Archive for February, 2011

Urinary Tract Health Cat Food – Questions and Answers

Question – Is there really such a thing as urinary tract health cat food, one that will make a difference to my cat’s health?
Answer -  It depends on how advanced the disease is, what treatment has taken place up til now, how healthy your cat was before, how old you cat is and so forth. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know.

Q – So what is the best urinary tract health cat food?
A – You can never go past raw food as the best all round, healthy cat food, for any disease.

Q – My vet tells me that raw meat has worms and parasites which will exacerbate an already ailing cat.
A – Cats have evolved on raw food over millennia. Their digestive system can deal very effectively with any worms or parasites, when they are healthy. When they are not healthy, caution needs to be taken during the change over, to ensure it doesn’t become a problem.

Q – I have heard that the best urinary tract health cat food should be a low protein diet. Surely a raw diet is high in protein?
A – Cats have evolved on a high protein diet. I don’t believe you should reduce their protein intake. What I believe is at the heart of the problem here is the modern farming methods. The artificial fertilisers that are commonly used today upset the delicate mineral balance in farm animals. Address that and the high protein then isn’t a problem.

Q – Why is it so common for cats to develop renal failure?
A – The kidneys are cats weakest link. So getting into the habit of giving your cat the best and healthiest cat food from the start will ensure optimum health and life expectancy.

Q – Is it difficult to work out what the best urinary tract health cat food should be?
A – I’ve already done it for you, so all you have to do is follow in my footsteps.

Q – Is a good urinary tract health cat food expensive?
A – When I worked out the cost of the best cat food versus the highest priced dried or processed cat food, I found they came out at about the same. And look at the additional bonuses of a healthy cat, so fewer trips to the vet!

Q – Is it time consuming to this prepare diet? I work, so have limited time.
A – Once you’ve got your head around the concept, it’s really easy. Just make the change over slowly, so you and your cat get used to it gradually. I find that’s the best way of learning something new and guarantees you’ll find it easy to stick to.

Q – What about high ash? I’ve heard that’s not a good thing in cats with ailing kidneys. Shouldn’t a good urinary tract health cat food be low in ash?
A – High ash means high mineral levels. Again, I feel that comes down to bad farming methods putting the delicate mineral balance out of whack. Cats need minerals to be healthy, but they need them in a natural, balanced form. Quality, raw food is the best source.

Q – I’m a vegetarian. It would be difficult for me to prepare raw meat.
A – I totally understand your predicament, I am too. But cats need meat, they’re true carnivores. So if you want to give your cat the best chance in life, you’re going to have to get used to handling raw meat. Or get your partner to…

Considering Hypnosis For Weight Loss

Self-confidence and motivation is important any plays a key role in every aspect of your life. If you have a positive or a negative attitude for something, you would either carry out the activities in well mannered form or you would give up on them before even getting started. Hypnosis is the process of getting your attitude involved within anything that you strongly want to achieve and approach. In this article, I am especially emphasizing on considering hypnosis for weight loss because it is one of the effective methods which you can consider for the purpose of your weight loss.

Many hypnosis weight loss programs and treatments will force you to give up your previous and old habits which are the main cause behind the excessive weight gain and will promote you towards different lifestyle which will be much safer and healthier for you. In different hypnosis weight loss programs and treatments you would be told that junk foods and other processed and oily foods are injurious for your overall health and you have to get rid of this habit at any cause if you want to slough off those extra pounds from your body in a quick period of time.

There are diverse opinions and feedback from different people about hypnosis weight loss programs and treatments. Some think that this is an appropriate method to consider when nothing is working for you while some think that an individual must consider conventional methods such as dieting and exercises for the cause and must not consider hypnosis as an option for weight loss at any cost.

One major reason behind these diverse opinions of people is that, the results of hypnosis varies from person to person and are not always the same in all the cases. While you are considering hypnosis as an option for weight loss, you shouldn’t think that it would make you get rid of your excessive weight and you will never gain excessive weight in the future, it is not the case with hypnosis. You have to be more realistic when you are considering hypnosis for getting rid of your excessive weight. Hypnosis will only reduce your cravings towards different foods which are of no use for the health of your body. If you want hypnosis to show its outcomes then you must stay away from junk and oily foods at all cost and you must incorporate some exercises in your every day routine as well.

