How to Reduce Body Odor

Body odor can put a person under tremendous amount of stress because this can be humiliating. Here are some tips on how to handle body odor:

1. Put alcohol under your arms to reduce bacteria.
2. Body odor can be triggered by drugs, and caffeine. Reduce the intake of caffeine to avoid body odor.
3.Avoid the antiperspirant varieties - you can find better deodorant only products in health-food stores, such as those containing extracts of green tea, which is antibacterial.
4.If you buy "natural crystals," make sure they do not contain aluminum in any form.

Keeping our bodies healthy also means being hygienic. Knowing the right products is the first step to eliminating body odor.

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Quick Weight Loss Programs and Its Effects

One of the top goals among Americans is to lose weight. And of course, as busy and impatient people, if we plan to lose weight, we want it NOW. The reality is, however, that it may take weeks or even months to get rid of that extra pounds. This is probably the reason why we patronize the ads that promises a quick turn around time.

Although reaching a healthy weight is generally considered healthy, there are unsafe ways to loose weight and we should be aware of those methods so we can avoid using them.

If you plan to loose a high amount of weight, it is always best that you seek professional help. Fast and extreme food restrictions can damage our health. Detox products can actually cause fatigue, cramping and dehydration.

There are a lot of detox products that contain harmful ingredients that may damage our health. Some of the detox supplements are not even tested by FDA or may even interact with other medications that you are taking which can cause negative side effects. It is safe to always consult your doctor first about the supplement that you plan to take to check and see if its advisable or suitable for you and your condition.

In weight loss, there is no quick and easy way. It takes time, effort, commitment and dedication to do so. Taking it slow and steady is one key to success of weight loss. Don't rush.

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Second Hand Smoking Could Be Bad For Your Brain

We already know the negative side effects of smoking. Now a new study has shown that second hand smoking could affect your brain.

According to the study conducted by advance online edition of BMJ (formerly called the British Medical Journal), cognitive impairment was more common among passive smokers. People who never smoked were found to be 70% more cognitively impaired than smokers.

Mark Eisner, MD, MPH, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said that "This study raises the strong possibility that secondhand smoke causes cognitive decline, but further research is needed to establish a causal effect."

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Closer Look On HDL And LDL

Have you been wondering what HDL or LDL stands for? Or what is the relevance of those data to your health? This article will talk about the importance of the two and the effects to our bodies.

HDL is also known as the good cholesterol. Cholesterol is brought out to the arteries and to the liver for elimination. LDL however is the bad cholesterol because it goes together with other substances that can accumulate in the walls of the arteries and form "plaque". This plaque may build up over time and become a clot or possibly block the artery.

These two can be influenced by genes / heredity, exercise, weight, age, alcohol consumption and stress. According to new guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program, HDL levels of 60 mg/dl or above are classified as high and considered protective against heart disease, while levels below 40 mg/dl are classified as low and are associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease. As far as your heart is concerned, low LDL is good - for people at risk for heart disease, an LDL level of under 100 is the current government recommendation.

However we should always remember that these cholesterol levels may be obscuring other underlyng heart conditions. It is always best to monitor health and manage you cholesterol levels.

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Anti-Aging Benefits Strength Training

As our bodies grow older, our metabolism gets much slower, increasing our body fat. According to American Institute for Cancer Research, Winter 2000 newsletter, "the average 25 year old woman has 25% body fat, while the average 65 year old woman has 43% body fat."

Strength training is an important factor to our aging bodies. It helps keep us healthy and slows down the aging process. As the years go by, we tend to be less active, gain more weight and lose muscle mass. Therefore our body fat increases as we age.


Benefits of strength training include:

- A better body
- Tighter skin
- Increased functional strength for our daily activities and sports.
- Help relieve and manage arthritic symptoms by strengthening the supporting muscles that surround our joints.
- Increased bone density.

So, make sure to make time for strength training, for a healthier and a younger looking you!

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Is Recession Making You Fat?

We are now facing the biggest economic struggle since the great depression. Health professionals say that the economy will definitely impact Americans health as well. More and more Americans will definitely cut down their budget on food.

A lot of researche have previously linked obesity to low income. Families often cut down on purchasing healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Because of financial problems, more families would go for lower priced junk foods than healthy foods.

Here are ways to help you save money on groceries:

Stick to your budget on fresh foods. Majority of your budget should be allotted for meat, dairy and other healthy products.

