tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668870365354468542024-03-19T02:36:44.185-07:00FITNESS & HEALTHY BODYUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-41614867767398130692008-10-07T19:36:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:37:21.563-07:00Top 10 Sex Tips for Man<p><span style="font-size: 85%;">Maintaining your sexual health is an important part of aging. By keeping yourself healthy, confronting problems calmly and talking openly with your partner, you can improve your chances of having a long healthy sex life.</span></p><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">1. Talk Openly With Your Partner</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Good sex always relies on open communication with your partner. As both of you age, things will change. These changes will require patience, understanding and experimentation. Emotions can greatly impact sexual health. By maintaining good communication and intimacy, you and your partner will be able to adapt to changes as necessary.<br /></span></div><div><script>zSB(3,3)</script></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">2. Manage Your Health Conditions</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Health conditions like high blood pressure and chronic pain can make a healthy sex life difficult. By aggressively managing any health conditions, you can greatly reduce their impact on your sex life. A good approach is to follow your doctor’s advice and make lifestyle changes.<br /></span></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">3. Talk To Your Doctor</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Your doctor cannot help you with your sexual concerns unless you mention them. Some sexual problems are actually medication side effects, which can be handled by adjusting medications that you are already taking or changing the time of day that you take medications. Many medications also directly treat sexual problems.<br /></span></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">4. Experiment With Positions and Times</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Sometimes changing the time of day or the position used in sex can relieve sexual problems. If a health condition is interfering with your sex life, you may notice that your symptoms are better at a certain time of day. Try having sex then. Varying the sexual positions that you use can help too, especially if pain from arthritis or other condition interferes with sex.<br /></span></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">5. Expand Your Concept of Sex</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Men tend to think of sex in terms of orgasms, but there can be a lot more to sex. As you age, you will need more time and physical contact to become aroused. Hugging, kissing and other forms of contact are essential parts of your sex life. If you find yourself living alone, masturbation can be part of a normal, healthy sex life.<br /></span></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">6. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Both alcohol and smoking can hinder a man’s ability to achieve an erection. These two substances alter the blood flow in your body and can limit the amount of blood that enters the penis. This can lead to the inability to have an erection, difficulty maintaining an erection or an erection that is softer than normal. If you are having sexual difficulties, consider abstaining from smoking and alcohol.<br /></span></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">7. Expect Difficulties</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">As you age, you will experience certain changes in your sexual function. When these changes occur, don’t panic. Rather, think of them as problems to be solved. If you react emotionally to these problems, you can make them worse. By expecting some degree of sexual change as you age, you can react calmly and troubleshoot your situation.<br /></span></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">8. Eat Healthy and Lose Weight</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Being overweight puts a strain on your body that can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions, all of which can interfere with a normal sex life. By eating healthy foods and losing excess weight you can prevent sexual problems.<br /></span></div><div class="lsItm"><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">9. Stay Sexually Active</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">If you have a long period of time in your life when you are sexually inactive, it will be more difficult to become sexually active later. Not only can frequent sex improve your sexual performance, it can actually may even help you live longer.<br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">10. Safe Sex</span></h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">As more and more older people continue to have an active sex life, the issue of safe sex arises. All sexually active people must take this matter very seriously. STDs and HIV are on the rise in older adults. You cannot assume that having sex is risk-free just because you and your partner are older. In fact, as the age of your sexual partner increases, his or her sexual history is longer, too. Always practice safe sex. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-12905630972101538302008-10-07T19:35:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:36:31.965-07:00Exercises to Improve Sex<p><span style="font-size: 85%;">Everybody knows exercise is key to a good ticker and a more sleek physique. But did you know working out may improve your sex life, trigger a better night's sleep and help you stop smoking?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">"Obviously, exercise helps with weight loss, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and reducing risk for such things as osteoporosis and diabetes," says Fabio Comana, exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise. "Those are the mainstream benefits, but there's a lot more people may not be aware of."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">As the summer season begins -- and many contemplate trips to the gym -- take a look at a few of the other benefits of exercise.