Relieving Depression from the Inside

Everybody gets down or feels blue from time to time. It's a natural thing. But others get truly and seriously depressed - unable to cope with day-to-day life or to live their lives in anything resembling a normal fashion.

Depression comes in many forms, and affects more than 18 million American adults each year. Over a million preschoolers have currently been diagnosed as clinically depressed. 15% of most developed countries suffer from severe depression, and 30% of women suffer from depression - and 41% of those won't seek treatment. In fact, 80% of the people who are now suffering from any form of depression are not currently being treated. Many simply don't recognize the signs.

Experts report that depression will be the second biggest killer in the United States by the year 2020 and 15% of people with depression currently commit suicide each year.

While the condition of depression has received more awareness and understanding, the treatment for depression hasn't improved very much. There have been many new drugs introduced to the market place to treat depression, but he side affects are often worse or more serious than the depression! In fact, there seem to be just as many lawsuits against the makers of these drugs as there are drugs!

While everybody agrees that depression must be treated, the method of treatment has not been entirely agreed upon. Only recently has it been acknowledged that depression causes more than mental pain - it also causes physical pain. Some experts believe depression should be treated with medication. Others lean towards therapy and counseling. Some believe that sufferers need both medication and counseling.

In spite of all of this, more and more people are suffering from depression each year. The problem is not going away - it's getting bigger and there are still no viable solutions in sight.

What many people, including health care professionals, rarely stop to consider is what is causing the depression. Instead of focusing on the cause, they only want to find relief. Unfortunately, finding the cause is often part of finding relief, especially when it comes to depression.

Some depression is caused by life events, and this type of depression usually passes untreated - because it's natural. For instance, when there is a death in the family, the surviving members of that family may experience a period of depression and grief. When one loses a job, they may be down until they find a new job. Again, this is depression that is perfectly natural and normal, as long as the feelings of depression don't linger on or become too severe.

Other types of depression are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Too much or too little production of serotonin in the brain causes one to feel depressed. People who work the graveyard shift often experience depression simply because they are not getting enough sunshine - which produces serotonin.

What many people don't realize is that toxins in the body can also cause depression. Those toxins make you not feel well - or not feel "quite right." You obviously aren't sick, and you have no reason to feel depressed - but you aren't sleeping well, your energy isn't what it should be, and you may even have aches and pains. No matter what you do, those feelings persist. Depression is imminent!

Antioxidants, which detoxify the body and cleanse the cells, have proven to also be natural anti-depressants - with no side effects.

Severe depression should be treated by a doctor. Even mild depression may need treatment. But consider using an antioxidant as well to see how you feel, and also get the counseling that should be recommended to see what the underlying cause of your depression is.

by Steven-Godlewski

Depression from a Spiritual Perspective

This article about the intense subject of depression anticipates two ways of reaction. The question is: Will it be - in your case - shock or relief?

When you read about depression, you will encounter many passages like the following:

"These brain chemicals - in varying amounts - are responsible for our emotional state. Depression happens, when these chemical messages aren't delivered correctly between brain cells, disrupting communication."

What could be probably wrong with that statement?

It is based on the unquestioned belief that human beings are machines. Although this assumption is widespread, it is simply not a fact. Machines are built, operated and cared for by conscious human beings. In an analogous way our body and mind exist because of our existence as conscious beings.

It is not matter, which builds consciousness, but it is consciousness, which forms matter. That is actually our observation everywhere.

The matter of depression must be totally reevaluated from this new perspective. It is not a fact that brain chemicals are responsible for our emotional state, but vice versa. Our emotional state leads to the production of certain chemicals in our brain and body.

Of course there is an interlink between the two planes. Emotional states can definitely be influenced by certain chemical substances. But there is some substantial loss of information, as the "positive" state induced by chemicals cannot be compared with a natural positive state derived from the firm foundation in the conviction that life is wonderful.

Here we have arrived at a crucial point.

Depression is not caused by chemicals in the brain, but rather causes chemicals in the brain. Depression is a state of mind, wherein the affected human being has lost his/her connection to the original quality of life, which is bliss, knowledge and eternity.

Neither will medication help to overcome depression, nor superficial psychological treatment. The only way to help the depression sufferer is by unalloyed love, which is rare in this world. This sort of love will not further push him into the state of a helpless and powerless victim, but will empower him to take his fate into his own hands.

In this way the person suffering with depression will be given the chance to see live from a new perspective. He will learn to love himself despite of any shortcomings, because - by feeling appreciated and loved - he will come to love his real spiritual personality, which is always beyond the polarity of material despair and happiness. When he finds shelter in the ultimate quality of pure consciousness, which is unconditional love, he will feel the natural bliss of life.

Consequently this article ends with a request to doctors and psychologists: Become unconditional lovers! All other cures are temporary, like shifting a hurting heavy weight from one shoulder to the other. If you want to solve the root problem, you have to solve it first and foremost in yourself.

