Do you need a body detox?

By loudfrogs on 2:31 PM

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Everyοne has felt a little run dοwn frοm time tο time. We live stress filled lives that rarely allοw fοr unstructured mοments and any attentiοn οn οur health. But tο avοid taking care οf οurselves is a harmful decisiοn, even if it is uncοnsciοus. What yοu may need is sοmething tο kick-start yοur health and tο create the impetus fοr change in yοur health habits. What yοu might need is a bοdy detοx.



Are yοu ready fοr a detοx?



Yοu may nοt even realize that it’s time fοr bοdy cleansing in yοur life. Mοst οf us dismiss fatigue and pοοr digestiοn οn a lack οf sleep οr pοοr eating habits, when in fact, it might be frοm the fact that οur bοdies aren’t wοrking the way that they shοuld. Here are sοme basic signs that yοu might need a bοdy detοxificatiοn:



•Fatigue that isn’t helped by adding mοre sleep

•Pοοr digestiοns – cοnstipatiοn and/οr diarrhea

•Pale skin

•Lack οf fοcus

•Prοblems cοncentrating

•Depressiοn



What yοur bοdy is trying tο tell is that it needs help, mοre help than yοu’ve been giving it. And with a bοdy cleansing detοxificatiοn οn yοur calendar, yοu can alsο change οther parts οf yοur life that have led tο this οverwhelming sense οf pοοr health.

What yοu’ve been dοing wrοng



If yοu’re being hοnest with yοurself, yοu’ve prοbably been chοοsing the wrοng fοοds fοr keeping yοur bοdy’s energy up. Yοu may be chοοsing prοcessed fοοds οver bοdy cleansing fresh fοοds, and drinking mοre cοffee than water. Yοu might alsο be taking in mοre alcοhοl tο deal with stress as well as smοking οr taking illegal drugs. All οf these pοοr health chοices are causing yοur bοdy tο lοse its natural bοdy detοxificatiοn prοcesses. Yοur bοdy can alsο bοunce back quite easily with the right bοdy cleansing system such as the Iοncleanse.

Detοxing yοur bοdy is the best gift that yοu can give it when yοu’re cοnstantly under stress. Whether yοu have a few days tο fοllοw a prοgram οr a whοle week, it’s gοing tο help yοu tremendοusly.

How To Get Slim With Healthy Eating Habits

By loudfrogs on 10:12 AM

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How To Get Slim With Healthy Eating HabitsHow To Get Slim With Healthy Eating Habits

Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of them. Perhaps you're getting married soon and you want to fit into your wedding gown comfortably. Or perhaps you simply want to look (and feel) great in a swimsuit or bikini.

Whatever your reason for wanting to be slim, there are some things you can do to become slim while staying healthy. If you are reading this article, chances are you want to know what those things are. Read on then, to find out.

First thing is to assess your current eating habits. This is important because you need to know what's not working. If your current eating habits are keeping you overweight, and you want to be slim, it figures that you need to change those eating habits. If something is not working, change it.

Assessing your current eating habits.

Keep a record of your eating habits for a week. The record should contain the following information:

  • What you are eating
  • How much you're eating
  • When you eat (note the times) you want to know how far apart your meals and snacks are.
  • Why you're eating at those times is it because you're hungry, or are you 'comfort eating'?
  • How you feel after eating pleasantly satisfied or bloated and stuffed.
  • How many glasses of water you drink each day

When you find out your current eating habits, you'll need to determine which habits are sabotaging your efforts to lose weight. Those are the ones you want to change. More on that later.

Goal Setting

Determine what your weight goal is. Or you may prefer to monitor your progress in terms of your waistline or hip measurements. Whichever one suits you is best.

Form a mental picture of yourself looking the way you want to look. Goals are more powerful and empowering when we visualize them. Hold that mental picture in your mind at all times.

NOTE: Eating healthily is not all there is to getting slim. You must become more physically active (read 'exercise') in addition to eating properly if you're to lose weight permanently. This article deals with the healthy eating part of that equation.

Action Plan

Now that you know what your ideal size is, you have a goal that you're working towards. You need to then determine a plan of action to help you achieve that goal.