</span></p><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a name="1"></a><a name="rv4"></a></span><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Good night's sleep</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">An active lifestyle might also mean a more restful sleep. The National Sleep Foundation reports that exercise in the afternoon can help deepen shut-eye and cut the time it takes for you to fall into dreamland. But, they caution, vigorous exercise leading up to bedtime can actually have the reverse effects.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">A 2003 study, however, found that a morning fitness regime was key to a better snooze. Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center concluded that postmenopausal women who exercised 30 minutes every morning had less trouble falling asleep than those who were less active. The women who worked out in the evening hours saw little or no improvement in their sleep patterns.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">No studies have proven conclusively the best time to exercise, says Comana, but the benefits of "a better ability to fall asleep and a more restful sleep when you do -- there's unanimous agreement on that."</span></p><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a name="2"></a><a name="rv3"></a></span><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">A stop to smoking</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">The adrenaline rush and stress relief from a brief workout can replace similar feelings smokers get from tobacco and help reduce the urge for a cigarette for those trying to quit, according to smoking cessation programs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">Interested in the effect of exercise on someone trying to kick the habit, one study in the Archives of Internal Medicine followed 281 sedentary female smokers, who were otherwise healthy, in their efforts to quit. The group assigned exercise sessions was twice as likely to quit and stay smoke-free over the nonexercise group, both at 12 weeks and a year later.</span></p><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a name="3"></a><a name="rv2"></a></span><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Brain boost</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">Regular exercisers may have to work less to jog their memory in the long run, as well as experience short-term benefits in creativity and reaction time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">One study in the journal Nature reports that sedentary senior citizens who took up walking for 45 minutes, three days a week, were able to significantly improve mental skills that decline with age. Meanwhile, Middlesex University researchers in London discovered that 25 minutes of aerobic exercise boosted scores on creativity tests that followed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">And one study "found physically fit workers were 12.5 percent more efficient at the end of the day than their nonphysically fit counterparts," Comana says.</span></p><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a name="4"></a><a name="rv1"></a></span><h3><span style="font-size: 85%;">Better sex</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">If a well-rested, smarter and nonsmoking self is not enough, exercise has also been linked to a better sex life. Poor general health can lead to poor sexual function, so keeping fit only helps maintain or revitalize performance and satisfaction in the bedroom.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">After studying more than 31,000 men, the Harvard School of Public Health researchers reported that those who were physically active had a 30 percent lower risk for erectile dysfunction than the men with little or no physical activity.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">Women reap the exercise benefits, too. One study by the University of British Columbia found that 20 minutes of exercise spurred greater sexual response in the women participants compared with no exercise at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">And overall, people who exercise regularly feel better about themselves, feel more sexually desirable and report higher levels of satisfaction, according to a study in the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 85%;">Along with these lesser-known benefits, exercise also promotes health in a myriad of tiny detailed ways, says Comana, with increased "coordination, flexibility and greater efficiency in daily activities."</span></p><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><a href="http://www.marketiva.com/?gid=12875" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 446px; height: 111px;" alt="" src="http://www.blalang.com/forex/images/ENG_marketiva_468x60_1.gif" border="0" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-41192705139995168212008-10-07T19:06:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:07:33.471-07:00Breast Cancer<p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Breast Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment</strong> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is a cancer of the breast tissue, which can occur in both women and men. Breast cancer may be one of the oldest known forms of cancer tumors in humans.Worldwide, breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer). Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. Today, breast cancer, like other forms of cancer, is considered to be a result of damage to DNA. How this mechanism may occur comes from several known or hypothesized factors (such as exposure to ionizing radiation, or viral mutagenesis). Some factors lead to an increased rate of mutation (exposure to estrogens) and decreased repair (the BRCA1, BRCA2 and p53) genes. Alcohol generally appears to increase the risk of breast cancer<br />Breast cancer can also occur in men, although it rarely does. Experts predict 178,000 women and 2,000 men will develop breast cancer in the United States. There are several different types of breast cancer. First is Ductal carcinoma begins in the cells lining the ducts that bring milk to the nipple and accounts for more than 75% of breast cancers. Second is Lobular carcinoma begins in the milk-secreting glands of the breast but is otherwise fairly similar in its behavior to ductal carcinoma. Other varieties of breast cancer can arise from the skin, fat, connective tissues, and other cells present in the breast. Some women have what is known as HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2, short for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, is a gene that helps control cell growth, division, and repair. When cells have too many copies of this gene, cell growth speeds up.