Health Bits

A recent study has provided interesting outline evidence that suggests that possibly drinking energy drinks can cause significant irregularities within the drinker’s blood pressure. Now it has to be said right at the start that while this is a fairly small survey, the results it provides do make interesting reading and are well worth paying attention to.
Basically the issue is this. “Energy” drinks unlike sports drinks that contain water, sugar and salts are known to contain quite high levels of Caffeine and a substance known as Taurine that is aimed purely at increasing energy and/or “alertness”. Now Taurine, which is an Amino acid and is found in protein foods like fish or meat also has the same properties as Caffeine and hence as has been proved in the past can lead to raised blood pressure.
Now the initial results of this survey and study and I do need to re-emphasize at this particular point in time that it is indeed a small study, have provided us with the results that showed the following:
Basically researchers took 15 healthy young adults, who were volunteers and the group comprised of seven men and eight women whose average age was about 26 years and got them to stop consuming caffeine from other sources two days before also during the duration of the study.
The researchers took the volunteers and at the outset of the study recorded the blood pressure and heart rate and carried out an ECG (electrocardiogram) to assess the heart function of each volunteer. Read the rest of this entry »

Even though we are supposedly living in a health conscious society, there are more overweight and obese people than ever before. Since many of us are trying to change our diet and live a healthier lifestyle, we buy health books and magazines and find ways to cook more balanced meals. We also limit our sugar and fat intake and become increasingly aware of nutritional labels and the vitamins and minerals that we need. Others, however, are suspicious of what they believe is a “health craze,” due to the contradictory information we receive about salt, sugar, red meat, and many other things. So what exactly is a healthy diet and can it actually be done? The answer is yes. By changing dietary habits in the four areas Americans have problems in their diet (sugar, bread, water, and artificial foods); one can experience a change in their health, energy, and overall well-being. The changes are not complicated or difficult and can be applied at your own pace without stress Read the rest of this entry »

About 44 million American men and women suffer from osteoporosis (severe bone loss) or osteopenia (mild bone loss), with women being affected twice as much as men. Each year, at least 1.5 million hip, vertebra, or wrist fractures occur in the United States because of osteoporosis. Although bone mass normally declines after age thirty-five, bone loss that is severe enough to cause fractures after only a minor trauma is a different problem.

Some of the risk factors for osteoporosis include: small body frame, underweight, Caucasian or Asian race, a sedentary lifestyle, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol or caffeine intake, high intake of carbonated beverages, and having other family member with osteoporosis. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, celiac disease, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive lung disease, hyperadrenalism, and hyperparathyroidism are also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. There are also some medications that increase the rate of bone loss such as those prescribed for seizures and blood thinning, prednisone and other steroids, aluminum-containing antacids, and loop diuretics. By engaging in regular weight bearing exercise, avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and quitting smoking, the rate of bone loss will be slowed. Eating adequate amounts of protein and supplementing with various vitamins and minerals also enhances bone health.

Calcium salts are absorbed about the same for most people, absorbing between thirty to forty percent of the administered dose. Those with low stomach acid, hypochlorhydria, should not use calcium carbonate because it is absorbed poorly without stomach acid. For many older people, calcium phosphate is preferable because phosphorus is necessary for normal bone formation. Calcium that is bound to phosphorus is the form in which calcium is stored in the bone, and has a much greater bone activity than other forms.

In order to promote strong bones, vitamin D is a necessary nutrient. Because vitamin D is produced when ultraviolet rays from the sun hit the skin, those people who stay out of the sun, wear sunscreen, or live in a northern Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone can recall a child from their school days who could simply not pay attention and ended up disrupting the whole class. This child often disrupted the whole class’ learning process because he could not sit still and focus on school tasks. Now, experts realize that children like this probably have the disorder called attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Chronic hyperactivity and distractibility is frustrating not only for the individual affected by ADHD, but also for their parents, siblings, and teachers as well. Children who have difficulty controlling their bodies and paying attention do not do well in school and because of this negative school experience; they feel that they are dumb and worthless. However, there are ways to help hyperactive and easily distracted children better focus their energy and attention into something positive and constructive. Many supplemental nutrients help children to concentrate on school activities and enjoy extracurricular activities as well.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder of self control consisting of problems with attention span, impulse control, and activity level. There are three types of ADHD. The first of these three is inattentive, which is when the child can’t seem to get focused and stay focused on a task. The second is hyperactive-impulsive, in which the child is very active and often acts without thinking. The third type of ADHD is a combination of the above two, where the child is inattentive, impulsive, and very active. Some symptoms of ADHD include: not paying close attention to details; not seeming to listen when spoken to directly, easily distracted; difficulty organizing and finishing tasks, fidgeting with hands and feet; running or climbing excessively; talking continually; interrupting conversation and intruding in other children’s games; avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort; exhibiting impulsive behavior; and doing things that are dangerous without thinking about possible outcomes. While all children show the above symptoms to a small degree, a child with ADHD will show these symptoms to a degree that interferes with major life activities and causes harm to the child. Read the rest of this entry »

Consists of: Oxymetholone 50 mg

The primary medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids are to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other diseases. Anabolic steroids promote the growth of skeletal muscle and the development of male sexual characteristics but do also have some other effects. Anadrol 50 is the strongest and, at the same time, also the most effective oral steroid. Anadrol has an extremely high androgenic effect, which goes hand in hand with an extremely intense anabolic component - oxymetholone. The highly androgenic effect of Anadrol stimulates the regeneration of the body so that the often feared “over training” is unlikely to occur. A dosage sufficient for any athlete would be 0.5 - 0.8 mg. per pound of body weight/day. This corresponds to 1-4 tablets; i.e. 50-200 mg/day. Under no circumstances should an athlete take more than four tablets in any given day, preferrably never more than three.

