Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene And Their Safety

 

Although Vitamin A deficiency is prevalent throughout the world, retinol toxicity is a common occurrence as well. About 5% of those who supplement with vitamin A unknowingly suffer from toxicity symptoms. It should be noted that supplementation at 5,000 - 10,000 IU per day of preformed vitamin A, which is dose that is well within the range that is offered in many popular vitamin supplements is a safe effective doses, additional supplementation of vitamin A may actually lead to a cumulative toxic overdose. Additionally, accidental ingestion of one single, large dose of vitamin A, can produce acute toxicity in children, always keep vitamin A out of reach of small ones.

A large study on over 22,000 pregnant women who supplemented with vitamin A during early pregnancy found that those women taking more than 60,000 IU of preformed vitamin A per day in the form of supplements had about one in fifty-seven of a chance of a malformation attributable to the supplement. In consuming more than 60,000 IU of vitamin A, a five-fold greater risk for birth defects arises as compared to consumption of less than 25,000 IU per day. The prevalence of birth defects seems to be greatest in those women who consume high levels of pre-formed vitamin within the first seven weeks of their pregnancy. Authors of the study concluded that women who may possibly become pregnant should limit their retinol intake to below 15,000 IU, or supplement with beta-carotene instead.

Beta-carotene is the orange/yellow-colored pigment that is often found in many garden vegetables. It is a retinal precursor. The body is able to easily convert beta-carotene into vitamin A by turning the carotene molecule into two molecules of retinol as they are needed. This allows for the avoidance of toxic accumulation of pre-formed vitamin A. Once beta-carotene is transformed into active retinol, it offers the same beneficial affects. The only symptoms associated with beta-carotene supplementation are loose stools or slight discoloration of the skin. This makes beta-carotene, even at high doses, safe for the body because it does not exhibit toxicity. An added benefit of beta-carotene is that it is a much more potent antioxidant than retinol, as it provides even greater protection against oxidative challenges. The worst thing that can happen to you if you take too much beta-carotene is that you may turn orange like a carrot. However, this should not be a worry because you will be just fine.

The majority of nutrients that are used in supplementation have a large measure of safety. Unfortunately, the use of vitamin A warrants prudence and caution. This is especially crucial when it is consumed by children or those women who are pregnant. Because of this, the level of vitamin A in excess of the upper limit of intake that is prescribed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, is a crucial criterion in determining how good a product is. The criterion for potential toxicities asks whether the nutritional supplement contains vitamin A. If so, it asks whether the potency of vitamin A exceeds 100% of the upper limit of intake that is prescribed by the US Food and Nutrition Board.

To be on the safe side, take beta-carotene which has no side effects even at very high doses but exhibits the same health benefits of consuming preformed vitamin A. Look to your local or internet vitamin store for name brands like Solaray and Source Naturals for all your Vitamin A and beta-carotene needs.

Natural Hemorrhoids Treatment

What is the reason for Natural hemorrhoids treatment. Often nature cures what even science cannot think of. Natural hemorrhoids treatment can bring gradual relief from intense hemorrhoid pain. If it works it may stop bleeding and itching from hemorrhoid. With Natural hemorrhoids treatment there is no more the need for dietary supplements for the rest of your life.

The fear and pain of surgical removal is not required and it can work out more cost effective.What the natural hemorrhoids treatment should do:Improve the vascular circulation & strengthen vein tone to prevent future internal or external hemorrhoids. It should naturally treat the underlying root causes of hemorrhoids.It should help relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids like burning, itching, and anal discomfort.Some natural hemorrhoids treatment-Japanese Pagoda Tree- This tree extract is one of the best herbal supplement for naturally treating hemorrhoids.

Clinical studies prove that this herbal extract successfully eliminated the hemorrhoids symptoms with a great success rate. The help normalize the permeability of veins and capillaries and strengthen vein walls. They provide necessary nutrients to maintain optimal vein health.Horse chestnut- This extract is said to have the ability to support vascular circulation, as well as strengthen connective tissues and vein tone.Butcher's broom- It acts as a natural vasoconstrictor with anti-inflammatory properties and has the ability to strengthen and tone veins.

Apart from these Natural hemorrhoids treatment using herbs there are some measure, which you can take at home.
1. Apply ice packs on the affected areas.
2. Sitz bath, which is a small tub and is specially designed to allow the soaking of hemorrhoids without taking a bath. In this process the rectal area is soaked in hot water for 15-20 minutes about 3-4 times a day. Not only does this helps relieve symptoms but also aids shrinkage of the hemorrhoids.
3. Buy a doughnut shaped cushion. They are available in pharmacies and medical supply stores and can be useful to hemorrhoid sufferers. Try and sit on it as instructed.
4. Try and practice healthy bowel habits. Avoid straining your self while passing stool. Don't hold your breathe will on the bowel. Get off the toilet as you are finished.
5. Drink lots of water as it smoothens your stool passage.
6. Eating fresh fruits, vegetables and fibrous food items.

For more information Click Here

Resveratrol and Weight Loss

Resveratrol Antioxidants and Weight Loss: A Good Pairing?The golden rule in weight loss is pretty simple: take in fewer calories than you expend in exercise. However, as any dieter will tell you, it’s far from easy. Americans spend billions of dollars a year on weight loss supplements, exercise programs and other diet aids—and still we can’t seem to win the battle of the bulge—even when we get desperate enough to try risky surgery or fad diets.Recently a new product has come to light that may help people trying to lose weight stay on the healthy end of the spectrum: Resveratrol Select, which is unlike many diet supplements in that it uses a combination of natural and herbal ingredients designed to help the body stay healthy while losing weight.