<br /><br />Causes of Breast Cancer<br /><br />Simply being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer. While men can also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men. The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Nearly 8 out of 10 breast cancers are found in women age 50 or older. About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are linked to changes (mutations) in certain genes. The most common gene changes are those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. The relatives can be from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. Woman with cancer in one breast has a greater chance of getting a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from the first cancer coming back Many experts now believe that the main reason for this is because they have faster growing tumors. Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian women have a lower risk of getting breast cancer. Certain types of abnormal biopsy results can be linked to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.Women who have had radiation treatment to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) earlier in life have a greatly increased risk of breast cancer<br />Some pregnant women were given the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought to lower their chances of losing the baby. Recent studies have shown that these women (and their daughters who were exposed to DES while in the uterus), have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. Use of alcohol is clearly linked to a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. Women who have 1 drink a day have a very small increased risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who drink no alcohol. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting the amount you drink.Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, especially for women after change of life and if the weight gain took place during adulthood. Also, the risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is in the waist area. Breast-feeding and pregnancy: Some studies have shown that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years. This could be because breast-feeding lowers a woman’s total number of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy. Women who began having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.<br /><br />Symptoms of Breast Cancer<br />1.Lumps.<br />2.Rash.<br />3.Breast Pain.<br />4.Cysts.<br />5.Nipple Discharge.<br />6.Inverted Nipple.<br /><br />Treatment of Breast Cancer<br /><br />1.Hormonal therapy (with tamoxifen).<br />2.Chemotherapy.<br />3.Radiotherapy.<br />4.Surgery.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-91385451638214448952008-10-07T19:04:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:06:35.626-07:00Quit Smoking Tips<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">You've probably heard how smoking can be harmful to your health and the health of those around you. Here are some ways quitting can be helpful. If you quit, you will:<br /><br />1. Prolong your life<br />2. Improve your health. Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer, throat cancer, a lung disease called emphysema, heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, gum disease, and other conditions.<br />3. Feel healthier. Smoking can cause coughing, poor athletic ability, and sore throats.<br />4. Look better. Smoking can cause face wrinkles, stained teeth, anddull skin.<br />5. Improve your sense of taste and smell.<br />6. Save money.<br /><br />How can I </span><a class="kLink" id="KonaLink1" style="position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/dr-bunny-vreelands-quit-smoking-tips-283741.html#" target="_new"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">quit smoking</span></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">?<br /><br />At Dr. Bunny Vreeland’s practice the philosophy is that there's no one way to quit smoking that works for everyone. A </span><a class="kLink" id="KonaLink2" style="position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/dr-bunny-vreelands-quit-smoking-tips-283741.html#" target="_new"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">smoking cessation</span></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> program may be helpful to you. Ask your doctor about smoking cessation programs in your community. As a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, I know that hypnosis can be extremely successful for most clients. Some things that will help you ease the process are:<br /><br />1. Pick a date to </span><a class="kLink" id="KonaLink3" style="position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/dr-bunny-vreelands-quit-smoking-tips-283741.html#" target="_new"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">stop smoking</span></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">, and then get ready for it.<br /><br />2. Record when and why you smoke. You will come to know what triggers you to smoke.<br /><br />3. Record what you do when you smoke. Try smoking at different times and different places to break the connections between smoking and certain activities.<br /><br />4. List your reasons for quitting. Read over the list before and after you quit.<br /><br />5. Find activities to replace smoking. Be ready to do something else when you want to smoke.<br /><br />6. Ask yourself, “What do I do when I quit smoking?”<br /><br />What happens when I quit smoking?<br />After 20 minutes of not smoking:<br /><br />1. You stop polluting the air.<br /><br />2. Your blood pressure and pulse decrease.<br /><br />3. The temperature of your hands and feet increases</span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-35818177211400272152008-10-07T19:03:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:04:34.818-07:00All About Diabetes<p>Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.</p> <p>There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. </p> <p>In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.</p> <p>With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.</p> <p>In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-80563813361292568562008-10-07T19:02:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:03:19.282-07:0015 Best Diet Tips Ever<p>Everyone knows the keys to losing weight: Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple enough, but in the context of real life and its demands, it can be anything but simple. So how do successful losers do it? To find out, WebMD asked experts across the country for their best diet tips.