Weight Loss and Health Are Within Your Reach

August 31st, 2010 admin No comments

The thing to understand is that you do not need special pills or procedure just to stay slim and slender because the trick will all fall down to proper exercise and sensible eating diet. Yes, you need to count calories to ensure that you burn more than the amount that you chew. But if you cannot find the discipline you need to go through the process of losing weight, worry not because exercise is actually among the most vital predictor whether you’ll lose weight or not. Through the right exercise, great health and weight loss effects will come next.

Experts and health enthusiasts know that the equation: more muscle tissue is equal to more calories burn is something that should govern them in their weight loss goal. This is the reason why most well known weight lifters in the world do not actually shun their faces away from foods because they would rather indulge into these treats of life to maintain proper weight. Muscle is basically an active tissue and it is important to understand that this is not fat. There was even a study that confirms the truth behind the notion that weight training and exercise is a more successful means to promote good health and weight loss rather than any other means of losing weight.

Understand though that aside from the dedication to lose weight, you need to receive the encouragement from friends and support groups that will trigger you to keep on pushing yourself until you reach your goals. Fortunately, there are many forums and websites online that encourage people who aim to work for health issues and weight loss to meet together. You can check out these websites to ensure that you will have someone who you’ll share your aspirations with.

Furthermore, be aware of that weight training and weight loss is not just for men because this too is needed by women. While there are some women who fear that added muscle will lead to increased masculinity, this is not always the case. The main thing to understand here is that bulky muscle builders were able to get their body that they have because they are either injecting steroids or because of their testosterone levels which is a very important factor in developing that brawny muscles. And because women do not possess high level of testosterone then it is very unlikely for them to develop a butch physique just through weight training.

By now, you should be aware of the benefits of weight training in promoting better health and weight loss. Therefore, you should find the time and the effort to use this in your goal of losing weight. Just remember that the roads will not be easy but with perseverance, you are bound to get out of it triumphantly.

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Early Test for Chemotherapy Benefit

August 27th, 2010 admin No comments

The research from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) is published today in the journal, Clinical Cancer Research.

UK scientists have developed a 24 hour test to check whether the most commonly used chemotherapy treatment will benefit a breast cancer patient.

Currently patients are given a full 12-week course of chemotherapy before doctors know how well they have responded.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer says 46,000 women and 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year. The scientists say the test could identify which of them will benefit from anthracycline chemotherapy.

One in nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. More than 1,000 women die of breast cancer every month in the UK.

The study

The researchers looked at the protein RAD51, which has a big role in DNA repair.

They studied 68 breast cancer patients and found that if the protein did not work in cancer cells the patients were much more likely to respond to treatment.

If the DNA repair process was working in the tumour they would probably not respond to the treatment.

The researchers say this is the first time this method has been shown in a clinical setting and could have important implications for patients.

If a patient doesn’t respond to anthracycline based chemotherapy they could be given other chemotherapy treatments or hormone therapies, such as tamoxifen.

‘Spared unnecessary side effects’

The study’s lead author Dr Nicholas Turner says in a statement: “It would make a big difference to patients, who could be moved onto other treatment options sooner – and spared unnecessary side effects.”

However, Turner cautions, “This test is at an early stage of development and now needs to be confirmed in larger studies to see if it can be effective.”

The test also identifies patients who may benefit from PARP inhibitors, a new type of cancer treatment. Studies suggest that up to 30% of breast cancer patients could be treated this way, although the medications are still in clinical trials and not yet licensed for use.

SOURCES:

Breakthrough Breast Cancer

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Dieting:Drinking Water before Meals

August 25th, 2010 admin No comments

Scientists from Virginia found that slimmers can lose an average of 5lb extra if they drink two glasses of water three times a day before meals.

They tested the theory on 48 older adults, split into two groups, over 12 weeks.

While drinking water can make you feel full on zero calories, say researchers, too much water can also lead to serious health problems.

The researchers presented their findings at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.

All adults who took part in the study were aged 55 to 75.

The first group followed a low-calorie diet but did not drink any extra water before meals.

The second group followed the low-calorie diet but also drank two glasses of water before each meal.

‘No calories’

Over the course of 12 weeks, those drinking water lost about 15.5lbs while the others lost about 11lbs.

A previous study found that middle-aged and older people who drank two glasses of water before eating a meal ate between 75 and 90 fewer calories during that meal.

Professor Brenda Davy, senior author of the study, from Virginia Tech, said it was the first randomised controlled trial looking at water consumption and dieting.

She said the reason water may be so effective is because it fills up the stomach with a liquid that has no calories.

“People should drink more water and less sugary, high-calorie drinks. It’s a simple way to facilitate weight management,” Professor Davy said.

Diet drinks and other drinks with artificial sweeteners may also help people reduce their calorie intake and lose weight, researchers said.

However, Professor Davy advised against drinks sweetened with sugar, because they are high in calories.

A regular can of fizzy drink contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar, she explained.

The study was funded by the charity, The Institute for Public Health and Water Research.

