So your losing your hair? Feels like its the end of the world does it? Well I'm here to give you some good news and some bad news. We will start with the bad first and that is unfortunately hair loss isn't the only annoying change that goes with breaking into the golden years. Other changes include erectile dysfunction, swelling prostates, urinary symptoms that go with large prostates, decreasing time in stage 4 sleep, and the list goes on and on. The way I see it going bald is the least of your concerns.
Ok so the good news is that in today's age of pharmacy, there are several great options to solve many of the above mentioned problems, including hair loss. So you don't have to just accept your genetically determined fate. Not only are there good pharmalogical options but the semi surgical options of hair implants are always improving.
So what causes hair loss otherwise known as male pattern baldness? Well it is in the genes as mentioned above. The rumor is that it runs through the maternal line. So if your mom's dad is bald than you'd better start getting ready. That isn't the whole story though. It turns out that there is an enzyme that changes testosterone to dihyroxytestosterone or DHT. DHT which is produced in greater amounts and for which some are more sensitive to acts in many different ways including the root of the hair and actually acts as a toxin to the hair permanently ending the ability of the hair producing proginator cells to continue growing hair.
One of the best treatments is a drug called finasteride or propecia which inhibits the enzyme, alpha 1 reductase, that catalyzes the reduction of testosterone to DHT. If begun early enough it can prevent (or signigicantly slow) hair loss. This drug has been shown to be wonderfully efficacious at relatively low doses, which limits the side effects to a tolerable minimum. One problem with the drug that has recently been made much of in the media is the olympic ban on propecia. It turns out that it can and has been used as a coverup for anabolic steroid performance enhancing drugs. So a significant issue that fortunately effects only a very small minority of balding men.
As mentioned there is also the implant option which for a while seemed like it made you look worse than just having no hair. The corn rows weren't what most guys were going for and were any thing but natural. Now however you really have a hard time noticing the difference unless you are around a guy and all of a sudden they have a head of hair that didn't use to be there. So like I said, compared to the other problems that will eventually crop up, hair loss is tame. But lest we suffer in the looks department fortunately there are good options to stem the "disease."
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Some Common Weight Loss Myths
Myth: You’ll be OK with a high protein/low carb diet
Fact: This type of diet aims to secure most of the daily required amount of calories from protein foods, such as meat, dairy products and eggs, with a very small part taken from foods containing a lot of carbs (bread, pasta, potatoes and fruits). The biggest problem with this diet is that many common and popular foods are forbidden, which makes it easy for the user to get bored or frustrated. When boredom and frustration set in, quitting time is never far off. Another problem is the lack of nutrients that are usually brought in by carbohydrate foods, while allowing the user to eat bacon and cheese that raise cholesterol levels.
The bottom line is that high protein/low carb diets result in fast weight loss in some users, but it’s not just fat that goes away. People also lose some of their lean muscle mass and a lot of water as the kidneys work harder to rid the body of excess waste from protein and fat.
The added stress to your kidneys is not healthy at all and, in the long run, will lead to dehydration, headaches, feelings of nausea and dizziness. Before engaging in a long-term diet, you would do well to discuss it with your physician. And if you are really keen on dieting, try a balanced diet first, because it will help you lose weight without hurting your system.
Myth: Permanent weight loss can be achieved with fad diets.
Fact: This is yet another common myth among the weight loss crowd. Like any other diet that tells you to cut this or that food from your daily meals, fad diets are not healthy for you. The cornerstone of any diet is supplying the body with all the calories, proteins and minerals it needs. diets that cut out foods without regard for the needs of your body cannot be healthy for you. Fad diets fail to deliver on the promise of permanent weight loss because people will always crave the forbidden foods and will always end up breaking the rules and ditching the diet.
The key to making weight loss permanent is more Exercise and to avoid eating food that makes you fat without nourishing your body. Our extensive studies confirmed the importance of exercising and of a well-balanced diet.
Myth: Low-fat or no fat food is always a good choice.
Fact: The only low fat foods that are also low in calories are fruits. The rest of the huge low-fat or non-fat group are not a safe choice if you are dieting. These products may have added sugar, starch or flour to make them taste better, which means extra calories that do not belong into your diet. So make sure you check the list of ingredients on packages whenever you decide to buy low-fat.
