5 Foods that Keep You Thin

Take a look around any book store, and you'll find dozens of diet books lining the shelves. Despite their bright and cheerful covers, with their positive, upbeat claims, many of them are filled with information that promotes all the wrong messages.


"The word 'diet' is negative and implies people can go on and off them," said Jane Korsberg, a senior instructor in the department of nutrition at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Korsberg is one nutritionist who thinks it would be better to re-think the whole concept of dieting.

"'Diet foods' are confusing to many people," she explained. "What diet is the 'diet food' geared for? Is it low-calorie, low-fat, low-sodium, low-sugar, gluten-free, et cetera?"

Besides, many of the foods that specifically target dieters seem to rarely satisfy. Take those 100-calorie snack packs, for example, made to help people control calories. Those often don't even work, Korsberg says. After all, few people actually stop at only one pack.

You don't need fancy plans or complicated point systems to be thin. All you need to do is make smart food choices, watch your portion sizes and stay active.

"Learning to eat properly for a lifetime is more beneficial," Korsberg said. "The emphasis should be on choosing healthful foods every day and changing lifestyles for the better."

So instead of sticking to diet fare, fill up on nutritious, wholesome foods. And if you need some recommendations, you can start with these five options, which are among the many delicious foods that make a good addition to healthy eating while keeping you slender.


Apples

Apples are a good source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber not only contributes to a healthy digestive system and reduced cholesterol, but it also benefits smart eaters by yielding no calories while keeping them satisfied.

And there's something else about the fruit that might help you feel full. A study in the journal "Appetite" found that when women added either three apples or three pears to their daily meals, they lost more weight than people who added three oat cookies to their diets -- even though the fruit and the cookies contained the exact same amount of dietary fiber.

Although the reason behind this finding may be a mystery, there is something to be said for the findings. According to Alan Aragon, a nutritionist and author of "Girth Control: The Science of Fat Loss & Muscle Gain," crunchy foods in particular can trick a person into feeling fuller. The act of chewing may send satiety signals to your body, he says, making you think you've eaten more than you really have and keeping hunger at bay.


Almonds

If you're looking for a tasty midday snack, a handful of almonds are a well-regarded option. A study in 2009 in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that women who ate nuts at least two times a week were more successful at keeping weight off than those who didn't eat this food.

One particular favorite among some nutritionists is almonds, says Aragon. One ounce of this food contains only 167 calories, plus it packs roughly 6 g of protein and 3 g of fiber, both nutrients that can make you feel full. Furthermore, like apples, almonds are crunchy and require a lot of chewing, so they, too, can make you feel like you've eaten more than you actually did and keep you fuller longer.


Salmon

If you're uncertain about fish, there's no need to fear. Seafood can be part of a healthy diet. And there's some evidence that the fat in foods such as salmon can boost satiety levels, says Aragon. For example, a study published in the "International Journal of Obesity" found that when dieters ate salmon a few times a week, they lost about two more pounds than those who didn't include seafood in their meals.

And in spite of the mention of salmon's fat content, the food is relatively low in calories. One 3-oz. serving has just 175 calories. Salmon is a good source of protein as well.


Eggs

There's no doubt that protein, like fiber, has impressive satiating powers. And while eggs seem to have a bad reputation in some circles, there can be no contesting their ability to help keep your weight in check.

Research has shown that eating eggs at breakfast can help you fight weight gain all day long. A study reported in 2008 in the "International Journal of Obesity" found that when dieters ate two eggs for breakfast for five days out of the week, they lost 65 percent more weight than dieters who consumed a bagel in the morning. Although protein is likely to fill you up whenever you eat it, some scientists suspect that having more in the morning can keep you feeling fuller all day long.


Tomatoes

It's true that most veggies make for great diet fare. Non-starchy vegetables in particular, such as carrots, celery and spinach, are filled with fiber. Like other foods high in fiber, they can help keep you feeling satiated.

Plus, they're pretty self-regulating, says Aragon. You can't really overeat with nonstarchy vegetables. After all, how many baby carrots can a person eat without needing to dunk them in some ranch dressing?

So while there are many veggies that can help you stay slim, tomatoes might be a particularly good option because they're so tasty. And, besides, with that whole a-tomato-is-a-vegetable-no-it's-a-fruit argument, you might have forgotten all about eating them. One cup of cooked, red tomatoes contains just 43 calories, but tastes just as delicious as any number of high-calorie foods.

And that's at least half the secret, finding foods that are both healthy and tasty. The good thing is, they do exist. Over time, you'll discover what wholesome, filling foods you prefer, expanding your choices while shrinking your waistline.

