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Green Tea Pills and Weight Loss

Green tea pills and weight loss are two terms that are often used together, but what is the link between the two? In our culture, we're always looking for the best, latest and fastest way to lose weight. It seems like there's always a new solution popping up. But most people want something that will help us burn the fat without any bad side effects or health consequences.

It originates from India and China and has a long history that spans centuries. It has been used in ceremonies, socializing, in preparing meals, and as medicine. Today it's becoming more popular in Western countries, particularly the U.S. as it is being used in drinks, coffee, ice cream and in supplements.

It stands out amongst other teas (black, white, etc.) because of how it is produced. While other teas go through a fermentation process, this beverage is steamed. This results in the tea retaining its nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E and the powerful polyphenol EGCG.

And the polyphenol EGCG is the link between green tea pills and weight loss. You see, EGCG increases your metabolic rate. This leads to your body burning more calories than normal. Every activity you do from walking, running, lifting weights, even digesting will burn more calories because of EGCG's thermogenic properties.

In a study that included 132 obese adults, half the group was given 3 cups of green tea per day while the other was given just regular water. They participated in 3 hours of exercise a week with a moderated calorie intake every day.

The result showed proof that green tea had a positive effect on weight loss. The group that drank the tea had lost 4.5 lbs while the group only lost 2 lbs through the course of 2 months. The most successful group also had lowered their body fat percentage more than their counterparts.

In another study involving women, half the group was given a green tea pill and the other half a placebo. They controlled the same amount of calories and exercised every day. Within a two week period, the group that took the green tea pill has 23-77% more weight loss than the group which took the placebo pills.

As you can see, green tea pills and weight loss is actually a winning combination. It is not a fad nor a miracle cure as it assists weight loss. Keep in mind that you will have to watch what you eat and exercise regularly. The reality is that you cannot expect instantaneous weight loss - you should expect it to work for you over the long term. So go ahead and start supplementing your weight loss regime now.

Most Popular Diet Pills

If you are overweight, it is important that you get off those extra pounds. It is imperative for your health to lose the weight. There are many nasty health problems that can occur when you are overweight. It can be difficult to lose weight, which is where diet pills can help. They can give you an extra boost as you try to lose those stubborn pounds. If you are looking for good diet pills, here is a look at some of the most popular diet pills out there today.

Hoodia Diet Pills

Hoodia Gordonii are some of the most popular diet pills. In fact, there are many pills that actually include this ingredient in them. This substance actually comes from a plant that is a whole lot like a cactus. It helps to suppress the appetite and is approved for this use. However, it is not approved by the FDA as a product for weight loss, although many people use it for this use.

Xenical Diet Pills

A drug that is much like Alli is Xenical. It is actually known as the prescription strength version of this same weight loss pill. It provides stronger results than the Alli pills do, and only is available by prescription. This is only for people who are obese, and since it is so strong, there are various side effects that can come with the product.

Clenbuterol Diet Pills

Clenburterol are also quite popular today. The nickname of these pills are Size Zero. The reason it is called this is because people who use the pills often get very small. Although many people have tried to use these pills, they are not necessarily safe. They are designed for horses and not made for humans. There are various side effects that can be caused by these pills, so beware. They may not be the best pills for you to take for weight loss.

Ma Huang Diet Pills

Don't be caught by this diet pill. This is just another name for ephedra. You don't want pills with this ingredient in it because it is illegal here in the United States. If you see pills with this name, you will want to avoid them.

Fat Burning Pills For Women

There are different brands of fat burning pills for women obtainable in the marketplace. The key points are choosing the best one which is safe and healthy. You cannot go for those ways that damage the internal power of the body in the future. All weight loss appendages show up some or the other consequences but there are actually only a few of the best suggested weight loss pills for women. These are the combo of acai berry as well as colon cleansing.

This diet alternative was first initiated by talk shows like Oprah Winfrey as well as Rachel Ray. The professional trio of Mr. Bob Greene, Dr. Mehmet Oz as well as Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone devised it.

Here are a few key aspects of these Fat Burning Pills for Women:

Acai is a marvel fruit from the Amazonian forest. Brazilians and other natives of South & Central America used it for over 200 years to get rid of their digestion issues and to boost up their energy scale. It is a grape like fruit that is experimented to be the richest one in anti oxidants, as evaluated to all other fruits examined till date. In addition, these fat burning pills are especially rich in vitamins, proteins, healthy fatty acids, fibers as well as minerals.

The acai pills are obtainable under various types. Make sure that you choose a pure acai option with least or just no fillers at all. It would assist you cut down the stomach fat, it removes the toxins from the body, heals issues like bloating and constipation, lessens the cholesterol along with appetite level - the list can just go on.

Acai Colon cleansing tablets wash out the pollutants from the colon. This makes the digestion procedure smooth as much as necessary. As a result all the undigested foodstuff, cholesterol, fecal matter as well as toxins are detached from the body. This can easily decrease fifteen to twenty pounds within few days and are measured to be the greatest fat burning pills for women. This as well enhances your awareness power, energy and manages the waist size. Colon cleansing is the greatest means to decrease the waist size immediately.

Be cautious while choosing these fat-burning pills. The most excellent fat burning pills for women always comprises of the natural ingredients as well as no chemicals.

Popular Weight Loss Diets

People are always looking for the next best thing and when a new and exiting weight loss diet comes out, then everyone starts to follow it without thinking if it really works. If you really think about the number of diets that are around and how many overweight and obese people we have, then something seems very rotten here.

Are popular weight loss diets also the most effective?

