Archive for September, 2010

PostHeaderIcon Will Lutein Improve Vision If Added to Daily Nutrition?



The best answer to the question “Will lutein improve vision if one adds it to their daily nutrition?” is “Yes” if you are a sufferer of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Non-sufferers will also benefit in the form of vision protection.

Lutein is an eye pigment, found in the macula area of the retina. It helps protect against high energy light and the results of oxidative processes that go on there. One must always include the companion pigment zeaxanthin, which is found in the more peripheral area of the retina. The two are often described as macular pigment.

As we grow older – some think from about 50 – the concentrations of both macular pigments change. This is related to the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which results in a gradual loss of central vision.

There is some evidence that low levels of macular pigment increase the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. There are also results of studies that show that supplementation with the macular pigments helps protect against AMD.

In the Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST), the authors concluded that supplementation improved eye function. This improvement was in the form of visual function, glare recovery, and contrast sensitivity.

So the answer to the question “will lutein improve vision” is yes for sufferers of AMD. Those who are not yet affected are still also advised to take it as it will protect against or delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration.

One obvious source is the diet and foods like eggs, Brussels sprouts, peas, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, kale, collard greens, broccoli, zucchini and broccoli are good sources.

The intake from food is not always measurable, one does not always feel like having so many veggies and the accompanying fat or oil that is needed to ensure absorption may not be a part of the meal.

A nutritional supplement is a good source which gets round the dietary challenges. This is highly recommended provided it comes as part of a multi-ingredient nutraceutical rather than a single substance formulation.

Vision support requires a multiplicity of nutrients and includes zeaxanthin, bilberry and vitamins. The amount of lutein provided must also be sufficient to meet the recommended minimum daily requirement of between 6 and 30mg.

I am aware from personal usage of a product that contains at least 90 ingredients to cover the needs of not only vision, but also the effects of aging in general. The ingredients include lutein, zeaxanthin, bilberry, multi-vitamins, resveratrol, ginko biloba and many others.

If you would like to know more especially about the multi-ingredient supplements that can help you safeguard or improve your vision and support you against the general effects of aging, then please visit my website today.

PostHeaderIcon Fat Loss Products – Which Are Scams, Which Are Worth Their Weight in Gold?

Every year there are thousands of new fat loss products released in to the market place and the weight loss industry in itself is responsible for bringing in billions of dollars every year. You heard me right “billions”. That being said there is as much garbage out there as there are quality fat loss products. At the bottom of this article I will have a few recommendations for you but before we get to that there are a few things you should consider.

The first thing I can’t stress enough is research. Before you hand over your hard earned money for any fat loss products, turn to Google for a quick search and see what comes back. Simply open up Google in your browser and enter “product name review”.

Doing this should give you some valuable info, however, and this is a big however, you need to apply some common sense. The internet is full of insincere reviews that are only trying to make a buck by referring you to their sponsor. So a good or bad review doesn’t necessarily mean that the item is really good or bad, but instead you should be looking for the overall quality of the site and the review. If the site is a free blog, and the review is nothing but positive, or overwhelmingly negative with a referral link to another product, then there is a chance that the review can’t be trusted. Just use your good judgment and go with your gut when reading anything on line.

Nevertheless, reading consumer reviews is a very important money saving step when it comes to fat loss products.

PostHeaderIcon Oxygen Supplements Can Increase Your Oxygen Intake

Oxy-Gen Plain supplement is one of the best aloe vera products with saturated oxygen. Pure aloe vera is used as stabilized container for many healthy nutrients before saturated oxygen is added. Oxygen is required by the body in large quantities for performing body functions and reactions. In some cases where oxygen is not available adequately loss in activity occurs. People with some diseases whose lungs don’t take up proper amounts of oxygen, or blood shows loss of affinity for oxygen and athletes who do hard training can benefit from oxy-Gen supplement.

Oxy-Gen plain supplement has no flavors added to it. There are many nutritional ingredients present in it some of which are discussed below.

