Fitness Beginners 101: How to Stay Motivated

First and foremost, you need to understand that each body is unique with its own fat burning speed. We all probably have that one friend who just started eating well and working out, and are already a size down... Good for them, but a really BAD reference point for you! Not every body functions this way and actually very few of them do. What is more, you can't eat all sorts of junk food for 5 years and expect to revert the process in 5 days,it's just not how it works. So how do we overcome this feeling of disappointment? Simple... the only fitness competition you have is yourself! That gorgeous girl in the gym corner with the Brazilian booty or that huge guy with the six pack may well have been there for years and years, so forget about them and focus on the most important person in the world - yourself!

Progress really is made in a couple of weeks. You're just looking at the wrong places

So if you've started working out 2 weeks ago and feel like you haven't made any progress, I'm here to tell you; you absolutely have, you just don't know it YET! Obviously the visibility of your results is the most powerful motivation, but certainly not the first to come. So here's a couple of tips on other ways to track progress and stay motivated: Did you know that our weight actually changes throughout the day depending on your food and water intake? Yes, you can't expect to drink 2 litres of water or eat a massive bowl of veggies and not see it reflected on the scales. Our real body weight is actually best captured when we get up in the morning on an empty stomach, after going to the toilet. So if you do love your scales, weigh yourself then. But still I'd suggest getting a measuring tape, especially with these electronic scales' inaccuracy.

This is probably the best way to go about your progress. As we said not all bodies will show visible results as quickly as we wish, however, they are actually changing below the surface. Every single workout gets you one step closer to your goal and you should start capturing that. My very basic FIT test logger for you to easily capture your results and compare every two weeks is available below! I promise you'd be surprised by how much progress you actually make!

When I was just starting out this seriously brought me down. Even if you do have visible results, if you look at yourself every day you wouldn't notice them. The wiser thing to do is take pictures once a month and compare on a month-to-month basis, not daily.If you're too eager, though, you can always do a fit test instead and remember, every rep counts as progress!
In 1990 I decided to become vegetarian. Well to be accurate Pescetarian - I continued to eat some fish and shell fish. My reasons were mostly because I had become more and more uncomfortable about cooking and eating meat and I disliked the whole idea of killing animals. I also had become very active in the new age movement at the time and the environmental cost of meat production simply did not make sense. It wasn't long before even the thought of eating meat was distasteful and I have never been tempted to eat meat since.

However I did start to put on weight and I have continued to battle with my weight now for 25 years. When I changed gender and began taking hormone replacement therapy it got worse. I have tried the weight watchers diet, the lemon diet, the grapefruit diet, the 5:2 diet, the Mediterranean diet. the Beverley Hills diet, the cabbage soup diet, an Ayurvedic Diet, the Atkins diet (really challenging if you are vegetarian), the Paul McKenna Diet, the Think Thin diet - and many more I have now forgotten.

In that time the one diet that did work was Sure Slim - This is a very complex and also very expensive diet based on metabolic typing, Low Gi, Low Fat, low carb and personal food preferences. The diet involves blood tests, and an in-depth interview followed by regular weekly then bi weekly consultations. Every meal has to be meticulously weighed with ingredients selected from a quite restricted list. I lost about 4 stone in six months - and then put most of it back on in the net six months.

Every year since then I have resolved to lose the weight again and every year I give up after a few months and the weight returns. The problem is that I had stick to a complex diet even to maintain my weight and that made it almost impossible to eat out, or tuck into a buffet, or grab something to eat when on the road, or go to a dinner party.

I am sure most of you reading this article will have had similar experiences - and the older we get the more difficult it seems to be to lose weight and maintain good health.

However I am not giving up and I have recently begun looking in more detail at the Low carb Low Gi diets to see if I can find a way to simplify this process and find a more acceptable longer term diet that will work.

There are a few books that have contributed over the past decade to my growing understanding of diet. Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Low Carb Diet is excellent - though you need to enjoy eggs and tofu to follow that diet in the first 14 days. That said she is one of the leading experts on vegetarian food and her explanations of the basis of the diet have really helped me to understand better the principles of the sure slim diet that worked.

Chris Woollams The Rainbow Diet is primarily about how to beat cancer by eating more healthily with a version of the Mediterranean Diet. But if you can beat cancer by changing your diet it's the same process and the same diet to beat heart problems and diabetes and put you on the road to Perfect Health. The book has really helped me to understand how nutrition and the body works and what our diet can do to make it go wrong or make to work better. Why my doctor has not read this book I do not know.

Finally a book I came across over 20 years ago which is now out of print but available second hand is The Food Addicts Diet by Tish Hayton. In helping her son overcome a huge problem with allergies to many foods, Tish came to the conclusion that many of us are suffering from food addiction and the foods we are addicted to are wheat, potato, milk and sugar. When I first read it I didn't want to believe it even though I knew it made sense. These four foods are the basis of all convenience foods. Between them they account for about 80% of everything we eat.

Putting everything I have read from these and many other books together I am beginning to understand why one diet worked, and why I then put all the weight back on. I am beginning to understand how to simplify my diet so that I can lose weight and keep it off. I have not managed to do it yet - but what I am doing is to record all my progress and will be writing further articles about my journey towards achieving perfect health.

My problem has been an addiction to foods that encourage my body to store fat. They are the reason why diets fail because as soon as we come off a diet we inevitably return to the foods that encourage us to store fat.

The food industry also knows this but they benefit so much from this food addiction that they are not prepared to even try to tackle the problem. Instead we have been conned and lied to for decades. We have been convinced that the villain is Fats. So we are all obsessed with low fat foods and diet drinks which are loaded with sugar substitutes like Aspartame.

But it's not the fats in the food that are stored as fat in the body - it is carbohydrates - particularly simple carbohydrates from grains and sugars. It's not just wheat and sugar. Our bodies need glucose for energy which comes from carbohydrates - any excess carbs are converted to fat as a reserve for times when we don't have enough. In the past this was quite often - but now in the west we simply don't get that hungry.

No matter how much you cut down on food, if you give the body more carbs than it needs it will store the excess and it will not burn the fat. The only way to get your body to burn fat is to starve it of carbs. Cut grain, sugar and even starchy vegetables.

I have been eating a healthy diet of fruit and vegetables for years thinking that would help me lose weight but it doesn't. Many fruit and vegetables are high in carbohydrates.

So the first step in losing weight and keeping it off is to tackle the number one villain - SUGAR - wherever that comes from. Sugar, honey, fruit, corn syrup, maple syrup etc. Sugar is sugar - it is quickly separated into glucose. So my first piece of advice in tackling weight gain and making a permanent change to your diet is that you have to lose your sweet tooth.

The more you restrict your sugar intake, the less you will crave it until eventually you will find sugar sickly. It is not going to be easy but if you value your health and want to get to a good long term comfortable weight, your enemy will be sugar and it has to go.

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Why Does My Diet Not Work?

As a teenager, you may have had constant problems with acne breakouts which had a negative effect on your self-esteem and confidence. Once these hormonally charged years are over and you have found an effective way to reduce the chances of acne flare-ups or recurrences, you may still feel the impact of this skin issue. This is because the scars, spots, and other marks of the acne flare-ups you once had are still noticeable on your face or other parts of your body.

As such, dermatological experts say that curing the condition of acne or preventing their appearance is not enough; acne scars need to be taken care of also so that you won't have to face this problem as well.

For people who are still grappling with acne breakouts and want to minimize and prevent the occurrence of acne scars, below are some useful tips to keep in mind:

Apply Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera sap can be used to treat various conditions including red pimples, burns, and wounds. It is also a natural moisturizer that can help rejuvenate your skin. Applying Aloe Vera sap can effectively hasten the healing process of your acne scars. Simply apply the sap directly on the scars.

Use cold compress. Ice cubes, in particular, will soothe your inflamed skin and reduce the redness. Wrap an ice cube with a clean piece of cloth and hold this right against your acne scars for at least two minutes.

Apply raw honey on acne or pimples. Honey has been effective in treating acne and red pimples. It is a safe, organic antibacterial natural product that can reduce inflammation and soothe the skin at the same time. To get the best results, use raw honey to minimize or get rid of acne scars.

Put lemon juice solution on the affected areas. Lemon juice has bleaching properties and can help to lighten the scars. For the solution, take some fresh lemon juice and combine it with an equal amount of water. Apply this solution directly on these scars. Leave the lemon juice on the scars for about 20 minutes before removing or cleansing it off. Moisturize your skin after washing the juice off to avoid dryness.

Apply cortisone cream. Lastly, if you're looking for an over-the-counter product that can help you minimize and avoid acne scars, start with cortisone creams. This type of cream can help reduce inflammation and at the same time, promote speedy healing of the scars. To make sure that you will buy the right product, particularly one that is safe for your skin, consult your doctor or dermatologist first.
Sunlight is the body's main supply of Vitamin D which is necessary for strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D is in almost every tissue so it is important for the health of the whole body. However, 50% of people over 50 have low levels of this vitamin which is not present in many of our foods. Studies have shown that a lack of it can lead to diabetes, depression, heart disease, hip fractures, muscle spasm and multiple sclerosis.

