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April 29, 2007

Low Carb Breakfast Foods To Start Your Day Posted By : Anthony Lee

Filed under: Nutrition — webmaster @ 10:00 pm

There are a good number of choices that you can pick for your everyday breakfast meals. All you need to do is to prepare ahead your menu so you will not have to succumb to the wrong choices if you are out of time. Here are some tips to keep in mind so you can have a good low carb breakfast to rev up the start of your day.

1. Traditional Breakfast



Your usual bacon and eggs can still go for your low carb breakfast foods. Only this time, you have to be more conscious of your choices when you buy your bacon. Stay away from the cured ones. These are not good for your health.

2. Cheese for Breakfast

More than the usual bacon and eggs, you can also experiment with the other low carb foods for your breakfast. You can make use of the ricotta cheese. You can make porridge with it by mixing it in hot water with soya bran and flax seeds.

3. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled is the best way to go if you want to eat eggs for your breakfast. This can also be your small breakfast if you do not have enough time to prepare for a heavy one. You can also mix the hard-boiled eggs on your other meals. Simply chop it and you can enjoy it in your salad. You can also combine it with cheese or meat in your wheat bread.

4. Cereals

It is also a good idea to stock up on cereals in your kitchen cabinet. You can grab on it anytime you are in a hurry and in need for a quick breakfast. This can supply you with the right energy for the whole day. A serving of hot oatmeal can be a good way to warm up for the day. You can also enjoy brown rice or wheat berries. Just sprinkle it with pine nuts, cinnamons or raisins and you will have a good breakfast to enjoy.

Original source here

Your PMS Symptoms Can Be Relieved With Nutritional Supplements Posted By : Bruce Brightman -

Filed under: Medicine — webmaster @ 10:00 pm

It is estimated that as many as 85% to 90% of pre-menopausal women regularly experience mental and/or physical symptoms before the onset of menses. While symptoms are mild in most women, 8% to 20% experience symptoms that meet the clinical definition of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), a disorder characterized by moderate to severe symptoms of depression, irritability, fatigue, abdominal cramping, breast tenderness and headaches.

So, perhaps more people talk about the weather than about PMS, but, while we may not be able to change the weather, I think we can do something to help women successfully overcome PMS.



Research has shown nutritional supplementation to be very effective in helping deal with PMS. In one study, women who supplemented with 1200 mg per day of calcium carbonate for three months reduced PMS symptoms by 48%. Other studies have also seen “significant” improvements in women with 1000 mg and 1336 mg per day of calcium supplementation.

Now a new study has found that another supplement for bone health, vitamin D, may also help improve PMS symptoms.

One study, dealing with about 3,000 women over the course of 10 years, has some hopeful results. The study was with 1,057 women aged 27 to 44 years old who reported developing PMS and 1,968 women who reported no diagnosis of PMS

It was found that women with the highest intake of vitamin D (over 700 IU per day) were 41% less likely to suffer from PMS compared to women with the lowest intake of vitamin D (100 IU per day). In addition, calcium intake was also found to decrease PMS symptoms, with an intake of nearly 1300 mg per day from food sources found to decrease PMS symptoms by thirty percent compared to women with the lowest intakes of calcium (529 mg per day).

So, to the researchers, the results suggest, “that a high dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium may lower the risk of incident PMS.”

Other, more general, comments by researchers say that sometimes exercising helps. Sometimes dietary changes help and sometimes supplementation with B-vitamins, calcium or vitamin E help. But they stress that the effect that any of these have on PMS hormone levels is unknown.

Yoga and relaxation techniques are also known to be helpful.

Some studies have shown that women who suffer from the most severe form of the PMS blues (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) have lower levels of serotonin circulating in the blood stream.

Serotonin is a compound that helps to transmit signals among nerve endings in the brain and body and is believed to play an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep, sexuality and appetite.

So, increasing the level of serotonin in the body may help. There are various drugs on the market to help women to do this. However, because numerous unwanted side effects are associated with these drugs, researchers have investigated the effects of natural substances used by the body to create serotonin, thus, increasing the levels of serotonin circulating in the blood stream.

Because PMS hormone levels are a possible cause of the PMS blues, many doctors suggest synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone, to stabilize hormonal levels, prevent ovulation and thus eliminate most symptoms of PMS.

Instead of synthetics, though, there are good natural alternatives.

