Archive for October 2009

Sleep Help That Works – 5 Ways to Relax and Get Some Sleep!

David LeAche asked:


If you’re like me then you need some sleep help. If you tend to have difficulties getting to sleep or wake up at odd times during the night it may be that your body and mind are just not ready for sleep when you think they should be.

Sometimes, in order to get a good night of sleep, you first need to teach yourself to relax so that falling asleep becomes more natural: your body and mind are ready for sleep!

Relaxation and sleeping is not the same thing, although many would have you believe they are. Obviously they are closely related but relaxation being the opposite of stress, it has to be a pre-cursor to actually sleeping because few of us sleep well when under great stress.

Sleep is a semi-unconscious state when our bodies and our minds rejuvenate themselves and much of the mass of information that bombards us during the day gets sorted and evaluated. We know we need about eight hours of good sleep as an adult, but many of us have difficulty achieving this. Our sleep help should come in the form of sleep preparation commonly called relaxation.

Here are five different ways I have used to successfully prepare both body and mind for much needed deep sleep.

1…Exercise has been shown to be one of the greatest natural stress reducer. One very good way to relax is to take an evening walk or an evening swim at your local activity center. Yoga based exercises have been very successful. I was once told not to allow my soccer team players to swim before they went to bed, the evening before the tournament final, because they would be too relaxed and not play so well. Actually it was quite the reverse, and they played better than ever!

2…We must make sure our sleeping environment is conducive to sleep. Turn off the noise, turn down the light, make sure there is fresh air and then take some time to do some pre-sleep relaxation. This may be reading or doing breathing exercises but the environment should be a supportive one or your efforts will be wasted.

3…Consider what you have eaten or drank before you try to sleep. Alcohol is not conducive and neither is caffeine but not being hungry or thirsty is also to be considered. Personally I have a bowl of non-sugared, whole wheat cereal and one percent milk, which makes me feel well fed and yet has few calories. Toast is good: consider something that is healthy, caffeine free and very low on sugar. Large late night suppers are not a good preparation for a good night sleep as your body doesn’t relax under heavy digestion.

4…Another area of relaxation for me is having a relaxing hobby that takes your mind away from the day’s problems and acts as a relaxing activity for the mind. Some collect and organize coins or stamps, some draw and paint others write or ‘blog’. Whatever it is should put you into a state of “slow down” so your mind can relax and the move to sleep is but a short step. I know several people whose hobby involves a pet such as a cat, and this is the trigger to relaxing before sleep. Sleep help in the form of a family pet such as a small dog or cat to cuddle up to can be a very powerful trigger.

5…Most of us need to meditate in some form before sleeping. This can take the form of deep breathing and thinking or taking a long warm bath. Reading helps for some but whatever the method we need to involve both our body and mind. Listening quietly to books on tape, listening to soft music perhaps in a quiet environment often promotes a meditative sleep.

Many of us need to train our bodies and minds to relax before we can enjoy a good, deep night’s sleep. Besides making sure you’re ‘tired’ from a good day’s work there are methods we can employ to promote the pre-sleep relaxation. Give yourself some sleep help and devise some relaxation methods that work for you.



Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle

Food To Eat To Build Muscles Foods That Build Muscle Easily

villenoire asked:


build muscle is just as important as your weight lifting program or other bodybuilding routines.

Lifting weights in the gym forced your muscles to work, but guess what? Working your muscles uses considerable energy, and energy is supplied by your food. Correct nutrition also helps heal muscle injury that often occurs while you are working out. You may not even know you have caused injury to your muscles, but your body knows, and your body needs fuel from food that helps build muscle in order to repair that muscle.

Food that helps build muscle ? what it is? Well, to begin with, protein. Protein is probably the most important nutritional component in a muscle building program. You probably thought the most important component was cutting out fat, in order to reduce your body fat, didn\’t you? Well, it is not. Protein is essential. Without protein, your body withers away to nothing. So make sure you include protein foods that build muscle such as chicken, lean beef, eggs, fish (don\’t like fresh fish? Try canned tuna ?it\’s perfect), and cheese.