Maybe you are one of millions of people, who have tried many diets, some more successful then others, but none of them really work in the long run. For some going on diets has become more like a habit and they are trying to find new diets constantly, but none of the really work.

The truth is that all kinds of diets, whether they are popular or not, are basically the same. All diets require to reduce calories very low because that is how diets work, they are only temporary. Even the popular diets that millions of people follow are temporary and sooner or later, when the diets comes to and end, you start gaining weight back again.

No matter how strong your willpower is, you can't stay on a very low calorie diet for too long. For example if you are used to eating 2500 calories a day and suddenly you reduce your calories to 1200, then how long can you stay on that diets? Maybe a 3 weeks or maybe 3 months, but the end result is still the same.

Permanent weight loss can't happen with a diet, this is not possible. People can't stay on their diet their whole lives. The real secret is to change your lifestyle and your habits on step at a time. Some people are used to eating healthy food and exercising regularly, others are used to inactivity and eating junk food. so slowly changing your bad habits to good habits is the key.

Fast Weight Loss

In this article, we are going to consider how you can lose weight quickly, effectively and permanently. The key to fast weight loss is to convince your brain that you have had actually enough to eat - that you have actually consumed your daily allowance of calories when in fact you have not. If you can fill your stomach before you consume that allowance, then you are well on the way to shedding those extra pounds.

Without even getting into calorie-counting, we need to realise that there are certain foods that are absolutely your allies when it comes to weight-loss. For example - perhaps this will surprise you - strawberries! Yes, amazing as it may seem, strawberries are super-speed foods for tacking excess fat. Why? Because it takes more calories to digest them than they provide.

In fact fruit - generally - is extremely good stuff, not just for the vitamins and minerals it provides, but as a weapon for achieving really amazing results very swiftly. Think about it this way: in 100g of apples (about quarter of a pound) there is about 47 calories whereas in 100g of Chocolate, there are about 500 calories.

Now which is easier to eat - 100g of apples or 100g of chocolate? Right - the chocolate would go down no problem at all, but the apples would take a bit of eating. Now ask yourself: which would leave you feeling more satisfied, from a pure hunger point of view. Right again - the apples. And there, in essence is the answer to your weight problems - staring you right in the face.

You need to make a list of the foods that share the qualities of apples and strawberries; and then commit yourself to getting as much of them into your diet as you possibly can. By doing this, you will be displacing the less healthy foods; and you will be filling your stomach before you reach your calories limit; leading to rapid, healthy and permanent weight loss.

Here are my top foods for rapid weight loss:

Top 10 Vegetables • Asparagus • Beet Root • Broccoli • Cabbage • Carrot • Cauliflower • Green Beans • Spinach • Turnip • Tomato (yes - I know it's a fruit really)

Top 10 Fruits • Apple • Berries (all kinds) • Grapefruit • Mango • Orange • Peach • Pineapple • Raspberry • Strawberry • Watermelon

Now, you can do this! Just think how you can make a great start to each day by having a breakfast that consists of some of that fruit listed above and perhaps also a little low-fat yoghurt, for example - really delicious as well as healthy; and all super-foods to boot! Now when it comes to lunch, you can get some healthy vegetables down your neck if you go for a vegetable soup.

For your evening meal, have something you enjoy so you don't feel like you are on any kind of diet; but make sure you eat some of those super vegetables along with whatever is the main dish; and you can make great choices there too including chicken, fish and lean meat. Stay away from the potatoes, in all their forms, for speedy results.

Quick healthy weight loss

A quick weight loss diet program is not always the best option. If your goals is to lose weight for a certain event and you don´t care if you can weight back after that, then sure you can use that program. But most people want to get rid of their fat permanently. Losing weight quickly and permanently do not match very well.

why quick weight loss diet programs don´t work

Diets are not a very good way to lose weight permanently, whether they are low.fat diets, low-carb diets, very low calorie diets or something else. A diet is only a temporary solution to your problem and to lose weight permanently you need a different approach.

Understanding the core principles of healthy lifestyle is the first step. Changing your middset from temporary diets to healthy lifestyle is necessary for long-term success. The quicker you try to lose weight, the harder it is for you to lose weight. Because your body can´t tell the difference between very low calorie diets and starvation.

So when you cut your calories very low with the idea of losing weight quickly, then your body gets less calories, so the body has to save energy. So first of all your metabolism slows down, you start losing muscle mass, your body starts to produce fat storing enzymes and hormones, food cravings increase and so on. All of these factors make staying on a diet very hard, so 95% of people regain the weight. The real secret is not to starve your body, but to burn the fat and feed the muscle.

Natural supplement for your healthy weight loss

With so many diets being marketed and that comes along with many supplements. It's understandable for many people to become weary because you don't know which is healthy and what does the job. Especially with concerns of past "miracle pills" which later would result in major side effects or even death.

What you want to do is find a supplement that compliments your current exercise and balanced diet. There are no pills that miraculously will burn all fat and everyone loses significant weight. But there are some that are promising and this is where research plays a great part in your road to weight loss. Here is information on several popular ingredients used in natural weight loss supplements.

Fucoxanthin

Fucoxanthin is an antioxidant that is found in edible brown seaweed such as wakame, that you can find at Japanese restaurants via miso soup. Studies are ongoing to see how it will work in humans but in preliminary studies in animals, it is seen to target abdominal fat. Fat that is stored in the abdomen has been linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Hoodia

Hoodia is a well-known herbal supplement that has been used as a natural appetite suppressant but there are no clinical studies on humans. The problem with Hoodia is that there are too many companies selling the pills and many are counterfeit. So, its important that you do your research and find out if the company selling Hoodia is a trustworthy company.

