Our society has an increased interest in making healthy lifestyle choices. We pay closer attention to what we eat and how we exercise our bodies. We look to our bodies for signs of good health, and we know how to recognize potential trouble. Even with all of our knowledge, however, many of us don't know that our hair can be a great tool for measuring good health.

To determine whether your hair and body are truly healthy, you need to understand the hair growth cycle. By knowing the growth cycle and reacting appropriately to the different phases, you'll be able to maintain healthier and thicker hair and to prevent unnatural hair loss and baldness.

Hair obviously grows continuously from the scalp. The rate of speed at which it grows will naturally vary from person to person, but the growth rate averages about six inches per year. From the time that a hair first appears above the surface of your scalp, it will grow in three different phases. These phases are essential, as the hair continually grows from your scalp.

The catagen is the first phase of growth that your hair will go through. This is also known as a transitional phase for your hair. When hair is in the catagen or "regressing" phase, it is actually getting ready to shed. The moisture, salt and water are released, and the growth of the hair will completely stop. This allows for the outer root of the hair to shrink and attach to the inner root. Catagen can last from two to four weeks. Different areas of your scalp are in this phase at all times, while other areas are in subsequent phases.

Telogen is the "resting" phase. Again, at any given time some of your hair will be in this phase, which typically lasts for about three months. The telogen phase occurs directly after catagen in order to complete the formation of the hair. If you pull out a hair during this phase, you will see hard, dry, white material at the root and you will experience some scalp irritation.

Anagen is the third and final stage of hair growth. Some healthy hairs are able to keep growing over time, yet others will become dead at the follicle. In the telogen phase, hairs that are unable to keep growing will fall out. Remaining hair will progress to "growth" phase known as anagen.

During this stage, roots of your hair begin to produce and divide new cells. New hairs are then pushed through the open follicles in the scalp. This type of hair will remain active from two to six years. If your hair tends to grow quite long, then you likely have a longer active anagen phase.

When the anagen phase becomes less active, hair loss and baldness occur. This is why it's important to understand the growth cycle of the hair before you can properly respond. You can give your hair the boost it needs when you know and can appreciate the hair growth cycle. You're able to find the best care methods for your scalp and hair, and you may be able to prevent the occurrence of premature hair loss.

What is the main reason for bad breath? Well, according to clinical studies, all that build-up of bacteria on the tongue is to blame. Not only bad breath, but also other maladies of the mouth, even gum disease, have been shown to be somewhat linked to those odour-causing bacteria.

Keeping our breath fresh is actually quite difficult because bacteria (unfriendly ones), find it really easy to hide on the tongue. Why? Well, notice the texture of the tongue - just look in the mirror now and see... they love to hide there. A plaque builds up on the tongue (consisting of bacteria and other bacterial by-products) most noticeably at night, and stays there undisturbed, whether or not you brush your teeth in the morning.

If you want to effectively remove the film of plaque, brushing your tongue with a toothbrush will not work. You will only stir it up.

The American Dental Association News recently reported that halitosis experts agree that the dominant cause of bad breath is the bacteria on the tongue.

This is a recent quote from Time Life Magazine: "When saliva collects in the mouth - particularly in depressions at the back of the tongue - and is digested by oral bacteria, powerful odours can result."

Volatile Sulphur Compounds (or VSCs, similar to the gasses released by a rotten egg) build up on the tongue. They are the waste products of the bacteria, and they smell terrible. Recent research suggests that these VSCs may even be the first factors to bring about the gum disease itself, and active gum disease also results in the release of more of them.

While volatile sulphur compounds are the principle causative agents of bad breath, the bacteria that live in our mouths also produce other waste products, and some of these have their own unpleasant odours too. A few of these wastes are:

Cadaverine - this is what we smell from dead bodies

Putrescine - decaying meat-like smells

Skatole - the characteristic smell of human faecal matter

Isovaleric acid - the smell of sweaty feet

I bet you are surprised to learn that this pleasant cocktail of odour-causing chemicals is found in the human mouth, and everyone has them. Our breath always has some level of these compounds in them.

Normally, we can't even detect these compounds with our noses because the levels are usually very low. But when they increase beyond a certain level, other people can pick them up, and that's when we are said to have "bad breath."

Along with normal mucus productions, food particles left over after eating stay on the tongue and create a nice coating which is an ideal hiding place for the bacteria. Also, the rough texture of the tongue aids in their hiding.

Here they are safe. Why? Because they don't like oxygen, in fact they will die from exposure to it, and when the coating on the tongue is undisturbed, they are happily making their smelly chemicals and giving you bad breath.

This is the primary cause of bad breath, or halitosis. It also leads to increased risk of decay (especially root surface decay), and a decreased sense of taste. There are no shortcuts or magic pills - cleanliness is the solution.

Diet pills have proven to be an effective method to lose weight when mixed with regular work out, low calories diet, that rich in proteins in seafood & other changes in daily life that include programs, resulting in weight loss.