Figuring out how much protein you should be eating can be tricky. Too much protein is bad for your health, and puts a strain on your system. But you need to eat a lot of protein and not much else for that to happen. Ask at your gym as to your daily protein requirement. It depends on your weight, and on your lean mass weight (basically the weight of all your bones and organs, minus all body fat).

Carbohydrates, in moderation, are also essential when finding foods that build muscle. Do not eat too much, though, unless you choose high fiber carbohydrates (which are the healthiest ones anyway), and then you can indulge in much larger amounts. Good high fiber carbs include rice, potatoes (yes, potatoes ? just do not add butter!), oatmeal and bananas.

Fats need to be reduced when you are consider what foods build muscle mass. Fat can never be eliminated completely (and nor should you try to do this), but reducing fat can have a healthy effect on your attempts to build muscle mass. Most foods that contain protein also contains fat, so when choosing your proteins, providing you opt for the ones that are low in fat, you will be on the right track.

When eating to build muscle, make sure you drink water. Liquid is important for hydration, and a dehydrated body is sluggish, and can even make you sick. This is not a recipe for obtaining the healthy, fit physique you are striving for.

Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day (even 12 glasses) is absolutely essential to allow your body to properly digest all the good food you are eating. For those who just cannot stomach the taste (or lack of taste) of so much water, other types of liquid although not quite as good are still acceptable as water substitutes ? fruit juice and even soft drinks can suffice as long as you (preferably) drink some of your liquid intake in water form.

Regular bodybuilding workouts are also essential to maximise the effects of good bodybuilding diets. It is all very well knowing what to eat to build muscle, but if you do not combine this great new diet by building muscle mass with weight lifting exercises or other bodybuilding routines, you will not be able to build muscle fast. So do both ? eat foods that build muscle, and undertake bodybuilding workouts, and you will end up with a body you will be proud of.

End Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Does Milk and Weight Loss Go Together?

Phyllis Ekleberry asked:


Copyright (c) 2008 Phyllis Ekleberry

Do milk and weight loss go together? We have all seen the commercial where someone is drinking a glass of milk and then says ‘”It does a body good”. After that statement, the commercial goes on to say that by including milk in your every day weight loss program promotes better weight loss particularly around the waist line.

Milk and Weight Loss in the News

The Natural News had this to say about milk and weight loss, ‘”There is no evidence that dairy consumption helps people lose weight, according to a study conducted by researchers published in the journal Nutrition Review.”

Researchers Reviews On Milk and Weight Loss

The researchers reviewed the results of 49 different clinical trials that examined the connection between either dairy or calcium supplement consumption and the changes that occur when you do consume dairy products or take calcium supplements. The results were over-whelming. Out of the studies the following was recorded:

- 41 studies showed no weight

- 5 showed a correlation with weight loss

- 2 showed an actual weight gain

- 1 study found no impact on weight but a decrease in the accumulation of body fat.

This is verifiable testing that shows milk and weight loss do not necessarily go hand in hand. When you partake of dairy products, researchers have found out that you also consume more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. With these great choices, you will lose weight faster and easier. All of these things have complex carbohydrates instead of the over-processed carbohydrates that are found in white breads and bleached white grains and white rice. It also shows that women who have a higher dairy consumption or calcium intake are much less likely to drink or smoke. Those same women are also more likely to exercise and take vitamin supplements.

The Direction of a Good Weight Loss Program

This research goes a long way to point you in the direction of a good solid weight loss program instead of just picking what you think will work and hope for the best–like milk and weight loss . Instead of listening to the dairy industry, which has a vested interest in touting the supposed weight-loss benefits of milk and weight loss, you need to choose a weight loss plan that encompasses good eating habits along with exercise.

