A moment that changed me: the loss of my brother to alcohol-related illness | Eve Ainsworth

This year it will be 17 years since my brother died, aged 40. I have so many regrets – regret not only for Kev, who was finally killed by the addiction that overtook him, but regret that I didn’t try to understand him more when he was alive. It is only now that I have begun to appreciate the pain and entrapment inflicted by alcohol addiction and how the man I thought I knew became swamped by this misunderstood and deadly condition. My brother deserved so much more. For so long, I questioned why drink always won, without realising that for him it was never a question of winning or losing. It was just about surviving each day.

One of my earliest memories of Kev was when I was sitting miserable and uncomfortable with chicken pox. I was around five years old and stank of calamine lotion – my entire skin was cracked pink with it. I hated missing school and was bored silly at home. Then my older brother walked into the house, carrying a bag of books. My day suddenly lit up. In my early life, Kev’s long hours as a nurse meant he didn’t often visit, but when he did he brought a different energy to the house, and a kindness.

He was the one who’d take me out for surprise shopping trips, or for weekends away at his house where he and his wife would take me to amazing firework displays and other outings. Kev always seemed full of life – talking, laughing and coming up with ideas. He loved reading and talked about books. He made me appreciate the wonder of words. I didn’t know then that he was working long hours, that he was struggling, and drinking to cope. I just saw the mask he painted on. The happy Kev, rather than the cracks. But of course all cracks deepen in time and the mask begins to slip.

His marriage fell apart and soon his drinking meant Kev was signed off from a job he loved and excelled at. He was forced to move back to our house. That’s when I saw the true problem. I was 10 years old, and I had an older brother who now spent most of his days sitting in his bedroom. His appearance had changed. His face was more red, speech slurred, eyes swollen. We still talked though. He gave me his old computer to type on and encouraged me to write.

Kev didn’t think it was silly that I wanted to be a writer: he actively encouraged me. He talked about the importance of plot structure and leaving the reader wanting more. It was just sad that he didn’t read himself any more. He still listened to music though: to David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and the Clash. He taught me to listen to the words and hear the real meaning. He told me to sound words out loud and hear how they worked. Above all, he told me not to give up on my dreams. He always looked sad when he said that, like he’d already given up on his.

Eve Ainsworth aged 4, around 1982. Photograph: Eve Ainsworth

But as a teenager things changed. I’d changed. I’d become ashamed of him. He’d become bloated and sick and would often do or say things to embarrass or shock people. I’d look at his closed door and imagine a monster behind it, consumed by alcohol, no longer recognisable. I didn’t want to be in his company any more. He frustrated me, and I couldn’t understand why he had chosen this existence. Finally, he moved to a house of his own and I suppose I was relieved. At least now his drinking was contained somewhere else. I could kid myself he was OK really. But he wasn’t. The reality was that he was just getting sicker and sicker.

When I became ill myself, hospitalised with quinsy, I begged my brother not to visit. I didn’t want people to see how bad he was. When I came home, he phoned me. “I’m glad you’re better,” he said. “That should be me in hospital. Not you.”

He collapsed a week later; his liver had finally failed him. I was at work when they made the decision to turn off his life support. I tried to go and see him, but I couldn’t get there in time. Guilt raged through me. I’m not religious but I found myself in a small church, lighting a candle. Praying for forgiveness. Ashamed.

The guilt affected me for a long time afterwards. I resigned from my job. I spent most nights out drinking with friends. I felt like I was lost. One night I drank too much and found myself vomiting in a toilet wondering if this had been what his life was like. I woke up feeling wretched and ill and knew I could never drink to excess again. Even now I struggle being around people who are excessively drunk.

I wish we could have helped Kev. I wish we could have saved him. But we couldn’t

It took me a long time to get over his death and in many ways perhaps I never will. But it changed me because I knew I never wanted to feel like that again. I tried to remember Kev for the man he was, not what the drink made him. And I carried on writing, because I knew then that life was short and cruel, and I had to try and achieve my goals in the time I had. When my first book was published I remembered my brother’s early encouragement and belief in me, and knew how happy he would be.

Now I’m almost at the age my brother was when he died – and that seems wrong somehow. It makes me realise how young he was and how much life he had yet to live. He had so much talent, wisdom and kindness. I wish we could have helped him. I wish we could have saved him. But we couldn’t. And I’ll never stop regretting that. But regrets are wasted. So instead, I just have to be thankful for what he gave us instead.

A few days after he died I had a vivid dream in which my brother appeared in a beautiful, peaceful setting. In the background Bowie’s lyrics played on a loop, like a soothing lullaby – “I’m happy, hope you’re happy too.”

I am happy, Kev. And I’d like to think in some way you are too.

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A moment that changed me: the loss of my brother to alcohol-related illness | Eve Ainsworth

This Juice Promotes Weight Loss, Regulates Thyroid, and Fights Inflammation

This Juice Promotes Weight Loss, Regulates Thyroid, and Fights Inflammation

NHS data loss scandal has prompted five inquiries, ministers say

The NHS’s loss of more than half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence is so serious that it has triggered five separate investigations, ministers have admitted.

The disclosure has prompted claims that the scale of the loss of 515,000 test results and doctors’ letters was hidden in “a huge cover-up”. It raises fresh questions for the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has publicly championed openness in the NHS.

The National Audit Office (NAO) and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) are currently looking into the incident, which the Guardian revealed last month, according to parliamentary questions that the health minister Nicola Blackwood answered on Friday.

Their investigations follow three other inquiries already undertaken by the Department of Health (DH), NHS England and NHS Shared Business Services (SBS), Blackwood said.

SBS is the private firm, co-owned by the DH, which mislaid the highly sensitive correspondence between 2011 and 2016 by putting items in a warehouse and forgetting to send them on to 7,700 GP surgeries across England despite their importance for patients’ health and treatment.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have intensified their claims that the DH has been highly evasive about the scandal after Blackwood said the DH would not publish the results of any of the three investigations already completed.

“It is totally incredible that the secretary of state failed for so long to identify this catalogue of errors, and it beggars belief that Jeremy Hunt is refusing to publish the advice which he received,” said Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary. “This is a major scandal, and Jeremy Hunt needs to come clean with the public.”

Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, criticised the DH for “really disturbing” secrecy. “The fact that five separate investigations have been launched shows that the government and NHS England both knew that this was a monumental blunder,” he said. “But Jeremy Hunt’s attempt to downplay the severity of it, when all this was happening, smacks of a huge cover-up.”

The Guardian’s disclosure forced Hunt to answer an urgent question in the Commons on 27 February, when he downplayed the seriousness of the incident. But the DH’s own permanent secretary, Chris Wormald, confirmed to MPs on the public accounts committee on the same day that doctors were still examining whether more than 500 patients may have come to harm as a result.

Medical investigators are also looking into the possibility that the incident contributed to some patient deaths.

Hunt’s behaviour is under scrutiny after he admitted to MPs that he was first told about the data loss on 23 March 2016, but did not acknowledge it publicly until 21 July. Even then he only did so in a 138-word statement on the last day of parliamentary business, and mentioned neither the huge number of documents involved or the possibility that patients may have been harmed.

The DH’s refusal to publish the results of any of the three inquiries means that Hunt is avoiding scrutiny of what he knew and when, and what he did or did not do as a result of the documents being mislaid..

In the parliamentary questions Blackwood defended the decision not publish. “Given that this national incident is currently subject to an investigation by both the NAO and the ICO, it is not appropriate to publish related documents until these investigations have concluded,” she said.

NHS data loss scandal has prompted five inquiries, ministers say

NHS accused of covering up huge data loss that put thousands at risk

Thousands of patients are feared to have been harmed after the NHS lost more than half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence, including test results and treatment plans.

In one of the biggest losses of sensitive clinical information in the NHS’s 69-year history, more than 500,000 pieces of patient data sent between GPs and hospitals went undelivered over the five years from 2011 to 2016.

The mislaid documents, which range from screening results to blood tests to diagnoses, failed to reach their intended recipients because the company meant to ensure their delivery mistakenly stored them in a warehouse.

NHS England has quietly launched an inquiry to discover how many patients have been affected. So far 2,500 cases that require further investigation to discover potential for harm have been identified. The NHS is spending millions of pounds paying doctors to assess the scale of the medical impact.

