সোমবার, ২৯ জুন, ২০১৫
How do Geckos Regenerate Tissue and Heal Without Scarring?
Prof. Matt Vickaryous says a better understanding of this process could help improve the healing process in humans
রবিবার, ২৮ জুন, ২০১৫
UC Davis study guides efforts to find new strategies, solutions to fight pediatric asthma
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Low flu vaccination rates, medication compliance and limited access to primary care providers have contributed to the high pediatric asthma rates in California, say UC Davis pediatricians Ulfat Shaikh and Robert Byrd, who have published an extensive study describing the challenges faced by children with asthma in California.
Braking Mechanism Identified for Cell Growth Pathway Linked to Several Cancers
Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a self-regulating loop in the Hippo pathway, a signaling channel garnering increased attention from cancer researchers due to its role in controlling organ size, cell proliferation and cell death.
শুক্রবার, ২৬ জুন, ২০১৫
Looking for a personal trainer?
Say hello to a fitter and healthier you this summer with PTFindr, a brand new way to get you to your fitness goals, asap !
This clever service helps you find, book and pay for a personal trainer in your local area, all through its nifty website. Looking for help with very specific goals? No problem ! The search process allows you to pick a PT based on all sorts of criteria – from weight loss to muscle gain – so, whether you're climbing Everest, running a marathon or simply wanting to lose a few pounds, PTFindr can help you find a local personal trainer to get you across that finish line.
You're not bound into any particular trainer or programme and can pick and chose when you want your sessions – you could try a different trainer every week if you really wanted ! Plus booking and paying through the website means you don't have to negotiate rates or exchange cash with your personal trainer, so you and your trainer can get to work as soon as you step in the gym.
You can also narrow your search by budget and availability to ensure you get a workout champ who's convenient and within your price range.
But the best bit about PTFindr has to be the personal trainer preview films. The profile videos give you a chance to get an idea of what your personal trainer is really like before you commit to a session, so you can be sure you've got the right person for the job.
Definitely a go-to website if you're running low on motivation or want to shake up your routine with a new (professional) training partner.
Visit http://ptfindr.com/ to find a local personal trainer near you.
Youth Drug Use in America
Drugs play a major role in major American culture. Our movies, music, television shows, and other entertainment options all include implicit and explicit drug use. The presence of drugs can arouse any number of emotions.
Research Says… You’re at Your Happiest in Your 60s and 70s!
It’s easy to look at younger people and believe that they’re happier. After all, they’ve …
The post Research Says… You’re at Your Happiest in Your 60s and 70s! appeared first on The Best Of Health.
Botox and Dermal Fillers: What is the Difference?
It’s likely that you’ll already have heard about Botox. Often still regarded as the ‘celebrity’ …
The post Botox and Dermal Fillers: What is the Difference? appeared first on The Best Of Health.
Live And Be Lean: Cutting Lessons From Physique Athletes
Speed up your fat-loss efforts with help from this roundtable of physique stars on the best ways to take it off—and keep it off.
6 Sweet Nighttime Protein Treats
Make sure your last meal of the day is a tasty, muscle-building one with these sweet recipes.
Exercising Early in Life Yields Rewards in Adult Years
Experiments on mice by UC Riverside biologists shows early-age exercise in mice has positive effects on adult levels of voluntary exercise, including a reduction in body mass
Genetic discovery uncovers key tool for morphine production in poppies
Scientists at the University of York and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Australia have made a key genetic discovery in poppies, paving the way for more effective painkillers.
Three Simple Rules Govern Complex Brain Circuit in Fly
New Study Unravels Neural Mystery With Imaging, Computation
বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৫ জুন, ২০১৫
NICE Guidelines Aim to Promote Happier and Healthier Work Environments
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released guidelines intended to help …
The post NICE Guidelines Aim to Promote Happier and Healthier Work Environments appeared first on The Best Of Health.
One in Seven Adults Go a Month Without a 10-Minute Walk
Although the importance of exercise is often stressed by health experts, studies show that many …
The post One in Seven Adults Go a Month Without a 10-Minute Walk appeared first on The Best Of Health.
Does Organic Food Taste Better?
Organic food is more popular than ever, and many praise it for being tastier than …
The post Does Organic Food Taste Better? appeared first on The Best Of Health.
'Tanorexia' Is Real and I Lived to Tell About It
I remember the day so vividly. It was the summer after my junior year of college and I was working at a summer camp in Michigan.
I called my parents in Florida just to say "Hi" and let them know how camp was going, when my mom got very serious and said, "We got the biopsy results back from the Dermatologist. You have Melanoma."
I was in complete shock. Who gets skin cancer at 19 years old?!
Flashback to Pre-Diagnosis
The week before leaving for camp that summer, I was in the kitchen getting a snack, wearing my colorful striped bikini (which I practically lived in), and my mom pointed out that I had a large dark mole on my back. I didn't think much of it because I had freckles and moles all over my body...what's another one? But, she insisted that I get it looked at because the color was "odd."
I'm actually really surprised I took her advice because I hate going to doctors and I was a kid who thought she was invincible. But, I went to the dermatologist, had a biopsy done on the "odd looking mole" on my back and didn't think a thing of it until I got the news a week later.
After the initial shock wore off, I was scared. I knew cancer was serious and I knew Melanoma was bad. I had just lost an aunt and grandmother from cancer and it sickened me at the thought that I had the nasty disease in my body that had taken their lives.
The worst part about the situation was that it was my own fault.
I can't say that I did anything to protect myself from Melanoma. In fact, I did the opposite.
My Tanning Addiction
I grew up loving the outdoors and being in the sun. As a kid, it was just about having fun. As a teenager, it became more about vanity. I had always been known as the "tan girl" and I thought I looked prettier and skinnier when I was tan. With Indian skin, sandy blonde hair, light eyes, and skin that browned easily, I wanted nothing more than to stay tan all year.
Living in Florida made it easy. I practically lived outside in our family pool or at the beach with friends. Instead of sunscreen, I used baby oil to get my skin even darker. I liked the way tanning made me look and feel.
Facing Melanoma
When I returned from camp a few weeks after my Melanoma diagnosis, I went in for surgery to have the cancer removed. I was terrified, but I remember acting like it was no big deal because I knew my parents were even more terrified than I was. I didn't want them to be scared.
After the surgery was successful at removing all the Melanoma, I was left with a large scar across my back. As a 19-year old girl I was self-conscious about the scar, but not enough to keep me from jumping right back into my bathing suit and heading for the beach a few weeks later.
You'd think that after my diagnosis I would immediately change all my tanning habits, but it didn't happen that way.
Even though I was more aware of my fragile skin, I still wanted to be tan. I would see all my friends getting tan and I would be jealous. I would lay out in my backyard just to try to "stay in the game" and get a little color.
The only difference between pre-melanoma Lindsey and post-melanoma Lindsey was that I would put sunscreen on occasionally, but really only on what I thought were the fragile parts of my body, like my face, chest, and shoulders. Never once did I put sunscreen on my legs because I was determined to have year-round tan legs as always.
This behavior went on for several years. Then one day I heard something on the radio that struck a nerve.
They were discussing something called "tanorexia."
"Tanorexia" means that you are addicted to tanning. And it's not a joke. "Tanorexics" are literally addicted to ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Studies have shown that frequent UV exposure produces endorphins, or the pleasure chemical in the brain. The same chemical that is produced after heroin use.
When frequent tanners are given endorphin blockers, they have been shown to experience withdrawal symptoms similar to what is experienced during drug addiction recovery, including nausea, vomiting, and shaking.
The term "tanorexic" started as a laugh in 2000 when writer David Sedaris was describing his extremely tan sister in his memoir Me Talk Pretty One Day. Now "tanorexia" is becoming more commonly used, and it is no laughing matter. Come to find out that 70 percent of "tanorexics" are Caucasian women between the ages of 16 and 49.
That was me. I was a "tanorexic."
It wasn't until after my second, third, fourth biopsy that I began to understand the consequences of my behaviors. I was putting my life at risk.
I can't say that a lightbulb came on and I changed all my tanning ways. It took effort to stop tanning, and it still does at times. I will see pictures of myself when I was tan and wish I looked that way again.
One way I believe I cope with my tanning addiction is by turning to exercise. Not only does exercise make me feel better about my body (which tanning did for me previously), but exercise gives me that (healthy) endorphin rush that I was so addicted to with tanning. It has been a coping mechanism for me as I continue to recover from my tanning addiction.
I have also drastically changed my lifestyle. I don't live in Florida anymore and am not tempted daily by the beaches and hot sun. But, you won't find me hiding inside. I still love the outdoors and make every attempt to enjoy the outdoors daily, but I do so with skin protection.
As more research is being done about tanning addiction, more evidence is showing that it is likely a behavioral addiction, much like gambling. Tanning addiction may not be as severe as drug addiction, but there is a lot of debate about whether to include it in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a true behavioral addiction.
I have lived and survived through "tanorexia" and I know it to be real.
I think that the beauty trend of "having a tan glow" is pushing people towards unhealthy tanning practices that can lead to "tanorexia." Instead, we should be promoting healthy beauty standards of naturally fair skin and help save lives. One way to do this is by educating people on the dangers of tanning and by promoting the use of sunscreen, as well as other methods of protecting our skin from harmful UV rays.
I was lucky enough to survive Melanoma this time, but many people do not survive. One person dies of Melanoma every hour. Don't let that be you.
I called my parents in Florida just to say "Hi" and let them know how camp was going, when my mom got very serious and said, "We got the biopsy results back from the Dermatologist. You have Melanoma."
I was in complete shock. Who gets skin cancer at 19 years old?!
Flashback to Pre-Diagnosis
The week before leaving for camp that summer, I was in the kitchen getting a snack, wearing my colorful striped bikini (which I practically lived in), and my mom pointed out that I had a large dark mole on my back. I didn't think much of it because I had freckles and moles all over my body...what's another one? But, she insisted that I get it looked at because the color was "odd."
I'm actually really surprised I took her advice because I hate going to doctors and I was a kid who thought she was invincible. But, I went to the dermatologist, had a biopsy done on the "odd looking mole" on my back and didn't think a thing of it until I got the news a week later.
After the initial shock wore off, I was scared. I knew cancer was serious and I knew Melanoma was bad. I had just lost an aunt and grandmother from cancer and it sickened me at the thought that I had the nasty disease in my body that had taken their lives.
The worst part about the situation was that it was my own fault.
I can't say that I did anything to protect myself from Melanoma. In fact, I did the opposite.
