Your Window to a Healthy World

Are You Following the 10/90 Rule?

Today I’m going to let you in on my little 10/90 rule. If you’re doing the following 10 things, you’re already 90 per cent there. (And by there, I mean on the road to good health for many years to come.)

These are my 10 healthy things, but I’d argue that if you’re doing 10 healthy anythings, you can’t help but come out ahead of the pack. Way ahead!

10. Move Daily

I work out for 45-60 minutes nearly every day. Whether its beach sprints or resistance training, I never skip exercise. To me, the idea of avoiding exercise is like not brushing your teeth. Gross, huh? So is not exercising. The leaner and stronger you get, the better you feel – and the longer you’ll live.

9. Drink to Lighten Up

I’m not talking about beer here – although that’s certainly one way to lighten up. I mean liquids that literally purify and lighten you. Water is an obvious one, but I’m not that strict about it. (I swear, I’m really not that hard core. Although I readily admit to having a hard core.)

I’m also not opposed to caffeine. Coffee and tea are healthy and provide antioxidants. But whatever you do, just avoid the liquids that fatten, depress and numb you (soda, smoothies, juices, milkshakes, cocktails). Drink stuff that’s going to keep you light and refreshed.

8. Eat Green Stuff at Every Meal

I don’t care if it’s broccoli, salad, spinach, brussels sprouts or kale – if you’re eating something green at every single meal, you’re on the right track. Only about 1 in 4 Americans eat anything beside potatoes and ketchup on a daily basis, so if you commit to ruthlessly slaughtering plants as a way of life, you’re going to be healthier than just about everyone.

7. Hey, Meatasaurus: Choose Your Protein Wisely

Clean, lean…cruel? It’s up to you and your personal level of comfort. Everyone has to find their own fit when it comes to clean, lean, cruelty-free protein sources, but one thing that applies to everyone is this: avoid processed protein. The backbone of the American diet – bacon, pepperoni, sausage, ham, hamburger meat, deli meat – is also a very effective nail in the coffin. (Note: soy is also a processed protein.) This is by far one of the most important aspects of health. Processed meat and excellent health don’t go together. Ever.

6. Don’t Eat Processed Foods

I always say (along with every self-help guru) that doing what you’ve always done and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. People waste their lives waiting to live. They hope to be healthy, they dream of better bodies, wish for greater health, itch for fulfillment. But they don’t make changes. Insanity!

5. Have Fun!

Yesterday I made a quick case for the need to party. It’s vitally important to good health. Go have fun! Cheerful people are healthier. Simply enjoying your life will cover a multitude of forgotten antioxidant smoothies and canceled appointments with the therapist.

4. Love Somebody (you)

Whether it’s a pet, your kids, your spouse, your best friend or your parents, make sure to foster loving, trusting relationships. At the end of your life, what’s more meaningful: knowing you shared love and made the most of life, or sitting around with a big pile of stuff? Take care of your body and your spirit so that you can really make the most of your relationships for years to come. That’s what life is all about, and it’s why we want health to begin with.

If you’re hurting yourself (not loving yourself) by being unhealthy in some way, how can you ever expect to experience love with anyone?

3. Find a Pillow You Can Drool On

I’m not really a big fan of the whole 8 hours of shut-eye rule. What’s more important is the quality of sleep. Invest in a bed and a pillow you look forward to crashing into every night. I’d rather spend 100 bucks on a great pillow than on a pair of jeans!

2. Be the Boss: Let Things Go

You are in charge of your soul – no one else. How are you going to care for it? One of the most important things you can do to ensure longevity and good health is to trust yourself enough to let things go. (Sounds weird at first, but think about it.)

For one thing, studies actually show that moving on makes you live longer. But “moving on” isn’t about repressing emotions (unhealthy) or playing “tough guy” with yourself (denial). Bad things happen and it takes time to grieve them and work through all sorts of negative emotions. By all means, give yourself all the time you need. You’ll know when it’s time to let go (and don’t beat yourself up if you take longer than others). You’re the boss, after all!

1. Bad stuff happens. Rejoice!

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – was it Nietzsche who first said this? It’s really true. You all know that I am a big believer in reducing stress. Whether from the inflammatory free radicals in processed foods, the pollution and noise in our environment, or the fast-paced nature of our lives, stress is stress. Aging is essentially stress. That said, a little stress is actually good for you. Think of how we prune rosebushes and trees every year, only to see them grow back fuller and stronger. When you get pruned by life, realize that it’s an opportunity to grow. You’ll be stronger for it.

So there you have it. The “10/90” plan for a healthy long life. It’s not too hard, is it? Move around, eat green stuff, drink liquids, don’t eat processed stuff, have fun, love somebody (start on yourself), spend some quality time with your pillow, be your own boss, and be glad that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

What do you think?

A vaccine that can train cancer patients' own bodies to seek out and destroy tumor cells has been developed by scientists.

The therapy, which targets a molecule found in 90 per cent of all cancers, could provide a universal injection that allows patients' immune systems to fight off common cancers including breast and prostate cancer.

Preliminary results from early clinical trials have shown the vaccine can trigger an immune response in patients and reduce levels of disease.

The scientists behind the vaccine now hope to conduct larger trials in patients to prove it can be effective against a range of different cancers.

They believe it could be used to combat small tumors if they are detected early enough or to help prevent the return and spread of disease in patients who have undergone other forms of treatment such as surgery.

Cancer cells usually evade patient's immune systems because they are not recognized as being a threat. While the immune system usually attacks foreign cells such as bacteria, tumors are formed of the patient's own cells that have malfunctioned.

Scientists have, however, found that a molecule called MUC1, which is found in high amounts on the surface of cancer cells, can be used to help the immune system detect tumors.

The new vaccine, developed by drug company Vaxil Biotheraputics along with researchers at Tel Aviv University, uses a small section of the molecule to prime the immune system so that it can identify and destroy cancer cells.

A statement from Vaxil Biotheraputics said: "ImMucin generated a robust and specific immune response in all patients which was observed after only 2-4 doses of the vaccine out of a maximum of 12 doses."

"In some of the patients, preliminary signs of clinical efficacy were observed."

The results are still to be formally published but if further trials prove to be successful the vaccine could be available within six years.

As a therapeutic vaccine it is designed to be given to patients who are already suffering from cancer to help their bodies fight off the disease rather than to prevent disease in the first place.

Cancer cells contain high levels of MUC1 as it is thought to be involved helping tumours grow. Healthy human cells also contain MUC1, but have levels that are too low to trigger the immune system after vaccination.

When a vaccinated patient's immune system encounters cancer cells, however, the far larger concentration of MUC1 causes it to attack and kill the tumor.

As MUC1 is found in 90 per cent of all cancers, the researchers believe it could be used to combat the growth and spread of a wide range of cancers.

In a safety trial at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem, ten patients suffering from multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, have now received the vaccine.

Seven of the patients have now finished the treatment and Vaxil reported that all of them had greater immunity against cancer cells compared to before they were given the vaccine.

Vaxil added that three patients are now free of detectable cancer following the treatment.

The findings support research published in the journal Vaccine, which showed the treatment induced "potent" immunity in mice and increased their survival from cancer.

Cancer charities have given the vaccine a cautious welcome, but warned further testing was needed before it could be approved for widespread use.

There are currently a number of other therapeutic vaccines against cancer being tested, but they have met with limited success.

Dr Kat Arney, science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "There are several groups around the world investigating treatments that target MUC1, as it's a very interesting target involved in several types of cancer.

"These are very early results that are yet to be fully published, so there's a lot more work to be done to prove that this particular vaccine is safe and effective in cancer patients."