It is also undertaking a clinical review of patients who have died since the loss of documents was discovered in March 2016 to examine whether delays in material reaching GPs played any part in any patient’s death.

The correspondence included the results of blood and urine tests, and of biopsies and screening tests for diseases including cancer. It also included letters containing details of patients’ visits to hospital, including to oncology clinics and information about what they had been diagnosed with after visiting A&E. Other paperwork that went astray included summaries of the care patients had received while in hospital. Some involved material related to cases of child protection.

In total, 708,000 pieces of correspondence were undelivered. However, 200,000 of these were not clinically relevant as they were temporary change of address forms.

NHS England secretly assembled a 50-strong team of administrators, based in Leeds, to clear up the mess created by NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS), who mislaid the documents. The private company, co-owned by the Department of Health and the French firm Sopra Steria, was working as a kind of internal postal service within the NHS in England until March last year.

The clear-up team is being led by Jill Matthews, the managing director of the primary-care support services arm of NHS England.

Documents detailing the team’s work, seen by the Guardian, reveal it has finally returned the lost material to 7,700 GP surgeries, and assessed how many potential incidents of harm may have occurred at each practice. They show that GP surgeries up and down England have been affected, with some facing a few dozen cases of potential harm arose from missing correspondence.

GPs have so far been paid £2.2m to examine returned correspondence and cross-check it with other material in patients’ medical records, although the internal documents show that some have said that they are too busy to do so and others have asked surgery administrators to do it.

The British Medical Association warned that some patients might have taken extra drugs unnecessarily or had the diagnosis of their illness delayed because of the blunder.

“This is a very serious incident, it should never have happened and it’s an example of what happens when the NHS tries to cut costs by inviting private companies to do work which they don’t do properly, the private company in this case being NHS Shared Business Services,” said Richard Vautrey, chair of the BMA’s GPs committee and a family doctor in Yorkshire.

He added: “Undoubtedly, there will be cases where patients have been seen by their home GP without [the GP having] the information from previous consultations or tests being their file – so they may not know whether antibiotics have been prescribed to a patient or whether tests and investigations have been done.

Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is being pushed to reveal what he knew of the paperwork, including items relating to child safety, that went astray. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

“That might mean repeat prescriptions, which would be unnecessary, as they have been taken before. And it might mean delay in diagnosis. If that happened it’s at best an inconvenience to the patient, and at worst there’s a risk of patient harm.”

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: “This is an absolute scandal. For a company partly owned by the Department of Health and a private company to fail to deliver half a million NHS letters, many of which contain information critical to patient care, is astonishing.

“Patient safety will have been put seriously at risk as a result of this staggering incompetence. The news is heartbreaking for the families involved and it will be scarcely believable for these hospitals and GPs who are doing their best to deliver services despite the neglect of the government.”

He said that Hunt’s statement to MPs last July was “perfunctory, complacent and evasive, failing to reveal any of the catastrophic detail of how 500,000 pieces of correspondence including test and screening results and pathways following hospital treatment, had failed to be delivered and were in fact languishing unopened in a warehouse”.

Ashworth added: “Instead, Mr Hunt gliby told parliament that ‘some correspondence in the mail redirection service has not reached the intended recipients’. For a secretary of state who supposedly has transparency as his watchword this looks like he has tried to hide the scandal from patients and the public. It’s totally unacceptable.”

Tim Farron, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “This looks, to me, like a cover-up. Jeremy Hunt has serious questions to answer, especially his deliberately evasive statement to parliament. Jeremy Hunt often talks about an NHS more open about patient safety failings since the Mid Staffs scandal. His deeds don’t match his words.

“This is a staggering loss of personal and private data, this colossal loss of vital material that may have been absolutely crucial to a patient’s treatment. I worry that while all this correspondence, including test results, has gathered dust, patients had been put at risk. People could have died as a result of this.”

An NHS England spokeswoman said: “Some correspondence forwarded to SBS between 2011-2016 was not redirected or forwarded by them to GP surgeries or linked to the medical record when the sender sent correspondence to the wrong GP or the patient changed practice.

“A team including clinical experts has reviewed that old correspondence and it has now all been delivered wherever possible to the correct practice. SBS have expressed regret for this situation.”

The Department of Health refused to comment.

NHS accused of covering up huge data loss that put thousands at risk

Benefits of Aloe Vera for Weight Loss

Aloe Vera is a wonder medicinal plant that has a range of therapeutic benefits. The sticky transparent pulp of the aloe Vera plant is commercially available in the form of gel, latex or juice. The aloe vera pulp is almost 99% water and the remaining 1% includes more than 75 nutrients that contribute to various health benefits. In this article, we would discuss about the benefits of aloe vera for weight loss.

Various therapeutic benefits of Aloe vera

• External application- Soothes burns, wounds and various dermatological issues like dry skin, psoriasis, eczema and rashes.


• Oral consumption- Relieves bowel inflammation, constipation, promotes digestion and act as a weight loss remedy.

What it contains

• Vitamins- Vitamins A, B complex, C, E and folic acid


• Minerals- Sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese and chromium. These body enzymes use these minerals for optimum body functioning.


• Amino acids- Human body needs 20 amino acids out of which 8 are essential ones. Your body can’t synthesize these essential amino acids and you need to rely on external dietary sources to add them. Aloe vera can provide 7 out of these 8 essential acids and overall, it provides 18 out of 20 amino acids.


• Enzymes- Enzymes play a vital role in maintaining optimum gut flora (gut bacteria balance) for healthy digestive health and to curb inflammation.


• Polyphenols- Polyphenols are naturally occurring chemicals in aloe vera having pharmacological actions. Beta-sitosterol, flavonoids and saponins- to name a few. These have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

Aloe Vera for weight loss

In general, obesity is a lifestyle disorder. In today’s hectic lifestyle, obesity has become a new normal. With every passing day, more and more people are known to succumb to the same and complain of being overweight. Unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, chronic stress and anxiety- all these factors are responsible for this global epidemic.

Let us discuss how aloe vera is going to help combat obesity and maintain healthy body weight:

• Cleansing of the digestive tract- Aloe vera is gelatinous in nature. In the digestive tract, it would absorb water to turn into a bulky gel. This bulky gel would move downward binding various toxins- undigested food, bad microbes, cholesterol, trans fats, saturated fats- along to make your digestive tract clean and toxins free.


• Suppresses the appetite- The gelatinous bulky gel of aloe Vera would provide the feeling of fullness to make sure that you don’t overeat.


• Aloe vera is a mild laxative- Consumption of aloe vera on a regular basis is known to act as a laxative. It relieves constipation and ensure smooth bowel movements to detoxify and hasten the digestion process as a whole.


• Improves digestion- Aloe vera is a prebiotic- it acts as food for the probiotics (healthy bacteria) in your gut for growth and development. These probiotics are essential for proper breakdown of complex foods such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats for their smooth processing.


• Speed up the body metabolism- Aloe Vera accelerates the body metabolism by increasing the energy expenditure rate. It implies a higher calorie burning rate and less accumulation of body fats. Additionally, consumption of aloe vera stimulates the collagen production in human body. Collagen is a kind of protein that aids the muscles growth and build up by boosting the boost metabolism. It ensures that the lower intestine does not store food in it for a longer period.


• Reduces inflammation- Chronic cellular inflammation makes a person obese and aloe vera relieves inflammation. Hence, aloe vera does possess anti-obesity activity.


• Maintains the blood sugar levels- A spike in blood sugar level can make you eat a lot of snacks and calorie filled processed foods to worsen obesity symptoms. Aloe vera reduces such tendencies by normalizing the blood sugar level.


• Low-calorie dietary supplement- Aloe vera is low in calorie and rich in vital nutrients. Hence, it makes a perfect dietary supplement to be included in your weight loss regimen so that you can shed a few pounds without compromising on nutrients intake.

How to consume Aloe Vera for Weight Loss

Oral consumption of aloe vera includes drinking aloe vera juice (aloe vera pulp mixed with water) alone or with other additives depending upon the taste and convenience. Here are certain aloe vera recipes that you can consume first thing in the morning- before breakfast- to derive maximum benefit out of it.

Concoction 1: Aloe Vera with Fruit Juice: Cut the aloe vera leaf into 2 parts and scoop out the aloe gel inside. Mix it with the fruit juice of your choice for a nutritious and fresh concoction.