Phytoestrogens are considered by many to be a natural substitute for synthetic hormones. Phytoestrogens are simply plant components that have an estrogen-like effect on the body. Found in soy beans, red clover and other plant foods, researchers believe that in women who have less PMS symptoms and a diet high in soy and other vegetables, phytoestrogens are responsible.

So it would seem that natural remedies are a great help in relieving PMS. A healthy, balanced lifestyle is of course important. But today’s active woman may not be able to spend much time each day to deal with her diet, or with exercise, as much as she would like to. Thus, as we see above, a good supplement, containing natural ingredients (which won’t cause any side effects and which are completely safe for the body) is a good, healthy option for relieving the PMS blues.

Though we don’t seem to be very near to a scientific understanding of PMS, there are remedies to help a woman to overcome PMS.

Original source here

The Issue With Snoring Prevention Methods Posted By : Ann Marier -

Filed under: Medicine — webmaster @ 10:00 pm

Almost anyone in the world would love to be able to find an all out cure for snoring. They would make millions of dollars and maybe even win the Nobel Prize for medicine. What a dream to stop and think about. In the real world, there is no all out cure and there probably won’t be one because snoring has many causes.

There are certain things that can aid in snoring prevention though. One thing that helps snoring prevention is to keep your weight in check. Studies have proven that people who snore are also overweight. (There are exceptions to this and everything else that deals with snoring) If someone already has a problem with snoring, losing weight will greatly aid in snoring prevention.



Something else that can help with snoring prevention is using a decongestant at night. This will keep the nasal passages from becoming clogged during the sleeping hours. Before doing this, talk to a doctor to make sure that this doesn’t interfere with any other medical condition or prescription you are taking.

The doctor will look at your medical history and make a safe recommendation. It is important to always check with the doctor even if you feel cold medicine is harmless. Snoring prevention is not perfect and can take a long time to be successful; but it is the right thing to strive for since snoring isn’t healthy for anyone.

Some Common Problems with Snoring Prevention

It’s easy to tell someone that their snoring problem can be helped by losing weight. Losing weight isn’t just a button to be pushed and it happens. Some people struggle their whole adult life to lose weight. It is a great way to help with snoring prevention, but it can also be quite sarcastic to the person who is trying to lose the weight.

Another common problem with snoring prevention is that something that can help with snoring might hamper a person’s health because of other health problems. There are a million different diseases in the world and snoring is usually lower on the list of concerns. If someone has a problem with snoring and they also have a cancer, the cancer will always top the list of priorities.

Lastly, a person who snores will try many things to help snoring prevention, but they may be depressed about it and not be willing to keep on trying different things. Once a person begins to snore, it is hard to reverse it unless that person is highly motivated. Speaking with a doctor about snoring prevention and treatment is the best course of action any individual can take.

Original source here

Survey: Chronic Pain On The Rise At Work: Up Almost 40 Percent In Past Decade Posted By : Wendy Mitchell

Filed under: Hair Loss — webmaster @ 10:00 pm

Persistent, chronic pain among full-time U.S. workers has risen dramatically in the past 10 years, with workers in chronic pain choosing to go to their jobs rather than call in sick. In fact, a recent survey found that chronic pain was more common in the workplace in 2006 than it was in 1996 (26 percent vs. 19 percent), leading to a growing trend of presenteeism-a negative impact on work despite being physically present at the job.

The survey findings are from a 2006 national survey on “Pain in the Workplace” sponsored by PriCara™, Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc., and conducted in partnership with the National Pain Foundation (NPF)*. The survey was an update to a 1996 poll on the subject.



“Chronic pain appears to be increasing in prevalence among U.S. workers as Americans age and lead more sedentary lifestyles,” said Rollin Gallagher, M.D., M.P.H., editor-in-chief of the NPF Web site, a founding and current member of the Board of the NPF and clinical professor and director, Center for Pain Medicine, Research and Policy, University of Pennsylvania. “This survey indicates that employees with chronic pain must become their own advocates, understand the impact of their chronic pain and collaborate with their health care professional to identify appropriate treatment options.”

“Patients are looking for ways to manage their pain, and there are treatments that can help, such as diet and exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture and a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications,” said Charles Argoff, M.D., assistant professor of neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, N.Y. “For adult patients with chronic pain who require around-the-clock treatment of their pain for an extended period of time, extended-release pain medicines such as prescription ULTRAMĀ® ER (tramadol HCl) extended-release tablets, taken once daily, have been shown to relieve moderate to moderately severe chronic pain.”

The methodologies for the 1996 and 2006 surveys were identical and allow for valid comparisons to be made between the two surveys.