</p> <p>Here's what they said:</p><h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 1</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.</span></h3> <p>People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need.</p> <p>"If you don't like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 2:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.</span></h3> <p>Start by focusing on getting the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.</p> <p>"It sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it, because at the same time you are meeting your fiber goals and feeling more satisfied from the volume of food," says chef Laura Pansiero, RD.</p> <p>You're also less likely to overeat because fruits and vegetables displace fat in the diet. And that's not to mention the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. More than 200 studies have documented the disease-preventing qualities of phytochemicals found in produce, says Pansiero.</p> <p>Her suggestion for getting more: Work vegetables into meals instead of just serving them as sides on a plate.</p> <p>"I love to take seasonal vegetables and make stir-fries, frittatas, risotto, pilafs, soups, or layer on sandwiches," Pansiero says. "It is so easy to buy a variety of vegetables and incorporate them into dishes."</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 3:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Consider whether you're really hungry.</span></h3> <p>Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger, suggests Michelle May, MD, author of <i>Am I Hungry?</i></p> <p>"Hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it," she says.</p> <p>When you're done eating, you should feel better -- not stuffed, bloated, or tired.</p> <p>"Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably," says May.</p> <p>Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullness.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 4:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Be choosy about nighttime snacks.</span></h3> <p>Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax.</p> <p>"Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit," says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Malena Perdomo, RD.</p> <p>Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream. Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea, suggests Perdomo.</p><h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 5</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">: Enjoy your favorite foods</span>.</h3> <p>"I think putting your favorite foods off limits leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating," says Sass.</p> <p>Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag.</p> <p>"You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation," says Sass.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 6</span>:<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> Enjoy your treats away from home.</span></h3> <p>When you need a treat, Ellie Krieger, RD, host of Food Network's <i>Healthy Appetite,</i> suggests taking a walk to your local ice cream parlor or planning a family outing.</p> <p>"By making it into an adventure, you don't have to worry about the temptation of having treats in the house, and it is a fun and pleasurable way to make it work when you are trying to lose weight," says Krieger.</p> <p>And for those times you just can't get out? Krieger stocks her kitchen with fresh fruit, which she thinks can be every bit as delicious as any other dessert.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 7:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Eat several mini-meals during the day.</span></h3> <p>If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. But when you're hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be challenging.</p> <p>"Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight," says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD.</p> <p>She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying as many of them as you can early in the day -- dinner should be the last time you eat.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 8:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Eat protein at every meal.</span></h3> <p>Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control.</p> <p>" Diets higher in protein [and] moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss," says University of Illinois protein researcher Donald Layman, PhD.</p> <p>Getting enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 9</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">: Spice it up.</span></h3> <p>Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied.</p> <p>"Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so you won't eat as much," says Perdomo.</p> <p>When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy for a long-lasting burst of sweetness with just a few calories.</p><h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 10:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods.</span></h3> <p>Having ready-to-eat snacks and meals-in-minutes staples on hand sets you up for success. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-through or call in a pizza order if you can make a healthy meal in 5 or 10 minutes.</p> <p>Sass stocks her kitchen with:</p> <ul type="disc"><li>94% fat-free microwave popcorn (20-25 calories per cup, and you can make it in two minutes or less)</li><li>Frozen vegetables</li><li>Bags of pre-washed greens</li><li>Canned diced tomatoes</li><li>Canned beans</li><li>Whole-grain wraps or pitas</li><li>Pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts</li><li>A few containers of pre-cooked brown rice</li></ul> <p>Within minutes, she can toss together a healthy medley.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 11:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Order children’s portions at restaurants.</span></h3> <p>"When you are eating out, order a child's pizza or a small sandwich as an easy way to trim calories and get your portions under control," suggest Perdomo.</p> <p>Another trick is to use smaller plates. This helps the portions look like more, and if your mind is satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 12:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Eat foods in season.</span></h3> <p>"If you don't love certain fruits or vegetables, it could be because you ate them out of season when they have little taste or flavor," says Pensiero. "When you eat seasonally, fruits and vegetables are more flavorful, at their best, and I promise you won't be disappointed."