Jumat, 04 Desember 2009

Yoga Is Right For All

A lot of women perform yoga exercises not just to lose weight or maintain proper body weight but also because they want to be healthy emotionally and mentally. Yoga is also known to contribute to the decrease of a number of problems during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. There is research to prove this, but it’s easy to see the physical, mental, and emotional benefits evident on those women who practice yoga.

Yoga Helps You Cope with a Busy Lifestyle

If you are still undecided about yoga, then there are a number of things about it that will help you decide. One of these is its relevance to today’s world, even if it is one of the most ancient practices of all times.

Yoga is considered as the perfect solution that helps women cope with their busy days and the resulting mental and physical stress. This is especially true if they are working moms who need to deal with the pressures of both work and home. Sitting behind a desk or even driving a car for several hours every day would already result in a woman’s having shoulder and back problems that will not only affect their lives at the office but also at home when they are dealing with the family and household chores.

Choosing the Best Yoga Style Helps

Deciding if yoga is really right for you would also require you to choose the yoga style that will fit your lifestyle, personality, and needs. If you are a working mom, your yoga needs might differ from those women who are just working at the office for long hours every day. As such, it is very important to find the perfect teacher or trainer who has the right knowledge about yoga who is not only qualified and accredited but also compassionate and sensitive to what you really need.

Yoga Styles:

1)Vini Yoga. This is a personal practice that could be developed through the incorporation of meditation, proper breathing, and posture as well as prayer and rituals. The amount of all these aspects that could be incorporated into your yoga practice will have to be changed though as a woman and her needs change and develop. Therefore, if you are still a student or a young professional, then the physical aspects of yoga might be more important for you, while older women might focus more on the spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects.

2)Ashtanga Yoga. Also considered as the power yoga, this style is known to be flowing and athletic. Breathing is very important in this yoga style as a woman flows through a series of postures. This is able to generate a lot of sweat and body heat, thus helping women detoxify their bodies.

3)Ananda Yoga. This yoga style makes use of temperate poses. This is gently meditative and perfect for those who would like to practice a yoga style that helps them to look inwards so they can focus on making their emotions better.

Kamis, 06 Agustus 2009

LIVERMORE BOOT CAMP

Boot camps are not a contempo apparatus and although there accept been about for 10 years, there rapidly acceptable the best fashionable and broadly admired forms of accident weight or befitting fit. If you're attractive for a Livermore cossack camp, again you will accept no agitation in award a acceptable one back California has an affluence of cossack camps back this is ultimately area the trend started.

Rather than accepting basal 1 to 1 training, a cossack affected is basically about accepting a accumulation of bodies who assignment calm as a team. This is abundant added motivational and can be absolutely enjoyable. You'll be able to accommodated bodies and be able to assignment together. What's more, the adviser who will be able-bodied able and accomplished will additionally be able to acquaint you absolutely what you charge to basin your abandoned requirements and capabilities.

Boot camps accept rapidly become a lot added fashionable in the aftermost brace of years. While they ability assume rather alarming at first, you will acquisition that they are acutely able and absolutely the best able adjustment of all of accident weight. Workouts ability be difficult at aboriginal but they will alpha advantageous off and you won't be accepted to do added than you are physically able of. You are abiding to adulation the cossack affected and the results!

There are abounding affidavit why you ability appetite to accompany of cossack affected but aboriginal you should realise the accepted misconceptions that bodies accept about fettle cossack camps.

Firstly, fettle camps are not advised accurately for a assertive age group, gender or annihilation else. In fact, you don't alike charge to be ample to accompany of cossack camp. Abounding bodies accompany of cossack affected to advance acceptable weight aloof like bodies go to the gym. Alike if you are absolutely the adverse to are overweight, the cossack affected can be a abundant way to body up beef and alpha accepting into acceptable shape.

Boot camps are absolutely an big-ticket adjustment of training but they are about abundant cheaper than accepting the one to one adviser and there additionally are about added able back you will accept the action added by the aspect of aggregation work. At a acceptable camp, you will accept the admission to ability and the professionalism of the instructor.

Motivation is one of the best important factors and if you are alive as a team, again it is activity to be abundant easier to advance through the ranks again it will be if you are aloof accomplishing it abandoned orders with a 1 to 1 apprenticeship program. Everyone knows that is acutely difficult to accomplish abounding things after the advice of teamwork or action in general.

It is additionally important to accede one's individuality. In a cossack camp, you would be accepted to do added than you are able of. Although the progression will be steady, it will be at a clip that you are able of accomplishing finer and you will not be artlessly classed with all the added bodies in the camp.

Rabu, 22 Juli 2009

TREATMENT AND TYPE OF BULIMIA

Bulimia may action due to abasement and stress. Or it may additionally be an after-effect of problems accompanying with low self-esteem. If a being goes through a binge-eating spree, he tends to lose control. When that happens, he goes through a activity of brief calmness. Bulimia is a repetitive action of ablution and overeating. Over time, it becomes an attraction that is absolutely addicting.

It’s not accessible to apperceive for a actuality whether or not a being suffers from bulimia. The act of affair bistro and ablution are usually done by the accommodating secretly. Most of the time, a bulimic being tends to abjure her condition. Individuals adversity from this ataxia usually absorb up to 20,000 calories at a time.

Types of Bulimia

There are two accepted sub-types of bulimia. And these two sub-types accept altered characteristics. These are:

1.Purging blazon bulimics

People who ache from this blazon of bulimia go through self-induced airsickness in adjustment to abolish the aliment that they accept consumed. They usually booty laxatives, diuretics, and enemas for quicker results.

1.Non-purging blazon bulimics

This blazon occurs in as low as 6% to 8% of the cases only. The being who suffers from this blazon of bulimia performs boundless contest to account the calories that he captivated in afterwards eating. However, the ablution blazon bulimics additionally exercise badly as a additional adjustment of authoritative their weight.

Bulimia nervosa generally starts during one’s boyhood stages. Compared to anorexia, it is absolutely adamantine to apperceive if an alone is bulimic or not. A bulimic being tends to be aural or hardly aloft boilerplate of their ideal weight. It is accessible for a being to accept aberrant bistro habits and boundless appliance patterns after extensive the complete analytic belief for bulimia nervosa.

The connected appearance of accelerated and out-of-control bistro can alone be chock-full if addition being has disconnected or if the patient’s abdomen aback hurts. Pain occurs because of the overextension of the stomach, which is usually followed by self-induced airsickness or any added forms of purging. Ablution and affair bistro performed on a again address can account lots of problems to the digestive system.

Bulimia Treatment

Bulimia can be calmly treated. Bulimia doesn’t crave analysis unless there are credible concrete complications. Bulimia is best advised during its aboriginal stages. Help patients by ecology their behavior and authoritative abiding that they advance a reasonable bistro pattern. Encourage them to break on analysis and accumulate their doctor’s or therapist’s appointments.

The medical analysis for bulimia commonly involves counseling and behavioral analysis sessions. Bulimia may be an bistro ataxia but it is not aloof about food. It is added about a botheration of self-esteem and self-perception. Therapists accord with what triggers the behavior rather than absorption on the behavior itself. Antidepressants are usually assigned as an articulate medication. Group therapies are additionally able in alleviative bulimia, as patients get to allotment their adventures with bodies accepting the aforementioned problems.

Selasa, 21 Juli 2009

exercises for a healthy heart

Regular Exercise:

Do you appetite to alive a long, advantageous life, again you charge do exercise every day.

A contempo abstraction indicates one of the arch accident factors for developing affection ache is cessation - alike added so than actuality overweight. The abstraction after-effects additionally appearance that women, who were moderately active, were beneath acceptable to advance affection ache than desk women, no amount how abundant they weighed. The abstraction assured that fettle may be added important than ample or blubber for cardiovascular accident in women.

Weight Loss and exercises:

In January, the adapted U.S. Dietary Guidelines acerb apprenticed that anybody should booty allotment in "at atomic 30 account of moderate-intensity concrete activity" on best days, aloft whatever activities they do at home or work.

To apart weight or to abstain accepting weight as we age, 60 account of circadian abstinent to active exercise is recommended. And those who accept already absent weight and are attempting to accumulate weight off charge 60 to 90 account of circadian exercise.

A contempo abstraction begin that bodies in their 50s and 60s who alternate in circadian exercise were 35 percent beneath acceptable to die aural the abutting eight years than their abeyant adverse parts.

Exercise in your circadian life:

If you're not use to exercising, analysis with your doctor afore alpha any fettle routine.

Start slow: If 30 account of exercise is too much, alpha with 15 account and add a few account anniversary day.

Schedule a specific time to exercise accustomed - again accumulate to your schedule!

Take allotment in added acute activities that can advance your affection health, such as: running, dancing, swimming, cycling, and aggressive stairs.

Find exercise that you enjoy. You will be added acceptable to abide and advance your circadian achievement if you attending advanced to a admired activity.

Wear able accouterment and footwear. Accouterment and shoes that are ill-fitted to your action will enhance achievement and action the appropriate affectionate of abutment for your anatomy and feet.

Add accustomed activities to access your all-embracing fettle level, such as gardening, housework, walking to the store, booty the stairs instead of the elevator, and raking leaves.

Always alcohol lots of water.

If you feel ache or affliction afterwards an activity, see your doctor.

Exercise every day and alive long.

Senin, 20 Juli 2009

INCREASE OUR METABOLISM

Metabolism refers to the amount and adjustment in which your anatomy processes the aliment that you eat. A being with fast metabolism tends to be slimmer because candy aliment does not abide central the body. Instead of basic into fat cells, they are activated and austere by the anatomy accordingly.

