The Health Benefits of Candy Canes

Stop bothering your kids and let them eat all the candy canes they want.

New studies on peppermint, the key flavoring in traditional candy canes, reveal the herb may do everything from kill germs to treat digestive troubles. Read more

Six Easy Exercises You Can Do at the Offiice

Fitness experts Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll of the fitness company Bravabody describe a workout called The Office Six, six easy exercises you can do at the exercise (with video).

With New Year's just around the corner, many Americans will be making a resolution to get in better shape. But many people simply do not have the time to hit the gym for hours on end.

Have no fear. Fitness experts Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll of the fitness company Bravabody are masters of The Office Six -- six easy workouts everyone can do while at work to keep that body toned. Read more

Skimping on Sleep Linked to Hardened Arteries

Researchers have found that skimping on sleep is linked to hardened arteries

Just one extra hour of sleep a day appears to lower the risk of developing calcium deposits in the arteries, a precursor to heart disease, US researchers said on Tuesday. The finding adds to a growing list of health consequences - including weight gain, diabetes and high blood pressure - linked to getting too little sleep. Read more

How to Get Rock Star Abs

Chris, at Zen to Fitness, explains how to use a five-minute circuit of unconventional abdominal exercises to get rock star abs.

I decided to title this post a ‘Guide to Rockstar Abs’ as I aim to show you simple unconventional ways to achieve strong functional abs not blocky and bulky midsections the magazine’s workouts will get you, Also it sounded cool. Most these training methods can be done without a gym and integrated with you workout. Read more

Wine That Clears Your Arteries

Isn't it great when something good is also good for you? An Australian doctor is producing wines with up to 100 times the antioxidant content of standard wine, creating what he calls "vascular pipe-cleaners."

It sounds too good to be true, but an Australian doctor insists he has created the world's healthiest tipple: a wine that cleans the arteries as you drink it, reducing the risk of heart attack. Read more

Warning of Nut Allergy 'Hysteria

Nut allergy hysteria is becoming increasingly absurd. Schools are being declared "nut free zones," with all foods that don't have their ingredients clearly labeled— including lunches brought from home—being banned, despite the evidence that for most people nuts are healthful foods.

Measures to protect children with nut allergies are becoming increasingly absurd and hysterical, say experts.

A peanut on the floor of a US school bus recently led to evacuation and decontamination for fear it might have affected the 10-year-old passengers.

Such extreme steps to reduce exposure to nuts are not isolated and are fuelling fear and anxiety, reports the British Medical Journal Online. Read more

Marijuana for Memory

Is there anything that marijuana isn't good for? scientists are finding new evidence that specific elements in marijuana can be good for the aging brain by reducing inflammation and possibly even stimulating the formation of new brain cells.

It's not as dangerous as scientists think it should be, and it can even be considered medicine. Also, it may affect different people in different ways.

The more researchers study the effects of marijuana, the more evidence scientists find that specific elements in it can be good for the aging brain by reducing inflammation and possibly even stimulating the formation of new brain cells. Development of a legal drug that contains certain properties similar to those in marijuana might help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Though the exact cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown, chronic inflammation in the brain is believed to contribute to memory impairment. Read more

The Inquisition over Vitamin Pills Begins

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) survey shows that 60% of Americans take dietary supplements or use alternative therapies. The NIH, in league with the drug companies, doesn’t like Americans spending $40 billion a year on alternative care. So the NIH is issuing "Time To Talk" kits to doctors, encouraging patients to "confess" to taking dietary supplements.

Oh, it was a bad week for modern medicine. But Tara Parker Pope of the New York Times didn’t think so. She wrote an article entitled "News Keeps Getting Worse For Vitamins." (Nov. 20, ‘08 NYT) But then again, we could slip a fast one by Tara any day since she doesn’t know how to read the pseudo-science now being used to denigrate dietary supplements. Hey, Tara, you didn’t say whether YOU take vitamins pills. Never mind surveys show the most educated are more likely to take vitamin pills, or other studies which show the typical American diet leaves most Americans deficient in vitamins C, D, E, B12 and folic acid.

Breast cancer cooking machines

The zinger was the report showing breast cancers just disappear if you leave them alone, stop clamping breasts in mammogram machines, stop zapping women’s breasts with radiation machinery (mammography) and stop lancing breasts with biopsy needles. (Archives Internal Medicine Nov. 24, ’08). Yep, the body’s immune system just engulfs these developing tumors. Read more

17 Push-Up Variations

Body Weight Exercise Online has posted video demonstrations of 17 push-up variations. As of now, your "reasons" for not doing push-ups - they're boring, not challenging enough, etc. - are now transformed into excused.

One of the greatest bodyweight exercises is the push-up. This is just the beginning of the quality content that I will be providing on this website. I hope this is of help to you. I want to thank my son for being my guinea pig and allowing me to take pictures of him.

Below you will find video for a number of different types of push-ups. If you use your imagination you could probably come up with a few other variations. Please make sure that you do your push-ups with good form. Good form would include a straight back and your head up and looking forward. Do not rush them. Perform them generally with a 1-0-1 count. That would mean taking 1 second to lower, no pause at the bottom and 1 second to raise back to the starting position. If you want a little more of a challenge them perform them with a 2-0-1 count. Read more

The Jump-Rope Cardio Workout

Men's Fitness tells how to burn three times as many calories with the single best piece of cardio equipment.

Old-time boxers knew what they were doing. According to the Compendium of Physical Studies, jumping rope for 10 minutes can burn as many calories as jogging at an eight-minute-per-mile pace. No wonder many fitness experts call the jump rope the best all-around piece of exercise equipment you can own. Here are five reasons to learn the ropes: Read more

Get Your Antioxidants from the Grocer

For your consideration: according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association some supplements are worthless at fighting disease. Of course, other recent studies indicate that vitamins C and D in particular have great benefits.

I've noticed that studies which show that dietary supplements are worthless or dangerous tend to come out right before a big push to restrict the public's access to them. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies don't much like the idea of self-care and health freedom. In their view, that's lost profit they could be pocketing. Nevertheless, the point that you should eat a healthful diet and not strictly rely on supplements for your nutrition is valid.

Fit, Not Frail: Exercise as a Tonic for Aging

Jane Brody explains how regular exercise can delay and may even prevent a life-limiting loss of physical abilities into one's 90s and beyond.

Fact: Every hour of every day, 330 Americans turn 60.

Fact: By 2030, one in five Americans will be older than 65.

Fact: The number of people over 100 doubles every decade.

Fact: As they age, people lose muscle mass and strength, flexibility and bone.

Fact: The resulting frailty leads to a loss of mobility and independence.

The last two facts may sound discouraging. But they can be countered by another. Regular participation in aerobics, strength training and balance and flexibility exercises can delay and may even prevent a life-limiting loss of physical abilities into one's 90s and beyond. Read more

4 Surprising Signs You'll Live a Long Time

Keeping your weight down, not smoking, and eating a healthful diet are all well-established indicators of longevity, but there are four surprising signs that you'll live a long time.

We all know the obvious ways to add years to your life: Don't smoke, eat your veggies, wear a seat belt (even in the backseat). But there are other, lesser-known habits and attributes that can help you live to a ripe old age.

YOU SKIP SODA (EVEN DIET)
I finally kicked my diet cola habit in my 20s, a good thing too, because scientists in Boston recently found that drinking one or more regular or diet sodas every day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome-- combination of conditions that increase your chances of heart disease and diabetes. Read more

How to Live to 114 (in Theory)

Researchers can now tell us which habits may extend our lives, and just how much extra time they give us.

People who are happy, having an active sex life, and who avoid debts, outlive the miserable, abstainers and the poor, as do chocolate eaters, churchgoers and vegetarians. New research shows exactly how many years longer people can live by adopting healthy behaviours – from stopping smoking and losing weight to eating less meat and being positive. Read more

Coffee and Chocolate Are the Key to Long Life

Good news. Chocolate, coffee and tea are among the key foods and drinks needed to live a long and healthy life, according to a leading nutritional scientist.

Professor Gary Williamson, from the department of food science at Leeds University, has produced a list of 20 "lifespan essential" foodstuffs.

All are rich in naturally occurring chemicals, known as polyphenols, which have been linked to a variety of health benefits including protection against heart disease.

He said that foodstuffs on the list, which is dominated by fruits and vegetables, can also help to slow down the ageing process by helping to protect cells from the natural damage that occurs over time. Read more

Lack of Vitamin D Link to Parkinson's

Recent studies have shown that vitamin D prevents up to 77 percent of all cancers. Now a new study suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and Parkinson's disease.