Avoid expensive processed foods. Refrain from buying cookies, chips and other junk foods.

Go for a discount grocery store. Now that you have limited budget, try visiting discount stores that sells items on discounted prices.

Visit farmer's market and ask for left over produce - you can ask for produce that are left overs. You can still get some good stuff out of it.

There are still more ways to eat and live a healthy lifestyle even during this time of financial crisis.

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Saw Palmetto: Men's Best Friend!

Saw Palmetto is the primary herb that helps men keep their prostate healthy. It has become very popular because of its ability to relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a also known as the enlargement of the prostate.

Several studies have been conducted recently and determined that saw palmetto provides relief for short term urinary symptoms as well as inflammation of the prostate and cell proliferation.

Aside from that, researchers found that it also promotes hair growth in men, especially for those with thinning hair or baldness, with no side effects.

Saw palmetto is also known as Serenoa repens / sabal palm. It is a palm tree that grows in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. The berries of the plant provide the therapeutic compound for prostate treatment. Overall, this prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT.

This also helps relieves symptoms for urinary hesitancy, weak stream, nocturia, incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infections.

Saw Palmetto may be the new "man's best friend"

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Survival Guide for Valentines Day

Valentine's Day is just behind the corner and for most of us, Valentine's Day is chocolate day! Whether you are in a relationship or single, thas is the one day of the year when it is very difficult to avoid sweets. Here are some tips on how to "break up" with chocolate.

If you are craving for chocolate it is better to eat it after a full meal rather than eating it with an empty stomach. Go for dark and rich chocolate instead. Dar and rich chocolate can help you take in another bar compared to sweet chocolate like Hershey kisses.

It is also suggested that you keep healthy snacks such as fruits when you are hungry. Control yourself to a number of sweets per day. This will help you reduce your calories.

When craving for an ice-cream, choose a low-fat frozen yogurt instead. This will help you reduce calories 50-70%.


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Less Sleep = More Colds

Getting at least 8 hours of sleep is essential for staying fit and healthy. In addition to that, not getting enough sleep may result to higher risks of acquiring diseases.

A new research shows that people who don't get enough sleep have a higher tendency of catching common cold after being exposed to a cold causing virus.
Aside from the quantity of sleep, it is also important to get quality sleep.

According to a post at Medicine.net, the research showed that those who slept an average of less than seven hours per night were nearly three times more likely to develop a common cold than those who reported eight or more hours per night in the weeks leading up to the experiment.

Research also proves that those who spent 92% of their time in bed asleep were five and a half times more likely to develop a common cold than those who spent 98% or more of their time in bed sleeping.

To help strengthen our immune system, make sure that you get complete 8 hours of good quality sleep each night and you will soon reap the benefits of a healthier you.

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How To Avoid Back Pains When Shoveling

Back pain is very common during the winter season. This may be due to the strenuous shoveling of snow in the driveway. Here are some tips that will help you avoid back pains while shoveling

- Choose the right kind of shovel. When purchasing a shovel, make sure that their handles are curved with plastic and lightweight blades. This will help you keep your back straight when lifting the snow off the ground.

- Wear appropriate clothing. When shoveling make sure you wear a hat and dress in layers that will help you stay warm.

- Do some stretching. Shoveling is a physical activity. Similar to exercise, before engaging into a physical activity, it is important to warm up and stretch that muscles.

Here are some tips and techniques when shoveling: Spacing your hands when lifting makes it easier. Space your feet shoulder-width apart. Avoid bending your waist but your knees instead. Tighten your abdominal muscles when lifting. Keep the shovel close to your body. Lessen the distance when carrying the snow.

These techniques will definitely lessen the probability of back pains. So next time you shovel that pile of snow in the driveway, make sure you remember these techniques.

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Gardening Benefits

We all know that physical activities are beneficial to our health regardless of age. But elderly people may not have the strength to engage to more physical activities. A great alternative to that is gardening.

A study was conducted to find out if gardening would meet the physical recommendation set by CDC, and to determine the average time spent in gardening on a weekly basis. Researchers found out that the elderly spend an average of 33 hours per week during the months of May but eventually decreases during June and July to 15 hours per week.

Researchers found that gardening makes a great alternative to meet the physical activity recommendations by CDC. However because gardening may be seasonal, it is advisable that elderly find another alternative during the months that gardening is not an option such as during the winter season.

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Do You Have Tinnitus?