Guarana

Guarana are the black seeds that are full of caffeine. In fact, it has double the caffeine of coffee beans. Originally from the Amazon rain forest, the caffeine acts as a stimulant that is known to raise energy. But definitely not for people with heart conditions because it can stimulate the system and heart.

Chromium

Chromium has been used for many years for normal carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Chromium is known to help insulin move glucose to the blood cells and has been used by diabetics, especially those who are looking for alternatives to losing weight.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has been used to promote its effect in burning fat. Although the idea of vinegar seems harmless, there are side effects to apple cider vinegar.

Great tips for weight loss diets

If you want to lose some fat, you better stick around for a little bit! Here are some awesome diet tips to drop those extra pounds. So if you are serious about losing that fat weight, read this article in its entirety!

1. Apples

How many apples are you eating per day? I bet it is not enough! You see, apples contain TONS of fiber which is just great for your fat loss diet. The reason is because fiber fills you up fast. It will make you feel a lot more full and you will not be consuming NEARLY as much as usual.

The other reason fiber is so great for your diet is because it cleans out your digestive tract. This may sound gross, but there can be a lot of junk stuck up there! Consuming fiber will clear all this out and make your digestive process that much more efficient.

2. Increased Frequency

Rather than eating a couple large meals every day, you should split those up into 5-6 smaller meals. Eating every 3-4 hours has been proven to speed up your metabolism in a huge way. This is because your body knows it is getting replenished with energy so it does not go into calorie-preserving mode (which ends up in a lot of fat storage).

3. Complex Carbs

Focus on eating complex carbs for your energy source. These include wheats, pastas, and beans. These types of carbs take longer to digest and rarely result in fat storage. Simple carbs are contained in high-sugar foods and such. These are the ones you need to stay away from!

Useful advice for weight loss

In a hurry to get rid of excess weight and fat there are a lot of errors a person can make. In most of the cases the obesity is caused because the caloric intake is much greater than what the body actually requires. There are a number of possible emotional, biological, geographical and even environmental causes for being overweight. Burning fat is not an overnight feat. This takes time but can be achieved as quickly as possible if you are serious, committed and determined to stick to the right regime.

Avoid eating fatty foods. Cut down on extra calories by switching over from fatty, rich foods to more nutritive and lean foods. Stop eating in restaurants and fast food centers where you will be tempted to binge on fat rich food. Do the 'switching over' gradually and not immediately as the body will not be used to it.

Do not try "diet gimmicks". In an attempt to get thin quick, one is tempted to try each and every type of diet pill, drink and food that is sold over the counter and said to have magical results! There is nothing magical about losing weight. Being obese and overweight is a problem that has to be tackled in a right manner. Diet pills and other crash-diet foods can have dangerous side effects.

Don't give up! Nervous checking of your weight every day will cause you to fall into depression and despair if you don't seem to be losing any weight. If you have binged on pizzas or French fries on the week end, don't be burdened by guilt and despair and give up on your exercise routine. A steady exercise regime will show results sooner or later and you will be successful if you are committed.

Don't use appetite suppressants or diuretics. These supposedly increase the metabolic rate of the body and thus burn more calories in the body. Diuretics produce only transient and spurious weight loss which can have dangerous side effects.

Tips For Acid Reflux Gerd Relief

Acid reflux relief can be obtained from a variety of different methods. It's important to try numerous things because each person is different when it comes to this health issue because there simply is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to acid reflux relief. However, if you try some of the methods outlined below, and experiment, then you should find the relief that you desire.

First, you have to evaluate your lifestyle choices. Different things you do in your life may be inviting frequent bouts of GERD, or acid reflux. For example, if you eat too much, especially foods that contain higher levels of acids in them, then your risk heightens, and it will be tough to get any form of relief. At the same time, consuming alcoholic beverages, smoking, drinking too much caffeine or coffee are things that are keeping you from experiencing relief.

Besides that, stress is also a major contributor. In this case, relief is as simple as setting aside two 15 minute sessions a day to meditate or relax. The best way to do this is to purchase one of those audio programs which take you through breathing processes to help you relax and unwind. Try this for a few weeks -- it does wonders for acid reflux relief. It may sound silly to some, but it is effective.

Also, how you sleep can affect your acid reflux. Have you ever tried an acid reflux pillow? If not, you should. At the very least you should slightly elevate your upper body while resting. It can help give you some relief as well.

Over-the-counter medications can be used to block acid secretion into your stomach, as well as to reduce the amount of acid that is already in the stomach. However, this is only a temporary solution. The same can be said for prescribed medications.

A more popular alternative these days is to use natural acid reflux treatments. These include some of the lifestyle changes we talked about earlier in this article, as well as using different herbal remedies to achieve relief. These are combining different herbs and making teas.

Only in the most extreme cases will surgery ever be required. Usually the surgery involves strengthening the barrier between the esophagus and stomach to stop acid reflux from recurring. The surgery has shown good results, but can be quite expensive and of course with any surgery there is always a risk.

A diet for GERD relief must begin by understanding what it is we want to relieve. What is GERD? Technically speaking, GERD is an irritation or inflammation of the esophagus. It is believed that the condition is due to stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus. The esophagus is the pipe that carries swallowed food from your mouth to your stomach. Where they meet, a ring of muscle called a sphincter separates the stomach and esophagus. This lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes to let food into the stomach, and tightens to keep stomach acids from flowing back, and coming into contact with the sensitive lining of the esophagus.