By: Kristin McGrath
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/5-foods-that-keep-you-thin-2507875/
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Family Health: How to Help Your Children Stay Fit and Healthy

By Gina Michelle Francis

As a parent, we all know the importance of providing our children with the best possible start in life. But that isn't something that is confined to possessions; giving them a healthy lifestyle that encourages them to stay healthy is of much greater importance. But how is it done? These 10 steps should give you some pointers as to how you can do something productive about your family's health.

1. If you're children can't name more than three different vegetables, yet have a thorough knowledge of the menu of most takeaway restaurants, you need to make a change. There's nothing wrong with a takeaway once in a while, but keep it as an occasional treat and avoid it becoming a habit.

2. Ready meals aren't much better, so it's best to avoid them. Instead, find the time to prepare home-cooked, healthy meals for your family. Take it in turns with your partner, if possible. And if you don't yet have the culinary skills, why not take a cooking class or ask your relatives for tips and advice.

3. That may also require you to find new recipes to help your little ones stay healthy. There are many books, magazines, TV programmes and online portals that offer healthy family recipes for you to try. By introducing your family to new, healthy foods, you can expand their diet but ensure it doesn't just include fast food.

4. With each meal, why not introduce them to a new vegetable? Many people grow up being dismissive of certain foods without ever having tried them. By instilling a passion in your children for good food and encouraging them to try before deciding, they should grow up with a healthy outlook on what they eat.

5. These days, children can get borderline obsessed with computers and video games, but it can get in the way of more healthy pursuits, like playing football or riding bikes. By limiting the time your children are allowed to play on these technological wonders, you may be empowering them to be fit and healthy.

6. Whatever you do, when your children are young, don't put a TV in their room. Not only does it create anti-social behaviour, but like computers it could be having a negative impact on their health.

7. If you're guilty of living a lifestyle that's far from healthy, you could be setting a very bad example. As the most significant role model in your children's life, it's important that you don't walk in from work, put the TV on and sit down for the rest of the evening. Stay active and your children might just follow.

8. Take part in healthy activities together and it could lead to the whole family getting healthier. Why not take a bat and ball to the park or head to the local tennis courts together? Or, you could invest in bikes for the entire family and head to the local forestry to explore your surroundings.

9. Open up their world to new sports and hobbies and see if something takes their fancy. There are so many interesting pursuits, from popular options such as football and cricket to karate and ballet.

10. If they do find a new hobby or sport, make sure you encourage them but don't get pushy. It's important that your children make their own decisions and do it because they take pleasure from it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6399229


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Best Acne Treatment - 4 Points to Note When Considering an Acne Treatment That Works

There are a lot of options to choose from to determine which works best in treating ones acne problems. A lot of products in all forms are now out in the market claiming that what they have is the answer to all acne related issues. But what is really the best acne treatment? What should it contain for it to work best with everyone's acne problems? Is there really one product out there that can claim that it is best and only solution?


Actually, there are products available. It is then dependent on the facial constitution. Not all faces have the same characteristics. While product A is the best for 1,000 people, it doesn't mean that it really is the best. We have to look for what's in the product and choose from there. Here are the important things you have to consider in choosing the best acne treatment for you.

1. Though Benzoyl Peroxide is known to be the most effective ingredient to kill and wipe out acne because of its strong and potent anti bacterial content, it has its drawback. After constant application Benzoyl Peroxide makes the skin red and sometimes can irritate it. Benzoyl Peroxide is very potent so in turn it may be a little too harsh on the skin especially when concentrated. Make sure that you by a lotion or a cream that only has 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide. It is not as strong and potent as the 5% but still as effective.

2. Check on the label and it should also have Glycolic Acid, an Alpha Hrydroxy Acid or AHA which is known to exfoliate the skin getting rid of dead skin cells. The presence of Glycolic Acid paves the way for the skin to regenerate cells.

3. It should be mild. Avoid those that come with scents as it may be too harsh for the skin. Keep it simple. You don't need a fresh perfume scent to get rid of acne.

4. Make sure that it is hypoallergenic. Ask your dermatologist for an opinion. He or she will definitely have something that's best for you to use.

By Casey Gentles, ezinearticles.com

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Learn About Your Asthma Allergies

Asthma is a medical condition that is triggered off by allergic reactions, these cause can be anything room a simple piece of dust or a reaction from an animal such as a cat or dog. With so many particles that are airborne around your home it's vital that any asthma suffer finds what triggers of their condition and eliminate that cause.


Some reactions can last for only a short period of time, while other can last longer causing more discomfort to the suffer. Medication is taken in most cases but prevention is better than any medication available and you should take steps to understand what and when your asthma is triggered off.

