Weight Lifters Turning to Human Growth Hormone

Growing numbers of male weight lifters may be taking human growth hormone (HGH) to bulk up and enhance performance, a study shows. Source: WebMD Health

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Adult HPV Vaccines: Schedule, Side Effects, Who Should Get the Vaccine

WebMD explains what the HPV vaccine is, who needs to get it, and possible side effects. Source: WebMD Health

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Fish Loweres Risk Of Stroke In Women

A new study claims that women that consume at least three servings of fish a week have a lower risk of having a stroke
 The study was conducted over a ten-year period.  It found that Swedish women eating a diet high in fish were 16% less likely to suffer a stroke.
This is not completely new since the AHA-American Heart Association has been recommending the consumption of fish for awhile.  The especially recommend eating fish like Salmon & Mackerel which are high in omega-3 fatty acids that contribute to the bodies good cholesterol.  These fish are also low in the harmful saturated fats.  The recommendations of the AHA are to eat these kinds of fish at least 2 times a week. 
This study was published in the  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In this report researchers studied nearly 35,000 women ranging in ages from 49 to 83.  At the start of the study in 1997 all the women were free of any heart disease and cancer

Ten years into the study only 4%, approx 1680 women had experienced a stroke.  Those women that ate more than 3 servings weekly were estimated to be 16% less likely to have a stroke, compared to the women eating less than 3 servings.  Individual diet information was obtained by questionnaire. 

This is "Not A Small Effect," say researchers, saying that the results are roughly the equivalent of taking statin medications.

The experts do warn that eating fish is not without its dangers.  Especially for some people, namely women who are pregnant or nursing.  These women should limit seafood intake due to the dangers of pollutants like mercury present in certain seafood. 

Although the AHA recommends omega-3 fatty acid consumption to be increase in most diets, it may not be enough for people with coronary artery disease.  For these people modifying diet is not enough and should consult their doctor to regarding the need for supplements.

Although the study was conducted on women it would probably yield the same results for men.  It has been observed that countries that make fish a larger part of their diet experience less heart disease as a population.  Japan is an example of this.  Japan is has one of the lowest heart disease statistics in the world.  Only 30 deaths per 100,000. versus the US at 106.5.  The US is not even close to being the highest though.  Hungary & Slovakia are in the 200 range per 100,000.  Genetics play a role but diet is one of the biggest factors.  It is no coincidence that Japanese make fish a large part of their diet and have the lowest heart disease mortality.

How about some salmon tonight for dinner for dinner tonight?

College Student Vaccine Requirements: Types of Vaccines You Need and More

WebMD lists the vaccines college students need and answers common questions about the vaccine guidelines for college students. Source: WebMD Health

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Weight Loss You Can Live With

If you are trying to lose weight your main nemesis is high calorie delicacies.  Lets face it we want what we cannot have.  If you were on an Atkins diet, all you would want is a loaf of Italian bread to chow on.   When you are on a calorie reduction diet it seems like you crave the concentrated sweets and high calorie foods like red meats and pastas with lots of fatty sauce.
You can have the foods that you want.  The secret is moderation.  After a long week of being good on your calories give yourself a treat to your favorite restaurant.  Order your favorite dish and have at it, but instead of killing the whole meal take everything and cut it in half.  Eat only half of what they give you.   Don't bag the rest to take home because you will just eat it the next couple of days when you are not supposed to.  Just let the server take it.   Yes even at taking the meal and cutting it in half it is still way more then you should have.  You have to live though.  What you want to do is make your healthy lifestyle a way of life not a constant series of yo-yo dieting.  It is unreasonable to think you are not going to cheat.  Instead of trying to fight it, structure it into your diet.  Make it a positive thing.  A reward for doing the right things and not cheating.  Every time you feel the urge to indulge in a guilty pleasure just tell yourself you are going to have that as your reward for not eating it at that moment.  Successful dieters are just really good at selling themselves.  If you are overweight then it goes to reason  that you are probably not ever going to be one of those people that can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound.  I hate those people by the way.  You are going to have to make a lifetime change that will involve you watching what you eat and at least maintaining your goal weight once you get there.  Not paying attention to your food choices will just put you right back to square one in a very short time.
Steer away from the high calorie foods in your diet.  Technically if you are on a 1500 calorie diet then you can eat whatever you want as long as at the end of the day you are at 1500 calories or less.  If you want to make your food choice Hostess HoHo's then you can have a little over 12 cakes.  That's it.  If you want to make that your diet then you will still probably lose weight.  I don't know about you but I cannot only eat 12 HoHo's and be satisfied for a whole day.
My suggestion is to eat when you are hungry.  Eat foods low in calories so you can eat more.  You end up being more satisfied because you are eating til you are satisfied and not starving yourself.  Eat 6 times a day but take your calories allowed and split them up to meals and snacks.  The more you eat the better.  You body is like a furnace and the more you feed the fire the hotter it gets.  Each time you eat you kick on your furnace to digest the food you consumed which in turn has an effect on your overall metabolism.  This is one of the "secret" that some of those diet plans make you pay to learn.
When I talk about high calorie foods you may think of things like Mcdonald's burgers, candy bars and dessert cakes like HoHo's   But, some of the everyday foods that are considered “healthy” can be high in caloric content, as well.  Nuts, for example, have 200 calories in a measly quarter cup serving.  Does that mean you should throw nuts to the wayside?  Not at all.
You can still enjoy high calorie foods, but as with any type of food, enjoy them in moderation.  Above all, make sure your staying within your daily caloric limit.
High Calorie Foods…and how to keep them in check!

