weight loss 
In a climate where the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) are dubious as to whether diet pills can be safe enough for consumption, surgery has become even more popular. The latest advancement is that of the stomach pacemaker.

The pacemaker works like a heart pacemaker where a stimulator and sensor are placed into the stomach. The stimulator makes the brain and the stomach feel full. As soon as one begins to eat, the stimulator begins to work. The patient feels full after a certain amount of food and then weight loss becomes a possibility.
Out of 65 patients who have had the implant, half have kept it off for a year at least and not have only lost 20% of their original weight but have also managed to keep it off. This sounds like a breakthrough weight loss treatment but surely a 20% weight loss sounds too good to be true.

Some worry that the patients will get used to the impulses over time and that they will continue to eat as normal once they are without the pacemaker. Some doctor’s respond by saying that all patients will find a way around it if they really want to but that if you make the device more aggressive for example, if the device were to make the patient throw up every time they wanted to eat, then the patient would not be taught how to gain control over their eating habits.

Will it be a crutch that patients will not be able to live without or is it something that obese patients will use to learn how to adapt to a way of eating less. What about the psychological reasons that patients have for overeating. When they come off the pacemaker and there are issues that are unresolved, will they not find themselves back at square one? At a time when diet pills are perceived as our worst enemy, are there other options? 
 


This article is written by The Online Clinic.
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Benefits of organic cold pressed Coconut oil
Virgin Coconut oil is one of the best conditioners for hair. It helps to keep the hair well moisturized and the hair shaft strong. This will prevent breakage of the hair and allow it to grow longer and thicker without looking damaged. It can also be used as a very effective hair conditioner daily, to help keep hair strong and damage-free.

Pure coconut oil should have a distinctive fragrance and taste and does not require any bleaching, refining or deodorising. Fushi's organic virgin coconut oil is sourced from the virgin coconut oil project in Samoa, which is run by a not-for-profit women's foundation.

Virgin and pure Coconut oil is a beautifully moisturising oil when used on the hair as well as the skin., Coconut oil adds shine, lustre and softness to the hair shaft. The temporary moisture benefits of coconut oil enable it to cling to weaker points along the hair shaft, helping boost hair strength and reducing the occurrence of hair breakage. Therefore by helping reduce hair breakage, the hair stands a better chance of growing to longer lengths. Coconut oil also moisturises the scalp, which helps dead, dry skin cells from clogging the hair follicle, which can prevent the hair from growing any further.

The best method of application is by gently massaging warm coconut oil into the scalp and through the length of the hair. Wrap a steamed towel around the head for the scalp to soften and absorb the oil and nourish as well as strengthen the hair shaft.

Coconut oil is wonderful to use as a hair conditioner. It softens the hair and conditions the scalp. Using the coconut oil as a pre-wash conditioner can rid a person of dandruff better than a medicated shampoo.


Benefits of organic cold pressed Coconut oil
Coconut flesh sortining

Fushi’s natural hair care products offer hair solutions that are free from ingredients such as parabens, sulphates, PEGs and animal testing. Our natural hair treatments have been formulated to target common hair concerns such as thinning hair, hair loss, scalp complaints, dry and damaged hair.


Get more information on Hair Care Products , Hair Loss Vitamins & also see more health oils like Organic Coconut Oil , Hemp seed oil , camellia oil, Coconut oil, for beautiful hair at www.fushi.co.uk


Fushi Wellbeing has just introduced the very best of yoga equipment and yoga products to complement their lifestyle section. Yoga sublime and soulful is a wonderful discipline that has a huge number of health benefits. Yoga has become so popular that there are now so many more yoga accessories to choose from to enhance your practise. Yoga locks, Yoga books, Yoga Mats, Yoga DVD’s, Yoga straps and renowned Manduka yoga mats are just some of what’s out on offer. The Fushi Expert panel has selected the best yoga products to complement their ethical lifestyle range


Yoga mats are probably the most popular of all yoga equipment available. A good yoga mat will really help enhance your everyday yoga practise and make yoga even more enjoyable for you. A yoga mat is essential is helping to provide support and grip whilst cushioning you from the floor and improving your balance. A good yoga mat will also help improve co ordination and enable greater stability. Yoga mats with a non slip surface like the Manduka yoga mat will help with fast paced exercises and above all will be durable. Yoga mats also improve your safety and define your space in the studio help provide traction. It is much more comfortable to do the yoga poses over a soft surface than over a cold, hard floor and a travel yoga mat like Manduka Superlite travel yoga mat is ideal to take away on holiday. Fushi’s selection of ethical and eco friendly yoga mats are available in a wide range of complimentary colours, styles and sizes, providing optimum support during yoga practice.

yoga
Yoga

Fushi Wellbeing www.fushi.co.uk offers a range of yoga accessories, yoga mats, yoga blocks, yoga cotton straps, yoga mat towels perfect for Bikram yoga and plenty more yoga equipment that will perfectly complement your practise. Fushi has also selected a range of books on Yoga to help with understanding this amazing discipline and improving your knowledge and daily practise.



To get more information on Yoga Equipment as well as Yoga Products like yoga towels, yoga blocks and Yoga books visit www.fushi.co.uk
Avocado Oil for Skin Care
The benefits of cold pressed and pure unrefined avocado oil for skin care are perhaps not as well known as one would think. The team at Fushi Wellbeing really believe in the power of natural cold pressed oils for skin. We say forget spending hundreds on high end creams and potions and look towards nature, these oils hold the secret to youthful skin and cost so little too. Natural oils have the added benefits of the nutrients and healing properties they provide. One such natural oil is derived from the avocado, and it is exceptional.

