The Genetics of Cancer

The ancient Greeks believed that cancer by excess fluid, they "black bile caused." Doctors in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, has suggested that parasites cause cancer. Today, doctors understand that cancer is genetic, which means that changes in different genes in the body can cause cancer.

Genes and Chromosomes

Genes are the functional units and physical basis of heredity passed from parents to offspring. You are the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and are found in structures called chromosomes in every cell of the body is a person. Genes provide the instructions to keep to work the body. Most people are familiar with a person's eye color with the genes for their role in determining the physical properties.

The human body contains about 30,000 genes. They are located in 46 chromosomes arranged into 23 pairs. Pairs of chromosome 1 numbered to 22 and are called autosomes. The other two chromosomes (pair 23) are the sex chromosomes that determine whether a person is born, male or female. Since genes come in pairs, taking a person, a gene from each pair of mother and father

The role of genes in cancer

In a person’s body, cells are continually dying and being replaced. For example, cells in the skin, liver, and intestines are replaced every few weeks. The body makes new cells by copying the old cells, and in this process (called cell division), there may be mistakes in how the genetic material is copied. These are called mutations. Some mutations have no effect on a cell, while other mutations are harmful or helpful to the cell. If a mutation is not corrected, and it occurs in a critical part of the gene, it may lead to cancer. However, the chance of one mutation leading to cancer is rare. Usually it takes multiple mutations over a lifetime to produce a cancer cell. This is why cancer occurs more often in older people—there have been more opportunities for mutations to accumulate.

There are two basic kinds of genetic mutations. If the mutation is directly passed from a parent to a child, it is called a germline mutation. This means that the mutation is present in every cell of the child’s body, including the reproductive sperm and egg cells. Because the mutation affects reproductive cells, it is passed from generation to generation. Germline mutations are responsible for 5% to 10% of cancer cases, which is called familial (occurring in families) cancer.

Acquired mutations occur during a person’s life and are not passed from parent to child. These mutations are caused by tobacco, UV radiation, viruses, age, and other factors. Cancer caused by this type of mutation is called sporadic cancer, which is much more common than familial cancer.

Most scientists believe that cancer happens when several genes of a particular group of cells become mutated. Some people may have more inherited mutations than others, and even with the same amount of environmental exposure, some people are simply more likely to develop cancer.

Genes that play a role in cancer

The following types of genes contribute to cancer:

* Tumor suppressor genes are protective genes. Normally, they suppress (limit) cell growth by monitoring the rate at which cells divide into new cells, repairing mismatched DNA (a cause of mutations), and controlling cell death. When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated (due to heredity or environmental factors), cells continue to grow and can eventually form a tumor. BRCA1, BRCA2, and p53 are examples of tumor suppressor genes. In fact, nearly 50% of all cancers involve a missing or damaged p53 gene.

* Oncogenes turn a healthy cell into a cancerous one. HER2/neu and ras are two common oncogenes.

* DNA repair genes fix any mistakes made when DNA is replicated (copied). Mistakes that aren’t fixed become mutations, which may eventually lead to cancer, especially if the mutation occurs in a tumor suppressor gene or oncogene.

Cancer develops when several genes in a cell become mutated in a way that overrides the checks and balances of the cell. However, many cancers cannot be tied to a specific gene, and some genes may interact in unpredictable ways with other genes or factors in the environment to cause cancer. In the future, doctors hope to learn more about the role of genetic changes in the development of cancer, which may lead to improved cancer treatment and prevention strategies.

Health Disparities and Cancer

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines health disparities as differences in the incidence, prevalence, death and burden of disease and other conditions prejudicial to the health that exist among specific population groups including racial and ethnic minorities.

These differences in racial and ethnic minorities

In March 2002 the Institute of Medicine released a report that found "overwhelming evidence" that racial and ethnic minorities suffer disparities in health care. Factors, the differences in health are poverty, lack of access to medical care, lack of health insurance, language barriers and competence, and the expectations of the ill-treatment outcome of cancer, doctors and / or health. Although there are many causes which are access to care, racial and ethnic disparities in health care contribute significantly to this problem in the United States. The research shows that minorities are less healthy, will experience greater barriers to care, more likely to be insured and are more likely to receive poor quality care than other Americans.

The recent National Healthcare disparities report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that limited progress in eliminating disparities in health care have been made and there are not many significant gaps in the quality and access addressed

Areas of disparity in cancer care

Issues related to disparity in cancer care can be broken down into several areas, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Prevention

People from minority populations participate much less often in cancer prevention programs than do white people. They also may be less likely to use genetic testing to identify whether they have an increased cancer risk.

* In the AHRQ report mentioned above, 23% of Hispanic women reported that they have never had a Pap test, compared with 17% of non-Hispanic white women.

* Minority women tend to be more reluctant to undergo testing for the breast cancer genes 1 and 2 (BRCA 1 and BRCA 2), even when they have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, according to a 2005 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of cancer is often delayed in people from minority groups.

* The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from the AHRQ found that nearly 30% of Hispanic people and 20% of African American people lack a usual source of health care, compared with less than 16% of white people.

* Uninsured, African American, Hispanic, and low-income patients are less likely than white, high-income, and insured patients to receive recommended care and are more likely to be admitted to the hospital for potentially preventable conditions, according to a 2006 report from The Commonwealth Fund.

Treatment

Differences in the result of cancer treatment are not only because of delays from lack of access to care and problems with prevention and diagnosis, but may also reflect the lower quality of medical services in some underprivileged areas, according to a 2005 article in the journal Medical Care. For example, physicians treating African American patients are less likely to be board certified, and these doctors have less access to specialists and other technology resources.

How health care disparities affect people of different races/ethnic groups

Overall, minority populations have a higher risk of developing cancer and a higher total death rate. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), African American people have the most numbers of new cases of cancer and the highest death rates from cancer, even though they make up a minority of the U.S. population.

The section below highlights examples of these health care disparities, using data from the NCI and the American Cancer Society’s publication, Cancer Facts and Figures. These data demonstrate the disparities in health care faced by racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States:

African Americans

* African American people are less likely than white people to survive five years after being diagnosed with most types of cancer, at any stage of diagnosis.

* African American women are diagnosed less often with breast cancer than white women, but are more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. The risk of the less treatable, more deadly type of breast cancer is twice as high in African American women.

* African American men have the highest risk of developing prostate cancer. They also tend to have cancers that are more aggressive and have more than twice the death rate when compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

* Despite its preventable nature, colorectal cancer continues to kill a disproportionate number of African American people each year. New diagnoses of colorectal cancer among African American men and women are about 17% higher than in white men and women.

Hispanic Americans

* Cancer is the second leading cause of death for Hispanic people in the United States, accounting for about 20% of all deaths.

* Hispanic people have lower numbers of new cancers for all cancers combined when compared with white people, but generally have higher rates of uterine, cervix, liver, gallbladder, and stomach cancers, which are associated with certain infections.

* Liver cancer rates are twice as high in Hispanic men and women compared with white men and women.

* Colorectal cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer in both Hispanic men and women.

Asian Americans

* Cancer affects Asian American people in very different ways, based on country of origin. According to a study of the five largest Asian American groups – Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese – colorectal cancer rates are highest among Chinese Americans; prostate cancer is more common and more often deadly among Filipino men; and Vietnamese women have the highest number of new cancers and death rates from cervical cancer of all Asian American women.

* A significant number of Korean American women are not familiar with the Pap test, a decades-old standard for cervical cancer screening.

Native American/Alaska Natives

* For all cancers combined and various site-specific cancers, the five-year cancer survival rate (the percentage of patients who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected) for American Indian women is significantly lower than that for white women.

* Alaska Native women have the highest death rate of all ethnic groups for all cancers combined, and for colorectal and lung cancers specifically.

Contributing factors to health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities

People from minority groups are more likely than white people to lack health insurance. The following statistics come from a March 2008 Commonwealth Fund article and a 2006 U.S. Census Bureau report:

* In 2006, the uninsured rate for non-Hispanic white people remained unchanged at 11%.

* The uninsured rate for African American people increased in 2006 to 21% up from 19% in 2005.

* The uninsured rate for Asian people decreased to 16% in 2006, down from 17% in 2005.

* Among Hispanic people, the rate of the uninsured increased in 2006 to 34%, up from 32% in 2005.

* About one in three people who are from the American Indian/Alaska Native population do not have health insurance.

