Scary New Stats on Obesity: Where do You Fit In? What can You Do?

Obesity is a rising epidemic in America, Around the World and Within our Families!

Its no secret that obesity has been increasing in America, but I doubt anybody thought it was increasing at the alarming rate it has been, clear around the world.

Obesity is a complex disease. The obese and morbidly obese often experience a wide variety of other health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer and many more.


The Challenges of Obesity as a Disease

Although ground breaking research suggests that genetics plays a big part in obesity, according to many studies, the environment has been the root cause of obesity for many years. Many environmentalists and health care professionals suggest that as we enter a generation of technological advancements many basic tasks do no longer require physical activity and foods have higher levels of salt, sugar and fat than ever before we are going to continue to become obese at alarming rates unless, certain aspects of our environment are quickly changed.

Despite the promising results scientists have had since they located the so called Fat Gene (FTO Gene) which can manipulate certain feelings such as hunger and thirst, scientists have admitted they have yet to figure out how exactly this FTO gene works. This may eventually provide an answer for those who find it harder to loose weight, but at this stage of the game it is fair to say that the environment is the main cause for obesity.

Adding to the challenge, patients are often denied access to much needed medical treatment (such as medically managed weight-loss or bariatric surgery) as some payors and employers still do not recognize obesity and morbid obesity as a disease.

Below you will find useful facts, figures and statistics, discussing obesity and its impact on the United States, along with advice and resources to become part of the solution, starting with yourself.

Via: MedicalBillingAndCoding.org


Obesity Statistics

• In the United States, it is estimated that 93 million Americans are obese.
• Obesity is estimated to lead to 400,000 deaths annually, a 33% jump over 1990. Tobacco-related deaths in the same period climbed by less than 9 percent, to 435,000, as the gap between the two narrowed. At this rate, obesity will claim the top spot.
• Obese individuals are at a higher risk for impaired mobility and experience a negative social stigma commonly associated with obesity.
• Socioeconomic status plays a significant role in obesity. Low-income minority populations tend to experience obesity at higher rate and are more likely to be overweight.
• In 2001, the states with the top five percentages for obesity were Mississippi, West Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky and Indiana.
• In the United States, 40 percent of adults do not participate in any leisure-time physical activity.
• Being overweight, obese or morbidly obese significantly increases the risk of developing many other diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and much more.
• Morbid obesity is characterized by an individual weighing more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight, or having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher.
• Behavior, genetics and environment are all contributing factors of morbid obesity.
• In 2002, 25 percent of the morbidly obese were being treated for six or more co-morbid conditions.
• More than 9 million adolescents (children and teens 6 to 19 years old) are considered overweight.
• Children who are considered obese are 70 percent more likely to continue being obese into adulthood.

Childhood Obesity Statistics

• Children who are obese at a young age are predisposed to obesity and morbid obesity in adulthood.
• Environmental factors, such as a lack of physical activity and technological advances have led to a more sedentary lifestyle.
• Today, obese children are much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes more than ever.
• African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians have been experiencing the highest rates of increase in childhood obesity. On average, 25 percent of children in these ethnic groups are obese.
• The most occurring sign of discrimination among obese children is social and societal acceptance. This negative discrimination can lead to poor self-esteem and depression.
• More than 40 percent of children watch 2 or more hours of television each day.
• In the last twenty years the child obesity rate has doubled while the teenage obesity rate has tripled.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that around one third of children in the U.S. are overweight, 16 percent of children are obese, and 11 percent extremely obese.
• In 2003 the Center for Disease Control & Prevention reported that 1 out of 3 children born in the US in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes! The lifespan of a ten-year-old child with Type II diabetes is, on average, 17 to 26 years less than that of a healthy child.

