For so many defeated dieters, many wonder if they should take a weight loss dietary supplement to facilitate weight reduction. Further complicating matters, with so many diets on the market, how do you know which one is right for you? The question of whether or not you should take a weight loss dietary supplement depends on a several factors.

Always Consult Your Physician

The first thing any person going on a weight reduction program should do is consult their physician. Once you get clearance from your doctor, you need to consider your age, your activity level, and your overall food plan to determine if taking a fat loss supplement is necessary. Let’s look at each one.

Age

Age plays a factor in weight gain. As you get older, your metabolism slows down. You may need a weight loss dietary supplement. But your overall health will depend on whether or not your doctor will give you clearance for a supplement to lose weight. Even then, the ingredients in the supplement will greatly influence whether or not you get the green light from your doctor.

Your Activity Level

Unless you’re physically active, and I don’t mean the occasional walk around the block or taking the stairs once in a while, your metabolism will come to a screeching halt. “Physically active” means a minimum of 30 minutes of some type of aerobic exercise at least 4 days out of the week. This could mean gardening, dancing, briskly walking around the block, jogging, walking on your treadmill – anything that makes you break a sweat.

Food Plan

Your food plan is the biggest determinant in your weight reduction efforts. No weight loss dietary supplement in the world will help you if you’re gorging your face on pizza, ice cream, bread and butter and other fattening foods. There’s just no such miracle pill on the market. You need to have a balanced food plan with plenty of fruit and vegetables and lean protein.

What If That’s Not Enough?

If you’re exercising and eating right and still not losing weight, then it’s definitely time to take a weight loss dietary supplement. Always look for dietary supplements with natural ingredients. The first four ingredients of a product is a telltale sign of its potency. Look for natural ingredients like Hoodia, green tea extract, Glucomannan and the like. These ingredients come from natural plants and speed up metabolism as well as control your appetite and absorb carbohydrates. Combining a weight loss dietary supplement with exercise and proper diet will help you achieve your desired weight reduction goals.

By: John Jakobson

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Chinese food traditions have adapted freely with time. Over the course of more than 5000 years, these culinary practices have been devised and improved and have withstood the test of time. For example, steaming, a basic cooking technique, was used extensively long before the creation of the first dynasty. Through trade, non-native ingredients made their way to the kitchens of the court combining with the homegrown harvests to produce exceptional, unusual and surprising dishes.

A well prepared Chinese dish is expected to appeal to more senses than just taste. Its hues should be tantalizing to sight, the ingredients should be of uniform size and it should be fragrant. There should be contrasting tastes and textures within the meal; if one dish is crisp, it should be paired with another one that is smooth. A mild dish is paired with a spicy one, thereby always trying to create a balance. It is important to have this equality of yin and yang.

Real Chinese food is mostly vegetarian. Fats and meats are applied sparsely for punches of flavor and very few dishes involve deep frying. This is because fats and meats can be scarce and expensive in China. As a result, true Chinese food is quite beneficial to your health because most of the recipes are low calorie and low carb. Chinese people also prefer to use soy products instead of meat and dairy. Soy products or tofu is full of good fats and proteins and are a great alternative to meats because its texture can simulate the meats we all love.

Furthermore, Chinese food is quite cheap and easy to cook because it is a style of cooking that is very open to flexible interpretations of recipes and you can often use leftover ingredients to create new dishes. Chinese chefs have learned to make a lot with very little, and this can be applied in our kitchens to save money. Frugality is definitely a virtue in the Chinese culture, and it is sometimes said that a Chinese chef can make dirt and bark taste good. This is a tribute to the ingenuity and practicality of Chinese cuisine.

In conclusion, if you love Chinese food but feel guilty about eating it, then you should make it at home with fresh and healthy ingredients. You will find a new appreciation for the culture and genius of the Chinese people and improve your health at the same time.

By: Xin Lu

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Anyone whose ever tried to cook a decent meal, and get everything right knows how hard it can be. In fact it can seem darn right impossible at times. But let’s face it, if you’re not a professional cook or chef then you can’t really expect to have a professionally cooked meal, or can you?

With all of the different cooking networks and shows out there, it’s hard to watch without wishing that you could re-create the meals that they make at home, but the truth is that you either attempt and it doesn’t work out, or you don’t even attempt because you’re afraid that it won’t turn out well.

One of the biggest problems is that the tools that you have to work with in your kitchen, and the tools that the professionals that you’re trying to emulate use are probably like night and day. They have all of the best equipment there is to work with, and frankly that’s one of the reasons there’s turns out so much better. Chances are that if they had to use your old banged up pots and pans there stuff wouldn’t turn out nearly as perfect as it does. The tools and utensils are a huge part of their success.

One of the most famous chef’s in the world has recognized this fact and therefore has done his best to try to make great cooking tools available to you. Emeril Lagasse is a world renowned chef and restaurateur, made mostly famous from his cooking shows on the Food Network “Essence of Emeril” and “Emeril Live”. He started out working in a bakery as a boy, discovered his talent, and went on to go to Johnson and Wales Culinary School and graduated in 1978. He quickly rose up the ladder of the cooking world, becoming Executive Chef of Commander Palace in New Orleans. Proving himself as a Creole and Cajun expert he went on to open his own restaurant in New Orleans called Emeril’s. He now owns ten restaurants and has a multimillion dollar empire.

So, in case you were wondering, I think it’s safe to say that Emeril Lagasse knows what he’s talking about – and furthermore – what you need in your kitchen to produce superior food at home. Emerils latest invention that’s going to help you “kick it up a notch” is the Emeril Steamer from T-Fal. You probably know that T-Fal makes some of the best, if not the best non-stick surface pans in the world, so you know that with the expertise of these two giants combining forces the Emeril Steamer has to be exceptional, and it is!