Aloe Vera

Oxy-gen contains aloe Vera which is a plant used for many purposes. It is used as an ornamentation plant as well as for human health. aloe vera finds many uses in herbal remedies. It is used as tropical remedy for skin irritations as well as taken internally. aloe vera has been used for treatment of burns, cuts and echzema. It is believed that the sap from aloe Vera is very good for relieving pain and inflammations.

aloe vera contains several medicinal substances that are used as a purgative in medicine. The wide known term aloes is the juice of this plant which is added in many dietary supplements. The leaf of the plant is cut half and the fluid is dried up. Although the plant is known for its health benefits but small number of medicinal researches reveal that patients were at reduced risk of heart disease that used it and it helped healing of wounds too. However, the most substantial study on its use is its function as a laxative.

Aloe Vera has a whole lot of nutrients in it almost over 75 nutrients, nineteen amino acids, 20 minerals and 12 vitamins. aloe vera cause purging after absorption when it is applied on broken surfaces. It can increase the rate of flow of bile and can stimulate the large intestine. Commonly it sis used as energy booster, indigestion, immune system support, fighting infections, repairing and soothing tissues, joint lubrication and alleviating arthritis.

Zinc gluconate

Zinc gluconate is a nutrient that is used in providing zinc for maintaining human body functions. Dietary supplements such as oxy-gen supplement contain this popular ingredient. Zinc is very important and is part of almost 3000 different types of proteins.

Siberian Ginseng

Oxy-Gen supplements have this ingredient as well. It is good for health and it strengthens the human body system.

Peppermint Leaf

Peppermint leaf in Oxy-Gen supplement is an herb that has soothing affects on the stomach. It is also used as a soother for respiratory problems with its cooling diaphoretic property. It helps in strengthening the entire body. For easing intestinal cramping, and toning digestive system, menthol is present up to 78 percent in the peppermint leaf.

Bee Pollen

Oxy-Gen supplement has bee pollen added to it which has traces of minerals and vitamins and very high amounts of carbohydrates and proteins. It is believed to have helpful affects in enhancing energy, memory and body performance.

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PostHeaderIcon 4 Physical Benefits Of Yoga



As the benefits of yoga are becoming more clear to people, more people are starting to practice yoga in their homes or local gym classes. This fantastic exercise system has been around for almost 5000 years. There have been thousands of hours dedicated to studying yoga and finding out if it is worth practicing. Simply put, yoga is one of the best exercise systems in the world. It is for this reason that it is popular. If you would like to learn more about the physical benefits of yoga and whether or not it is for you – read on.

1. Flexibility: Regardless of what physical condition you are in, you will be able to practice yoga. Yoga does not rely on you having fantastic flexibility. It helps your work and strengthen your own bodies flexibility. Yoga teaches you how to safely stretch you muscles. When you safely stretch your muscles, you can get rid of the lactic acid that normally builds up with your muscles. This lactic acid usually causes tension, fatigure, pain and stiffness. With yoga this lactic acid is cleared and makes you feel much better physically after exercising. Yoga also helps your body lubricate the joints and helps the motion of the joints. In the end, you will see you are more fluid and powerful throughout your entire body.

2. Strength: While yoga is not the ultimate strength building exercise, it does help you build your muscles depending on what exercises you are performing. The Power styles of yoga such as Ashtanga help increase your physical strength and muscle tone at a much quicker rate. The other styles of yoga also help with strength building but only specific exercises.

3. Posture: One of the greatest benefits of yoga is that it helps you work on your posture. This is fantastic for people who have been struggling with posture their entire lives. The yoga positions used help you increase your strength and flexibility. This flexibility and strength is needed to be the foundation of a good posture. The standing and sitting positions for yoga automatically help you work on your core strength. Since you rely on those deep abdominal muscles to maintain each pose, you will be building this core strength automatically. Since yoga helps you work on your body awareness, after a few weeks of practicing yoga, you will automatically know when you are slumping or slouching and you will WANT to fix it.

4. Heart: Yoga has an extremely beneficial effect on heart disease. Since yoga is known to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate, it is constantly recommended to people with heart problems. Reducing the heart rate can help benefit people who suffer from strokes, hypertension and heart disease. More and more western physicians are recommending yoga to people with heart issues.