How? By mimicking certain aspects of the Mediterranean diet.Studies have shown that part of America’s war with weight lies in the uniquely modern American combination of stressful lifestyle and fast-food consumption, and that the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle seem to be more conducive to healthier weight levels and longevity. In fact, much as been made on the news in recent months of the purported “French Paradox,” (how the French eat a high-fat diet, enjoy rich desserts, drink wine and still have better cardiovascular health than the rest of us). One of the biggest differences between the American and French diet seems to be the wine consumption, and red wine (a staple on most Mediterranean tables) contains one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, resveratrol, which is a key ingredient in Resveratrol Select.In addition to wine, resveratrol is also found in grape skins, blueberries, cranberries and other plants, and recent animal and in vitro studies indicate that it can have a positive effect on helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, supporting insulin health and optimizing metabolic and immune pathways that protect cells and improve mitochondrial function.

* And one capsule of Resveratrol Select includes as much resveratrol as 200 glasses of wine—without the added calories that alcohol can add to the waistline.But consuming resveratrol alone isn’t enough to help with weight loss—so the manufacturers of Resveratrol Select also added a different type of antioxidant, Green Tea Extract (EGCG), which could make a big difference. Over time, green tea consumption helps increase metabolism, burn fat and reduce fat storage due to its caffeine and L-theanin content, which can be pivotal in helping to maintain energy for exercise. 

*Resveratrol Select combines these two powerful antioxidants with yet another energy boosting ingredient, Chromium, a niacin-based mineral that plays an important role in how the body uses insulin to burn sugars, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for energy.

*Although relatively new to the market, Resveratrol Select seems to be making a big splash, and many people are taking advantage of the free trial offer to see how well the product works for them. The trial offer also includes two bonus tools to help with weight loss: an e-book with over 70 weight loss tips, and a weight loss visualization audio.Of course, consuming fewer calories while burning more is the most efficient form of weight loss, and it’s always a good idea to inform your doctor before taking a weight loss supplement, but this new combination herbal supplement is worth a look for those concerned about maintaining good health while losing weight. 

For more information on Resveratrol Select’s free trial offer and bonus materials, visit http://www.resveratrolselect.com or more information Click Here

Natural Viagra from Peru

Maca is Peru's Natural Viagra

The South American country of Peru is home to numerous beneficial plants, including maca, a legendary sex-enhancing root passed down from the Inca. I'd heard about maca for years. It has been dubbed "Peruvian ginseng," even though it bears no relation to ginseng. But like ginseng, the plant is employed to increase strength, energy, stamina, libido and sexual function, a winning combination of health benefits if there ever was one.

To investigate maca's health benefits and understand the role that maca plays in Peruvian culture, my wife and I headed down to Peru to explore the maca trail. In the process we met with maca traders, growers and scientists, and came back tremendously impressed by this plant, which is now available as a supplement in U.S. health food stores.

What is Maca? Maca, Lepidium meyenii, is an annual plant which produces a radish-like root. The root of maca is typically dried and stored, and will easily keep for seven years. The plant is cultivated in the Junin plateau of Peru's Central Highlands, and was highly revered by the Inca.

During the height of the Incan empire, legend has it that Incan warriors would consume maca before entering into battle. This would make them fiercely strong. But after conquering a city the Incan soldiers were prohibited from using maca, to protect the conquered women from their powerful sexual impulses. Thus as far back as 500 years ago, maca's reputation for enhancing strength, libido and fertility was already well established in Peru.

Today, maca's popularity is very much on the increase, as people discover that the plant really does boost libido, sexual function and overall energy. Acreage in Peru dedicated to Maca cultivation is increasing every year to meet demand, and a number of scientists have turned their attention to the properties of the root. In Peru, maca is used by men and by women who want to put more fire into their sex lives. And in the U.S., Europe and Japan, dietary supplements containing maca are gaining ardent devotees.

Maca Nutrition: What natural ingredients in maca promote its reputed sex-enhancing effects? In-depth analysis of maca conducted in 1998 by Dr. Qun Yi Zheng and his colleagues at PureWorld Botanicals shows that maca contains about 10 percent protein, almost 60 percent carbohydrate, and an assortment of fatty acids. These ingredients are common and nothing special. But the investigators also discovered two groups of novel compounds, the macamides and the macaenes. These agents are believed to be directly responsible for maca's sex-boosting powers.

For more information Click Here

Silicone Immune Toxicity Syndrome

There are several forms of the chemical in breast implants that can cause a problem in the human organism.  Silicon (Si) is the basic element and probably causes immune system changes.  Silica or SiO2 is the form it is mined from the earth.  Silicone gel is a synthetic material containing 38% silicon.  The silica is 45% silicon. There is slow leakage ("bleeding") of the silicone gel from the implants through the semi-permeable membrane envelope and also into and through the capsule that surrounds the implants. 

This is picked up by the microphages (scavenger cells) of our immune system and is broken down inside these cells which travel all over the body.  The gel breaks down inside these cells, which travel all over the body.  The gel breaks down into Silica and Silicon which causes an immune system dysregulation.  Thus, there are antibodies produced against the silicon and also against the silicon and protein complex (organ systems) so that you get autoimmune illness.

Below is the List of Chemicals which experts have analyzed to be in the explanted breast implant shell envelopes and gels.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Cyclohexane, Isopropyl Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol ,Acetone ,Urethane, Lacquer thinner ,Ethyl Acetate ,Epoxy Resin, Epoxy hardener, Amine, Printing ink, Toluene, Freon ,Silicone, Lofol (formaldehyde), Flux Metal, cleaning acid, Eastman 910 glue (Cyanoacyryiates) ,Talcum Powder,Color Pigments as release agents Oakite (a cleaning solvent), Ethylene Oxide (ETO), Carbob black, Xylene, Hexane, Hexanone 2, Antioxidant (rubber) ,Zinc Oxide ,Naphtha (rubber solvent), Phenol Benzene-Known carcinogen!!!!

ALSO..... Polyvinyl Chloride (Liquid Vinyl) This ingredient was used in all medical devices made at Edwards Lab, from tubing to gel.

Methylene Chloride/Dichloromethane. This breaks down in the body so blood cannot carry oxygen. It metabolizes carbon monoxide poisoning and causes central nervous system depression.

