Friday, February 29, 2008

Dieting Mantra


Dieting is basically done to lose excess weight. But dieting actually means managing your diet so as to keep your body healthy and fit. Even people with underweight also go for dieting to manage their weight.

When you think of weight loss and losing weight the few initial things that probably come to your mind are either those “lose weight fast !” or “Guaranteed weight loss” articles that you see in every magazine, newspaper, websites or guaranteed by many fitness centers.

Weight loss is simple, burn more calories than you consume. If you can fully understand that, than you are on your way to losing weight.

Six simple steps to a slimmer you :

  • Count how many calories you eat in a normal day. That’s right, wake up and eat like you would normally eat and count the calories in everything you eat and everything you drink and keep track of it on a piece of paper or on the computer somewhere.

  • At the end of that day, add up the number of calories you ate/drink. Be as exact as possible.

  • Starting the day after you counted calories; eat 500 calories LESS than you normally do. So, let’s pretend that the day you counted calories you counted 2000. For the rest of the week, you would eat 1500 calories a day.

  • Instead of eating three big meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), or eating all day all the time, spread those calories out over five smaller meals. Eat one meal every two and a half to three hours. By doing this you can speed up your metabolism.

  • Cardio is an important part of weight loss. If you are serious about losing weight, but don’t want to do the cardio workouts, then you are requiring your diet to do all of the work. Jog, walk, swim, jump rope, ride a bike, take an aerobics class, whatever……cardio + proper diet = better than just doing one of the two.

But very few people who are on dieting know what is the safe and effective way to go for dieting, when should they do dieting, what can be the side effects of their dieting program, whom should they consult and what should they do before and while on dieting

It is advisable that one should have proper knowledge of various dieting programs and dieting tips they follow. In the process of dieting the most important consideration should be on the diet. The diet should be taken in a way so that rather than adding up calories it should add nutritional content to the body.

So if you are on dieting or planning to go for any dieting program first make yourself aware of various types of diets, low carb diets, healthful diets, side effects of ineffective dieting programs, effective and safe weight loss programs.


To know more about dieting and other health related information visit http://www.peoples-health.com/ or http://www.peoples-health.com/diets.htm


Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Diabetes - Symptoms, Test and Control


What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a defect in the body’s ability to convert glucose to energy. It is caused due to insufficient production of glucose by the pancreas. In diabetes patients, the production of glucose is impaired.

What are the symptoms of Diabetes?

Patients with Type-1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time, and the condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes:

· Increased thirst

· Fatigue

· Nausea

· Increased urination

· Weight loss in spite of increased appetite

· Vomiting

However, because Type-2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:

· Increased thirst

· Impotence in men

· Increased appetite

· Increased urination

· Blurred vision

· Fatigue

· Slow-healing infections

How to diagnose diabetes?

The diagnosis of diabetes is made by a simple blood test measuring blood glucose level. Usually blood glucose level tests are repeated on a subsequent day to confirm the diagnosis. Your health care team may also request that you have a glucose tolerance test. If two hours after taking the glucose drink your glucose level is 200 or above, you will be diagnosed as having diabetes.

How can I control diabetes?

· Gather all the information about diabetes, its symptoms and causes

· Check your blood glucose level regularly

· If find any symptom of diabetes, visit your health care team for diagnosis of diabetes

· Ask your health care team about how to check blood glucose level at home

· Stop smoking

· Exercise daily

· Follow a healthy meal plan

· Check your vision at regular intervals, If found blurred visit your health care team

· Check your feet regularly for checking the occurrence of diabetes

· If you are diabetic, monitor you diabetes regularly

· Follow instructions of health care team strictly

· Avoid sweet ingredients, use sugar free food

Can diabetes be cured?

As yet, there is no treatment for either type of diabetes, although there are many ways of keeping diabetes in control. Studies have shown that good control of blood glucose (blood sugar) is the key to avoid diabetic complications later.

What are the treatment options to cure diabetes?

Diabetes is incurable. The only option is to prevent ourselves from diabetes or to keep diabetes under control.

Is diabetes a hereditary disease?

You are at higher risk of Type 2 diabetes if you have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes.

Complications of Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you are much more likely to know complication of diabetes like risk of stroke, heart disease, or a heart attack. In fact, 2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from stroke or heart disease. There are three conditions that make people with diabetes vulnerable to foot problems. These are vascular disease and foot deformities. About 30 percent of patients with Type 1 diabetes and 10 to 40 percent of those with Type 2 diabetes eventually will suffer from kidney failure. Diabetes also may cause damage to nerves in your body.