Avocado oil skin benefits:


Age spots & and dry damaged skin

Avocado oil contains sterolins which have been known to reduce the appearance of age spot and to provide relief for sun damaged skin. Massaging the oil into dry skin areas and on age spots has been known to help lighten and reduce their appearance.

Collagen production

There are some studies that show that Avocado oil At least may help increase the levels of collagen in the skin. Collagen is one of the most essential proteins required by the skin as it provides structure and elasticity, which helps fight the formation of wrinkles in particular.

Rich in vitamins and minerals

It contains essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins A, D, E and B6, magnesium, copper, iron, amino acids and folic acid, all of which is extremely essential for hair growth and nourishment. It is also a rich source of Lecithin which gives it good penetrative qualities. It is also known to have natural sunscreen properties that can protect the hair and scalp from the damage caused by the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun.

Avocado oil and dry skin

Avocado oil is perfect for use on dry skin. Rich in sterolins, it helps to soften the skin and to deeply moisturise it. It has also been shown to be beneficial for extreme dryness and itching as well as for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. This is a wonderfully beneficial oil for the skin and helps keep the winkles at bay.


Get more information on Hair Care Products , Hair Loss Vitamins also see more oils like Hemp seed oil , Avocado Oil camellia oil, Coconut oil, for beautiful hair at www.fushi.co.uk
soy bean
Have you heard about the soy trend? It protects your heart and reduces the risk of cancer - to name just a few of the health effects. You should eat a soy product every day!

Soya beans, tofu and other soya products - used in Asian cuisine and loved by Western vegetarians. Now there is also a growing interest among the public health.
Soy contains so-called plant estrogens, substances similar to the female hormone estrogen. They protect against menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and hormone-dependent cancers of breast and prostate. Plant estrogens does not have same effects as estrogen, it only has some of its features. Soy does not make men more feminine, they do not raise the female hormone estrogen and does not lower the male hormone, testosterone.

There has been a controversy about whether women with breast cancer can eat soy, something that many doctors advise against. But several large studies show that it is safe for women with breast cancer, including estrogen-sensitive cancer, to eat soy products. There is even data showing improved prognosis, however, more research is needed before it can be determined.

Like other legumes, soybeans are good sources of protein, fiber, all B vitamins except B12 and the minerals; iron, zinc, magnesium and potassium.
   The soybean has a relatively high fat content, 18 percent, but with a lot of polyunsaturated fats, which help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, it belongs to the few vegetables that have the beneficial fatty acids Omega 3.
   Eating soy is a great way to bring down cholesterol, not only by the fats in soy but also by the soy protein. The only downside of soy is that you may get an allergic reaction if you are sensitive, but it is not that common.
skin care
This is a list of 26 different substances in perfumes that may cause allergy. These substances are not banned and are widely used in the cosmetic industry. Here is a list of these substances:

  • Alpha Isomethyl ionone
  • Amyl Cinnamal
  • Amylcinnamyl Alcohol
  • Anise Alcohol
  • Benzyl Alcohol
  • Benzyl benzoate
  • Benzyl Cinnamate
  • Benzyl Salicylate
  • Butylphenyl Methylpropional
  • Cinnamal
  • Cinnamyl Alcohol
  • Citral
  • Citronellol
  • Coumarin
  • eugenol
  • Evernia prunastri (Oakmoss) Extract
  • Evernia Furfuracea (Tree Moss) Extract
  • Farnesol
  • Geraniol
  • Hexyl Cinnamal
  • Hydroxycitronellal
  • Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
  • Isoeugenol
  • Limonene
  • Linalool
  • Methyl 2-Octynoate

Some of these may found on the label, so be aware!
sleep
There are alternatives to sleeping pills and counting sheep. Try out some herbal preparation, relaxation and new thinking!

This is a list of some of the ways you can sleep better - naturally!

Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been traditionally used to treat sleep disorders and the method is still popular. According to certified acupuncturist, you will get about 80 percent relief of the symptoms after four to five treatments. Acupuncture is considered to have a calming effect and increase the amount of endorphins - hormones that are linked to pain relief and wellbeing. Some studies suggest positive effects on sleep disorders while others do not demonstrate efficacy.

Lemon balm
The herb has been used as a sedative in folk medicine. Research shows sleep inducing properties in mice. The essential oil has antispasmodic and sedative properties.

Hops
Hops has long been used as aversive agents in beer and as a sedative and hypnotic agents. Research shows improved sleep in sleep disorders, thanks to its sedative and anticonvulsant effect.

Hypnosis
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, a sort of trance when you are particularly susceptible to various suggestions and requests. It is used as therapy for relaxation and stress management. It is very good for people with sleep problems, according to some psychologists. For milder symptoms, it can help with a CD with hypnosis, but if the cause is depression or anxiety, it should be combined with treatment by a professional therapist with a medical or psychological training.

St. John's Wort
St. John's wort is best known for being able to relieve depression. Some studies show that it can also relieve anxiety and distress and is used in some calming and soothing products. It qualifies as traditional herbal medicines used in mild depression and mild anxiety. St. John's wort should not be combined with other medications, because it can impair their efficacy.

Chamomile
Chamomile is one of the oldest medicinal plants, used for anxiety and gastrointestinal problems. Contains substances with spasmolytic effect and has also been shown to provide a deeper sleep.