The Emeril Steamer basically makes cooking for your family about as easy as it gets. The Steamer has 3 completely separate compartments for food so that you can create a dinner for your family without all of the food running and leaking together. You can tell that Emeril created his Steamer so that it’s as easy as possible to use. Essentially, you fill the water compartment, add your food to the three large food baskets, hit a button and “Bam” you’ve got dinner going (pun intended).

To top it off, the steamer cooks food quickly so that it’s not an all day project for making dinner. Once you hit the steam button you’re off and the turbo speed steaming has begun. There’s a reversible non-stick drip tray where all three compartments drip separately ensuring that all of your food has its own separate natural taste.

Another beauty of the Emeril Steamer is that if you need to add an ingredient all is not lost once you’ve hit the button. You can simply hit the button, shut of the steam, add your ingredients, and start it back up again without any problems.

Now a lot of people have a problem when cooking large meals because they’re not able to get the timing right, and therefore will end up with one thing finished and having to sit, waiting for the rest of the meal. That’s not a worry with the steamer because everything is cooking at the same time, and you can add as you go so if you’ve got meat for instance that needs to cook a bit longer, you can go ahead and cook that and add the veggies later and your fine.

Steaming is great way to eat healthy while at the same time keeping the food tasting great, locking the natural flavors in – and the Emeril Steamer will let you do exactly that. If you’re ready to make dinner easily and quickly without all of the fuss and mess, then The Emeril Steamer cannot be recommend enough.

By: Bruce D Hunter

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Over the last couple of decades, the United States has seen a surge in obesity rates and other weight problems. For example, childhood obesity rates have gone up so much that on May 3rd, 2006, many of the nation’s largest beverage distributors announced that they would no longer sell non-diet sodas to most public schools. (cnn.com). However, obesity rates and other weight related health problems vary from culture to culture and country to country. Because the United States is an industrialized nation with easy access to junk food, especially for kids, obesity is definitely one of our nations most pressing weight related health problems. The situation is not the same in other cultures. Many people living in third world countries, especially in Africa, simply don’t have the resources to obtain food.

This results in widespread malnourishment. This one example simply shows that one nation, the United States, has more resources to feed its people than many of the poverty stricken countries in Africa and elsewhere. However, when you look at this issue cross culturally, its not this simple. The amount of food available in a culture certainly is a factor to consider when studying the various health issues associated with weight, but there is much more to consider. In our culture, many young females develop eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, that cause malnourishment yet is not caused by a lack of resources; peer pressure and a cultural pressure of females being thin is the causes for the rise in rates of conditions such as anorexia and bulimia for females. These examples barely scratch the surface of this issue, yet many interesting questions arise from the preceding examples.

How can one country with vast resources and another country stricken with poverty both have many people who are malnourished? Why are they malnourished? Besides the availability of food, what other factors must be considered for the various health problems that exist in many different cultures as a result of weight? The overwhelming amount of evidence shows that the culture one lives in, genetics and food availability contribute to the various health problems plaguing the world as a result of weight. It is important to note that the culture one lives in defines the foods they eat, which is what results in weight and health problems. Thus, different cultures have different health problems associated with weight and if two or more cultures have a similar health associated weight problem, the causes may be different. Also, different cultures have different explanations for the various health problems they encounter, and as a result practice different forms of healing and fixing these problems.

The culture one lives in is extremely important to consider when looking at all the health problems associated with weight. A look into the health of two ethnic groups located in Queensland, Australia, who migrated from the Pacific Islands, the Samoans and Tongans, show some interesting things regarding health and weight. (Queensland Samoa). The Samoans and Tongans are an interesting group to look at because, according to the Queensland Government, “Mortality rates for those born in the Pacific Islands are higher than for other Australians.

They are one of the few ethnic groups where this is the case.” Samoans and Tongans belief that one’s status is higher the more one eats. This has resulted in “obesity and its associated conditions, cardiovascular disease and diabetes… Asthma is also a problem for the Samoan community” (Queensland Samoa). Now traditionally, Samoans led a very active way of life and some genetic evidence shows that Samoans are bigger, and weigh more, than people of other cultures. However, “urbanization, lack of exercise, smoking and dietary changes have taken their toll” (Queensland Samoa). Their culture believes that spirits causes illness. Because Queensland’s climate and soil allow growth of plants associated with traditional medicine in Samoa, many Samoans choose traditional healers and perceive Western medicine as ineffective.

Samoans also believe prayer is extremely important in the healing process. Now, looking at a completely different ethnic group living in Queensland, Italians, we notice some interesting differences in their health and weight problems compared to Samoans/Tongans and the general Australian population. (Queensland Italy). Even thought Italians living in Queensland show low exercise patterns, many women are overweight (more than men), many men smoke (more than woman),”… both men and women have lower mortality rates than the Australian born population” (Queensland Italy). Alcohol is also used less by Italians than the general Australian population. Food is used as preventative medicine because many Italians believe high-energy intake is a kind of preventative medicine because they believe thin people get sick more often. (Queensland Italy).

The following is important comparative information regarding Italians living in Queensland, provided by the Queensland government:There were lower mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in Italian born migrants compared with an age-matched Australian-born sample. Smoking and obesity are higher in males born in Southern Europe, but there is a low level of mortality due to heart and respiratory disease. Thalassaemia rates are higher in Italians than the general Australian population. Mortality rates from diabetes are higher in Italian women than other Australian women. (Queensland Italy) In addition, Italians in Queensland rarely use hospitals, but they do tend to use western medicine. Analysis of these different ethnic groups living in the same place reveals some very important information. The preceding examples shows that Samoans/Tongans, Italians, and mainland Australians living in Queensland have much different health problems associated with weight even though they live in the same place.