By: Friedrich Asen

Treating Depression with Magnetic Therapy

Man has been dependent on traditional medicine for a long time. However, as time passes by, researchers and even medical experts see that even the most efficient of drugs can bring unsatisfactory results. Even with months or years of continuous use of drugs, a patient may still not show the desired improvements or worse, may even develop the tendency to become immune to the drugs. This is when people tend to look for other methods of alternative treatment. This is true in cases of depression. For instance, where thirty percent of sufferers seem to become resistant to standard treatments, they have an alternative that may be helpful and effective. One of the newest, "non traditional" methods of treatment for people undergoing depression is magnetic therapy whose leading mode is called "transcranial magnetic stimulation."

Transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS) is one of the methods that have produced fairly positive results. When a patient undergoes TMS, a device is run over his or her head. This device sends electrical currents into certain parts of the brain. It is a powerful device that the magnetic pulses can even penetrate right through the skin and bone of the skull and can reach the brain's nerve cells. The pulses have to be magnetic since mere electrical ones cannot do the same penetration. According to research findings, these magnetic pulses can specifically target certain areas in the brain where the centers of depression can be found. These centers are accordingly the same centers that traditional drugs target.

Research shows that treating someone daily with TMS for a period of two weeks can result in significant improvements. For one, the patient's symptoms will be reduced by thirty percent. This is already a substantial change, especially for someone who is suffering severe depression.

Historically, magnetic therapy can be traced back to the times of the Tibetan monks. The monks are said to be huge followers and practitioners of this type of therapy.

Initially, studies on the use of magnets did not have favorable results. In order to contradict this, believers conducted small trial studies. The results showed that men felt reduced depression, however for women did not.

TMS may be a relatively "new kid on the block" and may still be classified as experimental, but there are already quite a number of clinics and medical experts that suggest this type of treatment especially for patients who have developed an immunity with regard to traditional drugs. Nowadays, researchers are even confident in saying that within ten years time, TMS may even become one of the common methods of treatment for depression.

By: Scott Meyers

The Dark Secret

I believe there is a flip side to The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. Her material is wonderful, but she misses an important point: there is a dark secret that prevents us from experiencing all the good we so righfully deserve.

We can have a healthier, happier life if we are willing to choose the Positive. However, this process poses significant challenges for us and our culture.

We are living in times of wondrous opportunity and great folly. The world still looks to America for hope, direction, and solutions. America remains a land of majestic beauty, a beacon of unlimited opportunity, prosperity, and abundance.

But America stands before us transfixed by the rhythm of automobile engines, entangled by a war of liberation and retaliation, surrounded by a haze of unnatural vapor and murky waters, mesmerized by the soothing images on color television sets and personal computers.

See the flashing lights; hear the wailing sirens of ambulances racing through our city streets to remove the bodies of children playing drug war games. Look at the women unsafe from attack while jogging in city parks or strolling through neighborhood parks or even office corridors. Youngsters are assaulted by gunman in schools, airport terminals, and McDonald Restaurants. Robbers steal and prey on the unsuspecting in subway stations, private homes or parking lots.

Meanwhile, numerous high school graduates can’t read or write, and many college graduates can’t find decent jobs. More of the clergy break their vows and end up in court or prison. Half of all eligible voters in our country rarely vote.

Millions of Americans who work, struggle to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Forty-four million Americans don’t have healthcare insurance. More than half of our bankruptcy claims are due to overwhelming healthcare costs; yet our political system passes laws to make filing Chapter 7 even more difficult.

In the last year alone, a million people have joined the ranks of the poor. The mentally ill and our homeless continue to overwhelm local social service networks. Medicaid and prison costs threaten the solvency of state governments. Furthermore, mass media floods us with the uneasy images of emaciated third-world children, assassinations, terrorist bombings, casualties of war, looming pandemics, natural disasters, and fear.

The good news is that life doesn’t have to be an experience of constant pain and unhappiness. Unfortunately too many people, after initially trying to make some healthy changes, simply give up and return to their old ways of living. And life does appear to be very negative for so many of us.

By profession, I am a social worker who has learned to believe in our right to heal and
find peace. I advocate strongly this position: we can learn how to make
changes or improvements in ourselves as well as our culture. The process will take
commitment, practice, and faith.

For the last 30 years of my adult life, I have reached out a loving hand to countless many that suffer and hurt. In spite of all the pain, sorrow, human misery, and hardships that I have witnessed, I am awe-struck by the incredible spiritual growth I see, including miracles that have appeared in my life’s journey.

Do you need a miracle? Are you facing a challenge of sickness, loneliness, pain, loss, excessive habits or lack? Surely you will agree that living in today’s world is exciting, but you also know there is so much that is wrong, destructive, and harmful.

