0 Children's Health and Wellness

Some say that guiding children through their teenage years is the most challenging task parents face. I can see where that comment may be coming from but it's something I look forward to. I think all stages of parenting are different and challenging. When children reach their teenage years, they are experiencing many changes - mentally, physically and emotionally. So, it's no wonder that it can be a challenge for both teenagers and parents. Eating the right food, getting plenty of sleep and staying active are just a few tips for the health of a teenager. When teenagers reach about 12 yrs of age, they will have huge growth spurts. They can grow something like 10cm a year. So, as they grow into an adult, (19-20 yrs old), they require a lot of fuel. They may seem constantly hungry. So, it's best to have healthy food readily available.

When we get up for breakfast, we have all been without food for 8-10 hours. So, for teenagers a good breakfast is very important. I can't understand people who don't eat breakfast, or people who eat their breakfast as they drive to work in the morning. It's very important to have a good lunch and dinner. Lunch can be eaten as we are doing whatever we are doing. Something like a salad sandwich or filled roll. This is a good way to have vegetables. My children have yoghurt a lot of the time, like I did when growing up. So, dinner time. . . 50% of a plate should be vegetables. Like myself, a lot of boys enjoy steak. I am this way because I grew up in a Dairy Farming family. But, we all need our vegetables. Stir-fries and casseroles are also good ways of provided different types of vegetables. Homemade pizza's and burgers are also enjoyable. Doing these at home is a lot healthier and cheaper than eating out / getting takeaways. If your child says they are still hungry after they have just had a meal, they can always have more fruit or vegetables. I limit the amount my children eat in the afternoon. Maybe just one biscuit when my son gets home from school. But, if he wants to have an orange or an apple, that's fine.

It's important that children are active. I can't stand the idea of iPads, iPods. . . whatever you call them. I'm determined that my children will never have any of them. If they do, they won't spend too much time on them. Currently, our son spends a couple of hours a week on the computer. The games that he plays are educational. Growing up, my family never had anything like a PlayStation. It's insane the amount of time people spend with their mobile phones in their hands. Technology is great in what it can do for us, but it is also part of our demise.

Let's Be Positive!!
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0 Energy Drinks: The Pros and Cons

I have decided to write an article that talks about this most controversial subject... Energy drinks. It is everywhere you go. You see it on the billboards, advertised on Television, radio, internet, and in the stores. I am going to talk about some of the pros and cons of drinking some of these drinks,

The pros of drinking energy drinks:

1. It will provide the energy to help you get the stuff you need to get done.

2. Caffeine will help improve your brain functions.

The cons of drinking caffeinated drinks:

1. It will cause you to have a sudden crash in energy, thus making you useless once the effects wear off.

2. It will cause health problems in the near future of which I will go into further detail in this article.

My advice is that when you decide to start drinking the Monsters, Rock Stars, red bulls, etc, be sure to drink plenty of liquids before and after consuming these drinks. Choosing not to hydrate your body will cause rapid dehydration and cramping. Caffeine is the main cause of rapid dehydration because it will flush all the water that is already in your body out. Be sure to have in stock a good supply of potassium and magnesium. These two vitamins are also the main targets of caffeine. On occasions when I have started drinking a Monster or a Rock Star, I would take potassium and a magnesium pill to help regulate my heartbeat. Before you go to sleep or when you get up in the morning, drink a cup or two to keep your body hydrated and be sure to have food in your body or you will get the jitters.

Avoid other caffeine sources if you are drinking a Monster or a Rockstar. I have noticed lately, that there is a pattern in those high school students who have drunk multiple sources of caffeinated drinks. I read a story about one student who had a Monster and plus a cup of coffee to start out his day. The end result was that he had heart failure. A girl in high school, who avoided the warnings that are on the can, had drunk multiple cans of monster and she died of heart failure. My recommendation is that you only drink one can a day, that should be plenty of caffeine to get you throughout the day.

If you are playing sports in high school or college, stay away from these drinks as your heartbeat is already taking a pounding from all that running and vigorous exercises.

One important health note that I want to give you is that if you are experiencing a shortness of breath or cramping in your left part of your chest, get yourself to the emergency room immediately. If you do get dehydrated to the point where you are dizzy and feel like you are going to faint, drink lots of water and be still by kneeling at your bedside or lay on your bed.

Drinking caffeinated drinks is an alternate source and should be used with judgment for increasing your energy, but the best to way to have lasting energy is to exercise and eat healthy. For all the high school students who are reading this article, please stay away from these drinks! Your body is young and should be already loaded with energy because of all the activities that you participate in high school. For the adults, use skill and judgment when deciding to consume these energy drinks.

I you are looking for a way to increase your energy, I have written this blog that will help you lose weight starting today!

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0 Fat Foods Lies, Misinformation and Deliberate Confusion

 

In the westernised / industrialised world, there has been much lies, misinformation and deliberate confusion given to what types of fats and oils we should be getting in our diet. In fact, I will go so far as to say this. That one of the biggest causes of the illness epidemics; heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, organ dysfunction, mental diseases... we've had over the last eighty years or so, have to be down to the poor fats and oils eaten.

- This, with a lack of quality fats and oils in the diet.