Looking for a miracle diet food? It's time to call off the search — there's no such thing. "If you take in more calories than you expend, you gain weight," says David Katz, M.D., of the Yale Prevention Research Center in Derby, Connecticut. "It's simple biology, and no milkshake or mackerel can save you from that fate."
But before you throw in the towel, there are certain foods that promote satiety (the feeling of fullness that comes after a meal) more than others. While they're not miracle foods, they can help you eat less over the course of the day. "When you're looking for foods that are going to keep you fuller for longer, look for ones high in fiber, healthy fats and protein, or with a high water content," says Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Penn State University and author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan. "The additional benefit is that a lot of these foods are also really good for you and packed with important nutrients, vitamins and minerals."

Apples

An apple a day may keep the fat pants away, too. This portable fruit is the perfect snack, with a high water content and both kinds of weight-busting fiber: soluble, which helps prevent blood sugar spikes that lead to cravings, and insoluble, which helps fill you up. "A medium apple is about 85 percent water with 5 grams of soluble fiber, making it a snacking powerhouse," says Elisa Zied, M.S., same calorie level. To sweeten the pot, apples also contain quercetin, a flavonoid shown to help fight certain cancers, reduce cholesterol damage and promote healthy lungs.

TIP: Organic apples are worth the extra cost because commercial apples retain more pesticide residue than fruits you peel, such as oranges or bananas. And with half the fiber and most of the iron, magnesium and vitamin C, you definitely want to eat that peel to get the full slimming benefits.

Eggs

They're a great source of protein, which may be key to keeping you full. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that when people ate two eggs for breakfast, they took in more than 400 fewer calories over the next 24 hours than when they ate bagels. "The study proved our hypothesis that eating eggs induces higher satiety and keeps the subject fuller for longer," says lead researcher Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, Ph.D., from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although this was only a one-day study, eating eggs regularly may have long-term weight management benefits, says Dr. Dhurandhar.

TIP: For a healthier egg, farmers are improving the hen feed by adding canola oil, alfalfa, rice bran and even sea kelp. Try Eggland's Best eggs, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, along with more vitamin E and less saturated fat than regular eggs.

One study found that eating a breakfast of two eggs can leave you feeling full longer than a bagel.

Cauliflower

"When you are trying to lose weight, non-starchy vegetables such as cauliflower are one of the few foods that can be eaten in unlimited quantities," says Dr. Rolls. It's good for you, too. Cauliflower contains the cancer-fighting phytonutrient sulforaphane, as well as a good amount of folate and vitamin C, which may be helpful for weight loss. In fact, a review from Purdue University pointed to vitamin C status as a key factor in how much fat is burned during physical activity. All that and it's pretty tasty, too. (If you're not a cauliflower fan, try spinach or broccoli.)

TIP: Love the creamy consistency of mashed potatoes? Steam a head of cauliflower and mash it with garlic salt, a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese and a touch of butter.

Lowfat Yogurt

If the yogurt ads are to be believed, you should be fitting into that itty-bitty bikini before you know it. While yogurt and other dairy products are not weight-loss magic bullets, there is some truth in advertising. A recent study at the University of Tennessee found that dieters eating three servings of yogurt daily lost twice as much weight as their non–dairy– eating counterparts on a 12-week weight-loss program. Why? "Calcium combined with other bioactive compounds found in dairy products slows down the process of making fat and increases fat burning, especially around the belly," says lead researcher Michael B. Zemel, M.D., a professor of nutrition and medicine at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. No word yet on how effective ice cream is at burning fat, but we're not holding our breath.

TIP: Sneak more dairy into your diet by adding plain yogurt to dips, sauces and salad dressings. You get the health benefits without the added sugar of flavored yogurts.

Oatmeal

Mom didn't know how right she was: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day — just eating it can make you slimmer. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley analyzed a national six-year survey and found that people who ate breakfast had a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who skipped breakfast, and that those who ate cooked cereal had a lower BMI than any other breakfast-eating group. Also, oatmeal was ranked as the most satiating breakfast food on the Satiety Index, developed by Australian researchers a decade ago, and it's the third most satiating food overall. "Oatmeal helps you stay fuller longer, since it's packed with fiber and is a good source of protein," says Dr. Katz.

TIP: If you don't have time for cooked oatmeal every morning, make muesli by mixing old- fashioned oats with plain yogurt, dried fruit and fruit juice and leaving it in the fridge overnight.

Peanuts

Almonds and walnuts have been getting all the glory these days, but don't discredit peanuts, the most commonly eaten nut in America. Researchers at Purdue University found that peanut eaters end up eating less over the course of the whole day and are more likely to maintain weight, even if given as many peanuts as they want. So what is it about peanuts? Is it the protein? The fat? Turns out it's a little bit of everything. "We've tried to isolate different components of the nut to determine what makes it so filling,' says Richard Mattes, Ph.D., a nut researcher at Purdue. "But there is something special about the whole package."

TIP: Calories do count, so look for single-serving sizes at convenience stores and drugstores.

Soup

We all know soup is good food, but who knew it was slimming, too? A recent study published in the journal Obesity Research found that adding two 10-ounce servings of broth-based soup to a weight loss diet each day can almost double the amount of weight lost in a six-month period. Why? Adding water into a food makes it more filling than drinking water separately. "The water in soup adds volume to a meal and helps you feel fuller, without extra calories,' says Dr. Rolls, lead researcher on the study. "As a result, you take in fewer calories over the course of the day."

TIP: Add your own veggies or fiber-rich beans to broth-based canned soup to keep you full longer.

Fish

You might be surprised to learn that fish tops oatmeal and vegetables in the satiety department. The Australian Satiety Index ranks steamed white fish such as halibut or cod as the number-one most filling food out of 38 common foods. Also, a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that people ate 11 percent less at dinner after having fish for lunch versus those who ate a beef lunch. "This study demonstrated that a protein-rich lunch meal with fish protein reduced calorie intake compared with the same-calorie lunch meal of beef protein," says lead researcher Saeedah Borzoei, Ph.D. Why is it so filling? "We are still learning about the filling properties of fish, but we do know that fish has a strong flavor, which can lead to greater satiety and less of a need to eat," notes Dr. Katz.

TIP: To add some flavor to grilled fish, try a quick marinade of soy sauce, lime and ginger.

Bulgur

High-fiber grains are a great way to round out a meal, and fine-cut bulgur is easy to cook. Bulgur, which is a quick-cooking form of whole wheat, takes about 10 minutes or less to prepare once water is boiled and is a great substitute for white rice and pasta, which are low in fiber and heavily processed. "Fiber helps prolong the insulin response so you don't have the blood sugar spikes you have with low-fiber carbohydrates like white pasta or rice," says Dr. Katz. With all the good fiber comes some other benefits: iron and vitamins E and B6.

TIP: Find bulgur in health-food stores and organic markets. For a quick side dish, combine fine bulgur with chicken broth, diced canned tomatoes and some cooked onions.

Salad

When most people think of dieting, they think of salad. But if that means some sad greens topped with unripe tomatoes, it's no wonder diets don't work. "Salads are a great opportunity to add a lot of filling foods into your diet at one time: fresh vegetables, lean protein, beans and healthy fats," says Dr. Rolls. And research backs it up. A study from Penn State University found that women who ate a salad before a pasta lunch ate fewer calories for the whole meal than those just digging into the pasta.

TIP: Start your salad with mesclun, arugula or spinach. Not only are these greens tastier than iceberg, they also contain more iron, calcium, vitamin C and folate.

Wondering what you can do to nurture healthy, vibrant skin from the inside out? Tackle stress! Here are seven habits, which if you practice regularly can lead to great looking skin.

Then, watch every inch of you and especially your face start to look younger, less stressed, more alive. Each step chips away at the non-stop pressure and tension that can age you by six years or more.

1. Practice deep breathing

Shift your body's balance of oxygen versus carbon dioxide in favour of energizing, stress-squashing oxygen by doing slow, controlled breathing exercises.

How often? Aim for twice a day.