For more information Click Here

Ways to Quit Smoking

 

Ways to Quit Smoking – Let the Latest Technology Be Your AideThere are many ways to quit smoking today. Which one you choose would depend on many factors – such as the degree of addiction, the quality of your quit smoking support, the products you use, your reaction to the withdrawal system and so on. The best way would always be the one that you find the easiest to implement within your lifestyle. The easiest way would normally be the latest available one - because it would have solutions to most of shortcoming of the previous methods.

What Is The Latest In The Ways To Quit Smoking?The development of technology is moving at breakneck speed with everyday having something new to offer. When it comes to the different ways to quit smoking the laser treatment is one of the latest and most innovative one.

The laser treatment involves three steps:

1.    Step one – the laser activates the meridian points the result of which is an almost instant reduction in the dependency on and craving for nicotine.

2.    Stage two – the laser acts on the appetite points the result which is suppressed hunger and prevention of weight gain.

3.    Stage three – the laser acts on the relaxation points which promote the release of endorphins into the blood. The result is that there are no withdrawal symptoms that usually accompany the quit smoking process.

There are many advantages in using this method to kick off the smoking habit. Check out three of the most important ones:

1.    Natural and safe – the laser treatment is one hundred percent natural. There would be no patches on your skin, no medication, no worrying about any medication side effects. Safe and natural – that is what laser quit smoking treatment is.

2.    High rate of success – there are many ways to quit smoking and each have their rates of success. The laser treatment offers you a 90% success rate which is the best available today. You want to quit smoking, the LLLT or the low level laser treatment can help you.

3.    Painless – the LLLT is completely painless. No puncture marks, no withdrawal symptoms, no waiting. This is the most painless and easy way to stop smoking.The downside of this treatment is that is quite expensive – though it would definitely be less that what you would need to pay for cancer treatment if you continue smoking. Overall, this is one of the best ways to quit smoking available today.
For more information Click Here

What You Need to Know About Caralluma Fimbriata

Caralluma fimbriata is a succulent plant, in the cactus family, that has been used as a natural appetite suppressant in India for centuries. It's a new arrival in the family of cactii and succulent plants that are becoming increasingly popular for their appetite suppressant, and weight loss properties, as well as their ability to lower blood sugar. Supplements made from the popular hoodia gordonii cactus from the Kalahari Desert in Africa, are, for example, growing in popularity and usage in the U.S. and Europe.

 

Like hoodia, caralluma fimbriata has been used to suppress appetite, and as a portable food for hunting. It is used to suppress hunger and appetite, and enhance endurance throughout India. It is also sometimes considered a "famine food," used during periods of famine to suppress appetite. For centuries, people in rural areas of India have eaten Caralluma fimbriata, which grows wild over various parts of the country. Caralluma fimbriata is cooked as a vegetable, used in preserves like chutneys and pickles, or eaten raw. Caralluma fimbriata is believed to block the activity of several enzymes, which then blocks the formation of fat, forcing fat reserves to be burned. 

 

Caralluma fimbriata is also believed to have an effect on the appetite control mechanism of the brain. Ayurvedic (traditional Indian medicine) experts have noted that there are no adverse effects when using Caralluma fimbriata, and the plant has no known toxicity. A patented, tested extract of Caralluma fimbriata has been developed and standardized by a company called Gencor. Known as "Slimaluma," the extract delivers the plant in a concentrated form. One of the only products available in the U.S. that uses the Slimaluma formula is Country Life's GenaSlim supplement, which combines the patented Slimaluma extract of Caralluma fimbriata with EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) from green tea. 

 

Together they reportedly have a synergistic effect on appetite control and weight loss. In several clinical trials Slimaluma was shown to be effective in reducing body fat through appetite control.If you're interested in trying this product for weight control, you can compare prices now from various online vendors.SourcesKhan B, et. al. "Hypogylcemic activity of aqueous extract of some indigenous plants." Pak J Pharm Sci., 2005 Jan;18(1):62-4.

 

For more information Click Here

What Nail Fungus Remover Is The Best

What Nail Fungus Remover Is The Best?Toenail fungus has a medical term of “onychomycosis” but the most frequently used term is “fungal toenails”. Onychomycosis expresses together fungus and yeasts illness in the nail. Men get the nail disorder more than women.  This is also affects elderly diabetics. 

Back in year 1800s, cases of fungal toenails are minimal. The swelling number of infected people is related to high contact to fungus which is usually accumulated though the utilization of public shower rooms in gyms, hot tubs, saunas and public swimming pools. Factors that are main causes of toenail fungus are due to maturing, being a male, nail trauma, perspiring feet, deprived circulation, foot fungus and weak immune system.Athletes are more prone to have fungus infection. Perspiration in the shoe joined with frequent nail trauma adds to the possibility of infection. 

Athletes bearing slack fitting shoes which permits congestion of the nails next to the shoe and anyone who is wearing shoes that are too tight are at greater risk of building up toenail fungus. There are many nail fungus removers. One of the treatments for fungus is through oral antifungal treatment. The most popular of these medications are Sporonox and Lamisil. 

These medications can be costly and is to be in used once a day for three months. The efficiency of these medications may vary from 60-80% and reappearance time is 15%. Lamisil shows to be much efficient and has lesser side effects compared with Sporonox.Taking these medications has been proven to produce benevolent drug interactions such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, taste disorders and lightheadedness. Serious unpleasant incidents but very rare to occur which comprises hepatitis and also acute hepatic necrosis.

This topical solution can only be purchased with prescription and can also be costly. Other prescriptions that are proven to lessen the thickness of the infected nails are Keralac Nail Gel and Carmol 40. This can definitely lessen the thickness and yellowing of the nail in several incidents.

For more information Click Here

Buy Diet Pills

When dieting and working out aren't giving you the weight loss results that you want, it may be time to buy diet pills. If you've reached the point where you are considering adding prescription-based weight loss medications to your life, you might want to consider another option. Dietrine Carb Blocker is a great new supplement that is available without a prescription.

