Health Article

The discipline was developed initially by Cesare Mattei (1809-1896) in the latter part of the 19th Century. Mattei, a nobleman living in a castle in the vicinity of Bolog studied natural science, anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry and botany. He ultimately focussed on the supposed therapeutic power of 'electricity' in botanical extracts. Massei made bold, unsupported, claims for the efficacy of his treatments including the claim that his treatments offered a non-surgical alternative to cancer.
His treatment regimens were met with scepticism by medical orthodoxy:
The electrohomeopathic system is an invention of Count Mattei who prates of "red," "blue," and "green" electricity, a theory that, in spite of its utter idiocy, has attracted a considerable following and earned a large fortune for its chief promoter.
Notwithstanding criticisms, including a challenge by the British medical establishment to the Claimed success of his cancer treatments.
electrohomeopathy (or Matteism, as it was sometimes known at the time) was embraced and by the beginning of the 20th century had adherents in Germany, France, the USA and the UK; it had been the subject of approximately 100 publications and there were three journals dedicated to it.

An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicine that people take to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.
To use an herbal product as safely as possible
Consult your doctor first
Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends
Take it under the guidance of a trained medical professional
Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or nursing.

You have many choices to make about your cancer treatment. One choice you might be thinking about is complimentry medicines(CAM). CAM is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of standard ones. Complementary medicine means nonstandard treatments that you use along with standard ones. Examples of CAM therapies are acupressure, acupuncture,magneto therapy and herbal medicine.
CAM treatments do not work for everyone, but some methods such as acupuncture might help with nausea, pain and other side effects of cancer treatment. In general, researchers know more about the safety and effectiveness of standard cancer treatments than they do about CAM. To make sure nothing gets in the way of your cancer care, talk to your doctor before you try anything new.

Are you into body building? Many people want to have a body of Lou, Arnold and other body builders even some women are into it. High protein foods and food supplements can help you build that muscle mass that you want. Since eating foods with high protein is not enough, most of the players who need extra muscle mass need to take food supplements with high protein content.

Gaspari Nutrition is a major supplement manufacturer today and they are selling high protein food supplements for anyone who need extra protein that foods can not reach. Buy this protein food supplement now if you are into body building and by the way consult your doctor first.

Medical habit and health professionals recommend a minimum level of physical activity that must be maintained to prevent serious atrophy or physical deterioration. It alters the neurotransmitters in the brain, boosting the immune system and releasing performance-enhancing chemicals (Stolty, 1997). Exercise builds strong sense of self-image and a sense of emotional balance. This is true because exercise serves as a way of releasing of the tension and anxieties. Franchoco, et al, (2002) cited the study of the comprehensive Cardiovascular Disease Control Program (CCCP) and it observed that Filipinos performed sedentary and lightweight physical activities. The study recommended that with the rise of incidence of cardiovascular disease, Filipinos perform regular physical exercise.

The World Health Organization cited by Tan (2004) issued a warning about redentary activities like office and factory work increasing the risk for heart disease. It is necessary for people with this kind of work to exercise for weight control and keep the heart fit. Walking briskly for thirty minutes, three times a week can be good for the heart. Exercise is an anti-aging measures and one can readily do regardless of age. It helps the body stay young. Exercise helps improve the functioning of the brain area crucial to memory. It can lose stress, depression and insomnia. It helps prevent cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis

n recent years, American acupuncturists have developed the process of acupuncture ear staples for weight loss. However, the process is not very safe and is often ineffective. In this method, instead of five points, only two points are used. Each point is placed in the upper and outer part of each ear. However, the main problem in this procedure is that the ear cartilage hardly has any resistance to infection. Unlike the needles which are placed in the skin before every treatment and removed at the end of the treatment, ear staples are left in place for several days. This can lead to permanent damage to the ear drums if the ear staples enter the ear canal. They can also cause infection in the entire ear. As a result, acupuncture ear staples are not at all recommended for weight loss.
While there is no scientific proof as to if acupuncture actually works or not, over the years, the procedure has become an accepted form of treatment for weight loss. However, if you are considering opting for acupuncture as a method of losing weight, do ensure that the practitioner you chose is a reputable and reliable one. Confirming the status of the needles, as to if they are sterilized or not, are very important. Also, enquire the cost of the treatment and how many treatments you will require before you invest into this procedure.

The process of acupuncture is performed as follows: The acupuncturist inserts very thin metal or stainless steel needles into the skin. These needles are inserted at specific acupuncture points in the skin. Regarding safety, the needs are all sterilized before insertion and are also of the disposable types. Do remember to enquire about the needle type and disposal methods from your doctor before you opt for the procedure. Do remember that the transmission of some highly contagious diseases such as HIV AIDS and Hepatitis B are passed on through contaminated needles. These needles are left inserted into the skin for an average of 15 to 30 minutes and the treatment generally needs to be repeated for multiple sessions for around 2-3 weeks or, depending on the weight to be lost, the treatment may even last for several months.
Before the treatment actually begins, the acupuncturist will investigate the patient's medical history, and right before the process starts, the patient's pulse will also be checked several times. It is also likely that the acupuncturist will check the individual's tongue, or examine the parts of your body which are to be treated. Only after the pre-treatment is complete will the acupuncturist determine whether or not you are fit enough to undergo the treatment.
While treating for weight loss, the acupuncture points within the ears are generally used for the treatment of weight loss and general detoxification of the body. During the procedure, the acupuncturist places five needles in each ear. Out of these five needles, four correspond to specific organs inside the body - the kidneys, the lungs, the nervous system and the liver. The fifth needle is simply placed in the ear for the relaxation of the patient. Once the acupuncture for weight loss treatment starts, the body will be stimulated to produce endorphins. Endorphins help combat the cravings for carbohydrates in the body, reduce appetite, and in cases where weight loss is related to drug abuse, then endorphins also help with withdrawal symptoms.

Leksell Gamma Knife is the ONLY stereotactic radiosurgery system specifically approved for treating brain tumors, also known as brain metastases, based on long-term scientific proof. Here’s why leading neurosurgeons worldwide choose Gamma Knife surgery for their patients:

Accuracy is the single most
important aspect of SRS

• Gamma Knife radiosurgery sets the bar for accuracy, with guaranteed precision that enhances physician confidence and ensures patient safety.¹
  
  
• This superior level of accuracy is due to three factors:
1. Gamma Knife was designed specifically to provide the very best radiosurgical treatment of brain tumors
2. The radiation source never moves during operation
3. The patient’s head is stationary
   
   
• When treating a target as delicate as the brain, neurosurgeons try to avoid any movement that might reduce accuracy. CyberKnife, a linear accelerator used to treat the whole body, has a continually moving arm.