Fast Food Statistics

• The average distance from a fast food restaurant in the US to a school is half a mile. The density of fast-food restaurants within 1 mile of a school is three to four times the average distribution throughout a city.
• Over the last 35 years sales in the US fast-food industry has grown by almost 1000%. In 1975 sales equalled $16.1 billion and in 2009 sales were about $160 billion.
• The National Restaurant Association reports that there are around 280,000 fast-food restaurants in the States of which around 200,000 are strictly fast-food and 80,000 casual-dining.
• The US Fast-food industry serves more than 50 million Americans every day and generates $65 billion annually.
• Half of the average American's yearly food budget is spent at fast-food chains.
• On any given day around one third of American children eat fast food.
• In the past 5 decades some fast food portion sizes have increased by 600%.
• In the 50s a typical fast food hamburger weighed one ounce while today it weighs six ounces. The average fast food restaurant meal nowadays contains a staggering 1,500 calories!
• A double gulp soda (7-11) has 64 ounces (half a gallon!) and the sugar content of 48 teaspoons.
• The Federal Trade Commission reports that the US fast food industry spends approximately $1.6 billion each year on marketing aimed at children.
• The fast food industry donate money to professional nutrition associations. Coca Cola sponsors the American Dietetic Association. Why? Political lobbying...
• According to studies (by the University of Michigan School of Public Health) living in neighborhoods with a high density of fast-food outlets could increase your risk of stroke by 13%, compared to living in neighborhoods where fast food restaurants are infrequent.
• Americans spend more money per year on fast food than they do on education.
• The amount of food produced daily in the US amounts to 3,800 calories per person. Twice the daily calorie requirement of the average male or female, and three times the daily calorie requirements of children.
• The United States Center of Disease Control and Prevention reports that from 1970 to 2000 the average US male has increased his daily calorie intake by 168 calories and the average woman by 335 calories a day.

The Obesity Action Coalition encourages patients to become advocates for change. Patients can impact how others view obesity and impact decision makers. Help us to eliminate the negative stigma associated with this disease, and make sure that obesity is treated as a disease, allowing for increased access to safe and effective medical treatment.

You can start with yoursef first. Go to the Obesity Action Coalition and use their Calculate Your Body Mass Index measurement tool to find out if you are overweight, obese or morbidly obese. Then use their resources, including their excellent resources links page to take action. This website could save your life and/or the life of a loved one!

Do you consider yourself overweight? Do you consider yourself obese? Do you believe that fast food and marketing techniques contribute to the world's, America's and/or your weight problems? What do you think should be done about it? Are you ready to make a change?

Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the form of a comment bellow. My Health-be readers and I would really like to know your thoughts on the weight problem that faces not only you and I, but America and the world.

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Sources

obesityaction.org / obesityvote.com / fatburn-secrets.com

Alcohol Helps the Brain Remember

Repeated ethanol exposure enhances synaptic plasticity in key area in the brain

Drinking alcohol primes certain areas of our brain to learn and remember better, says a new alcohol and addiction study at The University of Texas.

The common view that drinking is bad for learning and memory isn’t wrong, says neurobiologist Hitoshi Morikawa, but it highlights only one side of what ethanol consumption does to the brain.

“Usually, when we talk about learning and memory, we’re talking about conscious memory,” says Morikawa, whose results were published last month in The Journal of Neuroscience. “Alcohol diminishes our ability to hold on to pieces of information like your colleague’s name, or the definition of a word, or where you parked your car this morning. But our subconscious is learning and remembering too, and alcohol may actually increase our capacity to learn, or ‘conditionability,’ at that level.”

Morikawa’s study, which found that repeated ethanol exposure enhances synaptic plasticity in a key area in the brain, is further evidence toward an emerging consensus in the neuroscience community that drug and alcohol addiction is fundamentally a learning and memory disorder.

When we drink alcohol (or shoot up heroin, or snort cocaine, or take methamphetamines), our subconscious is learning to consume more. But it doesn’t stop there. We become more receptive to forming subconscious memories and habits with respect to food, music, even people and social situations.

Does knowledge about alcohol benefits lead to increased consumption?: An article from: Wines & Vines

In an important sense, says Morikawa, alcoholics aren’t addicted to the experience of pleasure or relief they get from drinking alcohol. They’re addicted to the constellation of environmental, behavioral and physiological cues that are reinforced when alcohol triggers the release of dopamine in the brain.

“People commonly think of dopamine as a happy transmitter, or a pleasure transmitter, but more accurately it’s a learning transmitter,” says Morikawa. “It strengthens those synapses that are active when dopamine is released.”

Alcohol, in this model, is the enabler. It hijacks the dopaminergic system, and it tells our brain that what we’re doing at that moment is rewarding (and thus worth repeating).

Among the things we learn is that drinking alcohol is rewarding. We also learn that going to the bar, chatting with friends, eating certain foods and listening to certain kinds of music are rewarding. The more often we do these things while drinking, and the more dopamine that gets released, the more “potentiated” the various synapses become and the more we crave the set of experiences and associations that orbit around the alcohol use.

Morikawa’s long-term hope is that by understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction better, he can develop anti-addiction drugs that would weaken, rather than strengthen, the key synapses. And if he can do that, he would be able to erase the subconscious memory of addiction.

“We’re talking about de-wiring things,” says Morikawa. “It’s kind of scary because it has the potential to be a mind controlling substance. Our goal, though, is to reverse the mind controlling aspects of addictive drugs.”