You may be familiar with Phase 2, which was very popular among those finding it difficult to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. Derived from the white kidney bean, Phase 2 neutralizes the enzyme alpha amylase produced in the pancreas, normally used to break down carbs. Starches are then able to pass through your digestive system without being broken down into glucose and fat, decreasing your net caloric intake, even with foods such as bread, pasta, and cereal.

By simply clicking around our website, you can safely and securely order Dietrine Carb Blocker from the comfort of your own home. And, because this is a 100 percent stimulant-free, botanical supplement, you don't have to worry about harmful side effects or drug interactions. And, as if that wasn't enough, when you order Dietrine Carb Blocker, we add in some great bonus material that will help you lose the weight even faster!

Free with any purchase of Dietrine Carb Blocker is a lifetime membership in our online weight loss program, which will keep you posted on new developments in the industry and provide great tips on exercise and diet programs you might want to try. We also include a weight loss hypnosis download and an e-book with 71 weight loss tips that contains all the tricks you need to promote real fat loss! With such a great supplement and a fantastic package of extras, you'll be on your way to the body you want in no time!

For more information Click Here

Hypothyroidism and Low Metabolism in the Body

Hypothyroidism is an ailment that occurs when the thyroid gland located at the frontal zone of the neck just below the “Adam’s apple” reduces its function of producing the thyroxine hormone which is responsible for balancing the bodily processes and metabolism. As a result, the body’s metabolism is reduced or lowered. This symptom is particularly common among sufferers of hypothyroidism. They generally complain of excessive tiredness and general body weakness.Unfortunately, many people who have hypothyroidism hardly notice it because the symptoms are very much like those of people who are stressed out.

So, they do not check it out until it is fully bloomed. Most just think if they would only rest and reduce the stressful activities, they’ll be alright. Then hey find that even with adequate rest, they seem to get worse. By that time it is already far gone. In fact recent estimates have shown that over 5 million people in the United States alone are victims of this ailment and over 10 percent of the total population of women in the United States suffer from one form of the ailment or the other. In most cases though, it just a case of mild hypothyroidism and most times it goes undetected as the symptoms are mostly attributed o other things. So how does this affect the body metab –abbrev for metabolism?

According to Encarta Dictionaries, the word metabolism has two meanings:

1.    Life-sustaining chemical activity: the series of processes by which food is converted into the energy and products needed to sustain life.

2.    chemical activity involving particular substance: the biochemical activity of a particular substance in a living organism.

So, going by these definitions, it is clear that the metabolic processes in the body is what converts food to the required energy we all need. Now, because a decrease in the thyroxine levels in the body results in muscle loss, this grossly decreases the basal metabolic rate of the person’s body system. Since the metabolic activities are mostly carried out in the muscles, it becomes harder for the body to process foods at the normal rate. Hence reducing body metabolism and consequently, energy and strength.

For more information Click Here

Hemorrhoids Home Treatment

People who have hemorrhoids have three primary concerns when deciding which  home treatment to purchase. The most important factor, of course, is whether the  remedy actually works. After that, the permanence of recovery and ease of use  are the primary concerns. Venapro, our all-natural hemorrhoids medication, meets  all three criteria, making it the most effective treatment you can find!

Venapro is the most reliable home treatment on the market. In fact, it is so  effective that we offer a money-back guarantee to anyone who is not fully  satisfied with the results. Few other brands back their treatments with such a  bold promise. As you can probably guess, very few bottles of Venapro are sent  back to us!

Our formula not only provides immediate relief from pain but also eliminates  the hemorrhoids altogether. Hemorrhoids can return after a particular flare-up  has been eliminated, but this only occurs when the conditions for hemorrhoids,  such as diarrhea, constipation, or prolonged sitting, come back. A single case,  however, will be gone forever after taking Venapro for the recommended period of  time! This is because the herbs and vitamins in Venapro attack hemorrhoids from  inside the body, making it impossible for them to remain.

Attempting to apply external hemorrhoids treatments can be incredibly  uncomfortable, and sometimes altogether impossible. Some hemorrhoids exist deep  within the rectum. Since Venapro, which comes in capsule form, reaches the  hemorrhoids through the bloodstream, it can eliminate even the hardest-to-reach  hemorrhoids. It's not hard to see why Venapro is the ideal hemorrhoid  remedy!

For more information Click Here

Problems With Premature Ejaculation

 
It's possible that your husband's rapid ejaculation has gotten him so down that he's withdrawing from sex. If so, that can be easily remedied. Quite often, when a man gains good ejaculatory control, he suddenly becomes much more interested in sex. And even if he doesn't, it might be nicer for both of you if he lasted longer.

Faced with involuntary ejaculation, most men try to distract themselves during intercourse, believing that by thinking about other things, they can trick themselves into lasting longer. Usually, that only makes things worse.

 Don't tune out your body. TUNE INTO IT. You need to become more familiar with your different levels of sexual arousal. You also need to recognize how you feel as you approach your point of ejaculatory inevitability, the "point of no return." Once you recognize how you feel close to your point of no return, it's not difficult to make small sexual adjustments that allow you to remain highly aroused without ejaculating.

Sexual arousal is a four-phase process. In the Excitement Phase, breathing deepens and erection begins. In the Plateau Stage, erection becomes full and you feel highly aroused. When arousal builds to a certain point, the next phase occurs, Orgasm with Ejaculation. Then during the Resolution Phase, breathing returns to normal and erection subsides. The key to ejaculatory control is to extend the Plateau Phase, to maintain arousal without triggering Orgasm and Ejaculation.

For more information Click Here

Nutritional Support For Joint Structure and Function

The first health care claim of deer velvet antler to be substantiated by scientific evidence, in compliance with US Food and Drug Administration dietary supplement regulations, was announced by the North American Elk Breeders Association (NAEBA) recently. Executive Director Ben Coplan said the determination, made by two consulting firms hired by NAEBA, Nutrinfo of Watertown, Massachusetts and Tradeworks Group, Inc. of Brattleboro, Vermont, is a significant breakthrough for the nation's 1,400 breeders of farm-raised elk.

