The Conscious And Subconscious Mind: Influence, Persuasion & Change For Healing With Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy.

By: Brian Green

Though we have one mind, there are usually considered to be two sections of it: the conscious and the subconscious. The subconscious was termed by Freud the unconscious. He only saw it as a negative, a swamp of primitive drives and aggressive impulses. Perhaps his was. Hypnotists, au contraire, regard it as the source of creativity, inventiveness and strength, a valuable resource that can be utilized, not only as this negative primitive area. Nowadays some hypnotists use the term, ?other than conscious,? mind, to define it as everything not in conscious awareness in the present moment. A metaphor that is used to illustrate the conscious and subconscious parts of the mind uses a comparison to an iceberg. The visible portion above the surface of the water is the conscious mind, guestimated (I can?t imagine how), to be approximately 10% of our thinking ability. The subconscious mind, consisting of that portion of the iceberg beneath the water, being the other nine tenths. I have also seen information that the conscious mind processes a few hundred impressions a minute, to the thousands of impressions the subconscious mind processes in the same time, (I can?t imagine how this was arrived at either), but the general consensus is how much larger and more powerful this mostly hidden ?other than conscious mind? can be.

Another useful analogy is to the computer. It seems to fit so well. After all, where would we intuit the design of a complex information processing system, other than our own minds? Many new processes such as ?fuzzy logic? are in fact actual conscious attempts to reproduce our own mental processes, as far as they can be ascertained. In this comparison, the conscious mind is the equivalent of the computer screen, consisting of that which is available to our conscious thinking process. It is the analytical, linear, logical, rational, ?two plus two equals four? mind. Plus our conscious emotions, those surface emotions that we are aware of. Here we move information around, computing how to minimize pain and maximize pleasure, the two fundamental desires of any organism, however they may be conceived of in any particular being or life path. Here we use the mind to analyze our environment to obtain the necessary control for achieving these ends. So this mind operates primarily in the here and now, though it usually calls on the past as a computational factor. This means many of its functions operate within the framework of and/or via the perspectives and ?lenses? supplied by the subconscious mind.

I have found a major function of the conscious mind is to ?bend? information to fit these hidden perspectives. Here is one of my usual simple crude examples. ?I don?t like women with red hair, they are easily angered and bad tempered.? He forgets the little red headed six-year-old girl that used to hit him when he was four. Or if the memory of her is accessible, there will be no awareness of how those events are connected to his current views! Similarly, how many times does a person see advertisements of happy laughing healthy young persons playing on the beach, accompanied by the slogan, (or hypnotic auditory suggestion), ?Things go better with Coke.? The visual imagery is also a visual suggestion associated, i.e. ?paired with? the verbal one. Then in a store, the person purchases Coca-Cola, consciously thinking, ?I need some Coke,? or ?I need some for when my friends come visiting.? Never connecting their actions to the numerous adverts that have been absorbed. But the Coca-Cola Company does not spend untold millions putting out this information in this way for nothing. Cinema and television are powerful trance mediums, as a picture is ?worth a thousand words.? This is an example I use with my clients, to illustrate the persuasive penetration of repetition, especially useful when internally absorbed deeply from repeated playing of a hypnosis audio product. This being the case, Hypnotherapists realize that people are actually mainly persuaded based on emotional processes that are going on within them, not logical thinking. Logic helps, but people are making most decisions emotionally, and then backing them up by manufacturing conscious logical thought.

Some psychologists identify anything that can be voluntarily called to mind as being in the ?pre-conscious?. A hypnotist however would include all of this in the ?other than conscious mind,? too. How many memories are there that could be recalled with the application of some thought, but how many of them are left undisturbed for decades, loitering in the lower reaches of consciousness? And how many are separated from linkages that would give more profound insight, meaning and relief? In our computer analogy, the subconscious mind equates to the software, operating systems, and memory banks, containing our automatic responses, deeper emotions, feelings, habits, impressions, and permanent memory, and our compulsions, impulses and responses to them. It operates apart from the linear logic of the conscious mind, though working with the subconscious as a hypnotherapist, I see what I term as ?emotional logic.? Behavior, as is illustrated also in much psychotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, always has some positive intent, which when disinterred, becomes comprehensible within it?s own context and it?s own terms. The inner mind works with analogy and association, uses ambiguity, poetry, and especially imagery and metaphor for storing and processing information, rather than the more limited inductive/deductive quasi-logic, (and prejudices, rationalizations etc.) of the conscious mind. That is why the former inward factors stir us so deeply and readily.

