The Only Real Way To Lose Weight

When people think of losing weight they often think of restrictive diets and magic "guaranteed" weight loss supplements or drugs. This is actually an unhealthy way to lose weight and often just shows results in the short term, and can seriously affect your health in a bad way. Even some of the weight loss strategies that just involve depriving your body of necessary vitamins and nutrients is enough to get you sick. Many people have lost weight by consuming only liquids or the liquid diets, and this is very dangerous. It is important to always remember the goal is to lose weight, but it should also be done as healthy as possible.

What everyone should be thinking of is long term significant lifestyle changes that can not only better your mood, increase your energy, keep you young, and help you lose weight. This can include regular walks around the block or at your favorite park. When I say that though I don't mean go walk around until your legs hurt and you feel miserable the next day. Instead enjoy your walk. Walk until you at least break a sweat. Most of all though make sure you enjoy your walk. This will ensure that you will eventually look forward to your afternoon or morning walk. Eventually you might end up walking at both times. The key is creating the habit. If you can do it every day for a month you will find that it becomes routine. This is an example of a small change you can make that can not only help you lose weight, but have dramatic impact on your overall health, in a good way.

Mostly anything that you do that is healthy for you can help you lose weight. Eating vegetables, drastically cutting back on sugar, and curbing your appetite of sweets to fruits. It is most important though instead of depriving yourself of food, try to make healthy choices. Don't eat something that you don't want, but try to change your mindset. Don't worry you can start to convert slowly at first, but remember when you cheat yourself you are just dooming yourself to fail. Throughout your journey of thinking healthy and making wiser choices do not weigh yourself. All you are doing is discouraging yourself, and it won't be helping you. Get your satisfaction when people begin to notice your healthy weight loss through your changing your habits and making healthier choices (even if they are small at first).

Make sure on top of all of the healthy choices to make remember, the only real way to lose weight and burn calories is through regular exercise. Find that routine you love, and don't try to kill yourself with it, enjoy it so you do it everyday. Don't make excuses for yourself, the only one that gets hurt by this is you. When you make excuses those will be the reasons you are not losing weight.

Staying Fit and Eating Healthy Also Helps Overall Mental Health

So many people wait until they are faced with a health problem before they start becoming physically healthy and start making healthy eating choices. What most people don't know is that being healthy can also greatly increase your happiness and overall mood. So many people nowadays are taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication because they feel that they have a chemical imbalance in their brains, while at the same time don't have healthy eating habits and don't workout at all. I believe that just a small change at first, might make you reconsider the benefits of being healthy and staying healthy. Don't wait until you have a medical condition! Get out there and enjoy life! Stay healthy and eat right....you will be happy that you did. Here are a few tips to get started on your road to not only being more healthy but also having a better outlook on life, without needing all those "feel good" medications that doctors try to shove down our throats. Here are some tips to get started living a healthy lifestyle. Remember start off with small changes and work it into your daily routine. Don't try to kill yourself and over working out. The next day might discourage you from doing in the long run because your body isn't used to it yet. It is best to ease yourself into a routine that you will enjoy and gradually increase your energy level.

Setting your mind doing something healthy you like to do
The first thing you should do is decide what it is you think you would enjoy doing. You don't have to run 3 miles a day, especially if you are starting out. You are only going to wake up super sore and in pain. That is no way to start a healthy routine. Instead think of something that you already enjoy doing, but just don't do enough of. Some examples would be running, jogging, walking your favorite park, yoga, lifting weights or riding a bike. Just remember starting out you need to start small. Set small goals and increase your goals after  a couple of weeks.

Changing your lifestyle
It is not always about exercising. Try to make lifestyle changes that are healthy for you such as quitting smoking, doing healthy eating habits, and being more active in your day. For example if you work a desk job, and you tend to eat your lunch at your desk try eating lunch on the go, or going to a healthy place to eat your lunch. If it is close, don't drive your car try walking. That way you are getting a mini work out as well. Also drinking energy drinks is a big no-no. They have tons of sugar and sodium that are both terrible if you are trying to stay healthy. Especially the dreaded Redbull. I know they work, but they just are not good for you. Try drinking a 5 hour energy instead. It has less sugar, and it even has some vitamins. Ginseng, and green tea are also a healthy energy alternative. Don't forget to drink lots of water. It does a body good to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Getting plenty of rest
Many people push themselves to hard in this regard. Remember you are not a superhero. Sleep is a good thing. I have heard many people tell me that are hard workers that "They will sleep when they are dead" etc etc. This is not a good way to think. Your body needs 7-8 hours of rest every night. Try to make that one of your goals. A body that gets good rest will put you in a great mood just in itself. It will also help keep that routine going. Don't downplay the need to get plenty of rest. It refreshes the mind, body and soul.