Now consider yourself to be judge and jury. Allow me to put forward my case. I accuse the food establishment (and those it is undoubtedly in cahoots with) of: Lies, deception, misinformation, cover-ups, shoddy science and confusion, in order to profiteer. They have managed to convince the consumers over the years that their food products containing all the newfangled junk fats and oils are healthy. But, truth is known; through commercial greed they have caused more harm than good.

... And this is how it has been achieved.

Let's turn the clock back to around the 1920's. This was a time when illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other epidemic disorders were quite rare in the westernised / industrialised world. So it may well beg the question: What has happened for there to be such an appalling rise in these disorders over the last 90-odd years? How have they got to epidemic levels? Why, for example, has heart disease today become the cause of over 40% of deaths in the USA?

During the early years, before any significant rises in the epidemics, basically 2 major things happened that allowed the health of many, many individuals to suffer as a consequence. The suffering continued to escalate in numbers over the years and carries on to this day...

With regards to these 2 things (2 factors), one effectively promoted the other. Thus, allowing both progressing and gaining acceptance with its ill-informed consumers. This is why I firmly believe that it was not a coincidence that these things occurred together. Both had been orchestrated to happen this way. They were put in place at the right time... More on this later.

- These two things were:

Consumers were told that through 'scientific evidence' it was found that low saturated fat and low cholesterol in the diet would reduce heart disease.

More and more foods over the years were manufactured containing more unsaturated fat and less saturated fat was consumed. A low fat diet was also considered to be the so-called safer alternative.

- Both of course, are still accepted in the mainstream today.

Let's look at factor number 1. Is it true? Has a low-sat fat and low cholesterol diet really contributed to less heart disease? What about the so-called incontrovertible scientific proof that it has?

- Let's examine the evidence.

A part of my upbringing, I've been led to believe that any major finding should be supported by major evidence. In the case of the low-sat fat diet and low cholesterol leading to less heart disease, the evidence for this, to say the least, is not that convincing, which may come as a surprise to many.

Was this the start of genocidal misinformation?

As far back as 1948, a study began. It looked into the relationship between saturated fat and cholesterol intake in roughly 6,000 humans over 5-year intervals. This was called the Framingham study (conducted in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA). On inspection of the results, comparing the 2 groups:

One group with a high sat-fat / high cholesterol diet and

The other group with a low sat-fat / low cholesterol diet

Doctor William Cannel, the Framingham study's director stated in so many words that,

'Total plasma cholesterol is a powerful predictor of death related to CHD... '

However, some 40 years later, on closer inspection we find that the above statement was not consistent with the real findings. Without fanfare, revealed in some little-known journal, an admission by Dr William Castelli, the study's successive director sheds some light on the truth of the matter. Basically he said:

'In Framingham, Massachusetts, the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person's cholesterol... we found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the most calories, weighed the least and were the most physically active'

The study did show that those who weighed more and had abnormally high blood cholesterol levels were slightly more at risk for future heart disease: but weight gain and blood cholesterol levels had an inverse correlation with fat and cholesterol intake in the diet'

- In other words, the Framingham study did not show that a low sat-fat and low cholesterol diet reduced the risk of heart disease. Many other studies have also led to the same conclusion.

Other findings such as that from heart surgeon Michael DeBakey squarely contradict the idea that high cholesterol = heart disease. Having looked into 17,000 patients, he found no relationship between cholesterol and cardiovascular problems...

A nutrition journal revealed a study from a medical research council showing that men eating butter (sat-fat) were 50% less likely to get heart disease than those on margarine (poly unsaturated fat)

Inhabitants of northern India are known to eat 17 times more saturated fat than southern Indians. However, the incidence of coronary heart disease is 7 times less in northern India...

However, in spite of these studies, like many others showing a lack of evidence for the lower sat-fat and lower cholesterol diet as the healthy option, they have been ignored.

In conclusion

- The politically correct choice of favouring the low sat-fat / low cholesterol diet has indeed become the mainstream conclusion, care of the diet dictocrats and as we can see from the above it's a deception favouring profits over the welfare concern of people.

If you liked reading this article then go to http://www.NewParadigm.ws for more related articles including a free download PDF. NewParadigm is a portal to transformation, consciousness, spirituality, mind, body, health, alternative media and much more... Hosted by Paul A Philips. Once again the link is: http://www.newparadigm.ws/

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0 The Pros And Cons of Artificial Tanning

By Shalini Mittal

The human body needs to be exposed to the sun to get its daily dose of Vitamin D. A deficiency of Vitamin D can cause a host of diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disorders and even cancer. Lack of Vitamin D in the body has a greater impact on women and can cause infertility. It could also cause harm to a fetus in the womb.

Therefore, it is essential for women to get an adequate supply of this "sunshine vitamin". However, as most working women spend most of their waking hours indoors, there is little or no chance of getting exposed to natural sunlight. The problem is more pronounced in women living in the Northern regions of the United States where there is very little sunlight to begin with!

A Remedy for the Modern Woman

So, what is a viable solution for such women? Most modern women seem to have found an ideal alternative in artificial tanning. A quick trip to a tanning salon can indeed give you some exposure to Vitamin D. This is especially true for women who have tried taking Vitamin D supplements and hated them. To them an artificial tan is an answer to all their problems! But, before you jump to conclusions and think that you have found the perfect alternative to natural sunlight exposure, do take a while to read this.

Is Artificial Tanning healthy?

Both, the sun and tanning booths, emit two kind of rays. They are UVA or Ultraviolet A rays and UVB rays or Ultraviolet B rays.

