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Fitness

ViSalus Shakes Get Results for Effective Weight Loss

With the New Year already here and spring just around the corner, many people are looking for ways to shed pounds, tone up and get into shape. One of the most effective programs in North America is the ViSalus Body by Vi Challenge. The core of the program is the ViSalus Vi-Shape Shake. The company offers 5 Challenge Kit options, all including the shake mix, that will help get your body into great condition before summer starts. The Challenge is not another fad diet; it is based on sound nutrition and a program back by scientific research and recommended by healthcare and fitness professionals. Many healthcare and fitness professionals endorse the products & program and some doctors have provided doctor reviews of the shakes and products.
Ingredients
ViSalus shakes contain a proprietary Tri-Sorb protein blend that helps control hunger and builds lean muscle. For those interested about ingredients, it should be noted that the shakes are gluten and lactose free, low in sugar and carbs, low in sodium, are Kosher certified and diabetic-friendly. One of the keys to dieting is to maintain healthy nutrition; ViSalus shakes contain 23 vitamins and minerals and are fiber-rich.
Results
Many physicians and fitness professionals recommend the shakes to patients and clients because the research proves they are safe, effective and get rapid results. Many fitness professionals have changed to ViSalus products because of proven results and recommendations from clients and colleagues. Most individuals drink one or two shakes per day; the company recommends two shakes a day for weight loss and one shake per day for weight maintenance and continued nutritional balance once the weight loss goal is attained. The shakes help curb hunger and keep blood sugars level.
Flexibility
One reason the shakes are so popular is because ViSalus offers six flavor options. The scientists behind ViSalus know that most diets and weight loss plans fail because they do not fit into the everyday life of most folks. The Vi-Shape Nutritional Shake Mix comes blended as a “sweet cream” (or vanilla) flavor. The shake mix is typically blended with unsweetened almond milk, skim milk or soy milk. Along with the shake mix, Flavor Mix-ins are offered that include strawberry, chocolate, banana, peach and orange. The flavor packs are simply added to the shake mix and medium, then blended. The shakes take only a minute or two to make and offer a very healthy meal that is tasty and keeps you feeling full.…

