One of the much touted benefits of green tea is that it can help you lose excess weight because it gives boost to your metabolism.

The fact is that green tea is not going to miraculously help you lose weight unless you do create a caloric deficit (use or expend more calories than you consume) and the claim is that green tea can actually help you create that caloric deficit.

According to one study, Spearole Tea, a blend of green tea, spearmint, grape seed and olive leaf, also cuts blood pressure and makes it easier for the body to process sugar. The claim put forward by the study is that three cups of green tea a day can help people lose weight.

The claim does seem rather good to be completely accurate and the benefits of green tea are not without its detractors since it is generally observed that these studies are usually funded by tea companies or their sister concerns.

However, there is not much dispute about green tea being benign, even good for health. And if you are prudent in your lifestyle it may actually help you lose that weight, particularly if to take care not to nullify its good properties by adding large quantities of sugar!

The study found that interest in sex and consequently the person’s sex life depended heavily on good health: those in good or very good health were seen as twice as likely to be indulging in sex than those who were in poor health.

It was also seen that more men than women are likely to lose years of sexual activity due to poor health.

Health did not seem to impact women’s sexual life as much it was seen. The researchers were of the view that the findings of the study may persuade men to pursue more healthy life styles.

“Translation of expectations about the duration and quality of sexually active life may, at the individual level, influence important health behaviors to promote or prolong sexual functioning, such as adherence to medical treatment or maintenance of a healthy lifestyle,” the researchers were quoted as having said.

Source: Business Week

This makes genital herpes one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the country.

These statistics are more worrying for women than men and black women in particular.

As many as 48% black women are infected and twice as many women as men are infected. Though there are drugs available for symptomatic relief from genital herpes outbreaks, there is no cure for this disease. What is also worrying is that sufferers often have such innocuous symptoms that they are unaware of having the disease and are then likely to pass it on.

According to one expert, it is not increased risky behavior that was seen to increase rates of infection among black communities and among women; rather this is more likely owed itself to biological factors.

These statistics remind us of the central importance of consistent, correct and regular use of condoms will all sexual partners, which is the only way to reduce spread of the disease if not stop its reach.

Source: Reuters

This is the increase in the tendency of blood to clot, which, depending upon the size and location of the clot in the body can cause several complications, some life threatening.

Factor V Leiden is not a disease but a genetic condition or tendency that is inherited which results in the increased risk of the carrier of the gene to develop thrombosis.

The blood clots formed by this are usually confined to veins; however they do on occasion form in arteries as well.

There may often be no visible or perceptible symptoms from this condition, and it may only be detected when an actual blood clot forms, causing subsequent complications.

Sometimes this manifests itself in a woman being unable to carry a pregnancy to term due to repeated miscarriages. For those with Factor V Leiden, following the guidelines below can be very beneficial:

• It is important to avoid standing still or being in one position for long periods of time. This is so that there is no reduction in blood circulation which may lead to the formation of a clot.
• When traveling, it is particularly important to stay active; similarly those who work at sedentary desk jobs also need to take care that they are not immobile for long stretches of time.
• Weight should be kept in check, since being overweight or obese increases risk of developing blood clots.
• Smoking also increases this risk.
• It is advisable for women to use methods of contraception other than the pill, which is known to increase risk of thrombosis.
• Though this condition may not affect some women and their pregnancies at all; others may be very negatively impacted, so it is important to speak to one’s doctor if one is looking to get pregnant and knows that they have this condition. Special socks, and anti coagulant medication may be required to be prescribed.
• Usually this condition can be kept in check with anti coagulant medication; however it may sometimes be necessary to remove the blood clots by surgery.

So as long as some basic precautions are followed, there is no reason why someone with Factor V Leiden cannot continue to live normal and fruitful lives. For further information about this condition, visit FVLeiden.org.

This results in a lack of sleep for a person, which may cause problems ranging from depression and memory problems, to increased risk of accidents, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Many of them overwork due to second jobs and extra shifts that they take on, resulting in inadequate sleep. Changing jobs is not usually an option in situations like this; rather Dr. Raman Malhotra, an assistant professor of neurology and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Saint Louis University, suggests other ways to combat lack of sleep:

• Make sure that the blinds are properly closed if going to sleep during the day. Reduce light exposure before sleeping so that the brain is not confused.
• Wear sunglasses on the way home from work.
• Before starting work, be in a well lit room to give your brain the signal of being awake or daytime.
• Ask friends and family to be mindful of your sleep schedule.
• Consider seeing a specialist if sleep problems continue.