UVA rays are longer in their wavelength. They are able to penetrate into the deepest layer of your skin. UVB rays on the other hand, have shorter wavelengths and stay on the surface of the skin. When you are out in the sun, you expose yourself mostly to UVB rays that help you absorb sunlight in a way that it benefits your health.

Unlike natural sunlight, tanning beds and tanning booths use UVA rays to a greater extent because it is difficult to calibrate UVB rays. Besides, UVB rays also cause your skin to burn quickly. In using UVA rays, these booths and beds are thus regulated in a manner that you get a strong tan. The chances of burning too are minimum. But as is clear by now, it is not as healthy as natural sunlight. Overexposure to such rays may lead to dry and itchy skin. It could also be the harbinger of early skin aging. In rare cases, it may even be the cause of skin cancer. Therefore, if you thought you could "replace" sunlight exposure with artificial tanning, you might now realise it is not a very great idea to go with.

If you want a natural, healthy tan, a better option is to spend at least fifteen odd minutes out in the sun everyday. If doing this is simply impossible, especially during the winters, you can consider spray tanning or tanning beds instead. Most modern salons keep up high standards and keep their customers protected from overexposure. As long as you are getting a tan in moderation, you should have nothing to worry about.

Click Here to Know more about Tanning salon.

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0 Top 5 Natural Supplements for Good Heart Health

By Celine Potrov

Stress, lack of physical activity and high-calorie diet are among the main factors for the growing number of patients diagnosed with heart disease. The good news is that there is a natural way to protect your cardiovascular system. You can readily use supplements for heart health. They are suitable for the prevention and for the treatment of conditions affecting this system of the body. Check out the most effective compounds.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be essential for good heart health. They are found in various types of supplements including fish oil and flaxseed oil. These compounds, which are naturally found in fatty fish and the seeds of certain plants, have a great anti-inflammatory effect which helps to protect the cardiovascular system. They can lower the level of the triglycerides in the blood by as much as half. This lowers the risk of heart disease considerably, especially in people suffering from diabetes type 2.

Niacin

This particular form of Vitamin B3 works to fight the bad cholesterol formally known as LDL cholesterol. It helps to lower its level in the blood vessels and to increase the level of good cholesterol or HDL cholesterol. It reduces the level of triglycerides as well. As a result, you will enjoy a lower risk of heart disease.

Magnesium

This mineral supplement helps to lower blood pressure. In this way, it lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke. It has a positive effect on the nervous system as well. It helps to relieve stress. This is another way in which it works to protect your cardiovascular system. It prevents cramping as well.

Coenzyme Q10

This supplement for heart health has a three-hold effect. It stimulates the production of energy on a cellular level. That way, it helps all systems and organs in the body to work optimally while giving you more energy to exercise. It helps to inhibit blood clot formation as well. In this way, it lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke. Additionally, it is a potent antioxidant. It helps you stay healthy and fit.

Garlic

This is the natural equivalent of aspirin, which people at higher risk of heart disease are recommended to take. Thanks to its natural blood thinning properties, it works to prevent the formation of clots in the blood vessels. That way, it lowers the risk of the most serious cardiovascular conditions. It is worth pointing out that the supplement form of garlic has no odour which to worry about.

You now know how to protect your heart from disease.

Give your health a boost with top-quality products from a leading New Zealand Pharmacy Online. You will feel better just by checking out the great discounted prices.

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0 Easy and Natural Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol

By Jessica Brindel

When choosing any diet plan, you should always make an effort to manage your intake of bad cholesterol, or LDL. While the easiest way to do this is minimizing your intake of meat and eggs, there are many other natural ways to accomplish it as well.

Get More Vitamin E

Taking 400 international units of Vitamin E can prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol. Oxidation is the process that causes cholesterol to harden and become plaque, increasing the risk of heart attack. Vitamin E also raises the level of HDL. HDL is a good form of cholesterol that actually helps remove any bad cholesterol clogging your arteries. Start taking a Vitamin E supplement or add things like olive oil and nuts to your diet.

Don't Skip Breakfast

People who eat a healthy breakfast are less likely to crave food throughout the day. They are also less likely to overeat during any of their other meals also. Making this a habit can lower your cholesterol intake even if you do splurge on your favorite fast food and will lead to weight loss.

Enjoy Small Meals Frequently

Large meals cause your body to release a huge amount of insulin. This will stimulate cholesterol production too. Eating small, frequent meals without increasing the total calories will limit this process. Eating on a steady schedule like this will also increase your metabolic rate. If your body knows you're going to be feeding it regularly, it is less likely to store.

Eat More Fruit and Beans

While many vitamins and minerals can play a role in cholesterol production, Vitamin C is one of the most critical. It's responsible for raising HDL levels. If you get your Vitamin C from fruit, you'll also be ingesting a fiber called Pectin. This fiber actually flushes cholesterol out of the digestive system before it hits the blood stream. Pectin can also be found in beans, so be sure to add more of them to your diet as well.

Add Garlic to Your Diet

Eating about seven cloves of garlic daily will cause a significant reduction in cholesterol. Even the best of garlic lovers may have some trouble taking in that much through diet alone though. You might want to try taking an odorless garlic supplement as well.

