What Cholesterol Tests Can Tell You

Men and women who have a history of heart disease within their families may want to make themselves available for periodic cholesterol tests. These tests provide excellent information on the overall state of the arteries, which can ultimately help determine which people are at risk for heart disease later in life. Physicians will administer the test and interpret the results. They will then usually assist the patient in developing a plan of action to lower their cholesterol levels. If the test shows, on the other hand, that someone is in overall good health, then he/she will only need to maintain what they've been doing in terms of diet and nutrition.

The tests should allow people to determine how much they need to modify their lifestyles. Individuals who eat a lot of meats and cheeses will likely end up with cholesterol problems. If they want, they can begin working with nutritionists to develop better meal plans. Eating a lot of fruits and vegetables should bring the bad cholesterol numbers down. Fiber will also help to push some of the bad food products through the digestive tract at a faster pace. Whole grain breads, beans, and other legumes are all excellent sources of both fiber and antioxidants.

Men and women should also give physical exercise a try. If they can build up the strength of the heart, the circulatory system will be able to pump blood throughout the body much easier. Some medical professionals believe that this will facilitate the removal of artery-hardening plaque from the body altogether. Exercisers can begin slowly, perhaps by walking a mile or two a few times per week. Once they have reached a base level of fitness, they can begin to jog or even run. As added motivation, they might even enter a five-kilometer road race with a good group of friends. The cholesterol should come way down.

Older individuals who have not had a full examination for many years should consider the benefits of cholesterol tests. If they are obese, inactive, or have been suffering from dizziness or chest pains, then a full suite of tests will likely be needed. Physicians will examine the lipid profile and suggest lifestyle modifications to their patients. Individuals might even be immediately put on some kind of medication, which will help lower the cholesterol while dietary changes are in the process of being made. Patients may eventually be removed from the medication once their overall health profile becomes much better. As long as they stick with their nutritional changes, they should be fine as they move forward with their lives.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Six Unusual Tips To Get Six Pack Abs

There is nothing quick or magical about getting a six pack. Getting ripped abs can be long and tedious. It takes time, hard work, and dedication. By making the right decisions each day, you can get a six pack. However, if you frequently cheat like most people, then you will never see your abs. Follow these six tips to get a six pack.

Your body requires water! You need to start your day by hydrating. Researchers found that drinking 16 ounces of cold water first thing in the morning boosts metabolism by 24 percent for 90 minutes afterward. Drink at least a gallon of water over the course of a day for hydration, health, and to keep your metabolism burning.

Don't skip breakfast. A study found that people who skip breakfast are 4.5 x more likely to be overweight. So make sure you eat within an hour after waking up. I like to eat 3 hardboiled eggs and an apple to get my metabolism going first thing in the morning.

Review your goals at least once each month. It's important that you stay aware of your goals and that you are taking the appropriate actions to achieve them. Scientists found that people who monitored their diet and exercise goals were much more likely to progress their fitness level.

Bring your lunch with you to work. I have a whole compartment of my bag that is devoted to protein filled snacks. Success starts at the grocery store and buying the right healthy snacks. Some of my favorite healthy snacks are tuna pouches, protein bars, peanut bags, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and deli meats. By eating five times per day, you'll keep your body well fed and satisfied throughout the day without overeating. You will also have the necessary fuel needed for your workout. Equally important is a reduction in sugar cravings from keeping your insulin level stable throughout the day.

It's easy to forget that everyone has abs. The problem is that most people have too much fat on top to ever see them underneath. So instead of focusing on doing a billion crunches, you should focus on burning fat during your workouts. Some of the best ways to burn fat in a short amount of time are sprint interval training, 45-60 minutes of moderate intensity cardio, and high intensity interval training workouts. Mixing up your routine is crucial for continued results.

Getting a six pack requires sleep. That's because lack of sleep disrupts the hormones that control your fat burning ability. Scientists recently found that lack of sleep can cause your muscle cells to become resistant to the hormone insulin. This will eventually lead to fat and weight gain.

Hearing Test: Do You Need One?

Not everyone necessarily needs a hearing test, but some people would benefit from it. If you are not sure if you do, you can always ask your doctor, or just get one anyway. There are also some warning signs that you should get one.

One of the signs that you should schedule a hearing test is when your ears hurt for no apparent reason. If you cannot figure out why, you should try to have them looked at by a professional. You may have a simple ear infection, or there may be a larger issue behind the pain. A professional can take a look and find out if the problem has compromised your ability to hear. If not, he or she might be able to diagnose the issue, or at least refer you to a doctor who can treat you. If your ability to hear has in fact been reduced, the professional you see might be able to diagnose the issue and get you the equipment or treatment you need to hear better.

