Monthly Archive for May, 2008

Cellulite : Cellulite Removal Techniques

by Ray Lam

The usually unsightly condition known as cellulite is suffered by woman around the world and is universally hated; whilst some areas are more susceptible than others, most sufferers find they are affected in areas below the waist. Do not be fooled into thinking that this is a condition purely confined to women who are overweight because most carry additional fat anyway; the cottage cheese appearance so familiar with this condition can affect slim women as well.

There are various procedures used to remove of cellulite. Liposuction is a surgical procedure intended to remove fat deposits and shape the body. Fat is removed from under the skin with the use of a vacuum-suction canula (a hollow pen-like instrument) or using an ultrasonic probe that emulsifies (breaks up into small pieces) the fat and then removes it with suction. People with localized fat may decide to have liposuction to remove fat from just one specific area.

Liposuction is a procedure for shaping the body and is not recommended for weight loss. Liposuction may be performed on the abdomen, hips, thighs, calves, arms, buttocks, back, neck, or face. A liposuction procedure may include more than one site, for instance, the abdomen, back and thighs --all on the same day.

Mesotherapy is the newest treatment for cellulite, and it actually works. Mesotherapy has long been an art in Europe and South America. Unlike liposuction that involves the removal of unwanted fat cells, mesotherapy involves small injections that result in the breakdown of fat cells. These injections include natural-occurring substances such as phosphatidylcholine that is present in all living tissues. When injected in fat and cellulite, the fat cells become inflamed and disrupted and their contents are carried away.

Another non surgical procedure for cellulite removal is called Vela smooth which uses bi-polar radio frequency and infrared light to mobilize tissue and effectively re-contours the skin surface. Treatments usually take around 30-60 minutes to perform and are usually done twice weekly. The number of areas treated and size of each area determines the duration of this cellulite removal technique.

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Skin Care : Deciding Which Is The Best Skin Care Product

by Ray Lam

Have you ever stopped to consider the number of advertisements that are directed to you everyday about how you look? Some day when you get up start keeping track of the number of commercials and printed ads you see that involve a health or beauty product. The television, radio, newspapers and billboards are filled with advertisings ways that you can look and feel better and younger.

Everyone seems to be seeking the best skin care product and the best way of looking younger. The health and beauty aisle at the store is filled with lotions and potions in every color size and scent. Each one claims to be the best skin care product on the market. Then there are the products that you can only by through a private distributor. These are more expensive and are guaranteed to be the best skin care product that you will ever use.

Another consideration should be the condition of your skin. Do you have oily or dry skin, or do you have a mixture of both? The best skin care product for your skin will be one that addresses those specific things. Those with dry skin need a strong moisturizer that might have to be used quite a few times a day. Oily skin can be tricky, as many lotions can make that worse, but there are some great ones out there made just for those with that very problem. If you have combination skin, things get even trickier, but you can find something that will work with a little searching.

In my opinion the best skin care product is consistency. People will see an advertisement or will go to a home party featuring beauty products and they will buy lotions and other skin care accessories. Because they have spent so much and have a renewed interest in how they look they will be diligent in their skin care regiment and they will look better.

I believe that if they would have taken any product and used it faithfully they would have the same results. As long as you avoid harsh chemicals, which hardly any skin care products contain, you are going to get similar results from the various products. I find that if I find a lotion that I like the smell of I am more apt to put it on after my shower to help keep my skin soft. Our skin is the largest organ we have. It pays to be good to it and to keep it healthy. The best skin care product that we can use on a daily basis is protection from the sun. Sun damage not only weakens the skin but it ages it and may cause cancer. Protecting your skin from the sun and cleaning it on a daily basis will help to keep you looking good.

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You decide: Is there such thing as the best wrinkle cream

by Geoff Hopkins

For ages, women have been measured, judged and defined by their looks. We still speak of Cleopatra, who was said to divinely beautiful? Women have bestowed upon themselves shapely, beautiful bodies. Unfortunately, that beautiful taught, attractive skin we once had begins to wrinkle, and with wrinkles our beauty begins to fade.

Women purchase, and use hundreds of thousands of cosmetics yearly. But studies have shown, and it has been proven that anti-aging and anti-wrinkle products are the most highly sought out and highly purchased product. Man's ability to invent more products, and more items. But one must agree, one invention worthy of appreciation is definitely wrinkle cream.

