Health is wealth

Hair Loss Problem

2008-01-10T22:51:00.000-08:00

Hair loss and balding seems to be a common problem today and it seems to affect both women and men! Hair loss usually begins in the front temporal areas, progressing to the crown. The rate of loss varies between people, and the process can take from 5 to 25 years.

The first stage in understanding hair loss and fine hair problems is to understand how hair grows. Hair thickness is a combination of hair diameter and hair density, you can have fine hair but lots of it or thick coarse hair which is relatively sparce. Most of us are somewhere between the two. Hair is made up of three layers, the cuticle, cortex and medulla. The cuticle is made up of overlaid scales of keratin and the smoother the scales the more it shines. The cortex is the body and strength of the hair shaft, its interlocking fibres lay under the cuticle and are were perms and permanent colours do their work. The innermost layer (medulla) is not present in the finest of hair, for example Scandinavian blonde hair.

Hair loss is primarily caused by a combination of aging, a change in hormones, and a family history of baldness. As a rule, the earlier hair loss begins, the more severe the baldness will become. Hair loss can also be caused by burns or trauma, in which case hair replacement surgery is considered a reconstructive treatment, and may be covered by health insurance.

There are a number of reasons for hair loss in both men and women. Diet, environment, stress, past surgeries, past experiences etc. are some of the few factors which cause hair loss. Though genetics plays a major role for hair loss (male pattern baldness), there are a number of hair loss conditions for which a number of hair loss restorations treatments are available both for men and women. Though the underlying causes for male and female pattern hair loss are same, there is some basic difference with regards to the physiology and genetics of the condition.
Baldness is often blamed on poor circulation to the scalp, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff, and even excessive hat-wearing. All of these theories have been disproved. It's also untrue that hair loss can be determined by looking at your maternal grandfather, or that 40-year-old men who haven't lost their hair will never lose it.
If there's a reversible cause, it's normally possible to stop hair loss. For instance, if it's caused by anaemia you can stop hair loss by replenishing the body's iron stores. A huge number of treatments have been tried to slow down and even reverse the process of male pattern hair loss - some are successful, others aren't. But many men find their hair loss slows down or stops for no apparent reason at a certain age anyway.

If your hair loss is mild to moderate, the most important thing to do is weigh the immediate stressors in your life against how much support you're giving your body. Start with an honest inventory of your healthy and not-so-healthy habits. Then take some steps toward shifting the balance to the support side.

It is essential to have a healthy scalp to avoid hair loss and aiding new hair growth.
Complaints of the hair and scalp are very common and I would always recommend that you treat any problem as soon as it appears as a minor problem can develop into a more serious condition if left untreated. Early diagnosis will give us the best possible opportunity to help you by providing you with the most effective and up-to-date trichological medication.

The 2 Types of Fat

2008-01-10T22:05:00.000-08:00

There are 2 types of fat. I will explain the 2 types, and then go into detail how to get rid of each type.

Muscular fat:
This is the fat that you don't really notice as much. This fat is the fat that makes your muscles soft. It gets mixed in with the muscle tissue, making the muscles less defined, less powerful, and not as efficient. Most people who don't work out will have a good deal of muscular fat, however it won't really show too much unless you are going for an amazing six pack or complete definition. To get rid of muscular fat, there is really one main way. Strengthen the muscles. This means weight training, and some light cardio. When you build the muscle, the fat that is attached to it will get eaten away. We suggest a program of weight training which will require 8-10 reps per set.

Skin attached Fat:
When you see a fat person, they are mainly suffering from skin attached fat. This means that attached to the skin is a large layer of fat. This gives you the unattractive appearance, and can lead to body oder due to the fact that sweat and bacteria get caught in any creases or folds of the skin. Unlike what many people believe, doing a million crunches or sit-ups will not get rid of the fat on your belly. A crunch or a sit-up will strengthen the abdominal muscles, but what good is that if the fat is not attached to your muscles, rather your skin. This means that skin attached fat will not disappear in certain areas by just working those areas out. Instead you need to reduce your body fat percentage by eating properly and doing cardiovascular exercises. If you get on a good diet, and run, row, or bike for an hour a day, you will begin shedding those pounds fast.

