Acai studies have shown to contain significant levels of antioxidants. Most people hear antioxidants and associate it with being healthy but know nothing about an antioxidant. Antioxidants simply reduce damaging forms of oxygen called free radicals which can attack cells in our body and may contribute to diseases and aging. Use of antioxidants in studies, have had promising results in different diseases. Furthermore, the acai berry has been shown to contain many essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid. Linoleic acid aids in healthy hair and wound healing.

Acai Berry has also been marketed as a weight loss treatment. It is not a magic pill to weight loss but the benefit of Acai Berry is it may calibrate the body which helps the metabolism run more efficiently, the person feels better, and helps in reducing weight.

The University of Florida did a study which was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry regarding acai berry and the study showed that acai extract destroyed leukemic cells. The acai berry extract killed from 35 to 86% of the leukemic cells. Be careful though acai berry is not an approved treatment or prevention of leukemia. There is still a lot of mystery surrounding the Acai Berry but the initial studies are very promising.

My team and I decided to test a sample of different Acai Berry products and we performed a blind study where it was hidden from the subjects which Acai Berry products were being administered during the one month duration. It would serve to diminish as much bias as possible.

We experimented with several products and found only three to be worthwhile with Acai Berry Supreme being the winner.  The results of our study are available here on our website.

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So, what ends up happening is once something such as the Acai Berry gets popular through the media companies attempt to capitalize off the popularity.  Many unscrupulous companies will try to push fraudulent or over priced products.  Our main purpose is to bring clarity and provide knowledge to our readers.  We have researched and tested out many different products and have presented three which may bring benefit to our readers.  Below we have given a ranking on each product and done an analysis based on our experiment.  Study results:         STUDY DATE - 03/08 - 09/08     Westwood, California

No.	Product	Analysis	Stars	Link
1		Our Pick: Acai Berry Supreme is the product that excelled among the other products we reviewed. Acai is also endorsed by Dr. Perrisone. It’s ranked highly because it has the highest quality of Acai.  In comparing the different Acai products, the quality is one of the most important criteria.  High quality means more effective use of antioxidants to combat aging, promote weight loss, and all the other benefits.  A promotion is going on for trial offer you just pay for shipping. It also claims to flush off excessive pounds and remove toxins, we have seen some weight loss.  We love this product and you will too. Therefore, we give it 5 stars. Optimizes weight loss Energy levels increased Helps with digestive and inflammatory conditions		Go
		Take Advantage of this Offer: The website discusses further health benefits.  We advise you to visit their website for further information regarding the Acai Berry Supreme
2		Runner Up: Extreme Acai Berry is also a solid product in capsule format.  It is convenient in our hectic always on the run society. Similar to Acai Berry Supreme they are confident in their product with a trial offer and we only paid $3.95 for shipping.   The issue here may be quality of the Acai is not as high as Acai Berry Supreme but still it is an excellent product and we give it 4 stars. Moderate weight loss Energy levels increased Takes  longer time to see results		Go
3		Acai Berry Power 500 is also a popular Acai Berry supplement.  We believe that the highest levels of Acai berry are not found in this product.  We did not see the same type of results. So we give this product a 0 out of 5 star ranking. No weight loss seen Minimal increase in energy levels Took a long time to see results

__________________________________________________________________________________________

In summary:

After the reviews our team and I conducted, we believe that the Acai Berry Supreme is the best product that we have encountered.  It far exceeds the other brands and comes with a risk free trial so customers can sample the product with a minimal investment.  After dealing with several inferior products and wasting money, we felt that the public should know the truth.  Hope this review was helpful.

-Drblogonline.com

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Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, which is caused by a variety of conditions.  Androgenetic alopecia also known as male pattern baldness is the most predominant type of of hair loss, which ends up affecting up to 32-40% of both men and women.  Hair loss can be a difficult experience but with newer technology and treatments it is becoming a more manageable condition.

So, to understand hair loss lets take a look at what is going on with hair loss we need to understand the anatomy of hair shown below.

Each follicle will grow and then shed in a cycle.  The growth phase for a single strand of hair will be approximately 3 years.  After that, growth stops and then the follicle is said to be in a resting phase.  The resting phase is about 4 months long. After the resting phase, the hair will be shed and the growth cycle begins again.

