Thursday, December 24, 2009

TIPS TO CONTROL OBESITY


Obesity has increased alarmingly in the past 20 years, reaching epidemic proportions. In the United States, it is now estimated that thirty percent of the population is obese. For the first time in history, the life span of human beings is decreasing due to obesity and the health conditions that arise from it.

The simple definition of obesity is having too much body fat. Unfortunately, there is nothing simple about obesity. Not only is it uncomfortable and embarrassing, being obese increases the risk of an alarming array of diseases and health conditions, including certain types of cancer, type-2 diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems, and hypertension.

The obesity epidemic is not something that happened suddenly. Obesity is a disease, a chronic condition, caused by a wide assortment of factors. Because there are so many factors involved, it is complicated and difficult to treat the disease.

Case in point, genetics can be a factor in obesity. Genetics can increase the risk. However, behavior and environment also influence the risk. To blame heredity for obesity is an easy excuse, but the choices a person makes significantly increases or decreases their risk.

All of us choose our own behaviors. The choices to be physically inactive and to practice unhealthy eating habits rest with each of us, not someone else.

Why is obesity spinning out of control in the United States? There are two key causes. The first is the dramatic increase in food options that are available today.

Grocery stores and supermarkets now offer a shocking number of choices that were not present ten years ago. Unfortunately, many of those choices are not healthy.

Most foods available are pre-packaged and high in fat, sugar and calories. Even foods that are labeled as healthy or low-fat may contain more calories and unhealthy additives than the high-fat food they are supposed to replace. Always read food labels for nutritional information.

The second cause of obesity is the change in our eating habits. While fast-food restaurants (where portion size has increased dramatically) and pre-packaged foods are convenient, they are not healthy. Yet when given a choice, we will eat what is quick and simple.

Our technology has created many wonderful labor-saving inventions that reduce the amount of time and energy we use in our daily lives. Instead of walking or riding a bicycle to work or school, we drive. Instead of our children playing outside, they are watching television or playing video games.

There ARE ways to decrease the risk of obesity. The two essential building blocks for creating a healthy body are promoting regular physical activity and following a nutritious diet. You must create an environment around you that supports this way of life.

Adding physical activity to your daily regimen is not difficult. Remember, whatever activity you take part in does not have to be exhausting. It can be as simple as taking a 15-minute walk around your neighborhood or taking the stairs at work. Small changes such as these will significantly benefit your body, physically and mentally.

Physical activity reduces your risk for diabetes, some types of cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure. It keeps you at a healthy weight, relieves depression symptoms and alleviates the pain of arthritis.

Following a nutritious diet, like adding physical activity, significantly lowers the risk for obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer and heart disease. What is a nutritious diet?

A diet high in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein builds a healthy, fit body. Even though most people know that they should follow a healthy diet, it is difficult for most to change their poor eating habits.

Poor eating habits, unfortunately, usually begin during childhood and prove very challenging to change later in life. We are raising a generation of children who eat too much fat and do not get enough exercise who will grow into obese, unhealthy adults.

The foundation for a healthy body is simple, a nutritious diet and regular physical activity. Most people fail at diet and exercise plans because they try to make too many changes too quickly. The key to success is to make small changes slowly. This will teach your body to accept these changes and make it possible to defeat obesity.

TIPS TO QUIT SMOKING


The main goal is to assist smokers aspiring to quit smoking and prevent smokers from having the urge to start smoking again. Once you quit smoking, you can immediately feel the health benefits of your decision within 24 hours, which could lead you to be free from smoking cigarettes forever.

The information on this website is based on evidence from research on stop smoking programs, stop smoking aids and counseling, which are aimed at helping people to quit smoking for good.

For smokers, to Stop Smoking is really a tough action to take. Majority of smokers want to quit smoking, but find it difficult to do so as nicotine is very addictive and hard to get rid off. We will teach you the easiest, most effective and systematic methods to stop smoking, which are tested by various studies worldwide. We will also provide you with a clear understanding of the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting smoking.

There are two factors that will determine your success in quitting smoking for good. They are;

* Will - You must have the desire to give up your habit of smoking and create a strong will to avoid a smoking relapse.
* Mindset – You must learn about the effects of smoking, understand its consequences and face the fact that you need to stop smoking and follow, finish and maintain a quit smoking plan.

In Six straightforward and easy steps, you can stop smoking and live a normal and healthy life same as that of a non-smoker.