Frameless neurosurgery is a myth

• Neurosurgeons will tell you that immobilizing the target – the patient’s head – is the first step in performing any type of brain surgery. The most widely used neurosurgical head frame – called a stereotactic frame – is manufactured by Elekta, and it’s the same stereotactic frame used with Gamma Knife surgery.
• CyberKnife claims that no head frame is required for stereotactic radiosurgery. Instead they use a claustrophobic mask that is pressed against the patient’s face for hours. And despite the constraint, their head can still move.²

Reducing excess radiation to the body

• The Gamma Knife is designed so all radiation focuses into a single point within the brain and the shielding of the machine specifically protects the body from excess radiation.
• Excess radiation is not well-contained in the CyberKnife design, and its treatment delivers as much as 100 times more stray radiation compared to Gamma Knife radiosurgery.³

Eliminating X-rays of the brain

• With Gamma Knife radiosurgery, a head frame is attached with temporary placement pins and the patient has a single MRI – the preferred method of imaging the brain. There are no X-rays.
• Because CyberKnife and other linac treatments recommend use of a face mask instead of a head frame, X-rays of the brain must be taken every two minutes during treatment to ensure the target hasn’t moved.² These added X-rays increase radiation exposure to the patient and lengthens treatment time.

Treating the body is different from
treating the brain

• Leksell Gamma Knife is specifically optimized for the brain. Because the head can be immobilized during Gamma Knife radiosurgery, physicians feel confident in the accuracy of their treatment and can use a single, high dose of radiation. Patients can return home the same day and resume normal activities.
• The body and its internal organs are virtually impossible to immobilize, requiring imaging throughout a linac treatment. The physician needs constant imaging to treat with confidence and often reduces the dose and increases the number of treatment sessions to compensate.

Unmatched clinical evidence and experience

• Gamma Knife radiosurgery has been used to treat over half a million people, with treatments documented in more than 2,000 peer-reviewed clinical papers…including one that tracks patients over a 15-year period.
• Leksell Gamma Knife is such an established standard of care that Medicare has designated a unique authorization code for radiosurgery on the Gamma Knife.
• CyberKnife has been in use for more than 15 years and has little or no clinical evidence for treating brain tumors.⁴ According to the system’s manufacturer, “the safety and effectiveness of the CyberKnife system for certain uses is not yet supported by long-term clinical data.”⁵
• This lack of long-term clinical data is why insurance companies are likely to decline or deny coverage for CyberKnife treatments.

All of the B-vitamins play a role in facilitating the metabolic processes of all forms of animal life, and most have been termed coenzymes (small molecules (not proteins but sometimes vitamins) essential for the activity of some enzymes). Although B-vitamins act individually, in specific ways, the interaction of all B-vitamins ensure that one is kept healthy to grow and reproduce properly.

So although the B-vitamins are a complex, it is important to know them individually to identify any specific health needs. Additional functions of B-vitamins include the conversion of food to fuel for energy production purposes and the maintenance of healthy nervous system function. Certain B-vitamins also help to keep the cardiovascular system healthy.

Research into B-vitamins has shown that:

1. Folic acid (B-9) reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering homocystein levels (Russell, 1996). Homocysteine is a sulphur-containing amino acid that is closely related to the essential amino acid methionine and to cysteine. Many studies have also found an association between elevated homocysteine levels and impaired cognitive performance and dementia.

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2. Choline (may help with the treatment of bipolar disorder. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School found that, in combination with lithium, choline helps treat the devastating mental illness bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) (Stoll, 1996).

   Click here for Choline products.

3. Vitamin B-6 (Pyroxidine) can alleviate morning sickness in pregnant women (Vutyavanich,1995).

4. Supplementation with B-vitamin riboflavin has been shown to repair DNA damage thus serving to enhance cognition in older populations (Chen, 1996).

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5. Vitamin B-12 has also been shown to enhance cognition (particularly in older populations). In fact, as many as 42% of elderly people have a deficiency in B-12, which is often mistaken as a natural sign of aging.

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As shown, the main benefits of vitamin-B intake include cardiovascular and nervous system health, energy production and mental well-being. However, to fully appreciate the many functions the entire B-complex helps to govern, a review of all 12 B-vitamins is in order.

1. Thiamin (B-1): Thiamin helps with the conversion of nutrients to energy and, in particular, enhances mental function and mood. Grains, wheat-germ, nuts and seeds are high in thiamine.

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2. Riboflavin (B-2): Riboflavin is another key B-vitamin responsible for helping with nutrient conversion to energy. It also plays a major role in red blood cell manufacturing. Higher energy, as a result of B-2 intake, leads to improved immune system integrity, respiratory and digestive system health. Milk and cheese are high riboflavin foods.

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3. Niacin (B-3): Niacin contributes in over 50 metabolic processes and therefore is one of the most important of the B-vitamins. The main functions of niacin are hormone manufacturing, detoxification, cholesterol regulation and energy production. Niacin can be obtained in two ways: directly from foods or through protein break-down. Tryptophan is one key amino acid responsible for niacin production. If one eats enough protein they will get enough tryptophan and will produce half of the niacin they need. The rest will be obtained directly through niacin-rich food intake. Niacin-rich foods include, beef liver, chicken tuna and milk.

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4. Pantothenic acid (B-5): One of the less auspicious B-vitamins, pantothenic acid plays a supporting role in energy and hormone production, and red-blood-cell manufacturing. It can be obtained easily through the a well-balanced diet.

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5. Pyroxidine (B-6): A very important amino acid in terms of protein building and therefore particularly important for bodybuilders. Pyroxidine works to transform amino acids into more than 5,000 proteins, and, in addition helps to make 60 different enzymes which assist our bodies biologic functions. Additional functions of pyroxidine include the assisting of a strong immune system and a healthy heart, and the management of depression. A pyridoxine deficiency can cause certain skin disorders, neuropathy (abnormal nervous system function), confusion, poor coordination and insomnia. Pyroxidine is abundant in many of the foods we eat. Major sources include liver, brown rice, fish and whole-grain cereals.

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6. Biotin (B-7): Biotin also helps with nutrient conversion to energy and protein conversion. A biotin deficiency might be found in one who eats a large quantity of raw egg whites. The whites contain a substance called avidin which has a biotin binding function. A lack of biotin may also cause hair loss. The addition of biotin may enhance hair growth if the hair loss is a result of a biotin deficiency, not a genetic trait. Biotin is found in significant quantities in beef liver, egg yolks, nuts, and whole grains.

