Category Archives: Health

NEW RESEARCH ADDS WEIGHT TO EXERCISE HELPING DIETERS. {Health}

Posted on by

Dieters should add regular exercise to their programmes in a bid to shed those extra pounds – and keep them off.

Latest research reinforces the importance of combining healthy eating and exercise with more than 90 per cent of those opting for this combination reporting it as a successful weight loss formula in the Fitness First study.

The research into the effectiveness of diets alone, and alongside regular exercise, also gives a resounding thumbs up to the sensible approach of steady weight loss and exercise with dieters shunning the more extreme and niche diets as ineffective in the long term.

Exercise three or four times a week was judged to provide the best complement to dieting, a realistic aim for those looking to lose weight.

Fitness First surveyed more than 2,000 people on their diet and fitness habits and the results also reinforce how many more women than men sample different diets with 55 per cent of women dieting and just 23 per cent of men.

However both men and women favour diets such as WeightWatchers, Slimming World and Slim Fast over lesser known options such as the Duken or Maple Syrup diets.

Derek Crawford, UK national fitness manager for Fitness First said “It is good to see so many people taking up exercise to help keep them in shape but they key is to incorporate an enjoyable fitness regime into your lifestyle which is a common sense approach to keeping fit and healthy.’’

He said men were keener to incorporate fitness into the weight loss programme but said that it was important for everyone to exercise regularly.

Five most popular diets

Women
WeightWatchers
Slim Fast
Slimming World
Atkins
Rosemary Conley

Men
WeightWatchers
Atkins
Slim Fast
Slimming World
Rosemary Conley

Combat the side effects of Christmas. {Health}

Posted on by

Christmas is one of the happiest times of year, but it can leave some of us depressed, tired and piling on the pounds. NHS Choices has put together www.nhs.uk/healthychristmas to help us through the season.

According to NHS Choices, rich food and too much alcohol can take their toll on our physical and mental health over Christmas. We may eat up to three times our recommended daily calorie intake at one Christmas meal and gain around five pounds by the New Year. In addition, both men (54%) and women (41%) are likely to binge drink during the festive season (Source: Drinkaware) which can end in awkward or dangerous incidents and poor health that last beyond the season.

NHS Choices drink-by-drink guide, based on a standard (175ml) 12% volume glass of white wine and 4% strength pint of lager, shows how quickly alcohol can affect your mind and body.

You should bear in mind that some people (e.g. young people, those with smaller builds, women and various others) may experience the effects of alcohol at lower levels than the “typical” levels suggested below. If you have developed a tolerance to alcohol you may find that some of these effects do not apply to you. In that case you should certainly consider whether it is time to cut back on your drinking or whether you may need to seek help.

As well as advice on the risks of binge drinking, the NHS recommends that men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day and that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day. ‘Regularly’ means drinking these amounts every day or most days of the week. See www.nhs.uk for more information

Typical effects:

One glass of white wine or a pint of lager (approx. two units)

· You’re talkative and you feel relaxed.
· Your self-confidence increases.
· Driving ability would already be impaired – which is why it is best not to drink and drive at all.

Two glasses of white wine or two pints of lager (approx. four units)

· Your blood flow increases.
· You feel less inhibited and your attention span is shorter.
· You start dehydrating, one of the causes of a hangover.

Three glasses of white wine or three pints of lager (approx. six units)

· Your reaction time is slower.
· Your liver has to work harder.
· Your sex drive may increase, whilst your judgment may decrease.

Four glasses of white wine or three and a half pints of lager (approx. eight units)

· You’re easily confused.
· You’re noticeably emotional.
· Your sex drive could now decrease and you may become less capable.

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking usually refers to drinking to get drunk, or drinking a lot of alcohol in a single session, that puts you at greater risk of harm. Researchers normally use – as the best indicator of binge drinking – drinking more than eight units of alcohol in one go for men, and more than six units for women. This is a really helpful guide – even though tolerance and the speed of drinking in a session varies from person to person. The important thing is to pace yourself, to avoid drinking more than you are used to, and to avoid drinking until you get drunk.

This is even more important if you are out in risky or unfamiliar circumstances. You can be at risk from others, and may not be able to look after your friends. You can easily lose control of what you do or say and may make risky decisions, thinking you’re invulnerable. From a health perspective, binge drinking increases the risk of heart attack and, if you’re sick when very drunk, you could breathe in your own vomit and suffocate.

Download the free alcohol tracker app to easily monitor your drinks on the move: nhs.uk/tools/pages/iphonedrinks

Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of alcohol awareness charity, Drinkaware, says: “For some people the festive season is seen as a guilt-free time to relax and over-indulge. For others, the pressures of present-buying, turkey-roasting and family gatherings can see them reaching for a drink to de-stress.

