South Beach Diet Overview

Developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, The South Beach Diet touts itself as teaching dieters to eat the right carbs and the right fats. The diet has three phases. In the first dieter?s banish their bad carb cravings and induce rapid weight loss. In the second phase, some types of carbs are reintroduced and weight loss is slower. The final phase is the ?Diet for Life? phase. This is the maintenance diet and will be followed for the rest of the dieter?s life. If at any time the dieter begins to gain unwanted pounds, then he simply goes through the induction and pre-maintenance phases again.

The first phase emphasizes protein from high-quality meat sources with lots of fresh vegetables and salads with real olive oil dressing. Bread, rice, pastas, potatoes, baked goods, soy milk and cheese, yogurt, beets, carrots, corn and all fruit are forbidden in the 14-day induction phase. This includes all candy, cake, ice cream and sugar, plus meats that are cured in sugar or molasses.

The diet encourages three meals a day with a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon snack. There is also a daily meal plan. This plan includes strict portion control in the induction phase. An example of a daily snack is 20 peanuts. And 30 pistachios is another snack option.

Unlike Atkins, unlimited protein consumption is not advised or allowed on this diet. However, during the later phases of the diet some of the strict portion control does end and dieters are able to eat until satiated.

Some of the forbidden foods can be slowly reintroduced, sometimes in modified form in the second phase of the diet. The second phase lasts until the dieter?s goal weight is reached. However, white flour products, potatoes, corn, carrots, beets and sweet fruits like banana and pineapple are still forbidden.

After dieters reach their ideal weight, they proceed on to their Diet for Life or maintenance diet.

In this phase the forbidden foods are processed foods, white flour products, sweet fruits, and foods with a high glycemic index in general.

During the 14-day induction period, Dr. Agatston predicts a weight loss of between eight and 13 pounds, with belly fat being the first to go. In the second phase dieter should continue to lose 1-2 pounds each week as long as they do not go overboard with the carb reintroduction.

Article by Beverley Brooke, Editor of Health & Finesse Weekly. Visit http://www.healthandfinesse.com for more on the south beach diet

Leaning Toward Lean: Clear Thinking For Better Health(Care)

Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can be accomplished when mindfulness is applied to systems that need all the attention they can get. If there's an industry that needs some CPR and TLC, it's healthcare.

Cindy Jimmerson is a 30-year trauma nurse who is passionate about streamlining healthcare processes. Her consulting company, Lean HealthCare West, is blasting through always-done-it-that-way thinking to reduce waiting time for patients, eliminate staff errors, and save hospitals and patients millions of dollars.

She is the Queen of Lean in hospitals, and she's on a mission to improve the health of our country's largest industry--$1.76 trillion in 2002, and soon to explode as the baby-boomers hit their sixties.

When it comes to looking for powerful tools for transforming processes, we're fortunate to have a proven model that continues to outperform peers around the world. The Toyota Production System was originally developed by an American, W. Edwards Deming, who couldn't get anyone in the U.S. to pay attention to his approach. The Japanese listened and learned. Today, TPS continues to propel industries toward greater productivity, less waste, improved quality, and increased workplace appreciation.

Cindy's firm takes TPS straight to the ER and beyond. Now, you might think that a model focusing on getting product moved through the assembly line more efficiently is completely inappropriate for handling human patients. You would be dead wrong.

TPS focuses on adding value to what matters most--in this case, caring for patients. In doing so, it takes a hard look at every step taken which results in less contact with those who need care. The customer is king, and in healthcare, the customer is the patient. Instead of developing ways to make hospitals more profitable by relegating the patient to widget status, TPS restores the patient as the primary focus. How refreshing!

There's a common misconception that people do not like change. I happen to love rearranging rooms every season. However, I'd probably get a little cranky if I walked into my house and found that someone else had moved all the furniture.

The real story is that people do not like change that is imposed upon them, but they appreciate being part of the solution. Employees using TPS love having the opportunity to creatively explore options that allow them to perform their work with greater efficiency. And why not? It helps them reconnect to the best parts of their job.