According to Coplan, the Nutrinfo report states there is a reasonable basis to claim that velvet antler helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis. However, a disease claim may not be used for a dietary supplement in the US; therefore, the acceptable statement for product labels and advertisements of a dietary supplement would be "provides nutritional support for joint structure and function."

"This determination, by two of the leading dietary supplement firms in the world, is "just what the doctor ordered" for the members of our growing agricultural industry," Coplan said.


Many studies have shown most of the carbohydrate in antler is proteoglycan, which is a combination of protein and carbohydrate. The carbohydrate portion is primarily glycosaminoglycan, of which chondroitin sulfate is by far the predominant constituent. One study cited by the Nutrinfo report evaluated the clinical efficacy of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis. Treatment with 3 X 400 mg doses per day for 90 days provided significant relief from symptoms as reported by patients. "We intend to research and substantiate other health benefit claims for velvet antler," Coplan said.

"We want to carefully research the potential benefits of velvet antler supplements for supporting the immune system, anti-aging, muscle strength and endurance, and sexual vitality."

Deer velvet antler has been highly regarded in traditional oriental medicine for two thousand years. It is consumed regularly by people of Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong as a highly prized medicinal drug to treat blood loss, weakness, and chronic joint pain. Scientific studies in Canada and New Zealand are now verifying the health benefits of this important supplement.

"The scientific-backed health benefit claim will greatly expand marketing opportunities for velvet antler dietary supplements in the United States," Coplan stated.

The FDA in the United States regulates claims for dietary supplements through a process, which is different than for medicinal drugs; it does not "approve" dietary supplements, but allows producers to substantiate structure/function claims through critical review of scientific studies.

In North America, farmers and ranchers raise approximately 110,000 elk, the largest of the deer family. Historically, the velvet antler harvested by North American farmers has been exported to Asian countries. As the natural foods and dietary supplement market has expanded in the U.S., farmers have turned their attention to the domestic market. Association headquarters is in Platte City, Mo.Copies of the scientific report on velvet antler are available from the NAEBA office.From: North American Elk Breeders Association

For more information Click Here

Breast Self Exam

Healthy Changes Through Life: Doing a monthly breast self exam is the best way to stay familiar with the cyclical changes in your breasts. You will get to know the territory better than your health care team, and will spot changes easily. Having an annual clinical exam helps document your breast health, so keep a regular appointment set up for that! Between puberty and menopause, your breasts will go through many changes, which are affected by hormones, diet, and exercise. Most of these changes are natural and healthy!

Teen Years (Puberty): In the teen years, with the start of your monthly cycle, your body enters the maturing process, and you gain curves and may notice skin changes (such as acne) and even hair may change color or texture. Breast tissue is developing during this time too, and may be dense and firm to begin with, especially if you are small-breasted.Family Resemblance: At this stage, it’s not too early to know your family health history, so ask your female relatives (mother, aunts, grandmother) if they had any fibrocystic problems with their breasts, or any regular cysts. If so, it’s likely that you may experience those too. Not to worry – cysts are benign – but you want to know where they are, and if they come and go, so they can be distinguished from other features in your breasts.'

More Curves and Kids (Childbearing Years): After your body is prepared for motherhood, if you conceive and bear children, and also if you breastfeed the children, that will bring on more changes in your breasts, as well as in the rest of your body. Breasts may become larger and more tender during pregnancy, and may need more support. Don’t neglect your BSE during this time, stay familiar with the changes. Remember that pregnancy and breastfeeding will help combine to lower your risk of breast cancer.

Maturity (Menopause): Menopause also brings changes in your breasts, as your estrogen and progesterone levels drop, your breast tissue may become less firm and may drape differently than during your teen and child-bearing years. Keep up with your breast self exams in these years too, so that the normal changes are familiar to you. Less dense breast tissue will seem to have more lumps and bumps, but remember that 90% of breast lumps are benign.

For more information Click Here

Mother Nature Can Help You Quit Smoking

Mother Nature Can Help You Quit Smoking Today, it is well known that smoking is a habit that invites nothing but grief, not only to oneself but also to all the surrounding people. With this raising awareness, more and more people are genuinely trying to quit smoking.  Some find it easy and some find it terribly difficult – depending upon the degree of addiction and their own will power.  The good news is that Mother Nature can effectively support you in this daunting task.  

Quit Smoking – The Natural WayThe reason for the high rate of failure of quit smoking plans is that most people hate the withdrawal symptoms that follow – such as depression, craving for nicotine, anxiety attacks, irritability,  body ache, lack of sleep, interference with body functions (mostly when the person was in habit to go to the toilet or sleep only after lighting a cigarette) and so on. Some of the most popular herbal quit smoking aids are described hereunder. Choose one or a combination of two or more and get rid of this deadly habit. You could take the advice of homeopaths and herbal doctors (ayurvedic doctors) to help you decide which combination works best for you. You could also buy the herbal products that are already available on the market. These are used as patches on the skin and hence are very easy to use.

1.    Gotu Cola – this is an herb that literally clears the head and improves the sharpness of the brain. It is particularly beneficial in the quit smoking process as it fights anxiety attacks and increases the level of concentration.

2.    Avena Sativa – this is an herb that has been used to fight serious drug addictions (such as opium) with great success for centuries. This herb too, prevents anxiety attacks and reduces the craving for and dependency on many harmful substances. 

3.    Garcinia cambogia – one of the side effects experienced during quit smoking process is sudden weight-gain. This could be because people feel depressed and substitute the smoking habit with that of eating.  

Garcinia cambogia is classified as a citrus and is an excellent appetite suppressant. At the same time it raises the rate of the metabolism thereby increasing the rate of burning fat.  This means a double bonus – reducing the compulsion to eat and reducing the weight. There are many other wonder herbs that can help with your quit smoking plans. Some of these are bayberry, ginger root, eucalyptus, skullcap and safflower. Let nature help you quit smoking today.