Concoction 2: Plain Aloe Vera Juice: Ensure you clean the aloe vera leaf thoroughly before peeling off the skin. Mix with water and blend it well to make the plain aloe juice. You can sieve it through to ensure that there are no lumps in it. Store it in the refrigerator, so that you can consume it daily. To get maximum benefit out of it drink this concoction in the morning and before meals.

Concoction 3: Aloe vera juice and lemon: Clean the aloe vera leaf before cutting it lengthwise. Take freshly squeezed lemon juice and add the aloe gel, water and sugar in it and stir for 3 minutes.

Concoction 4: Aloe Vera and honey: You can do the same concoction as the one mentioned above only replace the sugar with honey. Honey is not only nutritious but also takes more energy to digest which in turn aids in weight loss.

Concoction 5: Aloe Vera and Kale: Make a healthy and fresh smoothie with aloe vera pulp and kale. For flavor, you can add plums, ginger, salt and any fruit pf your choice. Make this in the morning in large quantity and keep on sipping them all day long.

Concoction 6: Aloe Vera and coconut smoothie: Take aloe vera pulp, coconut milk, any fresh berry, mango, pure coconut oil, maple syrup and basil for this smoothie. You can add coconut flakes and flax seeds to make it crunchy and flavored. Blend them all into a smooth paste and keep drinking them all day long.

Precautionary measures and useful tips

• While you derive maximum benefit from the fresh aloe vera plant, one can also consume aloe vera capsules after meals to aid weight loss.


• For best results, ensure that you combine aloe vera consumption with regular exercise and workout. Do a mix and match of cardio, muscle building, toning and so on to get the desired result.


• Compliment aloe vera intake with a high fiber, low sugar and low calorie diet to enhance the anti-obesity effect.


• Take small doses of aloe vera initially to ensure that you are not allergic to it.


• After consumption of aloe vera if you see any rash or allergy discontinue at the earliest and consult a physician.


• Do consult your physician before consuming aloe vera if you suffer from any chronic disease.


• The same rule is applied in case of pregnant women and nursing ladies.


• In greed of faster weight loss results, do not take large doses of aloe vera as that may lead to diarrhea, dehydration and stomach cramp.


• Ideal dose of aloe vera is 2- 8 ounce everyday for a period of 3-4 months. Start with least quantity and gradually increase as per your comfort.


• Compliment intake of aloe vera with at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day.

Use of aloe vera for weight loss is a safe and promising idea when coupled with a healthy diet and positive lifestyle. Not only weight loss, but, regular consumption of this healing plant food would improve your overall well being and fitness.

Author Bio

This blog post is submitted by Ashish Agarwal. Check the blog- Health Melody to know about yoga mudra for body detox and weight loss.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92765/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/117/1/220

Benefits of Aloe Vera for Weight Loss

Study Shows That A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss Is Best

The mainstream media like to remind us that eating all that sugar will lead to weight gain and if you need to achieve weight loss you need to minimize your consumption of carbohydrates (including fruits).

Well, many people on a vegan diet, including a high fruit vegan diet, have found the exact opposite to be true.

A study from the University of South Carolina supports the fact that a vegan diet for weight loss is best, if compared to many other diets.

A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss Is Best

There was a study published in The International Journal of Applied and Basic Nutritional Sciences (1), and they compared the amount of weight lost by people on various diets.

Participants who took part in this 6-month study were eating 5 different diets, including:

• Omnivore diet, which includes all animal products


• Semi-vegetarian diet with occasional meat intake


• Vegetarian diet, which excludes meat, poultry and fish, but includes dairy


• Pesco-vegetarian diet, which excludes meat, but includes seafood


• Vegan diet, which excludes all animal products

At the end of the six months, they concluded that a vegan diet for weight loss worked best.

Those people who were eating the vegan diet lost more weight than the other groups by an average of 4.3%, or 16.5 pounds in weight. 

Weight loss results on a vegan diet started appearing after 2 months of them following it.

The study found that weight release was not the only positive for those participants in the vegan group.

They also showed the biggest amount of decrease in their fat levels at the two and six month checks, had improved macro nutrients more than the other diets and also lower BMIs.

Eating a whole foods vegan diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables has many advantages, including:

• Hydration is imperative for achieving optimal health. On a high fruit raw vegan diet you will be eating plant foods that are high in water content and so will aid your body to stay hydrated and lead to greatly improved digestion, elimination and speedy health restoration.


• Nutrition is a much overlooked part of the modern western diet where empty calories abound, but with a high fruit raw vegan diet that is packed full of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, including those hugely important antioxidants, you know you are giving your body the best chance of reaching optimal health.


• Natural detoxification — this way of eating allows your body to detox itself of stored toxins and remain in tip-top and lean shape every day of the year.


• Natural weight release — whole food vegan diet that is high in raw foods is naturally lower calorie per bite than most other foods that you will find available.

In short, if you want to achieve natural weight loss, along with optimal health and well-being, then you cannot choose a better option than eating a vegan and high raw diet.

About the author: Yulia Tarbath is a Certified Nutritionist at Rawsomehealthy, author, parent and international speaker with nearly 8 years of experience on a raw foods, vegan lifestyle. Together with her husband, Paul Tarbath, they are authorities on living a balanced, nutritionally sufficient vegan lifestyle. Through their videos, blogs, coaching and online programs, they are supporting both women and men around the world in cleansing and healing their bodies naturally, as well as achieving the shape and health of their dreams. Get started today by signing up to their FREE 5-day raw food menu plan. 

Sources: 

1. http://www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/S0899-9007%2814%2900423-7/abstract


2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150630121807.htm


3. Huang, R-H. et al. Vegetarian Diets and Weight Reduction: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of General Internal Medicine, June 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-015-3390-7

Study Shows That A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss Is Best

Boiled Eggs For Weight Loss and Health

Boiled eggs are considered a key component of many diets and have multiple health benefits. Eggs contain all important elements such as protein, fats, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, selenium and there is a material unfamiliar to many, a choline, which is necessary for the development of the brain and improves memory.

Eggs are one of the foods that are widely used for weight loss. Recent studies indicated that people who eat an egg a day lose more weight compared to those who do not eat eggs, taking into account that the eggs must be boiled.

In addition to that, we find that bariatric doctors advise their patients to add boiled eggs to their diet and for several reasons, and are as follows:

• Boiled eggs have very low ratios of calories.


• Contains protein and calcium which is one of the most important components to maintaining bone strength.


• Eggs increase the feeling of satiety and thereby decrease the intake of certain foods which can help reduce weight.


• Rich in protein, which is beneficial in terms of muscle building.

Other Health Benefits Of Boiled Eggs:

Strengthening the bones:

Eggs contain vitamin D, which is one of the most prominent types of vitamins that help to strengthen the muscles. In addition to calcium which helps protect bones and muscles against the fragility, especially in women as they are more subjected to it than men.

Activates the brain:

Boiled eggs contain a substance called ‘choline’ that acts as a moderator for infections that affect the brain and cause Alzheimer’s disease. Choline most found in egg yolk.

Also read:

10 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Eat Eggs

How To Lose Weight With The Egg Diet

Pregnancy:

It is necessary that pregnant mothers need to maintain a complete diet during pregnancy and boiled eggs provide nutritional components to help the fetus grow and protect it from possible birth defects.

Cancer:

Eggs contain a proportion of antioxidants that protect the body from the malignant growth of cells in addition to promoting healthy skin.

Vision:

Important vitamins found in eggs contribute to improving vision, in addition to a substance called ‘lutein’ that acts as a protection for the retina.

Note:

Fried eggs are not preferred to lose weight, as they can do the opposite. Instead, eat boiled eggs to get rid of excess weight and provide your body with healthy nutrients that increase strength and vitality.

References:

1. https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2014/08/23/two-eggs-in-the-morning-can-help-you-lose-weight/


2. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/eggs-nutrition.aspx


3. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283659.php

Boiled Eggs For Weight Loss and Health

5 Effective Ways to Prevent Hair Loss in Men

Hair loss is not uncommon. In fact, the average man loses 100 strands of hair every day. However, when hair loss is excessive, it is always a cause for concern. Stress, hormonal changes, diet and pollution are some of the things that can lead to hair loss. It is estimated that 66 percent of men who are over the age of 35 have noticeable hair loss. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to prevent hair loss.

