Health-and-Fitness online information.

Conventional drugs and medications are available for any disease and not all people go after such medications, due to the side effects by using those conventional drugs and medications. People prefer to go the natural way so that the side effects are minimized and it is almost nil in most of the cases.

There are many natural remedies for curing toenail fungus. Natural products are also marketed by many companies for the treatment of toenail fungus. The natural products for the treatment of this condition includes Futspa, Tea tree oil, Vinegar, Hydrogen peroxide, decolorized Iodine, and Oil of Oregano

Futspa
A natural product called Futspa is available for treating the toenail fungus. This product is a solution that can be applied on the affected nail. The solution contains natural essential oils that are effective against the fungus. One such essential oil is the Tea tree oil. This is one of the main ingredients of Futspa. Lavender oil and thyme are also included in this product. Such products are safe to use and are also inexpensive.

Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil can also be used individually on the nail that is affected by the toenail fungus. Tea tree oil can be purchased from the herbal stores. Tea tree oil is a natural anti fungal and anti bacterial agent and hence this is used in most of the natural products to fight the fungus.

Vinegar
Application of vinegar over the infection is also found to be one of the natural remedies for nail fungus. It is found that the infection may reappear after sometime if you use vinegar. Another way of curing is to use a mixture of water and the apple cider vinegar in equal proportions and soak your feet in that solution. This is found to be effective in some persons.

Hydrogen peroxide
Applying hydrogen peroxide on the infected area is also found to help the cells of the nail to grow again. You can use a cotton ball to apply hydrogen peroxide in the infected area. Another treatment that can be used is to soak your feet in a solution of water, lavender oil, and apple cider vinegar. You need to soak your feet for at least half an hour daily in this solution to get the desired effect.

Decolorized Iodine
You can also use decolorized iodine for treating nail fungus. Apply some tea tree oil over the infected nail and then apply iodine using a q-tip. Olive leaf extract is another natural remedy for treating the toenail fungus. Try using Olive leaf extract.

Oil of Oregano
Oil of Oregano can also be applied to your infected nail using a Q-tip. This has to be applied daily in the morning and the evening. This application has destroyed the fungus and your nail grows again. This treatment might take several months before you get the desired result.

Most of the natural treatments for the toenail infections take several months to get the desired effect. Hence, you need patience you are adopting the natural treatments for the toenail infections. Since you do not get any side effects in these treatments it is always safe to go for natural treatments.

Looking to lose weight and want to find the best solution? Have you tried every trick in the book and still struggled to lose those unwanted pounds?

I have been in your shoes. I know how it is to exercise regularly, eat right and lose most of the weight, but it's hard to lose those last few stubborn pounds. It's possible to break past this barrier, and I will teach you how.

For starters, I don't want you to make dramatic changes in your lifestyle. Instead, I want to to improve on some of the things that you are doing already. It's hard to introduce new habits, and a a lot easier to change or modify existing ones.

That's exactly what my 12 step solution is all about. Try these simple and effective tactics to supercharge your weight loss efforts. Do the best you can and don't try and do it all at one time.

1. Become more positive and receptive to new weight-loss ideas. Because permanent weight-loss success begins not with the measuring cup but the mind, take a minute to explore your reasons for wanting to lose weight. Just fitting into a smaller dress size is not enough. What then? That's when the weight creeps back. A healthy weight should be a part of your mindset. It's not just about looking better or fitting into smaller clothes but about being healthier and maintaining a healthy lifestyle of the rest of your life. This is easier said than done. It takes some practice. Ask yourself WHY do you want to lose weight? Can you zero in on a better reason than a smaller dress size? Sure, you want to look good, but you want to feel good, too, right? That is what will keep you motivated for a lifetime.

2. Write everything down. Take a journal and make a note of how much you exercise, what you are eating, your successes and your failures.Write down what you eat, and check it against a calorie counter every night for the next two weeks. For many people, this is all it takes to wake up and reverse a lifetime of bad habits. This may sound silly but it's one of the best weight-loss tactics in the world. I have heard several instances where clients eat a healthy salad but sprinkle itwith so much dressing that you end up with a 500 calorie meal. Once you start seeing how many calories there are in what you're eating, you'll know which foods to cut back on or eliminate.

3. Become more active. This is my favorite tip. Exercise is the single strongest predictor of you ability to lose weight - and keep it off. Yes, exercise burns calories, increases your metabolism and energy, and develops lean muscle mass. But just as important, exercise catapults your self-esteem, which makes you more likely to do other things to take care of yourself, like eat less. Get moving means strength training AND aerobic conditioning.

4. Resist that first bite especially for the foods you love. You've heard it before: everything is okay in moderation. But face it: there are certain foods you simply can't eat moderately. If one cookie or a handful of chips is never enough, it's best just to avoid these foods altogether. If you've spent your entire adult life trying to eat a little of certain foods and failing, that is your signal to just forget it and don't even take a bite.

5. Drink more water. Most people complain "I hate water." "It's soooo boring. There's no taste!" "I can't drink too much or I'll waste my day in the bathroom." "I know I have to drink more water. I just keep forgetting about it." You know you need at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. You need to understand why water is so important. Yes, it fills you up. It controls your appetite. Did you know that it also aids in metabolizing fat? your liver is busy metabolizing fat and ridding your body of toxins. Water helps to get rid of toxins. If you're not drinking enough water, you have more toxins in your body, compromising the liver's ability to metabolize fat. You need water on hand for fat metabolism.