Lack of vitamin D is significantly associated with Parkinson's disease, a study has shown.

Scientists found that lower blood levels of the vitamin were more common in people with Parkinson's than healthy individuals. But whether vitamin D deficiency was a cause of Parkinson's or resulted from it still had to be determined.

The part of the brain most affected by the disease is highly sensitive to vitamin D, suggesting that the vitamin may be important to this region. Read more

Try This Evening Workout

Gal Josefsberg at 60 IN 3 outlines an evening workout that won't leave you too sweaty and awake to go to bed. It can also be used as a good stretching routine for times when you’ve been sitting down for too long.

I’ve always had issues with evening workouts. At the end of the workout I’m too sweaty and too awake to go to bed, which means I don’t get enough sleep. And since I’m not a morning person, I usually work out in the afternoon. However, I recently found a little evening workout that sounds really promising.

The Key Is Pace

Rather than being an all out workout, this one is more of a stretching routine. It doesn’t involve high weights or high reps, just a low number of reps with body weight exercises done at a very slow pace. In fact, it’s a VERY slow pace. Each rep should take you about 10 seconds, which is slow enough to be relaxing. Read more

LSD Cures Man's Headache

Cluster headaches cause such severe pain that some sufferers are driven to suicide. One man believes he's found a surprising cure. Of course, this cure is banned by the government "for your own good."

This is the story of a man known online as Flash – a man driven to the brink of suicide by the debilitating effects of cluster headaches. After years of ineffectual treatments, Flash stumbled on what he declared was a new treatment, as controversial as it was, he claimed, effective: hallucinogenic drugs.

Flash was ridiculed by the cluster headache community for his "miracle cure". But when a survey of fellow sufferers who self-medicated with hallucinogens was published in the mainstream journal Neurology, the results gave weight to his claims. The Harvard Medical School scientists who conducted the survey have now applied for a preliminary clinical trial on the subject.

Cluster headache (CH) remains an enigma to the medical profession. Read more

How to Protect and Heal Your Liver

The liver can do 500 functions. This is one powerful organ, the one organ in the body that is capable of regenerating itself. The liver controls your health and longevity and your ability to bounce back from infection. Alan Graham and Alfred Lehmberg discuss the foods to eat, the foods to avoid, and the supplements to take to protect and heal your liver.

... Milk-Thistle, while we're here, is nothing less than extraordinary, considering it can detox your liver while it stimulates the production of new liver cells (for all you ex-drinkers, like me) and about a dozen other things to include being a powerful, immune-enhancing Cancer-fighter.

Silymarin, the group of active ingredients in Milk-Thistle, has been used by Medical Doctors in Germany for almost 60 years to treat all forms of liver disease like hepatitis & cirrhosis. Those Teutons drink a lot of beer & wine. Gee, Zorba lectures all over the world to other MD's... don't they share info? Does Zorba hear a different drummer? Uh, like Merck, you think?

FOODS to eat and foods to avoid: Read more

Top Five Secret Reasons You May Need More Vitamin C

Everyone knows that vitamin C can help to reduce symptoms of a cold if taken in sufficient quantity when sniffles first appear, but you may not know is that researchers have found evidence strongly suggesting vitamin C can be used to head off some serious diseases and disorders and may even help you lose weight.

... Here's the latest on the relatively secret but very real ways vitamin C can improve your health:

1. Burn more fat and keep pounds away.

Researchers in the Department of Nutrition at Arizona State University found that research subjects who had low blood concentrations of C burned a whopping 25 percent less fat than those who had plenty of the vitamin in their body. Read more

The Best Calorie Burning Workout Routine

Stephen Cabral, fitness expert, demonstrates a circuit routine that he says will burn 500 calories.

Does Splenda Cause Weight Gain, Block Drug Absorption?

Will Splenda join aspartame on the list of engineered health hazards added to our food supply? Any food described as "artificial" should probably be viewed with suspicion, but the study was financed by the Sugar Association.

New ammunition has been added to the battle that is pitting a leading artificial sweetener against sugar, leading the two sides to claim fresh grievances.

The latest salvo comes from Duke University researchers, who have published a study that says Splenda — the grainy white crystals in the little yellow packets — contributes to obesity, destroys “good” intestinal bacteria and prevents prescription drugs from being absorbed.

But the Duke study was financed by the Sugar Association, the lobbying group for the natural-sugar industry and a chief competitor to and legal adversary of Splenda. Read more

Top 10 Bad Things That Are Good for You

The health police are constantly declaring that the things you enjoy are bad for you, but should we believe them? Live Science lists the top 10 "bad" things that are good for you.

Beer quells heart disease and chocolate staves off cancer? Though often tagged with a disclaimer, studies that tell us to eat, inhale and generally indulge in "bad stuff" is music to our ears. So go ahead and enjoy these bad-for-you remedies-everything in moderation, as they say-until the next study inevitably overturns the research. Read more

Men's Breath and Ejaculation Mastery

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Top 10 Exercises for Seniors

A workout routine in later decades should develop the same fitness areas as in earlier years: strength, cardiovascular health, flexibility, and balance. So, what are the top 10 ten exercises for seniors?

... The trick to later fitness is, ultimately, to be smart about it. A stupid injury can put you out of commission for weeks or months (instead of hours or days in the testosterone-/estrogen-fueled prime of youth). No matter how old or young you are, proper form and technique are one key to avoiding injury. The other is avoiding the temptation to overdo it in terms of both workout length and weight. It’s better to back off if you’re in doubt rather than risk overdoing it just because some punk at the gym bet his friend that the old guy couldn’t do 35 wide-grip pull-ups. Another critical point: cross training has never been more important. Training your full body will not only allow you to preserve and develop all the muscle groups and fitness dimensions (strength, cardiovascular, flexibility). It will help you avoid injuries resulting from overuse.

And now, let’s serve up those Tuesday tips - ten exercises to fuel mature fitness. Read more

Vegetarian Diets Shrink the Brain

Vegans and vegetarians are famous, not only for their insufferable moralizing, but also for the bogus claims of better health. It turns out that there's a biological basis for both: their brains are shrinking.

Scientists have discovered that going veggie could be bad for your brain-with those on a meat-free diet six times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage.

Vegans and vegetarians are the most likely to be deficient because the best sources of the vitamin are meat, particularly liver, milk and fish. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause anaemia and inflammation of the nervous system. Yeast extracts are one of the few vegetarian foods which provide good levels of the vitamin. Read more

Surveillance Society Sparks Psychosis

The culture of surveillance in the UK and USA may contribute to a delusional condition.

If you think someone is watching you, you're probably right. But this doesn't mean you're not also crazy, according to psychiatrists who say that our surveillance and reality TV society is spawning a new kind of psychosis. They're calling it the Truman Show delusion.

Psychiatrists in the U.S. and Britain say they're seeing a growing number of psychotic patients who are paranoid that cameras are watching their every move. Read more

Prevent Memory Loss with Vitamin B12

A new study suggests that vitamin B12 may help prevent memory loss.

A vitamin found in meat, fish and milk may help stave off memory loss in old age, a study has suggested.

Older people with lower than average vitamin B12 levels were more than six times more likely to experience brain shrinkage, researchers concluded. Read more

Chemicals in Marijuana May Fight MRSA

Here's another medical use of marijuana that the federal governments prevents Americans from benefiting from because of the so-called War on Drugs. A new study shows that cannabinoids may be useful against drug-resistant staph infections.

Chemicals in marijuana may be useful in fighting MRSA, a kind of staph bacterium that is resistant to certain antibiotics.

Researchers in Italy and the U.K. tested five major marijuana chemicals called cannabinoids on different strains of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). All five showed germ-killing activity against the MRSA strains in lab tests. Some synthetic cannabinoids also showed germ-killing capability. The scientists note the cannabinoids kill bacteria in a different way than traditional antibiotics, meaning they might be able to bypass bacterial resistance.

At least two of the cannabinoids don't have mood-altering effects, so there could be a way to use these substances without creating the high of marijuana. Read more

Last Longer with Tantra

You don't need to change to a new lifestyle to enjoy the benefits of Tantra. These techniques will extend your pleasure and hers.