This shows the effect culture has on weight and health. Samoans and Tongans have higher mortality rates than both the Italians and mainland Australians living in Queensland. Italians have the lowest mortally rate between these groups. There are many reasons for this, much of it cultural and food related. First, the similarities between these groups will be shown, and than the differences that led to these different mortality rates. It seems that both Samoans and Italians have low exercise patterns. Thus, they burn off less energy than people of other cultures. Both groups also smoke, which is on the rise. Now the differences are startling. According to Anne Caprio Shovic, an assistant professor and the Plan V director in the Department of Food and Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Hawaii, “Samoans are known to be the most overweight population in the world. They suffer from high rates of weight-related disease such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus” (Shovic).

This happens to be a result of the foods they eat and is also genetic. According to NSW Health, saturated fat and, to a lesser extend, cholesterol, are the main causes for the weight of Samoans. (NSW Health). According to NSW Health, these are the main ‘problem foods’ Samoans eat,But although many foods – like offal (egg liver and kidney), shellfish (egg prawns) and egg yolks, for example – are naturally high in cholesterol, they’re not the main problem. The main cause is an unhealthy fat called saturated fat found in foods such as: fatty meat, fatty mince, chicken, chicken skin, sausages, tinned corned beef, mutton flaps and turkey tails. Full fat dairy foods like milk, cheese, cream, sour cream, yogurt, ice cream fats and oils such as butter, lard, solid cooking fat from the butcher and cooking oils labeled ‘vegetable oils’. (NSW Health). It’s obvious that when your culture eats these types of food consistently, even though they are tasty, they contribute to all the problems Samoans have with weight.

Since these are what Samoans have been eating for many years now, they are genetically predisposed to being overweight and/or having weight related medical problems. Italians, on the other hand, are not known to be overweight. According to Rosemary Furfaro, “For the most part, meat does not play a regular part of many Italian diets with vegetables, grains and legumes taking center stage in most homes” (Furfaro). Furfaro goes on to say, Basically, Italian cuisine is a combination of vegetables, grains, fruits, fish, cheeses and a scattering of meats, fowl and game usually seasoned or cooked with olive oil (with the exception of the far north). The reliance upon what the country can produce has shaped a diet popular for centuries, particularly with the poorer Italian people, and is called la cucina povera.

Now we are seeing a resurgence of this “poor people’s food” and the Mediterranean diet is being touted as the model around which we should restructure our eating habits. (Furfaro).Now it seems like the picture is clear. Samoans have a tradition of eating foods loaded with cholesterol and saturated fats. This leads to all sorts of problems already discussed, such as heart disease and diabetes. On the other hand, Italians are leading the way with the Mediterranean diet:The traditional Mediterranean diet delivers as much as 40% of total daily calories from fat, yet the associated incidence of cardiovascular diseases is significantly decreased.

As a monosaturated fatty acid, olive oil does not have the same cholesterol-raising effect of saturated fats. Olive oil is also a good source of antioxidants. Eating fish a few times per week benefits the Mediterranean people by increasing the amount of ‘Omega-3 fatty acids’- something that the rest of the developed societies don’t get enough of. Eating red meat sparingly seems to also increase health. There is a general consensus among health professionals that the Mediterranean Diet is healthier than the North European and American diet because more grains, such as spaghetti, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and olive oil are consumed. (Mediterranean Diet).

It seems clear now why two different ethnic groups living in the same place, Queenland, Australia, have such different health problems associated with weight. The main difference is cultural. Samoans believe the more you eat, the higher status you have. They also believe many illnesses are caused by spirited. Thus, many don’t see a correlation between the foods they eat and the health problems they develop. It is extremely difficult to try to change their eating habits, however, an effort is being made. According to Anne Caprio Shovic of the University of Hawaii, “The Samoan exchange lists are now being distributed worldwide to health care professionals who work with Samoan clients” (Shovic). Prior dietary intervention for Samoans depended on foods not historical part of a Samoan diet. “A literature search, personal interviews, and site visits at local grocery stores and village homes were conducted to determine what foods are common to the Samoan diet. These foods and recipes were then computer-analyzed.

Foods that are high sources of vitamins A and C, sodium, and fat are also highlighted in the Samoan exchange lists” (Shovic). It’s noteworthy to mention that must Samoans are rather proud of their size and weight. Because they see it as a status symbol, and because of their traditional diet, it may be difficult to change their diets to benefit them. The new Samoan exchange lists are an excellent idea. Instead of replying upon foods Samoans don’t eat, nutritionists finally developed recipes using Samoan food. Hopefully, this will start to benefit these people. The Italians living on Queensland, who have less of a mortality rate than main land Australians, rely on the Mediterranean diet for their healthy diet. Italians don’t see food as a status symbol, yet they are extremely proud of the foods they produce and eat. Many other countries have tried to even replicate the Mediterranean diet, with some success. (Furfaro). The Samoans and Italians living in Queensland share the same environment, jobs, land, social networks and more among themselves and mainland Australians. The only difference is the culture they bring to Queensland. And the culture they brought to Queensland is the biggest factor regarding the health problems they have as a result of their weight.

The preceding example is just one of many that show that culture is vital regarding dietary health. Another excellent example is the comparison of the French diet to the American diet. According to Dr. Will Clower, an American neuroscientist who spent two years in France, “Only 8% of the French people are overweight compared to almost 50% of Americans. They live longer and have less heart disease” (Weber). What is so amazing about this? The French diet goes against just about everything American doctors and scientists have been telling us. “The French diet includes full fat cheeses, bread, creamy sauces, chocolate, wine, after dinner liqueurs, in fact all the foods that Americans are told to be afraid of” (Weber). Dr. Clower gives a rather good explanation for the striking difference in American’s obesity rate compared to France and the foods we eat. The French eat very high quality foods and avoid processed foods. They always eat olive oil with meals, which is the key to the Mediterranean diet. And most importantly, the French have small portion sizes and eat their food slowly, as well as with wine. (Weber). Americans are told to take in low carbohydrates, low fat, medium protein and many fruits and vegetables. The French, who also eat fruits and vegetables, eat the right kind of carbohydrates and fats, and limit their portion sizes. America’s obesity rate is extremely high compared to the French, and only proves again that the culture you were born in is a huge factor in your weight and health problems.