Skip the Decaffeinated Coffee

You may already know that caffeine isn't very good for you heart, but removing it from your coffee may not be helping much either. Coffee beans actually contain a chemical called cafestol, which can hinder the body's ability to control LDL cholesterol. Regular and decaffeinated coffee contain the same amount of cafestol, so you should really avoid it all together. If you still need an energy booster, try taking ginseng.

Remember, not all cholesterol is bad! Lowering your intake of LDL, but increasing HDL cholesterol will improve your health. If you can't do without meat and eggs, practice these tips and moderation to keep your arteries and heart healthy.

For more diet and fitness information visit my blog, Dietspedia.

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0 Essential Oils - Making Your Own Perfume

By Lee-Ann Clark

Putting a perfume together can be compared to composing music. The perfume "notes" must be in harmony with each other. Essential oils are classifies as Top, Middle and Base notes, and a good perfume must have a balance of all three. Base notes are the deep and lingering notes. They often hang around long after the other notes have evaporated. They are also used to fix a blend. The middle notes are the heart of the perfume; they provide a balance between the top and the bottom. They are said to round the perfume off. The top notes are light and uplifting. They are the ones that hit you first, but if they are not properly balanced with the middle and the base they will vanish quickly.

What to use when building your own perfume. Start with the base and gently add the other notes, little by little, shaking and testing as you go. The oils that can be used as the top notes are orange, peppermint, grapefruit, lemon and eucalyptus. Oils that can be used Top to Middle are lavender, petitgrain, cardamom and bergamot. For the middle there are a few that can be used, namely neroli, geranium, black pepper, clary sage, juniper, ginger, pine rosemary, rose absolute and ylang ylang. The middle to base oils are cypress, jasmine, rose otto, myrrh and sandlewood and last but not lease the base oils, frankincense, benzoin, patchouli and vetiver.

Choosing a perfume is an individual preference. Making your own is loads of fun and you can have one to suit every occasion. It does not matter if the blend is masculine or feminine as the perfumes of nature are constantly changing. A feminine perfume comprises of 1 drop neroli, 2 drops rose absolute, 4 drops of lavender and of palmarosa, 4 drops orange or bergamot and 1 or 2 drops patchouli. Dilute in 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of jojoba or coconut oil. This blend is to give you an example of what is possible. Use your imagination, mix and match and you will be surprised to find some new fragrances.

It is amazing to watch as oils are extracted from the plants themselves. Luckily you don't have to do that part yourself and the oils are readily available to use in your perfumes. What makes perfume making special is that every natural scent is a moment of creation. Have fun, mix and match and be amazed.

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0 Reproductive Problems - Could GMO's Be a Hidden Issue?

By: Pamela Levin

Canaries are miner's early warning system. They are used to warn miners about invisible but deadly levels of carbon monoxide. Are rats and other animals fed GMO's providing a similar service to humans?  Here are some of the effects turning up in scientific studies.

Effect on Reproductive Tissue and Hormones  Rats fed GM soy as opposed to non-GM soy had  "proliferative growth (hyperplasia) of the (endometrial) cells lining the uterus".A Brazilian study published in The Anatomical Record in 2009, revealed that female rats fed GM soy for 15 months showed significant changes in their uterus and reproductive cycle.  Senior UK pathologist Stanley Ewen speculated that the rats'significant hormonal changes  might have implications for women who eat GM soy.   He said this implies major changes in their reproductive hormones and repeated that the weedkiller in GM soybeans was the probable cause of the disruption.

Genetically modified soybeans are have a bacterial gene inserted into them which allows the soy plants to survive a normally deadly dose of Roundup herbicide, which is why they are called 'Roundup Ready'.

The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, which accumulates in the soybeans. When Roundup-ready soybeans were introduced in Europe, the regulatory agencies had to increase their allowable residue levels by 200 fold.

There is  mounting evidence that  glyphosate - especially in conjunction with the other ingredients in Roundup - wreaks havoc with the endocrine and reproductive systems. Glyphosate, states Dr. Ewen, is "an endocrine buster that interferes with aromatase, which produces estrogen."

Aromatase is required by luteal cells to produce hormones for the normal menstrual cycle. It is these luteal cells that show significant  alterations in the rats which at GM soy.

Fertility  Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine accidentally discovered that rats raised on corncob bedding "neither breed nor exhibit reproductive behavior." Tests on the corn material revealed two compounds that stopped the sexual cycle in females "at concentrations approximately two-hundredfold lower than classical phytoestrogens."

Effect on Placenta of Developing Fetus Glyphosate is also toxic to the placenta, which brings in nutrients and oxygen to the developing baby and empties its waste products. A French study at the University of Caen in 2009 revealed that glyphosate can kill the cells in the outer layer of the human placenta (the trophoblast membrane), which in turn can kill the placenta. The placenta cells are, in Ewen's words, "exquisitely sensitive to glyphosate." Only 1/500th the amount needed to kill weeds was able to kill the cells. The amount is so small, according to the study authors the "residual levels to be expected, especially in food and feed derived from R[oundup] formulation-treated crops" could be enough to "cause cell damage and even [cell] death." Furthermore, the effect of the toxin may bioaccumulate, growing worse with repeated consumption from Roundup laden foods.

Ewen says, "If the endocrine functions of the placenta are destroyed by glyphosate in the test tube, by extrapolation, ovarian and endometrial function would be expected to suffer." The implications for pregnant woman consuming glyphosate, he says, could be abortion.

