Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Choosing the Right Bodybuilding Carbs

In the muscle-building process, carbohydrates provide nutrients that are very important.

Carbohydrates have two main functions, to provide fuel to your muscles and brain and to help maintain the ideal environment in your body by raising levels of insulin, IGF-1, and testosterone.

Choosing the right bodybuilding
carbs is essential as carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for the body.

Since they aid in the absorption of protein and help prevent catabolism, they should be included in every meal you eat.

When you eat high glycemic carbohydrates, your insulin levels rise.

While it should be avoided at other times of the day, this insulin spike plays an important role after a workout or in the morning.

The reason for this is that an insulin spike at any other time will make your body deposit extra blood sugar into your fat cells.

In your diet, most of the carbohydrates you get should be of the low glycemic type.

The release of sugar that these bodybuilding carbs provide your body is gradual.

The supply of sugar that low glycemic carbohydrates provide is slow and steady, and it lasts throughout the day.

In this way, they help to maintain your insulin and blood sugar levels and this, in turn, prevents the body from storing extra fat and keeps your energy levels constant.

You can use the Glycemic Index (GI) to tell whether a carbohydrate is high glycemic or low glycemic.

This is a good way to figure out whether you’re eating the right bodybuilding carbs.

The Glycemic index is actually a chart that rates carbohydrates depending on the speed at which they increase blood sugar levels, within two hours after consumption.

These rankings vary from 0 to 100.

While natural carbohydrates with low GI rankings are normally the best bodybuilding carbs, my overall view of the glycemic index is that high GI ranking foods aren’t necessarily bad for you.

This is because high GI foods do not lead to an insulin spike when eaten in combination with other foods.

What really changes the GI effects in your body is eating carbohydrates with other food sources like proteins and fats.

Therefore, it’s not always the best option to blindly follow the Glycemic Index when choosing carbohydrates for your diet plan.

Your diet should include foods like potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, yams, and whole grains; these help you get the right bodybuilding carbs because they contain natural, unrefined starchy carbohydrates.

As part of a full meal, these foods break down gradually, and their effect on your blood sugar levels is almost negligible.

Your diet should also include other bodybuilding carbs like low fat dairy products and fresh fruits.

You may also eat vegetables, but since they’re not as high in calories, they’re not the best choice when you want to maximize your calorific intake without eating too much food.

You should only eat refined carbohydrates on very rare occasions.

The website below will give you more information about choosing the correct bodybuilding carbs….

www.Muscle-Gainer.com

Sunday, 15 February 2009

TIPS AND INFORMATION ON FOODS THAT RELIEVE CONSTIPATION

Constipation is a common disorder of the stomach and is very common in today's world. The rate at which this disorder is spreading and common became so noticeable that even the Merck Manual even noted that we are a generation of degenerated colon carriers. In short, we have colons that are not functioning like they should because we are not eating well and neither are we drinking water like we should. If you are intending to start reducing the occurrence of constipation, then you need to know the foods that relieve constipation effectively.

The starting point to relieving your self of constipation is a major change in diet. You'd have to either let those low nutrition foods such as candies, dairy products, cheese, burgers etc.. The major cause of constipation is unhealthy eating habits. We live in an age where we think the quicker you gulp down your food, the better in terms of saving time. This eventually catches up with us by the time we break down with constipation related diseases or just mere constipation. Foods like bran, psyllium husks, wheat, fruits that are rich in high quality fiber, vegetables, and whole grains; in short every high fiber foods are part of the foods that relieve constipation. Fiber rich foods like psyllium husks are said to be bulk forming agents.

These aid the faster forming of fecal bulks which is an important part of the elimination process that has to occur in constipation before feces can be gotten rid of. Fiber foods are also important in helping to reduce the cholesterol levels in the body. They are not easily digestible by the intestinal tract hence putting them in the position of bulk forming enhancers and enable the feces to pass easily.



Examples of fiber rich foods are blackberries, green beans, broccoli, raspberries, strawberries, apples including the skin, turnip greens, rye, stone ground whole wheat, walnuts and peanuts. It is important that you make as much possible these fibers part of your food. Be extremely careful about the kinds of food you eat. Ensure that you start noticing the nutritional information available on the sides of packaged and processed foods so as to ascertain the amounts of fiber you are taking in. Please be sure that your intake of fiber on a daily basis is nothing short of 25 grams for adults.

IS YOUR HAIR IS COMING OUT IN CLUMPS?