Another sign that you need a hearing test is that you have noticed you cannot hear as well as before. If other people can hear things that you cannot, you need to find out the problem. It can usually be fixed with some treatment, or at least with the proper device for your ears. An exam can let you know how severe the problem is, which can guide the practitioners in getting the treatment you need. This is important since it can be dangerous and uncomfortable to continue on without addressing your decreased ability to hear.

In addition, you should get a hearing test if you have had ear problems in the past. If you are known for medical issues with ears, including partial deafness that seems to have gotten worse, or frequent ear infections, you should get an exam. The same goes if you are older, since you tend to lose your ability to hear easily as you age. You may need either treatment or devices for your ears in order to hear as well as you used to.

After your hearing test, the staff at the clinic you choose will likely tell you your options. You will likely be shown any devices that can help, or given a referral to a doctor who can treat you. No matter what the treatment ends up being, you deserve to get an accurate diagnosis quickly so you can start to hear better soon.

Compliments to Botox Injections

There is a lot of talk about how effective Botox injections are for a variety of uses all over the body for a wide range of patients. Most patients, whether they are male or female, turn to this injectable solution for the effect it has on wrinkles throughout the common culprit sections of the face. But when it comes to the long-term impact of the benefits from the solution, patients are turning to complimentary treatments and procedures in order to reap the full benefits of the momentarily relaxed muscles. Within three to four monthr of the initial treatment, the smoothed skin is ripe for resurfacing and deep moisturizing. The relaxed muscles allow the relaxed skin to absorb topical treatments a lot better. This gets a lot of patients back in to their cosmetic specialist's and dermatologist's offices in order to use this opportunity to make changes that can last beyond the three to four months of the Botox injections.

Many men and women opt for non-surgical compliments and at-home treatments in order to get the most out of their Botox injections. After all, the solution's effect is only to relax the muscles that facilitate the repetitive movements that cause wrinkles in aging and dehydrated skin. Because it is diluted for safety and applied in small amounts in strategic zones, its effects will not last forever. So, one of the most significant compliments to this procedure is the chemical peel. Whether the patient chooses microdermabrasion or hyaluronic acid (chemical) peel, in office, these treatments have been shown to have a transformative effect on the appearance of fine to medium lines, as well as age spots and scarring. So when the injections do begin to wear off, it would appear that time has stood still, if not actually reversed with regard to the skin on the patient's face.

He or she can also opt for at-home topical treatments that are either prescribed by their dermatologist or cosmetic specialist, or purchased from a trusted cosmetic company. These products include the alpha hydroxyl and other chemical and antioxidant rich elements that absorb into the smooth skin either during the day, or in a night cream to create lasting support to the freshly youthful appearance of the face.

The effects of Botox, like any other beauty regime, have been shown to improve with consistent repetition in regular intervals. But the more you utilize compliments to your beauty regime, the better the results will be within your skin for years to come.

Things to Consider When You Choose a Plastic Surgeon

As you consider your options for plastic surgery, do you ever think about who your plastic surgeon is? Did you screen your surgeon to see if he or she were the most qualified candidate for the job, or did you just pick your plastic surgeon based off of some friend's recommendation? If you did the latter without giving a thought as to how it may affect you, you may want to reconsider whom you have in charge of your plastic surgery.

Just because your friend had a great experience does not necessarily mean that you will too. There are some things you need to take into consideration, like whether or not you are having the same procedure done, whether you and your friend have the same genetic and physical makeup and whether or not your friend took the time to screen their plastic surgeon before getting any work done.

This may seem like a lot for you to think about, but when you look at the situation more closely, you will see that they are some very important points that need to be addressed. You don't want to be in a position where the surgeon who is in charge of your plastic surgery really isn't certified, licensed or doesn't have a good reputation. When it comes to your health, you need to take every precaution to ensure that nothing happens that can cause you to be uncomfortable.

You may assume that just because a doctor practices that they are able to do so legally. That is not always the case. Since doctors and other medical professionals often incur a huge amount of debt before they are eligible to practice on their own, they have to make sure that they pay back their student loans without defaulting on them. If they default on their loans, then they lose their license to practice until the situation is cleared up. There are other situations can also contribute to having their plastic surgery license revoked.