Miscarriage and Threatened Abortion Indeed, in a Canadian epidemiological study, which looked at nearly 4000 pregnancies in 1,898 couples, women exposed to glyphosate during the three months before getting pregnant had a significantly higher risk of abortions, especially for those above 34 years of age

Fathers exposed to glyphosate also increase reproductive risks. In the Canadian study above, even fathers who were exposed to glyphosate before their wives got pregnant showed an increase in early delivery and abortions. In addition, a study of male rabbits showed that glyphosate can cause a reduction in sexual activity and sperm concentration, and an increase in dead or abnormal sperm.

Birth Defects Birth defects increased in humans and animals. Numerous indigenous people and peasant communities in Argentina have blamed aerial spraying of Roundup on a significant rise of birth defects. Dr. Andreas Carasco of the Embryology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine in Buenos Aires exposed amphibian embryos to a tiny concentration of glyphosate (diluted 5000 fold). Summarized by the Pesticide Action Network, effects included:

• reduced head size,
• genetic alterations in the central nervous system,
• increased death of cells that help form the skull,
• deformed cartilage, eye defects, and
• undeveloped kidneys.

Carrasco also stated that the glyphosate was not breaking down in the cells, but was accumulating. The findings lend weight to claims that abnormally high levels of cancer, birth defects, neonatal mortality, lupus, kidney disease, and skin and respiratory problems in populations near Argentina's soybean fields may be linked to the aerial spraying of Roundup."

Although human embryos are not directly treated with glyphosate in the same way that Carrasco treated his amphibian embryos, it is known that glyphosate does cross the placenta and enters the fetal circulation.

In his article, Dr. Carrasco describes some disturbing findings in Argentina, where more than 50 million gallons of glyphosate-based herbicide is used on more than 45 million acres of GM soy.

In Argentina, an increase in the incidence of congenital malformations began to be reported in the last few years. In Cordoba, several cases of malformations together with repeated spontaneous abortions were detected in the village of Ituzaingo´, which is surrounded by GMO-based agriculture. These findings were concentrated in families living a few meters from where the herbicides are regularly sprayed.

Glyphosate may also cause reproductive disorders in the offspring of those exposed. When pregnant rats, for example, were exposed to glyphosate, their male offspring suffered reduced sperm production, increased abnormal sperm, and decrease in testosterone, in puberty and/or adulthood.

Sterility The few tests that have been done on animals are more than sobering. In April 2010, researchers at Russia's Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Association for Gene Security found that after feeding hamsters GM soy for two years over three generations, by the third generation most lost the ability to have babies. They also suffered slower growth, a high mortality rate among the pups, and a high incidence of a rare phenomenon of hair growing inside their mouths.

Central Iowa Farmer Jerry Rosman also had trouble with pigs and cows becoming sterile. Some of his pigs even had false pregnancies or gave birth to bags of water. After months of investigations and testing, he finally traced the problem to GM corn feed. Every time a newspaper, magazine, or TV show reported Jerry's problems, he would receive calls from more farmers complaining of livestock sterility on their farm, linked to GM corn.

High Infant Mortality In 2005, Irina Ermakova, also with the Russian National Academy of Sciences, reported that more than half the babies from mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks. This was also five times higher than the 10% death rate of the non-GMO soy group. The babies in the GM group were also smaller and could not reproduce. In a telling coincidence, after Ermakova's feeding trials, her laboratory started feeding all the rats in the facility a commercial rat chow using GM soy. Within two months, the infant mortality facility-wide reached 55%.

An Austrian government study published in November 2008 showed that the more GM corn was fed to mice, they had fewer the babies and the ones they had were smaller.

Testicular Changes. When Ermakova fed male rats GM soy, their testicles changed from the normal pink to dark blue! Italian scientists similarly found changes in mice testes , including damaged young sperm cells. Furthermore, the DNA of embryos from parent mice fed GM soy functioned differently.

Increased Rates of Breast and Prostate Cancer  One compound also curtailed male sexual behavior and both substances contributed to the growth of breast and prostate cancer cell cultures. Researchers found that the amount of the substances varied with GM corn varieties. The crushed corncob used at Baylor was likely shipped from central Iowa, near the farm of Jerry Rosman and others complaining of sterile livestock.

In Haryana, India, a team of investigating veterinarians report that buffalo consuming GM cottonseed suffer from infertility, as well as frequent abortions, premature deliveries, and prolapsed uteruses. Many adult and young buffalo have also died mysteriously.

Biotech advocates usually deny or try to discredit the evidence, and often attack scientists who discover it. But they rarely call for follow-up studies. With little or no money to follow up on these findings, we won't know for sure if GMOs are the cause, or if it is glyphosate, or something else. But numerous medical doctors aren't waiting for more research. They are telling their patients, especially those pregnant or planning to have kids, just say no to GMOs.

So if you were still eating GMOs before you read this, perhaps it's time to take the doctors' advice.

You can stay informed about subjects that affect your health so you can make informed decisions. You can also receive helpful tips that support your better health and greater well being, and request a topic you'd like covered. To do so, go to http://www.betterhealthbytes.com. We address a wide array of health improvement subjects, including those that affect body, mind, spirit, emotions and relationships. You will receive a short newsletter every two weeks in your inbox.

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0 The Secrets to Fat Loss

By Ryan M York

What's the Secret to Fat Loss?