If we don't get enough Vitamin D our cells can multiply too fast and grow to become malignant tumours increasing risk of breast, colon, prostate, ovary, oesophagus and lymphatic cancers. Lack of vitamin D can also interfere with insulin secretion so it could affect diabetes sufferers It was found in 'Archives of General Psychiatry' that deficiencies lead to depression because it affects the tiny parathyroid glands behind the thyroid and they become overactive producing to much of a hormone which is often associated with depression.

Other studies at Emory University show a link with Parkinson's with patients having more than twice the lowest levels of Vitamin D in their blood. Whilst another study showed that lack of Vitamin D could lead to hip fractures in post-menopausal women due to a deficiency making it harder to absorb calcium and maintaining bone density as well as keeping the muscles strong. It is also believed to play a role in MS, muscle pains and even some types of kidney disease. Studies show the older you get the more you need.

As important it is to get some sun, we still need to cover up and limit sun exposure of 15 to 20 minutes on unprotected skin, at least twice a week is a good idea. You can check if you are deficient in Vitamin D through a blood test just like we test for cholesterol or glucose.

Food wise best sources are salmon, mackerel, eggs, cod liver oil, and milk or dairy foods but avoid dairy if you have sinus or susceptibility to colds and flu. Supplements are also available to help you get Vitamin D into the body and are available at the health food store but this is not as good as a dose of good old sunshine.

Many scientists believe too much sun will cause skin cancer but Marianne Berwick, head of the Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention Program at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque says that: "Sunscreen is probably effective against a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, but there's little evidence that it prevents another type called basal cell carcinoma." There are no data showing that sunscreen protects against malignant melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

There are tests being done on how good sunscreen protects against ultraviolet light UVA and UVB, however to be safe I would limit your time in the sun and still wear protective clothing. Also confine yourself to early morning or late afternoon sun. Generally, try to balance your sun exposure and you should do alright.
The provision of health care services is an important proviso in every society and the nation at large. It is against this background that every government in an attempt to safeguard the life of its citizenry ensures that health care services are readily available. What would become of a society or nation with a population of ill health? What becomes of the productive manpower?

There are dire consequences for a nation that relegates healthcare delivery to the background. Productivity is not only affected but such a society or nation stands a greater probability of extinction since mortality rate will increase astronomically.

The people of Afram Plains [an agrarian community] have not been left out of the share of this national cake-health care services. There are hospitals, clinics and CHPS compounds in almost every major town in this part of the countryside.

But what has become of the culture of healthcare delivery by healthcare professionals in these hospitals, clinics and CHPS compounds in Afram Plains? I have been propelled to write this article when I visited the Presbyterian health centre at Tease, the district capital of Afram Plains south constituency.

The fact is incontrovertible and I will not mince with words-the healthcare delivery system at Tease Presbyterian Health Centre is next to nothing, and nothing good to write home about. This is a health centre where human dignity has been rendered as absolute trash. Disrespect for clients has climbed onto a legendary status. I do not intend to, by this article mention any names but want to clearly state my position on the actions and inactions of healthcare professionals at this healthcare centre.

Oh but let me first ask "is healthcare delivery a right or privilege" Well your guess may be as good as mine. Don't these healthcare workers know that "a sound mind lives in a healthy body"?

Let me quickly give you a routine about the wack health delivery system here. This is a true account of what I witnessed when I visited the healthcare centre.

"A parent brings in her sick child at about 10:06 am, pulse and temperature is checked within a matter of five minutes. The sick child is then taken to the lab for test. The laboratory technician after picking the blood sample leaves his post/room [with the lab office opened] only to return after an hour and thirty minutes to attend to a now queuing clients who have gone through the initial stages of pulse and temperature checks. [ Had the microscope been stolen after his return what would be his story to tell?] He then hands the lab report to the parent of the sick child thirty minutes after his return. This sick child is then taken to the consulting room to see the one and only supposed Doctor who reported to work at about 10:30 am. They spend about 10 minutes in the consulting room after which drugs were prescribed to be taken at the dispensary for a fee. At the dispensary again, another drama unfolds. The dispensary attendants are on break enjoying their meals to the full glare of clients. They therefore ask the parent of the sick child to wait patiently while they do justice to their food. And they spent well over 40 minutes on their meal."

All these dramatic scenes are showcased at this health centre without any one to supervise what goes in and out of this health centre. Oh perhaps it's for the government and we all know what government workers do at their places of work. I bet you can't pretend you knoweth not.

Clearly give a picturesque view of the incident. Now assuming without admitting that this sick child is in an emergency and needs urgent medical treatment what would have become of the situation? For the child to die and cry foul afterwards. In fact, the welfare of clients is not at the heart of these so called health professionals. Another mind boggling drama I witnessed was how these officials were moving to and fro from one office to the other and discussing issues best known to them whilst clients were suffering in long queues in wait of treatment.

While I wouldn't like to be seen as overly critical, it is equally important that some of these healthcare workers are cautioned with immediate effect to desist from their "I don't care" attitude displayed at their place of work. The insatiable appetite by health care workers to humiliate and embarrass clients is something way out of health care practice.

It beats my wildest imagination why people dressed in white, green and white, brown etc. mandated to provided health care delivery to the people treat clients as if they are doing them a great service. Aren't they paid for services they render?

The earlier an effortful attempt is geared towards redeeming the image of this healthcare centre, the better it would be for all of us. It has attracted a bad name for itself for far too long.
1. Finding The Right Match

Finding the right place for your medical needs is much like finding the right primary care doctor. Feeling comfortable with your physician is a critical step in choosing the right Maui Urgent Care Center. Before you walk in the door, call and ask if you can speak to an available physician. Ask him or her questions about how they handle medical conditions such as, do they take a more traditional approach, or do they recommend alternative treatment options? Once you feel comfortable with their style of care, you'll feel more confident that you're choosing the right medical provider. In addition to the style of care, you should also ask how long your physician has lived in Hawaii. The islands are home to very unique organisms that visitors can find themselves allergic to, including flowers like protea, foods such as poi, and marine life like Potters Angel fish and sea fan coral. These rare flora and fauna only exist here or in just a few remote areas in the world, so visitors are unlikely to have had any previous contact with them. That's why a local physician who understands what to look for and the right questions to ask is crucial to making the right diagnosis so you can get better faster, and back to enjoying your vacation.

2. Accessibility

Maui, and in particular the east side of the island, has many remote areas that are popular visitor destinations but far from the commercial hubs where most urgent care centers are located. For instance, if you were staying at the Travaasa Hotel in Hana, Maui, and needed to visit your nearest urgent care clinic, you'd have drive 4-5 hours to get there, which would result in you missing an entire day of your vacation in paradise. In many cases finding a Maui-based urgent care center that offers telemedicine visits is the best option for accessing medical care. Having the ability to see your Hawai'i-licensed physician from your computer, tablet, or mobile device can save you time and help you quickly decide whether you need to make a trip into the nearest urgent care center or hospital. In most instances, your doctor can fax or call in a prescription to the nearest pharmacy saving you hours of travel time.

3. Affordability

When searching for the right urgent care center in Maui it's important to ask about payment and coverage options. Many urgent care centers offer only local insurance including HMA, UHA, HMMA or Kaiser Your Choice coverage that can result in a higher out-of-pocket cost for visitors. Calling and asking about coverage before you show up can save you time and money. No insurance? Don't worry, most walk-in clinics offer a rate for people without insurance -- but you'll want to know up front what those costs are so you can make the most informed healthcare decision.

4. Ask The Experts

Your hotel or timeshare concierge provides a great place to start your urgent care search. They deal with hundreds of visitors and are very familiar the activities that can result in injuries for the under or unprepared, like ocean dives, surf schools, and day hikes in more rugged areas. Consequently, they have relationships with the closest urgent care centers. As soon as you determine that you need care, make your concierge the first stop on your journey to feeling better.

5. Dig Deeper

Once you have a few walk-in care locations in mind, go online and read about experiences other visitors have had. Check sites like Yelp, Google Places, Facebook and the urgent care centers' websites for customer testimonials and star ratings. Picking a location that has good reviews and clinic pictures will help reduce your anxiety, make a more informed healthcare decision, and result in a better overall medical care experience.

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All You Need To Know About Transplant Surgery

Aloe Vera - the plant of immortality has been used since ages for medicinal and healing purposes. It is a short plant, just 2 to 3 feet in height. The leaves of this plant are rich in water and contain several other nutrients like minerals, vitamins, acids, salts and antioxidants. Technically, it contains around 22 different nutrients which are considered very useful for skin and hair. Owing to its miraculous healing power, this plant is widely used in the manufacturing of several beauty products.

Let me discuss first some of the properties of Aloe Vera.

It possesses antibacterial properties.

This plant contains various antioxidants which restrain the growth of bacteria. Because of this property, it is used in case of infection and inflammation. It contains compound from the hydrocarbon family which prevents the growth of fungi and bacteria.

It acts as moisturizer.

The Aloe Vera plant contains around 95 percent of water. Owing to this, it acts as an excellent moisturizing agent. The regular use of this helps in removing the dryness of the skin, thus making it more attractive. There are several skin moisturizers available in the market. You can also use them in order to give your skin attractive appearance.