Wash Your Hair Regularly

Washing your hair regularly is one of the best things that you can do to prevent hair loss. If your hair is clean, then it will be less likely to develop infections that can lead to hair loss. Additionally, your hair looks healthier when it is clean. Make sure that you use mild shampoo. If a shampoo has harsh ingredients, then it can actually cause hair loss.

Follow a Healthy Diet

Eating a nutritious diet will not only keep your hair healthy, but also improve your overall health. Whole foods are filled with nutrients that your hair needs to maintain optimal health. Iron, zinc, vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids are some of the nutrients that are essential for a healthy diet. Leafy greens, beans, oysters and berries are some of the foods that you should include in your diet.

Take Supplements

Even if you follow a healthy diet, you may still be lacking the nutrients that you need. That is why taking supplements is a great way to prevent hair loss. You may want to take an amino acid supplement because your hair is primarily made up of protein.

Do Not Brush Wet Hair

Many people think that it is best to untangle wet hair by brushing it. However, you do not want to brush your hair when it is wet. When the hair is wet, it is more prone to breakage.

Do Not Smoke

Smoking is bad for your hair, as it reduces blood circulation to the scalp. This will stunt hair growth. If you need one more reason to quit smoking, do it for the sake of keeping your hair.

Even though hair loss is normal, there are ways that you can prevent it. Taking care of your hair is one of the key things that you can do to prevent hair loss. Even if you have already started to lose your hair, proper care will prevent further damage.

Dixie Somers is a freelance writer and blogger for business, home, and family niches. Dixie lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the proud mother of three beautiful girls and wife to a wonderful husband. Dixie recommends that you get familiar with DQSA/DSCSA before you take antihypertensive vasodilator medications.

5 Effective Ways to Prevent Hair Loss in Men

Women’s Health and Weight Loss: Lose Weight to Fight Osteoporosis

1. Exercise and Bones

It is a well-known fact that exercise and weight loss make you both look and feel better. Another bit of common knowledge is that to lose weight, control your diet, and exercise regularly gives you a healthier heart.

In addition to the previously mentioned benefits of proper diet and exercise are several other very specific health benefits of having a regular exercise and weight loss program.

One additional health benefits of exercise and weight loss activities is guarding against osteoporosis, the disease that makes the bones weak and brittle with age (1).

Weight-bearing activities like walking, elliptical machine, and jogging, have been shown to strengthen the skeletal system and lower the risk of the development of this very debilitating disease.

The primary reason for this is that exercises that force the body to bear weight make the bones denser over time as opposed to a sedentary lifestyle, in which the bones get weaker and more brittle due to a lack of force placed against them.

In women, the low estrogen levels that often accompany menopause and/or very sporadic menstruation make the problem even worse as the bones lose a lot of their mineral content and weaken accordingly.

In addition, such activities that many take part in to either lose weight or maintain an already healthy body composition have also been shown to aid in preventing further development of the disease for those who have already been diagnosed and have received clearance from their doctor.

2. Calcium and bones

So, in addition to exercise and hormonal factors, a woman’s diet is extremely important in guarding off this very debilitating condition.

One of the reason why we do not recommend most traditional diet plans and programs is because the over-restrictive eating guidelines often eliminate or seriously limit the consumption of some very necessary vitamins and minerals that keep the body healthy and strong.

The most important time to get an appropriate amount of calcium is between the ages of 14 and 24, when peak bone mass is obtained.  Then after that bone continues to develop until about age 35 to 40, at which time the bone mass that a woman has will strongly determine how much at risk she may be for bone fractures in her later years.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that women intake 1,000 mg (1g) of calcium daily, and then increase their daily dosage to 1,500 mg (1.5g) post menopause (2).

Sadly, only an estimated 25% of women in any age group consume the recommended daily amount of calcium to guard against osteoporosis. And when they go on diets and weight loss programs, they tend to consume even less. The best sources of easily assimilated calcium are raw milk and bone broth.

3. Iron and Bones

Finally, one of the biggest weaknesses of the traditional commercial diet is the lack of iron that exists in its stringent and often excessively limited eating guidelines (3). In order to lose weight, many unsuspecting women get bamboozled into taking part in weight loss programs that cut out many of the nutrients that they need. Iron is one of the primary casualties of such diets and weight loss plans.

The plot thickens for women in particular due to the fact that their bodies regularly lose iron during menstruation.  Therefore, eating a low-calorie, low-iron diet in an effort to lose weight only makes the problem more severe.

It is generally suggested that women supplement their diets with an iron supplement such as either Ferrofood or Iron-Fe Max from Standard Process. This is particularly important during periods of heavy exercise and training that are typical aspects of any weight loss program or general effort to lose weight even when a special program is not in use.

One thing to be on guard for, however, is excessive iron supplementation by iron-deficient (non-anemic) women.   There is a disorder known as hemosiderosis which results from large deposits of iron made in the liver that causes a glitch in the proper metabolism of the iron itself. Avoiding prolonged large doses will eliminate the risk of this particular disorder. Supervision by a trained and experienced holistic doctor is recommended.

Below are a few recommendations from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) that will help you to make sure you get the adequate amount of iron intake in your daily diet, whether on a program to lose weight or not:

Eat foods with a high vitamin C content with all meals. Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron. (examples: salsa; chili peppers; oranges)

Include dark meat chick and/or turkey in the training diet. Both of these are rich in iron.

Vegetable proteins such as split pea soup or chili beans with lean meat help the iron in those meats to properly absorb

1. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/default.asp


2. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/


3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425147/

Women’s Health and Weight Loss: Lose Weight to Fight Osteoporosis

Potato Diet. Should you Try it for Weight Loss?

The All Potato Diet: Should you Try it for Weight Loss

By Karen Brennan, NC, MSW, BCHN®, Herbalist

It seems like with another new year upon us, people make resolutions to lose weight.  Part of that resolution, it seems, is to go on some crazy diet. This is one of them and I was asked by someone who had just started the diet what I thought of an all potato diet.  Here are my thoughts.

What is the Potato Diet?

The potato diet is a mono diet in which you eat only potatoes.  Most people will try it for a month and others have touted to lose weight by following the potato diet for up to a year.

Should you Try it?

  I don’t recommend any diet that has you eat just one food. I also don’t recommend most cleanses, juice fasts and detox diets either. (hint: first you need to learn how to eat healthy)

 Here are Some Reasons why you Should Avoid the Potato Diet

• Difficult to maintain and sustain. This is a bland and boring diet. How long can you go eating only potatoes?  At some point, for most people, one is going to give in and eat other foods.  When this happens, the odds are that you won’t be making the healthiest food choices.


• Low in Protein. For men, this type of diet is too low protein. For many women, this diet is also too low in protein.  Eating 5 potatoes per day is only going to give you around 20 grams of protein.  The average sedentary male needs 60 grams or more per day and the average sedentary female needs around 45 grams per day or more. Trying to meet your protein needs via potatoes, well let’s just say that ends up being a lot of potatoes and a lot of calories.  So, while you may lose weight eating only potatoes, how much muscle mass are you going to lose as well?


• Nutrient deficient: Eat only one type of food for any length of time and you are bound to have some vitamin and mineral deficiencies. To obtain the needed macro and micro nutrients necessary, you need to eat a balance of proteins, carbs and fats along with a plenty of vegetables that contain phytonutrients.  We need fat for healthy brain function so unless you are putting grass fed butter on that potato, you may lose weight but you may end up with mood issues, brain fog and forgetfulness.  Is it worth it?


• Crash dieting: How many calories are you consuming on a potato diet? If your calories count is too low, your body will then go into starvation mode and to hold on to its fat mass your metabolic rate will slow down. That means weight loss will slow down and may eventually come to a halt.


• Not Sustainable: What happens when you go back to eating real food? Now you transition from a mono, low calorie diet and switch back to your old ways of eating:  Your metabolic rate has slowed down so now when you eat you will gain what was lost at a more rapid pace


• Potatoes are a GMO crop: Unless you are only eating organic potatoes, not only is this diet nutrient deficient but now you are filling your body up with toxins. Glyphosate has been shown to disrupt the gut microbiome.  A healthy gut microbiome has been associated with maintaining a healthy weight while disrupted gut health has been associated with obesity.