Why do it? When you focus on your breathing, you're not focusing on anything else. That mental shift helps remove stressors, bringing you to a deeper level of consciousness, a place where you can put things into perspective.

2. Get active

Release the repressed anxiety trapped inside you by putting your body in motion for 30 minutes or more.

How often? Do something, anything, every day, because exercise only tames stress for a maximum of 24 hours. So to reap the most benefits, you need to do it daily. If you prefer, tuck 10-minute pockets of activity into your day – at lunch, after dinner, right after you get up and the house is still quiet. Find ways to sneak fitness into your schedule.

Why do it? Staying active boosts circulation, which delivers more nutrients to cells and skin. It also increases lung capacity, so you can take in more oxygen; lifts your spirits and sense of wellbeing; and fights age-related diseases. And, for many, it's the ultimate stress reducer.

3. Beat the foods that beat you

Reduce the allure of sugary, fatty foods, which are as bad for your skin as they are for the rest of you, by eating more lean protein: fish, eggs, poultry, low-fat dairy foods, and even walnuts. Also, try to be more aware of what you reach for - and how much you consume - when you're stressed. Get some pointers on mindful eating.

How often? All day, but especially early on morning protein helps curb afternoon cravings.

Why do it? Protein is key to avoiding mood swings and energy dips. It helps you maintain a healthy blood sugar balance, which in turn keeps certain hormones (including insulin) in check. Bumping up your protein intake also gives you more energy and fights hunger pangs, which can play games with your moods.

4. Focus on the good things

Pick up a notebook you particularly like, and at the end of each day, make a list of things for which you are truly grateful. Or write down three things that went well, and why.

How often? Nightly, as part of your winding-down routine.

Why do it? Keeping a journal that records the good things in life helps shift your focus to what you're doing right, and that can put the brakes on the stressful negative chatter that often goes on in your head.

5. Stretch out your sleep

Make it a goal to sleep as many hours as you need to feel alive and productive the next day - all day.

How often? Every night.

Why do it? Sleep is free cosmetic medicine, pure and simple. It is what beauticians and doctors both agree on. Nothing exacerbates stress and etches in lines like exhaustion.

6. Take a time-out

For most of us, life is so hyperscheduled and speedy that we never do absolutely nothing. It's rare to set aside time to simply be – no agenda, no demands, no plan. Find a comfortable, quiet spot to sit for 10 to 15 minutes every day, stop all your hustling and bustling . . . and simply, by yourself, be still.

How often? Try for once a day.

Why do it? Slowing down for a little while helps create a sense of spaciousness in your life, a break in the non-stop whirl that can open the door to new perceptions, new solutions, new possibilities. It gives your brain, your psyche, your whole being a break. Like one long, peaceful sigh.

7. Cuddle or have sex

Enjoy a little intimacy.

How often? At least once a week.

Why do it? All kinds of age-defying, beauty-promoting events happen during sex as three seductive hormones spill out of the brain: endorphin, a natural opiate, which contributes to that delicious high; prolactin, which gives you that relaxing, tension-zapping ahhhhhhh; and soothing oxytocin, which promotes feelings of affection and triggers a nurturing instinct.

The “secrets” to losing weight, keeping it off and having overall vitality and good health cannot be found in a “magic pill” or in one easy solution. The key is to eat whole grains, vegetable, fruit, lean meat/proteins, reduce caloric intake of high-fat foods, and yes, to move more!

Guidelines for a healthy lifestyle:

Fresh Diet:
Start everyday fresh. Yesterday no longer matters. The 7-8 hours of restorative sleep you just had is your cue to start anew.

Plan what you are eating for the day. Eating on the run often results in poor or lack of good food choices. So as much of your food intake that you can control the better your chances of making the best decision for the right fuel source your body needs.

If you do eat out, start your meal with a large salad with low-calorie dressing or a broth-based soup.This will help fill you up. In fact, you may not need an entree. You can also split an entree or only order appetizers. You’ll save money and calories.

Keep Moving:
It is extremely important to keep moving. If you’re on a conference call and they can’t see you (or if you’re confident and brave even if they can see you) stand. Better yet, do some squats or wall push ups. Free yourself from your seat!

Eat More Vegetables and Fiber:
Put vegetables into every meal possible. Shred vegetables into your pasta sauce, add them into meat or just buy lots of bags of fruits/vegetables for on-the-go eating.

Increase your fiber from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables. You will feel fuller longer and your digestive system will thank you. A word of caution though, don’t increase dramatically but gradually or your digestive system will talk back to you.

Try not to drink you calories. Eat a piece of fruit rather than the juice counterpart. Again, better for digestion and more fiber.

No Junk Food:
Eat real food. Cut back or even eliminate processed or packaged foods. If it comes from a plant it’s better than if it’s made in a plant.

Have Fun:
Reward yourself with non-food related activities. There are plenty of celebrations that include food so we dont’ have to create anymore. Make it more about you. Explore, learn, find out more about yourself. Add some FUN to your life; you deserve it. What did you like to do as a kid? What have you always wanted to try. Maybe you just start out reading about it, maybe that’s good enough.How about a nice long stroll on the beach or a soak in the tub.

No Technology:
Lastly, unplug from technology. After you finish reading this of course. The only way to slow down and breathe and “smell the flowers’ is with real people in real time in the real world. Technology can be our friend but can also be the guest that won’t leave. Don’t let it control you.

Hyperthyroidism, also known as overactive thyroid, is a medical condition caused by an abnormally high level of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. The thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of thyroid hormones.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck. It produces hormones that are released into the bloodstream to control the body's growth and metabolism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include a rapid heartbeat, hyperactivity, muscle weakness, sudden weight loss or gain, increased appetite and sensitivity to heat. The condition is more common in women than men.

Hyperthyroidism is defined as:

"An abnormality of the thyroid gland in which secretion of thyroid hormone is usually increased and no longer under regulatory control of hypothalamic-pituitary centers; characterized by a hypermetabolic state, usually with weight loss, tremulousness, elevated plasma levels of thyroxin and/or triiodothyronine, and sometimes exophthalmos; may progress to severe weakness, wasting, hyperpyrexia, and other manifestations of thyroid storm; often associated with Graves disease."

There are several causes of hyperthyroidism. Hypertheyroidism can be effectively controlled with drugs that reduce the production of hormones from the thyroid gland. In some cases, radiotherapy and surgery are recommended.

Hyperthyroidism, if not properly treated, can cause other health problems such as irregular heart rhythms and osteoporosis.

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

What is the difference between a symptom and a sign? A symptom is something the patients feels and describes, such as pain or dizziness, while a sign is something others can detect, such as a rash or inflammation.

The incidence and severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Patients with mild disease are often not aware of their hyperthyroidism because they have no symptoms. Usually, the symptoms are related to the increased metabolic rate of the body.

Signs and symptoms linked to hyperthyroidism may include (patients rarely have all those listed below):
a swelling in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)

Decreased concentration
Diarrhea
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty sleeping
Excessive sweating
Extreme tiredness
Hyperactivity
Over-sensitivity to heat
Increased appetite
Increased bowel movements
More frequent urination
Infertility
Moodiness, irritability
Itchy skin with raised itchy swellings (urticaria)
Nails become loose
Loss of interest in sex
Menstrual problems in women, especially lighter periods or absence of periods
Muscle weakness
Alopecia - usually, hair is lost in patches
Accelerated heartbeat, sometimes with palpitations
Redness on the palms of hands
Shakiness and muscle weakness
Sudden weight loss or gain
Trembling hands
Warm, damp skin

Patients with diabetes and hyperthyroidism may experience heightened diabetes symptoms, such as fatigue and increased thirst. In the majority of cases, the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism are not of concern. Patients with heart disease have a higher risk of arrhythmia, heart failure, and other cardiovascular risks, which are of concern.