The problem with not properly screening your plastic surgeon is that if you get an operation and something goes wrong, then you don't have much legal recourse. It is up to you to do your homework. Not only do you end up disfigured, injured or even dead, there is not much anyone can do as far as legal compensation, unless it is discovered that they misled you in the first place.

You want to have the best experience possible, and to do that you need to have the best possible work on your body. After all, you wouldn't hire an unlicensed contractor to work on your house, so why would you hire and unlicensed doctor to work on your body. If you are smart, you will screen any professional by whom you plan on having any medical work done before you commit to any procedure. In the long run, you will be happy that you did.

Medical Spa: Services Commonly Offered

Scheduling an appointment at a medical spa is much more than just an appointment at the local salon. A doctor oversees the entire facility and works with patients to perform special treatments that require a certain expertise. These facilities often encompass the benefits of a traditional salon, a dermatology office, and a physician's office. Here are a few of the services most commonly offered at these establishments.

Laser Hair Removal: 

Unwanted hair often brings patients into a medical spa. They want to find out which options are available so that they no longer have use for their razors and shaving creams. It takes multiple appointments to get successful results and with a doctor overseeing the process, clients feel confident that they are in good hands.

Technology is constantly evolving when it comes to laser hair removal and these types of facilities offer clients the most up to date opportunities for effective treatments. All appointments should be planned out in advance, as there are some time constraints between appointments that must be adhered to.

Skin Tightening and Injections: 

Professionals at a medical spa can administer products like Juvederm and Botox. The overall idea is to gain a more youthful appearance while diminishing wrinkles and making the skin look smoother. Both men and women sign up for these injections to turn back the clock and present a fresh, well-rested appearance to the public. The effects are often immediate and there is very little down time. Many clients come into the facility at lunchtime and return to work immediately following.

Microdermabrasion: 

In addition to a facial, a medical spa often offers microdermabrasion. During the procedure, the facial skin is exfoliated, with the dead skin cells being removed. While there are over the counter products that can give some results, the use of ultrasonic waves can also rid the skin of some other imperfections including dark spots and even dark circles under the eyes. When the new skin is revealed, a person's face looks cleaner, brighter and overall a person often seems rejuvenated.

More Traditional Services: 

Aside from those treatments that must be administered by a physician, a medical spa also offers more traditional services. Massages and pedicures are common requests. Sometimes a client will come in looking for a complete day of treatments. It is not unusual to have someone set up a microdermabrasion appointment to be followed up with a massage or pedicure.

If you are interested in any of the mentioned treatments, it is important to set up an appointment in advance. Because certain services will require a follow up appointment, scheduling should be figured out as early as possible to ensure that it fits into a person's schedule.

Top 7 Tips To Achieve Total Health And Wellness

Since I love music, I find myself continually drawn to associating harmony in any area of life to music. In a typical choir, there are four (4) principal voice types - Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Bass - and all are necessary to bring full tonal quality and harmony to the choir.

We all have a mind, a body and a spirit. It should therefore serve as no surprise that, in order to achieve total health and wellness, we need to take care of all three (3) parts of ourselves - mind, body and spirit. Don't focus on any one part to the disadvantage of the others, since all are required to bring balance to the human person.

In this article, I will provide you with seven (7) simple, practical and effective tips that you can start using immediately to improve and maintain your overall health and wellness. Tip 1 focuses on your spiritual health. Tips 2, 3 and 4 focus on your physical health. Tips 5 and 6 focus on your emotional health. The final tip, Tip 7, focuses on a frequently overlooked area, your mental health.

1. Dedicate 30 minutes to God each day in prayer, reflection and thanksgiving.

Every day you are blessed with 1440 minutes to live your life. Thirty (30) minutes only amount to a mere 2% of your entire day. God, the giver of life, deserves some of your day. Read and reflect with daily devotionals, spiritual and/ or religious books (Holy Bible, Qur'an, Torah, Tripitaka, Bhagavad-Gita, Tao-te-Ching, Books of L. Ron Hubbard or other sacred texts). This will increase your knowledge of your religion, strengthen your spirit, improve your personal relationship with God, improve your relationship with your fellow human beings, help you with your daily living and bring you inner peace.

2. Keep Physically Fit.

The key to achieving physical fitness is paying attention to exercises that strengthen your core muscles. Your core muscles are all those varied muscles in your chest, abdomen, upper back, lower back and sides. There are several benefits to be derived from a strong core - a flat stomach, a strong back, good posture, reduced strain on the spine, effective transfer of power to your arms and legs to lift, move or carry stuff around, greater mental alertness, greater flexibility and a good heart.