For more information Click Here

Menopause Symptoms and Memory Loss

While you may experience the misery of hot flashes and mood swings as you enter menopause, one thing you can't blame on the "change" is memory loss.

In the latest study that exonerates menopause as a cause of impairing the ability to recall, Taiwanese researchers compared the memory of hundreds of women before they had any menopausal symptoms to their memory as they entered menopause.

They found the women who were going through the menopausal process scored as well or nearly as well on five different cognitive function tests. Results of the study are to be presented Oct. 4 at the American Neurological Association annual meeting in Toronto.

"When women go into perimenopause, they don't need to worry about cognitive decline," said Dr. Jong-Ling Fuh, an attending physician at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and an associate professor of Yang-Ming University School of Medicine.

The researchers said the myth of memory loss during menopause is a perception some women have because as they went through menopause, they felt their memory wasn't as sharp as it had been before. Studies suggesting that hormone replacement therapy might protect against dementia strengthened that belief. However, a large study later found that in older women, hormone replacement therapy not only didn't help protect women from dementia, but could actually increase the risk.

To try to answer the question of whether menopause did have any effect on memory, Fuh and her colleagues studied nearly 700 premenopausal women living on a group of rural islands between Taiwan and China. The Taiwanese government restricted access to these islands until the 1990s, so the authors report that the study's population was nearly homogeneous, which would help rule out other potentially causative factors of memory loss.

The women were between the ages of 40 and 54. None of them had had a hysterectomy, and none took hormone replacement therapy during the study.

All took five cognitive tests designed to assess their memory and cognitive skills at the start of the study, and then again 18 months later.

During the study period, 23 percent of the women began to have symptoms of menopause.

The researchers then compared the memory of the women who had entered menopause to those who had not, and found very little difference. In four of the five tests, there were no statistically significant differences in the two groups of women.

Only on one test was the difference statistically significant, and that difference, said Fuh, was very slight. This test was designed to assess verbal memory and involved showing the women 70 nonsensical figures. Some of the figures were repeated during the test, while most were not. The women were asked whether they had seen the figure earlier.

"For women, menopause does not mean you'll develop memory loss," said Dr. Raina Ernstoff, an attending neurologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. As you're going through perimenopause and experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, she said, you may feel lousy and have trouble sleeping, which might temporarily affect your cognitive skills.

"I don't think declining estrogen levels are what causes memory loss," said Dr. Steven Goldstein, an obstetrician/gynecologist at New York University Medical Center in New York City. "It's not like your memory is bopping along, doing fine and then takes this big dive during menopause, like bone density can."

Both Ernstoff and Goldstein said they weren't aware of many women who believed that menopause might cause significant memory loss. They also both felt that results from this group of women who were so homogeneous might not apply to different groups of women, such as those living in more industrialized society. And they both said that other factors that weren't studied could play a role in memory loss, such as hypertension, which can contribute to vascular dementia.

Ernstoff also pointed out that the education backgrounds can play a large role in memory loss. Fuh acknowledged the researchers did attempt to control the data for educational differences.

SOURCES: Jong-Ling Fuh, M.D., attending physician, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and associate professor, Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Steven Goldstein, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist, New York University Medical Center, and professor, obstetrics/gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City; Raina Ernstoff, M.D., attending neurologist, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich., and member, Alzheimer's Board of Detroit; Oct. 4, 2004, presentation, American Neurological Association, Toronto.

For more information Click Here

Why Affiliate Marketing Is So Important

Much of the information you'll find online is aimed at affiliate marketers: Make millions online! While many of these claims are overblown, they also get the attention of small and medium-sized businesses that also want to cash in on the affiliate marketing gold rush. Becoming an affiliate is as lucrative a proposition as becoming an affiliate marketer. For this reason, you'll see new affiliate opportunities arising each and every day.

Look at what a business is getting if it starts an affiliate program: free advertising. That's the simplest way to put it. The marketer signs up with the business and agrees to put a link on a website. The business only has to pay for this service if a sale is made—normally for a reasonable commission. As this is a sale that wouldn't have been made without the affiliate marketer's site, it is money well spent.

Even if a sale is not made, the link provides a method of advertising that can increase name recognition. Most business owners know that people might not make a purchase until the fifth time they see a brand name or come surfing to a site. An affiliate program can spread the word about a business on dozens upon dozens of sites. When combined with more traditional types of advertising, this can be a great way for a new business to get a foothold or an established business to expand its reach. These links can help search engine ranking as well.

The trick to a good affiliate partnership is finding quality marketers. While you obviously want to have your link on as many sites as possible, you also want those sites to be adept at generating traffic and sales. The fact remains that a large number of affiliate sites are posted and then never updated again. A business wants to find marketers who will design a professional-looking site and market that site effectively. At affiliate forums, businesses can hook up with marketers to start a relationship. A business owner can get a sense of the marketer's skill and drive from his or her stable of sites.

There's a lot of competition for marketers out there, especially established, quality marketers. Your best bet is to offer very attractive terms—a higher commission than the competition or a unique link layout. It should go without saying that your own site is well designed. An affiliate marketer wants to make a sale just as much as you do, and marketers won't sign up with a site that is poorly constructed. Offer a good site and a good product and you'll bring in more affiliate marketers. All this said, it is no surprise that affiliate marketing is growing at such an exponential rate. It is as important to business as any other type of marketing.

For more information Click Here

Why Organic Real Estate On The Web Is So Important

When it comes to real estate, people usually shout out the mantra: location, location, location. When it comes to web real estate, you could say the same thing: location, location, location in search engines. Organic real estate on the web refers to the positioning your website has on the web landscape. A solid organic real estate design and SEO strategy will make a website as necessary a destination as the corner market. In short, organic real estate keeps a website from languishing unseen in cyberspace.

So how does Organic Real Estate work? What makes Organic Real estate, well, organic? The main feature of Organic Real Estate is quality, informative content. This is what sets quality SEO plans apart from those that are merely trying to trick search engine spiders. Content should be natural, not written as if composed by a machine. Natural, well-written web content will increase page rank at a faster rate than content that is written only with keywords in mind.