Myth: Switching to vegetarian food will help you lose weight and stay healthy.
Fact: I know this is a hard pill to swallow, but no food plan will work for you unless you take charge of your eating and make sure that everything that goes past your lips is the right kind of food. The key here is to be absolutely sure that the vegetarian diet will give your body all the nutrients and calories it needs. Eating heaps of foods that do nothing for you from the nutritional point of view, outside maybe of filling your stomach, can bring you a lot of trouble in the future.
Since plants tend to have a lower concentration of nutrients than meat, you will have to eat more food than before to make up for this difference. Not to mention that a strictly vegetarian diet will not get you enough vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium and zinc. These substances are taken mostly from dairy products and eggs in a regular diet, but true vegetarians can’t touch those. You’ll have to rely on the few and uncommon vegetables that can provide these substances.
Myth: Dairy products cause heart problems and make you fat.
Fact: Well, thanks to modern medicine everybody knows that eating a lot of dairy products is a surefire path to high blood pressure and stroke, although a large group of people from France refuse to die despite the large quantities of cheese and wine they consume.
Dairy products are the main source of calcium that keeps your bones strong and healthy. It is absolutely essential for children and can be in no way overlooked by adults. Dairy products also contain vitamin D, which is crucial to maintaining the normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in your bloodstream.
If you don’t want to gain weight from dairy products, then choose low-fat or non-fat brands. There are enough of those around. If you are lactose-intolerant, drink soy or rice milk. It does not taste exactly the same as true milk, but it’s still good and nutritious.
Butter and margarine are the only dairy products you should worry about. They do contain big levels of fat. Still, if you can’t do without them, at least eat butter. Margarine is an over-processed fat that is not particularly good for you. Butter may be a bit fatter, but it definitely is the healthier of these two.
Fact: This type of diet aims to secure most of the daily required amount of calories from protein foods, such as meat, dairy products and eggs, with a very small part taken from foods containing a lot of carbs (bread, pasta, potatoes and fruits). The biggest problem with this diet is that many common and popular foods are forbidden, which makes it easy for the user to get bored or frustrated. When boredom and frustration set in, quitting time is never far off. Another problem is the lack of nutrients that are usually brought in by carbohydrate foods, while allowing the user to eat bacon and cheese that raise cholesterol levels.
The bottom line is that high protein/low carb diets result in fast weight loss in some users, but it’s not just fat that goes away. People also lose some of their lean muscle mass and a lot of water as the kidneys work harder to rid the body of excess waste from protein and fat.
The added stress to your kidneys is not healthy at all and, in the long run, will lead to dehydration, headaches, feelings of nausea and dizziness. Before engaging in a long-term diet, you would do well to discuss it with your physician. And if you are really keen on dieting, try a balanced diet first, because it will help you lose weight without hurting your system.
Myth: Permanent weight loss can be achieved with fad diets.
Fact: This is yet another common myth among the weight loss crowd. Like any other diet that tells you to cut this or that food from your daily meals, fad diets are not healthy for you. The cornerstone of any diet is supplying the body with all the calories, proteins and minerals it needs. diets that cut out foods without regard for the needs of your body cannot be healthy for you. Fad diets fail to deliver on the promise of permanent weight loss because people will always crave the forbidden foods and will always end up breaking the rules and ditching the diet.
The key to making weight loss permanent is more Exercise and to avoid eating food that makes you fat without nourishing your body. Our extensive studies confirmed the importance of exercising and of a well-balanced diet.
Myth: Low-fat or no fat food is always a good choice.
Fact: The only low fat foods that are also low in calories are fruits. The rest of the huge low-fat or non-fat group are not a safe choice if you are dieting. These products may have added sugar, starch or flour to make them taste better, which means extra calories that do not belong into your diet. So make sure you check the list of ingredients on packages whenever you decide to buy low-fat.
Myth: Switching to vegetarian food will help you lose weight and stay healthy.
Fact: I know this is a hard pill to swallow, but no food plan will work for you unless you take charge of your eating and make sure that everything that goes past your lips is the right kind of food. The key here is to be absolutely sure that the vegetarian diet will give your body all the nutrients and calories it needs. Eating heaps of foods that do nothing for you from the nutritional point of view, outside maybe of filling your stomach, can bring you a lot of trouble in the future.
