Top Weight Loss Guide

Fitness means many things to many people. Unfortunately, when most people say they are healthy, they really mean that at that particular moment they are free of any known illness, do not have symptoms, and have a feeling of well-being at rest. Absence of disease is a negative definition of health and fitness.

Adequate fitness allows the individual to perform his daily chores without interference by fatigue, to have sufficient physical reserve to meet unexpected emergencies safely, and to have enough extra energy to enjoy leisure time. It is positive in its implications and thus can be attained and maintained only by activity, not by rest.

While fitness is easily defined, it is difficult to measure, particularly after college years. If one strives toward being fit, it is only fair that one should be able to assess how far along the road to fitness he has travelled. He should be able to say, “I am fit” or “I am not fit” or “I am getting there.”

However, the human economy, being in a constant state of internal and therefore fairly invisible flux, is not amenable to the measurements available to evaluate, for example, the federal economy. There is no convenient metric or decimal appraisal of fitness, no series of figures which can be fed into an adding machine with a slip of paper stating, “You are 86 percent in shape” or, worse, “You are 2 percent fit.”

Many excellent tests have been devised to set up standards of fitness for specially designated groups. At the service academies, for example, officer candidates must perform an irreducible number of push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, dips, rope climbs or shuttle runs (these vary from year to year) if they are to pass the physical fitness requirements of these academies. Likewise, most school systems have adopted a variety of fitness measurement programs in an attempt to bring all students up to an at least acceptable lower limit. Read the rest of this entry »

Any woman can tell you that they know someone with breast cancer and how they would like to be able to impart life changing advice if they could. So, with the many functions of Vitamin A, is the prevention of breast cancer one of them?

Vitamin A is also known as Retinol and is a fat soluble vitamin which is stored in the liver. It has many functions but today let’s talk about the little known secret that Vitamin A might be important in preventing breast cancer.

Vitamin A is found in a number of food products, such as fortified milk, butter, fruits, eggs and cod liver oil. It is defiantly not the drug to think that if a little is good a lot is better. To much and you will have some miserable toxic symptoms from nausea and vomiting to hair loss and possibly death?

For years now it has been thought that Vitamin A and the prevention of cancer had some sort of relationship, but no one really knew how to approach it. There is news out and about that some scientists believe that it is a malfunction in the way the body processes vitamin A that may be the culprit behind the formation of breast cancer.

Healthy processing of Vitamin A

• Vitamin A enters the body and is stored in fat tissues, even the breasts
• If needed it is converted and retinoic acid receptor cells are activated
• The receptor cells regulate those genes associated with cell differentiation
• Cell differentiation occurs; genes turn into cells with specific roles

Unhealthy processing of Vitamin A

• Cells don’t get enough Vitamin A stored
• Retinoic acid receptors don’t get activated
• Cells don’t differentiate
• Cells turn cancerous

So to answer the question, “Is one of Vitamin A functions – the prevention of breast cancer?” That unfortunately cannot be answered completely. That Vitamin A is a wonderful nutrient that many of us do not receive enough of is true. That women with breast cancer have lower levels of Vitamin A is true too. More research is needed, but until then it is advised to take a supplement of Vitamin A every day.

You will need to know the methods for processing Hoodia to make an educated decision for buying Hoodia. There are three ways of processing Hoodia and you should be aware of each one before you buy a Hoodia product.

One method of processing Hoodia is using a concentrate method. Basically what this means is that by using a concentrate of the Hoodia plant it removes fiber, skin, and other products that are necessary. They take up room and do not promote the appetite suppressant. Drawing out Hoodia in a liquid form improves the potency levels. Potency levels can be 20 to 1 or 10 to 1. The highest potency level is 20 to 1 meaning the extract was made by using 20g of the whole plant to make 1 gram of extract. 10 to 1 means only 10g were used to make 1 gram of product extract. The higher the potency level, the more effective the extract will be in suppressing appetite.

Another way of processing Hoodia is to make a powder out of the plant. Most Hoodia products are made in this way. The South African Bushmen ate the whole plant so it was assumed that it would be the most effective way of taking in the product. Bushmen did not eat the whole plant however; they peeled away the skin and threw it away! This method is considered the cheapest method of processing Hoodia. This is also considered to be the least effective method of processing Hoodia.