This is especially important for web entrepreneurs who run affiliate sites. Web surfers are getting savvy to the fact that many affiliate sites are just a dummy site set-up to "hopefully" bring in some sales. Experienced affiliate marketers know that you can make a site that is as competitive, and useful, as the affiliate's host site. The more quality content there is on your site, the better an affiliate site can separate itself from the crowded web marketplace.

But Organic Real Estate is about a lot more than content—and this is where a lot of SEO plans fall short. In addition to providing content, a site owner must determine a target audience. In one way, content and target audience go hand in hand. You have to figure out target audience and tailor content accordingly. In addition, you may have a different target audience for different products or services offered on your site. Content and keyword targeting must be tailored to each potential type of client and customer.

Without these strategies, what will you have: a site that looks more like a link-factory than a trusted resource in a particular industry. In the past, people stressed the need for quality web design. While this is no doubt important, it is now much easier for amateur's to design a high-quality looking site. It is far less easy for site owners to provide fresh and useful content. You'll find a bevy of nice-looking sites with little or nothing to offer in terms of content. In Web 2.0, content is what separates the great from the mediocre, and the organic from the artificial.

For more information Click Here

What Is The Best Way To Quit Smoking

What Is The Best Way To Quit Smoking? The moment you decide that smoking is no more your cup of tea, the first thing you would search for would be the best way to quit smoking. How do you find what this best way to quit smoking is? Does it really exist or is this only a myth? Finding The Right AnswerIn order to find the right answer, you would need to ask the right questions. Here, you are asking the wrong questions and therefore you would never get what you seek. The question you should ask is, ‘Is this the right thing to search for?’. This is because the best way to quit smoking is a relative term – ‘one man’s poison can be another man’s nectar’. The best cannot be ‘best’ for everyone. Hence, you need to find out what is your individual best way to quit smoking.  There is a great difference between searching the best way in general and the best way for yourself. Know The DifferenceWhen you look for the best way in general – you would look at the following factors:-

1.    Market response – this would tell you how the product/ service is treated by the market. Its popularity and demand would be good indicators of whether it considered the best or not.

2.    Cost – the best way to quit smoking would be cost efficient. There are many methods that involve a lot of expense. Since this is not a medical condition covered by insurance, the cost factor is important.

 3.    High rate of success – the best way to quit smoking should have a very high rate of success. After all, you are undertaking a lot of trouble to see that you stop smoking and your efforts should be fruitful. Drawing parallel lines check out what the best way to quit smoking should mean to you personally:-

1.    Your response – how comfortable you are with the method? Do you hate needles – then acupuncture (however effective) cannot be your best way to quit smoking.  Here, your personal preference takes precedence over what the market in general thinks about the particular method.

2.    Cost – some people feel that the right cost is when you get value for your money. Hence, if you pay US $10 for something that is actually valued at US $1 you the product or service is expensive and vice-versa. This applies to emotional cost as well. Therefore, what some people would find expensive, other would find acceptable.

3.    Rate of success – the best way to quit smoking is the one that would give you the best chance to succeed. This would depend on what you find suitable enough to follow and stick to.

For more information Click Here

Aloe Vera Extract Heals Skin

Aloe vera has been shown in clinical studies to have a positive effect on wound healing and holds anti-inflammatory properties.

As stretch marks start out as microscopic tears in skin layers due to overstretching of the dermis, aloe vera helps heal these small wounds without causing scar tissue to form, effectively preventing the appearance of stretch marks. Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Indians and Chinese to decrease the appearance of scars and to moisturize and heal skin.

This extract from the aloe leaf protects skin from environmental factors and promotes skin regeneration.

For more information Click Here

Breast Surgery Complications

First and foremost there could be an allergic reaction to the anesthetic. General is considered to be more risky yet any anesthetic could bring on a negative reaction. Although extremely rare, it is possible to bleed post-operatively resulting in another surgery to control and drain the collected blood.  Another possibility is hematoma (a collection of clotted blood), seroma (a collection of the watery portion of the blood) and thrombosis (abnormal clotting).

 Loss of sensitivity is common, although temporary. Permanent sensation loss in the areola (nipple) area or breasts, in general, can and may happen. There is also a risk of excessive scarring or inner scar tissue. Also, you must have more views (films) taken when having a mammogram if you have breast implants -- especially overs.

There is also a risk of calcifications -- especially when there is a definite, thick capsule around the implant. And galactorrhea, which is when you start producing breast milk, is also a complication. This is usually remedied on its own and may stop spontaneously although some cases may need medication or implant removal. Although very rare, it is worth mentioning,  full disclosure is the key to an informed consent.

Breast tissue atrophy (loss, shrinking) is a possibility. According to the FDA, "the pressure of the breast implant may cause the breast tissue to thin and shrink. This can occur while implants are still in place or following implant removal without replacement".

Necrosis (death) of the breast tissue, breast envelope and or incision line can happen. Although extremely rare. The chances of necrosis are increased after radioactive/chemotherapy treatment, if you smoke and have poor circulation, or have temperatetherapy or cryotherapy post-operatively.

Extrusion is also an extremely rare occurrence but a scary possibility. Extrusion of the implant is where your body rejects the prosthesis and pushes it out of the skin, like when a piercing is pushed out or like when a thorn or splinter is pushed from the body. Then the implant may become visible under the skin and must be removed before it breaks through resulting in possibly an infection and definite major scarring.

Infection: You could develop a post-operative infection and need to have the implant removed, the infection dealt with and still have to wait for several months before an additional surgery can be performed to re-implant. Infections usually occur with the first 4 to 6 weeks. Some possible infections and a more common one being Staphylococcus, or simply Staph.

