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04/17, 2008

Trust only genuine diet pills!

When it comes to diet pills, trusting any brand is the most difficult task. People keep searching for the suitable pills for days together to find a pill that will be compliant with them. However, every pill boasts of its utility and people fall prey to hefty advertisements. However, many of them work only temporarily and once you leave the pills, all the weight lost comes back with boom rang effect.

If you do not want to suffer such set backs, trust only those brands that give you guaranteed results. Nueslim is one such diet pill that gives you lifetime guarantee and that too with amazing results. The ingredients in nueslim are directed to reduce weight by burning fat. So, automatically the person gets lower cholesterol levels and keeps himself within safe heart zone.

Also these are very safe diet pills as compared to other brands. You also need not worry about the cost. These diet pills are very much affordable to common man and you and I can definitely take advantage of life time guarantee offered on the product. Genuineness of the product can be assessed from the site that enlists several opinions of people from all walks of life, who trust this weight loss pill wholeheartedly. We can be one of them!


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03/31, 2008

Smoke free smoking with volcano vaporizer!

Are you tired of listening to adverse effects of smoking every now and then? Well, there is no second opinion about the bad effects of smoking. You should curb the habit totally to live healthy and harmonious life. But what if I suggest you to switch over to vaporizer for smoking? The vaporizer allows you to smoke actively without creating any tar or bad odors while smoking.

Instead of using tobacco leaves, you can use other herbs that are good for health. This way you can even get rid of smoking completely. Even some doctors prescribe vaporizers for the smokers who want to quit. Especially volcano vaporizer helps one achieve optimal release of active ingredients without developing harmful carbon monoxide or dioxide.

Among different types of vaporizers, volcano vaporizer works efficiently to heat the herbs in the container to heat optimally but with low temperature, thus saving the bad effects on the tissues of throat and lungs. Also low temperature does not give rise to combustible substances that cause cancer in long run. You can utilize the herb completely in all its natural form and flavor with volcano vaporizer. There is no excessive maintenance required too. So, just bring a volcano vaporizer home and with minimal maintenance, get a life partner for yourself!


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When it comes to buying precious stuff, you are aptly concerned about the quality purchase and hassle-free transaction. Nothing can be compared to easy buying online and safe ways to handle precious things. Especially when you are interested in stuffs like jewelry, online transactions will save you lot of effort and money. Lots of newer sites are available especially for pearl jewelry and they are sure to lure you. Jewelry is favorite possession of every person irrespective of his ethnicity and background.

Take plunge into pearl jewelry purchase through hassle-free online transaction. Just ensure your choice by ordering online and you will receive your order within no time. You can avail benefits of online transactions by choosing from vast array of options that are on display in the galleries. You will be widely amazed at the stunning pearl bracelets, necklaces and cufflinks. Just you have it in your mind and you will find many patterns available.

You can find different varieties of pearls in different jewelry pieces. Rather, you will be amazed to find so many colors, designs and shapes in pearls that you have never seen. Thus, Akoya pearls, black pearls, freshwater pearls, and Tahitian pearls will attract you by their sheer magnitude and luster. You should be a maniac not to choose some of the varieties for your own collection, as well as to present to your loved ones. Order it and you will be surprised to find your precious pearl jewelry in simple box at your doorstep!


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In addition to glutamine, there has been interest in determining the role that other nutrients may have on immune function. From these studies, there appear to be several nutrients and or herbs that may help athletes maintain a healthier immune system during training. The first nutrient reported to enhance immune function is protein Studies indicate that immunosuppressed patients are often protein malnourished. Additionally, athletes who maintain a negative energy balance during training may also be susceptible to become protein malnourished. Protein supplementation in protein-malnourished patients has been shown to improve immune status Consequently, it is important that athletes eat enough quality protein in their diet to maintain a healthy immune system.