This isn’t Philosophy 101. There won’t be any debates or unearthing and dissecting of the secrets of tantric sex. You’re not interested in converting to a tantric lifestyle, but you would like to try some techniques that will enable you to last longer, orgasm harder and leap tall buildings. OK, so you won’t be able to leap tall buildings, but you will be able to keep your pleasure at its precipice while you take her over the edge again and again. If you’re interested in giving her a good time that she won’t soon forget, read on. With these tips, you won’t succumb to sexual pleasures until you’re both gasping and you decide to take that plunge. It’s all in your control. Read more

Bad Breath

Is your bad breath causing social problems? The cure might be easier than you think.

... The bacterium that causes bad breath feeds on protein, and whether it finds its sustenance in a steak sandwich or the naturally occurring protein in your saliva, you can never fully remove its food source. There are foods other than meat, however, that can either provide a meal for odor-causing bacteria or a friendly environment for them to grow in. We’ve listed some of the most common offenders below. Read more

How Pillows Can Make Your Legs Stronger

Adding a wobble to your leg workout can make your legs work 13 percent harder.

The most unlikely aid to your leg exercise? Bed pillows--they can make your legs stronger. When men attempted single-leg squats while standing on a cushy surface, their hips and leg muscles worked up to 13 percent harder, report Mayo Clinic researchers. Read more

Wise Answers to Old Wives' Tales

Experts reveal the truth behind six of the most popular (and persistent) health rumors. George Costanza isn't going to like what a researcher discovered about double-dipping.

Does reading in low light really hurt your eyes? How about sitting too close to the TV? (No, and no.) Why are you better off drinking exactly eight glasses of water per day? (You're not.) Thanks to quack culture, the Internet, and well-intentioned but poorly informed relatives, it's become harder than ever to separate fact from fiction. Whatever its origin, misleading health information can cause unnecessary anxiety and distract you from wellness habits that truly deserve your energy and attention. Here's a dissection of six watercooler myths that will give you all the authority you need to refute your brother's latest forwarded e-mails. Read more

Is Yoga Really Enought to Keep You Fit?

For those who don't like aerobics or lifting weights, the practice of yoga has benefits well beyond flexibility and relaxation. Recent research shows that yoga may also improve strength, aerobic capacity, and lung function.

When it came to the fitness benefits yoga can or can't provide, yoga teacher John Schumacher had heard it all. A student of B. K. S. Iyengar for 20 years and founder of the Unity Woods studios in the Washington, D.C. area, Schumacher was convinced yoga provides a complete fitness regime. But many people, even some of his own students, disagreed. Yoga might be good for flexibility or relaxation, they'd say, but to be truly fit, you had to combine it with an activity like running or weight lifting.

Schumacher just didn't buy it. Read more

Why a Food Diary Will Double Your Weight Loss

Want an easy way to double your weight loss? Sanjay Gupta, M.D. reports in Time magazine about a new study that found that dieters who kept a food diary lost twice the weight of those who didn't.

Two nights ago, I had a handful of M&M's. In fact, I can tell you I ate seven of the peanut kind, which is my favorite. Under normal circumstances, I would've simply grabbed a bunch, mindlessly eaten them while talking to a colleague and forgotten them entirely.

Instead, I know the specific number I ate because I am keeping a food diary. I write down everything I consume, with great detail. I had a single packet of ketchup with my eggs the other morning and 4 oz. (113 g) of green-tea-flavored frozen yogurt with my daughter two days before that. I started the diary because I wanted to test the striking new results of a paper published in the August issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Scientists at several clinical-research centers in the U.S. found that dieters who kept a food diary lost twice as much weight as those who didn't. Read more

How Running Helps You Live Longer

A new study shows that runners had half the death rate of non-runners. Notice, though, that runners often reduced their running, but maintained their exercise time by increasing other activity. It's any vigorous exercise - not necessarily running or even aerobic exercise - that confers the benefits.

People who want to live a long and healthy life might want to take up running.

A study published on Monday shows middle-aged members of a runner's club were half as likely to die over a 20-year period as people who did not run.

Running reduced the risk not only of heart disease, but of cancer and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, researchers at Stanford University in California found. Read more

Mixed Martial Arts Workout

Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver shows you how to train like a fighter at Men's Fitness.

WEC fighter Jens Pulver uses this workout to train his entire body in one session with a focus on strength and endurance. The workout is designed to be just as draining mentally as it is physically, so that Pulver develops the mental toughness he needs to get through a strenuous fight.

Warm-up

He starts with sprints to raise his heart rate and engage the muscle fibers that are responsible for powerful, explosive movements. This serves as a warm up for his workout, which consists of five stations of exercises performed back to back. Between exercises, Pulver rests 60 sec. Read more

Your Brain on Exercise: How Working Out Makes You Smarter

Exercise improves your body, but it also improves your mind. Regular exercisers learn faster, remember more, think more clearly, and even recover more easily from brain injuries.

Athletes and people who exercise not only have better bods — they have better brains too, a host of studies have now firmly established.

A review of studies published earlier this month, in fact, found that a balanced diet and regular exercise can protect the brain and ward off mental disorders.

Other research has focused just on the effects of exercise. The bottom line: Exercisers learn faster, remember more, think clearer and bounce back more easily from brain injuries such as a stroke. They are also less prone to depression and age-related cognitive decline.

But why should a mindless half-hour on a treadmill affect your brain? Read more

How to Sleep Well on a Hot Night

Everyone knows that there is nothing more frustrating than trying to sleep on a sweltering night. The Guardian's Jon Henley has come up with some tips to help beat the heat.

Apologies, first, if this answer is not up to the usual high standard. It's hard to concentrate after a week of four hours' sleep a night. And it takes only a couple of degrees: anything much above 18C and half of will us will spend the night tossing and turning.

So how to maximise your chances of a good night's kip in such conditions? The following are culled from a variety of sources - some expert, some I suspect not. But somebody swears by each and every one of them. Read more

Why Fatty Fish Is Good for Your Brain

For years, the "food police" tried to convince Americans that fat was bad for them, but that scientific consensus has been discredited. Fat is once again recognized as important to health, and as is often the case, studies show that eating nutritious food is more beneficial than taking supplements to obtain essential fatty acids.

Looking to boost your memory and concentration? You're better off eating oily fish twice a week than popping expensive herbal pills or fish oil supplements, according to a consumer survey.

Australian consumer group Choice tested several supplements and found that two weekly servings of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as sardines and salmon, can boost brain function as much as or more than pills containing ginkgo biloba, brahmi and fish oil.

Fish oil supplements were also found to contain less of the maximum daily dietary target of omega-3. Read more

Soy Foods "Reduce Sperm Numbers"

Eating even moderate amounts of soy can cut a man's sperm concentration in half because foods like tofu and soy milk contain estrogen.

A regular diet of even modest amounts of food containing soy may halve sperm concentrations, suggest scientists.

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, found 41 million fewer sperm per millilitre of semen after just one portion every two days.

The authors said plant oestrogens in foods such as tofu, soy mince or milk may interfere with hormonal signals. Read more

How High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Gain Weight

High fructose corn syrup is an obesity engine. A new study confirms that sugar type is just as important as calories. Researchers discovered that when as little as half the glucose was replaced with fructose, lipogenesis, the process by which sugars are turned into body fat, increased significantly

New research from UT Southwestern Medical Center shows the amazing speed that our bodies make body fat from fructose. One of the reasons why low carb diets help you lose weight is that they reduce your intake of fructose.

Even though fructose, a type of sugar, is found naturally abundance in fruit, it is also added to many processed foods. Fructose is probably best known for its presence in the sweetener called high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is typically 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose. It unfortunately has become the preferred sweetener for many food manufacturers. This is because it is cheaper, sweeter and easier to blend into beverages than table sugar. Read more

The Super-Tough Workout

Women's Health has created two killer workouts to alternate so that you never do the same workout on consecutive workout days. It's good to see a workout targeted at women (though just as suitable for men) include push-ups.

Do It Our experts have taken seven moves and created two killer workouts. Do the routines 2 to 3 days a week, alternating between the two versions, so you're never doing the same routine on consecutive workout days. And choose a weight that lets you complete the set with perfect form. Read more

14 Reasons You're Not Sleeping

It's estimated that one in 10 adults struggle with chronic insomnia, and one in three occasionally deal with the condition. However, experts say many people have no idea what is keeping them up at night because those who've been dealing with sleep difficulties for long periods of time often forget the initial catalyst or don't realize the extent of their problem

Beyond not recognizing what's wrong, many people also unknowingly learn self-perpetuating behaviors or come up with solutions that hurt more than help.

