In response to darkness (as during the nighttime when we’re in bed), our body produces melatonin. This hormone, which is derived from serotonin (a neurotransmitter found in the brain and blood serum), is secreted by the pineal gland of the brain. This natural process of melatonin-secretion takes place especially during the night when lights are off. More than anything else, it is melatonin that induces us to sleep the moment we retire at night. During daytime, the production of melatonin is considerably lessened. It is for this reason that melatonin is recognized as our ‘body clock’ setter.

Melatonin has come to be known as an efficient treatment for insomnia – a condition characterized by the continued inability to get sufficient sleep. Insomnia can be one of the symptoms of jet lag (the others being excessive weariness and peevishness), or it may be the result of an inefficient production of melatonin in a person. In either case, melatonin supplements have been proven to help a person get his much-needed sleep. A supplement may be most effective when taken about half an hour prior to hitting the bed. Some air travelers, however, insist that melatonin do not work as well for them. This may be because, as some frequent fliers opine, their timing isn’t right when taking the supplement. Other seasoned sojourners can be more detail-conscious: To determine when to take melatonin, they take into account time zones traversed and directions flown.

Concerns on the safety of melatonin supplements have been raised, even for those with low dosage. Of course, such apprehensions are more pronounced when high-dosage drugs are involved. A number of side effects, associated with the long-term use of melatonin, have been identified. These include headaches, stomach distress, feeling of dejection, and torpidity during daytime. If only for these reasons, it will be best to seek professional medical advice before taking melatonin

Still, there are those who contend that melatonin is safe for treating insomnia. Others assert that melatonin helps in the alleviation of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD – a condition that is likened to jet lag and is common during the season of winter. People living in the northern portions of the globe are those known to suffer from SAD the most. As winter proceeds, their body clock loses coordination with clock time and rising in the morning becomes an arduous task for them. To help solve this condition, they take small doses of melatonin in the afternoon. This, they claim, helps set their body clock in advance so they are able to get up in the cold winter mornings without much difficulty.

As to the assertion by some people that melatonin also actually functions like an antioxidant in counteracting the free radicals in the body, medical experts agree that this requires further researches and studies.

In the United States, it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of all adults suffer from some degree of high cholesterol. With much public health focus upon the risks of cardiovascular disease, there is drive in our society to find ways in which to promote a healthier outcome without significant prescription medication usage.

To prevent life threatening cardiovascular events, there are a variety of diet, exercise and lifestyle choices that must be made. The ultimate goal, however, should be to reduce blood cholesterol levels. With this information in mind, many adults are focusing upon natural methods in which to promote a healthy lifestyle, consuming more fruits and vegetables.

When choosing fruits and vegetables, it is important to understand that specific types of fruits may have a more advantageous impact on the lowering of blood cholesterol when compared to other types of fruits. In fact, the specific consumption of flavanoids and limonoids, found in citrus juice, may be the key component of food that naturally reduces cholesterol. In fact, the flavanoids found in oranges and grapefruits, known as hesperetin and naringenin, respectively, may be the two most profound natural components in the fight against high cholesterol. To be effective, however, it is necessary to consume three servings of these fruits per day, over a four week period.

If your physician has advised that your LDL cholesterol levels are too high, it is important to find ways in which to reduce those levels. With proper diet and exercise, you can manage your cholesterol levels more appropriately and reduce your risk for a cardiovascular health complication. For immediate results, consuming three servings of oranges or grapefruits may provide a powerful impact. However, for some cardiovascular patients, especially those with ulcer or prior gastrointestinal complications, the consumption of high levels of citrus fruits may lead to other health complications. For this reason, ask your healthcare professional about the use of liminoids and flavanoids in your cholesterol-fighting diet.

With cardiovascular disease a leading health concern in the United States, many adults are turning to natural ways in which to promote health. Since cholesterol levels are significant in the gateway to cardiovascular disease, it is important to manage your cholesterol levels in a smart way by consuming healthier food choices. If your physician clears your use of citrus fruits, try consuming three servings of oranges or grapefruits, over a four week period, to lower your LDL cholesterol levels significantly.

Breast cancer is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths amongst women. In 2008, it is estimated that 182,460 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer with an estimated death toll being close to 40,480. It seems as if a good percentage of these deaths should not be occurring. Why? Because many of them seem to be caused by the very thing that is suppose to protect them, mammograms. With billions of dollars being donated towards prevention and research, we can’t help but scratch our heads and wonder why organizations such as The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and The American Cancer Society (ACS) continue to assure the public of the safety of mammography when there are so many studies that clearly show not only how dangerous they are, but also how unreliable their results are. Isn’t it time that these organizations and the overall industry take a step back and look at what is going on? Shouldn’t alternative methods be given a chance, or at least more money for their research? Or is it that government connections and pharmaceutical corporate profits are more important than making sure a safe and reliable product is provided to consumers that will not harm them or cause them to catch the very disease they are trying to avoid.