The second nutrient that may affect immune responses during training is vitamin C. Vitamin C is involved in the synthesis of epinephrine, iron absorption, and is an antioxidant. There is also evidence that vitamin C may enhance immune function. With regards to athletes, vitamin C supplementation (600 mg/day for 3 weeks) following an ultramarathon race was found to decrease the incidence of URTI by 33% following the event in comparison to athletes given a placebo These findings have led some to contend that athletes engaged in intensified periods of training should supplement their diet with vitamin C to help decrease the incidence of URTI.

More recently, zinc supplementation (25 to 100 mg/day) during the onset of symptoms of a cold or URTI has been reported to decrease the severity and length of the cold infection. Athletes have been reported to be commonly zinc deficient. Theoretically, zinc supplementation during intensified periods of training and or as athletes experience symptoms of a cold may help athletes stay healthier. To support this theory, one study reported that zinc supplementation (25 mg/day) during training minimized exercise-induced changes in immune function. However, more research is needed to test this hypothesis.

The last supplement that may be beneficial for athletes to enhance immune function is echinacea. Echinacea is a popular herb that has been reported to enhance the immune system in a similar manner as an antibiotic. Evidence suggests that echinacea can reduce the incidence, severity, and duration of colds and infections Theoretically, echinacea supplementation during periods of intensified training and/or as an athlete experiences symptoms of a URTI may help athletes stay healthy during training. However, although there is scientific support for use of echinacea, we are not aware of a study that has evaluated whether echinacea supplementation during training affects the incidence of URTI in athletes.


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As a result of training, all of the various oxidative processes are elevated in both aerobic and anaerobic athletes. The magnitude of these elevations depends on the intensity and type of exercise in which one is engaged. Also, some authors have speculated that the oxidative muscle damage associated with exercise may lead to the termination of muscular effort. In light of this knowledge, researchers and lay people alike have speculated that antioxidant supplementation may level the playing field, reducing tissue damage and soreness, improving exercise performance, and even prolonging life span. But do we need nutritional supplements to protect us from oxidative damage Or can our bodies handle the stress naturally through homeostasis?

Regarding antioxidant homeostasis, most of the research done on endogenous antioxidant enzymes and their adaptation to exercise has been done using endurance protocols. From this research, aerobically trained individuals (including humans and rats) have elevated endogenous (produced within) antioxidant enzyme concentrations and/or activities compared with controls As the body adapts to the demands of an increased training load by increasing mitochondrial density, capillarization, stroke volume of the heart, etc., it also defends itself from the increasing amount of oxygen that is delivered and used by the muscle. Because mitochondrial density increases (there are more mitochondria per unit of muscle) in aerobically trained individuals and the antioxidant enzymes are located within the mitochondria, it only stands to reason that antioxidant activity would increase in endurance-trained individuals. Of course, the more mitochondria, the more potential for reactive oxygen species, so the question is whether the increased enzymes can deal with the increased free radicals.

In numerous studies, the activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were increased in oxidative (type 1) skeletal muscle with endurance training. In addition, glutathione levels increase in response to training while oxidative damage is lessened when compared to untrained rats and humans. Although this suggests that trained individuals have a better protection from exercise-induced free radical damage than untrained, it cannot be assumed that the skeletal muscle of these individuals has enzyme levels that completely protect against free radical damage. Nor is it safe to assume that all athletes gain the same degree of antioxidant protection from training. Since enzymatic adaptations occur primarily in slow-twitch muscle fiber sand fast-twitch fibers do not, to a large extent, undergo such changes, athletes with a higher percentage of fast-twitch fibers like bodybuilders, sprinters, and power lifters may be more susceptible to free radical damage

The knowledge of training-induced endogenous antioxidant up regulation does, in fact, question the need for endogenous antioxidant supplementation. That is, why do athletes need an antioxidant boost when the body naturally adapts to exercise by improving its defenses Although the antioxidant capacity of the body is increased with endurance training, it appears that even these increases are often not sufficient to neutralize the increase in free radicals generated from long-duration aerobic exercise. It is clear that, depending on the type of exercise, free radical formation may supercede the body’s ability to protect itself, even in training-adapted individuals. In this case, it would be appropriate to increase the ingestion of exogenous antioxidants.

