. J. Edwin Atwood, It had more to do with longevity than smoking, high blood pressure, a history of heart attacks and chronic emphysema.

We knew exercise was good for us but who would have guessed that it was this powerful? Exercise is not only a magic pill but is truly the fountain of youth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The cardiologist looked up from the treadmill report and grimly stated, You are a walking time bomb. You need to go to the hospital immediately. Two days later a heart surgeon sawed open Gene Millen's chest and stitched in bypasses to si! x clogge d arteries.

A six way heart bypass isn't a record said Gene, but it's not bad for a skinny 59 year old with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. The villains and heroes in the heart attack melodrama may surprise you as they have me.

Gene Millen reviews new research on heart attack risks that are more dangerous than high cholesterol... and how natural supplements and heart vitamins can send them packing! Check out The Heart Health website at http://www.heart-health-for-life.com

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Why is Refined Sugar Known As White Sugar Bad for You?

Americans consume between two to three pounds of sugar every week. The sugar is being processed in so many foods we eat. These foods are not just sweets. Sugar in large quantities can be found in peanut butter, mayonnaise, bread, ketchup and many other categorically ?non-sweets? products.

Now let?s get to the question: Why is Refined Sugar bad for you?

Refined Sugar is bad for you because it raises the insulin level in your blood.

Raised blood insulin levels depress the immune system. If your immune system is depressed then your ability to fight disease is weakened.

Raised blood insulin levels can cause weight gain. Insulin promotes the storage of fat; so, when you eat foods high in refined sugar, you increase fat storage. Obviously, the result is rapid weight gain.

Refined Sugar contains no vitamins or minerals so in order for sugar to be metabolized it must draw on the body?s reserve of vitamins and minerals. When these reserves are depleted, metabolization of cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher blood serum triglycerides, cholesterol, promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid storage around organs.

In summary here are ways that refined sugar can affect your health: ?Sugar can suppress the immune system. ?Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance. ?Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children. ?Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides. ?Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children. ?Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs). ?Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs). ?Sugar can cause hypoglycemia. ?Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection. ?Sugar can cause kidney damage. ?Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. ?Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency. ?Sugar can cause copper deficiency. ?Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. ?Sug! ar can i ncrease fasting levels of blood glucose. ?Sugar can promote tooth decay. ?Sugar can produce an acidic stomach. ?Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children. ?Sugar can lead to periodontal disease. ?Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair. ?Sugar can increase total cholesterol. ?Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity. ?High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. ?Sugar can contribute to diabetes. ?Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis. ?Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity. ?Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance. ?Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease. ?Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure. ?Sugar causes food allergies. ?Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream. ?Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy. ?Sugar can contribute to eczema in children. ?Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage. ?Sugar can cause atherosclerosis. ?Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries. ?Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver. ?Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver. ?Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney. ?Sugar can cause depression. ?Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention. ?Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance. ?Sugar can cause hypertension. ?Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines. ?Sugar can cause an increase in delat, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly. ?Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes. ?Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets. ?Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.

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Olan Butler is the Chief Architect of BHO Technologists, a computer productivity & organization software provider http://www.bhotechnologists.com with headquarters! in Kans as City. Join his FREE newsletter Computing Success Secrets at http://computing.bhotechnologists.com for a steady stream of computer, health and overall life profiting tips. You'll be glad you did! Olan believes poor health produces poor computing.

Antioxidant Therapy and Disease

The process of oxidation takes place in the body as part of the body?s energy-producing metabolism. It provides the vast amounts of energy required to keep us alive, and it continues as long as we live. It is a very precise, ordered process, which calls for the presence of catalysts (such as enzymes) at various stages throughout, and it is designed to produce the maximum amount of energy for the cells without disturbing their balance and functions.

Free Radicals and Ageing

This process can generate by-products, in the form of highly reactive and destructive molecules, called free radicals. These molecules are dangerous because they are unstable. They carry a small electrical charge, and have a single unpaired electron, which makes them extremely volatile and liable to react with other atoms and molecules they contact. Even more free radicals are rapidly generated from these chain reactions.

Biological systems are designed in such a way that free radicals are part of their normal functioning. The body copes with oxidative stress by using its own antioxidant mechanisms based on certain enzymes, proteins, vitamins and minerals, described below. But if free radicals get out of hand, they can overtake this natural defence system and bring about the degeneration of body cells, which ultimately leads to ageing and degenerative disease.

Recent developments in the biochemical study of free radical action have provided a more unified understanding of degenerative processes. It is now possible for researchers to make sense of the causation of a variety of pathological conditions, including cancer, heart disease, atherosclerosis, arthritis, Alzheimer's and other diseases of old age, and to work towards counteracting and preventing these conditions.

