Posts tagged ‘thyroid’

Finding A Longevity Doctor

It’s easy for me to find a well qualified medical doctor. Being a doctor myself, I know where to look, whom to ask, and what to ask for. But if I need a good lawyer or accountant, I feel a bit helpless. I may ask my friends. Probably they had asked their friends. The quest becomes a daisy chain, in which none of the participants really knows how to tell a good professional from a mediocre or even an inadequate one. They judge mainly on whether the practitioner has a pleasing and persuasive manner, whether he seems to know what he’s talking about. Clearly that’s not good enough. Finding a well qualified physician requires a little insight, but it’s easier than you think. Most physicians are members of the county medical society, although some doctors who are full time in medical schools may not bother to join. Call up the medical society in your vicinity. In Los Angeles, for example, you would find it listed as “Los Angeles County Medical Association.” Say you want to inquire about the availability and qualifications of physicians in your area of the city Hollywood, for example. The receptionist will connect you to the person who has that information. Say you are interested in finding a doctor in Hollywood who is a general practitioner, a specialist, or whatever it is you think you need. If you want an all­around doctor to give you an initial examination, to supervise you in a preventive health program such as mine, you probably want either a general practitioner or a physician certified by the Board of Internal Medicine. Ask for recommendations in that category.The county medical society will not recommend a specific person. Nor will it supply information on fees and such matters. But it will gladly give you a list of 4 or 5 practitioners located in your area and in good standing with the society. It will tell you where these physicians went to school, where they served their internships and residencies, how long they have been a member of the county society, and their hospital or medical school affiliations. If they are on the attending staff of a well known hospital Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, for example that’s a plus. Being a member of the recently formed American College of Gerontology would also be a plus.Or if you do start by asking your friends, ask more than one. Compile a short list of physicians whom your friends recommend as attentive individuals. Then call the county society and ask for the credentials of these physicians: what medical schools they graduated from, and so on . Several orgaizations now publish lists of longevity doctors for different regions of the United States. None that I’ve seen has been very discriminating. The lists include a mishmash of M.D.s, some good, some borderline, plus chiropractors, nutritionists, acupuncturists, and so on. TherE are some good people in each of these categories, but you ought at least to know what type of basic credentials you are getting. For example, “Dr.” Robert Haas, author of the best selling book Eat to Win The Sports Nutrition Bible, is not a medical doctor at all. His “Dr.” is a Ph.D. from an unaccredited “university.”8 If that’s okay with you, it’s okay with me, but know what you are getting. The county medical society is apt to have information on M.D. and non M.D. alike. Seek out this information. Having selected a short list of possible practitioners by one of these methods, call them up. Ask what their fees are, and whether they are interested in preventive medicine, nutrition, and anti aging remedies. Don’t be bashful! If they don’t want to talk frankly, go elsewhere. Don’t tolerate the authoritarian mystique that has grown up around organized medicine. Ideally, you want somebody with satisfactory credentials and an open mind on the subject of anhagjng remedies. II he does not take the present book seriously because it .is a popular book for the lay public see if he has read or will read the book by Dr. Richard Weindruch and me, The Retardation of Aging by Dietary Restriction. Our book does not exactly parallel this one, but it’s close enough,and it is a fully documented, high tech science book. A biologIst physician may in part disagree with it, but he or she cannot avoid taking it seriously. And now you have your physician.Checkups And Biomarkers What Exactly To Do Or Have DoneThe General Status Examination ,Start the program with a general medical checkup. The precise nature of this will be up to your physician. It’s interesting that a task force of the Canadian Medical As sociation, reporting on a “cost effective” basis what the “periodic health examination” should consist of (in terms of how much hidden disease per dollar spent might be found in a population)9 recommended the following for symptom-free individuals: a blood pressure determination, examination of the mouth, evaluation of hearing, a test for possible hypothyroidism, and after age 45 a test for traces of blood in the stool. The task force specifically did not recommend a routine history and physical examination, any X-rays, any blood chemistries, urinalysis, or electro cardiograms. Since you want personalized service and are not part of a large scale “cost effective” screen, your physician will be correct in doing a history and physical examination, a urinalysis, and a test for anemia. I would not personally recommend any X rays, blood chemistries, or electro cardiograms, except those included under your “biomarker for aging” tests, unless something shows up on the history and physical examination.