Spend some time with me and we will talk about healings, happiness, miracles, and social reforms. My healings can be the start of your miracles; our miracles can begin to transform social ills; our culture dedicated to social healing can take its rightful place in the service to the needs of the world.

For a moment let’s talk about personal healing, social work treatment, and the need for social healings; but above all else, let’s hold on to a message of hope. My approach requires that ultimately each person find their own inner pathway to healing. Along these lines I am reminded of a story from the Talmud: (4):

“A young Rabbi talked to his master: ‘During the time when I am studying I feel filled with light and life, but as soon as I cease to study this mood disappears. What should I do?’ So the Rabbi replied: ‘It is like a man who walks through a forest on a dark night, and part of the way is accompanied by a companion who carries a lantern. Soon they come to the point where their paths divide, and they must go on alone. If each carries his own lantern, one need fear no darkness.’”

What I will share with you is not new but old and it is a lantern. If we are to survive in this world, I believe it is time to wake up and look around. Let us choose to see the Light. Let us sing the song of Light, and search for our emotional connection to the Light that flows inside and through us all. With this knowledge of spirituality firmly in place, we can claim our in-born right to healing, happiness, and freedom.

Like the ancient Greek philosophers emphasized; “Knowledge is not what a man has been told, shown, or taught; it can be only what he has found out for himself by long and rigorous search.” (5). Absolute Knowledge—the Light, is subject to many different styles and modes of interpretations, just like music can be expressed in an infinite number of modes.

The more I share with others, the more I discover that Light is everything I know and feel plus more than I know and feel—the mystical element. Follow that which is positive, wholesome, and good. Choose your good, and know in your heart as well as your mind
and body that absolute Love-Light is Supreme. Find a way to bring more spirituality
into your daily experiences and miracles will definitely happen.

Today I choose to share what Light means to me in the hope that you will find your own truth-vision. This is an exercise that will take patience, faith, and practice. What will soon become clear to you, from reading my book, is that the pathway to healthy change
overflows with peace, joy, and “bliss” as the mythmaker states.

I have divided my intervention approach into two parts. Part I will focus on: face stressful feelings and think positive thoughts. Part II will conclude with: take positive action and turn to Positive Power. This is a healing formula. One can use it to facilitate personal healing, to help others, and to make improvements in our country. It begins with the best we can humanly do in steps 1 through 3, and then requires our complete surrender in step 4 to the power of Light however one defines It.

I see my message as a beacon of Love-Light to those who want and need to have a better life. When we find the power to unlock our dark secret, we can all become more effective change agents, which will help our nation heal too. And then one can super-size The Secret, to get the results we all are want and need.

More information is available at Lulu.com under The Dark Secret About Healing and Recovery.

By: qlcoach

Get The Cold Hard Facts About Hair Loss Remedies And Treatments

Statistics show that most men have a 50% chance of experiencing hereditary hair loss by their 50th birthday. The severity and nature of baldness can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia, alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, and alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body. The term bald derives from the English word balde, which means white or pale, or the Celtic word - ball, which means a white patch or blaze, such as on a horse's head.

Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop hair loss. If the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, hair may fall out; treating thyroid disease will help remedy this. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

About 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you can suddenly temporarily lose a large amount of hair; this hair loss is related to the stress of the illness. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance; correcting the hormone imbalance may stop the hair loss. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it's important to find the cause so that it can be treated properly and fast.

Many women notice hair loss about three months after they've had a baby; during pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out and when the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts up again. Some drugs or medications can cause hair loss, which improves when you stop taking the medicine; medications that can cause hair loss include blood thinners, medicines used for gout, and chemotherapy drugs used for cancer, too much vitamin A supplementation, birth control pills and antidepressants. In the past it was believed that baldness was inherited from a person's maternal grandfather; while there's some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss.

Products for hair loss include: shampoos, shampoos and conditioners, conditioners, lotions, creams, concealers, thinning hair shampoos, laser combs, laser brushes, the Lasertron Hair Growth Brush, herbal based products, chemical based pills or tablets, Nizoral shampoo, Neutrogena T-Gel, and many others. Regular aerobic exercise can help keep androgen levels naturally lower while maintaining overall health, lowering stress and increasing SHBG. Surgery is another method of reversing hair loss and baldness, although it may be considered an extreme measure.

There are hundreds of hair loss products used as hair loss remedies and treatments. Topical application of Ketoconazole, which is both an anti-fungal and a potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, is often used as a supplement to other approaches. Propecia (Finasteride) and Minoxidil (Rogaine in the U.S and elsewhere as Regaine) are drugs that have reported having shown some success in partially reversing loss but consider the side effects.

Very little testing has been done on the long-term effects of Minoxidil on women. While drastic, broad spectrum anti-androgens such as Flutamide are sometimes used topically; Flutamide is potent enough to have a feminizing effect in men, including growth of the breasts. Propecia is available with a prescription; comes in pill form, is only for men and may take up to six months before you can tell if it is working.

