Is Joining a Gym Right For You?

By Nate Rifkin

If you're having problems being consistent with your exercise, your environment might be the culprit.

Now normally I'm NOT for joining a gym since it's easy to get in great shape without leaving the comfort of your home. But staying home to work out can actually be inconvenient for some people.

Here are a couple reasons why:

1. Distractions from family. If something comes up with your spouse or your kids, it's hard to put them on hold so you can finish exercising.

2. Your television and computer. Let's face it, who the heck wants to work out when you can sit and relax instead?

So it turns out there are a couple advantages to going to a commercial gym. If you're wondering if you should join one, take a look at this second list and see if any of the following might help you:

1. Working out at a gym gives you accountability. Feeling more obligated to work out helps build the habit when you might be otherwise tempted to skip a few sessions and go easy on yourself.

2. When you're at the gym you have greater focus. After all, there's nothing much else to do. When you're at home you can always find other obligations or chores.

If you find yourself agreeing with any of the above, then joining a gym to keep in shape might be for you. - 17273

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Do You Know These 3 Secrets About Growing Taller Naturally?

By Rodney Williams

As immersed as we are in the information age, it seems like secrets pertaining to just about any subject are few and far between. While this is at least partially true, uncovering those secrets still takes some digging around. More importantly, wading through the piles of inaccurate information to get the good stuff can be a difficult proposition.

When it comes to growing taller, there are plenty of secrets, or relatively unknown facts about the matter, but also plenty of poor advice that must be waded through. Here we'll look at some of these secret methods for gaining height.

Ask any kid to name one thing that's good for their body, and they'll probably say milk. From an early age we know all about the importance of milk (and the calcium in it) in building strong bones, and growing healthy. Surprisingly, milk's positive effect on height gain is not so well documented.

This increased calcium intake will not only strengthen the bones so they can properly hold your increased height, preventing other issues such as posture problems from cropping up, but they're also necessary for avoiding the coming aging problem of bones shrinking, which can lead to sometimes drastic height loss in later years.

When the subject of growing taller comes up, one of the key factors that should be at the center of that discussion is growth hormones, as these affect nearly all aspects of growing taller naturally. Many people understand that growth hormones are populous during adolescence, but really have no idea as to how to increase them in later years. One method that is still quite secret is fasting, of which even short sessions of 24 hours can do wonders.

Through fasting for those 24 hours, you can help the body flush out toxins which commonly collect in the colon and intestines over the years, and also increase your production of growth hormone through this process. Before going through anything that may be a shock to your system like fasting, it's important to contact your doctor, and ensure this will not pose any unforeseen issues.

Lastly are stretching activities, which when undertaken for decent periods of time, have been proven to increase height by as much as a couple of inches. The proper exercises are all easily performed, regardless of physical health, though their flexibility may come into play with some of them. These routines can also help said flexibility, as well as your posture.

Through these three secrets to growing taller naturally, you can not only safely and easily gain some additional upwards mobility, but also protect it from quickly deserting you. May you grow tall and prosper. - 17273

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For more information on How To Grow More Taller check out Rodney Williams' website on Ways To Grow Taller Naturally.

Health Tips - Stomach Flu in Children

By Jan Maurer

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis is a kind of infection in the digestive system, especially the stomach and intestines. Causes for this condition are parasite, bacteria, or virus infection spread through contaminated food and fluids. It can also be caused by certain toxins present in some plants & seafood, usage of powerful laxatives in order to cure constipation or because of intake of poisonous heavy metal or food. The problem starts with stomach upset and cramps. The child shows disinterest in eating and feels week. Symptoms of stomach flu are diarrhea and vomiting, which take nearly five days to go away.

The child must be given fluids regularly as this will suppress other symptoms from emerging because of loss of water from the body. Loss of water and salt from the body is the biggest risk in stomach flu. Dehydration can not only worsen the condition, but can threaten the life of the child, if it isn't taken care of in the early stages. Since there is loss of salts along with the loss of water from the body, plain water won't do much. Oral rehydration solutions which are available at the local grocery or drug store, is a good idea because it has the correct combination of salts, sugar and water which can hydrate the body. These fluids come in different flavor, so that kids can have their favorite flavor and is easy to consume. The solution shouldn't be added with anything else such as sugar or water.