My Tanning Addiction
I grew up loving the outdoors and being in the sun. As a kid, it was just about having fun. As a teenager, it became more about vanity. I had always been known as the "tan girl" and I thought I looked prettier and skinnier when I was tan. With Indian skin, sandy blonde hair, light eyes, and skin that browned easily, I wanted nothing more than to stay tan all year.
Living in Florida made it easy. I practically lived outside in our family pool or at the beach with friends. Instead of sunscreen, I used baby oil to get my skin even darker. I liked the way tanning made me look and feel.
Facing Melanoma
When I returned from camp a few weeks after my Melanoma diagnosis, I went in for surgery to have the cancer removed. I was terrified, but I remember acting like it was no big deal because I knew my parents were even more terrified than I was. I didn't want them to be scared.
After the surgery was successful at removing all the Melanoma, I was left with a large scar across my back. As a 19-year old girl I was self-conscious about the scar, but not enough to keep me from jumping right back into my bathing suit and heading for the beach a few weeks later.
You'd think that after my diagnosis I would immediately change all my tanning habits, but it didn't happen that way.
Even though I was more aware of my fragile skin, I still wanted to be tan. I would see all my friends getting tan and I would be jealous. I would lay out in my backyard just to try to "stay in the game" and get a little color.
The only difference between pre-melanoma Lindsey and post-melanoma Lindsey was that I would put sunscreen on occasionally, but really only on what I thought were the fragile parts of my body, like my face, chest, and shoulders. Never once did I put sunscreen on my legs because I was determined to have year-round tan legs as always.
This behavior went on for several years. Then one day I heard something on the radio that struck a nerve.
They were discussing something called "tanorexia."
"Tanorexia" means that you are addicted to tanning. And it's not a joke. "Tanorexics" are literally addicted to ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Studies have shown that frequent UV exposure produces endorphins, or the pleasure chemical in the brain. The same chemical that is produced after heroin use.
When frequent tanners are given endorphin blockers, they have been shown to experience withdrawal symptoms similar to what is experienced during drug addiction recovery, including nausea, vomiting, and shaking.
The term "tanorexic" started as a laugh in 2000 when writer David Sedaris was describing his extremely tan sister in his memoir Me Talk Pretty One Day. Now "tanorexia" is becoming more commonly used, and it is no laughing matter. Come to find out that 70 percent of "tanorexics" are Caucasian women between the ages of 16 and 49.
That was me. I was a "tanorexic."
It wasn't until after my second, third, fourth biopsy that I began to understand the consequences of my behaviors. I was putting my life at risk.
I can't say that a lightbulb came on and I changed all my tanning ways. It took effort to stop tanning, and it still does at times. I will see pictures of myself when I was tan and wish I looked that way again.
One way I believe I cope with my tanning addiction is by turning to exercise. Not only does exercise make me feel better about my body (which tanning did for me previously), but exercise gives me that (healthy) endorphin rush that I was so addicted to with tanning. It has been a coping mechanism for me as I continue to recover from my tanning addiction.
I have also drastically changed my lifestyle. I don't live in Florida anymore and am not tempted daily by the beaches and hot sun. But, you won't find me hiding inside. I still love the outdoors and make every attempt to enjoy the outdoors daily, but I do so with skin protection.
As more research is being done about tanning addiction, more evidence is showing that it is likely a behavioral addiction, much like gambling. Tanning addiction may not be as severe as drug addiction, but there is a lot of debate about whether to include it in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a true behavioral addiction.
I have lived and survived through "tanorexia" and I know it to be real.
I think that the beauty trend of "having a tan glow" is pushing people towards unhealthy tanning practices that can lead to "tanorexia." Instead, we should be promoting healthy beauty standards of naturally fair skin and help save lives. One way to do this is by educating people on the dangers of tanning and by promoting the use of sunscreen, as well as other methods of protecting our skin from harmful UV rays.
I was lucky enough to survive Melanoma this time, but many people do not survive. One person dies of Melanoma every hour. Don't let that be you.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
The Field of Neuropsychology in Medical Science
The medical science has been subdivided into many categories and divisions which separately deal with the various organ systems. For example Neuropsychology is the sub-specialty study of medicine which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders pertaining to psychological and nervous systems.
Couple Makes Fitness A Family Affair -- Adorable Dog Included
If this isn't enough motivation to get fit, we don't know what is.
Arizona-based couple Mike and Lex Sawtelle prove that working out is a family affair. Looking at the 15-second fitness clips they post to their popular Instagram account, jacked_and_jill, it's clear that they're utterly in love with one another and make one of the craziest superfit teams we've ever seen. Not to mention their adorable pooch Wrigley also gets in on the action.
![“dog]()
(Caters News)
And now, thanks to Caters TV, a collection of their quirkiest, most impressive fitness feats caught on camera have been compiled into this entertaining, inspiring video. The collection shows off Mike's mad pushup form (with wife and pup used as resistance above), as well as some serious skills from Lex herself.
Dare to try a move from these two? Read on:
![“dog]()
(Caters News)
As Lex whips through a series of aerial backflips with ease, Mike recruits Wrigley for some weighted walking lunges.
![“dog]()
(Caters News)
Back at home, Lex takes over with Wrigley in a set of weighted stationary lunges while Mike goes to town on some modified glider pushups.
![“dog]()
(Caters News)
And as if that's not enough, they even throw some sideline sprints and backflip pushups (that's a thing?!) into the mix.
It's no wonder this threesome has more than two million Facebook views for their videos. Keep up the awesome work, guys!
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Arizona-based couple Mike and Lex Sawtelle prove that working out is a family affair. Looking at the 15-second fitness clips they post to their popular Instagram account, jacked_and_jill, it's clear that they're utterly in love with one another and make one of the craziest superfit teams we've ever seen. Not to mention their adorable pooch Wrigley also gets in on the action.
(Caters News)
And now, thanks to Caters TV, a collection of their quirkiest, most impressive fitness feats caught on camera have been compiled into this entertaining, inspiring video. The collection shows off Mike's mad pushup form (with wife and pup used as resistance above), as well as some serious skills from Lex herself.
Dare to try a move from these two? Read on:
(Caters News)
As Lex whips through a series of aerial backflips with ease, Mike recruits Wrigley for some weighted walking lunges.
(Caters News)
Back at home, Lex takes over with Wrigley in a set of weighted stationary lunges while Mike goes to town on some modified glider pushups.
(Caters News)
And as if that's not enough, they even throw some sideline sprints and backflip pushups (that's a thing?!) into the mix.
It's no wonder this threesome has more than two million Facebook views for their videos. Keep up the awesome work, guys!
Follow Us On Pinterest|
Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
What Nutritionists Eat For Breakfast
It's not all green smoothies. (Hooray for pancakes and French toast!)
By Lynn Andriani
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By Lynn Andriani
Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
বুধবার, ২৪ জুন, ২০১৫
Berkeley Lab Scientists to Develop Better Way to Screen Chemicals for Cancer-Causing Effects
The vast majority of the thousands of chemicals in our homes and workplaces have not been tested to determine if they cause cancer.
Johns Hopkins Scientists Restore Normal Function in Heart Muscle Cells of Diabetic Rats
Working with heart muscle cells from diabetic rats, scientists at Johns Hopkins have located what they say is the epicenter of mischief wreaked by too much blood sugar and used a sugar-gobbling enzyme to restore normal function in the glucose-damaged cells of animal heart muscles.
That's Not My Face! My Bells Palsy Experience
WTF? If you're like me, you woke up to a surprise of immense proportion: one side of your face wasn't working! "Holy crap" you said and hopefully you were in the doctor's office immediately if not the emergency room. Why? First and foremost you want to make sure you're not having a stroke but let's just just move over all that BS and get to the Bells Palsy diagnosis. Yep, that's what it is we think, we're not sure what causes it and you should be better in 3 months to two years. Yikes.
5 Snacks That Help You Get The Most Out Of Your Workout
There's nothing quite like that feeling you get after getting in a good workout. But before you get too settled into that post-workout glow, registered dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield says there's an important, often-overlooked step that helps ensure your workout was effective.
"All my clients look at me like I'm crazy... when I tell them, 'Look, after your workouts, you need to make sure you eat something,'" Scritchfield says in the above video from #OWNSHOW. "They say, 'Rebecca, why would I do that? Why would I erase the benefit of the workout?'"
It's because, she says, that's when your body needs it most.
"That is when your body is rebuilding and repairing and recovering," Scritchfield explains. "You actually need to feed your body instead of starve it in order to rebuild that muscle, replenish what was lost and to get your energy back up."
She adds that not eating after a workout can have a detrimental effect on the mind and body. "When people don't eat after their workouts, they're usually going to experience a dip in energy, probably lose some focus and concentration. You're also going to miss out on the opportunity for those muscles to rebuild and repair and get stronger," she says. "We need to get carbohydrates back in our bodies, we need to get proteins back and, if we're sweating, we need to get the fluids back, too."
The key in this refueling is to eat as soon as possible after working out, or at least within a 60-minute window. "That's when we see our bodies trying to do the most rebuilding and repairing," Scritchfield says.
As far as what to eat, Scritchfield points to a balance of carbohydrates and protein as being the ideal combination. Her favorite refueling foods include:
Chocolate Milk
"Chocolate milk is a simple and convenient recovery food because we've got the fluids, and we've got a good balance of carbohydrates to protein."
Smoothies
"Smoothies work." (Not a big fan of the earthy taste? Here's how to make smoothies taste less "green.")
Maple Syrup + Milk
"If you don't like any of those options or just want to try something different, try two tablespoons of 100 percent pure maple syrup with milk (or the dairy product that you consume). That would give you a good ratio as well."
Dates + Peanut Butter
"Have three or four dates or prunes with peanut butter stuffed inside each one."
Hummus
"I love the savory idea of doing whole wheat pita triangles with some hummus and veggies."
Even if you don't feel particularly hungry after a workout, Scritchfield encourages you to eat something anyway. Not only will this have a short-term effect on your body's rebuilding process, but it also has a lasting impact as well.
"It's actually going to help you reset your regular hunger and fullness cycles," she says.
More advice: 5 ways to sneak in a 10-minute workout
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"All my clients look at me like I'm crazy... when I tell them, 'Look, after your workouts, you need to make sure you eat something,'" Scritchfield says in the above video from #OWNSHOW. "They say, 'Rebecca, why would I do that? Why would I erase the benefit of the workout?'"
It's because, she says, that's when your body needs it most.
"That is when your body is rebuilding and repairing and recovering," Scritchfield explains. "You actually need to feed your body instead of starve it in order to rebuild that muscle, replenish what was lost and to get your energy back up."