Since plants tend to have a lower concentration of nutrients than meat, you will have to eat more food than before to make up for this difference. Not to mention that a strictly vegetarian diet will not get you enough vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium and zinc. These substances are taken mostly from dairy products and eggs in a regular diet, but true vegetarians can’t touch those. You’ll have to rely on the few and uncommon vegetables that can provide these substances.
Myth: Dairy products cause heart problems and make you fat.
Fact: Well, thanks to modern medicine everybody knows that eating a lot of dairy products is a surefire path to high blood pressure and stroke, although a large group of people from France refuse to die despite the large quantities of cheese and wine they consume.
Dairy products are the main source of calcium that keeps your bones strong and healthy. It is absolutely essential for children and can be in no way overlooked by adults. Dairy products also contain vitamin D, which is crucial to maintaining the normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in your bloodstream.
If you don’t want to gain weight from dairy products, then choose low-fat or non-fat brands. There are enough of those around. If you are lactose-intolerant, drink soy or rice milk. It does not taste exactly the same as true milk, but it’s still good and nutritious.
Butter and margarine are the only dairy products you should worry about. They do contain big levels of fat. Still, if you can’t do without them, at least eat butter. Margarine is an over-processed fat that is not particularly good for you. Butter may be a bit fatter, but it definitely is the healthier of these two.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Trying To Build The Biggest Arms? Huge Biceps And Strong Triceps?
In every gym that you go to, you will see people pumping their biceps. Biceps along with the pecs and abs are sometimes called vanity muscles because they are the most visible and therefore commands the most respect. Invariably, when you ask someone to show you his muscles, he will probably flex his biceps. Before we discuss biceps development, I want to point out that the biceps make up only one third of your upper arm with triceps the other two-thirds. So to have an impressive arm, you must build your triceps too or the effort on your biceps will not show good results. Many people fail to realize this and that is why you see them doing curls after curls without much improvement. We will touch on triceps exercises in another article. For now, let's talk about biceps. Here are some exercises that will blast your biceps. Most of you would have done some or all of these exercises. The question I am asking is, are the exercises done in the correct form and techniques because if they are not, you will most likely be wasting your time as your biceps will not grow to their full potential. Perform each exercise for 3-5 sets once or twice a week and at reps between 6-10, but make sure that at the high end of the reps, you will not be so fatigued that you can't perform another rep in good form. a) Standing Barbell Curl/ EZY Bar You can perform this exercise with either a straight bar or an ezy bar. This is a great mass building exercises for your biceps. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and grasp the bar with an underhand grip, hands should also be about shoulder width apart. Curl the bar up slowly focusing intensely on the biceps contraction. Do not swing or use momentum to curl especially at the later stages when your biceps get weaker. Never swing or move your body, only your arms are moving. Keep your elbows locked to the side of your body and do not pivot them. Then lower the weight, taking 3-4 seconds resisting the weight on the way down to emphasize the negative part of the exercise. Never let gravity pull the weights down. At all times, do not curl or bend your wrist which must always be in a straight neutral position. b) Incline Dumbbell Curls This exercise will hit different fibre in your biceps and gives you the peak bicep look. Sit back on an incline bench holding a dumbbell in each hand, keep your elbows well forward throughout the movement, curl the weight upward and toward the shoulder level. Then squeeze your biceps hard at the top position. Lower the weights again, slowly under full control. The speed and techniques are similar to what was described earlier. c) Preacher Curl. Similar to barbell curl but using the preacher curl station. This is an excellent bicep peaking isolation exercise. d) Hammer Curl. Hammer curl gives your biceps the full look and your forearms are also working hard. Similar to incline dumbbell curl except you will be using the hammer grip on the dumbbell like holding a hammer knocking nails in and standing up instead of sitting down. e) Build Biceps Tips. Focus on the movement of your biceps all throughout the motion. Don't lift weights that are too heavy that will compromise your form and techniques to show off. By slightly turning and squeezing, you'll build more peak on your biceps. Like all exercises, pose and stretch the biceps between sets. This is to flush out lactic acid and help your biceps recover better for the next set. Remember to change the order of the exercises you perform after 6-8 weeks to shock your biceps into new growth and watch those arms grow!
For a no-nonsense guide to building massive muscles in the shortest possible time visit this website for professional advice and secrets.