Vodka and cayenne remedy for loss - mix one jigger of vodka with a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (test on skin first for sensitivity) and rub it on the scalp; blood rushes to the hair follicles stimulated by the vodka and cayenne pepper - be careful if you try it. Circulation to the scalp is important. Saw Palmetto is an herbal DHT inhibitor often claimed to be cheaper and have fewer side effects than finasteride and dutasteride; unlike other 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, saw palmetto induces its effects without interfering with the cellular capacity to secrete PSA (protein specific antigen).

Olive oil and rosemary remedy for hair loss - use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a cap and shampoo in the morning. Try lying on a slant board with head down for 15 minutes a day, but clear it with your doctor first. Try using double-strength herbal sage tea as a hair rinse or apply to scalp every day as a tonic.

Beta Sitosterol, which is a constituent in many seed oils, can help to treat BHP (benign prostatic hypertrophy) by lowering cholesterol; but consuming large amounts to get at small quantities of beta sitosterol is likely to exacerbate male pattern baldness. Try scalp massage every day. Garlic oil remedy for hair loss - at bedtime, puncture a couple of garlic pearles, squirt the oil on the scalp, massage, cover with a cap, shampoo and rinse in the morning.

Apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth. Garlic for hair loss remedy - an hour before bedtime, slice open a clove of garlic and rub it on the hair loss area, wait for an hour then massage the scalp with olive oil, put on a cap, go to bed, shampoo your hair in the morning, repeat for a few weeks, and hopefully hair will stop falling out and regrowth will be showing. Resveratrol, from grape skins, is a lipase inhibitor and by decreasing the body's ability to absorb fat through the intestine walls, it reduces the total fat and calorie content of a person's diet.

Keep in mind that hair loss should be continually treated, preferably natural however, even after it stops. Treatment for alopecia can be slow and sometimes not successful; the more hair that's lost, the more you may have to work at it to get it back and in some cases may not be able to; but try as many natural non-invasive treatments and remedies as possible. If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may want to consider trying different types of hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.

Not All Hair Loss Means Hair Problems - Understand The Cycle Of Hair Growth First...

Hair grows in recurring cycles, with each cycle composed of three phases - anagen, catagen and telogen. The anagen phase is also referred to as the growth phase. About 85 to 90% of all the hairs in our heads are in this phase at one time. This part of the growth cycle lasts from 2 to 6 years and can continue for up to 8 years.

Once the hair reaches its maximum length in the anagen phase, the catagen phase of the growth cycle begins. This is a short phase, lasting only about 1 to 2 weeks. The catagen phase is also referred to as the transitional phase, when the cycle reaches the regressive stage and hair growth slows down. The follicle shrinks in size and the base begins to break down.

The telogen phase of the growth cycle is also known as the resting phase, when growth stops completely. This is the part where the follicle becomes degraded. This cycle lasts for about 6 weeks. Some hair may fall out but some stay in the follicle. Near the end of the telogen phase, new hair begins to form and grow. If the old hair is still attached, it is forced out and falls off the head. About 10% of our hair are in the telogen phase.

Hair growth cycle and hair loss

To understand hair loss, it is important that we know the nature of the cycle of hair growth. It is normal for people to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. When this happens, you are probably in the telogen phase. You'll probably find these lost strands in your brush, comb or on your shower floor. This is normal and there is no need to worry because they will be replaced by new growth.

It is only when you're losing more and are noticing rapid thinning that you should be concerned. These are signs that your hair growth is not fast enough to replace lost strands and there is a possibility that your normal hair cycle has been disrupted.

Hair grows from the follicles which are found in the top layer (epidermis) of the skin. It is made of keratin, a form of protein, the same component of the epidermis, fingernails and toe nails. At the base of the follicles, a papilla is found, which is made of blood vessels and nerves. These ensure that the growth cycle runs uninterrupted.

Factors that can affect hair growth

Barring any obstacle, the hair growth cycle will continue unabated. It is only when some factors are applied that the cycle is disrupted or stopped. These factors can lead to temporary hair loss. Or if not, they can cause alopecia, which is more permanent. These can include hormones, nutritional deficiencies, diseases of the thyroid gland, chemotherapy and radiation. The cycle may also be affected by skin diseases of the scalp, trauma or stress.

Certain drugs can also disrupt normal growth, including anti-depressants, hypertension drugs, retinoids and birth control pills. The birth of a baby may also contribute to hair loss, along with diseases such as lupus, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Men and women with eating disorders or undergoing severe dieting are also susceptible to this condition.