She adds that not eating after a workout can have a detrimental effect on the mind and body. "When people don't eat after their workouts, they're usually going to experience a dip in energy, probably lose some focus and concentration. You're also going to miss out on the opportunity for those muscles to rebuild and repair and get stronger," she says. "We need to get carbohydrates back in our bodies, we need to get proteins back and, if we're sweating, we need to get the fluids back, too."
The key in this refueling is to eat as soon as possible after working out, or at least within a 60-minute window. "That's when we see our bodies trying to do the most rebuilding and repairing," Scritchfield says.
As far as what to eat, Scritchfield points to a balance of carbohydrates and protein as being the ideal combination. Her favorite refueling foods include:
Chocolate Milk
"Chocolate milk is a simple and convenient recovery food because we've got the fluids, and we've got a good balance of carbohydrates to protein."
Smoothies
"Smoothies work." (Not a big fan of the earthy taste? Here's how to make smoothies taste less "green.")
Maple Syrup + Milk
"If you don't like any of those options or just want to try something different, try two tablespoons of 100 percent pure maple syrup with milk (or the dairy product that you consume). That would give you a good ratio as well."
Dates + Peanut Butter
"Have three or four dates or prunes with peanut butter stuffed inside each one."
Hummus
"I love the savory idea of doing whole wheat pita triangles with some hummus and veggies."
Even if you don't feel particularly hungry after a workout, Scritchfield encourages you to eat something anyway. Not only will this have a short-term effect on your body's rebuilding process, but it also has a lasting impact as well.
"It's actually going to help you reset your regular hunger and fullness cycles," she says.
More advice: 5 ways to sneak in a 10-minute workout
Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Britain loves coffee
Coffee, whether you like it strong, milky, filtered, with foam, without foam (the list goes on…), is the nation’s favourite drink after water with approximately 70 million cups of the stuff being drunk every day (give or take the odd espresso downed on a bluey Monday).
Scientists are not certain whether drinking coffee is truly beneficial for you but some studies show it does have an effect on your mental and physical performance. Research shows it can help relieve asthma symptoms and protect liver health while other studies have found that it’s useful in improving your memory and thinking skills - but only when combined with a healthy diet.
For the average coffee enthusiast, nothing separates you and the dozens of shops available - you've got to get your fix. These days, it seems unlikely to walk through a high street that isn't lined with coffee shops, and perhaps even less likely to resist the urge to grab a cheeky cappuccino as you pass them. In fact, the consumer retail spend on coffee was around a whopping £730 million last year. However, for those whose coffee addiction is borderline obsessive (and expensive), making your own homemade brew is getting more appealing as resources for doing so are improving.
If you’re attempting to make coffee at home then you’re going to want it to taste good. BRITA coffee ambassadors and owners of DunneFrankowski, Victor and Rob, suggest that you choose coffee beans that are freshly roasted from independent coffee shops. Also, if you’re a fan of the Americano, take care with the water you use. BRITA filtered water promises to allow the aromas of coffee to develop to their fullest extent, ensuring you’ll have a good cuppa.
From North America to the Arabian Peninsula, coffee beans are being sourced daily so we can enjoy a massive variety of coffees. There’s the indulgent mocha (the most calorific!), the milky latte (high in protein), the slightly lighter cappuccino (hardest to make properly) and the strong Americano (which has double the caffeine of a regular mug and the least calorific). With all these options, you can be blinded by what exactly goes in the cup. Adding caramel syrup to your macchiato? Yep, say hello to an added 160 calories!
One way of controlling what goes into your coffee is to brew your own cup of Joe yourself. There are several ways to do it, each method producing different results. Shops tend to use the standard drip machine that makes coffee the way most of us prefer. There’s the fancier method (not really!) called the French press, which essentially involves throwing some beans into a pitcher and steeping it with hot water. Then there’s the method for the bleary-eyed in the morning, chuck a spoonful of the instant stuff into a mug of hot water for fast results. If you’re willing to experiment then you’ve got to try the Chemex method. Aside of patience, it also involves carefully hand-pouring hot water over coffee grounds that sit in a paper filter. You’ll end up with coffee that has a much smoother and flavourful taste.
So, next time you get the all too familiar urge for coffee, have a go at brewing it yourself. You’ll be saving a fortune and be surprised at how easy it is to make.
3 Delicious Healthy Marinade Recipes!
Eating clean sounds easy enough—until dry meat has you running to slather on the sauce, that is! Add flavor to your dishes—without tacking on extra sugar, fat, and calories—with these macro-friendly recipes.
The 6 Principles Of Getting Lean
Ready to declare war on fat and get ripped? These 6 basic principles will help you get lean the smart way!
Breast-Conserving Therapy for Early-stage Cancers has Increased Substantially, Though Access Remains an Issue
Largest, most in-depth study to date shows BCT is being used more widely; health policy interventions are needed to address factors that prevent women from obtaining the less invasive treatment
7 Killer Kale Recipes
Green leafy vegetables rule the nutrition world, but the benefits of kale make it king of the hill. Try these 7 delicious recipes to make this nutritional powerhouse a part of your meal plan!
Genomic discovery of skin cancer subtypes provides potential ‘signpost’ for drug targets
MD Anderson researchers lead The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis of cutaneous melanoma identifying four subtypes
The Efficacy of Radiology
Radiology is that line of medical specialty which focuses on studying, diagnosing and treating ailments inside the human body through the use of imaging. Because technology has met rapid evolvement, there are a number of different techniques that radiologists now apply to get useful images of the inside of the human body.
The Marvels of the Cardiovascular System
The major components of the cardiovascular system include the heart and the complete structure of blood vessels. These blood vessels include veins and arteries, which together make up the intricate network throughout the body.
Research sheds light on how neurons control muscle movement
New research involving people diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease sheds light on how individual neurons control muscle movement in humans — and could help in the development of better brain-controlled prosthetic devices.
Saying No to ACA Medicaid Expansion Costs States Money
Hospitals in States That Refuse the Expansion Shoulder Billions in Uncompensated Care Costs
মঙ্গলবার, ২৩ জুন, ২০১৫
7 Must-Do Hacks For Huge Arms
Try Hunter Labrada's effective hacks for tried-and-true arm exercises to maximize your results and add size to your biceps and triceps!
Keeping You Safe and Steady
The musculoskeletal system gives us our form and allows us to move. The skeleton holds everything in the body in place and protects it while the muscles let us move.
Consumers of commercial genetic tests understand more than many believe
ANN ARBOR—Those who have doubted the ability of customers to understand results of personal genomic testing may have been selling them short, researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health have found.
Study: Important to consider cause of kidney failure when planning future treatment
Most patients with failing kidneys face generic treatment paths. Outcomes may improve if their course of treatment is based on the root causes of their kidney failure, a new study says.
Smart insulin patch could replace painful injections for diabetes
A joint effort between diabetes doctors and biomedical engineers could revolutionize how people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels in check
সোমবার, ২২ জুন, ২০১৫
Fitness Trackers: The Trend Helping to Increase Physical Activity
Fitness trackers are becoming an increasingly popular product of the digital age. Strapped to your …
The post Fitness Trackers: The Trend Helping to Increase Physical Activity appeared first on The Best Of Health.
On Top of Old Smoky
Actually it all took place "On Top of Old Winnemucca Mountain" and then again, only halfway up that peak, a mighty force of 14 plus two grandkids, trekked with 200 gallons of purple whitewash, buckets, and mops to transform the gathered rocks into a symbol of Alzheimer's Awareness and to honor caregivers. The "W" looks over this community and has donned many coats of paint over the year from school colors, to St. Patricks' green, to pink for breast cancer awareness.
Why You Need Your Kidneys
Nephrology is a very specific part of medical biology that focuses on the kidneys. Although you can live without one of the two of them, they are very important for homeostasis.
Causes and Treatments of Constipation
Constipation is a common disease that affects at least 30% of the world's population. It has many causes and thus, may require many different treatments.
রবিবার, ২১ জুন, ২০১৫
New Tip on One-Arm Side Laterals
Exercise: One-Arm Side Laterals
Tip: great exercise, but if you are doing it for the first time start with low weight, DO NOT mess your shoulders up Brahs. Starting with low weight and slowly going up lets you feel where you should be
Author: xxxKingxxx
Date: Jun 18, 2015 1:36 PM
New Imaging Technique Could Make Brain Tumor Removal Safer, More Effective, Study Suggests
An illustration of a new technique using optical coherence tomography that could help surgeons differentiate a human brain tumor, red, from surrounding noncancerous tissue, green
শনিবার, ২০ জুন, ২০১৫
Five Overlooked Ways to Help Improve a Sluggish Gut
Are you one of those people that always seem to have slow digestion? Maybe you commonly complain of indigestion, burping, stomach pain, reflux, constipation, or just a sense that food is "stuck" in your system. If so, believe me, this is not uncommon. I talk to clients frequently who complain of many of the above. Whether it's our Western diet or something genetic, some of us just don't feel all that great after we eat.
How to Do a Perfect Plank
You'll find the plank in just about any type of workout, whether it's yoga, Pilates, or even CrossFit. But it's all too easy to cheat at this move, and you may not even realize you're doing it. Here's how to do a plank perfectly.
Lack of Sleep Increases Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack
There are some lifestyle factors which are widely known to increase the risk of heart …
The post Lack of Sleep Increases Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack appeared first on The Best Of Health.
Electricity’s human cost: Less sleep
The researchers fitted participants in each community with wrist devices that logged data about their sleep-wake cycles.
Your Blood Type May Impact How Your Brain Ages and Risk of Cognitive Decline
New research suggests that your blood type may affect how your brain ages, and your …
The post Your Blood Type May Impact How Your Brain Ages and Risk of Cognitive Decline appeared first on The Best Of Health.
Evaluating intelligence testing in individuals with intellectual disability
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Since the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries, intelligence tests have attempted to measure human intellectual capabilities.
শুক্রবার, ১৯ জুন, ২০১৫
Biomedical breakthrough: Carbon nanoparticles you can make at home
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Researchers have found an easy way to produce carbon nanoparticles that are small enough to evade the body’s immune system, reflect light in the near-infrared range for easy detection, and carry payloads of pharmaceutical drugs to targeted tissues.
বৃহস্পতিবার, ১৮ জুন, ২০১৫
Exercise outside this summer
Made excuses not to exercise during the winter? It’ll be impossible not to now as the blinding sunshine and warmer weather will certainly drag you outside (even it’s just for the barbecue!).
From boosting your mood to getting your daily dose of vitamin D, the benefits of working outdoors are endless (give or take the odd insect bite!) so use the limited hotter days to step up your exercise goals. In fact, a team at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry found exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. What's not to love about that?