It helps in preventing ageing of the skin.

This plant contains antioxidants as well as vitamin C and E. These ingredients are very effective in providing firmness to the skin. Moreover, the regular use of this helps in retaining the elasticity of the skin, thus giving you attractive and younger looks.

It is used to lighten skin.

It helps in lightening the texture of the skin. The ingredients of this plant help in controlling the pigmentation of the skin. When used on a regular basis, it helps in controlling the activity of the collagen, thus offering you bright skin.

Aloe Vera is also very useful for hair. Because of its miraculous healing properties, it is widely used in the manufacturing of the wide range of hair care products. As it contains around 22 amino acids along with different vitamins and mineral supplements, it helps in enhancing hair growth. It prevents the growth of dandruff and helps a lot in maintaining hair healthy and strong. The study has suggested that disturbed pH of the scalp is the main cause of hair fall. This is very effective in maintaining the pH of the scalp, thus preventing several diseases associated with hair.

There are several beauty and health care products available in the market. One can easily use these products in order to avail the several benefits offered by Aloe Vera. As it is basically a plant, its regular use doesn't offer any side effect.
In an emergency, your life depends on getting to the nearest hospital. But when you have an option to plan ahead, selecting the right hospital for your treatment makes all the difference. It not only gives you the confidence that you are in good hands, but also makes your stay at the hospital worth it. The best hospitals have the best of everything. They have the right doctors on board, the best support staff, the best in class medical equipment and infrastructure. If you are selecting a hospital for your treatment, here are a few tips on how to select the best hospital:

Check out hospital ratings

Ratings are a good place to start your research. Well, even if there aren't too many hospitals in your area to compare, ratings give you a fair idea about the services you can expect to receive. Hospitals are generally rated using the following factors:

· Patient experiences - patient experiences with the doctor, the support staff and other hospital members does matter. Patient's opinion about the cleanliness of the hospital and its maintenance also affects hospital ratings.

· Patient outcomes - patient outcomes are an important factor in rating hospitals. The number of times a patient had to be re-admitted for the same ailment etc. makes a difference in hospital ratings.

· Hospital practices and Safety scores play a major role in influencing the rating of a hospital.

So, ratings are not just some random numbers, they could be of great help when you wish to select a hospital for your treatment.

Talk to previous patients

It is a good idea to get feedback from patients regarding the hospital. They will be able to give you accurate information of how the rooms were kept and how friendly or unfriendly the nurses were and how expertly the doctor completed the treatment. Talk to someone who has experienced it first hand and you will get a better idea of which hospital to select.

Check out doctor's profiles

In fact check this before you check anything else. It is important to check out the doctors onboard before you finalize a hospital. If you are looking for a heart surgery, check out the heart surgeons working at that hospital either fulltime or on a per visit basis. It is a good idea to get acquainted with the doctors treating you.

Hospital specialty

Finally, decide whether you wish to select a specialty hospital or a multispecialty hospital. Specialty hospitals provide services for just one type of treatment such as 'Heart Hospital'. Multispecialty hospitals have the ability to treat a varied type of ailments.

Finally, make sure that you shortlist a few hospitals in your area and actually visit them. Talk to the staff and check out the rooms. You can also check out their websites or social media pages to get more information. The testimonials written by the patients are important too. Check them out before you decide! Take all the points into consideration and then select the best hospital for your treatment.
Organ transplant surgery includes removal of the diseased organ from the body and replacing it with a healthy one. This is a life saving procedure that gives the recipient a new lease of life. Organ transplant is a major surgery and has its own risks and drawbacks. The most common transplants that are performed are kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart, lung and intestine. Depending on the organ needed, they are matched using several characteristics such as the size of the organ needed and the blood type of the patient etc.

Availability of organ donors

Organ transplant surgeries are generally dependent on the availability of donors. Generally, a donor could be a living person such as your friends and family or a diseased person whose organs are working just fine. The living donor's blood is tested to check whether it is compatible with the recipient.

Lifestyle changes are crucial

Organ transplant candidates need to make some substantial lifestyle changes. This essentially means that they need to stop smoking, alcohol and might also require reducing substantial weight.

Questions to ask your doctor about your transplant

Organ transplant is one of the major decisions of your life. It is obvious that you might have a number of questions in your mind. Make sure that you ask your doctor about the risks of the transplant, the success rates of the transplant and the survival rates of the patients after the surgery. It is also important to ask how long your hospital stay will be etc.

Things to remember after the transplant

Most patients feel better immediately after the transplant and can enjoy a significantly improved life. There is a possibility that the immune system of your body might reject the new organ. In order to prevent this, your doctor will prescribe immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) drugs. These drugs need to be taken as recommended by the doctor or the surgery will not sustain and your body might not function well with the newly transplanted organ. It is important to carefully observe the symptoms of rejection and contact your doctor as soon as you observe any changes. Your doctor will make adjustments to your anti-rejection regimen. It is hence of utmost importance that you keep all your doctor's appointments and take all your prescribed medications regularly. The rejection can be reversed if the doctor is able to detect the early signs of rejection. During the first few months after a transplant keep in constant touch with your doctor and ensure that you follow all the instructions religiously. Monitor your blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and all the recommended health screenings to ensure that your new organ is accepted by the body.

To sum it up

Overall, it is highly essential that you understand the procedure that you are undergoing, the risks involved and the post operative care that you need to take. Talk to your doctor and ensure that you follow all the recommendations and prescriptions so that the body accepts the new organ.

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What Makes a Hospital 'the Best Hospital'

When a kidney failure is so advanced that it cannot be reversed, it is termed as End Stage Renal Disease or ESRD. The kidneys function so poorly that they fail to keep the patient alive. Conventional medication in such cases fails too. Dialysis could help to some extent, but the only other option available for treatment is transplantation. Dialysis uses artificial means of filtering blood in order to keep the body functioning. Well, a kidney transplantation could provide patients relief from the repetitive schedule that dialysis requires and helps them recover faster. Transplantation however is not considered as a complete cure although the patients can go back to their routine lives after the surgery. These patients must take regular medications and need to consult a doctor regularly after a successful transplantation too.

The function of kidneys in our body is to filter wastes from the bloodstream and also maintain the balance of electrolytes in our body. Their main function is to remove chemicals and other by products from the blood stream. They eliminate these waste products from our bodies in the form of urine. Another most important function of a kidney is to secrete hormones that are known to regulate the absorption of calcium from the food that we eat. They also produce red blood cells. They also regulate the amount of fluid in the circulatory system. All of this in turn helps increase our bone strength, prevents anaemia, and regulates blood pressure.

When I attended elementary school, we were taught that wealthy ancient Romans would tickle the back of their throat with a feather to induce vomiting after dinner. Although that ritual probably put a damper on any postprandial romance (unless mouthwash was provided with the meal), it allowed them to engage in their greatest delight - eating more food. Whether or not that custom is mythical, it does bring to mind similar, modern practices of many Americans today.

I sometimes ask insulin-dependent diabetics a simple, yet revealing question. If they could give up all food except some basic green vegetables for one month, and by doing so, cure themselves of their diabetes, would they do it? Sadly, the answer is always a resounding "no." They explained to me that they are unwilling to deny themselves any food. Rather than monitor their diet, they prefer to inject themselves with additional insulin when required.

I was with a friend once late at night, and we stopped for a bite to eat after a movie. He suffered from heartburn and acid reflux, and wondered aloud whether it was too late to take a prescription pill for his condition. He pondered his choices for a moment, and then confidently popped the pill into his mouth. He then proceeded to order cheese fries, a bacon cheeseburger, and some onion rings - despite the lateness of the hour. Surprised by his decision, I asked him why he didn't just avoid those foods, and order something lighter and easier to digest. He gazed at me incredulously, and then explained that was the purpose of the pills. I suggested that he should forego another tub of greasy, buttered popcorn on the next movie night. It might save him a pill.

Fried foods, trans-fats, sugary desserts, and salty snacks - why avoid them when a simple pill will counter their deleterious effects? People I know would prefer to take medication for their high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. We can actually alleviate most of these health conditions - and even physical pain, insomnia, and arthritis - by altering dietary intake. However, few people will deny themselves the foods that they enjoy.

When it comes to weight loss, nearly everyone tries over-the-counter diet pills before sacrificing that extra helping of greasy fries or a sweet, tempting dessert. When those pills fail, many turn to prescription medicine for weight loss. In addition, as I noted in my article, "The Truth About Weight Loss," many people prefer to endure grueling exercise regimens that they dread and hate, rather than deny themselves the foods whispering their sweet names as they pass by the refrigerator. Incidentally, my refrigerator has an alluring, female, British accent. Still haven't gotten her name though. The decision to exercise and ignore diet is usually a losing proposition, because it's difficult to lose weight on a treadmill with a milk shake in one hand, and a chicken wrap in the other.

For people who are extremely overweight, some prefer to undergo operations like gastric banding, liposuction, gastric bypass, or stomach stapling instead of altering their diet. Whatever the ailment, Americans prefer to pop pills, exercise their jiggling belly away, or undergo surgery, despite the fact that all operations pose some risk, and nearly every drug has side effects.