Free radicals operate by attacking molecules of protein in the body and causing them to become cross-linked. Cross-linkage degrades the molecules of cells and tissues so that they harden and lose their elasticity. This happens both interna! lly, res ulting in hardening of the arteries and the degeneration of brain tissue, and also externally, producing wrinkling of the skin. Because proteins are the basic building matter of all the types of cells and tissue, this attack affects all protein functions, including cell building and repair, hormone and enzyme production, muscular and vascular tissue, and the immune system. The nucleic acids DNA and RNA, which carry the genetic messages of the cells, are also affected.

Causes of Increased Free Radical Production

To an extent, free radicals are a natural result of body processes. Especially in today's world, however, the production of free radicals is likely to be accelerated by many outside influences:

Pollution, Pesticides, Radiation, Solvents.
Air conditioners, Aerosol sprays, Drycleaners.
Car exhaust fumes.
Physical or emotional stress or trauma.
Cigarette smoke, Excessive alcohol intake.
Illness, Infection.
Faulty protein digestion.
Spoiled or tainted foods, Rancid, heated and hydrogenated fats.
Chemicals in food.
Ozone, Ultra-violet rays.

Add to this the fact that humans eat fewer natural foods (especially raw foods rich in protective elements), and we can see why our health is becoming compromised.

The Benefits of Antioxidant Elements

Ideally, the body protects itself with the help of naturally occurring elements, which it derives directly from the diet, or produces using dietary sources. The first of these to be discovered are often called the First Generation Antioxidants.

Enzymes: Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase, Catalase.
Vitamins: Vitamins A, C, and E.
Minerals: Zinc, Selenium.
Amino Acids: Arginine, Cysteine, Glutamine, Taurine.

The antioxidant enzymes are the first line of defence. But the body needs adequate supplies of other nutrients before enzymes can be effective. Superoxide dismutase requires zinc, manganese and copper, and glutathione peroxidase requires selenium and v! itamin E - which, as we know, operate synergistically. If these nutrients are not available in sufficient quantity, the scavenging activity of the enzymes is reduced.

The Second Generation Antioxidants

As research into antioxidants developed, a ?second generation? of more powerful free radical fighters emerged: the Carotenoids (associated with Vitamin A) and the Bioflavonoids (which enhance the action of Vitamin C). These were far more powerful in their action than Vitamins, and remained longer in the body, increasing their effectiveness even further.

Carotenoids (over 600): Astaxanthin, Lycopene.
Bioflavonoids (over 800): Rutin, Hesperidin, Quercetin, Anthocynosides, Catechins.

If a diet contains enough fruit and vegetables, bioflavonoids should not be lacking, but today's dietary habits and cultivation methods make for deficiency.

Some Notes About Antioxidant Herbs and Health Foods

Herbs: Bilberry, Echinacea, Evening Primrose, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Hawthorn Berry, Milk Thistle, Rosemary, Wild Cabbage.
Health foods: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Grape Seed Extract, Green Tea, Pollen, Propolis, Pine Bark Extract.

Tomatoes are the best source of the carotenoid Lycopene, the pigment that gives tomatoes and pink fruits their colour. Studies have proved that lycopene is far better absorbed from cooked tomato products than from raw tomatoes. Lycopene has been shown to have beneficial effects on prostate cancer.

Bilberry, in addition to vitamins A and C, has high levels of anthocynosides. These bioflavonoids fortify blood vessel walls, improving blood flow to the vessels that keep eyes healthy, and they help maintain good circulation throughout the body. Bilberry has a reputation for improving night vision and preventing and treating macular degeneration and cataracts.

Green Tea contains bioflavonoids called catechins. These antioxidants may selectively inhibit the growth of cancer. Positive results have been obtained from studies of green tea, ! although it appears black tea cannot be shown to have the same effects.

Fresh Berry Fruits contain bioflavonoids, especially the dark berries such as noni, goji berries, blueberries, blackberries and pomegranate.

Grape Seed and Pine Bark Extracts both contain proanthocyanidin bioflavonoids. The pycnogenol and catechins present in pine bark extract are said to be extremely effective, exerting a stabilising effect on collagen and cellular membranes of all kinds. Grape seed extract contains a very high level of proanthocyanidins.

Patricia Howitt
Webmistress, Author
Editor: http://www.healthnews-nz.com/
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The Signs Of Heart Attacks Your Body's Alarm System

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart attacks kill about 460,000 Americans every year. People usually die within one hour of when symptoms start, but before they get to the hospital. If more people recognized the signs of heart attacks and acted sooner, more people would survive them.