That said, the next relevant question would address whether the ingestion of foods that are high in bioavailable antioxidants would be sufficient to provide for the additional needs of specific populations or whether further antioxidant intake would be necessary. Since intense exercise training leads to the depletion of tissue and plasma concentrations of antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinone, vitamin C, and vitamin E, this reduction may lead to a decreased antioxidant defense. This depletion is evident even in those athletes consuming a “nutritious, well-balanced, and mixed diet.” Hence, dietary intake may not provide sufficient amounts of antioxidants to athletes. By increasing tissue and plasma concentrations via antioxidant supplementation, athletes can assist endogenous antioxidant capacity and complement dietary intake to reduce the damage that results from strenuous training. Granted, antioxidants and nutrients seem to be better absorbed and seem to confer greater benefit when consumed as part of whole foods, but when whole food intake is insufficient, additional supplementation is the next best thing.


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Of course thousands of people supplement vitamin C for its antioxidant properties. In fact, many consume several grams per day in an effort to reduce the damage that free radical compounds can cause. But is consuming such high doses beneficial In addition to the inefficiency of absorption as the vitamin C dose is increased, evidence also exists that large acute doses can result in opposing effects to what is intended. How can this be Because of the nature of redox reactions, a substance such as vitamin C could reduce certain cellular components (an antioxidant effect) while oxidizing others. The ability of vitamin C to do this has been reported repeatedly and may be related to dose. Podmore and colleagues (1998) showed that administration of 500 mg/ day to healthy humans for 6 weeks induced pro­oxidant effects on particular segments of nuclear material in lymphocytes. This suggests that higher doses actually act in a manner that is opposite to their intend­ed purpose for many people. And in an effort to elucidate a mechanism for vitamin C’s pro-oxidant effects, Paolini et al. examined very high dose supplementation (250 and 500 mg/kg for 4 days) in rats. The researchers showed a dose-response effect on superoxide anion production and an increase in microsomal oxidative enzymes, with the 500 mg/kg dose being substantially worse.

As shown in the new RDA for vitamin C was set by the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board to reflect tissue saturation. This 75-90 mg/ day recommendation may be exceeded with relative safety up to 2500 mg/day (the “Upper Limit”) but this does not ensure a total lack of pro-oxidant effects. To prevent selective oxidation of circulating blood components, it may be prudent to limit the daily dose of vitamin C to below 500 mg/day.


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Charlatans thrive in the field of nutrition perhaps more so than in any other area of medical science. A quick glance through the business pages of the phone book will likely reveal many nutritionists who claim to be qualified nutrition-related consultants. Some sports supplement consumers will undoubtedly wish to consult with a nutrition professional to individualize and optimize their supplement program. But to whom should one turn to for accurate, unbiased sports supplement advice?

A listing in the table does not imply endorsement for an included credential, as many questionable credentials have been included. Rather, the table features an array of possible sports supplement advisors, despite whether or not they are truly qualified.

In most instances, accreditation means that an educational institution’s course credits will transfer to another school. Accreditation does not guarantee scientific accuracy, but does demonstrate that the program is well organized. All respected educational institutions are accredited.

Some institutions grant degrees, such as BS, MS, and even PhD degrees, but are not accredited. And unfortunately, some dishonest individuals use titles that they have not earned.

Because certain titles are not legally defined in all states, the person bearing a given title mayor may not have obtained a degree through an accredited institution. For example, some states have reserved the title of nutritionist for practitioners who have completed an appropriate college degree, whereas in other states anyone can call himself or herself a nutritionist regardless of educational background. Fake degrees that have been accredited by phony accrediting agencies add to the confusion. A legitimate accreditation agency must be recognized by the US Department of Education. To find out if a degree is from a properly accredited institution, a person may refer to the Accredited Institutions of Post-secondary Education Programs Candidates, which is published by the American Council on Education. This directory is available at many libraries, and lists accredited institutions, professionally accredited programs, and candidates for accreditation.