Centuries ago, Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." So, we have long known the association between a healthy diet and good health. But it's been either forgotten or purposefully ignored in modern society.

Historians still debate whether Roman nobility actually used feathers to induce vomiting. After all, vomiting is hardly an enjoyable experience. And, I imagine one's appetite would be a bit suppressed afterwards - especially if your seat is nearest the vomitorium.
Today, too many American's are willing to endure nearly any level of suffering to lose their excess weight - except sacrificing the foods that they love. It might not be as unsettling as tickling the back of the throat with a feather, but the result is eerily similar.
I invite you to visit my website, The Soup of Life. Each week, I add another column where I give my thoughts on culture, politics, religion, health, science, and life.

Pondering the questions and possibilities of life continues to be my lifelong passion. And, I am never done learning. I am looking forward to your thoughts and comments.
You have various options when it comes to DFW on site drug testing. You can choose to do the testing on your own, or you can work with a third-party. Working with a third party can make a lot of sense, and save you time along the way. This will allow you to focus on operations rather than on operating your drug and alcohol testing program.

Notify Employee

Employees need to be notified that they have to undergo a drug test. The benefit is that it will be conducted on-site, which means that you can get 100% participation. Any time that it is offered off-site, you run the risk of people not going because they have to find the time to go to the lab. Then, you may deal with transportation problems, as well as those who claim that they cannot find the lab.

When it is conducted on-site, you can ensure people will go to get the test. You can also ensure that the third-party will provide sufficient notification, which is one less thing for you to have to do.

Maintain Chain of Custody

Maintaining the chain of custody is of the utmost importance. If at any time, the chain is broken, the results become invalid. You don't want to be responsible for this chain of custody because it can be time-consuming. There are also various documents that go along with the process. By handing the responsibility over to a third-party, you can remain confident that the chain of custody is present. This will also be of benefit to you in the event that an employee tests positive. You may need to take legal action against them, or use it in a case that is already in process.

Obtain Results

There is also the matter of obtaining the results. By using a third-party, they will obtain the results, and record everything electronically. You can have everything filed away in an electronic data management system. You can also receive real-time status updates through a dashboard. It will keep you informed of all that is going on. If you need to see whether an employee has been tested recently or not, you can pull them up by name. You can also see their test results.

You may not have the time to manage the entire process. It can be overwhelming, especially as you add more employees to the mix. When you take advantage of DFW on-site drug testing, you can also have a medical review officer who will take care of all the different test. They can provide DOT as well of non-DOT drug tests, as well as alcohol tests.

Hospitals of today face a variety of challenges that force them to redefine the way they conduct business. There is a significant shift from focusing of the number of 'heads in beds' to delivering high quality, reliable care at affordable costs. This transition is based on the need to ensure that customers have dependable healthcare services whenever required.
Here are some of the characteristics that make a hospital 'the best hospital':
Coordinated care
Healthcare systems should be able to provide coordinated care throughout the continuum of care including outpatient office visits to inpatient stays and post acute rehabilitation. They should develop standardized care paths for some of the most common conditions that are treated at their hospital. Unnecessary processes and procedures must be eliminated and the patients must experience a seamless transition from one department to another until they are finally discharged.
Comprehensive care
There are some hospitals who focus on core specialties, and some that provide comprehensive care. The advantage of a comprehensive care unit is that the patient does not have to be moved to another hospital or health care organization due to unavailability of certain services. A comprehensive care unit can provide all the required services under one roof.
Openness to technology
Technology cannot be ignored in today's world. Hospitals that openly embrace technology and implement new and sophisticated ways to treat patients are better equipped for success. New age treatment methods such as robotic surgeries have better success rates. Other than that, hospitals also need to implement advanced technology information systems that can readily provide clinical information to manage the hospital efficiently. So, openness to technology is one of the factors that contribute to building a highly successful healthcare unit.
Efficiency
Hospitals should be able to provide standardized care by eliminating all the unnecessary processes and provide an environment that is focused on patient care rather than lengthy administrative procedures. This ensures that critical patients get the care they require within stipulated time and there are no delays in services due to redundant processes and procedures. The best hospitals are invariably the ones that are highly efficient.
Patient centeredness
Patient centeredness is one of the most important factors. The patients must always be the topmost priority for any hospital. Building patient experiences is important for any hospital that aims to provide the highest levels of patient care.
Transparent pricing
Transparent pricing is one of the most important parts of running a patient friendly healthcare service. Well, a patient should not be taken by surprise when they finally get their bills. All expenses should be clearly mentioned so that they are prepared financially before they undergo treatment.
Overall, other than the expertise and skills of the doctors on board, patients of today demand a lot more from healthcare organizations. In order to be the best, these hospitals need to deliver their best on all fronts such as medical care, administrative procedures, coordination between various departments and embracing technology. Implementing new processes and eliminating the redundant ones is the key to providing patients with a great experience while they stay at your hospital.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9556309

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Interesting Facts on Umbilical Cords

Too many chronic ailments are on the rise and there is no health care to counter the spread of all these diseases. The result is that every individual is plagued with a plethora of problems and in their haste to keep up with everyday life; they end up popping too many pills. The health system that presently exists has a very mechanical approach towards patients and their problems, for them suppressing a problem is better than completely eradicating the root cause of it.

Though there is a system of medicinal science that has been in existence for centuries and takes a very holistic approach towards dealing with any health issue. It takes measures to prevent any diseases along with curing the existing ones. Though of course there are some diseases that do require allopathic medicines in order to be cured but that doesn't lessen the importance of Ayurveda. This ancient system of treating diseases with herbs and natural products originated in India and is highly practiced and recommended. Many countries in the west after the advent of Yoga and other eastern esoteric methods, are taking up the ayurvedic route to a better health. Ayurveda is a highly spiritual and traditional way of curing a disease and there are a variety of reasons why you must choose to use Ayurvedic medicines:

Provides A Complete & Holistic Cure:
Many people suffering from chronic health issues get tired of popping pills but have to keep up with those medicines in order to suppress their ailment. Often times they develop other health issue due to constant intake of pills such as liver or other digestive problems. Ayurvedic medicines on the other hand deal with permanently healing the person. It doesn't offer just temporary relief but ensures the complete eradication of the root cause of the problem.

Cost Effective:
More than the actual disease that they are suffering from, people fear the medical bills they incur. Taking constant insurance policies and yet taking up more loans to finally pay off the medical bills can actually induce more mental health problems. Ayurvedic medicines on the other hand do not burn a hole in the pocket and are available at very affordable prices.

It's Natural:
You can always trust Mother Nature to provide you with the best and the healthiest things. Just like the fruits and vegetables that we eat, everything that is used in Ayurvedic medicines is made of natural substance and possesses no strong side effects. All the more reasons to take up ayurvedic medicines.People often question that how come the Japanese are so fit and slim despite eating rice and noodles on a daily basis? While there are numerous reasons behind their physical dexterity, one vital fact is that they don't consume the regular white rice but parboiled rice. Parboiled rice, also known as converted rice, is the grain that is partially boiled in the husk in order to augment its nutritional profile for added benefits. But what benefits? While there are various kinds of rice grains ranging from white rice to brown rice to black rice, every specific variety has its own advantages. Parboiled Rice though stands a cut above them. Although it isn't yet officially declared as the healthiest rice (considering there are thousands of categories), it is certainly the most effective one for the following reasons: -

1. Increases Metabolism

Parboiled rice is a great source of vitamin B-9, or Folate. Since our body is dependable on the specified vitamin and amino acids, the compound helps increase the rate of metabolism. Half-cup cooked parboiled rice incorporates approximately 100 micrograms of Folate which is near thirty percent of the daily required quantity for both the men and the women.

2. Amplifies Levels Of Oxygen

Converted rice is also an excellent source of Iron. Half-cup serving of the grain incorporates approximately 1.4 milligrams of the element which is around 20 percent of the daily required quantity for both the men and the women. According to a study, Iron helps our body in sensing the levels of oxygen present in the tissues and furthermore distributes oxygen through our bloodstream.

3. Regulates The Activities Of Thyroid Gland

Utmost advantage of boiled rice is that it provides us with Selenium, a chemical element which help in regulating the thyroid gland via controlling the activities of thyroid hormones and thus, resulting in prevention of chubbiness or getting underweight. Half-cup of serving of cooked parboiled rice incorporates approximately 7.3 micrograms of Selenium radicals which is near 15 percent of the daily required quantity for both men and the women.

4. Prevents Cardiovascular Risks

Parboiled rice also contains Niacin i.e. Vitamin B3 which not only supports the metabolism of the body but also helps the cells in carrying out the necessary chemical reactions to breakdown fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy and thus keeps the cholesterol levels under control. Half-cup serving of parboiled rice incorporates approximately 1.8 micrograms of Niacin which is near fifteen percent of the daily required quantity for both the men and the women.