• What was your diet/health like prior to the potato diet? The odds are if you are trying such a drastic crash diet, your diet prior to this was not good either.  Most overweight people are calorie sufficient but nutrient deficient.  Now you go on a very restrictive diet which only compounds the problem further.  Most people have other health issues in addition to the added weight, such as insomnia, fatigue, mood issues. Consuming a nutrient deficient diet such as this will not help these additional issues.


• What did the diet teach you? If you eat a potato diet and then go back to eating processed, sugary, starchy foods as the main component of your diet, what have you learned about eating healthy as a way of life? Nothing!  Instead get the education you need to change your habits to lose weight gradually on a diet that you can sustain.

 

Benefits to Eating Potatoes

Potatoes are a great addition to your diet, they just shouldn’t be the only part of your diet.  Potatoes contain B6, potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, fiber, B3 and pantothenic acid.  They contain phytonutrients and have antioxidant activity.  They also contain blood pressure lowering compounds.  So, add them into your diet (just not in the fried form please) but keep it balanced!

What to do Instead to Lose Weight

Instead get the help of someone who can evaluate your current eating patterns (food journal) and your health issues.  Gradual weight loss is best with a plan that leaves you feeling full, satisfied and one that is doable and sustainable for you. That is why most diet plans and diet books don’t work; because they aren’t individualized to meet not only your personal health needs but considers lifestyle factors as well.

While we can live on a low carb diet but we cannot live on a diet that is void of protein and fat. Side effects will occur. Therefore, a balanced diet is best.  Start your day with protein and fats, and increase the number of carbs throughout the day so that your dinner contains most your carbs.  This can look like a green protein smoothie for breakfast, a large salad for lunch with added protein and homemade salad dressing, snacks of handful of nuts or nut butter with fruit, then dinner of a protein source such as wild caught salmon (good source of fats too) with a side of vegetables and sweet potatoes.

Sources

http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/08/mono-diet-potato-diet-penn-jillette.html

http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/05/weight-loss-metabolism-slows-down-hunger-increases.html

http://fortune.com/2016/01/14/genetically-modified-potatoes/

http://drpompa.com/additional-resources/health-tips/the-dangers-of-glyphosate-an-interview-with-dr-stephanie-seneff

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-gut-bacteria-help-make-us-fat-and-thin/

https://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=48

http://www.howmuchprotein.com/foods/potato/

http://time.com/4374959/protein-health-benefits-nutrition/

If you are sick and tired of feeling sick, tired, fatigued, depressed, anxious and more and have given up hope then Karen’s simple, effective, individualized and sustainable approach may be what you need.

Karen Brennan, MSW, CNC, Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® and herbalist, is the author of Tru Foods Depression Free Nutrition Guide; How Food Supplements and herbs can be used to lift your mood and owner of Tru Foods Nutrition Services, LLC.

For more information visit  www.trufoodsnutrition.com

Get her Food Swap Guide here to get started on your health journey today! Want more information, then like her fb page here

As a nutrition professional, Karen does not treat, cure nor diagnose. This information is for educational purposes only.

Potato Diet. Should you Try it for Weight Loss?

No evidence sugar-free soft drinks aid weight loss – study

Soft drinks made with artificial sweeteners, such as diet colas, do not help people lose weight and may be as big a part of the obesity problem as the full-sugar versions, academics have said.

A paper by researchers at Imperial College London and two universities in Brazil contends that artificially sweetened beverages, often called diet drinks, are just as big a problem as those containing sugar. There is no evidence they help people lose weight, they say, possibly because people assume they can eat more because their drinks are low in sugar.

The report says the combined factors of what goes into artificially sweetened drinks, how they are consumed, and their environmental impact mean that “far from helping to solve the global obesity crisis [they are] a potential risk factor for highly prevalent chronic diseases”.

Sugar-sweetened drinks, including sports beverages, have been identified as one of the major causes of obesity. Many countries, including Mexico and France, have introduced sugar taxes to try to reduce consumption, and the UK plans to do so next year.

Many manufacturers are looking to boost sales of drinks containing artificial sweeteners in order to escape the levy. Such products already account for 25% of the global soft drinks market.

Prof Christopher Millett, senior investigator at Imperial’s School of Public Health, said: “A common perception, which may be influenced by industry marketing, is that because ‘diet’ drinks have no sugar they must be healthier and aid weight loss when used as a substitute for full-sugar versions. However, we found no solid evidence to support this.”

The paper, published in the journal PLoS Medicine, is a commentary on the research done so far into artificially sweetened beverages promoted as healthier alternatives and the impact on weight.

It says the evidence does not suggest they help with weight loss, although they probably do not cause people to put on weight. Some studies show no weight loss; others show a small loss, but those studies were not always well done and were often funded by the soft drinks industry, the authors say.

Maria Carolina Borges, the first author of the study, from the Federal University of Pelotas, in Brazil, said: “The lack of solid evidence on the health effects of ASBs [artificially sweetened beverages] and the potential influence of bias from industry-funded studies should be taken seriously when discussing whether ASBs are adequate alternatives to SSBs [sugar-sweetened beverages].”

The paper argues that “given their negligible nutritional benefits and potential detrimental health impacts”, the environmental impact of manufacturing artificially sweetened drinks should be taken into account. It takes 150-300 litres of water to make one litre of drink, it says, and there is considerable solid waste and cumulative chemical pollution.

Prof Carlos Monteiro, a co-author, from the University of São Paulo, said: “Taxes and regulation on SSBs and not ASBs will ultimately promote the consumption of diet drinks rather than plain water, the desirable source of hydration for everyone.”

The British Soft Drinks Association dismissed the paper. Its director general, Gavin Partington, said: “Contrary to the claims made in this article, scientific research shows that low-calorie sweeteners, such as those found in diet drinks, help consumers manage their weight as part of a calorie-controlled diet.

“At a time when we are trying to encourage people to reduce their overall calorie intake it is extremely unhelpful that products that contain no sugar, let alone calories, are demonised without evidence.”

He added: “It’s worth bearing in mind that the UK soft drinks sector is the only category in which sugar is consistently falling year on year – over 17% since 2012.”

Global beverage companies have been investing in soft drinks, flavoured water, juices and ready-to-drink tea and coffee containing artificial sweeteners in response to the obesity crisis and the outcry over sugar. The World Health Organisation has said sugar should not be more than 10% of people’s energy intake, and preferably lower than 5%.

On Tuesday the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s announced a 13% cut in the sugar content of its own-brand cereals.

The government has asked food manufacturers to reduce the sugar content of their products by 5% by the end of this year. Sainsbury’s said it had also removed all illustrated characters from its cereal boxes as part of a commitment to responsible marketing to children.

No evidence sugar-free soft drinks aid weight loss – study

Thyroid Dysfunctions & The Obesity Epidemic: Is Your Weight Loss Canary Suffering?

There’s no doubt that thyroid disease is on the rise. Now the question is why?

The reason your weight loss attempts might not be working is because your weight loss canary might be suffering…let me explain.

From the research, I have reviewed and the patients I have seen over the last 10 years, it’s clear to me that the thyroid gland is your body’s own yellow canary. It’s sensitive to many different influences—your diet, your lifestyle, and the world around you. And all these influences can affect how well your thyroid functions.

Remember how miners used to detect toxic methane gas and carbon monoxide? They sent bright yellow canaries into the mines. Canaries are highly sensitive to these gasses—so much so that they die when exposed to them. Their deaths served as a warning system for miners so they do not enter and become exposed to poisonous air.

So, it’s not surprising that as we eat more toxic foods and are increasingly exposed to pollution, petrochemical and industrial wastes, and heavy metals that thyroid problems have also skyrocketed. In fact, more than 20 percent of women and 10 percent of men in the United States have thyroid dysfunctions—and half of them don’t even know it (1, 2)!

But exactly how does your environment affect your thyroid?

We now have substantial research to demonstrate that environmental chemicals have a direct impact on the thyroid gland. It’s clear that PCBs and other industrial petrochemical toxins can lower thyroid function, as well as other pollutants such as chlorine, fluoride, and bromide.