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7. Folic acid (B-9): Folic acid is important for reproductive health (it can prevent birth defects) in addition to energy production and appetite, mood and sleep. It also assists cell replacement and cardiovascular health. Major sources of folic acid are beef and chicken liver, lentils, kidney beans and chick-peas.

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8. Cobalamin (B-12): As with the other B-vitamins cobalamin helps to ensure nutrient conversion to energy. Cobalamin also assists with energy production in the sense that it helps to keep red-blood-cells healthy, thus enhancing their ability to carry oxygen and nutrients around the body. All of the cells of the immune system require cobalamin to function optimally. A deficiency of cobalamin will cause pernicious amenia, which results in weakness, numbness of the extremities, and fever. Unless cobalamin combines with what is termed intrinsic factor (a mucoprotein contained in the stomach) it cannot be absorbed or used properly. This problem is sometimes observed in strict vegetarians. Major sources include liver, beef, egg yolk, poultry and milk.

4 exercises to reduce cellulite and build strong, smooth legs

Many women tell me that every stray calorie seems to migrate to their hips and thighs. This is not a figment of their imaginations.

Before menopause, many women's bodies store excess fat predominantly in this area, creating what's come to be known as the "pear-shaped" body. For thousands of years, fat storage in these areas greatly helped cave-dwelling women survive during times of drought and famine. And women who could easily store fat in their hips and thighs tended to be able to give birth and feed a baby during a drought—during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the body needs as many as 1,000 extra calories a day—thus passing on their thigh-fat-storing genetics to future generations.

This is one reason why thigh fat is so difficult to get rid of. Genes left over from your cave-dwelling ancestors cause hormones and enzymes in your body to direct every extra calorie into waiting fat cells in your hips and thighs. For example, your levels of the female sex hormone estrogen may be a tad higher than other women whose bodies don't store excess fat in these areas (or as much of it).

But there are ways to coax these fat cells in your thighs to release their contents, and to coax your muscle cells into burning it up! So don't despair.

Move 1: Seated Pillow Squeeze
(works on inner thighs)



Sit on a sturdy chair (one without wheels). Rest your feet on the floor with your knees bent at 90-degree angles. Place a pillow between your thighs. Exhale as you squeeze the pillow between your thighs, as if you were trying to squeeze the stuffing out of the pillow. Hold for 1 minute as you breathe normally. Release and proceed to Move 2.

Move 2: Seated Hand Push
(works outer thighs and hips)



Sit on a sturdy chair. Rest your feet on the floor with your knees bent at 90-degree angles. Place your palms on the outsides of your knees. While keeping your palms and arms stationary, push your knees outward against your palms, as if you were trying to push your palms away. At the same time, press inward with your hands, preventing your thighs from pushing them outward. Hold this isometric contraction for 1 minute, breathing normally. Release and proceed to Move 3.

Move 3: Seated Leg Raise
(works fronts of the thighs)



Sit on a sturdy chair. Rest your feet on the floor with your knees bent at 90-degree angles. Rest your hands on the chair at your sides. Exhale as you lift and extend your right leg. Hold for 30 seconds as you breathe normally. Then inhale as you lower your right leg and exhale as you repeat with your left leg. Hold for 30 seconds while breathing normally. Release and proceed to Move 4.

Move 4: Seated Bridge
(works the backs of the thigh and rear end)



Sit on the edge of a sturdy chair. Rest your feet on the floor with your knees bent at 90-degree angles. Rest your palms on the chair at your sides. Exhale as you lift your hips, allowing your palms and feet to support your body weight. Continue to lift your hips until your body resembles the shape of a bridge. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds while breathing normally. Release and return to Move 1. Repeat Moves 1-4 once more, and you're done.

Huffing and puffing your way through yet another aerobics class in an effort to lose weight? Feeling cranky because you're starving yourself? Don't lose hope. Yoga may be just what you're looking for.

This ancient discipline might not give you a whippet-thin body, but it might give you the discipline and peace of mind to think about your eating habits in a new light.

"When you practice the asanas [postures] of yoga, you gain more respect for your body," says New York yoga instructor Anita Goa. "The key element of yoga is breathing. When we learn how to breathe properly -- when we are more aware of our breathing -- we are able to connect our mind and our body."

Goa says yoga gives us control over our mind, and when we have that control, we consciously ask ourselves, "Is this good for me?" In other words, "Do I really need this piece of pizza?"

"When we get to know our body, we automatically want to choose food that's good for us," says Goa.

Many people approach yoga as a form of exercise, says Anne O'Brien, a yoga instructor in Sonoma, Calif., but they soon find that yoga offers a deeper connection to their own body.

"After you take a yoga class, you feel so good that it carries through to the rest of your life and you wind up incorporating it into your lifestyle," she says. "You find that you're not doing yoga because you have to do it to lose weight, but you want to do it because it feels good."

In addition to "nourishing your soul" so that you want to eat what's good for you, yoga has actual physiological benefits as well, Goa says. The various postures are good for your digestive and elimination systems, helping to speed food through the body. And the different poses, with names such as adho mukha svanasana (downward-facing dog), navasana (boat pose), and virabhadrasana (warrior pose), strengthen and tone your muscles. And as you probably know by now, muscle burns calories better than fat does.

Changing Your Lifestyle

Michael A. Taylor, MD, medical editor of Yoga Journal magazine, and a gynecologic oncologist in Carmichael, Calif., cautions that yoga itself will not do the trick in helping you lose unwanted pounds.

"When people are looking for a magic bullet, they're looking for one bullet, one thing that will change their life," he says. "Yoga isn't a magic bullet ... but it does offer the benefit of a change in philosophy and lifestyle."

If you take up yoga purely to lose weight, you may be disappointed, Taylor says. "It's when you become involved with the whole lifestyle process -- that's where yoga fits in."

Even if you're less than svelte, you can join a yoga class. "Not all yogis are thin," Taylor says. "Anyone can do yoga: older people, physically disabled people, overweight people."

What you need to do, however, is know your body's physical limitations -- and make sure that your instructor knows them as well, Taylor advises. "Correct guidance is important," he says. "When beginning the yoga process, it's important to be aware of your own limitations -- to rest when you need to rest, for example -- but it's also important to tell the instructor so that he or she can work with your individual situation."