To help you decide on the right plan, bear in mind that eating should be a pleasure. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Which nutritious foods do I enjoy eating ?
  • How soon after eating do I get hungry again? Most adults get hungry about 3 to 4 hours after eating a meal.
  • Do I eat only when I'm hungry? Hint: You should.
  • How can I stay full? Drink lots of water. Scientists recommend between 6 and 8 glasses of water daily. Your body needs it, and it helps you stay full.

With the answers to those questions in mind, form an action plan, and start a new daily record to help you keep track of your progress. This new record should contain the same columns as your initial current habits record. This way you can monitor each improvement and celebrate accordingly.

When deciding on which actions to take, you need to refer back to your initial assessment of your current eating habits. Decide which habits are preventing you from losing weight. Write down alternative habits that you want to cultivate, which will help you get slim.

These new habits you want to form are now your 'targets' milestones on your way to your ideal body shape and size.

Taking Action

To form healthy eating habits, start with small changes.

Don't make too many changes at once. Set yourself main targets, such as 'I will drink 8 glasses of water each day', then set smaller targets to help you reach each main target.

Using the example above, a small target could be 'I will drink an extra glass of water after each meal'. When you break down your targets, they don't seem so daunting. They seem easily achievable, so you feel encouraged to stick to them.

Decide on the foods you will be eating regularly. Make sure they're foods you enjoy.

Eat small portions, about 5 or 6 times each day, instead of three large meals. This helps keep your metabolic rate high, and helps you lose weight naturally.

How to stay motivated to continue eating healthily

  1. Believe that you can do it, and accept responsibility for your health and for the way your body looks.
  2. Reward yourself each time you successfully complete a small target. Celebrate each small success don't wait until you've lost tons of weight before you reward yourself. Make the journey enjoyable by treating yourself each time you make progress.
  3. Keep in mind what you hope to achieve remind yourself of how lovely and healthy your body is becoming each day as a result of your new eating habits. Remember, each small step in the right direction is bringing you closer to your main target.

With a clear goal in mind, a feasible action plan and tips to help you stay motivated, you should find it easy to form habits that keep you slim and healthy at the same time.

Here's to your new healthy eating habits!

Lower Body Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders

By loudfrogs on 10:12 AM

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The lower body contains some of your biggest muscles which are capable of bearing significant weights. The temptation for beginners to go for broke by performing heavy squats should be resisted. To begin with you should concentrate on building the muscles safely by using machines that isolate muscle groups. The squat is an excellent compound exercise that trains numerous lower body muscles but it is one you should learn properly after spending three months strengthening the individual muscles that will be utilized later.

The muscles of the lower body can be divided into five groups:

1. Quads - this is the big muscle group consisting of four muscles at the front of the thigh. These are the primary muscles used when performing exercises such as squats, leg press, lunge and leg extension.

2. Hamstrings - these are the main muscles at the back of the thigh. These are the primary muscles used when performing leg curls.

3. Gluteals - these are the muscles that make up the buttocks.

4. Hip flexors - these are the small muscles at the front of the pelvis that allow you to raise your legs to the front.

5. Calves - these are the two muscles found in the lower leg.

For beginners these muscles should be exercised as follows:

1. Leg press - 1 set of 10-15 reps. This is a useful exercise for the quads but it also works the hamstrings and glutes to a lesser degree.

2. Leg extension - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This is a useful exercise for adding definition to the quads.

3. Hamstring curl - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise isolates the hamstrings.

4. Standing calf raise - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise works the gastrocnemius muscle.

5. Seated calf raise - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise works the soleus muscle underneath the gastrocnemius muscle.

As with all exercises you need to take care in scheduling specific body parts. To begin with you should incorporate your lower body exercises into a program similar to the one suggested below:

Day 1: Biceps, Back, Abs

Day 2: Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs

Day 3: Quads, Forearms, Calves

Day 4: Triceps, Chest, Abs

For the first couple of weeks complete one set but then add one set each week to a maximum of three. At the end of three months you will be ready to move on to more intensive intermediate level exercises.

Effective Ways to Fight Cancer

By loudfrogs on 3:01 PM

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Even with all our progress in medical science and technology, we still do not know much about cancer. It is difficult to treat unless caught in the early stages. We know how it happens. A genetic mutation in a cell's DNA causes it to reproduce out of control. But the mystery is why it happens and why some organs in some people and not others? We do know that our lifestyle has a great influence on whether this happens. You should actually know that very few cancers are actually inherited. Let's explore some of the most effective and easy ways to fight cancer and be a winner.