Many health experts advise that rather than expecting a single product to function as a miracle food, those wishing to lose weight should instead focus on a balanced, healthy diet with consistency.

You and Your Weight Loss Program

So what should your weight loss program possess? You should choose a weight loss program that fits your lifestyle and combines a good variety of foods. If you choose a weight loss program that has limited menu choices, then you will quickly tire of those choices and ultimately lose the battle. Generally speaking, if you can retrain your brain to eat healthy meals, stop the munching all day and eat when you are hungry instead of eating when you are bored, stressed, depressed, lonely or sad, then you will succeed!

Steps of Healthy Weight Loss Program

Following these simple steps to your weight loss program will catapult your weight loss into the double digits!

1.) Find a program that fits your lifestyle.

If you are not fond of cooking, a diet plan that requires you to cook will not work! Don’t choose a weight loss program or diet plan that requires you to eat something you can’t stand or do something you are not willing to do, this is self defeating.

Hint: this does not excuse you from exercise or improving your eating habits because without these two elements in your weight loss program, you are not going to get where you want to be very fast.

2.) Decide the “why” – you have to have a motivating reason why you want to lose weight. If your reason is not motivating enough to stop food in mid air – find another one! There will be times that your reason why will be the only thing that motivates you to exercise, eat less and eat healthy – Get a good one!

3.) Make sure you are healthy enough to go on the program you have chosen!

Please take the time to check with your doctor before you go on a weight loss program to see if there are any under lying problems that could limit your success.

4.) Choose a diet that makes sense. One that is healthy and has plenty of options If you are contemplating taking weight loss supplements – either in the form of a weight loss pill or weight loss patch.- Please take the time to check them out. Some companies have tested their products in a double blind test – look at the test results before using their products. Don’t trust the companies that have not gone through this process. The good ones have tested their products to insure their safety as well as their results.

5.Above all – carry through. You must continue along the weight loss path to succeed.

This is the hardest things to do – to carry through with your plans. How many times have you decided to do something and then dropped it like a hot potato because it did not work fast enough or it was not fun enough. Buckle down – just do it. It has to be done for your health’s sake so just do it!

6.) Enlist a support person, group or friend. With the right support you can move mountains!

7.Give yourself some praise. You are taking one of life’s hardest journeys – the weight loss journey. Losing weight just takes some time and committed dedication. You are worth it – you are worth every calorie you don’t put in your mouth – you are worth every moment you exercise. After all, if you do not take care of yourself – who is?



Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle

Weight Loss Diet Reduce Risks of Cancer

Weight Loss asked:


can Cancer Society Suggests you get to and maintain a healthy weight, exercise vigorously at least 30 minutes a day (preferably 45 to 60 minutes) and eat healthy diet including at least 5 or more servings of a wide variety of fresh fruit and raw vegetables each day. If you drink alcoholic beverages limit yourself to 1 glass a day for women and 2 glasses daily for men. Preferably avoid alcohol all together.

This is the formula they suggest and I recommend if you want to know how to reduce your risk of cancer cells in the body.

Healthy Weight. Often people have in their mind what weight is healthy for them. Medically speaking, if your body mass index is rated 25 or higher you have an increased risk for many health issues. There is no specific link to cancer other than the fact that there is a greater percentage of people with cancer that are overweight than not. The higher your body mass index is the greater your risks are. There is also a connection to your waist size. For men if your waist is over 40 inches and 35 inches in women, you will have additional health risk as well. Generally, people that carry more weight in their waist are overweight but not always. If they are overweight and have an extra wide waist the risks of health problems are even greater. I know because I have been there personally (waist and weight).

Regular Physical Exercise. We all should be intentional and serious about our regular physical exercise program. Not only will exercise help maintain our healthy weight and great looks but our body releases chemicals that help our immune systems fight disease when we vigorously work out. Do not over do it though. If you require a personal trainer please seek professional help. But, you know your body and you know when to quit. If you are currently suffering health issues make sure you consult your physician before you start a rigorous exercise program. It is always important to discuss your diet and exercise plan with your doctor. Ultimately, you must exercise and increase your daily physical activity to reduce the risk of cancer cells in your body.