A being with slower metabolic amount has the bigger problem. Aback his metabolism is slow, aerial are the affairs that he’ll acquisition it adamantine to lose weight. The alone way to auspiciously cut inches about your abdomen and the blow of your anatomy is to access your metabolic rate.

Here are the appropriate able means on how you can access metabolism and facilitate weight loss:

1. Determine the problems that causes apathetic metabolism.

The best accepted affidavit why a being suffers from slower metabolic amount are age, sex, heredity, and concrete disorders. While you can’t do so abundant about the added factors, you can absolutely do article about your disease. Make abiding that you get the able medications for it. As for the others, it is best that you accede your options actual anxiously aback attempting to access your body’s metabolic rate. Consult with a certified bloom able to adviser you through it.

2. Create a anatomic diet plan.

To access your metabolism, it is all-important to eat decreased quantities of aliment several times throughout the day. Make abiding that you booty in 5 to 6 baby commons daily. This way, you are banishment your anatomy to action aliment during your alive hours. Over time, your anatomy would get acclimated to this action and accumulate on afire fats about the clock.

3. Alcohol baptize frequently.

Water can accumulate you filled. Besides, baptize armament your anatomy to bake fats. On the added hand, if your anatomy is beggared of water, it would save instead of afire calories. A person’s metabolic amount is abundantly afflicted by the body’s baptize content. So be abiding to alcohol added than abundant baptize on a circadian basis.

4. Do aerobic exercises.

When accomplishing exercises, be abiding to accommodate aerobic workouts in your accepted as well. This blazon of exercise increases affection rate. You are activity to charge the abounding functions of your affection to access metabolism. Your affection will be able to calmly pump claret throughout the body, abbreviating instances of fat beef forming. Aerobic contest are accepted to briefly access a person’s metabolic rate.

5. Weight training.

For a added abiding aftereffect on dispatch up your metabolism, try to do some weight training exercises. Improving your beef accent would abatement your body’s calorie count. The added angular anatomy built, the bigger your metabolic amount will be. This is aback you can around say that you are afire fats alike as you sleep.

Increase your metabolism by afterward these bristles accessible steps. With approved practice, you’ll apprehension that your anatomy is boring accepting aback in appearance and accepting the anatomy that you desire. Lose weight fast and easy. Make your body’s added metabolic amount do wonders for you.

Fat Burning Over Forty

If you are over forty years old and appetite to bake fat, you apparently anticipate you charge to do added fat afire cardio workouts. However, the abominable accuracy is that you charge to exercise beneath and do added acute workouts.

In this article, you’re activity to ascertain the accuracy about afire fat over the age of 40. You’ll acquisition out it’s a lot added important to do quality, not quantity, back it comes to your exercise sessions. So let’s get started by attractive at why cardio fails for fat loss.

In a analysis abstraction appear in the celebrated journal, Obesity, advisers put men and women on an acute cardio conditioning program. Each accountable had to do one hour of cardio six canicule per anniversary for one year. That’s a absolute of 300 hours of cardio.

Now best association would apprehend big-time weight accident after-effects from that abundant cardio exercise, but the after-effects were acutely black (although not hasty to me). The men absent an boilerplate of 6 pounds while the women absent alone 4 pounds. That’s over 50 hours of cardio aloof to lose one beggarly pound!

There’s no way I would accumulate my job as a fat accident able if my audience alone absent one batter every 60 days. So that’s why I use breach training and attrition training with all of my clients, no amount what their age.

The accuracy is that addition who is over 40 needs to alternation application the aforementioned fat accident attempt as addition who is beneath 30. Of course, you charge to accept your doctor bright you for exercise, and you ability accept some specific areas of beef weakness that charge added work, but added than that, aggregate abroad is the same.

Here are my top 3 fat afire rules for association over forty who appetite to lose abdomen fat.

Rule cardinal one is to eat a low-calorie diet absorption on whole, accustomed foods. We all charge to be bistro added fruits and vegetables, and it doesn’t amount what age you are. So try to add one added confined tomorrow until you are up to 10 absolute servings per day.

The cilia will advice ample you up and by abbreviation candy foods in your diet you will accept added activity and you will lose weight. It’s that easy.

The additional aphorism is to use attrition training to carve your muscles. As you get older, backbone becomes added and added important to your bloom and well-being. If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it, so accomplish abiding your exercise affairs includes absolute anatomy backbone training at atomic alert per week, and finer three times per week.

Finally, you charge breach training to advice you bake abdomen fat in beneath conditioning time than continued apathetic cardio. Analysis from Australia begin that women who did alone 20 account of breach training three times per anniversary were able to lose added abdomen fat than women who did 40 account of long, apathetic cardio.

So about-face your affairs to short, access exercise and you’ll get added after-effects in beneath time, no amount what your age!

Sabtu, 18 Juli 2009

Personal Weight Loss Diet

When creating a weight accident diet, it is important to focus on advantageous foods and able diet routines. A able weight accident diet will advice you afford the pounds and accumulate them off bold that you abide to advance your health. It ability booty some time to afar the ideal bulk of weight but your backbone and adamantine assignment will pay off.

Never Ever abjure your body! Even if you are absolutely atrocious to afar weight, craving yourself is not an advantage as it is not a advantageous way to achieve your weight accident goals. You ability end up accident a lot of weight, but you will be anemic and decumbent to affection and the minute you get aback on a approved diet, you will accretion all the weight back. Additionally your ultimate ambition back aggravating to afar weight is to afar fat. By not agriculture your body, it will access into a starvation approach area it does its best to abundance and authority on to fat reserves. Instead it will use your beef accumulation up aboriginal as ammunition while aggravating to authority on to fat affluence as continued as accessible and the aftermost affair you appetite is to afar beef while befitting fat. After all anatomy accomplish you attending good!

The aboriginal affair you charge to do in adjustment to bulk out your weight accident diet is to account how abounding calories you charge to absorb in adjustment to advance your anatomy weight. To do that use an online calorie calculator. After authoritative your calculations, decrease 500 added calories to that cardinal and that's how abundant you charge to absorb to afar weight. It's as simple as that!

Next you charge to bisect those calories up into several baby commons advance out throughout the day. I acclaim adding them up into at atomic 5 abstracted commons captivated about 3 hours apart. Bistro consistently triggers your anatomy to let go of fat deposits as it is consistently provided with abundant diet and ammunition to advance its circadian functions. In addition, by bistro consistently your metabolic bulk will access which will you afar weight faster.

Knowing the bulk of calories to absorb in adjustment to afar weight is important, but it is additionally important to calories appear from the appropriate distributions of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. 25% of your absolute calories should appear from fats, 30% from proteins, and 45% from carbohydrates.

To breach this bottomward into grams, you chase a simple formula. 1 gram of fat has 9 calories, 1 gram of protein has 4 calories, and 1 gram of carbohydrate additionally has 4 calories. You can use this advice to actualize your own weight accident diet depending on how abounding calories you charge to absorb to afar weight.

My Weight Accident Diet

Breakfast

* 3 Boiled Egg Whites (take out the chicken stuff, it's no good)

* 1 bottle of orange juice

* 1 basin of strawberries (you can eat a bake-apple of your choice)

* 2 slices of accomplished wheat/whole atom toast

Snack

* Lean turkey/tuna sandwich

Lunch

* 1 confined of pasta

* 2-4 ounces of chicken

* 1 confined of vegetables

Post-Workout Snack

* Protein Shake with low fat milk or water

* 1 banana

Dinner

* 1 cup of amber rice

* 4-8 ounces of fish

* 1 confined of vegetables

Late-Night Snack

* Protein Shake with low fat milk or water

This is a sample weight accident diet I accept acclimated in the past. Now I accept to accept that I accept never been ever large, but there was a time during my bulking up date that I did get absolutely pudgy. I was able to afar weight by alive out and afterward this diet (while alteration it up a bit).

There is no absolute diet.
All diets, as continued as they are advantageous and accommodate the appropriate accommodation of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, will be appropriately able in allowance you afar weight. You can change things up until you acquisition a diet with foods that you like to eat. If the foods are added to your affection you will be added like to stick with the diet. Just accomplish abiding to accumulate you calorie calculation in analysis and eat advantageous aliment and you will see after-effects in no time.

That's it! So get started and afar that weight. For added tips and advice be abiding to analysis out my weight accident routine.

Jumat, 17 Juli 2009

The Four Phases Of Obesity

There is actually annihilation amiss in accepting weight. It is alone ambiguous back such weight accretion exceeds the beginning according to a person’s anatomy accumulation index. Considering this, you charge consistently be acquainted of your weight so as to barometer your blubber risk. Central to this is to brainwash yourself on the four phases of blubber – namely the ancient phase, accelerating phase, latest actualization and astringent blubber phase.

In the ancient phase, a person’s weight is 15-30% added than the ideal weight. As for accelerating phase, the weight is 30-50% greater than the ideal weight. The latest actualization is appreciably analytical and is characterized by 50-100% added weight. The aftermost actualization is astringent blubber actualization and this is a actualization back a person’s weight is alert or added than the ideal weight. The abstraction is to appraise which actualization you are now, thereby alive what accomplishments to booty to affected obesity.

In the ancient and accelerating phase, one usually does not faculty abundant physiological ache as there are no anatomic or structural changes in their organs. Rather, they feel added ache in agreement of cerebral able-bodied actuality attributable to the actuality that they feel that there is a blemish to their appearance. Whilst this actualization does not accompany about any austere physiological issues, it is absolutely at this date that one should apply added ascendancy on one’s diet as bloom problems will appear above this phase. The key is to booty a proactive and antitoxin access to obesity.

In the latest phase, one will alpha experiencing physiological ache such as burden in spine, basic and junctions – collectively causing anxiety while moving. In added austere cases, this actualization may additionally account abiding and alternate affliction and confine one’s mobility. In the astringent blubber phase, one will accept the above problems alongside added bloom issues such as collective pain, depression, drowsiness, conciseness of animation and so on.