You can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Smoking and regular heavy drinking should be avoided. Eating fruits and vegetables that have high antioxidant content help in preventing cancer. Any other habits that improve your overall health and boost you immune system is recommended. And of course you should pay great attention to regular exercises. A good immune system and good health helps in fighting or preventing cancer.

Food

Eat wide from many sources for a balanced diet. Include nuts, herbs, lentils and fresh, organic, locally grown produce. Increase your daily intake of fruit and vegetables. These are thought to help protect against cancer of the bowel, cervix and possibly breast. Eating plenty of grain cereals also increases the effect against colon cancer. Throw your microwave away. The latest scientific tests show that food you prepare in microwave is exposed to a high risk of providing cancer cells in your body. Avoid factory farmed products such as milk, eggs, fish or cheese. Animals are often fed large amounts of antibiotics as a precaution and live in very stressful conditions. Avoid genetically modified food.

Habits

Do not smoke. If you do, try to stop. It is all about will. Do not smoke in front of other people. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the most common cancer suffered by men. Drink sensibly. Too much alcohol can cause stomach and other cancers. It is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, the most common women's cancer. Pregnant women are advised to stop drinking alcohol altogether. Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol each week. A unit of alcohol is equal to half a pint of normal strength beer or a small glass of wine. In other words, simply get rid of your dirty habits.

Exercise

If you can keep a steady exercise plan you will be able to help boost your immune system and fight cancer a lot better. A few examples include jogging, power walking and swimming. However, I recommend going not into sports only, but try to find your niche in some martial arts community, a place that can provide much more then simple physical activity. Do not compete with others, compete with yourself. Train your body mind and spirit. Try to keep your heart as healthy and strong as possible to increase your chance to beat cancer.

Attitude

Reduce your daily stress and stay calm. Try to avoid every possible conflict. Do not quarrel. Do not swear. Set time aside to think about your health at physical, intellectual, emotional and energetic levels. Try to provide as much positive emotions as possible in your and your family's daily life. Try to understand positive thinking. Get rid of negative thoughts. Make other smile and smile all together.

Cancer might be one of the largest health problems in the world today, but nevertheless you should not give and up continue digging out information on alternative medicine and things you can do to fight it. Inform yourself about your medical condition and explore alternatives if you are prescribed medical drugs. All medical drugs have side effects. Help others by helping yourself.

Female Herbs For Sexual Health

By loudfrogs on 1:27 PM

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Dong Quai is seen as the ultimate female herb for sexual health and overall wellness and has been taken for thousands of years. Here we will look at the numerous benefits the herb provides...

Nutritional components

The herb contains a number of nutrients and has high concentrations of, Vitamins A, B3, B12, B-complex, C, E, as well as the following minerals - Calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, tannins and resin.

For peak sexual wellness a women needs to have correct hormonal balance, strong blood circulation to the genital region. Mental stress, Fatigue and anxiety can all see sexual desire plunge.

In recent years the importance of Estrogen in women's sex drive has been proven. Low estrogen levels are associated with lack of desire, arousal, and issues that may cause intercourse to be painful and levels need to be balanced.

Here are the major benefits that Dong Quai provides

A Blood Tonic

The herb is often diagnosed as a blood tonic. It works by strengthening, stimulating and harmonizing the blood and helping it flow to all extremities of the body. Some symptoms that can be associated with blood deficiency are: Menstrual disorders, pains or discomfort in the abdomen, pallid skin, tinnitus, blurred vision, and palpitations. Strong healthy blood flow is a key to enhanced libido.

When we get aroused our heart beats faster and blood needs to be pumped to the genitals and Dong
Quai assists in this.

Combating PMS and the Menopause

The herb contains zinc and calcium, which are often deficient in women suffering from PMS. It also helps to regulate hormonal balance. The herb helps reduce the symptoms of menopause and PMS, helps with menstrual cramps. It also balances estrogen activity within the body.

In conclusion, acts as a general tonic for the whole female reproductive system.

Herbal Remedies for Kidney Problems

By loudfrogs on 3:19 AM

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Cystone is an exclusive herbomineral formulation to treat and prevent for many urinary tract infection and stone formation. Cystone obviously promotes a healthy urinary tract and helps to maintain a normal urine composition and mucosal integrity. It is an accepted aid in maintaining healthy water management and a diuretic that greatly relieves temporary water - weight gain. As a dietary supplement Cystone assists too many kidneys and urinary tract in normal functions. It provides best normal absorption and utilization for overall healthy urinary tract.

