Lifestyle Choices

There are some guidelines for controlling the work environment to aid in fat loss.

• Take food from home rather than eating from vending machines or catering trucks. Even snacks should be brought from home where they can be prepared based on guidelines listed above.
• Avoid the use of snack machines. Most snacks from machines are high in calories and low in nutritional value. Fresh fruit from machines is an exception.
• If you eat out, plan your meal selection ahead of time. Write it down and know its calorie content. Be aware that many fast foods are high in caloric content and fat.
• Do not eat while working.
• Avoid sources of food provided by co-workers; for example, food in work rooms such as birthday cakes or candy in candy jars.

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There are some guidelines about shopping that can help people interested in fat control.

• Shop from a list. This helps you avoid the purchase of foods that contain empty calories and other foods that will tempt you to overeat.
• Shop with a friend. This is another way to help you avoid the purchase of unneeded foods. For this technique to work, the other person must be sensitive to your goals. In some cases, a friend can have a bad, rather than a good influence.
• Shop on a full stomach to avoid the temptations of snacking on and buying junk food.
• Check the label for contents of foods. If the calories are not listed, be wary of buying them. Many so-called weight reduction foods have caloric contents equal or in excess of normal foods.

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There are some general guidelines for eating that can help people interested in losing body fat.

• Restrict calories in moderate amounts per day rather than making large reductions in daily caloric intake.
• Choose foods from the four basic food groups (see Concept 20). This is the most healthy way to diet and is also most likely to be successful over a long period.
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• Eat less fat. Research shows that reduction in the fat in the diet not only results in fewer calories consumed (fats have more than twice the calories per gram as carbohydrates or proteins), but greater body fat kiss as well.
• Severely restrict empty calories. Foods with empty calories provide little nutrition and can account for an excessive amount of your daily calorie intake. Examples of these foods are candy (often high in simple sugar) and potato chips (often fried in saturated fat).
• Increase complex carbohydrates. Foods high in fiber such as fresh fruits and vegetables contain few calories for their volume. They are nutritious and filling, and are especially good foods for a fat loss program.
• Learn the difference between craving and hunger. Hunger is a physiological phenomenon that is a result of the body’s need to supply energy to sustain life. A craving is simply a desire to eat something; sometimes a food that is notparticularly liked. When you feel the urge to eat, you may want to ask yourself: is this real hunger or a craving? Hunger is accompanied by growling of the stomach and is most likely to occur after long periods without food. If you have the urge to eat soon after a meal, it is probably from craving, not hunger.

The Food and Drug Administration has labeled the “health food” racket as the most widespread quackery in the United States.

Whether athletic or sedentary, the individual on a well- balanced diet does NOT benefit from special organic foods, phosphate, alkaline salts, choline, lecithin, wheat germ, honey, gelatin, aspartates, brewer’s yeast, or royal jelly unless prescribed for medical purposes by a physician. Because these products do not produce the special benefits claimed for them, their use and/or sale can be considered nutritional quackery. (more…)

When it comes to the way your skin looks, you really are what you eat! Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to have healthy-looking, beautiful skin.

You have probably heard many opinions about what you should (or shouldn’t) eat to have great skin. How much do you know about which foods are really good—and which are not good for your skin? Take this Food Facts and Fiction Quiz and find out: (more…)

