Sunday, July 31, 2011

The benefits of not smoking anymore

What are the benefits of not smoking anymore, is not actually the real question, but is what you will receive in health benefits if you quit smoking. Well, the rewards of quitting are endless, but the change in health before you stop smoking, can not usually be counted. In fact, the benefits of not smoking anymore will only come into account in time and not immediately.


If you are hooked on smoking, environmental concerns can not force you to stop, but knowing the benefits of not smoking anymore, will urge you to stop smoking and keep you from smoking again.


In the areas of the private community, no matter where you go there is a council to take on the theme of "No Smoking". The advice to the commission expects of you are much good to the environment. The current use of cigarettes are at great risk to the environment due to the smoke. Lately, the youths were found to be hopelessly addicted to cigarettes and therefore continue to smoke in the streets without hesitation.



  • In the midst of a momentary changes are made in the reduced heart rate and lower blood pressure. You can also find a sudden rise in temperature and the hands and feet.

  • One of the biggest risks is the increased likelihood of a heart attack, which will come down within 24 hours if you quit smoking.

  • And in the list of benefits or responses to the question of what are the benefits to not smoking anymore is to reduce the risk of being affected with coronary artery disease, which is within one year from the time you stop smoking cigarettes.

  • The procedure of circulation gets better in within 2-3 weeks. The difficulty that you used to face in breathing, while walking and ends.

  • Ability to taste and smell is improved in 48 hours as the nerve endings start to regrow.

  • Within eight to ten hours, the level of carbon monoxide decreases to the typical level. Smoking leads to increased content of carbon monoxide and reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Not smoking means increased ability of blood to carry oxygen.

  • Lung function is also improved when you stop smoking. Tiny hair-like structures that support the mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function, thereby improving your health.

  • What are the benefits of not smoking anymore, after for 10 years? The threat of lung cancer decreases the likelihood of significant oral or other cancers of the throat, esophagus, kidney, gallbladder and pancreas.

  • Smokers are often at increased risk of stroke, but within 5 to 15 years if you go through any significant cardiac test, you can come across the fact that your risk of stroke is the same as for a non-smoker.

  • Obstruction of the sinuses, fatigue, cough and difficulty of shortness of breath goes down within one year of stop smoking.


Now you have to decide based on "what are the benefits of not smoking anymore", are you going to keep on smoking those cigarettes? One of the ways to help stop smoking is to use electronic cigarettes.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Pain Management Methods

When people experience any kind of pain the most obvious and common solution is using painkiller drugs. We are all used to these medications because they are effective and quite convenient to use. Modern day painkillers are much better than older drugs that were plagued with many side effects. Still, sometimes even the most sophisticated and safe to use medications can cause negative symptoms or aggravate other health conditions simply because there's no such thing as a perfectly safe painkiller drug. And if you happen to suffer from such an issue, there are some alternative pain management options that can be as effective as common oral pills. Make sure to try the following if your painkiller drug doesn't deliver the effects you need:


Heat and cold


This type of therapy is probably the easiest and most common in case of an injury. In fact it can be safer and more effective than some painkillers. All you need is a towel moistened with hot water held against the affected area for about 10-15 minutes. Just make sure to not cause a burn. Heat will intensify the blood circulation in the area and reduce inflammation. Cold on the other hand can numb the nerves in the area, so you can use it as an alternative. Warp a couple of ice cubes with a towel and hold against the area. This is the perfect drug-free first aid in case of trauma and acute pain associated with it.


Physical therapy


Physical therapy is another pain management option that will suit those who suffer more serious forms of trauma or joint conditions. With physical therapy a specialists manipulates the muscles in the affected area in a way to promote faster recovery and prevent the muscles from deforming due to inflammation. Physical therapy can be particularly helpful in chronic pain conditions causes by injury or joint issues but it can also relieve acute pain to a degree right after the trauma. But it may take a couple of sessions and won't work as fast as Ultram.


Acupuncture


Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese practice that was known for centuries in China and has recently become quite popular in the US. Under this practice the body is covered with small thin needles that are applied to special spots that are believed to control the flow of vital energy in the body. Although the assumption may turn down the most skeptical people, numerous clinical studies have shown that acupuncture can actually reduce painful sensations with many chronic pain conditions like arthritis withing a couple of sessions. So it really makes sense to visit an acupuncture office if you need chronic pain relief. Just make sure that the specialist is a certified professional who knows what to do.