Health Effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup in Women’s Food

Women who want to be thin and are advised against eating sugar-rich and sweetened foods. But then, these food items are really one of life’s guilty pleasures. How else can you resist the sight of chocolates, ice creams, and cakes? It’s impossible to lose weight and be addicted to sweet food. Sodas and beverages have lots of sugar loaded into to them too.

However, there’s one sweetener that is widely used today. Sugar is slowly being replaced by high fructose corn syrup as a sweetening ingredient. Much of it is because it is a lot cheaper and is easier to handle.

What is High Fructose Corn Syrup?

High fructose corn syrup is not just a sweetener but a preservative as well. The syrup is created by changing the glucose found in corn into fructose. Fructose is another form of sugar. Comparatively speaking, they are not much different from each other. High fructose corn syrup enhances the flavor of foods like yogurts, sauces, and marinades. It also prolongs the freshness of breads, as well as adds moisture and texture to cereals and breakfast bars.

What are the health effects of high fructose corn syrup?

The current misconception about high fructose corn syrup is that it promotes obesity. However, recent studies have proved that high fructose corn syrup is not less healthy compared to other sweeteners. It also doesn’t cause obesity.

Composition-wise, high fructose corn syrup is equivalent to honey and sugar. As such, it is comparable to these two sweetening staples. It is not right to assume that high fructose corn syrup is more detrimental to the health than its counterparts. In fact, sugar and high fructose corn syrup have the same amount of calories for every gram.

Generally speaking, high fructose corn syrup is safe. It is a natural sweetener that has nutritive values as well. It can be used in food and in meals without making you obese. While sweetened foods do have the ability to induce obesity, high fructose corn syrup is not a unique contributor. What it can do to your health is something that glucose, sugar, and honey can too.

When administered into the body, high fructose corn syrup is treated in the same way as regular sugar. This means that the body recognizes it as table sugar and is metabolized similarly. Women, regardless if they’re fat or lean, process high fructose corn syrup in the same way.

It is quite safe to claim that high fructose corn syrup is a naturally-occurring sweetener. It is composed of fructose-glucose combination, like honey and table sugar. There are no artificial ingredients or synthetic elements found in it. No color additives are added to it either. High fructose corn syrup conforms to the FDA standards of being natural.

High fructose corn syrup can be taken with full peace of mind. It won’t affect or alter your appetite. High fructose sugar is not sweeter than sugar and doesn’t have negative effects on a woman’s health.

Is Lap Band Surgery for Me? Your Step-by-Step Guide to Lasting Weight Loss

Is Lap Band Surgery for Me? Your Step-by-Step Guide to Lasting Weight Loss

Getting the Most Exercise Out of Playing Basketball

Getting the Most Exercise Out of Playing Basketball

People that are looking to lose weight are always looking for a good cardiovascular workout. Sports such as basketball combine the joys of competition with the running needed to raise ones heart rate. The best thing about basketball is even if you are just playing a half court pick-up game or full court competitive league games, when you are on the court you are working your body. The problem is for a good cardiovascular workout you need at least twenty minutes, and ideally forty minutes, of continuous action. Anyone who plays a lot of pick-up games know that it is difficult to constantly win and stay on the court playing for that amount of time. To get the most out of your workout while hooping it up, here are some helpful hints.

1 – Stretch before and after you play. Whenever you are doing any type of cardiovascular exercise it is very important to protect your muscles and ligaments by stretching. Just a simple stretching routine before playing will improve your muscles and ligaments performance, and it will also increase your endurance and durability. Stretching after a workout like playing basketball is also important. Long sustained stretches will allow your muscles to build more muscle fibers. A basic post workout stretching routine should include a stretch for both of your side muscle groups, your back, your abs, your groin, and then both legs. (Just remember side-side-front-back-legs-legs-legs.) Those seven stretches should cover the majority of you body’s muscles.

2 – Stay hydrated. Hydration is very important to keep your body functioning correctly. Think of your body as a factory. If a factory is lacking resources then it will begin to shut down production in the plant. Your body is the same way, and water is one of the most key resources your body uses. If you aren’t hydrated then your body will start to conserve, usually leading to painful cramping and muscle soreness. When you have a break, be sure to drink some fluids.