Most women feel that aging is natures curse upon them. As an individual ages their youth begins to fade leaving it's marks upon one's face as lines, lines we tend to call wrinkles, lines of stress, lines that show age. Wrinkles are a tough pill to swallow. Seeking out anti-wrinkle products is of course an option, but that gets expensive and we might not always get the results we hoped for.

How can a person determine as which is the "Best Wrinkle Cream"? In my opinion, no one (except you) can find the best anti aging skin care product for you. This is because your skin is entirely different from others. A product which suits your friend might not bring even the slightest change as far as your skin is concerned.

Advertisements are luring at times. But one cannot guarantee that the anti aging skin care product shown in an advertisement is 100% effective. A smart way to find the "Best Wrinkle Cream" is to read reviews on wrinkle creams. You can find such reviews on the World Wide Web as well as in fashion magazines.

You might also want to talk to a professional doctor geared toward skin care. Dermatologists specialize in all of the skin care types. There are three: oily, normal and dry, some people even fall in-between or have combination skin. This is another important thing to know about yourself when purchasing anti-aging and anti-wrinkle products.

Switching over to alternative skin care products like 'herbal wrinkle creams' and 'Ayurvedic skin care products' can be helpful at times. Excessive use of chemicals can create problems for your skin. It is important to note that it generally takes 3-4 weeks for a wrinkle cream to control the development of wrinkles.

Which is the best anti aging product? Which is the best anti wrinkle cream? All these questions never cease to haunt the minds of women all over the world. In a nutshell, that skin care product which suits your skin can be termed as the "Best Wrinkle Cream".

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The Best Natural Appetite Suppressants for Weight Loss

by Reagan Miers

There is no doubt about it, controlling your appetite will be your biggest challenge when you are trying to lose weight. After all, if you can control your desire for food, you won't overeat which means you will lose weight easier.

Many people are opting for natural appetite suppressants. There are three major options available to you: supplements, whole foods or a combination of both. Natural appetite suppressants are very quick and convenient. Yet, they can be a bit expensive. Whole foods are cheaper and you will reap the added nutritional benefits from them that you won't obtain from a supplement. Many people find that opting to use both supplements and whole foods in combination is a powerful natural appetite suppressant. Here is a run down of the top natural appetite suppressants that you can choose from.

Supplements as Natural Appetite Suppressants

Hoodia Gordonii

The hoodia gordonii plant has been used by the Bushmen of South Africa to control their appetites for centuries. This cactus-like plant is found primarily in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. It was often used by these hunters prior to long hunting trips. Eating one small piece of the plant controlled their appetites for extended periods of time.

You can't find hoodia gordonii in its raw form, but you can find hoodia diet pills that contain it. You need to be careful when you buy hoodia supplements as most of them contain very little hoodia gordonii. Those that do contain authentic hoodia gordonii can be effective appetite suppressants. While they are convenient, they are very expensive. At the time of this writing, they cost around $50 for a one-month supply.

Whey Protein

People have used whey protein powder as a natural appetite suppressant for years. Another benefit of whey protein powder is it helps muscle growth. This is important because fat is burned by muscle. Whey Protein is convenient, cheap and it comes in a wide range of flavors. Many people add it to smoothies and shakes or to their food recipes.

Whole Foods as Natural Appetite Suppressants

Water

Water is the cheapest and one of the most powerful natural appetite suppressants. You can easily curb your appetite by drinking water throughout the day. The next time you feel hungry, try drinking water. Many people confuse hunger with their body's need for water. Drinking water when you first feel hungry can easily make those nagging "hunger" pains go away. Also, an easy way to eat less at meals is to drink a glass of water before your meal. This simple trick can go a long way in reducing your total caloric intake.

Green Leafy Vegetables

Lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and bok choy are terrific natural appetite suppressants. They are remarkably low in calories and are a good source of fiber. And here's a bonus - these are considered "negative calorie" foods because it can take more calories for your body to digest these foods than there are in these foods themselves!

Pickles

Pickles are a wonderful natural appetite suppressant. I'm not referring to the pickles you will find on the grocery store shelves that are packed full of sugar-and calories-but naturally organic pickles. These pickles are delicious and an entire jar of them may contain less than 100 calories! Pickles are a great low calorie snack that you can indulge in without feeling the guilt.

