Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Exercising During Pregnancy

Everyone knows that exercise is very good for your health. During pregnancy, exercise can have many other benefits as well. Normally, exercise should be light, especially during your first few weeks of pregnancy while your body adjusts to the changes.

Any type of heavy exercise can divert the blood flow from crucial areas, and most women that exercise on a regular basis should tone down their workout regimen during pregnancy.

Swimming, walking, and yoga are three very popular exercise activities that are suitable for pregnant women. There are other forms of exercise such as weight lifting that are acceptable as long as it is not too strenuous. Most specialists recommend exercise 3 - 4 times a week, unless you have a medical condition that prevents it. If you are ever in doubt, you should consult a physician first.

Below, you will find some of the best reasons as to why you should exercise during pregnancy.

1. Exercise can help to reduce the length of labor and recovery time. The right exercise routines will also increase stamina that is needed for delivery.
2. Exercise can help reduce the side effects of pregnancy. Symptoms such as fatigue, swelling, headaches, and constipation are all common with pregnant women. Studies have shown exercise to reduce the occurrence of these symptoms.
3. Exercise can also help with weight management after the child has been born. A common concern with most mothers is the weight they lose after pregnancy. During pregnancy, exercise can make postpartum weight loss easier.
4. Exercise can also decrease the risk of premature birth. Exercise has been proven to decrease the risk of premature birth by at least 50%.
5. Improved mental health. Exercise can lower stress and improve your emotional health, making it easier for you to get through the new experience of becoming a mother.
6. Exercise is very good for your unborn baby. By keeping your body healthy, you are also looking out for your baby as well.

You should always make sure that you drink plenty of fluids before you exercise, follow a nutritious diet, and avoid over exertion. You should also listen to your body, and if you start feeling sick you should immediately stop and rest.

If you exercise during your pregnancy, you will find it a lot easier to deliver when the time comes. Exercise will assist your body strengthen up, which will make it very easy on you when you go into the delivery room. Women who do not exercise find it much harder when the time comes to give birth.

Exercising during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your unborn baby. Your baby will reap some of the benefits, which is reason enough to exercise. Always be safe when you exercise, and do not hesitate to ask a doctor for advice if you have any questions at all. As long as you exercise safe and use good common sense, you will do a world of good for your pregnancy.

(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Effective Steps To A Healthy Colon

Effective Steps To A Healthy Colon for you, a food lover! Foods, such pizza, hamburgers, fried chicken, pasta, steaks, pastry, chips, and a wide variety of desserts can certainly wet your appetite. There is nothing wrong with enjoying scrumptious foods. Problems only arise when we eat too much of it. One problem is becoming overweight. Another problem is the accumulation of toxins in your body. This article will focus on the latter problem, but that's not the case if your body is being burdened by toxins. It's an internal problem and many people may not be aware of it.

When your body stores these toxins, you may start to acquire many illnesses as it is harmful to your body's internal organs. It has a negative effect on your body systems. Eating oily foods often will lead to an accumulation of fat. The bacterium in the food waste produces toxins in the body. If your body does not flush out these toxins quickly, it will find its way back to your body's organs viz your blood. After a period of time, you may find yourself suffering from health problems such as bloating, headache, diarrhea, constipation, bad breath and fatigue.

The state of your colon determines your health condition. Believe it or not, your overall well-being is directly related to the health of your colon. Therefore, maintaining a good digestive system and colon is essential.

Here are some steps you can take to a healthier colon:

1. Practice good eating habits. Have a regular eating pattern. Pile up on the fruits and vegetables. This will ensure you are getting enough fiber in your body. Fiber is a natural colon cleanser. Control your meat intake and don't indulge too much in carbohydrate rich foods. Choose to add whole grains to your diet. Make the switch the next time you go shopping for cereals and bread.

2. Drink at least 2 liters of water everyday. You need water to help your digestive system and for detoxification.

3. If you feel you are not getting enough fiber in your diet, you can opt to take Psyllium Husk Powder. It works well to loosen and get rid of the gunk in your colon. However, you must drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.

4. Use probiotics to maintain a balanced flora in your colon. You need good bacteria to counter the bad bacterium that’s in there. A good way to do this is to take yogurt that has live acidophilus cultures.

5. Be more active in sport activities such as yoga, swimming or brisk walking. Get off the couch and exercise more. It will help to stimulate regular bowel movements.

6. Undergo a colon hydrotherapy session. This procedure sends water into your anus which then gets rid of the waste build up in your colon. A colon therapist will massage your colon to aid the waste removal.

7. You can shop around for colon cleansing or colon detoxification products on the market. You will find a variety of teas, health supplements, drinks and powders. Choosing one that works and that is not a scam can be confusing. Make sure you do not get a laxative. If your stools are too loose, then it's a laxative. A good colon cleansing product will remove mucus, sludge and feces stuck in your bowels. Look for one that will also get rid of the parasites too. Make sure you discuss with your doctor and find out all you can about a product before using it.

Taking care of your colon will definitely lead to a healthier you. You will feel your energy return and your immune system will get stronger. So take the steps to protect your digestive system and see your overall well-being improve. Use these effective steps to get a healthy colon for your body.


(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.This blog is offering many articles and tips to stay fit. )

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Weight Loss Diet Pills

"What there is to know about Diet Pills?"