In addition, 16% of African American people and 13% of Hispanic people rely on hospitals or clinics for their usual source of care, compared with 8% of white Americans.
source : http://www.cancer.net

Cancer Types

There are various types of cancecr in this world, where cancer is a disease that is very scary and everyone is trying to avoid, in this post I will provide the types of cancer in this world, for an explanation of the types of cancer from a to z will be discussed in the other posts
and the following types of cancer from a to z

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Adrenal Gland Tumor
Amyloidosis
Anal Cancer
Appendix Cancer
Astrocytoma - Childhood
Ataxia-Telangiectasia
Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome
Bile Duct Cancer
Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome
Bladder Cancer
Bone Cancer
Brain Stem Glioma - Childhood
Brain Tumor
Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer - Inflammatory
Breast Cancer - Male
Breast Cancer - Metaplastic
Carcinoid Tumor
Carney Complex
Central Nervous System - Childhood
Cervical Cancer
Childhood Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Cowden Syndrome
Craniopharyngioma - Childhood

Desmoplastic Infantile Ganglioglioma - Childhood
Endocrine Tumor
Ependymoma - Childhood
Esophageal Cancer
Ewings Family of Tumors - Childhood
Eye Cancer
Eyelid Cancer
Fallopian Tube Cancer
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
Familial Malignant Melanoma
Gallbladder Cancer
Gardner Syndrome
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor - GIST
Germ Cell Tumor - Childhood
Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor
Head and Neck Cancer
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer
Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer
Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer
Hereditary Mixed Polyposis Syndrome
Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer
Hereditary Non-VHL Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Hereditary Pancreatitis
Hereditary Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma
HIV and AIDS-Related Cancer
Islet Cell Tumor
Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome
Kidney Cancer
Lacrimal Gland Tumor
Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Leukemia - Acute Lymphoblastic - ALL - Childhood
Leukemia - Acute Lymphocytic - ALL
Leukemia - Acute Myeloid - AML
Leukemia - Acute Myeloid - AML - Childhood
Leukemia - B-Cell
Leukemia - Chronic Lymphocytic - CLL
Leukemia - Chronic Myeloid - CML
Leukemia - Eosinophilic
Leukemia - T-Cell
Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Liver Cancer
Lung Cancer
Lymphoma - Hodgkin
Lymphoma - Hodgkin - Childhood
Lymphoma - Non-Hodgkin - Childhood
Lymphoma - Non-Hodgkin
Mastocytosis
Medulloblastoma - Childhood
Melanoma
Meningioma
Mesothelioma
Muir-Torre Syndrome
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2
Multiple Myeloma
Myelodysplastic Syndromes - MDS
MYH-Associated Polyposis
Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Neuroblastoma - Childhood
Neuroendocrine Tumor
Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Neurofibromatosis Type 2
Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome
Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer
Osteosarcoma - Childhood
Ovarian Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Parathyroid Cancer
Penile Cancer
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
Pituitary Gland Tumor
Pleuropulmonary Blastoma - Childhood
Prostate Cancer
Retinoblastoma - Childhood
Rhabdomyosarcoma - Childhood
Salivary Gland Cancer
Sarcoma
Sarcoma - Alveolar Soft Part and Cardiac
Sarcoma - Kaposis
Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma)
Small Bowel Cancer
Stomach Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Thymoma
Thyroid Cancer
Tuberous Sclerosis Syndrome
Turcot Syndrome
Unknown Primary
Uterine Cancer
Vaginal Cancer
Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome
Vulvar Cancer
Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
Werner Syndrome
Wilms Tumor - Childhood
Xeroderma Pigmentosa

I hope to identify the types of cancer could be useful for you all

Pointers on Losing Weight Safely

People who want to lose weight commonly, and first of all, think about reducing the amount of food they eat. This may be quite a solution but not exactly the best there is. In fact, depending on the amount you reduce in your food intake, it may even be dangerous to one's health. So how does one lose weight effectively and safely? Here are some points one should consider when trying to lose weight:

Beware of the Crash Diets

Most people think that trimming down the calories can alone shed off their unwanted excess. Probably this is because of the fad there is in advertising about low-calorie food products and beverages. What people don't know is that this could be dangerous because when they decrease their calorie intake way to below the required levels, the body begins to digest the fats. Sounds good but it doesn't actually. Burning fat requires a lot of energy. Since there is not much energy in the body to facilitate metabolism of fat, it will run at a very slow pace resulting to fatigue, illness and weak immune system.

Low-calorie diet is also compensated for by the body by burning muscle. People on this type of diet who revert back to their old eating habits end up gaining back some, if not all the weight they have shed off. This would consist mainly of fats. And since fats have more volume per mass than muscle, they end up having the same weight as before but more bulkier. In losing weight, one should keep in mind that they should lose excess body fats only.

However, one can try out eating small meals at more frequent intervals. This way the body will not think that it is being starved and will not store food as fat.

Eat Properly

One may have considered junking the crash diet option but he should also not forget to watch what he is eating. Variety must always be considered so that one may be able to get the necessary nutrients from his diet.It is also healthier to eat food which are roasted, steamed or broiled rather than fried. It is also important to include a lot of fiber in the diet. Frequent rehydration is also necessary.

Pump Up lean Muscle Mass

Muscles burn calories when they work; they even do so at rest. Unlike fats which just lie around, bulge around the pants and dangle beneath the sleeves, muscles burn calories all-day round. With this fact, one can start weight loss by increasing muscle mass. The more muscles, the less fat will be left. This is attainable starting with working out with resistance exercises.

Engaging in Aerobics

Aerobics are not only good for the heart by increasing cardio-vascular endurance. Aerobics also help in increasing lean muscle mass while simultaneously decreasing excess body fat. Aside from these, aerobics make the metebolic process more efficient and its rate high, even after a long while. Imagine burning fat efficiently while driving along the freeway or even while watching television.

Extra "Push"

Some people believe that smoking and caffeine can actually help in losing weight. This can perhaps be true; however, they do the body more harm than good because of their side-effects. For that extra "push", one can try out taking food supplements. Afterall, 95% of these products out in the market actually does good.

On Taking Diet Pills

Over-the-counter diet pills affect the amount of weight one loses as well as how long one keeps that amount of weight off. However, one must be wary of the side-effects of these diet pills. As such, one must faithfully follow the instructions provided for in the packaging. It is also prudent to consult the physician anyway before trying out these drugs and also to find out which type would be best for the individual.

Losing weight does not have to mean sacrifice and suffering. It actually means opening up to a more full and healthy life where one may not have to feel bad about himself having to look the way he does or not being able to do what he wants to do. Losing weight might entail a little adjustments plus the discomforts, but as the old saying goes, "no pain, no gain." Besides fat, what has one got to lose anyway?

The Different Types of B Vitamins

There are a large number of B vitamins that are needed to keep all of the body functions performing properly. All of the B vitamins are essential for a number of different processes. Without sufficient B vitamins the blood supply would not be healthy and this leads to a variety of illnesses and diseases. The brain needs B vitamins to function correctly and the heart also needs B vitamins to stay healthy and prevent heart disease and food is broken down into the various nutrients by B vitamins. In fact, just about every organ and process within the body requires at least one form of the B vitamin.

Thiamin, or B1, is the B vitamin that the body needs to keep all of its cells, especially the nerves, functioning correctly. It is especially important for memory and general mental health and is one of the B vitamins that is required to convert food into energy.

Riboflavin, or B2, is the B vitamin that is essential for releasing the enrgy from food that has been consumed. Without this B vitamin the body cannot grow or develop properly as red blood cells will not be as healthy as they should be.

Niacin, or B3, is the B vitamin that is involved in over fifty processes, ranging from detoxifying chemicals to making hormones and releasing energy from food.

Pantothenic acid, or B5,works with several other B vitamins for a number of essential processes including breaking down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy and is also the B vitamin that is needed to form vitamin D, a variety of hormones, and red blood cells.

Pyridoxine, or B6, is the B vitamin that is largely responsible for redistributing the amino acids to create over five thousand proteins that are needed by the body and is also one of the B vitamins needed to form various enzymes.

Biotin, or B7, is one of the B vitamins that are involved in a number of processes within the body, including the breaking down of fats, carbohydrates and proteins into useable energy forms.

Folic acid, or B9, is the essential B vitamin for aiding in cell growth and division, especially during pregnancy. This B vitamin is also necessary to make natural chemicals which control the appetite, moods and quality of sleep. It is also the best B vitamin for helping lower the chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke by keeping the arteries open.

