What is All the Fuzz About "thin and Beautiful"

We witness today’s popular beliefs putting much emphasis on our weight and what we believe it should be. Mass media bombard us with extreme makeover and healthy weight loss challenges and personalities glamorize emaciated physiques which we equate with the healthy and beautiful.

We only see in media these “overly” endowed-in-weight individuals only to emphasize the false notion that it is not beautiful when we are overweight. It is high time that we pose this question to ourselves and seek an honest answer. What is an ideal weight? What constitutes a healthy weight loss? How can we attain such a healthy and effective extreme makeover?

Mixed messages regarding body image have created a dichotomy. Americans are obsessed with being “Hollywood” thin and beautiful, but intrigued by criticism of the models and celebrities they aim to resemble. We are easily swayed by the popular preaching of our friendly personal trainers. The result—a country that is consumed with “looking good” and less concerned with overall health and wellbeing. We have now in our midst a populace with a relatively corrupted perspective of our physical appearance attained through the supposedly healthy weight loss program to achieve the “barbie-type physique. It is now the all too familiar paint in the wall which we force ourselves to believe as beautiful.

With these unrealistic expectations, it is no wonder so many people are dissatisfied with their bodies, self-conscious and incapable of appreciating basic good health. The female sector is obviously the most vulnerable and affected lot—4 out of 5 are unhappy with their bodies. The consequences are quite disturbing: teenage girls plagued with self-scrutiny, pregnant women depriving themselves of essential nourishment in order to limit weight gain and the new prevalence of eating disorders among women in midlife.

The media should do their part in ending the misplaced belief that thin is better and beautiful. Proper emphasis should be impressed upon us that healthy weight loss is essential mainly because it is what we need in order for us to live a fruitful and healthy life. The sad reality is that the current unrealistic and unhealthy images attract more attention and translate into financial gain.

Read More... »

Ephedra Diet Pills and Weight Loss

Ephedra diet pills remain to be one of the most popular kinds of weight loss supplements in the market today. This is because Ephedra diet pills offer an effective and rapid way to lose weight.

Ephedra diet pills make use of the herb Ephedra sinica, more commonly known as Ma Huang. This herb is commonly used in traditional Chinese medications, and has been used for thousands of years in the management of a variety of medical conditions, specifically asthma and the common cold. The active constituents of the plant ephedra are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are responsible for its beneficial effects.

Ephedra diet pills have been developed to boost the body's metabolism, and subsequently, burn more body fat. The active component ephedrine works in a similar manner as adrenaline. Thus, when you take Ephedra diet pills, you will experience a faster heart rate, a higher blood pressure level and an increase in thermogenesis, which is the process that accompanies the burning of more calories. At the same time, taking these pills can also increase your energy levels, giving you more energy to do additional activities and exercises, which can further enhance your weight loss.

Ephedra diet pills have another active ingredient known as P57. P57 is a substance that acts as an appetite suppressant, and is used to tell your brain that you are not hungry. Thus, taking Ephedra diet pills can not only help you melt those pounds away, but it can also make you lose your appetite, preventing you from gaining any additional weight. In effect, Ephedra diet pills use a combination of several mechanisms in order to promote quick and successful weight loss.

The reason why Ephedra diet pills are so popular is because they are able to deliver their weight loss claims. A number of studies have been made on Ephedra diet pills, including one that can be found in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders. This study shows that Ephedra diet supplements can produce a significant amount of weight loss, even more than other weight loss supplements being sold nowadays.

Although ephedra diet pills are effective in producing weight loss, taking the pills can lead to adverse effects, especially when more than what is prescribed is taken. Common side effects of the supplement include nausea, nervousness, tremors, flushing, headache and dizziness, to name a few.

Ephedra diet pills have always been the subject of controversy, mainly because the use of these supplements has been associated with the development of some serious side effects. However, the drug is still readily available in many health stores and online shops.

Although Ephedra diet pills are do not require a prescription, it is still important to inform your physician if you are planning on taking these supplements. Some diseases and medications can interact with these pills and cause serious adverse reactions. Ephedra diet pills should only be used for short periods, approximately 7 days at a time. Make sure that you only take the prescribed amount of Ephedra pills to prevent any side effects from occurring.