Critical social issues-related questions were addressed in a newly published study based on the world renowned Kaiser Permanente Cohort, which has revealed some of the most significant findings associating moderate consumption of wine, beer and spirits with coronary heart disease benefits over the last few decades.

As these and other research findings, such as the reported benefits of consuming "one alcoholic beverage per day" for cardiovascular health, consuming red wine for the resveratrol for longevity, etc. have been acknowledged by the research and public health communities, thousands of media stories have brought positive health messages to the public at large.

These developments have aroused concern among the public health and alcohol abuse prevention communities that such consumer knowledge, perhaps especially in persons at coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, might lead to inappropriate or excessive drinking. However, this research confirms in new, important ways how most people who choose to drink consume the beverages responsibly and maintain this habit throughout their adult lives. Further, this research indirectly reveals how the knowledge about the potential health benefits may reinforce such moderate drinking behavior rather than lead to irresponsible habits.

If you liked this article, you may want to check out my Health-be.com, article, New Research shows that Alcohol can Protect against Heart Disease.

So, taking in account that alcohol is good for memory, good for the cardiovascular system and possibly even good for longevity, it appears that alcohol may not be the Great Evil so many people people preached against? Or is it?

Do you believe that the dangers of alcohol outweigh any possible benefits? My readers and I would love to read all about your opinion on this matter, so please leave a comment down bellow.
Written By: Tom Retterbush

Source

Alcohol helps the brain remember: says new study (University of Texas at Austin)

Does knowledge about alcohol benefits lead to increased consumption? (Elisabeth Holmgren)

New Research shows that Alcohol can Protect against Heart Disease

Individuals who drink alcohol in moderation are 14-25% less likely to develop heart disease

Individuals who drink alcohol in moderation (about one drink a day or less) are 14-25% less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who drink no alcohol at all, finds research led by Professor William Ghali from the University of Calgary, published on bmj.com today.


The first paper, led by Paul Ronksley from the University of Calgary, emphasises that a balance needs to be found between the public health message that consuming large amounts of alcohol is bad for you, and the one that drinking in moderation can have health benefits.

An accompanying paper led by Dr Susan Brien, also from the University of Calgary, finds that moderate consumption of alcohol (up to one drink or 15 g alcohol per day for women and up to two drinks or 30 g alcohol per day for men) is good for health. They say moderate amounts of alcohol significantly increase the levels of ‘good’ cholesterol circulating in the body and this has a protective effect against heart disease.

Brien and colleagues argue that their study strengthens the case that there is a causal link between alcohol consumption and reduced heart disease.

The authors of both papers acknowledge that a number of previous studies have concluded that moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a decrease in heart disease. However, they say that the research was out-of-date and there was a need for new material. Professor Ghali says his team’s research is the most comprehensive to date.

Ghali and colleagues reviewed 84 studies of alcohol consumption and heart disease. They compared alcohol drinkers with non-drinkers and their outcomes in relation to heart disease, death from heart disease, incidences of stroke and death from having a stroke.

In the companion study, Brien and colleagues reviewed 63 studies and investigated alcohol consumption with known physical markers for heart disease such as cholesterol, levels of inflammation, fat cells and the condition of blood vessels. They also assessed the impact of the type of alcohol consumed (wine, beer and spirits).

Interestingly, Brien’s research concludes that it is the alcohol content that provides the health benefits not the type of alcoholic beverage (wine, beer or spirits) that is drunk.

Professor Ghali concludes that the debate between the impact of alcohol on heart disease should now centre “on how to integrate this evidence into clinical practice and public health messages”.

He adds “with respect to public health messages there may now be an impetus to better communicate to the public that alcohol, in moderation, may have overall health benefits that outweigh the risks in selected subsets of patients A… any such strategy would need to be accompanied by rigorous study and oversight of impacts”.

Written By: Emma Dickinson, BMJ-British Medical Journal

If you liked this article, ou may be interested in the Health-be article, Alcohol Helps the Brain Remember.

Source: Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease (breakthroughdigest.com)

15 Quick, Easy Ways to Boost Your Metabolism for Lazy Dummies

Do you ever ask yourself why your best friend can eat whatever they want without gaining a pound, while you can't so much as look at a snack without gaining weight?

Its genetics. Some people burn fat faster than others. But age, weight, diet, and exercise habits also play a role. As people age, their metabolisms slow down, mainly because they are losing five or six pounds of muscle each decade starting in the mid-20s.

Boosting the metabolism is the ultimate goal of weight watchers everywhere, but how fast your body burns calories depends on several factors.



Some people are lucky and inherit a speedy metabolism.

Men tend to burn more calories than women, even while resting. And for most people, metabolism slows steadily after age 40. Although you can't control your age, gender, or genetics, there are other ways to get a boost. Read on for 10 ways to rev up.