Cobalamin, or B12, is one of the B vitamins that is important in the process of converting the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into energy. This B vitamin is also vital in forming the protective covering of nerve cells and to keep red blood cells healthy, and help prevent heart disease.

Weight Loss Exercise

A lot of us live our lives like penned animals. Built to move, too often we put ourselves in a cage. We have bodies designed for racing across the savannas, but we live a lifestyle designed for migrating from the bed to the breakfast table; to the car seat; to the office chair; to the restaurant booth; to the living room couch and back to the bed.

It was not always this way. Not long ago in the United States, a man who worked on a farm did the equivalent of 15 miles of jogging every day; and his wife did the equivalent of 7 miles of jogging.

Today, our daily obligations of work and home keep us tied to our chairs, and if we want exercise, we have to seek it out.

In fact, health experts insist that obesity problem is probably caused at least as much by lack of physical activity as by eating too much. Hence, it is important that people need to move around.

However, that does not mean that a lap or two around the old high school track will offset a daily dose of donuts. Exercise alone is not very efficient, experts say. They contend that if you just exercise and do not change your diet, you may be able to prevent weight gain or even lose a few pounds for a while.

Nevertheless, it is not something that you are likely to sustain unless exercise is part of an overall program. The more regularly you exercise, the easier it is to maintain your weight. Here is what to do every day to make sure that you get the exercise you need.

1. Get quality sleep.

Make sure that you get adequate sleep. Good sleep habits are conducive to exercise, experts point out. If you feel worn out during the day, you are less likely to get much physical activity during the day.

In addition, there is evidence that people who are tired tend to eat more, using food as a substance for the rest they need.

2. Walk the walk.

It is probably the easiest exercise program of all. In fact, it may be all you ever have to do, according to some professional advices of some health experts.

Gradually build up to at least 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week. Brisk walks themselves have health and psychological benefits that are well worth the while.

3. Walk the treadmill.

When the weather is bad, you might not feel like going outdoors. But if you have a treadmill in the television room, you can catch up on your favorite shows while you are doing your daily good turn for your weight-maintenance plan.

Most of us watch television anyway, and indoor exercise equipment enables anyone to turn a sedentary activity into a healthy walk.

Natural Vitamin Sources

There are a lot of people who do not have enough natural vitamin sources in their diet and therefore suffer from a deficiency of one or more vitamins. Obviously, it is possible to buy vitamin supplements to help overcome any deficiencies but for the majority of people it should be possible for them to obtain the majority of their recommended daily allowance of vitamins from natural vitamin sources. The key to gaining the correct amount of vitamins from natural vitamin sources is to eat a healthy and balanced diet.

There are certain diets, such as vegetarian, that provide a limited number of natural vitamin supplements and therefore a supplement may be necessary. Also, the intake required of these natural vitamin sources at certain periods may need to be increased and a supplement may be the best option. It is important to be aware of each of the different types of vitamins and their best natural vitamin sources so that a person can incorporate as many of these as possible into their regular diet. Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body and need to be replenished on a daily basis so it is natural vitamin sources for these vitamins that are the most essential to know.

• Natural vitamin B1 sources are brewer’s yeast, whole grains, blackstrap molasses, brown rice, organ meats, egg yolk

• Natural vitamin B2 sources are brewer’s yeast, whole grains, legumes, nuts, organ meats, blackstrap molasses

• Natural vitamin B3 sources are lean meats, poultry & fish, brewer’s yeast, peanuts, milk, rice bran, potatoes

• Natural vitamin B4 sources are egg yolks, organ meats, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, soybeans, fish, legumes

• Natural vitamin B5 sources are organ meats, egg yolks, legumes, whole grains, wheat germ, salmon, brewer’s yeast

• Natural vitamin B6 sources are meats, whole grains, organ meats brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ

• Natural vitamin B7 sources are egg yolks, liver, unpolished rice, brewer’s yeast, sardines, legumes, whole grains

• Natural vitamin B8 sources are who1e grains, citrus fruits, molasses, meat, milk, nuts, vegetables, brewer’s yeast

• Natural vitamin B9 sources are dark-green leafy vegetables, organ meats, root vegetables, oysters, salmon, milk

• Natural vitamin B12 sources are organ meats, fish, pork, eggs, cheese, milk, lamb, bananas, kelp, peanuts

• Natural vitamin B13 sources are root vegetables, liquid whey

• Natural vitamin B15 sources are brewer’s yeast, rare steaks, brown rice, sunflower, pumpkin & sesame seeds

• Natural vitamin B17 sources are whole kernels of apricots, apples, cherries, peaches, plums

Healthy Diet - A Guide to Weight Loss

Here are some weight loss diet tips that can be followed anywhere, everyday:

1. Make a delicious low fat mayonnaise by combining one teaspoon of Dijon mustard or satay sauce with a low fat yogurt.
2. Do not skip meals. Skipping meals slicks the body into slowing down the metabolism, attempting to conserve calories during a period where limited fats and fuel are available. Remember that eating increases the metabolism.
3. Stuff vegetables like capsicum and zucchini with flavored fillings or minced chicken, white meat or fish. These are healthy and contain low fat.
4. Take pita bread roll ups or wraps with salad fillings.
5. Eight hours after waking up, our metabolism slows down that is why 30 minutes of exercise before dinner will increase the metabolism for about two to three hours. This produces an increase in burned fat even hours after the work out is over.
6. Add alfalfa or mung beans to salad to get extra iron.
7. Good cooking and healthy eating begins with learning about nutrition and how to prepare healthy recipes.
8. Learn how to make the family favorite recipes and make sure that fats, salt, and sugar are cut out. Substitute non-fat yogurt for cream, stir-fry without oil and use herbs and spices instead of salt to taste.
9. Consult the doctor before beginning an exercise or weight loss program.
10. Slowly eat and chew each bite during meals as this would decrease one's appetite.
11. Complete three small meals and two snacks everyday instead of one or two huge meals.
12. Use chicken stock when stir-frying. This will cut down on hidden fat.
13. Buy non-toasted muesli instead of the toasted ones. A plate of toasted muesli contains more fat than a plate of bacon and eggs.
14. As much as possible do not remove the skins of fruits and vegetables since most of the nutrients are concentrated under the skin.
15. Warm water with just a squeeze of lemon juice before breakfast get the metabolism going for the day, this also help preventing constipation and is excellent for the skin.
16. One of the best sources of vegetable protein is from soya beans or tofu. All legumes provide some protein, so include lentils, lima beans etc into casseroles and soups.
17. Look for a weight loss "buddy," club, or support mates. This will motivate you to stay and enjoy your weight loss program.
18. Though it's hard at first, try not eating 3 hours or more before bedtime.
19. Make pasta a fast food choice - preparing a pasta meal or salad will only take 10-12 minutes.
20. Chilli helps to speed up metabolism - even the milder varieties.
21. Try making omelettes without adding the yolks! A dramatic decrease in fat.
22. Substitute baking soda, baking powder, MSG and soya sauce in cooking.
23. Remove fat by dropping ice cubes into the baking tray. Fat will stick to the ice cubes.
24. Drinking hot water instead of cold water in the morning can increase the speed of your metabolism and burn more calories.
25. Eat before you go food shopping and always prepare a shopping list. Only buy food which relates to your weekly menu plan and don't be tempted to buy goodies.


Make sure that the right discipline is still practiced to promote consistency on the diet plan. This will lead eventually to a healthy life-style and a more fruitful living without the extra fat and extra pounds on the side.

Teen Obesity Ups MS Risk in Women

Although there are many good reasons for proposing the action against obesity in youth, a new study now that the extra weight may increase later in puberty, the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Report of the 10th November edition of Neurology, Harvard researchers found that obesity is age 18 and more than double the risk of a woman developing MS in adulthood compared with their colleagues more easily.

"This is a study shows that obesity leads to a further more a result of unhealthy and obesity in adolescence may a crucial role in determining the risk of MS," said Kassandra Munger, author of the study, a research fellow at the School of Public Health at Harvard University in Boston.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic central nervous system, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Although nobody is sure what to believe, the exact cause of the disease, scientists, it is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. In the case of MS, the immune system destroys myelin, a fatty substance that covers nerve fibers in the MS Society.