Electromagnetic therapy


Electric and magnetic therapy are used separately but address the same mechanisms in the body. Both these methods intensify the blood circulation in the area of application, which helps reduce inflammation and reduce the sensitivity of nerves that ultimately leads to pain relief. Whether achieved through application of low power electric current or magnetic field, this method is particularly useful in cases of joint pain and injuries. Of course, it may take a longer time to take effect if compared to drugs like Ultram. But on the other hand there are little side effects with this type of pain management.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Gluten Free Makeup

Cosmetics have become a very large industry in recent times. The amount of products available is massive. And finding the best possible product for you in these times might be a bit tricky, to say the least. Gluten free makeup is obviously advisable, but it is not the easiest of tasks to find them on the market. But then again, there is a solution to every problem, right? Right! You just need to look for ways to find gluten free make up, such as:


Read package labels. Ingredients labels will have ample information about the product, and can also tell you whether it is allergen free or not. Beware of the scientific names. They are often allergens in disguise. Most of the manufacturers and the marketing experts are smart enough to hide the truth behind the scientific names. Of course, the best clue is to look for products that have barley, rye or wheat as ingredients. But watch out--some of the smaller packing might not have all the ingredients listed.


Don’t be tempted to buy something that suggests, at a quick glance, that the product is all natural. Even these products might have traces of allergens in them. ‘Xtrin’ is one thing you need to look for on the packaging. If any of the ingredients ends with 'Xtrin', that it is a sign that the product has allergens. This is especially important for people who are intolerant to the use of allergens on their skin.


Google is a great place to get relevant info. Search the net to get the best natural products and also all the relevant information on it. Online forums are also helpful in suggesting what would be best for you. Searching with the right keyword, or multiple keywords, is often necessary to get the best possible search results.


Some of the best places to get relevant info are the online chat rooms and forums. Celiac disease sites can prove to be a great help. People who have suffered from this particular problem often openly share their views in these forums, which can be greatly useful to people newly searching the subject.


Get info about a company is on their website. Sure, they may be biased, but they must be honest when it comes to facts. You can visit the official site of the cosmetic company you are interested in and then search for the complete list of ingredients. Once you get the ingredients list, you can decide whether or not you should use the product. If you still have apprehensions regarding the product, you can easily contact the company through email, which is often given on the "About Us" link.


Prevention is the best cure. Being careful before you try a product will help ensure that you get the best possible products that are truly natural, as well as gluten-free so that you not only look beautiful with the make-up, but also remain healthy.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sera Filson is a writer, health enthusiast, and professional student who's currently pursing a B.A. in Business Management. She enjoys reading about lipsuction and laser lipo when she's not writing, exercising, or studying.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Gluten-free Benefits: Why Having Wheat Allergies is a Blessing in Disguise

Let me start off with this reality: I lost about 10 pounds in less than two months when I went off gluten. Not too surprising, except for the fact that I was already below average for a man of my height (5’10”)- I went from the low 150s to the low 140s, and later even below that. Fortunately, I’ve been able to add back some weight to achieve a happy medium, but the point is that this should come as intriguing information for anyone who tends to carry more weight than they’d like to.


I went off wheat/gluten because I noticed a mild intolerance whenever I had bread or other wheat-carb-heavy foods. I needed to at least give it a try to see if there would be a difference. Since my mom has Celiac’s Disease -- the official medical condition that is actually an autoimmune disease that includes food allergies that will remain for life – I knew that it may run in the family. But I determined it’s just a wheat/gluten intolerance; I do still have bread, pizza, or pancakes that are not gluten-free from time to time, and I do OK.


But if you have Celiac’s, or if you’re simply genuinely intolerant of foods with gluten, you need to adjust your diet accordingly. This is a perfect excuse to eat healthier, and, in turn, to feel better and very likely lose unnecessary weight in the process. And the great news is that you don’t even need to give up bread or pizza or pasta or pancakes—they all come in gluten-free versions- there are hundreds, if not thousands of recipes catering to those choosing to follow a gluten-free diet, including several on this site. I will grant you that bread and pizza can be tricky, at least to the extent that if you want to buy gluten-free breads or pizza doughs, they’re going to be significantly more expensive, and depending on where you live they may not be in great supply, but there are numerous online resources, and there very may well be a store selling gluten-free products coming to your town soon if there isn’t one already.