Author is running a health information site http://www.peoples-health.com where information on several diseases like allergies, blood disorders, cancer, children’s health, digestive disorder, liver diseases etc. and tips on dieting, nutrition and improving lifestyle has been provided. Find some useful articles on diabetes here- http://www.peoples-health.com/diabetes.htm

Monday, February 25, 2008

Back Pain Symptoms & Treatment

Here’s one problem you can’t turn your back on! But you can get some relief from knowing that very few people turn out to have a major problem or a dangerous medical condition involving the bones or joints of the back. In fact, often the exact cause of a person’s back pain can’t be pinpointed exactly. Many causes result from everyday activities and clear up by themselves within a relatively short time period. Whether your back pain requires a doctor’s care or not, chances are you’ll be “back” to normal in no time.

Back pain may be blamed on poor muscles tone in the back, muscle tension or spasm, back strains, ligament or muscle tears, bone weakness and/or joint problems. If you have a so called “slipped disc” in your spinal column, you may suffer buttock of leg pain, numbness, tingling of weakness in the bones of legs due to irritation of nerves from the spinal cord. Emotional stress of long periods of inactivity may worsen back pain.

People in poor physical condition (including obesity) or those who do work that includes heavy labor or long periods of sitting or standing have a higher risk of developing low back problems; they also get better more slowly.

Occasionally back pain can be due to other conditions. These include arthritis, ulcers or other intestinal problems, kidney disease, pregnancy or other gynecological conditions, heart diseases, bone injuries and cancer. If back pain seems unrelated to an injury or activity, or is in any other way unusual, a visit to the doctor is recommended.

Symptoms

Back pain is usually confined to the lower back, but it may extend to other areas, particularly the legs. Affected parts of the back may feel tender or sore to the touch and the pain may increase with movement. Pain can be felt as sharp of knife-like, a burning sensation or as a dull muscular ache. Symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to completely disabling.

Treatment

Most episodes of mild back pain will improve without any medical intervention. Over the counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can provide temporary relief. It’s a good idea to avoid overly strenuous or repetitive activity, but bed rest should generally be avoided. In fact, numerous clinical trials have confirmed that continued activity and prescribed exercises reduce back discomfort and result in more rapid recovery. Exercise and healthy diet can be followed to make bones healthy. In addition, a good exercise program may help prevent recurrence-common with back pain. Check with your doctor if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve rapidly.

Other helpful back pain treatments include physical therapy, massage and spinal manipulation. In addition, a panel from the National Institutes of Health has concluded that acupuncture may be useful as one form of treatment in a comprehensive management program for back pain. Surgical treatment of back pain is dictated but by the type of structural problem that is causing the pain. In some cases, surgery can be a highly effective option.



Author is running a non commercial health site http://peoples-health.com/ which provides information regarding various health aspects and diseases like bone injuries, cancer, diabetes, liver diseases, arthritis, blood diseases etc. covering their symptoms, treatment and causes


Thursday, February 21, 2008

Dieting

Everyone is in competition nowadays to look good and live healthy.

So to look good usually they go for dieting with the aim of losing weight as personality with overweight is not pleasing.

People diet for many reasons. Some are at an unhealthy weight and need to pay closer attention to their eating and exercise habits. Some play sports and want to be in top physical condition. Others may think they would look and feel better if they lost a few pounds.

Lots of people feel pressured to lose weight and try different types of diets. But if you really need to lose weight, improving your eating habits and exercising will help you more than any diet.

Dieting could be a solution if done in a right manner.

Unhealthy Dieting, especially extreme food-intake reduction and rapid weight loss, can have the following side effects:


  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Prolonged hunger
  • Sinus
  • Muscle loss
  • Blood shot eyes
  • Gall bladder diseases
  • Acidosis
  • Rashes
  • Irritability
  • Fainting

The best way to diet is to eat a wide variety of enough food to meet your body's needs. Aim to eat more fruits and veggies, cut back on meats high in fat (like burgers and hot dogs), greasy fried foods, and sweets, and drink more water instead of sugary drinks like sports drinks or sodas.

Great Dieting Tips to loose weight safely:

  • Eat less. More often
  • Don't eat right before going to bed
  • Kick the sugar habit
  • Shop with calories in mind.
  • Reduce the amount of breads, chips, crackers, and salty snacks you eat

  • Exercise daily
  • Drink milk, including fat-free or low-fat milk
  • Drink plenty of water (at least four to six 8-ounce glasses a day).
  • Eat lean, high-protein foods, like lean meat, chicken, fish, or beans.
  • Eat whole grains (like whole-wheat bread or pasta), which provide fiber, B vitamins, and iron
  • Eat breakfast
  • Choose smaller portions at fast-food restaurants
  • Stay away from fad diets — you might lose a few pounds temporarily, but if you don't focus on changing your habits, you'll probably just gain it back when you go back to your usual way of eating
  • Don't take diet pills
Avoid considering diet as "good" or "bad" or avoiding entire groups of foods, like dairy


