Sunday, April 18, 2010

Natural Treatment For Depression - What Effective Options Are There?

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses. Lives of people with depression can be affected dramatically. Being depressed may take away your interest to do things that are important for you, and it can also take away your sense of pleasure, depriving you of drive to do enjoyable activities. Before depression becomes severe, you should depend on natural treatment for depression as they create little or no side effects.

There are several options to choose from when you want a natural treatment for depression, all of which are safe and are free from side effects. Here are the most popular choices of natural depression remedy:

Herbal remedy for depression is a famous choice by people who are looking for natural treatment against depression. If you are considering having these remedies, you must first be aware of the common herbs used in these natural remedies.

St. John's wort has been used for years to combat feelings of sadness and worry. Research shows that this herb is an effective antidepressant remedy for mild to moderate depression. St. John's wort includes substances such as tannins, glycosides, and volatile oils, terpenes, and flavonoids which will help in alleviating symptoms of depression.

Another herb used as a natural treatment for depression is Gingko Biloba. It will improve blood circulation in the brain, which in turn, improve the production and regulation of certain neurotransmitters that are involved in depression.

Third is Valerian. This will address symptoms of depression such as insomnia, irritability, and lack of focus. It also promotes a balanced and relaxed mood by relaxing the central nervous system through its valepotriates.

One more is Siberian Ginseng. This herb has been proven to improve balance of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and epinephrine, making the body and mind more capable of dealing with stress, improve abstract thinking, and eventually promote emotional wellness.


Fifth in this list is Kava. It contains kavalactones which help in balancing of certain hormones to reduce symptoms of depression. Studies have shown that this is as effective as other prescription drugs, though it works without side effects.

Stress management skills are an absolute necessity in today's fast paced and quickly changing world, and even more so if you're consistently experiencing some level of depression or anxiety.

Biofeedback, meditation and focused relaxation training can help you release stress before it builds up to harmful levels. Regular exercise is an easy and effective way to reduce your stress levels, and is especially helpful if your daily life tends to be sedentary.

Current research is revealing the important role diet and digestion play in the emotions we experience. The stomach and intestines have a very sensitive nervous system network called the enteric nervous system. Stress negatively affects this system which can result in indigestion, acid reflux or ulcers. Paying some attention to diet can be a good way to help heal depression naturally.

Highly processed foods can cause an allergic irritation in the digestive system because of the high levels of artificial additives it contains. Some improvement in depression symptoms may be noticed from simply switching from processed food to organic, natural food. Also finding and eliminating food allergens from the diet is important.

This Mixed Vegetable Salad Is Perfect For Many Occasions And The Dressing Will Keep Indefinitely

Not all salads are made of green leafy vegetables! This mixed vegetable salad is a perfect example of a salad for those who aren't fond of lettuce! It goes well with everything from burgers to steak, poultry to fish. It is also perfect for potlucks, pitch-ins, reunions, or just a good family meal at home. Having trouble getting in the needed servings of veggies a day? Let this salad help. The dressing for this salad is also good on other salads. When stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, this dressing will last indefinitely. For diabetics or others watching their sugar intake, substitute one cup of Splenda granular for the sugar in the dressing.

MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD
Another old recipe from my Southern Indiana roots.

1 can green beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can peas
1 can lima beans (not butter beans)
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cups diced celery
1 cup diced green bell pepper
3 tbsp pimento

Drain the green beans, kidney beans, the peas, and lima beans. Mix the beans and peas together lightly. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, and pimento; toss the mixture to blend well and set aside.

1 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
dash of freshly ground pepper
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp mustard

In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Stir in the vinegar, water, and mustard. Cook over medium heat until the mixture boils, stirring frequently. Pour dressing over the vegetable mixture until well coated. Store any leftover dressing in the refrigerator in a covered container. It will keep indefinitely.

Enjoy!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

What Estheticians Do And Where They Do It

If you have ever had a facial, microdermabrasion, waxing, or a body wrap, chances are an esthetician, or skin care specialist, performed the service on you. Estheticians go through professional training in a school with classes specifically designed to teach them the skills needed to be successful in their career choice. Each state has a set of requirements that must be met before a license is earned.

Skin care is a multi-million dollar a year industry and skin care specialists play an important role in this money generating business. Women of all ages are continuously on a quest for beautiful skin, be it a teenager in search of a deep cleanse to combat their acne or a 55 year-old woman wanting a gentle chemical peel to get rid of her age spots. In most states an esthetician can perform both of these services as well as a host of others.

Are you in need of a relaxing facial massage? Extraction of blackheads? Microdermabrasion to freshen sun damaged skin? Are you hoping for perfectly arched eyebrows? Would you like makeup applied for a special occasion? Generally a skin care specialist can perform these services.