Causes of Hair Loss in Women:

Women lose hair everyday, 100-150 strands actually, simply from brushing and manipulating. If you have long hair, this can look like a lot, but, considering the amount of hair on a head, it's a tiny amount. If hair is coming out in clumps, or you notice circular patches of balding spots, however, there is definitely a problem, and treatment will be based upon the specific cause. The following causes should be investigated if you are experiencing more-than-normal hair loss:

1. Diet: An unbalanced diet, especially one without enough protein, can cause temporary hair loss. Women who are anemic often experience loss.

2. Menopause: Because of the change in hormones during this period, hair loss can escalate, and, unfortunately, this can be permanent.

3. Frequent Shampooing: Shampoos contain a lathering ingredient called surfactant. This can be irritating to the scalp and cause itching and scratching, thus increased hair loss.

4. Improper Care: If you manipulate your hair too much, color and treat too much, blow dry and heat with curling irons and hot rollers too much, you will see increased hair loss. You need only to look at your bathroom floor, sink and countertops to notice this. Slow down!

5. Psychological/Physiological Stress: Increased hair loss can occur with pregnancies, major surgery, or a major life event, such as a death or divorce. These causes are temporary and hair growth will return to normal eventually.

6. Heredity: Heredity plays a part and comes from both sides of the family.

7. Other Health Conditions: Thyroid problems, lupus, and diabetes can accelerate hair loss. Obviously, these need to be diagnosed by a physician.

8. Alopecia Areata: This is an autoimmune condition characterized by circular patches of baldness. Basically, the body is attacking the hair follicles. Cortisone shots in the affected areas are required, and the earlier the better. Take heart.

There's a lot of research going on which may soon resolve most of the causes of hair loss in women. However, there is a great product that has been proven effective. It is called Provillus.

Provillus (Contains the Only FDA Approved Hair Regrowth Treatment ) is an oral supplement, which works to block DHT, a form of testosterone that is responsible for 95 percent of hair loss. It also works to stimulate the scalp and bring dead follicles back to life. You can use Provillus as a preventative tool, starting the program before hair loss becomes severe, or you can use it after DHT has already begun to take hold of your hair and scalp.

TIPS ON BABY CONSTIPATION TREATMENT

Mark is a 5 month old baby. He has not had any sort of bowl movement for close to one week now. His parents have tried all sorts of medication to help ease the constipation: putting one-and-a-half teaspoonful of light Karo syrup in his bottles, massaging his tummy, placing him on a diet of prunes, to giving one table spoon of cereal after his bottles. Up till now, there has been no improvement and from the way things are looking, there may be no baby constipation remedy unless a "miracle" occurs. Mark's parents, John and Jessica have been extremely worried and concerned as they are at a loss for what to do and would only use laxatives as a last resort. Does the above scenario depict what you or someone you know are currently going through? It is only natural that you be extremely worried about what is happening to your child. Not to worry though, we might just be able to figure out what to do to help your child have the bowel movements you desire. Baby constipation remedy can be easily gotten if you know what to do. Before going into how to get the baby constipation remedy, we need to know what the causes of constipation in babies are.

1. Constipation could be as a result of the formula used in feeding the baby. Changing the formula used in feeding the baby can cause the baby's body to take its time before adapting to the new formula.

2. Lack of breast feeding. Some babies who are fed with just formulas have been known to poop once in three days compared to their breast fed counterparts who go at least once a day.

3. The form of the formula. If it is powder, ensure there is no packing when measuring. This basically means no compressing when you are measuring the formula.

4. The current atmospheric temperature. What is the current temperature of your locality? If it is pretty hot, then it might be responsible for your baby's slower bowel movement.

However, the baby constipation remedy you need varies. You can try using a glycerin suppository. When using this, ensure that you put a little K-Y jelly on the suppository and insert in the baby's rectum. Then hold the buttocks together so the suppository does not slide out. After this, give a warm bath. This helps the baby relax and have a bowel movement soon. Watch out however, as you might just have to deal with cleaning the stool from the bathtub as the baby may go right there. If on the other hand you don't like baby constipation remedy stated above, you can try using a poop inducer available as a natural remedy. It is a perfectly safe digestion stimulant. What's more, it doesn't cost a fortune to have and can be used by all age grades -adults inclusive.

QUIT SMOKING SUPPORT – HOW NECESSARY IS IT?

Smoking is highly addictive and once it becomes a habit it is very difficult to get rid of for a number of reasons. Quit smoking support usually acts as a back up system that ensures that the smokers have the most conducive atmosphere possible for getting rid of the habit. What Does Quit Smoking Support Do For You?