CBT
The best documented method of treatment for sleep disorders is at present cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). These are focused on the behaviors and beliefs that perpetuate sleep disturbances, such as fear of sleeping too little. Clients are taught to identify sleep, most sleep more than they think! CBT helps about 70 percent of people with insomnia. Your GP may write a referral.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness in the moment - as often mindfulness described. The method is used for relaxation and better sleep. With mindfulness, coached clients release tension and worries. Many have great use of the method. It does not help everyone, but has no side effects. It does not hurt to try.

Teanin
Green tea is not as exhilarating as normal tea. Its caffeine partially counteracted by an amino acid with sedative effects, teanin. Several studies show that teanin can relieve anxiety and inhibit the effects of stress. In one study, there was also a positive effect on sleep. The subjects who took supplements with teanin had fewer awakenings during the night and felt more rested when they woke up.
green tea

Tryptophan
Tryptophan is an amino acid (one of the protein building blocks) needed for the signal substance serotonin to be formed in the brain. Serotonin can have soothing properties and improve well-being. A Canadian study suggests that supplementation with tryptophan in the form of pumpkin seed flour can give better sleep with fewer awakenings. You can find
pumpkin seed flour in health food stores.


Valerian
Valerian have long been used as a sedative and medicine against insomnia, both in folk medicine and the medical school. It can lower the activity of the central nervous system and promote muscle relaxation. Several studies show improved sleep quality and shorter sleeping hours. In a German multicenter study of 11 000 people,
70 percent experienced the effect of valerian.

Yoga
Yoga is not just for relaxation but also for various medicinal purposes. One is improved sleep, where there is a special program of Kundalini Yoga and medical yoga that is designed specifically to provide maximum relaxation. The exercises will take half an hour and are recommended to be done before bed. A study showed that 77 percent may get improved sleep after six weeks. You should do yoga at least twice a week.
sleep well
There are many benefits of a good night sleep. The main benefits of good sleep is of course that you do not have to walk around and feel tired. But there are many other ancillary benefits, here are some:

1. You'll be smaller- sleep deprivation increases appetite.
2. You are getting smarter - well rested, you get easier to concentrate and solve problems that require innovation and creativity.
3. You will look better - sleep deprivation depletes facial elasticity, which makes you look pasty ut. 
4. To reduce the risk of colds - having enough sleep will make your immune system work better.
5. To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease - bad sleep raise blood lipids.
6. To reduce the risk of diabetes - lack of sleep makes the insulin work less well, so that glucose levels are raised.
7. You are less likely to have accidents - when you are tired you react slower.
8. You become happier - a lack of sleep gives depressed mood, eventually increase the risk of depression.

How to fall asleep?
Many find it particularly difficult to sleep after waking up at night. When you do not sleep good your brain gets alerted and your metabolism increases and so a vicious cycle is started. You should instead lower the body's speed and bring down the metabolism. A good trick is to drink a glass of cold water, it lowers the body's core temperature. And avoid the lights at night!
sea-salt

What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease. Research shows that 3% of the total world population suffers from psoriasis. It causes a lot of irritation and pain. It is generally formed on the scaly surfaces of our body such as the areas of the scalp, sole of feet, knee and elbow. The common symptom of psoriasis is development of reddish patches. Initially they are not easily noticed but at later stage it becomes thick and inflamed. Another symptom is itching, the intensity of which varies at different stages of the disease. Pain and burning sensation are also observed amongst patients suffering from psoriasis.

Often it can be hereditary without any particular cure. The sudden appearance of this problem can be the indication of serious condition such as HIV. Early detection with proper treatment can easily cure this type of disease. Apart from medication it is necessary to apply certain natural elements that can help in curing this disease easily. Dead Sea bath salts help to improve circulation and reduce pain.

Healing effect of Dead Sea salt
This type of salts contains different type of minerals which have a number of benefits. The Dead Sea contains 33% salt along with the combination of other minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and other minerals. The salt with the mixture of minerals can be applied to cure psoriasis easily.

There are different types of products manufactured from this salt but sea salt body scrub  is the most effective for psoriasis. This scrub helps in removing the dead cells from the surface of the skin and also helps in healing. These scrubs are natural, safe and at the same time cost effective. By using salt scrub on regular basis can reduce itching to a great extent and can even prevent reoccurrence of this disease in the future.

Apart from these the sea salt also improves blood circulation in the body. This is the best option available for purifying the skin, cleaning away dirt, sweat, and getting rid of toxins. It also helps to get rid of tough scar marks which are formed as a result of this skin condition. Before purchasing a sea salt scrub check the composition properly. For proper information as well as customer feedback of these products refer to the websites on cosmetic and fashion trends


This article is written by Secret of the Islands.
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massage
Are you tired, stressed, in pain, wish you could feel better? Of all the many types of pain relief, my choosing would be a luxurious massage at a spa. There seem to be so many options, between day spas, massage shops etc. Many of us have had many massages, but not everyone has considered having one. Your time may be here! You should try it now!

Do you have aches, pains, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure? Maybe your ailment is diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, quitting smoking, depression, found what ails you yet? Perhaps it's lower back pain, maybe arthritis? All of these, as well as a tremendous amount of other ailments can be treated with massage therapy. Many physical rehabilitation programs accept this as an acceptable form of treatment. Millions of people the world over vow that massage helps relieve these symptoms, as well as the tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness.