1. Eat breakfast.

Believe it or not, Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again, so if you bypass breakfast, your body won't burn as many calories until lunchtime as it could. That's why it's smart to start the day with a solid 300- to 400-calorie meal; it jump-starts your metabolism.

Some good choices: a bran-rich breakfast cereal with low-fat milk; whole-grain toast topped with low-fat ricotta and sliced banana or berries; an egg-white veggie omelette with whole-grain toast that has plenty of high-fiber carbs. High-fiber carbohydrates take longer for your body to digest and absorb than fats; thus they don't cause rapid changes in your blood sugar, so your hunger is kept at bay longer.

2. Take Cold Showers

When showering, give yourself blasts of cold water. Studies suggest that the alternating temperature stimulates circulation and speeds up metabolism.

3. Drink More Water

The body needs water to process calories. If you are even mildly dehydrated, your metabolism may slow down. In one study, adults who drank eight or more glasses of water a day burned more calories than those who drank four. To stay hydrated, drink a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage before every meal and snack. In addition, try munching on fresh fruits and vegetables, which are full of fluid, rather than pretzels or chips.

4. Have Your Drinks on the Rocks

Ice-cold beverages prompt the body to burn more calories during digestion. Research suggests five or six glasses of water on the rocks can use up an extra 10 calories a day. That might not sound like much, but it adds up to a pound of weight loss per year -- without dieting. You can get the same benefit by drinking iced tea or coffee, as long as you forego the cream and sugar.

5. Drink Green Tea

Drinking green tea or oolong tea offers the combined benefits of caffeine and catechins, substances shown to rev up the metabolism for a couple hours. Research suggests drinking two to four cups of either tea may push the body to burn an extra 50 calories each day. That adds up to 5 pounds of weight loss in a year.

6. Drink Black Coffee

If you’re a coffee drinker, you probably enjoy the increased energy and concentration that follows your morning ritual. Well, some of these benefits are linked to a short-term increase in your metabolic rate. In one study, the caffeine in two cups of coffee prompted a 145-pound woman to burn 50 extra calories over the next four hours. Just be sure to drink it black. If you add cream, sugar, or flavored syrups, you’ll take in far more calories than you burn.

7. Eat More Often

Eating more really can help you lose weight -- eating more often, that is. When you eat large meals with many hours in between, you train your metabolism to slow down. Having a small meal or snack every 3 to 4 hours keeps your metabolism cranking, so you burn more calories over the course of a day. Several studies have also shown that people who snack regularly eat less at meal time.

8. Eat More Protein

The body burns up to twice as many calories digesting protein as it uses for fat or carbohydrates. Although you want to eat a balanced diet, replacing some carbs with lean, protein-rich foods can jump-start the metabolism at mealtime. Healthy sources of protein include lean beef and pork, fish, white meat chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy products.

9. Eat Metabolism Boosting Foods

There are lots of metabolism boosting foods that will even help you loose weight. For example, according to a Penn State University study, soup is a super appetite suppressant because it’s made up of a hunger-satisfying combination of liquids and solids. In the study, women chose one of three 270-calorie snacks before lunch. Women who had chicken and rice soup as a snack consumed an average of 100 fewer calories than those in the study who opted for a chicken and rice casserole or the casserole and a glass of water.

Grapefruit is another great metabolism boosting food. Researchers at Scripps Clinic found that participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal in a 12-week period lost an average of 3.6 pounds. The study indicates that the unique chemical properties in this vitamin C-packed citrus fruit reduce insulin levels, which promotes weight loss and boost metabolism.

Milk, low-fat yogurt, broccoli, apples and pears are some more metabolism boosting foods, but there are more. Make sure you stay tuned to Health-be (better yet, subscribe to Health-be) for my upcoming article,
Metabolism Boosting Foods.

10. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is flying off health-food-store shelves, with women swearing that megadoses help boost their metabolism; but experts say no research bolsters anecdotal claims. "The B vitamins are essential, but they won't speed up your metabolism," says professor of nutrition Jeff Hampl.

11. Eat Hot & Spicy

Spicy foods contain chemical compounds that kick the metabolism into high gear. Eating a tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper can temporarily boost your metabolic rate by 23 percent. Some studies suggest the effect only lasts about half an hour, but if you eat spicy foods often, the benefits may add up. For a quick boost, spice up pasta dishes, chili, and stews with red-pepper flakes.

How To Speed Up Your Metabolism on Howcast

12. Reduce Stress

Control what you can, but don't worry about what you can't. Keep stress levels in check by managing your time, focusing on the present and not over-committing.