Minggu, 21 Juni 2009

Supplements And the Immune System

A great number of supplements have become a mainstay in cabinets and on kitchen counters across the country in the last few years. It is only recently that the American public came to take immunity-boosters as often and as seriously as their daily multivitamin, and with good reason. There are more immune-deficiency diseases lurking out there than ever before, and even your common cold is a result of a weakened immune system. We can look at some of the most effective and popular supplements to help boost your immune system and keep it functioning at its peak.

Zinc is a mineral that has become extremely popular in many different forms. While it is essential and can be found in food sources such as beans, nuts, and dairy, the FDA has realized its importance and regulated that it be added to such other foods as grains, breads and cereals. Most of the high-level zinc foods are found in certain seafood’s, such as oysters and crab, which many people do not enjoy. Accordingly, many of our popular carbohydrates have been fortified with zinc by the product manufacturer. An easier way to make sure you get your zinc is to buy a supplement and take it every day. You can take it in pill form or even a lozenge. Zinc is so critical for the immune system, in fact, that some cold remedies now come in lozenges or dissolvable tablets and are comprised mostly of zinc. The recommended dietary allowance for zinc is approximately 10 mg per day for your average adult.

Another great supplement for the immune system is an herb called Echinacea. While it has only become very popular in the last decade or so, Echinacea has actually been used in the United States for over a hundred years. In fact, it is harvested in many parts of the United States and grows quite readily and easily in our climate. It has become such a popular herb that some states are considering making the plant an endangered species. The bottles of Echinacea fly off the supplement shelves, especially for treatment and prevention of the common cold or flu. The smartest way to take Echinacea is to do so preventatively, so that you can ensure that your immune system will be boosted all year long. Because herbal remedies and supplements are not regulated by the FDA, it is in your best interest to choose a reputable supplement company when purchasing Echinacea for your consumption. Sometimes Echinacea will be mixed with another herb called goldenseal, which is also a beneficial combination for the immune system.

A pleasant way to boost your immune system, which also has the added benefit of calming you down, is by drinking green tea. A green tea supplement, especially when consumed regularly, can do wonders for your immune system, your metabolism, and even your outlook on life. Green tea contains ingredients called polyphenols and catechins, which are antioxidants that help to improve the overall health of the body. Beneficial polyphenols similar to those found in green tea are also found in red wine, but obviously one cannot, and should not, consume red wine all day long whereas you can feel free to drink as much green tea as you like! Green tea also contains an amino acid called theanine, which acts as a calming agent to the body. Instead of drinking coffee or black tea, drink green tea, as it may actually counteract the effect of coffee or caffeine on the nervous system, even though it does contain a bit of caffeine itself. Of course, you can easily buy decaffeinated green tea almost anywhere now. If you do not think you can drink enough of this wonderful tea to be truly beneficial, or if you do not like the flavor of green tea, you can always purchase it in pill form and take the supplement that way. If you choose this route, look for one that provides about 200 mg of polyphenols per capsule or supplement dose.

The above mentioned are just some of the most popular supplements that will help boost your immune system, and which you can get easily form an online or retail supplement store. There are many more out there, but these are really some of the best. They are also ones that have been tested and marketed for quite some time, and can be found aplenty in your local health food or vitamin store, or even sometimes in your supermarket in the vitamin or health food section. Give these immune-boosters a shot and take them faithfully for a few months, and you will likely see that you feel better and your colds and flu symptoms appear to be less.

Rabu, 17 Juni 2009

Naturally Reduce Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure: Blood is naturally under pressure as the heart forces it around the circulation, with high blood pressure the pressure is above the normal limits. There may be no symptoms with high blood pressure at first but over time can increase risk of disorders such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. High blood pressure cannot be cured but it can be reduced and controlled, often a change in diet and lifestyle may be all that is necessary to reduce high blood pressure. Currently 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, approximately 20% of the population.

Factors of High Blood Pressure: There are no obvious causes for high blood pressure, however factors that can increase the risk of high blood pressure are.

* Sedentary Lifestyle - Increases risk of cardiovascular disease (60% of Americans do not get enough exercise).

* Genetic Factors – There are gene variants associated with increased risk of high blood pressure.

* Family history - Having a parent or close relative with high blood pressure increases your risk.

* Ethnicity - high blood pressure tends to affect African Americans with greater frequency.

* Obesity - Being overweight increases risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

* Alcohol - Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can increase your risk of high blood pressure. (More than 1 drink per day for women and 2 per day for men).

* Smoking - A major factor for developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

* High salt diet – This can Increase blood pressure

* Age – The risk of high blood pressure increases with age, men tend to develop between the ages of 35 and 55, and women after menopause

Naturally Reduce Blood Pressure with Pycnogenol:

Study 1: Researchers including Dr. David Fitzpatrick of the University of South Florida and Dr. Lester Packer of the University of California, Berkley have conducted research on pycnogenol and nitric oxide, and how it naturally optimizes the levels of nitric oxide production in the blood vessels to facilitate blood flow and reduce blood pressure. It naturally helps the body produce adequate levels of nitric oxide for necessary functions, and can also reduce the levels of nitric oxide where it does harm. Pycnogenol has a mild hypotensive or blood pressure-lowering effect that helps prevent or reduce high blood pressure naturally. (Fitzpatrick et al., 1998)

Study 2: Dr Miklos and his colleagues at the Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University in Szeged, Hungry and Dr. Peter Rohdewald of the University of Muenster, Germany In their study published in 1996 in the Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Letters, described the hypotensive or blood pressure-lowering effect of pycnogenol as “moderate”. Pycnogenol naturally helps the heart by blocking some action of the angio-tensin I converting enzyme (ACE) in causing high blood pressure. People with lower or normal blood pressure will not be affected and those with high blood pressure and too much ACE will benefit

Naturally Reduce Blood Pressure with Grape Seed Extract: Scientist for the University of California, Davis did a 4 week study on 24 patients. One group was given a placebo treatment, a second group was given 150mg of grape seed extract, and a third group was given 300mg of grape seed extract. At the end of the four week study blood pressure was reduced in all patients taking the grape seed extract, blood pressure did not change in the placebo group. On average Systolic blood pressure dropped 12 points, and the diastolic dropped 8 points. Both doses were equally efficient in naturally reducing the blood pressure. (American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, Atlanta, March 26-30, 2006)

Reduce side effects of antihypertensive medications:

Study 1: A study published in a 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis shows that pycnogenol can naturally reduce edema by 36 percent, a common side effect of high blood pressure medications. The results of the study show pycnogenol naturally improves circulation, this avoids blood pooling and can reduce edema.

Study 2: In 2004 Dr. X. Liu confirmed that pycnogenol naturally improved the endothelial function of high blood pressure patients and allowed those on antihypertensive drugs to reduce their dosage. (Life Science, 2004)

Best Source of Pycnogenol and Grape Seed Extract: A natural supplement Isotonix OPC-3 (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) is an isotonic-capable food supplement that is made from a combination of bilberry, grape seed extract, red wine, pine bark extracts and citrus extract bioflavonoids, all found to be potent antioxidants. Isotonix OPC-3 contains the only isotonic form of Pycnogenol in the world.

Senin, 08 Juni 2009

How Diabetes Impacts Your Liver

There is a lot of debate as to whether liver function is a contributing factor as a cause of diabetes, or if diabetes is the cause of liver function malfunction. It is well established that insulin resistance is a precursor to diabetes. Many of the factors that contribute to the cause of insulin resistance are the same factors that cause liver damage. Regardless of the cause, if diabetes has been diagnosed, the liver is at risk and should be a major consideration in the maintenance of diabetes.

The liver performs many vital functions (over 500) that the body would not survive without. The liver is the first place that nutrients goes to after digestion. Virtually everything that is eaten or is absorbed through the skin goes through the liver. Nearly 2 quarts of blood pass through the liver every minute. Blood rich in nutrients flows from the intestines directly to the liver. That blood is also loaded with toxins and bacteria from the colon as well. The liver filters the blood and destroys the toxins and bacteria, allowing clean blood to circulate to the rest of the body. The liver also destroys poisons that are absorbed from pollution, smoking and drinking alcohol.

The liver manufactures bile, which is stored in the gallbladder, and discharges it through the bile ducts into the small intestine where it aids in the digestion of food. The liver manufactures HDL (good) cholesterol and deposits it into the bloodstream. HDL cholesterol seeks out LDL (bad) cholesterol and carries it back to the liver where it is processed and discharged with the bile fluids into the small intestine to be discharged. The liver also manufactures liver enzymes (GGT -gamma-glutamyltransferase) and processes numerous hormones. The liver stores fat soluble vitamins, and glucose (stored energy) and distributes them as required. The liver manufactures blood, proteins, and blood clotting substances.

Senin, 01 Juni 2009

10 Ways To Get A Better Nights

Sleep. Everyone knows what it is, but nowadays, nobody gets enough: school, work, kids, sleep disorders, and more, all keep us from getting those precious hours of sleep our bodies so desperately need. 70 million Americans are affected with sleep disorders, and because of the economy a third of Americans are losing sleep. So in this troubled time of laying in bed trying to go to sleep, let’s shed some light on how to sleep better.

1. Make sure your bed is right for you.

Ah, the bed. The place our enchanted rest takes place. First of all you need to make sure your mattress is nice and soft, but firm. If you feel the springs, or fall into the middle of the bed, hey you get to buy a new mattress. Second, make sure your pillow is just right, not too high so that your neck hurts, but not too flat, so that your head is flat. Make sure you have blankets in layers, so if you get hot you can take a blanket off, or if you’re too cold you can add one.