6. Reduce 100 calories from your diet every day. Make a commitment to cut 100 calories a day from your diet and replace it with an activity that burns 100 calories. It's easier to pinpoint the 100 with the journal I talked about earlier. If you did nothing else, you'd lose 10 lb. at the end of a year. A few activities that burn 100 cals are 1/2 hr. of walking, 20 minutes of swimming, or even dancing around your living room.

7. Eat fruits and vegetables every day. These have a powerful effect on sugar cravings. Plus, they're low in calories, fill you up with fiber, and pack a powerful nutritional punch.

8. Start training with weights. More muscle means more calories burned, even at rest. The key to permanent weight loss.

9. Eat more fibre. Fiber-rich fruits and veggies are great nutritional fare, since they fill you up without adding too much fat or too many calories. But increasing fiber intake could actually reduce the amount of calories absorbed by the body, too.

10. Spread your calories out over the course of the day. The typical American eats light during the day, and heavier at night. Yikes! By the time you get to dinner, your metabolism has gotten sluggish, which means a greater number of calories will be stored as fat. It's even worse if you're not active after dinner. Eat larger meals during the day, and have a light dinner.

11. Change Your Shopping Style When I go grocery shopping I can take one look at someone's shopping cart and make some basic assumptions about their lifestyle. If you want to lose weight your grocery shopping habits must improve. Thin starts at the grocery store. Before you hit the checkout lane, review your selections and dump any sugary, fatty treats and snacks. Your family may complain but they will get used to it.

12. Mix up your workouts. Crosstraining is the key to success. It is said the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and yet expect the same results. The same applies to fitness. You can't expect to do the same exercise, at the same intensity week after week and continue to see results. The body must be 'shocked' to respond with results. As long as the exercise is unpredictable and varied or manipulated every two weeks you will continue improving and losing weight.

Healthy weight loss means losing weight in a way that is good for body, heart, and soul. Sure, there are many weight loss programs available on the market for you, but which ones are healthy and how do you know what is healthy and what is not. I mean for many of us that are overweight, we don't generally have an idea of what healthy weight loss would mean because we have lead lives with unhealthy habits.

As someone who was, at one point, sixty pounds overweight, I can say this with conviction. We become overweight because of our unhealthy choices. Maybe we were taught our bad habits, maybe we simply pick them up as we age, or maybe we know what we need to do to experience healthy weight loss, but lack the will power to get the job done.

In today's society, when we hear the phrase healthy weight loss, we immediately think of the negative things about diets. We consider diets that mean counting calories, who has the time for that right and this is not healthy weight loss. We consider diets that mean avoiding all the foods we enjoy such as low-carb diets, or the Adkins's diet, which again is not healthy weight loss. Here is something you should be considering however, healthy weight loss does not mean starving yourself, nor does it mean that you have to quit eating the foods you love.

What foods should you be avoiding?

Well the list is not all that long. Basically you want to avoid heavy salad dressings such as Ranch. Opt for something lighter such as Italian. You also want to avoid overeating when it comes to bread. You can eat a small sandwich, but avoid excess bread within your day. While we all love chocolate, even fat-free chocolate is unhealthy for our bodies. Find other type of fat-free methods of snacking because even fat-free desserts and cakes are not really good for you.

Stick to diet sodas and avoid sweet breakfast cereals at all costs. Breaded and fried foods should be avoided, as well as potato chips, French fries, and pizza. You see the things you should avoid are nothing that cannot be accomplished. While we may like these things, we know deep down that they are unhealthy choices to experience healthy weight loss.

Healthy weight loss simply means knowing what you should eat, what you shouldn't, and getting a little exercise in your day. I can virtually hear the collective cringes and sighs when that statement was read. Exercise is in an important aspect of healthy weight loss and maintaining the new lifestyle. However, you can get excited again now, because these exercises do not have to be the strenuous ones you have heard about.

Simply taking a light, somewhat leisurely walk everyday, or some other type of light, less intense form of exercise is all that is really needed. The thing to remember is that healthy weight loss does NOT mean punishing your body or yourself. It means instilling good habits into your everyday routine and maintaining those healthy habits, after you have achieved the healthy weight loss.

Dental defects are something that hampers your social life to a great extent. You may set yourself aloof from the rest of the world, as you have a missing tooth or stained teeth or misaligned teeth or something else. Boycotting social life can develop some sort of inferiority complex in you. If you are suffering from missing tooth and facing social problem, then it is time to consult a dental surgeon. Dental implants are the best treatment that is being offered by various dental clinics in Manhattan and various other cities.

If the patient happens to reside in Manhattan or any other city, then dental implants can be opted to restore your denture. Smile is the most precious thing and it is hampered a lot due to dental problems. Dental implants are meant to enhance your smile and helps in regaining that lost confidence. Treatment of dental implants includes fixing of titanium roots in the jawbone. A special base is created for the artificial tooth, with bonding of titanium roots at the jawbone. After this step, metal crowns are created for artificial teeth. With the help of this treatment, you can replace a single tooth or the entire denture.

Accidents have been found to be one of the major causes for teeth loss among the public. Dental implants are a boon for such patients as they can be a part of the normal world despite the tooth loss. In fact, dental implants have enhanced the lifestyle of patients suffering from missing tooth. Implants are placed surgically in the jawbone and it is considered highly appropriate for curing dental defects. This treatment takes four to six months, but results are so great that it becomes difficult to differentiate between the artificial and real teeth.