In a yoga class, it's not important what you look like, Taylor adds. "The image of their body may concern people who want to lose weight, but in class, you're in your own space. You learn not to judge yourself or others, and this creates a safe environment."

Beginning yoga classes also focus less on postures and more on becoming aware of your body and learning how it moves, Taylor says. "You're really learning, from the very beginning, to nurture and take care of yourself."

Something for Everyone

If the poses are difficult for you, modifications can always be made. If you have a hard time bending, for example, you can start off doing the postures in a chair or even on your bed. Many yoga postures can also be done with props, like bolsters or blocks, so that you don't have to bend as far.

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"Yoga isn't a magic bullet ... but it does offer the benefit of a change in philosophy and lifestyle."

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If you're still shy about joining a class, there are several yoga videos designed for the more round-bodied. In fact, one series is called just that: Yoga for Round Bodies. Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss, Gentle Yoga with Naomi, and The Healing Path of Yoga are all suggested by Yoga Journal as good videos to get you started. (As with any form of exercise though, especially if you've been less than active in recent years, get your doctor's approval first.)

As you progress in the practice of yoga, you'll find that it becomes a way of life that will influence every aspect of your life, including what you eat, say yoga experts. "It doesn't happen quickly," Goa says. "But instead of feeling that you're restricting yourself, as you frequently do when you're dieting, you begin to feel better about yourself and you begin to make better choices about what you eat. You become picky about what you're putting in your body.

"Yoga teaches mindfulness and awareness," Goa adds. "It will help you find your natural body."

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and rehydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods ? such as bananas ? every two hours to keep levels steady.

PMS: Forget the pills ? Eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, trypotophan.

Coconut grows abundantly in tropical country like the Philippines. Its oil is edible and used by a lot of people in cooking for thousands years.
A lot of publicity lately pointing out that coconut is not good to our health because it linked to heart diseases, cancer and high cholesterol since it is saturated fats. But look at the people who live in tropical climates which used mainly coconut in cooking and diet, they are healthier and no colon cancer or diseases. There might be something in coconut oil which is very beneficial to our body that is not available in other oil sources vegetables. Some scientists recommend extra virgin olive oil and raw butter after coconut oil. Coconut oil will not change or rancid even if you stock it in room temperature in one year than other oil which will become rancid in just an hour.

Here are some health benefits of coconut oil:

1. Coconut oil will not rancid and believe to have antioxidant that is why it stays fresh for a long period of time. Though it has 9% omega-6 fatty acid. The good thing is, coconut oil reduces our need of vitamin E. In general, coconut oil stimulates thyroid function and has wonderful antiseptic properties.

2. It has thyroid stimulating effect that trigger anti-aging effect. According to researcher, a group of islanders migrated to New Zealand and stop using coconut oil in their main diet has acquired obesity and degenerative diseases and other diseases associated with aging.

3. It has weight loss stimulating properties. I observed this in our pigs while we were not selling our coconut meats because they were very cheap I found out that our domestic pigs are very active and lean.

4. It has anti-cancer effect. I observed that in our place, people are not familiar with the word cancer while in big urbanize city a lot of case were discovered. Same thing has happened to Albert Schweitzer operated his clinic in tropical Africa; it took him many years to discover a single case of cancer patient. He believes that the introduction of European diet to Africa has brought the malignant disease.

5. Antimicrobial and antiseptic effects were found in Coconut Oil. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids such as lauric (C-12), caprylic (C-10) and myristic (C-14) acids. Of these three, coconut oil contains 40% lauric acid, which has the greater anti-viral activity of these three fatty acids. Lauric acid is so disease fighting that it is present in breast milk. The body converts lauric acid to a fatty acid derivative (monolaurin), which is the substance that protects infants from viral, bacterial or protozoal infections.

The Ministry of Health has admitted that there is hardly any upward transmission of information from around 24,000 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) taking place. The Ministry is dependent entirely on newspaper reports for information and assessment during the outbreak of diseases in many parts of the country. It has been found that it takes nearly an year for information to travel from PHC to the Ministry. The government has concluded that such disease surveillance is meaningless and its data was only for the consumption of government files.

GIS and health is the theme of this issue. Two important fields, so close to each other and yet so far apart in a developing country like India. The US and the UK provide lessons as to how these two fields can develop synergy between themselves and to the benefit of the society at large. Health GIS applications are an important area of activity at the National Centre for Health Statistics of the US government. The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Census and many other databases, which are important for improved public health surveillance are widely used by the health departments. Recently, the UK national mapping agency signed an agreement with National Health Service (NHS) of UK for developing customised geographic information products for the health community. OSCAR, which tracks precise details of every motorable road in Britain, and ADDRESS-POINT, which can pinpoint any postal address instantly, are already popular among the emergency services run by the health authorities.

The GIS and the health community in India are living in two separate watertight compartments. Both need each other. The map sector of the country will find a large market for its products and services in the Health sector. The health sector will make a quantum leap in its service delivery using maps for better planning and decision making. But both are not able to talk to each other due to rigid institutional framework The limited and sometimes non-existent commercial orientation of the government organizations (like Survey of India, Indian Council of Medical Research etc.) in the country also led them to ignore the opportunities offered by new technologies like GIS. As a result, they continue to operate with antiquated technology and have little incentive, let alone funding to upgrade.

Let health create wealth.

We’ve all heard the rallying cry over the past decade: “Diets don’t work!” The backlash against diets has been tremendous, and rightly so. It’s a well known fact that approximately 95% of those who lose weight on a typical diet will gain that weight back (and probably more!) So obviously they aren’t working right?

Well it depends on how you look at it and whom you ask. There are still that 5% of people who apparently haven’t gained the weight back. (Wouldn’t you actually like to meet one of those people someday?)

So I wouldn’t say diets don’t work. Because technically, they do. In general, if you restrict your calories you will lose weight. If diets never allowed anyone to lose weight they would have been passé long ago. Instead the diet industry just keeps chugging along, raking in billions of dollars a year, making more outrageous promises. Somebody’s got to be getting some results somewhere!
Perhaps the better question to ask yourself is this:

Does dieting work for you?

Does dieting work for you in the sense that it moves you towards your goals (permanent weight loss, natural slimness, and freedom from worry)? Is a diet the best possible choice you can make for yourself? I believe that for 95% of the population, the answer is a definite ‘NO!’

Diets may work in the sense that they can take off weight under certain circumstances. But diets are far from the best method to lose weight. In fact, for most people trying to lose weight, diets are the worst thing they can possibly do. Diets actually set people up to gain weight!