2. Make sure your room is in good condition for you to sleep.

To be able to sleep in your room you have to make sure that the temperature is good, cool would be your best option, 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit, but it really depends on the person. Also, make sure there are no lights on, including those from LED lights.

3. Don’t eat too much before sleep.

If you eat too much before you sleep not only will your stomach work and make you more awake, It may also give you indigestion, since you’re laying down after eating.

4. No social or recreational drugs.

This means no alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. Caffeine, which can stay in your system as long as 14 hours, increases the number of times you awaken at night and decreases the total amount of sleep time. This may subsequently affect daytime anxiety and performance. The effects of nicotine are similar to those of caffeine, with a difference being that at low doses, nicotine tends to act as a sedative, while at high doses it causes arousals during sleep. Alcohol may initially sedate you, making it easier to fall asleep; however, as it is metabolized and cleared from your system during sleep, it causes arousals that can last as long as two to three hours after it has been eliminated. These arousals disturb sleep, often causing intense dreaming, sweating, and headache. Smoking while drinking caffeine and alcohol can interact to affect your sleep dramatically. These sleep disturbances may be most apparent upon awakening, feeling unrefreshed, groggy, or hungover.

5. Eating or drinking certain kinds of food or liquids can help you go to sleep.

If you have a little milk, yogurt, turkey, chamomile tea, ice cream, soy beans, tuna or peanuts before bed it’ll help you go to sleep. How? All these food have a good amount of Tryptophan, which helps the body produce Serotonin, and that helps the body relax.

6. Set up a “sleep schedule”.

If you go to sleep everyday at the same time your body will know when it’s bedtime and will get tired around the time that you go to sleep, it also helps to wake up at the same time.

7. Your bedroom is for sleep and sex only.

If you watch tv, read books, balance the checkbook, or do anything other than sleep or sex on the bed then your body might be confused as to what you’re doing.

8. No screen time before bed.

If you watch tv or sit in front of the computer before bed, your brain puts you into a state of alertness, which makes it hard to go to sleep.

9. If you wake up during the night and can’t fall asleep don’t worry.

If you find you can’t go to sleep going to the bathroom or just waking up, don’t lay in bed, get out of the bedroom, sit on the couch, go into a room with a dim light, read the warranty on your fridge, these will all make you tired and won’t make you frustrated. The reason is, if you stay in bed, you’ll start worrying about falling asleep, which will make going to sleep harder.

10. If all else fails try a sleep aid.

Nobody’s perfect, we all have trouble falling asleep. Unfortunately some of us have a lot of trouble falling asleep. Luckily there are sleep aids, not sleeping pills; those usually do more harm than good. You can try many things, try a soft fountain in the room, headphones with the gentle sound of nature, and there’s even an aroma that’s proven to help you go to sleep.

If you have trouble falling asleep or you haven’t really had a good night’s rest lately, try one of these out and you’ll be surprised how much easier it is to sleep wel

A Healthy Way to Smoke

Clinical studies have clearly established the connection between smoking and several chronic medical conditions, which includes different forms of cancers, emphysema, and coronary diseases. Aside from the health hazards associated with smoking, there are also risks posed to other people through secondhand smoking. So, one of the challenges for health professionals and smokers alike is to find a solution to the health risks that smoking brings. Aside from "stop smoking" campaigns, perhaps a more realistic approach is to find smoking alternatives that present smokers the pleasure of smoking without the health problems associated with it. One of these alternatives is the e cigarettes or electronic cigarettes.

What is an e cigarette?

An e cigarette is an electronic device that’s being introduced as an alternative to traditional smoking. It does this by vaporizing a nicotine mixture or packet and that in turn is inhaled by the smoker. Electronic cigarettes generally contain a heating and mechanical mechanism, and a nicotine cartridge or container. The heating mechanism usually contains a sensor where it activates the heating or vaporizing process when inhalation or vacuum action is detected. This then turns the nicotine mixture into a vapor, ready for inhalation by the smoker.

E cigarettes are usually made to look and feel like traditional cigarettes, and they even have an LED that lights up when a smoker puffs on the cigarette. The device is usually powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which the smoker needs to recharge should the electronic cigarette run out of power.

How can the electronic cigarette be a healthy alternative to smoking?

According to studies, much of the carcinogens and toxins from tobacco smoking comes from the burning of tobacco leaves. There are 19 known carcinogens found when tobacco leaves burn. Aside from those, there are also lead and tar from cigarette smoking. And, one should not forget, the smoke also affects the surrounding people through secondhand smoke. Then there’s also the carbon monoxide emitted that affects the quality of the environment.

Despite these health hazards, smokers continue on with their habit. It is the stimulating but calming effects of nicotine that make people addicted to smoking. Additionally, nicotine constitutes a large part of the taste of tobacco.

If you consider these facts, you may be able to discern how electronic cigarettes can become a healthy alternative. Look at these points:

1. E cigarettes don’t burn tobacco leaves.
2. E cigarettes just provide the nicotine without the carcinogens and toxins.
3. E cigarettes don’t give out smoke.

If you combine those points, then you should form a picture in your mind of how electronic cigarettes are much better than conventional, unhealthy cigarettes. You know the saying "where there’s smoke, there’s fire"? Of course, the reverse is also true. If there’s no fire, there’s no smoke. In the case of tobacco smoking, combustion takes place. In electronic cigarettes, this process doesn't happen at all. So if there’s no combustion, you remove the conditions that results in the production or release of toxins, carcinogens, and carbon monoxide.

Another advantage that e cigarettes present is that they give out the same pleasure of traditional smoking as using e cigarettes simulates the inhalation of smoke. Also, these devices are made to look and feel like cigarettes, so smokers would have an easier time transitioning to them. As smoking is also a psychological habit, many smokers need to feel a stick between their fingers and lips. This is one thing that can’t be given by other smoking alternatives such as the nicotine gum and the nicotine patch.

Finally, an alternative!

Smoking does present several health hazards and risks, but through technology, even that can be circumvented. One innovative solution that uses technology to solve the health problems posed by cigarette smoking is the electronic cigarette.

Depression & Psychotropic Medication

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2 NLT),"

I talked with a client recently who was again in deep despair. He was again suffering from depression and went on--at length--about his life situation which he perceived as hopeless. His perspective--at the time--could be summarized in one sentence: "I got no future."

To be sure, he has plenty of problems: No money. No job. On parole. And more.

However, it was only about a month earlier when he felt a lot different: "I feel happy," "I haven't felt this good in a long time." 'It's a miracle . . ."

There was no change in his life situation. Everything was the same. Except one thing: During the earlier session his psych meds were working. And later, those same psych meds had stopped working.

This client has spent his entire life using drugs--legal and illegal--to medicate his depression. When they work, this client often enjoys his life--even if he is living on the street. When the drugs are ineffective or unavailable, he is usually in despair. He feels that, apart from drugs, he is powerless over his depression.

He feels powerless because he has never learned to discipline his thinking. He has never learned to control his depression by taking "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB),"

He has never had to learn. Drugs and alcohol have always been available. And they provided instant relief.

Learning to control your depression by changing the way you think is often a slow, difficult and painful endeavor. Like a toddler learning to walk. The pain is an essential part of the learning process.

As Christians, the Bible says that we can be successful in this endeavor. The same is not necessarily true in respect to non-believers.

I don't want to say that psychotropic medication is never appropriate. That would be an overstatement. Even the Bible seems to suggest that one psychotropic agent--alcohol--is appropriate in some circumstances (Proverbs 31:4-7).

Alcoholism is a huge problem and the above scripture should be construed narrowly.

However, the point is this: To overcome depression, you need to control your thinking. It is extremely difficult--if not impossible--to really learn to do this when you are--at the same time--taking psychotropic medication.

Stress Relief

Stress is difficult for scientists to define because it is a subjective sensation associated with varied symptoms that differ for each of us. Hans Selye set out the first definition. Many scientists see stress as a reaction to events in our life which cause a reaction in our body. Stress is an emotional physiological reaction which everyone experiences as he or she encounters changes in life. Sudden changes in our environment will cause our body to set up our flight or fight mechanism to protect us from the perceived danger.. They can have positive or negative effects. Stress can make you deal with situations which you may be procrastinating over and therefore force you to take notice of the challenges or impending crisis which may cause conflicts. The negative effects when you allow the issue to become continuous or get you down can cause depression, heart disease or even cancer. When we can’t deal with an issue we unconsciously look for way out of the crisis. Avoiding the issue does not make it go away. All it does is delay the consequences. If the trauma becomes obsessive we escape into a split or multiple personality. At this point we have lost control over activity in our life and go on auto pilot. (My books, “Your Body Is Talking Are You Listening” and “ReParenting Yourself”, go into detail on how handle this conflict.)

We all have stress sometimes. For some people, it happens before having to speak in public. For other people, it might be before a first date, having to meet a deadline for a report or simply asserting themselves in a conversation. The financial crisis today can cause more stress. What causes stress for you may not be stressful for someone else. Sometimes stress is helpful – it can encourage you to meet a deadline or get things done. But long-term stress can increase the risk of diseases like depression, heart disease, and a variety of other problems. A stress-related illness called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after an event like war, a traumatic event such as, physical or sexual assault, or a natural disaster.

Not all people suffer or struggle with stress. Stress only exists if you allow it to affect you. As such, when we evaluate the stressor which affects people we find that there are people who do not react to stress. At this point we have to understand that stress is not universal, affecting all people. There are stressful people and there are people who do not react to stress. What is the magic quality that protects some people from stress? From my prospective it has to do with knowing and accepting who you are. Knowing that you are all right with you and knowing outside effects can not cause conflict within you. Try to follow the advice in Reinhold Niebuhr's, serenity prayer, "Grant me the courage to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference." In other words you can not have any effect on the outcome drop it and do not worry about it. Which means stress is worry and is only fear that something is going to affect me and I can not control it, which causes me to create stress. Depression is loss of control and attempting to escape from the stressor which you may not recognize.