Having limitations leave most diabetic people feeling out of control regarding their health and to a certain extent their lives. But in the end it’s just a matter of taking the right perspective.

When a door closes, check the fire exits. Diabetes does not necessarily mean the end of your eating career or something. It only means you have to be extra wise on what you take in and extra motivated to follow that wisdom especially on diabetic cooking.

Making diabetic cooking “diabetic”

Keep non diabetic ingredients out of site

Watching horror movies when you have problems sleeping at night because of overactive imagination might not help. This is the same as keeping inside your refrigerators ingredients and food which you know very well are high in sugar or are a part of the don’ts list.

Do not provide yourself an avenue to get tempted. Stock your cupboards and refrigerator with non diabetic ingredients and food like lots of fruits and vegetables. Remember the saying, “out of sight, out of mind”.

Find the right alternatives

High amount of sugar in the blood is the main problem of diabetes of any kind. That is why in diabetic cooking, alternatives to sugar should be the initial thing that diabetics should fill their food cabinets with.

For this, there is what we call sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners. These give off the same sweetness but with much less sugar content as possible. You may also try natural sweeteners like honey and glucose.

Encourage family to go on a diabetic diet with you

Having a diabetic in the family can be agonizing. However, you should look at the brighter side of things. It may be harder for a diabetic to live in a house where he feels alienated in the preparation of his meal and even through the whole mealtime itself just because his food must be different.

Diabetic cooking can do wonders to the diabetic member of the family and also to you who are aware of the dangers of diabetes. Remember that diabetic cooking is not just for diabetics, it is perfect for everyone who values their health.

Seek varieties

This is also one way of motivating yourself to pursue diabetic cooking. Do not stick to 10 kinds of delicious but allowable meals in your lifetime just because you want to be on the safer side.

Seeking greener and newer pastures at that will always add up to the excitement of keeping yourself motivated in keeping up with diabetic cooking.

You have a wide variety of choices provided; you just have to know the right place to look for them. Diabetic cooking calls for creativity and resourcefulness.

Use foods with low glycemic index, experiment and come up with your own original recipes. Ask others for their own techniques and recipes on diabetic cooking too so you never feel like your food choices are limited.

If being overweight clogs arteries, losing that weight can also help to unclog them, this new study has suggested. It has been seen that atherosclerosis can actually be reversed by weight loss, and not just slowed down.

People of middle age with diabetes and heart disease were examined in the study. They were seen to lose more than 12 pounds over a two year period which was seen to reduce the amount of plaque deposits that had been clogging their arteries. The deposit not only stopped accumulating, they actually were seen to reduce.

And there is more good news. It does not matter what diet you use or which method of weight loss you use.  So long as you lose the weight you can reap the benefits of a healthier body and lower risk of obesity related disease. Earlier studies that examined atherosclerosis used powerful drugs whereas this one relied solely on weight loss that resulted from diet control.

Source: CNN

The city needs a quick source of revenue and this will provide it; however it also provides, what to the common man on the street, is a more important public service. Making the high calorie, sugary drinks more expensive will likely cause people buy fewer of them and consequently consume less of them, thereby curbing obesity and subsequent medical costs.

The mayor does make a lot of sense when he says, “the soda tax is a fix that just makes sense. It would save lives. It would cut rising health care costs. And it would keep thousands of teachers and nurses where they belong: in the classrooms and clinics.”

Seeing that most of these fizzy, sugary drinks have little or no nutritional value, the tax makes sense; a lot of sense. in fact it may be a good idea to tax them even more; that may discourage people even more!

Source: NY Times

Men in their 30s and 40s also experience untimely low testosterone levels. This is not a very clearly identifiable phenomenon, because it is generally expected that this is a malaise of older men.

Testosterone is basically the male hormone (though women produce it as well) that produces sperm and is responsible for male libido.

It is also responsible for the characteristics that we associate with men; those of being big, strong and hairy.