Dental defects have always been a problem for many people. It is not just the social life that affects, you are not able to eat properly also. And if you are not eating properly, then your health will surely be affected. It seems that this thing is like chemistry’s equation that action is the result of a reaction. If you develop some dental problem, then it’s going to affect your health and lifestyle. It is an alarming situation that calls for dentist’s attention. You must take care of one thing that your dentist should be qualified and experienced enough to handle your case properly.

One of the best advantages of dental implants is that you can restore your smile and move around with confidence. This treatment gives highly beneficial results and improves the functioning of your teeth to a great extent. Demand for the treatment of dental implants has been increasing because people are becoming more and more health conscious. It is because of this reason that patients are on a constant look out for dentist to cure this problem. To contact a specialist is always better and safer because it is the matter of your health and life. Isn’t it?

According to Wikipedia.org, drug addiction is defined as “the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use.” Since drug addiction is a complex illness, it has so many dimensions and disturbs so many aspects of an individual's life, dealing with this ailment is anything but simple.

When a person is at a ‘no control’ stage, drug rehabs must help the person discontinue use of drugs and maintain a drug-free lifestyle, while gaining productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. There are many reasons why a person would need to attend a drug rehabilitation program. Some of them are: the inability to control drinking or drug use, cutting themselves off from their friends and family, criminal offenses, and problematic behaviour at work. At such facilities, through therapy and education, the individual is helped to gain their former self. They are then able to become part of the society.

Now, let’s think about drug rehab centers and what images do you conjur? Resort-like facility or a strict hospital-like setting? Chances are, your perception does not cover the entire spectrum of drug treatment centers. Since there are several different types of drug rehabilitation programs available ranging from inpatient, outpatient, residential, short-term, and long-term, it helps to learn what’s out there and how to choose one. Here are a few :

First of all, gauge the situation by considering the following factors in the life of the individual who needs the drug treatment:

1. Age of individual
2. Insurance options
3. Type of drug used
4. History of criminal offenses if any
5. Friends and family support
6. Number of times the individual needed the treatment
7. Is the individual psychologically addicted and will they require complete behavioral alterations?
8. Will they have withdrawal symptoms?

After accessing the individual, you need to ask questions similar to the following to your physician, counselor and especially the drug treatment programs.

1. What types of medications are used in the treatment?
2. Which types of vitamins and/or natural treatments are used?
3. What is the counselor-to-patient ratio?
4. How do they medically manage withdrawal symptoms?
5. Test or assess infectious illnesses such as TB, HIV, Hepatitis etc.
6. Also, how long is the treatment program?
7. Are families involved?
8. What is the cost?

These and similar questions can help you find out more about the different drug treatment centers.

How do you access if the individual will need residential treatment programs? Residential treatments are geared toward those who have been addicted for a long time. These are usually longer programs and try to educate individuals to live in a drug-free community.

It is said that the best rehab programs are those that are structored to an individuals needs. This needs taking into consideration the individual’s race, age, culture, gender, employment, past drug history, criminal behavior and history of physical or sexual abuse. In choosing the drug treatment program, observe individuls within the drug program and notice their seriousness. It has been know that those who may have only tried a few drugs get more excited about trying other drugs when around serious drug users.

Next to smoking, being overweight is one of the worst attributes to your health possible. By having a high weight you are putting yourself at risk of heart disease, a stroke, diabetes, gout and much more. Because of the many health issues that come up with being overweight it is crucial that you have a healthy diet. Here are 5 ways you can assist yourself in having a healthy diet.

1. Know your BMI: Many people are unaware of their BMI or are clueless to what BMI even is. BMI stands for your body mass index, which is a measure of your body fat according to your height and weight. By knowing your body mass index you can identify if you are leading a healthy diet so far in your life, and if not you can be aware of how much body fat you have. A healthy body fat is 20 to 25.

2. Be active throughout your day: It's the simple things in life that nobody even considers that can make the difference in a healthy diet. For example, as opposed to taking the escalators or elevator upstairs, try walking upstairs for a little extra workout. Try getting off of the bus one or two stops early and walk the rest of the way. By practicing a few of these things on a daily basis you will be surprised at how much it adds up.

3. Work Out: One of the best things for a healthy diet is being active. The more you become active and the longer you do whatever it is you are doing, you can increase the intensity of the workout to reap the benefits even more. To start, it is recommended that you try and workout 30 minutes every day to maintain a healthy diet and stay fit.

4. Watch what you eat: There are a number of foods that sound amazing but don't particularly go with a healthy diet. It is important that you watch what you eat and at what times of the day you eat. There are a number of foods that are high in calories that will build fat quickly, especially with little activity, so watch what you eat. Adding a nutritional health shake of some sort on a daily basis can be beneficial in a number of ways.

5. Keep track of calories: Not only is it important to watch what you eat, but in order to have a healthy diet you must know how much you're eating. To maintain a healthy diet you should be burning more calories than you consume. By writing down what you eat and how many calories the foods have, you can be on your way to eating a healthy amount per day. It is recommended that you eat around 2,000 calories per day.

There are a number of things you can do to maintain a healthy diet, but these are a few starters that are crucial to you staying healthy. By practicing all of the above on a consistent basis, you will notice a difference in a short amount of time.

Conventional drugs and medications are available for any disease and not all people go after such medications, due to the side effects by using those conventional drugs and medications. People prefer to go the natural way so that the side effects are minimized and it is almost nil in most of the cases.