There are other factors to consider regarding weight and health that are not so dependent on food. An excellent example would be Bolivia’s coca chewing population. Many workers and farmers in Bolivia rely on coca leaves, which can be made into the powerful stimulant cocaine, to make it though the day. (Barker). It has been proven that coca leaves are not addictive (Barker), and the peasants rely on them to make it though the workday. Now this is an extremely complicated issue. On one hand, you have the United States government’s “War on Drugs” which leads to the eradication of many coca plants in South America. It’s true that many coca leaves are processed in cocaine and smuggled into the United States. It’s also true that the ‘eradication’ of coca leaves has not lowered the rate of cocaine use or the amount of cocaine smuggled into the country. Instead, peasants in Bolivia might find that they are the only ones hurt with this policy. These peasants are malnourished, and have a very low life expectancy rate.

Most grow up, work the fields and die young, between the ages of 30-50. When a child reaches the age of nine, they start using coca leaves because that is the age they usually start to work. (Barker). Food availably for peasants in Bolivia is low, and many wouldn’t have the energy to even earn the meager wages or food they do without coca leaves. And it’s not the leaves that led to the low life expectancy rate; it’s the lack of the availability of food for the peasants. This is a very interesting example because it shows what a culture does when food is limited yet work needs to be done to get that food. Another interesting example is some of the Jewish eating customs.

Many people of Jewish faith eat certain foods; those that are kosher, and don’t eat other foods, such as pork. (Mom). Jewish religion only allows us to eat kosher food. A rabbi blesses kosher food, and the quality is thoroughly inspected. It’s also more expensive. In addition, even though Jewish people can eat kosher meat, and eat kosher dairy products, you cannot mix those two together. (Mom). It becomes ‘un-kosher’ to do this. In addition, all kitchen utensils used for meat and others used for dairy products must be kept separate. In addition, pork is strictly forbidden to be eaten by Jewish people. It’s considered a “very dirty animal” (mom) and is extremely unhealthy. Now what are the results of these limitations? First, because kosher food is thoroughly inspected, the quality of the food is much higher, especially for meat. Also, most people who mix meat and dairy products together get bad stomach indigestion. And most importantly, pork really is a rather dirty animal. Pigs spend much of their time laying in their own ‘manure,’ In addition, pork must be cooked to a crisp in order to kill all the bacteria present in the meat. Cases of ringworm and other horrible stomach ailments have results from undercooked pork. Jewish people who stay kosher eat high quality food, don’t mix certain foods together, and don’t eat ‘dirty’ animals. As a result, many Jewish people stay in shape and have a good weight. Also, because of the preceding, Jewish people who stay kosher don’t get many health problems associated with weight. (Mom).

The foods a person eats, which depend on the culture (or religion) they come from, as well as one’s genetics, play the most important role in weight management, which leads to a healthier culture. With enough dedication (through exercising) and knowledge, anybody can manage their weight and be healthy (assuming food is plentiful). Sadly, this is not the case. Many people simply don’t exercise and have other bad habits, such as smoking cigarettes. Many people also don’t have the knowledge to maintain good weight and health. People come from all sorts of different cultures. As shown with the Samoans and Italians living in Queensland, two (or more) cultures living in the same environment can have strikingly different diets that are based on their cultures and thus drastically different weight and health problems.

The Samoans, loaded with foods containing cholesterol and saturated fat, seem to be considered the most overweight culture in the world. The Italians, with their Mediterranean diet, are leading the way for health. Americans, with our vast resources and wealth, have a culture that loves the wrong types of food. As a result, we have a very high obesity rate. Also, Americans have placed a great burden on young females, who malnourish themselves to look ‘thin and sexy’- as the media likes to portray. This is how a rich American woman and a poor South American farmer can both be malnourished. In essence, the culture one is apart of plays a significant role in the foods one eats, how much they weigh, and ultimately, their health. Different cultures have different norms for the words ‘fat’ and ‘skinny’. No culture is right or wrong with their terms for fat and skinny. However, the statistics and evidence clearly shows that some cultures are simply better handled to deal with health issues associated with weight than other cultures are.

By: Gregory Akerman

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Somehow it doesn’t seem quite right does it? Getting older should mean taking your foot off the gas, slowing down a bit and kicking back and enjoying life with plenty of spare time on your hands to indulge your favourite hobbies and pastimes – But does it work out that way?

No, not normally!

Ask any of the older generation who have either reached, or are approaching retirement age and they will all say that instead of life becoming more relaxed and enjoyable it seems to go in reverse; still working to earn a little extra, looking after younger family members, catching up on a multitude of chores.. and the possibility of not having the best of health to be able to cope with all the daily stuff they have to plough through.

You see, it’s not just the daily jobs and rituals that get people down, it’s more the state of their health that is the biggest problem and their main concern of worry and anxiety. Until you get there yourself it’s difficult to imagine how it must feel after a lifetime of relatively good health to become less agile, easier to get tired more quickly and with a tendency to pick up every little virus and passing illness that happens to be currently doing the rounds.

When we look at older people we forget that they were once young and were quite capable of leading a normal healthy lifestyle rather than how they appear right now.

To take things a stage further, what happens when those little niggling health concerns turn into something that can’t be cured with an aspirin or a simple doctor’s prescription? What happens if a man contracts something as disturbing and miserable as impotency?