Toyota walks its talk. It would be one thing if the company had a policy of being open to suggestions while rarely making any changes. But Toyota consistently acts on its employees' recommendations. In fact, the most recent figures indicate that the company implemented 99% of its yearly total of over 700,000 employee ideas!

That same emphasis on valuing the knowledge and experience of employees and trusting them to develop better processes is the key to tackling healthcare's estimated waste--a whopping 50%.

TPS is mindfulness in action--paying attention to extra steps, inconvenient sequences, and indirect communication. The best part? Anyone can do it.

Doctors, nurses and other hospital workers are hard-working, compassionate people who are committed to providing their patients with top-notch care. Broken systems get in the way. Mindful management can repair those systems, and in the process, everyone wins.

Mindfulness at work? It works.

Talk to your doctor about getting lean.

About The Author

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training to indiviuals and corporate groups in the Pacific Northwest. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com. To learn more about lean healthcare, visit http://leanhealthcarewest.com

maya@massageyourmind.com

Major Symposium About Vagus Nerve Stimulation & Depression at the American Psychiatric Association

A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent depression will be presented at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting in May. This is the largest gathering of psychiatrists in the world and over 25,000 psychiatrists will be in attendance.

On February 3, 2005, the FDA deemed vagus nerve stimulation(VNS Therapy) approvable as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. The formal launch of VNS Therapy will take place at this meeting of the leading psychiatrists in the world. The manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator, Cyberonics Inc., will have a major symposium on the topic of VNS Therapy as a treatment for depression.

VNS is not related to brain surgery or electroconvulsive therapy. There is no cognitive impairment( i.e. memory loss) or interactions with drugs. The sixty-minute procedure is usually performed in an out-patient hospital and the recovery process is less than five days.

The book: Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression will be exhibited at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in May. The book is available at www.VagusNerveStimulator.com, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. It is written by a patient, who suffered from severe chronic depression and was implanted with the stimulator in the FDA investigational trial. The therapy completely changed his life.

You can learn more at www.VagusNerveStimulator.com. There is a free electronic newsletter to keep you up-to-date.

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

He is editor the http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com Web Site

Diet Nutrition and Hair Loss

One key factor in maintaining a growing protein on a part of one?s biological body is obvious: one must maintain a healthy diet. Although certain factors have been definitely identified as contributors to hair loss, we must keep in mind that hair is part of the complete biological system of the human body. Being a system, dysfunctions in one part of the system can contribute to dysfunctions in other parts; chain reactions occur when one part of the body malfunctions, causing other parts within the system to falter. To maintain optimum health, it is best to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.

Defining exactly what a healthy diet is when it comes to preventing hair loss can be a little more complex. Principally, the main vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that one must ingest in some form to maintain healthy hair are vitamin A, all B vitamins-particularly vitamins B-6 and B-12, folic acid, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, iron, zinc, iodine, protein of course, silica, essential fatty acids (EFA?s, formerly known as vitamin F) and last but not least one must consume water. There are also certain foods that may cause dysfunctions that will contribute to hair loss.

The best way to maintain a healthy vitamin and mineral intake is a good diet. It is not necessary or advisable to go out and buy a bunch of over-the-counter vitamin supplements in order to achieve your suggested nutritional levels. Many over-the-counter vitamins are chemically processed and are not completely absorbed into the system. It is also easy to overdose oneself with over the counter vitamins particularly when taking supplements of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, causing toxicity and adverse reactions. The likelihood of doing this is far less with food; therefore it is always best to obtain the bulk of your vitamin and mineral requirements from whole foods.

More information on hair loss, prevention, and treatment can be found at http://www.HairLosshq.com

Asthma Treatment Ways

Asthma can be treated in many ways

1. Using conventional medicines and therapies
2. Using alternative medicines such as herbs or other traditional medicines
3. By using alternative therapies such as Yoga, Acupuncture, etc...