It is interesting to note that hair growth is not indicated in the human embryo in its initial stages. Hair growth only becomes apparent when hair follicles begin to appear in the early stages of the embryo's development, before it assumes a human form in the mother's womb. Evidence of hair growth begins to appear when the fetus is approximately 9 weeks old. By 9 months, the human fetus already has every hair follicle he/she will ever have.

By: Steven Yeoh

Turn Hair Loss Into Healthy Hair Naturally

One study that was done in Australia showed the prevalence of mid-frontal hair loss increases as people age and affects 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 years and over. The normal cycle of typical hair growth lasts from two to six years. A bit of trivia- the word bald derives from the English word balde, which means white or pale, or the Celtic word - ball, which means a white patch or blaze, as on a horse's head.

Some fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children which is easily treated with anti-fungal medicines. In the past it was believed that baldness was inherited from the maternal grandfather; while there is some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so it can be treated properly and fast.

Hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, like lupus or diabetes and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss, especially thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows. Traumas due to chemotherapy, childbirth, major surgery, poisoning, and severe stress may cause a condition known as telogen effluvium.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" that can result in hair loss ranging from just one area on the body to every hair on the entire body. If a medicine is causing your loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine or you may find you really don't need the medicine after all. Poor digestion, parasites and nutrient deficiencies like an iron or biotin deficiency shouldn't be overlooked as possible causes.

Minoxidil is a drug that is used daily to prevent hair loss but may create heart problems; the hair it grows is very fine, only on the top of the head and may fall out again soon after the drug is discontinued. There are hundreds of hair loss products on the market today used as remedies and treatments. There are many natural home remedies and all sorts of recipes for making mixtures to apply topically to the scalp.

Surgery is another method of reversing hair loss and baldness, although it is considered an extreme measure. Topical application of Ketoconazole, which is both an anti-fungal and a potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, is often used as a supplement to other medical approaches. Minoxidil is available without a prescription and is for topical application only, but one needs to consider the side effects.

Products for hair loss include: shampoos, shampoos with conditioners, conditioners, lotions, creams, concealers, thinning hair shampoos, laser combs, laser brushes, the Lasertron Hair Growth Brush, herbal-based products, chemical- based pills or tablets, Nizoral shampoo, Neutrogena T-Gel, and many others. Studies done on subjects of various adult ages suggests that weight training alone may increase testosterone in studies where aerobic exercise only was compared to either weight training or a moderately sedentary life. Propecia (Finasteride) and Minoxidil (Rogaine in the U.S and elsewhere as Regaine) are drugs that have reported having shown some success in partially reversing loss but one needs to consider the negative side effects and long term usage.

Massage the scalp nightly with an oil mixture made of one part rosemary oil and two parts almond oil. Make sure to test all remedies on a small area first and check with your doctor or skin doctor before trying any natural home remedy if it includes any irritating ingredients. You can try lying on a slant board with head down for 15 minutes a day, but clear it with your doctor first.

The Russian cure with honey and vodka remedy - combine one tablespoon honey with one jigger of vodka and the juice of a medium-size onion; rub mixture into the scalp every night, cover with a cap and shampoo in the morning. Polygonum Multiflorum is a traditional Chinese cure for hair loss; whether the plant itself is useful, the general safety and quality control of herbs imported from China can be very questionable these days. Vodka and cayenne remedy for hair loss - mix one jigger of vodka with a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (test on skin first for sensitivity) and rub it on the scalp; blood rushes to the hair follicles stimulated by the vodka and cayenne pepper - but be careful if you try it.

The olive oil and rosemary remedy for hair loss - use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a cap, go to bed and shampoo in the morning. The raw onion remedy - take half a raw onion and massage the scalp with it; cover the head overnight, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Resveratrol, from the skin of grapes, is a lipase inhibitor and by decreasing the body's ability to absorb fat through the intestine walls, it reduces the total fat and calorie content of a person's diet.

Circulation to the scalp is of utmost importance. Saw Palmetto is an herbal DHT inhibitor often claimed to be cheaper and have far fewer side effects than finasteride and dutasteride; unlike other 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, saw palmetto induces its effects without interfering with the cellular capacity to secrete protein specific antigen (PSA). Apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may also stimulate hair growth.

Keep in mind that hair loss should be continually treated, preferably naturally however, even after the loss stops. Sometimes it will indicate a disease or condition that hadn't been recognized or diagnosed before. If you experience any form of hair loss that causes you concern, make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist to discuss the treatment options available to you for your particular condition.

Healthy Hair for a Healthy Body

Our society has an increased interest in making healthy lifestyle choices. We pay closer attention to what we eat and how we exercise our bodies. We look to our bodies for signs of good health, and we know how to recognize potential trouble. Even with all of our knowledge, however, many of us don't know that our hair can be a great tool for measuring good health.

To determine whether your hair and body are truly healthy, you need to understand the hair growth cycle. By knowing the growth cycle and reacting appropriately to the different phases, you'll be able to maintain healthier and thicker hair and to prevent unnatural hair loss and baldness.