Triggers of asthma can be anything from furniture being polished, changing bed covers deodorants and perfume are just some of the elements that will set you condition off. You really don't want to go and find out what sets your asthma off but when you do have an attack sit back after you've recovered and find out what was going on in the environment around you at that time which then can aid you in stopping another attack.

Suffers would love to live in a bubble, safe for these allergens but that just wont happen so learning about our bodies is the one and only real way to combat this problem.

The best way to fight asthma is to look around the home, no cats or dogs because this is just one of the main cause, I would advise you to have the least amount of carpeted surfaces and wooden or vinyl floors are better and wont require vacuuming all the time, blinds are the next factor and can be wiped clean with a wet cloth and are better than curtains and at all cost never allow anyone to smoke in your home. These are just some of the steps you can take to living a better life with your asthma.

By Steve Shillingford
ezinearticles.com

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Hair Loss Treatment Reviews - What to Look For

Like any consumer opinion, you can only rely on hair loss treatment reviews to a certain extent. The opinions expressed may match the results that you will see, but they might not.

In order to help you evaluate what you read in a hair loss review, here's a look at the causes of alopecia and baldness. You may be able to figure out what's causing your problem and compare it to what you read about in other consumer's reports.


Does badness run in your family?

If it does and the reviews you are reading were written by other people that have inherited alopecia or baldness, then you should experience the same results that those people see. Treatments that typically work for inherited baldness in men include saw palmetto and Minoxidil. For women, Minoxidil is effective in more than 50% of cases, according to research.

Are you a man?

If you're a man, a hair loss review written by a woman might not provide the information that you need. By the same token, if you are a woman, you want something that works for women. But, nutritional deficiencies are common in both sexes. Magnesium supplements are recommended for both men and women. Zinc is commonly recommended only for men.

Did the alopecia happen suddenly or did baldness occur gradually over time?

The most common cause of sudden alopecia is a shock to the system. It could be a physical or a psychological shock. Child birth, the loss of a loved one, a nutritional deficiency, a high fever, serious illness or surgery could cause the problem.

You don't need to read a hair loss review to find a cure; a little time will do the trick. After three to six months, you should start to see the problem resolve itself. But, nutritional supplements may speed the process.

Is the baldness in a pattern?

Baldness that occurs on the top of the head in men and around the natural part in women is considered pattern baldness. It occurs because the follicles in those areas are more sensitive to a hormone called DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The sensitivity is sometimes hereditary, but it may be caused by dietary factors or other health problems.

If you have pattern baldness, you can trust in the hair loss treatment reviews for saw palmetto and Minoxidil. But if you want to see the best results, you should make sure that you are eating a healthy diet that is low in simple carbs and junk food. Those foods contribute to inflammation, which damages the hair-producing follicles.

Saw palmetto prevents DHT from damaging the follicles. Minoxidil improves blood circulation and nutrient flow to the follicles. You should find a positive hair loss review for one or both of those products on the internet.

There are many other causes of alopecia, but the ones mentioned above are the most common. They are typically mentioned in hair loss treatment reviews. I hope this information will help you make an informed decision on what you should do next.

by Arianna Dumonde
Arianna Dumonde is a consumer advocate and a dedicated researcher of nutrition and hair loss issues affecting both men and women.

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Do You Want to Lose 10 Pounds in Two Weeks and Keep it Off? You Can!

If you want to lose 10 pounds in two weeks, you can. However, to do so, you're going to have to know specific information that will help you succeed. If you want to lose 10 pounds fast, you'll need to know how things work first.

First of all, if you begin to lose the weight on your own, you may have short-term success, but over the long haul, you're probably going to fail. Why? Well, before we talk about that, let's ask this question: Has this worked for you before? If you've failed previously, you don't have to this time. There are some steps you can follow so that you can reach your goal and lose 10 pounds fast without having to work too hard. We'll talk about that in just a minute.

Get realistic with your weight loss goals

Most important of these is that you have to be realistic. Usually, people can lose 10 pounds in two weeks, true, but they do so in such a way that they can actually hurt their metabolisms. It's true that they may lose the weight, but they'll probably gain it back very quickly -- and gain even more. There are lots of gimmicks out there, lots of new weight loss programs that promise that you can lose 10 pounds fast, but most of them don't work. You are simply shelling out your hard-earned cash for nothing more than informational garbage.

Can you really stick to these methods? In fact, most of these regimens are so unrealistic that you can't live by them for the long-term. After awhile, you are going to get tired of the diet and your hunger (and boredom) is going to drive you to go back to the "tried-and-true," which is to eat too much and not exercise enough, if at all. So if you want to lose 10 pounds in two weeks, you need something that's easier, something that you can actually do, and something that's going to produce results.

