Saturday, February 14, 2009

causes of ovarian cysts

By Kit Saunders

There are many different causes of ovarian cysts. Under the normal menstrual cycle, ovaries grow cyst-like structures called follicles each month. These follicles produce hormones necessary for pregnancy such as estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cysts can form when a normal follicle continues to grow for an abnormal period of time.

Follicular cysts are among the most usual type. These cysts rarely have symptoms, usually harmless and disappear on their own. Ovarian cysts affecting the follicle are caused by the release of hormones from the pituitary gland that is supposed to initiate the release of an egg. Failure to release the egg makes the follicle continue to grow and develop into a cyst.

Frequent causes of ovarian cysts occur when luteinizing hormones surge and an egg is release. When the egg is released, estrogen and progesterone are created by the ruptured follicle to prepare for the hypothetical conception. When the egg is sealed off, fluid accumulates inside the follicle and becomes what is called a corpus luteum. The corpus luteum will then expand and at that point becomes a cyst.

A corpus luteum cyst will typically disappear on its own without any treatment, although it could grow to 4 inches in diameter during just a period of a few weeks. It could also bleed internally or twist an ovary. If the corpus luteum cyst ruptures this can cause internal bleeding in addition to sudden sharp or severe pain.

Clomiphene citrate, a commonly prescribed fertility drug to induce ovulation, might be a cause of ovarian cysts. Usage of this drug may result in an increased risk that a corpus luteum cyst might develop. Corpus luteum cysts by themselves do not pose a risk to pregnancy.

Ovarian cysts containing blood, known as hemorrhagic or endometrioid cysts, form in the same way. The presence of blood might have been the result of an injury or from leakage of surrounding blood vessels through to the egg sac. When causes of ovarian cysts from bleeding and shedding of endometrial tissue occurs in the ovaries, painful cysts may form. If left to continue, the pooling blood may rupture causing pelvic pain.

Though it is not possible to completely prevent the causes of ovarian cysts, increasing exercise, controlling stress, improving the quality of your diet, and improving your health can help minimize the probability of the development of an ovarian cyst.

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Friday, February 13, 2009

Goji Berries, the King of Antioxidants

By Anne-Marie Pannu

Tufts university in Boston is leading the way in testing fruits and vegetables for their ORAC value. What is ORAC you ask? ORAC is that standard way that antioxidants are measured. It stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. Different fruits and vegetables have different ORAC amounts but the Goji Berry stands out as having the most Antioxidants.

Cellular damage and oxidation is caused by free radicals. SO what do these and antioxidants have in common? Well antioxidants help fight off these free radicals, which in return keep you young, and feeling fresh. They have been proven effective in some diseases like macular degeneration. Some more popular antioxidants are Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Beta Carotene, just to name a couple. Even those these have some antioxidants there are much more powerful choices available for you to choose from. Goji berries for example may be the highest antioxidant you can get.

Highest Ranking fruits for ORAC units per 100 grams (about 3" ounces) Fruits: Goji Berry- Up to 25,000 ORAC levels, only certain companies look for the best, Prunes -- 5570, Raisins -- 2830, Blueberries -- 2400, Blackberries -- 2036, Strawberries -- 1540, Raspberries -- 1220, Plums -- 949, Oranges -- 750, Red grapes -- 739, Cherries -- 670, Kiwi fruit -- 602, Grapefruit, pink -- 483

In Chinese Traditional Medicine Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) are believed to enhance immune system function, protect the liver, improve eyesight and improve circulation, among other effects. Goji Berries have long played an important role in traditional Eastern medicine, and are thought to extend the life of a person through their powerful antioxidant action, thereby protecting them from premature aging.

Much attention has been given to the goji berry recently in the West and the traditional health-giving properties of the berry are being confirmed in modern scientific studies. Potential benefits include blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar stabilization, an increase in energy and strength, disease resistance, including cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, and improved memory, fertility, and general overall health. Goji berries are thought to be neuroprotective and anti-cancer, and can be used to reduce the toxic side effects of conventional cancer treatments.

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Thursday, February 12, 2009

How to Have a Fabulous Figure

By Kitty Z Kat

Have you thrown your New Years resolution out the window? Cheated on your diet or stopped exercising? Dreading getting into a bathing suit this summer because your rear end is too fat, too small, too droopy or dimply? We all know that doing tons of lunges or squats will firm up our fanny, but just thinking about it gives us a headache. There is a plastic surgery procedure that is fast, easy and less invasive than implant surgery. The Brazilian Butt lift is a plastic surgery procedure that harvests fat by liposuction from your hips, legs, abdomen and waist and transfers it to your rear end.

The fat is then injected into your buttock to make it more prominent. An additional benefit to the Brazilian Butt lift; not only do you get a shapely rear end, you may get a total leaner silhouette that emphasizes your new curves.

The fat liposuctioned from these areas of your lower body are processed and purified to make the injection material. To get an even, smooth and more natural appearance, your surgeon will inject the fat into different areas of your buttock at various depths. Using correct injection techniques is essential to a great Brazilian Butt lift.