So, instead of believing in the half-authentic fact that eating rice regularly can make you obese, remember that daily consumption of parboiled rice is favorable for your body as it helps in maintaining good health. Converted rice is available for purchase mostly everywhere albeit it's a bit expensive as compared to white rice.Ever wondered if there is a relationship between your umbilical cord and the belly button? Of course there is! When you have your little one inside your womb, it needs a life-support system to survive the pregnancy gestation period. This support is comprised of the placenta, the umbilical cord and the amniotic sac filled with amniotic fluid. "The baby's life hangs by a cord", as said by Ian Donald, aptly tells the importance of the umbilical cord.

The umbilical cord plays the essential role of attaching your baby to the placenta and keeps feeding your baby. During delivery, the placenta is expelled from your uterus through a process known as the after-birth. The umbilical cord, once your baby is delivered is clamped and cut. The remaining section of the cord heals and later becomes the baby's belly button.

Nevertheless, most are aware of these common facts. But there are some really fun insights that you probably never thought about:

Umbilical Cords Vary in Length

The lengths of the umbilical cords in babies are variable. However, there is no concrete evidence to ascertain why the length varies at all. Within the full gestation period of 28 weeks, the cord may reach its full length which usually is between 45-60 centimetres in length. In a small percentage of pregnancies, the cord is less than 45 centimetres in length and investigative studies have shown that placenta retention and C-section is usually higher in such instances.

Tangles, Knots, and Loops

Babies in the womb are constantly moving around. A common game that they indulge in is playing 'loop the loop' with the cord. If the baby is healthy and the cord remains intact, it does not really pose any risk to the baby. Approximately 35% of the babies born have the umbilical cord wrapped around their necks and 1% of them have the cord in a true knot.

It stops working when needed.

In the womb, the stem cell remains in a temperature controlled environment. Post the baby's birth, the cord is exposed to cooler air and the 'Wharton's Jelly' within it starts to harden and shrink. Natural clamping occurs that squeezes and closes the blood vessels inside the cord. Depending on the temperature outside of the mother's body, natural clamping takes approximately between 3 and 20 minutes.

The Umbilical Cord Tissue is full of potential.

Most of us have heard about cord blood stem cells but the new research that has everyone's attention is on umbilical cord tissue. Many ongoing clinical trials have brought significant evidence forward that the cord blood tissue also contains stem cells that possess the potential to multiply and transform into various cell types, like cartilage, bone, fat, etc. This essentially means that the cord tissue with more stem cells can potentially be used in treating more conditions and disorders.

As Nancy Reagan rightfully said, "Now science has presented us with a hope called stem cell research, which may provide our scientists with many answers that have for so long been beyond our grasp."

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What You Need To Know About Common Soft Tissue Injuries

In my work as a psychologist I so often see people struggling to make life changes that they would really like to make. I encounter the same thing in my personal life. Despite best intentions, and some pleasing results from changing to a healthier lifestyle, it can still be too easy to reach for that cake, that biscuit, that family sized packet of crisps, or to stay for too long on that comfy sofa.

While it is never simple to make changes, an understanding of some of the powerful forces that shape our behaviour can help. Our behaviours are constantly influenced by automatic reactions more than we probably know. Behaviours can be strengthened by one of two processes, positive or negative reinforcement. When behaviours are reinforced, it is unlikely that willpower along will be enough to help us to change these behaviours in the long term.

Positive reinforcement occurs when something we do is immediately followed by a rewarding consequence. During, or shortly after something that we do, we feel good. Negative reinforcement is when we stop feeling as bad after something that we do. Intermittent reinforcement, which can be positive or negative, is an even stronger force that shapes behaviour. This is when a particular behaviour is sometimes reinforced by positive or negative reinforcement but sometimes not. Reinforcement occurs for short term consequences. The long term impact of a behaviour will not tend to automatically strengthen or weaken any of our habits in this way.

When we understand about positive and negative reinforcement it can be easy to understand why it can be so hard to stop some of our bad habits. Take overeating as an example. The immediate consequences of eating a tub of ice cream will often include positive reinforcement (it feels pleasant) and negative reinforcement (it takes our mind off our problems). The long term impact is not good, but this has little effect on how the behaviour is reinforced. In fact, if we feel bad about ourselves because of weight and health issues this may well support a craving for more ice cream due to the immediate consequences this has on temporarily relieving our negative thoughts.

It is always hard to change bad habits. Forming new, healthy habits and making sure that they are enjoyable for us is usually a helpful starting point. These new habits may go some way towards helping us to feel better so that we don't need to rely on the bad habits so much anymore. In time we may be able to recognise the pull towards a bad habit and meet the underlying needs behind it with a more healthy alternative. Increased awareness through mindfulness may help us to detect this pull before it is too strong for us to resist. It's likely that we won't be able to do this every time, and we don't need to. The more we are able to meet our underlying emotional needs in a healthy way, the less frequent our destructive habits will become and the less impact they will have on our overall health and lives.
For a few years more and more people are turning towards those alternative systems that allow the home water purification. A realization motivated by several factors: incomplete information of the substances contained in the water in the bottle as we have seen, economic savings, safeguarding the environment and convenience. Just look at the queues at the supermarket; with tons of bottles to carry back home which will be recycled with considerable costs.

These devices are connected directly to the tap at home or to the main pipeline and are able to filter water, making it not only more good but also safer for health. The cost of household cleaners will pay for itself in a few months, requiring only maintenance.

Of all domestic water purification systems, only those with reverse osmosis, work fine and can actually eliminate more than 99% of the harmful substances found in tap water, thus making the very best water and sure of, many bottled brands. These plants, in fact, are used for several years by hospitals, by humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF, the chemical laboratories and major companies producing beverages from around the world (ie. Cold Drinks, beer, etc.) to produce and consume pure water in very large quantities.

The same type of equipment fitted with reverse osmosis, is used by many humanitarian and government entities associations occurring after natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, etc.) to produce perfectly clean water from polluted sources. In addition, some of the bottled water sold every day in supermarkets is nothing more than spring water filtered by reverse osmosis purification systems!

The "good" water should be free or very low in harmful substances such as: chlorine, nitrites, fluorides, chlorides, lead, phosphates, ammonia, bromide, etc. In fact the tap water and bottled water may contain these harmful elements, often with values close to the limits imposed by law. The presence of these harmful elements can depends on pollution of groundwater caused by pesticides used in agriculture, from detergents used daily in the home, from lubricating oils disposed of outlaws (eg. thrown in the gutters), and the increasingly frequent illegal dumps that pollute subsoil. With the Reverse Osmosis however, you can eliminate the most dangerous and harmful chemical elements up to 99%, bringing also the worst tap water in Italy in levels of extreme purity.

Reverse osmosis is a water purification technology is achieved by which a high percentage of contaminant retention, dissolved and undissolved (up to 99% retention of dissolved salts). When two liquids with different salt concentrations, are separated by a semi-permeable membrane, a pressure difference between either side of the membrane is a function of the concentration difference is established. This pressure, called osmotic, forces pure water pass off less concentration on the side of more concentration until the concentrations become equal.

Conversely, if the system applies a higher osmotic pressure and opposite, is the pure water of higher concentration side which passes into the lower concentration. This phenomenon, which plays a key role in the metabolism of all living cells, can be used as a method of desalination or demineralization, besides using very simple means.
Soft tissue injuries refer to pulls, tears, and contusions on muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These types of injuries are sometimes acquired overtime with repetitive movements you do for work. These types of injuries which are acquired overtime is also referred to as cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), repetitive strain injury (RSI), or simply overexertion/overuse injury. It can also be a result from receiving a blow, overusing or straining a body part, or getting a sprain through a single incident such as a fall or a slip.

An anterior cruciate ligament injury or torn ACL as well as a shoulder joint tear from an accident while operating machineries at work are examples of single injury-causing incidents. As for soft tissue injuries that have been accumulated overtime, it commonly represents itself as carpal tunnel syndrome. This is the feeling of numbness and tingling sensation in your hand because of pressure on the median nerve on the wrist of office workers. For laborers on the other hand, issues such as back strain are the cause.

If you are thinking that you may be suffering from such injuries, you may notice immediate pain that is accompanied by immediate or delayed swelling. Additionally, you may feel stiffness especially if trauma and swelling is involved. And if the joint is a weight bearing joint, you may suffer from instability if you experience such issues.

For people who suffer from soft tissue injuries, they often refer to a chiropractic blog to do a self-diagnose or research on what may be involved if they decide to go for treatment. Whiplash is among the common soft tissue injuries that most people suffer from and want to know more about. Additionally, torn ligaments in the shoulder, knees, and ankle joints, back strains, sprains, contusions, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tenosynovitis, tendonitis, and myofascial pain are also amongst the list of the most common injuries when it comes to soft tissues.

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Skin and Its Glowing Beauty

You have various options when it comes to DFW on site drug testing. You can choose to do the testing on your own, or you can work with a third-party. Working with a third party can make a lot of sense, and save you time along the way. This will allow you to focus on operations rather than on operating your drug and alcohol testing program.

Notify Employee

Employees need to be notified that they have to undergo a drug test. The benefit is that it will be conducted on-site, which means that you can get 100% participation. Any time that it is offered off-site, you run the risk of people not going because they have to find the time to go to the lab. Then, you may deal with transportation problems, as well as those who claim that they cannot find the lab.