Pasta’s – A cup of cooked pasta noodles contains over 200 calories and that’s not including the tomato or a creamy sauce or meat you might add to them.  Try filling up on a low calorie salad before moving onto the more calorie dense pasta dish.  Or try one of these delicious low calorie pastas!

Fats – As mentioned above, peanut butter, nuts, etc. are all high in calories.  Just make sure to consume these in moderation or occasionally opt for pistachios, which contain slightly fewer calories per serving.

Fatty cuts of meat – Ribeyes and other fatty cuts of meat are best consumed in small amounts. You could also opt for leaner cuts of meat like chicken or turkey to help meet your daily protein requirements without all the calories.

Chips – Chips are highly processed snacks that are high in calories and don’t pass along many nutrients.  However, when the chip craving sneaks up on you try pre-portioning out your chips into smaller bags to help ensure you don’t eat through an entire big bag of chips in one sitting.  These smaller bags are great for when you’re on the run, as well.  Or choose a healthier chip alternative like Kays Naturals Protein Chips that have only 115 calories per serving or Popchips All Natural Potato Chips that contain a low 120 calories per serving.  Sometimes it’s just the crunch that you crave which can be satisfied with a few carrots!

Beer & Mixed Drinks– There’s a good reason that a large stomach has been given the term “beer belly”! Beer and most alcoholic drinks are high in calories. But, it’s still possible to enjoy a few drinks in moderation and not ruin your diet.  Plus, there are many low calorie beers and low calorie alcoholic drinks for you to enjoy – without all the guilt!

Fried foods – Frying foods can add hundreds if not more calories and fat to your meal.  Try to avoid these types of foods when possible and instead opt for grilled or baked versions.

Ice cream – You can enjoy ice cream, but it’s all about portions and choosing the right kind.  First of all, no matter what kind of ice cream it is, eating an entire gallon in one sitting isn’t going to help your waistline.  So, scoop a half cup or so out into a bowl and put the rest back.  Secondly , the type of ice cream you eat can make a huge difference in the amount of calories you consume.  Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice cream contains a whopping 360 calories per half cup!  Instead opt for something like  Breyer’s All Natural Mint Chocolate Chip which only has 150 calories per half cup!

Candy bars – Most candy bars are high in calories, sugar and fat.  And even if they are low in calories they aren’t going to be good for you.  However, I know what it’s like when a chocolate craving occurs!  When this happens try popping  a few Sweetriot Cacao Nibs in your mouth or try these Go Raw Freeland Super Chocolate Cookies.  Plus, head over to our low calorie foods section for some more delicious and healthy ideas.