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Men'S Health

Supplements – Effectiveness, Risk, and the Benefits of Another Alternative

The billion dollar industry that nearly everyone has been turning to in order to keep them healthy is the supplement industry. Just think about it; all most everywhere you can go in America you are likely to find a GNC, a Vitamin World or at least one aisle in pharmacies and grocery shops that is dedicated to displaying these “magical tablets.” It’s amazing; there are thousands of supplements that are used for an uncountable amount of reasons. The most common reasons that I find are weight loss pills, daily vitamins, and muscle building supplements for men who want to “bulk up.” The problem with these vitamins is that they are not USDA regulated and are often not tested, and if they are tested who is publishing the results and conducting the studies? Usually the company who made the product of course. Therefore, it only makes sense that they would publish positive results.
So how do you know if they are really working? When you begin to take a daily vitamin supplement do you notice a difference in your overall health? Most likely that answer is no and more no, but people keep on taking them anyway because they assume that they are working when in reality chances are; they aren’t. Hmmm… So now you see our problem.
Let’s first take a look at how supplements are made. The vitamins and nutrients are extracted from their original sources and are then processed and packaged into, tablets, powders, and gels, etc. During this procession the nutrients are modified and killed. When the vitamins are in their original food sources, they are a living part of a living organism that actively help that organism thrive. Once you separate the vitamin from the organism, both the vitamin and the organism die because neither is sustainable without the other. An organism is a perfectly balanced ecosystem that requires regularity and must be complete in order to live.
This is similar to the way in which a person becomes weak when they lose a lot of blood. So basically what I am hinting at here is that despite the fact that you are ingesting vitamins, they are usually not all that useful and will be expelled from the body as opposed to being absorbed without much harm or help. This is evident in the trend of middle aged women taking calcium supplements, studies show that women who take the supplements are no better off than those who do not according to doctor Neal Barnard, founder of the nonprofit organization called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine based in Washington D.C. which concentrates on how diet affects the body.
Another factor that most people don’t consider is the safety of taking supplements. Since their production is not strictly regulated they are likely to contain ingredients that are actually harmful for our bodies. These include metabolic steroids, mercury (in fish oil), metals, and other indigestible metals. Also studies of individual supplements reported in the New York Times article titled, “Personal Health, Potential Harm in Dietary Supplements,” by Jane E. Brody on April 8th, 2008 show the harmful effects/ineffectiveness of supplements by stating: “observational studies of people who eat foods rich in antioxidants like vitamins A and E and beta-carotene have suggested these substances improve health.
But well-designed clinical trials found increased death rates among people who take them as supplements. And while low vitamin C doses can suppress harmful free radicals, very high doses promote their formation. The initial promise that vitamin E could protect against heart attacks and cancer failed to stand up to scientific scrutiny, which instead found that it increased the risk of heart failure.” Also, people do not consider supplements with the same respect that they do for medications and commonly forget to mention them to their doctors upon being asked what medications they are taking. It is often possible for the supplements to react with new medications or surgeries being preformed which can be harmful to the body.
Although usually these interactions are not deadly, in some cases they can be. Another harmful ingredient that was being legally included in weight loss supplements was ephedra, which was recently found to be deadly. Other weight loss supplements contain large amounts of caffeine which increases the heart rate and blood pressure dangerously and can lead to increased levels of anxiety in those who are prone to being anxious. These examples are just a few of many, a simple web search will bring up endless credible accounts of the ineffectiveness and risks that are associated with supplements.
Since taking supplements is not very effective in most cases, we must turn to our only other option, and frankly the more valuable option: FOOD! The truth is simply that we should be receiving our daily dose of vitamins …

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Health Gov

Curly Hair: How to Care for the Curls

Curly hair can be a beautiful asset, but it takes many of us years to figure out just what kinds of products, styles, and services work best for us. Some curly hair tends to be more frizzy than most, some curls are bigger and softer, both requiring different techniques. As you choose products and services for your hair with curls, keep in mind the guiding principal: if it works for you, if you like it, if your hair feels good, then keep doing it. If you are dissatisfied, consider these tips.
Shampoo
There are certain shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for curly hair. These might be great options for you and are a good place to start if you have curly hair and if you are dissatisfied with your current shampoo. Find shampoo designed for curly hair at a local hair salon. The Bumble and Bumble line of products offers good options.
Do plan to clarify your hair at least twice each month. A clarifying shampoo will remove build-up from your hair caused by conditioner, other hair products, or even hard water. You may find your own shampoo has not been working well for you. Remove the build-up and you will begin to love your shampoo again.
After clarifying your hair, be sure to condition it well. The clarifying shampoo strips out all of your previous conditioners. Conditioner will add moisture back to your hair. Hair with curls tends to be dry hair and this moisture is critical.
You will find your hair cleaner and shinier after clarifying it. The curl will spring back up and provide a nice bounce.
Curl defining cream
Before styling your hair, try a curl defining cream that will help give your curls a soft look, not that “crispy” look that bothers most people. Ask at your local salon for their recommended curl defining cream and give it a try. It may work well for you.
Blow dry or drip dry
Depending on your hair and your circumstances, you may choose to blow dry your hair or you may let it dry on its own. If your hair tends to get “frizzy,” you may not want to blow dry it at all, but you certainly do not want to blow dry it entirely.
If you do blow dry your hair, use a blow dryer with a diffuser. A diffuser is a flat attachment to the blow dryer that makes the hot air come out over a larger service area. A traditional blow drier focuses the heat on a two-inch area of your hair whereas a diffuser may expand that area to six or more inches, with less targeting of heat on any one part. A diffuser reduces the pressure in the blow dryer so that it does not blow the curl out. In fact, a regular hair dryer is a tool people use to straighten their hair, not to complement their curl.
Cuts and color
In getting your curly hair cut, a little goes a long way. Be conservative about cutting the length of your hair. If you ask your stylist to remove a lot of length, you may be surprised to find that when that curl springs back up, your hair is a lot shorter than you bargained for. You should also consider layers — they are usually the answer in springing your curl back.
Of course, depending on length and texture of hair, be cautious about heavy layers around your face — you can end up with “dog ears” that take a while to grow out. This is a common mistake of stylists who are not used to cutting curly hair.
Even with color, you will run into problems if the stylist has not worked with curly hair (or if you are attempting to color your own hair). Small to medium-sized highlights work well in defining the curl, but if highlights are too chunky, your hair will look clumpy. You will not be satisfied with your look.
Consult an expert
There is no specific blueprint for curly hair — curly hair presents with a lot of variations. If you find yourself frustrated with your own curly hair, find a stylist who specializes in curly hair, particularly one with curly hair herself. You will cut through a lot of the trial and error process and end up with a system that works for you.…