Conclusion:
If you want to look better, feel healthier, and get stronger, the recommended routine would be to do the following:
Start off with cardio 4 days a week, and a healthy diet, while doing moderate weight training, 8-10 reps per set 1-2 days a week. Once you start looking better, and noticing a huge decrease in your skin attached fat, change your routine to 3 days of cardio and 2-3 days of weight training, while keeping up the healthy diet. Once satisfied with the weight you have lost, change to only one day of cadio and 4-5 days of weight training. Once you build muscle from the weight training, cardio will no longer be as important, since your increased metabolism, from your increase in muscle will eat away much of the fat.

Top 4 Nutrients for Brain Power

2008-01-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

The key strategy for tuning up the nervous system is to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to make healthy nerve cells, to protect them from damage, and to enhance their ability to carry out their functions. The results can be astounding. You can boost your mental alertness, increase concentration, promote learning, enhance both short-term and long-term memory, and keep your senses sharp. Your brain requires a constant source of high-quality nutrition. The brain is so metabolically active that a deficiency of any of a number of nutrients can lead to poor mental function, depression, or other serious mental disorders. Since the neurons in your brain communicate through neurotransmitters, you need to supply your body with the raw materials needed to keep a constant supply of neurotransmitters available. There are more than fifty known neurotransmitters. Some are found only in the central nervous system, while others are active there and elsewhere in the body. Here are some nutrients for boosting your brain and nerve function.

1. Boost Choline Intake

Choline, a B vitamin-like substance, is a crucial ingredient in the membranes found in every one of your cells. Dietary or supplementary choline can boost the production of acetylcholine and thus is important for memory, learning, and mental alertness. Rich food sources of choline include lecithin, peanuts, wheat germ, and soy foods. Choline is also found in good levels in Brussels sprouts, oatmeal, soybeans, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. The best forms of choline for supplementation are phosphatidylcholine, glycerophosphocholine, and cytosine diphosphocholine, but supplementation is usually not necessary if you boost dietary sources.

2. Boost Your Antioxidant Intake

Vitamins C and E are found in high levels in the brain and nervous system. Because the brain cells are high in unsaturated fat, they are especially vulnerable to damage by free radicals. There is mounting scientific and clinical evidence that the higher the intake of antioxidants over time, the better the mental function later in life. A high intake of these nutrients is also associated with a significantly lower risk for both Alzhemier’s and Parkinson’s disease. Taking 500 to 1,500 mg of vitamin C and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E is recommended.

3. Balance Your Electrolytes

The ability of a nerve to fire depends on the presence of electrolytes – minerals such as potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium dissolved in water. They are termed electrolytes to signify their critical role in conducting electricity in the human body. If you have too much sodium and too little potassium in your diet, the imbalance can slow down the ability of neurons to conduct signals. Boosting potassium and magnesium while restricting sodium intake is a very important dietary recommendation for tuning up brain and nervous system function. Eating more whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding high-salt processed foods and table salt is all that is needed for most people to get their potassium and sodium in balance.

4. Take B Vitamins

These vitamins are crucial for brain and nerve function. B1 and B2 help control the use of glucose by neurons. They also help your body make fatty acids needed to preserve the integrity of nerve cell membranes. Along with vitamin B5, they are important for making acetylcholine and thus for helping memory function. Vitamin B2 (niacin) is vital for proper mental function. People who suffer from niacin deficiency often exhibit signs of dementia. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) acts like a biological shuttle service, ferrying amino acids into the brain for its use in making neurotransmitters. Lack of B6 can cause abnormal brain wave patterns and a decrease in nervous system activity. Vitamin of B12 helps your brain make use of carbohydrates and proteins. It is also vital for producing the myelin sheath that protects the axons of your nerve cells. Folic acid works as a partner with vitamin B12 in many biochemical processes in the brain, including the manufacture of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Impaired mental acuity (or dementia) and depression are common symptoms of folic acid or B12 deficiency. Deficiencies of these nutrients are common, especially in elderly subjects, and are an often overlooked cause of dementia and depression.

How to Lose Fat Fast?