When it is conducted on-site, you can ensure people will go to get the test. You can also ensure that the third-party will provide sufficient notification, which is one less thing for you to have to do.

Maintain Chain of Custody

Maintaining the chain of custody is of the utmost importance. If at any time, the chain is broken, the results become invalid. You don't want to be responsible for this chain of custody because it can be time-consuming. There are also various documents that go along with the process. By handing the responsibility over to a third-party, you can remain confident that the chain of custody is present. This will also be of benefit to you in the event that an employee tests positive. You may need to take legal action against them, or use it in a case that is already in process.

Obtain Results

There is also the matter of obtaining the results. By using a third-party, they will obtain the results, and record everything electronically. You can have everything filed away in an electronic data management system. You can also receive real-time status updates through a dashboard. It will keep you informed of all that is going on. If you need to see whether an employee has been tested recently or not, you can pull them up by name. You can also see their test results.

You may not have the time to manage the entire process. It can be overwhelming, especially as you add more employees to the mix. When you take advantage of DFW on-site drug testing, you can also have a medical review officer who will take care of all the different test. They can provide DOT as well of non-DOT drug tests, as well as alcohol tests.

The information that you get can be invaluable to determine whether you want to keep employees after they have tested positive. Also, you can get the help where you need it the most so that you can focus on other important aspects of running your business.\
An occupational therapist assesses and considers various treatments for individuals who struggle with daily living and work skills due to a physical, mental, or cognitive disorder. The primary goal is to assist patients in overcoming daily challenges to achieve an independent life.

Occupational therapy can benefit people of all ages, especially children. The sooner parents notice the warning signs of a child struggling with daily tasks, the easier it will be for the child to develop new skills and cope with their challenges. A parent may notice that their child actively avoids activities that include fine motor skills, as they realize they have difficulty performing certain tasks. An overreaction to certain sounds, smells, and touch, may be a symptom of a sensory issue, and therapy may help a child to cope better. A child may also need assistance if they rarely initiate or engage independently in activities or social groups.

Poor Fine Motor Skills

Parents may notice that their child will avoid certain activities due to their poor fine motor skills and coordination. For example, a child may have issues using scissors, holding and gripping a pencil or crayon, folding paper, or even writing their name. As a result, the child would try to avoid any writing, drawing, or craft-related activities at school. Poor fine motor skills will also affect their ability to hold and manipulate small objects, so a child may also experience frustration while handling some toys, games, or puzzles. It's not limited to activities; a child may also show difficulty with putting on shoes, buttoning a coat, and handling dinner utensils at an age when they should have mastered these tasks.

Poor coordination is another warning sign that children may need occupational therapy. Children may frequently fall or crash into things or people due to their lack of balance. A therapist will guide the child towards techniques that will help them improve their coordination and achieve success in daily life and academics.

Overreaction to Stimuli

Occupational therapy can benefit children who show signs of hypersensitivity to sounds, smells, touch, or tastes. A child that is overreactive to stimuli may have difficulty coping with change or be easily distracted by any sight or sound. Alternately, a child may also underreact to stimuli; for instance, they may show signs of high pain tolerance.

Over or underreactive responses may indicate a condition called Sensory Processing Disorder, in which the brain has trouble receiving sensory information and organizing it into appropriate responses. Many children with this disorder may be able to cope with the overwhelming symptoms with the guidance of an occupational therapist.

Lack of Initiation

Some children struggle with social skills and social interactions, leading to a potentially negative impact on their academic and personal life. Fortunately, social skills can be improved with the help of therapy.
Issues with social interaction go beyond difficulties in engaging with family and peers. A child may also have issues adapting to new environments and situations. Parents may also notice that their child lacks initiation in social groups and interests that are new and involve other peers, choosing to observe from the outside rather than actively participate.
As I walk down the aisle of Wegman's, I'm thinking to myself what a great day I'm having. I love it when I have the time to just linger at the grocery store and take the time to browse and read labels and look for new products to try. I'm a health nut, admittedly. I wasn't always. But when you get to be a certain age, it's time to clean up your act or you start to fall apart. I'm 48, so I had to start cleaning up my act about 5 years ago. I feel pretty good most days now. But wait... nooooo.

I try to move away from the offensive smell immediately to try to escape the inevitable. Is it going to work? No. Someone's perfume is about to ruin my day and give me a damn migraine!

I wasn't always like this, hiding and running from all fragrances. Perfumes and laundry detergent smells send me into a dizzying tailspin of pain and anxiety. Dryer sheets are the worst. I can smell those on people from 15 feet away sometimes. It's almost like I have bionic smell.

I've had migraines since I was about 12. They run in my family. Both my mother and my grandfather got them. I used to get them on average once a month with my period and if I ate MSG. It all changed when I went through early menopause starting at age 43. I was through it by 45 and I went through a period of three years when I had a migraine almost every day.

I'm on a cocktail of medications to prevent them now, including an anti-seizure, but the one thing that remains is my sensitivity to fragrances. When I come in contact with a chemical smell, my whole face feels as if it's made of glass and it's breaking into a million shards of tiny pieces.

Perhaps the reason I'm so sensitive to fragrances is because they are so toxic and they are harmful to us. After all, the CDC considers fragrances so harmful that it has banned them in all of its buildings. According to the Environmental Working Group, many fragrances contain carcinogens, hormone disruptors, thyroid disruption and can cause sperm damage. Some don't even list all their ingredients (Secret Chemicals Revealed In Celebrity Perfumes, Teen Body Sprays, 2010). So who knows what other harmful effects they could have on our health?

Dryer sheets and laundry detergents are particularly toxic. Not only are the "softening" agents toxic but they can contain hundreds of untested chemicals including hormone disruptors. A University of Washington Study on air contaminants from fragranced consumer goods detected between 18 and 20 chemicals in each of four laundry products- including likely human carcinogens (Sutton PhD., 2011).

It's not just migraine sufferers that are affected by fragrances. People with asthma are also at great risk. For some sufferers, fragrance is their main trigger of an attack.

In just the past week I have met three other women who are also bothered by perfume. The first was when I was at the gym. I was working out and there was a young woman who had on half a bottle of the poisonous stuff. The manager noticed that I was covering my nose and looking generally ill. She pulled me into her office to ask me if I was OK. When I told her what was going on, she said she was also very bothered by it- that she broke out in hives. She said her mother was allergic and got allergy symptoms. Later that week I was at the bank and the woman that usually waits on me told me that she is so sickened by perfume that she has to keep a small fan behind the counter so she can blow the perfume smells away from her. Then just yesterday, my chiropractor's wife noticed me in the waiting room looking pale and covering my nose. She walked into the waiting room and she immediately knew what the problem was. She took me to one of the treatment rooms and said" I can't stand perfume either! Oh, my gosh, that's so strong!" It turns out, she has asthma and perfume is a major trigger for her.

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Why Seek Ayurvedic Solutions to Health Problems

Chiropractic can be defined as a discipline in health care that revolves more on inherent recuperative body power to allow it heal on its own without the need to use surgery or drugs. It focuses on the relationship between spine structure and function of the nervous system and how it affects the restoration and preservation of health. Chiropractors offer varying solutions depending on the health issue at hand to aid the most natural healing possible. This is indeed a treatment option that has become very popular mainly because of the various benefits it comes packed with.

1. Pain management

It is normal for the body to experience the pressure and stress, but this can cause micro injuries typically ignored until they develop into severe health issues that affect you. If you have a physically demanding job or a schedule that is rigorous then you remain exposed to these kinds of injuries. Chiropractic care offers preventative pain management when you take care of your musculoskeletal system on a regular basis. Prevention is always better than cure and this is what the treatment will do for you when you make the early decision to get help.

2. Body relaxation

Busy schedules can take a toll on you and when this happens you risk being exposed to stress. Tense and misaligned skeletal, nervous and muscular systems lead to a nervous system that is stressed out in the same manner. Stress can develop into so many health issues but with the help of chiropractic care, it is possible to balance out the body so you are able to enjoy stress relief and boost your moods and energy levels.

3. Posture enhancements

One of the effects of office work is that you remain in the same position for too long and this can lead to posture issues. Apart from your line of work, how you carry yourself can also affect posture and the impact it has on body functions. With chiropractic intervention, you will be able to get to the root of the problem right from the spine and have the issue addressed so your posture can be improved and enhanced in the process. The treatment addresses height difference, curvatures, outward turning, inward turning, tilting and stance. When all these areas are touched on you will be able to stand stronger.

4. Body performance improvements

Chiropractic treatment helps increase oxygenation, reduces muscle spasms, improves circulation and even decreases the lactic acid levels in the body. It enhances flexibility too, and ensure that nutrients are delivered efficiently to the cells and this means quicker recovery. When all important body functions have improved on, then you perform much better in all that you do.