How would it feel having been a normal red-blooded male leading a normal active sex life now having to face the rest of your life with a condition as life-changing as impotence? Especially when you’re expecting to have more time on your hands to be able to live life to the full and enjoy that side of life more than ever before?

In years gone by if a guy suffered with something like erectile dysfunction and became impotent he didn’t have too much say in the matter and had to resolve himself that as far as his sex life was concerned it is now nothing more than a dim and distant memory to look back on and cherish.

But how times have changed. These days if a man suffers with ED or impotency help is now available. In fact, with the right sort of medical advice and medication no one of any age need put up with the horrible condition of being impotent anymore.

By: Michael Colly

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To deal with your breast cancer sensibly, you must learn some basic information. What is cancer? What is the nature of the conventional cancer “system?” What do doctors think about “alternative” cancer treatment? What is a sound strategy for treating the cancer and what specific treatments work the best?

About 20 – 30% of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.

Breast cancer is a bunch of cells in the breast that become abnormal for some reason and cause mutation. The mutated cells attack other normal cells and cause them to become mutated. Some cells end up getting destroyed. When enough cells are changed in this manner, cancer develops. Sometimes a small amount of mutated cells end up becoming cancerous. This is why cancer often starts small, in a certain section of the breast and spreads from there.

In stage 1, the tumor becomes cancerous and grows to an inch in diameter, but does not spread beyond the breast.

In stage 2, the cancerous tumor spreads to the lymph.

In stage 3, the cancerous tumor has grown more and has reached and penetrated the lymph nodes of the underarms. In some cases this type of cancer has been known to spread to the lymph nodes near the breastbone, or other tissue near the breast.

In stage 4, this is metastatic cancer. The cancer spreads beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body. Symptoms of advancing breast cancer may include bone pain, breast pain, skin ulcers, swelling of one arm (next to breast with cancer) and weight loss.

Recurrent cancer usually happens when the treatment (radiation, chemotherapy and surgery) provided earlier did not get rid of the disease. Some cancer remains hidden within cells and is not destroyed. Then it just spreads quickly and shows up.

Besides the conventional method, there are many treatment options available to help avoid or get rid of your cancer. The best method, according to medical specialists and nutritionists, is the food you eat. According to research studies, foods that have healing properties are the best to consume, in order to get rid of this disease. You need to have an adequate supply of antioxidants such as fruits, vegetables, and other foods. The three most powerful antioxidants are beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Beta-carotene is what gives many fruits their appearance. It also stimulates the release of natural killer cells, which hunt down and destroy cancer cells. You can find beta-carotene in cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, spinach, and bok choy.

There are substances that are found in plant food known as phytonutrients. They have the ability to stop cancer. A good example of this type of plant food is Broccoli. In lab tests, this chemical actually destroyed cancer tissue. You can find phytonutrients in many other types of foods such as soybeans, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk. Another food that has been known for centuries as a perfect healer for many illnesses is garlic.

And a daily serving of at least 4 ounces of seafood, for the average person, will prevent and get rid of many of these diseases, including many cancers.

While undergoing Nature Cure you follow a simple diet and supplement regimen for 6-8 weeks. That is all that patients have found necessary, to reverse their cancer.

There are certain situations that neither you, nor your doctor can control. These situations include your genes and family history. But if you can learn to eat right and make certain lifestyle changes, you may just find your chances of getting cancer reduced or eliminated and placing yourself in the position where you can lower, greatly, the chance of you getting breast cancer.

Most experts recommend women aged 20 and older, should undergo a routine check once a month during the week following their menstrual period. After 40, a thorough examination of the breasts must be conducted at least once every 2- 3 years since the key to eliminating this disease is by catching it early.

Women who had breast cancer and took the right steps found their cancer disappear, never to return?

By: RP Bhalla

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For people who have never owned a cat and are considering adopting one, there are some health issues that may not be known. While most cats are perfectly healthy and livelong lives, they do have some issues that may not be life threatening, but they may need to be considered. The following are some of the most common feline health issues:

· Hairballs – Hairballs are the most common of all of the feline health issues and with the exception of the hairless cats; most have an issue with them at one time or another. One reason many people want to have a cat is because they are very clean. They stay this way with constant grooming and because their tongues are rough, a great deal of hair is stuck to it and is swallowed by the cat. Too much hair and it does not pass through the same channels as food does. In rare cases, the hairball cannot be coughed up and instead gets caught in the intestines and must be operated on. If you brush your cat regularly then there is less hair for them to swallow and you can prevent the worst from happening.

· Worms – Cats, like dogs, can get worms such as roundworm, tapeworm and hookworms. There are some signs of this malady that can make getting them help much easier. If your cat is eating normally and yet not gaining any weight, they may have worms. Another sign is white spots in their feces and a bad flea problem. While worms can be dangerous, knowing the warning signs and regular vet check ups can keep your cat from being infested.

· Urinary Tract Infection – Finally, a common health issue for cats is the urinary tract infection. The males of the species that have not been neutered are the cats that suffer the most from this but it can be found in all cats. This is only one reason why it is important to have your male cats fixed when they are old enough. When you notice that your cat’s urine has a much stronger smell than before, this can be a sign and you should take your cat to be looked at.

Many of the health issues that cats are known for are easy to diagnose and take care of if you know the warning signs. Pay attention to your cat’s diet and to their stool and urine to find out if there are any serious problems with them. Visit your veterinarian on a regular basis too to keep your cat healthy and happy.

By: Lisa A Mason

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The guidelines that are set by the USDA “MyPyramid” provide a detailed nutrition program for preschool aged children. This nutrition program emphasize the importance of healthy eating by combining all food groups in a daily menu plan. Teaching children the value of a healthy eating plan early in their life will insure that they acquire good eating habits that will last a lifetime.