Diets are harmful by their very nature of what they do to our physical bodies. Maybe worse is what they do to our minds. There are two ways in which diets train our minds to actually gain weight.

We all know that what we focus on, we are drawn to. We are told that if we want to achieve any goal, we should focus on that. Picture where you want to be. Visualize it. Think and grow rich. See yourself winning the prize. Why do this? Because our minds are powerful and what we think about, we are drawn to.

So what do diets make us focus on? The food! We’re constantly thinking, ‘Is that hot dog on my list?’ ‘How many points is this banana bread?’ ‘Is that salad really low carb?’ Diets actually train our mind to focus on food, so much so that it becomes a natural habit. And what’s the result? We find ourselves eating more and more because we’re constantly thinking about food and eating. It’s not that we don’t have the willpower to stick to a diet. It’s that we’re unknowingly training our minds to eat by dieting!

Ever noticed that it’s usually all the dieters that know the calorie count of everything on the menu? It’s usually the dieters that talk about their new diet or how low-carb something is or how high fat it is? Why? Because they know a lot about food! Their focus, because of their diet, is on food.

Let’s say that I asked you to focus on a cheeseburger (unless you hate cheeseburgers—focus on something else, pizza, chocolate cake, etc.). Think about the way it looks in front of you, the beef, the melted cheddar or Swiss cheese, the sesame seed bun, the fixings on it, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, pickle, the smell, the taste, the warmth of the bun as you pick it up. Is your mouth watering yet? What are the chances that if you kept thinking about a cheeseburger throughout the day, you would eventually eat one? It would be a natural result of your focus.

Not only do diets place our focus on food, but they also introduce a concept that humans are not good with: restriction. When you think of the traditional ‘diet’ do you lovingly envision the carrot sticks or the cottage cheese that you’re allowed to eat? Chances are that you started dreading the ‘diet’ food, while longingly picturing the restricted stuff like pasta, or chocolate cake, or butter tarts, or French fries. That’s a classic example of what restriction does to us. Our focus turns to what we can’t have.

Here’s another example of what restrictions do to us: If I told you that you could sleep at any hour at any place in your house except on your living room couch, what would happen? You’d be fine for a while, sleeping in your bedroom, sleeping in your easy chair, even on the carpet in front of the television. But eventually what would you start to think about?

‘Why can’t I sleep on the living room couch?’ ‘What’s so special about the living room couch?’ ‘What does she know that I don’t?’ ‘It looks so comfortable and soft.’ ‘Who the heck does she think she is, telling me I can’t sleep on my own living room couch, I’ll show her!’ And you have a wonderful, fulfilling nap on your living room couch.
That couch has just taken on more value for you. It’s the forbidden fruit that you’d much rather have than just a bed. And has anything really changed? No, sleeping on the couch is the same as sleeping on the bed. But in your mind, it’s better. See why we value our chocolate and pizza and French fries so much? Because, just like the living room couch, we’ve been told we can’t have them. Restrictions make us value what is restricted.

So in going on a diet, we’ve psychologically moved ourselves closer to food by focusing on it and restricting it. Talk about setting yourself up for failure! Not only does the weight come back on, but you now have a very well trained food-focused mind that values the highest calorie (and least nutritionally helpful) food.

If you’ve been beating yourself up for failing to lose weight with a diet, I would encourage you to forgive yourself. Let it go. Just forget it. It’s not the only way to lose weight. It’s not even a great way to lose weight! Make the decision to let diets go once and for all. For many people, their journey to natural slimness and health begins with the first step of giving up diets forever. I would encourage you to do that today. Start training your mind to focus on life and what’s really important to you—family, friends, goals and dreams. Not food!

How would it feel to rise early each day with abundant energy and a laser-sharp mind . . . completely free of aches and pains . . . lean and perfectly toned?

Imagine your immune system in peak condition, protecting you from illness and disease.

How would it feel to look in the mirror and see yourself at your ideal weight?

This can be much more than an exercise in imagination. You can experience this level of fitness and the profound sense of well-being that comes with it -- and you can accomplish it this year.

Not only that . . . you can do it while still eating foods that you enjoy and engaging in exercise that brings you pleasure.

Here are 10 things you should do to make this the healthiest year of your life. Make these choices a habit and you'll feel the difference within days. Within a week, you'll see the difference. And within a few months, you will find yourself staring in the mirror at a vision of health and fitness.

1. Drink plenty of pure water.

Drinking enough water strengthens the immune system, promotes weight loss, improves the skin, and carries waste from the body. Drink a quart of water each day for every 50 pounds of body weight. Drink spring water from a trusted source or tap water that has been filtered to remove chlorine, lead, and fluoride.

2. Increase your physical activity.

Many of the diseases we are prone to are the result of a sedentary (see "Word to the Wise," below) lifestyle as well as an unhealthy diet. Your body is meant to be used and will quickly deteriorate if it's not. Physical activity should be as high a priority as eating and sleeping. Do the things you enjoy, but be sure to engage in some form of aerobic exercise at least five days a week and some form of resistance exercise at least two or three times per week.

3. Limit your carbohydrate intake.

Learn about the glycemic index and avoid carbohydrates that are too high on it. This includes potatoes, corn, grain products, baked goods, sugars, and other sweets. Stick to low- and mid-range glycemic-index foods, such as non-starchy vegetables, greens, nuts, berries, beans, and fruits.

4. Consume good sources of natural fats.

Completely avoid any products made with hydrogenated oils. Start reading the ingredients on the labels of the foods you eat. You'll be surprised at where these "artery bombs" are hiding. Replace vegetable oils with olive oil and organic unrefined coconut oil. Increase your intake of omega-3 fats found in fish oil, grass-fed meat, walnuts, olives, organic eggs, and flaxseeds.

5. Eat protein at every meal.

Your body needs protein every day. A lack of protein sends your brain the signal that food is scarce and prompts the body to protect itself from this "famine" by storing excess fat. If you're a vegetarian, rice protein powder is an excellent source of pure protein with no carbohydrates to raise insulin levels. Also consider spirulina, a microalgae that is 60% protein.

6. Eat a natural diet.

Whenever possible, insist on organic fruits, vegetables, and berries. Organic produce is more nutritious, free of harmful pesticides, and it even tastes better than conventional produce. Don't believe it? Have you ever eaten a perfect home-grown tomato? If so, compare that with the taste of a mass-produced tomato that looks beautiful but tastes like a rubber ball. Also, choose grass-fed meats, organic eggs and poultry, and wild-caught fish known to be free of contaminants.