"When you look at people who are having problems sleeping, a lot of the logical things they are doing to fix the situation actually end up making it worse," says Philip Gehrman, an assistant professor of psychology at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia who treats people with insomnia. Read more

Aspartame Added to Epilepsy Medications: Seizures Skyrocket

A new epilepsy study blames the surreptitious addition of aspartame to anti-seizure drugs as responsible for a spectacular increase in seizures.

The Pacific Epilepsy Society in affiliation with the Epileptic Foundation of Maui has completed a seven year study on Epilepsy and Seizures, finding that epilepsy is at an all time high in Hawaii and the western states and Pacific Ocean Territories. There has been a 100% increase over the two previous years. See EFM Survey, Freedom of Info Act 2000-2008 & EFM Survey 1999-03

The most profound reason for the spectacular increase in seizures is the inclusion of the drug ASPARTAME in with the new larger sized anti-seizure drugs: DILANTIN, DEPACOAT, TEGRATOL and several others produced by major pharmaceutical corporations. In 2007 the manufacture of Dilantin changed the description of the 100 mg. Dilantin changed the 100 mg white capsule with red stripe to a much larger white capsule, orange on one end, which contains 100 mg of the drug, plus aspartame. 150 people who took the new Dilantin capsule found the seizure rate increased in every case. The Chemical Pharmaceutical Engineer employee, in fear of his job would not reveal his name, but said they were adding aspartame. He said the new larger orange & white Dilantin is also labeled 100 mg, Read more

Killer 4- MInute Bodyweight Exercise Workout

Many people say that they don't exercise because they "don't have time." Can you find four minutes in your busy day? Here's a killer 4-minute bodyweight exercise workout that works by using the Tabata Protocol.

Short Burst Exercise vs. Cardio

Workout routine and fat loss expert Craig Ballantyne explains why intense workouts work for fat loss while cardio fails.

Short burst workouts work for fat loss while cardio fails.

Why?

In each intense workout, you focus on applying an intense stimulus to the muscles. This creates “turbulence” in the muscles, and requires a lot of energy to repair and replenish the muscles before the next workout. And where does that energy come from? Your fat stores, of course! Read more

How to Sleep Better

Good sleep hygiene can have a tremendous impact upon the problem of insomnia. WebMD suggests eleven sleep hygiene solutions for better sleep.

From having occasional difficulty sleeping to insomnia, there is a lot you can do to get a better night's sleep, feel refreshed when you awake, and remain alert throughout the day. It's called "sleep hygiene" and refers to those practices, habits, and environmental factors that are critically important for sound sleep. And most of it is under your control.

There are four general areas important to sleep hygiene: Read more

Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Pharmaceuticals to treat hair loss are expensive and often have side effects. Are there any natural hair loss remedies or other alternative solutions to hair loss?

The search for natural alternatives to treat hair loss aims to find alternatives for conventional pharmacological measures, since these often have extreme side effects. One of these alternatives is homeopathy - it can be termed a natural route because this medicinal system utilizes distillations of organic substances. Homeopathy has several treatment modes for addressing hair loss. A qualified homeopath's arsenal of remedies includes fluoric acid, lycopodium, kali carbonicum, kali sulphuricum, natrum mur, phosphorus, selenium and tissue salts. What a homeopath actually prescribes depends on the problem's nature and severity. Read more

Excessive Cell Phone Use Affects Sleep in Teens

Cell phones may be a necessity, but common sense should tell us that putting a radiation-emitting device close to our brains for long periods of time isn't likely to be a good idea. A new study suggesst that excessive cell phone use affects sleep in teenagers.

Teenagers who excessively use their cell phone are more prone to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress and fatigue, according to a research abstract that will be presented on June 9 at SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). Read more

20 Minutes of Doom Workout : Sprinting and Puking

The "20 Minutes of Doom Workout" is a great all-around workout, combining, sprinting, pull-ups, and weights. The puking is a bonus.

Prep:

Load up a bar with 85 pounds.

Have a pull up bar about 200 meters away and on top of a steep hill.

20 Minutes of Doom:

As fast as you can without injuring yourself: Read more

Eating Soy Linked to Memory Loss

Soy has become synonymous with healthy eating. However, researchers say that frequently consuming foods containing soy may contribute to memory loss.

Frequently consuming foods containing soy may contribute to memory loss, British experts say.

[...]

Researchers determined people who ate soy at least twice a day had 20 percent less memory function that those who ate it significantly less. Read more

Watermelon: A Natural Viagra?

A researcher says that watermelon may have a Viagra-like effect on blood vessels.

Men hoping for some fireworks in their love life this Fourth of July may want to skip the burgers and beer at the barbecue and eat plenty of watermelon.

Watermelon may be a natural Viagra, says a researcher. That's because the popular summer fruit is richer than experts believed in an amino acid called citrulline, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels much like Viagra and other drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Read more

How to Achieve Male Multiple Orgasm

Most people are aware that women are capable of having multiple orgasms, but far fewer seem to know that it’s possible for men to have them as well. The principle behind this is that ejaculation and orgasm are not the same thing. There is a difference between the pleasurable sensations of the orgasm and the physical event of ejaculation. In essence, you can have an orgasm without ejaculating, and you can ejaculate without having an orgasm.The trick is distinguishing between the two and learning to control both. To start with, you need to develop your sexual strength.

Strengthening the PC Muscle

The pubococcygeus is the hammock-like muscle hanging low in the perineum, the area between the scrotum and the anus. You can contract it by pretending to stop the flow of urine. To strengthen it, you have to work it out like any muscle. Here are three recommended exercises:

1) Quick squeeze: Squeeze your PC muscle as tightly as you can and hold it for 2 seconds, and then completely relax the muscle. That is one repetition. Rest 1 second between reps. Do 20-100 repetitions (add 10 reps per week).

2) Slow Squeeze: Squeeze your PC muscle as tightly as you can and hold it for 15 seconds, and then release slowly, completely relaxing the muscle. That is one repetition. Rest 5 seconds between reps. Do 10-25 repetitions (add 3 reps per week).

3) Long Squeeze: Squeeze your PC muscle as tightly as you can and hold it for a minimum of 60 seconds, and then release. That is one repetition. Rest 60 seconds between reps. Do 2-10 repetitions (add 1 rep per week).

Once the muscles are strengthened, you can learn to separate orgasm and ejaculation. What you have to do to achieve male multiple orgasm is to figure out exactly where your ejaculatory "point of no return" is, and what it feels like. Then when you get close to ejaculation, you hold back by slowing down or stopping by pulling out of the vagina. By squeezing the PC muscle before the "point of not return," you may experience “mini-orgasms” that feel very pleasurable and enable you to continue having sex for an extended period of time.

Additional Techniques for Ejaculatory Control

1) Pressing the Million Dollar Point. This point is located on your perineum just in front of the anus. You will feel a slight indentation when you push at the right spot. When you approach ejaculation, take your finger and push it up into the Million Dollar Point all the way to the first joint of your finger. This will help delay ejaculation by interrupting the ejaculatory reflex. This technique is great because you can use it without having to withdraw your penis from the vagina.

2) Scrotal Tugging. As the name implies, either you or your partner simply pulls your testicles away from your body to delay ejaculation. This is accomplished by circling the top of your scrotal sac with your thumb and forefinger and pulling down firmly.

3) The Squeeze Technique. When you feel yourself getting close to orgasm, withdraw your penis from the vagina. Then place the first two fingers of either hand on the underside of the penis, place your thumb on the top, and then squeeze. You can do this yourself, or you can have your partner squeeze the head of the penis between her thumb and fingers. Since your penis is erect, it won’t really hurt if she gives it an intense squeeze.

You should practice these ejaculatory control techniques at least 3 to 5 times a week. Applying any or all of these techniques teaches your body to gain control over what is wrongly perceived as one of the most uncontrollable of impulses.

In addition to the PC muscle exercises and the additional techniques for controlling ejaculation, you also want to focus on breathing. Since the breath is the gateway to controlling your entire body, you need to practice strengthening and deepening your breathing patterns. Inhale through your nose and feel your lower abdomen expand at the navel area. While keeping your chest relaxed, exhale with some force to pull the lower abdomen back, as if you were pulling your navel back towards your spine. Notice also that your penis and testicles pull up while exhaling. Continue breathing this way between 20 to 35 times. Learning to control your breathing in this way will become essential to stopping yourself from ejaculating and to expanding the feeling of orgasm throughout your entire body.

Exercise to Separate Orgasm from Ejaculation

Lubricate your penis. Begin pleasuring yourself - not just your penis, but your scrotum and perineum. Become aware of your rate of arousal. Notice the tingling at the base of your penis, the stages of erection, and the changes in both your breathing and your heartbeat.