Author is running a health information site http://www.peoples-health.com where information on several diseases like allergies, blood disorders, cancer, children’s health, digestive disorder, liver diseases etc. and tips on dieting, nutrition and improving lifestyle has been provided. Find some useful articles on dieting here- http://www.peoples-health.com/diets.htm

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Dental Health Care and Teeth Protection

Smile is the beauty of Face. Healthy teeth compliments healthy smile. For keeping teeth healthy proper care is very necessary. Nowadays because of unhealthy food and due to not taking proper care many dental problems are arising like bruxism,canker sore, teeth cavities, gum diseases, Periodontitis, Dysphagia, Gingivitis, Halitosis, dry mouth and many more.

There are many dental solutions available with the dentists like:

  • Dental fillings are a requirement when you face dental problems like broken or chipped of dentures, tooth with cavities etc. Dental fillings are done with certain non-reactive and stable metals and inorganic compounds.

  • Dental sealants otherwise also known as tooth sealants are a thin coat of resin that is applied on the surface of the teeth to prevent tooth decay.

  • Dentures are the most helpful thing that has brought out for the people without teeth. They act as a substitute for the teeth and are easily removable when required. Dentures can be used for single tooth replacements, a few teeth replacements or replacement of a whole set of teeth.

  • Dental insurance - Here in dental insurance, you will get covered for all dental procedures that are carried out on your teeth either during the course of normal dental care or in case you suffer from an accident and damages has taken place to your teeth.

  • Braces have been in place not just to ensure the beauty of a person or guarantee his / her smile. They are able to rectify health problems and help one to maintain better oral hygiene. Teeth that have been overcrowded in the mouth are distributed evenly and thy can be cleaned effectively by brushing and flossing. Other dental problems like tooth decay and cavities can also be cleared over time with proper braces for your teeth

But as we know that Precaution is better than cure. So it is better to keep good care of our teeth to keep smiling always.

Tips for Dental Care:

  • Brush your teeth correctly at least twice a day.
  • Use your teeth for what they are intended for
  • Avoid smoking, drugs, tobacco etc.
  • Avoid clinching or grinding teeth
  • Floss your teeth to remove food particles and bits that are trapped under the gums.
  • Consume foods that will not damage your teeth
  • Know what you are taking and update your knowledge about the side effects of the se medications.
  • Perform Exercises for your teeth like gum massage.
  • Visit the dentist once in every six months
  • Clean the mouth after having the food to maintain good oral hygiene.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Healthy Diet is must for Children


For every parent, health of their children is the most important concern. Children are very choosy when it comes to eating nutritious food. They get attracted more towards junk foods like burgers, chocolates, ice creams, and chips etc. that never contribute in the nutritional intake but in fact cause bad impact on their health.

Parents normally get convinced by their children and get them all the things to eat whatever they demand not concerning much about their effects. And similarly children also are not aware of what they should eat and what they should not.

In the present modern society mostly people do not have a healthy lifestyle and thus they are getting more prone to diseases.

As the childhood age is the actual age of growth and development and thus in this age essential nutrients are very important for the body.

Lack of such nutrients can abrupt the proper growth of the body and may lead to certain diseases sooner or later. That is why parents need to take special care when it comes to the health of their children.

Taking care of health does not mean that it results in overweight of their children by increasing their diets or underweight children by reduction in the required amount of diet in fear of obesity.

Children should be given required amount of essential nutrients that is healthy diet.

For that they should follow diet-health-weight chart or nutrition chart strictly. The dieting program should be monitored by a physician. The pediatrician will guide you in controlling the eating habits of the child and will prescribe the healthy diet, which is very much essential for the growth of the child. Pediatricians and nutritionists are of great help in chalking out the healthy meal plan, which is liked by both parents as well as children.

Tips that parents can follow at home:

  • Avoid bringing junk foods to home.
  • Instead of giving chips, give your child crackers and peanut butter.
  • In place of dry fruits, offer fruit roll-ups
  • Instead of offering ice cream, give them frozen yogurt.
  • Be little bit creative with vegetables, like mash the cauliflower like potatoes, add cheese to broccoli, and provide ketchup with pinto beans.
  • Have stock of cereals, which are rich in fibers instead of sweet cereals.
  • Replace high fat cookies with vanilla wafers, animal crackers, graham crackers and fig cookies
  • Replace chips, or cracker jacks with pretzels.
  • Cook the meat separately if your child dislikes the meat with sauce

For fast and effective hemorrhoids relief please visit http://www.peoples-health.com