“To avoid the pitfalls of excessive festive drinking, like weight gain, a disturbed night’s sleep and looking foolish the day after the night before, it’s important to keep an eye on how much you drink. Adopting simple tips like eating a meal before you start drinking, pacing yourself by alternating alcoholic drinks with water and soft drinks and not drinking every day can help avoid the short and long term health risks associated with drinking to excess.”

As part of its guide to a healthy Christmas guide, NHS Choices has tools to help keep track of how much alcohol you drink and information and advice on coming out of the festive season healthy at www.nhs.uk/healthychristmas.

How Gwyneth got her body back. Tracey Anderson reveals all.

Posted on by

GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT WITH THE WOMAN BEHIND HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST BODIES

Gwyneth Paltrow was asked to gain 20lbs for her upcoming movie Country Strong, in which she stars as an alcoholic singer. Fitness expert and Gwyneth’s personal trainer, Tracy Anderson, had the challenge of whipping the Oscar-winning actress into shape before her high profile appearance on the Country Music Awards, so put her on a specialised routine of dance cardio and weight training.

‘For this role in country strong they had her gain weight for it. That was tough for me because we’ve worked so hard on her body. [During filming] Gwyneth went down from six days a week of training to three and she ate everything in sight,’ said Anderson*.

‘It didn’t take her very long to lose it, only took her a couple of weeks. It didn’t want to be on her anyway. Extra weight isn’t something that she owned.’

If you want a body like Gwyneth, forget so-called celebrity workouts this New Year – get straight to business and the body you want with the expert behind the most sort-after A-list figures. ITV Studios Home Entertainment presents personal trainer Tracy Anderson’s latest workout, The Tracy Anderson Method: Total Cardio Workout and offers you VIP access to the exercise secrets that transformed stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Courtney Cox and Shakira.

Shift the Christmas weight

http://www.shoppingblog.com/pics/gwyneth_paltrow_country_strong1.jpg

THE TRACY ANDERSON METHOD: TOTAL CARDIO WORKOUT will be available to own on DVD from 27 December from

Too Much Light At Night May Lead to Obesity {Health}

Posted on by

Research by the Ohio State University has found that persistent exposure to light at night may lead to weight gain, even without changing physical activity or eating more food.

By studying mice the researchers found that mice exposed to a relatively dim light at night over eight weeks had a body mass gain that was about 50 percent more than other mice that lived in a standard light-dark cycle.

“Although there were no differences in activity levels or daily consumption of food, the mice that lived with light at night were getting fatter than the others,” said Laura Fonken, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in neuroscience at Ohio State University.

The study appears this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As they’re not less active or eating more, the results suggest that the weight gain is because the mice living with light at night eat at times they normally wouldn’t.

In one study, mice exposed to light at night – but that had food availability restricted to normal eating times – gained no more weight than did mice in a normal light-dark cycle.

“Something about light at night was making the mice in our study want to eat at the wrong times to properly metabolize their food,” said Randy Nelson, co-author of the study and professor of neuroscience and psychology at Ohio State.

If these results are confirmed in humans, it would suggest that late-night eating might be a particular risk factor for obesity, Nelson said.

Mice exposed to dim light-at-night showed higher levels of epididymal fat, and impaired glucose tolerance – a marker of pre-diabetes.

“When we restricted their food intake to times when they would normally eat, we didn’t see the weight gain,” Fonken said about the mice. “This adds to the evidence that the timing of eating is critical to weight gain.”

So how does light at night lead to changes in metabolism? The researchers believe the light could disrupt levels of the hormone melatonin, which is involved in metabolism. In addition, it may disrupt the expression of clock genes, which help control when animals feed and when they are active.

Overall, the findings show another possible reason for the obesity epidemic in Western countries.

Researchers have long associated prolonged computer use and television viewing as obesity risk factors, but have focused on how they are associated with a lack of physical activity.

“It may be that people who use the computer and watch the TV a lot at night may be eating at the wrong times, disrupting their metabolism,” Nelson said. “Clearly, maintaining body weight requires keeping caloric intake low and physical activity high, but this environmental factor may explain why some people who maintain good energy balance still gain weight.”

The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation for the Ohio State University.

Get yourself to Britain's First Ever 'Sleep Concert' {Lifestyle}

Posted on by

To celebrate 25 years, Travelodge, is hosting Britain’s fist ever ‘Sleep Concert’.