Since the thyroid produces hormones that manage your metabolism, anything that affects your thyroid will ultimately affect your metabolism. In fact, there’s evidence that toxins boost the excretion of thyroid hormones, leaving you with less of this hormone to control your metabolism—and a decreased ability to burn fat.

The truth is, your thyroid plays a huge role in weight control, and in determining your metabolic rate.

The question is not if, but how much is today’s obesity epidemic linked to the harmful effects of environmental toxins on metabolism.

I’ve seen so many patients struggle with their weight, only to have the pounds melt off when we addressed their thyroid problems.

True, not everyone’s weight problems are caused by thyroid dysfunction—but if you’re overweight, you should consider the connection. That’s why the best medical doctors always check their patients’ thyroid functions and will consider all the possible causes of subtle thyroid imbalance, including toxins, food allergies, nutritional deficiencies, and stress.

Now let’s talk about some of those other factors.

For example, food allergies, like sensitivities to gluten and other foods, also negatively affect thyroid function—and are frequently undiagnosed. Likewise, deficiencies in nutrients important to good thyroid function—like selenium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids. and iodine and tyrosine—can also trigger thyroid problems.

With all these factors that can affect your thyroid, it’s clear that we need a new approach to the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease. Many doctors can miss the subtle signs of thyroid problems, and conventional medicine often treats low thyroid function with inadequate, one-size-fits-all drugs like Synthroid.

However, thyroid dysfunction requires a more personalized, integrative approach—one that you can help control by becoming an active partner in your care. First, keep an eye out for the symptoms of a low thyroid function, including (3):

• fatigue


• sluggishness


• trouble getting up in the morning


• depression


• dry skin


• dry hair


• constipation


• fluid retention


• menstrual problems and PMS


• hair loss


• cracked or chipping fingernails


• low sex drive


• weight gain


• muscle aches


• cramps

Yes, a lot of those symptoms are common and vague—which is one reason why thyroid dysfunction often goes undetected. But if you notice any of these signs, bring them to your doctor’s attention, and ask him or her to test your thyroid function.

If you are diagnosed with low thyroid function, the following steps recommended:

1. Eliminate the causes of thyroid problems, like toxins, food allergies, and nutritional deficiencies.


2. Exercise


3. Eat foods that provide nutritional support to your thyroid—and avoid those that don’t.


4. Use supplements that protect your thyroid, such as vitamins A and D, selenium, zinc and fish oil.


5. Work with your doctor to choose the right thyroid proto

Remember, thyroid hormone is the master metabolism hormone. If your thyroid is out of balance, your metabolism is out of balance, too.

Do you have a dysfunctional thyroid?

Know that the problem can be fixed. By following the program here you can get your thyroid working properly, keep your weight under control and start feeling better today.
1. The Truth About Low Thyroid: Stories of Hope and Healing for Those Suffering with Hashimoto’s Low Thyroid Disease – August 30, 2016 Dr. Joshua J. Redd
2. Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? when My Lab Tests Are Normal: a Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism, 1st Edition, Dr. Datis Kharrazian
3. http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20723100,00.html

Thyroid Dysfunctions & The Obesity Epidemic: Is Your Weight Loss Canary Suffering?

15 Weight Loss Herbs and Spices That Actually Work

15 Weight Loss Herbs and Spices That Actually Work

6 Natural Solutions For Hair Loss (That You Can Find In Your Home)

Hair.  It’s one of the first things people see when they look at us and for most, a major part of our identity.  Whether long or short, thick or thin, having a full mane of hair is a luxury that we often take for granted until it starts falling out.  Whether due to stress, environmental factors, or genetics, hair loss can be a major source of anxiety and cause tremendously low self-esteem.  While losing 50-100 hairs a day is completely normal, when you start shedding significantly more, there could be a problem.

While there are many medications on the market that claim to enhance and reverse hair loss, many of them contain harsh chemicals which negatively impact the body in different ways. If you’re looking to stop hair loss in its tracks, try taking a more natural route to see the benefits of a lush head of hair.  Before running off to the doctor for an expensive and possibly ineffective course of treatment, try one of these 6 natural solutions for hair loss to get your hair growth back on track.

What is the best about them? You can find most of them at your home!

1. Indian Gooseberry

Indian Gooseberry, also known as amla, can kickstart hair regrowth when used properly.  Due to its high content of Vitamin C, this natural anti-inflammatory (also so rich in antioxidants) can help restore hair growth in people who are deficient in this mineral.  To use, simply mix one tablespoon of Indian Gooseberry Oil with lemon juice, massage it into your hair, and then cover with a shower cap.  You can leave it on overnight while you sleep or for a few hours during the weekend when you’re getting things done around the house.

To use, simply mix one tablespoon of Indian Gooseberry Oil with lemon juice, massage it into your hair, and then cover with a shower cap.  You can leave it on overnight while you sleep or for a few hours during the weekend when you’re getting things done around the house.

2. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk isn’t just a grade substitute for dairy products, it can be used on your scalp as a powerful weapon against excessive hair loss.  After covering your scalp with the most pure form of coconut milk that you can find, massage it into the scalp and let sit for 15-20 minutes.  Cover with a towel or shower cap while it’s working to nourish any damaged tissues on your scalp.

3. Aloe Vera

This alkalinizing agent is known for it’s amazing ability to soothe sunburned skin and due to its high content of enzymes, it also can also help reduce inflammation of the scalp and promote healthy hair growth.  Aloe helps regulate the pH level of the skin and scalp which fortifies and adds luster to the hair.  Aloe Vera is not only one of the best solutions for hair loss, but also helps eliminate dandruff!

To experience the benefit of aloe, massage either the get or juice into your scalp and let it sit for a few hours.  Wash with lukewarm water.  Repeat three to four times a week.

4. Onion

Though it may not be the hair scent you are going for, onions can have a wonderful impact on the health of your hair.  Due to their high sulphur content, they help regenerate hair follicles by improving blood circulation in the scalp.  Onion juice also contains antibacterial properties which kills off bacteria that can live on the surface of the scalp and cause infections that result in hair loss.

The Journal of Dermatology published a study  that showed up to 74% of people using onion juice on the scalp regained a significant amount of hair growth.  People have been extracting onion juice and using it as a hair loss treatment in groves ever since. This may seem ordinary vegetable is a great source of vitamins as well as zinc and iron,  the two minerals that promote healthy hair growth.

To extract juice from an onion, simply grate and then strain it.  Put the juice directly onto your scalp and leave for 30 minutes.  Shampoo and rinse.  Some people recommend mixing onion juice with olive oil or lemon juice for an extra powerful punch.

5. Head Massage

Who doesn’t want an excuse to go get a good massage? Whether you do it yourself, have a significant other perform it, or make an appointment at your salon, having oil massaged into your scalp can positively impact hair growth.  Massaging the scalp stimulates the hair follicles and improves blood circulation both resulting in heavier growth of hair.  Coconut and almond oils are both good to use because they also help add softness and shine while leaving your hair smelling clean and fresh.

 6. Fenugreek

Fenugreek seeds have gained popularity in recent years for their ability to fight hair loss.  Fenugreek helps rebuild damaged hair follicles because it contains hormone antecedents, nicotinic acid and proteins that stimulate them.  To properly use Fenugreek, soak the seeds in water overnight.  When morning comes, grind to make a paste and then cover your scalp with it.  Let the paste sit underneath your shower cap for 30-40 minutes.  Rinse thoroughly.

In a day and age where there is a prescription for everything, sometimes it is easy to forget that there are natural remedies for our problems literally just lying around.  When it comes to hair loss, there is no need to stress about which treatment option may be right for you, especially when nature has given us so many wonderful ways to stimulate and reignite hair growth.  Try one of these natural solutions for hair loss and you will soon be on your way to thicker, stronger, healthier hair!

6 Natural Solutions For Hair Loss (That You Can Find In Your Home)

Can a 30-second chat with a GP really trigger weight loss?

There’s a big debate in the world of obesity treatment. Does it help to inform someone they’re obese, or does it cause unnecessary distress?

Those who believe the former will be buoyed by a new study, published in the Lancet medical journal on Tuesday, which attracted excited news coverage. With usual restraint, the Sun shouted, ‘HONESTY IS BEST POLICY: GPs must TELL patients they’re fat’, while the Guardian announced, ‘GPs should not worry about offending obese patients’. Both took their lead from the Lancet’s own press release, which stated ‘the findings should provide reassurance to doctors who rarely talk to patients about their weight for fear of causing offense’.