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Nutrition

Famous Oscar Hairstyles

The Oscar Awards ceremony is a well-known pretext for fashion designers, jewelry creators and hairstylists to prove that they are still one step ahead of the rest. It is the night when all the trends for the next year or season are revealed in a glamorous parade of celebrities.
The dress code for this event is the evening gown for the women and, generally, the black suit for the men. Perhaps these lines might seem a little bit strict, but when designers set their minds into action the result is a fabulous collection of great looking dresses covering the most beautiful and famous women in the world. But the dresses are not enough to draw the attention towards a movie star.
Every year the hairstyles of the actresses stepping on the red carpet become the subject of all women magazines as ideas for special looks at different social events. They are closely analyzed to teach any woman in the world what to do to make her hair look like her favorite starA�s.
At this event the hairstyles are a harmonious continuation of the dazzling evening gowns. Very often the hair takes the shape of a bun. This is a classic hairstyle which suits perfectly the magnitude of the event. Other times stars let their hair loose. The most popular way of styling the hair is the updo.
Well-known actresses like Sarah Jessica Parker or like the always perfect Charlize Theron adopted this hairstyle adapting it to their own way of being. But new-coming pop singers and young actresses like Kristen Stewart, the star from Twilight, also looked charming wearing this hairstyle. The consecrated actresses where not afraid to let their hair loose. Their hairstyle was extremely elegant and simple at the same time.
There are events like the graduation, New YearA�s party, or weddings when you also want to borrow something of the glorious look of a movie star. If you want to look perfect you need to use professional hair products. You can style your hair according to its nature, in the hair-do which suits you better.…

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Health Tips

Recognizing Strength In Numbers

Battling breast cancer can be more manageable when you have the support and encouragement of friends and family. Co-survivors know breast cancer affects everyone. “People should not have to face a life-threatening disease alone,” says Susan Brown, RN, a health education manager at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. “Strength is in numbers.”

The Komen Co-Survivor Program acknowledges, educates and empowers family members, friends and health care providers of breast cancer survivors. “These are the people who are there for breast cancer survivors through diagnosis, treatment and beyond,” Brown said.

Although the Foundation meets co-survivors’ needs by providing educational information and practical tips, the program also enables co-survivors to help each other by sharing support, ideas and advice on-line. The site offers these suggestions based on co-survivors’ past experiences.

How To Be An Effective

Breast Cancer Co-Survivor:

� “When my close friend was diagnosed again after five years, I gathered all of our co-workers and we turned her small backyard into a healing garden�We gave her a reason to go out and enjoy looking at the birds and flowers.”-Sandy, co-survivor

� “Our woman’s club wanted to help bring comfort to cancer patients, so we started making Breast Cancer Comfort Pillows�So far, we’ve made about 350 pillows.” ?Jeanne, co-survivor

� “When my aunt was diagnosed, we mailed a sheet to each family member and everyone added their handprints in paint to the sheet, along with a short message and their name. One person made the sheet into a quilt.”- Kelly, co-survivor

� “I helped my friend going through surgery and chemo by cataloguing all the kind notes and gifts of food and other goodies she received. I created a whole index card system of names and addresses with gift/thoughtfulness noted on each card and then created all the thank you notes for her to sign and send.”-Jeanie, co-survivor

� “I took over managing the bills and insurance papers so she didn’t have to see everything and worry. Not having to deal with that stress allowed her more time to relax, catch a nap, talk with the kids, or do something else to help refresh.”-Robert, co-survivor…

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Health Tips

Why Do We Store Fat for Energy?