Do you suffer from ringing in the ears? There are 12 million Americans who also suffer from Tinnitus. This condition is very difficult to deal with because it becomes annoying after some time.

This condition is caused by damaged microscopic endings of the hearing nerve found in the inner ear. This may be caused by allergy, tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, hypertension or head / neck injury. Sedatives, anti-depressants or anti-inflammatory antibiotics can also trigger tinnitus.

Here are some things that you can do:
* Stay away from loud noises and sounds
* Reduce your salt intake as salt impairs blood circulation
* Avoid coffee, tea, cola and tobacco
* Exercise regularly
* Get enough rest; avoid become fatigued
* Sometimes using a fan or some other type of white noise when you sleep will help to drown out the ringing
* Practice breathing exercises or relaxation techniques such as meditation, as stress can worsen tinnitus

You can also try taking Ginkgo to help increase circulation of the blood in the head area and neck. Consult your doctor, it is better to have a licensed audiologist evaluate your condition.

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Getting Back to Exercise Habits

A lot of people find themselves falling out of their exercise habits. More often than not, once that happens it is much more difficult to get back on track. Aaron M. Potts, a personal development blogger shared some ways on how to get back into the exercise habit.

-Use it as a time for yourself. We easily get caught up with the business of life, work and family and we often tend to forget to give ourselves time. You can just allot at least 30 minutes of your time daily for exercise. Tell everyone that this is your time for yourself and that only extreme emergency situations can interfere you during your "alone time"

- Give your fat clothes away. Most of the time it is much easier for us to just lay back and revert back to our old eating habits if we have "fat clothes" available in our closets. Instead of giving away your "thin clothes" give away the "fat clothes". Your small clothes will serve as a motivation for you to loose weight and to drive you to keep going.

- Reward yourself. It can be a simple night out dinner or that very expensive gadget you've been eyeing on for months. Rewarding yourself everytime you shake off that extra pounds will help you keep going.

Loosing weight and staying focused on your goal requires discipline and hard work. Its not impossible to achieve this, you just have to stay motivated and focused on what your end result will be. Keep going, you can do it.

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Tips on How to Avoid Winter Sports Injuries

During the winter season, there are a lot of sports activities to enjoy. Yet this is also a time where there are a high incident of fatal-sports related accidents. Here are some facts about winter soprts injuries from National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):

CPSC Winter Head/Neck Injury Statistics (Estimated)

2007 Head Injuries

Snow Boarding: 6,681
Sleds: 5,701
Ice Hockey: 5,483
Snow Skiing: 3,738
Ice Skating: 3,703
Snowmobiles: 578
Snow Tubing: 542
Toboggans: 126

2007 Neck Injuries

Snow Skiing: 1,385
Snow Boarding: 1,197
Ice Hockey: 649
Sleds: 615
Snowmobiles: 464
Snow Tubing: 84
Ice Skating: 48

Here are some ways and tips on how to avoid winter-sports related injuries:
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) offers this advice: Don’t risk your neck for that fleeting moment of fun, because it takes only one moment for a life to change forever. Wear a helmet and follow other safety precautions to help put a freeze on winter sports injuries.

- Use protective head gear that is approved by the ASTM for a particular winter sports
- Wear appropriate gear or clothing
- Avoid participating in sports if you are under the influence of alcohol, ill or tired.
- Do not participate in outdoor sports when the weather conditions pose a serious hazard.
- Drive snowmobiles safely and slowly
- Ice skate only in areas designated for skating, and be sure to check the ice for cracks and debris.
-Use only sleds that can be steered, and never go down a slope head first.
- Follow all posted signs and warnings on ski slopes, sledding hills and ice skating rinks.

Engaging in winter sports is definitely fun but don't forget to practice safety precautions tp avoid injuries.



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Enhance Your Brainpower

New Year marks new goals, new resolutions. And working on achieving our goals means utilizing our brain more. Here are some ways on how to enhance your brainpower:

Eat Right.
Make sure you include the following in your daily meals: walnuts, sardines, wild salmon, herring, omega-3 eggs and flaxseeds. Also it is important to eat protein every morning to promote brain function.

Take Supplements
We may not be eating a well-balanced diet each day and failure to do so affects our brain as well. That is why it is important to take the necessary supplements to enhance our brain. Multi-vitamins, omega-3 fat fish and vitamin b, folic acid are just a few of the supplements that you can take.

Get Enough Sleep
To get a good night sleep, avoid taking in food that has caffeine, cold medications alcohol and even sugar before going to bed. These may interfere with sleep. Take a hot bath, and clear your mind from worries and problems.