The study included more than 238,000 women in the Nurses Health Study and the Nurses' Health Study II between 1976 and 2002. The women were between 25 and 55 at baseline.
Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated from information on the women who were what their size and weight than they were 18 and inclusion. A BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while 25 to 29.9 is overweight and over 30 is obese.

The women were also invited to identify pictures of nine body silhouettes ranging in size from very thin to very obese to see, and the figure most closely conform to 5, 10 and 20
Women who were overweight at the age of 18 years were 2.25 times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis, the study found. Obesity appears to increase the risk slightly, but not at a level that was statistically significant, "said Munger.

The shape of a large body of 20 years increases the risk for multiple sclerosis by 96 percent, according to researchers. A large body size at age of 5 or 10 is not associated with an increased risk of MS, provided that the woman had lost weight, 20 years.

Although this study was not designed to find the reason for the increase, Munger said that low vitamin D was suspected to play a role in the development of MS, and that obese people are less May the blood level of vitamin D. A Another way to beat Munger, is that fat tissue secretes a large amount of chemicals affect the immune system.
"We're starting to references to things that may predispose a person to get MS," said Dr. John Richert, Executive Vice President for Research and clinical programs at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "Until recently we have in the States as a condition for the beginning can not be controlled to be seen, though still mostly in this way, perhaps there are situations in which people can take to reduce your risk a little bit . If all the input data [this study and others is] right, not smoking and maintaining an ideal weight can reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis.
But the current study, added: "As with so many interesting observations, the study raises more questions than answers."

Munger said that the study was conducted only among women, although the results may not apply to men. And besides, he said, the participants were almost all white, so it is not known whether this association would be valid for other races.

Screening Mammography Guidelines to Change

Mammography screening standard schedule for the age of 40 years may soon change, and strategies for prevention of breast cancer could be improved, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Women can not start mammography screening until age 50 and can no longer do self-breast examination altogether if the new guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer, the USPSTF is commonly believed. In Canada and the United Kingdom, 50 and the starting age for mammography screening. These new guidelines may have an influence on what you have paid the provider of Medicare.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has updated its recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer. After using the computer simulation models, the results of different screening strategies project, said the group they would like to recommend changes to reduce the "damage" and risks of testing, who believe themselves superior benefits. You have too many false positives, unnecessary biopsies, overdiagnosis of anxiety or short. His November 2009 guidelines propose

* Women between 40 and 49 years old should not be having routine screening mammograms. Instead, they say that women should make an informed decision about screening mammography before 50, and weigh their potential risks and benefits with their doctors

* Women who are 50 to 74 years old should be having a screening mammogram every other year, because the risk for breast cancer increases as you age.
* Women over 74 years old are not given specific guidelines about routine screening mammography - as their risk of death from heart disease and other ailments is greater than from breast cancer.
* Women of any age should not be taught to do breast self-exams, but BSE is not forbidden.
* Clinical breast exams will not be required before screening mammograms, because CBE appears to add no benefit to the information gained from a mammogram.

In 2002, the USPSTF guidelines for breast cancer screening stated that women 40 and older should have annual mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have also agreed on screening mammograms for women ages 40 to 70. The The American Cancer Society will maintain their recommendation to start screening mammograms at age 40.

Mammography is not a perfect tool and neither is a breast self-exam. But it seems odd to take away these two tools, which we have been told are important, for women aged 40 - 49. This same battle has been fought before, in the mid-1990s. It was resolved by 1997, when the National Cancer Institute agreed to support mammograms for women in their forties.

In an editorial published in Annals of Internal Medicine, Dr. Karla Kerlikowske says that the focus should shift from screening and early detection to breast cancer prevention interventions. But for this to be effective, Dr. Kerlikowske says that we need a better risk model, more research on prevention, and standards "for routinely assessing risk factors, calculating breast cancer risk, and reporting risk to women and providers in an easily understandable format." Couldn't we wait, until more research has been done, before we change screening guidelines? Won't women be more at risk for ten years of their lives, if they are not having a mammogram and doing their self-exams?

I'm all in favor of better prevention - but I want it to include lifestyle changes, diet recommendations, exercise programs, and ways to detoxify your environment, as well as better breast imaging technologies and guidelines, and better risk assessment. Yes, I still want The Cure - but I want to prevent breast cancer even more - so that someday soon, nobody will have to hear the words, "You have breast cancer.

Free Weight Loss programs

The race to fitness is on and a lot of people are getting into the band wagon. Some people do it to achieve a sexy body, some people just do it because they are embarrassed with the body they have now, while others do it simply to remain fit and heatlthy. As such, many fitness programs are out in the internet, in gyms, spas and fitness centers all over. Some are too expensive to afford that one may even lose weight just by trying to work out the money needed to pursue these fitness programs.

One may not have to go to the gym or the spa or any fitness center and spend much just to slim down to obtain that longed for sexy body. There are many books available in the bookstore which offer weight loss programs which are convenient and for free, of course the books are not though. These weight loss programs, or diet plans are gaining immense popularity with so much publicity, testimonials and reviews that one may be confused which exactly to follow. So before choosing which weight loss plan to follow, try reading these summaries about the most popular diet programs out today.

Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins. This weight loss program encourages high protein diet and a trim down on the carbs. One can feast on vegetables and meat but should fast on bread and pasta. One is also not restricted against fat intake so it is okay to pour in the salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. However, after the diet, one may find himself lacking on fiber and calcium yet high in fat. Intake of grains and fruits are also limited.

Carbohydrate Addict's Diet by Drs. Heller. This diet plan advocates low carbohyrate eating. Approves on eating meats, vegetables and fruits, dairy and grain products. however, warns against taking in too much carb. "Reward" meal can be too high on fats and saturated fats.

Choose to Lose by Dr. Goor. Restrains fat intake. One is given a "fat" budget and he is given the liberty on how to spend it. It does not pressure the individual to watch his carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafoods is okay. A go signal is also given on eating vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss plan is fairly healthy, good amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats. Watch triglyceride levels though; if high, trim down the carbohydrates and tuck in more of the unsaturated fats.

The DASH Diet. Advocates moderate amounts of fat and protein intake and high on carbs. Primarily designed to lower blood pressure, the diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Some dieters think it advocates too much eating to procure significant weight loss.

Eat More, Weigh Less by Dr. Ornish. Primarily vegetarian fare and strictly low-fat. Gives the go signal on the "glow" foods but warns to watch it on non-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet is poor in calcium and retricts consumption of healthy foods like seafoods and lean poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type. Interesting because it is based on the person's blood type. recommends plenty of mest for people with the blood type O. Diet plans for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and too low in calories. And for the record, there is even no proof that blood type affects dietary needs.

The Pritkin Principle. Focused on trimming the calorie density in eating by suggesting watery foods that make one feel full. Eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy is okay. Although limits protein sources to lean meat, pseafood and poultry. Although it is healthy by providing low amounts of saturated fats and rich amounts of vegetables and fruits, it is also low on calcium and limits lean protein sources.

Volumetrics. For low-density calorie eating. Recommends the same foodstuff as Pritkin but restricts fatty or dry foods like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This plan is reasonably healthy given the high amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as being low in calorie density and saturated fats.

The Zone. Moderately low on the carbs yet moderately high on the proteins. Encourages low-fat protein foods like fish and chicken plus veggies, fruits and grains. It is also healthy but lacking in grains and calcium.

Weight Watchers. High carbohydrates, moderate on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan and very flexible too. it allows the dieter to plan his own meal rather than give him a set to follow

Losing Weight Rapidly

Wanting a slimmer and sexier body is no lofty ambition. Many people have succeeded in sculpting their physiques to make them look healthy and desirable. However, this end is not attained in just a snap or skipping one night's dinner. For some people though, patience is not a virtue. They seem not to be able to afford so much attention, time and money to get the body they have always wanted. As a result, these people result to rapid weight loss practices and programs which may not be as effective as these people are led to believe they are.

Fast-track diets are one of these rapid weight loss practices which may not be very inviting as they seem according to research. Fast-track diet programs, as scientific research shows, are only good while they last. Rapid weight loss often results ironically, to rapid weight gain. people who undergo low carbohydrate or low calorie diets normally revert back to old eating habits simply because human beings can not actually live on with this type of diet scheme for the rest of their lives.