3. Eat Nutritious and Healthy Food.

There is a widely circulated myth that foods that are nutritious and healthy are not tasty. Like I indicated, it is a myth and the best way to ensure that your food intake is healthy, nutritious and that you are getting all of the required vitamins and nutrients that your body needs is by:

(a) Eating from the 5 major food groups each day - Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Meat & Beans.

(b) Eating a "rainbow diet", that is, one that contains as many, if not all, of the colours of the rainbow - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Purple. Each food colour provides a different set of vitamins and micro-nutrients. For example, green foods such as spinach, are a good source of Vitamin A, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Iron. Regular consumption of Spinach fights Anaemia and improves eyesight.

(c) Using a good multi-vitamin supplement, to satisfy any nutritional deficiencies you may have.

(d) Drinking your recommended eight (8) glasses of water each day. Drink one (1) glass at various intervals throughout the day to assist your body in the efficient elimination of waste and toxins.

4. Take Good Care of Your Skin.

Your skin serves four (4) principal functions as follows:

i. Protection from external elements.

ii. A sort of sensor with nerve endings that cause you to react appropriately to pain, heat, cold, touch, pressure, vibration and tissue injury.

iii. A heat regulator that accordingly pumps blood to your skin's surface or reduces blood flow.

iv. Your largest waste eliminator (surface wise) through sweating or perspiring.

Additionally, as you age, your skin naturally becomes drier, less elastic and produces more wrinkles. However, you can significantly slow down this aging of your skin and help your skin in its elimination process by keeping your skin continuously moist and hydrated through the following simple skin care routine.

Skin Care Routine

Drink plenty of water; 8 glasses each day. Eat looks of yellow and orange fruits which provide Vitamin A. Take a good Vitamin E supplement. Eat cucumbers, which supply sulphur - a trace element that is necessary for healthy skin!! Also use water-based moisturizing creams or olive oil on the skin, immediately after bathing to keep moisture locked into your skin.

5. Take a 30-minute "time-out" at least once a week.

I know this sounds easier said than done, especially if you have children or take care of elderly parents or relatives. So let's look at it from a different angle. If you suddenly became very ill or died, God forbid, the children and relatives would be somehow taken care of. Maybe not as well as you, yes, but they would manage. Well in order to ensure that you are around long enough to provide the best continuous care, the way you alone can do it, is to TAKE A BREAK!!! Find your relaxing space: take a walk on the beach or in the park while listening to nature or music on your iPod; relax on your bed listening to music; curl up in your favourite chair with a cup of tea or chocolate and read a good book; sit on a park bench and watch people pass by...or whatever else relaxes you. This will clear your head and give you renewed energy to go again.

6. Practice Contentment

In the natural ebb and flow of life and living, there are high points and low points, seasons of plenty and seasons of scarcity. Happiness is not derived from the abundance, number or type of material things we have. That's why we sometimes see examples of millionaires who are drug addicts or alcoholics. Added to that, there is the "Law of Diminishing Returns". What this basically says is that the more we get of something up to a certain point, the less likely the added quantities of that thing is going to increase our happiness quota. It's like, if I got one (1) Lamborghini - I am on a high, summersaults can't express my happiness, I could hug everybody I meet. If I got two (2) more Lamborghinis - well that's ok. I mean I really won't feel as euphoric as that first time and in any case, how many can I drive at any one time?

Contentment is the ability to be happy in both the sparse and abundant seasons of our lives and it is not dependent on our circumstances. We need to develop this spirit of contentment in order to positively contribute to our overall health, happiness and well-being. This does not mean that we should not strive for better but it means that like the old West Indian say goes, "We shouldn't hang our hats where our hands can't reach", in order to keep up with the Jones'.

7. Take the Care of Your Mind Seriously.

Stress and Depression are two (2) of the biggest thieves of mental and emotional health, globally. Not only are they globally prevalent but they also lead to more serious mental problems such as Dementia, Alzheimer's, Suicide and Insanity.

In fact, "The World Health Organization estimates that more than 450 million people [worldwide] suffer from mental disorders, and a new report by the World Economic Forum figures the annual global costs of mental and neurological illnesses at $2.5 trillion. That is three times the economic cost of heart disease 'Global mental health issues woefully overlooked', Public Radio International."