2008-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

If you want to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks you just need to follow some easy tips to succeed. Everyone who wants to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks can succeed, even you. The thing is that you have to eat right and do some cardio.

First something about a healthy diet:

Try to avoid unnecessary calories. Yes! It is easy to say, but you think it is hard to make. Well, take a look here. If you skip sodas and sweet juices and drink plain water instead you will save hundreds of calories every day. Cookies and ice-cream are other calorie bombs that you need to avoid. It sounds boring – but if you want to become slim you have to do something, sitting on the sofa, eating chips and watching TV isn’t the best way to lose weight.

Eat vegetables. Maybe your ordinary meal looks like this: a big piece of meat, French fries, and a large amount of sauce and no vegetables. Does it sound familiar? Vegetables are taste good and are great for you when you will lose weight. Choose some vegetables that you like and eat them daily. Half the portion will come from vegetables, not sauce.

Eat a well-balanced diet. Make your meals full of nutrients. It could be hard in the beginning, maybe you need to use a professional method that gives you advice in which food you should eat.

And now to something about cardio:

Walk, walk and walk. It is the best and easiest form of exercise when you are overweight. All you need is a pair of shoes. A daily walk around the block for about 40 minutes will make miracle to your body. When you feel ready for more intense exercise you can start jogging instead, but take it easy in the beginning.

So, eat a well-balanced diet with lots of water and do daily walks and you will succeed.

Skin Cancer Symptoms and Treatments

2008-01-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

Millions of people are affected by skin cancer. Each year the number of skin cancer cases increases, highlighting the need for an effective way to manage both the symptoms and the treatment. Fortunately, there is an easy way to keep tabs on this disease.

First, understand that there are three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Each one can be treated if detected early enough. Both the squamous cell carcinoma and the insidious melanoma can spread to other parts of the body. Once skin cancer spreads, it is much more difficult to treat, so early detection is vital.

Second, recognize the most common causes of skin cancer: heredity (if there is a history of skin cancer in your family, your chances of contracting it are higher than normal), damage to DNA, exposure to ultraviolet rays, over-exposure to sunlight, and exposure to certain deadly chemicals. If any of these causes sound like they might apply in your case, pay close attention to the skin cancer symptoms described next.

Third, be aware of the common symptoms of skin cancer: skin discoloration, blotches and patches on the skin, irritation and redness. Melanoma occurs in moles on your body. The mole may change color or size, and may start bleeding. Be very watchful for any of these sorts of changes.

Fourth, consider the standard and alternative treatment options that are available to treat skin cancer. Most melanomas need to be surgically removed. However other skin cancers may be treated by removing affected and surrounding tissue. Radiation therapy and cryotherapy may also be available if the cancer is low risk and treated early. In cases where cancer has already spread and metastasized, then surgery and/or chemotherapy may be required.

So, how do you stack the odds in your favor? By managing your symptoms and treatment results carefully and systematically. Keep a journal of any symptom of skin cancer that you may encounter. For instance, the first time you see any oddity on your skin -- such as the appearance of a splotch on the skin or a discoloration or change in a mole -- make a note in a journal. Then on a weekly basis keep track of any changes in size, shape or color.

Having an ongoing journal gives you an objective and precise history of when and how conditions on your skin have developed. This will be invaluable when you consult a doctor or dermatologist. Then, be sure to make an appointment with a doctor or dermatologist and get it checked out. Skin cancer is not one of those things that will go away on its own. It starts out with the greatest likelihood of being treatable. As time goes by, it gets less and less easy to treat it. Delaying the consultation with your doctor could cost you your life!

Once a course of treatment has been prescribed for you, keep another journal in which you describe the results. Have the symptoms gone away? Are they better? Worse? If a mole was removed, have other similar moles appeared? Have any other skin discolorations become evident?

If you are taking medication, keep a record of what you take and when. Is it helping the symptoms? Are there any side effects? Keep track of when side effects occur and how severe they are. Having this information handy will help your doctor prescribe the treatment that best addresses your overall health.

Setting up journals like the ones described here is easy to do. You can use a paper worksheet, a computer word processing program, or even a spreadsheet program like Excel.

You owe it to yourself to take an active role in managing your own health. Skin cancer is a serious disease, and you need to use every tool at your disposal to make sure you get the best health care possible.