Establishing healthy eating habits for preschoolers includes modeling their eating habits at home so that when they enter the school environment, they can make healthy choices.

The guidelines for a nutritious healthy eating plan for toddlers include the 5 major food groups as part of a daily diet. Each food group contributes specific nutrients to the diet. These nutrients are necessary for children’s growth and development.

1) Bread and Grains: 6 servings a day

These foods provide energy for activity and growth. Children should consume some whole grain products. At least half of the grains consumed should be in the form of whole-grain cereals and sandwiches made with whole wheat bread. Check the ingredients on the product label to insure that the product is in fact made with “whole wheat.”

2) Milk & Milk Products: 3-4 servings a day

These products provide needed calcium for strong teeth and bones. Children from 2 to 8 years of age should consume 2 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or an equivalent in milk products.

3) Fruits – 2 servings per day

The number of fruits children should eat is determined by their calorie needs. But the base requirement as outlined in the food pyramid for this age group is at least 2 fruit servings per day.

4) Vegetables – 3 servings a day

Vegetables provide the important vitamins and minerals to protect eyesight and the body’s immune system.

5) Meats, Beans & Nuts: 2 servings per day

Meats, beans & nuts provide protein and iron to form muscles.

Parents should limit the intake of high saturated fats or salt (sodium) in the toddler’s diet to reduce the risk of high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Total fat intake should be limited to 30 and 35 percent of calories for children ages 2 to 3 years, and between 25 and 35 percent of calories for children and adolescents from the age of 4 to 18.

Most fats should come from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.

Help the toddler make smart choices: replace sugary snacks with healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

By: Christine Steendahl

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Husbands: 10 Ways to be there when your wife has breast cancer

Breast cancer is a life and relationship threatening trauma. Peter J. Flierl, M.S.W., offers insights and common sense for husbands of patients with breast cancer

When we marry the man or woman of our dreams, our soul mate and best friend, we expect to be together for a lifetime despite the odds against it with 6 of 10 marriages today ending in divorce. We truly believe that we will be together “for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, ’til death us do part.” And then life intrudes: becoming a couple, learning to balance needs, the joy and awesome responsibility of becoming and being parents, managing careers and handling money.

If a marriage is sound, it can weather any storm, survive virtually any trauma. If the relationship is not on solid ground, a trauma, almost any trauma or stress, can lead to its demise. That may account for the fact that nearly seven in ten marriages touched by breast cancer do not survive.

There is no magic bullet, no panacea or formula, for surviving and indeed thriving despite of or in part due to facing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and subsequent life together.

God it is said gives us challenges to build character, so you as a husband and the two of you as a couple have a great opportunity to build character, to create a lifetime love story. My bride of 28 years, Shirley, is a 22-year survivor of breast cancer. However, that does not define her. She is also a mother, a businesswoman, an educator, a lover, a community volunteer, and my lifetime partner. She was treated at age 37 for an aggressive, Stage 3 tumor that had extensive lymph node involvement. She is alive and well, still sexy with just one breast, and is an inspiration to other women facing this disease, particularly young women.

Following are suggestions to other husbands on how to be there for your wife, how to help her become and remain a survivor.

1. Tell her you love her.

In a marriage or any intimate relationship, silence is not golden. The strong silent type need not apply for the position of husband, lover, best friend, confidante and supporter of a woman with breast cancer. Your bride, your wife, needs and wants to hear from you. Actions may speak louder than words, and you may take all the right actions, but speaking words brings comfort, reassurance and knowledge of your inner feelings. She cannot read your mind. Being there for her is more than physical or economic security. Words have meaning. And the three most important words in the English language at this time, at this moment, when together you are facing her mortality, are: “I love you.”

The late Louise Crisafi, a saint here on Earth who always gave of herself for others in need, taught me this lesson on the Friday my wife, Shirley Ann, had her biopsy and was diagnosed. Shirley had opted for a two-step process for diagnosis one day and treatment, i.e., surgical removal of her right breast, a mastectomy, on a second day. This meant we knew on Friday she would have a mastectomy on Monday, a weekend together, scared, anxious, frightened. Shirley was confronting her death and the imminent loss of a part of her womanhood. I was clueless, at a loss, overwhelmed and scared. I didn’t know what to do, how to act or what to say.

Louise was an American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery volunteer devoted to helping other women face breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. She was a good friend. When I asked her what to do feeling as helpless and overwhelmed as I was, she said simply: “Tell her you love her.” I was off to the races. I spent that weekend saying those three magic, powerful words over and over, as frequently as possible, perhaps more than I had done in weeks, months or years previously.

A year or so later on a television talk show featuring three women who had had breast cancer, Shirley reminisced about how verbal I had become that fateful weekend. Those words brought comfort and made a difference. Remember to say: “I love you.” It works. And I hope I am as verbal and loving today as I was in the midst of crisis.

2. Say “Yes”

We all know the joke about Moses and the tribes of Israel wandering for 40 years in the desert after their miraculous escape from bondage in Egypt. It took 40 long years to reach the land of milk and honey, the Promised Land. And why, why did it take so long? Moses was a man. He refused to ask for directions. Ten Commandments, maybe; asking for help, never.
If you’re married or have dated a man for any length of time, you’ve spent time in a car lost. You suggest, perhaps timidly and quietly, that it might be a good idea to stop and ask for directions. He is offended. He, after all, is a man. He has a good, no, a great sense of direction. That will become apparent to you, a mere woman with no sense of direction, momentarily. The moments tick by. He is becoming exasperated and hitting the gas. Finally, in disgust, he pulls into a gas station and asks for help. It pains him to do so.