5. Pain relief

Apart from preventing pain, chiropractic care also works in eliminating existing pain. It effectively addresses neck pain, back pain, and shoulder pain among other kinds of pain without using drugs. Spine adjustments relieve and treat pain around the knees and hips and other parts of the body effectively and safely for that matter.
There is no better nurturer than Mother Nature and some of the finest products that are used by people in their daily lives come from nature. One of the reasons why our ancestors lived a far healthier life and were plagued by far less health problems was because of the absence of manufactured products and the use of natural ingredients. From beauty to health, nature is abundant with products that cater to all our needs. Another gift of nature is Ayurveda, a 5000 year old system of natural healing that originated from India and is the most oldest and scared healing science. The word Ayurveda translates to lifespan built on knowledge and that is exactly what it is, knowledge acquired by the ancient people that is very effective in the treatment of various diseases till date. In the present times when medicines are becoming a health problem rather than a boon, more and more people are turning to Ayurvedic medicines for a safer and healthier solution to health problems. There are various reasons why Ayurveda is a better option over allopathic medicines:

Ayurvedic treatment provides a permanent solution: Unlike other medicines that do not fall in tune with the proper requirements of the body and at times are used like crutches by patients, Ayurveda studies the requirement of very person and provides medication accordingly. It does not merely mask the issue but goes to the root cause of the problem and works at eliminating the cause of the disease. This is why it is a more detailed healing system as it requires the careful study of a patient, their physical and emotional characteristics and provides a holistic treatment that encompasses their physical, mental and emotional health.

It is safe and natural: Most medicines are made up of chemical compound that do more damage than good in the long run. Often enough we find that people start to grow dependent on these medications and that wrecks their organs like liver, kidney or heart. With Ayurveda, all these worries can never materialize as being a nature based medication; they have absolutely no side effect and are safe. They can easily be used for a long period of time by anyone without any worries of ill effects that other medicines pose.

Cost effective: Anyone who has had to pay hospital bills in the past few years would know that getting treated for any ailment can burn a large hole in the pocket. Paying the piling bills can be more worrisome than the actual illness itself and can take a toll on the mental health but Ayurveda on the other hand is far less cheap. One can easily use Ayurvedic medicines for a long time without worrying about price.
Health and fitness has become the new religion as more and more people seek a better life free from costly and sometimes painful health issues. The sooner you can start watching your health the better you will be in living a better life. But when it comes to health and fitness, it is never too late to start making changes. The simplest of changes towards a better lifestyle can be all you need to see a difference in your health.

Because of the demands for better health, mobile applications related to fitness have been developed. Gone are the days when you needed to be at the gym to get yourself a rewarding workout. A personal trainer is necessary in guiding you through the process but this would mean going to where the trainer is. But with fitness apps available, you can now enjoy time and place convenience and still get maximum results from the time you spend on your fitness sessions. There are a number of reasons why you should consider getting a fitness app.

You have freedom to select the best app for you

App developers have embraced all areas of fitness and offer apps that suit the different needs of the users. When looking at the apps, you will realize that you can go for an activity tracking app, a diet and nutrition app or a workout and exercise app. To get the most from your efforts, you can choose to have each of the apps, so you are able to combine healthy dieting with healthy exercising to achieve optimum results with your health and fitness efforts.

You get a personal trainer wherever you are

Mobile apps make it possible for you to take your personal trainer wherever and whenever without an extra cost. This means that you will have the freedom to train from any given place and time as long as you have the needed app on your mobile device. There is so much flexibility in this and it cannot be compared to you having to go to a gym a health and fitness center to access the helpful insights and guidance of a personal trainer.

You enjoy some freedom with a fitness app

People are different. Whereas some do not mind training in a group, others feel a bit more comfortable training alone. Because it can be difficult to have a personal trainer all to yourself, especially as far as the rates go, you will love what an app can do for you. A fitness app allows you the freedom to exercise just like you like it and from a place that you are most comfortable. This way you are able to give every session your best so you can reach your fitness goals faster.

The apps are easy to use

This is because they are designed even with beginners in mind. The apps are not only step by step guides to workouts and diet but also come with features that make it easy for all users to use and get the most from them. You do not have to worry that you are only starting because the app has everything you need to start you off.

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When to Conduct DFW Drug Testing

When you need FCRA background checks, you want to find out how to get quality ones you can rely on. It's going to be much easier to work with a third-party then it will be to try and do everything on your own. It may provide you with access to more information, and allow you to focus on other aspects of human resources.

There are various consortiums and third-party administrators that can help with the background checks. To make it easier to choose who will provide you with the checks, there are a few ways to narrow down the playing field.

Explore Services
The services offered to you can vary. Some third-party administrators may help you not only with background checks, but also with drug testing, chain of custody management tools, as well as real-time status updates using a dashboard.

Find Out About Background Information
Learn about what background information can be provided to you during the check. Such things may include past addresses, past employers, criminal activity, credit scores, and various other things. The more you can access about an employee, the better it will be for you and your company.

Look at Costs
It's going to cost for a background check to be conducted. The good news is that not everyone charges the same. You will want to find out who offers what rates, and do some comparisons. You will also want to see whether there are different prices based upon the level of background checks conducted.

Find Out Reputation
Any time that you decide you want to use a third-party, it is important to explore their reputation. Online reviews can tell you just about anything you want to know. If other people complain about the level of customer service, you can likely anticipate the same level - which means you should cross this third-party off your list.

Learn About Digital Reporting
Digital reporting can make it easier for you to get the information you need. Data can come in online, and keep you organized with the use of a dashboard. Further, you can say goodbye to the paper trail.

Look at Speed of Service
It is also important to look at the speed of service in which you can get a background check. Essentially, how long is it going to take you to get the report once you contact the third-party to conduct a check on a specific person?

Make Comparisons
The only true way to know whether you have found a good third-party or not is to compare them against several others. This should only take a few minutes, especially if you are reviewing information online. You can also send an email or make a phone call in order to ask a few more questions to help with the comparison process.
There are all sorts of different times as to when you should conduct DFW drug testing. Knowing when will make it easier for you to strengthen your testing program. It will also allow you to learn more about your employees, even before you bring them on board.

Pre-Employment
You will definitely want to have drug testing in DFW conducted prior to employment. This will allow you to see if candidates are using drugs in any capacity. You don't want to offer employment to someone if they test positive. This is because they could have a variety of health problems, and are constantly breaking the law. Additionally, they may pose a problem on the jobsite, particularly if they cannot stay focused, or cannot remain sober while they are at work.

Many employees conduct a pre-employment drug screening. This means that many candidates are already used to the process. You can schedule a drug screening so that a person knows when to go. After receiving the results, you can then decide whether you want to offer a job or not.

During Employment
It is a good idea to conduct drug testing throughout a person's employment. This should be done randomly, and you can choose how often. Much of the frequency will depend upon the industry you are in. For example, trucking industries are regulated by the DOT.

The randomness of the drug testing ensures that people never know when they are going to be tested. Some people may be tested more frequently than others, and this is simply because of the luck of the draw. Either way, it will help to keep your employees honest, and help you to address problems that you may encounter.

After an Accident
If you have an employee that has been involved in an accident at the workplace, you may want to have them go through DFW drug testing. The primary reason is to find out whether they were under the influence of a drug. If they were, you may be able to avoid various costs associated with the injury. This is because they chose to go against employment policies and use a drug.

Otherwise, you would be responsible for paying medical expenses, and potentially have to deal with an increase in your workers compensation premiums. If you can prove that the person was on drugs, you may be able to reduce the overall expenses.

You need to have a strong drug testing program in place. If you don't want to handle all of the details on your own, you can hire a third party administrator to deal with everything. They can help to set up the program, maintain a chain of custody, and provide you with all of the necessary reports. It will allow you to focus on running your business, and without having to worry about whether employees are abusing drugs - either on their own, or on the clock. When employees do get a positive test, you can then determine how to deal with them appropriately.
This is a branch of medicine. They deal with the manufacture and use of orhoses, or orthotics. These devices are used to help correct a person's function and posture. They are developed to help patients with many conditions, from having a congenital deformity to a stroke. This branch of medicine serves to minimize pain, maximize mobility and function, and prevent progression of a physical abnormality. One example of an orthotics is an insole that is placed inside their shoe to cushion and support the foot to help prevent leg and foot pain.

It is possible to create prefabricated orthotics or customize them for the patient. You can find many of the ready-made ones in drug stores and department stores. Other ready-made orthotics can include braces for your ankle, wrist, or knee to support compromised joints. You should only wear those that comfortably fit because if they do not then they could cause more problems than they fix. Orthotics can also be custom fit. One example of a custom fit orthotic is a cast, which is used to immobilize and support a broken bone while it heals. Some of the other custom orthotics may be similar to ready-made ones but they are designed to fit the patient flawlessly.

Orthotics can also be used to address a certain medical problem or malformation. They can even be used to support your body and provide comfort in your everyday activities. If you are one who has a rigorous job or participates in regular sports activities may benefit from orthotics directly. If you have to spend a lot of time on your feet, you may get benefit from having insoles. If you do heavy lifting, you may benefit from a back brace. With orthotics, there is a variety of functions, sophistication, and prices in these medical devices. Orthotics can be made of metal, elastic fabric and plastic, or leather. Depending on what their specific condition or concerns the level of support will depend on the patient's needs.