A therapeutic massage is a long on-going process, usually performed in a clinic or doctor's office, but a quick trip to your local spa can be great for you too. It will revitalize your body, mind and soul. Whether you enjoy a relaxing massage, soothing facial, restorative body treatment, or combine therapies for a luxurious spa day, trained, certified and experienced therapists will see to it that you leave feeling rested, renewed, and energized. These spas have a huge variety of massages available. They may offer different packages and different massages. They can offer a basic, Swedish or relaxation spa, a specialty such as a deep tissue massage, a sport or shiatsu massage or reflexology. They may further offer an Ultra massage such as reiki, myofacial or pre and post natal massages. A luxury massage can involve a body wrap, a warm/hot stone, cold stone and luxury shiatsu. They even offer double body works that involves two therapists at once.

All sorts of massage therapy started to become quite popular in the US in the 1800's and continued to grow in popularity through the 1940's when modern medicine breakthroughs discounted its benefits, and use dwindled. Nurses began to use it more in the 1960's to alleviate pain in patients. In the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta massage was deemed a core medical service, which gave it great credibility. It is good enough for world class athletes! Feel like trying it yet?

How do Ito find the right one? One can have an international experience while receiving a massage. Try a variety of massages. Along with oils, feet, stones, hands etc, one must find one's favorite type of massage. You may find that Lomi Lomi massage in Hawaii, Samoan, Shiatsu, Thai or even Chinese massage suits your needs. If not, then maybe try Swedish massage, or as the Swedes say, a classical massage.

Whatever method of massage you choose, it can help relieve pain, anxiety, depression and a variety of diseases. There is no way to blind-test massage therapy, as the person being tested is going to be touched, and we cannot deny that the sense of touch is very therapeutic by itself. Be sure to try it out at your favorite spa, and find what type of massage works best for you!
Do you experience uncomfortable feelings of anxiety and panic?

Do you fear those feelings?

When an attack takes hold of you do you feel a sense of terror, loss of control, a racing pounding heart, chest pains that convince you that you're having a heart attack?

Do you get short of breath, sometimes with choking sensations?

Feelings of unreality, or being detached from yourself

Do you feel you're going "crazy" or something embarrassing is about to happen?

All of the panic symptoms described above are nothing more than an extreme form of fear. Fear is our body's natural response to a situation perceived as threatening. Fear can range from mild anxiety (which can be helpful when there is a goal, like passing an exam) through to full blown panic.

But why have fear at all when it's such an unpleasant feeling? In a way, it is a bit like pain. If you were to break your ankle, it would feel very painful, which would be a warning to you not to walk on it. If you heard a noise downstairs at night, you might feel frightened, which is a warning that you might have to deal with a dangerous situation. Fear is very useful. It prepares your body for action. This has been called the "fight or flight" response. So that when you feel fear, what is happening is that your body is preparing to fight or run away from the thing it feels threatened by, or possibly to stay completely still and wait for the threat to pass.

If we take the example of the noise downstairs let us suppose it is a burglar, as you fear. You may wish to stay absolutely still, so as to prevent the burglar from attacking you. You might want to go and challenge him or you might need to run away should he come after you. Your fear response would help with any of these. When you are frightened you breathe more quickly so that you can get lots of oxygen to your muscles. Your heart beats faster to pump the blood faster round your body. Your digestive system closes down to allow your body to concentrate on the more immediate threat. This is your body's normal healthy reaction to situations where your body feels under threat; it is your body's alarm system.

The problem with panic attacks is that usually they occur when there is no obvious physical threat there at all. Your body is reacting as though it was about to be attacked when in reality it is not. In other words it is a false alarm. It is a bit like the annoying smoke detector which goes off at all the wrong times, because it is sensitive to small amounts of smoke. Or the burglar alarm that goes off because of the cat. Or even more annoying, the car alarm that is triggered by the wind. These are all alarms that can be triggered when there is in fact no danger. The same can be the case with your body's 'alarm' system. Sometimes it can be triggered off when there is no real danger.


The problem is that our body's 'alarm system' was designed many, many years ago, when people had to cope with dangers in order to survive. Nowadays, we are rarely faced with the sort of life or death threats our ancestors faced. We have very different threats, mainly related to stress. Financial worries, overworking, moving house, divorce, can all be stressful, and can raise our anxiety levels to the point where our 'alarm system' is triggered. It is a bit like a 'stress' thermometer - which when it reaches a certain level results in panic. Whilst a panic attack may be unpleasant, it is not dangerous. Quite the opposite. It is a system designed to protect us not harm us.

So to summarise, an anxiety or panic attack is an over stimulated flight or fight reaction, but with Self-Hypnosis you can learn to control the attacks, reducing their severity or eliminating them altogether. With practise, you can change how your subconscious mind works, and in doing so, it can change how you feel, think, react and behave in various situations. Once the trigger button has been turned off, you can stop the sequence of the feelings before they escalate, and each time you do that, the fear-of-the-fear will diminish also.

Remember, Self-Hypnosis is a powerful self-help tool for implementing change within your life. It is simple, effective, non-invasive, produces long-term changes, and can be used by almost everyone.

Hypnotherapy sessions often include the benefit of soothing music at strategic points, helping the listener to relax even more, and absorb the information whilst the therapist guides you with gentle suggestions, positive language, and life changing imagery. You will always be in control at all times, able to awaken immediately should the need arise and attend to anything that you need to.

By using self-hypnosis pre-recorded material such as a CDs and mp3 download, you will have at the touch of button, a full Hypnotherapy session that can be used whenever you need to, as often as you need to. It's as simple as that.