How Cystone works

Cystone prevents for supersaturation of lithogenic substances, controls the oxamide (a substance that precipitates stone formation) absorption from the more intestine and corrects the crystalloid-colloid imbalance. Cystone inhibits calculogenesis by reducing the stone-forming substances like oxalic acid, calcium hydroxyproline, etc., and causes at their expulsion by micropulverization.

Cystone causes the disintegration of the calculi and the crystals by acting on the mucin, which binds the particles in together. Cystone’s antimicrobial activity is more beneficial in the prevention of urinary tract infections that associated with urinary stones and crystalluria. Cystone’s antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory activities both relieve ureteric colic and alleviate the symptoms of painful and burning micturition.

Benefits of Cystone

• Cystone prevents to stone formation in the urinary tract.

• Cystone normalizes acidic urine and relieves from burning urination. • Cystone reduces pain and inflammation.

• Cystone has antibacterial action.

• Cystone keeps calcium crystals dissolved. Cystone treats stones in the urinary tract, and so recurrent urinary tract infections. Cystone inhibits stone formation by

• Reducing the concentration of stone forming substances in the blood and by expelling them from the body.

• Breaking up stones by acting on mucin, a gummy substance which actually binds particles together.

• Normalizing acidic urine.

• Reducing oxidative stress, which is implicated in the urinary stone formation?

• Cystone’s antibacterial action along with its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pain relieving and urine pH normalizing all actions to prevent stone formation in the urinary tract and provide relief from the pain and burning urination associated with urinary stones and urinary tract infections.

Indications for taking Cystone: Cystone helps to:

• Prevent and treat the urinary stones, renal stones and crystalluria.

• Prevent the recurrence of stones after surgery.

• As an aid in preventing recurrence of urinary tract infections.

• Aid in treating the burning urination.

• Aids in treating the renal colic, gout and water retention

Cystone tablets are useful in:

1. Urolithiasis: 1. Oxalate stones 2. Phosphate stones 3. Uric acid and urate stones 4. Crystalluria 5. Prevents the post-operative recurrence of stones 6. Mixed crystals - glycolic acids

2. As an adjuvant in: 1. Urinary tract infections 2. Urinary tract infections during pregnancy 3. Non-specific urethritis 4. Cystitis, pyelitis 5. Burning micturation 6. Gout and hyperuricemia

3. Urinary incontinence in women 4. Sialolithiasis

Cystone Ingredients (Per Tablet):

• Shilapuspha (Didymocarpus pedicellata) 130mg


• Pasanabheda (Saxifraga ligulata Syn.Bergenia ligulata / ciliata) 98mg

• Indian madder / Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) 32mg

• Umbrella’s edge / Nagarmusta (Cyperus scariosus) 32mg

• Prickly chaff flower / Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera) 32mg • Sedge / Gojiha (Onosma bracteatum) 32mg

• Purple fleabane / Sahadevi (Vernonia Cinerea) 32mg

• Lime silicate calx / Hajrul yahood Bhasma / Badrashma bhasma 32mg • Shilajit 26mg

Directions for taking Cystone In urolithiasis & crystalluria: 2 tablets two times on a daily basis for four to six months or till the stone(s) pass out.

In urinary infections: 1 tablet two times on a daily basis until the infection is cleared.

In acute renal colic: The dose may be increased to 2 tablets thrice every daytime.

In burning micturition: 1 tablet two times every day for 4 to 5 days.

To prevent recurrence of renal stones: 1 tablet two times every day for 4 to 6 months every year more primarily during summer months. Allow several weeks for getting desired benefits. The use of this natural products also provides other progressive but long-lasting results.

Cystone Safety, Contraindications and Drug intractions: Contraindications There are no contraindications for the use of Cystone

Special precautions Special precautions are to be put into the effect in patients with kidney, liver and heart impairment.

Side effects Cystone does not produce any severe side effects, if taken as per the prescribed dosage.