Learned habits, such as walking, are permanently installed and normally accessed without conscious thought by sub-systems. Redundant acquired habits become ?grooved in? and self-perpetuating in the ?software?. In fact, attempting to consciously ?take them over? causes a loss of effective functionality. (Try consciously thinking of where you are placing your feet the next time you hurry up a flight of stairs, and you will soon discover what I mean). So athletes often have to be assisted by a hypnotist to ?get out of their own way?, allowing themselves to trust in their own trained abilities without thought, flowing more naturally in the ?zone? as it is termed. Or using the ?no-mind? as the Zen Buddhists would have it.

The lower or deeper levels of the subconscious part of the mind control blood pressure, body temperature, breathing, digestion, heart rate, and similar biological functions of our body. Also the instincts and instinctual responses, and their physiological counterparts, our reflexes, All of which we inherit presumably mostly through our genes. This resembles the ?hard wiring? of a computer. In my pre-talk, to illustrate this point to clients, while simul-taneously reassuring them of their ultimate control I inform them, ?No matter how many times it might be suggested, ?you will stop breathing?, you would not do so, because it is wired in on the survival level.? Though Yoga adepts and so forth may bring many of these functions under conscious control, it is not such a usual accomplishment in Western culture. The sub-conscious never sleeps, never takes a break from keeping our biological functioning going. I also explain this to clients by, ?It?s the part of the cave man mind that always stays on the alert for the Saber Toothed Tiger.? This is usually accepted with a smile. Also relating the ?other than conscious mind? to the Guardian Angel, provides a positive frame of reference that helps counter any fears the client may have in releasing conscious control.

The subconscious mind is concerned with bringing about our deepest wishes expect-ations and desires, even if sometimes they are contrary to logic, and our own current well-being. The subconscious mind, seeking to meet our deepest needs, expectations, wishes, does not always do it the way we want it done. The subconscious mind does not care if the body hurts, but rather that the deepest needs are met. If our greatest need is for affection and the only time we experienced affection was when we were sick, we may get sick in order to receive that affection. This occurs even though consciously we don’t like being sick and the reason is unknown. So it is evident that once a solution to a need is found, it may be repeated in essentially the same way incongruently, redundantly, at times in a disguised adult form. A female client, in trance, with no prompting from me said with tears streaming down her face. ?When I was young, I was bitten by a dog two or three times. This was the only time I got any caring at home. That is why I kept going to Hospital Emergency Rooms for overdoses or cutting my wrists.? She was bearing the label of a mental condition. As I observed her release herself I thought, ?She is never going to be that sick again.?

The soil of the subconscious mind accepts any kind of seeds - good or bad. Once the subconscious mind accepts an idea, it begins to make the idea a reality. When applied in a negative way, the subconscious can be the cause of failure, frustration, unhappiness, and even illness.” Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” And in the Bible, (proverbs), “Whatever a person thinketh in his heart so is he.? Hypnosis is a process that allows access to a whole spectrum of altered states of awareness, (generally described as trance), that allow simultaneous states of inward concentration to occur, with a fluid flow between many levels and depths of the mind. In this state, the mind and body are more open and receptive, the most helpful tool for pursuing treatment goals. The beauty of clinical hypnosis is in acquiring the ability to enter a trance deliberately. This gives us a key in hypnotherapy, because in trance, deep level dysfunctional beliefs can be attenuated or erased, and more functional ones be instilled and installed. Negative images and metaphors can be altered and supplanted with more useful ones. We can guide a person to move ?away from? damaging information and/or ?move towards? healing/positive ideas. This can, when targeted at emotional processes for therapy, give a person a ?virtual? better childhood, as the ?old tapes? as they were referred to in latter day psychotherapies, can be annulled. More limited problems are amenable to less general suggestion processes. All of this appears to take place, in trance, on the ?other than conscious? level where the negative processes were formed, for highly effective change, without will power. Even physiological processes may be affected by suggestion, and has given me the ability at times to assist people who have run out of medical options. Behavioral and functional difficulties can be overcome. As I have stated elsewhere, at times the results, both psychological and/orphysical, can appear miraculous.