For a no-nonsense guide to building massive muscles in the shortest possible time visit this website for professional advice and secrets.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Improve Memory and Circulation With Ginko Biloba
Ginko Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living tree species, dating back over 300 million years. Individual trees can live for over 1,000 years. Ginkgo Biliboa is the best selling herbal product in the world. It is an extract from the green leaves of the Ginkgo tree which is native to Asia, however, is grown worldwide. The active ingredients in the extract are the Ginkgoflavoneglycos, Bilobalide, and terpenelactones including ginkgolides A, B and C. In Asia, ginkgo tree extracts have been used for over 5,000 years to treat cardiovascular problems as well as lung disorders.
Ginkgo's most powerful effect is on the circulating system. Ginkgo flavenoids directly dilate the smallest segment of the circulating system, the micro-capillaries, which increase both blood circulation and oxygen levels in the brain as well as in other critical organ tissues. Ginkgo also prevents platelet aggregation or clumping inside the arterial walls. This increases arterial wall strength and flexibility and decreases the opportunity for the formation of arteriosclerostic plague. Since ginkgo increases oxygen flow to the brain and enhances the brains uptake and utilization of glucose it also is being researched for its role in the senility, forgetfulness, headaches and Alzheimer's disease and its role in improving alertness, memory and mental performance. Recent studies indicate that some patients exhibiting the symptoms of these ailments enjoyed marginal improvement in cognitive abilities after using Ginko. In addition to the benefits provided to the brain by Ginko, it has been shown that Ginko can also help reduce the frequency and intensity of depression.
Related to circulatory improvement, German researchers have also been studying ginkgo as a treatment for atheroclerotic peripheral vascular disease. This disease impairs walking and ginkgo has been shown to help blood flow to the legs allowing people to walk further with far less pain. Ginkgo is a highly important antioxidant shown to have a special affinity for scavenging the superoxide radicals.
Benefits
• Increases circulation to the brain and lower extremities
• Treats senile conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease
• Treats loss of concentration and emotional fatigue in the elderly
• Treats hardening of the arteries
• Treats depression
• Treats allergies
• May treat tinnitus and vertigo
• May reduce vision loss due to aging
• May reduce symptoms associated with Raynaud’s disease
• Possible assistance in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease
Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living tree species, dating back over 300 million years. Individual trees can live for over 1,000 years. Ginkgo Biliboa is the best selling herbal product in the world. It is an extract from the green leaves of the Ginkgo tree which is native to Asia, however, is grown worldwide. The active ingredients in the extract are the Ginkgoflavoneglycos, Bilobalide, and terpenelactones including ginkgolides A, B and C. In Asia, ginkgo tree extracts have been used for over 5,000 years to treat cardiovascular problems as well as lung disorders.
Ginkgo's most powerful effect is on the circulating system. Ginkgo flavenoids directly dilate the smallest segment of the circulating system, the micro-capillaries, which increase both blood circulation and oxygen levels in the brain as well as in other critical organ tissues. Ginkgo also prevents platelet aggregation or clumping inside the arterial walls. This increases arterial wall strength and flexibility and decreases the opportunity for the formation of arteriosclerostic plague. Since ginkgo increases oxygen flow to the brain and enhances the brains uptake and utilization of glucose it also is being researched for its role in the senility, forgetfulness, headaches and Alzheimer's disease and its role in improving alertness, memory and mental performance. Recent studies indicate that some patients exhibiting the symptoms of these ailments enjoyed marginal improvement in cognitive abilities after using Ginko. In addition to the benefits provided to the brain by Ginko, it has been shown that Ginko can also help reduce the frequency and intensity of depression.
Related to circulatory improvement, German researchers have also been studying ginkgo as a treatment for atheroclerotic peripheral vascular disease. This disease impairs walking and ginkgo has been shown to help blood flow to the legs allowing people to walk further with far less pain. Ginkgo is a highly important antioxidant shown to have a special affinity for scavenging the superoxide radicals.