This article is written by Sharon Shinwell. Dip Couns. Dip HP. Dip CBT. Dip Sup. MBACP.
Read more at http://www.articlealley.com/article_1810976_23.html?ktrack=kcplink
at Hypnosis Recordnings.
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alcohol 

You had a wonderful weekend, but now you feel lazy, sapped of energy, and unable to concentrate. It’s because the alcoholic beverages you drank filled you up with empty calories and left you sapped of nutrients. For this reason, it is important to take vitamins and nutritional supplements to replenish nutrients lost through alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Consumption and Vitamin Depletion

Many of us spend our weekends enjoying ourselves, and the Monday blues set in by Sunday evening. Although it’s fun to release stress and tension by drinking socially, it is important to realize that excessive alcohol consumption can result in adverse side effects like vitamin depletion. When drinking socially, it’s easy to forget to eat properly. People often end up either not eating anything, or munching on popcorn or peanuts. This results in the intake of empty calories, which do nothing to nourish the body. The result? A body depleted of essential vitamins and minerals, which are important in maintaining good health. Heavy drinkers generally suffer from deficiencies of vitamin B, vitamin B1 or thiamine, vitamin C, vitamin A and folic acid. Our body requires these essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in order to protect our organs and promote optimal functioning of our entire body. If a person does not eat enough of these vitamins and nutrients, his or her health will deteriorate.

Drink, And Still Stay Healthy

Although it is difficult to give up drinking, here are a few tips to help you ease your way into a healthier lifestyle.

a) Drink in Moderation

Excessive alcohol intake can be very harmful; it is for this reason that doctors advise drinking in moderation. One drink a day for anyone above 65 and 2 drinks a day for men under 65 is considered moderate drinking.

b) Maintain a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet and regular exercise can ensure that your body remains healthy, even while drinking occasionally. Therefore, eating a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and fruits is a good idea. Vegetables are a rich source of vitamins and nutrients. You can also include dairy products, eggs, fish, liver, wheat germ, wholegrain products, and chicken in your diet. Avoiding junk food – especially fried fast food – can work wonders for your health. By balancing your diet according to these steps, you can help replenish vitamins and nutrients lost due to excessive drinking.

c) Take Custom Vitamins for Drinkers

Investing in custom vitamins could certainly work for you. Since these vitamins nutritional supplements are customized and prepared by taking into account your individual body composition, the chance of vitamin overdose or under-dose occurring is slim. Customized nutritional supplements are the best way to ensure that your body does not suffer much due to alcohol intake. Therefore, custom vitamins are a nearly surefire way to ensure that your body gets what it needs to stay healthy – even as you continue to drink moderately. For people who find it difficult to give up drinking entirely, but would like to improve their health, these tips can definitely help.
For all diabetics, checking blood glucose levels is part of the routine. Initially, the only way to test this was to visit a clinic. However, with time specific devices have made it possible to check this from the comfort of your home. Numerous makes and models of blood sugar meters are available; the question is how you choose a particular one.

Here are a few points that would help you select a particular meter.

1) Does the meter shut off automatically? 
2) What battery type is necessary?
3) How much is the battery life?
4) Does it offer alternate site testing (other than fingertips)?
5) What is the memory capacity?
6) What are the storage and operating temperatures?   
7) How much is the result range?    
8) What size of sample do you need?    
9) How much is the test time?
10) What is the weight of the battery?   
11) What is the size of the device?
12) Is backlit display available (for nighttime testing)?   
13) Is there any type of coding requirement?
14) Is it possible to transfer the results to your computer?
15) Does the meter offer warranty?

It is not always possible to find a meter that gives you each of these features. What you need to look for is a meter that offers most of these. One other essential is to check whether it is convenient to use or not. You would need to use it on a regular basis. If it is too difficult to handle, you are sure to skip its use.

A digital display is good for the elderly. It makes it easier for them to read the results. Talking meters are also available. These are especially helpful for individuals suffering from vision impairment because of diabetes.

Another thing to keep in mind is the blood glucose test strips you require. Some meters are compatible only with a particular type of strips while other meters may use any strips. The cost and availability of the strips is also important in this regard.


This article is written by  Type Free Diabetes.
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high-bloog-pressure
In the fast modern world today, everything seems to be a form of tribal. For a lot of people this leads to stress which is a significant contributor to excessive blood pressure. In case you are experiencing some kind of tension, your blood vessels will soak up the strain mechanically and limit the movement of blood passing by them, growing the stress of your blood. Any strategies that will assist relieve this strain and promote the circulation of blood by means of your vessels, by expanding them, will aid within the reduction of blood pressure.

First, lets discuss the completely different natural supplements and herbs which can assist you reduce blood pressure:

1. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a green, leafy herb that has an look resembling mint. It can be grown within the comfort of your individual home. Lemon balm soothes your physique’s muscle mass and this calming effect means it is amongst the most popular herbs for the treatment of high blood pressure. Lemon balm will also be used to reduce digestive issues, abdominal cramps, stress associated problems and ache in your nerves. A good way to devour lemon balm is by including it in salads.

2. Nettles
Stinging nettles are an important ingredient to add to natural teas. Just remember to decide the best part of the plant. Should you choose the top most shoots of the stinging nettle you may make a very good natural tea for yourself. Other than decreasing blood pressure, stinging nettles are useful for treating arthritis and supply an awesome source of vitamin C.

3.Ginger and fennel 
Ginger and fennel could be combined with lemon balm to create a very tasty natural tea. Black pepper, oregano, basil, tarragon and hyssop are different excellent herbs which assist the body in lowering blood pressure.

4. Yoga
Yoga is another incredible pure treatment for high blood pressure. Any exercise that may aid you loosen up additionally helps keep your blood stress in a secure range. Yoga additionally improves your hand-eye coordination, your range of motion, your energy and more.