To many people, fat loss can seem like a magical phenomenon that only occurs when the planets align while you're standing at the end of the leprechaun's rainbow. Other people believe that they just can't achieve the fat loss that other's can because of slower metabolisms, genetics, or a number of other reasons. While fat loss isn't magic, there is a certain degree of truth to the second statement. Every person's body is different and responds differently to different modalities of exercise and nutrition. If there is any secret to fat loss, it's just that. Maximum fat loss stems from finding the right combination of exercise and nutrition that works with your body. With that said, just because some people respond to certain things, doesn't give you an excuse to say, "Well I just can't lose fat because I have a slow metabolism." Oftentimes, when I work with clients who tell me that (which is ALWAYS an overweight client), I also find out their diet is packed with fried foods, lots of starchy carbs, sugary treats or some other substandard diet item. I also find out that when it comes to exercise, oftentimes, they don't want to push themselves or they don't know what it feels like to really work your body. Let's talk about how your diet and how you exercise can effect fat loss.

A Healthy Diet (Not Starvation) Leads to Fat Loss

When I say healthy diet, I do not mean NO diet. Extreme low calorie diets (a.k.a. starvation) will lead to temporary, short-term fat loss followed by a regaining of most of the weight, if not MORE. One surefire way to get a slow metabolism is to stop eating or eating very low amounts of calories on a daily basis. This attempt to create a calorie deficit will work initially, but eventually, your body will enter into starvation mode. Your body will recognize that it is in a state of very low calorie intake and will start to actually store MORE fat from less food. Your metabolism will slow down to conserve energy. The reason for this is because your body thinks it is in danger of not having enough nutrients, so it stores excess fat thinking it won't be fed again for a while. In addition to this, your hormones will get all out of whack. Your hunger and cravings for unhealthy foods will sky rocket, your energy and mood will sink to new lows, and, basically, you'll be a giant GRUMP. More importantly, you will not get the desired fat loss you're looking to achieve, because your body will be working against you. This will also affect your ability to work out at a high enough intensity to achieve maximum fat loss.

When it comes to diet, you need to nourish your body with the RIGHT foods, not NO food. Focus on improving your hormonal balance to reduce your hunger and cravings while improving your energy level. Fill your diet with non-starchy vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli, consume protein through beans and leans meats like turkey and fish, and avoid starch like potatoes, white bread and white rice. Obviously, there are many other things you can eat and many other things you shouldn't eat. The key is to consume mostly non-starchy vegetables and low sugar fruits, followed by lean meats and a very small portion of non-starchy carbs like brown rice. Focus on fiber, protein and water. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, starchy carbs and high fat foods. For an exact meal plan, consider consulting a nutritionist or dietician to help you with a full nutritional plan.

How Does Exercise Affect Fat Loss?

I think most people understand that burning calories during exercise helps to lose weight. However, losing weight isn't always a good thing. If you're only losing muscle, your weight will decrease, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. We want to focus on fat loss, and the only way to measure fat loss is to find your body fat percentage. Consult a trainer at your gym or seek out a way to find an accurate body fat percentage.

Once you've determined your body fat percentage, you now have a good way to track your progress. The easiest way to think about how exercise affects fat loss is to picture a marathon runner and a sprinter. Both athletes have very low body fat percentages, but their bodies look very different.

The marathon runner trains specifically for cardiovascular endurance by running long distances at a moderate intensity. Think of this as jogging long distances or on the treadmill for an hour. On the other hand, the sprinter trains at absolute maximum intensity for a very short duration, training their bodies to be able to exert max effort as efficiently as possible for a short time. This method of training is called High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Moderate intensity jogging promotes gains in cardiovascular endurance and some fat loss but doesn't promote muscle growth. HIIT promotes muscle growth while training cardiovascular endurance and fat loss. This is why sprinter look very toned and muscular, while marathon runners have very low body fat percentages but don't look sculpted. The way you train should align with your goals. If you're having trouble toning your body and losing fat, ask yourself, are you training like a marathon runner or a sprinter?

If you're interested in more tips, advice, and guidelines about fat loss, weight loss, building muscle, nutrition and more, then check out my website at http://www.yorkpersonaltraining.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_M_York

0 Benefits of LED Light Therapy for Your Skin

By Victoria Girard

LED light therapy! You've heard something about it, you read about it in magazines, celebrities are using it, and see it listed on the menu at your favorite spa. But what is this therapy and what are the real benefits of LED light therapy?

LED, or light emitting diode, therapy encompasses very precise wavelengths that have been scientifically proven to penetrate into skin and tissue where they body readily absorbs them due to its high content of blood and water.

As these wavelengths permeate the cells they perform certain duties depending on their nanometer ranges (a measurement of light.)

Yellow LEDs at 590+ nanometers, red LEDs at 625-660 nanometers, and infrared LEDs at 850+ nanometers have been shown to have significant improvements in the appearance of numerous skin conditions including aging and rosacea. The benefits of these wavelengths are far and wide creating quite a list of impressive improvements.