7. Eliminate artificial sweeteners.

As bad as sugar can be, artificial sweeteners are worse. The worst offender is aspartame, marketed as Nutrasweet or Equal. It has been responsible for more adverse reactions reported to the FDA than all other foods and additives combined. It has been linked to tumors, seizures, headaches, altered brain function, chronic fatigue, optic-nerve damage, and a host of other maladies. Avoid Splenda as well. For an all-natural, no-calorie sweetener, use Stevia extract.

8. Get enough rest.

While the body is at rest, your brain organizes memories, muscles are repaired and restored, and the immune system is rejuvenated. The right amount of sleep will boost creativity, improve your mood, and even decrease your chances of obesity. For optimum health, most people need seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

9. Expose your skin to sunlight.

There are numerous health benefits associated with moderate sun exposure -- and despite what you may have heard or read to the contrary, populations with the most exposure to sunlight actually exhibit the lowest rates of cancer. The key is to never allow your skin to burn -- which means that it's generally best to enjoy the sun before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m. when UV rays are lower. If your lifestyle does not allow you to be in the sun for a short time each day, consider supplementing with cod liver oil. Among its other outstanding benefits, the cod liver oil will compensate for the vitamin D you may be lacking as a result of not getting enough sun.

10. Take a few sensible supplements.

You should get most of your nutrients from high-quality whole foods, but any nutritional program can be enhanced by supplementing with appropriate vitamins and minerals.

The road to total health and wellness is not about making a single decision that will take you to your goal. It is about making many small decisions every day. Decisions that become habits. Habits that lead to success.

If you commit to making these small, positive decisions and following the plan laid out above, you will very quickly begin to experience changes in your life.

As Michael Masterson often says, "Your life is a blank page of limitless possibilities." And this applies -- regardless of your past achievements or present limitations -- whether we're talking about your ability to attain wealth . . . or wisdom . . . or health.

No matter what your age . . . or prior bad habits . . . or how overweight and unhealthy you might feel at the moment, you can attain a peak level of health and fitness. And when you do, you will notice that your thinking is improved . . . you will have more creativity and energy to pursue your goals . . . you will feel more confident and in control of your life . . . your relationships will get better . . . your success will be an inspiration to others . . . and you will gain the respect of those around you.

A 42-year-old HIV patient with leukemia appears to have no detectable HIV in his blood and no symptoms after a stem cell transplant from a donor carrying a gene mutation that confers natural resistance to the virus that causes AIDS, according to a report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"The patient is fine," said Dr. Gero Hutter of Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin in Germany. "Today, two years after his transplantation, he is still without any signs of HIV disease and without antiretroviral medication."

The case was first reported in November, and the new report is the first official publication of the case in a medical journal. Hutter and a team of medical professionals performed the stem cell transplant on the patient, an American living in Germany, to treat the man's leukemia, not the HIV itself.

However, the team deliberately chose a compatible donor who has a naturally occurring gene mutation that confers resistance to HIV. The mutation cripples a receptor known as CCR5, which is normally found on the surface of T cells, the type of immune system cells attacked by HIV.

The mutation is known as CCR5 delta32 and is found in 1 percent to 3 percent of white populations of European descent.

HIV uses the CCR5 as a co-receptor (in addition to CD4 receptors) to latch on to and ultimately destroy immune system cells. Since the virus can't gain a foothold on cells that lack CCR5, people who have the mutation have natural protection. (There are other, less common HIV strains that use different co-receptors.)

People who inherit one copy of CCR5 delta32 take longer to get sick or develop AIDS if infected with HIV. People with two copies (one from each parent) may not become infected at all. The stem cell donor had two copies.

While promising, the treatment is unlikely to help the vast majority of people infected with HIV, said Dr. Jay Levy, a professor at the University of California San Francisco, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study. A stem cell transplant is too extreme and too dangerous to be used as a routine treatment, he said.

"About a third of the people die [during such transplants], so it's just too much of a risk," Levy said. To perform a stem cell transplant, doctors intentionally destroy a patient's immune system, leaving the patient vulnerable to infection, and then reintroduce a donor's stem cells (which are from either bone marrow or blood) in an effort to establish a new, healthy immune system.

Levy also said it's unlikely that the transplant truly cured the patient in this study. HIV can infect many other types of cells and may be hiding out in the patient's body to resurface at a later time, he said.

"This type of virus can infect macrophages (another type of white blood cell that expresses CCR5) and other cells, like the brain cells, and it could live a lifetime. But if it can't spread, you never see it-- but it's there and it could do some damage," he said. "It's not the kind of approach that you could say, 'I've cured you.' I've eliminated the virus from your body." Health.com: 10 questions to ask a new partner before having sex

Before undergoing the transplant, the patient was also found to be infected with low levels of a type of HIV known as X4, which does not use the CCR5 receptor to infect cells. So it would seem that this virus would still be able to grow and damage immune cells in his body. However, following the transplant, signs of leukemia and HIV were absent.

"There is no really conclusive explanation why we didn't observe any rebound of HIV," Hutter said. "This finding is very surprising."

Hutter noted that one year ago, the patient had a relapse of leukemia and a second transplant from the same donor. The patient experienced complications from the procedure, including temporary liver problems and kidney failure, but they were not unusual and may occur in HIV-negative patients, he said.

Researchers including Hutter agree that the technique should not be used to treat HIV alone. "Some people may say, 'I want to do it,'" said Levy. A more logical -- and potentially safer -- approach would be to develop some type of CCR5-disabling gene therapy or treatment that could be directly injected into the body, said Levy.

Less invasive options to alter CCR5 could be on the horizon within the next five years, said Levy. "It's definitely the wave of the future," he said. "As we continue to follow this one patient, we will learn a lot."

One drug that's currently on the market that blocks CCR5 is called maraviroc (Selzentry). It was first approved in 2007 and is used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.

Researchers at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center in Oklahoma and the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire, UK, recruited forty participants into a trial that involved providing vitamin C or insulin therapy, or both, for a range of time periods and assessing the effect of each therapy on endothelial (blood vessel) injury, blood flow and oxidative stress. The patient group included a range of sufferers, from those recently diagnosed with the condition to those who had been controlling the illness for five years or more.

Results revealed that either therapy was mildly effective for those with a recent diagnosis of Type I diabetes, but that only the combined treatment was completely effective, particularly for longer-suffering participants.