13. Get Enough Sleep 

Make sure yoi get 7-8 hours of Z's a night. For your engine to fire properely during the day, it needs to regenerate at night.

This is really the last of the simple ways to boost your Metabolism for lazy dummies, because hereafter it gets to be a little more work. 

14. Kick Up Your Workout

This is where the simple ways to boost your metabolism stop being quite so simple, but even more, stop being for for lazy dummies. This is where it starts getting tough. Where you need to start putting in some effort. But that's why I listed it close to bottom of the list.

However, if you're doing all of the above, you've already come a long way. Maybe you've even revved up your metabolism to the point by now, that you have enough energy to want to work out!

Aerobic exercise may not build big muscles, but it can rev up your metabolism in the hours after a workout. The key is to push yourself. High-intensity exercise delivers a bigger, longer increase in resting metabolic rate than low- or moderate workouts. To get the benefits, try a more intense class at the gym or include short bursts of jogging during your regular walk.

15. Build Muscle

Our bodies constantly burn calories, even when we’re doing nothing. This resting metabolic rate is much higher in people with more muscle. Every pound of muscle uses about 6 calories a day just to sustain itself, while each pound of fat burns only 2 calories daily. That small difference can add up over time. In addition, after a bout of resistance training, muscles are activated all over your body, increasing your average daily metabolic rate.

Caution

Crash diets involve eating fewer than 1,000 calories a day. This is dangerous for anyone hoping to quicken their metabolism. Although these diets may help you drop pounds, often the high percentage of the loss comes from muscle. The lower your muscle mass, the slower your metabolism. The final result is that you burn fewer calories and gain weight faster than before the crash diet.

Conclusion

The impact of different foods and drinks on the metabolism is small compared to what you need for sustained weight loss. Your best bet for creating a mean calorie-burning machine is to build muscle and stay active. The more you move during the day, the more calories you burn. And remember: working out in the morning has the benefit of revving up your metabolism for hours.

Though it will not affect your daytime activity, research has shown that your metabolism does slow down significantly once you fall asleep, so anything you eat before going to bed will contribute to weight gain.

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Sources

How to Increase Your Metabolism (wikihow.com)

14 Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism (redbookmag.com)

Slideshow: 10 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism (webmd.com)

The 14 Health Wonders of Water

Do You Drink Enough Water?    

Water makes up 60% of your body weight, and everything inside depends on water to run smoothly. 

When you don’t get enough water and dehydrate, it strains your body ways you probably never even thought about. 

I will be discussing the downfalls of not drinking enough water, the benefits of drinking enough water, and how much water you should drink bellow. So read on and learn how to live better, happier and longer.  

1. Stay Slimmer With Water

Trying to lose weight? Water revs up metabolism and helps you feel full.Replace calorie-laden beverages with water, and drink a glass before meals to help you feel fuller.

Drinking more water also helps amp up metabolism - especially if your glass is icy cold. Your body must work to warm the water up, burning a few extra calories in the process.

2. Lower Stress With Water

85% of your brain tissue is water. If you’re dehydrated, both your body and your mind will be stressed.

If you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already a little dehydrated.

To keep stress levels down, keep a glass of water at your desk or tote a sports bottle and sip regularly.

3. Water Boosts Your Energy

If you’re feeling drained and depleted, get a pick-me-up with water. Dehydration makes you feel fatigued.

Water helps the blood transport oxygen and other essential nutrients to your cells.

If you’re getting enough water, your heart also doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood throughout your body. To avoid acidity and fatigue drink cold water.

4. Keeps up your concentration

Your body needs water to help flush out poisons from things like junk food and additives.If you are dehydrated, toxins hang around in the liver, making you tired and unable to concentrate. Water swills the poisons out and gets the system moving again.

5. Reduces Infections


The lymphatic system is your waste disposal system, breaking down toxins like caffeine before passing them into the blood stream. Dehydration weakens the flow of lymph in the system and makes the body less resistant to infection.With Water, lymph flows properly again, fighting infection and lowering feverish temperatures.

7. Stay Regular With Water

Without Water the contents of the colon (lower intestine) can dry out and get stuck, eventually causing diverticulitis. Constipation can also be a problem, because water is needed to bulk out feces.

Along with fiber, water is essential to good digestion. Drinking water, along with taking in water from Fruit and Vegetables, helps to rehydrate this waste.

Water helps dissolve waste particles and passes them smoothly through your digestive tract.

If you’re dehydrated, your body absorbs all the water, leaving your colon dry and making it more difficult to pass waste.

8. Build Muscle Tone With Water

Drinking water helps prevent muscle cramping and lubricates joints in the body.