If a child is vomiting, solution can be administered to him using a teaspoon every two minutes. The quantity can be increased gradually. If the vomiting is more frequent, the child can be made to suck ice chips in order to supply constant fluid to the body. The solution should be given till diarrhea comes to a halt, but it is not advisable to continue it for more than twenty four hours. Some of the fluids such as soft drinks, sports drink, apple juice, tea, or chicken broth contain wrong amounts of salt, sugar & water and can make matter worse.

Fried, spicy and sugary foods aren't good in this condition. If the child isn't receiving sufficient amount of fluids he/she will show signs such as sunken eyes, dry mouth, intense thirst, unusual sleep patterns.

The more the bed rest taken by the child the better it is. The child should take complete bed rest for at least twenty four hours or till the diarrhea and vomiting stops. If the child has fever, the temperature should be checked and noted in a log, every four hours. If the temperature is very high and doesn't stop climbing, the doctor should be contacted immediately. The person who is preparing and serving food to the child should wash his or her hands very carefully before doing so. Also, if the diarrhea and vomiting doesn't stop after twenty four hours, it is a must to get a doctor's appointment.

The doctor, after doing stool and blood test, prescribes antibiotics if infection is suspected. Along with it, anti nausea medicines are also given to stop the throwing up and control fluid loss. If there is considerable loss of fluids from the child's body, the child might be admitted into the hospital and will be administered with fluids such as glucose or IV, through a tube connected to the child's veins. If the child has fever, temperature is checked and the doctor would ask about information about the temperature pattern, for which the parent should be ready. If the illness is stretched for days, a log about the information about the daily weight should also be given to the doctor. Sometimes, the blood oxygen levels would also have to be checked with the help of a pulse oximeter. - 17273

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More information on Health ? Health and Nutrition Free Health content : Article24.info

Is the Acai Berry The Real Deal?

By Lindsey Brandt

The acai berry is an amazing health product that has only recently been revealed to the general public. Even Oprah Winfrey has gone on record as saying that it is her #1 superfood. Its proposed benefits include increasing energy, cancer prevention, anti-aging, and mood improvement. Is this fruit for real? Does this little berry really work?

If you talk to any dedicated acai fan they will all give you the same answer... "Yes, acai is the real thing". Many people have been reporting that this simple berry has had a significant impact on their life. They swear that there is not a better way to face a tough day than with the energy boost acai gives.

If you depend on coffee or energy to get you started each morning, then this is the best way to finally cut those bad habits. The caffeine and sugar in both of those lead to crashes just a few hours later, while acai keeps you going all day long. Not only does acai give you an immediate boost, but it also strengthens your immune systems to keep your body running at full speed 24/7.

Whenever possible it is important to get your vitamins from a natural source. With the acai berry you can basically throw that multivitamin in the trash. It is a good source of vitamins C, E, B3, B2, B1, and A. It also contains high levels of fiber, calcium, potassium, zinc, copper, and magnesium. If that was not enough it also contains the essential fatty acids and 19 different amino acids.

If you only took acai for its omega fatty acid content, it would still be worth it. Most people do not get enough of these essential fatty acids, which is a serious problem. Getting the correct amount of omegas will help prevent heat disease as well as fight off depression and improve general brain function.

Acai is most well known for its high antioxidant content. In fact, it actually came out on top when tested against pretty much every other food on earth. Antioxidants are very important for looking younger, boosting your immune system, and having healthier skin and hair.

In fact, a recent study conducted at the University of Florida showed that acai caused a self destruct reaction when tested against leukemia cells.

Hopefully, you are no longer wondering "Does acai berry really work?". Even if you are still on the fence the only way you will ever know for sure is if you give it a try for yourself. Unlike expensive and man made drugs, this is an all natural fruit. That means it is very safe, so you have nothing to lose by trying out this amazing new health food. - 17273

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If you would like to learn where you can get high quality Acai products without getting scammed just click here Acai Berry Juice To learn more about how Acai can make you look younger, increase your energy, and detoxify your body click here to read an amazon thunder acai review

Acidosis

By P G Mair

Research has shown that people that have higher acidity levels in there blood are more likely to be ill, than those with a more alkaline level. The reason for this is that

Many foods are alkaline-producing by nature, but manufactured processed foods are mostly acid-producing. It is important to consume at least 60% alkaline-producing foods in our diet, in order to maintain health. We need plenty of fresh fruits and particularly vegetables (alkaline-producing) to balance our necessary protein intake (acid-producing). And we need to avoid processed, sugary or simple-carbohydrate foods, not only because they are acid-producing but also because they raise blood sugar level too quickly (high glycemic index therefore fattening); plus they tend to be nutrient-lacking and may be toxic too.