Enjoy these foods in moderation and as rewards for staying within your calories and on your diet as planned.  The key to maintaining healthy weight is to have a plan you can live with.  That is why so many people on Adkins diets gain back all the weight they lost.  There is no doubt that the diet sheds off weight.  The problem is that the diet itself is not one that a person can live with long term.  Eating a balanced calorie reduces diet keeping high caloric foods in check is a weight loss plan that you can live with.

Shingles Vaccine for Adults: Side Effects, When to Get the Shot, and More

WebMD talks about who needs a shingles vaccine, when to get it, side effects, and explains more about the vaccine. Source: WebMD Health

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Cigarette Ads a Powerful Lure for Teen Smoking

Cigarette advertising significantly increases the odds that youngsters who see the ads will start smoking, but exposure to ads for other products does not, a new study shows. Source: WebMD Health

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Making Exercise Priority ONE

Making Exercise Priority One


So you walk in the door from a long day at work and all you want to do is plop on the couch and relax and unwind from a long stressful day at work.  Ya, you know you should be exercising but all you want to do is sit for awhile.  Then you have to make dinner, maybe help the kids with their homework, get a load of laundry done.  The list goes on and on.  Lets face it making time to exercise can be almost impossible for most of us with "real" lives.  

How Do You Change Your Priorities?


First you have to want to make exercise a priority.  It is much easier to make excuses if you don't care about making a change.  Once you have bought into doing it then it is just a matter of scheduling and planning.  Planning is the key.  If you don't plan for something it never happens.  Why do you think the dentist schedules your next appointment while you are still at your current one.  Your dentist realizes if he does not plan your next visit it may never happen, or at least not when it should.  I am guilty of this when it comes to planning my physicals.  I know I need to go every year but since the doctors office does not plan my next physical I don't either.  I am going on 2 1/2 years since my last physical.  So basically you get the point about planning.  You need to sit down and plan your exercise routine and when you are going to it.   Look at your schedule and  find a time that will work or that you can make work.  

I recommend trying to fit exercising into a morning at least 3 times a week.   Mornings are good because it starts out your whole day in a positive way. You will feel fantastic the whole day because of the endorphins that are released by the exercise.  The most common response I get is " but I am not a morning person" .   It is all a matter of adjusting your internal clock.  You would never think of telling an employer that you cannot be to work at a specific time because you are not a morning person.   It is a matter of priorities isn't it?  If sleeping was more important than making money then you would not take the job and sleep.   Here is a good question regarding priorities,  Exercise or Death.  That might be a little harsh but it is not that far off.  People who exercise live longer and are far less likely to have heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.  
 

Ways To Succeed. 
One of the best ways to succeed in a exercise program is to involve a "Buddie".  Make it competitive between you and your buddy.  Push each other to out do each other to not give up or quit.  
Find an activity that you enjoy.  You don't have to train for the Boston Marathon.  It can be just a brisk walk around the neighborhood.  You can hook up with another neighbor and walk together.  It could be swimming every day at the YMCA.  It really does not matter as long as you enjoy it.  as long as it exerting enough to bring up your heart rate.
Find ways to push yourself a little each time.  Try to talk a little farther each time. Take one extra lap every other time.  One extra set of reps on the weights.  


No More Excuses
There are no shortage of excuses. “I’m too tired,I'm too busy today, the weather is too bad” are just a few of my favorites and ones that I have used as well.  Any one of these can stop you in your tracks and destroy any momentum you might have.  The next thing you know you are right back to the couch eating Cheetos wondering what happened.

Here are a few strategies
 
1.) Set your alarm on the dresser so you have to get up to turn it off.  This will make it harder to hit snooze and sleep in. 


2.) Set a time/appt. to meet with your workout buddy. You’re less likely to skip it if you have someone else waiting on you.

3.) Use your Tivo, DVR or VCR and record your favorite TV shows and watch them on your rest days.

4.) Who says you need a gym to workout. Put on a workout video, run the stairs or do some yoga, or of course just walking around the neighborhood at a brisk pace.  

5.) Put your workout clothes on when you get home from work if you work out in the evenings to be ready to go when it is time.  Since it is more hectic and harder to do in the evening you will be less likely to skip out if you are already dressed to workout. 


Regular exercise Is the key to better health and a longer life.  Not to mention the fact that exercise makes us feel better and improves our mood!  Make YOU a priority by exercising!


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