Stimulate yourself almost to the point of orgasm, and then stop. Breathe deeply and contract your PC muscle. You can also delay ejaculation by pressing on the Million Dollar Point, using the Scrotal Tug, or by squeezing the tip of your penis. (You will have to discover which of these techniques works best for you and keep practicing it.) Very important: pay close attention to your arousal and stopping in time - at least a few strokes before the “point of no return."

If you’re finding it difficult to keep from ejaculating, keep squeezing and releasing your PC muscle several times. Stop for a few seconds and practice your deep breathing.

After you have peaked several times without ejaculating, stop. You should feel relaxed and energized. Take note of the sexual energy circulating in your body, which you will feel as a tingling or prickling.

It will take practice and dedication on your part to achieve male multiple orgasm. It probably won’t happen in a single sitting. Most men who practice the above exercises will begin to experience multiple orgasms within a week or two and will master them within three to six months. The more you gain control over your body, the easier it will become to climax again and again during a single session of lovemaking.

If you are not happy with the size of your penis, I highly recommend you check out PenisAdvantage. PenisAdvantage provides unique natural penis enlargement exercises that you can try at home to enlarge your penis by 1 to 4 inches naturally without the need for any medication or drugs.

Marijuana May Be Effective for Nerve Pain

Is there anything marijuana isn't good for? Besides relieving PMS, glaucoma, itching, insomnia, arthritis, depression, childbirth, attention deficit disorder, and ringing in the ears, a new study shows that patients with nerve pain showed reduced pain intensity from smoking marijuana.

The growing body of evidence that marijuana (cannabis) may be effective as a pain reliever has been expanded with publication of a new study in The Journal of Pain reporting that patients with nerve pain showed reduced pain intensity from smoking marijuana. Read more

The Interval Challenge

The benefits of interval training include anaerobic endurance, fat loss, work capacity, and muscular endurance. Traditional interval training consists of intense running followed by a period of active rest, but Ross Enamait's Interval Challenges integrate interval running with a variety of bodyweight calisthenics instead.

Traditional interval training consists of intense running followed by a period of active rest (ex. jogging or walking). Common distances include 200, 400, 600 and 800 meters. The active rest period typically ranges from 30 to 90 seconds depending on interval distance and the athlete’s condition.

The Interval Challenge (below) differs from the traditional interval training protocol. The workout integrates interval running with a variety of bodyweight calisthenics. There are no defined rest periods between intervals. The athlete attempts to complete the circuit as fast as possible. Rest comes on an as needed basis.

When performing The Interval Challenge, the athlete must complete four continuous circuits. This brief conditioning routine is extremely demanding (physically and mentally). Read more

Train Yourself to Sleep Deep

You taught yourself the newest version of Excel, and you can teach yourself to sleep at night. Here's how.

Can You Avoid Sudden Death Like Tim Russert's?

Heart disease, just like type two diabetes, is one of the easiest diseases to prevent and avoid, BUT you simply must be proactive.

Ingredient In Soft Drinks Damages DNA

Research from a British university suggests that sodium benzoate,a common preservative in soft drinks, does deadly damage to DNA. Though the article says it’s in a “few” soft drinks, check what you’re drinking. It probably has it.

A new health scare erupted over soft drinks last night amid evidence they may cause serious cell damage. Research from a British university suggests a common preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA.

The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse - can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. Read more

Developing a Bald Patch? It Could Be a Hidden Tooth Infection

People with periodontal disease, a bacterial infection, are at higher risk for developing heart disease, stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, pre-term births, and respiratory disease. Now a relationship has been discovered between hidden tooth infections and localized alopecia.

There is a close relationship between infection outbreaks on teeth and the presence of alopecia areata or localized alopecia, a type of hair loss which has an unknown origin. Alopecia areata starts with bald patches on the scalp, and sometimes elsewhere on the body. The disease occurs in males and females of all ages, and experts believe that it affects 1 out 1000 people. Read more

Legal Drugs Kill Far More Than Illegal

Legal drugs are killing three times more Floridians than all illegal drugs combined. Are the wrong drugs illegal? Who are more dangerous drug pushers: street dealers or the pharmaceutical companies? Notice that zero deaths are attributed to marijuana.

From “Scarface” to “Miami Vice,” Florida’s drug problem has been portrayed as the story of a single narcotic: cocaine. But for Floridians, prescription drugs are increasingly a far more lethal habit.

An analysis of autopsies in 2007 released this week by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission found that the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined. Read more

Brief, Intense Exercise Can Benefit the Heart

In my post Don't Just Run: Sprint!, I explained that sprinting has cardiovascular benefits, just as traditional aerobic exercise does. Another scientific study backs up that claim.

Short bursts of high intensity sprints--known to benefit muscle and improve exercise performance--can improve the function and structure of blood vessels, in particular arteries that deliver blood to our muscles and heart, according to new research from McMaster University.

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The findings support the idea that people can exercise using brief, high-intensity forms of exercise and reap the same benefits to cardiovascular health that can be derived from traditional, long-duration and moderately intense exercise. Read more

How to Slow or Reverse Hair Loss with a Healthy Diet and Nutritional supplements

Hair loss doesn't have to be controlled entirely by genetics. You may be able to slow or reverse hair loss with a healthy diet and nutritional supplements.

Unless you were trying to make a fashion statement – think David Beckham or Sinead O'Connor – you probably wouldn't be too pleased with hair loss. In Western society, hair loss – especially male pattern hair loss – is fodder for jokes, unless the hair loss is a result of chemotherapy or other medical treatments. If you're suffering from situational baldness or male/female pattern baldness, you may laugh about it among your friends. Chances are, however, that you're crying about it in privacy. But by no means are you alone. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies to relieve hair loss and the personal embarrassment that results from it. Read more

Moderate Exercise Can Help Insomniacs Sleep Better

Exercise has many benefits. One of them turns out to be better sleep.

Moderate aerobic exercises... is likely to reduce anxiety and improve the sleep quality of insomniacs, according to a study. Read more

Beta Blockers with Surgery May Be Deadly

A new study shows another reason to avoid medications if you possibly can: beta blocker blood pressure drugs raise the risk of stroke and death during surgery though experts claim doses given in the study were probably too high.

Patients who received the blood pressure-lowering drugs known as beta blockers after having non-cardiac surgery were at higher risk of dying or having a stroke, a new Canadian study found. Read more

Beginner's Bodyweight Exercise Workout

Yuri Elkaim demonstrates a 20-30 minute beginner's bodyweight exercise workout.

The Beginner's Workout

Men's Fitness details a short, simple beginner's workout that combines weights and bodyweight exercise.

Working out can be intimidating. We've solved that problem with our beginners workout.

Directions: Perform the workout three days a week for four weeks, resting at least one day between each session. On the weight exercises, choose a load that allows you to complete a few more reps than the prescribed number (you may need to adjust this load between sets as you discover your strength levels). For instance, if an exercise calls for 12 reps, choose a load that you estimate you can perform 15 reps with before having to stop (but complete only 12). Read more

Keep Your Feelings to Yourself

New evidence suggests that talking about a terrifying experience, such as a terrorist attack or natural disaster, may not be the right thing to do. Instead, a stiff upper lip is the best way to deal with shock.

Britain's traditional stiff upper lip may be a better strategy for dealing with shock than letting your feelings spill out, a new study claims. Read more

Natural Remedies for Better Sleep

Can't get a good night's sleep? There are many effective natural remedies for sleep trouble that do not involve counting sheep. Learn what these sleep remedies are and how to use them. Watch this video by Cathy Wong.

Commando Cardio Bodyweight Workout

Cardiovascular fitness is an important component of overall fitness, but cardio doesn't have to mean running, swimming, or cycling. If you don't like typical aerobic activities or they're inconvenient, you can use bodyweight exercises or calisthenics to get an equally good cardio workout.

This is the basic "Commando cardio" a full blown intense bodyweight workout! Remember...this is the easiest workout version.

If these body weight exercises have you confused, you can see most of them in video on our main exercise descriptions page. Read more

Magnesium Deficiency Increases Cancer Risk

The latest government study shows that 68% of Americans do not consume the recommended daily intake of magnesium. A magnesium deficiency increases cancer risk significantly.