There are many natural remedies for curing toenail fungus. Natural products are also marketed by many companies for the treatment of toenail fungus. The natural products for the treatment of this condition includes Futspa, Tea tree oil, Vinegar, Hydrogen peroxide, decolorized Iodine, and Oil of Oregano

Futspa
A natural product called Futspa is available for treating the toenail fungus. This product is a solution that can be applied on the affected nail. The solution contains natural essential oils that are effective against the fungus. One such essential oil is the Tea tree oil. This is one of the main ingredients of Futspa. Lavender oil and thyme are also included in this product. Such products are safe to use and are also inexpensive.

Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil can also be used individually on the nail that is affected by the toenail fungus. Tea tree oil can be purchased from the herbal stores. Tea tree oil is a natural anti fungal and anti bacterial agent and hence this is used in most of the natural products to fight the fungus.

Vinegar
Application of vinegar over the infection is also found to be one of the natural remedies for nail fungus. It is found that the infection may reappear after sometime if you use vinegar. Another way of curing is to use a mixture of water and the apple cider vinegar in equal proportions and soak your feet in that solution. This is found to be effective in some persons.

Hydrogen peroxide
Applying hydrogen peroxide on the infected area is also found to help the cells of the nail to grow again. You can use a cotton ball to apply hydrogen peroxide in the infected area. Another treatment that can be used is to soak your feet in a solution of water, lavender oil, and apple cider vinegar. You need to soak your feet for at least half an hour daily in this solution to get the desired effect.

Decolorized Iodine
You can also use decolorized iodine for treating nail fungus. Apply some tea tree oil over the infected nail and then apply iodine using a q-tip. Olive leaf extract is another natural remedy for treating the toenail fungus. Try using Olive leaf extract.

Oil of Oregano
Oil of Oregano can also be applied to your infected nail using a Q-tip. This has to be applied daily in the morning and the evening. This application has destroyed the fungus and your nail grows again. This treatment might take several months before you get the desired result.

Most of the natural treatments for the toenail infections take several months to get the desired effect. Hence, you need patience you are adopting the natural treatments for the toenail infections. Since you do not get any side effects in these treatments it is always safe to go for natural treatments.

Twenty years ago this spring, my husband Larry and I eloped in a frenzy of young love and passion. On that memorable day long ago, I never would've considered the fact that, despite our best efforts, we would not stay the same.

Not only has our appearance changed (don't get me started!), but our opinions, habits and even our views of the world have evolved. Daily life has become such a laundry list of onerous chores that paying bills fells like relaxation by comparison.

Infertility, followed be a miscarriage, followed by 3 children in 2 years, a move to the big city all contributed to the neglect of our marriage in spite of our mutual devotion. It slowly occurred to me that real love is not something that happens to us, but something that requires a daily choice.

Marriage, like cars, need maintenance tune-ups and occasionally more major repairs. My husband and I decided to commit to spending more time together and to use that time efficiently. Problem was, we had no "extra" time. Like Anna Quindlen says, "Our days were like a cross between a decathalon and stations of the cross".

Over the past year, since both of our schedules showed no signs of easing, we committed our exercise time as the most available time for togetherness.

First, we evaluated what activites we both enjoyed, figuring that the couple that plays together, stays together.

We committed to three 20 minute workouts per week and at the end of each week we had a "date night" which was at least one hour to talk. Then we realized that if we spent our workout time during that week reviewing marital skills like communication, resolving conflict, meeting each other's needs that we could then discuss it at our end-of-the-week date night.

What we found out surprised us!First, we found out that our workout time had been cutting into our time spent with each other.Secondly, that exercise became a metaphor for a marriage, because working out had a way of flushing out issues. As we got to sweat together, we accepted more fully each others' weaknesses(him) and admired each others' strengths(me).

We also realized that, not only are our bodies different, but how and why we exercise are different too.

We couldn't do every exercise together. I need more stretching and my husband needs to work on his abs. What we committed to is using our workout time to think about and discuss marital issues. We picked several marriage topics and used this as our guide.

Something amazing happened! We rekindled that young passion we started with two decades before.Becoming proactive, we were tuning up our marriage while toning up our (aging) muscles. Not death-defying but possibly divorce-defying!

This pattern of regular workout time spent together is the first investment in not growing apart.

Here's the plan.Pick a list of activities both of you enjoy. If you cannot come up with a list of compatible activites, perhaps you will walk while he runs, looping back every few blocks or you do stretches while he focuses on ab work. At the end of the week, you meet for date night to discuss this week's topic and complete a few questions.

Did I forget to mention that one possible topic is "Good Sex"? Women, this is your hook to get those disinterested mates on board!

As Larry and I draw nearer to that 20th anniversary milestone, we may be in the "autumn" of our life together but this exercise program has helped us rekindle a bit of "spring" in our step and some "summer" in our marriage.

Before we hit the age of thirty, we tend to think that we are invincible - that we may just beat all odds and live forever, in good health. But it seems that when we turn thirty, we instantly start noticing fine lines in our faces. By the time we turn forty, we are feeling aches and pains that weren't there a few years ago. When we turn fifty, we are having ‘procedures' that we never dreamed that we would have. If we live to see sixty, we consider ourselves lucky.

This habit of ignoring our bodies until something goes wrong is understandable. We've all learned to live under the premise of ‘if it isn't broken, don't fix it.' What we don't realize is that our bodies are slowly breaking - very quietly. As with anything else, our bodies need gentle loving care in order to thrive and survive. Unfortunately, our bodies were not designed to last forever, but there are steps that we can take to preserve them for a longer period of time. After all, when you turn ninety, you just may still need those achy knees!