But does the study support this conclusion? And can, as the BBC declared, a 30-second chat reallytrigger weight loss? The answer as ever requires delving beyond the headlines.

The study, led by a team from the University of Oxford, was a randomised controlled trial of GP-led referral to commercial weight loss programmes. Patients with an obese body mass index were recruited while waiting to see their GP, and given an envelope to take into their appointment. The GP opened the envelope, and depending on whether the patient had been randomly assigned to the intervention or control group, reacted accordingly. In both situations, the GP spent around 30-seconds recommending that the patient lose weight. Those allocated for intervention were referred to a commercial weight loss programme and helped to book their first appointment, while controls were left to their own devices.

That difference – whether the patient was actively helped to book onto a commercial weight loss programme or was left to their own devices – is what the study primarily tested. Not the effectiveness of the 30-second chat, and certainly not whether it’s helpful telling patients they’re obese.

The trial’s reported success is because those who received the intervention lost an extra 1.4kg (3.1lb) after 12-months compared to those who received the control. But since all the participants received a 30-second chat, it’s impossible to say whether this was itself useful, as there was nothing to compare it to. Although the control group were 1kg (2.2lb) lighter at the end of the study than they were at the beginning, this might not be that surprising, because of a statistical quirk called regression-to-the-mean, first described by statistician Francis Galton, who found that tall parents had children who were, on average, shorter than their parents. This law of measurement occurs because any extreme value (one far away from average) is more likely to be a high water point than a true extreme. Think how often you’ve discovered an amazing new dish at a restaurant, only to find it disappointing the second time around. Along with the placebo-effect, this is one of the key reasons why a control group is so important.

So, to the question of whether a 30-second chat can trigger weight loss, the answer is maybe, maybe not. We know onlythat a 30-second chat followed by immediate referral to a commercial weight loss programme can lead to modest weight loss over a period of 12-months. It’s a substantial leap from there to concluding that GPs can talk freely to their patients about their weight without fear of causing offense.

The study did ask participants whether they found the chat ‘appropriate’ and ‘helpful’, and almost all participants agreed. But this does not prove that all such conversations are appropriate and helpful. First because the results can’t be interpreted beyond the brief and highly scripted discussions in the study. Second because questionnaires are highly susceptible to bias, depending on factors such as wording and how, where, and by whom questions are asked. To avoid this, the gold-standard approach to testing the pros and cons of a new intervention are in-depth (qualitative) interviews. Research of this type was planned in the study protocol, but was not included in the final publication. Qualitative research is considerably more difficult to publish in leading medical journals. The Lancet will hopefully welcome these results when they are available, and afford them with same publicity as they have the numerical findings.

Another difference between the protocol and the publication includes what’s been explicitly highlighted as a potential ‘competing interest’. In the protocol the authors state under ‘competing interests’ that, ‘Slimming World and Rosemary Conley… agreed to fund free treatment courses for NHS patients participating in the trial’. In the article, they state under ‘acknowledgments’ that, ‘the weight loss programmes… provided by Slimming World and Rosemary Conley Health…were donated to the NHS’. Semantic differences aside, the study has provided excellent marketing in the media and in the wording of the ‘typical’ GP conversation, which asked, “Did you know the best way to lose weight is to go to [Slimming World or Rosemary Conley]…?”. Rival weight-loss companies may dispute this, especially those that advocate more drastic methods such as meal-replacements. But the bigger issue, and perhaps the key limitation with spending just 30-seconds on something as complex as obesity, is what was not said.

As most who’ve tried to change their weight will affirm, the biggest challenge isn’t so much the initial weight-loss, but keeping it off. In fact the single best predictor of future weight gain is to currently be on a diet. How then should a GP respond when the same patient returns after a couple of years having regained their weight, or gained even more? And what impact might this have on the patient’s self-esteem, and their trust in their doctor? Until such questions are answered, I think GPs are right to pause and think carefully about how and when to raise something as sensitive as obesity.

Dr Peter Tennant is a University Academic Fellow in Healthcare Research and Statistical Epidemiologist at the University of Leeds. His research primarily studies the effects of obesity and diabetes in pregnancy. You can follow him on Twitter @pwgtennant.

Can a 30-second chat with a GP really trigger weight loss?

Understanding Weight Loss And Depression

It goes without saying that weight loss can be a difficult battle for just about anyone.

This is something that is definitely true when the health problem at hand is depression. Mental health is something that takes a toll on the mind as well as the entire body.

Can You Successfully Lose Weight With Depression?

The answer is yes, but it may prove to be a difficult task.

There are a lot of hurdles that need to be overcome on both mental and physical levels. If you are not in a decent state of mind, which is normal with depression, it may be that losing weight can seem nearly impossible.

Depression can lead to weight gain because a number of sufferers tend to be “emotional eaters“.

Being overweight and obesity are very serious issues when it comes to all different types of mental illness, since hunger is something that starts as a brain function.

There are far too many that die from this, usually from developing heart disease. So, this is something that needs to be cured.

Another major aspect of weight gain and those who suffer from depression will be the medications that they take. There are some medications that impact hunger, often making someone eat more.

Unfortunately, it can be the depression as well as the medication impacting your weight gain. If you happen to notice this is taking place with you, it is best that you see your physician right away.

Alcohol

Alcohol is sometimes the go to drink for many who are deeply troubled mentally. We already understand that drinking alcohol when depressed is bad idea because it can both exacerbate the issue and also will not fix the underlying causes.

However it is also well known that consuming alcohol is detrimental to your weight and overall physical health.

To someone with a sound state of mind, the occasional drink is not such a big problem, but when combined with mental health problems, alcohol can absolutely destroy your body.

How What You Eat Affects Your Mental State?

There has been lots of research that covers the connection between food and health, and the overwhelming consensus is that how we eat as well as what we eat, affects our mental state.

Essentially, some foods contribute directly to a poor mental state, which in turn can drive us into a depressive state which further leads to a “comfort eating” style of consumption…It is a cycle that is incredibly difficult to break, and one which makes weight loss particularly difficult.

So What Does This Have To Do With Depression & Weight Loss?

Even though weight loss can be possible when you are depressed, this is a road that is not easy.

Taking on a sensible diet and exercising in the right manner will be the best way to lose weight with a mental illness.

The problem may not be all about getting involved in a healthy diet and a good exercise plan, but more about having to have a healthy mind.

If your mind is not healthy, the chances of maintaining proper weight loss could go way down. People starting in on a weight loss plan and feeling like they have to overdo it or they could hit a setback could easily give up.

If you have a negative outlook on not only yourself but also your life, you can be unnecessarily hard on yourself. Coming out of this is a great chance that you could worsen your depression even further, or go on to develop an eating disorder.

Many researchers are having a tough time working to devise solid plans to help anyone with depression to lose weight.

Too many factors are involved and different forms of depression that have brought us to a wide gap in results.

Researchers agree that it is fully possible for those with depression to lose weight. They further agree that it can be a difficult process that involves ups and downs throughout a particular dieting plan.

Making slow, positive changes including the implementation of a healthy diet and exercise plan can help people to feel better about themselves and work on losing weight effectively.

There can be some forms of depression where breaking a habit could be extremely difficult unless there is something to remind the patient that they are making unhealthy choices.

They can try to bring along some sort of a reminder on a card to combat this issue.

Depression and weight loss can be difficult to tackle.

There are a lot of things to consider, but this is something that is achievable. If you happen to have depression and have to lose weight, you need to be sure that you consult with your doctor in order to formulate a plan that is safe and healthy that works for you.

Understanding Weight Loss And Depression

Green Tea Extract: How to Burn Fat and Super Charge Weight Loss

Green tea extract offers an amazingly effective, natural way to burn fat, lose weight and enjoy superior health benefits. Unlike many other supposed fat burning supplements, green tea’s ability to burn fat works for just about anybody, whether you’re an avid fitness buff or a person who simply takes a daily walk.

How Does Green Tea Extract Burn Fat?

Boosts Metabolism

Green tea naturally boosts metabolism with its unique properties which include natural caffeine as well as other substances that help burn fat. In fact, it’s so effective, you can even use caffeine free green tea and still enjoy the metabolic boost that burns fat.