Now there is also scientific research showing that rapid weight loss does not imply an individual is losing unwanted excess fat; it is commonly water that is lost with following rapid weight loss practices. This could cause certain alarm but actually, water lost is regained very quickly. So there is actually zero net weight lost after all. So one should not be foolish enough to be so gullible with the advertising of certain diet pills out there in the market; especially those which claim to aid lose a whopping amount of fat in a short time. They will only dehydrate the body. And just so it is clear, the body can only lose two pounds of fat per week, one could be exceptionally lucky if he can lose three, but normally, it's just two.

Another rapid weight loss product out in the market is the slimming soap. Claiming that these soaps are made from a unique concoction of rare chinese herbs and seaweed, they assert to help people using them to shed off body fats by emulsifying them upon application while taking a bath. Some are even specialized like those which promise to give the user "beautiful thighs". The ingredients may prove to improve the quality of the skin but no research has ever come up yet which aids to prove the efficacy of these ingredients in emulsifying excess body fats.

One more rapid weight loss product out there in the market promises to suppress hunger and at the same time help increase the body's metabolic rate. It also claims to be able to accelerate the healing process and reduce certain body pains, all these plus its being a very chic fashion accent. Well they are actually called magnetic weight loss earrings.

The secret of this set of earrings is in the magnet, so it says. Wearing them near the ears balances the magnetism in the body therefore one will experience all the above mentioned effects. Though press releases say that there are actually "studies" to back these assertions up, nothing yet is found in medical journals. Though buying a set may not kill a person, it's probably not a wise investment. One might as well wear a horse shoe earring for a more exquisite fashion statement.

Bottom line is "no pain, no gain". If one wants a beautiful body, one must sweat it out. And as for those rapid weight loss products coming out on the market, if they are too good to be true, they probably are not

Why Losing Weight is Good

There is a great benefit acquired from losing weight. Though losing weight is not easy, the long term effects brought by it would probably be of help to anyone considering to shed those unwanted and unhealthy pounds.

The following are a few of the remarkable advantages from losing those excess weight.

Weight loss prevents high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke

That is a three in one benefit from losing weight. It is a fact that heart disease and stroke are one of the primary reasons for disability and death in both men and women in the US. People who are overweight have a higher risk to have high levels of cholesterol in their blood stream as well as triglycerides (also known as blood fat).

Angina, one type of heart disease, could cause chest pains as well as a decrease in the oxygen pumped to the heart.

Sudden death also occurs from heart disease and stroke, and usually this strikes with very little warning, signs and symptoms.

It is a fact that by decreasing your weight by a mere five to ten percent, this could positively decrease the chances of you having or developing heart disease or a stroke. Plus, how your heart functions would also improve as well as your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride count will decrease.

Weight loss prevents type 2 diabetes

Diabetes puts in jeopardy one’s life as well as how one leads his or her life because of the complications that result from having it. Both types of diabetes, type one and type two are linked with being overweight. To those who already have diabetes, regular exercise and losing weight could help in controlling your blood sugar levels as well as the medication you may be currently taking. Increase your physical activity. You could simply walk, jog or dance. It helps get those blood streams moving as well as lose those unnecessary pounds.

Weight loss helps reduce your risk for cancer

Being overweight is linked with a number of kinds of cancer. Specially for women, the common types of cancer that is associated with being overweight include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, ovary, breast, and colon. This is not meant to scare you, this is only to keep you informed. Men are at risk too from developing cancer if they are overweight. These include cancer of the colon, prostate and rectum. Extra weight, a diet high in fat and cholesterol should as much as possible be avoided.

Weight loss reduces sleep apnea

Or it could eliminate it all together. Sleep apnea is a condition wherein one could temporarily stop breathing for a brief period and then would continue to snore heavily. Sleep apnea could cause drowsiness or sleepiness during the day and – because of being overweight – could result in heart failure. Shedding those excess pounds could help in eliminating this problem.

Weight loss reduces the pain of osteoarthritis

When one weighs heavily, the joints of his or her knees, hips and lower back would have to exert double – if not triple – effort to carry him or her through out his / her waking, walking and moving life. This could cause tension and stress on these joints. Weight loss decreases the load these joints carry thus decreasing – if not eliminating – the pain of one who has osteoarthritis.

Weight Loss Plan: The Goal to Go For

Since excess weight puts you at risk for many health problems, you may need to set some weight loss plans to help avoid those risks and prevent disease.

But what should be your long-term goal? And what short-term goals should you set to help you get there? You have a better chance of attaining your goals if you make sure that the weight loss plans that you will use are sensible and reasonable right at the beginning.

Here are some guidelines from the experts in choosing weight loss plans and goals.

1. Be realistic

Most people’s long-term weight loss plans are more ambitious than they have to be.

For example, if you weigh 170 pounds and your long-term plan is to weigh 120, even if you have not weighed 120 since you were 16 and now you are 45, that is not a realistic weight loss goal.

Your body mass index or BMI is a good indicator of whether or not you need to shed of pounds. The ideal BMI range, according to the national Institutes of Health, is between 19 and 24.9. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. Any number above 30 is in the obesity range.

From this point of view, you will need a sensible weight loss plan that will correspond to the required BMI based on your height, because this is the primary factor that will affect your BMI.

2. Set appropriate objectives

Using a weight loss plan just for vanity’s sake is psychologically less helpful than losing weight to improve health.

You have made a big step forward if you decide to undergo a weight loss plan that includes exercise and eating right so that you will feel better and have more energy to do something positive in your life.

3. Focus on doing, not losing

Rather than saying that you are going to lose a pound this week, say how much you are going to exercise this week. This would definitely make up of a sensible weight loss plan.

Keep in mind that your weight within a span of a week is not completely in your control, but your behavior is.

4. Build bit by bit

Short-term weight loss plans should not be “pie-in-the-sky.” This means that when you have never exercised at all, your best weight loss plan for this week should be based on finding three different one-mile routes that you can walk next week.

5. Keep up the self-encouragement

An all-or-nothing attitude only sets you up to fail. Learn to evaluate your efforts fairly and objectively. If you fall short of some goals, just look ahead to next week. You do not need to have a perfect record.

After all, self-encouragement should definitely be a part of your weight loss plans. Otherwise, you will just fail in the end.

6. Use measurable measures

Saying that you are going to be more positive this week or that you are going to really get serious this week is not a goal that you can measure and should not be a part of your weight loss plan.

This is another reason why you should incorporate exercise on your weight loss plan and focus on it. You should be able to count up the minutes of exercise in order to be successful in your plan.

The bottom line is, people should make weight loss plans that will only remain as it is, just a plan. They have to put it into action by incorporating goals that will motivate them to succeed.

Program your Weight Loss in as Easy as a Week

The idea of the program is to be able for you to develop a consistent approach to weight loss as well as a healthy endurance when exercising. The program’s objective is to get rid of the excesses in your body, the excess fat. Not the healthy and lean muscle tissues and body fluids.

The program first requires your focus and dedication, so therefore you need to be prepared in both mind and – of course – body. It is highly advised that you first visit your doctor for a check-up before embarking on any weight loss program.

It is important that when starting on any weight loss program, one should be positive enough to work for the results. Some people get impatient easily but long term effects are assured as long as one sticks to the weight loss plan at hand.

Stretch, stretch and stretch some more. Before actually doing those exercises and working out those muscles, a little stretching is needed in order to avoid any injury or soreness in your body.

It is also not advisable for anyone to try too hard. Everything should be done in moderation. Find the level of exercise and training that suits you. It should be enough for you to be comfortable in but not too convenient that it will not be much of a challenge.
The first week

The first day of the program involves a long and steady walk in a little over twenty minutes. After the walk, follow it up with a good stretch. This takes so little of your time for the first day. In less than an hour you have taken that first step to a weight loss program that could work to your advantage.

By the second day, it is good to focus on an upper body workout. This maintains your strength to be able to go through the whole program for the week. On the third day, a brisk walk or jog for ten minutes is in order. For beginners, a lower body workout should be done in the evening.


In the fourth day, a good rest is in order, as well as a good stretch. This lag time should be used wisely though to sort out any negatives in your mindset. The fifth day starts with a good ten minute walk. Exercise the lower body in four sessions of workouts, follow this up with another ten minute walk, and another four sessions of lower body workout.

The sixth day should be spent on a low impact exercise such as swimming. To avoid boredom, do not be afraid to try something new. The last day of the week is a time to solicit the support of the people you care about. Spend time with them or get them to be with you in your long walk. Again, follow up your walk with a light upper body workout.