What are the causes of hyperthyroidism?

Graves' disease:
It is the most common cause. Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly targets the thyroid gland and causes it to produce too much thyroid hormone. It is unclear what triggers this condition. There is a genetic basis for Graves' disease, meaning that it can run in families. It is most common in women aged 20-40 years and has a higher incidence amongst smokers. Graves' disease may also affect the eyes, causing discomfort and double vision. Patients commonly having eyes that bulge out.

Nodular thyroid disease:
Lumps can develop in the thyroid gland. They are known as nodules. It is unclear why they develop. They are usually benign (non-cancerous). The thyroid is usually enlarged, but there is no pain. Nodules may be felt with the fingertips. The nodules can contain abnormal thyroid tissue, affecting the regular function of the thyroid, causing overactive thyroid. Nodules that contain abnormal thyroid tissue are described as toxic.

Excessive iodine intake:
The thyroid gland removes iodine from the blood which comes mostly from a diet of foods such as seafood, bread, and salt. Then, it uses it to produce thyroid hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Taking additional iodine in supplements can cause the thyroid gland to produce too much of the hormones.

Intake of thyroid hormones:
Lack of patient follow-up can result in patients taking too many doses of their thyroid medications.

Medications:
Certain medications used in the treatment of heart problems contain a large amount of iodine. They may be associated with thyroid function abnormalities. An example is amiodarone, which is sometimes prescribed for patients with atrial fibrillation; it can cause amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism.

Thyroiditis:
The inflammation of the thyroid. This can be the result of a viral infection. The signs and symptoms may include fever, sore throat, painful swallowing, generalized aches and pains in the neck.

Follicular thyroid cancer:
In rare cases, overactive thyroid can be caused by thyroid cancer. The malignant cells may themselves start producing thyroxine or triiodothyronine.

How is hyperthyroidism diagnosed?

The doctor will ask the patient questions about symptoms, carry out a physical examination, and order a blood test. Cases of advanced hyperthyroidism are fairly straightforward to diagnose - however, early on in the condition, symptoms are not so obvious and clear-cut, and a significant number of patients are overlooked.

The blood test is known as a thyroid function test. It helps evaluate how well the thyroid gland is working. The thyroid function test checks for levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

In some cases of hyperthyroidism, a special diagnostic scan of the thyroid gland is made using radioactive iodine called radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU).

What are the treatment options for hyperthyroidism?

Some medications treat the consequences of hyperthyroidism, such as heart beat problems, while others target thyroid hormone productions.

Antithyroid Drugs:
This type of medication stops the thyroid gland from producing excess amounts of thyroxine or triiodothyronine.

Radioactive Iodine:
Radioactive iodine is picked up by the active cells in the thyroid and destroys them. The destruction is local, and there are no widespread side effects with this therapy. The dose of radioactivity contained in the radioiodine is very low and is not harmful.

Radioiodine treatment is not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Following radioiodine treatment, women should avoid getting pregnant for at least six months and men should not father a child for at least four months.

Surgery:
If other treatments are not possible, as may be the case if the patient is pregnant, cannot tolerate other therapies, or has cancer, part of the thyroid gland is removed.

What are the complications related to hyperthyroidism?

Graves' ophthalmopathy: Patients may experience pain or discomfort in the eye, photophobia (light oversensitivity), and have some vision problems. Their eyes may also bulge out. For most people, the symptoms can be relieved using eye drops and wearing sunglasses. In severe cases, treatment with certain drugs such as steroids or immunosuppressive drugs can be used to decrease the swelling behind the eyes.

Complications in pregnancy: Hyperthyroidism may affect a woman's ability to become pregnant. Pregnant women with the condition are more at risk of developing complications during pregnancy and birth, such as miscarriage and eclampsia (seizures during pregnancy), premature labor and low birth weight. In most cases, the pregnancy can be expected to progress normally if properly treated.

Thyroid storm: This is an uncommon reaction that can be set off by an infection, injury or trauma. This condition can also occur in pregnant women with undiagnosed or poorly controlled hyperthyroidism, and can be triggered by childbirth or surgery. The signs and symptoms include rapid heartbeat, high fever, agitation, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, hallucinations. This reaction is life threatening and requires immediate emergency medical treatment.

The seriousness of hyperthyroidism depends on the body's capability to react to the changes resulting from excess thyroid hormones. Thyroid disease is common - with proper care it can be easily diagnosed and treated. Patient adherence to treatment guidelines (instructions by the doctor) are crucial for effective results.

Every one of us wants to have beautiful and glowing skin. We spend our valuable time and money in order to have a smooth glowing skin. Even though many dollars are spent and now your skin is glowing, you still need to take care of your beautiful skin or otherwise you have to bid a goodbye to your beautiful charming skin.

Here are few skin bad habits that should be avoided to have good skin.

1. Lack of Sleep:
Lack of sleep causes the body to produce Stress Hormones. These Stress Hormones creates the dark circles under Eyes, makes skin dull and cause puffiness. Sleep provides beautiful and glowing skin and prevents Wrinkles too.

2. Smoking Cigarettes:
Smoking decreases the flow of Oxygen in the skin, it also speedup the aging process and the complexion becomes dull. Smoking creates lines around the mouth. Smokers look 10 years older than their original age.

3. Drinking too much Alcohol:
Drinking too much of Alcohol can be harmful to the skin. Alcohol causes Dehydration, Wrinkles and dryness on the skin. Instead one glass of Red Wine daily provides Antioxidants that are good for skin.

4. Forgetting to Put Sunscreen:
Sunscreen is very important in every season. In summer season sunscreen helps to protect the skin from harmful rays of sun and in winter season the sun rays reflect from the snow and the skin is double exposed to the sun rays. In winters sunscreen helps to protect the skin from double exposure to sun rays. Sun rays can damage the Elastic Fiber of skin which can cause Wrinkles and brown spots.

5. Sleeping with Makeup:
Whenever you put makeup, never forget to put that off before sleeping otherwise it can cause Blocked Pores, breakouts on the skin and makes it dry.

6. Too much Skin Exfoliation:
Skin requires exfoliation once a week. Too much exfoliation like more than one or twice a week is not good for the skin. It wipes away those oils which skin needs to make the skin glow.

7. Eating Food not Good for Skin:
Use of too much salt can dehydrate the skin while too much use of Sugar can cause wrinkles on the skin. Try to increase the use of Vegetables and Fruits in your diet. Well balanced diet will help to make your skin glow.

8. Gaining or Losing Weight too Fast:
Gaining and losing weight too fast is not good for skin because it can weaken the Fiber of your skin. It can cause Premature Aging, creates Stretch Marks and lines on the skin.

9. Compressing Pimples:

Pimples can be caused by Bacteria and Viruses and if you compress the Pimples and then touch somewhere else on the skin, it will create new Pimples so, avoid pressing Pimples as it can lead to Scars and large Pores.

10. Facial Expressions:
Facial movements that are repeated like laughing, frowning cause the contraction and Wrinkles on the Skin muscles. It is best to minimize the excessive facial movements.

Once in a while there will be a food that will pop up on this blog that’s good for everyone including us who are on the journey towards muscle mass and fat loss. And here’s the one that has done just that today: olive oil. The famous oil of the Mediterranean and heart healthy diets, olive oil can actually help us to build muscle, believe it or not. The monounsaturated fat or MUFA in olive oil may act as an anti-catabolic nutrient, which means it prevents muscle breakdown by lowering levels of the cellular protein called tumor necrosis factor-a, which is related to muscle wasting and weakness. All olive oil is high in MUFAs, but extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) has ahigher level of free-radical-fighting vitamin E too, which we all need a little extra of.