The third method is to extract the p57 molecule. South African scientists in conjunction with a British company isolated the molecule that was the active ingredient in the Hoodia plant. Steroidal glycoside was given the name of p57 and a patent was issued in 1995. Phytopharm, the British company who was working with the South African government, was given a license to develop a Hoodia drug. They are now working with Unilever to develop a diet product using the p57 molecule. This product may still be several years away from being available to the public. Results seen in lab rats that were given this molecule did prove they lost weight and reduced the symptoms of diabetes.

Most herbalists and naturopaths prefer the liquid extract to pills because the potency level is stronger in the liquid extract. The liquid is also easier to digest and absorbed faster than pills. They suggest that those who use the liquid extract will have faster weight loss results. Cravings are lessened almost immediately after the extract is taken in.

Hoodia may be the magic ingredient to help the obese lose weight safely and effectively. Hoodia is also expensive. It is difficult to grow and takes from four to five years to cultivate and mature. It needs an average temperature of 122F to mature. Until recently, it was only found in the semi-deserts of South Africa. The high price of Hoodia is fueled by the demand for the product and the scarce supply.

There are many over the counter scar healing products. It is even not unheard of for a person to open a Vitamin E capsule and rub that over a scar and maybe add a bit of oil. But the answer to the burning question of “will Vitamin E heal your scar?” The answer is an unequivocal No!

It is known through Science that Vitamin E can reduce inflammation. But it is also known that some vitamin E sold in creams can not even be absorbed through skin, nor can Vitamin E from a capsule be placed on the skin and rubbed about will it be absorbed either.

Furthermore, it is a well known fact that Vitamin E often causes allergic reactions, so you should be careful or the only effect you will see is one of redness and itching.

First off let’s define just what a scar is. Scar tissue is actually skin tissue with a lot of collagen fibers in it.  Collagen is made to close the wound and as the healing takes place, an enzyme called collagenese is made, which removes the extra collagen. If, after the healing is over, extra collagen is left, a thick, raised scar is formed; it is not possible to remove the scar.

Scars are tough and can be helped by applying any oil and by massage to break down the tissues. This is probably what people are experiencing when claiming that Vitamin E is the cure.

Having wounds that scar is a genetic predisposition, some have it and some do not. It could be those that don’t have that predisposition and use Vitamin E oil say it works.

So you now know that Vitamin E will not heal a scar. What can you then to help it not become such a big ugly scar? First off help it from the beginning to heal. Lubricate it well with antibiotic ointment and keep it covered. It is funny how rumors in the medical world get started, but wounds do not heal well exposed to the air.

All forms of exercise demand expenditures. This scarcely differs from our normal living pattern. Unless your usual habitat is a most unusual and eye-catching state of naked and suspended animation, you do at least have the expense of clothing and food.

How much more you are willing or able to invest in sports will help to determine those activities most appropriate for you. And it is better to know the bad news in advance than after you suddenly realize you are in over your head.

Before dealing specifically with the various expenses, there is one cardinal rule: buy safe, sturdy, dependable equipment. A bargain-basement buy may be more than offset by not-so-bargain-basement medical bills.

Think of the injuries possible with a pair of flimsy, poorly supported ice skates, brittle ski poles, denuded bicycle tires, and ill-fitting walking boots. Good equipment is not only safe, but, with proper use, outlasts its cheaper counterparts. Insist on the best and purchase it from reliable, experienced people.

The expense of outfitting necessarily varies. In bicycling or hiking this is usually nil.

Remember, though, that endurance and stamina are integral features of a sport and that these repetitive activities are a source of constant friction between the participant and his clothing. In order to avoid chafing and blisters, clothes should be freshly laundered and well fitting.

Baggy clothes tend to “bunch up” in moving areas, while tight clothing restricts free motion. In one of my own sports, long-distance running, I am very careful to purchase suits which neither bind nor droop.

A loose shirt feels like sandpaper after about ten miles. And snug shorts can almost dismember one’s lower limbs over a similar distance. But the more generally applicable situation applies to all types of footwear.

