Month: November 2011

Who Can Use The HCG Diet?

The HCG diet has experienced a fairly massive increase in popularity in recent years and it is because there has been so much documented result as a result of people partaking in the HCG diet plan. Many people want to try out this diet for themselves so that they can experience the weight loss that occurs from this diet. The main facet of this diet that contributes to its overarching success is in fact the HCG hormone injections and HCG drops; this is what sets this diet apart from the rest and what makes it as unique as well as highly successful diet strategy. As the diet does involve injecting oneself with hormones there are still some people that should probably not partake in this diet plan as it could potentially interfere in negative ways with medications that they are taking or his or her health status.

First of all, any person who is taking medication for any medical condition should absolutely go to his or her doctor. A person should have the diet and what he or she is going to eat on it as well as the HCG hormone injections approved by the doctor. If a doctor does not give his or her sign of approval than this individual should by no means go on the diet anyway. Doctors know what they are doing and it is their job to keep people healthy and prevent them from doing something that could be potentially damaging to their bodies, so any person should listen to any advice that his or her doctor is giving.

Young boys should also be cautious about using this as a diet strategy before hitting puberty because it can lead to the development of puberty occurring earlier than it would under natural circumstances. This might be a desirable prospect for some younger boys, but some may not want to push ahead the clock and will not find the risk of getting puberty earlier worth it.

Almost any person can do this diet and not experience any sort of complications at all because it does involve a natural hormone. This is different from many diets which involve a person taking an unnatural pill that can potentially be damaging to his or her health, even if it results in weight loss.

People who are taking any sort of prescription drugs for depression or are taking birth control will also want to consult with a doctor or an expert to see how the addition of the HCG hormone would affect the individual’s body. As both birth control and pills that are taken for depression involve dealing with hormonal imbalances it only makes sense that a person should be aware of how the combination of all the different hormone modifying things will all interact with one another and affect an individual overall.

A person needs to realize that while losing weight can feel great and be a very healthy thing, if it is not done in a healthy way than there could be some serious repercussions to a person’s healthy living. This diet is a safe an essentially natural and scientifically proven way for an individual to lose any unwanted weight.

Related articles

Best Online Health Resources

While there is no substitute for the advice and diagnosis of a qualified medical professional, or the treatment you receive in a hospital, doctor’s surgery or alcohol treatment facility, the Internet is full of resources.

You can use these resources to improve your health and educate yourself on diseases and medications. You can also find information on hospitals, doctors, drug and alcohol rehab centers and more. However, you can’t always trust everything you read on the Internet, so the next time you want to look something up about your health, turn to these resources first.

WebMD.com

The easy-to-use symptom checker of WebMD has given valuable information to many concerned people all over the world. The website allows you to narrow down your symptoms by body part and also provides tons of information on diseases, conditions, symptoms, drugs and supplements.

That’s not all – you can also learn about preventative medicine, healthy living, how to eat in a healthy fashion and take part in communities devoted to particular conditions from ADHD to Sleep Conditions. Myriad features and articles give you information on common health worries and conditions as well as on how to stay healthy.

NHS.uk

The website of the United Kingdom’s National Health Centre offers a wealth of information on symptoms, diseases, medications and treatments. While it is a UK resource it is an excellent source of information on various medical issues.

Bear in mind that medications will be listed under their United Kingdom trade names and may not be available in the United States. You can also use the symptom checker to try and find out why you are feeling unwell and check out articles that go into detail about health issues that have recently featured in the news.

MayoClinic.com

The Mayo Clinic is internationally renowned for the skill and expertise of its medical professionals. In addition to a symptom checker, the website also offers expert information and advice on diseases, medical conditions, drugs, supplements and healthy living.

The section on tests and procedures is great for those who will soon be undergoing a medical procedure or a test and want to know what they can expect from their visit to their healthcare provider. They also host blogs from experts in such areas as pregnancy, stress, nutrition, diabetes, cancer, depression and Alzheimers, where you can receive up-to-date information, advice and even join in the conversation with your own questions and experiences.

While you should always talk to a qualified professional if you have worries about your health, the Internet provides amazing resources that can empower you to make better decisions, ease your mind and help you take more control of your own health.

This post made possible by guest blogger James Tennant, a writer with varied interests, including drug and alcohol rehab centers and alcohol detox facilities.