On a normal scalp, 85% of the follicles are growing at any moment.

The impact of hair loss can be devastating for men but it is much  worse for women.  Both may begin to feel unattractive, old, develop a low self-esteem, and some may develop symptoms of depression.

The psychosocial impact of hair loss should be discussed with your health care provider.  Health care providers can be a source of support or refer patients to appropriate therapy and support groups.

Treatment for hair loss is primarily two.  Finasteride known as Propecia and Minoxidil known as Rogaine.  However, finasteride may not be used in women.  Minoxidil has been used in women.

Propecia (finasteride) - functions to decrease the hormone level dihydrotestosterone.  A misconception that many have is that low testosterone levels cause baldness that is definitely not the case but the opposite holds true.

Finasteride is dangerous for especially pregnant women who have been advised not to even handle the pill.  Studies have indicated abnormal genetalia in male fetuses of pregnant women exposed to Finasteride.  Potential side effects of Propecia (finasteride) have been decreased sexual drive and erectile dysfunction.

Another treatment is Rogaine (minoxidil) which interacts with the growth phase and  lengthening it thus causing more follicles to produce hair.  The hair are typically thicker.  Treatment with Rogaine needs to be done indefinitely.  Rogaine has been shown to be the most effective on patients who have hair loss in the top of the head, have haid hair loss for less than 5 years, the area of hair loss is less than 4 inches i diameter.  A study has indicated that up to 40% of men and women with top of the head hair loss experience desired results with Rogaine.

Some side effects of Rogaine (minoxidil) are swelling, increased heart rate, weight gain, facial hair development, and skin irritation.

So which is better Rogaine or Propecia?

One study showed that Propecia was 2% more efficient in comparison to Rogaine and a further benefit with combination of two.  However, each patient responds differently to different medications.  Thus, it is best to discuss the treatments with your health care professional to have him or her tailor your treatments.

Surgery is another option where healthy follicles from parts of the scalp are transplanted to affected areas.  Another form of surgery is scalp reduction where bald patches of the scalp are surgically taken off and the skin left is sewn together.

Feel free to leave comments and ask any questions?

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I came across this story in the Los Angeles Times about  arsenic and other metals being found in Ayurvedic medicine.  Just goes to show to do more research about what you are putting in your bodies?  This is a disturbing article for Ayurvedic users and goes to show what people are doing these days to make a buck.

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Here is a great article written from John Bruce giving dieting tips:

Many people see dieting as equal to starving or swallowing slimming pills. Weight loss can be attained by enjoyable dieting also. Adopt a couple of easy principles for healthy dieting and you’ve a choice of what you’ll be able to eat to delight your tastes. Healthy diet and good workouts are trusted and sound ways to lose weight.

A healthy diet will keep your body from sicknesses by providing the right nutrients. Concurrently, you’d be able to get rid of the unneeded fat gradually in a safe way by upholding appropriate proportions of the crucial constituents; that’s the trick of normal weight loss.

A well-balanced diet ought to include wholesome carbohydrates, high-quality protein, and good fats.

Carbohydrates
Roughly 40-60% of your calorie ingestion should come from carbs. That means if you’re on a 1500 calories a day diet, you should be reaching to get about 800 calories each day from “good” carbs. Cut back or avoid white flour, sweets and ice creams. Cut down on soda-pop and candy. They contribute to weight increase and contribute zero to health. Use oatmeal or whole grain cereal alternatively. Pick whole grain breads, fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, whole grain cereals. You will be acquiring enough vitamins, amino acids and fiber too; you’ll feel fuller a lot longer.

Proteins
Roughly 20-30% of your calories i.e. nearly 375 calories ought to come from “wild” (not processed or farm raised) animal sources such as fish, meat, poultry, yogurt and eggs and from vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and seeds.

Fats
With balance calorie ingestion, around 325 calories shall be derived from “good” fats such as “wild” cold-water fish, flaxseed, walnuts, and so forth. They deliver Omega 3 essential fatty acid that’s absolutely vital for your total wellness. Keep away from or at the least restrict use of hydrogenated oils.