Every type of therapy has its own scope and time span. The first and the most widely accepted therapy is the conventional medicines and procedures. In this procedure of asthma treatment, the patient is treated in two ways

1. Short term treatment
2. Long term treatment

Short term asthma treatment involves the instant relief of the patient from asthma attacks. Short term treatment involves the administration of inhalers and orally administered drugs. Asthma cannot be cured, but the scope of asthma can be controlled with the help of a proper asthma management program.

Short term treatment is done mainly by using Metered Dose Inhalers or MDIs. Dry powder inhalers are also gaining favor in the treatment of asthma. For those patients who cannot use the MDI?s, nebulizer therapy is used.

Long term asthma treatment involves more of Parallel treatment and lesser use of drugs.

In parallel asthma treatment, environmental components and surrounding analysis is done to minimize the factors that lead to Asthma attacks. In this type of treatment environment components such as pollen grains, allergens etc are minimized from the patient?s surroundings to minimize the chances of an asthma attack.

For this it is necessary that the patient?s place of residence be cleaned every week, the patient must be kept away from pets with fur or feather, weekly washing of the bedding of the patient in hot water.

Avoid using synthetic material in the patient?s bedding, replace upholstery based furniture to vinyl or leather ones.

Remove carpeted floors. They may contain dust particles that could cause problems to the asthma patient.

Use the Air conditioner to protect the patient from subtle temperature changes.

Keep the house dry. Humidity effects the asthma patient.

After the parallel asthma treatment is completed, lung functioning is monitored to look for effective changes. After this, medicines like corticosteroids and bronchodilators are administered. Periodic check up is necessary to know about any changes in the condition of the patient.

For patients have persistent asthma attacks, an annual dose of influenza vaccine is necessary.

Written by Bruno Brown for Asthma Treatment. This article can be reproduced as long as the autor's name and ACTIVE link are displayed.

Bruno Brown writes articles on different topics for websites. This article was written for http://asthma--treatment.blogspot.com

Utah Drug Rehab: Searching For A Therapist

Finding the right treatment for any person suffering with a drug abuse problem can be a difficult task - where do you start, how do you know what to look for, how do I find a good therapist or treatment center in my area? Thankfully, there are many resources to help you find the help that you or a loved one need - here are some tips to help you locate Utah drug rehab help.

There are many online directories that compile records of qualified therapists and centers nationwide, and you can use these to find Utah drug rehab help by simply entering your particular location into their search engines. While it will be desirable to locate a therapist or treatment center in your immediate location, do remember that this might not be possible, and that, if possible, it is better to travel to a therapist with the appropriate skills then begin work with a therapist who does not specialise in your area of required treatment simply because of their proximity to you. Drug rehabilitation can be an arduous process, and you or your loved one deserve the best possible help available to help you navigate this difficult time with success.

So once you have located Utah drug rehab centers, how do you know which one might be best for you? Choosing a therapist can involve some trial and error, as some part of the treatment process necessitates finding a therapist that is right for you personally. While drug rehab patients can exhibit hostile behavior towards any therapist, it is necessary that patient and therapist feel that they will be able to work together - try sessions with a few therapists if necessary. When making a therapist selection, bear in mind any therapist gender preference the patient may have - some patients might feel more comfortable working with a therapist of their own gender, for example, and choose a therapist who has documented experience in drug rehabilitation.

Finding a Utah drug rehab center need not be a daunting task - there are many highly qualified therapists in the Utah area. Using the internet, or even your local yellow pages, make a list of all the therapists in your area and begin making calls. Don't be afraid to ask questions about qualifications and experience, and arrange an appointment to talk in person if necessary. Hopefully, the person you select will be the best match for you, but if not, simply try again. Help is available, so you should find the best help for you.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Rehab Resources a website providing information on drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatments.

The Hypertension and Exercise Connection

Every cell in an individual?s body requires an ongoing supply of blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste products. This flow of blood causes a certain amount of pressure to be exerted on the wall of a person?s arteries.

An individual suffers from Hypertension when blood pressure is determined to be or exceeding
a)140 mm Hg (millimetres of mercury) systolic (as the heart contracts and pushes blood through the arteries) or
b)90 mm Hg diastolic (as the heart relaxes and fills with blood) on two or more separate occasions.