Many of these effects are due to increased sympathetic nervous system activity and an outpouring of adrenaline, cortisol and other stress-related hormones. Certain types of chronic and more insidious stress due to loneliness, poverty, bereavement, depression and frustration due to discrimination are associated with impaired immune system resistance to viral linked disorders. These range from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and cancer. Stress can have effects on other brain neurotransmitters, additional small chemical messengers such as interleukins, seratonin, prostaglandins and hormones as well as crucial enzyme systems, and metabolic activities that are still unknown. Research in these areas may help to explain how stress can contribute to depression, anxiety and its diverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract, skin and other organs. The physical reaction is to increase our heart rate and to dump adrenaline into our blood stream in readiness for the need to act or deal with the stressor.

Since our mind interprets all sensory input literally, the perceived effect may not always be a synonym for distress. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that causes fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others. Winning a race or being invited to speak at a conference could cause as much stress as a negative experience. Stress is an unavoidable consequence of life, yet there are people who are not affected by stress. There are some stresses like the loss of parent, partner, friend or loss of a job or position that you can't control or avoid and others that you can prevent or influence. The trick is in learning how to distinguish between the two so that you're not constantly frustrated like Don Quixote tilting at windmills and devote your time and talent to areas where you can make a difference. When we learn to understand and cope with loss we no longer experience grieving over a loss. What IS -- IS, it is in the past. There isn’t anything we can do about the past. There is something we can do about our situation in the present. How do we cope with it all?

We will cover that in the next article in this series.

Dealing with stress can be accomplished in many ways. Exercise, diet, herbal preparations and many of the alternative therapies can help to relieve stress. The best method is to be able to control it with your mind. When you are balanced in your acceptance and validation of self you do not self reject which is one of the main causes of stress. The methods that contribute to more stress are alcohol, tobacco, street drugs, feeling burned out and Chronic Fatigue. Psycho active drugs may produce an effect that appears to reduce or relieve stress and depression but this is just temporary since you get addicted to the drugs to keep the stress level down or to elevate yourself from depression. Sometimes the side effects are more traumatic than stress. The key is to recognize stress can’t affect you. Some people will not accept or believe we can counteract stress with our mind, but can be done very effectively.

Dr. Art Martin has been working in the personal transformation field helping people to redirect their life for peace, happiness, harmony and joy for 30 years. He has discovered the root cause of the majority of our problems begin in the first four years of our life. The main cause is the dysfunctional parenting program that was given to us by our parents. Control, authority, discipline and compliance do not work as can be seen by all the dysfunctional children who grow up and perpetuate the program as it has gone on for generations after generations. Being unable to cope with stress is one of the major effects of not being able to understand what the eight qualities of unconditional love are. Most people are adult children, yet to understand what I just stated you have to have a frame of reference to recognize the meaning. The majority of us can’t even remember much of our childhood, yet we do not want to acknowledge something was not right in our childhood. Most of us grew up feeling rejected, not recognized, validated or accepted which nearly destroyed our self esteem, self worth and self confidence. Where do we go from here?

We need to ReParent Ourselves and grow up again. This is the topic of his new book “ReParenting Yourself”. In future articles we will write about how to control, release and manage stress so we can have peace, happiness, joy and harmony in our life.

Minggu, 03 Mei 2009

Health And Wellness

Wellness refers to a healthy balance of Mind, Body and Spirit resulting in a feeling of well-being. Health and Wellness emphasize on a state of entire being and its ongoing development.

Natural Treatment involves natural methods to treat, avoiding any form of conventional medicine. Natural Healing often referred to as alternative, complementary or integrative medicine, covers healing philosophies that focus on treating the root cause of a disease symptom.

A Holistic Healer works on the pretext that a discomfort is due to some kind of physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual imbalance. He or she helps the body in healing itself by providing alternative natural health remedies, referred to as Holistic Healing. Alternative Medicine involves therapies which are a substitute to conventional medical treatments. Complementary Medicine involves therapies used in conjunction with conventional medical treatments.

Naturopathy, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, prayer, mental healing, art, music and dance therapy, herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements, natural substances, chiropractic, osteopathic manipulation and massage, therapies that use energy fields like Bio-field therapy, Qigong, Reiki, and therapeutic and healing touch, are some examples of these therapies.

Selasa, 28 April 2009

Obesity and Herbs

There are plants that can provide useful polysaccharides not equivalent to moderate appetite: the Konjac (Amorphophallus konjac), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus), plantains (psyllium, Ispaghula). All these non-assimilated carbohydrates may accelerate intestinal transit and may cause cramping or diarrhea in people with very reactive intestinal. The acceleration of intestinal transit or standardization among overweight ,usually constipated, people facilitates weight loss: food just spend less time in the digestive tract, bacteria in the colon have less time to degrade into assimilable molecules, food normally indigestible and non assimilable.

Medicinal Plants to Increase Thermogenesis (Fat-Burning)

It is easy to increase the consumption of energy by exercise, but much more difficult to induce this effect with miracle chemical drugs. How to increase thermogenesis? It is known as hyperthyroidism (increased activity of the thyroid gland), weight loss is accompanied by increase in the basic metabolism, it is possible to lose weight by increasing artificially the thyroid. Many women have thyroid extracts used as an adjunct to a diet (especially in USA), sometimes with catastrophic results often due to exaggerated titrations in thyroid hormones, this trail is now more or less abandoned, but we can try to stimulate "natural" thyroid.

Caffeine is a tonic for central nervous system and heart, it is a stimulant which causes an increase in physical activity and which, it seems, increases lipolysis. Ephedrine which is an extract of several ephedra (ma huang) is very similar to amphetamine and is a "sympathomimetic” stimulant, which, inter alia, facilitates weight loss, but it is discouraged to consume it because its side effects are not negligible.

Fucus

Fucus (vesiculosus, serratus) are mainly used as additives in the diets (effect of fucans + iodine), especially when obesity is accompanied by hypothyroidism (soft, pale and chilly obese). There are herbal drugs that are made of thallus of Fucus powder (containing 20 to 120 micrograms of iodine per gram), alcoholic extract of fucus (110 micrograms of iodine per 10 ml) and a homeopathic mother tincture. An average dose is 0.5 to 1 g of powdered thallus per day or 100 to 150 drops of mother tincture. Be careful not to exceed 120 micrograms of iodine per day.

Caffeine Plants

Coffee is paradoxically not "slimming", on the contrary, green tea and mate seem to be interesting adjuvant to dieting. The infusion of these leaves contain caffeine and flavonoids. Green tea is quite bland whereas mate, Ilex paraguariensis, is quite bitter.

Green tea is not very exciting, it is a pleasant and beneficial drink for several reasons (vascular protection, may be protective against cancerous degeneration). Mate is "very" stimulating, pay attention to insomnia when you drink mate at the end of the day. Don’t forget that caffeine is also an exciting and slightly cardiac diuretic.

Garcinia

Extracts from the bark of fruit of Garcinia cambogia and Garcinia indica, in vitro, prevent the accumulation of fat, seem to decrease appetite and increase at the same time the consumption of glucose (thermogenesis) in animals. In humans, it is less obvious.

It is estimated that extracts of Garcinia cambogia hydroxycitric concentrated in acid or salt calcium can help to lose weight:

• When food is too rich in carbohydrates (sugars, sweets, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes etc.) Garcinia extract does not act when food is too rich in fats.

• When absorbing Garcinia extracts rich in acid hydroxycitric just before eating (1 / 2 hour to an hour before meals)

• When the daily dose is quite high: at least the equivalent of 1500 mg hydroxycitric acid per day in divided doses depending on the meal, in some studies the daily dose is approaching 3 g per day, and even 4.5 g / day.

• Avoiding a diet rich in insoluble fiber (like malt) that prevents, it seems, the intestinal absorption of hydroxycitric acid or its salts.

On the market, pure extracts of Garcinia, or dietary supplements are often in combination with other substances or plant extracts referred to slimming. One should favor pure Garcinia extracts as slimming supplements do not usually contain enough Garcinia extracts to be effective. In addition, some substances associated with extracts of Garcinia may have harmful side effects (chromium, caffeine, ephedrine).

There are so many plants that can help to fight over-weight but they must be used wisely, that is why it is highly advised to use herbal products conceived by herbal experts.

Kamis, 23 April 2009

WHAT IS A CONDOMS

Condoms are thin latex or polyurethane sheaths that are worn on the penis or in the vagina (female condom) during intercourse to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted disease.

Latex condoms are best if you’re not allergic as they are more reliable and most readily available. Latex condoms can be used with water based lubricants, but not oil based products such as Vaseline as this will break down the latex. A small number of people are allergic to latex and can use polyurethane instead.

Polyurethane condoms are made from a type of plastic. They are thinner and allow for greater feeling and appearance. They are more expensive and somewhat less flexible which may require more lubricant. Both water and oil based lubricants can be used with polyurethane condoms.

Spermicides and Nonoxynol 9

Condoms and lubricants sometimes contain a spermicide called Nonoxynol 9. There are risks associated with Nonoxynol 9 such as an allergic reaction which can cause irritation if used many times a day. If this occurs it should be discontinued as skin irritations can increase the risk of HIV or STD transmission.

What are the advantages of using condoms?

Condoms are the only contraceptive that helps prevent pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted disease when used properly and consistently. Condoms have none of the medical side effects of many other birth control methods. Condoms are available in various shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. The variations in shape and design are intended to suit different personal preferences in order to enhance love making pleasure. Condoms are widely available in drug stores, convenience stores, supermarkets and even vending machines. Condoms are safe, inexpensive and simple to use. Like all forms of birth control, when used properly, condoms can be highly effective and have no side effects if not allergic to latex.