It is a known fact that when an elderly person breaks a bone, they tend to go downhill at a much faster rate than they would have otherwise. A broken hip may seem like just a broken bone that will mend when you are young - but to an elderly person, such a thing can literally be a death sentence. Even though older people are not as active as younger people, they are at a much greater risk for broken bones than young people, simply because their bones are wearing out.

Arthritis is also a major problem for older people - but it is affecting greater numbers of younger people as well these days. This is because we don't get enough of the nutrients that we need to promote strong healthy bones and joints today. Before fast food restaurants existed, people actually cooked at home, and filled their plates with food that contained the minerals and nutrients that their bodies needed for good health. It was not uncommon for ninety year old people to be out and about - without pain.

While we may not have good nutrition on our side, we do have good research. Scientists have found that arthritis, osteoporosis, and the general breakdown of bones and joints can be prevented or delayed with the right mixture of natural compounds. Even if you have already started to experience the affects of aging, you can improve your joint flexibility, stimulate the growth of cartilage, and decrease joint pain.

Glucosamine is a natural compound that stimulates essential cartilage building blocks. These building blocks are glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, also called MSM, also works to improve and support the health of joints. Ipriflavone increases bone density, and Zinc, along with vitamins C and K1 are also essential to bone and joint health.

Before you run out to your health food store to look for these ingredients, realize that when you take pills, your body will only absorb about 10% of what you are swallowing. Liquid vitamins and nutrients work best, look for all of the ingredients that you need to support and improve the health of your bones and joints in one liquid formula. .

Don't worry another minute about your bones. Don't suffer another day with arthritis pain. Do something for yourself today - and your bones and joints will show you their appreciation.

Everyone walking on the face of this earth has an abundance of fat cells throughout their bodies. In fact, if you're a healthy adult with normal body composition, you have approximately 30 billion fat cells. This is an astronomical number when you think about it. Did you ever wonder why you have so many? Have you ever wondered what those fat cells are for?

The answer is, fat cells are part of our genetic code and they allowed us to use stored energy when food was scarce. This survival mechanism is very much the same today as it was 10,000 years ago. However, today our needs have changed. There is an abundance of food in modern society today.

When you consume too many calories, your body goes into storage mode for that "rainy day," so to speak, but the "rainy day" does not happen. So your body simply stores those extra calories as fat. When you eat less calories then your body demands your cells release stored fat for energy. Pretty simple equation, however it does not appear that all fat is the same.

The placement of fat deposits on our bodies varies depending on each person's genetic influences, lifestyle choices and nutritional intake. Men tend to store their body fat around their bellies and chest. Women tend to store it around there hips, buttocks, thighs and back of their arms. A complete discussion of hormones and fat storage would be beyond the scope of this article, but let it suffice to say that certain hormonal process do determine body fat distribution.

There is one major factor that many people do not realize when they are attempting to lose body fat and this can be a stumbling block in anyone's long term success. Many people approach fat loss and fitness with great enthusiasm and determination. With this attitude, they lose body fat and feel great, but even so, they just do not seem to get rid of ALL they fat they want to. They lose fat successfully for a time, but ultimately get stuck just before all of the fat is completely gone.

This is commonly known as a plateau and this plateau phenomenon causes many people who were previously successful to lose their enthusiasm and return to their old ways. When old habits take over again – and this happens to the majority of dieters - the body fat comes back with a vengeance. This is due to programming of the fat cell. Each time you try to lose body fat again, it seems to take longer and require more effort.

So what is the real solution? It's simple – you must understand how fat cells work and how to get past the plateau phenomenon and defeat this last bit of body fat, that we often call stubborn fat.

I have worked with many clients and I would say most of them have a good amount of stubborn body fat. This fat is literally "programmed" to be very difficult to lose. It seems to remain on our bodies no matter what we do, hence the word stubborn fat. Modern diets and weight loss programs almost all seem to work in the beginning, but then they never really address this crucial part of fat loss – the last bit of stubborn fat.

Stubborn fat develops when your hormonal pathways are broken down. Age does play a role in this: Fat deposits increase and become more resistant to fat loss methods as you get older. This you have little control over, but some things that lead to stubborn fat development are under your control. Yo yo dieting is one of them. Losing weight on crash diets and then regaining it – often known as the "rebound effect" – will only increase stubborn fat in the long run. A decrease in exercise and activity level also compounds the stubborn fat problem. This is why people who crash diet on low calories and refuse to exercise and move their bodies, often have the worst stubborn fat problems of all.

Our ancestors really never had to deal with this problem because they moved and engaged in physical labor as a regular part of daily life, whereas technological conveniences and the modern lifestyle have caused many of us to become lazy and inactive.

Stubborn fat is metabolized extremely slowly and is resistant to the hormonal process that takes place while the fat burning process is started up. To burn fat, the adrenal hormones better known as adrenaline and noradrenaline, attach to the fat cell receptors and essentially "open them up" so the fat can be used in the energy pathways. There are two kinds of receptors in your fat cells: one is alpha and the other beta. The beta receptors are much more active and respond to adrenal hormones. To lose body fat, the adrenal hormones switch on and the body begins to use fat as energy. However, in the case of people with stubborn fat, this does not occur, so no body fat is lost.

According to my good friend and colleague Ori Hofmekler, author of the warrior diet, "stubborn fat" has a lower ratio of beta receptors to alpha receptors." Therefore, your body's hormonal "fat dissolver," adrenaline, will not be able to enter the fat cell and open the door. Ori also points out that "to make these matters worse, stubborn fat has more estrogen receptors which cause even more stubborn fat."