Actually, the rate of success that smokers meet with when deciding to kick off the habit very much depends upon the quality of quit smoking support they receive…such as:

1. Family members – the first and the most intense quit smoking support comes from your immediate family such as your spouse, siblings, parents, etc. Once you make your decision known, they would rally to help you stay focused. Their support inside the home and outside is often critical to your success.

2. Professional counseling – this is another very important quit smoking support that helps you understand the process and advises how to fight some of the worst withdrawal symptoms. Most people hate the withdrawal symptoms so much that they rather choose to continue smoking than to continue experiencing them. The counseling inputs would prepare you mentally for this and thus increase your ability to recognize and fight it.

3. Quit smoking aids – it is possible to quit smoking cold turkey and many people do just that. However, for this method you need to have nerves of steel and an even stronger will power. Why not use some of the excellent quit smoking aids as your quit smoking support. This would help reduce the withdrawal symptoms, while at the same time prevent the craving for nicotine.

4. Plan B - a good strategist would always have a stand-by plan – just in case the original plan fails. Here, you could take the example of the popular adage, 'Use a thief to catch a thief'. Just so, you could have something else to substitute your addiction to smoking; something that is not harmful to your health – such as chewing gum, no-nicotine cigarettes, peppermint mouth fresheners, clove, cardamom, etc. This quit smoking support can reduce the urge to reach out for a cigarette and ensure your success in beating the habit.

5. Medication – another very important quit smoking support is the medication you may need to ward off and/ or prevent some of the more unpleasant side effects of the exercise.

Consult with your family doctor before you start the quit smoking process so you would have the prescribed medicines ready when you need them.

THE KEY TO PIMPLE TREATMENT

Do you know how to treat your pimple outbreaks?

Finding a remedy for your acne problems is not as hard as you might think.

The key to pimple treatment is finding an acne natural cure that works for your particular type of acne outbreak.

You just need a bit of patience and experimentation to have a clear and healthy complexion. Find out about some treatments for stubborn skin problems that you can use at home. One type of acne natural cure that treats blackheads is a wash of milk and lime. Get some fresh milk and bring it gently to a boil. Add the juice from a single lime, and gently wash your face. Make sure that the water is cool enough to avoid doing any damage to your skin. You can also try to use a natural astringent for deep cleaning of your pores. All you need is a leafy mango from your local grocery store. Boil it in some water and after it cools, rub it gently on your face. If your acne trouble is not too severe, you can just leave the mango to soak overnight. This is an acne natural cure that will thoroughly cleanse your pores.

Some of the natural foods we eat are also effective forms of acne natural cure:

If you are suffering from whiteheads, you should try a raw potato. The vitamin C in the potato gives your skin a healthy glow, and its alkaline clears the bacteria in your face. It also has an acid that scrubs away dead or dying skin cells on your face, making it an ideal acne natural cure.

You can also use a raw papaya fruit to treat the pimples on your face. These treatments also help your skin to stay healthy by preventing the spread of any infection. You can also find that your skin becomes a little dry after trying an acne natural cure. You can re-hydrate your skin by using almond oil.

Buy a bag of almonds, and grind four or five good sized nuts with water. Spread the paste on your face, but do not scrub. It will smooth and add some moisture to your face.

Curds and buttermilk are also effective for skin dryness.

If you are not satisfied with the results of over the counter medication, then you should try an acne natural cure. Take your time to find the best treatment that will help you have a clear and healthy skin.

HAIR-TODAY-BUT-GONE-TOMORROW?

Stop Hair Loss

Stop Hair Loss: Don't have Hair-Today-Gone-Tomorrow. Hair growth occurs in cycles. Actually, each strand grows for a period of two to six years – pretty amazing, actually. During this 6 years, hair will grow about ½ inch a month, so any terrible haircut will soon be a thing of the past. After its growth period, a strand of hair will go dormant and eventually die, as it is pushed out by the growth of a replacement from the hair follicle. Under normal conditions, 90 per cent or your hair is in the growth period, and only 10 per cent is dormant or dying. So, you should lose about 100-150 strands a day – no problem! If you are experiencing greater than normal hair loss, take a look at several things.

It is easier to diagnose and correct now than to wait until it is horribly noticeable by others and embarrassing to you.

1. Check your diet. If you are not eating a balanced diet, your entire body will be affected, and your hair is a part of your body. Certain proteins, minerals, and oils are critical for normal hair health.

2. Check your stress levels. Anxiety and stress are common causes of hair loss. Some stress cannot be avoided – death of a loved one, divorce, loss of job, financial worries – but you can take steps to reduce their affect on your body. One of these is regular exercise. As well, you need to develop relaxation techniques, such as breathing therapy, Yoga, or meditation. Whatever works for you, increase it!