Body work
Have you ever thought about meditation? This is great for the body and spirit. This also helps with increasing your overall good mood. If that doesn't work for you try yoga, or a deep tissue massage. This is great for the body and the soul. It will also help you while you are being more active.

Try to lower your stress level
It is a proven fact that stress can kill you. Try not to let things get to you. Blow it off. Take a deep breath and even try to blow off steam by walking a few blocks around your house. You will be surprised how much your mood increases by finding ways to vent your stress. Nothing is worth dwelling on the negative. Try to find the positive side of things. Stay away from medication. Try to find a healthy way to increase your mood that is all natural. Stress is a hard thing to deal with, but in time you will find healthy natural ways to combat the things that stress you out the most.

I hope you take some of my advice and find a good routine that works for you. All of us are different and some things work well for others than they might for you. I have faith in you my friend. Want to change, once you do, the people that care about you the most, and even your boss at work will notice the difference. Maybe you will get that long overdue promotion. Take care! Love and light! Leave comments and let me know what you think!

Getting a Facelift - Is It Right For You?

Many people consider getting a face lift operation done. There are many alternatives to this surgery but how do you know if getting a face lift is right for you? A face lift is a very easy surgery. If you do consider getting a face lift then you should know that if you have health complications or heart problems, then it is probably not a good idea. They definitely have to put you to sleep and that may not be something that is right for you. Sure many people do it anyways to look healthy or even to improve their self esteem but sometimes the risks out weight the benefits. Before jumping into a decision don't even take my word for it, make sure you talk to your doctor to make sure it is an option for you. This operation will tighten the skin on your face and change the way your skin fits around your facial bone structures.

There are many ways that a facelift can improve your appearance and give you that youthful look. You should know that everyone has different problem areas and you might want to reconsider whenever possible if you aren't showing that many signs of aging. Sometimes it is better to wait until you have multiple problem areas such as sagging skin under your chin, bags or droopy eyes, and a lot of wrinkles. If you only have 1 of these problems then your best bet is to wait until you have more issues. You don't want to be caught in a loop getting multiple face lift surgeries later in life. Many celebrities have been caught in this loop and end up causing serious damage to their face, all in the name of beauty. Some of these celebrities look absolutely horrible. Your goal is to have 1 facelift you don't want to keep coming back. Here are some of the ways you can improve your face with a face lift.

• Does your mid section of your face sag? This is due to low collagen levels that cause your skin to sag. 
• Do you have deep creases or wrinkles under your eye lids? This can cause you to look older and even unhealthy.
• Do you have deep creases running from the corners of your mouth to your nose? This can be fixed easily and can make a dramatic impact on your appearance.
• Do you have a great deal of loose skin anywhere on your face? Specifically under your chin? This can cause you to look overweight and really unhealthy. This can all be taken care of with a face lift.
• The muscle tone of the lower areas of your face can change over time. If you have this problem it can most definitely be fixed with a facelift.

If you have one or more of the problems listed above then a facelift might be a good idea. Especially if you have spent a fortune on expensive "age defying" beauty products that just aren't cutting it. Remember though, it is always a good idea to talk to your regular doctor before going straight to the plastic surgeon. That way if you have any other health problems that might get in the way, you can avoid them by following your doctor's instructions.

First Aid Tips - Always Be Prepared!

I have been a cub scout, a boy scout, and a regular camper all my life. Now you see where I get my title of this article from. Be Prepared is one of the boy scout's many sayings that holds true to anyone both boy and girl, human or otherwise. No matter what happens with politics, with new diseases every day, we simply don't know what our fates are going to be. The best thing you can do is be prepared in the most practical way possible. One of the most obvious ways is with a first aid kit as shown above, but there are also other tips I would like to share. After all first aid kits are not magic wands. Reading instructions, and having basic knowledge will get you through the hard times.

When I was in boy scouts, and cub scouts we had to do many different activities outside in order to earn our badges. We did canoeing, cycling, jogging, hiking, and when any of us got a cut, scrape, or bruise, we were taught to take care of it as soon as possible. I will tell the same thing to you. Here are some things you should always keep in mind...