Disadvantages of using condoms.

The disadvantages are very few compared to other forms of birth control. Some individuals feel that a condom dulls sensation. Others feel that sexual excitement is diminished when love making must be interrupted to put on a condom. But many are able to overcome this inconvenience and learn to incorporate condom use as part of sex play. And most say they have better sex because they are able to focus on the enjoyment without worrying about unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

HOW TO USE A CONDOM

You need to use a condom every time you have sexual intercourse. Never use the same condom twice. Each condom package includes detailed instructions. Be sure to read, understand and follow the instructions before you use the condom. Check the expiration date and do not use if it is expired.

The condom should be put on before touching the penis to any place on the partners body. Practice makes perfect. It is best if both partners know how to put on and use a condom. This will make using a condom easier and more pleasurable, and condom use more effective.

Open condom packages carefully to avoid ripping or tearing. Always check to be certain the condom is appears to be in good condition. Condoms can deteriorate if not stored properly. If a condom feels sticky or very dry, it should not be used.

Condoms should be rolled over the tip of an erect penis. If the condom does not have a reservoir top, pinch the tip of the condom enough to leave a small space to collect semen. Pull out the penis before it softens by holding the condom against the base of the penis to avoid spilling semen. Throw the condom away and do not reuse.

What if the condom breaks?

Sometimes condoms break. If you are aware the condom has broken during intercourse, immediately pull out and replace it with a new one. If the condom breaks and semen has leaked out, wash the semen away from the vulva or penis with soap and water. If the condom breaks and semen has entered the vagina, emergency contraception such as the morning after pill can prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse.

Condoms protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Don’t be shy about protecting the one you love!

Sabtu, 18 April 2009

Help For Male Pattern Balding

Are you suffering from male pattern baldness? Still wondering what you can do to masque and cure your baldness? Well really it’s simpler than one would think. There are so many options out there for treatment and disguises. Everything from home remedies to the right hair cut can help in the emotional stress of going bald. Not to mention make you look younger and cure your hair loss.

Using products, creams, and vitamins can all help to prevent more loss as well as promote more new hair growth. Taking a folic acid supplement is really good for preventing hair loss. Scalp massage is a very effective way to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. Wash hair with cold water then rub the scalp forcefully till it starts to tingle with heat. It will activate the sebaceous glands and improve the blood circulation in the affected area.

Alfalfa juice combined with carrot and lettuce juice taken everyday will assist in hair growth tremendously. People who are lacking in B vitamins generally lose hair; taking B vitamins will help to restore hair to its fullness. A lime and pepper paste is a very common home remedy for patchy baldness. Seeds of lime and black pepper ground together make the paste. It is applied to patches to gently irritate; this increases blood flow in the area to promote growth.

Another very effective method for getting hair to grow is using a product called Provillus for Men. It contains the only FDA approved ingredient for re-growth of hair. It will give you a full head of hair again in no time. It is a two part system that works together to give you the head of hair you want. There is a topical solution to be applied twice daily and a dietary supplement taken twice daily to nourish your hair. This product can be found at Alternative Health Supplements.

Using a product or home remedy will help hair grow back but what can you do in the mean time while you’re waiting for that hair to grow back? Well there are lots of things that can disguise your balding. Hairpieces are a great option. They come in a variety of styles and colors, as do wigs. Hairpieces can be put it using a clip or comb. It is important to keep your hairpiece or wig clean just like you would your own hair.

If getting a hairpiece or wig just isn’t for you then may be trying a new hairstyle that can hide your balding a little better will be just as satisfying. For receding hairlines grow the front bang part of your hair slightly longer than the rest of your hair to cover it. Much like what Charlie Sheen does. Considering longer hair in general will make it easier to hide balding. Trying a style much like Owen Wilson’s shaggy style will do great to cover up balding. Another hairstyle that hides balding is to do a buzz cut. Trimming hair really short will make it look as though your hair is all short and the balding appears to be blended in with the super short strands. Shorter hair always appears to look thicker.

Lastly avoid the comb over at all costs. I couldn’t stress this enough. No matter what you think it will never look right. A comb over is growing hair long on top or one of the sides and parting it and combing half over the balding area. This strategy only spells disaster on a breezy day or by the fan in the office.

Selasa, 14 April 2009

HOW TO REGAIN CONTRL OF DIABETES

Diabetes nowday is not a disease but an associate of one's life. some time ago it was considered a rare disease. Have you been diagnosed with it also ? In the past, the the majority of diabetics are used to be diagnosed at birth or very early in life with what is known as Type 1 diabetes, owing to the body inability to produce enough insulin.

There is to Type 2 diabetes which is as well in the most cases of the disease contribution. This is contracted later on in life. What is it in the general diet that disposes in advance you and me to Diabetes ? They are widely known to be a blend of poor diet and need of proper exercise.

One can note them, coming with the proliferation of fast foods of all types. Have you noticed your children gradual loosing interest in the wholesome crucial meat, potatoes and lots of veggies diet ? Meals became a culinary challenge in our house with skill and as quietly as possible, merge nutrition and fun food . The exhibition of a taste testing period , where one is more exposed for too many new and nutritious international dishes. Now our girls are much more health conscious than before.

How about you ? Are you familiar with someone who may be completely hooked on junk food ? Many people grab fast food dinners. This is frequently because of their busy lifestyles , being too tired to cook a proper meal after a hard day work. This, naturally, without knowing influence the younger generation, who soon refuse to eat the good stuff All thi s leads to Diabetes .

The most important motive for all those are, the high content of sugar in junk food, sauces and drinks. It is the sugar one gets obsessed to. Soon they are no longer pleased with the natural sweet taste of our great variety of fresh and dried fruit. What about vegetables ? Forget it . If you have to wet it with ketchup, marinated pickles or other sweet condiment , the chances are, you will not eat it. If so, you may be obessed on sugar.

Do you feel it is too late to get the young generation turned around to wholesome nutrition ? Anyone with either type of diabetes will make it clear that it is not amusing. Being dependent on needles and constant monitoring is not pleasant. Neither are the consequences of blindness, pain and amputations in severe cases.

It is time to return back to your natural taste for healthy, natural food without additives, especially sugar. By gradually re introducing more and more natural fiber laden food and fruit in one diet and committing to regular exercise, like walking, one is on his way to regaining control of each one health.

Much information is obtainable about the kinds of foods that are the finest for diabetics and those who are main candidates for it. Take the doctor advice. However, do not neglect the fact that proper nutrition can reverse the trend. Doctors have the skill to diagnose and treat the symptoms of Diabetes . As yet there is no medical heal for this. They can only try to stabilize the insulin level in your body.

Nutritionists are experts in counseling for the right food. We need both the medical and nutritional opinion , to fight Diabetes . By adding the right nutritional supplements, along with a more balanced diet than one may have been used to, one can totally get rid of the diabetes. There is no greater feeling of power and relief than when one get a clean bill of health from the doctor. Thanks to your taking nutrition gravely. Yes, it can be done. You can regain control over the trickery of sugar addiction and wrong eating habits. Get back your confidence and remain in control of your Diabetes and well being .

Minggu, 12 April 2009

The Best Deodorants for Excessive Sweating

The reason the average store brand deodorants weren't being effective was because they didn't contain enough of the active sweat stopping ingredient, Aluminum Chloride.

This is pretty important for you to know...

Aluminum Chloride is the active ingredient which blocks your pores from sweating profusely.

Although there are numerous options for excessive sweating sufferers, the first one your should learn about is choosing the right deodorant.

Here I'll be giving you the 7 best deodorants for excessive sweating that packed just enough punch to get my perspiration under control. Bear in mind, most of them can be applied to your hands and feet as well as your armpits to minimize the sweating. I also mention specific facial sweating deodorants as well.

1. Certain Dri - This is the weakest of the 7 deodorants in the list. However, it is a crucial first step. You don't want to just grab the strongest antiperspirant off the shelf when you're starting out or you'll end up with irritated skin in no time. Certain Dri contains 12% Aluminum Chloride and is considered clinical strength. It's a great first step when escalating to a stronger solution.

2. Drysol - This prescription strength deodorant usually requires your Dermatologist's approval but there are online stores where you can get it without the inconvenient doctor's note requirement. Drysol contains a whopping 20% Aluminum Chloride and starts working after the first application. It's not like regular deodorant though. You only apply Drysol once a night before bedtime. During the day, you may not want to apply a regular deodorant as irritation can occur with such a powerful topical in place.

3. Deodorite - DeodoRite is a 100% safe and effective internal natural remedy for treating the underlying causes of body odor. The formula has been specially manufactured to improve the elimination of toxins from the body, promote healthy liver functioning and reduce excessive perspiration. It's not a regular topical like most deodorants. You take it orally and it goes to work (Again, safely) regulating the toxins out of your body and decreasing your overall sweating.

4. Maxim Facial Wipes - These are a facial sweating sufferer’s best friend. Maxim wipes are convenient wipes that contain topical deodorant mild enough to apply to your face. Just wipe them all over your face and the astringent goes to work, blocking sweat pores and solving your problem fast. I loved the results using these things.

5. Secure Wipes - If Maxim wipes aren't doing the trick for you, then Secure Wipes are your best bet for facial sweating. They come in degrees of strength with their medicine ranging from 1% - 4%. There are two warnings though with Secure Wipes. First, if you choose too strong a formula, you will have redness, rash and irritation occur. Start with 2% if Maxim Wipes don't work for you and then scale up from there. Secondly, they are a bit more expensive than the Maxim Wipes but you get your money's worth. The results are palpable.