This only touches on the physical benefits of yoga. There are many more benefits of yoga that you can also take advantage of. You can gain the benefits of yoga in your own home through a yoga DVD or through a class at a local gym. Decide which one is for you and start practicing yoga.

PostHeaderIcon Planning An Exercise Program



When designing an aerobic or strength training exercise program, fitness professionals, such as personal trainers and gym instructors, invariably use the F.I.T.T. principle as their starting point. The good news is that with a little bit of knowledge anyone can use this principle in designing an exercise program that will help them to become progressively fitter and stronger, and help them lose or control their weight.

If you want to start an exercise program or take your current routine to the next level, you’ll find the information and tips in this article just what you need.

What is the F.I.T.T. Principle?

The F.I.T.T. principle is a basic philosophy of what is necessary to gain a training affect from an exercise program.

Specifically, the letters F.I.T.T. stand for:

o Frequency

o Intensity

o Type

o Time

Here’s what each of these four things stand for:

Frequency refers to the number of times you exercise. For those new to training or those just wanting to lose weight, frequency is usually calculated within the context of a week. For example, your plan might be to walk 3, 4 or 5 times per week.

Intensity is the level of effort you put into each exercise. For aerobic exercises intensity is usually measured in terms relative to your maximum heart rate while the intensity of strength exercises is measured in terms of the amount of weight you use, the number of repetitions and sets you perform, and the amount of rest time you take in between sets.

Time is simply how long you exercise during each session. For example, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, cycling, etc) per session.

Type refers to whether you do aerobics or strength training during your exercise sessions and the specific exercises you select for each.

The F.I.T.T. principle and Weight Loss

Why are the basic F.I.T.T. principle concepts important if you are planning an exercise program to lose weight?

They’re important because they help you to:

o Start with the right exercises and intensity.

o Measure your progress.

o Plan your exercise to maximize long term weight loss.

Using the F.I.T.T. principle isn’t just important in your initial exercise planning, it is also crucial to your long term planning and weight loss and fitness success.

By increasing or varying any or all parts of the F.I.T.T. principle elements, you can:

1. Increase the number of calories you burn during each exercise session.

2. Improve your cardiovascular fitness and strength.

3. Help minimize overuse/over training injuries.

4. Build variety into your program.

F.I.T.T Principle Guidelines

Here are some basic F.I.T.T. principle guidelines for both aerobics and strength training to help you plan an exercise program.

Please keep in mind that these examples represent general guidelines only for those of us with low to moderate fitness levels. Use these guidelines to establish a program and then customize your program to fit your specific needs and goals as your experience and knowledge increases.

And remember to always consult your doctor before commencing any new exercise program and consult a fitness professional (personal fitness trainer, gym instructor, etc) if you require help.

Basic Aerobic Training Guidelines

Frequency: Exercise between 3 and 5 times per week.

Intensity: Maintain a heart rate of between 60 – 80% of your Maximum Heart Rate.

Your Maximum Heart Rate can be calculated using a Maximum Heart Rate test conducted by a fitness or health professional or estimated using the formula:

For Women (230 – Age = Maximum Heart Rate).
For Men (220 – Age = Maximum Heart Rate).

The best and most practical way to monitor your heart rate is with a heart rate monitor.

Time: Those of us with low levels of fitness should maintain our heart rates in our selected target zone for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes, excluding warm-up and cool down periods.

Those with a good fitness base should exercise for between 20 and 60 minutes in their target heart rate zone.

Type: Exercises that involve as many muscles as possible and allow a relatively consistent level of intensity are best. Good examples of these include:

o Walking

o Jogging

o Cycling

o Swimming

o Rowing

o Hiking

Basic Strength Training Guidelines

Frequency: Exercise each body part 1 to 2 times per week. For lower intensity workouts or for those who have trained for some time, try exercising each body part 2 to 3 times per week. You can exercise different parts of the body on different days (called split routines) or you can train your whole body at each workout.

Intensity: Choose a weight that can be performed 10 to 15 times (repetitions) per set.