A diet for GERD relief must recognize that the problem is muscular. The LES is not functioning properly. If this is somehow caused by food, the issue must be addressed in diet. Let's look at some possibilities.

Meal Times

A diet for GERD relief can help with GERD that occurs during sleep. How? Rather than change the type of food in the diet, the GERD sufferer should leave more time between the evening meal and bedtime. If you suffer from GERD, acid reflux, or heartburn, you may be going to bed too soon after your evening meal.

In addition, GERD treatment calls for smaller meals, reducing the amount of food in the stomach at any given time. This permits the stomach to work more efficiently, and reduces the amount of pressure placed on the LES.

Foods You May Want to Avoid

As stated, GERD is a muscular disorder. The LES is relaxing too much. This relaxation can be caused, for some people, by certain foods.

A diet for GERD relief should test this theory be avoiding certain foods to determine if they are at fault. The following are thought to aggravate GERD. They may or may not aggravate your symptoms.

1. chocolate

2. creamed foods

3. fast foods (most)

4. fatty foods

5. milk

6. oils

7. peppermint

If you have GERD, with inflamed lower esophagus, you may want to avoid, or at least limit, caffeinated drinks such as coffee, soft drinks, and tea. These are thought to irritate the inflammation. Citrus fruits and their juices may also irritate.

Is Infant Acid Reflux Harmful To Your Baby

Called a gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux baby or even baby GERD, this usually happens when the infants digestive system hasn’t had time to fully develop and the lower esophageal sphincter, which sits between the stomach and the esophagus hasn’t developed enough to do the job right. Typically symptoms of acid reflux is noticed during the babies feeding time but it can happen at other times too. If your baby has bad breath, regurgitates frequently after meals, has recurrent coughing, spits up more than a typical baby would and is generally really fussy it might be because of acid reflux baby.

How do you know that your baby has acid reflux? The following are some of the Baby Acid Reflux symptoms.

• Uncontrolled crying
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Drastic Loss of weight
• Sleepless nights if the reflux is during bedtime.

Acid reflux can cause the same discomfort in infants that it does in adults and, as you can imagine, can make your baby very uncomfortable. Although acid reflux baby is usually not serious, it is important that you get your baby to the doctor to be diagnoses because some serious respiratory problems could develop from food being inadvertently taken into the lungs. In addition, serious acid reflux baby may cause damage to the esophagus just as in adults.

If your baby does have infant acid reflux, there are a few things you can do to minimize the symptoms. Try feeding the baby more frequently through out the day, but with smaller doses in each feeding. Also, you’ll want to frequently interrupt the feeding and hold he baby upright or burp him. Try keeping the baby upright for a while after the feeding as well. In some cases your doctor may recommend medication but usually acid reflux problems can be treated simply by changing the way you position your baby while you fed him.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Early Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that has no cure. This inflammatory disease leads to swollen, stiff, and painful joints. It will also reduce movements affecting the person mentally and physically. As such, the only way to cope with the situation is by educating people with rheumatoid arthritis about the disease. This education will help them to think positively and to cope with the chronic disease. Exercise, proper rest, and a balanced diet will ensure flexibility of joints and keep inflammation under control.

Understanding rheumatoid arthritis early symptoms is very important. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis develop small lumps under the skin near the elbow, ears, or nose, or on the back of the scalp, over the knee, or under the toes. Called rheumatoid arthritis nodules, these painless and non-problematic bumps range from the size of a pea to the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

Signs and rheumatoid arthritis early symptoms

• Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joint-most commonly affects the smaller joints of your hands and feet, but elbows, knees, and ankles can be affected
• Usually affects joints symmetrically (both hands, for example)
• Overall stiffness and achiness, especially after periods of stillness, such as sleeping or long plane rides
• Symptoms are worse in the early morning and lessen as the day progresses. General malaise/weakness
• Anemia
• Pain usually occurs during rest and movement

No matter what your treatment regiment, no matter whether it includes rheumatoid arthritis medication or not, the goals of any treatment for this disease should be to relieve you pain, reduce your swelling and inflammation, stop the damage this debilitating disease is doing to your joints, and improve your general sense of well being.

When the inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis calls for adequate treatment, there are many different options to consider. Since there is no known cure for this joint-affecting condition, patients must turn towards medication and other remedies in order to increase joint function and avoid further damage or deformity. Below you will find a brief description regarding an array of rheumatoid arthritis treatment options:

First-Line rheumatoid arthritis drugs

There are two main classes of rheumatoid arthritis medication: first-line and second-line drugs. A doctor’s goal is to pinpoint the first-line rheumatoid arthritis drugs that creates the least amount of side effects.

Corticosteroid Medications

A stronger first-line drug given to rheumatoid arthritis patients includes oral or injected corticosteroids.

Second-Line rheumatoid arthritis drugs

This approach towards rheumatoid arthritis treatment is slower to take action, including options, such as gold, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). These selections are used to combat progressive joint damage, and encourage remission of the disease. Additional second-line drug selections include the oral approach (Azulfidine), and injections (Solganal and Myochrysine).

Immunosuppressive rheumatoid arthritis drugs

Some of the products offering this effective medication choice include Rheumatrex, Trexall, Imuran, Cytoxan, Leukeran, and Sandimmune.

Surgery as choice for rheumatoid arthritis medication

Restoring joint mobility, as well as mending damaged joints are some of gains associated with this sort of procedure. Age, overall health, daily level of activity, affected joints, and disease progression are just some of the things that influence treatments choices. Overall, most patients respond the best to medical management when combining medications; specific joint exercises; rest; protective gear; as well as learning the ins and outs of the disease.