3 – Keep moving when you’re not on the court playing. This doesn’t mean you need to be running laps or doing jumping jacks, but you can be doing simple thing just to keep your heart rate elevated. Just dribbling the basketball, or shooting on an empty basketball while you are waiting for the game to end is a simple way to keep your heart rate up and get more out of your pick-up game. Whatever you do just don’t sit around. Normally your muscles will be fully recovered within a minute to four minutes of inactivity. Sitting around any longer usually just leads to stiffness, and that means less actual game time and less of a workout.

4 – Keep moving when you are on the court. In pick-up games it is common to just sit around and wait for the ball, and do little movement without the ball. This is not only bad for your workout, but it is just bad basketball. Games are more productive and fun to play in when you are active on both sides of the ball. Constantly moving will keep your heart rate up, and it will increase the intensity of the game. As many people know, you don’t like playing with certain people if they are lazy and always demanding the ball. So don’t be one of those people.

5 – Think nutrition. After you are done with a pick-up game, add some protein to your diet. Taking protein within thirty minutes after a long cardiovascular workout such as basketball will help your body to build lean muscle. Lean muscle acts as an engine when you aren’t working out and continue to burn fat calories, even when you are sleeping. Protein is almost never converted into fat, and it also fills you so you are eating any unhealthy items instead. Try to get a good whey protein supplement, with isolated whey protein. This will give you the most protein per serving and will cut out the fats and carbohydrates that other protein supplements include in their mixture. Whey protein is also far easier to digest than soy based proteins. A little thought towards nutrition would go a long ways.

Playing basketball is just fun to begin with, and if you follow these simple tips you can gain all the advantages of a good sustained cardiovascular workout.

Foolproof Weight Loss: Slim-Down Strategies That Work–Guaranteed

Foolproof Weight Loss: Slim-Down Strategies That Work–Guaranteed

Alkaline Water Provides Basic Health Benefits

The alkaline water is used in order to hydrate the body optimally. This contains the ionic minerals that act as a conductor of the electrochemical activity from one cell to another. The bad effects of the toxins can also be zeroed by using the foot detox. This will help in detoxification of even the heaviest metal deposited in the body. Basically the ingredient like the bamboo vinegar helps the body in releasing the waste from the skin. 

Basically the alkaline water helps in the neutralizing the stored toxins and the acids in the body. After the neutralization of the acids and the toxins, the body removes them. It has been proved clinically that the alkaline water helps the body to resist disease and the slow aging. This is done by increasing the intercellular hydration, protecting and stabilizing the cells, replenishing the essential minerals, and preventing wastages and flushing out toxins from accumulating in the cells. The alkaline water also helps in maintaining the normal flow of the blood and balancing the acid-alkaline.

If you want to have a healthy body, a correct acid-alkaline balance is what is needed the most. The imbalance of the acids in the body can lead to many health complications such as low energy, excess weight, pains and aches, poor digestion and fatigue. You can regain a balanced acid-alkaline by having proper nutrition and diet. This basically includes drinking alkaline water that is structured and ionic, proper supplementation and eating alkalized food such as low sugar fruits and vegetables.

If you are not drinking the alkaline water, you will definitely be suffering from some serious diseases, such as heartburn, arthritis, angina, back pain, headaches and migraines. Heartburn indicates shortage of the water in the upper part of gastrointestinal part. Arthritis signals the dehydration in the specific joint. Angina is also known as the heart pain which signals dehydration in the lung and heart axis. Headaches and migraines is a result of dehydration in the brain and also behind the eyes. 

The foot detox is made totally from the extracts of the natural plants. There are some points that should be kept in mind while using them. There should not be any kind of the metals or any electronic items attached with your body. The plain tap water should be used with no additives with them. People who should avoid using the foot detox pads are pregnant women, persons suffering from chronic disease, or taking any prescribed drug. The organ recipients and the donors should also not use the pads.

Using of the foot detox is very easy. It is so effective and efficient that the unwanted and the dangerous toxins are removed from the body very easily. All you have to do to enjoy the benefits of the foot detox is by attaching them to the bottom of your foot before you go to the bed. You can remove them in the morning and feel the better energy and the level of relaxation which you will experience.