Hair obviously grows continuously from the scalp. The rate of speed at which it grows will naturally vary from person to person, but the growth rate averages about six inches per year. From the time that a hair first appears above the surface of your scalp, it will grow in three different phases. These phases are essential, as the hair continually grows from your scalp.

The catagen is the first phase of growth that your hair will go through. This is also known as a transitional phase for your hair. When hair is in the catagen or "regressing" phase, it is actually getting ready to shed. The moisture, salt and water are released, and the growth of the hair will completely stop. This allows for the outer root of the hair to shrink and attach to the inner root. Catagen can last from two to four weeks. Different areas of your scalp are in this phase at all times, while other areas are in subsequent phases.

Telogen is the "resting" phase. Again, at any given time some of your hair will be in this phase, which typically lasts for about three months. The telogen phase occurs directly after catagen in order to complete the formation of the hair. If you pull out a hair during this phase, you will see hard, dry, white material at the root and you will experience some scalp irritation.

Anagen is the third and final stage of hair growth. Some healthy hairs are able to keep growing over time, yet others will become dead at the follicle. In the telogen phase, hairs that are unable to keep growing will fall out. Remaining hair will progress to "growth" phase known as anagen.

During this stage, roots of your hair begin to produce and divide new cells. New hairs are then pushed through the open follicles in the scalp. This type of hair will remain active from two to six years. If your hair tends to grow quite long, then you likely have a longer active anagen phase.

When the anagen phase becomes less active, hair loss and baldness occur. This is why it's important to understand the growth cycle of the hair before you can properly respond. You can give your hair the boost it needs when you know and can appreciate the hair growth cycle. You're able to find the best care methods for your scalp and hair, and you may be able to prevent the occurrence of premature hair loss.

Keeping healthy is not just about knowing your body from head to toe. It requires full understanding from HAIR to toe. Your hair is a great indicator of your overall well-being. Know the growth cycle and how to keep your hair healthy.

By: Venus Enock

Old Fashioned Ways That Help You Keep The Weight Off

With news media showing us that being overweight, both in men, women, and children, causes a few of the most dangerous health problems today. Now is the best time to lose those unwanted pounds you've gained. No matter if it's from an over abundance of food during the holiday season, like Christmas, to simply being unmotivated to begin that new exercise regiment, losing weight will have long term medical benefits and make you feel more confident in your appearance.

However, it will take time so be patient with yourself if you don't see fast results. You now see too many drugs and "wonder" diets now advertised. These are simply hunger suppression methods as opposed to healthy calorie controlled options. They may offer a "quick fix" and stop you from being hungry, and thus helping you lose weight, but the effects of it, being the equivalent of starving yourself, can have long term repercussions. Pills, and other quick fixes, prevent you from focusing on the crucial points of the reason your weight increased in the first place.

So despite what the drug makers want you to think, some of the most reliable ways to lose weight and maintain it are the old tried and true methods:

Diet- Okay, no surprise here, what you consume has a direct effect on what you weigh. Yet this isn't as insane as it may sound you can still eat the same amount of food that you did prior, just in healthier and more frequent options. So, instead of a cookies for a snack, have a piece of fruit. And instead of over eating on one enormous meal that is harder to diguest, eat scaled down portions spread throughout each day. This can have the net effect of reducing calories without reducing food!

Breakfast- You may think that it's an old wives tale that breakfast is the most important part of the day, but it's indeed true. Since the most busiest part of any day is usually between 11.00am and 4.00pm, having a good yet nutritious breakfast will not only help keep starvation at bay but guarantee that your metabolism has something to feed off. This in turn take care of any impulses for midday snacks, which most likely are fattening fries or burgers.

Eat Regularly- A number of men and women think that the less they eat, the less they will weigh. While this is true to a certain extent, it's starvation and that becomes a concern. So, instead of not eating a meal, make sure you eat often, but with reduced sized healthy quantities of fruits and veggies, dairy and protein. This will make sure that hunger pangs are kept to a minimum.

Exercise- Again an obvious one, but one that is skipped. You aren't required to work out 24/7 at the gym to keep weight under control. Simply enjoy a long walk with a loved one, or a swim. This helps to burn off excess calories and will have you feeling much healthier and happier.

By sticking to a well managed meal plan, yet still eating tasty food that is healthy at the same time, in addition to becoming more physically active, you'll soon begin to not only see dramatic results, but feel the difference in your clothes. And once that happens, you'll never want to be unhealthy again.

By: Natasha Hopkins

Basic Weight Loss Tips That Anyone Can Use

With news media showing us that being overweight, both in adults and children, causes some of the most serious health problems for our generation. There's never been a better time than now to lose that extra weight you have gained. No matter if it's from an over abundance of food during the holiday season, like Thanksgiving, to simply being unmotivated to begin a new exercise routine, dropping the pounds will have enduring health benefits and make you feel more confident.