So stress and depression must be dealt with and arrested almost immediately in order to avoid more serious health problems. Depression is a natural phase that we all experience in our lives primarily due to loss of loved ones, work issues, job loss or money/financial issues. However, the key to ensuring that stress and depression do not get out of hand, is engaging in activities that move your mind away from the problem causing the stress or depression and move you to a better mental space, despite the problem at hand. You can improve and maintain the health of your brain by incorporating some of these simple techniques into your daily living.

Simple Mental Health Care Solutions

Board Games, Puzzles & Quizzes

Playing Board Games and Solving Puzzles & Quizzes all provide your brain with a mental workout by improving your memory, concentration, problem solving skills and preventing cognitive decline.

Listening to music

Although seemingly simple, music soothes the mind and spirit, helps the body relax, relieves mental and emotional stress and tension, stimulates the senses and energizes the body.

Writing

There are many great online writing communities, such as EzineArticles and Squidoo, which accept articles on just about any topic that you would be interested in. Again, you will be exercising your brain, since to write an excellent article you will need to do some research to supplement your knowledge of the area.

Hobbies and Sports

Engage in group activities, social clubs or sports that interest you (tennis, horse riding, soccer, football, cricket, karate, sewing, yoga, tai chi, basketball, volleyball, swimming, singing, dancing etc.). Anything that you are naturally inclined to and that makes you feel happy while doing it. If you can't seem to find a sport or hobby that interests you, check out the World's Largest List of Hobbies (see the link below). You're bound to find something that's right for you and that you'll enjoy.

Fitness Guidelines For You

Fitness is something that is all-inclusive, meaning it is a lifestyle change and incorporates every aspect of your life. Keep reading to find out some helpful fitness tips that can help you work towards your goals.

It is very important that you keep a fitness journal. You need to develop your plan within this journal, and you need to record your progress as well as your short-term and long-term goals. Your fitness plan includes your diet and exercise regimen and other things that you want to change in your life. As you come up with more of your plan, make sure you are writing it down and also tracking your progress.

You must make sure you're drinking enough water daily. In order to stay healthy, you must stay hydrated, and eight glasses of water each day is recommended. You also must make sure you've developed a healthy eating plan. Your diet must consist of all the major food groups, and it must be well-balanced. You should speak with your doctor concerning your diet as you plan it out. He or she can also recommend certain supplements that you might need according to your individual needs.

You must have a balance of both cardiovascular exercise and strength conditioning exercises making up your fitness regimen. You need to have these exercises planned out and scheduled and not just shoot from the hip. You also need to make sure you have the right balance of these exercises for optimum fitness. It's a good idea to do research, check with your doctor, and you might even ask for a personal trainer.

Working out first thing in the morning is always a good idea. Studies show that you burn twice as many calories when working out in the morning than when you work out at any other time of day. This also starts your day off on the right track, as exercise releases endorphins that affect your mood. Whatever you decide to do, it's important that you are consistent, sticking with your exercise regimen. If you slip up on your diet or fitness regimen, just go right back to it. Don't get discouraged, and use your journal as your guide.

You must have adequate rest between workouts, and you must be getting an adequate amount of sleep each night. Your sleep pattern also needs to be as consistent as possible. You should wake up about the same time each day and go to bed about the same time each night. Adequate rest will help your body to recuperate. A well-rested body is in the optimum state for building muscle, toning, and staying physically fit.

A special mention of fad diets should be made here. Many people take on new fitness regimens, and they think they can do whatever they want with their diet. This is not the case. You must eat a well-balanced diet. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough. A poor diet can completely sabotage your fitness plan.

You must devise a solid fitness plan in order to be successful. Follow the tips you've read in this article in order to achieve your fitness goals.

Why Getting On A Colon Cleanse Weight Loss Program Is Important

There's no better time to start on a colon cleanse weight loss program than now. Obesity is becoming a huge problem (pardon the pun) these days with people turning to "pick and go and comfort foods" to save time and energy. Why go through all the trouble of preparing and cooking your meals yourself when you can simply buy packed lunches in street corners?

Unfortunately, most, if not all, of these "comfort" foods are loaded with sugar and empty calories, not to mention chemical additives and other toxic substances, and without you realizing it in the beginning, the pounds are adding up little by little, until one day you just find yourself two to three sizes bigger, and with a weaker immune system, too.