Related articles

The Benefits of a Personal Weight Loss Journal

Sometimes when it comes to losing weight, you need every advantage you can get. While the basic science behind weight -loss is easy to understand, it’s not always simple to follow through. You might also have to juggle a busy schedule in addition to family obligations while doing all of the healthy things necessary to drop a few pounds. Being organized is one of the essential factors that people forget about when it comes to weight loss, but there’s an easy fix for that. Starting up a weight loss journal can revolutionize your overall approach and streamline things to make your efforts more efficient. It can also add an element of enjoyment that might be previously missing. Here are some of the reasons why starting up a weight loss journal might benefit you.

Keeping careful records – it’s important to remember that your past plays an important part in your weight loss journey. A good way to start off your journal is by documenting your past behavior or writing about previous diet plans that haven’t worked. You can also start to catalog familiar mistakes that you seem to make, or information regarding your previous eating patterns. This information will serve as a solid basis for educating yourself about key areas that need the most focus.

Planning for the future – in addition to reflecting on your history, it’s important to think about where you want to head for the future. A journal is the perfect place for setting goals and determining the path you want to take. Nothing has to be set in stone, but putting thoughts and plans to paper can help to motivate you along the way. Rather than keeping everything in your head where you can get lost due to distraction, it’s nice to have everything laid out in front of you.

A journal can be whatever you like – there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to creating a journal, and that’s one of the best aspects of it. You don’t have to follow any strict guidelines which means it can take any form you like. It can be as simple as a pad and paper or you can take it up a notch and start a weight loss blog that allows other people to follow your progress. And remember, your journal will adapt and grow over time which means it is an organic thing that develops along with you.

The emotional aspect of weight loss – a lot of people focus on physical elements related to losing weight such as what to eat and how much to exercise. While it’s certainly helpful to record information related to caloric intake or your routine on a particular piece of home exercise equipment, it’s also a great thing to write down your thoughts. A journal can be a wonderful place where you are allowed to vent about the frustrations and joys related to getting healthy. It can help to keep things in perspective while showing you your progress along the way.

The ultimate resource – people who try to lose weight are always looking for the best tips and information around. But what better resource than something you create from your own experience? It won’t happen right away, but eventually your journal will become a valuable piece of documentation that will teach you about yourself. It can be a resource where you keep your favorite healthy recipes, list contact information for nutritional experts, or track your progress with your favorite forms of exercise. In just a few short months, you’ll be able to look back and see which areas need the most attention and how you can adapt your weight loss program for the best chance of success.

This information on keeping a weight loss journal comes to us from our friends at rabbitsadvice.com, a site dedicated to the pursuit of healthy forms of fast weight loss.

Related articles

Yoga: A Healthy Exercise for Everyone

Yoga is one of the oldest forms of exercise with a history that dates back thousands of years. Unlike some forms of exercise that focus on physical endurance and movement, yoga is focused on the mind, body and spirit connection. Yoga is one of the easiest exercises to learn, requires little equipment or training and can be performed in almost any setting. Not only does yoga focus on mediation and relaxation, it is also very useful for conditioning the cardiovascular system, toning muscles and maintaining flexibility. If you are looking to incorporate more stretching exercises like yoga into your workout routine, try some of our recommendations for the most beneficial yoga poses for men and women.

About Yoga

Yoga originated in India around 3000 B.C. The word “yoga” is developed from an ancient Sanskrit language and roughly translates to the phrase: to unite, the mind, body and spirit. In the U.S. and other western locations, yoga is mainly practiced as an exercise, but traditionally, yoga has always had a spiritual component. For many, yoga serves as more of a lifestyle than an exercise. There are many different varieties of yoga – all of which have their own intensity and focus. Some of the most popular yoga varieties are Ashtanga, Iyengar, Vinyasa, and Bikram yoga.

The Health Benefits of Yoga

Researchers at the University of Maryland examined yoga’s health benefits and determined that it was especially effective at reducing stress and increasing flexibility. The university also reported that some varieties of yoga provide as much of a physical health benefit as aerobic exercise. In some cases, yoga outperformed aerobic exercise in regards to improving an individual’s balance and strength. Yoga was also was effective at decreasing pain levels among seniors and menopausal women.

Yoga Poses for Women

While yoga encompasses a number of styles and poses, there are a few poses – child’s pose and warrior pose – that are especially helpful for women. Child’s pose works to strengthen and stretch the hips, quadriceps and core. This pose can be useful to relieve back pain and menstrual cramping and also helps to open up the hips and relieve tightness in the lower back. The warrior poses, which consists of several variations such as warrior I and warrior II poses, focuses on stretching the hips, inner thighs and chest. The arm movements used in the pose help to strengthen the quadriceps, abdomen and shoulders. This is one of the best poses to build strength in the mid-section and uses the body’s weight to tone the arms and shoulders.