Read More... »

Living With Multiple Sclerosis - An Outsiders View

It was Christmas 2004 we had just finished our loft conversion. Our house was now over 3 storeys. We had not long been married and were looking forward to a long and happy future.
Life had other plans. Mark, my husband was an active being who loved being outdoors, working in the garden, working in the countryside, cycling. We played badminton together and spent lots of time with the children. Suddenly he became a bit clumsy strange as he was always so precise in everything he did. This got worse until he was unable to tie his shoelaces or even cut up his food. The doctor dismissed it, so another doctor's opinion was sought. A neurological referral was the next step but this all took time. We were very scared doing all the usual scared things, not talking about it, talking too much and imagining all sorts of things, terrible things. We both are Radiographers I work in Breast Screening, Mark a lecturer in Radiotherapy we had a little knowledge which can be such a bad thing. Mark's expertise was in cancer and tumours so he immediately picked out the worst tumour and convinced himself that was it. I wondered about MS but my experience was limited to the women that came for Breast Screening and those women all seemed to be severely disabled ( if they had MS that didn't require then to be wheelchair bound them there was no need for me to know)

Eventually the Neurological referral came through and off we went. The hospital a very familiar environment for both of us took on a new persona we were "patients" After the initial appointment it was very obvious to me that the Consultant suspected MS. Obvious to me but not to Mark he had completely missed the hints that were given, the drip feed scenario that I had heard so many times when a consultant prepares his patient for bad news. I wanted to scream and shout and tell Mark "it's MS" but I couldn't ! I was not the health professional I was the wife, the support, the carer. The barrage of tests were next more hospital visits sitting in waiting rooms all pretending to be friendly places but on every wall posters, leaflets displayed all mocking me. MS and fatigue, MS and children, getting around with MS, MS and sexual function, adverts for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and on and on and on...

Eventually the tests were done and the diagnosis confirmed. Now it was just a matter of living with it. Mark is a very intelligent person he has an MSc and teaches Radiography students to degree level and beyond so why did he read a book that was over 20 years old and described all MS sufferers as ending up bedridden and dying a grizzly death. I cam home to find him curled up in a corner, terrified. That night we slept with the light on. The first year was tough, well every year is tough. The children suffered my daughter ran away, went to live with her father and our son who started playing up and developed severe behaviour problems at school. We didn't handle it well. We pretended all was ok.

It is only now 4 years on that I can reflect back. I can see where we made mistakes and what we could have handled better. We have changed I make the decisions now but try to include Mark, he can't make decisions. We try to lead a healthy life our diet has improved and we are more conscious of our own mortality. I have gone headlong into a fitness regime as now I frequently run up and down 2 flights of stairs whenever Mark forgets something. My diet is all geared to gaining energy.

We are managing now supporting each other when the need arises and listening and talking to each other. Communication is vital. Patience is an attribute that every care has to have a skill I have learnt I still get angry and fustrated but by writing it down like this I can get it out of my system and if you are reading this maybe you should try it too.

Read More... »

Historical Cannabis Facts

This history of cannabis is long and confusing, and only relatively recently has the possession of cannabis been a criminal offence. Here’s a look back at some of the peculiarities of its history…

It’s been a Medicine for 4000 years

Although the debate about medicinal marijuana is a relatively new one in the West, in India, China and the Middle East, cannabis’ medicinal properties have been celebrated for around 4000 years. In China it was used to treat all manner of conditions from malaria to constipation! It took a long time for it to be used as medication in the west – around the middle of the 19th century. Queen Victoria was proscribed it to relieve period pain, and it could be freely purchased in shops throughout the United States.

Towards the end of the century, its usage in western medicine faded with the invention of the syringe. Injected drugs took effect far faster, and cannabis (which could not be dissolved in water and thus injected) fell out of favour. Over the last few decades of course, the debate over medicinal marijuana has reopened.

Founding Fathers Grew Hemp and Cannabis

While it is unclear as to whether any of the founding fathers actually used the drug recreationally, it is clear that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers grew hemp, as documented in their own diaries. Jefferson imported seeds from China, while Washington notes that he was attempting to get his gardeners to separate the male and female cannabis seeds – "began to separate the Male from the Female Hemp at Do – rather too late". Some have suggested that maybe Washington’s insistence on separation of the crop implies he used the herb medicinally to treat his renowned tooth aches. Whether or not you believe this, you can’t deny the significance of hemp to the history of the USA: the declaration of independence is written on hemp paper!

Hemp for Victory!