Where do estheticians normally practice? Skin care specialists can practice in a spa or salon and they can even work with a doctor or dermatologist.

There are many day spas that employ skin care specialists to perform body wraps, including mud wraps and hot linen wraps. Salons oftentimes provide estheticians to their customers for makeup application, eyebrow tinting, eyebrow and facial waxing, and to give manicures, pedicures, and facials. In busy dermatologist offices skin care specialists are often the ones who aid the doctor by performing microdermabrasion, light chemical peels, and laser hair removal.

If you love people, work well with your hands, and are gentle and conscientious, you may want to look into becoming an esthetician

How To Control Cholesterol By Natural Remedies

LDL cholesterol clogs arteries and is better at the lowest levels. HDL is naturally made in our bodies and is better at higher levels. There is prescription medication that a doctor can prescribe if we have too much of the bad cholesterol, and it is not recommended to replace that medication with home remedies.

LDL cholesterol causes a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries while HDL cholesterol carries the cholesterol from other parts of the body to the liver which removes it. Higher LDL levels increases chances of getting heart disease while higher HDL levels lower them.

Different types of cholesterol-reducing drugs work in different ways. Not all cholesterol comes from the diet some is made in the body. So the strategy of some drugs is to prevent the body from making cholesterol. Other cholesterol-reducing drugs interfere with the body's ability to absorb cholesterol from food.

'Exercise: - Exercise more is given not only to lose weight. The strict to reduce cholesterol diet is ineffective in people with high-risk cholesterol when not accompanied by physical exercise has been shown. In addition, only accompanied by adequate dietary seen exercise improves cholesterol levels regardless of weight loss. Don't need to make great efforts, on the contrary, it is sufficient to walk half an hour a day
'Lowering Cholesterol Naturally: - Lowering cholesterol naturally can be done by addressing four areas, which include diet, weight, exercise and lifestyle changes. This article provides an outline of the changes that need to be made.
'Cholesterol Lowering Foods List: - High cholesterol levels can result in many health problems like heart diseases and other coronary complications. Here is cholesterol lowering foods list that will help you reduce the bad cholesterol or LDL in your system to help keep the cholesterol levels in check.
'Garlic: - Research says that garlic has blood thinning properties and plays a major role in reducing levels of bad cholesterol or low density lipoproteins. Garlic contains a substance called allicin, which supposedly prevents the retention of LDL cholesterol by the body. It is shown that consumption of one clove of garlic per day can lessen the LDL levels by almost ten to fifteen percent.




How to control Cholesterol: -

'Eat fish, skinless poultry and lean meats. These foods offer protein but too much protein will give you more saturated fat (cholesterol) than you need.
'Eat fish at least twice a week. Fish is lower in fat than most meats. The fat contained in fish has come beneficial oils called omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to be heart and blood vessel protective.
'Reduce high-fat dairy products. High fat dairy products are sour cream, cream cheese, hard cheese, processed cheese, butter, whipped cream and whole milk. Some low-fat dairy products are: yogurt, cottage cheese, and low-fat or non-fat milk.
'Hidden fat. Be aware of the hidden fat in your diet. Danish, pastries and cookies have large amounts of oil and fat. A muffin could add 4 or 5 teaspoons of fat to your diet.

What Are The Signs And Treatments For Depression In Elderly?

Depression in the elderly can often remain untreated and even undiagnosed for a number of reasons. A major part of this is due to the difficulty in separating the symptoms of depression from other ailments they may have.

These symptoms can manifest from negative life events that can grow in number the more years we live.

Some of the events that can cause this situation include:

Chronic illness, pain or disease, financial strain, a loss of job, retirement or a loss of a significant other.

Symptoms of depression:

Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, However, there are classic symptoms that are easily recognized when one is educated and knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms to look for. If you know of an elderly person with these symptoms, contact their health care professional immediately for help.

- Insomnia

- Oversleeping.

- Loss of interest in usual activities

- Weight loss or gain

- Fatigue




- Feelings of despair, helplessness and low belief in self-worth.

- Suicide is being considered.

While depression tends to be more common in the elderly, it is not something that should be expected of an elderly person and therefore overlooked. There are several factors that make the elderly more at risk for depression.

Depression risk factors:

- Family history

- Age

- Gender

- Chronic physical pain

- Chronic disease, such as cancer, arthritis, and diabetes

- Medications

- Abuse of alcohol

Most people who have been diagnosed with depression have someone in their family who is also depressed. The factor of age is significant, due to having lived a longer life you will have experienced many losses along the way. These can include losing a spouse or child, as well as other close and beloved family members and friends.

Gender: Depression is more common in females with hormones and in particular menopause being a major factor in this statistic. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment commonly used to combat this.