The primary factor of high blood pressure is that it makes the heart work harder and puts greater pressure on the arteries than is necessary. As a result the heart may become enlarged and less efficient, and the arterial walls may be damaged. Such damage can reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to the kidneys, heart, brain, and eyes, and can lead to blood clots in the narrowing arteries.

It is hardly suprising then that Hypertension ranks as the most common risk factor for disease of the heart, blood vessels and kidneys, including heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and atherosclerosis. In fact, high blood pressure has been found to contribute to millions of deaths per year worldwide.

This is of particular concern considering that hypertension can be controlled and even prevented.

Factors that can help prevent hypertension, or at least reduce its severity or postpone it include some very basic dietary and lifestyle steps:
Consume less salt (sodium and potassium products), maintain desirable body weight, moderate the consumption of alcohol and caffeine, increase calcium intake, engaging in relaxation techniques and most importantly become physically active.

While drug therapy has been considered to be the most effective form of treating high blood pressure, regular exercise has proven to have a lowering effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is a very safe and valuable therapy for many hypertensive individuals and has many additional applications to a healthy and active life. A correctly designed exercise program may be as effective as any drug therapy for some people.

Research shows that low to moderate intensity (60-80% of MHR) aerobic exercise can lower systolic blood pressure by 5-25 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 3-15 mm Hg in mild to moderate hypertensive individuals. When using exercise as a mode of managing hypertension, follow these key steps:

*Emphasise non weight-bearing activities, as most hypertensives are obese or elderly.
*Maintain exercise intensity below 80% MHR. Evidence exists that exercise intensity above this does not produce beneficial effects on blood pressure.
*Ensure exercise duration lasts a minimum of 20-30 minutes. Allow for adequate progression up to 60 minutes-which will also help promote weight loss.
*Exercise at least four times per week (although exercising everyday is preferable. An acute bout of exercise will reduce blood pressure for several hours.
*Warm up for no less than 5 minutes to ensure an appropriate preparation for the cardiovascular system. This ensures no sudden changes in blood pressure.
*Cool down for 5-10 minutes to prevent dizziness, light-headedness and fainting.
*Strength exercises should be prescribed at a low-moderate intensity. You must be able to perform 12-20 repetitions. Avoid exercises that require lifting weights above the head ie. Shoulder press.

It was thought that only aerobic exercise would reduce blood pressure and that resistance training with weights would be harmful. However recent studies have concluded that resistance and aerobic exercise are equally effective in reducing the severity of the condition.

Lowering systolic blood pressure by a mere 2 mm Hg has shown to reduce deaths from stroke by 6%, heart disease by 4% and all causes by 3%. Furthermore, a drop in diastolic blood pressure of as little as 1-3 mm Hg can lower the overall incidence of hypertension in the general public by more than 20-50%.

Hypertension is both treatable and preventable. At Fitcorp Asia, we can design and show you the most effective and safest exercise program to reduce your blood pressure and put you back on track to a healthy and active life.

As a health and fitness professional for over 10 years, Daniel has personally trained more than 4000 people, on 4 continents towards the achievement of their fitness and lifestyle objectives using his unique holistic and functional approach to lifestyle enhancement. Daniel is a true leader and innovator in the industry. Daniel draws from an academic background in Human Movement, Exercise Science and Sports Management in Australia & also holds a Diploma in Massage Therapy & Certificates in Workplace Health Promotion, Personal Training (ACSM) and Australian Training for Fitness Professionals (ATP), Golf Fitness & Conditioning, Postural Analysis, Weight Management & Fat Loss.
Daniel is the founder and CEO of Fitcorp Asia, Thailand?s only Corporate Health & Fitness Solutions Company. ?We don?t just conduct personal training, we take pride in our ability to ?coach? our clients in all exercise science principles including nutrition and total lifestyle transformation to ensure our clients achieve a holistic goal orientated approach to their personal health and fitness endeavours.?