One reason that people don?t always recognize the warning signs of heart attacks is that they act differently. Even people who have had a heart attack before might not recognize another one because it could be completely different. The main thing to remember is that if you aren?t sure, have it checked out. It is better to have a false alarm than to not respond to the real thing. Quick response greatly increases your chances for surviving heart attacks.

Most heart attacks start out with some sort of discomfort to the chest. It may not be the searing pain that you might expect from a heart attack, but there will probably be something. Some people have described before a squeezing sensation, or simply a pain or fullness. The pain may last for a few minutes, or it may come and go away and come back again.

Many people also experience some sort of pain in the upper area of the body during heart attacks. It may show up in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. If you have pain or even a mild discomfort in any of these areas you should have it checked out, especially if there?s a history of heart disease in your family or if you?ve been diagnosed with heart problems. Many people try to wait this type of pain out, but it only gets worse. If you wait, you may be too late. Heart attacks aren?t something to wait around on. Make sure that you get help immediately.

There are many other symptoms of heart attacks that you can identify. Some people experience a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness. Most people also experience shortness of breath. There are many different symptoms that y! ou can i dentify as warning signals of heart attacks. The most important thing is that you react quickly to these symptoms. Even if you don?t like doctors or hospitals, a short stay in one is better than leaving immediately.

On top of learning warning signs of heart attacks, you can take preventative measures to keep yourself safe. Exercise properly, eat right, and see your doctor for regular checkups. Remember that heart disease doesn?t mean your life will be cut short ? undiagnosed and untreated heart disease will put you on the fast track for heart attacks.

For more information about Heart Attacks visit http://www.all-about-heart-attacks.info.

Monitor Your Exercise Intensity The Talk Test

Cardio is something alot of us hate to do. Admit it. We all dread it... even I hate doing it, but at the same time, at the corner of our mind, we do realise that it is important and a must if you want to improve your fitness levels. Some of us do it to shed some pounds, and some do it to keep the fat off and the abs fully visible. However, how do we get the most out of our time on a treadmill/stepper, etc and at what intensity do we need train at?

I've touched on the topic of intensity before, but here's a neat method to roughly determine if you're on the right track without the need for any fancy calculations. This should help the totally clueless get some direction while they do their cardio.

Although you could determine your target heart rate with some effort and calculations over a few observations, there are 'other ways' to monitor your exercise intensity. Please be advised, that this is not a guaranteed accurate method to determine if you're exercising at the required intensity, but a fairly sufficient gauge to see if you're on the right track. If you're a beginner, this is an excellent way to gauge your intensity without having to crack your brain in dealing with numbers.

Firstly, what is THR?

Target Heart Rate (THR) : The ideal intensity level at which your heart is being exercised but not overworked. Determined by finding your maximum heart rate and taking a percentage of it (60 to 85 percent, depending on fitness level).

With that covered, let's move on. Known as the TALK TEST, it is basically your ability to TALK during your cardio workout, and believe it or not - it can actually help you determine how hard you're working. Sounds too simple? That's because it actually is.

When doing your cardio, you should aim for an intensity that allows you to talk comfortably. If you can talk comfortably, you're probably somewhere around the lower range of your target heart rate zone, which is kinda okay, but you should aim for better. Try singing or reciting a few lin! es from a favorite song (do it too loud, and you'll look like an idiot). If it's VERY VERY easy to do, you should bump up your intensity a bit and try again after a few minutes. If it gets too difficult to sing or talk, slow down to get into a better zone. The goal is to get to an intensity level where its comfortable to talk, but yet, you're unable to hold a really long conversation and long sentences without having to pause for deep breaths.

If you're exercising at a rate where you're almost breathless, well.. then you're pushing it, cos you shouldn't be breathless during your workouts, UNLESS you're doing interval training, HIIT (High-intensity interval training) or a short, high intensity workout, and that's a totally different topic.

Of course, with all this in mind, please don't throw your common sense out of the window too. If you ever feel dizzy, or lightheaded, you should slow down or stop exercising.

If you're keen on exploring and wish to determine your Target Heart Rate more accurately, I'm sure a helpful Personal Trainer at your gym could help you out. If he/she isn't willing.. well, then you need a new gym.

Josh Stone, also known as DM, is the author behind the site http://www.dailymuscle.com which offers the author's personal views on real-life fitness, bodybuilding, sports nutrition, cardio, fat loss, training information, and on all things that surrounds fitness.