Apples

Apples are a great natural appetite suppressant. This low calorie fruit is a good source of fiber and they work as the perfect snack. Apples generally contain about 100 calories each which makes them the perfect snack anytime. They are easy to toss into a backpack, purse or pocket. Indulging on a couple of apples a day will help control your hunger and keep your weight loss on track.

Now that you have your list of the best natural appetite suppressants available, you will be able to control your appetite, prevent overeating and jump-start your weight loss journey. The added bonus is you will be able to eat some foods to your heart's content and losing weight won't be such a challenge!

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Lose Weight with Natural Weight Loss Supplements

by Alan Chan

By regular exercise routine and a control diet schedule, every one of us can own a slim waistlines and flat abs. However, there are too many external factors that stop this for happening, i.e. too many funk foods around, unhealthy lifestyle, etc. Fortunately, we can now resort to zero-side effects natural weight loss supplements. With the help from natural weight loss supplement, you can stop worry about those fats around you!

Natural Weight loss supplement are manufactured from 100 percent organic components. Therefore, it is the safest way to lose weight with diet pill products. You can get natural weight loss supplements from the market, either buying from reliable online pharmacies or from over-the-counter stores. Consult your physician in case of any irregularities observed during use of diet pills; so that a weight loss plan can be customized according to your individual needs.

As the clinically proven process is too costly and most of the diet pills product is not able to reduce excess body weight effectively. You can't find lots of manufacturers are so confident about their product that they challenge you to use their full system for 120 days and guarantee full refund.

The different herbal ingredients contains in natural weight loss supplements aid in dieting include caffeine, ephedra, guarana, and country mallow, which allow you to burn more body fat by increase your body metabolism. One of the main function is act as appetite suppressants help in reducing the food cravings, which is one of the most essential factors for weight loss.

Once diagnosed with obesity, with a BMI or Body Mass Index count of 30, it is necessary that you cut down on all the high calorie food, do regular exercise and if the BMI count exceeds 40, you definitely need to resort to weight loss supplements or diet pills. Diet pills are the most effective way to lose weight, safely as well as quickly. The treatment for morbid obesity at a BMI count of 40 is a short-term treatment lasting no longer than 6 weeks.

Natural weight loss supplements are used for short term treatment for exogenous obesity. You still need to have regular exercise and planned diet regime to maintain a consistent fit and slim body.

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Get Relief For Burning Pain in Upper Back Muscles

by Kekoa Beartoes

Everyone has experienced some form of back pain at least once in their life time. A sports injury is one way you might get a burning pain in your upper back muscles; you might have over done some work and possibly had poor posture while performing it. These conditions can cause back pain. But there are ways and various information that you can use to get relief.

Just because you are feeling some burning in your muscles, this is not the time that you just want to lay around and do nothing. Hoping and waiting for the pain to go away. Now you can do this on your first day, that will be OK, and you might even get away with just resting for a couple days. But if you continue to lay around and hope your back pain is going to go away, your are just going to slow down your recovery.

Its imperative that you start exercising those muscles. You need to do some stretching and perform easy exercises so that your muscles start its healing process. This will help in getting rid of the burning type pain in the upper back. You need to resume your regular activities within a few days. You may still feel that burning sensation, but this is a good time for you to start moving yourself and start performing light exercises.

You can find a way to get relief whether you are in bed, moving or working. A good way is to use heat with a plug-in pad, a heat pack can be warmed in a microwave, a medical therapeutic pad can stick to your skin and will provide warmth for 4-6 hours, a hot bath or even a spa can help you ease your back pain.

Muscular pain can be relived by application of cold. A ice pack or a frozen bag of peas can work too, you can have two to switch between. The hot and cold can help aching muscles.

If the pain in the upper back muscles continues or persists, you may have to consider taking some type of medicine such as Acetaminophen, NSAIDS, many types of anti-inflammatory medications, or even herbal analgesics.

You may want to try some of these remedies to relive the pain in your muscles. If you still haven't been able to find relief by using the advice provided then its probably time for you to see a physician. Your doctor might prescribe narcotics or have a steroid injection.

You must also start to do some light exercise to help with the pain. This is going to help to strengthen your muscles in your back, legs and your stomach. Now you still may be feeling the burning pain in your upper back muscles, a gentle stretching and strengthening exercises is going to help your back and might even feel good. One other option that you may have would be to visit your chiropractor, masseuse or acupuncture. These all have been found to help with the upper back pain.