Keep in mind that it will take time so be patient with yourself when it comes to seeing the results. Although there are many drugs and "wonder" diets advertised constantly. These are really just hunger suppression tactics as opposed to healthy calorie controlled options. Pills may give you a short term solution to your cravings, therefore assisting in your weight loss, but the effects of it, being equal to starving yourself, can have lasting repercussions. Pills, and other quick fixes, prevent you from focusing on the important issues of the reason you gained weight in the first place.

So in spite of what the pill pushers want you to think, the most reliable methods of losing weight and keep the pounds off are the old fashioned methods:

Diet- Okay, no surprise here, what you consume has a direct effect on what you weigh. Yet this isn't as insane as it may sound you can still eat the same amount of food that you did prior, just in healthier and more frequent options. So, instead of a cookies for a snack, have a piece of fruit. And instead of over eating on one enormous meal that is harder to diguest, eat scaled down portions spread throughout each day. This can have the net effect of reducing calories without reducing food!

Breakfast- You may think that it's an old wives tale that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it's indeed true. Since the most active part of any day is usually between 11.00am and 4.00pm, having a good yet healthy breakfast will not only help keep starvation at bay but ensure that your metabolism has something to feed off. This in turn take care of any impulses for midday binges, which often are no more than unhealthy fries or burgers.

Eat Regularly- A number of adults perseved that the less they eat, the less he or she will weigh. While this is true technically, it's starvation and therefore far from healthy. So, instead of not eating a meal, be sure to eat regularly, but with smaller healthy quantities of fruits and veggies, dairy and protein. This will guarentee that hunger cravings are staved off.

Exercise- Again an obvious one, but one that is skipped. You aren't required to work out 24/7 at the gym to keep weight under control. Simply enjoy a long walk with a loved one, or a swim. This helps to burn off excess calories and will have you feeling much healthier and happier.

By sticking to a well managed meal plan, yet still eating tasty food that is healthy at the same time, in addition to becoming more physically active, you'll soon begin to not only see dramatic results, but feel the difference in your clothes. And once that happens, you'll never want to be unhealthy again.

By: Natasha Hopkins

The Top Ten Myths About Fat Burning

Ah, you chefs! You tempt us with your delicacies, engross us with your artistic mastery, and seduce our senses into submission. That's what you hear a lot of, isn't it? The subject of weight gain and loss seems to come up a lot whenever there's a chef in the room. But if you really want a response or two, here's some myths about weight loss that the general public just keeps hanging on to. Put them to rest, and maybe your diners will start a fitness program that works - and quit blaming it all on your raspberry truffles.

#1. It is possible to lose fat in one location on your body, often called "spot reduction".

Spot reducing simply and plainly does not work. When the body burns fat, it is lost throughout every area of the body at the same time. Focusing on one area of the body for exercise may develop better muscle tone in that area, which will make that part of the body appear tighter and more fit, but it will not remove fat from that area. It is important to exercise the whole body, in a well-balanced fashion; this is the best method of reducing weight.

This myth is popularized by those late-night commercials for cream that you rub on that area - which is simply ridiculous. Turn it around logically - have you ever seen someone gain weight by suddenly getting fat arms, while their legs stayed skinny?

#2. Doing aerobic exercise is the best way to burn fat.

Of course doing aerobics, like doing any exercise, is a good way to stay fit and burn fat. But, there is no particular benefit of aerobics that is substantially better at fat-reducing than any other type of exercise. In fact, weight-training and resistance-training builds more muscle, which may help the body to burn fat more quickly, because it is more work.

#3. Weight training will make my muscles bulk up.

Ew! Women don't want to go around looking like a muscled freak! Well, actually, normal resistance exercise tones the body and improves overall fitness. Normal weight training does not build huge, bulky muscles. The weight trainers who look like a pile of boulders are actually doing that more with steroids, anaboloids, and protein powders, plus heavy strenuous lifting which can actually damage muscles with scar tissue in the long run.

#4. There is a pill that will make you lose fat, no matter how much you exercise or what you eat.

This is such complete and utter fraud, that the FDA is constantly shutting down these companies as soon as they pop up. There is no pill that will do anything to make you loose weight at all. The "best" weight loss pills will only be effective when combined with sensible eating and healthy exercise. And, surprise! Sensible eating and healthy exercise is effective without any kind of pills at all!

And most diet pills are made with ephedrine. Ephedrine is a naturally occurring stimulant very similar to the illegal street drug methamphetamine, whose effects are not as strong and are spread out over a longer time. Ephedrine is in fact the chief ingredient used to make methamphetamine! In other words, it's like being hopped up on speed, with about the same short-term effects - temporary decreased appetite and increased activity - and the same long-term consequences: risk of heart attack, run-down immune system, relapse to former state as soon as the drug is no longer taken, etc.