The free-of-charge ‘Sleep Concert’, which aims to leave Britons snoring for more, will take place on Tuesday 20th July 2010 at 12.30pm at London City Road Travelodge.

Guests will be supplied with pillows, duvets and eye masks in order to ensure the optimum slumber environment. (If the trial is successful it may be rolled out nationally).

Sleep deprived Britons can register for a place at the exclusive Travelodge ‘Sleep Concert’ by registering their interest at: sleepconcert@travelodge.co.uk

Sleep concerts have apparently been popular in Japan, where sleep deprived workers will happily pay £50.00 for the privilege of nodding off to a live music performance.

Ewan Crawford, Sleep Expert at Edinburgh Sleep Centre, said: “It’s warm, dark and you don’t have any distractions such as your mobile phone. What’s more, it removes any embarrassment of sleeping in public – you can totally relax and be safe in the knowledge that even snoring is socially acceptable.”

(Places for the Travelodge ‘Sleep Concert’ are available on a first come basis)

Gwyneth Paltrow prescribed sunshine {Health}

Posted on by

She might be an A-List celeb and the role model for pale and interesting skin types the world over but actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been told to spend some time in the sun.

She revealed, in her newsletter GOOP, that a bone scan showed she had the begginning stages of Osteopenia and a test revealed her Vitamin D levels to be startlingly low. Some people are blaming her frequent detoxes and preference for vegan food but her blog has lots of yummy recepies, how is she not hungry all the time when writing about food?

Her Doctor, Dr. Frank Lipman, goes on to talk about the benefits of sunshine and Vitamin D.

Frank says “Although irresponsible sunbathing is unquestionably harmful and precautions need to be taken, regular, moderate, unprotected sun exposure is essential for good health. It is free, easy to get and good for you when used intelligently.”

Picture from Iron Man 2 [Product Page]

Alexandra Aitkens on Yoga and finding peace.

Posted on by

I interviewed Alexandra Aitkens and found a young women who has found her calling teaching yoga. I think we can all benefit from the answers below.

1) You have had many, mostly creative careers. Which one do you find most satisfying?

By far teaching kundalini yoga and sharing these miraculous tools and techniques.  The pectice of Kundallini yoga will awaken your potential and give you the power to actually complete your dream heaven on earth.

2) You teach yoga now. What advice can you give to people who want peace in their lives?

Meditate every day it will clear the rubbish out of your mind!
Start by trying one of these meditations for 3 minutes everyday and experience all the benefits for yourself.

http://www.yogamint.com/videos/yogamint_videos

3) What is your favourite yoga move?

My favourite yoga move is the one minute breath. Your life is counted in breaths not years. This breath will make you eternal. The average breath is 20 – 25 times a minute. In good health you breath 10-12 times a minute. If you practice the one minute breath you will have control of your mind.

Inhale 20 seconds
Suspend 20 seconds
Exhale 20 seconds

Or perhaps listening to or singing to  the mul mantra which leads you do you true purpose or destiny.
http://www.amazon.com/Mul-Mantra/dp/B000QQGF8Y

4) Tell me about Blue Light Yoga.

Blue Light Yoga is a  501c non- profit organization… bringing the healing power of yoga to underfunded schools, hospitals, prisons, & shelters, and to people whose lives and lifestyles could be transformed by yoga and meditation worldwide.

Blue light yoga has a new exciting project. We are planning our school in Amritsar India.

Blue Light School in Amritsar India
Blue Light realises the fact that helping is not simply a matter of dispersing money but of making a deep, long-term commitment to educate and train people to be the best they can be.

Childhood is the time when a young person needs nurturing, schooling, time to play and be given the opportunity to be excel in life.

India is home to the largest population of working children in the world. But child labour like child trafficking, infant mortality, child beggary and child marriage are just symptoms. The root cause lies somewhere else. Educating these children is the only way to care for them and protect their welfare. An Education that empowers them to earn a livelihood and an education can teach them to lead better lives.  Blue Light works as a catalyst to change the lives of numerous such underprivileged children and youth for the better with great empowering success.
Our curriculum will also include traditional Indian Subjects like Maths and Numerology, Gurmukhi, Philosophy, Ayurvedic medicine, Kirtan and Yoga.

These classes and special courses are open to Global visitors by donation.

www.bluelightyoga.net

5) What was your favourite acting job?

Facing rudeness and crudeness with compassionate sweetness.

6) What is next for you?

Continuously deepening my understanding of kundallini yoga and sharing all the discoveries, love and wisdom on how to be happy , healthy and peacefully relaxed.

7) What makes you happy?

Realising everything that happens is a blessing to help you grow to experience how miraculous your lovely life is.

Thank you Alexandra.