But the main thing I want you to realize if you’re going gluten-free is that the items you’ll giving up substantially, or altogether, aren’t foods that were doing you any favors. The majority of wheat products -- whether it’s a fresh loaf at Subway, bagels or toast with your morning coffee, or pasta at any restaurant – are made with bleached white flour, that incredibly versatile carb that also tends to leave you feeling heavy, tired, and possibly even a little bloated. When your goal, whether through healthy ambitions or out of necessity, is to go gluten-free, these kinds of post-carbo load moments will probably fade significantly from your life. Ideally – and I recommend this – it will push you into seeking healthier carb alternatives, such as brown rice and quinoa, which can be eaten on their own or in the form of healthier pastas, or lentils, which can take many forms, including veggie meat loaves or veggie burgers.


The most important result of your going gluten-free is that you’ll eat healthier and, in turn, you’ll feel better. And in addition to shedding some pounds, you’ll also feel diet-wise, as if you’ve gained another rung on the consciousness-seeking ladder. I wish you luck and success in your transition to gluten-free or something very close to it.


Michael Shaw is a freelance writer on health and lifestyle issues, with a focus on healthy eating in a mainstream context. His website, No Flour, No Sugar Diet is a resource on ways to replace refined sugar and flour consumption with far healthier alternatives.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Food and Health Carnival July 28

Lisa's Gluten-Free Advice and Healthy Living



Do you have a Favorite Recipe, a Great Tip, a Great Resource or a Giveaway? Do you have a Giveaway Linky or Recipe Carnival on your blog? Or maybe you would just like to share your Food or Health Blog/Website.Add your link to my Food and Health Carnival.


All I ask for in return is for you to add my blog button above to your blog and/or a link to my website. Lisa’s Gluten-Free Advice and Healthy Living. Another idea is that you could add my link to your blog roll. Thank-You.




Add Your Gluten-Free and/or Healthy Living Blog to my Directory.
(if you added your blog to this directory before, please add it again. Thank-you).


If you like my blog, I would love it if you would sign up for my newsletter. (in the blue box on the right hand column).


This week I will share with you: Food Intolerance


Be sure and check out my current giveaways located on my right side bar. Have a great week.



Use InLinkz for your linkys.






Kinnikinnick Donuts Review and Giveaway


I had the opportunity to try out Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Chocolate Dipped Donuts and one of my reader's will win a box of donuts from Kinnikinnick Foods.


Based in Edmonton, Canada, Kinnikinnick Foods is North America’s leading source of deliciously diverse baked goods products created for those maintaining a gluten, dairy and/or nut-free diet, as well as for mainstream consumers looking for healthier food alternatives. Kinnikinnick runs the largest dedicated gluten-free and nut free bakery in North America, thus ensuring that its retail and foodservice customers enjoy the most variety of uncontaminated, risk-free food products available today.  They are a dedicated Gluten Free Facility, watch?v=bvSwVF0r4Ds


Kinnikinnick Foods Mission Statement: To provide Celiacs, people with Autism and other people with special dietary requirements with an uncontaminated, risk free source of food products. To provide our customers with food that actually looks and tastes Great.


The donuts are more dense than gluten donuts, but they taste so good. If you have been missing eating donuts, you have to try these donuts. My son and I really enjoyed tasting these donuts. They tasted chocolatey and moist. The donuts do cantain sugar in them, for those of you who are on a sugar free diet. You can find these donuts in the frozen food section in the health food stores. Kinnikinnick Foods has a store locator on their we site. I give Kinnikinnick Foods donuts 4 stars out of 5.


Kinnikinnick Foods also carries other gluten free foods such as breads, cookies, mixes and much more.


Now for the Giveaway


One of my reader's is going to win a Box of Gluten Free Donuts from Kinnikinnick Foods.


Entries
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Please leave me a comment on one of Squidoo Lenses while you are there as well leave me a comment on here telling me you checked out my Squidoo Lens.

That gives you several entries for this giveaway. Enter as many of them as you want. Leave a comment here on my giveaway post for each entry with your e-mail address.

This Giveaway is available for Canada and USA.

Giveaway goes through till August 14.

Giveaway Rules: All entries must be received by 11:59pm PST on August 14, 2011. A winner will be chosen by random.org. I will notify the winner by August 15, 2011 via email (please respond within 48 hours). I will also announce the winner on my blog. Leave a comment for each entry. Be sure and leave me your Twitter user name and Blog URL of your post. Leave me your e-mail address or make sure it is visible on your blog so that in the event that you win this giveaway I can contact you.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Essay on Latest Dietary Guidelines

What do the latest dietary guidelines mean to you and your food choices?