Pain & Disease: Constantly being in pain or dealing with disease can weaken even the strongest of minds.

Medications: There are side effects to most medications, and one of these can be depression. This is often true in medications such as zovirax, muscle relaxants or anticonvuslants when taken by the elderly.

When these medications are required for health, then another medication must be added to combat the depression that another drug may have caused. There has to be a better way.

Alcohol: If an elderly person suffers from depression, then the abuse of alcohol (itself a depressant) can only worsen the situation.

If you know of an older person who has the signs and symptoms of depression, it is very important to seek the help of a mental health professional as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment for depression in the elderly.

Archos Mp3 Mp4 Players: Great All Round Entertainment

If you want access to your music and movies on the move then Archos MP3 players do the job perfectly. Able to take your entire music collection and a number of full-length movies, the Archos 504 delivers great sound, crystal clear display and is small enough to fit into your pocket.

Not so long ago you would need to watch movies using a TV and video. Next came DVDs and now movies are available in a wide range of digital formats that are easy to transfer onto your favourite listening and viewing device. Simply convert your chosen film to MP4 format using the software supplied with your Archos MP3 player and away you go. It really is that easy and with a few clicks you will be viewing your movie on a clear screen measuring 4.3 inches and delivering great sound.




If you have a long boring commute to work then why not make the journey more exciting by taking along your MP3 player? Plug in your headphones, choose the music you want to listen to or the film you want to watch and the morning rush hour will fade away. The sound quality on the Archos 504 is amazing and will capture every piece of dialogue and every special effect in perfect clarity. Your MP3s will not lose any of their original quality and the supplied headphones are more than sufficient to deliver crisp sound. Some Archos models also boast WiFi allowing for the download of movies directly to your MP3 player or you can choose to access the Internet and your emails on the move. Archos MP3 players really do offer you a lot of choice and are very reasonably priced.

If you want to find the best deals on the Archos 504 then the best thing to do is shop around online. Forget wasting time looking at individual websites. Price comparison websites offer the latest prices in one handy place. You can also view details about delivery charges, product reviews and whether the item is in stock. Surely that sounds better than trudging around the high street only to find that your chosen MP3 player is out of stock or out of your price range.

One Way To Burn Belly Fat In 3 Days - Without Making Yourself Sick

Who else is having trouble with belly fat? If you are anything like I used to be... one of the biggest enemies of self esteem, especially as the weather warms up, is belly fat. Let's be honest: It's unappealing. It's unflattering. It feels bad... LOOKS bad and none of us enjoys lugging it around on the beach, in the boardroom... and CERTAINLY not in the bedroom :-)

The good news? Belly fat is MUCH easier to lose than many people will have you believe. While SPOT fat loss is often considered one of the most controversial elements of the diet movement, there ARE ways that I've been personally able to lose fat SPECIFICALLY around my belly, and I'm going to share them with you below.

Filed Under: Juice Feasting

This is often called "fasting" by the uninitiated, but it's really "feasting" if you've ever done it... because it's easy and it's abundant. The simple truth is that a lot of the BULGE of belly fat is caused by inflammation. And inflammation is often the result of a whole host of things that aren't really related to typical dietary discipline. For example...many naturopaths, alternative wellness doctors and gurus believe that a significant portion of your "bulge" is actually caused by accumulated waste in the colon...and the digestive tract. This leads to poor elimination, pockets of unsightly deposits, and ultimately, a body you CAN'T be proud of...no matter how much you try. A juice fast is an easy way to gently eliminate a lot of this "gunk"....while simultaneously, lessening the inflammation in your body to boot! (plus it feels amazing as anyone who has ever tried a juice feast... your body, mind AND spirit are rejuvenated in a way that's difficult to explain to those who haven't tried it)




My favorite way to get moving on a juice fast?

Go to the store, and simply buy healthy, natural and wholesome juices that are NOT from concentrate. Fresh squeezed is best... and while pasteurization is supposed to KILL some of the natural enzymes in the fruits and vegetables, I find that's a pretty over-rated concern for a 3 day juice fast. There are a few brands that are really, really good...and while I don't want to make any specific recommendations here, carrot juice is pretty easy to get at any supermarket, and tastes pretty good, too! (and is often 100% carrots, and not filler, like many of the higher calorie fruit juices are)

It's truly amazing how much of a difference you'll feel after only a few short days of this... and as long as you are up for it (check with your doctor) it's a wonderful and safe way to lose belly fat in a hurry!

But understand this as well... it's NOT a long term solution. It's a quick start, and a good one at that. But for a BIG picture view of life long OPTIMAL health and wellness, you need a bigger goal, and a bigger permanent plan to help you get there!