We already know that olive oil and monounsaturated fats have been associated with everything from lower rates of heart disease and colon cancer to a reduced risk of diabetes and osteoporosis and olive oil actually boasts some other more classic nutrients as well, such as vitamins E, K, and A as well as polyphenols, squalene, oleocanthol, triterpenes. Oleic Acid or omega 9 makes up 55 - 85 % of the fatty acids in olive oil and it's great for your skin too. It helps keep arteries supple and helps prevent colon cancer as well: maybe as much as fruits and veggies, according University of Oxford researchers. Studies also indicate that extra virgin olive oil may help to lower blood pressure and olive oil promotes the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones naturally, and lowers the incidence of gallstones.

So what are some ways you can up your intake of EVOO? Serve a small condiment dish with extra virgin olive oil for use on bread, potatoes or other vegetables instead of butter and try adding a few drops of balsamic vinegar or a sprinkling of your favorite spices to the olive oil for a great flavor. Be sure to buy and store oil in opaque containers and add olive oil to foods immediately after cooking.

Many posture problems exist that people pick up over the years and may not even realize they have. These could lead to pain, especially back pain, and as far as height is concerned, can make us not only physically shorter, but appear shorter as well. Some of the most common posture problems are looked at below.

1. Walking posture - This is an easy one to get into bad habits with, probably the one which is the hardest to break, and also the one which is discussed the least of the three major ones, the other two of which are looked at next. It's often assumed that proper sitting posture and to a lesser extent, sleeping posture, can be taught, while walking is just something we naturally do, and cannot be changed or critiqued. Poor walking posture is quite common for this reason.

Breaking this habit can be difficult, and will take a concerted effort to break. The subject should practice walking with their shoulders tensed and forcibly held back, head held high, making a mental note of where their eye level is. Getting in the practice of doing this should make it easier to recognize when they're walking improperly, at which point they can consciously correct it until it becomes second nature and replaces the old, bad habit.

2. Sitting Posture - These posture issues are also very common, and as more and more people sit behind a computer for a living, their possible consequences and reach grows. The computer monitor, keyboard and chair should all be set in positions that all but force the user to sit in an upright position. LCD monitors are good for this, as they force a consistent eye level be maintained to get a good view of the screen. Any slouching and the user should know it immediately.

3. Sleeping Posture - The one people would generally be the least aware of, and also the one that would seemingly be the most difficult to break, though this isn't the case. By properly utilizing pillows, by removing them when sleeping on one's back and by sticking them between the legs when sleeping on the side, bad sleeping posture can be limited with little effort.

4. Bow Legs and Knock Knees - These conditions develop early, and are not as easily cured. A doctor visit will probably be necessary, at which point special insoles or footwear that can help break the problem will probably be prescribed.

5. Scoliosis - This is a serious condition, in which the spine is severely curved, resulting in a drastic loss of height, as well as other health ailments. In mild cases, Scoliosis can be corrected with the proper stretching exercises. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed to correct it.

Improved posture can not only result in increased height, it can improve our health in other areas, and proper posture also makes you appear more professional to others. Snap out of your bad habits today, and kick them to the curb.

Running should be an enjoyable and stress-free activity. Many runners experience pain and discomfort because of wrong gear, form, and hydration. Read about the most common mistakes made by runners and how to fix them!

1. Shoes
Many runners have a favorite pair of running shoes they don't want to give up. That comfortable, broken-in pair of shoes can be hard to give up. Running shoes need to be discarded (for running purposes) every 300-400 miles, depending on weight and where you run. Heavier runners (over 160 pounds) should change earlier than lighter runners, and outside/trail runners should change shoes at an earlier mileage than treadmill runners.

Also, make sure that you are wearing shoes that fit properly. Some runners have specific wear or strike patterns that can cause pain. However, these problems can be easily addressed by ensuring your shoes are the right fit. Learn how to purchase the proper athletic shoes here. Changing and wearing the correct running shoes is essential to avoiding the most common running injuries such as knee, hip and other joint problems.

2. Happy Feet
There's no doubt that races are exciting and exhilarating experiences. Almost all runners have a story about starting a race at a faster pace because of the excitement and anticipation. Inevitably, they hit a wall somewhere along the way and are zapped of their energy. The best way to prevent a runner's crash is to be aware of your pace before the race starts and start slower than usual. This way, by the middle of the race, you will have plenty of energy to finish off strong. Also, it's best to start off in the middle or back of the corral. This way you aren't tempted to keep up with speed demons.

3. Over-striding
Overstriding is when runners land on their heel, with the entire foot ahead of the body's center of gravity. This type of stride seems to be a good way to increase speed, but in reality, it slows you down. Overstriding wastes precious energy since with each foot strike, there is a braking motion. It is also one of the leading causes of running injuries.

The best way to correct this problem is to pay close attention to your running form until the motion becomes natural. Try not to lunge forward with your feet, especially when running downhill. Keep a short, slow arm swing to help keep your stride short and close to the ground.

4. Hydration
Many runners don't realize how much fluid they lose during a run and don't drink enough fluid. Some choose not to drink because they worry about getting cramps. Getting side cramps from drinking water is a myth. Cramps can be prevented by deep mouth breathing and warming up properly.

It is important to drink before, during and after exercise. An hour before exercising, try to drink between 16-24 ounces of water or a sports drink. During a run, the general rule is to drink 6-8 ounces of fluid every 20 minutes. If you workout more than 90 minutes, you should supplement your water with a sports drink. After a run, rehydrate with 20-24 ounces of water for every pound lost.

5. Over-training
Runners who are focused on training for a race or a personal goal are often extremely dedicated to the challenge, maybe even a little too much. The thought process tends to be: more miles = better performance. In fact, this is not true! Taking the time to recover is one of the most important parts of improving speed and efficiency.

Running everyday or running too many miles causes burnout and injury. If you are building up to a longer race, build your mileage incrementally. Don't increase your weekly mileage by more than 10% to reduce your chances of overuse injuries. After a harder run, take a day off to allow your muscles to recuperate. Every 4th week, drop your weekly mileage by 50% (rest week) so that you don't burnout. Schedule days off from running just as you would schedule a run.

One of the keys to weight loss is figuring out how to boost your metabolic rate and believe it or not, its NOT rocket science. To boost your metabolism and keep it that way, all you need to do is follow few simple yet efficient techniques.

Here are 7 of the top ways for you to boost your metabolism:

1. Increase Protein: Protein helps to stabilize insulin secretion into your blood, which can affect metabolism; aim for a minimum of 70 grams or more each day.

2. Aerobic Workouts 3 X Week: Though exercise doesn't affect your resting metabolic rate, the extra calories you burn could add up to an additional 1-2 pounds of weight loss per month.

3. Build Muscle Mass: Weight routines or strength training builds lean muscle tissue, which burns more calories at work or at rest, 24/7. The more lean muscle, the faster your metabolism.

4. Don’t Skip Meals or Drastically Reduce Caloric Intake: If your body senses that food is limited, it will slow your metabolism to conserve energy and over time, the result is that when you do eat your body will be slower to use the calories and create a storage of unwanted pounds. Be sure is to cut your caloric intake by no more than 500 calories per day and never less than 1200 per day.

5. Increase Daily Activity: Make a significant addition to the number of calories you burn each day with relatively minor changes in lifestyle, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator; park further away from the mall or office; or window-shop with your best friend rather than sit over coffee. These types of changes for just 20 minutes of your day will burn an additional 100 calories per day or an additional pound per month.

6. Take an Evening Walk: Evening physical activity may be particularly beneficial. Since people's metabolism slows down toward the end of the day, 30 minutes of activity before dinner increases your metabolic rate and may keep it elevated for another 2-3 hours.

7. Get Enough Zs: According to researchers, women who got less than 4 hours of sleep per night had a slower metabolism than those who slept for a full 8 hours.