Health Benefits Blueberries

Blueberries are literally bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet very low in calories. Blueberries came out on top, rating highest in their capacity to destroy free radicals.

• An Antioxidant Powerhouse
• A Visionary Fruit
• A Better Brain with Blueberries
• Laboratory studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show that phenolic compounds in blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death).

• Bottomline: eating blueberries may reduce colon cancer risk.
• Protection against Ovarian Cancer

Among their rich supply of phytonutrients, blueberries include a flavonoid called kaempferol. In addition to blueberries, foods richest in kaempferol include tea (nonherbal), onions, curly kale, leeks, spinach, and broccoli.

Blueberries can help relieve both diarrhea and constipation. Blueberries also promote urinary tract health. Blueberries contain the same compounds found in cranberries that help prevent or eliminate urinary tract infections. Cultivation of blueberries was spearheaded by a botanist at the United States Department of Agriculture who pioneered research into blueberry production. For the most antioxidants, choose fully ripened berries:

Always check berries before storing and remove any damaged berries to prevent the spread of mold. Before freezing, wash, drain and remove any damaged berries. Baby foods containing berries are bereft of anthocyanins, the water-soluble plant pigments responsible not only for the blue, purple, and red color of berries, but also for many of their health benefits. Anthocyanins are found in fresh and frozen berries, but not in processed foods.

A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found anthocyanins were almost undetectable in canned foods, bread, cereals, and baby foods containing berries, even in baby foods prepared from fruits high in anthocyanins, such as blueberries.

To give your children the full health benefits of berries, purchase fresh or frozen berries and purée them.

Heart Diseases and Foods

Coronary heart disease is the most common of all heart diseases. It is characterized by blockage in the coronary arteries that result in reduction of blood flows to the heart muscle, depriving it of vital oxygen. The clogging of coronary artery, known as arteriosclerosis, begins with fatty streaks in and under the layer of cells, that line artery walls. Gradually, the streaks are transformed into plaques-fatty scar tissue that bulges into the artery opening, partly choking off blood flow.

If the clot becomes large enough, it can block blood flow, suffocating large patches of cardiac muscle, an event known as a heart attack or angina. Or if a blood vessel to the brain closes off or ruptures, it will result in a stroke. While the exact causes of coronary heart disease are imperfectly understood, certain major risk factors have been identified, including genes, gender, diet, and lifestyle - smoking, exercise, and stress.

Scientific evidence indicates that diet is vital to whether your arteries clog or your heart gives out. Stopping the progression of artery disease in the first place with your diet is foremost in warding off heart attacks and strokes. Even if you already had heart problems, including a heart attack, changing your diet now may prevent future cardiac problems and even halt or reverse arterial damage, helping restore arteries to health.

Foods with anti-heart disease activity can:

• Block platelet aggregation (clotting)
• Reduce blood vessel constriction
• Increase blood flow
• Lower fibrinogen (clotting factor)
• Increase fibrinolytic (clot-dissolving) activity
• Block cell damage from oxygen free radicals
• Lower triglycerides
• Raise good HDL cholesterol
• Makes cell membranes more flexible
• Lower blood pressure

However, wrong food choice may do just the opposite of the above.

Top 10 foods to control cholesterol

Research shows that more than 5.5 million South Africans are at risk for disease due to their high cholesterol levels. Are you one of them?

Then you might be interested to know that certain foods can be particularly useful in controlling your cholesterol levels. We did the legwork for you and listed them here.

Note that these foods are arranged in random order, and that being listed first doesn't mean that the specific food or food group is superior to any of the others. Also keep in mind that it's essential to always follow a varied diet that contains foods from all the different food groups.

1) Olive oil and olive products

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. Research has shown that foods with a high monounsaturated fatty acid content lower 'bad' low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increase 'good' high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Anyone with raised cholesterol levels needs to increase his HDL cholesterol and lower his LDL cholesterol levels, which olive oil and products made of olives, will promote.

Have 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil a day over salads or use for cooking, and add some olives to your salads. Keep an eye open for margarine made from olive oil as this also has the benefit of a high monounsaturated fatty acid content.

2) Polyunsaturated, 'lite' and Flora pro-activ margarine

Soft or tub margarine with a high polyunsaturated fatty acid content will also help to lower LDL cholesterol.

Then there are the 'lite' margarines, which have a reduced fat, energy and salt content – all factors that can contribute to heart health.

Flora pro-activ margarine has been specially developed to lower LDL cholesterol by up to 25% if you use it every day. This type of margarine contains added plant sterols that prevent the uptake of fats from the diet and lower blood fat levels. You can use this margarine to replace butter or other types of margarine on bread and cooked vegetables.

3) Legumes

Legumes include dry, cooked or canned beans, lentils, peas and all the soya products (soya beans (cooked or canned), soya mince, cubes, milk, tofu and tempeh).

Legumes have a high dietary fibre content and are rich in protective nutrients, including minerals, B vitamins and phytonutrients. These nutrients protect the heart and the dietary fibre content lowers cholesterol and energy intake.

Legumes are also naturally low in fat and don't contain any cholesterol. On top of this, they have a low glycaemic index (GI). The South African Food-based Dietary Guidelines recommend that we should eat dry beans, peas, lentils and soya regularly.

Make an effort to eat legumes at least 3-4 times a week, or even better still, every day.

4) Fat-free yoghurt and other fat-free dairy products

Full-cream dairy products and most cheeses have a high saturated fat content and need to be avoided if you have raised cholesterol levels.