Michael Russell is a health specialist and has carried out research on many health related things, he also writes many health articles too. If you found the above article useful he recommends you to visit his site at: http://www.online-health-care.com/blog/ for more related articles.

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Weight Loss Supplements Products

Weight Loss Supplements – Which do I choose?

The consumer is bombarded with a plethora of weight loss supplements available on the market today, everything from fat burners, to appetite suppressants, to water pills.  The makers all tout these products as the best, but how are you supposed to know what is effective?  Furthermore, many of these products have been shown to be unsafe, and more are being pulled from the shelves everyday because of they have been proved to be unsafe.

Overview of Weight loss Products

It is important to talk with a doctor familiar with the products to determine what is best and safe for you.  The following is a short list of the products available out there to assist you in your battle with the bulge:

• Appetite suppressants: herbs and natural supplements are used to control appetite and therefore assist in weight management.

• Carbohydrate blockers: work by interfering with enzymes responsible for carbohydrate metabolism, including alpha-amylase and insulin. If you have medical conditions, these are not recommended.

• Fat blockers: block about 25% of the fat you eat. The product works by attaching to some of the enzymes that break down fat, therefore preventing digestion of the fat and allowing it to pass out of the body. Side effects include diarrhea, and this product can not be combined with certain medications.

• Metabolism boosters:  these products are designed to cause weight loss by boosting the metabolism, therefore burning fat.  It is important to eat well a diet high in protein and well balanced while using these products, as the body needs fuel to burn.

• Diuretics: water pills cause quick weight loss by causing the body to get rid of water weight. These can cause dehydration and are only recommended in cases where water retention is a problem. They are not a good solution for weight loss.

• Thyroid balance: one of the best ways to lose weight healthfully. Getting your thyroid in balance will enhance your quality of life, give you more energy as well as cause you to lose weight.

• Energy boosters: usually comprised of stimulants that are designed to keep your body moving. Make sure to use a product that is all natural without harmful synthetic stimulants or caffeine.

• Green tea: a natural anti-oxidant that has been shown to be effective as a complementary therapy for weight loss.

• Apple cider vinegar: may help lower serum cholesterol levels and slow down the absorption of fat in the small intestine, increase the metabolic rate. Besides weight loss, Apple Cider Vinegar may help promote good blood circulation, improve metabolism, relieve arthritis stiffness, improves digestion and burns fat.

There are a few products for Weight Loss which is wonderful to use. They are:

1. Cell food Natural Weight Loss Supplements

2. Pro Omega – Fish Oils Natural Weight Loss Supplements

3. Fat Stats – Natural Weight Loss Supplements

4. Xeno Stat – Natural Weight Loss Supplements

To read more in on these products please visit at: http://supplements.vitahealthessentials.com/weight-loss-supplements.htm

Author is working as a Content writer in Creative Web Mall (India) Pvt. Ltd. is a leading global IT company providing turnkey web design and development solutions that transforms ‘business style’ of its clients through the creative application of technology, collaborative planning, mutual preparations and new approaches.

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ACAI BERRY

The Acai Berry is the innovative secret to lose weight naturally. It prevents overeating, controls hunger, and improves metabolism effectively.                  Introducing AcaiUltimaTM.                                                                                 AcaiUltimaTM consist’s of a key ingredient which is known as “super-food” worldwide
that is the “Acai Berry”. This ingredient has high fiber content that suppresses your appetite. AcaiUltimaTM reduces hunger pangs and gives the person a fuller feeling.
AcaiUltimaTM is full of potent antioxidants and other substances that promote good
health. It makes your feel energetic from inside.
Why is AcaiUltima the preferred choice?
AcaiUltimaTM has left behind all the other weight loss products in the market due to thefollowing unbeatable features:
? Incredible booster of metabolic rate
? Control your stress related overeating
? Fast and effective weight loss
? Improves resistance to stress, fatigue and tension
? Purely herbal
? Energy booster
? Enhances immune functions
? Doctor endorsed
Ingredients
Proprietary blend – 1,100mg
AcaiUltima consist of proprietary blend of Acai Berry, Green tea extract, Caffeine
anhydrous, Kelp, Grapefruit, Apple cider vinegar (powder)
acai berry- It helps to shed excess fat from the body. Acai fruit has high antioxidants
content which boosts the energy levels as well as stamina of the users. This fruit is highly
nutritious and beneficial which improves metabolism and body functions naturally.
Green Tea Extract- It acts as an excellent antioxidant which improves both immune and
circulatory functions. Green tea extract is known to possess antimicrobial properties that
fight against digestive and respiratory infections. Furthermore it plays an important role
in promoting weight loss
Apple Cider Vinegar- It enhances the functions of digestive system and minimizes the
risk of digestive disorders. Apple cider vinegar consists of nutrients and enzymes that can
speed up the metabolism.
Kelp- It is known to have high iodine content which triggers thyroid functions thereby
reducing fat deposits. Kelp also enhances the rate of energy usage therefore stimulating
weight loss.
Grapefruit: – Its lowers blood cholesterol level. Grapefruit is an excellent source of
vitamin C.