For generation, people are not only using garlic because of its medicinal value, but traditionally, people have rubbed their bodies with it, buried it besides their bodies in coffin, worn it around their necks, draped it on household walls and even prayed to it. This great bulb has a lot of benefits, because no other plant has been held out for so long as a cure for so many human ailments. That's why garlic has been considered as the Wonder Drug.

Garlic has been used medicinally for many years for treating bites, tumors, ulcers, snakebite, wounds, headaches, heart diseases, cancer, pimples, measles and many more. It also prevents infections such as the common cold, cough because of its Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal and Anti-viral property.

As this proverb is very common that

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.

In the same manner,

A single bulb of garlic a day, keep diseases away.

In general, it exhibits antioxidant activity, which is good for your skin. It also contains flavonoids, which is good for heart and body.
Garlic contains a range of compounds including Allicin, which is a pungent oily liquid that gives crushed garlic cloves their characteristic smell, and has been shown to be the antibacterial agent due to its active sulphur.
Raw garlic is very smelly, so in order to reduce it smell, you can simply add it to your gravy, salad dressings, to soup, yummy pizza or just garnish it before serving or have it in your own style.

Tips:

Garlic is just magnificent and phenomenal. I am providing few of the basics known and reliable home remedies for some specific ailments, which you could try at your home .

If you have cold and flu, then take small amount of garlic every day until the infection disappears. Garlic tends to reduce the frequency of colds and flu without any side effects. A suggested dose would be two or three cloves of raw or cooked garlic a day.

We all face horrid acne, blemishes, blackheads during our teens. If you want to reduce it, or if you just want to glow up your skin, then take two cloves of raw garlic regularly with warm water early in the morning. It works as a blood cleanser and clean your system internally. Do not eat chocolates, spicy or oily food during this treatment and rinse your face five times a day with cold water. Drinks lots of water daily to flush off toxic waste from the blood and urinate whenever you feel that your bladder is full .Else, apply a cut clove gently on the affected area only if you have no sensitivity to it.

If you have High Cholesterol Level, use garlic in your food. This is the better way for heart patients to reduce their cholesterol level. Modern medical science suggests one reason that garlic might reduce cholesterol , i.e. Garlic is a proven anti-oxidant. This property might help to prevent LDL (Low Density Lipo Protein) from being oxidized. In this way the cholesterol build-up that clogs the arteries could perhaps be reduced by garlic.

If you are very fat and want to loose weight, squeeze half lemon juice in one glass of luke warm water and drink it with two cloves of raw garlic regularly twice a day (morning and evening), for about three months. Avoid using starchy foods and fats. Do exercise regularly. You'll amazingly fell a great change in your body.

If you have Wrinkles, and you want to use anti ageing cream, it would be better to use 3 cloves of garlic regularly as it has a powerful antioxidant effect, which help to protect the body against damaging Free Radicals. Remember, out skin is made up of collagen and it looses elasticity on yearly basis. Therefore, use garlic and do exercise regularly for the positive results.

If you have Earache, put two or three drops of warm garlic oil in the ears.

Take garlic to boosts the weight of babies in the womb. Thus, when they are born, they are heavier than they would have been if you hadn't taken garlic. Some babies are born too small, so garlic is a definite boon in these cases too.

Use two raw garlic daily to reduce the risk of cancer, due to its Anti-Carcinogenic properties. It helps prevent cancerous compounds from forming and developing into tumors. It also inhibits the growth of tumors.

If any insect bites you at the seaside, you just crush the garlic and apply it to the affected area to reduce pain and to remove poison.

How to Take Garlic:
Crush two or three small cloves of raw garlic and eat it raw or boiled, before going to sleep. You can have it with a glass of milk or with water. Please do not take more than two or three raw cloves of garlic per day as it might makes your blood thinner and might cause serious ailments.

Contra-indications/precautions:

Do not consume more than three to four raw cloves of garlic a day.

Patients having heart and other problems should take medical advice before consuming it.

It's best to avoid garlic before any surgery because it could probably disturb Anticoagulants.

If you are on any medication, always check with your doctor first before taking raw garlic.

Asthma patients should not use it as it worsens the symptoms of Asthma.

If you have sensitive skin, I recommend not using physically on the affected area. Raw garlic can burn delicate skin! Do not use directly on skin if your skin is sensitive or susceptible to rashes or other skin reactions without consulting your doctor first. People who are or may be allergic to garlic or any of its sulfur compounds shouldn't try direct garlic application on skin too.

Side Effects :
Although, garlic is a natural Anti-biotic but a very small number of people have been known to exhibit Hypersensitivity to garlic. Garlic allergy includes skin rash, temperature and headaches. Garlic intolerance could result in Heartburn or Flatulence.

Points to be Noted:
It's important to remember that the effect of garlic on cold and flu comes from Allicin and this can be obtained from crushed, raw garlic and is destroyed by over cooking.

Garlic cloves cooked whole have very little medicinal value.

Garlic with strong smell has more Sulphur in it, which is good enough for medicinal purpose.

Facts About Garlic :

Garlic helps to boost up our Metabolism rate. Thus help us to reduce our weight easily.

Garlic helps reduce Atherosclerotic buildup (Plaque) within the arterial system

Garlic lowers or helps to regulate Blood Sugar.

Garlic helps to prevent blood clots from forming, thus reducing the possibility of Strokes.

Garlic helps to prevent Cancer, especially of the digestive system, prevent certain tumors from growing larger and reduces the size of certain tumors.

Garlic helps to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body.

Raw garlic is a proven natural antibiotic and, while far less strong than modern antibiotics, can still kill some strains of bacteria that have become immune or resistant to modern antibiotics.

Garlic dramatically reduces yeast infections in body parts.

It helps to make our immune system stronger against cancer, ulcers, hemorrhoids etc.

There's more to healthy hair than putting products on your head; you also have to watch what you put in your mouth. You need a nutritious diet so that your body can create healthy cells and tissues exactly the stuff that hair is made of. Poor nutrition, erratic meals, even crash diets can all lead to thinning, dullness, and dryness.

First of all, you need to have the right amounts of proteins. Proteins build cells, and they also contain amino acids that are particularly crucial to hair growth. These include cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine. These can be found in meats, fish, poultry dairy and eggs. If you are vegetarian, you can also get it from soy, nuts, grains and seeds (although you may need a protein supplement). Dieticians believe that at least 15% of your calories must come from food that is rich in protein.

Many of today's low-carb diets may lead to steady weight loss, but it may come at the price of the health of your hair. Carbs help in the growth of body tissues, and they are also the body's primary source of B vitamins, which your body needs. That's why it's not recommended to stay on carb-free diets for long periods of time; even South Beach recommends that the First Phase be limited to three weeks. Instead, opt for smart carbs, meaning you cut out sugars and white flour, and get healthy carbs from vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes.

Too much fat is bad for you, but you need a little fat in your diet to stay healthy and to keep your hair healthy, too. To avoid health risks associated with a fat-heavy diet, get it from lean meat that is grilled or braised rather than fried. Needless to say, eating that hamburger is not a healthy option.

Why does diet play such a role in healthy hair? For one thing, your body will need the right amounts of vitamins and minerals to be able to create strong cells. People who go on crash diets will often report hair loss. Strands may be brittle and easily damaged, and will look dull despite all efforts to condition and style. This means your body is unable to replace cell properly, or that the cells it manufactures is unable to withstand the damage it takes from daily environmental abuse: brushing, hair drying, or even the UV rays in the sun. It’s the same principle why skipping meals can cause your face to look blotchy and pale. If it can affect the color in your cheeks, it will also affect whether your hair is thick and shiny, or limp and lifeless.

Crash dieting can also affect the body’s chemical balance. Many people will go through natural hair loss cycles, such as during pregnancy or right after childbirth, as the body adjusts to shifts in hormones. A lack of nutrition can set off a hormonal nightmare, sending wrong signals to the hair glands like a fuse gone wrong. Severe stress can also do this.

