Health Information for a Long Healthy Life

HCG Protocol For Weight Loss

This is the first in a series of guest posts from author Mae Stanley.

Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions on using the HCG Protocol:

The HCG diet is considered one of the most effective ways to lose weight by many. A lot of people from around the world say that this diet has helped them drop excess pounds without any hassles. Conversely, there are a number of people who are skeptical about this diet as well.  So, in this article, I have tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this diet.  

What is the HCG diet?

It was formulated by Dr. Simeons, a British physician. It involves eating a VLC (very low calorie) diet and taking HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) – either in the form of pills or injections – to lose weight in a short period of time.

How do HCG injections help people lose weight?

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced in pregnant women by the cells which form the placenta. This hormone signals the hypothalamus to mobilize the fat stores in pregnant women. So, when people take HCG in the form of injections or pills, the fat stores in their body are mobilized by the hypothalamus and they tend to lose weight rapidly.

What is the VLC diet and what is its role in the HCG diet?

Very low calorie diet, as the name suggests, involves eating small servings of food which contain very low calories. While you are on this diet, you are supposed to consume only 500 calories a day. Your body, however, requires a lot more calories to support normal brain function. So, to compensate, it releases the fat stored in your body. As a result, you tend to lose thousands of calories of fat from your body every day and lose weight very quickly. 

How much weight can one lose by adhering to the HCG diet?

Proponents of this diet say that it is possible to lose anywhere from half a pound to three pounds a day by sticking to this diet.

Is it healthy to lose so much weight in such a short period of time?

Yes, it is healthy. HCG injections help you lose weight by burning the fat stores in your body. In other words, your body retains the lean muscle, vitamins, and essential minerals which are required for your health. So, this method of weight loss does not involve any major health risks.

Are HCG injections legal in the US?

Yes, they are legal. However, since it is not regulated at the federal level, each state has its own laws regarding HCG. So, in some states, it can be bought without prescription and in some states it is legal only by prescription. If you want to buy HCG from any other country, you definitely need a doctor’s prescription. In general, it is always advisable to consult your doctor before buying HCG.

Are there any side effects involved with this diet?

There are very little side effects but can include headaches.  However, these side effects are temporary and go away quickly once your body gets used to the change in metabolism induced by HCG injections.

Is there anything else one should know before getting started with this diet?

Yes, there are some important things you need to know before you get started. This diet is meant only for people who are very serious about losing weight. If you cannot stick to a low calorie diet, you will not get the results you want. So, self control and the will to lose weight are very important.

You should consult your doctor before you get started with this diet so that he can keep an eye on your progress and advise you accordingly. Most importantly, you should have the HCG injections administered by an experienced, licensed medical professional.  There are facilities that are not licensed to perform this procedure. There are also some retailers online and offline who sell fake HCG products which are not only ineffective, but are also dangerous to your health.

For more information please download your free ebook on HCG at:

 

Fibromyalgia And The Weather Forecast

This is a guest post by author Kathryn Merrow.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a collection of symptoms.  If your doctor has diagnosed you with "fibro" or FMS, that means you aren't going to die.  That's a good thing.  Your diagnosis means your doctor acknowledges that you hurt, but he or she doesn't know why.  Perhaps it's a "fringe benefit" that you are able to predict the weather based on how you feel.

"I don't care what the weatherman said.  It's going to rain today.  Take your umbrella!"  Judy was one of my favorite weathercasters.  With her Fibromyalgia, she was much more accurate than the best television or radio weathercaster ever was!

People with other conditions can be affected by changes in the weather, but in my experience, they don't seem to put their finger exactly on what weather is coming as well as my clients with Fibromyalgia can.

What is barometric pressure?  It's a measurement of the weight of the air that surrounds us.  Normally, on sunny days, the barometric pressure reading is high.  But, when a storm or cold front is moving in, the barometric pressure drops.  Sometimes the drop is very rapid.  This sudden change in barometric pressure often leads to Fibromyalgia flare-ups (an increase in symptoms.)