The industry standard for the early detection of breast cancer is mammography. A mammogram is a type of imaging system that entails using a low dose ionizing x-ray to take a picture of the breast. That image is then analyzed to see if there is any unusual tumor growth. This procedure is beginning to receive lots of opposition because it has been shown to be inaccurate with high false negative rates; dangerous because with each test done, the chances of creating breast cancer are increased due to the radiation from the x-ray; and it has lead women to undertake unnecessary and extremely dangerous biopsies and surgeries.

Radiation From Mammograms Lead To Cancer

The bottom line is that mammograms help cause cancer. Every year, millions of women are advised to get a mammogram without any warning whatsoever of the hazards of being exposed to its cancer causing x-rays. What’s even worse is that woman are being brainwashed into believing that a yearly mammography is necessary. However, studies have shown that taking a mammogram on an annual basis may in fact increase your risk of developing cancer. Much like fetal tissue, the breast is an area of the body extremely sensitive to radiation exposure. Here are just a few studies that have alerted us to the dangers of mammograms.

For almost 100 years, doctors have been warned that a cancerous breast must be handled with care for fear of accidentally spreading or metastasizing a growth that is already present. Mammography basically ignores that warning. A mammogram includes the process of painfully and tightly compressing the breast in order to attain a “better” image, that pressure upon the breast has the potential to rupture blood vessels in or near an unknown breast cancer growth thus causing the spread of cells that are malignant.

Radiation expert and nuclear physicist, Dr. John Gofman, concluded in his book that medical radiation was not only responsible for 60% of all general cases of cancer but that it was the cause for 83% of all breast cancer cases.

For a percentage of women who are silent carriers of the ataxia-telangiectasia gene, their risk of developing cancer from a mammogram test is increased by 4 times. Because of this A-T gene, these women are extremely sensitive to the negative effects of carcinogenic radiation. It is estimated that this is responsible for at least ten thousand breast cancer cases per year. Also, research has shown that another gene named oncogene AC is extremely sensitive to even minimal radiation doses. Women with this gene are at a higher risk of developing cancer when receiving a mammogram.

According to a leading medical journal, The Lancet, since the start of mammograms, the occurrence of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ breast cancer has realized a 328% increase, and in women under the age of 40, that increase was more that 3000%. This accounts for approximately 40,000 breast cancer cases per year.

Russell L. Blaylock, MD, estimates that receiving a mammogram on an annual basis will result in an increased risk of breast cancer by 2%. Over a 5 year period that equates to a 10% risk and after 10 years you would be at risk by 20%.

With negative results such as these, and these are just a few of many other studies, is there any reason why this industry should continue at this pace? The industry would like us to believe that the risks far outweigh the dangers, but why would anyone consider taking those risks when there are other safer alternatives. Yes, on “occasion” there are cases when a medical x-ray must be used, but to do so on a regular basis makes no sense at all and should be considered malpractice.

This is part one in a two part series of articles on mammograms. The complete article can be found at www.anthonynunes.net/monthly_article/mammograms.html.

Detox Diets are the last craze in dieting, thats why the number of people searching for detox diets is growing everyday.

You may have heard about toxins, detoxification, cleansing, purifying they are all related to detox diets.

Toxins are harmful chemicals affecting your body. They are all around you (in your food, water, air) and inside you (as waste products of metabolism). Your body eliminates most toxins and the rest are stored within body fat.

These stored toxins combined with stress can affect your health in very unpleasant ways:

- weight gain – headaches – feelings of fatigue and weakness – heartburn – sore muscles and skin – joint pains

These symptoms will fade when you start detox. Well, you may really feel some discomfort in the very first days, but that is a normal body reaction.

You may feel headache or sore muscles, but that is because the toxins are released faster then your body can eliminate them. These symptoms will not occur again if you detox regularly.

Detox and Weight Loss

Detoxification is the process of releasing and expelling the stored toxins through the elimination organs of your body – the intestines, liver, lungs, kidneys and skin.

Detox Diets are dietary nutritious plans that use detoxification, which helps you lose weight by cleansing out your body and improving your metabolism.

Detox and Illness Prevention

Detox Diets are recommended for improving resistance to illness, mental state, digestion, strengthens the organs involved in detox.

Detox Diets can help prevent serious diseases such as cancer, ADD, ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivities, as well as treat heart disease, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease.

Detox Foods

Detox Diets recommend consumption of foods that are beneficial for your health and essential to weight loss – organic foods, fruits and vegetables.

You should drink purified water and cut back on processed foods, as well as give up alcohol and smoking.

You should know

Detox Diets are quite restrictive and once you start a detox diet, you should follow it strictly. Detox Diets are safe, but you should consult your doctor prior to starting.

Types of Detox Diets

+ Fasting – drinking only water, juices or broths, or eating one kind of food for a certain period of time. Your body starts burning fat for energy.

+ Nutritional supplements – intake of nutritious powders, vitamins and packaged protein snacks.

+ Hydrotherapy – detoxifying through your skin pores by taking special baths.

+ Specific detox diets – last between 7 and 30 days; there are quick detox diets for one and three days, and long detox diets for 8 weeks.