Try our favourite outdoor activities this summer:
If running is your go-to summer sport then be sure to go along to a running club. 'Running at this time of year is just beautiful, because it's so fantastic to be outdoors,' says Rachael Woolston, founder of Fitbitch and Girls Run the World. 'With our courses you learn to not only reach your first 5k, but we also offer courses that'll take you out on wild trails and stunning locations where you see nature at its best.' The perfect time to get ready for a marathon, going to a running club this summer will also help train you to be your best and you’ll finally learn how far your legs can really carry you!
Free 5km community runs every Monday, 6.30pm in Hove
Total Warrior Obstacle Race
Nostalgic over the days when you spent summer covered in mud and having fun? Now you can do it all over again with this epic obstacle race at Bramham Park in Leeds. Sweat over the Dirt Track and make your way through the Ball Breaker as the different obstacles test your strength, stamina and determination. 'The beauty of Total Warrior is that the precise nature of the challenge can differ from person to person,' says event director, Adam Dickinson. 'Timing chips are provided, so participants can set themselves a personal target or aim to do it faster than a friend or rival.' There are around 30 brutal obstacles to get through so enter if you dare and make it a summer fitness experience you’ll remember!
£75 individual entry, Saturday 27th and 28th June in Leeds, Bramham Park
FreeFitness Elite Outdoor Fitness
Parks are great places to work out and there are loads of awesome organised outdoor workouts around now. Classes with FreeFitness consist of various exercises designed to increase your metabolic rate to maximise fat burn. 'All sessions are based on the FreeFitness proven principle and philosophy of hard work, enjoyment, teamwork and friendship,' says spokesperson Marcia. 'HIIT classes offer a full body workout designed to take your body to its limit and work you hard over a short period to give amazing results - fast!' Try it out with a friend from the neighbourhood and see who can last the longest.
£10 per class or £36 for monthly membership, Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, Tooting Bec, Ruskin Park and Green Park, Check timetable for class times.
Slow Tour of Yorkshire on Bike
Explore the region by bike with the Sustrans charity tour. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, The National Cycle Network set up by Sustrans is offering you the chance to get out in the open with its guided map tour of 21 of the best cycling routes around Yorkshire. 'We want to show people that you don’t have to be an elite cyclist to enjoy Yorkshire’s countryside by bike,' says Sheridan Piggott of Sustrans. 'These maps have been created to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get out on their bikes this summer.' A cycling journey that doesn’t involve angry commuters plus the chance to see the quiet country lanes of Yorskshire? This is what summer dreams are made of! Keep your eyes peeled for the date and price.
Keep Fit Boot Camp
If you have a serious fitness goal in mind this summer but need a helping hand, then work it out with a personal trainer outside. 'Keep Fit Boot Camp is here to help you make light work of shedding those extra pounds and sculpting your dream physique,' says founder William Tuffin. 'Whether you're a keen beginner, looking to get fit and fabulous, a regular keep-fitter or a sports enthusiast looking to achieve specific goals, our professional trainers can help.' If you’re after a more bootcamp style class, then head along to one of the sessions held in The Royal Parks. Each session is different so you’ll be less inclined to give up!
£28 per month or pay as you (rates vary). Check timetable for class times.
British Military Fitness SunFit
Want to go hard this summer? Try out SunFit, a week-long bootcamp run by British Military Fitness in the Canary Islands in Spain. Definitely outdoors and sort of a holiday (from watching Netflix all day, anyway), you’ll take part in classes led by some of the UK’s best fitness instructors where you’ll be burning over 2000 calories per day. 'SunFit is not about starving yourself or dropping dress sizes, says Alex Stanley, head of events at British Military Fitness. 'It's about enjoying new activities, meeting new people and coming home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after enjoying an active holiday in the sun.' Activities range from mountain hiking to pool sessions so you’ll be working that body to all its ability. Having already run a successful trip in May, the next one is scheduled for September, the perfect way to end your summer.
From £150, 5th-12th September
Bowel / Colon Cancer: Knowing the Symptoms Could Save Your Life
Bowel, or colon cancer, is one of the most common types of cancer in the …
The post Bowel / Colon Cancer: Knowing the Symptoms Could Save Your Life appeared first on The Best Of Health.
The Miracle of Breathing
The respiratory system is concerned with how the body breathes. It includes organs such as the lungs and parts of the body like the windpipe.
8 Things Your Eyes Reveal About Your Health
By Emma Haak
Ophthalmologists look into your body in a way no other doctor can, giving them surprising insights into what's going on.
What your doc is seeing: Fluid buildup under your retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye.
What it could mean: You've got too much on your plate. Doctors aren't exactly sure what causes this accumulation, but it's been linked to stress. There's also some early research suggesting that people with type A personalities, who are more prone to stress, are more likely to develop it. The fluid can lead to eyesight changes like dimming or blurring in the center of vision and objects appearing smaller in the affected eye. But before you start stressing about what your stress is doing to your eyes, know that the condition is pretty rare (Brenda Pagan-Duran, MD, an ophthalmologist in New Jersey and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, says she only sees three to four cases of it per year), and it's about six times more common in men than in women.
Next step: The relationship between stress and fluid buildup doesn't appear to go both ways, so R&R, while great for your mindset, won't fix the problem. However, spontaneous recovery is common—most people regain normal vision within six months (if you don't, your ophthalmologist may suggest laser or light therapy to help seal the leak and bring your vision back to normal).
What your doc is seeing: One of your eyes won't close all the way.
What it could mean: You've had a close encounter with a tick. Bell's palsy can lead to paralysis of facial muscles, and today, particularly in the Northeast, one of the most common causes of Bell's palsy is Lyme disease, says Scott Greenstein, MD, FACS, an ophthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston. It can take several weeks to several months after the first symptoms of Lyme appear for nervous system effects like Bell's palsy to begin, but up to 15 percent of people infected with Lyme do develop problems with their nervous systems. The tick-borne infection can also lead to inflammation in the eye that your doctor would see during a routine exam.
Next step: Facial paralysis calls for blood tests, including the one that looks for Lyme. If it comes back positive, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics that should, with luck, clear up the paralysis as well as the Lyme.
What your doc is seeing: Super-dry eyes.
What it could mean: There are a lot of things that can make your eyes feel like the Sahara -- dry air, allergies, certain medications, not blinking enough. But if your doctor rules those out, an autoimmune disorder could be to blame, possibly Sjögren's syndrome. It causes white blood cells to attack moisture-producing glands in the body, especially in the eyes and mouth, and 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with the syndrome are women. Other conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid issues and blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids that also increases your chances of developing painful styes, says Greenstein.
Next step: There are several tests your eye doc could use to figure out if your dryness is beyond normal levels, including one that involves dropping (harmless) orange fluorescein dye into your eye and seeing how long it takes for your eye to start to dry out. If it's 10 seconds or less, you've got abnormally dry eyes. Autoimmune disorders can be notoriously difficult to diagnose (Sjögren's, for example, is often mistaken for menopause, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis), so your doctor will probably refer you to a rheumatologist to nail down the specific cause and prescribe artificial teardrops to make it more manageable.
What your doc is seeing: Your eye looks a little red, and it's sensitive to light.
What it could mean: Uveitis, or inflammation in the uvea, the middle part of your eye. A closer look would also reveal inflammatory cells and proteins floating freely in the front of the eye. "It can be related to a systemic issue where the body's own immune system is attacking itself," says Emily Graubart, MD, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta. The most common form of uveitis affects the front of the eye, and about 20 percent of the time it's related to an autoimmune condition, Graubart says. Possible culprits: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or, if your doctor notices that your optic nerve is also inflamed, multiple sclerosis.
Next step: Your doctor will do a blood workup to test for the most common conditions related to uveitis and base the course of treatment on the results.
What your doc is seeing: A grayish ring around your cornea or yellow, fatty deposits on the skin around your eyes.
What it could mean: Your cholesterol is out of control. Those deposits are called xanthelasmas, and they can develop when your blood lipid levels are extremely high. Same goes for the grayish ring that goes around your cornea—it generally happens in extreme cholesterol cases only.
Next step: If you haven't already been diagnosed with high cholesterol, your ophthalmologist will tell you to bring it up with your primary care doctor. If you know your cholesterol is a problem, these symptoms could mean it's time to switch to more effective treatments. The fatty deposits may go away once you get your condition under control (though it's more likely that they'll require laser treatments or surgery), but the grayish ring, which doesn't affect vision, is there to stay.
What your doc is seeing: Cataracts forming earlier than they should.
What it could mean: You're a smoker, or you used to be. Cigarettes increase the risk of age-related cataracts, as a 2012 study confirmed. They can form at any age, and most of us will see early signs of growth in our 50s. But smokers can start to develop them in their 40s, especially in the center part of your lens. "The damage that smoking does to your cardiovascular system means that the lens of your eye isn't getting the right nourishment or oxygen, so it ages faster than it should," Graubart says. Early cataracts can also be caused by overexposure to UV light, diabetes or long-term use of corticosteroids for issues like asthma.
Next step: Cataracts are generally left alone until they start to affect your day-to-day life. Once that happens, your ophthalmologist will likely recommend cataract surgery to replace your cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial one.
What your doc is seeing: Damage to the blood vessels in the back of your eye.
What it could mean: You need to get your blood sugar and/or blood pressure checked. When you doc dilates your eye and takes a peek at your retina, the signs of diabetes and blood pressure run amok are obvious. High blood sugar can cause micro aneurisms, bulging in the blood vessels and bleeding, while sustained high pressure can lead to similar bleeding but also blockages or closings of the smaller vessels. "These two conditions are so easy to diagnose with an eye exam, and so many people just aren't getting routine physicals so eye doctors are often the first to notice them," Graubart says.
Next step: Your eye doctor will refer you to your general practitioner for tests to confirm. But if you've already been diagnosed, this could be a sign that you need to manage your condition better. The blood vessel damage can be reversed if you catch it early and begin treatment quickly.
What your doc is seeing: Lesions in the eye.
What it could mean: Cancer. But it's rare. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates just 1,220 cases of cancer in the eye or orbit (the socket where the eye sits) will be diagnosed in women this year (that includes cancers that originate in the eye too). To put that into perspective, the ACS estimates that 3,410 women will be diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus (considered a rare cancer among women) this year. The cancers most likely to spread to the eye are breast and lung, and it's possible that your ophthalmologist may notice something is off before you or your primary care doctor do. "I had a patient when I was a resident who came in and appeared to be completely healthy," Pagan-Duran says. "But when I dilated her eyes, I saw a lesion in the retina. Further testing found that she had breast cancer that had metastasized."
