Important Minerals For Your Healthy Body

Along with vitamins, minerals are essential to the body’s good health. They are inorganic elements that the body doesn’t make; instead, we obtain them from the foods we eat or through supplements.

It’s been reported that some 56 percent of adults in the U.S. use some kind of nutritional supplements, fueling an industry that sells more than $1.5 billion in products every year. If you’re spending money on supplements, you should know what you’re getting.

There are two kinds of minerals: trace minerals and macrominerals. The category of trace minerals includes iron, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, fluoride and chromium. Trace minerals are only found in tiny, trace amounts in your body. Macrominerals are needed in larger amounts in your body – these are sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, sulphur, cobalt and chloride. Each mineral works in different ways to contribute to the body’s health and wellbeing.

The following is a list of each mineral, the foods in which it can be found, and what it does for your body. In future articles, we’ll discuss the various minerals in more detail.

Calcium is the most important macromineral for bone and teeth health. Without it, we couldn’t stand up and chew our food. Foods rich in calcium are dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese. Canned fish, such as canned salmon or sardines, and green vegetable such as broccoli also provide us with needed calcium. Calcium is so important that some foods, such as cereals and juices, are fortified with it.

Iron helps oxygen get from the lungs to the rest of the body. It is also essential in the production of hemoglobin. Iron can be found in red meats, tuna, salmon, eggs, beans, potatoes, raisins and green leafy vegetables.

Potassium is essential for keeping the nervous system working. Foods such as bananas, tomatoes, broccoli, potatoes, citrus fruit, legumes and nuts are rich in potassium.

Zinc strengthens the body’s immune system and wards off illness and infection. Zinc can be found in legumes and meats such as beef, pork and lamb.

Magnesium is found in bones. It helps the body maintain a healthy metabolism and cholesterol level. It also converts sugar into energy. Spinach, beans, peas, nuts, seeds and grains are an excellent source for magnesium. Tap water also contains traces of the mineral but the amount will vary according to the water supply.

Manganese helps increase the absorption of nutrients such as biotin, thiamin and ascorbic acid. It helps maintain healthy bones and blood sugar levels and maximizes the function of the thyroid gland. It also contributes to healthy nerve function. Foods high in manganese are mustard and collard greens, kale, chard, raspberries, pineapple, lettuce and maple syrup.

Sodium, which is found in salt, maintains the body’s blood pressure. Since too much sodium can lead to health problems, it is important to realize that processed foods such as bread, tomato sauce, Chinese foods, and potato chips have high sodium content.

Copper protects the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as bones. It helps keep arteries from hardening and is needed for healthy hair and skin. The body also needs copper to produce antioxidants. Half of the body’s copper supply is in the bones and muscles. Copper can be found in beef liver, black-eyed peas, shellfish and cocoa.

Chromium controls the body’s insulin and normalizes sugar levels. It also lowers bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Foods that contain chromium are romaine lettuce, onions, tomatoes, brewer’s yeast, oysters, liver and bran. Since few diets provide enough chromium, a daily supplement is recommended.

Sulphur is known as the “beauty” mineral. It keeps hair, nails and skin strong. It plays a role in the production of collagen, which helps maintain the skin’s elasticity. Sulphur also helps with such conditions as eczema, psoriasis and acne. Sulphur can be found in lean meats, fish, eggs, milk, legumes, cabbage, brussel sprouts and turnips.

Cobalt is a part of Vitamin B12, which is needed for healthy red blood cells. It can be found in fish, nuts, green leafy vegetables and cereals.

Chloride helps the body maintain fluid in blood vessels and muscles and maintain healthy kidneys. Chloride can be found in table salt, kelp, olives, tomatoes and celery.

Iodine, which is found mainly in the thyroid gland, regulates the release of energy in the body. It also regulates the metabolism, so without iodine, a person would gain a great deal of weight. Iodine also contributes to healthy hair, skin, nails and teeth. Good sources of iodine are leafy vegetables, fish, shellfish, and onions.

Fluoride is a mineral that can be added to water or toothpaste, as it is not found in any significant quantity in foods. Fluoride is crucial for the maintenance of strong teeth and the prevention of tooth decay.