What kind of food should we stick to the diet while obtaining pills? Several programs come with a meal plan or menu, which is exercised to enhance the usefulness of the above program of weight loss. The programs of weight loss are often high in fruits, fiber, vegetables & lean protein & low in carbohydrates & fats. Whole grains are an option & carbohydrates are added to the meal cards to boost energy levels in Dieter.

A workout program is needed in any program involving weight loss, even when we make use of diet pills as a supplement. Work must be carried out on a normal basis, not less than four times a week. Workout cardio-vascular must be brought into play in addition to harmonizing the muscle movements that can direct a greater weight loss. To make a plan for successful weight loss that we should make use of various methods of weight loss, including low-fat foods low in calories & diet pills & workout plan to ensure that the maximum amount of calories burned. There are a number of diet pills that are necessary than other diet pills.

These pills contain forms that are approved by a doctor or health professional. Diet pills, which are not obtained over the counter, might come with side effects enlarged because of the quantity of ingredients & chemicals inside them are often more powerful than those of diet pills, which are obtainable is above the counter. These diet pills are more expensive than those obtained over the counter. Besides that these diet pills are more successful.

Hunt for a diet pill that is more effective, we must speak with our physician or health care professional, because in doing so, we would be minimizing the risk of obtaining erroneous diet pill. Diet pills give the person undergoing the diet program to take advantage of the methods & components that can be vital in increasing our metabolism, which decreases the amount of fat that is absorbed by the body during eating food or even aggravate hunger altogether. Of these three forms of pills, those who impede the amount of fat that is absorbed by the body when food consumption is often the most effective for reducing weight when mixed with small dining table calories.

Diabetes care, to a large degree, is minimizing and preventing complications. Serious long term complications of diabetes such as heart disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, eye problems, peripheral vascular disease and others can cause serious and permanent damage. Diabetes sufferers need to be vigilant and close medical supervision is mandatory to prevent these problems from occurring or getting out of control.

Heart disease and stroke: Those with diabetes are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke which is the biggest cause of death for people with the disease. Diabetes can cause fatty deposits to build up in your arteries which can cause a heart attack. Diabetes can cause blood clots which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Another cause of heart attack and stroke is high blood pressure and those with diabetes are at an increased risk for that as well.

Kidney failure: The kidneys remove waste products from the blood and then return it back to the body. Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter these waste products. Diabetes mellitus, a form of the disease that is associated with high blood sugar, is one cause of kidney failure. In due course, these high blood sugar levels damage the millions of tiny filtering units within each kidney. This eventually causes kidney failure.

Vision problems: The most common complications of diabetes involving vision are cataracts and glaucoma. However, diabetic retinopathy can occur which is the most serious complication. This complication, caused by high blood sugar, causes damage to the tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the retina. The vessels swell and leak liquid into the retina, causing blurred vision and sometimes blindness.

Nerve damage: A nerve disorder (diabetic neuropathy) is caused by diabetes. Some nerve damage causes pain. Other nerve damage removes the sensation of pain and causes numbness. Some people have both types of symptoms at the same time. The cause of diabetic neuropathy is unknown but having high glucose levels over a period of years is thought to play a large role.

Infections: Your ability to fight infection is diminished when you have diabetes. Typical areas of infection are bladder, kidneys, gums, feet, and skin. Vaginal infections are common in women with diabetes. Having high blood sugar causes bacteria to grow and infections can develop much faster.

Sexual problems: Men with diabetes are three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction than men who do not have the disease. They are also more likely to have it earlier in life. About one third of women with diabetes may experience little or no sexual desire. Women often report a lack of sensation in the genital area, inability to reach orgasm and vaginal dryness resulting in pain or discomfort during sexual relations.

Foot problems: A typical complication of diabetes is foot injuries. Diabetes damages the nerves so damage to the feet may go unnoticed. Foot ulcers may develop which can easily become infected and difficult to heal. It is important for a person with diabetes to take care of their feet by keeping them clean, protecting them from heat an cold and wearing shoes and socks as much as possible.

While your doctor, dietitian, and others involved in your diabetes care will encourage and help you, the patient must take the initiative in avoiding the complications of diabetes. Make sure you take good care of yourself to prevent and minimize them because they are, to a large degree, preventable.