Licensure refers to a particular state’s recognition of an individual’s competence. Competence is commonly determined by passing a state licensure examination. Licensing provides a way to ensure that practitioners have met minimal standards of education and experience. A revocation of licensure does not negate a person’s academic credentials. For example, an unlicensed medical doctor, although unable to practice medicine, can still use the designation of MD and, in some states, may still be able to provide services as a nutritionist. To find out if a nutrition practitioner is licensed in the state in which he or she practices, the consumer should contact that particular state’s health-licensing agency. A standard name for such an agency does not exist, so a consumer may have to search the state government pages of the phone book for the appropriate agency

Traditionally, the primary health professional who dispenses nutritional information is the registered dietitian (RD), which requires the completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree approved by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). However, the distinction of RD alone may not be sufficient enough to prepare a dietitian to become familiar with all of the sports supplements because of its rapid progression. Therefore, an RD should ideally be a member of the Dietary Practice Group (DRG) for Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutritionists (SCAN), a section of the ADA having over 5000 professionals devoted to the application of sports nutrition. Becoming a SCAN member requires nothing more of the RD (or other ADA member) than paying a fee, but it does ensure that the RD has access to the latest scientific information in the field.

Other scholastically qualified individuals who may be good resources for scientific information on ergogenic aids include exercise physiologists, pharmacists, nutrition researchers, and physicians. These degrees alone are insufficient if the individuals have not specialized in nutrition as it relates to sport or if they have not actively and intensively self-studied such information. For example, the most desirable MDs and DOs for sports supplement consultation are those who have completed residencies in bariatrics (obesity), sports medicine, and endocrinology, or who have specialized in clinical nutrition. The academic/research degrees of BS, BA, MS, MA, PhD, and EdD offer expertise in any number of fields, from history to psychology and so on. Therefore, qualified individuals who hold these degrees should have specific backgrounds in biochemistry, nutritional biochemistry, nutritional physiology, nutrition, nutrition science, muscle physiology, exercise physiology, exercise science, or sports pharmacology.

The most common credentials of nonrecognized nutritionists are attained through certification rather than formal education. The difficulty of becoming certified varies greatly among the certifying bodies, but most certification organizations are not as rigorous as those that offer programs for becoming licensed. In fact, many certification organizations are correspondence courses that allow open-book examinations, which are graded liberally. In the past, some certifying bodies charged a fee in exchange for a fancy certificate, which led to household pets becoming recognized certificate holders.

Fortunately for the consumer, the days of unreliable nutritional consultation are numbered. The ADA has been leading a successful movement to restrict or prohibit unlicensed individuals from disseminating nutritional information. Essentially, the ADA is making dispensing nutritional information by an unqualified person analogous to practicing medicine without a license.

To summarize, the consumer can check the qualifications of an individual providing sports supplement information by first looking for the credential or degree abbreviations listed after the person’s name. Next, the reputation of the degree-granting institution can be checked through directories of accredited institutions. The consumer can also contact the health-licensing agency of the state in which the consultant practices to find out if the consultant meets the state requirements to advise clients in nutrition. To find out if a person is qualified as an RD, the consumer may contact the ADA.


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Aerobic athletes produce physical work relatively slowly over long periods of time through the hydrolysis of ATP The demand for the re-synthesis of ATP to continue muscular work during prolonged exercise is met by the oxidation of fuel (carbohydrates, fats, and some protein) in the mitochondria. Under normal resting conditions the electron transport chain (ETC) of the mitochondria uses oxygen to produce ATP and during aerobic exercise this process is greatly accelerated. In fact, during aerobic exercise, oxygen processing occurs at rates fold above resting levels This accelerated oxygen processing contributes to increased free radical formation at the cytochrome level of the electron transport chain, with a two- to threefold increase in free radical levels.