If all this sounds bad enough, what makes it even worse is that if you indulge in the typical modern diet and sedentary lifestyle, this often results in reduced insulin sensitivity (read my past article on Insulin Sensitivity for more information). Added on top of everything else, your fat tissue becomes so incredibly resistant to your attempts to lose it, it seems like you will be stuck with it forever.

Diets fail because they only look at the caloric reduction side of the equation. You need to understand the other variables in the equation – exercise and lifestyle. You need to understand the deeper issues you are really dealing with. Getting rid of stubborn fat is not nearly as simple as just slashing calories and dieting. Stubborn fat is the result of a complex interplay of biological and hormonal processes – all of which are affected by how you eat, how you move and the type of lifestyle you lead.

Now that you understand why you have stubborn fat, right down to the hormone and receptor level, the question is "How do you alter your nutrition, exercise and lifestyle to get rid if this resistant body fat?" The answer will be found in part two. Stay tuned.

Quick question: What's more important to gain muscle mass, the amount of weight you lift or the amount of natural anabolic hormones your body releases in response to muscular stress (as is the case when performing a set)?

The answer to that question is very important, since it can make the difference between a successful workout program and a bodybuilding routine that keeps you looking the same year after year.

Some feel that as long as you continue to lift heavier and heavier weight, you are going to build muscle mass fast.

Others say that in order to gain weight in the form of muscle, you should focus on training techniques that will force the body to release large amounts of anabolic hormones in the body, especially testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin, amongst others.

I'm not going to beat around the bush...in order to gain weight from your bodybuilding workout program in the form of muscle your body's own anabolic hormones are going to have a bigger impact on muscle mass growth than lifting heavier and heavier weight.

Here's why:

You can lift all the weight in the world, you can be stronger than a bull, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to have large muscles.

How many people do you know who can bench press hundreds and hundreds of pounds, yet their chests are flat as a board?

How many individuals have you seen that squat a ton, and in good form, yet their thighs lack any kind of real muscle mass?

How many powerlifters have you seen who can lift a building, yet they don't have the same muscular development as a bodybuilder that is only half as strong?

However, one of the many reasons why anabolic steroids are so powerful and work at gaining muscle is because those that use steroids are literally injecting extra amounts of anabolic hormones.

And many steroids aren't even that effective at building strength, but they sure can make you grow.

If you have been using a workout routine that mainly focuses on strength and lifting heavier and heavier weight, without taking into account other factors that will signal the body to release its own hormones, then you may have noticed that you really aren't gaining the type of muscle you know you should be.

Many tests have proven that those that focus on using bodybuilding techniques that signal the body to elevate its own anabolic hormones see a greater gain in muscle mass than those that focus on resting for long periods in order to be able to lift more weight.

A test conducted in 2005 called "The impact of metabolic stress on hormonal responses and muscular contractions" is one such test.

To make a long story short, use workout techniques that cause an accumulation of waste products (like lactic acid and hydrogen ions) in the muscle while you are exercising it.

This is the "burning" and acidic sensation you feel when you are hitting a muscle.

Now, don't get me wrong. Lifting heavier and heavier weight is important, but that shouldn't be the main focus of your workout program.

Your priority should be:

1) Cause a build up of these waste products and burning sensation in my muscles in the shortest amount of sets, exercises, and time necessary.

then...

2) Attempt to lift at least a couple pounds heavier than the time before.

That way you get the best of both worlds.

When your body senses this type of build up and stress in a muscle being trained it signals to release additional anabolic hormones......and the more anabolic hormones you have being released by your body the more muscle you are going to gain.

Almost 90% of gout victims are men over thirty years old.

But women can also suffer from gout, especially if they take certain medications such as blood pressure drugs. Most women who suffer from gout are 60 years or older.

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, tissues, and urine. The uric acid can form crystals which collect in joints such as the big toe. In fact, your big toe can become so painful and swollen that even the weight of a bedsheet can be agonizing.

If gout isn't properly controlled, it can cause kidney stones and even more serious kidney disease. Gout is also associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

You should always consult a doctor for treatment of gout. But some of the drugs used for gout - such as allopurinol, colchicine, indomethacin, and prednisone - can cause serious side effects.

So you may want to discuss with your doctor if an alternative approach might work for you. An approach without the toxic side effects of gout drugs.

One dietary approach is simply to eat cherries. In the 1950s, Dr. Ludwig Blau discovered that he could keep his gout away by eating a minimum of 6 cherries a day. It helped his crippling gout so much that he was actually able to get out of his wheelchair and start walking again.

He discovered his "cherry cure" by accident. One day, he ate a large bowl of cherries and the next day, his foot pain was gone. He found that as long as he ate the cherries every day, his gout was controlled.

Many other people - some of whom have written to Prevention magazine - have also found relief by adding cherries to their diets.

Supposedly, if you already have crippling gout or if you feel a gout attack coming on, you should eat 15 to 30 cherries a day at first to get your gout under control, then 6 to 10 cherries a day after that to keep the gout away.

Red and black cherries - fresh, frozen or canned - have been used successfully to treat gout. Drinking several tablespoons of black cherry juice daily may produce the same effect.

It's best to eat the cherries or drink the cherry juice between meals.

So why do cherries work for some people with gout?

Because gout destroys the collagen that is needed to form connective tissue and cherries stop that destruction. Cherries also neutralize uric acid and have anti-inflammatory properties.

There are other changes you can make to your diet, too.

For example, eating a cup of strawberries may help to control gout.

You should also drink plenty of water to help flush the uric acid out of your body. Six to eight 8-ounce glasses a day is probably best.