</p> <p>At GiGi's Trattoria, her restaurant in Rhinebeck, N.Y., she serves simple fruit desserts, like naturally sweet strawberries topped with aged balsamic vinegar, or low-fat yogurt or fresh berries in a compote.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 13</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">: Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables.</span></h3> <p>Simply by eating less pasta or bread and more veggies, you could lose a dress or pants size in a year.</p> <p>"You can save from 100-200 calories if you reduce the portion of starch on your plate and increase the amount of vegetables," says Sass.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 14:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress.</span></h3> <p>Sooner or later, you're going to be faced with a stressful situation. Instead of turning to food for comfort, be prepared with some non-food tactics that work for you.</p> <p>Sass suggests reading a few chapters in a novel, listening to music, writing in a journal, practicing meditative deep breathing, or looking at a photo album of loved ones.</p> <h3><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Best Diet Tip No. 15:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Be physically active.</span></h3> <p>Although it may seem counterintuitive, don't use exercise either to punish yourself for eating or to "earn" the right to eat more.</p> <p>"When you do, it sets up a negative thought pattern, which is why so many people say they hate to exercise," says May.</p> <p>Instead, focus on how great you feel, how much better you sleep and how much more energy you have when you exercise. Physical activity is good for you whether you are trying to lose weight or not, so keep it positive and build a lifelong habit.<br /></p> <input value="https://pref.health.webmd.com/webmd/test/includes/mf/n_f.asp" name="failure_url" type="hidden"><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">A little extra support</span><label for="eMail"><br /> <input onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value='Enter Email Address';}" onfocus="this.value='';" value="Enter Email Address" class="textInput_fmt" id="eMail" maxlength="30" name="EmailAddr" type="text"><br /> </label><br /> <input onclick="return sl(this,'','nl_arttest2');" class="submit_fmt" id="newsletterSubmit" src="http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/modules/btn_submit_newsletters.gif" type="image">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-18625752751187633052008-10-07T19:00:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:02:17.654-07:00Cholesterol Management Guide<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">How to Lower Your Cholesterol</span> <div class="subhead_fmt"> </div> <p>Cholesterol helps your body build new cells, insulate nerves and produce hormones. Normally, the liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs. But cholesterol also enters your body from dietary sources, such as animal-based foods like milk, eggs and meat. Too much cholesterol in your body is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.</p> <h3 style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">How Does High Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease?</h3> <p>When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes the arteries to harden -- a process called atherosclerosis. The arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.</p> <p>There are two forms of cholesterol that most Americans are familiar with: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol.) These are the form in which cholesterol travels in the blood. LDLs have little protein and high levels of cholesterol and HDL has a lot of protein and very little cholesterol.</p> <p>LDL is the main source of artery clogging plaque. HDL actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood.</p> <p>Triglycerides are another fat in our bloodstream. Research is now showing that high levels of triglycerides is also linked to heart disease.</p> <h3 style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">What Are the Symptoms of High Cholesterol?</h3> <p>High cholesterol itself does not cause any symptoms; so many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are too high. Therefore, it is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease, even if you already have it.</p> <h3 style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">What Cholesterol Numbers Should I Look For?</h3> <p>Everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every 5 years. The test that is performed is a blood test called a lipoprotein profile. That includes:</p> <ul><li>Total cholesterol level</li><li>LDL (the "bad" cholesterol)</li><li>HDL (the "good" cholesterol)</li><li>Triglycerides</li></ul> <p>Here's how to interpret your cholesterol numbers:</p> <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="middle"> <b>Total Cholesterol</b> </td> <td align="middle"> <b>Category</b> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">Less than 200</td> <td align="middle">Desirable</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">200 - 239</td> <td align="middle">Borderline High</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">240 and above</td> <td align="middle">High</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> <br /> </p> <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="middle"> <b>LDL Cholesterol</b> </td> <td align="middle"> <b>LDL-Cholesterol Category</b> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">Less than 100</td> <td align="middle">Optimal</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">100 - 129</td> <td align="middle">Near optimal/above optimal</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">130 - 159</td> <td align="middle">Borderline high</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">160 - 189</td> <td align="middle">High</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">190 and above</td> <td align="middle">Very high</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> <br /> </p> <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="middle"> <b>HDL*</b> </td> <td align="middle"> <b>HDL-Cholesterol Category</b> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">60 or more</td> <td align="middle">Desirable - helps to lower risk of<br />heart disease</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">Less than 40</td> <td align="middle">Major risk factor - increases the<br />risk for developing heart disease</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>*HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better.