Smart Ways For Fat Loss

Fat loss or more commonly weight loss and turned out to be the talk of the day. You will find almost one and all put in that “extra effort” so as to stay in shape. While some fortunate ones pass through this test, others may simply stay behind and finally give up their dream of weight loss. So, what do you think is leading to such a situation? Any guesses? Well, the answer is – LACK OF MOTIVATION! Yes, when we fail to get the desired results within a stipulated time frame, we often give up our idea of fat loss. Hence, make sure you don’t fall prey into this situation. In addition to this, you need to take into consideration a couple of things so as to intensify your fat loss potential. Here we go-

  • The success of your fat loss will depend on how well you are ready for this goal. Fat loss is something that cannot be attained overnight. Instead, you need to devote the needed effort and time for the same.
  • If you want to succeed in your fat loss venture then you need to be focused on your goal. You need to set sensible goals and try meeting them to the fullest. You may try incorporating short term, long term as well as intermediate goals so as to maximize your chances of attaining them.
  • Don’t get de-motivated. Keep an eye on the foods you are consuming. Check your weight at least once in a month so as to find how may pounds you are losing in a month. Tracking your food intake as well as eating habits helps in proper weight management. Make sure that your keep your meals restricted to five or six times. Food’s consumption engages absorption of nutrients as well as digestion of foods. And our body needs energy to carry out the digestion and absorption process effectively. Restricting the number of meals to five or six times will improve your body’s rate of metabolism. As a result, your body will expend more energy as there will not be any need for frequent calorie intake. Make sure that each of your meals is inclusive of a high protein diet. You choose any of the food choices like eggs, poultry, red meat, fish, protein powders etc. However, it would better if you keep your intake of red meat to the minimum.
  • Healthy eating implies including a variety of foods in your diet. Eat mindfully as this sure to speed up your fat loss job.

You can improve your BMR or basal metabolic rate by shedding off those extra pounds. An ideal way to do this is by exercising. You can go in for exercises like muscle building workouts and heart pumping aerobic workouts. Make sure that you exercise for a minimum of forty five minutes. If you are finding it hard to exercise on a routine basis then you can do so at least 4 to 5 days in a week.

Do Slimming Aids Really Work?

You will have seen them on TV, in newspapers, magazines and heard them advertised on the radio. The big question is do slimming aids really work? We have all seen the amazing claims of someone who bought a miracle pill online and now they are thin enough to be a catwalk supermodel, but unless you are very naive you will realise that there might have been a bit of an exaggeration of the truth going on. This article is just a quick guide to slimming aids and to find out if they really work.

How many dieters do you know that have successfully slimmed down to their desired weight? Of those dieters how many slimmed down using slimming aids alone? You will probably find the answer to that one is none. The people who have success with diet supplements are the ones who use them as intended; to aid slimming efforts, not just relying on them and them alone to lose weight.

Slimming pills, herbal teas and other miraculous drugs can only get you so far, you need to try to make positive changes in your life as well to see the desired effects. If you use slimming aids in conjunction with eating more healthy foods, an increase in exercise and changes in your lifestyle you will be setting yourself up for success. Even making simple changes like eating smaller portion sizes, going out for a brisk 30 minute walk and cutting back on sugary, fat loaded foods will make a tremendous difference to your weight loss program.

If you decide to use slimming aids make sure you carefully research them because different aids work in different ways. Some use a process called thermogenesis to burn off extra calories while others bind to the fat in your stomach reducing the amount of fat your body actually absorbs. There are slimming aids which help you to suppress feelings of hunger or that make you feel full even if you’re not. The key to successful dieting with slimming products is really moderation, be sensible and use your chosen product as directed. Combine it with a healthy diet and regular exercise and it’s highly likely you’ll become the next weight loss success story!

How Caffeine Can Hurt Your Chances For Optimal Muscle Growth

Many people who lift weights or body build have at one time or another used a muscle builder that contained certain stimulants, the most popular of which is caffeine. In fact generally speaking more than ninety percent of North Americans consume at least one form or another of caffeine every day. Most people use the standard coffee or soft drink as their choice for consuming caffeine. Workdays are increasingly getting longer and more and more is demanded in the workforce. Caffeine is often the answer to the increasing need to be alert and awake during a stressful workday. But at what cost do most Americans get the added boost of energy and focus?