This is just the beginning though. If by this first week you are able to stick to the program, you have a great chance to further boost your weight loss and stay with the plan until you achieve your desired result. Try as much as possible to be unlike the people who give up easily just because they could not see the result they want at the time they want – like this moment, today, now! Patience is a virtue. The same way it took your body time to gain all that weight, think about it as the time your body will have to exert just to get rid of it

Rapid Weight Loss Techniques

Other than physical appearance weight affects a person in many ways. This could be the overall quality of life, self-esteem, depression, health risks, and physical incapabilities. There are a lot of positive changes once a person experience weight loss. It is for this reason why a lot of people are searching for a weight loss technique that will surely trim down those fats and get a super slim head turner body.

The first thing that an over-weight should do is seek a doctor to recommend the best weight loss regimen. This will be done after a full physical examination, which leads to the determination of proper weight loss technique. And to lose weight fast and effectively four aspects of life should be changed: what to eat, how to eat, behavior and activity level.

Here are fast tips that can change an over-weight's life:

First: Fast weight loss composes of a multi-faceted technique that consists mindset, exercise, and in other cases, diet supplements. Begin by learning a diet food plan that can easily be accustomed with. Incorporate an exercise plan that allows even at least fifteen minutes a day like brisk walking, running, swimming, and dancing.

Second: Set realistic approaches. The ability to focus and have proper mindset enables someone on a diet to quickly lose those extra pounds. With discipline and proper mind set, a dieter will never be discouraged and lose focus.

Third: Listen as the body speaks. Each and everyone's body metabolism reacts differently to different fast weight loss programs and plans. Try substituting one program for another to compensate the body's reaction. Exercise program must be suitable to one's body, as others are not able to exercise as rigorously as others can. If walking is all that can be done, then walk for this is proven the best exercise. Muscles burn more calories than fats so it's also best to put on a little muscle and looking good too.


Fourth: Eat more fibers for it makes a person full sooner and stays in the tummy longer, slowing down the rate of digestion. A single serving of whole grain bread moves fat through the digestive system faster. Grains turn into blood sugar that spikes the body's insulin level. Thus, making the body more energized and ready to tell the body when it should stop burning fats or start storing.

Fifth: Keep away from fried foods especially deep-fried as this contains a great amount of fat. Although fish and chicken appear leaner than beef, this white meat can contain more fat than when a beef is fried. It is recommended for those on strict diet to opt for grilled food as this does not have or contain less amount of fat after the food is cooked.

Sixth: Takes lots of fluid. Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day keeps the body refreshed. Since weight loss depends on how the body eliminates body wastes, the body must stay hydrated.

All in all, discipline and consistency is still the best practice and the key to a rapid weight loss success. Light dieting, workout, and right amount of supplementation applied in a regular way everyday will result in faster weight loss than having a massive action only to be followed a return to old habits as this would only lead to gaining more weight than when the weight loss plan has started.

Natural Weight Loss: When you do not have to Go Over

ou just have read all that you need to know about how to prevent being overweight. That simple set of instructions should be easy to follow, but not for 35% of Americans who are unable to prevent being overweight.

Of course, once we are overweight, we usually want to trim down for a whole lot of reasons, some related to health, others having to do with looks.

In addition, it is never too late to lose weight. But the fact is, it is a whole lot easier to prevent putting on pounds than to try losing them later on. And if there is one thing we all know, it is that weight gain is likely to happen if we do not take forward-looking steps to stop it.

Health experts say that most people who are into losing weight usually stray. They tend to go back to their old eating habits even after they learn to enjoy low-fat eating. They tend to return to sedentary ways even though they enjoy exercising.

But despite the momentum toward weight gain, you can stop it from happening, experts say. And there are plenty of good reasons to avoid excess pounds, reasons that go beyond vanity or social acceptance.

In fact, some health experts contend that the significance of excess weight is more than cosmetic. They say that it takes a huge toll on people’s physical health.

The Way to Losing Weight…Naturally

The nuts and bolts of eating right maintaining a healthy weight is not all that complicated. In fact, it is a good bet that most people know pretty well what is best. Hence, losing weight the natural way should not be a problem at all.

Consequently, a reasonable approach for losing weight naturally is to stick to a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates, high in fiber, moderate in protein, and low in fat.

A complex carbohydrate is a baked potato. Fat is the sour cream and butter you should not put on it. Fiber is vegetables. Fat is the oil you should not fry them in. Protein is a lean cut of meat. Fat is the gravy you should not pour over it.

Moreover, health experts say that dietary fat promotes weight gain because it is a very dense source of calories. Also, when you consume excess calories from dietary fat, you store those calories as body fat more efficiently than excess calories from other sources.

On the other hand, it can also help you lose weight naturally if you will not fall into the so-called “fat-free” trap. Manufacturers keep coming out with low-fat or fat-free versions of their best-selling foods, but Americans keep getting fatter anyway.

One of the greatest delusions of the 1990s is that “no fat” means “non-fattening.” The truth is, you are often getting just as many calories from the no-fat version, even if the calories are not coming from fat.

The term fat-free can be a trap if you start to believe that you can eat any amount of the foods that are advertised that way.

What’s more, it is best to respond to hunger with healthful snacks. Health experts say it would be better to try eating every three to four hours, which may mean a nutritious low-fat snack between lunch and dinner.

When you feel the urge for food coming on, snacking on something healthy such as a slice of whole-grain toasted bread is a better alternative. Never skip a meal and eat snacks instead because that is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to control your eating habits and weight.

Remember, if you want to lose weight naturally, you have to keep track of every food you eat and of every activity that you do. When you say natural weight loss means that you do not have to use some accessories or helpful aids just to lose weight.

Losing weight naturally is a process and not a fad. Hence, it would take a lot of dogged determination, self-control, and discipline just to achieve your ideal weight

The “Quick Weight Loss Diet” Trend Disadvantage

If you wear a size 14 and you blow a bundle on designer size 8 dresses as motivation, you will probably end up feeling guilty, frustrated, and angry if you are not slinking around in it a month later. so you have to read losing weight the healthy way that i ever post

In reality, you will do much better setting smaller, achievable targets for yourself. If you must try the new-clothes strategy, go down a size at a time, and do not buy anything you have to take out a second mortgage to pay for.

Because, if you continue to remorse on losing weight fast, you will end up incorporating fad diets or those that offer quick weight loss.

For most people who are not aware of this fact, there are no such things as quick weight loss diets and there is no nippy weight loss for people who want to be slimmer than what their body can provide.

The problem with most people is that they tend to opt for nippy fixes wherein fact these things are not effective at all.

What Does Not Work

Today, there are plenty of weight-loss strategies that are guaranteed to backfire. This is because these nippy fixes instilled on certain diet plans are, in reality, not efficient because it does not employ the right principle and the right attitude in losing weight.

These quick weight loss diet plans are known as fad diets because that is exactly what they are, just a fad. In time, when fashion is over and popularity wanes down, people will realize that the diet they have depended on is not reliable at all.

To know more about these fad diets that are selling like hotcakes in the market today, here is a list of some telltale signs that would tell you not to try it even once.

Here they are:

1. Skipping meals

Does your diet plan require you to skip meals? If it does, then, it is a fad diet.

Abstain from food completely is not a healthy habit. It may even cause some serious complications or problems especially for people who are sick with diabetes.

Skipping meals will only cause a hypoglycemia, or the condition wherein your blood sugar is really low, and will probably only be effective in making you eat twice as much at the next meal.

2. Dieting without exercise, or vice versa

Exercise is crucial to the human body. It is important in the proper blood circulation and other activities of the human body system.

Therefore, diet plans that do not require you to exercise are nuisances. People are born to move.

But then again, exercise alone is not sufficient. Hence, it would be better if diet and exercise will go hand-in-hand.

3. Continuous dawdling

There is no better time to start losing weight. If you want to really lose those excess fats, you have to lose weight now.

Delaying tactics will not get you anywhere and will only make the problem worse. So, if your diet plan suggests a certain timeframe for you start losing weight, chances are, you are following the trend of fad diets.

Boiled down, it is best to rely more on the way you feel than the tale of the tape. This means that if the weighing scale tells you that you are losing weight even if it is slower than you would like, but you are feeling energetic and positive about your weight-loss efforts, then, you are just doing fine.

As mentioned and is worth mentioning all over again, weight loss is not a quick process.