Lead investigator Michael Ihnat, Ph.D., a pharmacologist at the Oklahoma University College of Medicine Department of Cell Biology, commented in an article published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism: "For patients with diabetes, this means simply getting their glucose under control is not enough. An antioxidant-based therapy combined with glucose control will give patients more of an advantage and lessen the chance of complications with diabetes." [1]

Complications of blood vessel damage, even in well controlled diabetes, can include kidney problems, injury to the small blood vessels in the eye leading to vision impairment and blindness, heart disease and nerve damage.

A second discovery by the researchers was that only the combined therapy was able to switch off the 'memory' triggered by the onset of diabetes. Scientists believe that a cellular 'switch' is flicked early on in the course of the illness leading to damage and deterioration, which cannot be reversed with insulin control alone. The current team was excited to confirm that the joint vitamin C and insulin therapy was able to reset this process.

Future experiments involving patients with Type II diabetes are said to be currently in the planning stages.

The relationship between vitamin C and diabetes has been investigated for many decades, with scientific papers dating as far back as 1937. [2]

Another complication of diabetes is the excessive accumulation of the sugar sorbitol in the body, which can lead to nerve and eye damage. In 1994, researchers investigating the effect of vitamin C on sorbitol levels in young adults discovered that doses of 100 or 600mg per day were able to normalize levels within a month. [3]

A sixteen year study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, involving around1,500 women with diabetes found that supplementation with 400mg or more of vitamin C each day significantly reduced the risk of coronary heart disease. [4]

Transplanting cells that replenish blood vessels can also restore nerve function in an animal model of diabetic neuropathy, Emory researchers have found. The results are described online this week in the journal Circulation.

The majority of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy--damage to the peripheral nerves that can cause a loss of sensation in hands, arms, feet or legs. The damage, caused by high blood sugar, occurs gradually and in advanced cases can lead to amputation. Scientists have connected the damage to problems with peripheral nerves' blood supply.

Cultured cells from the bone marrow can promote the regrowth of both blood vessels and the protective lining of nerves in the limbs of diabetic animals, a team led by Young-sup Yoon, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine (cardiology) at Emory University School of Medicine, found.

Bone marrow is thought to contain endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which can divide into endothelial cells, forming a "patch" for damaged blood vessels.

Yoon's team cultured bone marrow cells in a way designed to enrich them for EPCs and injected them next to the sciatic nerves of diabetic mice. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs from the back to the rear leg. The mice were made diabetic by giving them streptozocin, a drug that poisons insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

The team found that over several weeks, nerve signal speed and sensitivity to temperature were restored to normal in diabetic mice injected with the bone marrow cells.

A fraction of the bone marrow cells appear to become endothelial cells although many of them retain characteristics that make them look like white blood cells. However, they secrete molecules that stimulate the growth of both endothelial cells and Schwann cells, which protect and insulate peripheral nerves, the authors found.

Bone marrow-derived EPCs have also been used in studies of heart muscle repair after heart attack. However, most previous studies indicate that they disappear from the heart muscle after a few weeks.

"We were surprised to find that in this specific environment, they engraft and survive longer than in other tissues," Yoon says. "These cells appear to home to peripheral nerves."

People seem to be passionate with positions. New postures can lead to better sex. Positions are the wonderful ways to add spark in a relationship. It takes a whole lot more than good acrobatics to make a great lover.

It is perhaps a shame that we know so little about how to make each other happy in that most fabulous experience, sex. With a few small additions to your sexual glossary you can break out of boredom and lead happier and more satisfying sex lives. Romance, good communication, physical energy, atmosphere and a person you feel comfortable with are together are also much important for great lovemaking.

Perhaps the best known position in the Western world, The Missionary has often been thought of as conservative and substandard. Nothing could be farther from the truth! In this very tender and intimate position the man is on top lying down and facing his partner. A unique level of closeness between the two partners which is heightened by the ability to kiss, caress and hold each other close during coitus and full body contact felt are its features. The position of the female is the only drawback. Restriction on her pelvic movements means that she plays a more passive role. This limited freedom is unpleasant to many women. Yet, the missionary position allows for easy entry, deep penetration and uncompromised intimacy.

But, this position is the most commonly used position in the world and has plenty of advantages for both men and women. In this position, a man can dominate the woman and at the same time, the woman may like to be taken by the man. Many variations can be done to it. It is performed by the man lying on top of the woman with her legs to her side and knees slightly bent fully exposing herself to him.

Another technique known as the peace sign technique is similar to the missionary position except her legs are close together and his legs are spread out. This allows for excellent clitoral stimulation and feels tighter to the man.

Some of the best sex positions with Man on Top are discussed below.

Standing Sex Position
This position is aggressive and can add real excitement to your sex life. It is done by the man and woman facing each other arms wrapped around each other, usually her arms around his neck for support and her legs wrapped around his waist. While in this position she can then move about slowly or he can lead the movement.

A variation can be done to this position. But, against the wall, this variation calls for a strong man. He lifts her up and forces her against a wall, again with her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Another variation to this is his back against the wall while her feet are planted firmly on the wall and she's able to move in/out by pushing her weight by extending her legs.

To better your sexual experience, try doing this in water. This will help lighten the load and help extend the pleasure for the both of you.

The Cradle
It is an excellent position to try for something new. This is done by the man holding the woman as if "cradling" her; one arm under her backside, the other arm holding her legs beneath the knees. Because of this holding position, it requires strength on man's part or a petite woman. He enters her from beneath between the thighs and has total control.

Riding High Best Sex Position
The riding high position involves the man riding high on his partners pelvis during intercourse and applying direct and continuous pressure on her clitoris. It is originally called the coital alignment technique. It is extremely effective for women who have trouble reaching orgasms.

Start this position using the basic missionary position - after penis is inserted demand raises his pelvis up over hers so the base of his penis is in direct contact with her clitoris. He then lowers his chest onto her torso, taken the weight off his hands, as she wraps her legs around his thighs and places her ankles on his calves. He then moves slowly up-and-down (not in and out) building up to climax.

Sex, if always done the same way, can get boring. Variations are much more important. If you normally have sex on the bottom, try standing up. If you like to have sex in bed, try it once in the hot tub. Sometimes, catch your partner by surprise. The most boring thing in the world is if you can predict what your partner will do. If you always begin being sexually intimate by kissing first, play with her/his toes first. If you normally start touching the genital area, start by giving a backrub, which will turn into a front rub. Change is the most critical part here. Anything different is an improvement.