Drug intractions No clinically or biochemically significant drug relations that have been reported with the use of Cystone

Cystone from Himalaya Herbals Cystone is a product from the renowned Himalaya Herbals brand endorsed by over 250,000 doctors worldwide and used by their customers in over 60 countries. Himalaya Herbals products have been researched clinically and standardized to guarantee at bioequivalence. Bioequivalence refers to ensuring that the product on the market is equivalent to the one on which clinical trials were successfully be conducted. Himalaya Herbal Healthcare uses chromatographic fingerprinting its one of the most sophisticated standardization techniques to ensure consistent quality and performance Cystone Ingredients in Ayurveda In India several indigenous drugs for the treatment of other urinary calculus disease have been in vogue since ancient times [Charak (600 BC) and Sushruta (1000 BC)]. The various herbal drugs used here include Didymocarpus pedicellata (Patharphor), Dolichos biflorus (Kulath), Rubia cordifolia (Manjit), Crataeva nurvala (Varuna) and Tamarindus indica (Tamarind). Cystone, manufactured by The Himalaya Drug Co., is a formulation of such more herbal drugs.

Top Ten Tips for Lazy Dieters

By loudfrogs on 1:43 PM

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Tip no. 1: Set SMART goals. Goals give dieters something to aim for and are a good source of inspiration. Fitness experts worldwide would agree that all goals you set should adhere to the following acronym:

S (simple): All goals should be easy to remember. Saying I want to lose 20lbs of fat, gain 10lbs of muscle, speed up my metabolism and lower my cholesterol in 6 weeks unless I get promoted in which case I want to lose 10lbs of body weight in 8 weeks may well be ambitious and time-considerate, but you are hardly going to remember it in 6 weeks when you need to figure out how much you have lost.

M (Measurable): Your goals should almost always contain a number. Whether it is to drop 10kg or to fit into those 34 inch jeans, having numbers involved means that you can check your own progress.

A (Achievable): Many people often ask me: Is it possible to lose all this weight in 3 weeks or I want to lose 50 kilos! Can I do it before Christmas? The answer to the latter question is usually a resounding no, and I often suggest that these people might want to set themselves a target that can actually be hit. Above all, it prevents disappointment and makes them less likely to fall off the rails halfway through a dieting program.

R (Realistic): Your goals should reflect your lifestyle. It is a good idea to diet when you are likely to have little stress from outside influences (such as work) and you have plenty of time for the exercise you enjoy.

T (Time-considerate): Which of the following sounds like a more positive statement: I am going to lose 20lbs, or I am going to lose 20lbs in 10 weeks? If you never put a limit on when you need to lose the weight by, you are never going to push yourself to shed those pounds.

Tip no. 2: Write Down Everything You Eat. Many people are overweight because they are heavy snackers and eat far too much than they realise. The simplest way to beat this is by writing down everything you eat. That way, when you eat something that you did not mean to eat, you will know about it.

Tip no. 3: Use Smaller Plates. As silly as this may sound, a smaller plate will look fuller than a bigger plate with the same amount on it, so your mind will tell the rest of your body that it is getting more food. Besides, you can only fit so much on a small plate!

Tip no. 4: Proteins. Low fat protein rich food, such as egg whites and chicken breast, are fantastic for dieters that want larger portions, as they contain amino acids that build muscle fibres. Aim for 60g per day (I favour tofu or soya bean; its cheap, easy to fry -with fat-free Pam spray- and contains beaucoup protein).

Tip no. 5: Low Carbs, Not NO Carbs! Atkins enthusiasts rave about the benefits of carb-starving and that fats are not really that bad, but the simple fact is that your body needs carbs as a basic energy, so after starving yourself of them only to eat them again, your body stores that energy as, you guessed it; fat! Aim for around 240-260g of carbohydrates per day (look at potatoes, pasta, rice and wholemeal bread).

Tip no. 6: Buy a Bag of Nutrasweet. Any sweetener can be used as a sugar substitute and I believe they taste fairly similar. Plus, a tablespoonful contains about 0.1 calories, compared to the 18 that you will often find in sugar.

Tip no. 7: Lift Weights. Lifting light weights can burn calories and tone up every muscle in your body. It is a common misconception that lifting weights will always build big muscles, which is something that many women are keen to avoid. However, this is only true if your body is of the correct somatotype (body shape) and if you really are overweight then believe me, its not.

Tip no. 8: Drink Green Tea. The benefits of green tea have long been discussed, the main one being that it contains the right chemicals to speed up your basal metabolism (which in turn burns fat faster). Two cups per day (without sugar!) is enough, while the only known side effects are that the caffeine in it can cause minor sleep deprivation, so drink it in the morning.