Smoking is a voluntary thing, you can tell from the title of this article. If you have been smoking for the last couple of years and have tried many times to quit, you probably think that smoking is anything but an addiction. But let's admit to the truth, you do choose each and every time you light up, you could just as well choose not to.
I have a friend who has been smoking heavily for the last 20 years. About 10 years ago he had a heart attack at age 45, which resulted in a quadruple bypass.
When I visited my friend at the hospital, he was scared half to death, he said that his doctors told him he would need to make some lifestyle changes, one of which was to quit smoking. He swore that he was at that point, done with tobacco forever...well that lasted 2 weeks, he had made a choice.
This is a guy who was and still is in fairly good physical condition, his job is physically demanding, he is active in some sports, not overweight. So his major risk factor is most likely smoking, and he has chosen to still smoke. He is about 4 years younger than me and, sadly I fully expect that I will attend his funeral. So you see it really is a choice, not always a wise one, but still a choice,
Quitting smoking by whatever method you choose is not a walk in the park! That's what this article is all about, helping you with tips, motivation and resources to overcome your health challenges.
Because they are all equally as damaging to your health and the health of those around us we should include all of the methods that we abuse our health with tobacco in this article. We will deal with each of them one at a time.
Smokeless tobacco - snuff, dip, chew, etc.
Using smokeless tobacco causes bad breath, stains and wears down your teeth, can cause painful mouth sores, can raise your blood pressure and your cholesterol. Over time you will be at higher risk for heart attack and cancer.
smoking pipe
Pipe smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease (loss of gum tissue, bone loss, and loss of teeth), mouth and lip sores and lesions, several oral cancers, heart attack and vascular disorders.
Cigarette smoking
Cigarette smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths, raises the risk of heart disease, contributes to high blood pressure, and vascular disease, and increases those risks for other people by exposing them to second hand smoke.
Cigar smoking
Many ex cigarette smokers are cigar smokers and try to convince themselves that this is a safe way to smoke, because they don't inhale. In fact almost all cigar smokers who were cigarette smokers do inhale. Cigar smokers who never were cigarette smokers tend not to inhale. Cigar smoking whether you inhale or not is still as damaging to your heath as any other form of tobacco use, there may be somewhat less risk of lung cancer, however there is no decreased risk of many other types of cancer, if you inhale a few other cancer types are added to the list.

We are exposed to a great numbers of advertising messages each day that try to glamorize tobacco use. To balance the message read the 1964 Surgeon General Report on smoking this was the first real indication to the public that there were dire risks associated with tobacco use. At the time this report was published about 70% of the U.S. adult population were smokers, smoking was depicted in movies and on television, in ads, on billboards, and glamorized in any way possible.
Noticeable changes overtime are:
Less movies and television shows that promote smoking as much as before.
Fewer advertisements that promote smoking.
Health warnings on cigarette packs, smokeless tobacco containers, pipe tobacco containers, however not on cigars.
The places that you can smoke are far fewer. Most workplaces, many bars and restaurants, theaters, airplanes, buses.
Are these and many other changes and restrictions working?
Around 23% of the US adult population now smokes; this is down from about 70% in 1965.
However there is still much that needs to be done, many high school and college students are still smoking and many are starting everyday, with the information that is available today it simply amazes me that these otherwise intelligent persons are still smoking.

vitamins are of diversified purposes for the human body. Do you know which vitamin you need?
Vitamin A can be found in: spinach; carrots; milk; eggs; apricots; nectarines; cantaloupe and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin B is found in : citrus fruit; green leafy vegetables; eggs; whole grains; poultry; seafood; peas or beans; and dairy products.
Vitamin C can be found in: cabbage; tomatoes; broccoli; citrus fruit; strawberries; and cantaloupe.
Vitamin D is found in : seafood; dairy products; and egg yolks.
Vitamin E is found in : sardines; nuts; wheat germ; green vegetables; whole grains; and egg yolks
Vitamin K can be found in : liver; pork; green leafy vegetables; and dairy products.
Benefits from Vitamins:
Vitamin A -helps your eyes at night. Seeing in color is another purpose Vitamin A offers.
Vitamin B - Provides necessary energy and protein for the body.
Vitamin C- Helps in the healing process.
Vitamin D - Provides excellent bone growth.
Vitamin E- Is very important to the tissues found in your liver; skin; and eyes.
Vitamin K - Helps in clotting blood.
The body can do many things to repair itself, but it can't reproduce vitamins. Every part of the body needs some sort of vitamin. In order to stay healthy, everyone should eat from the basic four food group.
Your body burns vitamins up in regular activity. This is why eating the correct foods are so important. A lack of vitamins can cause you to have many different feelings or illness.
If everyone ate the proper food, doctors would see less patients on a daily basic. Incorrect eating is the leading cause of obesity and diabetes. Both of these are serious health conditions. Heart trouble can also be contributed to unhealthy eating.
When the human body is in crisis, it gives off signals to warn you. Humans need to pay close attention to warning signs. The majority of symptoms can be reduced with proper eating. If you become puzzled about the way you feel, stop and think back to what you ate before you had that occurrence. Chances are you over ate the wrong food, and now you have to face the consequences.
Think of the goals you have set for yourself and eat accordingly, so you can live to reach those goals. A vitamin a day can help you reach your lifetime goals. Stay healthy! Take your vitamins daily. Vitamins are inexpensive and don't require a prescription from your doctor. Whether you are an adult or child , you will benefit from taking vitamins daily.

Softer Skin & Hair