• Wash the area real good with CLEAN water. I cannot stress clean water enough here. Using dirty water will cause more problems with infection.
• Apply some sort of antiseptic solution. Try to use a clean cotton ball here. You don't want to use your dirty fingers.
• If the scratch or scrape is not that deep, just apply some antiseptic cream and let it heal. Don't cover it up with a band-aid let it breathe as much as possible.
• If blood is still flowing apply pressure and hold it until you can stop the bleeding. Once the bleeding stops apply a band-aid or wrap it up with something.

I know these sounds like crude tips everyone should know, but in a survival situation, these tips can help a bad situation from turning even worse.

Why Does Everyone Drink So Much Water?

Why does everyone insist on drinking so much water? I am not saying that water is a bad thing, in fact, water is life and we all need it to survive. Many people have heard the advice, we should all be drinking 8 glasses of water a day. This is a lot of water. Where did the 8 glasses number come from? So many people drink so much water every single day, and they say to themselves that they are doing it to get their "8 glasses". They do not do it because they are thirsty.

The 8 glasses a day figure comes from Dr. Valtin who is a kidney specialist (original source). He states that the recommendation of 8 x 8 ounce glasses of water really comes from the Nutrition Board of the National Research council. I know it sounds scary. The actual recommendation however was not for 8, 8 ounce glasses of water, it was for 1 milliliter of water for each calorie of food. So that should be around 60-80 ounces of liquid. The reason why most of us remember 8 glasses of water is because a lot of the media forgot to leave out the part of the quote where it says we get most of this water from our prepared foods. How convenient for the water bottle companies wouldn't you say? Collectively those bottled water companies made something like 7.7 billion last year.

People are constantly trying to push how much water they can drink in a day. This is not always a healthy thing to do. Did you know that you can die from too much water? A lady by the name of Jennifer Strange took part in a radio contest that was called "Hold your wee, for a Wii". The goal was to drink as much water as you can, and at the same time keep from going to the bathroom. She won the contest, but later that day she lost her life. She was complaining of a headache and nausea before she died. These are the symptoms of what is called hyponatremia. This is because she had water intoxication, or too much water and not enough pee.

Remember, water is not a bad thing. The best thing to do is listen to your body. If you're thirsty try to stay away from the sodas. Try grabbing an ice cold water instead. 8 glasses a day might be a bit too much, but hey it won't kill you. Just don't push it.

Great Juice Fasting Method

Everyone is trying to lose weight and stay healthy. Many people have turned to weight loss pills, extreme workouts, and even drugs both legal and illegal. I am here to tell you one of the best most under-rated methods of weight loss....The juice fast. Many people have tried the all juice no solid food diet but have failed because of how hard it is to train your brain to let go of solid foods for a while. This is a method I have used for months at a time to lose weight and to feel great. Not only is the juice fast a great method to lose weight, it is also a great way to clean out your body of toxins, and to improve your mood! This method is safe and you don't have to worry about other unsafe juice methods. This is simply the best way to do it.

Before you start your juice fast you need to prepare your body for a juice fast. Two days before the fast make sure you eat nothing but fruits and vegetables in their solid form. It is best if you can start your fast by getting an enema, or a purgative (a natural laxative). Everyday while you are fasting, if you don't have a bowel movement it is a good idea to get another enema, this is so dangerous toxins don't build up in your body if you have never done this before especially. Before you start you want to try to do a bowel movement as much as possible. This is to remove as many contaminants as possible before starting. It is a good idea to drink some hot tea with lemon in the morning. Researchers have proven that this is a great way to stimulate your bowels to move. Remember being regular with your bowel movements is key!

Here is the schedule to follow while you are fasting.

Breakfast: All you should have is a warm cup of herbal tea. Try not to use any fake teas. Herbal tea is key, and no sugar!

Mid-morning: Have a glass of freshly made juice. Make sure you dilute it with 50/50 water. This is so that you can make sure you are getting enough water throughout your day. This is important especially if you aren't a big water drinker. Stay away from sugar!

Mid-afternoon: A great cup of warm herbal tea.

Late afternoon: Go out and have a walk and breathe some fresh air.You could also even take a bath, or do a mild exercise. (Make sure not to over do it.)

Early evening: Make yourself a big glass of fruit or vegetable juice. Make sure to dilute it 50/50 with water.