Next step: If your doctor suspects cancer, they'll send you to an oncologist to confirm and begin treatment.
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Ophthalmologists look into your body in a way no other doctor can, giving them surprising insights into what's going on.
What your doc is seeing: Fluid buildup under your retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye.
What it could mean: You've got too much on your plate. Doctors aren't exactly sure what causes this accumulation, but it's been linked to stress. There's also some early research suggesting that people with type A personalities, who are more prone to stress, are more likely to develop it. The fluid can lead to eyesight changes like dimming or blurring in the center of vision and objects appearing smaller in the affected eye. But before you start stressing about what your stress is doing to your eyes, know that the condition is pretty rare (Brenda Pagan-Duran, MD, an ophthalmologist in New Jersey and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, says she only sees three to four cases of it per year), and it's about six times more common in men than in women.
Next step: The relationship between stress and fluid buildup doesn't appear to go both ways, so R&R, while great for your mindset, won't fix the problem. However, spontaneous recovery is common—most people regain normal vision within six months (if you don't, your ophthalmologist may suggest laser or light therapy to help seal the leak and bring your vision back to normal).
What your doc is seeing: One of your eyes won't close all the way.
What it could mean: You've had a close encounter with a tick. Bell's palsy can lead to paralysis of facial muscles, and today, particularly in the Northeast, one of the most common causes of Bell's palsy is Lyme disease, says Scott Greenstein, MD, FACS, an ophthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston. It can take several weeks to several months after the first symptoms of Lyme appear for nervous system effects like Bell's palsy to begin, but up to 15 percent of people infected with Lyme do develop problems with their nervous systems. The tick-borne infection can also lead to inflammation in the eye that your doctor would see during a routine exam.
Next step: Facial paralysis calls for blood tests, including the one that looks for Lyme. If it comes back positive, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics that should, with luck, clear up the paralysis as well as the Lyme.
What your doc is seeing: Super-dry eyes.
What it could mean: There are a lot of things that can make your eyes feel like the Sahara -- dry air, allergies, certain medications, not blinking enough. But if your doctor rules those out, an autoimmune disorder could be to blame, possibly Sjögren's syndrome. It causes white blood cells to attack moisture-producing glands in the body, especially in the eyes and mouth, and 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with the syndrome are women. Other conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid issues and blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids that also increases your chances of developing painful styes, says Greenstein.
Next step: There are several tests your eye doc could use to figure out if your dryness is beyond normal levels, including one that involves dropping (harmless) orange fluorescein dye into your eye and seeing how long it takes for your eye to start to dry out. If it's 10 seconds or less, you've got abnormally dry eyes. Autoimmune disorders can be notoriously difficult to diagnose (Sjögren's, for example, is often mistaken for menopause, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis), so your doctor will probably refer you to a rheumatologist to nail down the specific cause and prescribe artificial teardrops to make it more manageable.
What your doc is seeing: Your eye looks a little red, and it's sensitive to light.
What it could mean: Uveitis, or inflammation in the uvea, the middle part of your eye. A closer look would also reveal inflammatory cells and proteins floating freely in the front of the eye. "It can be related to a systemic issue where the body's own immune system is attacking itself," says Emily Graubart, MD, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta. The most common form of uveitis affects the front of the eye, and about 20 percent of the time it's related to an autoimmune condition, Graubart says. Possible culprits: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or, if your doctor notices that your optic nerve is also inflamed, multiple sclerosis.
Next step: Your doctor will do a blood workup to test for the most common conditions related to uveitis and base the course of treatment on the results.
What your doc is seeing: A grayish ring around your cornea or yellow, fatty deposits on the skin around your eyes.
What it could mean: Your cholesterol is out of control. Those deposits are called xanthelasmas, and they can develop when your blood lipid levels are extremely high. Same goes for the grayish ring that goes around your cornea—it generally happens in extreme cholesterol cases only.
Next step: If you haven't already been diagnosed with high cholesterol, your ophthalmologist will tell you to bring it up with your primary care doctor. If you know your cholesterol is a problem, these symptoms could mean it's time to switch to more effective treatments. The fatty deposits may go away once you get your condition under control (though it's more likely that they'll require laser treatments or surgery), but the grayish ring, which doesn't affect vision, is there to stay.
What your doc is seeing: Cataracts forming earlier than they should.
What it could mean: You're a smoker, or you used to be. Cigarettes increase the risk of age-related cataracts, as a 2012 study confirmed. They can form at any age, and most of us will see early signs of growth in our 50s. But smokers can start to develop them in their 40s, especially in the center part of your lens. "The damage that smoking does to your cardiovascular system means that the lens of your eye isn't getting the right nourishment or oxygen, so it ages faster than it should," Graubart says. Early cataracts can also be caused by overexposure to UV light, diabetes or long-term use of corticosteroids for issues like asthma.
Next step: Cataracts are generally left alone until they start to affect your day-to-day life. Once that happens, your ophthalmologist will likely recommend cataract surgery to replace your cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial one.
What your doc is seeing: Damage to the blood vessels in the back of your eye.
What it could mean: You need to get your blood sugar and/or blood pressure checked. When you doc dilates your eye and takes a peek at your retina, the signs of diabetes and blood pressure run amok are obvious. High blood sugar can cause micro aneurisms, bulging in the blood vessels and bleeding, while sustained high pressure can lead to similar bleeding but also blockages or closings of the smaller vessels. "These two conditions are so easy to diagnose with an eye exam, and so many people just aren't getting routine physicals so eye doctors are often the first to notice them," Graubart says.
Next step: Your eye doctor will refer you to your general practitioner for tests to confirm. But if you've already been diagnosed, this could be a sign that you need to manage your condition better. The blood vessel damage can be reversed if you catch it early and begin treatment quickly.
What your doc is seeing: Lesions in the eye.
What it could mean: Cancer. But it's rare. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates just 1,220 cases of cancer in the eye or orbit (the socket where the eye sits) will be diagnosed in women this year (that includes cancers that originate in the eye too). To put that into perspective, the ACS estimates that 3,410 women will be diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus (considered a rare cancer among women) this year. The cancers most likely to spread to the eye are breast and lung, and it's possible that your ophthalmologist may notice something is off before you or your primary care doctor do. "I had a patient when I was a resident who came in and appeared to be completely healthy," Pagan-Duran says. "But when I dilated her eyes, I saw a lesion in the retina. Further testing found that she had breast cancer that had metastasized."
Next step: If your doctor suspects cancer, they'll send you to an oncologist to confirm and begin treatment.
Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Can a ‘Fountain of Youth’ Pill Really Make You Live Longer?
Throughout the years, medical researchers have been obsessed with discovering a ‘miracle’ substance that promises …
The post Can a ‘Fountain of Youth’ Pill Really Make You Live Longer? appeared first on The Best Of Health.
Beginning Runners: 7 Myths You Should Know
If you're thinking about taking up running for fitness or for something fun to do, you might have already started to prepare.
Perhaps you searched websites and purchased a few specialty running magazines to help you get off to a strong start. That's generally a solid approach when it comes to learning about something new, but there are some pervasive myths that could confuse you as a beginning runner. Below are just a few of them:
1. Eat Lots and Lots of Pasta
This myth is especially common among runners who take part in competitive racing. They think it's necessary to load up on carbs the night before a big race, so you'll often see them sitting in front of giant plates of pasta. In reality, though, upping your carbohydrate intake is only necessary when running an event longer than two hours. Even then, start adding more carbs to your diet the week before the race, rather than waiting until nearly the last minute.
2. Take Sips of Sports Drinks No Matter What
This myth is likely popular because of sports drink manufacturers' marketing campaigns. Here's the truth according to Active.com: unless your workout is longer than an hour, water is the best choice of beverage. When you'll be breaking a sweat for a more prolonged period, sports drinks are beneficial because they help replenish electrolytes that get lost during intense training sessions.
3. Stretching Before Running Is a Must
This is a myth that can actually do more harm than good. Static stretches, or those where you hold a muscle in a stretched position, should absolutely not be done before running. When your muscles are cold, as they would be prior to running, static stretches can increase your risk of injuries. However, try prepping with dynamic movements such as high kicks and walking lunges to limber up.
4. Running Is Bad for Your Knees
Competitor.com says there isn't sufficient data from scientific studies that proves running hurts the knee joints. Running may not be the ideal kind of exercise for you, or the one you most prefer, but there's no need to fear that running will set you up for aching knees later on.
5. Try to Run as Fast and Far as Possible
As a new runner, you may be tempted to push yourself as hard as possible to meet your distance and speed limit with every workout. That may seem like the best way to make progress, but actually, variation is the key to great workouts. Mix things up so you change the intensity of training sessions, and aim to get one long run in per week.
6. Drink as Much as You Can to Prevent Hydration
While it's true that the body loses fluid through sweat, that doesn't mean you have to drink water excessively to compensate. In fact, it's nearly impossible to drink enough fluids to replace what's lost during intense runs. Trying to do so could cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Instead, listen to your body and hydrate when you feel thirsty.
7. Run Every Day to Keep Improving
In this case, more isn't necessarily better. Competitor says you can make as much progress running two to three days a week as someone who's pounding the pavement every day.
Hopefully now that you know the truth about these running myths, you'll feel more equipped to lace up your sneakers and run with the confidence of a pro.
Have you discovered any running myths during your time as a runner? Tell us about them in the comments section below!
Images by Kaboompics and Redd Angelo
Perhaps you searched websites and purchased a few specialty running magazines to help you get off to a strong start. That's generally a solid approach when it comes to learning about something new, but there are some pervasive myths that could confuse you as a beginning runner. Below are just a few of them:
1. Eat Lots and Lots of Pasta
This myth is especially common among runners who take part in competitive racing. They think it's necessary to load up on carbs the night before a big race, so you'll often see them sitting in front of giant plates of pasta. In reality, though, upping your carbohydrate intake is only necessary when running an event longer than two hours. Even then, start adding more carbs to your diet the week before the race, rather than waiting until nearly the last minute.
2. Take Sips of Sports Drinks No Matter What
This myth is likely popular because of sports drink manufacturers' marketing campaigns. Here's the truth according to Active.com: unless your workout is longer than an hour, water is the best choice of beverage. When you'll be breaking a sweat for a more prolonged period, sports drinks are beneficial because they help replenish electrolytes that get lost during intense training sessions.