Losing excess weight may also reduce uric acid levels, but it must be done gradually and under a doctor's supervision. Severe dieting or fasting can actually make your gout worse.

Many people also try to eliminate foods with high purine levels from their diets. Some of these foods may worsen gout by increasing your level of uric acid.

Some high-purine foods are meats, especially organ meats, gravies, herring, mussels, sardines, fish, and alcohol.

At least one study suggests that high-purine foods such as beans, peas, mushrooms, spinach and cauliflower do not make gout worse. But you should consult your doctor for the latest information and recommendations.

Important Disclaimer: This information is presented for educational purposes only. This isn't medical advice and it's not a substitute for any advice or treatment from your physician. You should always see your doctor before starting any new diet plan for losing weight or controlling gout.

If you want to be in charge of your aging process (and you can be), having a plan that includes a daily "do or die" regimen is vital. It must also be automatic. Discussion with yourself about "should I or shouldn't I do it today, or "do I have time today" isn't allowed. You just do it. That's one of my major rules to successfully control the aging process.

What is a regimen? It's any system or procedure you devise that you believe is essential to maintain and improve your health. It should also help you be where you want your health and life to be in 25 years.

My daily regimen includes (among other things) taking supplements. For example, first thing in the morning, I whip up in a blender my "wakeup potion." It consists of calcium ascorbate crystals, collagen powder, a potent greens powder and a dynamite vitamin powder, water and some orange juice.

Why this mixture?

I've been taking calcium ascorbate crystals for years. It's a non acidic form of vitamin C, so it's easy on the stomach. It's tasteless and soluble in water. I take about 10 grams (10,000 milligrams). The government, knowing what is best for us, says the minimum daily requirement for vitamin C is about 50 milligrams. That dose is better than nothing at all, but it's useless to help control the ravages of aging.

I use collagen powder to help support bones and joints and above all, to keep my skin smooth. Cosmetic creams that contain collagen or promote collagen production are good, but you can't beat collagen taken internally for maximum benefit.

Using a potent greens powder is essential for two reasons. First, you want to keep your body in an alkaline state. The greens powder helps to do that. It would be better to juice your own fresh greens, but who has time?

Why is it important to be alkaline? I believe cancer can't survive in an alkaline environment. If you wonder what state your body is in, go to the health food store or a pharmacy and purchase test strips to determine acidity/alkalinity. Put a strip on your tongue. If you are in an alkaline state, the paper will turn green. If it turns yellow, you are in an acid state. A yellowish-greenish color somewhere in the middle is okay.

The other reason I use a greens powder is that it's almost impossible to eat enough green vegetables. Eating a serving of broccoli or spinach grown in deficient soil, treated with chemicals to extend shelf life and sprayed with pesticide does little to enhance health.

Finally, I use a "souped up" vitamin powder for the same reason that I don't count on daily intake of vegetables or fruit to provide the nutrients needed to maintain and protect health.

Having a regimen pays off and I encourage you to develop one of your own. In 25 years, when you look and feel as good as you did 25 years earlier, you will be glad you did!

According to the American Cancer Society, in the United States alone, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes. So far, in 2006 alone, there have been over 212,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed, as well as over 61,000 cases of non-invasive breast cancer. Over 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2006 alone.

These are astounding numbers, and one must consider that breast cancer research is ongoing, and has made impressive steps towards the survival rate among women who have experienced breast cancer. But with these numbers, it is not enough. Hence, the steps taken by many national and private associations to make women aware of breast cancer, its causes, its treatment, and its prevention.

What researchers have found is that antioxidants, which are produced naturally by the body, aid in the prevention of breast cancer. Unfortunately, in today's environment, the antioxidants that our bodies product isn't enough. Coupled with the fact that as we age, our bodies produce less antioxidant, scientists have looked into other ways that we can detoxify our bodies for the prevention of breast cancer.

In Athens, Greece, at the Athens Medical School, and the Harvard School of Public Health, major studies have been conducted to determine the effect our diets have on the risk of developing breast cancer. Women who ate a lot of fruit cut their risk by 35 percent, and women who ate a lot of vegetables cut their risk by 46 percent.

In Jefferson, Arkansas, researchers at the National Center for Toxicological Research published a study that also found that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables helps to reduce the risk of breast cancer, and also those vegetables that aid in detoxification help to reduce the risk even more.

Of course, these studies just show that ingesting a higher amount of fruit and vegetables and detoxifying the body reduces the risk. There are still other risk factors that one must consider, but when it comes to preventing breast cancer, any reduction of risk is worth the effort.

Green vegetables are natural antioxidants, and the FDA recommends two servings of green vegetables daily. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the time or the resources to get those two servings, but now, there is an alternative. This is great news for anyone who wants to lower their risk for breast cancer - as well as anyone who hates green vegetables - and many do.

Furthermore, you can get your daily serving of green vegetables that will aid in detoxifying the body in liquid form. Scientists have also found that our bodies absorb liquids better than solids. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't eat solid food - the body needs that as well. It means that when you are trying to ingest your needed vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, you are better off getting them in liquid form, as opposed to pill form.

Every one of us, regardless of any health conditions, needs a good, comfortable nights sleep. It's a medical fact that quality sleep is very beneficial to our overall well being. We spend one third of our lives in bed and we all know the remaining two thirds can be stressful enough without the added problems of restless nights trying to get to sleep. So it is imperative that we choose a bed that will get the most out of our 'downtime', allowing us to get a truly restful nights sleep, waking up feeling refreshed, relaxed and ache free.