More recently, and an area of US history the government is very keen to brush over is the 1940’s "Hemp for Victory" campaign. During the Second World War, imports of hemp were restricted, meaning that marine cordage, parachutes and other military essentials were in short supply. The government responded by distributing free cannabis seeds and allowing men to defer the draft if they agreed to stay home and support the war effort by growing hemp. By 1943, American farmers had harvested 375,000 acres of hemp.

Marijuana a Truth Serum?

Yes, for a time in the 1940s, the United States’ Office of Strategic Services (OSS) experimented with cannabis as a truth serum. They noted in their trials that the drug made a subject (in this case a member of the mafia) "loquacious and free in his impartation of information".

One example of its usage was in the interviewing of Augusto Del Gracio, one of Lucky Luciano’s enforcers. After being given a cigarette spiked with THC concentrate, he talked openly about the gangster’s heroin operations. So successful was the experiment that for the next meeting they upped the THC dosage in the tobacco – but this proved to be too much, and the mobster simply passed out for two hours.

Many US Government Funded Studies have Extolled the Virtues of Cannabis

Many government funded studies have been brushed under the carpet after they failed to turn the negative results intended. Studies have shown all kinds of things, from cannabis’ failure to increase death rates (Sidney, S et al. – ‘Marijuana Use and Mortality’), its lack of long term consequences (Eisen SE et al. ‘Does Marijuana Use Have Residual Adverse Effects on Self-Reported Health Measures, Socio-Demographics or Quality of Life?’), that it may prevent cancer (multiple studies) and that it does have medicinal value (Joy, JE, Watson, SH and Benson, JA. ‘Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base’). The latter of these has been largely ignored by the government, and caused the co-author John A. Benson to tell the New York Times that the government "would rather it never happened."

Read More... »

Vitamin C Could Affect Mesothelioma Treatments

Vitamin C Could Affect Mesothelioma Treatments

Research from physicians with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York have discovered that the consumption of vitamin C supplements among cancer patients, including those with mesothelioma, may be causing negative effects on a mesothelioma patient by reducing the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and treatments.

The research was published in a recent issue of the journal Cancer Research where details were reported including the fact that anywhere between 30 and 70 percent fewer cancer cells were effectively treated with chemotherapy upon the administration of vitamin C to cancer patients.

According to the study, mesothelioma cancer victims should be very aware of the potential risk of consuming vitamin C during chemotherapy treatments because achieving a positive outcome during mesothelioma treatments is difficult enough without additional setback.

Chemotherapy and Mesothelioma Cancer

Chemotherapy is a form of treatment for cancer and can be administered in a number of ways, via a pill or through an needle injection. Chemotherapy can is also administered either intrapleurally, which is directly into the chest cavity, or intraperitoneally, which is an injection of chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Chemotherapy is currently the main treatment for mesothelioma and can be given at any stage of mesothelioma. According to the ACS, the following are drugs used in combination during chemotherapy:

* methotrexate and vincristine
* cisplatin, vinblastine and mitomycin
* cisplatin and doxorubicin
* doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and cisplatin



During chemotherapy, there are several additional side effects that occur but will usually disappear after treatment is stopped. The ACS describes the following as chemotherapy side effects:

* nausea
* vomiting
* loss of appetite
* loss of hair
* mouth sores
* bleeding or bruising after minor cuts/injuries
* fatigue or shortness of breath

Living With Mesothelioma

Unfortunately, the outcome for mesothelioma cancer patients is rather grim as it is difficult to stop or reverse severe scarring that may have occurred within the lining of the lungs while the condition remained dormant. However, new treatments continue to be studied and researched and the potential for a mesothelioma patient being able to participate in clinical trials that may offer a more positive outcome is becoming more available as light continues to be shed on this one-time rare condition.

In order for a patient to receive and pay for costly treatments, it may be necessary for a mesothelioma victim to consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney who can provide a free legal consultation regarding a mesothelioma lawsuit. Building a mesothelioma case may provide a return of monetary compensation as mesothelioma is considered a preventable disease. Many individuals have been exposed to asbestos fibers and dust, which are the main causes of mesothelioma cancer, through work within the construction industry, naval industry and mining.

Read More... »

Quitting Smoking Is An Art

Quitting smoking does not make everyone gain weight but it results in gaining a few extra pounds. Weight gain is much possible for chain smokers. It gives the smoker the false feeling of weight gain which is actually due to water retention after which the body comes to its previous position.

Chain smokers are more prone to health dangers when they try to quit smoking and the main symptom is weight gain.