3. Stretching Before Running Is a Must
This is a myth that can actually do more harm than good. Static stretches, or those where you hold a muscle in a stretched position, should absolutely not be done before running. When your muscles are cold, as they would be prior to running, static stretches can increase your risk of injuries. However, try prepping with dynamic movements such as high kicks and walking lunges to limber up.
4. Running Is Bad for Your Knees
Competitor.com says there isn't sufficient data from scientific studies that proves running hurts the knee joints. Running may not be the ideal kind of exercise for you, or the one you most prefer, but there's no need to fear that running will set you up for aching knees later on.
5. Try to Run as Fast and Far as Possible
As a new runner, you may be tempted to push yourself as hard as possible to meet your distance and speed limit with every workout. That may seem like the best way to make progress, but actually, variation is the key to great workouts. Mix things up so you change the intensity of training sessions, and aim to get one long run in per week.
6. Drink as Much as You Can to Prevent Hydration
While it's true that the body loses fluid through sweat, that doesn't mean you have to drink water excessively to compensate. In fact, it's nearly impossible to drink enough fluids to replace what's lost during intense runs. Trying to do so could cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Instead, listen to your body and hydrate when you feel thirsty.
7. Run Every Day to Keep Improving
In this case, more isn't necessarily better. Competitor says you can make as much progress running two to three days a week as someone who's pounding the pavement every day.
Hopefully now that you know the truth about these running myths, you'll feel more equipped to lace up your sneakers and run with the confidence of a pro.
Have you discovered any running myths during your time as a runner? Tell us about them in the comments section below!
Images by Kaboompics and Redd Angelo
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Disease detected earlier with modern imaging techniques
Today the new Christian Doppler Laboratory for Clinical Molecular MR Imaging (MOLIMA) was opened at the University Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at MedUni Vienna. Its aim is to bring about a significant improvement in the prognosis or course of a disease. The research institute, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, develops high-resolution, quantitative imaging techniques to allow disease to be identified at an even earlier stage.
Sex After the Menopause: Could Female Viagra be the Answer?
It’s commonly known that the menopause can have a detrimental effect on your sex life. …
The post Sex After the Menopause: Could Female Viagra be the Answer? appeared first on The Best Of Health.
Researchers design placenta-on-a-chip to better understand pregnancy
NIH team and colleagues believe microdevice may improve upon existing placenta models
Can a ‘Miracle’ Drug Really Make You Look Younger?
The anti-aging industry is big business in the UK. There seem to be countless creams, …
The post Can a ‘Miracle’ Drug Really Make You Look Younger? appeared first on The Best Of Health.
New model to study HIV latency in brain cells
Neuherberg -Over 35 million people worldwide are currently infected by HIV. Antiviral therapies can keep the virus from multiplying. However, no drug can cure infection so far, because various cell types continue to carry the virus in a latent, i.e. quiescent, state. Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have now established a model for latent HIV infection of brain cells. The researchers used this model to identify various compounds that affect latency of the virus in the brain.
Serena Williams: 'I Had To Come To Terms With Loving Myself'
Serena Williams is the best tennis player in the game. She won the French Open earlier this month, which brings her to 20 Grand Slam titles -- a truly incredible accomplishment. The only number she is chasing now is 22 Grand Slams, a record held by retired great, Steffi Graf.
But having superhero-like athleticism from a young age didn't shield her from experiencing her fair share of body issues. She grew up comparing her body to her older sister Venus.
“It wasn’t very easy -- growing up,” Williams told The Huffington Post in an interview. “Venus was like a model. I was thicker.”
The sisters are just over a year apart and Serena said she always felt different on the court because of her body.
“Most women athletes are pretty thin. I didn’t really know how to deal with it. I had to come to terms -- as every teen and young adult does -- with loving myself. I had to find different role models. But my body type is in style now, so I’m loving it!”
Her relationship with her body has been tested in other ways, too. Any professional athlete will say that injuries are part of the game, but the Williams sisters are known for keeping a tight lip about their ailments.
In 2010, after Serena was seen walking around with a boot on her foot, Venus said: “Traditionally we don’t say much about injuries -- we don’t need anybody to feel sorry for us about it.” Serena didn’t talk about the cause of the injury for months, and later said she stepped on glass.
But now, five years later, Serena revealed that it was by far her worst and scariest injury. “I sliced my foot. I don’t know how. Something fell on top of it and sliced my tendon in half. I had to get two surgeries on it. In the process, I got a blood clot in my lungs and almost died. It was really a tough time for me,” she said.
Coming back from an injury like that is not easy. Williams compared it to a broken heart.
“You worry about it. You worry every second about it. It’s like a heartbreak -- the first couple of months, it’s really painful and then eventually it goes away,” she said. “But every day I got a little bit stronger, every day I worked harder and eventually I didn’t even remember it anymore.”
Her recovery ushered in a deeper connection and appreciation of her body. “It gave me a new perspective on my life. I realized there are so many things that are so important. I don’t know if I needed that -- but I feel like maybe I did. And because of it, I’m able to have a better career and appreciate my wins more.”
Perspective is something that comes with age. But it also comes with experience.
In 2001, the Williams sisters played in the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. It was an awful experience. Racial slurs were heard coming from the stands; boos boomeranged around the court. Serena was 19 years old.
After boycotting the tournament for the last 14 years, Williams returned this past March. She first announced her plans to compete in the tournament in an eloquent TIME magazine essay.
“It has been difficult for me to forget spending hours crying in the Indian Wells locker room after winning in 2001," she wrote. "Driving back to Los Angeles feeling as if I had lost the biggest game ever -- not a mere tennis game but a bigger fight for equality.”
Through the years, Williams has thought of Indian Wells as unfinished business. It holds a special place in her heart because she won her first pro match there in 1997, but the 2001 debacle was one of the lowest points of her career.
“It was the right time,” Williams told HuffPost of her decision to go back this year. “I was doing really well in my career and I felt like I had accomplished a lot. I started winning more and reaching certain numbers. I asked myself, ‘what do I want to do? What’s missing?’”
She says Indian Wells was a chapter that she wanted to close -- regardless of if the outcome was positive or negative. “There was something there that I wanted to face; that I wanted to overcome,” she said. “There are a lot of things that we as Americans are going through, especially right now. I just feel like it’s time to stand up. It wasn’t just for me, it was for everyone.”
Despite Williams injuring her knee and having to withdraw from the semifinal round at the Indian Wells tournament, she said that the experience felt entirely different from the nightmare of 2001. "The sport has changed. I feel like people have changed,” she said.
“I was at a gas station at Indian Wells and a parent came up to me and said, ‘my kid loves you.’ His kid was 11-years-old. I thought it was great. This is a little person who has a life and goes to school and has friends and he’s a fan. I have missed 14 years of coming out here. That’s when I knew I had made the right decision.”
Williams says she was raised learning love and forgiveness from her mother. In her TIME essay, she included a quote from the Bible. “When you stand praying, forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in the heavens may also forgive you” (Mark 11:25).
She prays and reads the Bible at times. “Not often enough,” she said. “I definitely pray and then try to build a relationship with God and go from there.”
Her relationship to God is a part of her game as much as it is a part of her life.
“Physically you need to be great, emotionally you need to be stable and I need to have a good connection with my spirituality. When I have those three things together, I feel good and do well,” she said.
Williams is taking these lessons global with MasterClass -- an online platform for students of all levels to learn from the greats. Williams teaches a tennis lesson, Usher teaches performance, Dustin Hoffman teaches acting and Annie Leibovitz teaches the art of photography.
"What I like about my lessons is they aren’t only about tennis. They are about life," Williams said. "You can be down in life, but you can overcome things based on the way you think and how you set your frame of mind."
But having superhero-like athleticism from a young age didn't shield her from experiencing her fair share of body issues. She grew up comparing her body to her older sister Venus.
“It wasn’t very easy -- growing up,” Williams told The Huffington Post in an interview. “Venus was like a model. I was thicker.”
The sisters are just over a year apart and Serena said she always felt different on the court because of her body.
“Most women athletes are pretty thin. I didn’t really know how to deal with it. I had to come to terms -- as every teen and young adult does -- with loving myself. I had to find different role models. But my body type is in style now, so I’m loving it!”
Her relationship with her body has been tested in other ways, too. Any professional athlete will say that injuries are part of the game, but the Williams sisters are known for keeping a tight lip about their ailments.
In 2010, after Serena was seen walking around with a boot on her foot, Venus said: “Traditionally we don’t say much about injuries -- we don’t need anybody to feel sorry for us about it.” Serena didn’t talk about the cause of the injury for months, and later said she stepped on glass.
But now, five years later, Serena revealed that it was by far her worst and scariest injury. “I sliced my foot. I don’t know how. Something fell on top of it and sliced my tendon in half. I had to get two surgeries on it. In the process, I got a blood clot in my lungs and almost died. It was really a tough time for me,” she said.
Coming back from an injury like that is not easy. Williams compared it to a broken heart.
“You worry about it. You worry every second about it. It’s like a heartbreak -- the first couple of months, it’s really painful and then eventually it goes away,” she said. “But every day I got a little bit stronger, every day I worked harder and eventually I didn’t even remember it anymore.”
Her recovery ushered in a deeper connection and appreciation of her body. “It gave me a new perspective on my life. I realized there are so many things that are so important. I don’t know if I needed that -- but I feel like maybe I did. And because of it, I’m able to have a better career and appreciate my wins more.”
Perspective is something that comes with age. But it also comes with experience.
In 2001, the Williams sisters played in the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. It was an awful experience. Racial slurs were heard coming from the stands; boos boomeranged around the court. Serena was 19 years old.
After boycotting the tournament for the last 14 years, Williams returned this past March. She first announced her plans to compete in the tournament in an eloquent TIME magazine essay.
“It has been difficult for me to forget spending hours crying in the Indian Wells locker room after winning in 2001," she wrote. "Driving back to Los Angeles feeling as if I had lost the biggest game ever -- not a mere tennis game but a bigger fight for equality.”
Through the years, Williams has thought of Indian Wells as unfinished business. It holds a special place in her heart because she won her first pro match there in 1997, but the 2001 debacle was one of the lowest points of her career.
“It was the right time,” Williams told HuffPost of her decision to go back this year. “I was doing really well in my career and I felt like I had accomplished a lot. I started winning more and reaching certain numbers. I asked myself, ‘what do I want to do? What’s missing?’”
She says Indian Wells was a chapter that she wanted to close -- regardless of if the outcome was positive or negative. “There was something there that I wanted to face; that I wanted to overcome,” she said. “There are a lot of things that we as Americans are going through, especially right now. I just feel like it’s time to stand up. It wasn’t just for me, it was for everyone.”