When you’re well hydrated, you can exercise longer and stronger without "hitting the wall."

9. Banishes Bags

Sunken eyes and under eye circles are signs that you need water. Eyes sink because there isn’t enough water to keep them suspended in the eye socket. Under-eye circles are due to thin skin being bruised as fluid drains away.

10. Stops Cramps

Blood transports oxygen to the muscles for activities such as exercise. If there isn’t enough oxygen in the blood, the muscles create lactic acid which causes painful cramp. Drinking more water helps to keep blood pumped with oxygen.



11. Reduces Cystitis

A healthy hydrated body removes waste with light yellow virtually odourless urine. If you are not drinking enough, the darker urine is more highly concentrated and waste products linger in the bladder, leaving you prone to cystitis and kidney infections.

12. Prevents Fluid Retention

When you are felling puffy as women often do before a period, drinking water isn’t your immediate thought.

But it’s the best treatment for reducing fluid retention.

If your body doesn’t get enough water, it senses there is a shortage and begins to retain every drop it needs for vital daily processes.

13. Keeps your breath Sweet

Bad breath is a classic sign that you need to boost your water intake. Saliva helps cleanse the teeth of bacteria and keeps the tongue hydrated.

Lack of water dries the mouth, leads to furry tongue and prevents bacteria from being washed away, all of which can cause halitosis.

14. Water Reduces Kidney Stones

The rate of painful kidney stones is rising because people - including children - aren't drinking enough water.

Water dilutes the salts and minerals in your urine that form the solid crystals known as kidney stones.

Kidney stones can't form in diluted urine, so reduce your risk with plenty of water!

Things to Consider when Drinking Water

Water in diet is called a life-saver. It is more important than food. Everybody knows about water. It plays important role in our life.

Bellow are a few things to consider when drinking water:

• One should drink a glass of water at a time, otherwise trouble of indigestion occurs.
• Do not drink water before or after meals
• On should not take water, before and after meal as it creates indigestion. Since it dilutes digestive fluid, due to this constipation and indigestion develop.
• One should not take water immediately after urination and taking sun bath.
• We should take water early morning before going to toilet, patient should be given boiled water to drink.
• Whenever you feel thirsty, immediately drink water. Don’t drink water in standing position because it harms to knee, so always drink water in sitting position.
• Don’t take water while you are empty stomach, take jiggery then drink water.
• Don’t go running or jogging after drinking water.
• Should not drink water when you lay down.

How much Water should You Drink?

Generally, nutritionists recommend we follow the "8x8 rule." In other words, drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. You may need more water if you exercise or sweat heavily. You may need less water if you drink other beverages often.

Although bottled water companies would like for you to believe that their water is the way to go, most bottled water has undesirable, even harmful properties to it. Though it may not contain the fluoride and harmful metals and other contaminants of your faucet, there is a better, healthier way to hydrate.

Boil your water, letting it cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Sometimes it is even better to boil it, drinking it warm to avoid cold, stomach related problems, breathing related problems and hiccups.

How much water do you drink? Do you find it hard to drink the recomended amount of water? Like always, my Health-be readers and I would like to know, so please leave your opinion in the form of a comment bellow. We appreciate it!

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Sources

7 Wonders of Water from webmd.com

The Wonders of Water from tightbodwithapod.com

Benefits of Water, by Martha Roberts, from SW Health Magazine

New Research now proves that Dark Chocolate can Lengthen Your Life

Dark chocolate has been found to lower cholesterol, protect against stroke and lower blood pressure.


Japanese studies suggest that sipping natural cocoa can improve your cholesterol profile. People who drank the beverage twice daily for several weeks lowered their LDL ("bad") cholesterol and raised HDL ("good") cholesterol. In addition, their LDL cholesterol was more resistant to oxidation, making it less likely to clog arteries.

A 2007 study from Germany showed that eating just one-quarter ounce of dark chocolate a day for 18 weeks lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure without increasing weight.

More recently, scientists at Yale University reported that consuming a single bar of dark chocolate or two cups of natural cocoa reduced blood pressure and improved blood-vessel function in overweight adults.

A flavanol called epicatechin appears to be able to stave of illnesses from heart disease to cancer.

British research has shown that epicatechin also boosts blood flow to the brain, which could cut the risk of dementia, as well as staving off fatigue.

Flavanols, which are most abundant in dark chocolate, can also help keep diabetes and high blood pressure under control.

Meanwhile, scientists have discovered another compound, called epicatechin, commonly found in dark chocolate, protects the brain against strokes by shielding nerve cells.