Louise added another lesson when I was asking what to do knowing that Shirley and I were facing her cancer together, a cancer that we seemed to have faint hope of beat-ing. Her advice was powerful and insightful. When someone, anyone, asks if they can do anything to help, just say “Yes.” Friends, family, neighbors, colleagues and others want to be there for you and for themselves.

I know, I know. You’re a man and never ask for help, not even simple directions. Understand that the people asking to help need your “Yes” as much as you. It gives them some sense of being able to do something positive about this insidious disease that seems beyond their control.

Shirley and I were blessed. We did not have to cook a meal for 3-4 months following her surgery thanks to the chicken dishes, casseroles, lasagnas and other assorted goodies constantly flowing through our front door. Needing a brief childcare stint for our daughter, Alison, it was there. Thank you, Greenwich. Thank you in particular First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich. Thank you special friends, particularly Betsy, who taught me I could get through anything, even this. You are a compassionate community. You are a healing church. You are true friends. Your love, prayers and support made a difference for all three of us in our recovery.

Ask for help. Say “yes” when it’s offered. You’ll be better for it.

3. Humor Heals

Norman Cousins taught the country this lesson many years ago and we are often reminded of this truth by Loretta Laroche and others. We know that the act of laughing is itself healing. It makes us feel better and helps us get better. It is very easy to take ourselves and our careers much too seriously.

Close friends have experienced our occasional over-the-top, out of control laughing, true guffaws. Can anything feel better? You cannot laugh while feeling sorry for yourself. Seeing the humor in any situation brings relief and release. Did you hear about the drunk who got a “speeding” ticket after passing out at the wheel of his car? Tragedy, yes. Being able to laugh at the incident in hindsight brings understanding and relief.

Our favorite apocryphal joke is about hitting a pig, reporting the accident anonymously and getting a ticket in the mail for $500. And how did they find us, you ask, “the pig squealed.”

Shirley set the stage for our approach to her treatment for breast cancer, which included humor and lots of it. Shirley had met Linda McWhorter, her surgeon’s wife, about two weeks before her diagnosis and surgery. On the way in to the operating room for her mastectomy, lying on a gurney in a local community hospital, she looked up and said: “Hey, Phil, you ought to charge me half price. I’m pretty small.” Courage, strength, fortitude.

A year later, Shirley told the hospital’s President & CEO that she was being over charged for her mammogram, that she should get a 50% discount. After all, with one remaining breast, they only had to take a single x-ray image, not two. What’s fair is fair. She left him speechless. It just made sense to me.

And there was her relationship with her oncologist, Dick Hollister, and his incredible staff. Do you realize that over 95% of cancer treatment takes place in physicians’ private office, not in hospitals. If you choose to practice in oncology, you know from the get go that at least 50% of your patients will die. Yet Dick and his staff always provided hope, comfort, and, best of all, laughter and humor.

Dick had made the choice to become a doctor and treat patients with cancer at age 13 according to his mother, at age 11 according to him. He was the perfect match for Shirley, who turned him bright red (fairly easy given his red-head’s freckled complexion), when she whipped out her temporary breast prosthesis during his first visit to her hospital room. He was speechless. He knew he had a live one, despite the poor prognosis. Shirley was an interesting and challenging case for a new oncologist in his first few years of practice. Jokes were a staple in his office during the course of our year of treatment.

Humor is healing to body, mind, and spirit.

4. I love you, not your breasts

Despite our nation’s growing obesity, we are a breast and body image fixated society, from Betty Grable pinups in World War II, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Mansfield in the 1950′s and 1960′s to Salma Hayek, Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson today. Men talk about being “leg men” or “breast men” with bravado and sophomoric stupidity, as if large breasts or great legs have anything to do with being a woman, a lifetime companion, and a long-term, intimate lover.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love to look at and admire beautiful women from the gorgeous 76-year-old former model taking my smoking cessation class in 1982 to the stars on screen and women around me today. However, it is my bride, my lover, and my lifetime partner who is my sexual and sensual interest today. Your bride, your lover, your wife needs to know that you love who she is, not what type of body she has or the size of her breasts.

Shirley is as beautiful and sexy today as she was on our first date, if not more so. Our love making then and today was not and is not hampered by her having one breast instead of two. Rather, it enriches our intimacy. When we make love, she completes me, makes me whole and alive. God created a matching set that fits together nicely. Your bride needs reassurance in the face of an assault on her femininity and sense of womanhood. She needs to know by what you say and what you do that this set of circumstances is not the end of your sex life, but rather a new, sometimes frightening, and exciting sex life with heightened sensitivity and caring.

5. Go to her appointments

Go to the multitude of appointments with your wife, your partner, as much as you can, holding her hand literally and figuratively. I had the luxury and blessing of relative independence in my job as the CEO of a community health and wellness center. I built my professional and community calendar around Shirley’s treatment schedule. I went with Shirley to virtually every physician visit, every chemotherapy appointment. I felt a bit guilty about sitting in the waiting room, not going into the exam room with her for the actual treatments. Perhaps a bit of a wimp or squeamish, but I was with her in mind, body and spirit every step of the way. If it were possible, I would have taken it for her, and traded places with her.

It is not what you do when you accompany her to treatment, but rather the act itself that speaks volumes to her. It also gives you some sense of empowerment. You are more than a helpless spectator cursing the damned disease. You have joined the battle. You are helping wrest control from the cancer along with your wife, your family and friends, your treatment team and all of the support system around you.

There is also a practical side. Hearing a diagnosis of cancer overwhelms the senses. Doctors try to help you understand, but their daily jargon, the language of medicine, might as well be classical Greek or Latin. With two of you there, there are two sets of ears to hear what is said. There are two mouths to ask questions. This helps avoid the tendency to hear what you want to hear. Being with her each time will reassure her, help her overcome, and make you feel good about yourself. She’ll love you for it.