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Tips for Daily Skin Care

August 22nd, 2010 admin No comments

A daily skin care regimen is as important for the skin as food or water is for the body. You do not really need to spend hours together on caring for your skin daily or a fortune on the daily skin care products. There are a few simple steps to be followed so that your skin remains clean and nourished and it does not require a lot of time too. Mentioned below are the four essential steps of a daily skin care regimen. Read more on daily skin care routine.

Cleansing: Cleansing the skin is of extreme importance and is the most basic step of any skin care routine. It rids the skin of all impurities, dirt, oil and grime. These can cause the pores in the skin to clog which may lead to acne, pimples, whiteheads and blackheads.

Exfoliating: Exfoliating the skin removes all the dead skin cells and leaves the skin looking clean and fresh and feeling soft and smooth. However, it should be done just twice a week for those with oily skin and just once a week for those with dry or sensitive skin.

Toning: Toning is essential for those with oily or with combination skin and can be overlooked by those with dry skin. It helps keep the skin firm and control the production of oil from the sebaceous glands. It also removes traces of makeup that is left behind after cleansing.

Moisturizing: This is the most important step of your daily skin care routine. Moisturizing the skin is essential to keep it nourished, hydrated and healthy. A moisturizer that suits your skin type should be used.

Daily Skin Care Tips
The daily skin care that your skin requires will depend upon your skin type and the skin problems that you might encounter. Make sure you choose skin products that suit your skin type and those that will rid you of your skin troubles. Here are some tips for daily skin care at home.

  • Begin your day with by cleansing your skin with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water. Always pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Avoid rubbing or being harsh with your skin.
  • Use lukewarm or cool water on your skin. Too hot or too cold water can damage the skin cells and can make it excessively dry.
  • Daily skin care for oily skin should include cleansing with a mild cleanser, exfoliating twice a week, toning and moisturizing with a clay based or a gel moisturizer. Do not cleanse your skin more than twice a day or it will be stripped of its natural oils.
  • Always use fragrance-free and deodorant-free soaps for your skin. Such soaps contain high levels of chemicals that can harm your skin.
  • Exposing your face to some steam just after exfoliation is a good way to eliminate the dead skin cells, whiteheads and blackheads.
  • Daily skin care for dry skin should include cleansing and moisturizing twice a day. Use a mild, cream based cleanser and a mild exfoliating scrub for dry skin. Read more on dry skin care.
  • A facial mask can be used as a par of the daily skin care at home. Prepare a mask that suits your skin type and remember to cleanse your face before application of the mask. Also, moisturize your face well after removing the mask. Read more on homemade facials.
  • If you use makeup on a daily basis, make sure you opt for a natural makeup look that requires the use of very light makeup. Remember to remove your makeup before going to bed. Read more on facial skin care.
  • Clean your makeup sponges and brushes on a regular basis and do not use makeup that has expired or is too old.
  • It is very important that you wear a sunscreen every time that you step out into the sun. The harmful rays of the sun can have many damaging affects on your skin like pigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines, etc.
  • Cleansing, moisturizing and using a sunscreen should also be included as a part of daily skin care for men.
  • Indulge in natural skin care as much as possible and avoid the use of chemical products.
  • The last and probably the most important of all the daily skin care tips would be to eat right, drink lots of water and follow healthy lifestyle habits.

As mentioned before, the key to obtaining healthy skin is caring for it in the right manner and using the right products. These daily skin care tips will help you maintain good, youthful skin for many years to come.

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Eating Disorders in Boys

August 21st, 2010 admin No comments

Generally associated with females there are now more boys than ever affected by both bulimia and anorexia. Quite often there can be a link between athletic prowess and male eating disorders. This quest for physical perfection can result in serious damaging behaviours that are associated with exercise, diet and supplements.

~ Eating Disorders In Boys ~

If you personally know of a young man or boy who might be restricting his diet and/or over exercising, to encourage that person to seek help as a matter of urgency. Research shows that growing boys who lose weight quickly can potentially do long term damage to their organs. Plus unfortunately eating problems can become a way of life. Therefore the earlier the diagnosis and treatment then the more likely there is to be a quicker and more successful recovery.

- 6 Typical Triggers Of Eating Disorders In Boys:

1. An overweight child being bullied or teased at school. Some comments may be made in a friendly manner or in jest, but then they are taken to heart.

2. A child who has parents that are constantly on a diet may follow suit.

3. Abuse that goes on within the family can often lead on to an eating issues.

4. Having a dominant or overprotective mother has sometimes been blamed for her child’s eating problems.

5. An absent or passive father can sometimes cause children to develop eating problems.

6. The constant social and media pressures may cause your child to start exercising and dieting. Its well documented that within our culture the young men who are slim with an athletic build are seen to be healthy, successful and popular in life. Where as a young boy with puppy fat may feel he has to take some drastic measures to achieve this image as soon as he can.

The bottom line here is that for eating disorders in boys every single, individual case is unique and different. No one type of person develops an eating disorder, and no two people are exactly alike either. The common features do seem to be are those that suffer from a very low self esteem, and they may find it really difficult to express their true feelings or explain to you what is actually making them unhappy.

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