How to preserve health after quitting smoking:

1. Physical fitness

* Daily exercise can be a good reminder to make one realize that how much of the energy he has lost due to smoking as he will find it quite tough to exercise properly. Physical fitness enhances your energy levels and by bringing you close to the nature, it also diverts your mind off smoking.

* Beginners should exercise for 30 minutes initially not essentially on regular basis. Exercise not only ensures good health but also helps in controlling weight. You can go for exercises like brisk walking and playing.

2. Good eating habits

* Good eating habits ensure prevention of weight gain and make you feel good. Eating nutritious diet on regular basis helps a lot but you should not change yourself too fast as it can result in fatigue.

* Never try to quit smoking during bouts of tension only to prevent snacking. It can result in consuming more snacks or taking to smoking again and the person becomes addicted once again.

3. Resisting longings

* Once you quit smoking, you should also learn how to resist craving for cigarettes and food. If one learns to overcome craving for 5 minutes, then it generally goes off.

* Try to busy your hands and mouth with things like chewing gum, solving puzzles to replace smoking.

* Try not to accompany your loneliness with tea or coffee. It can increase the nervous feeling.

* Have required sleep when tired and also try to lessen your anger and loneliness. Go for meditation and relax properly.

* Take up another subject to talk other than smoking.

* List the places where you feel urge to smoke and also list things you can have as a substitute of smoking. Avoid going to the pubs, having chips when watching television.

* Some anxious smokers can also go for nicotine gum or patch known for reducing the weight gain only on being prescribed by the doctor.

4. Be optimistic

* Eating habits become better with the passage of time as you left smoking and food tastes nice when you become habitual of eating healthy food.

* Don’t be pessimist and let yourself not to be afraid about weight gain. If it happens you will surely lose weight with the help of your eating habits and be confident about your choice to stay healthy.

The author Tom Baldwin manages the website on that offers people many ways to quit smoking easily. If you have been trying to stop smoking and have been struggling and not making any head way, then visit Tom's site for access to several easy ways to stop smoking online.

Read More... »

Skin Care Information - What You Should and Shouldn't Believe

Let's face it. Sorting through the mountains of skin care information and trying to decide what to believe can be a monumental task. It's easy to be led astray by all the star-studded advertising that appears in our favorite magazines or television. I'm even beginning to hear quite a few radio spots that promote an anti aging cream that's endorsed by a plastic surgeon. So with all this skin care info at our finger tips, why does it seem that the demand for skin care advice continues to increase? Could it be because much of this information isn't believable?

Maintaining healthy, beautiful skin is not complicated. You should take care of your skin much the same way you take care of your body - by nourishing it with healthy substances and keeping it clean and protected from harm. Any skin care information that is based upon this approach can be believed.

While this system of skin care is simple, its requires selecting the right kind of products for achieving the health and protection of the skin. Only products that have been specifically designed to work deeply, at the cellular level, can get you these results.

The majority of creams and lotions on the market today are made with artificial substances that have been formulated to feel creamy and smell good. But how can you believe that mineral oils, parabens, and dioxanes are capable of stimulating healthy skin cell function? What kind of protection can you realistically expect from alcohols and fragrances?

The truth is these synthetic ingredients have the potential for smothering your cells, clogging your pores and exposing you to harmful chemicals. If the skin care information included with these products tells you anything different, then it shouldn't be believed.

Through my extensive research of skin care information I have come to believe that using products that contain high concentrations of active, natural substances are the healthiest and most effective way to care for my skin.

I learned that moisturizing with botanical oils that come from macadamia nuts, avocado and Shea butter softens my skin, soothes inflammation and reduces the appearance of scars and blemishes.

Through further research of this skin care information I learned that successfully treating, fortifying and protecting my skin is achieved with the following cell-nourishing ingredients:

Vitamin E

CoEnzyme Q10, in a special nano-emulsion form called Nano-Lipobelle H EQ10

Cynergy TK™

Phytessance Wakame

According to this skin care info, these specially formulated ingredients are readily available to skin cells where they are used to increase natural collagen and elastin production, boost levels of protective hyaluronic acid and stop the production of damaging free radicals. The overall result has been healthy, radiant skin that is able to prevent further aging.

Make no mistake. Finding skin care information you can believe isn't difficult if it includes a healthy, common sense approach. If the skin care info also educates you about the benefits of active, natural ingredients, you know you're on the right path.

If you want to learn more about the skin care information I discovered during my research, please visit my website. It is skin care info you can believe.

Read More... »