Thus, for healthy hair, you need to invest in good hair care products and a good lifestyle. Eat right, and find ways to relax after a long day at work to minimize the effects of stress. Of course, a good shampoo never hurt.

Our senses are something that we often take for granted, which is a big mistake seeing as how important they are to our daily lives. Without our senses everyday life would be infinitely more difficult and we'd struggle in a lot of different scenarios – something that the blind and the deaf know well.

Our senses – much like our muscles – are something that can be trained, and that can be improved with the right exercises and diet. By doing this we can help make the most of them, keep them sharp, and benefit from having them as highly tuned as possible – whether that means you are better able to enjoy a delicious meal, whether it means you hear something coming behind you and are able to dodge out the way, or whether it means you can quickly spot whatever it is you're looking for in the supermarket.

Pay Attention

First of all, bear in mind that a lot of the time we don't actually pay attention to what we are looking at and hearing. A lot of it is filtered out by our brain as 'unimportant' and we only tend to really register what it is that we are actually looking at or for. Here's something to try – stop looking at the computer screen now and look around your room really carefully taking everything in that you see. You're likely to notice something that you didn't realize was there before even in your own home – whether it's a small crack in the wall or a splat of paint. More impressive is stopping to listen. We block out a lot of the noises we hear normally, but now try listening to the sounds around you – chances are there's cars going passed, a clock ticking, birds chirping, murmuring from another room, a drill somewhere miles away... and you probably hadn't noticed any of it. How about your skin, try feeling the breeze against it and the temperature in the room. Feel the floor against your feet and the discrepancy between the temperature of your feet and hands.

All this tells you a lot more about the room you're in, but it also illustrates how much our senses take in when we let them. From time to time try 'engaging' your senses like this and you will help train them to work better.

You can also improve your senses directly with more intensive training and lifestyle changes though too. Here are some suggestions.

Improve Your Eyesight

Over time our eyesight tends to deteriorate and this is something that many of us simply accept – either we gradually become more longsighted or we gradually become more shortsighted. In some cases this is an inevitability (unless you use laser eye surgery), but there are ways you can prevent losing your eyesight from the muscles weakening. By relaxing the muscles and training them with some movements around the eye you may be able to help yourself focus and improve vision at variable distances. Here are three techniques that some people recommend:

Palming: Here you cup your hands over your eyes so no light enters and then you concentrate on completely letting them relax. Do this a few times during the day.

Sunning: This involves shining a light on your eyes which will cause the pupils to adjust. Make sure it's not too bright though or you may damage your eyes.

The Long Standing Swing: Here you are turning your head from side to side while letting your eyes look continuously forward. Repeat this around 30 times.

You can also practice improving your ability to track items in your visual field by moving your hands around and bringing them closer and further from your face and trying to adjust your focus.

You also need to look into your general lifestyle and diet. It's a well known fact that carrots can improve our eyesight and this is due to the inclusion of beta carotene which the body converts into vitamin A – crucial for our eye health (though it is a myth that carrots can help you see in the dark). Maintaining a generally healthy diet and eating lots of protein can also help maintain good eye health. Avoid doing anything conversely that can damage your eyes and that means avoiding staring at computer screens for long periods of time or staring into the sun.

Smell and Taste

We often take our smell and taste for granted, but this is a big mistake considering how richer they can make the experience of eating, and how we tend to use smell in formulating and retrieving memories. Taste is 75% smell, and so if you can improve your smell, then you can improve your taste by improving your smell.

One of the best substances to help improve your smell is zinc, and studies have demonstrated that eating more of it can help improve your smell. Zinc is found in beef, oysters, baked beans and other foods.

You can also 'practice' taste in order to improve your ability to pick out flavors and aromas. This has been aptly demonstrated by chefs and food critics who have gained the ability to taste very subtle differences in food simply by focusing on the foods they are eating. Doing a wine tasting course may help you to do this – and remember that different parts of your tongue are used for tasting different flavors.

Hearing

Hearing can also be 'trained' and for sound engineers and several other careers this is part of the training. Again then if you want to improve your hearing then simply listening out for sounds and picking instruments out when listening to music. Simply spending more time in quiet environments can help to as your ears will adjust to low level sounds. You can also improve your hearing instantly by closing your eyes at which point we naturally focus more on the sounds around us. Obviously maintaining good ear hygiene and avoiding build ups of wax will help you to avoid hearing difficulties too.

If you are still wondering how to stop snoring with the most effective snoring remedies, then you need to be familiar with both the short and long term snoring remedies.
Here are some effective snoring remedies if you want to know how to stop snoring. These remedies fall into two major categories: long term and short term, or proactive and reactive or, preventative and prescriptive. Let's have a look.

You need to know the difference between what will cure your snoring by attacking its root cause and what will merely mask it by only treating the symptoms (while the cause remains intact). Let's take a look at what is causing your snoring.

Snoring is caused by a narrowing of the airway to the point where air is partially obstructed causing the snoring noise to occur. It doesn't get more complicated than that. If the airway is completely closing, cutting off breathing in the process, then we call that obstructive sleep apnea. If this is happening you need to see a doctor immediately. The preventative steps to eliminating snoring can also eliminate sleep apnea.

The secret of how to stop snoring with long term snoring remedies is to find out why your airway is narrowing during sleep. The first thing that should be considered here is weight. People who are overweight build up fat and tissue all over their body, including the neck and throat. Losing just 10 pounds of bodyweight can decrease or even stop snoring all together. If there is no improvement after losing 10 pounds then lose another 10 pounds. I'm serious! Losing weight will also put you at less risk of a myriad of other chronic diseases.

If you are as thin as a rail or you are certain that your snoring has nothing to do with your weight, then the next option you need to consider is throat exercises. These special exercises strengthen the muscle and tissue in your throat so the airway doesn't narrow during sleep and cause snoring. I talk about these exercises in other articles on my site.

Finally, if you are certain your snoring has nothing to do with being overweight. And, you have faithfully tried the throat exercises by still snore. Then and only then would I consider you a candidate for snoring surgery. However, this decision needs to be made with your doctor.

Knowing how to stop snoring with short term snoring remedies is the second piece in curing your snoring problem. The long term remedy isn't going to give the results now. But, you need to stop snoring now. You need some solutions to stop your snoring while you are waiting for the long term remedy to kick in. Basically the effective approaches are of three kinds. First, make sure you are not doing anything to cause your throat to narrow while sleeping. The second approach is to control your sleeping position. The third approach are to use devices.

Keeping The Throat Open

Do not eat, drink or take anything that will cause your throat to relax and narrow. Do not drink alcohol, take pain medication or any medicine that causes you to relax before going to bed. These items cause the muscles in your throat to relax and your throat to narrow.

Sleeping Position

Sleep on your side, not your back. Sew a tennis ball to the back of a shirt and wear it while you sleep if you need to. Also, sleep with your head higher up. There are also special pillows you can buy for this.

Snoring Devices

Visit your local drug store and see what they have for snoring strips or other stop snoring devices. Maybe you will find one that works for you.

Remember that these short term solutions for how to stop snoring with snoring remedies are only going to stop the snoring temporarily. If for some reason none of these options don't work you will still snore. On the other hand, the long term approaches may get rid of your snoring for ever.

Did you know that aside from providing good mono-unsaturated fats, almonds may help you shed those unwanted pounds? A few years back, researchers actually found that people eating a diet rich in almonds lost more weight than those on a high-carb diet with the same number of calories, which goes against the traditional belief that weight loss is all about calories in versus calories burned. Researchers followed 65 overweight and obese adults, 70% of whom had type 2 diabetes, for 24 weeks. One group ate a 1,000 calorie/day liquid diet supplemented with 3 oz of almonds (384 additional calories) and the other group ate the same liquid diet but instead supplemented with a mix of complex carbohydrates (such as wheat crackers, baked potatoes, or air-popped popcorn). The two diets were equal in calories and protein but differed in fat and in addition to the liquid diet, they could also have salads with lemon juice or vinegar dressing.