When taking Anadrol for the first time the athelete should begin with an intake of only one 50 mg tablet. After one week the daily dosage can be increased to two tablets, one tablet each in the morning and evening, taken with meals. Higher dosages should not be taken for periods longer than two to three weeks. Any use of Anadrol should not exceed six weeks. After discontinuing Anadrol, it is important to continue steroid treatment with another compound since, otherwise, a drastic reduction of muscle mass and strength takes place. Anadrol is the most harmful oral steroid and its intake can cause many considerable side effects. Most users can expect certain pathological changes in their liver values after approximately one week. Those who discontinue the use Read the rest of this entry »

While most of us know that eating plenty of fiber each day is good for our health, 90% of Americans eat less than 15 grams of fiber each day. Nutritionists recommend 30 grams of fiber each day and this can be difficult to get with out supplementation. Today we will look at how one can get the recommended 30 grams a day. (1) Fiber can benefit your health in several ways for example: help prevent cancer, lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, strengthen the heart, reduce the risk of diabetes, help with weight loss, boost the immune system, and encourage regular bowel movements with individuals experiencing constipation.

First let’s look at where dietary fiber comes from. Fiber is found in fruits and vegetables and is the part that can not be digested or absorbed. Fiber has zero calories and isn’t considered an essential nutrient even though it’s recognized as having health benefits. Fiber comes in two classes, insoluble fiber and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignins can not dissolve in water. Soluble fiber does dissolve in water. Each of these fibers exhibit different health benefits in the body.

Foods high in soluble fiber are oats, bran, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries, and apples. Oat bran has the highest soluble fiber content of any grain, if you eat the whole oat grain it contains insoluble fiber as well. Foods high in insoluble fiber are whole wheat breads, cereals, and bran, rye, rice, barley, cabbage, beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, turnips, and apple skins. (2)

You might be wondering how fiber can help fight cancer. Fiber when eaten expands in the stomach leaving little room for more food to be ingested. As your stomach fills up with fiber you will be less likely to ingest fatty foods, high fat diets have been Read the rest of this entry »

Current health studies show that our population is growing bigger and getting fatter each year. More than 50% is overweight! Obesity has now reached pandemic proportions and has become a serious problem to our personal health, making it a burden on our health system.

There are many health problems and diseases associated with being overweight and obese, for example: skeletal problems, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and sleep apnea to name a few. Studies have also shown that a relationship exists between excessive bodyweight and increased mortality. Increasing one’s body weight by 10kg will directly affect their lifespan by decreasing their living years. Obesity is a serious problem, however it can be fought and its effects reversed.

There are a variety of ways of combating obesity and preventing / reversing the health complications that arise from it. Obesity prevention can occur through a number of factors including 1.Dieting 2.Lowering Fat and Cholesterol. 3.Exercise. Read the rest of this entry »

Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus-like plant found in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. The San tribe have been eating the hoodia gordonii plant for centuries to stave off hunger during hunting trips. Just a small piece of the plant acts as a powerful appetite suppressant. It’s all natural and so far doesn’t have any side effects. It sounds like the perfect diet pill, but does hoodia work?

To answer the question we need to understand what hoodia does once it’s ingested. In theory, hoodia works by tricking the brain, specifically the hypothalamus, into thinking you have consumed large amounts of food. As a result, the brain tells you that you are full. The active ingredient in hoodia, P57, is responsible for this trick.

When you eat, the food in your body is broken down into sugar. When the sensors in the hypothalamus recognize the sugar in your body, it shuts down your desire to eat. P57 is 10,000 more powerful than blood sugar (glucose). Without eating any food, P57 can trick your brain into thinking you have consumed large amounts of food when in fact you haven’t eaten a thing! Read the rest of this entry »

The American Heart Association (AHA) has done a great job discovering what cholesterol does and how it affects our health. We know that high cholesterol can cause heart disease and stroke, and by lowering our cholesterol we reduce our risk and keep our bodies health. Also, with diet, weight loss and exercise we can improve our cholesterol levels as well.

Not all cholesterol is bad for you. There are both good and bad forms of cholesterol, keeping these in balance is critical for proper heart health. In the past, the primary focus was to reduce the total or ‘bad’ cholesterol and doctors overlooked the HDL good cholesterol. Recent research suggests that raising the HDL levels may provide even more protection against heart disease. Raising the HDL by 1% can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by 2% in men and 3% in women. For example, if your HDL is 36mg/dl and it increased by 3.6mg/dl that’s 10%, can make you 20-30% less likely to have heart disease. Several studies have proven that low HDL is a risk factor in heart disease. (17) Read the rest of this entry »