acai berry

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/acai-berry-1629175.html

Do Slimming Patches Work?

The new rage for weight loss all over the world is slimming patches. Based on the same principals that are used for smoking cessation patches or birth control, the slimming patch is worn on a daily basis and the ingredients are absorbed through the skin into the blood stream. The big question is, do slimming patches work or are they just another fad?

The Principle behind Slimming Patches

In theory, the herbal ingredients in the patch do transfer through the skin just as they do with any other type of patch. The issue is whether or not the herbal ingredients actually aid in weight loss. While there are quite a few patches on the market today, most contain the same base ingredients. The patches claim to suppress appetite and burn fat, as well as raise metabolism.

In most cases, the patches are worn for a four week period and then removed for a certain period of time. While most patches can be worn in various places so they can be hidden, manufacturers usually recommend placing the patch on your upper arm as this is the best site for maximum absorption.

Ingredients of Slimming Patches

The top four ingredients in slimming patches are well known ingredients in the health food and supplements industry. The first ingredient is Guarana, which is a natural stimulant to the nervous system. Second is Chromium, which can affect the amount of insulin you produce and it is thought to increase the energy you will have. The third ingredient, Garcini Cambogia, claims to stop carbohydrates from turning into fat. The final ingredient is Bladderwrack, which has a high concentration of iodine and is thought to make the thyroid gland release extra hormones for fat burning.

The Ongoing Debate

Though research is ongoing, it has not been proven beyond any doubt that slimming patches actually produce positive results. Some of the ingredients are know to aid in metabolic processes and suppress appetite; however there are no proven attributes for fat burning. Most experts agree that this type of patch may aid in weight loss, but that fat burning is probably not a reality. In most cases, doctors will still recommend diet and exercise over this type of weight loss aid.

While many users have reviewed these products and stated that they have received effects, it is often best to wait for proper evaluation of the effects or results. Without proper evaluation from the FDA or a medical study, there is no way to know what side effects you might encounter.

For the best slimming patches, visit our store here. If you want to lose weight without starving yourself then get our FREE 6 part mini course.

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Supplements That Really Work

First off, you do not need supplements in order to gain muscle. Supplements make a 20% difference in your results. It’s the hard work, eating whole foods and recovery that is the other 80% to you reaching your goals. There are many people that are muscular without taking supplements, but honestly most of us do not have the time and/or the dedication it takes to eat a balanced diet and work out consistently. This is where supplements come in to play. Supplements do not build muscle for us, but it helps our body receive the nutrients we are lacking to build muscle.  

You still need to eat properly, work hard in the gym and rest in order to build muscle.    The question many people ask is, "there are so many supplements out there, what should I take?" The answer is not very simple because each supplement is designed to do different things. Everybodys body reacts differently to a supplement depending on each person’s needs and bodily chemistry. With that being said, there are 4 supplements that every person needs and you will find them in the cabinet of any bodybuilders home:  Multivitamins, Protein Powder, Creatine,  and EFA’s      

 

Multi Vitamin 

With all the processed foods inundating our supermarkets, it’s almost impossible to get all your nutritional requirements from food alone. Even if you eat nothing but whole foods, you would have to eat a large amount of food to meet all your nutritional requirements due to the inferior soils used today.   

Your body is a complex machine that conducts millions of functions simultaneously. Each nutrient contributes to thousands of essential reactions that make these functions possible such as B12 for healthy red blood cell production, Iodine for thyroid regulation, and B6 for protein metabolism. Being deficient in just one nutrient is detrimental to thousands of chemical reactions within your body, which in turn will make it much harder for your body to run at its full potential.  