Top 10 Skin Care Tips

2008-01-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

Healthy skin is really one of the most important ingredients for beauty-enhancement. This article on skin care tips is an effort to bring the 10 best skin care tips to you. The list of skin care tips has been restricted to 10 because anything more that that would not only be difficult to remember, but also shadow the more important skin care tips. So let’s see what these top ten skin care tips are:

* Knowing your skin type is one of the most important skin care tip. This is important because not every skin care product suits everyone. In fact, all the skin care products specify the type of skin they cater too.

* ‘Drink a lot of water’. This will not keep your skin moist but will help in overall upkeep of your health (and in turn your skin). It might seem a bit awkward to some, however, this is an important skin care tip.

* Cleanse your skin regularly (1-2 times everyday). A very effective skin care tip that helps in getting rid of the dirt and other harsh elements from your skin. Cleansing is especially important when you have been out of your house (and hence exposed to pollutants, dust etc). This skin care tip also advocates the use of Luke warm water for cleansing (hot and cold water, both, cause damage to your skin)

* Be gentle, after all it’s your skin. Don’t scrub/exfoliate too hard or too often. Similarly, don’t apply too much or too many skin care products. A must-to-follow skin care tip.

* Keep your skin moist at all times. This is one of the most important skin care tip. Don’t let your skin get dry. Dryness causes the outer layer of your skin to break, leading to a rough and unattractive appearance. Use moisturisers/ emollients. Moisturisers work best when applied while the skin is still damp.

* Avoid the use of soap on your face. Soap should only be used from below the neck. A small but important skin care tip.

* Use sunscreen to protect yourself from sun’s harmful UV radiations. You can use day-time moisturisers that have sunscreen built into them. Use them even when it’s cloudy. UV radiations are known to cause skin cancer, so follow this skin care tip without fail.

* A bit of exercise and good sleep are essential too, not just for skin care but for your health as a whole. Lack of sleep can lead to formation of wrinkles below your eyes and lack of exercise can cause your skin to slack. Moreover, exercise and sleep also help in beating stress. So besides being a skin care tip, this is also a health care tip.

* Treat skin dilemmas with care. This skin care tip is about not ignoring any skin dilemmas. Consult your dermatologist before you go on to use a skin care product (lest you do end up harming your skin even more).

* Beat the stress. The harmful effects of stress are known to everyone, however, sometimes stating the obvious is essential too (and hence this skin care tip found its place here). Yes, stress harms skin too. So, take a break or indulge in a warm bubble bath or just get good sleep.

Golden Tips for Dry Skin

2008-01-10T21:50:00.000-08:00

Here are some tips for healing dry skin rash. These tips will work wonders on your dry skin.

Follow these tips for one month and watch as your skin changes in texture and feel.

If you consume more healthy foods your skin will begin to change, become hydrated, smooth, heal at a much faster pace and look gorgeous.

I know that my terrible skin condition was the result of consuming foods that had no benefit to my skin.

In fact the foods I was eating was making my skin worse and was damaging my health.

My skin was getting drier, my skin itched a lot more and my skin looked awful.

So here are some tips you can try over the next four weeks.

Dry Skin Rash Tip #1 - Eat less of the foods that clog your system. The worst offenders include refined foods, fried foods dairy products and red meat.

Dry Skin Rash Tip #2 - Watch out how you combine your foods. Avoid eating carbohydrates with proteins. This will prevent fermentation in the stomach and colon and allow more nutrients to be absorbed into the blood.

Dry Skin Rash Tip #3 - Eliminate caffeine and reduce the amount of alcohol you consume. Both these drinks drain moisture from your skin.

Simple Guide to Quit Smoking

2008-01-10T21:49:00.000-08:00

Do you want to stop smoking easily and quickly? then do take to read this articles slowly. The mind has two parts: the conscious and subconscious. You might want to stop smoking because it's bad for your health (conscious reason), but you're still aware that smoking makes you feel good about yourself (subconscious reason).

However there is a proper way to proceed with once you have decided to quit smoking viz.
1. First sit down and write down why you want to quit (the benefits of quitting): live longer, feel better, for your family, save money, smell better, find a mate more easily, etc. You know what's bad about smoking and you know what you'll get by quitting. Put it on paper and read it daily.