3. Hair loss can be a symptom of a disease – Lupus and Diabetes are two common causes. When hair loss appears to have no other cause, you need to check with your doctor. Diabetes and Lupus are more dangerous than the hair loss they cause.

4. How about mom and dad? Hair loss, particularly pattern hair loss, is partially a result of heredity, and heredity from both sides. Unfortunately, this one can't be reversed.

5. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss. Usually, you will see the signs of these on your scalp. Have them diagnosed and get them treated!

6. Harsh shampoos can cause increased hair loss. There is an ingredient in shampoo which causes it to lather – surfactant. Too much of this can cause itchy, dry, and scaly scalps, and those conditions can cause hair loss.

7. Other hair treatments will increase hair loss. Frequent dyes, perms, and dry heat (blow dryers and curling irons) can damage hair. Your follicles are still operating well, but your live hair is fried and falling out.

If you find that you are doing everything right and have no diseases or scalp conditions, you will want to try other remedies, which fall into three categories:

1. Medicines developed specifically for hair loss. There is a multitude of creams, pills, and ointments available to try. Everyone is different and what works for one will not necessarily work for you. You will need to experiment to find one that seems to work best for you.

2. Natural remedies are available as well. Most of these include essential oils, that is, concentrated oils from specific plants. There is a natural remedy that is a very good example of this method of hair loss treatment. This product is an oral supplement, which works to block DHT, a form of testosterone that is responsible for 95 percent of hair loss. It also works to stimulate the scalp and bring dead follicles back to life. You can use this remedy as a preventative tool, starting the program before hair loss becomes severe, or you can use it after DHT has already begun to take hold of your hair and scalp.

3. Surgery: There are a wide variety of procedures available to you, however, they are quite costly. Any type of permanent hair replacement will take several months, several visits, and several trips to your bank account. Research your options, and get several consultations before a final decision. Try the least expensive and lifestyle change options first. If they work, you have saved yourself time and money. But don't sit on the situation too long – hair loss can be a symptom of something more serious.

HAD HAIR LIKE SAMSON (BEFORE HE MET DELILAH)?

Curing Hair Loss : Hair Like Samson (before he met Delilah)

A multi-millionaire will be made one day – the day a scientific researcher finds a simple, inexpensive, universally successful hair regrowth product. And that day will come.

The amount of money being funneled into hair loss research is phenomenal, and as long as our society puts such great stock in appearance and beautiful heads of hair, the research will continue until that simple cure is found. Until then, men and women must investigate and experiment with a variety of products which will have a variety of results, dependent upon the individual.

Each human body is unique, with unique levels of hormones, chemicals, and enzymes. For this reason, to date, there is not a universal cure.

Some people experience reduction in hair loss and solid regrowth, while others using the same product may not see the same results. For those who experience less than desired results from the variety of topicals, pills, herbs and hair products available, there are currently surgical "cures," if they have the financial wherewithal to pursue them. These involve a variety of transplant techniques and can be tedious and a bit painful. Such cures are available for both men and women.

Transplants: In transplants, a hair strip is taken from a donor area of the scalp, usually the back, because pattern baldness in both men and women usually does not affect the back of the head. From these tips, individual follicles are extracted and then implanted into the bald area of the scalp. The "art" of this procedure is to get the follicle in so that the slant of the hair is correct for that part of the head. There are usually 1-5 hairs in each follicle, so you can imagine how many transplants have to occur if someone wants a full thick head of hair to replace a completely bald spot. The average cost of transplant, per follicle is $4 - $6. The average cost of pattern baldness transplants is about $10,000.00 – a hefty bill for most of us. For women who have overall balding events, the cost can be greater still. If you do not have $10,000 to spend at the moment and you must wait until regrowth products improve, you may have to be content with less preferable but effective methods like using Provillus available at Click here for more information

There have been great advances in hair pieces for men, and wigs are as much a fashion accessory as jewelry for women. If you select this route, buy a good one and go to a professional who is widely experienced in developing unique hair pieces for individual needs. Generally, you get what you pay for. Fit and ability to have confidence that wind and lots of movement will not move your hair piece are extremely important. While not the permanent cure you really want, the embarrassment of societal reaction to your baldness is eliminated. Keep abreast of research in the area of hair loss cures.

Scientists are close, and the answer could come any day. In the meantime, do what makes you feel comfortable and confident, and use any product that helps you reduce the rate of your current hair loss. Stress and anxiety over this condition will only make it worse.