Selenium is needed to prevent heart disease and cancer. It works with Vitamin E as an antioxidant to help slow the aging process. Foods high in selenium are nuts, seafood, legumes, cereals and turkey.

The body uses many essential minerals, and a balanced diet is critical to ensure that it receives enough for optimal functioning. A deficiency of certain minerals can lead to severe health problems. If your diet is lacking any of these minerals, you should consider taking supplements to make up for any deficiencies.


Janet Davis is a health and nutrition entrepreneur. She and her husband are founders of MarkAndJanet.com, a website with uncompromising, premium products for your health conscious family. Are you looking for more information on natural vitamins and minerals? Visit us at http://www.MarkandJanet.com or check out our blog at http://www.MarkandJanetBlog.com.

Steroids Side Effects to Consider

The lure of transforming one's body into something truly enviable along with other immediate gains of performance leads many people to steroids side effects. This becomes clearer when you see the increasing use of steroids by athletes and body builders. It indicates that people are keen to change how they appear or perform, without paying too much consideration into the steroids side effects.

Common Steroids Side Effects
Here are some common steroids side effects:

- Inhibited production of natural hormones is inevitable. The human body tends to stay in a balanced state called 'homeostasis.' Steroids function as hormones within the body. By sending a message to the body's endocrine system, steroids put a stop to the production of the body's natural hormones.

- Liver damage is another well known side effect. It is orally ingested as steroids pass through the liver and cause elevation of liver enzymes. Keep in mind that the liver serves as a filtering organ. The use of steroids is natural to impact and cause strain on the liver.

- Cardiovascular ailments are linked to the use of steroids. Steroid usage can lead to a decrease in HDL or good cholesterol, thereby resulting in higher levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. Be alert as it can also lead to the development of blockages in blood vessels.

- The use of steroids can cause aromatization of the testosterone into estrogen or the female hormone, leading to the growth of breast tissues. This results in gynecomastia.

- Acne is another side effect for those who use steroids. It leads to hyperactivity of sebaceous glands and causes increased oil secretion. Excess oil, together with dead cells and bacteria, results in acne problems. This condition can be controlled through regular cleansing of the skin or by using anti-androgens.

- Steroids side effects leads to baldness in males. The process is accelerated in men who also have a genetic predisposition towards baldness.

- Digestive problems are known to occur. This is because steroids get mixed into the blood and can be carried to every organ, thus causing digestive problems along with nausea and vomiting.

- Another side effect is known as virilization, which is the development of male sexual characteristics in females. Examples include deepened voice, excess body hair, acne, baldness and growth of genitalia.

- Psychological effects include cases of 'roid rage.' This happens when a user of steroids displays overtly aggressive behavior.

Steroids side effects may even affect the immune system. To get the best professional advice and information about steroids side effects, visit http://www.steroids.ro/.

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By Gardner Wilkinson

Booking your Cosmetic Surgery Treatments Overseas

Medical tourism or health tourism is the practice of traveling abroad for specialized medical treatments. Why would you book your cosmetic surgery treatment overseas? There are many reasons, not the least among them costs. To give some examples, a breast augmentation in the United States can cost anywhere from $4000 to $10,000 or more. Abroad, the same procedure can cost $2500 or less, with no loss in quality. Rhinoplasty in the U.S. or Europe can cost upwards of $16,000. In countries like Thailand or Vietnam its costs only about $3000.
But aside from cost, there’s the fact that the impersonal care your average patient receives at a western medical facility can’t rival the personalized treatment from nurses and medical staff that you get at many of the foreign hospitals that cater to medical tourists. And, especially for those seeking cosmetic surgery, having a surgical procedure performed abroad affords the patient anonymity and privacy. They can recover discreetly, away from home while relaxing at an exotic location. As far as they’re acquaintances back home know, you were just overseas on vacation.

The Country

It’s important to do a good bit of research before you book your cosmetic surgery trip. Different countries are renowned for different medical specialties, and some have better or more renowned medical facilities than others, depending on what kind of procedure you’re hoping to get. Countries that are known for their high-quality cosmetic surgery facilities and experts include Thailand, Brazil, Venezuela and the Philippines, among other Asian and South American countries.