c. Brian Green, 2007, mindmagic123.com

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7038.shtml

Ayurvedic Cure for ParkinsonÂ?s Disease

By: Dev Sri

Parkinson?s disease (Paralysis agitans) as described by James Parkinson in 1817 is characterized by degeneration of central nervous tissues, affecting the motor skills of a person, thereby impairing his (rarely her) movements and speech.

Kampa vata described in Ayurveda is similar to Parkinson’s disease. Kampa means vibration or shaking (as in an earth quake). Ayurvedic texts describe the symptoms as constant shaking or tremor of limbs and/or head, difficulty in body movements, difficulty in speaking, expressionless face and staring like look.

Parkinson?s disease affects about 1% of population of people aged 65 and above. It is less common in developing and underdeveloped countries. The description of similar type disease in ancient Ayurvedic scripts suggests such a disease existed 2,000 to 3,000 years ago.

Modern researches on Parkinson?s disease almost revolve round an extract from an Ayurvedic herb. Levodopa or L-Dopa present in Mucuna pruriens is easily converted to dopamine at brain. This is especially beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson?s disease. (More info at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15548480&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_Brief)

Synthetic L-Dopa brings with it several side-effects, while Mucuna pruriens preparation gives complete benefits of better Parkinson’s cure with a little side effects like. The side effects of Mucuna prurens preparations are minimal when compared to synthetic levadopa. One important preparation in this regard is HP200 mucuna pruriens powder available in Indian market, which has been approved by Food and Drugs Administration of India.

Ayurvedic treatment for Parkinson?s Disease

Parkinson?s disease Ayurveda treatment aims at balancing disturbed vata. Massage therapy, enema, medication methods are applied. In addition to Mucuna pruriens (known by names violet bean, cowhage, naikkurana and kaunch beej), Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera), Sida cordifolia are the prime herbs usable in Parkinson?s disease Ayurvedic treatment.

Ayurvedic Parkinson’s treatment utilizes a holistic approach. The holistic treatment regime has great chances of success. Pacification of vata at the digestive tract is important. Mild laxatives are used for colon cleansing, mainly to control vata aggravation.

Rigidity associated with Parkinson’s disease is due to entry of vayu to mamsa. To relive rigidity, one has to be given nervine tonics (Jatamansi and Shanka pushpi) are examples. Depression is due to vata entering nervous system, which can be controlled by appropriate drugs like Hydrocotyle asiatica or Hypericum perforatum.

Ayurveda Parkinson’s disease treatment is not just about applying certain medicines or drugs to pacify the symptoms of the disease. Parkinson’s disease Ayurveda treatment is a concerted effort to accurately identify the exact reason of the imbalance and offer stable solution to the problem.

This holistic approach makes use of meditation as a self diagnosis tool. Parkinson’s disease occurs due to imbalances in mind, body or soul. Yoga and meditation helps the person to accurately focus on the right reason for the condition. It can sometimes be physical, mental or spiritual. Identifying the cause makes the cure as easy as possible.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7055.shtml

Burn Fat, Lift Heavy (part 1)

By: Kevin Raison

How does a pill that burns fat faster than any supplement out there sound?

How about that very same pill increasing muscle tone and density?

You’ve gotta admit, it sounds pretty exciting doesn’t it

Now, what if I said…’IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!’

Unless…wait for it!

You begin to lift heavy weights in the gym and avoid your favourite step and fit ball class. Then and only then are you on your way to that dream physique

Now from that last statement I’ve probably already lost half the female audience, no matter… it’s just makes the rest of you look even better.

This is unfortunately, a very common mistake that women far too often mistake as being a way to become a muscular bound female bodybuilder.