People who put their bodies under physical stress 3-4 days a week have a higher nutritional requirement than people who live a sedentary lifestyle. I’m sure you’ve noticed after a hard workout you’re very hungry.  It’s your body telling you it is low on fuel and needs to be replenished.   To make sure my body is not lacking in nutrients, I like to take multivitamins with a higher potency for two reasons:   

  1. Some multivitamins use inferior ingredients and not all of that 4000% Daily Value of Riboflavin or whatever it may say will be digested by your body.   On the higher potency multi vitamins, I sometimes like to split up the dosage throughout the day as there are some people in the medical field that think there are too many nutrients for your body to digest at one time. 
  2. My body’s demands for nutrients on days that I workout are not the same as the days that I rest. I don’t want to be low on any nutrient if my body needs it. I’ve even heard some people on days of extreme stress like to take two doses a day; one in the morning and one after a really hard workout. The good thing about multivitamins are many of the nutrients such as vitamin C and Vitamin B are water soluble and will be excreted out of you, depending on your body’s needs. 

A good multivitamin I would suggest is Animal Pak by Universal Nutrition.   It is made with ingredients that are easily digestible by the body and they contain a good balance between key nutrients for building muscle, minerals for performance and amino acids for recovery.       

 

Protein powder 

We all know in order to build muscle you need to eat plenty of calories and especially protein. The rule of thumb for protein is to consume 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight for muscle building. With any good muscle building plan, you need to spread those calories into 5-7 meals a day to keep your metabolism high and your nutrient intake steady.  There are some medical professionals who think the body cannot digest more than 35 grams of protein per sitting and therefore is another good reason to spread out your protein intake. With our busy schedules, it is very hard for any of us to eat that many meals a day and the protein shake is the perfect substitute for 2-3 of those meals.      

The three most important times to take a protein shake: 

Morning:  Drink a shake in the morning as soon as you get up because it is quickly digested. Your body has not had any protein for however long you have been sleeping and if your body goes into a catabolic state it starts to eat away your hard earned muscle.  I drink shake as soon as you get up and then 30 minutes later I eat a normal breakfast.   

Pre-workout:  I prefer to take a protein shake before I workout instead of eating a meal because your body digests whey protein powder within an hour as opposed to chicken or fish which takes your body 2 to 2.5 hours to digest. That way I don’t feel bloated at the gym and I know the protein is going straight to my muscles instead of sitting in my stomach waiting to be digested.  

Post workout: This is the absolute most important time to take a protein shake. This is the beginning of the all important "recovery" phase. Your muscles have been broken down from a strenuous workout and you need to get protein to them fast in order to repair and build new muscle.       

It is important to take any protein powder, but I think whey protein is the highest quality protein for building muscle and as a bonus it’s also one the cheapest.    Whey contains all the essential amino acids for building new muscle and is also high in bioavailability so our body can digest a high amount of it. Whey is also high in BCAA which are the amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which help with muscle recovery and muscular breakdown.  You can get a 2 lb jug of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard for under $23 dollars.  

 

Creatine 

Has been known to build muscle since the early 1900′s but, creatine was first introduced to professional athletes during the 1992 Olympics. Many English athletes admitted after the Olympics to training with creatine, which angered other athletes as they disputed that "it gave the English an unfair advantage" as they won gold medals in several track and field events as well as rowing.  No penalties or disqualifications were passed out by the Olympic committee as they discovered creatine is a naturally occurring nutrient found in every skeletal muscle in the body. They also determined that creatine is abundant in foods such as red meat and fish and it would be impossible to determine if an athlete supplemented or attained it from natural food sources.

Over the last 15 years, creatine has been the most used supplement by athletes and people wanting to gain muscle. The popularity of this supplement is not a surprise as the main function of creatine is to give muscles extra energy to perform strenuous activities.  Creatine is essential for short duration, high intensity exercise such as sprints or weight lifting with a max of 8 reps.   When muscles are used to lift weights or to perform any kind of work, ATP is broken down to ADP and energy is released. The amount of ATP stored in the muscle will only fuel a maximum effort such as lifting a weight for 10 to 15 seconds. After that, the muscle must rely on creatine to restock its supply of ATP. Creatine promotes intense lifting by replenishing the necessary energy molecule ATP, but there are also other muscle building effects that make this supplement so popular:

  • Creatine buffers the development of lactic acid so you can train harder and longer.
  • Creatine increases muscle volumization by increasing the amount of water stored in the cells. Do not confuse this with water retention as this is intracellular water storage and not intercellular water retention.   This is important as intracellular water storage boosts hydration, resulting in higher rate of protein synthesis.
  • Studies have shown that creatine decreases mental fatigue by increasing the amount of oxygenated red blood cells into the brain. 
  • Creatine can increase strength by 5-15% over a short period of time.   It’s also not uncommon to gain 5 to 10 lbs in a month.  
  • Creatine increases the amount of growth hormone release during exercise. Your body naturally releases growth hormones as you exercise and creatine allows your body to lift heavier loads more frequently, which naturally causes your body to increase the amount of growth hormone secretion. 

 

Like any other supplement, there is the perfect time and amount to take in order to maximize the effects of creatine.   Many say you should "load" creatine, which means, 5-10 grams a day for 5-7 days, but I don’t think you have to do this in order to achieve your desired results. You may achieve your results faster by "loading" your body with creatine, but if you add it to your sports drink before and after your workouts, you will gradually achieve the same results.   Absorption time depends on if you take it on an empty stomach and if you take it with a simple sugar like juice or a sports drink. 

Creatine only stays in your system for 1 to 1.5 hours and if it is not used it is excreted out of your body. To maximize the short saturation period, you should take 5-10 grams of creatine 45 minutes to an hour before your workouts so your workout coincides with the saturation period. You should also take 5-10 grams post workout as you want to keep your muscles inundated with creatine during the "anabolic window". 

Creatine is a must-use supplement because it provides all these muscle building benefits with very minimal adverse side effects. In the early years it was thought that creatine damages your kidneys as it is processed and excreted out of the body through the kidneys, but later research has debunked those claims. Actual side effects are minimal but, in some cases it can cause cramping and an upset stomach. If you drink plenty of water and don’t take creatine on a completely empty stomach, this should eradicate those issues.   

 

Essential Fatty Acids 

Are important for overall health as well as to gain muscle. There are 2 families of EFA’s, Omega 3 and Omega 6.     EFA’s are fats that cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be obtained through our diet. 

Omega 3 and Omega 6 assist with many essential bodily functions:

Heart health- Improves heart rhythm, a mild blood thinner and slows the heart rate.

Vascular health- Increases blood vessel flexibility.

Cell Regulation – Regulates many processes in the cell such as oxygen use, electron transportation and energy production.

Increase Testosterone- Required for healthy testes function.

Improve insulin action- Helps to balance blood sugar levels.

Increase fat burning- Many studies have shown that test groups taking EFA’s lose more fat and retain muscle as opposed to the placebo group.  

Lower cholesterol- Helps transport cholesterol in the blood stream.

Anti inflammatory- Low grade inflammation (type people cannot feel) increases the risk of diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity and many other conditions.

Strengthen Immune system- Promote syntheses of hormones that are responsible for a healthy immune system.

Shorten recovery time- Help reduce fatigue by helping nutrients pass through cell membranes.

Brain development and function- Needed for proper nerve transmission in the brain. As you can see EFA’s are extremely important for overall health.  

EFA’s are also referred to as Fish Oil as a majority of the food sources are obtained from fish and shellfish. You can also find EFA’s in small amounts in food sources such as flaxseed, hemp oil, soya oil, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, leafy vegetables. Widespread food processing has reduced the amount of Omega 3′s that are available from these food sources so it is important to supplement with EFA’s in order to get the recommended daily amount of 1,000-3,000 mg a day. 

 

Conclusion

None of these products contain dangerous hormones or any substances that are not already in your body. These supplements contain nutrients that help your body release muscle building chemicals naturally and safely. By supplementing these nutrients, you’ll be sure your body is working at 100% capacity even if your diet it not perfect.

These 4 supplements will not replace hard work, but combined with a good diet and a workout routine you will be sure to see great results. Like I mentioned earlier, you don’t need supplements in order to gain muscle, but they will help you achieve your goals faster. 

StayFitNutrition.com wants to educate people that supplements are not just for body builders or athletes, but for anybody who want to live a healthy, happy life. At StayFitNutrition.com we have brand name supplements at discounted prices. Lowest Prices, best service and fastest shipping is our commitment to you.

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