One hour before your bedtime: Have a nice big cup of vegetable broth!

This is an example of a schedule I use when I juice fast. Remember you don't want to perform a juice fast for longer than 10 days. You want to make sure that if you feel thirsty to drink water. Nothing is wrong with water. If you want to do a juice fast for 10 days make sure you talk to your doctor to make sure it wont give you any problems later. With supervision, it is possible to do a juice fast for up to 30 days. Starting out I don't recommend doing more than 10 days its a shock to the body, and it should be done off and on until you can handle it for longer. Once you do this method you will feel absolutely great. I would recommend this to everyone if I could. Thank you for reading. Please post a comment about your juicing experiences, and let us know about your results.

Toxic Mercury: How to Keep Your Family Safe

We all know that mercury is extremely toxic to human beings, however you would be surprised in the places you can find it in. When you are over exposed to mercury it is close to impossible to detect the symptoms because there are very few of them until it is too late. Before doctors knew the danger of mercury exposure they were treating syphilis patients with the dangerous metal. Also, hat makers would use mercury when making hats. That is where the term "Mad Hatter" originated. I guess they went a little crazy...

People know about the obvious ways you can be exposed to mercury. I want to talk about 4 ways that you can be exposed that no one talks about. Why does no one talk about this? Some of these things are covered up for private interests. One thing is for sure this blog is about health, and real facts this needs to be included in our arsenal of helpful, and healthy information.

1. Did you know that dental amalgam has mercury in it? It sure does. This could be in your mouth, but it is not the only way we come in contact with dental amalgam. It is also found in sewage sludge. Something to remember if you are around sewage all day, or come in contact with it often.
2. Coal factories that burn coal emit mercury into the air, and it even collects on top of bodies of water (both big and small) and can even expose fish and other animal life to mercury. It is not a good idea to be over exposed to these coal burning places.
3. Anywhere people get cremated, there is a mercury emission that is sent out from their out gassing methods. This is something that people don't talk about, it is however pure fact.
4. There is a preservative used in many modern "new" vaccines (including the h1n1 vaccine) that is called "Thimerosol" this chemical found in vaccines contains mercury. This is also rarely talked about.

I hope this has helped you understand other ways that you could be exposed to mercury that aren't often talked about. I assume the reason why these things are not talked about is because of private interests. If you live around places such as these, or are afraid of over exposure, the best thing to do is move. People will lie to you all day and say that things like this are safe. Are you willing to take that chance?

Choosing the Right Person to be Your Personal Trainer

I don't have anything against personal trainers. They are essential for taking the right path to achieve your specific goals. Whether it be weight loss, gaining muscle mass, or losing baby weight, they can help you take the right path to maximize your results. They are also a great way to stay motivated, and keep you coming to the gym, everyone could use more of that.

Make sure your personal trainer has experience
One of the worst things you can do is get a personal trainer that just doesn't have the experience to be a personal trainer in the first place. Some gyms are notorious for assigning personal trainers that are new recruits and have no previous experience training anyone. You definitely don't want a person like this. Also be sure to check out how fit the personal trainer is themselves. Some of these new personal trainers aren't in shape in the first place, and have no business helping anyone get in shape or reach their ultimate goal. This is not a good sign for obvious reasons.

Credentials and paper work to back up their knowledge
Most of the great personal trainers all have college degrees to back up their line of work. For example a good personal trainer might have a degree in exercise physiology, exercise science, and even physical education. I am not saying that it should be required that they have degrees in all of these areas, however its a good thing to have if your looking into getting a great personal trainer, and is a great deciding factor when choosing between some you have already picked out.

Attitude and personality
Last thing you want is a personal trainer that conflicts with your own personality type. You don't want to make an enemy, and you want to make sure your personal trainer is going to keep you motivated. A good way to find out what a future training session might be like, before you have your first appointment, you might want to schedule a meeting and ask the personal trainer in question about their philosophy on personal training, and how they plan on helping you reach your desired goal.

Many trainers offer the first session for free. If you don't feel like that person is going to be able to help you, then the last thing you want to do is let them push you into a contract. Let them know that you don't think its going to work out. Remember you are the customer, you have the right to chose. Leave a comment about your experiences finding a personal trainer. Thank you for reading!