NOT TRUE!

In fact, if you’re looking to get the kind of body like your favourite superstar, then I suggest you continue to read on.

For what you are about to receive… The following article is split into 4 parts. Part 1 will explain why we should be avoiding long durations on cardio machines known as ‘long slow distance’ (LSD). Part 2 will look at the reasons why lifting weights works better than LSD training and finally part 3 will explain why we should be lifting heavier with those weights. Part 4 will put it all together in a evenly balance program for you to follow.

The reason for doing it this way is there’s a lot of new understanding to take on board. Some of this is going to go completely against your usual way of thinking, meaning you may or may wish to read any further parts.

All I can say is from the experience of coaching many clients in my time, this works better than anything and the results WILL amaze you!

So why should we avoid lengthy sessions on the cardio machines?

There are a number of reasons why we should avoid long cardio sessions, the first is simple.

Our body was designed to survive from the days when we were hunter/gatherers and our vocabulary consisted of um, ugg and errr. Kind of like a teenager…

When we ran (chasing food or being chased as food) our body would produce the hormone Cortisol (a stress hormone) as chasing food or becoming food can become a pretty stressful thing for us.

When Cortisol is produced, the body begins to store body fat by slowing down its natural metabolism. The reason being, if you are chasing something and don’t catch it, you have no idea when you are going to be eating next. Your body knows that it will have to survive on its own stored fats.

Although our bodies have indeed evolved over the many years there are lots of things about the human body that remain the same. The stress hormone cortisol being released through LSD (long slow distance) being one.

Don’t be fooled that it won’t happen to you just because you go on the cross trainer, stepper, rower or any other form of equipment. It will, the body can’t identify what exercise it is doing or whether you’re looking to burn fat or being chased.

If its LSD training you’re doing and you’re looking to tone and lose fat, you will soon find yourself at a sticking point very soon as your Cortisol levels begin to rise.

The Zone

Let’s take another look at those long cardio sessions that “help burn fat”.

The fat burning zone draws fat from the fat stores to be used as energy instead od using carbohydrates; this is known as ‘SUB RQ1′ where the body doesn’t have to use carbohydrates for energy. Now although this is true, if it was so effective, we would be losing pounds as we watch TV or read a book, but as we all know by now, that’s just not the case!

Yes, you will burn more calories when exercising at the gym or walking round the park but to get in the true fat burning zone or ‘optimal zone’ you’ll have to exercise for 90minutes (non stop) at least…

After about 90 minutes the body becomes extremely efficient at burning bodyfat!

This true, but come on….90 minutes!

England could have been defeated by Luxembourg B team by then. (I’m referring to soccer of course)

So if the body is burning pure bodyfat after 90 minutes, what’s being burnt as energy before then?

MUSCLE!

Remember, at this steady lower state of intensity carbohydrates have no need to work meanining something has to help with the energy coming from fats. Unfortunately, we use muscle slowing down our metabolism in the process.

Solution

Now I know that the cardio, fat burning, step obsessed, ‘the longer the better’ exercise junkies out there aren’t going to suddenly hang up their lycra shorts and ankle weights only to share the weights room with the usual vest wearing grunters.

As a result what you should do is something we call Tabata.

Pick your favourite piece of cardio equipment

Warm up for 2 minutes

Go as fat as you can for 30 seconds

Take it easy for just 10 seconds

Repeat 8 times

It’s as simple as that and believe me you will really feel like you’ve had a very intense yet very short workout!

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_6983.shtml

The Scientific Truth About Muscle Growth Once And For All - Part 1

By: Ben Kong

What if you finally had the scientific TRUTH about muscle growth once and for all? What if you knew how to train to stimulate ALL of your body’s own natural growth mechanisms? It would mean that you’d be packing on lean muscle mass as fast as humanly possible.

Without understanding that there are two key mechanisms for muscle growth the vast majority of guys training in the gym, even those who may have trained for years are missing out on up to fifty percent of their potential gains. This is basically like wasting HALF your precious training time.