Have you ever stood before the mirror and looked at the pudge on your body and wondered why our bodies tend to store fat in the first place? Why not build more muscle, for example? Why do we tend to build up fat around our arms, bellies, thighs, hips and back? What is the purpose of this fat, and why did we evolve to store it as we do? Why is it so hard to burn fat off, and easy to lose muscle? These questions are so basic that we often don’t even think to ask them, but there is a biological answer to each one. In today’s article we’re going to take a look at why our bodies seem to love fat and what purpose it serves, and why we tend to store it and have so much difficulty burning it when we want to lose weight. If you’ve ever wondered about any of these questions, read on!
First, let’s take a look at what fat is and what it’s for. Known as adipose tissue, it’s almost ninety percent lipids and about ten percent water and other cellular mechanisms. Each little fat cell is thus basically three chains of triglycerides attached to a glucose molecule, and has very little water in it. A pound of fat is thus very dense in lipids and relatively light in water, and packs about 3,600 calories of energy into it. Thus to burn off a pound of fat, you need to burn 3,600 calories of just pure fat.
On the other hand, carbohydrates stored as energy as glycogen in your liver and muscles is full of water, and thus makes it less concentrated and dense a form of energy. For every gram of glycogen stored, you need about three to four grams of water. Thus you simply can’t store that much energy because the volumen needed to match what fat can do is huge. Fat is therefor a very efficient way to store energy merely in terms of space.
But it goes beyond simple volume: one gram of fat provides about nine calories of energy, while one gram of carbs or protein usually provides only about four calories. There is such a huge difference here that we can easily see why our bodies love to store energy as fat and not anything else.
Yet why is it so hard to burn? Because fat serves us as our emergency store of energy, and so our bodies tend to turn to it last when we diet.…

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Department Of Health

Learn To Love Your Hair

Hair is one of our most important “assets”. If properly cared, it can enhance our natural beauty and make us feel more confident. It is essential to learn how to take care of your hair, by avoiding certain detrimental products as well as several unhealthy habits that will surely contribute to its damage.
First, make a quick revision to your current nutrition conduct. The things you eat reflect in the overall aspect of your body and this is especially true when it comes to one’s hair. Research has shown that several nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C as well as vitamin B3 are indispensable if we want to maintain our hair in a good physical shape. One of the ways through which we can be sure that we incorporate some of these nutrients in our diet is by eating foods like carrots, green vegetables, eggs as well as whole grain cereals. Also, an inspired decision in maintaining your hair strength would be to reduce the intake of harmful substances such as nicotine, alcohol and caffeine.
Taking care of your hair means that you also need to protect it from external factors which could contribute to its deterioration. Excessive heat as well as chlorine can cause hair loss or a poor hair condition. If you want to make sure that your hair will not be affected by such factors, certain measures need to be taken. In this sense, it is advisable to limit the time of using hair dryer as well as wear wide-brimmed hats during hot summer days. In addition, it would also be useful to use a cap every time you enter a swimming pool.
It is a truth widely acknowledged that healthy hair needs regular trimming. The implementation of such a habit at the regular interval of every 1-2 month is a “sine qua non” if you want to keep your hair ends smooth and thick. Once you decide to get your hair trimmed make sure you ask for the help of experienced, well-trained hairdressers. The latter will give you the best advice and will help you discover a more personalized way of hair treatment.
Loving our hair is important. After all, hair is one of the defining elements of who we are. Therefore, the first step in learning how to love it would be to find the best ways through which we can take care of it.…