Signs You or Someone You Love Might Be Hearing Impaired

No one likes being told they can't hear anymore. No one wants to wear a hearing aid. The fact is so many people go without hearing everything and they don't even know it. Some people that have trouble hearing feel like they are all alone on an island with no one to talk to. It is extremely hard to be in social situations and attend parties with background noise, and you can't even understand what people are saying. Many people have issues with this. There are many ways you can help someone you love by seeing the warning signs of hearing impairment and maybe save them or you some grief. Here are some easy ways that you can tell someone is having trouble hearing.

Repetition Required
Do they need to have things repeated often? Are they constantly asking if something should be repeated over and over again. Sometimes even after repeated they still didn't hear what is said, but are acting like they did. This can be highly depressing to anyone that is going through this. Give them strength!

Conversations are difficult
Conversations for the hearing impaired can be extremely difficult. Just imagine how hard it is to hear 3 people talking at once at a social gathering when you can hear everything perfectly, that is not easy in itself. The hearing impaired have even more of a difficult time and it is very hard for them to engage in conversation.

Responses are out of context
When responses don't pertain to the conversation you know someone is hearing impaired. Most of the time people blow this off or don't realize it. If you are on the look out you can help someone that is hearing impaired get some help.

I hope this helps you spot someone that is hearing impaired. No one should be forced to live when they can't hear what is going on around them. This happens to more people than you think. It is nothing to be ashamed about. Love and light.

8 Simple Ways To Prevent From Getting Motion Sickness

Do you struggle with motion sickness? I have a real problem with getting motion sick when I'm on boats. The smaller the boat the worse it is. I recently went out fishing with my father and I really got sick from some of the movements that little boat was doing. I have come with with simple ways to prevent from getting motion sick since it has become such a problem for me. I have tried wristbands, drugs, and different things that claim to work. None of them actually do, at least not for me. This is why I have come up with my own ways to combat this problem. Motion sickness is caused by disorientation from your head movements. It can happen while you are moving in any situation. It just so happens to affect me whle im traveling.

Here are the ways I use to prevent from getting sick while I am traveling either by plane, or by boat...

1. Try to keep your eyes on the horizon. One of the worst things you can do is focus on something inside the boat or plane. Try not to read if you are already feeling sick.
2. Try to sit in the front seat of a car. Try to avoid sitting in the back as much as possible. Also don't sit in a seat that is backwards.
3. Do not smoke cigarettes. I know if your a smoker it sounds like a good idea. Trust me it's never a good idea, especially if you are feeling like you want to lose your lunch.
4. Turn any available air vents towards your face. Trust me it helps.
5. Try not to turn your head to quickly you don't want to do any movements too quick. Keep it slow, try not to do any twisting and whipping your head around.
6. Do not look at or try to talk to another traveler while you are feeling sick. Chances are they don't feel sick and the motions of their body might make you feel worse. Concentrate my friend.
7. Try to avoid changes in position as much as possible.
8. Rest your head against your seat back to try to reduce as much movement as possible.

I hope those tips will help you next time you are traveling. I have found that it is more of a mind over matter type of thing, and I have learned to deal with my motion sickness pretty well over the years. Give my tricks a shot and I promise you will have a good trip, try not to think about it. Have fun. Leave a comment and let me know your experiences with motion sickness.

Live Healthy by Buying Healthy It Will Save You Money

This is a great video and shows how you can live healthy by buying your food in bulk at costco. If you buy healthy, you will always eat healthy. Remember the key to losing weight is diet and exercise.

How to Stay Healthy and Lose Weight Without Fancy Equipment or Secret Diets

Many people are looking for secret diets, and spending money on fancy equipment just to try to stay healthy and lose some pounds. Their is no secret diet except cutting quantity, eating healthy, and cutting back on sugar. That is how you keep on track with living a healthy lifestyle, but thats only one side. The other side is exercise. You always will need to exercise on top of changing your diet. You don't need some cutting edge equipment to stay in shape and exorcise. The best over all work out you can do is a good cardio work out that involves running if you are younger, or just even walking if you are older. When you start off it will be hard, but if you keep going you will find that you can walk or run more and more each and every day. It's ok to start off slow, in fact that is exactly how you do it, so you don't end up too sore to want to do it again the next day. Make sure you are consistent with your running/walking and do it every day. These 2 things are all you need to know if you want to lose weight. Keep on going, you can do it.

The Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Everyone knows from their mother or grandmother that if you want to prevent from getting sick the best thing to do is to eat something with Vitamin C or take it in pill form every single day. This is very true vitamin c helps boost your immune system. It will also help you get better if you are fighting a common cold. It is no cure, but it has been proven that Vitamin C will dramatically increase your immune system. The recommended dosage to feel the health benefits from vitamin c is about 500 milligrams a day. You should also eat your daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, but taking a supplement of vitamin c will add to that healthy lifestyle. Vitamin C has also been shown to ward off cardiovascular disease, eye disease, and even help reduce skin wrinkles! Vitamin C should truly be in everyone's daily intake of vitamins, and you will notice right away that you will not easily get sick. Some people get a cold very easily and this could mean they are vitamin c deficient. I recommend everyone get their daily dosage of vitamin c every day. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.

Whiten Your Teeth With Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

Many products have become available to whiten your teeth, and most of them are really expensive. You can even schedule a teeth whitening appointment with your dentist to get it done, but this too can cost a pretty penny. There have been a number of sites around the Internet selling the cost effective method of whitening your teeth with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. I will show you how to do it on this post at no cost to you. This will help you and your family save big bucks, and keep everyone's teeth white! Here is how you do it step by step...

1. The first step is to make sure you brush your teeth with your favorite tooth paste and make sure you rinse really good.
2. Get a disposable cup, a box of baking soda, and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
3. Spoon in 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Next add 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Keep adding baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide until it turns into a white pasty consistency similar to toothpaste.
4. If you want you can add a drop of your favorite toothpaste so that it has a better flavor. It doesn't taste the greatest, but the results are phenomenal.
5. Brush your teeth with the paste like you would any other tooth paste with your tooth brush. Make sure you scrub good on the teeth that need to be the whitest.
6. Rinse your mouth out thoroughly so that you have no paste left in your mouth.
7. Repeat these steps once a week.

This will keep you and your family's teeth white for years to come. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is very cheap, and I recommend anyone that has yellow teeth to give it a shot. The results will surprise you! Please leave comments if I have left anything out!

Flaxseed The Most Powerful Plant Food On The Planet

There are many benefits when it comes to consuming flax seeds. Flax seed is a very interesting product. It was cultivated in Babylon as early as 3000 BC by King Charlemagne. At one point he announced that he wanted every single one of the people that worked for him to eat it. This was a very long time ago. Charlemagne even believed that flax seeds contained magical properties. Scientists in recent times are now concurring with his beliefs of this amazing power food. There has been a number of products that are now listing flax, or flax seeds on their ingredients to get people to buy them to stay healthy. Scientists have found that Flax seeds can help people fight diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and other forms of cancer. Lets talk about some of the things that flax seeds contain...

• They contain essential Omega-3 fatty acids, which is the same thing that is in fish oil. This is the good fat that is proven to be healthy for your heart.
• They also contain lignans which contain anti-oxidant properties and even plant estrogen. Flax seed contains more than 800 times more lignans than other plant based foods.
• Flax seed also contains both soluble and insoluble types of fiber. This is great for the digestive system and keeping you healthy also.

I recommend everyone enjoy flax seed. You can get it in bags at your local super market. If you can't find it there, I recommend going to a whole foods store and picking up a supply. They say the best way to consume it is pouring it in your favorite drink, I would say this isn't a good idea because the flax seeds do not dissolve in juices or water. The best way is to eat it with either pudding, yogurt, or even apple sauce. This way your gag reflex won't act up. Remember, flax seed is a great way to stay healthy and I recommend anyone that has had health problems to give it a shot. Please leave comments and let me know what you think.

Kava Kava Is Another Great Natural Remedy for Insomnia and Anxiety

Kava has been used for thousands of years in the South Pacific Islands to treat both anxiety and Insomnia. Kava has been found to thin the blood much like alcohol. Make sure that you aren't taking blood thinners, or blood clotting medication, because Kava may interfere with your health. Kava is still a great natural way to combat insomnia and anxiety. You can buy Kava tea, or make it yourself from the leaves. There are many videos on YouTube about how to do this. Another common way people take Kava is in capsule form. You can buy these capsules anywhere like at a whole foods store, and even Walgreens. I have taken Kava Kava and I have found that it is a little more powerful that Valerian Root. I usually take about 6 valerian root every morning to combat my anxiety. I don't recommend you do this if you are just starting valerian root, but I do have anxiety problems. I have found that I can get the same effect by taking 4 Kava capsules. This is great! I recommend everyone try Kava that has an insomnia problem. I can deal with my anxiety much better by being on Kava. Just don't take too much, because you could want to fall asleep during the day.