In fact, it is this ability of testosterone to offer bigger muscles that causes many athletes to take steroids containing testosterone.

Low testosterone could be the basis for several problems and it is important to look for the warning signs from among these following symptoms:

• One of the first signs of suffering from low testosterone levels would be a grumpy disposition and feelings of agitation. One talks about a grumpy old man, which may be sign of low testosterone as well as resentment about not being as vital or able as one previously was. Mood disturbances may be experienced along with feelings of agitation and irritability.
• Erectile dysfunction or a waning libido, and lack of interest in sex could cause several problems of self esteem as well as relationship problems for men, and it could be due to something as simple as low hormone levels.
• Fatigue or tiredness is another feature of low testosterone because it also means that a man is suffering from low energy levels.
• Gaining or maintaining musculature is also difficult when one has low testosterone levels. Equally a man may feel weakness, and a feeling of strength being at low ebb.
• Many men suffer from sleep disturbances or difficulty getting to sleep.
• Concentrating on tasks could be a problem
• Memory lapses could also be a problem
• The healing process of the body could also be impaired to an extent

It is important to be aware of the fact that low testosterone levels are nothing to be ashamed of and there is no reason to not to seek medical help and attention if you suspect that this could be the problem.

It is a fact that this is a problem that is generally highly underreported, currently only about 5% men coming forward to get treatment for this problem.

1. Plastic Baby Bottles

BPA, or bisphenol-A, is a chemical used in a variety of plastic products (toys, infant bottles, water bottles, food containers, compact discs, impact-resistant safety equipment, the lining of tin food containers, and medical devices) and is now under heavy suspicion for the negative health effects it is having on the human population.

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), has listed BPA as a concern (on varying levels) in a variety of diseases, including human development and reproduction. BPA gets into our bodies primarily through our diets, and so one of the first major concerns in the debate about BPA was the fact that it is used to line plastic baby bottles. Health Canada recently banned BPA from being used in baby bottles and sippy cups, and the US EPA is set to do the same soon as well.

2. Plastic Water Bottles

Scientists are also starting to connect BPA to heart disease. According to recent study on 60-year-old males in America, those men with the highest levels of BPA in their urine were also 45% more likely to have heart disease.

Though the ban on BPA in baby products in Canada has gone a long way to protect the young in our world, it is not protecting the adults. Studies like these are pushing legislation in that direction now as well. You can protect yourself by using water bottles that are made with either glass or stainless steel, neither of which are lined with BPA plastic layers.

3. Packaged food containers

Scientists are also starting to connect BPA with decreased brain function. “Our primate model indicates that BPA could negatively affect brain function in humans,” said study co-author Tibor Hajszan, M.D., associate research scientist in Yale Ob/Gyn.

Another way you can protect yourself from this chemical is to avoid purchasing foods packaged in #7 polycarbonate plastic containers (which are made with BPA).

4. Plastic Containers

A report from the National Toxicology Program suggests that high levels of exposure to BPA is also linked to hormonal illnesses in humans—everything from early onset of puberty in young women to breast cancer. Not only should you avoid purchasing food in rigid plastic containers with a #7 recycling symbol on the bottom, it is also advisable that you not heat food in them.

Transfer leftovers to ceramic or glass containers if you need to reheat them in the microwave, and avoid boiling water in these plastic containers as well. You should also consider replacing #7 plastics that are scratched and overly worn. Some also recommend that you not put #7 plastics in the dishwasher as the heat can react to loosen the BPA, releasing it on to your other serving dishes.

5. Canned Foods

Hormone disruptions and decreased brain functions aren’t the only risks to human health. New studies are also revealing the possibility that BPA could make us fat as well.

It appears that BPA may trigger fat-cell activity, increasing weight gain. Since BPA is also used to line tin cans, getting more potent the longer it sits around, you may also want to consider purchasing food in containers other than cans. You can buy many beans, vegetables, and fruits in frozen or dry form, making them safer than the other storage options.

6. PVC Toys, Accessories and More

One final tip to protect you and your family from BPA: stay away from products—toys, accessories, storage containers, and more—made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics (the flexible plastics). These are also made with phthalates like BPA and come with similar health risks.