A couple of miscellaneous remarks:
Fish: Fish is low in fat, high in protein (as high as red meat), and supplies omega 3 fatty acids that few other proteins could. Also as a general rule fish has fewer calories. Try to down at the lowest 2-3 portions of fish each week as alternative to meat.
Spinach: This embodies the cheapest source of nutrition for your body. It is rich in folic acid, minerals, and vitamins. It can be prepared it in a lot of different methods. Consume it often in your diet.

Olive Oil: It’s a “good” fat with loads of benefits to the body. This is a primary source of fat in the Mediterranean diet.

Observe these easy suggestions, and happy dieting!

John Bruce holds B.S. in Sports Medicine

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PE is a blood clot in the lungs. It goes undiagnosed all too often in the clinical setting due to its nonspecific symptoms. So how do you get a blood clot in the lungs?

Most commonly what happens is the deep legs of the vein or calf veins are very susceptible to forming blood clots but the clot can form anywhere in the body. A clot in the leg veins also known as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) needs to be treated early. Thrombosis is just jargon for blood clot. Once the clot breaks loose and travels in the body and occludes a blood vessel, it is called an embolism. So, how does it get from the legs to your lungs?

Here is an excellent video on the formation of a clot and how it gets to your lungs:

So how does the clot form? The answer lies in something called Virchow’s Triad. First, some people have a genetic tendency to form clots also known as hypercoagulablity. Hypercoagulability is either inherited or acquired. Examples of acquired hypercoagulability are pregnancy, diabetes, old age, immobility, inflammation, cancer, obesity, hormonal replacement therapy, and oral contraception use. If you fall in any of these categories, you should be more aware of this condition. The next risk factor is venous stasis, which means slowing or stoppage of blood flow in the veins. This can be caused by immobilization, obesity, and advanced age which is associated with a decrease in physical activity. Thirdly, vascular damage which can be seen in injury or surgery. Surgery or trauma patients need to be protected against pulmonary embolism as they have both vascular damage and venous stasis from the decreased physical activity.

Although some may be asymptomatic, some common signs and symptoms of a PE: chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid respiration, fever, cough, coughing up blood, low blood pressure, racing heart beat, or feeling faint. If you are having pain and discomfort in the leg, it is advisable to see a physician as this may be DVT which can become PE.

How to prevent Pulmonary Embolism?

• By preventing the cause of a PE, a DVT.
• See your doctor regularly and take the medications prescribed.
• Lose weight and exercise.
• After surgery or an illness, get out of bed and move around.
• During long trips, exercise your legs.

Travel Tips for Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Prevention

• In a car trip, stop about every hour to walk around and stretch.
• In an airplane or train, stretch and walk up and down the aisles. In order to prevent Economy Class Syndrome, walk around the plane when it is safe to do so even if it annoys the people around you when your sitting near the window.
• Move and stretch your legs and feet to promote blood flow.
• Hydrate yourself and avoid alcohol.
• Wear comfortable clothing

Feel free to leave comments.

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I am going to try to keep this simple since this is a redundant topic. Turn on the TV for about an hour and you will be bombarded with ads about weight loss. These infomercials make bogus claims and rip people off for a while and then end up getting sued eventually. I had a friend who worked for CortiSlim as a customer service rep. He told me their tactics. When people would call and complain about the product not working, they would simply convince them to take more Cortislim which means buying more. Not a surprise that in January 2007, CortiSlim got fined $1.2 million dollars by the Federal Trade Commission for making unsupported claims in their infomercials. Anyways to get back on hand, these magic pills are not the advised route to take for shedding the pounds.

The main problem is that people get frustrated about their weight and try to make drastic changes in their diet. This results in a high failure rate as eventually people give up on their unreasonable regiment. So, the first thing is that weight loss is a gradual process. We have developed a “pill popping instant gratification” type of mindset yet weight loss is the opposite.

First of all, lets get to understanding of how weight is gained in our body. Simply put, when you ingest more calories than you burn your body stores it as adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is just another fancy way of saying fat. To put a number to things, to lose one pound you need to burn about 3,500 calories more than you are burning currently. Sounds overwhelming but it isn’t as bad as it sounds.

So lets begin with the 8 steps:

1) Set a goal - The first thing is to make a reasonable goal. How much weight do I want to lose? A reasonable goal is to lose 10 pounds in 12 weeks. Calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) to get a perspective on your weight and where it should be.