Calories seem to have a bad reputation. How frequently will you hear people express something wonderful on the subject of calories? Poor little guys, imagine what it really might feel like to be held accountable regarding anything from weight gain to the taste of meals. Should you have ever observed yourself saying: Sure this tastes superb, but it has a lot of calories, you already know what I mean. Calories can really come to be our best friends, and I hope to be able to demonstrate the way to understand and look at calories in a different light.

The scientific meaning of a calorie will be the quantity of energy it takes to get the temperature of one gram of water, 1 degree Celsius. A calorie can be described as a measurement of energy. Just like putting gasoline in a vehicle, calories would be the energy that makes the body function properly. If we fail to put a sufficient amount of calories in our system, bodily organs would not work. If we put a lot of calories in our bodies, we tend to gain weight.

When we put gasoline in our car many of us typically fill the tank up. With calories, picture you had to put adequate gasoline in your car or truck to go to work, then refuel whenever you wish to drive someplace else, simply putting enough gasoline inside your vehicle to arrive at your destination. Master this concept of fueling your body, and you would be able to manage, or change your body weight as you wish. Most of all, you will place yourself in control of your personal weight destiny.

The general rule is that a human body needs to consume 3,500 extra calories in order to gain one pound of fat. Extra calories is an important observation in that statement. If a body needs 1,500 calories each day to hold all the fuel it will need for a day, and you eat 2,000 calories per day, it will take 7 days to gain a pound. Gaining weight and losing weight take place over time, which is the reason a day of not eating, or overeating, does not alter your body weight.

Obviously, every person’s body is different, so knowing how many calories your body needs daily can have several determining factors, but a principal one is how frequently you exercise. You may use a web based Calorie Calculator to help approximate how many calories your body requires to hold its existing weight. You might also want to try an online BMI index to see if you are underweight, normal, or overweight for your body mass.

The healthier approach to get slimmer will be to enhance your exercising over merely reducing calories, unless you consume much more calories than your body demands. Depriving your body of calories, without having exercising, can lead to a short term loss of weight, but your body will likely regulate its metabolism to compensate for less calories. A more rewarding plan is to consume in accordance with your activity. When you apply the calorie calculator, keep an eye on what occurs to the quantity of calories it’s possible to have if you build up your exercise levels.

Using the same calculations as above, I would have to minimize my usage of calories by 500 calories a day to lose a single pound by the end of the week. Based on my age, body weight, and physical exercise, I can take in 2,500 calories per day to keep my existing weight. 2,000 calories can be my target goal. If I drop down to 1,500 calories every day, I can be prepared to lose two pounds. This is often considered a safe pace in losing weight.

If you are enthusiastic to create changes in your approach to life, spend a day recording all of the calories you consume. What you believe you consume is generally a great deal under what you really consume. If you do not count, you do not know. Always be certain to correctly report calories to the proper portion size. CalorieKing.com is a superb destination to search for any kind of caloric values not available on a nutritional label. There is also a book version that I have always discovered to be quite useful.

The easiest method to help to make calories your friend is to count how many friends you have. You do not want too many friends, but you do not want too little friends either. You would like an ideal harmony of friends that works for you and your lifestyle.

Canadian Pharmacy stores are generally online pharmacies which you can fill medications with and at times without a prescription. Many Nations and Provinces tend not to call for written prescriptions. Consumers in the States mostly utilize these pharmacies since medications are less expensive to get there. They also can acquire medications their personal physicians may not like to prescribe repeatedly.

A number of the more trusted drug stores feature live doctors to review every medicine request and then verify the need for it. They sign off on them after which your medications will get delivered directly to your location on the following day via airplane. Several doctors look down upon this kind of practice because they think it is a dangerous means of helping people in other countries without even doing a comprehensive assessment on them.

Regulations of enforcement and customs declares that any kind of prescription drugs coming in from another country may be questioned as well as the person the item is being sent to may be contacted and have to verify they own the legal right to obtain these certain drugs before they will be released to them. Luckily at this present time there are no Canadian packages being stopped by any customs officials.

Yet another important thing to understand is that the FDA has no influence or authority in these foreign nations including Canada. A number of benefits include prices tend to be much lower, you could have much confidentiality by inquiring or purchasing certain medicines, they are a lot more convenient by sending your medications to you the next day in many instances right to your doorstep and some of these pharmacies actually have links to the medicine information for example medication dosage, overdose plus more within them.

Drug stores over the internet have a few dangers too including being unlicensed. You should look for their licensing never ever use the one that has not been licensed, you can be in danger of not receiving genuine medication or even worse the wrong drugs that could possibly induce more harm to you. Financial details are not as secure with unlicensed websites either thus your data could get compromised and used before you realize it.

Consider the pharmacy you are choosing and be sure they have a working telephone number and a true business address. This will likely be essential in case you will find problems regarding delivery of, prescribing or questions about the prescription being sent to you. You will probably incur charges for the shipping the following day of your medications so that is a bit of expense there although otherwise cut costs on the medications themselves.

Prices in these types of drug stores are never identical they can alter very quickly and quite often so they are unreliable on that aspect. The Canadian pharmacy which does not require a prescription should be investigated because they could potentially give you medicine that could bring about dangerous illness to you if it is not the thing you really need or perhaps the wrong kind.