Losing Weight the Healthy Way

Almost 108 million Americans were overweight or obese in 1999. Until now, obesity continues to be a serious problem and is predicted to reach epidemic levels by the year 2020.

One way to prevent this scenario is to make people aware of the risks of being overweight or obese.

Here are some diseases that you are putting yourself in risk of if you are carrying a lot of extra pounds:

1. heart disease
2. stroke
3. diabetes
4. cancer
5. arthritis
6. hypertension

Losing weight helps to prevent and control these diseases.

The quick weight loss methods which have spread like fire these days do not provide lasting results. More often than not, dieting methods which involve dietary drinks, foods and supplement or pills do not work. If they do, the results are just temporary.

It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss option which will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds in a short span of time.

Here are some tips on how you can lose those unwanted pounds the healthy way:


1. Do not starve your self.

The key to a healthier way of losing weight is: Do not diet.

You may seem happy and feel that you are losing those unwanted flabs on your belly and thighs by skipping meals. But remember that this would not last long. Your body cannot tolerate having insufficient food to fuel the energy that you use up everyday.

If you get used to skipping one or two meals a day, your stored calories will be used up instead of the energy that should have been provided by your meals. So if you just eat one huge sandwich in one day, it will end up straight to your problem area (i.e. highs, buttocks, hips).

2. Start your day right.

Mothers always say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Have a healthy meal in the morning to jump-start your metabolism.

Your food intake after you wake up will be used to burn fat all day long.

3. Eat small, healthy meals frequently.

Five small-serving snacks per day is better than three hearty meals. Eating more frequently, and in small servings, can prevent over-eating. This will also increase your metabolism and make calories burn faster.

4. Decide on how much weight you want to lose.

Keep your goals realistic. In the long run, it is virtually impossible for you to lose 40 pounds in 2 weeks. Have a mindset that you want to eat healthy to stay healthy for the rest of your life.

Once you have decided on a weight loss plan or program, stick to it and make sure that you follow your own set of dieting rules.

5. Drink lots of water.

Your body needs sufficient water to burn fat and keep your cells hydrated and healthy.

6. Avoid too much sugar.

Plan your meals around lots of fruits and vegetables, some bread, rice or pasta for that carbo fix that you need, plus lean meat and protein rich-foods. Sweets, sodas and pastries should be once-in-a-while indulgences only.

7. Watch your fat intake.

Fat is not the culprit to being overweight. You need this to keep your weight at the proper level.

There is such a thing as healthy fats. Olive, peanuts and canola oil have them. Tuna, salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fats which is good for the heart.

8. Exercise.

Leave your car if you are only going a few blocks from home, take the stairs instead of the elevator, jog, cycle or skate. Use these activites and other home chores if you are too lazy to go to the gym and take exercise classes. Make sure that you do this regularly and you will not even notice that you are already shedding pounds with these mundane activities.

It does not matter how much weight you plan or need to lose. What is important is that you set realistic goals for yourself.

Go slow. If you have already lost 5 or 6 pounds, give yourself a break then try to lose the next 5 pounds.

Eat healthy, drink lots of water, have enough sleep and exercise. This will give you a higher chance of losing weight and improving your health, which would result to a new, healthier you

Alternative Therapy and Complimentary Medicine for Leukemia

I recently learned that the daughter of a friend with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was diagnosed. My recent research on the treatment of complementary and alternative medicine has shown me that the chemotherapy is prescribed in the rule to leukemia actually weakens the immune system.
Immediately I began to supplement therapy and research on alternative medicine, natural medicine, that my friend can use with conventional chemotherapy recommended by your doctor.

Alternative Therapy and complementary medicine for leukemia, focusing on strengthening the immune system. Both leukemia and conventional treatments that weaken the immune system. Complementary medicine taken in combination with conventional therapy, the patients immune system to fight the power, to the disease. Alternative therapy in the form of free medicines to contribute as below also help kill cancer cells and prevents the formation of new lists.

Complimentary Medicine for Leukemia:

Diet

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and other legumes contain the antioxidants and other nutrients needed to fight free radicals that cause cancer and destroy the immune system. All these foods contain the highest concentration of antioxidants available. Raw foods also work to flush toxins from the body so it can better fight the leukemia.


Complimentary Medicine for Leukemia: Vitamin A
A recent study showed Vitamin A to be 33% effective in curing leukemia even without chemotherapy. This percentage may not seem high until compared with the success rate of chemotherapy on most cancers, which is a mere 2%.

Vitamin C skin care – The challenge

Vitamin C is often regarded as a wrinkle fighter or an anti-aging agent. The main objective of ‘Vitamin C skin care’, in scientific terms, is to increase the synthesis of collagen (a structural protein that is found in skin). The additional benefit of ‘Vitamin C skin care’ is related to its capability of countering free radicals which cause damage to the skin.

Vitamin C skin care, however, faces a major challenge today. This is related to the oxidation tendency of Vitamin C skin care products. On coming in contact with any oxidising agent (e.g. air), the Vitamin C in the Vitamin C skin care products, gets oxidised; thus making the Vitamin C skin care product useless (in fact counter-effective). The oxidised Vitamin C imparts a yellowish-brown colour to the Vitamin C skin care product. This is something that you need to check before buying a Vitamin C skin care product. Even after you buy a Vitamin C skin care product, you need to store it properly and keep checking that it’s still good to use (i.e. it hasn’t attained a yellowish-brown texture).

The manufacturers of Vitamin C skin care products have tried to deal with this (oxidation) problem in multiple ways (and research on Vitamin C skin care products is on the top of their list). One such method of retaining effectiveness of Vitamin C skin care products for a long term is to keep a high concentration (say 10%) of Vitamin C. However, this makes the Vitamin C skin care products even more expensive. The Vitamin C skin care products are already pretty inexpensive and making them even more expensive will throw the product manufacturers out of business. The other way is to use Vitamin C derivatives (like ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). These are not only more stable but also inexpensive. Even though the derivatives based products are not as effective as the Vitamin C skin care products, their stability against oxidation is a very desirable feature that makes them very attractive. Moreover, these are known to be less irritating too.

Talking of effectiveness of Vitamin C skin care products, it’s important to mention that not everyone responds to Vitamin C treatments. So it’s not a magic potion in any way. If you don’t see a noticeable difference in your skin, it might be because of your skin not responding to Vitamin C treatment (and the Vitamin C skin care products might not be at fault, at all).

As more research goes on, one can only keep our fingers crossed and wait for a complete solution to the challenges faced by ‘Vitamin C skin care’ today.

Eating Healthy During Pregnancy

Starting off your with a healthy well balanced diet is the best thing you do for yourself and your baby. This way, you'll only need to make a few adjustments during your pregnancy.

Your first trimester
If you find it tough to maintain a balanced diet during your first trimester, you can rest assured that your not alone. Due to queasiness, some women will eat all of the time and gain a lot of weight in the process. Other women have trouble getting food down and subsequently lose weight.

Preventing malnutrition and dehydration are your most important factors during first trimester.

Calories
When you are pregnant, you need to consume around 300 calories more than usual every day. The best way to go about doing this is listening to your body when you are hungry. You should try to eat as many foods as possible from the bottom of the food pyramid.

If you gain weight too slow, try eating small meals and slightly increase the fat in your diet.You should always eat when you are hungry, as you are now eating for 2 instead of one.

Calcium
By the second trimester, you'll need around 1,500 milligrams of calcium each day for your bones and your baby', which is more than a quart of milk. Calcium is something that's missing from many diets. Along with milk, other great sources for calcium include dairy products, calcium fortified juices, and even calcium tablets.

Fiber
Fiber can help to prevent constipation, which is a common pregnancy problem. You can find fiber in whole grains, fruits, and even vegetables. Fiber supplements such as Metamucil and Citrucel are safe to take during pregnancy.

Protein
Unless you happen to be a strict vegetarian, your protein intake is not normally a problem for women who eat a healthy diet.

Iron
A lot of women will start their pregnancy off with a bit of iron deficiency. Good sources of iron include dark leafy green vegetables and meats. Iron supplements should be avoided, as they can cause internal symptoms such as cramping, constipation, or diarrhea.

Vitamins
Seeing as how you get a majority of the vitamins you need in your diet, you may want to discuss prenatal vitamins with your doctor. Folate is one of the most important, and if you are getting enough of it, you may be able to avoid vitamins all together - just askyour doctor to make sure.