5. Aromatherapy 
Aromatherapy additionally affords a great way to lower your blood pressure. However, you could select your oils carefully. It is best to use the oils which have a larger soothing impact and chill out your muscles. Rose, lavender, cypress and chamomile are all excellent decisions in case you are making an attempt to fight excessive blood pressure. Applying these oils to your body will calm down your muscles which will assist keep your blood strain below control.

All of the above strategies supply an awesome, natural alternative to the medicinal therapy of excessive blood pressure. Nonetheless, these natural treatments are not an different selection to treatment from a trained medical professional. You're suggested to seek advice concerning hypertension from a qualified physician.

carpal-tunnel
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the name for a group of problems that includes swelling, pain, tingling, and loss of strength in your wrist and hand. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a space in the wrist surrounded by wrist bones and by a rigid ligament that links the bones together. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel, a canal in the wrist that is formed by a series of small bones called the Metacarpals on three sides, and a fibrous sheath called the flexor retinaculum which acts as a pulley for the forearm flexors on the other. There are nine tendons of the hand that also pass through this canal. The median nerve can be compressed in one of a few ways, (1) be by swelling of the contents of the canal, (2) soft tissue swelling in and around the tunnel, (3) by direct pressure from part of a broken or dislocated bone. Nearly half of CTS sufferers have symptoms in both hands.

Anatomy of CTS
The top of the Carpal tunnel is formed by 8 carpal bones that form 2 rows and (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform) and the distal row of carpal bones (trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate) create the top of the tunnel. These bones are small and glide against each other so that we can move our wrist in different directions. The other side of the carpal tunnel is formed by the flexor retinaculum which forms a retinacular bridge over the carpal tunnel. Its main function is to protect the contained tendon without a significant mechanical action in supporting the transverse carpal arch that acts as a pulley for the wrist flexor ligaments when tension is applied to them by contraction of the forearm flexor muscles.

carpal-tunnel-syndrome

Causes of Carpal Tunnel
Every time you type you are flexing and extending the wrist and fingers requiring the tendons that run inside the carpal tunnel to slide through their protective sheath. The sheath acts as a protective tube to separate the tendon from the surrounding tissues and prevent any adhesions from forming to the tendon itself. It is much like the hand break on a bicycle.

Researchers (2007) have concluded that when the carpal tunnel reaches a certain sustained pressure on wrist, injury is likely to occur. In order to keep pressure the risk zone, it is recommended that sustained wrist extension (bending the hand back) should not exceed 32.7 degrees, wrist flexion (bending the wrist toward the palm) should not exceed 48.6 degrees, ulnar deviation (sideways toward the small finger) should not exceed 14.5 degrees, and radial deviation (sideways toward the thumb) should not exceed 21.8 degrees.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Typically, carpal tunnel syndrome begins slowly with feelings of burning, tingling, and numbness in the wrist and hand. The areas most affected are the thumb, index and middle fingers. At first, symptoms may happen more often at night. Many carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers do not make the connection between a daytime activity that might be causing the carpal tunnel syndrome and the delayed symptoms. Also, many people sleep with their wrist bent, which may cause more pain and symptoms at night. As carpal tunnel syndrome gets worse, the tingling may be felt during the daytime too, along with pain moving from the wrist to your arm or down to your fingers. Pain is usually felt more on the palm side of the hand.

lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect many organ systems. In people who have lupus, antibodies are created by the body’s immune system and directed against the body’s own cells. Lupus affects the connective tissue, or the tissue that provides strength to joints, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. The severity of the disease ranges from minor to life-threatening complications that must be aggressively treated.

Lupus is a chronic condition. People with lupus tend to experience symptomatic periods, followed by periods of few symptoms or no symptoms at all. Total remissions are rare. Lupus flare-ups can be triggered by a number of factors, including exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and toxins and a reduced antioxidant status.

The most common form of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other forms of lupus include cutaneous lupus, which affects the skin (and accounts for about 10 percent of all cases of lupus) and drug-induced lupus, which is caused by an inappropriate reaction to a drug or medication. Drug-induced lupus usually recedes when the drug is withdrawn.

Causes of Lupus 
Lupus is considered a multigenic disease, meaning that it is caused by defects in multiple genes. Researchers have not identified a specific lupus gene, but have identified a number of genetic abnormalities that predispose people to developing lupus. It is likely that these multiple genetic defects each contribute a small amount to the abnormal immune responses seen in lupus. If enough of these genetic defects accumulate in the same person, the disease may develop.

Nutrition can play an important role in lupus management, both in the prevention of flare-ups and in the management of inflammatory conditions that are associated with lupus. Specific nutrients can be utilized to improve cell communication, improve cell repair, and reduce oxidative stress. Deficiencies in key nutrients also create an environment that perpetuates inflammation and reduces a cell’s ability to repair damage.

Possible Organ Damage Related to Lupus
Lupus can be associated with widespread organ damage that ranges from mild to very severe and life-threatening. The disease may initially affect one or several organ systems, with more becoming involved over time. In addition to the specific organ systems, lupus can cause generalized systemic symptoms including fever, weight loss, anemia, fatigue, and pain.

Diagnosis and Conventional Treatment of Lupus 
The diagnosis and treatment of lupus often depends on how serious the disease is and which organ systems are involved. Besides suppressing the autoimmune response with medications, physicians will attempt to treat individual problems of an affected organ system as they arise.

Further stimulating and/or boosting the immune system response in SLE may actually worsen the disease. People who have lupus must be under the supervision and care of a highly qualified physician who specializes in lupus treatment.