Benefits of yellow, red, and infrared LEDs:

• Stimulates collagen and elastin synthesis
• Boosts cellular energy
• Increases circulation
• Decreases length and depth of lines and wrinkles
• Fades age spots and discoloration
• Diminishes scarring
• Brightens skin tone
• Reduces pore size
• Improves the texture of the skin
• Firms and tightens
• Plumps the lips
• Reduces redness
• Diminishes inflammation
• Accelerates healing of pimples and blemishes

Most of these reactions within the skin and body don't occur overnight, but take consistency and patience with treatments. Although, some changes can be seen immediately in many individuals such as brightening skin tone, a reduction in pore size, and diminished redness. Other issues with the skin may take a bit longer to see results such as deeper wrinkles, age spots, and scarring.

Blue LEDs at 415 nanometers have a very different effect on the skin than its yellow, red, and infrared counterparts. Blue wavelengths have been shown to be anti-bacterial. Therefore, as these wavelengths penetrate into the skin and are absorbed into acne, they have the unique ability to kill the bacteria that causes acne, P. acnes.

Benefits of blue light therapy:

• Kills the acne bacteria, P. acnes
• Soothes the skin

When the skin is treated with blue light therapy to destroy the bacteria and is then followed up with a red light therapy treatment, which speed up the healing process and reduces inflammation, acne begins to dissipate leaving the skin brighter and clearer. It's a powerful duo in the fight against acne.

LED light therapy is a safe treatment for the skin giving you a natural alternative for treating a plethora of skin conditions. Given time and patience you can expect to see visible improvements within your skin without the need for turning to more invasive and potentially damaging options.

FDA cleared light therapy systems help you with consistency as doing the treatments at home gives you more control as well as great convenience. These home units are a powerful yet safe way to drastically improve your skin and enjoy the immense benefits LED light therapy has to offer.

Victoria Girard is passionate about helping others live a healthier life with the power of light therapy. She shares in depth information on the top beauty products that can have a profound effect on the health of your skin at http://RevealGreatSkin.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_Girard

0 5 Simple Tips To Lose Belly Fat Naturally

By Jon Allo

If you are struggling with unwanted fat around your mid-section it can sometimes seem impossible to lose belly fat naturally without pills, potions or surgery. The one thing that can prevent you from reaching your goals is if you think how difficult it is going to be to reduce your belly before you have even started. Look at it as something that is simple to do and the whole process will be much easier for you to manage on a day to day basis. These five ways below will help you to reduce your waistline naturally.

1. Control Your Stress.

Stress can have an impact on more than just your feelings and thoughts. Even though it sounds like an strange way to shed excess pounds, if you lower your stress levels it will help you to lose belly fat naturally. Stress causes hormonal instability in the human body. A hormone called cortisol becomes unbalanced during stress which leads to fat building up around your midsection. Try to manage your stress in whatever way you can. Meditation and yoga can help to relax your mind and loosen up your body. When your mind has balance, your body will be healthier.

2. Enjoy Your Exercise.

Exercise is one of the best ways to lose belly fat naturally, but if you hate going to the gym it will be very difficult for you to keep going after a few weeks. It takes time to get your body into shape and there are many different exercises activities like walking, jogging, cycling and swimming that can all help you to slim down. Try different activities, schedules and frequencies so that you can find what will work for you in the long-term, not just a few days or weeks.

3. Avoid Processed Foods.

Avoid pre-packaged foods and processed foods. These are foods that come in a box, can, bag or carton. Eating processed foods will not help your weight loss plans. They have been altered from their natural states in order to extend their shelf life and are often poor quality with no nutritional value at all. Choose real foods that are whole and unprocessed.

4. Limit How Much Alcohol You Drink.

What you drink is as important as what you eat. Just by reducing the amount of alcohol you drink can drastically improve your body. Alcohol is very high in calories and can cause you to collect fat specifically in your abdomen. When you drink a lot of alcohol, you'll have more problems with fat around the middle. The best drink to lose belly fat naturally is water. If you want to add some flavor, add in some squeezed lemon. Drinking green tea for weight loss is a popular choice for people who want to lose weight naturally.

5. Your Lifestyle Needs To Change.

By eliminating bad habits from your life you can retrain your mind to accept your new lifestyle as your natural state whereby you will be able to get rid of belly fat and maintain a healthy body for the long-term. No matter what you do in life, you will always get better results if you set some goals and have something to aim for. The best ways to lose fat is to have a plan because you will be more likely to reach your desired weight and body shape.

Do you want to learn more ways to lose weight and get fit? Are you confused about healthy eating? Do you want to know the best workout techniques to get the results you want? Get more nutritional information, the best exercise programs, fitness motivation and a FREE ebook with over 100 tips for losing belly fat here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Allo

0 The PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) Fertility Diet

By Claston Perez

It is a common, unfortunate fact that many PCOS patients experience some form of fertility problems after being diagnosed with the disease. A woman's fertility is directly impacted by PCOS, because female reproduction and, subsequently, the fertilization and gestation process is also largely controlled by hormones.

Hormones are chemical regulators that help the body carry out physiological functions normally and efficiently. When hormone levels are impacted by a disease or chemical agent, a chain reaction occurs within the body and what results is a myriad of hormone-related issues that must be dealt with individually.

If you think you have PCOS because your mother or grandmother had it, make sure that you visit your family physician first, to get a formal diagnosis. No amount of well-written information on the Internet can replace the technical expertise of a medical doctor.