The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life. Whether you want to change your body to improve your health, your looks, your athletic performance, or your sex appeal, The Abs Diet offers you a simple promise:

Whether you want to change your body to improve your health, your looks, your athletic performance, or your sex appeal, The Abs Diet offers you a simple promise: If you follow this plan, you will transform your body so that you can accomplish each and every one of those goals. As a bonus, The Abs Diet will do something more than just enhance your life -- The Abs Diet is going to save it.

In addition, just look at what you'll gain:

• A fitter, healthier, sexier body. (Both women and men rate a flat stomach as the most appealing muscle group.)


• Freedom from back pain and injury. (In one study, firmer abs were found to be the most important predictor of one's overall health.)


• A longer, healthier life. (The right diet can fight cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.)


• A better sex life. (Learn the diet-and-exercise prescription for total sexcellence.)

You have abs. Yes, you.

And in just six weeks, they're going to show.

The lean, hard stomach everyone wants is within your grasp -- and The Abs Diet will help you achieve it.

In survey after survey, men and women say a lean, muscular abdomen is the ultimate symbol of sex appeal. And in study after study, researchers found that getting a firm, flat stomach is the single most significant step you can take to stay healthy for life. It's simple: To look better, to feel better, to live better, The Abs Diet is for you!

The Abs Diet is not a gimmick. It doesn't bury you in measuring, calculating, counting, or hard-to-understand phases. It lets you enjoy the foods you crave. It's not low-carb, low-fat, or low-anything-else. It's just a smart, sensible, healthy plan that will give you the body you want in weeks. And you'll never feel hungry, restricted, or deprived.

How is this possible? Research at top medical schools has shown time and time again that the best way to maintain a fit physique is to eat more food, not less.

The Abs Diet will show you how to eat to keep your body's natural fat burners stoked at all times so you burn fat and build muscle all day, every day -- even when you sleep.

In these pages, you'll learn about the 12 Powerfoods that should become the staples of your diet. (Hint: Steak and strawberries are both in the mix.) You'll discover the two hidden dietary killers that could be poisoning you right now. You'll find out why 95 percent of all diets fail -- and why The Abs Diet is different.

And you'll enjoy some of the simplest, most satisfying meals ever created.

The Abs Diet is the best, last, and only diet and nutrition plan you will ever need.

How do I know? Well, I'm the editor-in-chief of Men's Health, the world's largest men's magazine. I eat the latest health information for breakfast, I pour over how to make your body better for lunch, and I want to tell you about it over dinner.

I've got quite a story to tell -- about how low-carb diets are making you fat, about how the food industry is putting secret fat bombs in your favorite foods, and about how you can fight back.

Sex has been proven to have fairly many health benefits. The brain floods the body with health-enhancing chemicals throughout orgasm. Sex improves self-esteem and heightens mood. It even burns off calories & this is exactly a woman bodybuilder.

Pregnant women account for 6 percent of U.S. swine flu deaths since the pandemic began in April, even though they make up just 1 percent of the U.S. population.

On Wednesday a federal vaccine advisory panel is meeting to take up the question of who should be first to get swine flu shots when there aren't enough for everyone. At the top of the list are health care workers, who would be crucial to society during a bad pandemic.

But pregnant women may be near the top of the list because they have suffered and died from swine flu at disproportionately high rates.

"Are they more at risk for severe disease? That's the issue," and it appears they are, said Dr. Denise Jamieson, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pregnant women's risk from swine flu has been a raging topic in Europe, following the contentious suggestion this month by British and Swiss health officials that women should consider delaying pregnancy if they can.

Most health officials call that advice unwarranted, but have agreed that the health risks are significant. In a recent report, World Health Organization experts found that pregnant women appear to be "at increased risk for severe disease, potentially resulting in spontaneous abortion and/or death, especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy."

However, so far, WHO has not recommended that pregnant women get priority vaccinations.

Now doctors are waiting to see what's decided by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, whose guidance usually is accepted by the CDC and influences doctors and insurance coverage.

For more than a decade, the committee has recommended that pregnant women get vaccinated for seasonal flu, which is considered a serious threat even to pregnant women who are young and healthy. Pregnant women are unusually vulnerable — especially in the third trimester — due to changes in the lungs and immune system that make it harder for them to shake off respiratory infections, said Dr. Kevin Ault, an Emory University obstetrician.

CDC data indicate swine flu is at least as dangerous. Of 302 U.S. deaths attributed to swine flu to date, the CDC has detailed information on 266 of them. The agency has found that 15 of the 266 were pregnant women — or about 6 percent.

The first American with swine flu to die was a pregnant woman in Texas. Judy Trunnell, 33, died May 5 after slipping into a coma and giving birth to a healthy baby girl, delivered by Cesarean section.

Some infected pregnant women have other health problems. Trunnell, for example, also had asthma and the skin condition psoriasis. But many of the pregnant women who died were considered relatively healthy, suggesting pregnancy itself is a significant risk, Jamieson said.

"I think the whole concept that this flu only affects pregnant women with underlying medical conditions is incorrect," Jamieson said.

Experts believe an effective vaccine would benefit not only a pregnant woman but also her unborn child.

Infants, whose immune systems are weak, should not get a flu shot until they are at least 6 months old. So whatever immunity they have is passed on to them by their mothers, doctors say.

The belief in the protective powers of a mother's vaccination on their unborn children was demonstrated in a study of women in Bangladesh published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine. It found that flu shots given to pregnant women reduced flu in infants by 63 percent.

Only about 15 percent of pregnant women get seasonal flu shots, experts noted, so it's not clear how many will get the new shot.

Some women avoid regular flu shots, worried about possible risks to the fetus, but studies have not shown any increased dangers from the shot.

Until recently, many obstetricians haven't offered them, choosing to avoid the expense of buying and storing vaccine and the hassle of trying to convince reluctant patients, said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University flu expert.

"Obstetricians are only now getting with the program and are growing comfortable with administering flu vaccine," he said.

It's not clear that the demand for swine flu shots would be much greater. Pregnant patients haven't expressed much concern about swine flu, said the CDC's Jamieson, who is also an obstetrician seeing inner-city patients at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital.

"It hasn't been a major concern," viewed as a relatively mild illness. They worry more about economic concerns — "how to take care of the baby, how to get food to eat and how to get safe and secure housing," Jamieson said.

So far, swine flu has likely infected more than 1 million Americans, the CDC believes, with at least 300 deaths.

The United States expects to begin testing swine flu vaccines on some volunteers in August, and predicts 160 million doses may be ready by October.