The diagnosis of lupus relies on the presence of characteristic symptoms of the disease, in addition to blood testing to detect the presence of autoantibodies. For a diagnosis of lupus to be made, at least four of the following criteria must be present:
  • Butterfly rash. Also known as malar rash. This rash is red, can be flat or raised, and covers the nose and cheeks.
  • Discoid rash. Associated with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). The rash looks like raised circular patches of scaly skin. Some scarring may occur.
  • Sensitivity to sunlight. Exposure to UV light causes a rash.
  • Oral ulcers. Ulcers present in the mouth and nose.
  • Arthritis. Joint inflammation involving tenderness, swelling, or fluid accumulation. This type of arthritis is related to inflammation rather than a wearing down of the joints.
  • Serositis. Inflammation of the membranes lining the lungs or heart, or fluid collection between these membranes.
  • Kidney disorder. Protein in the urine or other abnormal findings.
  • Neurological disorder. Seizures or mental symptoms such as depression or psychosis.
  • Blood disorder. Anemia from breakdown of red blood cells, or a low white blood cell count.
Once the diagnosis of lupus is made using these clinical criteria, a number of additional tests may be used to monitor the disease course and various organ systems. These might include a blood test for phospholipid antibodies, which can help predict the risk of blood clotting, in addition to a complete blood count (CBC), platelet count, urinalysis, and test of creatinine or albumin levels. These various tests help physicians track the activity of the disease in organ systems that are known to be involved and to detect previously uninvolved systems.

Conventional management of lupus aims at controlling flare-ups (usually with anti-inflammatory medications) and suppressing symptoms to prevent organ damage. The main conventional drugs used to treat lupus include:
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs, such as ibuprofen, are usually recommended for muscle and joint pain and for arthritis pain.
  • Acetaminophen or aspirin. These are mild analgesics used to alleviate pain.
  • Corticosteroids. Synthetically produced corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. These may be used topically for skin rashes or orally to treat other organ systems. In severe flare-ups, relatively large doses of corticosteroids may be prescribed for short periods.
  • Antimalarials. These drugs, such as hydroxychloroquine sulfate, are prescribed for skin and joint symptoms of lupus. It may take months before the benefits of these drugs are evident.
  • Immunomodulating drugs. These drugs, such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide, suppress the immune system.
  • Biologic drugs. These drugs include agents that block the production of specific antibodies, such as those against DNA, or agents that act to suppress the manufacture of antibodies through other mechanisms.
The long-term use of corticosteroids is associated with significant risk and adverse effects. Specifically, adverse effects of glucocorticoid therapy include obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (an abnormality lipids and lipoproteins in the blood), and insulin resistance.
Addicted to caffeine?
Coffee provides a jump start that low-dopamine individuals needs, especially when they are tired. It can also greatly reduce the risk of diabetes, by  helping the aging of the pancreas. But like everything else, it’s only good for you in moderation. Make sure to check with your doctor about your caffeine consumption, especially if you know that you have specific health problems. It’s also important to know the ratio of how much water you’re drinking as compared to your caffeine intake; caffeine is such a powerful stimulant that it burns up your body’s water supply. If you’re not also drinking lots of water, you might find that you are becoming dehydrated. Also remember that fresh-brewed tea and loose tea leaves have far more nutrients than tea bags or bottled teas.

Sleep your excess weight away
Because sleep deprivation contributes to fatigue, you must get yourself and your dopamine back on track. Getting seven hours a night is critical for weight loss. One study showed that people who get four hours of sleep per night were 73 percent more likely to be obese than those who slept seven to nine hours.

The truth about whole grains
Fiber is an important tool for weight loss. Fiber is like a scrub brush for your digestion, scouring your system until it is sparkling clean. It cleans out your colon, controls your blood sugar, pulls fat from your arteries, raises your HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), and detoxifies your body. What’s more, it’s bulky; fiber fills you up so you eat less. High-fiber foods such as oatmeal, brown rice, and broccoli can also absorb excess estrogen compounds, which are produced during menstruation. It can be used as a powerful appetite suppressant when you are experiencing PMS cravings. The recommended dosage of daily fiber is 40 to 45 grams every day.

In addition to psychosocial stressors, lifestyle factors also play a role. For instance, changes in lifestyle factors such as transitioning from being employed full-time to becoming a part-time worker or a student transitioning to full-time employment  requiring early-morning schedule changes can affect our sleep. Furthermore, we have to consider the full-time worker who works daily from 9:00 to 5:00 and retires and has to adjust her schedule to new and differing activities (such as playing golf once a week or fixing things  around the house). This transition in lifestyle or daily activities can  be stressful because it can be unfamiliar. Sleep disturbance may  occur when schedules change, especially in the case of individuals retiring, because these individuals often do not have activities to  occupy their day and instead may fill their day with resting or taking naps, and these behaviors affect nighttime sleep.

One of the most basic sensations of sleep loss is a profound sense of sleepiness. We know that sleep is necessary for our bodily systems to work efficiently. Too little sleep makes us feel cloudy, inattentive, uninterested, and irritable, and we may experience difficulty with concentration. It also leads to impaired memory and  physical performance. You do not have to experience complete sleep deprivation to feel the significant effects of sleep loss on psychological and physical well-being. Partial sleep loss may take the effect of occasionally losing a good night’s sleep. Having frequent awakenings during the night may also result in experiencing the effects of partial sleep loss that detrimentally affects our quality of life.