Valerian Root Helps with Anxiety And Insomnia

Valerian root has been used for centuries by people that have had trouble sleeping. It can be traced as far back as the ancient Greeks. It is a great herbal remedy for not being able to sleep and anxiety. I am a person that is very anxious and remain anxious throughout the day. I have been prescribed different "benzos" like Xanax, Valium, and other variations with the same active chemicals. These drugs are highly addictive, and it can turn into a really nasty habit. I am so thankful that I was able to find a natural remedy that helps me tremendously. Many people like to drink valerian root in their tea, and others like to take it in capsules. I find valerian root tastes disgusting, and I would rather have it in capsule form so that I don't have to taste it. I take 6 of these pills 2 times a day. On the bottle it says to take only 2 however, I have found that valerian root from different brands, could not be as high quality as another. This is why I take so many of them. I have not had any bad side effects at this amount. This doesn't mean though, that side effects don't exist. Some people find themselves getting tired easily when taking this amount, but because of my high anxiety, and my tolerance to anti-anxiety drugs, I find that this amount is perfect for me. You should experiment and take as many as it takes to help you. I wouldn't go over 6 though without trying it. You don't want to be feeling like crap. If you have trouble sleeping take them before bed time. People with high anxiety will notice that it doesn't make them sleepy, it makes them feel good, and more importantly normal. This is how I feel. It is a blessing that I have found valerian root, and I hope you give it a shot. If you don't want to order online you don't have to. You get the best price when you order online and buy in bulk, however you can also buy these capsules at Wal-mart, and even Target. If you have problems with anxiety, or sleepless nights, then I recommend giving valerian root a try.

Are 5 Hour Energy Shots Good For You?

I have had a lot of experience with different types of energy drinks and energy shots. The question is though are they good for you? Energy shots come in a lot of different brands now a days, and even Red Bull who only used to make energy drinks, has now diversified into the energy shot business. These energy shots are easier to slam down compared to the standard energy drink. Most energy drinks are carbonated which doesn't make drinking them any easier. This is why energy shots were born. Most energy shots contain about 200 milligrams of caffeine which is about as much as 2 cups of coffee, depending on the coffee. They also have 100 milligrams of taurine, which is an amino acid. They also have loads of B vitamins that are in the form of niacin. This causes a flushed feeling in a lot of people and might even make their faces turn red. Don't worry this is rare, and doesn't happen to everyone. Some energy shots might contain green tea, or gaurana as an added boost. Taking all of these in conjunction might not be wise, especially if done in excess. Some people even mix these drinks with alcohol hoping they will offset the drowsiness that comes with drinking alcohol so they can drink more. This is also a bad idea because of the side effects. It is also easy to forget how many shots of energy you have had while you are drinking, not to mention you might over do it on the alcohol. Either way you look at it this has the potential for disaster. Some of the side effects of drinking these energy shots is that you could have mood changes, nervousness, and insomnia with every single energy shot you take. I usually don't like to take an energy shot after 3pm because I am always afraid I won't be able to sleep. As long as you do that you should be fine. Any energy shot taken after 3pm has the possibility of making you not be able to sleep that night. I have known people though that can take 3 energy shots a day and never have trouble sleeping. I guess this depends on how your body handles all of these ingredients. Some people can handle it, other people get jittery and nervous. It is also proven that energy shots can make you have an irregular heart beat. This is scary enough for some people not to want to take it. You should know though that the irregular heart beat comes with being nervous. The more nervous you are, the more irregular your heart will beat. This I believe is obvious. Some people have also reported that they get nausea while taking these shots. If you can handle lots of caffeine and you know your body though, this could be avoided. Some people can handle caffeine better than others, and most of these side effects are a direct result of the caffeine amount. If you have high blood pressure, you might also notice a spike in your blood pressure reading. This however is pretty normal with caffeine in general. Something that is pretty serious though is if you have too much vitamin B6 (which is present in most of these shots) on a regular basis, you could be looking at nerve damage. This has been proven.

So are energy shots good for you? It depends on you. If you are pregnant it might not be a good idea. If you can't handle a lot of caffeine or have high blood pressure, you could also feel these side effects more than others. Me I love caffeine and this cuts the time of making coffee out of my morning, and it doesn't generate as much bad breathe like coffee. Just listen to your body, never take more than 1 shot of energy unless you know how your body is going to react to it. After you know, I wouldn't exceed 2 shots a day. Try to find other sources of energy because too much of this can't be a good thing. Green tea is still an excellent way to start your morning.