Why does this occur? Well there are two basic ’schools of thought’ when it comes to weight training and over the years they have been often at odds at to which is the best way to train with heated debate, science and real-world examples to illustrate the superiority of their own viewpoints. In one corner we have the classic bodybuilding crowd who have always focused on the pump and isolating each individual muscle and feeling the tension throughout the entire range of motion. This culture has also permeated into most formal ‘gym instructor’ doctrine as it is generally a safe way to train the masses.

The other way of thinking has much of its roots in powerlifting and strength training and has a much greater emphasis on progressively hitting the muscles with heavier weights in order to make them adapt and grow stronger and bigger. The focus is much more on overloading the muscles by using looser form and momentum to be able to hit the target muscles with more weight than would otherwise be possible. They believe that whilst the muscle wouldn’t be under as much direct tension, the sheer stimulus it receives from the heavier weights more than compensates for this and is a better way to pack on lean muscle.

Most people in the gym tend to be one or the other, often depending on whom they listened to when they first started out or whom they currently take their training influence from. However is this a logical position to take?

NO.

Stay Tuned For Part 2!

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_6987.shtml

Acne Scar Treatment

By: Darren Brent

With human skin being our living outer organ of protection from many types of injuries and most infections, we may take for granted as to how important our skin truly is until scaring occurs. All types of scarring, including acne scars varies depending upon several factors. Variations of each person’s scar is connected with our genetic heredities, our age, our ethnicity, the size and how deep the wound originally is and even if you are male or female makes a difference. Scars left from acne affect the facial appearance that most always affects our self confidence much more than most other types of scars upon the rest of body. This would explain as to why acne scar treatments are so high in demand.

Out of the main four types of scarring, acne scars are the ones that tend to really bother us the most. Within the group of acne scarring, there are several types of acne scars. They may be scars with deep pits to wavelike or angular in appearance. The American Academy of Dermatology defines acne scars as areas of the skin that has lost or gained tissue during the acne affected area healing process. The one type of naturally disappearing acne scars are called “pseudo scars”. These are scars that leave a redness or inflammation called post inflammatory pigmentation. These are the acne scars that will disappear within 6 to 18 months on their own. But for those seemingly permanent types of acne scars, treatment options will vary.

There are over the counter ointments, gels and even easily accessible prescription creams for those types of acne scars less extreme in depth and appearance. To use these types of treatments, a dermatologist recommendation for the right product to purchase is advised, so to get the best results for your dollar and the correct product the first time around. Natural applications like essential oils, mud packs and herbal skin treatment products are known to create wonders and reduce scars. However, these take time to erase the scars so, for very severe cases, Laser skin resurfacing is a milder form of top layer skin removal compared to dermabrasion and chemical peels, but all allow for newer and healthier skin to appear within a few weeks. Augmentation and punch techniques are for deeper scares and allows for the scar to be raised by collagen injections or even skin grafts deepening on pitted scar depth.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7129.shtml

Does Counting Sheep Work As A Sleep Aid?

By: Gary M. Miller

?One sheep, two sheep, three sheep???.zzzzzzzzz.? Hey! Did someone just doze off into that grassy hillside where all those sheep like to spend their time jumping over fences? It?s true what you?ve heard. Counting sheep actually works if you want to find a method for falling asleep! This is due to a simple fact about concentration and relaxation. The mind tends to become focused and relaxed over an extended period of concentration and counting sheep tends to make a person concentrate and relax at the same time.

Sleeplessness is a problem that a lot of people face when they have to finish something important or when something is bothering them. People who face difficulty concentrating or who experience memory lapses, energy loss, fatigue, lethargy or emotional instability, need to learn to focus their minds. Simple techniques like focusing the mind on something completely different can actually have a positive effect on a person?s ability to relax. Without this practice, problems like sleeplessness can affect people?s work performance or driving ability. Serious consequences like driving and workplace accidents can also occur due to severe lack of sleep. Counting sheep is actually a form of meditation that has been popularized over the centuries.