The U.S. researchers gave the mice a dose of epicatechin, a flavanol, then 90 minutes later induced a stroke in the animals by cutting off the blood supply to their brains. The mice that had taken the epicatechin had 'significantly less' brain damage than those that had not.

The researchers, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, also discovered that epicatechin had a protective effect when given to mice after they had a stroke.

One of the key attractions for many is that chocolate simply makes us feel good by stimulating the release of chemicals more normally associated with sex and exercise.

Recent research by Danish scientists indicates that the treat is more filling than milk chocolate and lessens cravings for other foods. In the study, young men ate about 3.5 ounces of either dark or milk chocolate in one sitting. Two and half hours later, the participants were offered pizza. Those who had eaten dark chocolate beforehand consumed 15 percent less pizza than those who had snacked on milk chocolate. The men also said that dark chocolate made them feel less like eating sweet, salty, or fatty foods.

Studies have also shown that snacking on 20g of dark chocolate (about half a small bar) morning and evening helps reduce stress.

Researchers have even gone as far as to claim that the smell of chocolate alone can protect against colds.

Craving some dark chocolate? Go ahead.

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Sources

Dark chocolate can reduce the risk of brain damage after stroke - The Stroke Foundation 
Health Secrets of Dark Chocolate that Heals - rawdarkchocolate.com
Chocolate - Health Benefits of Chocolate - longevity.about.com
10 Hidden Health Secrets of Chocolate - BeliefNet.com

Essential Quick Tips for a Healthy Heart and a Longer, Happier Life

Cholesterol has been found to be the master key to a healthy heart and long life

I know you're probably getting tired of hearing the word cholesterol. Cholesterol, cholesterol, cholesterol. It's all you hear any more when talking about heart-health and longevity. Unfortunately, with god reason.

The more research I do, the more that heart-health and longevity point to cholesterol.

The only difference I've found to conventional, mainstream advice regarding a healthy heart and living longer is not about the importance of cholesterol, but about cholesterol itself. How it works is a lot different in reality to how we used to think it works. And how to make it work for you is even more different to how we used to react to it.

Good and Bad Cholesterol

Your body needs a small amount of cholesterol to function properly. But we may get too much saturated fat and cholesterol in our diet -- and both raise levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in arteries, leading to heart disease. HDL "good" cholesterol, on the other hand, helps clear bad cholesterol from your blood. You want to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol, starting with your diet.

Simple Steps to Lower Cholesterol

Has your doctor said you have high cholesterol (called hypercholesterolemia)? Then you know you need to change your diet and lifestyle to lower cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Even if your doctor prescribed a cholesterol drug to bring levels down, you'll still need to change your diet and become more active for cardiovascular health. These simple tips can help you keep cholesterol levels in check.

Start Your Day With Whole Grains

A bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal has benefits that last all day. The fiber and complex carbohydrates in whole grains help you feel fuller for longer, so you'll be less tempted to overeat at lunch. They also help reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol and can be an important part of your weight loss strategy. Other examples of whole grains include wild rice, popcorn, brown rice, barley, and whole-wheat flour.

Portion Control: Give Yourself a Hand

Most Americans eat super-sized meals, with portions that are twice the size recommended for good health. That can contribute to weight gain and high cholesterol. Here's an easy way to practice portion control for a meal: Use your hand. One serving of meat or fish is about what fits in the palm of your hand. One serving of fresh fruit is about the size of your fist. And a serving of cooked vegetables, rice, or pasta should fit in your cupped hand.

Eat Heart-Healthy Food

Load your plate with fruits and vegetables -- five to nine servings a day -- to help lower LDL "bad" cholesterol. Antioxidants in these foods may provide the benefit. Or it may be that when we eat more fruits and veggies, we eat less fatty foods. Either way, you'll also help lower blood pressure and maintain a healthy weight. Foods enriched with plant sterols, such as some margarine spreads, yogurts, and other foods, can also help lower LDL cholesterol.

Look to the Sea for a Healthy Heart

A heart-healthy diet has fish on the menu twice a week. Why? Fish is low in saturated fat and high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help lower levels of trigylcerides, a type of fat in the blood. They may also help lower cholesterol, slowing the growth of plaque in arteries. Go for fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, trout, and sardines. Just don't drop the filets in the deep fryer – you'll negate the health benefits.

Nuts are Good for Cardiovascular Health

Need a snack? A handful of nuts is a tasty treat that helps in lowering cholesterol. Nuts are high in monounsaturated fat, which lowers LDL "bad" cholesterol while leaving HDL "good" cholesterol intact. Several studies show that people who eat about an ounce of nuts a day have lower risk of heart disease. Nuts are high in fat and calories, so only eat a handful. And make sure they're not covered in sugar or chocolate.