Health Information About Red Bull

I have been drinking Red Bull for years to give me a sort of boost. There is always someone in my daily life that sees me drinking Red Bull and quickly says, "that stuff is bad for you". Of course, when asked why, they have no idea. I figured I would let you know some things I have researched. First lets talk about Taurine. I have heard from some people that taurine is a cancer causing ingredient. This I believe is totally untrue and is totally only speculation. Taurine is an amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. It would be interesting to know if the taurine that is in Red Bull is a natural form of taurine, or a synthetic version of the amino acid. However, even if it was synthetic, there is no evidence that this is a cancer causing element, or carcinogen. Many people that work out and are trying to lose weight, take taurine before their workout. This is to give them an added boost, in their fight against weight gain. I don't believe that this is a dangerous chemical, most amino acids are good for you. Red Bull also contains caffeine. Some people take caffeine already in a dietary supplement, and drinking Red Bull on top of that, could make your heart beat super fast like a marathon runner. This usually scares a lot of people, caffeine mixed with the other stimulants in Red Bull really perk you up. Caffeine is easily handled by most people, however, there are those people that have a little bit of caffeine and start having panic attacks, because they don't know how to deal with the dose they have taken. This is the last thing you want to happen, especially if you are at work. Its not that caffeine that is bad for you, but if you go into a panic mode, and you are actually scared, then you should probably go easy on caffeine. Remember, there are coffee and tea drinkers around the world that are addicted, so don't fool yourself, caffeine can be very addicting, and if you are hooked, could alter your mood drastically. There has been some research that carbonated drinks could weaken your bones, and even eat away at your stomach lining. There is not enough research however to make an informed decision about this though. You should however be safe, rather than being sorry. Try to keep your carbonated drinks down to a minimum. Red Bull also contains vitamins. They are mostly vitamin B group vitamins, and some of them are 100% of your daily value in one serving. Be careful though, people can overdose on vitamins and it will make your day very unpleasant, this is something to think about if you are taking vitamins already, especially B group vitamins. Red Bull also contains Niacin. In high doses this could cause an itching sensation around your neck and shoulders and could make your face look and feel flushed. Different people react to Niacin differently. That is pretty much all I have to say about Red Bull. Even though people continue to say its bad, I still indulge from time to time. I have had 1 Red Bull a day for about 2 years and I have been fine. I am not addicted, if anything I just need a way to get caffeine into my system and fast! The other things that come along inside a Red Bull are not dangerous, and aren't harmful if taken alone. I don't see how they would be more harmful if combined. Remember, like with alcohol and coffee, I believe moderation is key.

The Healing Power of Music

Most people when they are sick they take many trips to different doctors and specialists trying to figure out whats wrong with them. Sometimes the solution to your problem is a lot easier than you think. It has been proven that sometimes there is no better way to stimulate all your senses and emotions than music. It has even been proven that classical music helps plants grow. Pregnant mothers that are sick or are having a rough pregnancy found that listening to music has really helped them with anxiety, and complications in their pregnancy. This is because it is good for their child too. They also have fewer physiological responses associated with different types of labor pains. It is also a great way to sooth a child after it has been born. Scientists are still figuring out just how powerful the power of music really is. Music is a very powerful tool in altering our moods and soothing our psyche. I think this is just another thing that our ancient ancestors would do that we some how lost touch with. Not all types of music are good for you and sooth the soul. Try listening to feel good music like classical, or even some great classics such as "Bill Withers - Lean on Me", or "Elton John - Tiny Dancer". It is a common mistake that many people that like listening to rock music, heavy metal, and rap or hip/hop start cranking it up to 11 and think they are going to feel better. That kind of music might help if you like it, but generally speaking it won't have any health benefits to those around you. Bob Marley is another great artist that is good to listen to when you are feeling blue. Remember music is a great alternative to anti-depressant medicines, and other forms of medicine that have to do with pain. You would be surprised how much music can alter your mood if you listen to the right song. When I say listen to the right song, I mean listening to the song that is right for you. People that have recovered from cancer will tell you, music is something they enjoy, and you should too. Next time you are feeling down in the dumps, or sick, try turning up a great song that you haven't listened to in a while. See if that makes you feel better, before you start shoving pills down your throat.