Yoga Poses for Men

While some men may not feel like yoga is a “manly” exercise activity, some might be surprised to learn how effective yoga can be as a conditioning exercise for other athletic activities. The plank pose and the boat pose are a couple of the best yoga poses to help men develop strength and power. The plank pose is a great option for strengthening the upper body. Basically, the plank is a modified push up that targets the arms, back, shoulders and core. Boat pose targets the core muscle groups and uses an elevated, modified sit-up technique.

Post by Holly Adams, a writer for Coupon Croc. Beginning a new fitness regime? Use Office Shoes discount codes and save on every pair you need, from active to formal.

Related articles

10 Most Common Disorders Related To Women’s Health

Women and men differ in many ways.  This is no secret.  When it comes to health, there are some disorders that are often more prevalent in females than in males.  While the disorders listed below are not limited to being problems only for women, they have proven to be more prevalent in the female gender.  If you are a woman, knowing what disorders are common and what side effects to look for can be very helpful in determining if you are suffering from a common disorder related to women’s health. The following are 10 common disorders found in women. 

  • Eating Disorders.  Eating disorders are very common among women in their early adulthood.  The standards that society has set as far as what it means to be beautiful have forced an increase in the number of women who suffer from the problem.  The notion that being thin is beautiful has caused many women to be plagued by eating disorder that negatively impact their health.  A woman often knows when she is suffering from an eating disorder because it is self provoked.  During other times, it can be a mental road block that she has to overcome.
  • Sleep Disorders.  Another disorder that is all too common among women is sleep disorders.  These disorders tend to affect working women more than those who stay at home.  Sleep disorders can be very dangerous to your health. If you aren’t getting adequate rest, your immune system will begin to shut down leading to further health problems. It is recommended that an adult get a full 6-8 hours of rest during the night. Any less than this can bring on health problems in the future.
  • Grave’s Disease or an overactive thyroid.  An overactive thyroid is characterized by weight loss, irritability, muscle weakness, shaky hands, fine brittle hair, etc.  It occurs when the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone and is very common among women of all ages.  Grave’s disease or hyperthyroidism can only be diagnosed through blood tests given at your doctor’s office.
  • Hypothyroidism.  In contrast, hypothyroidism is caused when the thyroid produces too little hormones.  They symptom of this disorder are the same as with Grave’s Disease except the woman may experience weight gain rather than weight loss.  If left untreated, a woman can have trouble focusing and taking part in day to day activities in life.  Once again, only your doctor can determine if you have a problem with your thyroid by testing your blood.
  • Anemia.  A lack of iron in the body is a disorder than is common among women in the child bearing age.  Menstrual periods can leave the woman with the lack of iron that is needed to maintain a healthy body.  Many women are forced to take iron pills to help with the disorder. Many doctors recommend that every woman take a vitamin daily to ensure sufficient iron levels.
  • Psoriasis.  This disorder occurs when new skin cells develop to deep within the skin.  Appearing on the head, elbows, and knee, the thick red patches are often itchy and painful.  Women are more subject to getting psoriasis than men.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis. This disorder occurs when the immune system attacks the lining that protects the joints in the body.  This leads to reduced movement and can leave women unable to function.  Eventually, medication will have to be taken to help lessen the symptoms associated with the medical disorder.
  • Diabetes. Common among both men and women, diabetes has become an epidemic.  Of left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease.  Symptoms may include frequent bathroom visits (urination), feeling hungry, tiredness, dry skin, etc.
  • Celiac Disease.  Abdominal bloating, skipped menstrual periods, infertility, fatigue, and extreme weight loss/gain are all symptoms of celiac disease. This disease is commonly found in women and occurs when one has an allergy to gluten which is found in many foods.
  • Headache disorder.  Countless women suffer from headaches on a daily basis.  Headaches are often brought on by tension or stress.  Migraines are a common form of headache that can especially hard for women to deal with.

Above are 10 common disorders that can affect the overall health of women. If you think that you may have one of the disorders, consult you doctor.  Only your doctors can accurately diagnosis whether or not you have a disorder. Schedule your appointment today!

Alex writes for self hypnosis resource website where you can download self hypnosis scripts, relaxation cds, subliminal messages and lot more.

Related articles