Human blood pH should be slightly alkaline (7.35 - 7.45). Below or above this range means symptoms and disease. If blood pH moves below 6.8 or above 7.8, cells stop functioning and the body dies. The body therefore continually strives to balance pH. . An imbalanced diet high in acidic-producing foods such as animal protein, sugar, caffeine, and processed foods puts pressure on the body's regulating systems to maintain pH neutrality. The extra buffering required can deplete the body of alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, making the person prone to chronic and degenerative disease. Minerals are borrowed from vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage--a condition that may go undetected for years.

When this balance is compromised many problems can occur.

A condition called acidosis : Acidosis is the outcome when our pH becomes overly acid. The pH balance of our internal cells and fluids can effect every process in our body. Of these fluids, the blood is perhaps the most important. In a similar way that you body will do whatever it takes to regulate your body temperature, it will also do the same to ensure a slightly alkaline pH in the blood. The body will literally go to whatever lengths necessary to ensure that the blood retains this pH level, including wreaking havoc on other tissues, bodily functions and systems Some of the problems caused by acidosis are,

Cardiovascular damage, Weight gain, obesity and diabetes, Bladder conditions, Kidney stones, Immune deficiency, Acceleration of free radical damage.(cause of cancer), Hormonal problems, Premature aging, Osteoporosis and joint pain, Aching muscles and lactic acid build up, Low energy and chronic fatigue, Slow digestion and elimination, Yeast/fungal overgrowth, Lack of energy and fatigue, Lower body temperature, Tendency to get infections, Loss of drive, joy, and enthusiasm, Depressive tendencies, Easily stressed, Pale complexion, Headaches, Inflammation of the corneas and eyelids.

The problem of acidosis is quite easily solved, for details on how to, click the link:

http://www.pure-health-nutrition.com/Affiliate-Links.html

Or for more information on nutrition and how to keep in the best of health go to my website. - 17273

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http://www.pure-health-nutrition.com/Alkaline-Foods.html

Products to Lose Weight During Menopause

By Ricardo d Argence

One of the many unpleasant side-effects of menopause is weight gain during this period in a woman's life. This weight increase is not expected and may occur even in women who have not changed their diet or slowed activity.

There are number of menopausal weight loss products that are marketed to women as effective aids in fighting weight gain during menopause,as you might imagine. But are these products really worth it? Let's discuss the mechanisms of weight gain during menopause, and the associated risks of being overweight during menopause before delving further into the various products and their pros and cons.

There are number of reasons for weight gain during menopause. One is slowed and inefficient digestion that is a consequence of getting older. This keeps food in the digestive tract longer, ensuring that you absorb more nutrients, including fat and calories, from your food.

The hormonal changes of menopause, principally decreased estrogen levels, also cause weight gain. This is because estrogen and fat production are linked, fat cells help regulate estrogen production. When estrogen levels decrease in menopause, the body may try to hold on to as much fat as possible to counteract this drop in hormone levels. Hormones and body fat work together in an intricate biofeedback loop that affects appetite, metabolism, and fat storage.

The risks of weight gain are amplified for menopausal women. Being overweight at any stage of life carries risks, like increased risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breast and reproductive cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. Since estrogen is a protective factor against cardiovascular disease, risk of heart disease increases when estrogen levels drop, even when menopausal women don't gain weight. For women who are overweight after menopause, the risks of these health problems are compounded.