You might be thinking of enrolling in a weight loss program right away, but for best results, undergo a colon cleansing procedure as well. The colon is an organ in the body that serves as a filter for toxins. It is primarily involved in the elimination of wastes. Actually, experts recommend that you go through the cleansing process first before embarking on any weight loss program. Why? Here are two important reasons:

1. Toxins accumulate in the colon over a period of a time. A clogged colon makes you sluggish and tired, if not all of the time, then at least most of the time. So if you are tired, you will not have the energy to exercise effectively and consistently to lose weight, will you? Not only that, if you will have to go on a diet as well, can you imagine how you'll be able to pull it through when you don't have enough energy to begin with?
2. Colon cleansing improves digestive health, allowing a faster and more effective digestion to take place. When your digestive system is working properly, it means that you are able to move your bowels regularly, preventing building up of toxins and, consequently, weight gain. And as colon cleansing improves your digestive health, it also boosts your body's ability to absorb nutrients which is very helpful when you are making changes to your diet to lose weight.

Next question, how do you cleanse your colon? You can have it done in a hospital or by a specialist in a facility, but if you find the experience quite embarrassing, there are other ways you can cleanse your colon at home. Colon cleansing kits are now being made available to consumers, and they come with step by step instructions to ensure that they do it properly. There are also colon cleansers in the form of beverages and pills which do not come with complicated instructions and which consist of a blend of powerful herbs proven to assist in toxin removal and digestive health.

Another form of colon cleansing is fasting. Not taking any food for a day or two essentially means not getting any toxins in your body, too. But this is not always recommenddd because of health issues. Diabetics especially are not supposed to go on a fast for too long because of the danger of blood sugar plummeting down to dangerous levels.

Needless to say, after colon cleansing, you can expect to feel lighter, more energetic, healthier, and more ready to face any weight loss program. You can, perhaps, say, that cleansing your colon is a great way to prepare yourself to handle just about any kind of weight loss program, but especially one that involves exercising and dieting.

If you're thinking of losing weight, you need to work out your colon first and how you can achieve is through a colon cleanse weight loss program.

Omega 3 Vitamins

The popularity of Omega 3 vitamins in this generation is increasing. So much has been said about Omega 3 that even the World Wide Web has its virtual library full of information about these essential fatty acids. But, given all the supposed benefits of Omega 3, it isn't wise to invest on these nutritional supplements yourself without doing some more careful research and definitely not without your doctor's advice.

As in almost everything in this world, Omega 3 supplements come with side effects and special precautions. Although studies point out that this type of fatty acids can ward off heart problems by regulating blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, not everyone who has heart problems or is at risk to development these sooner or later will benefit from Omega 3 supplementation. The reason? Omega 3 fatty acids have blood-thinning properties, which increase the possibility of hemorrhage, and which can be potentially fatal if the patient suffers from a stroke.  Individuals who are on anti-coagulant medications as part of their treatment plan are not supposed to take omega 3 vitamins, either, not without their doctor's permission because they can interact with one another, causing negative reactions.

If you're allergic to fish or sea foods, taking omega 3 may not be a good idea also. While taking high quality brands of fish oil reduces the possibility of an allergic reaction, such may still happen, and allergic reactions as we know can be mild but they can also be severe.

So just because it's all over the internet that Omega 3 fatty acids are good for the health, it doesn't mean that it's good for everybody and that you will just simply join everybody else in the bandwagon. First things first - visit your doctor. Indeed, going to the doctor who will have you run some test should be the very first thing in your mind when considering to supplement your diet with Omega 3. Never take this supplement without fully understanding just how it can affect your health, positively or negatively.

After clearing the matter with your doctor, the next thing to do is to select the best Omega 3 supplements out there. I tell you, think can be a very tricky process as there are hundreds of brands, trying to outdo one another. The basic rule of thumb to remember is to go for substance rather than form. Don't be easily fooled by the great packaging. Looks are very often deceiving, as you must know by now. Here are a few guidelines to help you out:

• Check the label, making sure the amounts of EPA and DHA are specified. Some Omega 3 brands only indicate the total Omega 3 component, and that is not good enough. The top brands will always have some way of determining how much EPA and DHA are in the capsule.
• Choose pharmaceutical grade. Why settle for anything else? Pharmaceutical grade means the product successfully meets the standards set for supplements. Finally,
• Choose molecular-distilled. This means contaminants have been carefully and effectively removed from Omega 3 vitamins but without reducing the contents of the fish oil.

5 Traps

It is interesting that we say we are ready to start a diet plan to lose weight but then quickly lose the enthusiasm of those first days of dieting and fall into one of the traps. I am talking about diet failure traps that are waiting to entice, persuade, and beckon dieters toward the traps.