Eat A Balanced Healthy Diet. The emphasis is on fruit and vegetables. Have you noticed in the last few years all the claims of super foods, super fruits, antioxidant, and superior disease fighting fruit and vegetables. This is true. The American Cancer Society does not endorse one fruit or vegetable as one that will reduce the risk of cancer cells in the body. As you research you will learn that these fruit and vegetables will dramatically help prevent disease and they should all be a part of your regular diet. These are some fruit and vegetables known to fight cancer (in no particular order):broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussell sprouts, tomatoes, blueberries, cantaloupe, carrots, cherries, chilli peppers, figs, garlic, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges, strawberries, sweet potatoes, etc. Then add herbs, beans, nuts like peanuts and whole grains like oats and wheat and you will have a balanced diet of many foods to help prevent cancer. Even water boosts your metabolism, strengthens your immune system and helps fight disease. There are even fruit that are new to us in America like acai berries that help prevent cancer.

Avoid Alcohol and Other Unhealthy Food and Drinks. Not just alcohol but sugar, artificial sweeteners, soda and processed foods as much as possible if you want to reduce risk of cancer cells in the body.

Following this outline will help you live a long, active, healthy life avoiding and preventing cancer and many diseases.



End Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Using Alternatives To Chemical Relaxers

Linda Dunkelberger asked:


Considering using alternatives to chemical relaxers? Kinky, curly and frizzy hair can be difficult to manage. Often chemical relaxers contain lye, which is sodium hydroxide. By using these harsh chemical relaxers you can damage your hair, burn your scalp and possibly cause hair loss. Other complaints are hair breakage, hair thinning and lack of hair growth all caused from chemical hair relaxers. For best results, look for alternatives to chemical relaxers. Alternatives to chemical relaxers provide natural, healthy non-chemical hair relaxer solutions.

By using healthy alternatives to chemical relaxers, you will be able to relax your hair, add body and give you healthy vibrant hair. With a non-chemical hair relaxer you will get relaxed hair without being stripped of all your body but look more natural by keeping beautiful body and shine. Don’t be fooled into wrong alternatives to chemical relaxers, a non-chemical hair relaxer does not contain lye or any other chemical promising to be less harsh. A non-chemical hair relaxer is made with only natural ingredients. When shopping for alternatives to chemical relaxers look at the ingredients. Some ingredients that you want to see in a non-chemical hair relaxer are alkaline water, soda ash & minerals, protein powder, natural vitamins, minerals and oils. These ingredients along with a proper care system will allow you to keep your hair relaxed and manageable. A non-chemical hair relaxer is easy to use and does not require going to a salon to do it. Reading and following the instructions carefully will give you a non-chemical hair relaxer treatment and salon results at home.

When using alternatives to chemical relaxers and all hair relaxers, including a non-chemical hair relaxer, you want to make sure that you maintain healthy hair with conditioners and vitamins. A regular schedule of shampoos, conditioners and vitamins will help fortify the hair and restore the natural ph balance to your hair. Special shampoos and conditions that contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids and natural oils will give you maximum results if used with a non-chemical hair relaxer.

You should always be cautious when blow drying and styling your hair even if you use non-chemical hair relaxer. Heat and thermal tools often damage hair if not used properly. Using the right thermal styling moisturizer and styling products are important to healthy hair manageability.

By using alternatives to chemical relaxers you are already one step ahead in your goal to achieve healthier hair. Be sure to keep your hair conditioned and use the proper styling products to protect against heat and thermal damage. Make sure to keep your hair vibrant with the proper vitamins and minerals. Alternatives to chemical relaxers are good for the health of your hair. By eliminating the harsh chemicals, alternatives to chemical relaxers are good for the environment as well.



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