1. To get the most out of your diet, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned or frozen. Cooking can cause vegetables and fruits to lose vitamins. Try to eat at least a couple of servings raw (salads, juices, etc.) each day.
2. Whole grains are more nutritious than processed grains. Try whole wheat breads and pasta and brown rice to get the best nutrition.
3. Beta carotene, found in green leafy and other vegetables, is an excellent internal “cleaner” of your skin. It helps your body get rid of harmful impurities caused by air and other pollution.
4. Calcium is very important to growing teens. Milk products, spinach, and canned salmon or sardines with bones are all good sources of calcium. (You can also try calcium-enriched orange juice.)
5. Iron is also important to growing bodies. Iron-rich foods include meat, poultry, fish, peas and beans, raisins and other dried fruits, and leafy greens.
6. Growing teens require an average of 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day—depending on height and rate of activity—in order to stay healthy. Experts recommend limiting total fat intake to no more than 30 percent of your total calorie intake. For teenagers, that equals 73 grams per day, which can be found in meats, oils, and butter. While you need some fat in your diet to stay healthy, before you reach for a cookie or candy bar, check out the number of fat grams! You may be surprised at how much fat can be found in most sweets and salty snacks.
7. Drink between six and eight glasses of water throughout the day. It can help keep your skin moist and help clean out impurities.

Let’s take a look at the four major food groups:

DAIRYproducts provide calcium (for strong bones, teeth, and nails), protein, and riboflavin. Four daily servings are recommended for people ages 11 to 24.

Sample servings:

One cup of milk (skim, lowfat, or whole) One cup of yogurt

One ounce of cheese (more…)

According to Kathleen Walas, International Beauty and Fashion Director at Avon Products, gentle cleansing is best for skin. For all skin types, Ms. Walas recommends a two-step process using cleansers and toners.

Cleansers remove dirt, perspiration, soot, and other pollution and makeup from the surface of your skin. Cleansers include soaps, lotions, creams, and gels. Use a cleanser and lukewarm water to wash your face; too-hot water can dry your skin. And use a gentle touch—scrubbing can irritate the skin, worsen existing problems, and even cause premature wrinkles. When you are finished cleansing, be sure to rinse carefully, removing all remaining residue of cleanser. (more…)

Skin protects your internal organs from damage and bacteria that can cause infections. It regulates your body’s temperature. And skin, through the sense of touch, sends messages to your brain about pain and other sensations.

The skin is a dynamic organ, constantly being replenished. By its texture, color, temperature, and clarity, your skin gives information about your general health.

Different Kinds of Skin

Different parts of your body have different kinds of skin. Some skin is thick and durable, like the skin on your elbows, knees, and the soles of your feet. Other skin is thin and delicate, such as the skin on your eyelids or under your arms. (more…)

Like fingerprints, everyone has a complexion that is uniquely their own. Some people have facial skin that’s oily, others have skin that tends to be dry. And some people have skin that is dry in some places and oily in others. Your age, family history, and environment can all influence your skin type.

Knowing your skin type, and learning about the best products to cleanse, tone, and moisturize is important to having your skin look its very best. Products that make one type of skin look great can do nothing at all for another type of skin.

What’s your skin type? Check these profiles to find out:

Your skin type is oily if…

1. your skin frequently looks shiny
2. you have blackheads or blemishes frequently
3. you have few visible lines

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Nobody has perfect skin, not even models and movie stars. Nearly everyone has an occasional blemish. How do you take care of minor skin problems before they become major skin problems?

Zapping Zits and Blemishes

Blackheads are pores that have become clogged with oil or dirt. The “plug” that forms in the pore is called a comedo. When the comedo is exposed to air, it turns dark or black, causing a blackhead. If the plug is under the surface of the skin, and not exposed to air, a whitehead (pimple or “zit”) forms. (more…)

It’s a fact: healthy living means healthy-looking skin. Not surprisingly, habits that are bad for the rest of your body can also be bad for your looks. Drugs, smoking, too little sleep, and too much stress can cause breakouts, premature aging, and dull, lifeless skin.

Smoking and Your Skin

Most people know that smoking is bad for your lungs and heart. But did you know that the nicotine in cigarettes can make your skin look dull? Nicotine causes the blood vessels in the face to constrict (get smaller), limiting the amount of oxygen that reaches the skin. The reduced blood circulation from smoking can lead to puffiness under the eyes and early wrinkling.