Start a weight loss program that is doable and stick-at-able

If you've tried out fad diets before, or if you've maybe even tried popping a diet pill here and there, I have a question for you. Why aren't you still on that same diet or taking those same pills? And because you're not satisfied, you go from diet to diet to diet, thinking that "this time" is going to be the charm. You don't see any lasting results, and so you keep looking.

What you want is weight loss that's going to be long lasting; people everywhere are looking for it. If the truth be told, you've probably been successful at losing weight at least once in your life. Problem is, this shouldn't just be a "tease," or only to have the weight come right back. There's a better way to go about things, and we'll talk about that in just a minute.

Lose weight naturally

What if there was a way to lose belly fat naturally? This is real and not too good to be true. It really doesn't get any better than that. The bottom line is that we all know what it takes to lose weight. Losing a specific amount of weight in a short amount of time is going to take skill and knowledge. But not as much as you may think, these tips and tricks are easy to learn and stick to over a long period of time.

So if you want to lose 10 pounds fast, read on. You're not going to find these tips anywhere else. They're simple and easy to follow, and they work. You can lose 10 pounds in two weeks -- and keep them off, too.

by John GilbertGrant
JohnGG can help you attain your perfect weight. Take the free Weight Loss Survey and get his free report and .mp3 'The 4 Essential Factors for Weight Loss' plus Weight Loss Tips.


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How to Treat the Flu - Ten Practical Tips to Get You Through the Sickness

How to treat the flu is a question that is on a lot of minds; and this year is a double whammy with normal seasonal flu and the Novel H1N1 swine flu strain hitting at the same time. What should we be doing?


Unfortunately, there really is only one thing different that most of us can do and that's get the vaccination for seasonal flu as soon as it becomes available in your area. Vaccinations for H1N1 are going to be in limited supply and only available persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, plus health care workers and some care givers. If you are otherwise healthy and over 24 you will not get a shot for swine flu.

The symptoms of seasonal flu and swine flu are almost identical and it really takes a lab test to figure out which one you have. The symptoms are fever, sore throat, coughing, runny nose, nasal congestion and generally feeling run down.

Symptoms that should trigger a call to the doctor or ER are difficulty breathing, bluish tint to skin, persistent vomiting, or the return of symptoms after the fever has broken.

You can't "cure" the flu but you can treat the symptoms. The following are generally accepted treatments:

* Use Tylenol or ibuprofen to treat the fever
* Get plenty of rest. With the seasonal flu, your immune system will do as much to rid the flu as anything else. Unfortunately, no one has ever been exposed to N1H1 before so the immune system will be of little help.
* Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water. If you weigh 150 pounds then drink at least 75 ounces of water.
* Eat nutritious food and try to include garlic, onion, rosemary and thyme in your diet for their anti-viral qualities.
* Gargle with warm salt water each morning and evening to help prevention of infection in the throat.
* If you are on prescription drugs, check with your doctor to see how, or if, they will interact with the flu virus.

The second half of treatment is containment. Keeping the infected from infecting more.

* While masks (N95) will not protect you from getting the flu, it can be used on the patient to deter spreading the disease.
* Try to keep at least 4 feet from the patient. An infected person can spray the virus up to 3 feet with a cough or sneeze.
* Have the patient wash his or her hands frequently.
* Sanitize any surfaces the patient touches. When washing bedding or clothes, use a basket to move the laundry, don't hug it in your arms.

Influenza, be it seasonal or H1N1 is miserable. Hopefully these tips will help in a speedy recovery and a return to regular life.

Did you know that a family of four has an 80 percent chance of having a member be infected with swine flu? Do you have a plan to provide for care if a kid can't go to school? Did you know that vaccinations will be rationed due to a shortage of supply?

by Rachel Willson
ezinearticles.com

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Insure Your Health Today

Health is wealth; and rightly so; if one is healthy, it is only then that one can experience the true pleasures of life. The fast paced life these days has taken a toll on almost all of us. Heart attacks, high blood pressure, among other diseases have victimized many of us, and the humongous health care expenditure has burnt a hole in our pockets.

Health insurance companies provide an answer to all our insurance needs by providing the most apt health insurance schemes for their clients. These policies provide complete health coverage. Health care online is also made available to make the insurance an easy process, which is accessible to one and all. These online insurance products are extremely easy to buy and use. The whole process is extremely simple and does not involve any medical examinations at all.