There is a power and a force in magnesium that cannot be equaled anywhere else in the world of medicine. There is no substitute for magnesium in human physiology; nothing comes even close to it in terms of its effect on overall cell physiology. Without sufficient magnesium, the body accumulates toxins and acid residues, degenerates rapidly, and ages prematurely. It goes against a gale wind of medical science to ignore magnesium chloride used transdermally in the treatment of any chronic or acute disorder, especially cancer. Read more

16 Tips for Getting Good Sleep

Do you suffer from insomnia? Tiredness, irritability, and a loss of concentration are just some of the side effects of insomnia. Even losing sleep a few nights a week can significantly impair your ability to function and decrease the quality of your life. Not getting enough sleep also leads to poor memory. If sleep deprivation continues, hallucinations, and mood swings will develop.

It is very important that you find your cause of insomnia and an insomnia cure as soon as possible. Getchen Rubin, a writer working on The Happiness Project, gives sixteen tips that helped her get better sleep.

There's a lot of advice out there about getting good sleep -- it's VERY important. We quickly adjust to being sleep-deprived, and don't notice that we aren't functioning at a normal level, but lack of sleep really affects us. If you're feeling blue or listless, try going to sleep thirty minutes earlier for a week. It can really help.

Here are tips that have helped me get good sleep: Read more

Natural Treatment for Enlarged Prostate

The prostate is a male reproductive gland that produces the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. It surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine passes out of the body. An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown bigger.

Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older. As the gland grows, it can press on the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems. Natural Health & Herbal Remedies discusses the natural treatment alternatives for an enlarged prostate.

My husband wanted me to include information about enlarged prostate treatment because he has an enlarged prostate, as do many men his age.

You've probably heard it a million times....you should eat more tomatoes for your prostate health because they contain a nutrient called lycopene.

And this is true.

But did you know that there are a broad array of nutrients, whether they be vitamins, minerals, or other antioxidants that have shown to be effective for enlarged prostate treatment? Read more

Eat Like a Caveman for a Healthy Heart

A “caveman diet” of berries, nuts, lean meat and fish could help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, a new study shows.

Scientists found that volunteers who ate the stone age fare for just three weeks had lowered blood pressure and a reduced risk of clots.

They also lost an average of five pounds in weight.

Our early ancestors lived on a diet lacking in cereals, dairy products and refined sugar for centuries before farming developed and some scientists believe that the human body is still best suited to this kind of food. Read more

Travel Workout with Calisthenics and Resistance Tubes

If you work out with weights, you often have to find an alternative way to exercise when you travel, so many people just wind up skipping exercise altogether when they're on the road. However, you can replicate many weight exercises with resistance tubes, which are much easier to pack than a weight set. Combine resistance tube exercises with calisthenics, and you have an excellent short-term substitute for your weight workout.

... When my clients travel, I ask them to pack a couple resistance tubes in their suitcase and ask them to follow a calisthenics based routine during each day of the week. Here is a sample routine that could be done daily for someone who already has a moderate level of fitness and has no orthopedic problems: Read more

Does More Muscle Really Equal More Sex for Men?

Does more muscle really equal more sex for men? Research says it does.

On average women find muscular men more sexually attractive.

This may seem a little obvious, but it IS scientifically proven by research. Not only that, but time and time again, social psychology research shows us that women will choose more muscular men for short term sexual partners, and have sex with them faster without a long dating period, than their non muscular counterparts.

Women will also have sex with these “types” of men without developing an emotional attraction to them first as well. Read more

Foods for Better Sex

A range of foods from vitamin C to zinc affect not just your health, but your sexual health too.

Secretly every Indian man or woman is forever trying to find ways to become a better lover. The Romans got the ball rolling with such exotic aphrodisiacs as hippo snouts and hyena eyeballs. The traditional Chinese medicine prescribed was rhino horn. Modern lovers prefer Viagra and other drugs. Aphrodisiacs, for the most part, have been proven to be ineffective.

But for those who genuinely wish to have a good sex life, the dining table is a good place to start with. Read more

6 Mistakes to Avoid for Muscle Gain and Fat Loss

If you've been trying to gain muscle and/or lose weight without much success, you may be making one or more of the six mistakes described in this post from the Herbs Herbal Remedies blog.

If you’ve been pounding the iron every day, doing set after set and repetition after repetition and are showing absolutely zero results, you are probably making some costly mistakes just like many other bodybuilders.

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If you can avoid these common mistakes, you’ll go a long way toward building more muscle. Read more

Hindu vs. Dive Bomber Push-ups

Matt Furey made Hindu push-ups famous in Combat Conditioning, but the military, notably the Navy SEALs, use dive bomber push-ups. What's the difference, and which is better?

Home Remedies for Obesity

Everyone knows the basic treatment for obesity: eat less and exercise more, but, if it were that simple, no one would be fat. Home remedies for obesity can assist people trying to reduce their weight.

Obesity may develop from a combination of factors. One key cause is over-eating as the intake of calories (the energy value of food) exceeds the requirements of the body over a long period of time. This excess energy is stored in the body cells in the form of fat and sugar and gives the individual the outward appearance of being overweight

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Home remedies for obesity

Mark Sisson's Sprinting Workout Routine

Mark Sisson shares one aspect of his workout routine - beach sprints. You could do them in a park or on a track though.

Herbal and Natural Remedies for Hair Loss

Though expensive pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for hair loss now exist, why not first try herbal and natural remedies for hair loss first? You should be able to determine with a few months if they're working for you or not. The pharmaceutical advertisements don't promise results any sooner than that either.

The most important cause of loss of hair is inadequate nutrition. Even a partial lack of almost any nutrient may cause hair to fall. Persons lacking in vitamin B6 lose their hair and those deficient in folic acid often become completely bald. But the hair grows normally after the liberal intake of these vitamins. Other important causes of loss of hair are stress such as worry, anxiety, and sudden shock; general debility caused by severe or long standing illnesses like typhoid, syphilis, chronic cold, influenza, and anemia, an unclean condition of the scalp which weakens the hair roots by blocking the pores with the collected dirt; and heredity. Read more

Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup

With all the dangers associated with artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, you might think you'd be better off using products made with sugar. You'd be right, but good luck finding them. Instead of sugar, most foods nowadays contain high fructose corn syrup - another deadly ingredient.

HFCS high fructose corn syrup is responsible for a dangerous epidemic of obesity and diabetes. People under the age of 45 are “children of the corn.” Like Stephen King's thriller, they are reaping the consequences...

...of the food industry’s high fructose corn syrup. They were children or young adults in the late 70s, 80s and 90s when high fructose corn syrup was introduced to the American food supply as a cheap replacement for sugar. Now many of them are struggling with an epidemic of obesity and diabetes, also being referred to as diabesity.

In a recent chemical analysis of eleven carbonated soft drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), researchers from Rutgers University found very high levels of reactive carbonyls.

Reactive carbonyls, which have been linked to tissue damage and complications of diabetes, are elevated in the blood of people with diabetes. A single can of soda, however, has five times that concentration of reactive carbonyls. Old-fashioned table sugar, on the other hand, has no reactive carbonyls. Read more

Pump Yourself Up with Bodyweight Calisthenic Exercise

Bodyweight calisthenics exercise is cheap and convenient. The only piece of equipment you might want to have is a pull-up bar. You can do a bodyweight calisthenic exercise routine at home or on the road - no need for a gym. Many people don't think you can build big muscles without weights, but those people probably haven't heard of former NFL great Herschel Walker.

It's not necessary to follow Walker's 1,000 push-ups and sit-ups a day routine to build muscle with calisthenics, however. This full-body workout uses a system of sets and reps that will pump you up without endless repetitions. You only do the workout three days a week, and it should take around 30-45 minutes per workout. For each exercise, do three sets like this:

1) Do maximum reps with perfect form. Rest one minute.

2) Do the same number of reps with perfect form as you did in set one. If you have to, pause a few seconds between reps to complete the last few. Rest one minute.

3) Do the same number of reps with perfect form as you did in set one. If you reach a point where you have to pause more than few seconds between reps, change to an easier variation of the exercise to complete the set. For example, if you were doing regular push-ups, change to push-ups from the knees to finish the set.

If you find yourself able to do three sets of maximum reps with one minute rest without having to pause or change to an easier variation of the exercise even in the third set, there are two possible explanations: you did not do maximum reps in your first set, and/or you were not using perfect form. Remember that the numbers don't mean anything in and of themselves. They're just a way of measuring progress. Effort is what counts. Don't cheat yourself by cheating.