Tip no. 9: Get Busy! As I mentioned earlier, many overweight people are heavy snackers and these are usually people with two much time on their hands (that are often bored). The best way to combat this is to, quite simply, do something! Getting a new hobby, and therefore spending less time near the TV, are ways to keep you away from the fridge.

Tip no 10: Stop Talking About it! Diet must be one of the most discussed topics in modern society, yet, the people who talk about it are often the ones who want to lose weight. Then, how to prevent obesity? The real secret is to get on with it. As of tomorrow, you are officially dieting, so scribble down five small meals and brew yourself a cup of green tea!

How to satisfy your cravings, healthily

By loudfrogs on 3:43 AM

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It's been another one of those days: places to go, deadlines to meet, meals to cook. You find yourself daydreaming about crisp, salty potato chips. Pretty soon it's an insistent, must-have-it-now craving, and before you know it, your hand is deep in the bag.

It

It's normal to crave certain foods, but make sure you don't go overboard.

Rather than berate your lack of willpower, once in a while, indulge yourself. In a 2007 Tufts University study of healthy women, 91 percent reported having food cravings (which the researchers define as an intense desire to eat a specific food). In other words, cravings are common, and the key to successful weight management, experts say, is learning to address cravings rather than always deny them.

"You first have to accept that having cravings is normal, but you don't have to give in to every one," says Tufts study coauthor Susan Roberts, PhD. "The people in our research who manage their weight the best are not those who crave foods less often but those who give in some of the time."

Trigger happy

Brian Wansink, PhD, director of Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab and author of "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think," has made a career of studying people's behavior relating to food. He says cravings fall into two basic categories: snacks (with potato chips, ice cream, cookies, and chocolate leading the list) and meal foods (pizza, pasta, burgers, casseroles, and the like). Which comfort food you choose can be affected by age and gender. "Women tend to crave sweet stuff, men salty stuff," Roberts says. "And premenstrual women's cravings are more likely to be insistent."CookingLight.com: Build a healthier pie with top pizza recipes

What triggers a food longing? Hormonal fluctuations are thought to be the cause in premenstrual women, though no one knows for sure, says Roberts. Other theories include a physical need for calories and emotional cues. "If you haven't eaten for hours and you're really hungry, that is a physical craving, and you should eat," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Emotional yens, on the other hand, may be set off by almost anything: a song, a person, a feeling, a situation that's associated with a particular food -- any reminder can kick a hankering into gear, "even if you're not hungry," Taub-Dix says.

Although stress is a commonly cited culprit, research shows that positive events trigger cravings even more than negative feelings, says Wansink. "In one of our studies, we rigged games so that people would either succeed or lose, and we found that they ended up having a stronger craving when they won."

Strategies that work

Given cravings' universal nature, experts agree that "if you deny all cravings, something's going to backfire," says Wansink. If you rarely enjoy a food you crave, you're more likely to go overboard when you finally do give in. Indeed, according to the Tufts study, people who occasionally give in to hankerings manage their weight most successfully. These healthful strategies can help, too. CookingLight.com: Hot artichoke-cheese dip

Eat regularly. Waiting too long between meals can turn normal hunger pangs into an out-of-control craving. "It's hard to make a good choice when you're starving," says Taub-Dix. Her suggestion: Keep healthful options -- energy bars, skim milk, even an almond butter and jelly sandwich -- on hand to keep hunger in check. CookingLight.com: Keep cravings in check with healthy snacks to go

Delay gratification. When a craving hits, slip your mind into rational gear by saying, "not now, maybe tomorrow," suggests Roberts. Saying "later" rather than "never" may help decrease the frequency of cravings, she adds.

Keep it real. Eating an apple isn't likely to satisfy a yen for chocolate. Instead, enjoy what you really want -- in moderation. Wansink's research shows that "each subsequent taste of a food is rated as less enjoyable than the previous taste. The first bite is always the best; the second bite, second best." If you eat half of what you'd normally want, Wansink says, "your satisfaction rating [will still be] very, very high."

Practice portion control. It's easy to overeat if you munch straight from a box of cereal, for instance, or a bag of pretzels. Taub-Dix suggests portioning one-cup servings into zip-top plastic bags. "This way you won't eat to excess."