Super Charges Endurance

For those that are serious about fitness and exercise, green tea dramatically enhances endurance levels, especially when exercising or while doing any physical activity.

Strengthens Immune System

Aside from the major fitness and fat burning benefits, green tea also boosts the immune system because it is a super antioxidant that helps to fight off illness and slows the effects of aging.

How Much Green Tea Extract to Take

Green tea is found in supplement and tea form. In order to benefit from the super fat burning benefits, it’s generally more effective and easier to use in supplement form. You can get green tea extract in pills or capsules.

A recommended daily dose to burn fat is 600 mg of EGCG (epigallocathechin gallate – the metabolism boosting element of green tea.). You can split the dosage up into two or three doses to spread it out over the day.

It would be difficult to take this amount in tea form, since an average cup of tea offers about 40 mg of EGCG. To burn fat at an accelerated rate, you’ll need to take it in supplement form.

For those who want to modify this suggestion, you can take the advice of noted dermatologist and nutritionist, Dr. Perricone. He suggests drinking green tea in place of your coffee over a period of 6 weeks to easily lose 10 lbs. without any other changes to your diet.

Of course, your fat burning efforts will benefit most from taking green tea extract when you exercise and lower your caloric intake.

Safety and Precautions

Green tea extract is generally safe for everyone, except for those who suffer from serious liver damage. Some people might experience jitters, stomach ache or minor anxiety because of the caffeine content. You can always opt to take caffeine free green tea extract or simply drink tea, if you prefer.

If you have any health concerns, be sure to discuss the use of green tea extract to burn fat with your trainer or health care professional.

For more natural, healthy and toxic free living info, visit us at WiselyGreen.com. Follow us on Facebook.

References:

Top 5 Fat-burning Foods

Green Tea for Weight Loss

Authority Nation

Green Tea Extract: How to Burn Fat and Super Charge Weight Loss

Horseradish For Fast Weight Loss: A Herbal Syrup Recipe You Should Try to Burn Belly Fat Quickly

This is a miracle weight loss syrup, one of the main ingredients is fresh horseradish, a popular herb with perennial green leaves and white roots. It has pungent taste and has been widely used in treating many health problems.

Thanks to its healing properties, people described horseradish in this way: “Radish worth the weight of lead, silver – beet weight and horseradish weight of gold.”

Super Food: Horseradish

• Horseradish is a good source for lots of essential nutrients:B Vitamins (Vitamin B1, B2, B6)
  Vitamin C
  Calcium
  Iron
  Potassium
  Magnesium
  Phosphorus


• Horseradish is a good agent for stimulating the appetite thus aiding in digestion


• It’s widely used to treat back pain as it helps stimulate the blood flow to skin’s surface to provide relief from the pain.


• Horseradish juice is an effective remedy for sinusitis, it clears the sinuses and eases sinus discomfort.


• It has been proven to be effective for fighting infection due to its antibiotic, antibacterial and antifungal properties.


• Also because of its high vitamin C content, horseradish works great to boost the immune system and protects you away from cold, flu as well as other bacterial infections.


• Horseradish contains a high level of glucosinolates, which may help suppress the growth of tumors. It prevents several types of cancers, such as lung and colorectal cancer.


• Finally, horseradish is super low in calories and fat. What’s more, it offers a good amount of fiber. It helps you lose the unwanted fat, reduce your waist and remove the excess water from the body, thus helping you lose weight.

Here is The Recipe For Losing Weight With Horseradish

Ingredients:

• The main ingredient-Horseradish: 125g


• Fresh lemons: 4


• Fresh ginger: 2 cm


• Raw honey: 3 tablespoons


• Cinnamon: 2 tablespoons

Directions:

Add the horseradish and ginger into your blender. Blend them well and then put in the lemon juice, stir them.

Add honey and cinnamon and stir the mixture until you get a syrup.

Store the syrup in a glass jar.

How to Use:

Take a teaspoon of the syrup twice per day before your meals.

Use it regularly for 3 weeks, and you’ll notice the difference in your body.

Sources: healthdiaries.com, healthy-weight-loss-help.com,healthylifetricks.com

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Horseradish For Fast Weight Loss: A Herbal Syrup Recipe You Should Try to Burn Belly Fat Quickly

5 Natural Treatments For Hair Loss In Women

Hair loss in women is actually fairly common, but thanks to their long hair, they are generally able to hide any balding patches or thinning of hair by changing their hairstyle. However, women can successfully treat hair loss if they seek care the moment they notice and realize that they are losing hair. In women, usually the first sign of hair loss is when their part line becomes wider or their ponytail begins getting shorter. Much like male-pattern baldness, female-pattern hair loss can also occur.

Fortunately, there is no reason for women to suffer from hair loss in silence, considering that there are multiple natural treatments, such as the five detailed below.

1. Onion Juice

Onion happens to be very rich in sulfur, which can prevent hairs from breaking and promote rapid hair re-growth. Onion juice can also deliver essential nutrients to hair follicles and nourish them. Onions also contain flavonoids that are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. As seen in one particular study, it took merely six weeks for a majority of people to experience hair re-growth after the application of onion juice onto their scalp, two times every day. Bottled onion juice is readily available in the market, while it can also be extracted from onions lying in the kitchen. Even the scalp’s blood circulation can be boosted just by massaging onion juice or raw onions onto it.

2. Capsaicin Supplement

Androgenetic alopecia is the scientific name of female-pattern hair loss, which is a genetic problem and a woman may inherit the genetic component from her father or mother. There have been several studies where capsaicin has proven to be effective for humans suffering from alopecia. Capsaicin is basically the compound that gives peppers their hotness. In most of these studies, it took an average of 5 months for definite hair growth to be experienced. Of course, this does not mean women should start eating peppers, rather capsaicin supplements are readily available and a one 6 milligram pill every day seems to be the recommended dose. However, it is better to consult with a health professional before taking such a supplement.

3. Green Tea

Many of the different antioxidants that are present in green tea are capable of promoting hair growth. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen hormone, is responsible for hair loss in both men and women, and green tea contains catechins that are able to block it by inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, which helps metabolize steroids like DHT.

Along with promoting hair re-growth, it can also help prevent scalp-related problems like dandruff and dryness. According to a study from 2005, green tea also contains polyphenols that also play a role in the prevention of hair loss [3]. Best of all, there are several ways in which green tea can be used for the prevention of hair loss and promoting hair growth.

For instance, women can rise their hair with freshly brewed green tea and allowed too cool down, right after they have washing their hair. The green tea should be allowed to remain for at least 10 minutes after which it can be rinsed out with cold water. This should be done twice or thrice every week for a few months for best results.

Women can also make their hair healthier and strengthen them by drinking anywhere between 2 and 3 cups of green tea every day.

A solution to prevent hair loss can also be prepared using green tea bags. This solution can be prepared by placing a few green tea bags in hot water for a couple of seconds and then pulling them out. Once the water has cooled down, the bags should be squeezed into it and then two teaspoons should also be added to that water. This mixture should then be massaged into the hair for anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes, after which it can be washed off. This should be repeated every 4 to 7 days for eight to twelve weeks.

4. Coriander

Apparently, not only can coriander (which is also known as cilantro) help prevent baldness in women; it can also be used to prevent grey hair and treatment scalp problems. To treat hair loss, it is best if coriander is applied in the form of a paste, although its juice can also be used. Chop fresh coriander leaves, mix them with water and then add some curd as well to prepare a paste. This green coriander paste should then be applied onto the scalp and be left on for at least 1 hour, after which it can be washed off.

5. Aromatherapy

Although further research needs to be conducted, the results of a study suggest that aromatherapy can prove to be beneficial for women suffering from hair loss [5]. Aromatherapy involves applying essential oils on the skin or inhaling them, whether directly or by spraying them in the air. In the mentioned study, cedarwood, lavender, rosemary and thyme were the essential oils that had been used, while grapeseed and jojoba oils had served as carrier oils. A mixture of these oils was massaged directly onto the scalp, and this apparently not only helped in reversing the hair loss but also help improve the scalp’s skin.

Additional Information on stopping hair loss on the article I wrote on the subject http://hairlossdebate.com/hair-loss-cures/

5 Natural Treatments For Hair Loss In Women