Once the sportsman is comfortably and safely clothed and shod, his next expense is that of gear. It is unnecessary and even impossible to assess various investments for sports equipment. Bar bells, rifles, trampolins, bicycles, and golf clubs come in varying sizes, shapes, and prices. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s begin with an interesting little known fact or two. The word vitamin is derived from a combination of words – vital (critical: urgently needed; absolutely necessary) and amine (An organic molecule which consists of an ammonia molecule where one or more of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by organic groups.) — And was conceived by Polish chemist Casimir Funk in 1912. Funk was the man that isolated vitamin B1, or thiamine, from rice.

There are a number of vitamin B complex benefits to be had when you put these nutrients together. The complex is a grouping of eight vitamins, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12.

The B vitamins work together (synergistically) to deliver health benefits to our bodies. Vitamin Complex has been shown to:

• Enhance immune and nervous system function
  • The breakdown of fats and proteins (which aids the normal functioning of the nervous system)
• Promote cell growth and division
  • Hair and skin
• Maintain healthy skin and muscle tone
  • Muscle tone in the stomach and intestinal tract
• Support and increase the rate of metabolism
  • The breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose (this provides energy for the body)

One of the most powerful functions seems to be that of combating the symptoms of stress, depression and cardiovascular disease.

The B vitamins are all soluble, and that means that they have to be replenished daily, since any excess will be excreted in the urine. The only Vitamin that stores itself and then for up to six years is Vitamin B12, it is found mostly in the liver.

Vitamins are organic (carbon containing) molecules that mainly function as catalysts (starts a chemical reaction, using less time and energy than normal. If these catalysts are missing, as in a vitamin deficiency, normal body functions break down and render a person susceptible to disease.

There are many vitamin B complex benefits and being able to take 8 nutrients in one pill has its good points. The point that is being made here mostly is that you can’t succeed in your nutritional health until you know what you are doing and then do it.

Taking a plunge into fitness can bring more discomfort than a dive into frigid water.

Most people who have neglected fitness over the years, yet sincerely want to begin again, suffer second thoughts of acute embarrassment and uneasiness. They not only think they will look silly rigged up in sports clothes, but are understandably reluctant to expose their droopy shapes in public.

My sympathy goes out to all my patients as they mentally gird themselves for this foray. Make no mistake about it, this takes guts. A small portion of their self-downgrading thoughts are on a reality basis. They do look dumpy. But most of their fears are as unrealistic as the self-conscious teen-ager aware of a ”gigantic” pimple scarcely visible to the casual observer.
Several hints for avoiding embarrassment should be mentioned.

First, wear clothes that are somewhat floppy. Not only do such clothes act as billows in getting rid o£ heat, they obscure bulges which soon will disappear. Only show-offs and Muscle Beach boys wear leotards.

Second, work out in private. There is no need to conduct your workouts atop the bandstand in the town common. Begin your program in seclusion. Tell no one about your plans. The more people you confide in, the more people will hoot at your absurd notions. Later they will enjoy a second round of laughter when you fail to follow through. As with obesity, fitness is your own business—no one else’s. Make your beginning as easy as possible—and long-term success will be enhanced.

Exercise in the cellar or in the attic. Use the secret area at the YMCA for sagging middle-aged businessmen who prefer to work out by themselves, unobserved by youthful athletes. Swim in the public pool where there is always someone who looks worse. Go cycling in the next community and with someone who also needs external redecorating. If you have a few extra dollars, remold your unpleasant curves on a two-weeks’ sojourn to a distant resort. Another few dollars gain you access to an urban health club, where all customers have a long way to go. After a couple of sessions the embarrassment will evaporate. At that point you will wonder why you ever were uneasy. But to get to that point is a giant hurdle. People do not want to be caught doing something different, even if it is healthful. Read the rest of this entry »

Before you can understand side effects of the multivitamin, you have to first know just what a vitamin is. Vitamins are naturally occurring substances necessary for many of the processes of our body. They are found in the foods we eat. All substances brought into your body have the ability to cause a problem. Here we will discuss multivitamin problems and the solutions.