So, should you contrivance menopausal weight loss deficit produces to save emphasizing avail in menopause? Let's take a look into a few of these products:

Estrin-D: A number of metabolism-increasing stimulants,this product contains. These are xanthine (caffeine) derived formulations like yerba matte, caffeine, and guarana, along with some other innocuous herbal ingredients. This product does increase the metabloic rate, which makes it fall under the category of a stimulant. There are risks associated with stimulants. Tachycardia, high blood pressure, feeling of 'edginess' and excessive perspiration are caused due to high levels of caffeine and other stimulants in this formula. Caffeine is also thought to contribute to hot flashes during menopause. Taking these points into consideration, you will find that Edstrin-D is not a perfect weight loss choice.

Zalestra: While treating some of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause,Zalestra includes a far safer array of herbal ingredients that are designed to create a more gentle increase in metabolism. This item does not share the caffeine content of similar products.

Estrolean: The product has a minimal quantity of thermogenic components such as aspirin and caffeine. It is claimed that the natural estrogen present in this product regulates hormone fluctuations that sometimes go along with increases in weight with menopausal women.

They will not cause you to lose weight without eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, while some of these preparations may have benefit in reducing menopausal symptoms. At worst they can have dangerous and unpleasant side effects,and at best, they might help a little with weight loss.

Eating healthy during menapause will help you from putting on the pounds. A wholesome diet includes vegetables, fruits, lean proteins in addition to rich nutrients that include vitamin D, calcium and omega-3 fats. It is the best way to lose weight during menopause. - 17273

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It doesn't matter how old you are, there's nothing like a healthy diet and exercise if you want to look beautiful. But, during menopause, it is even more important. If you are looking for the best menopausal diet, in my website you will find a lot of articles and info that will help you to understand in a better way this period of your life. web hosting

Here Are Some Examples of Negative Calorie Foods

By Xylene Belita

Maybe you are now wondering: "What are negative calorie foods?". So, what is the negative calorie food all about? Well, there is no such thing as a negative calorie food, since the calorie as a unit of heat cannot be negative. But when you hear people talk about negative calorie foods, it only means that the calorie level of the food is so low that it requires more energy to eat and digest it than how much calorie it contains. Negative calorie foods are also known as fat burning foods or fat fighting foods.

For example, celery is a negative calorie food. It does not contain enough calories to be able to digest it, so it takes energy from the body in order for it to be fully digested. Cold water has a negative calorie, too. Although water is a drink, you can consider it as a kind of food. Water has no calories at all and when you drink cold water, the body would need much more energy to bring it up to body temperature. So each time we drink a glass of cold water we burn up a little more calories and lose a little weight. But foods like this should be taken in moderation, and should be used wisely.

Anorexics are usually attracted to negative calorie foods. If used inappropriately, a negative calorie diet would result in starvation and nutritional deficiencies. The calories used to burn negative calorie foods will be taken from the body's muscle mass, and in effect will be really harmful to your health.

It is more healthy to use a negative calorie diet by fasting or detox. You can do this type of detox diet right after the Christmas holidays or Thanksgiving or after eating so many rich foods. You can do your negative calorie diet for three days or so. It is an excellent way to clean out your body's system. However, you should still get a doctor's advice before starting this type of diet plan.

Here are some important pointers to consider when on a negative calorie detox diet:

1. Never eat one type of food in huge amount, particularly fruits. Some fruits contain substances that are bad to your body if you eat too much of it. For example, grapefruit and pineapple can damage your stomach lining. Other foods can cause diarrhea or burden your liver. It is better to eat all the different foods in small quantities.

Some examples of negative calorie fruits are: Apples, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Cranberries, Grapefruit, Papayas, Pineapples, Prunes, Raspberries, Strawberries and Tangerines.

2. Never spend all day eating. You will only become bloated and feel unwell. You should plan four or five salad meals every day, and let your digestive system rest in between.

3. Try to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly. You will use more calories that way. It is also better to eat the foods raw. Foods like carrots and beets will also be more satisfying if you grate them.

Some examples of negative calorie vegetables are: Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery stalk, Celery root, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Endives, Garden cress, Green beans, Green cabbage, Lamb's lettuce, Lettuce, Radishes, Spinach, Tomatoes, Turnips and Zucchini.

4. Any kind of detox diet and fasting can may cause some uncomfortable symptoms like headaches, tiredness, depression and irritability. If the symptoms become worse, stop the detox diet and see your doctor right away.