However, this doesn't mean that you should cut out this food group altogether. Cutting out dairy products will deprive you of calcium, a mineral that's essential for the healthy functioning of the heart and many other important roles in the human body, such as the prevention of osteoporosis.

You can, however, use fat-free milk, yoghurt and cottage cheese in a low-cholesterol diet. Once the fat has been removed from a dairy product, it also removes practically all the cholesterol.

Fat-free yoghurt is a particularly good choice as it is rich in protein, calcium and Lactobacillus microorganisms which may help to lower blood cholesterol levels.

5) Antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables

All fruits and vegetables can help to lower cholesterol and protect the heart. Two groups are particularly useful, namely those fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C, or rich in beta-carotene.

a) Vitamin C

Foods rich in vitamin C include all the citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemons and naartjies), all berry fruits (cranberry, strawberry, blackberry etc.), guavas, spanspek, mangoes, the entire cabbage family (green and Chinese cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), as well as sweet and chilli peppers

b) Beta-carotene

Foods rich in beta-carotene include all dark yellow fruits (apricots, yellow peaches, spanspek and mangoes) and vegetables (pumpkin, sweet potatoes, butternut, carrots) and all dark green vegetables (broccoli, cabbage and spinach).

If you have heart disease or raised cholesterol levels, make sure you get your five portions of fruit and vegetables per day.

6) Garlic and other members of the onion family

Garlic has been used for centuries to promote good health. Research shows that members of the allium family, such as garlic, spring onions and other onions, can be used to lower cholesterol and protect the heart. Use garlic liberally in cooking and on fresh salads.

Researchers believe that the high garlic content of the so-called Mediterranean diet is one of the factors that makes this diet so heart-friendly.

7) Whole, unsifted or unprocessed grains

All unsifted and unprocessed grains and cereals, and the foods produced from unmilled flour, are rich in B vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre (both soluble and insoluble), but low in fat and cholesterol.

Grains and cereals made of unprocessed wheat (wholewheat and seedbread, crackers, high-bran cereals) help to ensure regularity because they have a high insoluble fibre content. On the other hand, oats and oat bran have a high soluble fibre content which can actively lower blood cholesterol levels.

Have a bowl of oats or muesli, which contains raw oats, every day to keep your cholesterol in check.

8) Fish

Researchers have discovered that people who eat fish three or more times a week are less likely to suffer from heart disease and high blood pressure. This is primarily due to the high omega-3 fatty acid content of fish.

The best fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fatty fish like salmon, tuna, trout and sardines, but eating any type of fish will benefit your heart.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce atherosclerosis, ventricular arrhythmias, blood fats, atherosclerotic plaques and blood pressure – all good reasons for eating fish regularly.

9) Venison and ostrich

South Africans are known for their love of meat, and many people who need to follow a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet are horrified by the restrictions on eating red meat.

You can, however, eat moderate portions of venison and ostrich on a low-cholesterol diet, because these meats are low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Just make sure that you don't add large quantities of fat to the meat during preparation and cooking.

The present boom in our ostrich industry is due to the fact that this meat is so low in cholesterol that it has become a popular item on the menus of health-conscious people all over the world.

10) Omega-3-enriched foods

As mentioned before, the omega-3 fatty acids can play a significant role in helping to reduce the risk of high cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, modern western diets don't contain sufficient omega-3 to meet our needs.

Some food manufacturers have taken this to heart and now produce standard foods that are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. In South Africa, you can purchase milk, eggs and bread that are enriched with omega-3. You may have to hunt around, but you should be able to find these products in most large supermarkets.

The eggs in particular can make a difference. The rule for egg intake is that anyone with heart problems should not eat more than 4 eggs a week. So make sure that if you eat eggs, they are omega-3 enriched, because the increased levels of omega-3 balance out the high cholesterol content of the eggs.

Different Types Of Stroke Disease

A stroke is a serious cardiovascular condition, where in the brain is affected because blood supply that contains oxygen needed by the brain is disrupted because an artery or a blood vessel is blocked or damaged. Strokes should be taken seriously and you should know the risk factors. If your family is genetically prone for having strokes, you should attempt to reduce your risk by not smoking or drinking alcohol. Most people survive the stroke but are left handicapped to some extent.

Strokes are categorized in two major types, ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic types of strokes are subdivided depending on the cause and these include thrombosis, embolism and systemic hypoperfusion or venous thrombosis. Hemorrhagic stroke is subcategorized into intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Ischemic strokes are the most common types of strokes, they occur when an artery containing blood with oxygen and nutrients that is needed for a brain cell to function is blocked. The most common cause of ischemic stroke is the narrowing of the arteries in the head and neck caused by deposits of cholesterol. Another usual caused of ischemic stroke is blood clots.

Thrombotic stroke, sometimes referred to as cerebral thrombosis, is when the damaged arteries are blocked by blood clots in the brain. It can occur in a large blood supply artery like the carotid artery or medial cerebral artery or in the smaller and yet deeper arteries in the brain.

Embolic stroke on the other hand is also caused by a blood clot in an artery but this time it is formed elsewhere, sometimes in the heart, but not in the brain. These emboli will travel the bloodstream and eventually will be trapped until it can not move any further. These will result in a restriction of blood supply to the brain.

Systemic hypoperfusion is a type of ischemic stroke where in there is a decreased blood flow to all parts of the body. This is due to failure of the cardiac pump from a cardiac arrest or reduced cardiac output. Low oxygen content in the blood may increase hypoperfusion since reduce blood flow can affect all parts of the brain and may even result in brain damage.