2) Mini Meal - Change the way you are eating. It is going to be annoying at first but it is vital for weight loss. Try to eat five or six small meals a day. This is to keep your metabolism up and to maintain normal insulin levels to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels). A meal should contain protein and minimal fat so you feel full. If you try to just gorge on fruits, you are going to get hungry fast and this is going to cause problems with your compliance.

3) Avoid Starvation - A sudden drop in calories will bring out some of our evolutionary traits where your body is programmed to store whatever you feed it. Your body is now unsure when it’s going to be fed again. This will cause a drop in metabolism. You do not need to be a calorie counter simply reduce your portions. If you are eating 2,500 calories to 2,000, just reduce the portion sizes by 20%.

4) Treat Yourself - Your diet regimen should include the occasional nice meal out and treat. If you do not do this you may burn out and revert back to your old ways. Don’t overdo it by eating a Twinkie daily as this will obviously impede your progress.

5) STOP THE SODA! - This should be the easiest step. Remove the soda from the diet. Replace this with tea and water. This is essential. Enough said about that.

6) Exercise - This is needed and it has to be consistent. It is the perfect combination to the changes in your eating. Some of the most effective weight loss exercises which burn the most calories are as follows: Step aerobics, swimming, bicycling, racquetball, skiing, running, walking, rock climbing. These exercises can result in approximately 300 calories burned in 30 minutes.

7) Slow Down - Eat slower so less food is eaten before the brain tells you that you are full. Eating slower will make you less tempted to continue to do so. You will also feel full.

8 ) Losing Control - What causes you to lose control? Is it going to the movies or the day before an important work meeting? The first step is to be made aware of the relationship between certain situations and your over eating. Once your aware, you can learn to avoid the trigger or deal with the trigger better.

Another thing I want to mention it is not a step but a motivational element. Take a picture of yourself periodically. You will be able to see your progress by comparing your pictures. It will keep you going as you begin to look better.

As we know obesity has been implicated in many other medical conditions, such as hypertension, osteoarthritis, cancer, strokes, gall bladder disease, infertility, depression, etc. (There are many other conditions but the list is too long.) Patients diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure) who are overweight and begin to lose weight notice drops in blood pressure. This means no more taking anti-hypertensive medications and dealing with the side effects.

An inspirational video of one man who tracked his progression of weight loss through a span of 84 days:

Feel free to leave comments regarding specific tips or techniques that have helped you drop the pounds.

A product I have purchased to give a review on is FatLoss4idiots which has rich content and gives the user important information and vital tools.  The “online diet generator” is a very important tool and I recommend this product to my readers it can be found at www.fatloss4idiots.com

Good luck to the readers. Share your stories and pictures with us.

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Sodium or commonly known as salt is vital in the maintenance of blood pressure, fluids, and blood volume. High levels of sodium will affect the hemodynamics of the body. Therefore, it is vital to keep your sodium ingestion to appropriate levels. A high diet sodium can have adverse effects such as high blood pressure or swelling of the extremities or face. Furthermore, one may also experience shortness of breath due to high fluid levels around the lungs.

The average American consumes 5 or more teaspoons of salt a day which is over twenty times the amount needed for an adult. Salt is found naturally in foods. Due to the increased consumption of processed food and the additional amount of salt added during preparation for taste people are consuming excessive amounts of salt resulting in high sodium levels and may lead to high blood pressures.

Your physician may have recommended to you to lower the amount of salt in your diet. Steps you can take to lower the amount of salt in your diet:

• Reduce salty foods in your diet. Reduce the amount of salt in food preparation and cooking.
• The salt shaker needs to be removed from the table. Try to use food seasonings, spices, herbs or lemon.
• Avoid fast food. Fast food is full of processed food high in salt, fat and many other additives injurious to your health.
• Medications such as alka seltzer bromo seltzer contain levels of sodium.
• You need to get into the habit of reading food labels. Additives high in salt in the ingredient list will contain the word “sodium” such as monosodium glutamate.
• Calculate your daily sodium intake by looking at food labels.