2. Ask your family and friends to support your decision to quit. Ask them to be completely supportive and non-judgmental. Let them know ahead of time that you will probably be irritable and even irrational while you withdraw from your smoking habit.

3. Set a quit date. Decide what day you will extinguish your cigarettes forever.

4. Talk with your doctor about quitting. Support and guidance from a physician is a proven way to better your chances to quit.

5. Begin an exercise program. Exercise is simply incompatible with smoking. Exercise relieves stress and helps your body recover from years of damage from cigarettes.

6. Do some deep breathing each day for 3 to 5 minutes. Breathe in through your nose very slowly, hold the breath for a few seconds, and exhale very slowly through your mouth.

7. Have your teeth cleaned. Enjoy the way your teeth look and feel and plan to keep them that way.

8. Drink lots of water. Water is good for you anyway, and most people don't get enough. It will help flush the nicotine and other chemicals out of your body, plus it can help reduce cravings by fulfilling the "oral desires" that you may have.

9. Learn what triggers your desire for a cigarette, such as stress, the end of a meal, arrival at work, entering a bar, etc. Avoid these triggers or if that's impossible, plan alternative ways to deal with the triggers.

10. Find something to hold in your hand and mouth, to replace cigarettes. You might try an artificial cigarette.

11. Lastly believe in yourself. Believe that you can quit. Think about some of the most difficult things you have done in your life and realize that you have the guts and determination to quit smoking.

How Do I Quit Smoking?

2008-01-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

For many people around the world, the question they ask themselves every day is, “How do I stop smoking?” Unfortunately, many of these people will never actually have the opportunity to quit. They will have one excuse or the next to purchase another pack of cigarettes. The will power to stop smoking is often weak, and buried under a lot of stress and worry. But, there are ways to get yourself off the drugs and into a great situation to improve your health.

We all know that smoking leads to many diseases. This isn’t even debatable anymore. But, what is is the method by which we can stop smoking. It is difficult in any case to learn how to stop smoking. It will take nothing short of determination to get it done. But, there are things to help you do it successfully.

You have more than likely heard of patches and pills that can help you to stop smoking slowly. In these methods, they provide the nicotine that you body craves through a safer means. Slowly, you will step down from needing two packs a day to needing only one to needing none. The gradual movement helps you to stop having to fight the temptation for more and more. It helps to keep you on the right track as well.

Another method to stop smoking is to go cold turkey. But, you will need to replace that need for nicotine with something else. In many studies, it has been found that people who stop smoking and begin exercise have a better chance of remaining smoke free. While this may not seem like something you can do, it has worked for many others. It does take a lot of dedication and determination.

Yet another way to stop smoking is often one of the most terrifying. Being faced with the consequences of what smoking can do to you may actually help you to stop. For example, those who smoke are filling their lungs with tar. You know, that stuff they put on the roads? Yes, that is what is going into your body. Take a trip to the health museum to see what it’s like. Or, if you are already too late, you may be faced with cancer already. Is this enough to get you to stop?

Unfortunately, it won’t be for many. If you want to stop smoking, you simply need to make the decision to do so and work hard at making that happen. You need to realize that your family and friends will suffer much more when you are not around to enjoy life with them because smoking has cut that short.

Healthy and Smooth Pregnancy With Prenatal Yoga Practice!

2008-01-10T21:42:00.000-08:00

Now a day, prenatal yoga is becoming more popular and is essentially practiced by pregnant women for its health benefits. It is a way to ensure a healthy and smooth pregnancy. The term ‘yoga’ refers to a Sanskrit word “union” it means “to join.” The aim of prenatal yoga is to unite the body, mind and spirit through poses, breathing exercises, and meditation.

Prenatal yoga has five fundamental tools: yoga exercises, mudras, meditation, breathing exercises, and deep relaxation techniques. These tools when practiced regularly can provide benefits to you and your baby’s health as well as increases your ability to have natural and easy childbirth.