</p> <p> </p> <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr> <td align="middle"> <b>Triglycerides</b> </td> <td align="middle"> <b>HDL-Cholesterol Category</b> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">Less than 150</td> <td align="middle">Normal (desirable)<br />heart disease</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">150-199</td> <td align="middle">Borderline high</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="middle">200 or more</td> <td align="middle">High, may require treatment in<br />some people</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">What Affects Cholesterol Levels?</h3> <p>A variety of factors can affect your cholesterol levels. They include:</p> <ul><li> <b>Diet.</b> Saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in the food you eat increase cholesterol levels. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and trans fats and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level.</li><li> <b>Weight.</b> In addition to being a risk factor for heart disease, being overweight can also increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL, total cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels, as well as raise your HDL.</li><li> <b>Exercise.</b> Regular exercise can lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most days.</li><li> <b>Age and Gender.</b> As we get older, cholesterol levels rise. Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After menopause, however, women's LDL levels tend to rise.</li><li> <b>Heredity.</b> Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.</li><li> <b>Medical conditions.</b> Occasionally a medical condition may cause an elevation of cholesterol levels in the blood. These include hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), liver disease and kidney disease.</li><li> <b>Medications.</b> Some medicines, like steroids and progestins may increase the "bad" cholesterol and decrease the "good" cholesterol.</li></ul> <h3 style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">How Is High Cholesterol Treated?</h3> <p>The main goal in lowering cholesterol is to lower your LDL and raise your HDL. To lower cholesterol, eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight. Some may also need to take cholesterol lowering medications.</p> <p>Doctors determine your "goals" for lowering LDL based on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease.</p> <p>Major risk factors include: age (men 45 yrs and older, women 55 years and older), cigarette smoking, hypertension, an HDL less than 40 mg/dL, family history of premature heart disease in a male first degree relative less than 55 years and female first degree relative less than 65 years of age.</p> <ul><li>If you have 0-1 risk factor for heart disease, you are at low-to-moderate risk. Generally, lifestyle changes are effective in keeping the cholesterol in check.</li><li>If you have 2 or more risk factors for heart disease, you are at moderate risk, depending on what heart disease risk factors you have. Sometimes your doctor will try lifestyle changes, but most of these people require cholesterol-lowering drugs or drugs to raise HDL.</li><li>If you have known heart disease, diabetes or multiple risk factors, you are at high risk. These people require a combination of cholesterol-lowering drugs and lifestyle changes to control their cholesterol levels.</li></ul> <p>Goals for treatment are based on the revised guidelines from the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) of the National Cholesterol Education Program, Update, Circulation. 2004;110:227-239.</p> <p>LDL cholesterol goals include the following:</p> <ul><li> <b>Category I, Highest Risk</b>(ten-year risk greater than 20%*): your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL. For those with a very high risk (those who have had a recent heart attack, those with cardiovascular disease or peripheral artery disease combined with diabetes or poorly controlled risk factors, or those with metabolic syndrome), it may be most effective for the LDL goal to be less than 70 mg/dL.</li><li> <b>Category II, Next Highest Risk</b>(ten-year risk 10-20%*): your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dL. Your doctor may set your LDL goal at less than 100 mg/dl if your LDL is 100-129.</li><li> <b>Category III, Moderate Risk</b>(ten-year risk less than 10%*): your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dL. Your doctor may set your LDL goal at less than 100 mg/dl if your LDL is 100-129.</li><li> <b>Category IV, Low Risk</b>(0-1 risk factor*): your LDL goal is less than 160 mg/dL.</li></ul><p>*Risk categories are based on the Framingham Heart Study to estimate 10- year risk for coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction and coronary death). It is based on adults aged 20 and older who do not have heart disease or diabetes. The risk factors included in the Framingham calculation are age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, treatment for hypertension, and cigarette smoking.</p> <p>To reduce your risk for heart disease or keep it low, it is very important to:</p> <ul><li>Control any other risk factors you may have, such as high blood pressure and smoking.</li><li>Follow a low saturated fat, low cholesterol eating plan</li><li>Maintain a desirable weight.</li><li>Participate in regular physical activity.</li><li>Begin medication therapy as directed by your physician.</li></ul> <h3 style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">What Drugs Are Used to Treat High Cholesterol?</h3> <p>Cholesterol-lowering drugs include:</p> <ul><li>Statins</li><li>Niacin</li><li>Bile-acid resins</li><li>Fibric acid derivatives</li></ul> <p>Cholesterol-lowering medicine is most effective when combined with a low-cholesterol diet and exercise program.</p> <p> <b style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Statins</b> <br />Statins block the production of cholesterol in the liver itself. They lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides and have a mild effect in raising HDL, the "good" cholesterol. These drugs are the first line of treatment for most people with high cholesterol. Side effects can include intestinal problems, liver damage, and in a few people, muscle tenderness or weakness.