Sample Routine
1) Hindu squats (half knee bends)
2) Wide-armed push-ups (push-ups from knees)
3) Pull-ups (negatives)
4) Dive bomber push-ups (Hindu push-ups)
5) Sit-ups (crunches)
6) Supermans (Raise only upper body.)
7) Calf raises on 4-6 inch block (calf raises on floor)

The exercise in parentheses is an example of an easier variation of the exercise.

To get a pump, you need to do some repetitions, but, when you reach sets of 30-50 repetitions for an exercise, change to a harder variation. For example, you could substitute split squats or pistols for Hindu squats, decline push-ups for regular push-ups, V-ups for sit-ups, and so on. You can then use the variation you were doing as your new easier variation.

By concentrating on doing the exercises with perfect form, you should be able to avoid pain from injury. However, you may experience an excruciating level of soreness after your first workout. The Navy SEALs say that kind of "pain is just weakness leaving the body." Nevertheless, for the first week you may want to (or need to) allow two days recovery between workouts. For example, if you planned to work out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you may need to change to Monday, Thursday, and Sunday for the first week. The second week, try Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. By the third week, you should be on schedule and on your way to a more muscular physique.

For a free mini course on how to simultaneously improve strength and conditioning while burning fat, click here. Read my review of the two best bodyweight exercise courses you can choose.

Two Tantric Techniques for Ejaculatory Control

According to studies, around 70 percent of women do not reach an orgasm during intercourse. Why? One reason may be that the man does not know how to properly stimulate her, so she never really becomes aroused enough to climax. Another reason is that he ejaculates before she has time to to reach climax.

Two Tantric techniques for ejaculatory control will allow you to last long enough for her to climax. Use masturbation to practice these exercises before trying them with your partner. It will take most men several sessions to master each one. Even the most sympathetic wife or girlfriend will get tired of being used for "training."

Exercise One: Pressing the Prostate Point (PPP)

Between your testicles and anus is the perineum. There 's a soft spot there through which you can apply pressure to your prostate. For most men, prostate stimulation reduces the likelihood of ejaculating involuntarily. This is because it flushes seminal fluid from the prostate gland .

If you push hard enough on your prostate point right before ejaculating, it actually blocks the emission phase (ejaculation phase). This exercise prevents seminal fluid from entering the urethral canal when your orgasmic spasms start. Even if you have orgasmic contractions, the semen remains inside your body and is re-absorbed.

1) Pleasure yourself till you begin to feel the tension that tells you you're on your way to ejaculating.
2) Stop all motion, locate your prostate point, and press upward firmly for 10 to 30 seconds. You should feel the sexual tension you were just feeling begin to subside.
3) Now pleasure yourself again. This time, go a bit past the tension you felt in Step 1.
4) Stop all motion, locate your prostate point, and press upward firmly for 10 to 30 seconds. You should feel the sexual tension you were just feeing begin to subside.
5) Now pleasure yourself again. This time, go a bit past the tension you felt in Step 3.
6) Locate your prostate point, and press upward firmly for 10 to 30 seconds. However, this time, try to continue stroking yourself as you do this.
7) Continue doing this exercise till you master reaching higher sexual peaks and bringing yourself down again.

Exercise Two: Root Lock

Inside your body, at the base of your penis is the muscle called pubococcygeus. People call it PC for short. This exercise teaches you to use your PC muscles to delay ejaculation. To perform a Root Lock, hold your breath momentarily and push your pelvic muscles out like straining to empty your bowels. Some men prefer pushing in rather than out.

1) Pleasure yourself till you begin to feel the tension that tells you you're on your way to ejaculating.
2) Exhale all your breath and hold it, keep your eyes wide open looking upward, push your tongue on the roof of your mouth, tighten your fingers, hands, and feet, and push out on your anus until your arousal subsides.
3) Now pleasure yourself again. This time, go a bit pass the tension you felt in Step 1.
4) Exhale all your breath and hold it, keep your eyes wide open looking upward, push your tongue on the roof of your mouth, tighten your fingers, hands, and feet, and push out on your anus until your arousal subsides.
5) Now pleasure yourself again. This time, go a bit pass the tension you felt in Step 3.
6) Exhale all your breath and hold it, keep your eyes wide open looking upward, push your tongue on the roof of your mouth, tighten your fingers, hands, and feet, and push out on your anus until your arousal subsides. This time, though, contract your anal muscles inward and upward while pulling your stomach toward your spine. Which works better for you, in or out?
7) Continue doing this exercise until you master reaching higher sexual peaks and bringing yourself down again.

Once you've mastered a technique during masturbation, try it with your partner. Though it will be tougher to maintain control with a soft, warm body pressed against you, the procedure is identical. If you don't succeed at first, go back to practicing with masturbation, and then try again. The goals of controlling your ejaculation and satisfying your partner are worth whatever time and effort it takes.

If you are not happy with the size of your penis, I highly recommend you check out PenisAdvantage. PenisAdvantage provides unique natural penis enlargement exercises that you can try at home to enlarge your penis by 1 to 4 inches naturally without the need for any medication or drugs.

No Vaccinations, No Autism

Rates of autism continue to skyrocket across the United States. Some experts estimate that as many as 1 in 166 children born today will be diagnosed with an autistic disorder. Autism is now the second most commonly diagnosed serious developmental disability in children after mental retardation.

While the causes for the dramatic rise in cases over the past decade are the subject of much debate, one thing is certain: no vaccinations, no autism.

It's a far piece from the horse-and-buggies of Lancaster County, Pa., to the cars and freeways of Cook County, Ill.

But thousands of children cared for by Homefirst Health Services in metropolitan Chicago have at least two things in common with thousands of Amish children in rural Lancaster: They have never been vaccinated. And they don't have autism. Read more

Can a Cup of Coffee a Day Keep Alzheimer's Away?

Drinking coffee has many benefits for our health and well being, and now we can add Alzheimer's disease prevention to the list.

A cup of coffee a day could keep Alzheimer's disease at bay, research suggests.

Scientists have shown a daily dose of caffeine helps protect the brain from the harmful effects of cholesterol, which is linked to the disease. Read more

How to Increase Ejaculate Volume

For many men, the volume of their ejaculate is associated with increased libido, fertility, and sexual prowess. Yet, this desire stems from more than simple vanity. Increased volume translates into increased potency (the more sperm, the better the chance of impregnation) and increased pleasure (the larger the volume, the greater number of pleasurable muscle contractions).

Many men wonder whether or not women prefer men who ejaculate more. As it turns out, it is one of several criteria that a woman either consciously or subconsciously uses to judge a man’s sexual prowess. On the evolutionary, instinctual level, women are actually attracted to larger amounts of ejaculate simply because their primal mating instincts have made it clear that it is necessary to bear children.

So what are the factors that determine how much comes out? Diet, exercise and frequency of sex can all determine the volume of your emissions.

Amino acids (such as L-arginine, L-carnitine, and L-lysine), zinc, pumpkin seeds, maca, catuaba bark, and the Horny Goat Weed plant are all said to help semen volume, as is increasing your daily fluid intake. A number of ingredients are also said to help thicken semen. Because of their protein content, egg whites and gelatin are often recommended. Wheat germ, omega-3 oils, selenium, and zinc are all also believed to improve consistency.

An overall state of fitness is usually accompanied by good blood circulation, which can also help ejaculation. If you want a specific group of exercises that will target penis performance and sperm volume, follow the program in my post Exercise for Harder Erections.

Frequency of sexual activity also contributes to volume although only to a certain degree. If you abstain for a day or two, you'll certainly produce more sperm than you would ejaculating every few hours. However, any longer than this one to two day interval, and you won't see much of a difference as semen reservoirs will have stopped building a supply.

By improving both amount of fluid and measure/health of sperm, the volume is not only bigger, more impressive, and more pleasing, but much more potent, also. There are also essential benefits to a man's self-assurance when he is able to increase ejaculate volume and force. Sexual assertion is connected not only to conquest in sexual activities, but to many other forms of victory also; research prove assertiveness in sexual identity carries over into every facet of a man's being.

If you are not happy with the size of your penis, I highly recommend you check out PenisAdvantage. PenisAdvantage provides unique natural penis enlargement exercises that you can try at home to enlarge your penis by 1 to 4 inches naturally without the need for any medication or drugs.

Pregnant Women Warned about Trans Fats

More bad news about trans fats: they not only make you fat, but, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, they'll make your baby fat too.

Eating foods rich in trans fats while pregnant or breastfeeding could lead to fatter babies, new research has suggested.

Trans fats - which are contained in some biscuits, cakes, pies and crackers - have been linked to heart disease.