When you can perform more than 15 repetitions without rest, increase the weight slightly for your next workout.

If you are training your whole body each time you exercise, only do 1-2 exercises for each muscle group and perform 1-3 sets of each exercise.

If you employ a split routine try performing no more than 2-3 exercises per muscle group and 2-4 sets of each exercise.

Time: Beginners usually benefit from exercise sessions that last between 30 to 45 minutes. As you become fitter and stronger, you may want to increase your total workouts from 45 to 90 minutes. For most of us, particularly those with limited time, sessions of 60 minutes are typically ideal.

With rest between sets, try not to take longer than 2-3 minutes as a beginner. As you get fitter, try to reduce this time to 1 minute or less.

Type: Generally speaking, there are two types of exercises for muscles, compound exercises and isolation exercises.

Compound exercises use more than one muscle group to perform and are the most effective for those interested in losing weight. Examples of compound exercises include Bench press, Push-ups, Squats, Shoulder press and Deadlifts.

Isolation exercises use only one muscle group to perform and include Bicep curls, Tricep extensions, Leg extensions, etc.

For those new to resistance training, compound exercises are best. Once you have a base level of strength you can add isolation exercises to your workouts for variety and to help shape individual muscles.

Conclusion

No matter what your goal, current fitness level or exercise experience, you can employ the F.I.T.T. principle to plan an effective long term exercise program.

By using the guidelines above, you too can plan an effective regime that will help you to improve your cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and of course help you lose weight.

Using the F.I.T.T. principle in your exercise planning will ensure that you achieve your weight loss goals as efficiently as possible. Not only will you achieve your goals in the shortest possible time, you’ll also enjoy your routine more because of the variety built into it. If that weren’t enough, you’ll also minimize the chances of experiencing annoying and painful overtraining injuries that can stall or stop your weight loss and fitness progress.

While anyone with the basic knowledge provided above can plan their own workout, if you are new to exercise or have an existing injury or ailment, we suggest you consult a personal trainer or other fitness professional. As well as designing a personal plan for you using the method above, they can help you rehabilitate or work around existing injuries, teach you the right techniques for each exercise in your program and advise you of when to modify your plan to take advantage of your new fitness levels.

PostHeaderIcon Baby Food Allergies – How To Identify And Avoid Them



Many parents find the risk of baby food allergies one of the most worrying aspects of introducing new foods to their baby. But there are simple steps you can take to minimise potential problems and make your child’s introduction to solid food a safe and happy one.

Allergic reactions take place when your baby’s immune system mistakenly treats a harmless substance as a harmful one. Baby food allergy symptoms include diarrhea, eczema, nausea, constipation and watery or red eyes. Very rarely, a serious reaction known as allergic shock can occur. This can cause the throat and tongue to swell dangerously, which could lead to choking. In this situation, professional medical help must be sought immediately.

Baby food allergies should not be confused with food intolerance. A baby with food intolerance would have difficulty in digesting a particular type of food, which can be caused by many other things besides an allergen. In either case, diagnosis should be made by a medical professional.

In order to prevent baby food allergies such as these, or to identify foods to which your baby reacts, it is important to follow these simple guidelines –

1. Try to delay feeding your baby solid food until he is at least 6 months of age. His immune system will be better developed by this stage.

2. Only introduce one new food at a time and wait for a few days to see if a reaction occurs. It will then be easy to spot the “problem” food and eliminate it from your baby’s diet.

3. Avoid foods that are known to be more likely to cause allergic reactions. Examples of such foods include eggs (particularly the whites), shellfish, gluten and citrus fruits.

4. Decide whether or not your baby is at a particularly high risk of developing allergies — for example, do you suffer from an allergy yourself? This can often lead to an increased risk of allergies for your baby, although not necessarily to the same allergen (i.e. the substance responsible for the reaction).

5. Discuss any concerns with a medical professional.

Whilst it is sensible to be cautious, it is still important to remember that baby food allergies only affect around 8% of children. So try to keep things in perspective, introduce new foods individually and stay alert for possible reactions — these measures will give you the confidence to safely introduce the delights of solid food to your little one.

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