Hospital

Choosing the hospital for your cosmetic surgery procedure is important. It should be a hospital that you feel comfortable with. Do some research and make sure that the medical facility you book your trip to is internationally accredited (look for JIC and ISO accreditation, which are the medical industry standards for international health facility excellence, with JIC being the international branch of the same group that certifies medical facilities in the U.S.). Go online and make sure the hospital you chose has a history of successful procedures and top-notch medical equipment and staff who all speak English fluently.

Tell Your General Practitioner

Even though you’ll be having your cosmetic surgery abroad, you should keep your doctor at home informed. They will be crucial in your post-op recovery period after you come back from your trip, so speaking openly with them is important.

Documents to Keep in Order

Make sure to have copies of the following items before you leave: your passport, visa, debit and credit cards, traveler’s checks, medical records and driver’s license. Keep a set of these at home and another set of copies with you at all times. You should also have the following contact information readily available: emergency contact info of friends and family, your doctor’s contact info, contact info for the U.S. embassy in whatever country you go to, your employer’s contact info and that of your insurance providers and your bank and credit card companies.


by RYAN FRANK

The Psychological Aspects Of Balding

Hair loss is a problem for millions of men and women, both young and old. It can decrease self-esteem and confidence, and limit the ability to enjoy life to the fullest. Balding affects people in different ways, but certain emotional reactions seem to be shared by many.

Hair Loss and the Mating Game

The most common concern that people have when they begin to lose their hair is that they will be less attractive to the opposite sex. The interesting thing is that this is often only the view of the person that is balding and not that person’s partner. The spouse, or friend of those experiencing hair loss, commonly state that the only thing that bothers them is that it makes their partner depressed. The balding does not bother them per se.

It is interesting that women sometimes express that they want their spouses to look good for the wedding pictures, but once married, they become far less concerned. In fact, when a married man suddenly becomes interested in having a hair transplant, we have seen the spouse become suspicious of extra-marital interests and object to the procedure.

Balding on the Job

Another concern is that the person with hair loss feels he or she looks older than they actually are and will not be as competitive in the work force. Unfortunately, studies have shown that this is a real concern. When employers are screening job applicants, all other things being equal, those with hair are viewed more favorably than those who are bald.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

People experiencing hair loss complain that the way they look does not fit with their own image of themselves. This occurs when someone begins to lose hair early i.e., in their late teens or twenties, but it is as much a problem when someone has had a full-head of hair for years (and is used to receiving compliments about their hair) and then their hair thins unexpectedly in middle age.

Hair loss is a universal marker for aging, with ones locks gradually diminishing over time. Your body slowly changes as well, with more sagging and wrinkles and ones muscle mass decreasing. However, hair loss hair can also occur suddenly at a young age, making you appear much older than you actually are.

Another aspect of balding is that people feel a loss of control. Hair is one of the few body parts that you can actually manipulate yourself. You can grow hair long, cut if off, you can wave it, dye it, or pull it back in a pony-tail. It serves as a form of self-expression. As people start to lose this form of self-expression, they can become depressed and withdrawn. But not everyone responds this way. People react very differently to their hair loss, with some considering it only a minor nuisance and others finding it so debilitating that they won’t be seen in public without their head covered.

So Did You Hear the One About...

One of the things that makes going bald difficult is that, for some reason, people feel that commenting or joking about hair loss is “fair game” when they wouldn’t dare mention that someone had bad skin, or had a limp. I often point out to patients, that just because people chose to comment about thinning hair, doesn’t mean they are judging that person or really care much about it. It just seems to be a socially acceptable thing to mention.

He Thinks, She Thinks

Women seem to believe that female hair loss is less acceptable than hair loss in men. While this may be true, the vast majority of women have hair loss in a pattern that can be easily camouflaged. Women are often reassured when they realize that about 40% of women experience hair loss over their lifetime, but it is to such a small degree that it is rarely recognized by the opposite sex.

Mane Options

The important things to remember are that hair loss is very common, it is much more acceptable as one ages, and it is generally less important to other people than the person experiencing hair loss thinks. That said, it is not unreasonable to be upset about going bald. Fortunately, for those who are bothered by their hair loss, there are now excellent medications to prevent hair loss and excellent surgical treatments to restore hair once it is gone.