The health policy is issued either to an individual, or a family, and the duration of this health coverage is for one year. The family health coverage includes spouse, dependent, children and dependent parents. The health care provides health coverage to individuals from the age of 5 years to the maximum age limit of 50 years. It may be noted that the health coverage of a child dependent would only start 91 days after both the parents are covered under this health policies. The premium for health insurance packages depends upon the age of the Insured person and the sum insured option he or she chooses.

Health care online makes it easy for the prospective buyers to get in touch with the executives, who guide them about the best health policy; suiting their needs and requirements. The health insurance products offered have a number of benefits including in-patient treatment, pre-hospitalization, post-hospitalization, day-care procedures, organ donor, etc. As per this health care , the person insured can claim 100% hospitalization expenses. Insured under this health policy, an individual can also avail medical expenditure for Ayurveda, Unani, Sidha and Homeopathy treatment; up to 10% of the sum insured.

If you are looking for the best health insurance, you can surf the net to find a plethora of options to suit your needs and requirements. What makes these health care policies more attractive are the special discounts that are offered to the clients. Though there are a number of companies, which provide health insurance schemes in the market. You can save time by purchasing health insurance online.

by By Mark Summers | ezinearticles.com

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7 Easy Anti Aging Makeup Tips (Without the Makeup)

Most people who take pride in how they look and feel get so worried about the signs of aging they begin to see as they start nearing 30's and even more so, in the 40's. Well, I just turned 50!

Many think that getting older and having to face the physical challenges of aging to be the worst time of their life. But, I say it can be the best time of your life.

You don't have to look at it in such a negative way if you know how to properly look after your body and of course, your mental health.

With today's innovations and products it is a lot simpler to take care of our body. In fact, it is not difficult at all. All you need to do is find and stick to a simple routine that will make you feel refreshed and great all the time.

Over time the best (and easiest) ones percolate up to the the top. So check out the following seven tips. It is never too late to start taking care of yourself and having great skin.

The 7 Best Of The Easiest

1. Drink Water The very first natural anti aging supplement is to drink lots of water every day. Water helps hydrate your skin while it also works to clean and flush away the toxins in your body. Your skin will look younger as it tends to look plumper and clearer when it is properly hydrated. So let's get drinking (water that is) to achieve that youthful and healthy glowing skin.
2. Eat Healthy The second anti aging skin care treatment is to eat a healthy and balanced diet. You are what you eat is so true. Most people just do not realize that the secret to keeping your skin quality flexible and happy is eating the right foods. That means lots of fibers, fresh fruits, and green leafy vegetables. These health food staples are a must for your diet if you want your skin to keep looking and feeling younger. Here is a bonus - these healthy food staples contain valuable minerals and vitamins which you can get naturally. No longer do you have to use dangerous procedures to help repair damaged skin tissues and cells and maintain young skin. Just remember, you must also cut out fatty, oily, and salty foods from your diet. I know it's hard - but you must do it.
3. Exercise Not just once in a while, but on a regular schedule. Exercise works wonders in keeping your skin cleared and refreshed. Plus, it makes you feel healthier and stronger. How many times do you need to exert yourself? 2 to 3 times per week. And remember, you must break a sweat for the toxins in your body to be released. Just think of having that perfectly glowing skin and sexy stronger, toned body.
4. Sun Protection That means no more tanning salons! There are so many excellent self-tanning creams and lotions available that are safe and convenient. Simply avoiding the suns dangerous rays and UV radiations will keep your skin in great shape and condition. Did you know that sun exposure is the number one factor that can damage your skin? All those young bronzed beauties will live their life with premature wrinkles and lines. If you are an outdoorsy type at the very least use a good sun screen lotion or sun block to protect your skin from the damaging rays. And let us not forget about the worst scenario - having skin cancer.
5. Social Habits If every higher taxes on social habits don't make you stop then do it for your skin. What am I talking about? Smoking and drinking beyond a normal daily intake level. The fastest way to damage your skin is to smoke. Tobacco contains dangerous chemicals that not only makes your skin age faster but saturates your body with toxins. Excessive alcohol consumptions is equally harmful to your skin health.. Your liver can only handle so many toxins and the more you smoke and drink excessively it becomes damaged. When it is no longer capable of flushing your body of toxins because of this overload your skin begins to stop glowing and takes on a sickly color and feel. Yuck!
6. Anti Aging Supplements How easy is this! And, there are so many to choose from that it is a snap to find the one anti aging supplement that works on your skin. You want to look for products that contain antioxidants and ingredients such as retinol, Vitamin C, A, and ceramides. These anti aging supplements will work wonders in repairing your skin, if it is only slightly damaged from aging.
7. Eliminate Stress Why is the last one always the one that doesn't seem easy at all? Is it really hard to keep a positive outlook in life. Life is sometimes difficult, yes. But if you keep your body in a constant state of stress, it releases chemicals that can make you physically or mentally ill. So, live a calm and stress free life. Try getting enough sleep to achieve this state of calm. Lack of sleep is harmful to your body and skin. And here is a super secret - lack of sleep not only affects your skin but your hair as well!