Eating Healthy For Vegetarians

The vegetarian way of eating can be a very healthy style of eating. The rules still apply with healthy eating, although you should add variety, balance, and moderation.

A vegetarian is someone who avoids all types of meat, whether it be hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, or even fish. Vegetarians are also sometimes classified by the type of food they are or aren't willing to eat. For example, Lacto-ovo vegetarians will avoid animal flesh yet they will eat eggs and most dairy products. A Vegan on the other hand, will avoid all food that has any trace of animal origin.

Because they don't eat meet, vegetarians will often wonder how they'll get enough protein. Although you may not realize it, the average American actually consumes more protein than he actually needs. For the lacto-ovo vegetarian, dairy products are an excellent source of protein. Vegans on the other hand, get their protein from nuts, seeds, and soy products.

Along the lines of beans, there are several to choose from, including green or red lentils, peanuts, split peas, pinto, soy, kidney, and many more. Some of themyou are already familiar, such as kidney beans in chili, refried beans in Mexican dishes, red beans and rice, and pinto beans. Although some beans taste good as they are, others are available with different flavors to help enhance their taste. Nuts are hihg in protein,although they deliver a lot more fat than beans, which means you should enjoy them in moderation. By having one cup of cooked beans, you'll get the same amount ofprotein as eating two ounces of meat!


The nutrients of concern for vegans, who avoid all types of animal food, are vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D.In the average North American diet, the primary source for B12 is animals. To have an adequate intake of B12, vegans should reguarly consume vitamin B12 supplements or foods, which contain vitamin B12, such as soy products or milk.

For calcium, vegans can rely on orange juice or soy milk, as they are fortified with calcium. Beans and leafy green vegetables will also contain some calcium as well.

Although all types of vegetarians rely on simple food groups, controlling your vitamins and calcium intake is something you should always do. This is very important for eating healthy, as well as staying healthy. If you control what you eat, you'll have many years of healthy eating ahead of you.

All about swine flu | H1N1

Swine influenza is the most serious threat for humans, other than the HIV virus, H1N1 virus outbreak has been providing exceptional people throughout the world, to recognize more deeply the swine flu I will post all about the swine flu, consider the following article, I hope the swine flu can be handled immediately and not be contagious to humans
What is swine flu?
Swine influenza is a disease that pigs get. The virus currently spreading among people is now generally referred to as swine flu, although the origin of the disease is still under investigation. There is no evidence of this strain of the disease circulating in pigs in the UK.
There are regular outbreaks of swine flu in pigs worldwide. It does not normally infect humans, although this does sometimes happen, usually in people who have had close contact with pigs.
Swine flu viruses are usually of the H1N1 sub-type. The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version of this virus.
Why is swine flu affecting humans?
Because the swine flu virus has mutated (changed) and is now able to infect humans and transmit between them.
How is the swine flu infection diagnosed?
The following people should call their GP directly for an assessment of their symptoms and a diagnosis:
• those with a serious existing illness, such as cancer
• pregnant women,
• those who have a sick child under one,
• those with a condition that suddenly gets much worse, or
• those with a condition that is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).
Which people are most vulnerable from swine flu?
Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:
• chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years,
• chronic heart disease,
• chronic kidney disease,
• chronic liver disease,
• chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis),
• suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment),
• diabetes,
• pregnant women,
• people aged 65 or older, and
• young children under five.
For specific advice on antiviral treatment for these groups, go to People with long-term conditions, Pregnancy and children, and Older people.

Is the new swine flu virus contagious?
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says the new swine flu virus is highly contagious and is spreading from person to person.
Swine flu spreads in the same way as ordinary colds and flu. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.
If someone coughs or sneezes and does not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very close to them you might breathe these in.
If someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, phones and keyboards. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system and you can become infected.
How long does the virus live on surfaces?
The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours, and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.
What is the incubation period for swine flu?
According to the Health Protection Agency, the incubation period for swine flu (the time between infection and appearance of symptoms) can be up to seven days, but it is most likely to be between two and five days. But it is currently too early to be able to provide details on virus characteristics, including incubation period, with total certainty.
When are people most infectious?
People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms. They can continue to shed (spread) the virus (for example, in coughs and sneezes) for up to five days (seven days in children). People become less infectious as their symptoms subside, and once their symptoms are gone they are no longer considered infectious to others.
Should I avoid contact with people suspected of having swine flu?
People with suspected swine flu will have been asked to stay at home and restrict their contact with people. Most people should continue their normal life, including going to school or work. This includes children who attend a school with a confirmed case of swine flu.
There is no need to avoid contact with people who might simply have come into contact with those with the illness, such as the parents of children at schools with a confirmed case but who are not themselves ill.
How dangerous is it?
It is difficult to judge this at the moment. There have been deaths, but for most infected people the symptoms have not been severe.
It appears that early doses of antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu are effective in helping people to recover. In the UK we have enough antivirals to treat half the population if they were to become ill. Also, orders of Tamiflu have been placed to increase UK supplies to 50 million doses, enough to treat 80% of the population.
source : http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pandemic-flu/pages/qa.aspx#whatis

H1N1 Vaccine Dangers

The vaccine against H1N1 is a real demand and no shortage of this vaccine. Some people think it is dangerous, while others are looking for him. Currently, for children, pregnant women and people with health problems. According to CDC officials, egg-based vaccine production is slower than expected, and the demand, making shortages in many hospitals and health ministries.

Received PandemicFluOnline.com States President Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha both your immunization against swine flu. The President and First Lady waits dose. You will be shortly after that "the people in priority groups" to receive the vaccine.

Yesterday, in Sweden, some deaths have been reported. He was with heart and lung disease and died at the age of 90 years and disease not disclosed.
Many Irish children fell ill after taking the vaccine. Rhys Fletcher was 15 years with the H1N1 virus, after he fell seriously ill and is diagnosed in the hospital.
The risk of the vaccine is the real danger for pregnant women. They are on their lives and the lives of newborns. It is feared that some of the dangers of the H1N1 vaccine mercury-based preservative has autism.

The reports of deaths in Ireland and Sweden, that people are afraid of the vaccine starts to hesitate to use them.

On 20 October, a national association of obstetrics has clearly shown that the preservative in a vaccine against H1N1 is safe for pregnant women.
H1N1 has about 477 people in the United States, of which 40 children were killed. When the CDC issued a limited number of bottles of flu vaccine for people at high risk against swine flu vaccine. However, the defect should be discussed in November, and everyone can be vaccinated too.
Pregnant women have an increased risk of infection, because, as the fetus grows the pressure on the lungs, making breathing difficult, and women have deep breaths. In addition, results in the immune system, in fact, an easy target for H1N1.
Specia l precautions in case of too many children because they easily be infected in the schools.
Meanwhile, hospitals complaining of shortage of vaccine. CDC officials have said it is difficult to prepare the vaccine and thus may be delayed. Nevertheless, we see no reason to panic and federal authorities have promised to make vaccines widely available in November

Converting beta carotene into vitamin A.

Vitamin A itself is found in a number of foods such as eggs, milk, liver and meat. Beta carotene that the body can convert into vitamin A is found in many fruits and vegetables, especially the red, orange and green coloured ones. The most important point to remember that consuming too much pure vitamin A can be toxic. It is essential not to exceed the recommended daily allowance for vitamin A.

The actual recommended allowance of vitamin A varies depending on a person’s age, sex and other factors. While the actual amount of vitamin A consumed may be toxic if the recommended daily allowance is exceeded, there is a far higher limit to how much beta carotene can be consumed. Therefore it is advisable to concentrate on obtaining the greatest amount of beta carotene which the body can then convert to vitamin A, rather than consuming vast quantities of pure vitamin A rich foods.

Many people will remember being told that eating lots of carrots helps you to see in the dark and that is down to the vitamin A that is produced from the high levels of beta carotene that are found in the vegetables. Other foods which have high levels of beta carotene that can be converted to vitamin A include tomatoes and dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Beta carotene is not only used to form vitamin A, but it is also a powerful antioxidant in itself.

None of the beta carotene that is absorbed is wasted as any excess after conversion to vitamin A has taken place is used to fight the harmful free radicals within the body. Vitamin A also helps fight infections and illnesses by helping tissues that line various parts of the body, including the eyes, mouth, nose, throat and lungs, to grow and also to repair them if they are damaged to prevent infection. Children also need plenty of vitamin A to help their bones and teeth to develop properly