</p> <p>Examples of statins include:</p> <ul><li>Altocor</li><li>Crestor</li><li>Lipitor (atorvastatin)</li><li>Lescol (Fluvastatin)</li><li>Mevacor (lovastatin)</li><li>Pravachol (pravastatin)</li><li>Zocor (simvastatin)</li></ul> <p>Advicor is a combination of a statin and niacin (see below).</p> <p>Caduet is a new drug that is a combination of a statin (Lipitor or atorvastatin) and a blood pressure-lowering drug called amlodipine(Norvasc).</p> <p> <b style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Niacin</b> <br />Niacin is a B-complex vitamin. It's found in food, but is also available at high doses by prescription. It lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL cholesterol. The main side effects are flushing, itching, tingling and headache, yet aspirin can reduce many of these symptoms. However speak with your doctor first. Niacin or nicotinic acid, includes the brand names Niacor, Niaspan, or Slo-niacin. Over-the-counter preparations include extended-release, timed-release, and controlled-release. Niacin found in dietary supplements should not be used to lower cholesterol. Your doctor or lipid specialist will let you know what type of niacin is best for you.</p> <p> <b style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Bile Acid Sequestrants</b> <br />These drugs work inside the intestine, where they bind to bile and prevent it from being reabsorbed into the circulatory system. Bile is made largely from cholesterol, so these drugs work by reducing the body's supply of cholesterol, thus lowering total and LDL cholesterol. The most common side effects are constipation, gas, and upset stomach. Examples of bile acid resins include:</p> <ul><li>Questran and Questran Light (cholestyramine)</li><li>Colestid (colestipol)</li><li>WelChol (colesevelam)</li></ul> <p> <b style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Fibrates</b> <br />Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and can increase HDL and lower LDL cholesterol. The mechanism of action is not clear but it is thought that fibrates enhance the breakdown of triglyceride-rich particles and decrease the secretion of certain lipoproteins. In addition, they induce the synthesis of HDL.</p> <p>Examples of fibrates include:</p> <ul><li>Tricor (fenofibrate)</li><li>Lopid (gemfibrozil)</li><li>Lofibra (fenofibrate)</li></ul> <p> <b style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Cholesterol absorption inhibitors</b> <br />Zetia (ezetimibe) works to lower LDL by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Vytorin is a newer drug that is a combination of Zetia (ezetimibe) and a statin (simvastatin), and can decrease total and LDL cholesterol and raise HDL levels.</p> <p>In some cases, patients may be prescribed more than one cholesterol-lowering drug to achieve the desired results.</p><h3 style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">What Are the Side Effects of Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?</h3> <p>The side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs include:</p> <ul><li>Muscle aches*</li><li>Abnormal liver function</li><li>Allergic reaction (skin rashes)</li><li>Heartburn</li><li>Dizziness</li><li>Abdominal pain</li><li>Constipation</li><li>Decreased sexual desire</li></ul> <p>*If you have muscle aches, call your doctor immediately. This could be a sign of a life-threatening condition.</p> <h3 style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Are There Foods or Other Drugs I Should Avoid While Taking Cholesterol-Lowering Medicine?</h3> <p>Ask your doctor about the other medications you are taking, including herbals and vitamins, and their impact on cholesterol-lowering medications. You should not drink grapefruit juice while taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, as it can interfere with the liver's ability to metabolize these medications.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-80079133352779460762008-10-07T18:59:00.000-07:002008-10-07T19:00:03.820-07:00Organic Myths<h1>Organic Myths</h1> <h5 class="lightgray">Source: Organic.org</h5> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Myth: Organic food is too expensive</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fact:</span> In general, organic food costs more than conventional food because of the laborious and time-intensive systems used by the typically smaller organic farms. You may find that the benefits of organic agriculture off-set this additional cost. At the same time, there are ways to purchase organic while sticking to your budget. Consider the following when questioning the price of organic:<br /><ul><li>Organic farmers don’t receive federal subsidies like conventional farmers do. Therefore, the price of organic food reflects the true cost of growing.</li><li>The price of conventional food does not reflect the cost of environmental cleanups that we pay for through our tax dollars.</li><li>Organic farming is more labor and management intensive.</li></ul><p> </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Myth: Eating organic food is the same as eating natural food.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fact:</span> Natural foods do not contain additives or preservatives, but they may contain ingredients that have been grown with pesticides or are genetically modified. In other words, the ingredients in the ingredient panel will look familiar, but they have not been produced organically. Natural foods are not regulated and do not meet the same criteria that organic foods do.</p><p> </p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Myth: Organic food tastes like cardboard.<br /><br />Fact: </span>This may have been true of processed foods at one time—take crackers or pretzels for example—but this stereotype is as outdated as the hippie connotations that follow it. Today many organic snack foods taste the same as their conventional counterparts, while most people agree that fresh, locally grown organic produce does not compare to the alternative. Even organic produce that is not in season and has been shipped thousands of miles to reach our grocer’s shelves cannot compare to the produce found in our own back yard or at farmers markets. Taste is certainly an individual matter, so give organic a try and see what you think!<br /><br />Try baking a couple batches of cookies or prepare a couple of bowls of fruit or vegetable salad; use organic ingredients in one and conventional ingredients in the other.