In a few weeks if the pain has not gone away, you will need to visit your family physician. There are some other things that this burning pain in upper back muscles could be and other more complicated remedies may need to be done. Not all back pain causes can be identified, but remember if your back pain continues you need to visit your doctor for sure to help rule out any other problems that it could be.

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How To Gain Back Your Pre-Pregnancy Figure

by Ray Lam

Of course the first thought after a mother gives birth is about how healthy her baby is but it doesn't take long before thoughts about losing weight after the pregnancy will surface. Media hype touting celebrity moms after pregnancy is very common; they are shown making miraculous changes after birth, and in no time, regaining their million dollar figures. The fact that they have access to their own physical trainers and dieticians to help achieve weight loss after pregnancy for example is not mentioned; of course the time dedicated to regaining their figure is also disproportionate to the average mother.

Most things to help with weight loss after pregnancy are not available to the regular person on the street who will have to face the challenge generally on their own. Besides at this point after the birth, a mother should be concentrating more on the health of her child and her own diet so she can feed her baby these days regaining her strength. This sort of diet will enable her to regain her strength and also improve her energy levels so it should not exceed 2,000 calories per day; but it also requires regular amounts of the following:

*Fifty percent intake of carbohydrates *Protein should be almost a third of daily intake *Fat should be about one tenth of daily intake

This will typically allow for a few of the mothers favorite foods which she should be allowed to enjoy after everything she has been through. Although a new born child takes a great deal of care and time, it is still necessary for a mother to attempt some form of regular exercise which will also improve her metabolism and stamina. The exercise doesn't have to be anything that is heavy, moderate and regular are the key aspects here as this way you will also enjoy it, although you won't start seeing the benefits immediately.

This can be an excellent way to begin your weight loss after pregnancy but remember that your individual reduction will depend on a number of things one of which is how much you gained whilst you were pregnant. It is important that every mother knows that certain metabolic changes took place when the baby was born which can also have an effect on how quickly she loses weight. The order of the day is that losing weight after pregnancy will be more consistent and healthy if it is achieved slowly but surely through a healthy diet and regular physical activity.

It must be re-iterated that the loss should not be looked upon as something that must be done as quickly as possible as it should really come off about the same sort of pace it was put on. However, there is no need to feel down and if you were to lose about one pound in weight per week, that would be approximately how much you put on during the pregnancy and a good target to aim for. This is possible for most new mothers although it must be remembered that some of the pounds are not likely to be shed while the breastfeeding continues.

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When Stretch Marks Occur: How To Deal

by Maia Pells

People do not usually check to see if they have stretch marks. Most women will probably check so that they can treat and get rid of them. This is especially true for women who have given birth to babies. They will want to get rid of the stretch marks that have occurred from the stretching of skin during pregnancy. But in general, people who do have them do not really known what to do when stretch marks occur. This is the reason why most people will not do anything to stop them from forming.

What Are Stretch Marks?

For dermatologists, striae is the more common name for the condition. They are actually scars but they are not physical scars, meaning they are not found on the epidermis of the skin. They are found just underneath in the area known as the dermis.

Gaining Weight - When the body experiences a sudden change in growth, like when someone gains weight, the skin also stretches. The problem is that if the skin is not healthy enough, the dermis will tear and this is essentially how the stretch mark starts to form. The final result of a stretch mark is a silvery line and these lines are found in places where the skin has stretched. The usually areas are the stomach, thighs, arms, and buttocks.

What To Do

Early Treatment - When stretch marks occur, it is ideal that you detect them first. You will not feel a stretch mark occur and so it is up to you to inspect your body to see if there are any newly formed stretch marks. These are easily identifiable as they look like reddened or purple lines. This means that the dermis has newly torn and that area is well on its way to developing stretch marks.

Prevention - You can actually prevent the stretch mark from worsening and becoming harder to remove. One way to do this is to make sure that you drink a lot of water (about 8 glasses minimum a day) and also make sure to exercise a little. The water is to hydrate the body and keep the skin as elastic as possible. The exercise is to get your blood flowing and also to get rid of any fats that cause your skin to stretch. You might also want to change your diet into something that is rich in essential fats such as those found in fish.

More Options - If you have stretch marks that you may have overlooked before and still want to get rid of them, there are surgical and medical procedures that you can choose from. One way is to use medicated creams.