6. Driclor - This is a strong beast of a deodorant. Although it contains the same level of Aluminum Chloride as Drysol (20%), many people claim it dries them out where Drysol won't. Here's a very honest review. The itching, soreness, stinging and dry rash that I got were all terrible. You have to grit your teeth through the discomfort to get the results. That said, it definitely works!

7. Odaban - I saved one of my favorites for last. Odaban is less abrasive than Drysol and Driclor. Plus, you can apply it to your face in small doses. It's a topical that comes in spray for (Drysol and Driclor are roll-on topicals). Somehow, I found that is conditioned my body to stop sweating rather than shocking it into submission. You'll need to use it for a week to feel the optimal effects.

Selasa, 07 April 2009

The Cholesterol Buzz

The health field is really humming and, if you listen closely, everyone seems to be talking about cholesterol. Nowadays, everyone seems to be declaring all-out war on the substance. The rally to lower cholesterol levels and eliminate it from our diets has taken on the fire and brimstone, reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century religious debate.

Practically every medical, government, and health organization in the country has jumped on the band wagon. And, if you’ll notice, all of this always seems to coincide with the release and the FDA’s approval of some miraculous new anticholesterol drugs. The timing is almost uncanny.

Normally, an outpouring concern of this magnitude would come on the heels of some new breath-taking research. Has medical research finally discovered that cholesterol is the cause of heart disease? Hardly. It appears instead that the breakthrough concerning cholesterol has more to do with the development of new drugs to get rid of it than it does with it being the primary cause of our number-one killer—heart disease.

Make no mistake, I’m all for stopping heart attacks, which kill more than 500,000 people in this country every year, but let’s attack the causes of the problem instead of training the public to treat symptoms. It was established years and years ago that one of the constituents of artery-clogging plaque is most definitely cholesterol. What has never been established is that cholesterol causes plaquing or clogging of the arteries. Let me say it another way. Before cholesterol, calcium and other substances in your blood attach to the walls of arteries and lead to plaque formation, something has happened to that portion of the artery wall. Damage to the wall can come from rancid oxidized fats (which also may cause blood cells to become sticky, slowing blood flow and promoting clotting), pounding or friction from blood moving through blood vessels under high pressure, loss of blood vessel elasticity from aging, hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, improperly digested nutrients traveling in the bloodstream, chemical toxins, and probably a hundred other factors.

This may sound like a contradiction to what I’ve been saying, but I am in favor of lowering cholesterol levels. Not because anyone has determined cholesterol is the cause of heart and artery problems, but because eating and lifestyle habits that increase blood cholesterol levels also have direct links to atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. Saturated animal fats, fried foods, insufficient dietary fiber, certain mineral and vitamin deficiencies and low intake of unsaturated fatty acids have all been shown to impair overall cardiovascular health, regardless of the cholesterol levels.

We’re approaching the problem from the wrong direction. Trying to eliminate cholesterol only is side-stepping the real problem of improper diets and lifestyle. Abnormally high cholesterol levels are symptoms of bigger problems, and when you treat the symptoms instead of the causes, it becomes a never-ending exercise in futility.

Don’t think the drug companies are ignorant of the fact that the majority of the American public wants the easy way out when it comes to their health either. The public spends billions of dollars on antacids, headache remedies, laxatives, and appetite suppressants to treat problems directly linked to improper diet and lifestyle. It’s much easier (and more profitable) to market an after-the-fact "cure" than it is to convince everyone that they are ultimately responsible for their own health.

Sabtu, 04 April 2009

Obesity and Naturopathy

Naturopathy points its fingers to two habits as the cause of obesity – eating more than is required and lack of exercise.

Sedentary lifestyle coupled with binge eating is recipe for fat accumulation, overweight and obesity. Stress and excess alcohol too can be reasons for obesity.

Obesity can lead to formation of many kinds of diseases. High blood pressure and heart diseases are the main diseases that an obese person needs to be cautious of. Isolation from the society is other serious condition obese persons have to face.

Obesity is classified into three types viz. mild to moderate, moderate to severe and severe based on the intensity of the problem.

The Naturopathic Way of Curing Obesity

Cold hip bath two times a day

Warm water enema

Fasting on liquid food for 3-4 days

Underwater massage

Friction baths

Neutral whirlpool

Steam and sauna bath

Warm water immersion

Lifestyle Modification

After completing fasting or treatment, the person must be disciplined enough to not to get addicted to over eating again. It is essential to maintain healthy nutrition, intake of large quantities of water, and staying away from high calorie food.

Daily minimum walk of 5 km is also indicated. Practicing yoga and aerobic exercises also should be made part of your daily routines.

Continue fasting once a week and identify carving for food. Different water therapy measures can be continued till you get desirable results of weight loss.

The important thing is to stay away from undesirable habits like excessive smoking and alcohol consumption.

Rabu, 01 April 2009

Acne Scar Treatment

With human skin being our living outer organ of protection from many types of injuries and most infections, we may take for granted as to how important our skin truly is until scaring occurs. All types of scarring, including acne scars varies depending upon several factors. Variations of each person's scar is connected with our genetic heredities, our age, our ethnicity, the size and how deep the wound originally is and even if you are male or female makes a difference. Scars left from acne affect the facial appearance that most always affects our self confidence much more than most other types of scars upon the rest of body. This would explain as to why acne scar treatments are so high in demand.

Out of the main four types of scarring, acne scars are the ones that tend to really bother us the most. Within the group of acne scarring, there are several types of acne scars. They may be scars with deep pits to wavelike or angular in appearance. The American Academy of Dermatology defines acne scars as areas of the skin that has lost or gained tissue during the acne affected area healing process. The one type of naturally disappearing acne scars are called "pseudo scars". These are scars that leave a redness or inflammation called post inflammatory pigmentation. These are the acne scars that will disappear within 6 to 18 months on their own. But for those seemingly permanent types of acne scars, treatment options will vary.

There are over the counter ointments, gels and even easily accessible prescription creams for those types of acne scars less extreme in depth and appearance. To use these types of treatments, a dermatologist recommendation for the right product to purchase is advised, so to get the best results for your dollar and the correct product the first time around. Natural applications like essential oils, mud packs and herbal skin treatment products are known to create wonders and reduce scars. However, these take time to erase the scars so, for very severe cases, Laser skin resurfacing is a milder form of top layer skin removal compared to dermabrasion and chemical peels, but all allow for newer and healthier skin to appear within a few weeks. Augmentation and punch techniques are for deeper scares and allows for the scar to be raised by collagen injections or even skin grafts deepening on pitted scar depth.

Senin, 30 Maret 2009

Tips To Prevent Hair Loss

Though people with an overdose of philosophy say it not what is outside, but inside the skull that counts, people suffering from hair loss wish it is the other way round. People of 'almost' all cultures are obsessed with thickly growing hair.

Ayurveda has identified this obsession a few centuries ago and has given the directions to minimize hair loss and better hair growth in its scheme of beauty care, which is commonly called lavanya sutra or the sutra for lavanyam or beauty.

Though lavanyam is referred to feminine beauty, hair loss tips are beneficial for the tougher sex too.

Here are top ten tips to prevent hair loss and ensure healthy hair growth.

1. Gently massage your scalpel with fingertips after applying a hair oil like coconut oil or sesame oil.

2. Eat Indian gooseberry in any form early in the day. Don't take gooseberry based products later in the night as it can affect your beautiful dental line.

3. Boil fresh or dried and powdered Indian gooseberry (also called amla) in coconut oil. Apply this for nourishing hair growth.

4. Eat all types of vegetables and fruits. This will ensure supply of vitamins and minerals essential for the healthy growth of hair. Vitamins and minerals are good for your health too.

5. Also eat protein rich food items – tuna, lean meat, whole milk are beneficial.

6. While bathing, wash your head with cold water only. It is winter and water is ice-cold, you can make it luke-warm. It is ok to wash your body with cold water.

7. Apply brahmi oil on your scalpel before going to bed. Good for hair growth and brain.

8. Dandruff is a cause of hair loss. Squeeze half a lemon to half a liter of water and rinse your hair and scalpel with this water as a cure to dandruff. Do this no more than three times a week and for up to a month.

9. Rosemary oil is an aromatherapy oil, which can be applied to your hair once in a week to reduce hair fall.

10. Crush a few leaves and flowers of hibiscus (shoe flower) with two or three glasses of water. The water becomes thick with the juice and use this water to wash your hair. Thoroughly cleanses your hair and gives dark bright color to your hair.

Minggu, 29 Maret 2009

The Benefits Of Infrared Saunas

A individual can feel the assorted benefits from using a sauna. Most individuals have used a sauna at sometime in their life. Most of these rooms are very dry which makes you perspire and is very relaxing. It's nice to use this type of room after you have been unwinding in a hot tub or after some form of physical exercising.

There are lots of places where you can find this type of facility, flats, hotels and health clubs. An person may enjoy the feel and touch of these hot rooms. Yet, feeling relaxed is not the only benefit you will receive from using a hot room.

Some individual's believe that this type of dry heat bath assists the body in overcoming aliments. An old wives remedy was to use boiling hot water to remove the grease from their skin. The same thing that can be achieved by using a sauna. It is believed to clear the sinuses, the pores and relieve an individual of headaches.

Some individuals also think that a sweat room can help them shed those unwanted pounds by using the dry heat at the same time making them feel more comfortable. This type of relief helps the mind to relax and relieve the stress of the day or the week. There are a number of people that think rigorous exercise can help with stress, others believe that a sauna offers the same benefits.

An person can receive different sauna benefits. A person needs to be careful when they decide to use this type of dry heat bath. If a individual begins to feel ill or disorientated they need to leave straightaway. An individual can begin conversations with strangers or make friends while soaking up the heat through their pores. Many individuals find their are lots of benefits from using a sauna.