Irregular, asymmetric skin, numbness, swelling or bruising may occur from the liposuction. Patients may also leak fluid from the incision. As with other injection methods, your surgeon may over fill the fat to allow some re-absorption back into your body. The over filling could cause temporary swelling. Unlike implants, because fat injections come from your own body, you do not have the risk of an allergic reaction.

Correct harvesting, processing and injecting the fat should have long lasting results. There should be no reason to require touch ups or a second round of fat injections. One thing to note, fat is fat and if you lose a lot of weight you may lose some fat in your buttocks. It is a good idea to talk with your plastic surgeon prior to your surgery to make sure you are maintaining a desired weight.

The Brazilian Butt lift result is highly dependent upon the skill of the surgeon. Surgeons who are not using correct purification or injection methods will not obtain long lasting results. Be sure that your surgeon is qualified and experienced in this procedure!

So long to a droopy, dimply, too big or too small! The Brazilian Butt lift will give you that fabulous figure you always wanted...just in time for summer!

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

5 Famous Stop Smoking Products

By John K Lam

There are many products that can help you quit smoking. Although neither of them can fully guarantee success, a quit smoking product can successfully ease the cessation process. Below is a brief overview at some of the most popular quit smoking products and their effects.

Nicotine Gum

Nicotine gums are normally used stop smoking product by ex-smokers. These gums include nicotine that is released in your body while chewing the gum. You just get a gum when you feel like you want to light up a cigarette.

Nicotine Patch

The nicotine patch is another kind of quit smoking products which based on the nicotine replacement therapy principle. Nicotine patches are generally transparent and invisible under your clothes. You can stick it at anywhere on your body from your neck to your waist. The patch lets go small amounts of nicotine which is enough for your brain to think you are smoking without the dangerous effect of the rest cigarette ingredients.

Stop Smoking Pill

There are many pills to help you quit smoking in the market. Zyban is one of the popular quit smoking products that many ex-smokers find extremely useful. It does not contain any nicotine so it's good if you are unable to use nicotine products. Besides it has the same effect as most anti depressants do without being an anti depressant pill. You should consult your doctor for a prescription in order to buy Zyban and you should start taking it one of two weeks before your quit smoking date.

Quit Smoking Injection

Quit smoking injection is a very famous and highly successful way to stop smoking. The injection is considered the product gives above 70-80% chance to quit smoking completely and it is applied once. Fundamentally it blocks the nicotine receptors in your brain and this is why you will lost the smoking desire.

Stop Smoking Herb

If you Choose to use a natural quit smoking product, you can use herbal products to help you in the smoking cessation process. There are herbal pills and drops available that work on the similar principle as many chemical pills. Some herbal teas help to lessen the cravings when you want to light up a cigarette instead of have a cup of tea. Another good idea are the herbal cigarettes since they are another quit smoking product which will help beat up you hands habit. Herbal cigarettes may look same to the nicotine ones except the fact they do not have any tar or nicotine.

You should consider combining the quit smoking product you are using with a good behavior therapy. This will assist you realize and fully understand why you need to quit smoking. Besides a behavior therapy will assist you organize your life to exclude smoking.

Remember that regardless of the quit smoking product method you are eager to try you should always ask your doctor in advance. He will not only suggest you the best products however will be able to provide you with follow up checks and re-adjust your quit smoking therapy according the new results.

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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The Truth about Pub Food Recipes

By KC Kudra

You will expect different types of food from different restaurants - pub food, caf food, fast food, and fine dining all fall under the category of meals from food outlets. We all expect there to be a world of difference between a meal from a fast food joint and a dinner from an award winning restaurant, both in quality and price, but what about pub food? Is pub food freshly made or mass-produced? Just how healthy is this kind of food?

Pub food in Britain is also known as "pub grub." At the turn of the twentieth century, you could expect to see shellfish vendors outside public houses selling whelks, mussels, cockles and the like, or you could get a cold snack like a salad at the bar.

In the 1950s, most pubs offered "a pie and a pint" and the landlord's wife would make steak and ale pies for the workmen who came in for lunch. In the 1960s, dishes such as scampi or chicken in a basket appeared. In Ireland, Irish stew with soda bread was common pub food.

What is Modern Pub Food?

These days in Britain, you can expect meals like bangers and mash, fish and chips, Sunday roast dinner, hot pot and pasties. International recipes such a lasagna and curry feature on many pub menus. In Australia, popular pub dishes include pub-style hamburger, steak, or chicken schnitzel served with mashed potatoes, wedges or chips and a salad.

Since the 1990s pub food has become a more important part of the pub experience and most public houses, serve lunch and dinner at the table instead of bar snacks at the bar. Some pubs serve top quality food, which can rival that of a good restaurant and the pubs at the far end of this scale call themselves "gastro pubs." This word is a combination of the words pub and gastronomy and it was coined in 1991 when The Eagle, a pub in London, opened and started serving fine food.

Pub Food versus Homemade Food

Not many pubs offer the type of food found in The Eagle and most modern pubs use cheap ingredients, easy cooking methods such as microwaving and they have a cook who might or might not have any culinary skills. Rather than fresh pub food, you can expect something that has been made in a factory, packaged in plastic wrap, boxed and deep frozen for a year.