Symptoms seem to be worse during

Are Sulfate-Free Shampoos Really Better For Your Hair?

This is a guest post by author Kim Snyder.

If you are like anyone else, you love to wash your hair at least every other day of not daily. As you lather up you can help but love the feeling of all those bubbles but did you know that the very ingredients that give you that amazing lather may also be the most damaging to your hair?

Most mainstream shampoos contain sulfates which is great for making lots of lather but not so great for your personal health, your hairs health and even the environments health. So why are the mainstream companies still using sulfates in their brands of shampoos? For the most part it is because sulfates are cheap to make and create lots of lather. Being that we are all have become accustom to the idea that lots of bubbles means really clean hair they keep making cheap shampoos.

Just what are sulfates and why are they an issue? You will find the in the shampoo ingredients listed as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which are in fact really a harsh chemical surfactants that are found in lots of other products including toothpaste. They are known to cause eye and skin irritation plus when you use shampoo that contains these ingredients they can be absorbed through the skin.

Did you know that sulfates are really

Losing Weight With Hypnosis - It Really Works!

Losing weight can be easier than you ever thought possible. One thing that I never knew before I started my diet was that getting enough sleep makes such a huge difference. Many times people will eat when they are tired, adding to the problem of putting on extra pounds. I am using hypnosis for weight loss and it is working well for me after just a few weeks.

Another thing I have learned is that losing weight is more psychological than physical in nature. This means that we think about our weight in a different way than thin people do. This is obvious if you simply spend time with a slender person and watch how they deal with the issue of eating. Food is not an obsession with them, and they are more likely to only eat when they are truly hungry.

Exercise is another huge issue. Most overweight people will say that they do not like to exercise, when in reality they simply are not used to moving their body on a daily basis.

Once you make the decision to lose weight and keep it off, begin to think about the types of food you will eat, the number of hours you will sleep, and how you will get in some exercise every single day. Once you can make this a habit, you will no longer be on a diet. Instead, you will now be living a healthy lifestyle, which will naturally lead to weight loss and muscle gain.

Make the decision today to change your habits and change your life. I find that focusing on the process every day for 21 to 30 days is long enough to make a permanent change in my life.

Choosing The Diet Plan That Is Right For You

This is a guest post by Ruthan Brodsky.

Your weight is a balancing act between calories and what your body does to burn those calories. We are bombarded by fad diets that promise us counting carbs, eating tons of grapefruit, or taking this fabulous diet pill mentioned by you good friend who just lost 15 pounds will guarantee your pounds will melt. Monthly issues of every health, fitness, fashion, sports and consumer magazine describes the latest and the greatest and the newest plan for loosing weight.

Before you invest your time, money and effort in any diet plan you need to first find out which diet plan fits your needs and lifestyle.

Ask yourself these questions:

·Does the plan include foods from the major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, nuts and seeds?

·Does the plan include food you like to eat and that you could eat for the next 10 or 20 years?

·Does the plan include foods you can find in your local grocery store?

·Are you allowed to eat your favorite foods? All foods?

·Does the plan fit your lifestyle and your budget?

·Does the plan include proper amounts of nutrients and calories to help you lose weight safely and effectively?

·Does the plan recommend that you engage in regular physical exercise?

If you answer no to any of these questions, you may want to keep looking for another diet plan. There are better plans out there for you.

Keep in mind that the meal plan or program should contain REAL food. Foods that are dehydrated and then packaged no not qualify as real food. Our bodies are designed to function on real, whole foods not glorified science experiments that can negatively impact your health. People often resort to these meals, shakes and bars because they are quick and easy. Grabbing some raw nuts, baby carrots and fruits are just as easy to grab and go.

The meal plan or program should also

Lose Weight With Hypnosis - It Really Works For Weight Loss

Have you ever thought about using hypnosis to lose weight? I had never even heard of this idea until I spoke with a hypnotherapist who was usingthis technique successfully with her pateients who were obese. She told me that it would begin working within the first day, so I gave it a try.