Exercise
Exercise creates a huge impact in our brains. It helps improve learning, memory and even concentration. So make sure you put in 30 minutes of exercise in your daily activities.

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Anti-Aging Herbs and Spices - Must Have in Your Diet

Can what you eat help you reverse aging?

Yes you can. And a very simple step to do so it to choose foods that are loaded with spices.

In an article at The Huttington Post, Dr. Eric Braverman says that "Spices and herbs create a more thermogenic diet." They help increase your metabolism. It also helps maximize nutrient density. By putting in flavor and spice in your meals you are "upgrading" your food without adding calories.

There are also spices that help increase your overall feeling of fullness and satiety so you'll take in less food. Watching your salt intake. Excessive salt retains more fluid in your body.

Here are some spices and their benefits:

* rosemary and basil for their anti-inflammatory power
* cumin and sage for their dementia-fighting power
* cayenne and cinnamon for their obesity-fighting power
* coriander and cinnamon for their sugar regulating powers
* lemon grass, nutmeg, bay leaves and saffron for their calming effects on your mood
* turmeric for its cancer fighting power
* oregano for its fungus-beating power
* garlic, mustard seed and chicory for their heart-pumping power
* basil and thyme for their skin-saving power
* turmeric, basil, cinnamon, thyme, saffron, and ginger for their immune-boosting power
* coriander, rosemary, cayenne, allspice and black pepper for their depression-busting power

So next time you cook for dinner, spice up! That is one of the keys to reverse aging.

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Key To Strengthen Bones = Fruits and Veggies

A new study has found that fruits and vegetables may help strengthen bones.

Bone resorption is a process in which bones are broken down to release minerals such as calcium, phosphates, and alkaline (basic) salts into the blood. Increased bone resorption leads to reduced bone mass.

The normal diets of many older adults add acid to the body. As people age, they're less able to excrete the acid. Bone resorption is one way the body may try to counteract high acid levels.
However, the study found, adding bicarbonate, an alkaline compound, to the body, helps reduce bone resorption.

And fruits and vegetables are a great source of bicarbonate.

There are a lot of factors that might contribute to bone resorption. But regardless of the causes, living a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and eating the right kind of food will definitely keep our bones fit and healthy.

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High Protein Meals Help Overweight Burn Fat

New study shows that high-protein meals may help obese people burn more fat.

According to a recent Australian study, obese men and women burned more post-meal fat when they ate a high-protein breakfast and lunch than when they had lower-protein meals. According to Dr. Marijka Batterham of the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, "Our research suggests that people with higher body fat burn fat better after a high-protein meal than people with lower levels of body fat,". This may be because protein is better in suppressing appetite than fat or carbohydrates.

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Tips on Staying Energized

Here are ways to get back on productive groove!

1. Listen to relaxing music - listen to classical music. Harmony of the instruments relaxes your mind.

2. Deal with job burnout - relax and give yourself a break. Schedule a vacation to avoid work burnout.

3. Get some sun - National Institutes of Health recommends getting 10-15 minutes of sun every day. This will help you improve your mood and energy.

4. Work during your energy peaks - schedule non-thinking tasks during your "low-energy" time. Schedule work during your peak hours to be more productive.

5. Power nap! - rest for a few minutes and energize. 20 minute nap enhances alertness and concentration, elevates mood and sharpens motor skills. You can drink a coffee before you nap. The effect of the caffeine will take effect when u wake up.


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Heart Burn or Heart Attack? Know the Difference

Holidays are the season of festivities and great food. With overeating people often experience heartburn. Amazingly (and alarmingly), the symptoms of a severe heartburn can be strikingly similar to the symptoms of a heart attack That is why it is important to know the signs and be able to differentiate heart attack from having a heart burn.

Here are some symptoms that indicate heart attack according to Dr Nick Zenarosa, emergency medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas:

- Breaking into a cold sweat

- Pain moving from the chest into the jaw, shoulder or arms

- Increased pain when you exert yourself

- Rapid onset of fatigue

- Shortness of breath

- Turning pale

- Slow or no response of symptoms to antacids

- Nausea and possible vomiting

If you are experiencing any of the signs mentioned above it is better to go to a nearby Emergency Room or hospital for medical assistance. With heart attack, time is very crucial. It is important that clot-busting drugs and other artery opening treatments are started right away for greater chances of survival

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