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The Best Way to Grow Taller - Age Doesn't Matter!

Most people think they are done growing when they reach about 16-19 years of age. This is not true. In fact, if you do the proper workouts, you can increase your height as much as 4 inches, even at age 25, or even age 40! Here is one thing that doesn't work, as well as the one thing that can increase your height drastically!

Do Not Take Pills!

I see advertisements almost every day that promise to make you taller if you take their pills. These pills are just useless herbs and NONE of them are FDA Approved. If the Food and Drug Administration wont support the companies making these pills, then it's obvious that they have no benefits.

These pills are very effective in 1 aspect though; They are great at stealing your money! Don't fall for these scams.

Spine Lengthening!

This sounds drastic and impossible, but it's not. As a matter of fact this is the only way that you can grow taller. As you stand, your spine and hips naturally settle down as much as 2 inches. You need to focus on getting those inches back in order to be the height that you should be. As you get older, your back sags more and more. This only means that the older you are, the taller you can potentially be! Posture is everything in growing taller.

Work on standing tall and straightening your spine whenever you are sitting or standing. It is important to stretch every day to help loosen your spine and get full height.

by Ira Glasser

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Nanang Rusmana: fwd: Klikdokter Artikel : Getah Pepaya Atasi Kanker

SETIAP bagian dari tumbuhan pepaya memiliki khasiat. Bahkan, getah pepaya yang terdapat di seluruh bagian tanaman, mulai dari buah, daun, batang, sampai akarnya, bersifat antitumor dan kanker. Ini karena lebih dari 50 asam amino yang terdapat di dalamnya.

Buah pepaya memiliki kadar serat yang tinggi. Itu sebabnya saat mengalami sulit buang air besar, pepaya adalah buah yang pas untuk dikonsumsi. Tentu, khasiat pepaya tak hanya pada buahnya saja. Linda misalnya. Ibu rumah tangga yang tinggal di Jakarta ini pernah membuat ramuan alami untuk mengatasi gejala cacingan pada anaknya yang berusia 3 tahun dengan memanfaatkan akar kering pepaya dicampur dengan bawang putih. Hasilnya tak kalah dengan obat cacing yang banyak dijual di toko.

Munaroh, juga ibu rumah tangga, pernah merasakan manfaat daun papaya untuk menambah nafsu makan anaknya yang sempat menurun setelah sakit. Hasilnya lumayan, berkat ramuan daun pepaya segar seukuran telapak tangan, sedikit garam, dan air hangat setengah cangkir yang kemudian diblender dan disaring guna diambil airnya untuk diminumkan, nafsu makan anaknya jadi bertambah.

Kandungan Papain
Buah, daun, dan akar papaya memang dapat dimanfaatkan mencegah gangguan ginjal, sakit kandung kemih, tekanan darah tinggi, dan gangguan haid. Sementara biji pepaya bermanfaat mengobati cacing gelang, gangguan pencernaan, masuk angin, dan diare.

Dari beberapa penelitian dijelaskan, batang dan daun pada tumbuhan pepaya mengandung banyak getah putih seperti susu (white milky latex) yang berpeluang dikembangkan sebagai antikanker. Manfaat getah pepaya untuk kesehatan dibuktikan Bouchut secara ilmiah, seperti dikutip Journal Society of Biology, yang menyatakan papain bersifat antitumor atau kanker.

Peran itu dimungkinkan oleh kandungan senyawa karpain, alkaloid bercincin laktonat dengan tujuh kelompok rantai metilen. Dengan konfigurasi itu, tak hanya tumor dan penyakit kulit yang disembuhkan, karpain ternyata juga ampuh menghambat kinerja beberapa mikroorganisme yang menggangu fungsi pencernaan, sehingga efektif untuk menekan penyebab tifus.

Lebih dari 50 asam amino terkandung dalam getah pepaya, antara lain asam aspartat, treonin, serin, asam glutamat, prolin, glisin, alanin, valine, isoleusin, leusin, tirosin, fenilalanin, histidin, lysin, arginin, tritophan, dan sistein. Mereka bersatu padu menjadi bahan baku industri kosmetik untuk menghaluskan kulit, menguatkan jaringan agar lebih kenyal, dan menjaga gigi dari timbunan plak.