#5. After 20 minutes of exercise, your body is burning mostly fat.

The body uses both carbohydrates and fat for energy all the time; walking, jogging, sitting, sleeping. Over the course of exercise, the body will use more fat. Burning reserved fat exercises the whole purpose of why nature has mammals build up fat in the first place. But there is no specific time, whether twenty minutes or two hours, when the body starts burning only fat.

#6. Eating late at night causes you to gain more fat than eating at different times of the day.

A calorie is a calorie, regardless of the time of day. However, the sense behind this one is that eating the biggest meal of the day just before bedtime, as most Westerners do, is almost guaranteed to turn more calories into fat than the same meal eaten at the start of the day just before beginning your activities. Add to this that the average dinner for a Westerner involves huge slabs of meat and piles of starch, with perhaps some high-fat dessert and snacks. Trying to sleep with a freshly full stomach is never good for the digestive system anyway. So this one isn't as much of a myth as the others - but then, a huge breakfast followed by eight hours of virtual inactivity at a desk isn't exactly the cure either.

#7. Cellulite is the hardest fat to burn.

Cellulite is simply a combination of fatty tissue and fluid, closer to the upper layers of the skin. Its dimply appearance may be unsightly, but the fat in cellulite is no different from any other body fat. Reducing calories and exercising is the best method to get rid of cellulite, just like it's the best way to get rid of any other fat.

#8. If you eat no fat, you cannot get fat.

Any fuel that the body takes in which does not get burned as energy gets stored as fat. Absolutely, positively, regardless of whether that came from a chocolate cake, a slice of ham, a bowl of rice, or a stalk of celery. That's right: there are no "negative calorie" foods; if you consumed enough lettuce and did nothing but eat all day, you'd get fat off of lettuce! However, we're talking about more lettuce than the average person could wolf down... but if we have the same serving of calories from two kinds of foods, the weight-gain potential from each one is the same.

#9. Genes and hormones control your fat burning ability rather than diet and exercise.

While it is true that genes have some role in determining who is fat and who is thin, there is no reason that diet and exercise cannot control your weight. To this day, there has not been a single laboratory test confirming that a person had genes such that they would continue to have a weight issue in the face of a perfect balance of diet and exercise.

#10. Liposuction is one way of permanently removing excess fat cells.

Well, yes, liposuction will remove fat cells. But fat cells can just as easily be made by the body, whenever it wants to! Which is to say, there is no fixed number of fat cells that you were born with.

By: Josh Stone

Healthy Weight Loss Advice - The Importance of A Good Night's Sleep

Perhaps the most important component of any healthy weight loss program is rest. Unfortunately, in our world of deadlines, long work hours, and poor time management, rest seems to be a commodity that is easily sacrificed.

By now, you have learned the importance of diet and exercise for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and promoting healthy weight loss. Effective rest patterns are essential to feeling your best, being less stressed, and living longer.

The importance of restorative rest cannot be over emphasized. Restorative rest refers to the state of deep relaxation and sleep where the bodily processes of identifying, neutralizing, and eliminating toxins occur. In addition, the processes of cell regeneration and tissue healing occur during periods of restorative rest.

The quality and quantity of your rest patterns can make all the difference in the world in how you feel and function. Here are ten tips to a good night's rest:
1. Make sleep a priority.
2. Unwind by dealing with distractions early in the evening.
3. Develop a sleep ritual.
4. Synchronize your biological clock by going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each morning.
5. Create a restful place to sleep.
6. Use a comfortable and supportive mattress.
7. Exercise regularly.
8. Avoid caffeine in the evenings.
9. Don't smoke.
10. Reduce alcohol intake.

Depriving yourself of sleep night after night can result in sleep debt, a destructive force in a healthy weight loss program. Signs of sleep debt may include: falling asleep in the middle of the day, falling asleep while watching TV, falling asleep while reading, or falling asleep while sitting tin traffic.

Scientific research has linked sleep debt to the following conditions:
* Impaired glucose tolerance
* Decreased production of growth hormone and leptin leading to obesity and altered appetite suppression.
* Diminished immune response and white blood cell production leading to increased possibility of infection.
* Increases cancer risk
* Diminished reaction time

To reduce sleep debt, you must get the required amount of sleep your body needs. For most adults, 7-8 hours is recommended, while individual needs may range from 5 - 10 hours daily.

Healthy lifestyle and weight loss rest recommendations
* 6 - 8 hours of daily rest.
* Any less amount of time must be made up the next day.

According to David Dinges, chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, adequate rest resettles us emotionally, helps us think clearly, and enhances our health and longevity.

Get a good night's rest tonight and experience the vitality and joy life brings you tomorrow.

By: Malton A. Schexneider