Laser Surgery Treatment - You also have the option of getting laser surgery to have the lines removed permanently. This is a pricey option but at least you won't have to worry about the stretch marks forming again. These are all measures that you can try out when stretch marks occur around your body. Otherwise, keeping a healthy body and maintaining a good diet and exercise routine should help prevent stretch marks from ever forming in the first place.

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Neurontin (Gabapentin) used for Chronic Back Pain

by Jackson Beartoes

Neurontin (Gabapentin) for chronic back pain will work for most people.

Neurontin is not excreted through the liver like most things, by excreted through the kidneys. It has been used for treatment of partial seizures in patients from the ages 3-12.

In the 1990's, Neurontin was approved for sale as treatment for epileptic seizures. When used with another drug for pain from shingles, the FDA has approved it to treat epilepsy. Eache day, you would need to take 3 doses.

Gabapentin is indicated for the management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults. Gabapentin does not interact with other medicines used for seizures and is safe to use as an add on. It has not beet yet approved to treat severe RLS (restless leg syndrome).

Neurontin is expensive for the treatment of chronic pain. This is one of the best selling drugs. The average cost is approximately $400 a month for 3200mg a day. The effects are very good even though it is an expensive drug to treat pain.

You can find Neurontin in breast milk which is the first oral medication approved by the FDA. The medicine has been used for off label uses and was prescribed for the medical condition epilepsy. One of the biggest selling points is that it has few side effects.

Neurontin does not produce any active or inactive metabolites and is not metabolized by the body. It can be taken with or without food orally. Neurontin is good for the nerve damage from chronic back pain and should not be used as pain management.

The manufacturer of Neurontin is Pfizer. It is so popular it is one of the 50 most prescribed drugs in the United States since 2003.

Neurontin is usually tried first because it is often better tolerated than other drugs. It has realatively mild side effects and passes through the body unmetabolized.

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Natural Acne Control – No Harsh Chemicals

by Anthony Stai

Do you want to get rid of the pimples on your face? Silly question right? Of course you do! But you want to do it without spending a fortune on medications and treatments.

First, "what is acne?" Simply, acne is a skin disorder this is caused by hormones interacting with your skin's sebaceous glands that produce oils. The oils can lead to congestion in your skins pores when left too long on the skin. It's at this point that the acne is forming. Acne can break out on your body in a number of places besides just your face which is the most common. It can break out on your neck, chest, back and shoulders and even your scalp. If severe acne is left untreated, it can lead to other problems such as scarring and may even lead to psychological disorders like depression.

Some of the factors that can contribute to acne outbreaks are genetics and hygiene. Of course, we can't do anything about our genetics except thank our parents. But we can do something about the other factors following the simple steps listed here.

1. Get your recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables to balance your body's chemistry and you'll be surprised at the how well you feel afterward.

2. Use rose water to clean you face. Simply use it at least twice per day to keep your face clear and refreshed.

3. Don't Wait - Waiting for a pimple to form is like admitting defeat. Take control and do something about before it is a full fledged zit. Try patting some ice on the swollen location to reduce the swelling and release the poisons in the pores.

4. Multi-vitamins will help get your body's chemistry back into balance. Not only will you live healthier but having your body's chemistry in balance will reduce the hormonal output of your sebaceous glands.

5. Cucumbers - I know, we've all seen the movies with the ladies sitting on the couch with cucumbers over the eyes. It's done to produce a laugh but the reality is that it works. Blend some cucumber with water and make a facial mask. Leave it on for about half an hour and then rinse off. This is very affordable and not only helps control acne but refreshes your skin as well.

6. Use gentle, mild soaps on your skin. I know it is tempting to use soaps that dry out your skin but then you are just going from one problem to another. Avoid using petroleum based as well as animal based soaps because they will irritate and dry out your skin.

7. Avoid using alcohol based products on your skin, especially your face, because they will dry out your face. Alcohol free is becoming much easier to find these days because alcohol products are so harsh to your skin.

8. Pick and choose your makeup carefully because many contain petroleum products and will dry you skin out which isn't necessarily what you want. You want to keep your skin clean and fresh not dry and flaky.

9. Drink lots of water. I know, everybody always says drink lots of water. But, don't you think if everybody is saying that then there must be at least a little truth to it. Well, there is! Do it and you will feel better and your skin will feel better.

Use the list above and really try it. Always start with the easiest solutions before trying to move into the expensive and invasive treatments. And note that not all illnesses need to be cured with harsh medicines and chemicals, your body will thank you in the long run.

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