Another major type of stroke is hemorrhagic stroke where in a blood vessel in the brain is ruptured or is bleeding; because of this the blood vessel leading to the brain will not be able to supply blood to particular brain tissue. In this case the bleeding irritates the tissues in the brain and disrupts the chemical balance within. Continuous bleeding may result which impinges upon the brain tissue and restriction of blood supply occurs in the brain as well.

There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke, the intracerebral where in the damaged blood vessel in the brain bursts and the blood leaks within the brain causing damage to the brain cells. While arachnoid hemorrhage on the other hand, occurs when a blood vessel outside the brain ruptures and the blood fills up the area of the skull surrounding the brain.

Strokes are categorized into different types but all are serious medical conditions which need to be treated immediately to reduce the risk of serious and irreversible damages.

Healthy diet for better life

A healthy diet and quality of life always goes hand in hand. If you are one among the millions who have joint pain or arthritis you must have already tried numerous ways of a curing arthritis.

It's a complex link between arthritis and diet. More and more evidence is coming to light about this link. To understand the link it is important to understand what type of arthritis you suffer from. For example if you have gout which is caused by high uric acid levels you might want to consider a diet with far less alcohol and increase your intake of purine rich food will lower the blood uric acid levels.

Alcohol affects the purine metabolism. Small diet changes can may decrease the severity of condition. Certain foods can be trigger arthritis, the so called allergens. Foods as you might know can affect the immune system. When it comes to arthritis watch out for the following food :

Dairy products

Caffeine

Preservatives and additives

Salt

Sugar

Pay attention to the last two. So what are the ideal diet guidelines? Variety is the key.Incorporate all food groups so that you will get the all the forty essential nutrients.Watch your fat intake, not only that it will affect the way you look, it is bad news when it comes to curing arthritis.

As mentioned above avoid alcohol. Remember when it comes to alcohol moderation is the key. Avoid the latest diet fads as all they might do is robbing your body the much needed nutrients. You can do your body a great favor by taking a vitamin tablet, there are various formulations available, make sure you take it on a consistent basis.

Melvin M

Joint Pain Relief - Best solutions Revealed

Confused about all the joint pain solutions? Make an informed decision in no time.

Are you are tired of searching for a good joint pain solution? Do you want to improve the health of joints? Gain freedom from pain or improve your mobility?

Not all heart attacks begin with a sudden, crushing pain that is often shown on TV or in the movies. The warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack

Not all heart attacks begin with a sudden, crushing pain that is often shown on TV or in the movies. The warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack aren’t the same for everyone. Many heart attacks start slowly as mild pain or discomfort. Some people don’t have symptoms at all (this is called a silent heart attack).

Chest Pain or Discomfort

The most common symptom of heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It can be mild or severe. Heart attack pain can sometimes feel like indigestion or heartburn.

The symptoms of angina can be similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. Angina is pain in the chest that occurs in people with coronary artery disease, usually when they’re active. Angina pain usually lasts for only a few minutes and goes away with rest. Angina that doesn’t go away or that changes from its usual pattern (occurs more frequently or occurs at rest) can be a sign of the beginning of a heart attack and should be checked by a doctor right away.

Other Common Signs and Symptoms

Other common signs and symptoms that a person can have during a heart attack include:

Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach

Shortness of breath may often occur with or before chest discomfort

Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat

Not everyone having a heart attack experiences the typical symptoms. If you’ve already had a heart attack, your symptoms may not be the same for another one. The more signs and symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you’re having a heart attack.

Act Fast

Sometimes the signs and symptoms of a heart attack happen suddenly, but they can also develop slowly, over hours, days, and even weeks before a heart attack occurs.

Know the warning signs of a heart attack so you can act fast to get treatment for yourself or someone else. The sooner you get emergency help, the less damage there will be to your heart.

Call 9–1–1 for help within 5 minutes if you think you may be having a heart attack or if your chest pain doesn’t go away as it usually does when you take prescribed medicine.

Don’t drive yourself or anyone else to the hospital. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is primarily characterized by insulin resistance, relative insulin deficiency, and hyperglycemia. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. It is rapidly increasing in the developed world, and there is some evidence that this pattern will be followed in much of the rest of the world in coming years. In the UK about 3 in 100 people aged over 40, and about 10 in 100 people aged over 65, have Type 2 diabetes. It is also more common in South Asian and African-Caribbean people.

Diabetes can also cause long-term complications in some people, including heart disease, stroke, vision impairment, and kidney damage. It is also associated with acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome and a number of other endocrinological disorders. Children and teens with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes are also more likely to develop hypertension (high blood pressure) or abnormal levels of blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides). When these problems cluster together in a person, doctors call this metabolic syndrome. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is often associated with obesity and hypertension and elevated cholesterol (combined hyperlipidemia), and with the condition Metabolic syndrome. Additional factors found to increase risk of type 2 diabetes include aging, high-fat diets and a less active lifestyle.