Selama ini getah pepaya yang terdapat pada daun memang lebih dimanfaatkan untuk pengempukan daging dengan cara membungkus daging mentah dengan daun tersebut selama beberapa jam dalam suhu kamar. Selain itu, daun pepaya dapat langsung digosok-gosokkan pada permukaan daging. Penggosokan daun pada daging dimaksudkan untuk mengeluarkan getah (lateks) yang terdapat pada daun agar keluar, kemudian masuk dalam daging.

Bentuk Kemasan
Di beberapa daerah, daging dimasak langsung bersama daun dan buah pepaya mentah untuk mendapatkan daging yang lunak dan mudah dicerna. Saat ini, getah yang terdapat dalam daun dan buah pepaya mentah diekstrak untuk dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan campuran pengempuk daging secara komersial. Tepung getah pepaya sebagai pengempuk daging banyak dijual dalam bentuk kemasan di super market atau di toko bahan kimia.

Penggunaan getah tersebut bisa dengan penyuntikan secara langsung pada ternak setengah jam sebelum disembelih agar dagingnya lebih lunak. Enzim papain akan menghidrolisis kolagen dalam daging, sehingga bentuknya menjadi kendur dan daging akan lebih empuk. Enzim papain inilah yang merombak protein (kolagen) menjadi beberapa bagian.

Dalam buku Taman Obat Keluarga edisi III terbitan Departemen Kesehatan disebutkan, pepaya termasuk tanaman yang cepat tumbuh dan berbuah banyak. Di daerah tropis, pembuahan pertama dapat berlangsung kurang dari satu tahun dan kemudian berbuah sepanjang tahun. Jumlah buah bisa mencapai 50-150 per pohon setahun.

Jika selama ini Anda termasuk penggemar buah pepaya, tentu sepakat bahwa manfaat dan nilai gizinya bagi kesehatan sangatlah besar. Tidak sekadar memiliki serat tinggi, pepaya juga mengandung berbagai jenis enzim, vitamin, dan mineral. Malah kandungan vitamin A-nya lebih banyak daripada wortel, dan vitamin C-nya lebih tinggi daripada jeruk. Kaya pula dengan vitamin B kompleks dan vitamin E.

Hebatnya lagi, kandungan enzim papain dalam buah pepaya berfungsi mempercepat proses pencernaan protein. Kadar protein dalam buah pepaya tidak terlalu tinggi, hanya 4-6 gram per kilogram berat buah, tetapi hampir seluruhnya dapat dicerna dan diserap tubuh. Ini disebabkan enzim papain dalam buah pepaya mampu mencerna zat sebanyak 35 kali lebih besar dari ukurannya sendiri.

Meramu Idola Sepanjang Musim
Karena mudah dipelihara dan tidak mengenal musim, harga pepaya memang jauh lebih murah dibandingkan dengan buah lain. Meski harganya murah, manfaat yang dikandungnya ternyata sangatlah besar. Bahkan, setiap bagian tanaman, mulai dari biji, buah, daun, hingga getahnya, dapat dimanfaatkan untuk beragam keluhan. Tak heran, pepaya bisa disebut sebagai buah idola sepanjang musim.

Berikut beberapa contoh meramunya.

Biji

- Mengunyah satu sendok teh biji pepaya mentah dalam kondisi perut masih kosong setiap hari dapat mencegah dan membasmi cacing serta parasit lainnya. Biji pepaya ini dapat dipergunakan dalam keadaan basah maupun kering. Jika rasanya terlalu kuat, bisa dicampur dengan kurma atau madu. Bisa saja biji pepaya ini diblender dan dicampur dengan sedikit air, baru diminum. Sebagai program antiparasit, makanlah biji pepaya ini setiap hari selama seminggu, selanjutnya diulang dua minggu kemudian.
- Cara lainnya, ambil biji pepaya kering berupa serbuk 10 gram. Serbuk ini dididihkan bersama air 150 ml, sampai diperoleh larutan 75 ml setelah disaring. Hasil ini bisa diminum sekaligus dua jam sebelum makan malam.

Akar
- Untuk obat cacing, gunakan akar pepaya kering 10 gram, bawang putih 1 gram, dan air 100 ml. Bahan dipotong-potong, kemudian dididihkan dengan air selama 15 menit, baru disaring. Bila perlu, tambahkan air matang sehingga diperoleh hasil saringan 75 ml.
- Sebagai minuman penyegar, ambil dua potong akar dan satu lembar daun pepaya. Kedua bahan tersebut ditumbuk halus, kemudian direbus dengan satu liter air sampai mendidih, lalu saring. Bila perlu, campurkan madu atau jahe agar rasanya lebih segar.
- Untuk mencegah risiko batu ginjal, ambil tiga potong akar pepaya, kemudian rebus dengan satu liter air sampai mendidih, kemudian saring. Setelah dingin, campur dengan sedikit madu, lalu minum.