Many people are unaware that the cause of many health issues such as, fatigue, stress, aches, pains and more could be due to, or at least being made worse by, sleeping on an inferior quality, often old and worn out bed or mattress. Many people are sleeping (or trying to sleep) on uncomfortable beds and doing nothing about it, either because they are unaware it's a problem or they are unaware of the alternatives.

Nowadays there is a daunting choice when it comes to choosing a new bed, not to mention a vast difference in price. Sprung, pocket sprung, foam, memory foam, ensembles, electric adjustable beds....the list goes on. So where do you start?

The first and most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a new bed, and the one thing most people tend to overlook, is that our bodies are naturally curved and not flat. So for a truly restful nights sleep you need a bed that is designed around this fact. This being the case, there are really only two choices for the majority of people who want to experience the best possible nights sleep: a bed incorporating a memory foam mattress or an electric adjustable bed (or combination of the two). The only bed that can truly allow you to discover your own ideal sleeping position is an electric adjustable bed. Electric adjustable beds allow you to raise and lower the upper body and legs at the touch of a button, which can offer many health benefits and a greatly improved nights sleep for many people. Those who suffer with health conditions such as upper or lower back pain, chronic snoring (sleep apnea), poor blood circulation and even asthma, may benefit greatly and enjoy a much more comfortable nights sleep with an electric adjustable bed. Electric adjustable beds also offer the luxury of being able to sit up in bed by simply raising the back section, making it much easier to get out of bed, read or watch TV. The days when electric adjustable beds were big, ugly, noisy and really only at home in hospital wards are long gone. Many companies now offer sleek, modern designs with discreetly placed electric motors which are highly reliable, virtually silent and very smooth in operation.

Memory foam mattresses, or Visco-Elastic mattresses to give them their correct name, mould to the body relieving pressure at key points on the body. They were developed by NASA to relieve astronauts from the great g-forces exerted on them at certain times during take off and landing. If you prefer to sleep on your side a memory foam mattress could be ideal for you as it will relieve pressure at the shoulder and hips, the points where you may experience discomfort sleeping on your side on a conventional mattress. Memory foam mattresses come in various degrees of firmness and can be used on conventional bed bases or combined with an electric adjustable bed base. People who may, due to certain health conditions, spend long periods of time in bed will find a memory foam mattress much more comfortable than a conventional mattress and extremely helpful in the prevention of bed sores. Memory foam mattresses are also much less susceptible to dust and bed mites making them a good choice for people with related allergies.

As for regular beds the choice is endless. If you do decide that a more traditional bed is right for you, it will pay to spend a little more and go for the best quality mattress you can afford. If you can stretch to a memory foam mattress, it would be money well spent. Be sure to try out any mattress before buying to ensure you get a mattress of the correct firmness for you. Try to avoid beds with extremely cheap sprung mattresses, these are generally of inferior quality and only intended to be used as guest or occasional beds. Do not assume that a mattress must have magical health properties just because it claims to be ‘orthopedic’. Orthopedic is a word bandied around a lot when it comes to mattresses, but there is little or no official regulation of the use of this word.

In short, buy the best bed you can afford and always try before you buy, you'll be extremely glad you spent that little extra cash and took the time to select a bed that’s right for you, not to mention healthier and happier in the long run.

Although medications are commonly used to treat ADHD, there are a range of non-drug treatments that can manage the symptoms. Some of these treatments are used in conjunction with medications. Where it's not necessary to take medications, non-drug treatments are recommended.

The following ADHD treatments must be tailored to the individual, depending on the type and severity of ADHD symptoms.

1. Environmental changes: Reduce allergens, toxins and chemicals from the home and workplace. These are believed to cause ADHD.

2. Dietary changes: Reduce the intake of unwholesome or processed foods that contain preservatives, addictives, artificial flavorings and colorings. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Consume more protein from fish and lean meat. Avoid refined sugar. Take a good quality multi vitamin that will provide additional nutrients to the body.

3. Lifestyle changes: Reduce alcohol intake, refrain from smoking and exercise regularly.

4. Special educational needs: Depending on the severity of ADHD, some children may just require additional help and support from teachers while others may require special educational services. Discussing your child's condition with a teaching staff can determine if your child require special educational assistance.

5. Behavior therapy or behavior modification program: Define a reward and punishment program for the ADHD child. The idea is to reward, reinforce and increase the frequency of positive behaviors in the child. It is important to include the child in the setting up of the behavior modification program. The expectations must be realistic. Be clear of what is expected from the child and be consistent in applying the program. Let your child be involved in choosing the types of rewards.

6. Therapy or counseling: ADHD sufferers are more likely to have problems with self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Counseling is aimed to helping ADHD sufferers cope with their feelings and change their negative behaviors. Family members need to be educated about ADHD so they can better understand and help the ADHD sufferer in the household. Counseling can be in the form of psychotherapy, social skills or parental training. Psychotherapy helps the sufferer deal with emotions. Social skills training develops behavior skills to maintaining social relationships. Parental training provides parents with methods and tools to control their child's behavior.

7. Support groups: Parents of ADHD children meet up to share problems, concerns and listen to professional talks on ADHD. Members of support groups learn how each other cope and know that they are not alone.

Although there is no cure for ADHD, medications and non-drug treatments enable ADHD sufferers to control the symptoms and lead more fulfilling lives. ADHD does not only affect the sufferers, but their families too. For the successful treatment of ADHD, parental support is crucial to helping the family and ADHD child cope with the condition.