For more information Click Here

Blood pressure

Blood pressure (strictly speaking: vascular pressure) refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. The pressure of the circulating blood decreases as blood moves through arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and veins; the term blood pressure generally refers to arterial pressure, i.e., the pressure in the larger arteries, arteries being the blood vessels which take blood away from the heart. Arterial pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which uses the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure (see Non-invasive measurement). Although many modern vascular pressure devices no longer use mercury, vascular pressure values are still universally reported in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

The systolic arterial pressure is defined as the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle; the diastolic arterial pressure is the lowest pressure (at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle). The average pressure throughout the cardiac cycle is reported as mean arterial pressure; the pulse pressure reflects the difference between the maximum and minimum pressures measured.Typical values for a resting, healthy adult human are approximately 120 mmHg (16 kPa) systolic and 80 mmHg (11 kPa) diastolic (written as 120/80 mmHg, and spoken as "one twenty over eighty") with large individual variations. 

These measures of arterial pressure are not static, but undergo natural variations from one heartbeat to another and throughout the day (in a circadian rhythm); they also change in response to stress, nutritional factors, drugs, or disease. Hypertension refers to arterial pressure being abnormally high, as opposed to hypotension, when it is abnormally low. Along with body temperature, blood pressure measurements are the most commonly measured physiological parameters.

For more information Click Here

Research Your Quit Smoking Aids Well

Research Your Quit Smoking Aids Well – Your Success Depends On Your ChoiceMillions die of smoking-induced lung cancer and heart problems every year. At the same time, millions try to get rid of the habit every year with varied degrees of success. A lot of this success or failure is owed to the type of quit smoking aids chosen.What Are The Choices You Have?Since the dependency on nicotine is difficult to fight, you need to have all the support you can get; and in order to get the best support, you need to know what is available for you. Therefore, before you start your quit smoking exercise, check out what is available to you.

1.    The nicotine patch – this is one of the popular quit smoking aids because it is easy to use and quite effective in fighting off the habit.  People love to use this method because it means that they do not have to worry about taking medication or withdrawal symptoms.

2.    The nicotine gum – this has the same ingredients as the nicotine patch but it is used differently. While the nicotine patch is pasted on the skin and left to work at its own pace, the nicotine gum is used as and when the craving for cigarette is felt. This works in two ways – (i) it reduces the dependency on the nicotine,  and (ii) it replaces the cigarette smoking habit with that of chewing which some people find very helpful and calming.

3.    The stop-smoking tea – this is one of the popular natural quit smoking aids available in the market. Its popularity is owed to its fast action and lack of side effects. There are cases where the smoker could get rid of his/ her habit within a week with the stop-smoking tea. The tea has one hundred percent herbal ingredients and is comparatively low in cost.

4.    The nicotine-free cigarettes – this looks and even smells like the real cigarettes. However, they contain no nicotine. These quit smoking aids are best for the people who are highly addicted to the habit and have associated smoking with bowel movements and/ or sleep. This type of aid would need to be supplemented by medication that fights the ensuing withdrawal symptoms.

5.    Counseling – this is one of the most critical quit smoking aids that most smokers ignore. In order to be successful you would need to know what you should expect when you stop smoking. What are the withdrawal symptoms? How best to handle these? What are the medications available? How long does it take to get rid of the habit? These are only some of the questions that counseling would provide.

For more information Click Here

Breast Enlargement Implant Dangers

3% suffer leakage within three years causing a deflated implant.

Picture just ornament

Occasionally, breast implants may break or leak. The saline fill is salt water and will be absorbed by the body without ill effects. Older implants with silicone gel can leak also. If this occurs, one of two things may occur. If breakage of the implant shell that has a contracture scar around it, then it may not feel like anything has happed. If the shell breaks and there is not a contracture scar, then leakage into the surrounding tissue results in a sensation that the implant is deflating. The leaking gel may collect in the breast and a new scar may form around it. In other cases gel can migrate through the lymphatic system to another area of the body. Breaks may require a second operation and replacement of the leaking implant. If the gel has migrated it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone gel. This silicone gel is the what some say is related to the initiation of connective tissue disorders.

One study they reviewed showed that 63.6% of breast implants which had been in place for between one and 25 years had ruptured or were leaking. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/33450.stm)

For silicone gel and saline-filled implants, some causes of rupture or deflation include : damage by surgical instruments during surgery, overfilling or underfilling of the implant with saline solution (specific only to saline-filled breast implants), capsular contracture ,closed capsulotomy , stresses such as trauma or intense physical manipulation ,excessive compression during mammographic imaging, placement through umbilical incision ,site injury to the breast, normal aging of the implant ,unknown/unexplained reasons.

For more information Click Here

Herbal Sex Boosters

Woody Allen's late 1970s film Love and Death was eerily prophetic, if in name alone, about the Viagra dilemma. The drug enables many men to achieve an erection and regain lost sexual function, but it can also exact a stiff penalty from users. The Food and Drug Administration has reported dozens of deaths among Viagra users. This seems an unnecessarily severe side effect. Concerns about the drug have spurred interest in effective, natural aphrodisiacs without deleterious side effects. Responding to this interest, I set off for the Amazon rain forest in search of sex-enhancing plants. I traveled in the company of a Brazilian shaman named Bernie Peixoto, a man skilled in tribal wisdom and the use of plant medicines. There in the world's greatest jungle, we encountered two potent sex-boosting plants with a long history of safe use.

Our flight into Brazil put us into the Amazon city of Manaus, where we met with Antonio Matas, the most highly respected herbalist in that area. Antonio shared stories with us about his decades of healing work using rain-forest plants.

Catuaba and Muirapuama: Sex Enhancers?

"What about catuaba and muirapuama?" I inquired. "Are they really effective sex enhancers, or is that just a myth?" He laughed at the question and spread his hands wide open. "There is nothing that compares with catuaba and muirapuama together. I can tell you, I have used these plants with hundreds of people. The old become sexually young again. I have seen impotent men who can have sex for the first time in years. Even healthy couples find that these plants put extra fire in their sex life. These plants are good for men and women."

I asked Antonio if he used these plants himself. He smiled again. "Sometimes. After all, I've been married to the same woman for 43 years."

For more information Click Here