Although ETC enzymes have evolved to efficiently process oxygen during the generation of ATP, even with this enzymatic efficiency, an estimated 2-5% of total oxygen flux through the mitochondria can form superoxide radicals at rest. It is speculated that, during exercise, the increased flow of oxygen through the ETC can lead to a significant increase in superoxide radicals beyond resting levels, In addition, at rest, endogenous antioxidants located in the mitochondria can effectively remove superoxide radicals but again, during exercise, the increase in oxygen radicals may be more than the endogenous antioxidants can neutralize.


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No, don’t fret if you feel like giving up on that diet plan. All you need to do is need focus on the task at hand, and think of the road ahead. And while you’re trying to do that, here’s how to defeat those diet-busting urges …

It’s no surprise that 80 percent of diets go belly­up, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Why? Because we tend to give up right when we are very close to attaining our aim. what do we do? Give a thought to the following.burger.jpg

You’re starving!

Eat, but eat differently. Grab foods with lots of fibre water. Also keep a stash of dry fruits by your bedside. Create a healthy mix of almonds and raisins in a jar- a tasty hunger-killer. When your stomach is empty, the hormone ghrelin kicks in, which stimulates appetite. By eating foods packed with fibre like fruits and veggies, you’ll feel full while controlling ghrelin production.

You’re cranky

Boost your mood with snacks that satisfy your hormones, not your stomach. Snack on complex carbohydrates, such as a whole-grain treat of a bowl of cereal with your choice of sweet, chopped fruit thrown in blueberries and a little milk. You’re cranky because you’ve eliminated sources of quick mood-boosting energy- like chips and colas. So, you’re going to go through a time when you don’t feel great. Let carbohydrates raise your serotonin levels without inflating your waistline the way sugary carbs can.

You crave food

Give in to snack attacks, but wisely. Keep some low-fat cheese ready at all times. You need ready access to healthy sources of protein or fibre to off set sudden, out-of-nowhere cravings, which are nothing but your brain, by way of your cells, hunting to replenish fat starved cells.

The ‘what the hell …’ syndrome

Weigh in. You need to keep your eye on your rate of weight loss. Setting targets blows away complacency. A study at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth shows that people who weigh themselves regularly are more likely to stay focused. They’re continually reminded of their success so far.

You reach a plateau

Diet less, exercise more. It’s probably going to be easier to exercise more frequently than to further restrict a diet that’s become an ingrained habit. If your exercise is mostly cardiovascular, devote more time to weight lifting. Because you need to burn off more in order to continue to see results.

want your life back?

Let loose- a little bit. Being on a strict diet can drain you mentally, so there’s a huge temptation to let things slide. If you’re meeting your goals, give yourself a break. If you love ice cream, try a lower-fat version. And instead of the all-meat, extra-cheese pizza, top your pizza with vegetables.


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Even more influential with regard to dietary supplements, the DSHEA, legally known as Public Law 103-417, was signed by President Clinton on October 25, 1994 in response to concerned nutritional supplement consumers and manufacturers who needed reassurance that safe dietary supplements would remain available to those who want to use them.10,11 In fact, for the 2 years preceding the DSHEA, many congressmen reported that they received more correspondence and phone calls regarding dietary supplements than on any other subject, including the national deficit, healthcare reform, and abortion. Consequently, members of Congress approved the measure unanimously.

The DSHEA basically allows supplement manufacturers the freedom to market more products as dietary supplements and to provide information about product benefits so that consumers can make informed choices. Although the DSHEA was welcomed by manufacturers and consumers alike, in the eyes of some consumer advocates, it “weakened” the enforcement ability of the FDA, but not as much as its original sponsors had intended.