Diet failure traps come in many forms, but if you have ever been on a weight loss plan you will probably recognize these.

1. Impossible goals - When a goal is set to lose a large number of pounds within a short time period, it is a diet failure trap because it is impossible to accomplish without hurting your health and quickly regaining any weight lost and probably more. A part of the impossible goals is impatience because we expect immediate results. These irrational expectations can rapidly defeat the good intentions that were gathered up when starting the diet.

2. Unsatisfying meals - Many diet plans offer unappetizing meals that tend to simulate cardboard rather than food. New products are regularly entering the diet foods market that promise delicious meals. That is a matter of individual taste if your choice is a plan with packaged meals. Another option is to cook your own meals depending heavily on seasonings and portion control. Nothing is a faster path to failure than foods that have no flavor and are unsatisfying.

3. Hunger - There is no question that hunger is part of a weight loss diet. The best way to overcome hunger is to load up on bulky foods like salad and green vegetables and include a good portion of protein in each meal. Protein will satisfy sooner and stave off hunger longer than any other food.

4. Cravings - It hardly matters whether it is something salty and crunchy or chocolaty and rich, cravings have been the downfall of many dieters. Here is where portion control can allow a few salty treats or a square of chocolate to satisfy a craving and avoid a diet failure trap.

5. Loss of willpower - Willpower is a matter of self-discipline or self-control and can be challenging to maintain if you are dining out with friends or serving yourself at a buffet. It is helpful to avoid situations that test your willpower, but to be a successful dieter, one must apply willpower in every environment or they will find that the diet failure trap has firmly closed on them.

A healthy diet that results in a 1-2 pound loss per week is considered successful. It may seem like a snail's pace to lose at that rate, but it is also a pace most likely to result in maintaining the weight loss. Remembering these diet failure traps and how they are triggered or avoided will help you achieve your diet goals.

Top 5 Questions Regarding Spine Injury

Injury to the spine is very serious can could be even be deadly. If someone you know has had a spine injury, medical attention should be sought immediately. Spine injuries cause problems and can be temporary or even permanent. Here are some of the most common questions asked regarding spine injuries.

1. What are spine injuries and what causes them?

Spine injuries are damages caused to the spine which affects functions in our body such as mobility and feeling. The spinal cord does not have to be broken in order to lose some of the body functions. The spinal cord can be intact yet loss of functions can occur. Around 50% of all spine injuries are caused by vehicle accidents, 28% by sports injuries and 22% caused by falls. As such, the main cause of spinal cord injuries are by sudden impact and the damage will be felt immediately.

2. What are the effects of spinal cord injuries?

Effects of spinal cord injuries are largely dependent on the type and seriousness of injury. Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete. A complete injury is when there is totally NO function below the injured area. No sensation, feeling and movement can be felt or made and both sides of the body will be affected. An incomplete injury patient will still be able to carry out some function below the injured area such as moving a limb or have some sensation. Patients who have had an injury above the first thoracic vertebra will suffer paralysis of all four limbs. Patients whose injury is below the first thoracic spinal nerve will have full control of their upper limbs but suffer paralysis from the abdomen down.

3. What is the prognosis?

Prognosis is all dependent on how serious the injury is and what exactly is damaged. Most people who have had spine are able to regain some functions within half a year. After that, the chances of recovery drop to a very low percentage. However, physical therapy may help to reduce long term disability.

4. What treatments are available?

Although our body has an amazing self repairing mechanism, it doesn't have the ability to heal the central nervous system. As such, there is no cure for spinal injuries. The only way is to limit cell death and any secondary damage to reduce loss of functions. Scientists are still trying to regenerate functions by growing nerves but are no easy task.

5. Will I be wheelchair bound for the rest of my life?

The effects of spine are dependent on the severity of the injury. Sadly, most spine injury patients require the use of a wheelchair to get around. Patients who suffered an injury to the top of their spinal cord will need to get around with the use of an electric powered wheelchair as they will lose control of all their limbs. Patients who suffer an injury below the top of the spinal cord are able to use a manual wheelchair as they still have control of their arms. Rehabilitation and physical therapy may help to reduce the dependent of a wheelchair but is largely dependent on individual.

It is of utmost importance for us to protect our spine. When the spinal cord is injured, people can be permanently paralyzed and as of now, there is still no cure for spinal cord injuries.