Diabetes can also cause other problems in the blood vessels, nerves, and gums. These problems don't usually show up in kids or teens with type 2 diabetes who have had the disease for only a few years. The four common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are being thirsty a lot of the time passing large amounts of urine ,tiredness and weight loss. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a chronic, progressive disease that has no medically proven cure. Eat a healthy diet to help achieve a normal body weight while getting the nutrients needed to grow and develop. Regular exercise helps control the amount of glucose in the blood. It also helps burn excess calories and fat so you can manage your weight. Regular self-testing of your blood sugar tells you how well your combination of diet, exercise, and medication are working.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Tips

1. Regular exercise is important for everyone.

2. Monitor blood glucose levels by home testing before and after exercise.

3. Wear a diabetes identification bracelet and carry change for a phone call in case of emergency.

4. Drink extra fluids that do not contain sugar before, during and after exercise.

5. Meal planning includes choosing healthy foods, eating the right amount of food, and eating meals at the right time

6. Carry food that contains a fast-acting carbohydrate in case blood glucose levels get too low during or after exercise.

7. Carnitine has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and glucose storage in humans.

8. Taurine has also shown significant improvement in insulin sensitivity and hyperlipidemia in rats.

The 25 Healthiest Foods

The following is a "healthy food hot list" consisting of the 29 food that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for you caloric buck, as well as decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Along with each description is a suggestion as to how to incorporate these power-foods into your diet.

Fruits

01. Apricots

The Power: Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin. One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. Snacks on them dried, or if you prefer fresh, buy when still firm; once they soften, they lose nutrients.

02. Avocados

The Power: Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few slices instead of mayonnaise to dress up your next burger.

03. Raspberries

The Power: Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup has only 60 calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. Top plain low-fat yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food) with fresh berries.

05. Cantaloupe

The Power: Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium - almost twice as much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure. Half a melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Cut into cubes and freeze, then blend into an icy smoothie.

06. Cranberry Juice

The Power: Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Buy 100 percent juice concentrate and use it to spice up your daily H20 without adding sugar.

07. Tomato

The Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Drizzle fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.

08. Raisins

The Power: These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on. A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal - women, consider this especially during your period.

09. Figs

The Power: A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention. The Pill depletes B6, so if you use this method of birth control, make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48 calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber. (Cookie lovers - fig bars have around 56 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber per cookie). Fresh figs are delicious simmered alongside a pork tenderloin and the dried variety make a great portable gym snack.

10. Lemons/Limes

The Power: Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which help prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Buy a few of each and squeeze over salads, fish, beans and vegetables for fat free flavor. See also: Beneficial Bytes: Lemons and Limes.

Vegetables

11. Onions

The Power: Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer. A cup (chopped) has 61 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Chop onions for the maximum phytonutrient boost, or if you hate to cry, roast them with a little olive oil and serve with rice or other vegetables.

12. Artichokes

The Power: These odd-looking vegetables contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help control cholesterol. One medium artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and 7 grams of fiber. Steam over boiling water for 30 to 40 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice on top, then pluck the leaves off with your fingers and use your teeth to scrape off the rich-tasting skin. When you get to the heart, you have found the best part!

13. Ginger

The Power: Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Peel the tough brown skin and slice or grate into a stir-fry.

14. Broccoli

The Power: Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Don't overcook broccoli - instead, microwave or steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients. Squeeze fresh lemon on top for a zesty and taste, added nutrients and some vitamin C.

15. Spinach

The Power: Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Add raw leaves to a salad or sauté with a little olive oil and garlic.

16. Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage)

The Power: Brassinin, which some research suggests may help prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement) to help beat osteoporosis. A cup (cooked) has 20 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Find it in your grocer's produce section or an Asian market. Slice the greens and juicy white stalks, then saute like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just before serving.

17. Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn)

The Power: Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer. One cup (cooked) has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Cut on in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave until soft, then dust with cinnamon.

18. Watercress and Arugula

The Power: Phenethyl isothiocyanate, which, along with beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, may help keep cancer cells at bay. One cup has around 4 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Do not cook these leafy greens; instead, use them to garnish a sandwich or add a pungent, peppery taste to salad.

19. Garlic

The Power: The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor can also lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, lower blood pressure and even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer. A clove has 4 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Bake a whole head for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft and sweet and spread on bread instead of butter.

Grains, Beans and Nuts

20. Quinoa

The Power: A half cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of protein, more than any other grain, plus iron, riboflavin and magnesium. A half-cup has 318 calories, 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber. Add to soup for a protein boost. Rinse first, or it will taste bitter.

21. Wheat Germ

The Power: A tablespoon gives you about 7 percent of your daily magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps; it is also a good source of vitamin E. One tablespoon has 27 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber. Sprinkle some over yogurt, fruit or cereal.

22. Lentils

The Power: Isoflavones, which may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast cancers, plus fiber for heart health and an impressive 9 grams of protein per half cup. A half-cup (cooked) has 115 calories, 0 fat and 8 grams of fiber. Isoflavones hold up through processing, so buy lentils canned, dried or already in soup. Take them to work, and you will have a protein packed lunch.

23. Peanuts

The Power: Studies show that peanuts or other nuts (which contain mostly unsaturated "good" fat) can lower your heart-disease risk by over 20 percent. One ounce has 166 calories, 14 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Keep a packet in your briefcase, gym bag or purse for a protein-packed post-workout nosh or an afternoon pick me up that will satisfy you until supper, or chop a few into a stir-fry for a Thai accent. See also: The Nut Case

24. Pinto Beans

The Power: A half cup has more than 25 percent of your daily requirement of folate, which helps protect against heart disease and reduces the risk of birth defects. A half-cup (canned) has 103 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Drain a can, rinse and toss into a pot of vegetarian chili.

25. The Power: Bacteria in active-culture yogurt helps prevent yeast infections; calcium strengthens bones. A cup has 155 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of fiber. Get the plain kind and mix in your own fruit to keep calories and sugar down. If you are lactose intolerant, never fear -- yogurt should not bother your tummy.