According to manufacturers, diet pills use natural ingredients capable of prolonging life and containing alcohol used in medication or flavoring. One thing's for sure, never take diet pills as substitute for cutting calories without the doctor's recommendation. There are simple but important steps to be followed when taking diet pills:

  1. Never crush diet pills to mix in drinks or soups. Take it whole with a full glass of water.
  2. Take only the recommended dosage. Taking more than required will not help you lose weight but increase the risk of side effects.
  3. Always follow the instructions set by the dietician, the nutritionist and/or doctor and not only rely on what's enclosed in the box. Also diet pills will only work as expected if diet plan is being followed.
  4. Diet pills cause a person to urinate more frequently due to its diuretic effect. This could lead to dehydration, thus, causing complications. As a pre-caution, it is best to drink eight glasses of water everyday while on diet pills.
  5. Heartbeat should be less than 86 beats per minute. Stop taking the pills if it reaches 90 or higher that is why regular checking of pulse is a must.
  6. After three months, stop taking the diet pills. Common diet phenylpropanolamine is safe to use only up to sixteen weeks. Other studies show that it can cause health problems if taken under one month.

There are two kinds of diet pills; one is the prescription only diet pills and the over-the-counter diet pills.

Prescription Diet Pills - are drugs regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agency which side effects are monitored, maybe advertised and prescribed under certain dosages. The most popular of these is Xenical, which is licensed for long-term use. However, this too has it's own side effects, diarrhea, oily and unexpected fecal discharge are just some. Therefore, users are advised to take a low fat diet plan.

While Over-the-Counter Diet Pills are categorized as food substitute and are unregulated. Beware that these diet pills are not Federal authorities tested and may cause serious side effects up to and including death.

Aside from a dietician/nutritionist, local pharmacists can also help in determining the pills that are safe and not for each person's case. Just be extra careful about the so-called "natural" or "organic" ingredients. Not everything that comes from a natural source is safe. One example is Ma Huang, which is a botanical source of ephedrine known as a stimulant and being studied for potential side effects.

Those who have or have a family history of prostate problems, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, mental illness, and heart problems should avoid taking diet supplements. The same applies to those who have had seizures or strokes. If someone is taking cold medicines, especially those with decongestants, diet pills should not be taken. Whether it be a prescription or an over-the-counter diet pill, the dangers are unvarying with other similar drugs which control the brain to reduce appetite and includes chest pains, depression, hair fall, fever, and even impotence.

And as a general rule, don't ever try to take diet drugs if pregnancy is suspected. Persons that are allergic to sulfites and tartrazine should also avoid taking diet pills. And those who are under 18 years or over 60 years of age should consult their doctor first prior to taking any dietary drugs, especially if they rely on over-the-counter stimulants used as a replacement for increase exercise.


(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)

Weight Loss Drugs

Drugs that Induce Weight Loss

Recent studies have shown that more people are getting overweight every year. This happens not only to adults but even to kids who have just started in school.
A lot of factors cause this to happen such as genetics, overeating, the type of food taken into the body and as people age, the metabolism slows down making it harder than before to burn the food that was just consumed.

There are a lot of ways to solve this problem. Some have decided to undergo surgery, while others have decided to change the dietary intake and exercise.

Since this takes time and most people can't wait to get rid of the extra weight, these people have decided to take the fastest way out which is through the use of weight loss drugs.
In the 1950's until the late 90's, doctors prescribed drugs for weight loss. The drug works by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain that makes the brain believe that the stomach is already full and thus, increases the person's metabolic rate.

It was only after scientists discovered that these drugs had side effects and were related to cause heart valve disease that these were taken off the shelves.

Later on, new drugs were developed and prescribed by doctors and many of which are still waiting for FDA approval.

Most people have known friends or family members who have tried using diet pills and have seen tremendous improvement. The idea that a simple drug can change everything without the need to change the diet or sacrificing anything is very tempting.

This has made consumers spend millions of dollars every year and has given drug companies a lot of money making and selling the drug.

Diet pills can be purchased either over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor. Even with the advances in medical technology, these drugs can also cause a lot of health related problems which can be unpleasant such as diarrhea and vomiting, harmful such as tightness in the chest and urinary tract problems and fatal such as a heart attack or a stroke.

An overdose of the diet pills can cause tremors, hallucinations, confusion, renal failure, shallow breathing, heart attack and convulsions.

The side effects vary depending on the lifestyle and health of the person and can be minimized as long as one consults the doctor first before buying it.

Should one decide to stop using the drugs, studies have shown that there are also side effects. These include noticeable mood swings, hyper-activity, and pain in the stomach, insomnia and nightmares, depression, severe irritability, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and trembling.
A lot of clinical tests will show that the drugs taken to lose weight really work. But this can only work if it is done with a low calorie diet and an exercise plan.

A good diet should have food from all the food groups. This should have vitamins, minerals and fiber. A lot can come from oats, rice, potatoes and cereals. The best still come from vegetables and fruits since these have phytochemicals, enzymes and micronutrients that are essential for a healthy diet.

A person can jog every morning or sign up and workout in a gym. Just like taking any medicine, one should first consult the doctor before undergoing any form of exercise.

The best exercise plan should have cardiovascular and weight training exercises. This helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase ones metabolism and lose weight.


(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
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