Smoking can also rob your body of vitamins C and B, both important for your skin. The best way to avoid the bad effects of smoking on your skin is either to quit smoking or never start. (more…)

The skin on your hands, knees, elbows, and feet is not as delicate as the skin on your face. Still, like the skin on your face, the other skin on your body can look its best with a regular skin-care program.

Your hands express a lot about you. Like the skin on your face, the skin on your hands is constantly exposed to the elements, as well as to dirt and detergents. The skin on hands can easily become dry, chapped, and wrinkly. Your nails, too, can become dry and brittle. But with a little care, it is easy to make your hands soft and smooth, and your nails strong and hard.

Helping Hands

Detergents are found in dishwashing liquid and other household cleansers as well as (more…)

….Nobody’s perfect. Everyone is occasionally bothered by small skin problems. The following is a run-down of some common complaints and what you can do about them.

Warts

Warts are hard, raised lumps on the skin that can be unattractive. No, warts are not caused by touching frogs! Warts are actually caused by a virus, and there are many ways to get rid of them. Try salicylic-acid-based remedies found in drug stores.

Some people swear by home folk remedies to get rid of warts. These include rubbing the wart three times a day with a gold ring, covering the wart with a bandage until it disappears, (more…)

No matter what your skin type, you can make all-natural skin care treatments at home—for only pennies! Most of the following “recipes” use ingredients found in your kitchen. (Remember that if you are allergic to eating certain foods, using them on your skin will probably cause problems as well. Use common sense when making homemade treatments.)

Cleansing Masks

Ready to give yourself a facial? Cleansing masks are a good way to help skin with too much or too little oil. (more…)

1. Binge-eating disorder

This is a recently classified disorder in which people have frequent episodes of compulsive overeating, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not purge their bodies of food. During these food binges, they often eat alone and very quickly, regardless of whether they feel hungry or full. They often feel shame or guilt over their actions. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder occurs almost as often in men as in women.

2. Endometriosis

This increasingly common condition is one of the major causes of infertility, and causes many women much distress and pain. The endometrium is the soft tissue that lines your uterus. Normally, (more…)

Two-thirds of people who get migraines are women, probably because of the influence of hormones. Migraines tend to run in families and fre‑glucose, SELF headache is throbbing or pulsating, and is usually associated with an aura of nausea and visual disturbances, such as blurring and seeing stars, quietly first appear during childhood or adolescence. A typical migraine before the onset of the pain. Scientists still do not do not know exactly why migraines occur. (more…)

I do encourage you to use complementary techniques to optimise your condition and augment your healing. But always consult your doctor first, and even if he or she does not believe in the therapy, just make sure that no harm can be done. These therapies may give you support, comfort or may aid your healing. You may choose to learn meditation, practise guided imagery, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, reflexology Ayurvedic or Chinese medicine or follow a sound nutritional plan. Steer clear of any practitioner who tells you there is only one way to heal from cancer and that is with his/her therapy, or anyone who advises you to forego the treatment advised by your doctor. This is extremely dangerous. (more…)

As a young woman you assume that when you want to have a child, you will simply fall pregnant. The average time taken for a couple trying to conceive is between 6-12 months of having frequent intercourse (see ‘Trying to conceive‘ on page 315). Ten to fifteen per cent of couples will continue to have difficulty conceiving after one year of trying. When this happens, the couple is considered to have a problem with infertility. It is a ‘couple’ problem, not one or the other. (more…)

These are manifest in abnormal sperm which means either a low sperm count or abnormal morphology (structure) or motility (movement) of the sperm. The causes include hormonal, testicular or sperm-flow problems, medications, drugs and anabolic steroids, toxic exposure, abnormal sperm function, chromosomal disorders or general illnesses. In up to 50 per cent of infertile men, no specific cause can be identified.

Take charge, take care, take action

1. After one year of trying to conceive, it is a wise decision to get yourself and your partner checked out.You need to be referred to a specialist gynaecologist or specialised centre for infertility treatment. Unfortunately, most medical aids do not cover the often expensive treatments.

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