The new study on rats found that babies had a higher chance of being fat if their mother ate trans fats in pregnancy or while lactating. Read more

An Exercise Routine for Everybody

Barry Lovelace demonstrates a five-exercise weight training circuit. This routine would be a good routine to substitute for your regular routine when you travel since it uses machines, which is all many hotel fitness centers have.

Study Finds How Vitamin C May Stop Cancer

Linus Pauling is considered one of the most influential chemists of the 20th century and ranks among the most important scientists in history. However, Pauling's work on vitamin C in his later years generated controversy and was originally regarded by some adversaries in the field of medicine as outright quackery. Slowly, though, his claims are being vindicated.

Nearly 30 years after Nobel laureate Linus Pauling famously and controversially suggested that vitamin C supplements can prevent cancer, scientist have searched for the exact mechanism. Now a team of Johns Hopkins scientists may have found out how it happens. Read more

3 Easy Ways to Delay Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is embarrassing for the man, disappointing to the woman, and frustrating to both. For most men, however, overcoming the problem is not difficult as long as you know how. Svetlana Ivanova at Sex Secrets gives 3 easy ways to delay ejaculation.

Premature ejaculation is the most common sexual problem in men, affecting 25%-40% of men. It’s defined as a lack of voluntary control over ejaculation. Most men experience premature ejaculation at least once in their lives, but, if premature ejaculation is a chronic or occasional problem, there are 3 easy ways to gain ejaculatory control. Read more

An Exercise Routine That You Can Do Anywhere

Lea Woodward describes an exercise routine suitable for both men and women that can be done anywhere. She even tells how to change it from a strength routine into a cardio routine.

... What if you could do an exercise routine that helped you:

• Lose weight
• Improve muscle tone & firm up
• Improve your strength

…and requires no equipment whatsoever (except perhaps a gym mat or beach towel). Like the sound of that?

The following is a routine that you can do that takes no more than 20-30 minutes and is suitable for almost all levels (except if you’re a bodybuilder trying to pack on the muscle). Read more

Top Ten Natural Remedies for Insomnia

Popping a pill is quick and easy, but treating insomnia with sleeping pills is usually unnecessary because there are many simple, non-invasive solutions you can try that will help you improve the odds of finding the insomnia cure you need to get a good night of sleep tonight.

While not every person needs the same amount of sleep each night to feel well-rested, most studies show people feel their best when they get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. When people are younger they tend to sleep more than when they are older, although this isn't always true. While insomnia can be a passing nuisance, many people, as many as 60 million people, find insomnia a chronic problem. What can you do to prevent insomnia from overwhelming your daily life? Plenty.

If you find you are constantly struggling to stay awake during the day, or battling lethargy almost daily by gulping down cup after cup of coffee, there's good news on the horizon. You don't have to pop another pill to start feeling your best. Just a few hours of extra rest a night may be all you need to recover from the dull cloud that currently surrounds your head. Here are some simple non-invasive solutions you can try that will help you get the ball rolling and improve the odds you will find the insomnia cure you need to get a good night of sleep tonight. Read more

Natural Alternatives to Breast Enlargement Surgery

Breast enlargement surgery is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure. Though the results are often excellent, the surgery is still expensive and potentially dangerous. Doctors are warning of superbug infections in face lifts. How long before the same will be said of breast enlargement surgeries?

Caitlin MacKenna at Natural Remedies has a series of posts on natural alternatives to breast enlargement surgery. A herbal approach is given in Natural Breast Enlargement with Fenugreek, a "hands-on" approach is discussed in Increase a Cup Size in 30 Days with Breast Massage, and the power of the mind of used in Think and Grow Breasts.

Though all of these approaches are supposed to be effective by themselves, combining them should lead to faster and better results.

Push-up Variations That Strengthen Your Core

In this video, you will learn to two push-up variations that build your chest and strengthen your core to give you the six-pack abs you've always wanted. Six-pack abs are a key sign of fitness and nothing complements that more than having a nice, defined pecs as well. Push-ups are not for just men, however. Building your pecs with push-ups can also help women with their cleavage.

Teetotalers Should Start Drinking

Though study after study has shown the health benefits of light to moderate alcohol consumption, doctors have been unwilling to recommend that people who don't drink start. However, a new study clearly shows that teetotalers who aren't at risk for alcoholism, but who are at risk for heart disease, should head to the nearest liquor store at their earliest opportunity.

People who do not drink alcohol may finally have a reason to start -- a study published on Friday shows non-drinkers who begin taking the occasional tipple live longer and are less likely to develop heart disease.

People who started drinking in middle age were 38 percent less likely to have a heart attack or other serious heart event than abstainers -- even if they were overweight, had diabetes, high blood pressure or other heart risks, Dr. Dana King of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and colleagues Read more

12 Steps to Better Sleep

From having occasional difficulty sleeping to insomnia, there is a lot you can do to get a better night's sleep, feel refreshed when you awake, and remain alert throughout the day. We all have trouble sleeping from time to time, but you can sleep better every night by following these 12 simple steps.

1) Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Get up at the same time each morning, regardless of the previous night’s sleep, to help set your biological clock.

2) To consolidate and deepen sleep, restrict the amount of sleep to only as much as needed to feel refreshed during the following day - usually 7-8 hours.

3) Arrange the bedroom so that it is a comfortable setting. Insulate it against sound and light by using carpets and curtains. Ear plugs and eye masks may be helpful.

4) Keep the room at a cool to moderate temperature. Excessive heat disturbs sleep.

5) Use the bedroom for sleeping and sexual activity only.

6) Turn off your phone.

7) Avoid liquids before going to sleep to minimize nighttime trips to the bathroom. If liquids are not a problem, try drinking warm milk at bedtime.

8) Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and caffeinated beverages, especially in the evening. Although alcohol may help you fall asleep, it causes subsequent sleep to be fragmented.

9) Avoid napping longer than one hour or after 4 pm.

10) Exercising regularly helps deepen sleep, but strenuous exercise should be completed no later than three hours before going to bed.

11) Try a relaxation techniques, such as, biofeedback, meditation, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, or massage to prepare the mind and body for sleep.

12) As far as possible, work out family or job-related problems before going to sleep.

It is becoming increasing clear how critical sound sleep is to your health and well-being, Many sleep problems go unrecognized for years, leading to unnecessary suffering, poor quality of life, accidents, and great expense. Following the 12 steps to better sleep can have a tremendous impact upon your overall health and quality of life.

To get FREE access to the exclusive series "What Are the 7 Biggest Mistakes Most Insomniacs Make?" click here. To read my review of the two best resources for better sleep you can choose, go to my blog Better Sleep.

Do Women Prefer Muscle Tone over Muscle Mass?

Which do women prefer: muscle tone or muscle mass? To find out, researchers at UCLA showed 141 women photos of shirtless men and had them rank the photos. The results? The women ranked the athletic bodies higher than their more muscular counterparts.

One of the best ways to develop an athletic body that appeals to women is through sprint training.

The reason why Sprinter’s [sic] seemed blessed with an impressive, lean and muscular physique is all in the science…

[...]

A sprinter’s physique is designed for power and actually builds your total body, not just legs. If you don’t believe me, do a session where you are doing sprint intervals and talk to me in the morning when everything is sore…not just your legs.

Here are some quick ways to not only reduce that mid section of yours but also build a solid foundation for a nice looking body. Read more

What to Do If You Have Used Aspartame

Aspartame is a dangerous chemical food additive. After more than twenty years of aspartame use, the number of its victims is rapidly piling up, and people are figuring out for themselves that aspartame is at the root of their health problems. Once you have taken the important first step of not using aspartame, how do you take the next step of detoxification?

The most important starting point of any detoxification program is to stop exposure to the toxin or toxins. This means avoiding even small amounts, since once sensitized to the toxin even minute amounts can produce full-blown toxicity. This is especially so with accumulative toxins, such as aspartame. It has been shown conclusively that the metabolic products of methanol breakdown, formaldehyde in particular, accumulates on the DNA and cellular proteins.

Once you have cleansed your diet of the toxin, removal of the toxin and its metabolic products from your system will begin. Central to this process is the body's detoxification system, which exist in all cells of the body, with the bulk of detoxification taking place in the liver. The detoxification system is divided into two components called phase I and phase II, which work in tandem. Toxins pass through phase I and then pass to phase II where they are further detoxified and made water-soluble for eventual disposal. It is now known that you can significantly enhance the body's ability to detoxify these substances through the judicious use of specific supplements. Of the two systems phase II is most important and most often impaired.

The following is a list of nutrients that enhance detoxification: Read more