Ingredient and Nutrition Information Labeling

The most visible DSHEA-mediated change is written on the packaging of nutritional supplements. Through requirements of the DSHEA, dietary supplement labels have been redesigned to be more consumer friendly. A dietary supplement is easy to recognize because the product label reads “dietary supplement.” Among other requirements, supplement labels will provide a “Supplement Facts” panel, a clear identity statement, and a complete list of ingredients. Supplement labels will be further described in this chapter under “Consumer Savvy.”

Distinguishing Among Foods, Food Additives, and Nutritional Supplements

Historically, the FDA regulated dietary supplements as foods for several decades. This was done to ensure that their labeling was accurate and that the supplements were safe and “wholesome.” Under the 1958 Food Additive Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&:C Act), any new dietary ingredients for use in food or supplements were evaluated for safety. Frequently, the FDA previously viewed ingredients contained within dietary supplements as being analogous to substances that are added to foods. This perspective was problematic for supplement manufacturers because if a substance was not recognized as safe (GRAS) based on ample scientific literature, then the substance was categorized as a food additive, categorizing it in this way had several consequences for a dietary supplement.

According to the FD&:C Act, to market a food additive required petitioning the FDA for permission. To successfully petition often required much new research, money, and patience; it sometimes took the FDA more than 5 years to approve a new food additive. Because this previous system seemed unnecessarily complex, Congress amended the FD&C Act with the DSHEA to incorporate many provisions for dietary supplements. One major provision of the DSHEA is the precise clarification that the term “food additive” does not apply to dietary supplements. Hence, the DSHEA excludes the ingredients in dietary supplements (and therefore sports supplements) from the pre market safety assessment that is mandated for food additives or for new uses of previously established food ingredients. Binders, fillers, diluents (substances used to dilute), preservatives, and colors that may be used in nutritional supplements are still subject to food additive regulations (New and old ingredients are defined by the FDA with respect to whether they were marketed for nutritional supplement use in the US before or after October 15, 1994.)

The Supplement Police

With the new legislation, the regulatory role of the FDA was changed from that of evaluating pre market safety to policing the industry. Essentially, the FDA went from playing the role of the teacher granting a hall pass to assuming the role of the principal patrolling the hallways for violators. Thus, the burden of proof now rests on the FDA. However, dietary supplements are not exempt from all safety provisions.

What is a “Safe” Supplement?

The DSHEA categorizes a nutritional supplement as adulterated (impure, or of questionable safety) if it or one of its ingredients poses “a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury” when used as indicated on its label. If there are no directions on the label, then the supplement must not present a risk when used under normal conditions. Also, any new ingredient may be considered unsafe if there is inadequate information from which to draw conclusions about its safety.

The government did receive some new authorization as a result of the DSHEA. For example, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may proclaim a dietary supplement “to pose an imminent hazard to public health or safety,” which would effect an immediate ban on sales of the product.

Using Literature to Inform Consumers

Before the DSHEA, any publications used to promote dietary supplements could be regulated by the FDA as labels when used at the time of a prospective sale. Literature that claimed any role in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease was particularly targeted. These claims, though not made on the product itself, would have made the supplement subject to regulation as a drug. So according to the old statutes, supplement sales­clerks should not have promoted products by showing customers any publications that claimed disease-prevention benefits This restriction was even true of scientific publications. Despite these restrictions, however, these marketing strategies were widely practiced.

The new legislature offers significant freedom to those who wish to use literature to market nutritional supplements. Furthermore, the publication must meet several criteria, it must not be false or misleading; it must not promote a particular brand or manufacturer; it must be presented with similar material in a balanced fashion that illustrates the sum of the available scientific literature; when displayed, it must be physically separate from the supplements; it must not have any additional information, such as product promotional literature, affixed to it. Given these amendments, a supplement salesclerk may now legally promote supplements by showing consumers scientific literature detailing the health benefits of particular supplements.


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