Before purchasing any ready-made orthotics, make sure that you know what you are purchasing and what the purpose is. Take the time to read the package to make sure that you are getting exactly what you need. If there is any doubt as to what you need take time to see your physician to find out what they recommend.

Because many jobs today require a person to spend most of their job on their feet on concrete floors. This can be very hard not only on your feet but also on your legs, hips, and back. You can either purchase some ready-made insoles for your shoes or you can see your podiatrist and have them custom made to give your feet, back, and legs relief while working.
 

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Lifestyle Impacts The Length of Telomeres of Chromosomes

When I attended elementary school, we were taught that wealthy ancient Romans would tickle the back of their throat with a feather to induce vomiting after dinner. Although that ritual probably put a damper on any postprandial romance (unless mouthwash was provided with the meal), it allowed them to engage in their greatest delight - eating more food. Whether or not that custom is mythical, it does bring to mind similar, modern practices of many Americans today.

I sometimes ask insulin-dependent diabetics a simple, yet revealing question. If they could give up all food except some basic green vegetables for one month, and by doing so, cure themselves of their diabetes, would they do it? Sadly, the answer is always a resounding "no." They explained to me that they are unwilling to deny themselves any food. Rather than monitor their diet, they prefer to inject themselves with additional insulin when required.

I was with a friend once late at night, and we stopped for a bite to eat after a movie. He suffered from heartburn and acid reflux, and wondered aloud whether it was too late to take a prescription pill for his condition. He pondered his choices for a moment, and then confidently popped the pill into his mouth. He then proceeded to order cheese fries, a bacon cheeseburger, and some onion rings - despite the lateness of the hour. Surprised by his decision, I asked him why he didn't just avoid those foods, and order something lighter and easier to digest. He gazed at me incredulously, and then explained that was the purpose of the pills. I suggested that he should forego another tub of greasy, buttered popcorn on the next movie night. It might save him a pill.

Fried foods, trans-fats, sugary desserts, and salty snacks - why avoid them when a simple pill will counter their deleterious effects? People I know would prefer to take medication for their high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. We can actually alleviate most of these health conditions - and even physical pain, insomnia, and arthritis - by altering dietary intake. However, few people will deny themselves the foods that they enjoy.

When it comes to weight loss, nearly everyone tries over-the-counter diet pills before sacrificing that extra helping of greasy fries or a sweet, tempting dessert. When those pills fail, many turn to prescription medicine for weight loss. In addition, as I noted in my article, "The Truth About Weight Loss," many people prefer to endure grueling exercise regimens that they dread and hate, rather than deny themselves the foods whispering their sweet names as they pass by the refrigerator. Incidentally, my refrigerator has an alluring, female, British accent. Still haven't gotten her name though. The decision to exercise and ignore diet is usually a losing proposition, because it's difficult to lose weight on a treadmill with a milk shake in one hand, and a chicken wrap in the other.

For people who are extremely overweight, some prefer to undergo operations like gastric banding, liposuction, gastric bypass, or stomach stapling instead of altering their diet. Whatever the ailment, Americans prefer to pop pills, exercise their jiggling belly away, or undergo surgery, despite the fact that all operations pose some risk, and nearly every drug has side effects.

Centuries ago, Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." So, we have long known the association between a healthy diet and good health. But it's been either forgotten or purposefully ignored in modern society.

Historians still debate whether Roman nobility actually used feathers to induce vomiting. After all, vomiting is hardly an enjoyable experience. And, I imagine one's appetite would be a bit suppressed afterwards - especially if your seat is nearest the vomitorium.

Today, too many American's are willing to endure nearly any level of suffering to lose their excess weight - except sacrificing the foods that they love. It might not be as unsettling as tickling the back of the throat with a feather, but the result is eerily similar.
You will want to compare MRO services third-party administrator to another. This will make it easier for you to determine who you will work with. If a medical review officer isn't able to provide you with quality services, or enough services, it's only going to cause more work for you. This can be avoided simply by taking the time to research your options before choosing one over another.

Look at Services
One of the first things you need to do when comparing MRO services is look at the full extent of services that are offered. Not all companies offer the same, and you don't want to end up having to hire two companies in order to do everything for you. It will be easier and more affordable to have one company handle everything. Some of the services to explore include:

Before you cross out one administrator because they don't offer the same number of services as another, determine what services you actually need. If you only need three or four from the list, then the administrator that offers fewer services may be capable of providing you with everything.

Program Implementation
Some companies will provide MRO services only after you have implemented a program. However, you may need help starting the program. If you are a new business, or you have just decided you want to create a drug and alcohol testing program, you may need to rely heavily on a medical review officer. This person can guide you through the program standards. The two of you can talk about what is needed, and they can do a significant amount of the work for you. This cannot only save you time, but ensure that you have captured everything. You can also rely on someone else's expertise to help you implement a quality program that you can truly benefit from.

Costs
While cost shouldn't be the primary way to compare MRO services, it is something that you will want to look at. You don't want to spend any more than absolutely necessary. Talk to a medical review officer and find out what their fees are. Is it a flat fee? Do they charge for each service? These are the questions you will want to have answered before you determine you have captured all of the expenses. Only then can you start to budget what it will be to have a medical review officer as a third-party administrator and to assist you throughout the operation of your drug and alcohol testing program. You can typically compare the MRO services online. This will allow you to see what everyone offers. You may even want to contact them individually to ask a few questions. Be sure to ask the same questions of every administrator. This will make it easier to compare apples to apples. Once you have your questions answered and you have done sufficient research, you are better armed to make a decision.
Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes. They have been allegorized commonly as the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces, which are likely to get frayed without them. Similarly, without telomeres DNA strands become damaged. They are actually disposable protective buffers blocking the ends of the chromosomes. They are consumed during cell division but are replenished by an enzyme - the telomerase reverse transcriptase.

Role of telomerase -

The main function of telomerase is the elongation of telomeres, which enables cells to increase their replicative capacity, sometimes even indefinitely. However, low expression of telomerase, for example in some normal fibroblasts, cannot maintain telomere length.

Telomerase also shows important roles in stem cell proliferation, as well as reprogramming of induced pluripotent stem cells. An induced pluripotent stem cell is a cell taken from any tissue (usually skin or blood) from a child or adult and is genetically modified to behave like an embryonic stem cell. The mechanism of these telomerase functions is still not completely clear.

Functions of telomeres -

Basically, telomeres function as follows:

1. They cap up chromosome ends principally protecting them from DNA degradation. Their length serves as an intrinsic biological clock that regulates the life span of the cell. In other words, they provide limits on the number of replications a cell can go through.

2. They also protect chromosomes from fusion with other chromosomal ends. Uncapped telomeres are able to initiate the DNA damage and cause end-to-end fusions, resulting in chromosomal instability, cellular senescence and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Telomere repeats are lost with each round of cell replication and most somatic cells express insufficient telomerase to compensate for the loss of telomere repeats.

Lifestyle factors impacting telomeres -

Telomere length, which can be affected by various lifestyle factors, can affect the pace of aging and onset of age-associated diseases. Telomeres are shortened as we age, but telomeres can also be shortened by stress, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and a poor diet.

The following are the common causes responsible for the shortening of telomeres:

Aging - Telomere length negatively correlates with age. Telomere length may determine overall health, lifespan, and the rate at which an individual is aging.

Smoking - Smoking seems to have adverse effect on telomeres, shortening their length. Studies have found that the telomere attrition caused by smoking one pack of cigarettes a day for a period of 40 years is equivalent to 7.4 years of life. Oxidative stress caused by smoking is mainly responsible for telomere attrition, resulting in their shortening.

Obesity - Obesity is also associated with increased oxidative stress and DNA damage. Studies show that the excessive loss of telomeres in obese individuals may be equivalent to 8.8 years of life, an effect which seems to be worse than smoking.

Environmental pollution - Exposure to traffic and industrial pollution can adversely affect telomeres. Reduction of the length of telomeres in a person is intimately related to numbers of years and severity of exposure to environmental pollution.

Stress - The stress is associated with release of glucocorticoid hormones by the adrenal glands, which cause increased oxidative damage to DNA and accelerated telomere shortening.

Unhealthy diet - Unhealthy diet deficient in various macro and micro- nutrients can also result in shortening of telomeres as result of damage caused by oxidative stress. Dietary restriction or eating less has an extremely positive impact on health and longevity. The reduction in oxidative stress by dietary restriction is expected to preserve telomeres and other cellular components.

Lack of exercise - The duration of exercise inversely co-relates with the damage to the DNA and telomeres. Regular exercise has been found to be associated with elevated telomerase activity. Furthermore, regular exercise seems to be associated with reduced oxidative stress and may, therefore, reduce the pace of aging and age-associated diseases.

The bottom line -

Telomeres are significantly affected by age and our lifestyle. Shorter telomeres have also been implicated in genomic instability. The rate of telomere shortening is, therefore, critical to an individual's health and pace of aging.

The length of the telomeres of chromosomes is the predictor of how we are undergoing the process of aging; they also predict the onset of age-related diseases in individuals. However, they are notably influenced by our lifestyle. Thus we can delay the process of shortening of telomeres by making positive changes in the lifestyle.

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