In fact, snacks are fine. The USDA Dietary Guidelines allow 100 to 300 "discretionary" calories daily (to calculate how many discretionary calories you can enjoy per day, visit MyPyramid.gov). An ounce of dark chocolate (142 calories), for example, or 1.25 ounces of baked potato chips (166 calories) fall well within that range.

Choose high-quality foods with nutritional benefits. Tapenade spread on a fresh baguette will offer salty-meaty flavor from the olives (as well as heart-healthy fatty acids) and tasty carbs from the bread. If chocolate is your weakness, go for gourmet dark chocolate, which offers beneficial antioxidants along with great flavor. If you want something creamy, try thick Greek yogurt drizzled with honey (you'll gain some calcium as well as the rich creaminess you really want).CookingLight.com: The many health benefits of chocolate.

Keep a food diary. This can help if cravings are frequent and often lead to overeating. "I suggest my patients write down what they're feeling" when they have a craving, says Taub-Dix. "It helps to transfer your feelings onto that piece of paper, and you may find you don't have to eat." Also note the types of food and even the times you eat; look for patterns so you're not caught off guard. Addressing ¬underlying issues like physical hunger or ¬boredom or stress may help people minimize cravings, says Roberts. "The idea is to live with your cravings and not let them control you."

Source :CNN

Squat Rack

By loudfrogs on 8:55 AM

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Many people want to purchase a squat rack, but with all the different kinds on the market, they are unsure of what they should buy. This page will give you some ideas of what to look for in such a rack before you make the purchase.

One of the main things a squat rack should have is adjustable supports. This feature allows people of different heights to use the rack. If you have several people who work out with you or if there are several people in your family who like to work out, you need to have a rack that suits everyone. The bar supports need to be at least 2 inches apart. If they are farther apart than that then maybe you should consider another model.

Another feature of a squat rack that you should consider is where the support can be placed. If you can place the support at about the level of your waist then it can be used by curlers, even though some curlers like to have them about 8 inches higher than that.

That is the approximate level you need to have the support for protection when you are squatting. If the support is at shoulder level, then it is best for people who do presses.

When you are buying a squat rack you need to have squat stands. You can purchase these or even make them yourself out of wood.

If you want to take your quads to the next level then this is a must!

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Rosacea - Its Causes and Common Treatment Method

By loudfrogs on 8:55 AM

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Neither are all types of skin conditions the same nor can each one of them be treated with a common method. In this aspect Im talking about rosacea which is also known as acne rosacea. This skin condition is not as the same as acne and as such the treatment is also different. So before beginning the treatment of rosacea its necessary to have a good understanding of the skin condition.

General Overview of Rosacea

Rosacea is commonly mistaken as acne by many although its general look of the affected skin part is the same as acne. In case of rosacea there is excessive redness on the face than compared to acne. It generally affects the middle area of the face mainly appearing on the chin, lower end of the nose and the forehead.

Generally the cause for this skin condition is due to the enlargement of tiny blood vessels in the affected region which cause excess redness. This condition and the presence of the blood vessels cause pimples which are red, swollen and large and this look make many think the skin condition to be that of acne. The one major difference between the two skin conditions is that there are no whiteheads or blackheads in case of rosacea. Apart from this major difference there is nothing less annoying for both rosacea as well as acne, both are annoying and embarrassing.

Common Treatment Methods for Rosacea

The common treatment initiative taken by many to cure acne rosacea in the first stage is to visit a doctor or dermatologist and take medications as they prescribe. This could be the best and effective for many but its not the only treatment method available. In fact without visiting a doctor you can straight away buy treatment medication over the counter and these medicines/creams/lotions do a good job in terms of reducing as well as eliminating this skin condition. Some of these products fall under the all natural herbal cure, that many people enjoy to use so as to avoid the harsh products that many could be allergic to as well as the product being abrasive.

The Least Abrasive Treatment Method

The least abrasive method of treating acne rosacea would be by using creams, soaps, lotions and shampoos that are specifically designed to get rid of this condition. These common cleaning products which are produced after years of research and testing can do a great deal to reduce the swelling commonly associated with the condition. However, if after continue use of these products they are found to be ineffective in treating the condition and no improvements can be noticed, then its best to see a doctor or dermatologist. After all no one would like to live for a long period with red and swollen pimples on a face, so if one treatment is not working moving on to a more specialized treatment will be the right course of action to take.

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