*The National Pain Foundation does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment, procedure or product.

About ULTRAM ER:

Important Safety Information

ULTRAM ER is used to manage moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who need to be treated around the clock for their pain for an extended period of time.

Do not take ULTRAM ER if you have had an allergic reaction to tramadol, codeine or other opioids in the past.

ULTRAM ER tablets must be swallowed whole. Do not chew, crush or split the tablet before swallowing. This can lead to overdose and possible serious injury including death. Use of alcohol should be avoided when taking ULTRAM ER. Do not change your dose or stop taking ULTRAM ER without talking with your doctor first. Talk with your doctor about all the medications you are taking. These may include antidepressants, tranquilizers, hypnotics or other opioid pain medicines. ULTRAM ER may impair your ability to perform potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a car or operating machinery.

Seizures have been reported in people taking tramadol, the medicine in ULTRAM ER. The risk of seizures is increased with doses of tramadol above the recommended range. Use of tramadol increases the risk of seizures in people taking antidepressants, other opioids or other drugs that can cause seizures. Risk of convulsions may also increase in people with epilepsy or a history of seizures.

ULTRAM ER, like other opioids, can be abused or cause dependence. People who are suicidal or have a history of drug addiction should not take ULTRAM ER. Do not take more than the recommended dose of ULTRAM ER. Taking more than the recommended dose of ULTRAM ER, alone or in combination with alcohol or medications such as tranquilizers, hypnotics or other opioids, can cause respiratory depression, seizures, overdose and possibly death.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are trying to become pregnant.

The most common side effects reported with ULTRAM ER were dizziness, nausea, constipation, headache and drowsiness.

Original source here

About Your Hernia - Frequently Asked Questions Posted By : John Vanse -

Filed under: Health & Fitness — webmaster @ 10:00 pm

A hernia develops if part of an internal body organ (usually your intestine) protrudes through a tear or through a weak point in the thin wall of muscle holding your abdominal organs in place.

There are several different types of hernia, depending where it occurs:



  • inguinal hernia — which appears as a bulge in the groin or scrotum is more common in men than women;

  • hiatal hernia — a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm;
  • femoral hernia — which appears as a bulge in the upper thigh. This type of hernia is more common in women;
  • incisional hernia — can occur through a scar, particularly if the incision has not been adequately sutured following abdominal surgery;
  • umbilical hernia — which appears as a bulge around the navel and occurs if the muscle around the navel does not close completely after birth.

    What causes hernia?

    Hernias can occur in any adult. Although it is often said to result from heavy lifting and straining, there is no obvious single cause of hernia.

    Infants and young children can also develop hernias. This happens if the lining around the infant’s abdominal organs fails to close properly before birth. This occurs in about 5% of children - with boys more likely than girls to develop hernias. In some children it is not readily detectable as they may not develop any symptoms until they are adults.

    Signs and symptoms of hernia

    Hernia is detectable as:

  • hiatal hernia by itself rarely causes symptoms — pain and discomfort are usually due to the reflux of gastric acid or bile. Reflux happens more easily in the presence of hiatal hernia, though a hiatal hernia is not the only cause of reflux;
  • discomfort or pain in the groin, particularly if this is aggravated by lifting or bending;
  • a tender lump in the groin or scrotum - which may increase in size when coughing, bending, lifting, or straining;
  • a non-tender bulge or lump in children. The lump may not be obvious in infants and children, except when the child is crying or coughing.

    Hernia treatment

    If you are unsure whether you have a hernia you should visit your doctor if:

  • you have groin pain or a swelling or a bulge in your groin;
  • your child has an umbilical hernia which has failed to heal on its own by the time your child is about five years old.

    You should call your doctor right away if:

  • you have a hernia and you cannot push the contents of your hernia back into your abdomen using gentle pressure;
  • you have a hernia and you develop nausea, vomiting, or a fever. This could mean that your hernia has become strangulated and has developed an infection;
  • your hernia becomes red, purple, dark, or discolored.

    Almost all hernias require surgery, preferably before complications occur, to reposition the protruding loop of intestine and secure the weakened muscles in the abdomen.

    Surgery for this is usually performed as an outpatient procedure using local or general anesthesia. Through an incision, the piece of bowel forming the hernia is placed back into the abdominal cavity. Then the muscle wall of the abdomen is stitched closed. A piece of plastic mesh is often used to reinforce the defective section of the abdominal wall.

    Source: US National Library of Medicine

    Original source here
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