Partial sleep loss
If we abbreviate our nighttime sleep, resulting in insufficient sleep, we experience partial sleep loss with the consequence of prolonging a chronic state of sleep loss. This chronic state of sleep loss can have  serious penalties on cognitive and physical functioning. In addition  to the quality of life decrements, there are also a number public health and safety accidents that occur due to loss of alertness and sustained attention. Sustained attention is absolutely necessary when operating heavy industrial machinery or participating in complicated procedures involving dangerous machinery, such as construction machine operation. All are quite dangerous for the partially sleep-deprived individual because it places that person and others at risk. Self-report measures completed in a census fashion demonstrate that a larger percentage of individuals with compromised sleep also report health problems. A greater percentage of these individuals are involved in accidents at work or also report experiencing employment difficulties. Although there is no clear cause and effect, we know that these individuals report a greater incidence of sleep problems compared to a control group.
The activities we engage in instead of sleeping may be related to our poor sleep. We also know that more people are relying on medications for sleep and wakefulness. To know more about  your sleep, you should ask yourself the following questions: 
  • Under what conditions is it difficult to sleep?
  • At what time during the night is it difficult to sleep?
  • How many times during the night do you wake up?
  • What wakes you up?
  • How often do you have problems sleeping?
Also be aware of any sleepiness you feel in the daytime, your bedtime and wake time, and periods when you expect to be awake. Note how any or all of these answers affect your ability to function and enjoy life. Here are some additional questions to help you understand how your sleep affects you: 
  • Having difficulty concentrating or making decisions?
  • Experiencing drowsiness when you drive or are engaged in other activities?
  • Feeling moody or irritable with others?
Physiology behind sleep
These questions are just examples used to illustrate the importance of sleep and how lack of sleep can affect our mental abilities, personality, mood, and safety. It is also important to discuss how our body regulates sleep. Sleepiness is physiologically regulated by the following two primary processes:
   1.   The body’s circadian rhythm causes an increase in sleepiness twice during a 24-hour period.
   2.   The physiological need for sleep, which is increased by sleep loss and sleep disruption.

Explanations of sleep physiology
The need for sleep and the circadian rhythm interact to determine the level of sleepiness and alertness. The body needs these two processes to initiate sleep and to remain asleep. There are multiple factors, however, that can physically and psychologically prevent us from falling asleep.
Our muscles need to relax so that muscle tone in our head and  neck and other regions of the body is at its most natural relaxed  state, and our breathing patterns change (become slower) during different stages of wakefulness and sleep. Physiologically, we also need to have comfortable temperature and noise levels as well as being free from thirst, hunger, pain, or physical discomfort. In summary, if environmental and physiological conditions are not conducive to sleep, in terms of temperature, heart rate, noise, light, and physical comfort, then sleep is less likely to happen.

The occurrence rates for sleep disturbance are high because sleep is very sensitive to stress and emotional upset. Major life events and minor life events that accumulate negatively impact our sleep. We spend increased amounts of time problem solving, analyzing, and worrying, and these behaviors often intrude on our nighttime sleep. We spend time in bed engaging in these behaviors, which are mentally stimulating behaviors and fragment or disrupt our sleep. 


Part 2
Hormones and Obesity
As we get older, dieting will almost always get harder. This is because we’re losing our brainpower that controls hormone production, and hormones play a critical role in weight control. One prominent hormone is insulin, which helps the body turn food into fuel. Insulin is created in the pancreas along with glucagon and somatostatin, two other hormones that aid in digestion and support our metabolism. Incretin is a bioidentical form of glucagon stimulation for the pancreas and blood sugar reversal. Growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor 1 will accomplish the goals of somatostatin. In the end both hormones have amazing effects on weight loss (as much as 10 to 15 pounds a year), with improvement in metabolism, appetite reduction, increase in muscle mass, and better blood sugar regulation.

Hormones Help Control Addiction
The loss of brainpower and subsequent food addiction is your obesity code; your brain is sending signals to choose junk foods to feed your energy needs. Meanwhile, your body’s metabolism slows, meaning you process all this extra food at a slower rate, leading to more weight gain and fatigue. Over time, you might start looking for other ways to boost your energy, substituting other addictions for food including cigarettes,  recreational drugs (such as cocaine or crystal meth), or prescription medications.

Leptin
The hormone leptin is also important for beating obesity. Leptin is secreted by the fat tissue in our bodies and regulates our appetite. The more leptin present, the less hungry we are. It may be possible that our appetite was established in our brains just after birth and may then be set for the rest of our lives. The amount of leptin in our systems in those first few weeks of life is controlled by genetics, not by what we are fed.

Natural Treatments
While increasing your levels of dopamine is essential, several nutrient supplements can reduce total body fat and create a lean body when combined with the proper diet and exercise program.
  • Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) facilitates weight loss and reduces the amount of additional fat cells from being deposited in existing body fat.
  • Preliminary studies suggest that garcinia cambogia (HCA) may reduce the conversion of carbohydrates into stored fat by inhibiting certain enzyme processes, as well as suppressing appetite and inducing weight loss.
  • The precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) has been shown to reduce appetite and to promote weight loss.
  • Phenylalanine, a precursor to adrenaline, alleviates obesity by stimulating the body’s brown adipose tissue to “burn up” regular adipose tissue. It also helps to release cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that increases your sensation of fullness.
  • 7-KETO is a bioidentical hormone related to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and may  also work to promote weight loss.
  • Essential fatty acids (EFA), such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), facilitate weight loss.
  • Fish oils facilitate loss of fat, raise serotonin, and decrease appetite.
  • Vitamin D and magnesium control metabolic syndromes and help you lose weight.
  • Increasing calcium metabolism results in better fat metabolism and helps speed up weight loss.

Go To Next: Dopamine Part 4