I have now lost fifteen pounds, and only listen to the audio recordings for about 15 minutes in the morning and again at night. I have lost my taste for sweets, and even look forward to going for a walk each morning. I encourage you to try this method and see ift works for you. Whether you want to lose 10 pounds or need to release even more weight, hypnosis may work for you as easily as it has worked for me.

Heart Health - How To Give Yourself an All Natural Heart Bypass

Open up new, life giving blood pathways without expensive drugs or painful surgery.When heart arteries get clogged, one solution is to reroute circulation. Normally, that means an expensive, painful, risksy operation known as a heart bypass. To get to your heart, a surgeon will have to crack some ribs. But, to avoid a costly, painful,risky operation, and get new blood flow to your heart naturally, you barely need to break a sweat.

Thats right, Im talking about exercise. But much less than you might think.Exercise triggers the growth of new life giving circualtion pathways to your heart, just like a heart bypass does.Whats more, it also opens up existing arteries in your heart and in your brain. More oxygen in your brain improves your thinking, your memory, and your mood.

No wonder many doctors say that for people with coronary artery disease ( and that makes most of the older folks these days), regular exercise is just as important as any heart medication. I wish I could tell you that you could cut your risk of a heart attack

Arthritis- Stop Suffering From Arthritis Pain

Many people suffer from arthritis pain. It shows up in early age with changes beginning in young adulthood and advances with age. Two most common forms of arthritis that we see today are Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is extremely painful and can be debilitaing. Rheumatoid arthritis effects mostly the fingers, the knee and hip joints.The second most common for of arthritis is Osteoarthritis which affects mostly the vertebrae in the back but can affect any joint in the body.

I will give you tips on how to relieve the pain of arthritis. Many people wake up in the morning with painful and stiff joints from being in one position all night. If the knee joints are affected try to sleep on your side with knees slightly bent and a pillow between the knees to cushion those joints. If the fingers are affected, try running your hands under warm water for a few minutes to loosen up the finger joints.

Other remedies are to dip joints in warm paraffin wax bath. Use caution in this to prevent severe burns to the skin. Paraffin wax can be found at a local grocer or a discount retailer. There are also creams on the market today to relieve arthritis pain. In addition to the creams there are

How To Prevent Low Blood Sugar From Diabetes

Do you or someone you know suffer from low blood sugar? There are simple  ways to prevent low blood sugar from diabetes. For many people, just an alteration in diet and regualr daily exercise may control blood sugar. For others, oral medication and/or insulin injections may be the key. Instead of using processed foods such as quick fix items, try fresh fruits and vegetables from the produce section.Highly processed foods generally contain significant amounts of sugars.Grocers are now labeling produce with labels that tell where the product came from.

Foods high in protein such as peanuts, peanut butter and tuna, tend to stabilize blood sugar levels.If a person's blood sugar drops and they immediately run to the cookie jar and whoof down half a dozen cookies full of white refined sugar, it will bring the blood sugar up to normal levels and then sometimes too high. What happens then is an hour later the blood sugar crashes again and you are worse off than when you started out.Hence,the dreaded "rollercoaster"effect.

Another way to prevent low blood sugar is to eat several small meals throughout the day consisiting of complex carbohydrates and proteins. Find out more at Prevent Low Blood Sugar From Diabetes.

Excersise everyday whether it is riding bikes around the block ,walking or a treadmill works well when the weather is bad. Remember, diet and exercise play a key role in preventing low blood sugar from diabetes.

Lose 20 Pounds In A Month - Eat The Super Foods To Boost Your Metabolism And Lose Unwanted Weight

Losing weight and keeping it off for a period of years is difficult for many people, so much so that obesity is now one of the three top health problems among people aged 35 and over. There are so many fad diets and people making promises that you may not know where to turn.People get bored with diets and weight loss plans and finally just give up altogether. Here is a way to get started now.

Dieting can give you headaches and make you extremely tired during the first few weeks, so most people go back to their unhealthy way of eating and not exercising more than walking back and forth at home or work. This is not the solution.

The best idea is to incorporate some of the super foods into your diet and to begin to walk every day. You can start out slowly, because walking for even fifteen