Choose Hot Stone Massage

Swedish, shiatsu, Thai, reflexology, aromatherapy, Reiki, Ayurvedic, acupressure, acupuncture, Tui Na, Trigger Point—the list can go on and on. With the vast array of massage styles there is, it is mind boggling to know which of these is most suitable for you. With so much information to go through, it will stress you out trying to figure out which kind to select.

Hot stone massage which uses heated basalt stones to relax the body and release muscular tension, has fast become one of the most popular massage techniques there is. To save you from the headache of studying each kind of massage style, here are the top reasons why hot stone therapy is the way to go:

- It can help with a wide variety of health conditions. Some of these include arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscular pain, headaches, carpal tunnel pain, back problems, runners cramps, sciatic pain, plantar fasciatis, and many others.

- It helps improve blood circulation and increase oxygen in the body.

- It is a wonderful break from your hectic lifestyle which gives you relief from stress and brings you relaxation like no other. For a couple of minutes, you will be taken to a wonderful and peaceful place where no office work, traffic jams, or household chores will bother you.

- It is ideal for people who are self-conscious about letting other people touch their body. Compared with other massage styles, in this kind there is minimal skin contact from the therapist since most of the work is being done by the hot stones.

- It does wonders in loosening up tight and sore muscles.

- It can boost your immune function.

- It is a natural process that does not entail any use of synthetic chemicals.

- It can re-energize you physically. After a session, you'll feel that vigor you haven't felt in years.

- It is affordable. You can receive a hot stone massage for as low as $50.

- It won't take too much of your time. It's just 60 to 90 minutes per session.

- It's not painful unlike other massage styles which will leave you sore after.

- It's widely available. Many local day spas offer hot stone therapies.

- You can do it in the comfort of your own home. You can buy hot stones and other massage equipment online or at department stores.

- It can help make you sleep better.

- It is a nice gift you can give yourself which you truly deserve after working so hard each day.

- It reduces anxiety and can help you cope with depression. A hot stone therapy can certainly give your spirit a lift when you're feeling down.

- It can satisfy your craving for nurturing touch. It's only human to long for another human's touch but since you can't always reach for someone to hug or you can't always have intimate moments with your husband and cuddly moments with your kids, a hot stone massage can be a great alternative.

What's not to love about a hot stone massage? Its relaxing and therapeutic benefits are more than enough reasons for you to experience it for yourself.

Jumat, 27 Maret 2009

What is the French for Diet

France is well known as a nation of food lovers, so even the French are susceptible to the obesity syndrome. However, there are many people, especially women, who have bucked the trend and remain to be slim. Some French woman can eat all manner of delicious foods, indulge in wine and yet still stay trim and beautiful. What's their secret?

It would appear the French Diet is very appealing as there are no restrictions on carbohydrates or fat and no calorie counting, just good quality food eaten in moderation. The key here is quality and not quantity.

Their diet contains all fresh whole foods and they avoid processed foods, junk or fast foods, and sugary drinks. The French are passionate about cooking, so when cooking for themselves or friends, they will go to great lengths to seek out the freshest produce and ingredients for their meal. This is typically done on foot by walking around the farmers' markets, boulangeries and fromageries, all the time burning calories and contributing even more to a healthy lifestyle.

It's important to point out that French portions are a fraction of the size of those in the United States. So, while a French woman would be happy to unhurriedly savour a small plate of delicious quality food, others would rather wolf down a double helping, which is very often inferior quality.

The French tend to eat consciously and slowly, making sure they savour each and every mouthful. The psychology is by stopping to enjoy your meal, you will feel satisfied faster and will not tend to over eat. If you relax while eating, your body will metabolise food more efficiently, whereas hurriedly eating your food will lead your body to secrete Cortisol, which is steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex as part of the body's response to stress.

French woman also drink plenty of water too. A good point to remember is, as well as prolonging your life and keeping your internal organs (liver, kidneys etc) clean and healthy, water will speed up your metabolism and aid weight loss.

The French Diet

With the French diet, you can eat unprocessed meat, fish, poultry, grains, bread, dairy products, vegetables and fruit. A varied diet is essential, as each food contains different vitamins and minerals necessary for long term health. The only conditions are on the size of the portions.

Other foods that are allowed include, croissants, pastries and baguettes. Did you know that a French croissant weighs in at just 1 ounce!

Real cheese is fine but processed cheese is definitely out. As you may be aware, the French regularly enjoy a glass of wine, especially at meal times. Red wine is packed with antioxidants and has recently been proven to be good for the heart. The French have a low incidence of heart disease and many cite red wine as the reason. However this should be restricted to 1 or 2 glasses a day.

Lastly, the French love fresh fruit and vegetables, and there are no restrictions on these. That's because they are low in calories and nutritionally dense. They also use heart healthy Olive Oil for cooking and dressings, rather than artery-clogging hydrogenated cooking oils.

So, it would appear that the "French Diet" isn't really a diet in the traditional sense, instead it's much more of a lifestyle. The only drawback in this hectic age in which we live, is finding the time to eat a meal slowly and in a relaxed state.

Spa Etiquette

After a week of endless work, crazy traffic jams and a few relationship misunderstandings here and there, your stress level is probably about to hit an all time high. Fortunately, a place called the spa has been invented to help you keep what's little left of your sanity. Needless to say, a trip to a nice spa can make a hell week heavenly.

To help you make the most out of your spa experience, here are some spa etiquette tips to follow:

- Don't be late for your appointment. Being late means you don't have respect for another person's time. But aside from being impolite, it also means you won't have enough time to relax or spend at the sauna or steam bath. Having sufficient time to relax before your massage session is vital in getting the most out of your spa experience.

- Before you arrive at the spa center, be sure to turn your cellular phone off or put it in silent mode so as not to bother other spa clients who just like you are craving for some quiet time. When you're in a spa, there is nothing more annoying than having your peaceful beauty rest disturbed by a loud silly ringtone.

- Discuss with the therapist and the spa center staff any issues that you may have. If you prefer a female therapist, or if you're not comfortable being massaged in nude, don't hesitate to tell them. Also, feel free to talk to them about preferences that you may have like type of music, lighting, room temperature or amount of massage pressure.

- Leave valuables at home. Even if most spas have lockers with lock, it's still safer not to bring any valuables when you get a spa treatment.

- Use the spa facilities with care. Be sure to ask for assistance in case you don't know how to operate any facility. There is nothing embarrassing in asking.

- If you're scheduled for several treatments, have the massage prior to the facial but the body treatment should go first before the massage.

- It's all right to have a chat with your therapist but don't feel obliged to do so if you prefer to some quiet time during the treatment.

- The therapist will give you ample time to rest and cool down after the massage session but it doesn't mean that it is okay to take a whole afternoon nap. Just spend a few minutes to cool yourself down and give yourself time to reenergize.

- Don't forget to give a 15% tip to your massage therapist. Be sure to let him or her know if you are pleased with the service. Show appreciation by recommending the therapist to your family and friends who are also massage aficionados.

Spa experiences are truly heavenly. With the peaceful ambience, sensual aroma and the pleasurable treatments available, it surely is nice to give yourself a break by visiting a spa. Indeed, there's no better way to reward yourself after working so hard and subjecting yourself to the rigorous and exhausting demands of your daily life.

Selasa, 24 Maret 2009

Tips On Proper Massage Etiquette

Massage is truly one of the best pleasures in life. The relaxation of body and mind brought about by the nurturing touch of another human being is indeed a nice way to take a breather from one’s daily stressors. When your boss is getting too hard on you or the household chores are piling up so high, going to a spa can save what’s little left of your priceless sanity.

But getting a massage is not only about finding the right therapist or booking for an appointment. Just like any other activity, it also entails good manners and right conduct.

Here are some tips on proper massage etiquette:

• Schedule your appointment in advance as much as possible. This will allow the therapist or the spa to book other appointments more efficiently.

• After booking for an appointment, be sure not to miss it. Canceling the last minute or not showing up with no explanation at all is very disrespectful of the therapist. You’re not only wasting their time but also the opportunity for them to have other paying clients.

• Arrive early, preferably 15 minutes early so you will have time to fill out some forms like contact information and health conditions, as well enjoy the facilities of the spa like sauna, steam bath or whirlpool.

• Before you go into the session, be sure to discuss your preferences to the therapist. What type of music, room temperature or lighting would make you feel comfortable are some of the things you can talk to the therapist about. Although it’s all right to speak up even in the middle of the session, discussing prior to it is a better option so as not to interrupt the flow of the therapy.

• It’s also a good idea to go to the bathroom before the therapy starts so that you don’t have to stand up in the middle of your session when nature calls.

• When you go for a massage, it is very important that you don’t wear any perfume, scented anti-perspirants and hair sprays because you will be staying in an enclosed area and some therapists have allergic reactions to some of these products.

• Turn off your cell phone before you arrive at the clinic or spa. Being interrupted with ringing sounds and phone calls can surely ruin the relaxing mood and ambiance of the place. Besides, this is a time for you to relax and shun away the outside world even for just a few minutes.

• Don’t put lotion or moisturizer on your skin because this will get in the way of the massage oil or lotion that will be used.

• Take a shower or clean up before the session. Showing up all sweaty or dirty after a workout or some other rigorous activity is a rude thing to do.

• Don’t feel obliged to engage in a conversation with your therapist. If you want to chat, it’s fine. But if you want to silently indulge in the massage, the therapist will respect that.

• Give your therapist a 10%-15% tip.

• You will be allowed to have some time alone to cool down and relax after a session but don’t take advantage of it by taking a whole day nap.

Spas, clinics and therapists all work so hard to be able to provide you with a moment of relaxation that you are so in need of. Yes, you’re paying for their services but still, it’s only right that you give them proper respect and treatment.