Dr. Bernstein is Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York and is the Director of Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration in Manhattan.New York Center for Hair Restoration

7 Practical Tips to Eradicate the Root Causes of Hemorrhoids

If you put just one of the following tips into practice you will notice and see a measurable difference in your overall level of health. Just one! Go on, give one a go! - You will feel better for it!

More Fiber in your Diet to produce regular and easy motions

Constipation is the number 1 cause of hemorrhoids.
A good breakfast cereal such as Muesli, with bran, oats & wheat will give you a good nutritional start to the day. Take some fruit at the same time; chop it up and mix it in with the cereal, it is a lovely combination.

Increase your intake of water

It is recommend that all adults drink a minimum of 2 litres a day of either pure water or fruit juices, or a mixture of both. Water lubricates the digestive system and takes toxins out of the body. Hemorrhoids are exacerbated by the presence of excessive amounts of toxins.

Try to get more exercise

This may not be easy if your are suffering from external hemorrhoids! However, any exercise that gets the heart pumping faster will get your blood circulating more efficiently and improve your overall state of health. Sluggish body performance invites illness, try to increase your level of fitness by walking, jogging swimming or sport.

In-House exercises

If your hemorrhoids are preventing you from going out, try 'arm' exercises to get the heart pumping. Even using a torso muscle-building bar will increase your heartbeat and lead to a fitter you. Remember that the heart is a muscle and muscles can be made stronger and more efficient through exercise.

Cut down or avoid hot spices and sauces etc

Curries, Tex-Mex, Burgers with lashings of everything can be bad news for hemorrhoid sufferers! I am not saying that you should stop them completely, but instead of making it a staple part of your diet, why not move them into the area of 'treats?' - then you can still look forward to treating yourself!

Cut down on meat intake - especially red meat

Think of your diet as a pyramid. A Mediterranean diet has meat at the top and salad and vegetables at the bottom. Salads, vegetables and fruit chug through the body, absorbing poisons on the way. They also help you to pass regular motions - an absolute must for anyone who is trying to cure hemorrhoids

Watch your Body Hygiene.

Shower or bathe once a day. This will take away the acids and poisons present in the top layers of the skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body - it is an enormous eliminating area that sweats out poisons. Do NOT use antiperspirants - we perspire for a reason - prevent that process and you are inviting trouble. Hemorrhoids can be aggravated by toxins that are best out of the body than in it.

I hope you will find the foregoing tips useful to you. They are practical ways that you can tone up the fitness level of your body. They are all intended to get your bodily functions up to a higher level, whereby problems like hemorrhoids, whether external or internal, can be avoided.

If you would like to learn more about how you can avoid hemorrhoids (and health problems in general) rather than having to suffer them necessarily, please go to the Link below:

Although I don't know you, I wish you good health!

http://www.goodbyehemorrhoids.info

Anthony C Palmer

Top 10 Tips to Get Bathing Suit Ready

Natural Weight Loss - Alternatives Methods For Losing Weight

There are different ways of losing weight. As there are too many options to select from and it is not possible for us to try each and every method, it is important that we make the right selection for our weight loss plan. An interesting fact about losing weight is that irrespective of the method that you try, most of these methods will give you positive results, provided you follow and execute them sincerely. As all of them are already tried and tested, the choice of selection is finally up to you. You can have a look at all of them and select the one, which you find most comfortable among all.

Some people are looking for alternative methods for losing weight. They can try out some breathing exercises known as 'pranayama', which is a part of Hindu Spirituality. 'Kapalbhati Pranayama' is the best way to lose weight. It is done with an empty stomach and one should not eat anything before and after one hour of doing this exercise. The procedure for doing 'Kapalbhati Pranayama' is as follows:

Sit in a comfortable cross legged position. The body should be straight and mind should be relaxed. After that, start inhaling deeply and then exhale with maximum pressure on the abdomen. Always remember that you should inhale in the normal way, but while exhaling, you should try create as much pressure as you can. This step should be repeated 20 times in each set. You should do at least 10 sets at a time.

'Kapalbhati Pranayama' helps in reducing weight and it also improves our digestive system. It may take up to 2 months to see desired results.

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