6. She is not an invalid

Your wife or partner is not fragile. She won’t break. Treatment can be grueling and tiring, but you both need to live your life as fully as possible. Continue to enjoy what you enjoy individually and as a couple, particularly the latter. One of our best friends and an inspiration for many jogged to her chemotherapy appointments when battling a recurrence of breast cancer. It is called zest for living, being in the now.
Let your bride do anything she is up to trying. In Shirley’s case over the course of her year of treatment, that included walks at Greenwich Point, skiing, putting up with some golf with me, puttering with flowers, and even on occasion agreeing to go sailing with me. You need to take your cues from her. She knows what she can do, or how tired she may be feeling, whether it’s a good day or not. When she’s ready, encourage and support her without pushing her. Get out when she’s ready.

As I reflect, it was important for Shirley and I to live life fully as a couple and as a family with Alison. We knew our time together here might be very short and we wanted to live our life together fully. We did not anticipate the length of life we’ve been blessed with together. Shirley is a miracle and so is your wife or partner, no matter what the ultimate outcome.

7. Sex After Breast Cancer

This is another place where a man needs to let his partner lead. She will let you know what works now and what doesn’t, what she’s ready for, and what she’s not. I suppose I mourned the loss of her breast as she did, as well as the change in some aspects of love-making that result.
The important thing to learn is that life goes on and sex goes on. In the first weeks, months and even years, your sex life may take on an added dimension that is simultaneously painful and exquisite. Imagine how it feels to make love to someone you feel you might lose. You don’t want to hurt her. Remember, she is not fragile. You can giver her bear hugs both during and outside your lovemaking.

Shirley found a new gynecologist as she went through treatment, Ed Jacobson, a warm man, the kind of physician whose presence and demeanor is comforting and reassuring by nature. He enriched our lives, specifically our sex lives, by suggesting we try jellies and creams to make intercourse easier and more comfortable. When your part-ner experiences menopause, whether naturally as she ages, or, as in Shirley’s case, early menopause brought on at age 37 by chemotherapy and hormone therapy, there are issues to be addressed. This includes hot flashes, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, lack of lubrication, lowered libido. In explaining the use of jellies and creams to Shirley during an office visit, Ed described it as “the stuff used by the prostitutes in Stamford.” Sounded like good advice to her and to me. And, by the way, it does work.

There is sex after mastectomy, wonderful, beautiful, glorious sex. And, in the beginning, it can be simultaneously exquisite and painful. There is nothing that can quite prepare a man for making love, and having intercourse, with the love of his life who he fears losing. The threat hung over our heads and was part of our thoughts for days, months and years. Shirley would be embarrassed were I to say any more about our sex life. It is intimate and remains a joy.

I have spoken on this subject to women’s groups and social workers. Most rewarding was being part of a panel in Stamford, Connecticut with a professional sex therapist speaking ahead of me. I listened attentively and was pleased to find that Shirley and I had figured out on our own what she described in theory. She was a theoretician explaining the principles underlying sexuality and the impact of breast surgery and cancer treatment. Shirley and I had lived it and muddled through on our own just fine, thank you.

8. She is your trophy wife

You need to understand that your bride, your wife, the woman you promised to cherish, the love of your life and your best friend is also the answer to your caricature male mid-life crisis. The answer is not a young intern wearing a thong who’s young enough to be your daughter. It is not a young bimbo or young colleague with whom to start your next marriage, or your next family. It is not a sports car, a speedboat or a new set of golf clubs. It is your wife.

I encountered this attitude and understanding observing the marriage of friends Joe and Shirley, two “adolescents in love” after more than 40 years of marriage. Rather than have a midlife crisis alternative relationship, whether sexual or emotional, how about a fling with your wife. Take her away for a comfy weekend at a romantic bed and breakfast. In our case, it can be some quiet time together in the Berkshires, preferably paddling a canoe. Or take in a Broadway show, or a good movie and an after show dessert. Fall in love. Stay in love. Be in love.

9. Lemonade from lemons

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. See the silver lining. You are not a Pollyanna to find something exquisite, profound and meaningful in facing cancer, facing death and facing loss. Can you imagine yourself in the shoes or the psyche of a person with cancer? Or as the husband, lover and lifetime partner of a woman with breast cancer? Can you understand deep in your soul what intimacy is like, sexual and otherwise, when all your senses are stretched and heightened by the knowledge you’re making love to a woman you could lose?

You find joy to the point of pain. You discover a profound sense of being one with each other, and yet there is awareness that it could be fleeting and transitory. Reality may break in and shatter the moment, but you persevere. I have often said in the years since “our” treatment for Shirley’s breast cancer that a good marriage, or a solid relationship, will not only get through the trauma of breast cancer, the marriage will be strengthened and be the better for it. Go figure.

10. She is not damaged goods

A man attending a prostate cancer support group expressed concern about being “damaged goods” following prostate cancer treatment. Your bride is not damaged goods with or without breast reconstruction. She remains the woman you fell in love with, the woman you committed to for a lifetime together. Get beyond the inner thoughts never expressed, wondering whether your lovemaking was altered forever. You, too, may miss her breast, as it has brought you both pleasure in the past. Whether or not to have breast reconstruction is a personal choice, her choice. Shirley chose not to do so, in part I believe to avoid furthering tampering with and “awakening” of any missed cancer cells.

Now is the time to live your life to its fullest together. Cleave to her. Hold her. Love her. Smell her. Taste her. Smile with her. Laugh with her. Cry with her. Get angry with her. Yes, you still have “negative” feelings and emotions. You are still human beings in the ebb and flow of a love relationship that is more intense than most of those around you. You’ll both survive and thrive if you stay together.

By: Peter Flierl

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