Low-Sodium Alternatives to Popular Foods

Meats, Poultry, Fish, Legumes, Eggs and Nuts

High-sodium foods:

• Smoked, cured, salted or canned meat, fish or poultry including bacon, cold cuts, ham, frankfurters, sausage, sardines, caviar and anchovies
• Frozen breaded meats and dinners, such as burritos and pizza
• Canned entrees, such as ravioli, spam and chili
• Salted nuts

Low-Sodium Alternatives:

• Any fresh or frozen beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fish
• Eggs and egg substitutes
• Low-sodium peanut butter
• Dry peas and beans (not canned)
• Low sodium canned fish
• Drained, water or oil packed canned fish or poultry

Dairy Products

High-sodium foods:

• Buttermilk
• Regular and processed cheese, cheese spreads and sauces
• Cottage cheese

Low-Sodium Alternatives:

• Milk, yogurt, ice cream and ice milk
• Low sodium cheeses, cream cheese, ricotta cheese and mozzarella

Breads, Grains and Cereals

High-sodium foods:

• Bread and rolls with salted tops
• Quick breads, self-rising flour, biscuit, pancake and waffle mixes
• Pizza, croutons and salted crackers
• Prepackaged, processed mixes for potatoes, rice, pasta and stuffing

Low-Sodium Alternatives:

• Breads, bagels and rolls without salted tops
• Muffins and most ready-to-eat cereals
• All rice and pasta, but do not to add salt when cooking
• Corn and flour tortillas and noodles
• Low sodium crackers and breadsticks
• Unsalted popcorn, chips and pretzels

Vegetables and Fruits

High-sodium foods:

• Regular canned vegetables and vegetable juices
• Olives, pickles, sauerkraut and other pickled vegetables
• Vegetables made with ham, bacon or salted pork
• Packaged mixes, such as scalloped or au gratin potatoes, frozen hash browns and tater tots
• Commercially prepared pasta and tomato sauces

Low-Sodium Alternatives:

• Fresh and frozen vegetables without sauces
• Low sodium canned vegetables, sauces and juices
• Fresh potatoes, frozen French fries and instant mashed potatoes
• Low salt tomato or V-8 juice.
• Most fresh, frozen and canned fruit

Soups

High-sodium foods:

• Regular canned and dehydrated soup, broth and bouillon

Low-Sodium Alternatives:

• Low sodium canned and dehydrated soups, broth and bouillon

Homemade soups without added salt

Fats, Desserts and Sweets High-sodium foods:

• Bottled salad dressings, regular salad dressing with bacon bits
• Salted butter or margarine
• Instant pudding and cake

Low-Sodium Alternatives:

• Unsalted butter or margarine
• Vegetable oils and sodium free salad dressings
• All desserts made without salt

Hope these tips help. Feel free to post recipes in the comment section so users can share recipes that have helped them lower their blood pressures.

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Therefore, knowing the warning signs of a heart attack is crucial. Many times people wait too long to get medical care from the onset of symptoms. Time is working against you as the muscle of your heart is being killed without sustenance.

Some warning signs that a heart attack or Myocardial infarction is occuring:

• Shortness of Breath or difficulty breathing with or without chest pain
• Chest Pain or Chest Discomfort - A majority of heart attack symptoms are with central chest discomfort that comes and goes. It can feel like squeezing, pressure, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort elsewhere - Symptoms can also include discomfort or pain in the neck, jaw, one or both arms, back, or stomach.
• Nausea, feeling lightheaded, or sweating.

Both men and women the most common symptom is chest discomfort or pain. Women are known to experience other symptoms as well such as shortness of breath, nausea, jaw pain or back pain.

Even if you are unsure you are experiencing a heart attack, as we love saying in medicine it is better to “err on the side of caution” call 911 immediately. It can save your life or the life of a loved one. Do not try to drive to the hospital by car to the hospital because EMS (Emergency Medical Services) can begin treatment much sooner. Further, going by ambulance the drive is quicker with no need to stop at red lights and you will get much quicker treatment at the hospital by going through ambulance.

If you are unable to access the emergency medical services (EMS) have somebody drive you to the hospital. Do not attempt to drive yourself to the hospital only if there absolutely no other means.

Here is an excellent 3 minute video of what causes a heart attack:

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