Similarly many people who participate in bodybuilding and weightlifting also supplement their routine with some form or another of caffeine. This could be in the form of a fat burner, or even a creatine supplement that has caffeine as well as other oftentimes negative side effects regarding the desired goal of building lean muscle.

As far as the bodybuilder goes, caffeine can often has positive, or rather desired effects that will please those who are looking to lose weight quickly. Caffeine raises energy levels and promotes different forms of mental and physical awareness. For many pre-contest athletes, many use what is called an ECA stack which consists of the following, ephedrine, aspirin, and caffeine. This combination is used to shed body fat fast. In fact almost all weight loss supplements employ at least some sort of caffeinated ingredient list.

The aforementioned results regarding weight loss seem very appealing but it is also important to know that there are also many negative side effects that come from both short term as well as long term use of caffeine during your workout routine. One of the side effects can include the feeling of being jittery and a general feeling of anxiety. Because caffeine acts as a stimulant, it has been proven that this stimulant actually constricts muscle growth. It does this by tightening the blood vessels. If something tightens the blood vessels then of course less blood will flow from the heart to the muscles. With less blood flowing from the heart to the muscles your body will not get it’s needed amino acids as well as the protein it desperately needs to both during as well as after a tough workout. Another consideration is that if you are trying to gain mass, caffeine will work against you as it also acts as a mild appetite suppressant.

Weight Loss 101: Myths and Tips.

Weight Loss 101: Myths and Tips.

Choosing A Natural Health Magazine Which is Unbiased

Natural health magazines abound, often giving you conflicting advice. Who should you believe?

I believe any good natural health magazine, like any good magazine, shouldn’t so much give you advice, rather they should give unbiased important pros and cons and leave you to work out the best solution for you.

After all you are unique. What is helpful to the magazine editor may be harmful to you. Only you can decide.

Being unbiased is hugely important. We’re all reading in the news how doctors have been paid to create unsubstantiated ‘scientific’ papers supporting some drug or other.

Natural health magazine editors are people too. Some good, some bad, some indifferent. If the editor only advocates items they receive a royalty form, they aren’t unbiased.

Sure, we all need to make our daily crust, but it’s best to be open about what we profit from.

A good natural health magazine should look at all aspects of health, not just focus on physical ailments. For example, diet is critical to good health.

I recently read of six people, all suffering with type 2 diabetes, on insulin and all obese. Within one week of a change of diet, most were off their insulin. Within one month, they all were.

Isn’t that awesome?

I find it extraordinary that doctors receive no nutritional training whatsoever.

Yet I doubt there is a natural health therapist who doesn’t understand the importance of diet.

Natural health covers every aspect of who you are. You aren’t just your body. You aren’t just your mind. You are a unique and complex unit. Your feelings and emotions are as important (actually more so) as your thoughts and creations.

So any natural health magazine worth its salt will cover aspects of your emotional health, as well as your physical health. When you ignore your emotional health, sooner or later you’ll suffer physical ill health.

Everyone knows that stress causes anxiety and that anxiety causes higher blood pressure and faster heart rate. While that’s fine for a short period, if you continually have these ‘anxiety attacks’, your physical health will deteriorate.

But you don’t have to resort to drugs. There are many effective, natural alternatives. And homeopathy can actually get to the cause of why you are suffering these attacks in the first place.

And fix it.

And lastly, your magazine should have a readers question area. Whilst the answer may not be specifically helpful for your ailment, they should be able to point you in the right direction. They should know what areas each natural health modality excels in and which has limited ability.

For example, you wouldn’t go to a masseuse if you had incontinence. And you probably wouldn’t go to a chiropractor if you had a torn ligament. It’s doubtful you’d see an acupuncturist if you had been abused as a child.

Yet all these health issues can be resolved using homeopathy.

Natural Weight Loss Secrets

Natural Weight Loss Secrets

Diet, Exercise, & Weight-Loss Bullshit- Exposed!

Diet, Exercise, & Weight-Loss Bullshit- Exposed!

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