Getah
- Untuk obat luka bakar maupun gatal-gatal di kulit (sebagai obat luar). Oleskan getah dari buah pepaya yang masih muda. Agar tidak terjadi infeksi, bersihkan dulu kulit sebelum diolesi.
- Sebagai pelunak daging, daun pepaya dapat langsung digosok-gosokkan pada permukaan daging. Penggosokan daun pada daging tersebut dimaksudkan untuk mengeluarkan getah (lateks) yang terdapat pada daun agar keluar, kemudian masuk dalam daging.

Daun
- Sebagai pengontrol tekanan darah, ambil 5 lembar daun pepaya, rebus dengan 1/2 liter air hingga tinggal tiga perempatnya. Dinginkan sebelum diminum. Jika perlu, tambahkan gula merah atau madu agar terasa lebih manis sebelum diminum layaknya teh.
- Untuk obat demam berdarah, campur 5 lembar daun pepaya, temulawak, meniran secukupnya, dan gula merah. Rebus hingga masak untuk kemudian didinginkan sebelum siap diminum.
- Obat nyeri perut saat haid, ambil 1 lembar daun pepaya, buah asam, dan garam secukupnya. Rebus hingga masak untuk kemudian dinginkan dan diminum dalam satu gelas.

Buah mentah
- Untuk memperlancar ASI, mengatasi sembelit, gangguan haid, maupun gangguan lambung, manfaatkan buah pepaya sebagai bahan dasar sayuran. Sayuran buah pepaya ini biasanya dimasak seperti halnya membuat sayur lodeh. Sebagai selingan, dapat dicampur dengan daging atau tempe. Jangan lupa, sebelum memasak, cuci buah untuk membersihkan kotoran dan mengurangi getahnya.

Buah masak
- Untuk meningkatkan asupan serat yang membantu menjaga organ pencernaan sekaligus memperlancar BAB. Dapat dimakan langsung atau dibuat jus dengan dicampur buah lain serta ditambah madu atau gula.
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Reasons For Hair Loss

by Bronwyn Stringer

Do either of your parents have a history of baldness? If so, then you too may be at risk for hair loss. According to studies, the leading cause for hair loss in both men and women is known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. This form of baldness is usually identified by hair loss in the front of the scalp that moves steadily to the back and top of the head.

Male pattern baldness usually starts with a receding hairline and thinning hair. Female pattern baldness usually starts by a general thinning of the hair. The thinning becomes more noticeable in the back of the head rather than along the hairline. Bad hereditary luck is not the only reason for hair loss. A condition known as trichotillomania, or compulsive hair pulling, is known to cause hair loss. This condition usually targets whatever part of the scalp is being pulled on. This condition is usually not cause for serious alarm. Simply stop pulling on the affected areas and the hair will begin to grow back.

A slightly more serious and long-term hair loss condition is known as scarring alopecia. Certain hairstyles can put someone at risk for scarring alopecia. Tight braids, for example, around the scalp can cause excess tension and eventually lead the hair to fall out. Constant pressure on the hair follicles leads to inflammation and eventually to scarring.

Other reasons for hair loss include medical treatments. Certain prescription drugs are known to cause hair loss in a small percentage of individuals. Blood thinners and certain medications for heart conditions are two of the leading types medications that can result in hair loss.

Another medically related treatment that causes hair loss is chemotherapy. Most of the drugs used in chemotherapy cause hair cells to stop dividing. The hair becomes thin and breaks off as it pushes through the follicles. Although the patient is likely to lose all of their hair when on chemotherapy, it generally does not contribute to any long-term hair loss. When treatment is over, the hair will grow back.

There are many types of infections that cause hair loss. Ringworm is probably the most common fungal hair loss infection in children. It is a fairly contagious infection and can be identified by small circular patches on the scalp. The skin where the hair is infected is replaced by pink scaly looking skin. The treatment for this infection is anti-fungal cream applied directly to the infected areas. The condition is usually cleared up within 2-3 weeks of treatment.

About Author:

Bronwyn Stringer, the proud owner of the http://www.HairLossEffects.com promises to provide day to day information about hair loss for the people with hair loss challenge. Click on any of the list of links provided in the website by identifying the ones that apply to the personal hair loss issue. For lots more unique tips about Hair loss Cures, visit the website http://www.HairLossEffects.com.

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