The chicken Marsala recipe you ordered might not be a freshly made dish, but rather something that was mass made a year ago and been sitting in the pub freezer all that time. Two minutes later, the microwave pings and your order is ready. We know of one famous British pub chain with only two dishes on the menu, which are cooked to order. The rest are frozen dinners but the menu descriptions obviously hide that fact.

Eating pub food might be fine occasionally but there is no getting away from the fact that homemade food is better for you. Not only does it work out much cheaper but also you know exactly what ingredients are going into your homemade recipes and you will not add all the colorings, preservatives and other chemical additives found in a lot of pub food.

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Monday, February 9, 2009

High Metabolism Boosting Foods: Foods That Burn Fat And Calories

By Diella Plante

Are you fed up with diet plans that don't give you the results that you want? There is hope! Are you aware that there are combinations of High Metabolism Boosting Foods that will help you achieve weight loss quickly, by helping you burn calories and fat?

Most dieters are not aware of this fact! It is just assumed by most people who are trying to lose weight that in order to lose weight, you must diligently count those calories and follow a grueling exercise routine.

However, there are certain foods that will burn fat just as effectively. By simply including these in your daily diet, you are able to boost your metabolism and burn fat more effectively without starving yourself and exercising like there's no tomorrow!

It's not commonly known among dieters but WHAT you eat and WHEN you eat it has a large effect on whether or not you are thin or fat. I want you to think about this - I bet you know a few people who are thin who probably consume more food than you?

Combinations of High Metabolism Boosting Foods that Burn Calories and Fat

Okay, here is a list of just a sampling of some foods that will burn fat:

Spices

Spices such as cinnamon, garlic, cayenne pepper and ginger are also great for burning fat.

Fresh Vegetables

Dairy Products

Did you know that calcium will boost your metabolism?

Sesame Seed Oil and Olive Oil

Fruits

Apples are a wonderful example of a fat burning fruit. They contain pectin, which actually has been proven to boost your metabolism!

Whole Grains

Green Tea

Seeds and Nuts

Beans

Beans are replete with fiber. Fiber is absolutely one of the best fat-burning foods!

These are just some of the hundreds of terrific foods that burn fat. Now, I'm going to show you how to use these here is how you should use High Metabolism Boosting Food Combinations to burn off fat.

A typical dieter believes that, in order to lose weight, you must curtail your calorie intake. Nope. This is totally false! The most effective method of losing weight and increasing your metabolism is by the combination of the calories in the foods in which you eat. Another important factor in weight lose is timing of your meals.

You must include a certain combination of foods in your diet plan in order to burn fat. Let me give you an example. If you want to increase your metabolism, you must combine together fats, protein, and carbs so that you are getting calories from each of these food substances.

Let's say you ate lots of pasta or fried potatos. These foods contain alot of carbs. If you dined on these foods all the time, you would gain weight very, very quickly! But . . you can lose weight, eat the same number of calories, just by combining fats and proteins to those carbs! Are you starting to get the picture now?

Okay, now let's focus on your the timing of your meals. A typical American will eat three square meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you really want to achieve fast weight loss, this way of eating is not going to work. You are going to have to not only eat more often but eat smaller sized portions when you do so. This will keep your blood sugar stable and will ease the cravings for processed snack food and sugary treats.

If you are truly serious about losing weight:

Use the combinations of High Metabolism Boosting Foods that are identified above.

Eat more modest sized meals more frequently

If you follow this advice, you will not only burn fat and calories quickly, but you will do so without ever having to count a single calorie.

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Sunday, February 8, 2009

Who Else Wants to Have Flat Abs?

By Dana Thinny

Fashion changes every now and then. One thing is certain: fat bellies were never fashionable, in the whole history of humankind. This is what makes our modern teenagers starve themselves to death, in their wish to look as skinny as they can, thinking this would bring them the respect of their peers, or some love, or more friends and fans.

What can you possibly do if you are not thin and your constitution shows that you never will be, no matter how many diets you'd be willing to follow? You can get a flat stomach. If your belly is flat, then the other rounded shapes are beautiful. The belly is the one that makes fat people look ugly.

With each generation, people want to be skinner and skinner. The ideal of each year is a few pounds less that the one of the previous year. This can drive all moms and grandmothers crazy, when seeing those teenagers suffering for not being as thin as a skeleton.

Having a beautiful, flat stomach needs a bit of attention on a daily basis. Diets don't help eliminating the fat which has been accumulated on your abdomen. This fat will disappear only by suitable exercises, done regularly.

It is important to be aware that for getting to tone your stomach, abs exercises are not enough. It takes more to have a beautiful body: you need to make exercises for your entire body, to work cardio routines and to watch your daily calories intake.

Forget the internet and its advice. Forget ideas given by your friends about what you should do for getting a flat tummy. Ignore everybody and seek for specialist advice. Nutritionists and gym trainers are here for you.

Think of your reasons for looking better. Maybe they are to shallow to make you endure the daily workouts and the healthy diets you'll have to go through for such a long time. If you lack motivation, don't even start any weight loss program. You'll certainly fail.

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