The almond diet contained 39% total fat including 25% from heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, while the non-almond diet contained 18% total fat, 5% from monounsaturated fats. Participants in the almond diet saw an 18% reduction in weight and body mass index (BMI) compared with an 11% reduction in the non-almond dieters. Additionally, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and need for diabetes medication more so than the non-almond dieters. In terms of diabetic patients, since a side effect of some diabetes medication is increased hunger, the faster one can get off of medications, the better, so to stay slimmer. But for everyone else looking to lose weight, these results are very important! So what's the mechanism behind all this almond based weight loss, you ask? Well, the researchers speculate that the fat in almonds may not be completely absorbed and earlier research suggests that the cell walls of almonds can act as a physical barrier to fat, and they also may make you feel fuller, longer, something I can vouch for myself. So go out and grab some almonds turns out these yummy nuts are no longer diet-taboo!

Nutrovitasub

Aloe Vera is a plant of many surprises and wonders. Whether you use it as vital ingredient in beauty products or it is consumed as dietary supplement. Aloe Vera is a hot fertile region plant, but now it is cultivated in most part of the world. Aloe is a member of the lily family although it looks more of a cactus. It has been used for its medicinal purposes since the ancient times, but only recently has it enjoyed a rediscovery and subsequent popularity explosion.

There are over 200 varieties of aloes, but it is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera) plant, which has been of most use to mankind because of the medicinal properties it displays. Aloe Vera contains over 75 known active ingredients including a wide range Vitamins, antioxidant, minerals, calcium, essential Amino Acids, Sugars, Digestive Enzymes, Anti-inflammatory Enzymes, Plant Sterols, Lignin, Saponins, Anthraquinones and more. Aloe Vera contains many components, including vitamins A, B, C, and E. Aloe has a massive amount of minerals and enzymes, however not its entire component has been identified yet.

Nowadays, although medicines and drugs can be very effective in treating ailments, long term use often involves side effects for patients. Consequently more consumers and scientists are turning back to look at more traditional, and often natural therapies which have been neglected for so long. As a result, Aloe Vera is once again attracting attention as it can provide many benefits to our health and lifestyle without any side effects.

BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA

Ancient records show that the benefits of Aloe Vera have been known to mankind for centuries. Its therapeutic advantages and healing properties have survived more than 5000 years.

By using the aloe vera juice a person can get the benefits of aloe vera’s ability to aid in digestion, improve circulation, detoxify and heal from the inside. Aloe Vera juice can be a part of a person’s daily healthy regimen because it is safe to take everyday. If Aloe is taken internally, it increases the actual amount of our bile. It affects the small intestines and stimulates the muscular coat of the large intestine thus causing purging in about fifteen hours. Aloes also help increase the menstrual flow, since it belongs to the group of emmenagogues. Aloes have Aloin present used for therapeutic purposes. This causes less pain. It is a preferable drug for many forms of constipation. Continuous use of it does not lead to enlarging the dose to take.

Aloe’s benefits to our health include, helping to lower the blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. Aloe Vera is a strong laxative that may have some anti-cancer effects to humans. It is now being studied as a treatment for asthma.

USES OF ALOE VERA

Aloe Vera is commonly used externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and echzema. It is alleged that sap from Aloe vera eases pain and reduces inflammation. Scientific evidence on the effects of Aloe vera sap on wound healing is contradictory. A study showed that the healing of a moderate to severe burn was sped up by six days when covering the wound on a regular basis with aloe vera gel, compared to the healing of the wound covered in a gauze bandage. In contrast, another study suggested wounds to which Aloe vera gel was applied were significantly slower to heal.

Many cosmetic companies add sap or products derived from Aloe Vera to products such as makeup, shampoos, soaps, moisturisers, sunscreens and lotions. Aloe gel is alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin and for treating fungal infections.Aloe vera has very good results in skin diseases and it is often taken as health drink. Aloe Vera is also found effective in treating wrinkles, stretch marks and pigmentations. Where as auravedic practitioners are in the favor of use of Aloe Vera. According to them Aloe vera has very good role in diabetic. Aloe vera is found to have smaller molecular structure and cutting properties. This help breaking down fat globules, therefore reducing obesity. Medical properties of Aloe vera are still on debate, but the beauty properties are highly accepted by the world.

Aloe Vera is also known to have certain medical properties. Aloe vera drink is used as a tonic for patient suffering from arthritis, diabetes and high cholesterol. This is because of the dietary supplement properties, which help in healing like anti fungal, anti oxidant, anti bacterial and some other properties. It is found to boost the immune system. The transparent gel that is found inside its leaf is used as a domestic emergency treatment in burns, injuries and solar erithema, also it is applied externally on hemorrhoids and foe a good cicatrisation. Aloe Vera contains at least two active compounds that decrease the levels of sugar in the blood and its extract is also used in patients with hypoglycemia. Its juice is consumed as prevention and treatment of many gastric disorders. The efficiency of Aloe Vera in the treatment of burns is due because it has a similar structure as aspirin, that in combination with magnesium have an anesthetic effect and because of its antimicrobian composition it helps for the hygiene of the burns, avoiding a possible infection.

Detoxification has many forms and alludes to numerous programs that clean the body of toxins. Today, the water we drink is laden with chemicals foreign to our system. Our environment is toxic and the foods we eat, even the air we breathe are laced with some kind of toxin that may be hazardous to our health in the future. This is partly due to the advances we have made as a society. We are able to lengthen the shelf life of food but in doing so; we add a chemical that may have side effects like encouraging obesity. Carbon emissions from cars and factories affect our digestive and respiratory system making them more susceptible to illnesses. As a result, everyone is undergoing a form of detoxification to maintain life and health. Although fundamental detoxification begins with diet, detox programs may include nutritional reinforcement for the liver, lungs, kidneys, bowels and blood.

Detox diet recipes help the body to eliminate toxins in many ways. First, natural vegetarian diets include the fiber needed for stimulating regular bowel movement. Detox diet recipes also contain the best possible amounts of vitamins that nourish and foster the bowels and the liver, and other eliminative organs. Detox diet recipes also include a valuable source of enzymes. The elimination of meat from the diet for a short period strengthens detoxification because meat is so hard to digest and needs many enzymes for its digestion. Therefore, vegetarian diets are cleansing diets and aid the body in elimination of toxins.

Diets are very essential and are usually the baseline for any detox program, whether it is herbs, cleansing or other detox programs. Detox diets will generally subtract trigger foods that cause many problems with digestion and elimination. Foods like dairy (milk, cheese) and wheat (glutens) are often the roots of allergies. Sugar is eliminated due to its "empty calories" and may produce hypoglycemia. Meats are eliminated because they contain hormones, antibiotics and other items that are difficult to digest. Caffeine is to be avoided because it too has many ill effects on the body's digestion. Refined, processed and junk foods are also absent for any detox program to work.

A sample of detox diet recipe is the fruit diet which consists of eating certain types of fruits for a period of time. For breakfast, one can eat as much melons as they would want to whether it be cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon or gala. The lunchtime meal could be grapefruits, oranges or pineapples but these fruits shouldn’t be mixed. Eat till you feel satisfied. At 4 pm, have a large glass of freshly pressed carrot juice. Dinner time, you can eat apples, pears, grapes or bananas which may be eaten one fruit at a time and eaten until hunger is satisfied. This type of detox diet recipe is good for detoxification and losing weight but it is a type of diet that may make you weak so try to conserve energy and do not over exert yourself physically.

Detox diet recipes are just one phase of the program in cleansing your body. Once cleansed, a program of rebuilding and strengthening your body and mind must be made, done, and continually monitored to achieve its affect of a longer and healthier life.

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