Despite Williams injuring her knee and having to withdraw from the semifinal round at the Indian Wells tournament, she said that the experience felt entirely different from the nightmare of 2001. "The sport has changed. I feel like people have changed,” she said.
“I was at a gas station at Indian Wells and a parent came up to me and said, ‘my kid loves you.’ His kid was 11-years-old. I thought it was great. This is a little person who has a life and goes to school and has friends and he’s a fan. I have missed 14 years of coming out here. That’s when I knew I had made the right decision.”
Williams says she was raised learning love and forgiveness from her mother. In her TIME essay, she included a quote from the Bible. “When you stand praying, forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in the heavens may also forgive you” (Mark 11:25).
She prays and reads the Bible at times. “Not often enough,” she said. “I definitely pray and then try to build a relationship with God and go from there.”
Her relationship to God is a part of her game as much as it is a part of her life.
“Physically you need to be great, emotionally you need to be stable and I need to have a good connection with my spirituality. When I have those three things together, I feel good and do well,” she said.
Williams is taking these lessons global with MasterClass -- an online platform for students of all levels to learn from the greats. Williams teaches a tennis lesson, Usher teaches performance, Dustin Hoffman teaches acting and Annie Leibovitz teaches the art of photography.
"What I like about my lessons is they aren’t only about tennis. They are about life," Williams said. "You can be down in life, but you can overcome things based on the way you think and how you set your frame of mind."
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
বুধবার, ১৭ জুন, ২০১৫
Terminator Genisys: Schwarzenegger Talks Training And Nutrition!
Arnold had to add mass to match his 1984 self for the fifth installment of the Terminator franchise. See how he did it, and go see the movie July 1!
Eye’s motion detection sensors identified
By Jim Dryden - Driving a car at 40 mph, you see a child dart into the street. You hit the brakes. Disaster averted.
The Laundry Basket Exercise That Really Works Your Butt
These days, fitness trainers like Steve Cook say everyone seems intent on getting a better butt. Inspired by the well-sculpted behinds of Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, booty-focused workouts are becoming more and more popular -- and even if you can't make it to the gym, Cook says, you can still do simple things to tone up your backside.
In speaking with the digital series #OWNSHOW, Cooks points to both celebrity influence and social media as big reasons why this butt-based workout phenomenon has become so popular. "Everyone loves talking about the booty, from Instagram to Iggy Azalea. Everyone's talking about booties these days," he says. "[But] you have to work hard to get a good derriere."
All that hard work, however, may be rendered useless if you forget about one key aspect of the ideal butt workout.
"One area that I would tell people not to neglect is that lower back," Cook says. "People, a lot of times, forget about the lower back... It's all one chain that you need to work out; you can't just isolate the booty. And if you're neglecting your lower back, that's when you're going to get hurt."
For those who can make it to the gym, Cook suggests doing an exercise like deadlifts to really work your rear.
"There's no better way to work the booty than to do something like a heavy back squat [or] deadlifts," he says. "Think of picking up your kids off the ground -- when you bend down to get them, what do people always tell you to lift with? Your legs... Deadlifts are just picking things up off of the floor. We all do it, but too many times, we keep our legs straight [or] we bend over with our backs, and the first thing that goes is that lower back."
With this proper form, Cook says you'll start to see results. And if you can't get to the gym, you can still get a targeted workout. All you need is a laundry basket.
"Load up that laundry basket and do more of a sumo deadlift," Cook says. "Sumo deadlifts are when you move your legs out a little bit wider, your hands are in close, and it's pretty much like picking something off the floor, like a laundry basket... Practice picking it up."
To kick things up a notch, keep the workout going as you take the stairs.
"When you go up and down the stairs, lunge," he says. "You don't have to go to the gym to do these things."
Another powerful at-home (or at-work) exercise: The full sit-down for more sculpted thighs.
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In speaking with the digital series #OWNSHOW, Cooks points to both celebrity influence and social media as big reasons why this butt-based workout phenomenon has become so popular. "Everyone loves talking about the booty, from Instagram to Iggy Azalea. Everyone's talking about booties these days," he says. "[But] you have to work hard to get a good derriere."
All that hard work, however, may be rendered useless if you forget about one key aspect of the ideal butt workout.
"One area that I would tell people not to neglect is that lower back," Cook says. "People, a lot of times, forget about the lower back... It's all one chain that you need to work out; you can't just isolate the booty. And if you're neglecting your lower back, that's when you're going to get hurt."
For those who can make it to the gym, Cook suggests doing an exercise like deadlifts to really work your rear.
"There's no better way to work the booty than to do something like a heavy back squat [or] deadlifts," he says. "Think of picking up your kids off the ground -- when you bend down to get them, what do people always tell you to lift with? Your legs... Deadlifts are just picking things up off of the floor. We all do it, but too many times, we keep our legs straight [or] we bend over with our backs, and the first thing that goes is that lower back."
With this proper form, Cook says you'll start to see results. And if you can't get to the gym, you can still get a targeted workout. All you need is a laundry basket.
"Load up that laundry basket and do more of a sumo deadlift," Cook says. "Sumo deadlifts are when you move your legs out a little bit wider, your hands are in close, and it's pretty much like picking something off the floor, like a laundry basket... Practice picking it up."
To kick things up a notch, keep the workout going as you take the stairs.
"When you go up and down the stairs, lunge," he says. "You don't have to go to the gym to do these things."
Another powerful at-home (or at-work) exercise: The full sit-down for more sculpted thighs.
Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Weight Loss Success Story: The Baby-Weight Whisperer
Natalie Jill
43, 5'2"
San Diego
Before: 175 lb.
Dress size: 10/12
After: 113 lb.
Dress size: 2
Total pounds lost: 62 lb.
Sizes lost: 4
In my 20s and early 30s, I was obsessed with what I should and shouldn't eat. But when I got pregnant in 2007, I finally had an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, and I quickly piled on 50 pounds. Deep down I knew that I was overweight, but it wasn't until I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirrored window on a walk with my baby that I saw all the extra weight. Before I got pregnant, I was a motivator at my corporate job, pushing people to do their best; I needed to apply that same attitude to getting back in shape.
RELATED: Pregnant? How to Eat Right
Becoming a fitness force
My first goal was to simply get moving every day, even just by taking a walk outside. And I decided to re-up my nutrition and fitness-trainer certifications, which I had first gotten years ago. As I studied, I would test out each body-weight move and even make up some of my own. With each passing week, I could see myself growing stronger; I had muscle popping out everywhere.
New career kick-start
Next, I cut out processed foods. Posting photos of my meals on Facebook helped me drop the 50 pounds I'd gained, plus an additional 12, in less than two years. My friends and their friends were sharing my meals and workouts; I suddenly had a big social media following! So I created an e-book called 7 Day Jump Start, which got so popular that I founded Natalie Jill Fitness in 2012. I don't hide my backstory—gaining weight is just a reality for pregnant women—but I do let women know: You're not stuck with those pounds for life.
RELATED: How to Stick to a Workout Plan
Natalie's Knock-It-Off Tips
How did Natalie drop 62 pounds? With these smart strategies. Find even more tactics at health.com/weight-loss-stories.
Inject some fun
When I'm looking for workout motivation, I pull out my favorite neon exercise clothes for a burst of energy. Plus, yellow and pink make me feel upbeat!
Hit the floor
My go-to: plank-based moves. They're great for shaping your abs and upper body. Just make sure you're engaging your core, keeping your glutes tight and tucking your pelvis under to protect your lower back.
Think: Healthy fats
I eat a lot of protein-packed meals filled with good fats. My favorite is shrimp with a ton of veggies, all cooked up in coconut oil.
RELATED: 17 High-Protein Snacks You Can Eat On the Go
Find your inspiration
My 420,000 followers on Instagram keep me going! Follow me at @nataliejillfit.
43, 5'2"
San Diego
Before: 175 lb.
Dress size: 10/12
After: 113 lb.
Dress size: 2
Total pounds lost: 62 lb.
Sizes lost: 4
In my 20s and early 30s, I was obsessed with what I should and shouldn't eat. But when I got pregnant in 2007, I finally had an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, and I quickly piled on 50 pounds. Deep down I knew that I was overweight, but it wasn't until I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirrored window on a walk with my baby that I saw all the extra weight. Before I got pregnant, I was a motivator at my corporate job, pushing people to do their best; I needed to apply that same attitude to getting back in shape.
RELATED: Pregnant? How to Eat Right
Becoming a fitness force
My first goal was to simply get moving every day, even just by taking a walk outside. And I decided to re-up my nutrition and fitness-trainer certifications, which I had first gotten years ago. As I studied, I would test out each body-weight move and even make up some of my own. With each passing week, I could see myself growing stronger; I had muscle popping out everywhere.
New career kick-start
Next, I cut out processed foods. Posting photos of my meals on Facebook helped me drop the 50 pounds I'd gained, plus an additional 12, in less than two years. My friends and their friends were sharing my meals and workouts; I suddenly had a big social media following! So I created an e-book called 7 Day Jump Start, which got so popular that I founded Natalie Jill Fitness in 2012. I don't hide my backstory—gaining weight is just a reality for pregnant women—but I do let women know: You're not stuck with those pounds for life.
RELATED: How to Stick to a Workout Plan
Natalie's Knock-It-Off Tips
How did Natalie drop 62 pounds? With these smart strategies. Find even more tactics at health.com/weight-loss-stories.
Inject some fun
When I'm looking for workout motivation, I pull out my favorite neon exercise clothes for a burst of energy. Plus, yellow and pink make me feel upbeat!
Hit the floor
My go-to: plank-based moves. They're great for shaping your abs and upper body. Just make sure you're engaging your core, keeping your glutes tight and tucking your pelvis under to protect your lower back.
Think: Healthy fats
I eat a lot of protein-packed meals filled with good fats. My favorite is shrimp with a ton of veggies, all cooked up in coconut oil.
RELATED: 17 High-Protein Snacks You Can Eat On the Go
Find your inspiration
My 420,000 followers on Instagram keep me going! Follow me at @nataliejillfit.
Penn: Mom’s Stress Alters Babies’ Gut and Brain through Vaginal Microbiome
Stress during the first trimester of pregnancy alters the population of microbes living in a mother’s vagina.
মঙ্গলবার, ১৬ জুন, ২০১৫
The Real Reason You're Not Losing Weight
You probably know that weight gain ups your risk of diseases like diabetes. But you might not realize how complicated that link really is, says Osama Hamdy, MD, medical director of the obesity clinical program at Joslin diabetes center in Boston and author of The Diabetes Breakthrough.