Benefits
• Increases circulation to the brain and lower extremities
• Treats senile conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease
• Treats loss of concentration and emotional fatigue in the elderly
• Treats hardening of the arteries
• Treats depression
• Treats allergies
• May treat tinnitus and vertigo
• May reduce vision loss due to aging
• May reduce symptoms associated with Raynaud’s disease
• Possible assistance in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Weight Loss And Fat Loss
Health is the wealth. Due to development in the field of science, we have simplified our day-to-day work with the help of machines. The victim here is our health. Energy spent is less as we can do strenuous tasks by just pressing the button. But we never tried to reduce the intake. This results in excess energy intake. This excess energy is stored in the body in the form of fat. Hence our weight increases so also the susceptibility to various life threatening ailments. If you want remain healthy and live longer fat loss [weight loss] is the only remedy.
Our body is composed of water, muscle, bone and other organs. Besides this fat is the other important component of the body. The body fat can be classified as fat that is essential and fat that is for storage. Essential fat as the name suggests is most important component of the body and these fats can be seen in muscles, central nervous system, bone marrow and other organs like liver and kidney.
The excess energy intake is converted in to fat and stored in the body as storage fat. Storage fats can be seen under the skin, in the muscle and in specific areas of the body. It is not bad to have some quantity of storage fat in the body. The storage fat functions like insulator [conserves the body temperature], and serves as a source of energy at the time of the poor intake. We must lose this excess fat. This kind of fat loss is must for the healthy normal functioning of the body as we discussed already. While trying for fat loss we should keep in mind that neither too much fat nor too little fat is healthy.
Many people who want to reduce their weight may think why should we know about the body fat? And why should we calculate the body fat? The reason for measuring the body fat is that it is the realistic measurement of fitness of our body. Fat loss is nothing but weight loss. Body mass index is an indicator of the health and fitness of the body. The big disadvantage of the body mass index is that it may conclude that you are overweight. But your body fat may be normal. When the body fat is normal, your health is perfect though you are overweight. Hence body fat calculation is the best method to assess your fitness.
Like the quantity of the fat, the distribution of the fat is also important factor in determining the fitness of the body. Extra fat stored in the hip region is more harm full than the fat stored in buttocks and thighs. Hence fat loss from the hip region is highly preferable. In most cases if the person loses weight by following a perfect, safe, risk free weight loss or fat loss program, he will lose only body fat not the muscle. At times along with fat loss, some quantity of the muscle also will be lost. However the fat loss will be much more than the muscle loss, which is highly desirable. Some people due urgency and ignorance may follow bad diet and wrong diet pills to reduce weight. Those people will be losing body water instead of body fat. As the result there will not be any fat loss, which is of no use as far as the health and fitness of the person concerned.
Our body is composed of water, muscle, bone and other organs. Besides this fat is the other important component of the body. The body fat can be classified as fat that is essential and fat that is for storage. Essential fat as the name suggests is most important component of the body and these fats can be seen in muscles, central nervous system, bone marrow and other organs like liver and kidney.
The excess energy intake is converted in to fat and stored in the body as storage fat. Storage fats can be seen under the skin, in the muscle and in specific areas of the body. It is not bad to have some quantity of storage fat in the body. The storage fat functions like insulator [conserves the body temperature], and serves as a source of energy at the time of the poor intake. We must lose this excess fat. This kind of fat loss is must for the healthy normal functioning of the body as we discussed already. While trying for fat loss we should keep in mind that neither too much fat nor too little fat is healthy.
Many people who want to reduce their weight may think why should we know about the body fat? And why should we calculate the body fat? The reason for measuring the body fat is that it is the realistic measurement of fitness of our body. Fat loss is nothing but weight loss. Body mass index is an indicator of the health and fitness of the body. The big disadvantage of the body mass index is that it may conclude that you are overweight. But your body fat may be normal. When the body fat is normal, your health is perfect though you are overweight. Hence body fat calculation is the best method to assess your fitness.
Like the quantity of the fat, the distribution of the fat is also important factor in determining the fitness of the body. Extra fat stored in the hip region is more harm full than the fat stored in buttocks and thighs. Hence fat loss from the hip region is highly preferable. In most cases if the person loses weight by following a perfect, safe, risk free weight loss or fat loss program, he will lose only body fat not the muscle. At times along with fat loss, some quantity of the muscle also will be lost. However the fat loss will be much more than the muscle loss, which is highly desirable. Some people due urgency and ignorance may follow bad diet and wrong diet pills to reduce weight. Those people will be losing body water instead of body fat. As the result there will not be any fat loss, which is of no use as far as the health and fitness of the person concerned.
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