5. At the end of your negative calorie detox diet, you should gradually return to a normal diet and eat normal foods.

Garlic and onions are also examples of fat fighting foods. But, unless you want to drop 20 lbs in 28 days, there is a diet called Warp Speed Fat Loss which will provide you with all 24 Fat Smashing Workouts and 28 days of Weight Reducing and Body Fat Melting Meal Plans. Visit their website now and find out how to lose weight in warp speed! - 17273

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The Acai Berry: Side Effects or Health Benefits?

By B. Moffett

The acai berry is a small fruit grown in South America, usually found in Brazil. Locals have used the berry in their diets for centuries and have long known about its medicinal benefits. In fact, historians have found mention of acai berry use throughout ancient civilizations across the globe.

However, until recently the acai berry had kept a fairly low profile in American society. As nutritionists and dietitians have begun extolling the anti-oxidant benefits of the fruit, the berrys popularity has soared.

The Acai berrys richness as a major source of anti-oxidants has helped demand go up considerably for the fruit. That is the major reason that its planted nowadays and is considered a cash crop across much of the world.

Adoption in the US in bars and restaurants as a preferred alternative to wheat grass drinks have given the Acai berry fruit as the choice of health conscious connoisseurs. There are a lot of medicinal benefits of this tasty fruit, some of which are:

It has exceptional aphrodisiac properties

It increases energy and stamina.

It helps reduce body pain and soreness from fatigue.

It helps support the immune system and fight disease.

It helps improve digestive functions.

It helps with weight loss.

The health benefits listed above are really the only side effects the acai berry causes. Other than rare allergies, which can occur with all fruits, there just arent many negative side effects from the berry.

Naturally, the acai berry side effect that is most often cited is the loss of appetite. While this may sound unpleasant to some, consider for a moment that there are several pills and medications out with the sole purpose of acting as an appetite suppressant. And, unlike medications, the berry doesnt harm the liver or kidneys, quite the opposite in fact. Since the berry is so high in fiber, acai berry juices or drinks help cleanse the body of harmful toxins and other substances.

While the appetite suppression side effect is not as common as many people wish, every individual reacts differently to the fruit, the beneficial nature of the side effects from the acai berry fruit are undeniable. The multiple health benefits gained from this single fruit should play a roll in every healthy diet. - 17273

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Make sure you have all the information on acai berry side effects and acai berry diets before determining whether acai products are best for you.

Organic Foods Benefits

By Ashley Walker

Organic foods incline to bring out the opposites in numerous discussions. Numerous people swear by anything organic and some people think it just a play by many food producers to jump on the healthy eating bandwagon and see it as another source of revenue. Whatever your attitude, there has to be some gain to choosing 'organic' produce over traditional produce.

There are many studies that can prove or disprove either position. What really makes the difference is just clear common sense. The benefits of organic foods are evident once you think about how they are produced.

What you as a consumer of food must do is base your choice on a few benefits that are obvious and not on too much science as either side of the argument can prove their case scientifically and point to countless studies to back up their claims. As with many new fads in food there will always be advocates and those who wish to discredit.

Food produced using today's mass production methods, even fruit and vegetables, will have a number of artificial elements involved in the production process. This includes the use of pesticides in and on foodstuffs and the introduction of additives such as preservatives and artificial colorings to foods.

So even if you don't believe that there are benefits to organic foods over orthodox foods there are simple common sense benefits. These include a reduced intake of toxins, an increase of day-to-day vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. This alone is a huge benefit consuming organic food products.

One thing to consider with this information is how the benefit of organic foods can indirectly or directly help the growth of a child. Children and older people can only benefit from eating foods that have a more natural and higher nutrient content. This is the biggest benefit of organic foods.

Turning to organic food can go hand in hand with an better lifestyle. The debate that organic foods are pricier is mute because individuals consuming a healthier diet will spend less money on junk food and should not see an growth in their food market bills. The recent increase in popularity of organic foods has also found the decrease in the price of organic foods also.

Organic foods are hence a easy way to better health without exertion. Also, it will reduce our intake of toxins in mass made foods which can only be a good thing for us all and not simply the young or old. Selecting organic food over conventional food is also a wonderful way to reward a new fitter lifestyle. - 17273

About the Author:

Ashley Walker is a writer on health and food topics and writes regularly for Organic Food Lovers on Organic Food Delivered