"The cycle starts when you gain weight," Dr. Hamdy says. The kicker is that once you have blood sugar problems, it's much harder to do the one thing that can really help: slim down. That may be why the majority of people with type 2 diabetes—about 80 percent—are overweight or obese. The good news: dropping pounds is not impossible if you understand the complex dance between blood sugar, belly fat and insulin—and how to interrupt it.
RELATED: Lose Weight with Diabetes
The Vicious Cycle, Explained
Every time you eat, your pancreas produces insulin. This hormone helps your body harness the energy provided by food by "unlocking" your cells, helping to move sugar (aka glucose) inside each one, where it's used for fuel.
The problem starts with insulin resistance, in which your cells no longer respond to the hormone. Weight gain can bring it on, especially if you add visceral fat (the kind around your abdominal organs) because it churns out inflammatory chemicals that harm cells' response to insulin.
Think of your body as a car, says David G. Marrero, PhD, president of health care and education at the American diabetes association. "Fill the trunk with 500 pounds of gravel and it's harder to run. It needs more gas and it wears out the engine to get the same level of performance." That's obesity. "Now think of insulin as the gas line between the fuel tank and the engine. Insulin resistance squeezes it, so when you need more fuel, it's harder to get."
Since it's tough for insulin-resistant cells to take glucose from your blood, sugar levels build up. Over time, this may lead to diabetes, which can damage your blood vessels and yield more weight gain. That's because extra blood glucose signals to your pancreas: "Make more insulin!" But the more you churn out, the easier weight piles on because insulin also encourages your body to store the extra sugar as fat.
RELATED: 9 Ways to Quit Sugar for Good
Shedding pounds can slow down the disease. "You gain more efficiency with every pound of gravel you take out of the trunk," Marrero says.
4 Smart Strategies for Fighting Back
1. Eat less, but eat often
If you have diabetes—especially if you take insulin—it's important to avoid blood sugar dips. So cutting out snacks as a way to shrink your calories isn't an option. But just because you have to eat more often doesn't mean you have to eat more. "You don't need an extraordinarily large number of calories to function, even with diabetes," Marrero says. "Eating small portions throughout the day is a good way to cut calories while keeping your blood sugar steady." If you're on the go, plan snacks in advance, says Jessica Crandall, RDN, a certified diabetes educator and spokesperson for the academy of nutrition and dietetics. Try packing 1 ounce of turkey jerky with whole-wheat crackers or a piece of fruit.
2. Think balance, not calories
When dieting, "you need to be like the three bears and get the right mix of carbs, protein and fiber to keep blood sugar balanced," Crandall says. Focusing solely on calories can actually hinder weight loss. "You need protein to support muscle and metabolism, fat for the absorption of vitamins and carbs to sustain energy."
Per meal, aim for 30 to 45 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein and 7 to 10 grams of fiber. For example, Crandall recommends a breakfast of scrambled eggs (you can use an egg substitute to cut calories without slashing protein), diced sweet potato, black beans and salsa. Or, on rushed mornings, try Greek yogurt topped with sliced fruit and a handful of almonds.
RELATED: Best and Worst Foods for Diabetes
3. Get moving
Exercise helps muscles take in glucose without the need for insulin and improves insulin sensitivity over time, Dr. Hamdy says. People with diabetes should start slow: "Aim to get at least 175 minutes of exercise a week, but in short bouts—10 minutes here and there—all day long." (If you're not already active, talk to your doctor first.)
And don't skip strength training! Muscle mass declines with age, but diabetes can accelerate the rate of that loss, says Rita R. Kalyani, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Johns Hopkins university school of medicine. Lifting weights can help curb muscle loss. Plus, more muscle means more calories burned—even at rest.
RELATED: 15 Exercise Tips for People With Type 2 Diabetes
4. Chill out
Stress kicks off your fight-or-flight response, which prompts the body to produce less insulin and release more glucose, ensuring that you have plenty of fuel in case you need to fight off—or flee from—a threat, Marrero says. This is great if you have to, for example, outrun a hungry tiger, but you don't need the extra fuel when you're dealing with modern stressors, like your commute or an upcoming bill. "That's why it's important to reduce your stress load and learn to cope—without using food or alcohol," Marrero says. Make sure you get plenty of sleep each night, walk as much as possible during the day and try supplementing your regular workouts with stress-relieving activities, such as yoga, meditation or tai chi.
Eat These to Battle Belly Fat
1. Fiber
The benefits of fiber-rich foods—like oatmeal, lentils and beans—are twofold. First, because your body digests fiber slowly, it helps slow down the digestion of sugars, too, which can even out blood glucose spikes. Second, fiber is a known belly fighter: A study from wake forest Baptist medical center in Winston-Salem, N.C., found that for every extra 10 grams of soluble fiber eaten per day, participants lost 3.7 percent of their visceral fat over five years.
2. Healthy fats
Avocados, nuts, olive oil—all are great sources of monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs. And a 2007 study published in the journal Diabetes Care noted that a diet high in MUFAs can prevent fat from being distributed around the belly.
RELATED: Best and Worst Nuts for Your Health
3. Whole grains
To keep your blood sugar under control, it's best to choose complex carbohydrates over simple, refined grains. And there's another bonus: Whole grains blast your belly. In 2008, a 12-week study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants who ate a diet rich in whole grains lost significantly more belly fat than those who consumed refined carbs instead.
"The cycle starts when you gain weight," Dr. Hamdy says. The kicker is that once you have blood sugar problems, it's much harder to do the one thing that can really help: slim down. That may be why the majority of people with type 2 diabetes—about 80 percent—are overweight or obese. The good news: dropping pounds is not impossible if you understand the complex dance between blood sugar, belly fat and insulin—and how to interrupt it.
RELATED: Lose Weight with Diabetes
The Vicious Cycle, Explained
Every time you eat, your pancreas produces insulin. This hormone helps your body harness the energy provided by food by "unlocking" your cells, helping to move sugar (aka glucose) inside each one, where it's used for fuel.
The problem starts with insulin resistance, in which your cells no longer respond to the hormone. Weight gain can bring it on, especially if you add visceral fat (the kind around your abdominal organs) because it churns out inflammatory chemicals that harm cells' response to insulin.
Think of your body as a car, says David G. Marrero, PhD, president of health care and education at the American diabetes association. "Fill the trunk with 500 pounds of gravel and it's harder to run. It needs more gas and it wears out the engine to get the same level of performance." That's obesity. "Now think of insulin as the gas line between the fuel tank and the engine. Insulin resistance squeezes it, so when you need more fuel, it's harder to get."
Since it's tough for insulin-resistant cells to take glucose from your blood, sugar levels build up. Over time, this may lead to diabetes, which can damage your blood vessels and yield more weight gain. That's because extra blood glucose signals to your pancreas: "Make more insulin!" But the more you churn out, the easier weight piles on because insulin also encourages your body to store the extra sugar as fat.
RELATED: 9 Ways to Quit Sugar for Good
Shedding pounds can slow down the disease. "You gain more efficiency with every pound of gravel you take out of the trunk," Marrero says.
4 Smart Strategies for Fighting Back
1. Eat less, but eat often
If you have diabetes—especially if you take insulin—it's important to avoid blood sugar dips. So cutting out snacks as a way to shrink your calories isn't an option. But just because you have to eat more often doesn't mean you have to eat more. "You don't need an extraordinarily large number of calories to function, even with diabetes," Marrero says. "Eating small portions throughout the day is a good way to cut calories while keeping your blood sugar steady." If you're on the go, plan snacks in advance, says Jessica Crandall, RDN, a certified diabetes educator and spokesperson for the academy of nutrition and dietetics. Try packing 1 ounce of turkey jerky with whole-wheat crackers or a piece of fruit.
2. Think balance, not calories
When dieting, "you need to be like the three bears and get the right mix of carbs, protein and fiber to keep blood sugar balanced," Crandall says. Focusing solely on calories can actually hinder weight loss. "You need protein to support muscle and metabolism, fat for the absorption of vitamins and carbs to sustain energy."
Per meal, aim for 30 to 45 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein and 7 to 10 grams of fiber. For example, Crandall recommends a breakfast of scrambled eggs (you can use an egg substitute to cut calories without slashing protein), diced sweet potato, black beans and salsa. Or, on rushed mornings, try Greek yogurt topped with sliced fruit and a handful of almonds.
RELATED: Best and Worst Foods for Diabetes
3. Get moving
Exercise helps muscles take in glucose without the need for insulin and improves insulin sensitivity over time, Dr. Hamdy says. People with diabetes should start slow: "Aim to get at least 175 minutes of exercise a week, but in short bouts—10 minutes here and there—all day long." (If you're not already active, talk to your doctor first.)
And don't skip strength training! Muscle mass declines with age, but diabetes can accelerate the rate of that loss, says Rita R. Kalyani, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Johns Hopkins university school of medicine. Lifting weights can help curb muscle loss. Plus, more muscle means more calories burned—even at rest.
RELATED: 15 Exercise Tips for People With Type 2 Diabetes
4. Chill out
Stress kicks off your fight-or-flight response, which prompts the body to produce less insulin and release more glucose, ensuring that you have plenty of fuel in case you need to fight off—or flee from—a threat, Marrero says. This is great if you have to, for example, outrun a hungry tiger, but you don't need the extra fuel when you're dealing with modern stressors, like your commute or an upcoming bill. "That's why it's important to reduce your stress load and learn to cope—without using food or alcohol," Marrero says. Make sure you get plenty of sleep each night, walk as much as possible during the day and try supplementing your regular workouts with stress-relieving activities, such as yoga, meditation or tai chi.
Eat These to Battle Belly Fat
1. Fiber
The benefits of fiber-rich foods—like oatmeal, lentils and beans—are twofold. First, because your body digests fiber slowly, it helps slow down the digestion of sugars, too, which can even out blood glucose spikes. Second, fiber is a known belly fighter: A study from wake forest Baptist medical center in Winston-Salem, N.C., found that for every extra 10 grams of soluble fiber eaten per day, participants lost 3.7 percent of their visceral fat over five years.
2. Healthy fats
Avocados, nuts, olive oil—all are great sources of monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs. And a 2007 study published in the journal Diabetes Care noted that a diet high in MUFAs can prevent fat from being distributed around the belly.
RELATED: Best and Worst Nuts for Your Health
3. Whole grains
To keep your blood sugar under control, it's best to choose complex carbohydrates over simple, refined grains. And there's another bonus: Whole grains blast your belly. In 2008, a 12-week study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants who ate a diet rich in whole grains lost significantly more belly fat than those who consumed refined carbs instead.
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