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366887036535446854.post-37128248681074416692008-10-07T18:56:00.000-07:002008-10-07T18:59:06.964-07:00Top 10 Reasons to Support Organic<h1>Top 10 Reasons to Support Organic in the 21st Century</h1> <h5 class="lightgray">Source: <strong>Alan Greene, MD</strong> (Organic Trade Association), <strong>Bob Scowcroft</strong> (Organic Farming Research Foundation), <strong>Sylvia Tawse</strong> (Fresh Ideas Group) </h5><br /> <strong>1. Reduce The Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies</strong><br />Buying organic food promotes a less toxic environment for all living things. With only 0.5 percent of crop and pasture land in organic, according to USDA that leaves 99.5 percent of farm acres in the U.S. at risk of exposure to noxious agricultural chemicals.<br /><br />Our bodies are the environment so supporting organic agriculture doesn’t just benefit your family, it helps all families live less toxically.<br /><br /><strong>2. Reduce if Not Eliminate Off Farm Pollution</strong><br />Industrial agriculture doesn’t singularly pollute farmland and farm workers; it also wreaks havoc on the environment downstream. Pesticide drift affects non-farm communities with odorless and invisible poisons. Synthetic fertilizer drifting downstream is the main culprit for dead zones in delicate ocean environments, such as the Gulf of Mexico, where its dead zone is now larger than 22,000 square kilometers, an area larger than New Jersey, according to Science magazine, August, 2002.<br /><br /><strong>3. Protect Future Generations</strong><br />Before a mother first nurses her newborn, the toxic risk from pesticides has already begun. Studies show that infants are exposed to hundreds of harmful chemicals in utero. In fact, our nation is now reaping the results of four generations of exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals, whose safety was deemed on adult tolerance levels, not on children’s. According to the National Academy of Science, “neurologic and behavioral effects may result from low-level exposure to pesticides.” Numerous studies show that pesticides can adversely affect the nervous system, increase the risk of cancer, and decrease fertility.<br /><br /><strong>4. Build Healthy Soil</strong><br />Mono-cropping and chemical fertilizer dependency has taken a toll with a loss of top soil estimated at a cost of $40 billion per year in the U.S., according to David Pimental of Cornell University. Add to this an equally disturbing loss of micro nutrients and minerals in fruits and vegetables. Feeding the soil with organic matter instead of ammonia and other synthetic fertilizers has proven to increase nutrients in produce, with higher levels of vitamins and minerals found in organic food, according to the 2005 study, “Elevating Antioxidant levels in food through organic farming and food processing,” Organic Center State of Science Review (1.05)<br /><br /><strong>5. Taste Better and Truer Flavor</strong><br />Scientists now know what we eaters have known all along: organic food often tastes better. It makes sense that strawberries taste yummier when raised in harmony with nature, but researchers at Washington State University just proved this as fact in lab taste trials where the organic berries were consistently judged as sweeter. Plus, new research verifies that some organic produce is often lower in nitrates and higher in antioxidants than conventional food. Let the organic feasting begin!<br /><br /><strong>6. Assist Family Farmers of all Sizes</strong><br />According to Organic Farming Research Foundation, as of 2006 there are approximately 10,000 certified organic producers in the U.S. compared to 2500 to 3,000 tracked in 1994. Measured against the two million farms estimated in the U.S. today, organic is still tiny. Family farms that are certified organic farms have a double economic benefit: they are profitable and they farm in harmony with their surrounding environment. Whether the farm is a 4-acre orchard or a 4,000-acre wheat farm, organic is a beneficial practice that is genuinely family-friendly.<br /><br /><strong>7. Avoid Hasty and Poor Science in Your Food</strong><br />Cloned food. GMOs and rBGH. Oh my! Interesting how swiftly these food technologies were rushed to market, when organic fought for 13 years to become federal law. Eleven years ago, genetically modified food was not part of our food supply; today an astounding 30 percent of our cropland is planted in GMOs. Organic is the only de facto seal of reassurance against these and other modern, lab-produced additions to our food supply, and the only food term with built in inspections and federal regulatory teeth.<br /><br /><strong>8. Eating with a Sense of Place</strong><br />Whether it is local fruit, imported coffee or artisan cheese, organic can demonstrate a reverence for the land and its people. No matter the zip code, organic has proven to use less energy (on average, about 30 percent less), is beneficial to soil, water and local habitat, and is safer for the people who harvest our food. Eat more seasonably by supporting your local farmers market while also supporting a global organic economy year round. It will make your taste buds happy.<br /><br /><strong>9. Promote Biodiversity</strong><br />Visit an organic farm and you’ll notice something: a buzz of animal, bird and insect activity. These organic oases are thriving, diverse habitats. Native plants, birds and hawks return usually after the first season of organic practices; beneficial insects allow for a greater balance, and indigenous animals find these farms a safe haven. As best said by Aldo Leopold, “A good farm must be one where the native flora and fauna have lost acreage without losing their existence.” An organic farm is the equivalent of reforestation. Industrial farms are the equivalent of clear cutting of native habitat with a focus on high farm yields.<br /><br /><strong>10. Celebrate the Culture of Agriculture</strong><br />Food is a ‘language’ spoken in every culture. Making this language organic allows for an important cultural revolution whereby diversity and biodiversity are embraced and chemical toxins and environmental harm are radically reduced, if not eliminated. The simple act of saving one heirloom seed from extinction, for example, is an act of biological and cultural conservation. Organic is not necessarily the most efficient farming system in the short run. It is slower, harder, more complex and more labor-intensive. But for the sake of culture everywhere, from permaculture to human culture, organic should be celebrated at every table.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0