Exercise Plateaus and Your Creative Mind

Incorporating exercise into your routine is a great way to learn to stick to an exercise program but sticking with it when you've reached a plateau can be a motivational challenge. Use the tips below to apply your own creative thinking to your exercise routine to sustain motivation to continue exercise.

Remind yourself that exercise is a lifestyle change you successfully added to your life and fight to keep it in place. Recall times when you or someone you know stopped exercise and had to overcome the additional obstacles of a weakened body and a schedule that incorporated other activities into the times formerly reserved for exercise in order to pursue exercise goals.

When your motivation is sagging because you just don't feel like your exercise is making a difference establish concrete goals to pursue. For instance, if you started an exercise routine to lose weight and although you still have weight to lose your weight has remained unchanged for some period of time, your motivation will lessen. Redefining your goals to tone up specific muscle groups or to add a few minutes of exercise a day or to change where you exercise such as from a gym to outside can help you get over the inclination to stop exercising.

Think about the unseen benefits of exercise for your body if you find yourself becoming less motivated to exercise because you've reached a plateau. You accept the unseen benefits of eating healthier foods that they will ultimately keep your organs and body healthier internally than if you alter your diet and include wrong choices. Use the same philosophy to stick with exercise, focusing on benefits to your organs and muscles that though not visible to you on a daily basis are being supported by your exercise program.

Reserve a time for exercise and when you reach a plateau don't replace your exercise time with increased activity around the house or garden as an equivalent exchange. You might build up a sweat vacuuming or pulling weeds but exercising with the goal of working specific muscle groups for strength or maintaining a certain heart rate for cardio or increasing your endurance are very different from the benefits you get from moving around as you do household chores. Your body deserves your full attention during your exercise time.

Change your exercise goals based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 150 minutes a week to the higher recommended number of minutes of 300 per week. Shooting for the minimum is a quick way to lose motivation if you're not "seeing" results. Instead of counting minutes to reach 150, reset your counter to achieve the recommended amount of exercise for healthier living to 300 minutes a week of exercise.

Consider hiring a trainer or other exercise professional for several sessions to leap start your efforts.

Feeling less motivated to exercise when you feel like you reached a plateau in your exercise routine is an important indicator that you should switch something up in your exercise program instead of avoiding or skipping exercise. Pay attention to your feelings and use the tips above to re-commit to your exercise program.

Dealing With Negative Comments About Your Exercise Practices

Once you've incorporated exercise into your lifestyle, it will impact other aspects of your life that might invite comments or criticisms from people you know. Use the suggestions below to respond without anger to comments that are critical of your new routine.

If someone you know claims they don't have the kind of time you have for exercise, that may be true for a variety of reasons. Always validate the statement by acknowledging the person is busy and explain how you've made time for your exercise routine.

If someone you know claims that exercise is a selfish activity that takes time away from doing for others, acknowledge that exercise is something that you are doing for yourself but that you hope to set an example to others, including those in your family, that pursuing a healthy lifestyle should be part of their goals.

If someone criticizes the money you spend on gym membership or training, the first thing you should consider is who is doing the complaining. If your spouse is complaining or someone who supports you in some financial way is complaining, then you do owe that person consideration of the objection. Determine whether you can incorporate an exercise routine into your life that uses videos or outdoor exercise such as biking or walking instead of paying for a gym membership. Also communicate that a gym membership is a priority for you and that your budget goals include a gym membership.

When someone remarks on how much money you're spending on workout clothing, don't respond unless you've calculated how much money you spend on workout clothing and can provide that person with a dollar amount. Use the comment as an opportunity to add up all the costs from sneakers to tops that you spend on these clothes over the course of a full year. You can communicate that you're not sure how much you spend on workout clothing, but you're going to determine that amount and you'll get back to the person.

If someone comments to you that all you talk about is exercise and food and it's true, explain that healthy lifestyle changes are still new for you and you're excited about the possibilities they offer. You should also try to stop talking about exercise and fitness with someone who's not interested in the subject matter just as you would with any other topic.

Don't start giving exercise advice to people if they don't ask you for advice. While your own success may encourage you to feel like you've got the answers, you aren't really an exercise expert unless you've been trained as such. Until then, you're a person who exercises. Your advice, when you appropriately offer it to someone else, should always reflect that your knowledge comes from your own exercise experience rather than formal training.

Lifestyle changes such as incorporating exercise into your life can frequently prompt some negative comments and reactions from those you know. Use the suggestions above to respond appropriately to some criticisms you might hear as a result of starting an exercise program.