Step 1: Think About Quitting

According to a recent survey, around 15 million smokers try to quit smoking each day. However, less than 3% of these people stop smoking successfully for 3 to 12 months. If you’re thinking about quitting or have stopped smoking but failed to quit, don’t lose hope because smokers often try to quit more than once before they actually succeed.

In this section, you will learn about the history of cigarette smoking, facts about smoking, smoking cessation and benefits of quitting smoking. To give you a strong reason to quit smoking, this section will also tackle dangerous diseases – such as lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, etc – caused by smoking cigarettes. In addition, this section will explain the reasons why it is extremely hard to quit smoking, hurdles in quitting and possible nicotine withdrawal symptoms that you may encounter throughout this process.

Step 2: Effects of Smoking

Years of clinical studies have proven that using Tobacco causes people to become sick, disabled or die. Since the first Surgeon General’s Report in 1964, over 12 million smoking-related deaths have occurred. More than 500,000 deaths in the U.S are caused from smoking-related illnesses. Adult smokers reduce their lifespan by an average of 13 to 14 years.

In this section, you will learn about the dangerous effects and health risks of smoking. You will understand the facts about smoking addiction, the hazardous effects of smoking on a pregnant woman, on passive smokers, on your facial charm, on your teeth and on your general well being. You will also learn how stress could play a role in cigarette smoking. This section also deals with the effects on secondhand smoke, effects of smoking on vitamin A and C, dangerous effects of smoking on men and women, as well as the differences between cigar and pipe smoking.

Step 3: Preparing To Quit Smoking

The first key to quitting smoking successfully is planning and preparation. You need to prepare your body and mind before actually quitting. Determine your personal goals, discover your reasons for quitting and get rid of temptations that may become a hindrance to your stop smoking program. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, a drug that is addictive and can make it very hard, but not impossible, to quit. Similar to other substancesdrug abuse needs professional help, such as Rehab Programs.

In this section, you will face the facts about nicotine addiction before your last stick of cigarette. You will learn the most effective steps to be followed when planning to quit smoking. You will also find out about the real reason why it is so hard to quit smoking. To help you plan your quit smoking program, you need to confront your personal reasons to start quitting and understand what you need to do stop smoking. This section also deals with the psychological recovery stages to stop smoking and provides helpful tips to quit smoking.

Step 4: Stop Smoking Tips

Even if you have no idea where to start and what to do, you can quit smoking as long as you have the mindset and commitment to do so. Stop smoking tips can help you create a good stop smoking plan and lifestyle changes that could lead to a healthier, smoke-free life.

In this section, you will learn some of the simplest ways and useful tips to quit smoking for good. You can choose from several psychological areas that can help you to stop smoking based on your lifestyle. This section also deals with stop smoking tips that will help your loved ones quit this deadly habit and tips on how to overcome nicotine withdrawal symptoms using an effective stop smoking plan, attending support groups and establishing a smoking cessation program.

Step 5: Stop Smoking Aids

When smoking cigarettes has played a large part in your life, quitting smoking may not be that simple. Fortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved seven over-the-counter stop smoking aids – five of these help in managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms, while the other two help in reducing cigarette cravings.

In this section, you will learn about different proven stop smoking methods like Water Therapy, Psychological Therapy and Nicotine Replacement Therapy. This section also deals with other useful stop smoking aids such as nicotine nasal sprays, nicotine lozenges, nicotine inhalers, nicotine patches, nicotine gum and stop smoking pills.

Step 6: Stay a Quitter

After sometime, some quitters get back to their smoking habit due to temptation and persistent nicotine carving. Some may slip and puff “just one cigarette”, while others experience total relapse. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, smokers who quit are at greater risk of relapsing in the first three months of becoming smoke-free.

In this section, you will learn effective methods in avoiding nicotine carvings, while training how to control urges through breathing exercises. To understand what you are going to experience through this process, you need to learn and manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This section also tackles steps to manage weight gain, discusses FAQ on common frustrations of a quitter, handle traumatic events without a cigarette and other possible solutions for ex-smokers.

Stop Smoking Products

Some people may find it difficult to quit smoking without any aids or nicotine replacements. If you’re one of them, you still have hope because there are numerous stop smoking products available in the market today to make quitting an easier journey.

In this section, you will discover the quit smoking products available in the market today, reviews of each product and ranking of the top quit smoking products. To understand what each product can do for your body, the frequently asked questions section about ‘Quit Smoking’ Products can help you understand and choose an appropriate stop smoking product for your program.