Yoga exercises works efficiently on the organs of the reproductive system as well as on the pelvis to make sure a smooth pregnancy and easy delivery. At the subtle level, the prenatal yoga exercises guarantee a good supply of blood as well as essential nutrients to the developing fetus.

Mudras are one of prenatal yoga tools. Mudras are hand gestures with psychophysical stimulation, which provides powerful effects on your reproductive organs when practiced regularly.

Meditation is a therapeutic tool that helps overcome the feelings of anxiety, depression, worries and clashes that are very common for pregnant woman during pregnancy. Meditation provides an unbelievable awareness that helps you bond with your child in a strange way.

Breathing exercises are powerful techniques and practicing them during pregnancy provides sufficient oxygen supply to you and your growing child. The breathing exercises of prenatal yoga increases your body fitness during and after pregnancy.

Deep relaxation techniques of prenatal yoga are very effective for pregnant woman during pregnancy. These techniques help provide physical and mental relaxation. Yoga Nidra (Yogic sleep) is a deep relaxation technique, which is effective mainly during pregnancy for childbirth preparation.

During prenatal yoga, as a pregnant woman, you may feel more difficult in balancing yoga asanas because of a change in the center of gravity. So, here are the points to keep in mind while practicing prenatal yoga. Never lay down flat on your back once you reach twenty weeks of pregnancy.

Lying on the abdomen is safe in early stages of pregnancy, but it becomes painful in the later stages if you are with breast tenderness.
Forward bending asanas help ease the backache of pregnancy. However practicing these asanas in the later stages of pregnancy causes nausea because of increased abdominal weight. Also, avoid standing asanas for long periods since it leads to dizziness.

Drink plenty of water in the hours before your prenatal yoga class. Always use additional pillows, pads or blankets (if necessary) to increase the support during prenatal yoga.

As a pregnant woman, you get warm easily. So, make use of fans or air conditioners (if necessary) during warm weather.

On the other hand, it is highly recommended not to practice prenatal yoga if you are with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), an incompetent cervix, constant vaginal bleeding, episodes of premature labor, or any serious medical conditions. Also avoid prenatal yoga if you are carrying multiple babies.

What you Should Know About your Teeth

2008-01-10T21:06:00.000-08:00

Advances in dentistry have made it easier to care for one’s teeth. With a plethora of products in the market today backed by good dental services and conscientious oral hygiene, there should be no reason for people to suffer from tooth decay or lose teeth.

Ironically, despite the presence of readily available information about the prevention and treatment of dental disease, a lot of myths and misconceptions remain. As a public service to readers, here are some of the more common tooth myths and the surprising truth behind them.

Healthy teeth are white. False. Although TV commercials may make you believe so, the truth is only mannequins have white teeth. In reality, the natural color of teeth is yellowish, ranging from gray-yellow to light reddish-yellow. This is true for all races.

Apples and other crunchy foods are good for teeth. False. Apples and other crunchy foods are mistakenly referred to as “detergent foods” or “nature’s toothbrush” since they supposedly scrub away food particles and help clean teeth. While chomping on an apple is definitely healthier for your teeth than eating sticky sweets, it is no substitute for regular flossing and brushing. Studies have shown that the “exercise” provided by chewing on coarse foods like apples is not enough to clean critical areas of the teeth where decay may begin.

Some people have soft teeth, making them susceptible to cavities. False. Tooth decay or caries is caused by a variety of factors such as bacteria, acids, dental plaque, food residue, thick, heavy saliva, and on many occasions, poor oral hygiene. While some mouths are more prone to decay than others owing to these factors, it is wrong to say that decay-prone individuals have “soft teeth.” The truth is, all teeth are very hard. Tooth enamel is harder than iron, gold and porcelain.

While good dental health is easy to achieve, many people don’t brush or floss properly, making them susceptible to tooth decay or caries and gum disease. Bad teeth can make you look old and ugly and can prevent you from enjoying your favorite foods. Since good teeth are essential to health and can make you look younger, visit a dentist regularly to stop problems before they get worse.

To complement your healthy smile, use Dermaxin, a popular skin cream that contains special ingredients to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by as much as 45 percent. Dermaxin repairs and rejuvenates the skin so you'll look young, fresh, and wrinkle-free! It's your best defense against the signs of aging.