Not all hormonal issues are attributed to PCOS. PCOS is just one of dozens of hormonal diseases affecting women of all ages. It's important that you know exactly what you are dealing with before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Now, if you have already been diagnosed with PCOS, and you are having trouble conceiving, or if you have already conceived and are worried about your developing baby, here are some diet guidelines that you can use:

1. Carbohydrate intake is a complex issue when a PCOS patient wishes to become pregnant. Since insulin resistance is a very real possibility, a PCOS patient must be careful with how many carbohydrates she is consuming.

Carbohydrate reduction is generally recommended for women so that insulin resistance is controlled, and the chance of becoming pregnant increases proportionately as well. Too much sugar in your diet can further exacerbate the hormonal imbalance brought about by PCOS, so be careful with what you eat and drink.

2. Let us say that you have finally become pregnant. Should you continue with a carbohydrate-restricted diet? No. Physicians agree that during pregnancy, the expectant mother must consume enough carbohydrates to sustain herself and the growing fetus inside. If there aren't enough carbohydrates, both the mother and growing fetus will starve.

Extra carbohydrates can be sourced directly from food items such as oatmeal mixed with fruit, fruit, and vegetable salads. Cakes, cookies, and breads should be eaten in small quantities only. The bulk of a pregnant woman's carbohydrates should be sourced from whole foods.

3. According to current studies, regular dairy products have a beneficial impact, and seem to increase the chances of getting pregnant. There is no need to overdo this, though. One full glass of regular, fresh milk is sufficient every day. If you don't like drinking milk, you can also try consuming yogurt or cheese.

4. One supplement worth mentioning is folic acid. The latest research on this wonderful nutrient reveals that if a woman takes four hundred micrograms of folic acid per day, she will be able to decrease the incidence of fertility issues in a short span of time. Folic acid is widely available worldwide, so you can easily try it if it would work in your case.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claston_Perez

0 Skin Care Routine for a 30 Year Old - Tips To Maintain Your Beauty

By Rizvana Manzoor

The 30s are very important years in a woman's life because this is when she really comes into her own, both in her personal and professional life. When you are in your third decade you also have to take very good care of your skin even though it may look absolutely perfect. After all, this is when the first signs of aging start to appear. Your skin care regimen should therefore be changed to suit your new requirements.

The following tips will help you keep the delicate skin on your face and neck protected against aging:

• If you have been used to cleansing your skin twice or even thrice a day, you should now do it just once a day and that too at night. This ensures that it is absolutely clean without becoming dry.

• Exfoliation should also happen only at night or else your skin will become too sensitive to the harsh rays of the sun. You should also use a gentle exfoliating product.

• Never forget to wear suitable sun protection every day. Choose a product that offers protection against UVA and UVB rays and also has the right SPF level. Always wear sun protection first thing in the morning because these rays can find their way into your house and they are also present during cloudy days.

• Anti-aging serums are very helpful because they work on the skin from within. Products with hyaluronic acid will help keep moisture levels in your skin very high. Products containing collagen will not help you because it will not get absorbed into the skin.

Do not neglect the skin on your body because this too can age very fast.

• Keep it well hydrated by using a high quality moisturizing body wash instead of an ordinary soap. Do not bathe in very hot water and avoid spending more time than necessary in the shower.

• Use a rich moisturizing cream on your body, with particular attention to the parts that are particularly susceptible to drying. These include the elbows and knees.

You do need to be fairly disciplined in your daily beauty regimen and should not let it slide no matter how busy your life is. You will be really glad you followed these tips when you enter your fourth decade looking much younger than your contemporaries. Be sure to use high quality products at all times so that you do not risk damaging your skin instead of nurturing it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rizvana_Manzoor

0 Looking After Your Beauty Products - Tips To Protect Your Skin

By Rizvana Manzoor

Do you, like most women, have a stash of cosmetics and beauty products spread over your cupboards, nightstand and handbags? Most women buy cosmetics with a great deal of enthusiasm but are woefully negligent when it comes to looking after these products. Needless to say, cosmetic products that haven't been taken care of properly can result in skin irritations and infections. Also, you can waste a great deal of money unless you know how to take good care of your skin care products and cosmetics. In fact, it is very important to look after cosmetics with the same care with which you buy them.

1. Only ever use products until their expiry date (a few months past the date is perfectly all right since the expiry date is merely for indication). They can turn rancid with age, thereby losing their beneficial properties.

2. Never use cosmetics for longer than 6-8 months. Constant contact with your skin and with air can lead to bacterial build up in the cosmetics which in turn cause skin problems.

3. Always clean your hands before applying your cosmetics so that you do not ruin them. Dirty hands can also transfer bacteria to your face.

4. Do not share your cosmetics with other people for fear of getting them infected with bacteria. This applies to lipsticks, mascara and eyeliners because they are used directly onto the skin.

5. Do not leave your bottles and tubes of beauty products open. Store them properly so that they do not get damaged.

6. Clean your brushes and applicators to get rid of accumulated make up which will make it very difficult for you to use them.

7. Be especially careful when looking after your eye makeup since eye infections can have severe consequences.

Cleanliness is indeed a very important part of skin care. If your product smells or feels bad then you should get rid of it without any qualms. While it is necessary to use high quality and clean cosmetics that suit your skin type, you should also ensure that your face is absolutely clean before you apply any makeup.

Never make the mistake of using cheap beauty products from unreliable manufacturers because they can damage your skin for a long time to come. It is best to locate a reliable supplier of high quality cosmetics where you can buy products at a very low price. Taking good care of them will ensure that you get the best value for money.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rizvana_Manzoor