If we are not getting enough of the Vitamin in our food then we need to supplement our diet with man made vitamins. Vitamins can be taken in many different forms; tablets, liquids, capsules and injections. A multivitamin is simply a combination of more than one vitamin.

We take multivitamins when we believe we are short on supplying to our bodies in the natural way, through eating, the right amount. Shortages of multivitamins can come about from illnesses, pregnancy, bad nutrition, stomach problems that cause bad absorption and other circumstances.

So can vitamins cause side effects? Yes of course they can, as in any substance brought into the body can. If you are taking a multivitamin and you suddenly experience difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips and tongue and a feeling that your throat is closing up, then you might be having an allergic reaction and you should seek emergency help right away.

Some of the lesser side effects may be nausea, constipation, diarrhea and black stools. These symptoms may decrease by taking the multivitamin with food.

As with any substance you take into your body you should be aware of all you can about it. Side effects of the multivitamin are generally annoying but sometimes can be very troublesome. Talk to your Doctor if you have any symptom you are unsure of and also, it is important to do your research and learn how to keep your body in a healthy condition to maintain a good life.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the most important vitamins found in citrus juices, including orange juice. So is it any wonder that we would wish to know just what is the Vitamin C content in orange juice? .

Most studies have found that orange juices made from frozen concentrated orange juice have the highest vitamin C levels as compared to freshly squeezed or not-from-concentrate juices. This is probably due to the fact that vitamin C degrades over time in fresh and non frozen concentrate, but doesn’t degrade as much in frozen concentrate due to it being frozen until reconstitution.

A consideration regarding the content of Vitamin C is that the vitamin C content changes through the harvest season and orange variety also play a part. Since most frozen concentrate is from blended oranges than the non frozen kind then it is possible that the non frozen concentrate is produced from a variety/season that has lower vitamin C content.

Temperature and storage time affects the percent of vitamin C content of orange fruits and orange juice. Different varieties of oranges also have different levels of vitamin C.

For instance:

• Mid-season variety, Pineapple Orange had the highest levels
• Early-season variety, Hamlin Orange has the next highest
• Late-season Valencia Orange had the lowest vitamin C content.

On top of that you have to understand that the longer certain oranges stay on the trees the lower the Vitamin C

6 factors that affect Vitamin C contents of oranges

1. Climate conditions
2. Position on the tree and how mature it is
3. Species and variety of orange
4. Parameters used for processing into different products
5. Type of container
6. Handling and storage

As you can see, to know “what is the Vitamin C content in orange juice?” can be very important, as there is much more to know than simply to pluck an orange off the tree and squeeze it.

With knowledge comes skill and with skill comes a better life. Research and learn what it takes to keep your body running happily.

The reasons to justify fun are that fun must obviously be your main goal if you are to keep ahead in this game of fitness.

You can skimp and scrimp on many of the expenditures required in sports. You can do without this or that refinement on your present equipment. But do not be economical of energy and enjoyment.

You soon will have the pep and strength needed for the fulfilment of your athletic satisfaction. You need enthusiasm, you can find energy, and you will feel enjoyment and reward.

Considering the requisites of one may wonder which, if any, sports can meet these requirements. Let us admit first, however, that there are several sports which possess an inherent element of danger. Statistically at the top of the list are the contact sports.

These invariably involve the dual risks of overexertion and physical trauma.

Whenever you itch for a contact sport, it probably is safer to turn on TV and watch it. Among others of the potentially injurious sports are those that occasionally involve excessive speed, such as skiing, aquaplaning, and auto, horse, and motorboat racing. Injuries here usually result from the reckless overconfidence of the novice, although even the old pro is not immune.

Any form of recreation requiring the use of weapons may be hazardous. Even if the equipment is mechanically perfect, one still must contend with the brains behind the trigger finger.

In practice, both benefits and dangers can be found in most sports. It depends on how you play them. The individual who seeks recreation, who avoids sudden overexertion,
and who regularly keeps trim enjoys the greatest profit and assumes the least risk.

The list which follows attempts to combine the above suggestions yet avoids those activities which require no sustained or reasonable effort, even though they may well be teeming with relaxation, good fellowship, and proficiency. Read the rest of this entry »