The federal government rarely urges citizens to "enjoy" anything, especially when it comes to dietary and health recommendations. So it's no wonder that the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued at the end of January 2011, made news in part for this core advice: "Enjoy your food, but eat less. "


The "eat less" guidance, of course, takes aim at the obesity epidemic that's seen two-thirds of American adults and one-third of children exceed a healthy weight. The science behind the Guidelines came from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), which included Tufts' Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, director of the John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention. In its evidence-based report, the DGAC issued what Nelson refers to as a "call to action":


"The data clearly document that America is experiencing a public health crisis involving overweight and obesity. … Primary prevention of obesity, starting in pregnancy and early childhood, is the single best strategy for combating and reversing America's obesity epidemic for current and future generations. "


Besides eating less, Uncle Sam would also like to see a shift in what Americans eat: More vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood. Less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars and refined grains. A key goal of the new Guidelines is to encourage us to eat more "nutrient-dense" food, think of it as getting more nutritional bang for your calories.


The DGAC actually took this a bit further in its research essay released last summer, explicitly urging a shift in food intake patterns "to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes vegetables, cooked dry beans and peas, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds. " While happy with the overall Guidelines, Tufts' Nelson wishes this guidance had made the final cut. "I think 'eat more nutrient-dense food' is not quite as telling as 'shift to a more plant-based diet,'" she says. "Eating a more plant-based diet doesn't mean becoming a vegetarian. Americans simply don't eat enough vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. On the other hand, we really need to think about eating meat in moderation. You don't need meat at every meal, or even every day. "


By the Numbers


These areas of emphasis and nuances aside, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans don't represent much of a change from the 2005 version. Federal law requires the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to update the Guidelines every five years. The 112-page seventh edition of the Guidelines (41 pages longer than in 2005) includes 23 "Key Recommendations" for the general public, plus 6 additional recommendations for specific groups, such as pregnant women and people age 50 and up.


The most-scrutinized parts of the Guidelines, at least by the food industry, are the specific recommendations for what to eat more of and what to reduce. In 2005, for the first time the Guidelines called for replacing refined grains with whole grains ("make half of your grains whole"). That recommendation is credited with boosting consumption and altering manufacturers' product formulations and promotions.


This time, salt was in the spotlight, though the 2010 update didn't go as far as some expected in calling for a sodium crackdown. The DGAC had recommended an across-the-board limit of 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily for everybody, guidance recently seconded by the American Heart Association. But the final 2010 Guidelines instead set the daily sodium recommendation at less than 2,300 milligrams. That update did, however, toughen from a "suggestion" in 2005 to a full-blown recommendation that all African-Americans and people older than 51, as well as those with hypertension, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, should limit sodium to 1,500 milligrams daily. Since those groups total up to 70% of the adult population, the real difference in recommendations may be insignificant.


"Given the levels of sodium in the food supply," says Nelson, "it's a question of practicality. " Three-quarters of the sodium in the US diet, after all, comes not from the salt shaker but from processed foods. And Americans currently average about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day - so either target number remains a distant goal for most people.


Food-industry watchers also single out the 2010 Guidelines' advice that people age 50 and older, who may not be able to absorb naturally occurring vitamin B12 as readily from food, consume foods fortified with vitamin B12. (Fortified foods and supplements use a crystalline form of the vitamin that is well absorbed. ) David Katz, MD, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, comments, "It's not very difficult to anticipate the sudden spate of 'fortified with vitamin B12 as recommended in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines' messaging that will populate the fronts of boxes and bags. "


Most of the other specific daily intake recommendations were unchanged from 2005:


• Fiber: 14 grams per 1,000 calories


• Fruits and vegetables: at least 2.5 cups


• Potassium: 4,700 milligrams


• Total fat: 20% to 35% of total calories


• Saturated fat: less than 10% of total calories (the DGAC had recommended reducing to 7%).


• Trans fats: less than 1 % of calories (the DGAC called for halving that, to 0.5%)


• Cholesterol: less than 300 milligrams


• Refined grains: less than 3 ounces.


The above essay is written by Mr. Mairsh Jones, who works as a free lance writer at "Urgent Custom Essays". Don't forget to view his blog for further instructions.