Health and Diet Articles

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

What Is Metabolic Syndrome?

Friday, February 20th, 2009

metabolicMetabolic Syndrome is a condition that affects individuals that are overweight. They typically have low HDL levels, high triglyceride levels, a large waist line, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Persons that have three out of the five above attributes may be characterized as having metabolic syndrome. They are at greater risk of heart disease and chronic conditions such as diabetes. Adopting a healthier diet, losing weight and exercising can help individuals reverse the condition or avoid it all together.

 

Having a low HDL cholesterol count can be a symptom of Metabolic Syndrome. This would be lower then than 50 mg/dl for women and less then 40 mg/DL for men.  HDL is your good cholesterol and you need a certain amount of it in order to stay healthy. When these levels are less then they should be, individuals run the risk of metabolic syndrome and a host of other heart related problems. Higher triglyceride levels are another symptom of metabolic syndrome. Having high blood pressure, anything over 130/85, a big waistline this is usually greater than 40 inches in men and greater then 35 inches in women. Having a blood sugar levels that are very high can also be a symptom of metabolic syndrome.

 

Persons who have three out of these five conditions may have metabolic syndrome. There are ways to reverse it and to put your self at a lower risk for having it. They include obviously losing weight. You can do this through exercise and weight training. It is suggested that persons do at least an hour and a half of weight training every week. This allows you to be able to eat more and still either lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. It also decreases one’s risk of metabolic syndrome.

 

Drinking wine can also be helpful. However the quantities of wine that are drank should be monitored. Having a glass a day is great. It helps to increase your HDL and decrease your triglycerides. It can also help you lose weight and works to better your insulin sensitivity. All of these factors taken together can significantly decrease your chances of the developing metabolic syndrome by more than 60%.

 

Drinking apple juice is another great way to decrease of the risk.  Eating fresh apples work as. Studies have shown that individuals who drank a lot apple juice tended to have less belly fat.

 

Consuming whole grains instead of refined ones which are often found in white rice can also be very beneficial.  Whole grains are much better for your insulin levels and also helps to keep your blood sugar level.

 

Adding some Epsom salts to your bath water a couple times a week can help to improve your levels of magnesium. Magnesium is a very important mineral. Many people don’t know that it can help them with insulin resistance and thus can decrease their chances of developing metabolic syndrome.

 

Metabolic syndrome is a number of risk factors that do not bode well for long term help. People with this syndrome typically have high sugar levels, a large waist line, high blood pressure, low HDL levels and high triglyceride levels. Individuals that have 3 or more of these symptoms can be characterized as having Metabolic syndrome. It is very important that individuals speak with their doctor and come up with a plan to reverse these very dangerous risk factors. Losing an adequate amount of weight will very likely be a necessary part of this plan.

Is Cellulite Massage Effective?

Friday, February 20th, 2009

cell1Cellulite is a condition that often begins to effect young girls in adolescence.  It simply is superficial fat pushing through the connective tissue which gives a ripple like affect on the skin.  Many times it can be seen when you squeeze the area.  For other people, it may be noticeable without manipulation. The most common areas of the body that cellulite occurs are the hips, thighs, buttocks and the stomach.

 

Cellulite and be especially embarrassing during the summer months when people typically wear less clothes.  Women may find that they fell unattractive in bathing suits, short shorts, skirts or dresses due to their cellulite.  There are many products and therapies on the market that promise to either reduce cellulite or r improve the appearance of it. Some of these therapies, lotions and systems work while others do not. In this article we will take a look at cellulite massage and how it may be able to decrease embarrassing cellulite.

 

 If you don’t know, cellulite is the superficial fat that lies just beneath the skin. It has its appearance  because it is often pushed against the connective tissue which has gaps.  The fat is pressed through those gaps and produces dimpling or cellulite.  People typically use cream,  lotions, gels and even surgical procedures to get rid of cellulite.  One method that it is starting to get a bit of press is cellulite massage.  It is a natural way to a deal with the condition and there are no known negative side effects.

 

Cellulite massage is believed to be effective because it helps to improve circulation and soften up the cellulite which will be released back into the body. A  trained professional will rub the parts of the body where the cellulite occurs. This is something that one can do themselves.  Aprofessional is not absolutely necessary but they may know how to best target those spots.

 

Cellulite massage is often done in health spas.  It can be quite expensive and so it is important for an individual to sit down and consider not only the cost but if the benefits are worth the cost. During the massage or rollers are used. This allows the therapists to provide a very deep massage.  Individuals won’t see results right away. This will take some time so it might be  discouraging if you are a looking for a quick fix. If you are then this is not the right solution.

 

Oils are used during the massage.  Lavender and peppermint oils are both popular choices because they are believed to help stimulate fat cells.  Seaweed and caffeine may also be used to dehydrate the fat cells decrease them.

 

Cellulite massage is another option in the fight against cellulite.  It can be expensive but it is a relaxing, simple and safe way to reduce cellulite. The effectiveness of the method is pretty average if it works at all. It is temporary at best and so it would be important to coupled this therapies with others in order to get the best and lasting results.

 

Anti-Cellulite Lotions: Do They Really Work?

Friday, February 20th, 2009

cellulite1Any woman that has battled with cellulite has likely come across advertisements for anti-lotions that promise to improve the appearance of cellulite. These lotions typically don’t promise more then improving the look of cellulite because they aren’t able to deliver much more then that. 

 

Anti-cellulite lotions generally work by either smoothing out the skin so that cellulite isn’t as visible or by dehydrating the fat cells. When the fat cells are dehydrated, the cellulite isn’t as visible. Many anti-cellulite lotions will include either seaweed or caffeine. Both of these ingredients are believed to help improve the appearance of the cottage cheese like substance that is often found on the thighs, hips and buttocks on women all over the world.

 

Even effective anti-cellulite lotions will only have a temporary and limited effect.  They will only improve the look of cellulite but won’t be able to do much to permanently get rid of it or even reduce it. Some lotions purport to turn fat cells into fatty acids which can be absorbed back into the body and reduced.  This may or may not be effective depending on how severe your cellulite is. 

 

Retinol and Alpha-hydroxy acids are two ingredients that are commonly used in these types of lotions as well. Lotions which contain retinol help to smooth out the skin and also to increase and improve circulation.  Herbal lotions also aid in improving the feel of the skin and its elasticity.

 

Before choosing an anti-cellulite lotion, it is very important that you take some time to research each product and the ingredients that they include.  You can do research online at various cellulite websites or even visit related forums.  Forums give you an opportunity to hear from other individuals who have tried various products. You can get first hand accounts about products that you are considering.

 

You’ll find that some cellulite lotions work and are effective but many of them will not be able to deliver what they promise. Others, will be able to help you improve the look of the cellulite and smooth it out a bit. It is important to remember that everyone’s body is different and their particular case of cellulite may be due to different causes.

 

Some individuals may simply need to lose weight and tone up their muscles. This approach may not work for some people.  Consequently, they may need a different type of remedy, system or perhaps even a surgical procedure to get rid of cellulite. 

 

Typically, anti-cellulite lotions work well in conjunction with exercise, lifting weights, drinking plenty of water and following a healthy diet.  Cellulite is often caused by more than one factor and taking an inventory of one’s eating habits and lifestyle can go a long way in finding the right anti-cellulite solution for that particular individual. However, that being said, anti-cellulite lotions may not work for everyone. In fact, they may not work for many people. It is important that a person tempers their expectations. This is not a magic bullet and most women will always have some amount of cellulite, simply because we are women. However, there are some products that can be effective if combined with a good diet, exercise (both aerobic and strength training).