Unsaturated Fats Protect the Heart

We all need a little fat in our diet – about 25% to 35% of our daily calories. But the type of fat matters. Unsaturated fats -- like those found in canola, olive, and safflower oils -- help lower LDL "bad" cholesterol levels and may help raise HDL "good" cholesterol. Saturated fats -- like those found in butter and palm oil -- and trans fats raise LDL cholesterol. Even good fats have calories, so eat in moderation.

Fewer Potatoes and More Beans

You need carbohydrates for energy, but some do your body more good than others. Whole grains, such as brown rice or quinoa, whole-wheat pasta, and beans have more fiber and raise sugar levels less. These help lower cholesterol and keep you feeling full longer. Other carbs, like those found in white bread, white potatoes, white rice, and pastries, boost blood sugar levels more quickly, leading you to feel hungry sooner, and may increase risk for overeating.

Move It and Loose It

Even 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week (20 minutes three times a week for vigorous exercise, such as jogging) can help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol – although more exercise is even better. It also helps you maintain an ideal weight, reducing your chance of developing clogged arteries. You don't have to exercise for 30 minutes straight – you can break it up into 10-minute increments.

Walk It Off

If you're not used to exercising – or hate the thought of going to a gym – just go for a walk. It's easy, healthy, and all you need is a good pair of shoes. Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise such as walking lowers risk of stroke and heart disease, helps you lose weight, and keeps bones strong. If you're just starting out, try a 10-minute walk and gradually build up from there.

Work Out Without Going to the Gym

If exercise sounds like a dirty word to you, here's some good news: You can boost your heart health by incorporating physical activity into your day. Any kind of cardiovascular activity counts – gardening, dancing, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Even housework can qualify as exercise – as long as you're doing serious cleaning that gets your heart rate up and not just light dusting.

Take Charge of Your Health

If you have high cholesterol, you and your doctor may be using a number of strategies to lower cholesterol levels. You may be working on your diet, losing weight, exercising more, and maybe taking cholesterol drugs. There are other actions you can take, too, to make sure you stay on the right track.

What to Do When Eating Out

If you're eating healthy food at home to keep cholesterol in check, don't blow it when you eat out. Restaurant food can be loaded with saturated fat, calories, and sodium. Even healthy choices may come in super-size portions. Try these tips to stay on track:

• Choose broiled, baked, steamed, and grilled foods – not fried.
• Get sauces on the side.
• Practice portion control by asking for half your meal to be boxed up before it’s brought out.
• Look for Hidden Traps
• A close look at nutrition labels is essential for a low-cholesterol, heart-healthy diet. Try these tips:
• Check serving sizes. The nutrition info may look good, but does the package contain two servings instead of one?
• If it says "whole grain," read the ingredients. Whole wheat or whole grain should be the first one.
• A food with "0 grams cholesterol" could still raise your LDL cholesterol. Saturated fat is the other culprit to watch for.

Don't Stress about the Little Things

Chronic stress can raise blood pressure, adding to your risk of atherosclerosis, which occurs when plaque from cholesterol builds up in arteries. And research shows that for some people, stress might directly increase cholesterol levels. Reduce your stress levels with relaxation exercises, meditation, or biofeedback. Focus on your breathing and take deep, refreshing breaths. It's a simple stress-buster you can do anywhere.

Breathing Right

Learn how to breathe. Breathing right allows your body (and brain) to get the oxygen it desperately needs. Its no wonder a person can go days without water or food, but only minutes without oxygen.

Try using Breathe Right Nasal Strips at night. Using Breathe Right not ony helps you get more oxygen while you sleep at night, it also makes you feel more refreshed and energetic in the morning.

I will be posting an article about breath and breathing soon, but for now I recommend you download the FREE ebook, The Science of Breath, available from my AssEtEbooks.com website, without log-in, sign-up or obligations of any kind, on the Alternative Medicine page. Who knows, you might find some other free ebooks that interest you while you're at it.

Losing Means Winning

Losing weight is one of the best things you can do to fight cardiovascular disease. Being obese increases the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. These all affect the lining of your arteries, making them more prone to collect plaque from cholesterol. Losing weight -- especially belly fat, which is linked to hardening of the arteries, helping to raise HDL "good" cholesterol and reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol.

Follow Your Doctor's Advice

Managing your cholesterol is a lifelong process. See your doctor regularly to keep tabs on your health. Follow your doctor's recommendations on diet, exercise, and medication. Working together, you and your doctor can lower your cholesterol levels and keep your heart going strong.

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Source: Lowering Cholesterol Slideshow: 15 Tips for Avoiding Heart Disease - webmd.com