Counting sheep isn?t the only method available. In order to prevent impairments, you can find your own ways to make your sleep more peaceful. Taking pills is a common solution but this often has serious side effects which result in a bigger problem later on. Counting sheep or even playing soft music, however, can be relatively harmless. Some sleep aids can help you sleep and some cannot. The important thing is to find out what type of sleep aid is right for you.

Melatonin supplements are actually one great way to make yourself sleep better through the night. Melatonin is a hormone that is made in the pineal gland and also found in the brain. It increases its potency during the night and decreases at dawn. Although there is no conclusive scientific proof that the supplement supports sleep, many people insist on its benefits. Typically people take 1 milligram (mg) or 3 mg melatonin tablets. They come in very small 300 microgram tablets or as big as 10 mg tablets. Still, it is commonly advised to consult the family doctor before taking this supplement. It is possible that your condition could be part of a more serious disorder in which case the sleeplessness may get worse without the help of a medical professional. If melatonin is right for you, your doctor will recommend the right dosage.

In addition to Melatonin and counting sheep, there are also prescription drugs that can make you sleep better. These include Lunesta, Ambien, Sonata, Desyrel, and Restoril. Prescription drugs are effective in making you sleep but they can have side-effects like light-headedness, erectile dysfunction, drowsiness during the day, dizziness and having an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Taking prescription drugs should only be taken with precaution. Most of them prohibit you from driving or operating machinery after taking them. This is even true for prescription drugs the morning after you take them. Prescription drugs can be dangerous to your health when you take more than the recommended dose and when don?t follow the instructions of your doctor.

Finally, there are some practical ways that you can learn to sleep better and you do not have to ask the advice of a doctor. One of these methods is to buy dark colored curtains for your window. This will make it very dark inside the room when it is time to sleep. The street lights will not show inside your room and, if you suffer from what is known as ?Seasonal Affective Disorder? or sensitivity to too much sunlight, you can hang the colored curtains during summer because that is the time the sun will set the earliest. You can also buy eye shades or eye masks to help you with your sleep problems. These are used to cover your eyes when you first go to sleep. You can buy these from drugs stores and specialty stores that sell foot massage machines and mini spas.

Sleeping is very important so that we can start the day out right. If you sleep the right hours, you can make the following day worthwhile for you and for the others around you. You won?t feel irritable, angry or sad and this will make for a more pleasant day for everyone. Now that you know the truth, it?s time to get back to counting those sheep! Good luck and see you on the hillside with that pleasant smile drifting across your face!

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_6980.shtml

About Essential Fatty Acids and Fish Oil

By: Mitch Pellecchia

By now, most of us have heard of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their potential health benefits. They?re said to sustain cognitive function and memory, benefit the heart and immune system, aid in cell reproduction and repair, and even help balance hormones. Fish oil, duly noted by the medical community as having similar benefits, contains high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, thus establishing the link between a daily regimen of fish oil and good health. Fish oil is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement and comes in both liquid and capsule form.

What are essential fatty acids?

Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats typically found in the oils of vegetables, certain nuts and seeds and some fish. They?re said to benefit health more than the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products and may even have a positive impact on cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Essential fatty acids are referred to as “essential” because they must be obtained through diet and are essential to the normal growth and function of muscles, nerves, cells and organs in humans. There are two families of essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids ? the fatty acids found in fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat present in many coldwater fish including trout, salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring, mackerel, tuna and cod. The two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both known as “good fats” ? unlike saturated fats, which when consumed in excess can lead to cardiovascular problems, neural and brain disorders.

EPA helps to produce the prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) which help control blood-clotting and arterial functions. EPAs may also help to lower serum triglyceride levels.

DHA is a major component of human brain and retinal tissue and aids the transmission of nerve impulses.

The term “omega-3 essential fatty acid” has become synonymous with “fish oil” in modern American marketing literature.

Sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids other than fish oil include, but are not limited to:

? Avocadoes (whole or oil)

? Brazil nuts

? Flaxseed

? Flaxseed oil

? Fortified milk products

? Hempseeds

? Hempseed oil

? Omega-3 eggs

? Pumpkin seeds

? Sesame seed

? Soybean oil

? Walnuts

? Wheat germ oil

Omega-6 fatty acids ? not found in fish oil

Omega-6 EFAs are found in animal products such as dairy and meat and are common in cooking oils such as safflower, olive, sunflower, hemp, soybean, pumpkin, sesame, walnut and flaxseed oils. Too many omega-6 EFAs, say nutritionists, can throw off the balance of prostaglandins and lead to health problems. Experts recommend a ratio of three parts omega-3 essential fatty acids to every one part omega-6 fatty acid in the diet. Research indicates that Americans consume far more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 as a result of overindulging in fried foods, red meat and cheese.

Omega-6 fatty acids are dependent on interactions with omega-3 essential fatty acids in order to benefit good health, which is why a balance of the two is crucial in the diet. The American Heart Association cautions against a high dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids as it can lead to the development of gallstones and promote tumors.

Prostaglandins

Prostaglandins encompass a number of hormone-like substances found in every cell in the body. They?re critical to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the regulation of blood pressure and the modulation of inflammation. Prostaglandins are needed for overall good health and maintenance and must be replenished constantly. It?s easy to understand why having a good balance of prostaglandins in the body is essential to well-being.

Where does fish oil come from?

Most fish oil is extracted from the fatty flesh of the fish, unless a product specifically states otherwise, as is the case with cod liver oil or shark liver oil ? extracted from fish liver. Nutritious fish oil is usually derived from deep, coldwater fish and those swimming in the wild (wild fish eat other fish and marine animals and vegetation to survive, whereas farm-raised fish are typically fed some type of less nutritious, less expensive, commercial-grade pellet). Some experts say the best fish comes from the deep Atlantic of Norway and other Scandinavian countries: the deeper and colder the water, say experts, the less chance of toxins such as mercury, lead, dioxins, furans and PCBs occurring in the fish oil. Fish from eastern Pacific waters is known to contain elevated levels of mercury.

Fish oil supplements ? good ones / bad ones

“Product disclosure” is the operable phrase when seeking out nutritious fish oil supplements. From what kind of fish is the oil extracted and from where is it extracted naturally through pressing or with a centrifuge; or are petrochemical solvents such as hexane used to extract the oil from the source? How is the fish oil refined? Is it molecularly distilled, which to date is the most reliable form of fish oil purification, or does the label read something like “extra-distilled” or “super-distilled?” Such terms have no bearing on quality or safety. Because the hundreds of thousands of fish oil supplements on the market remain unregulated by the FDA, the safety, consistency, efficacy and strength of these products varies immensely among brands.

When reading fish oil supplement labels:

? Make sure the type of fish from which the fish oil is extracted is listed.

? Look for terms “coldwater,” “deep water” and “wild” as opposed to “farm-raised.”

? In what ocean or hemisphere was the fish caught? North Atlantic, deep, coldwater is said to be the most nutritious.

? Make sure the fish oil is molecularly distilled, which better ensures the absence of PCBs, heavy metals and other contaminants.

? What parts of the fish were used? Fish oils extracted from fish liver may be higher in heavy metals and contaminants.

? What fish oil extraction method was used? Cold or modified expeller pressing means that the oil was produced without damaging temperatures or unnecessary pressure.

Marketing claims that have no defined meaning in relation to fish oil supplements, and which often mislead consumers, include:

? Ultra-pure

? Professional grade

? Pharmaceutical grade

? High-potency

? Super-distilled

? Natural

? Extra-distilled

? Best

? Finest

? Highest quality

? Pure

? Purest

? Purified

Essential fatty acid health benefits and risks

Few argue the benefits of fish oil and essential fatty acids in the diet. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the omega-3 fatty acids can benefit cardiovascular health and that “good unsaturated fats” derived from vegetables and fish are far more nutritious than “bad saturated fats” which come from red meat, animal products and dairy. The cardiovascular benefits to balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet include lowered serum cholesterol, decreased serum trigylcerides and reduced platelet aggregation. Although many fish oil supplement companies claim that fish oil supplementation may aid brain function and strengthen the immune system, a complete body of evidence has yet to be produced.

Along with the health benefits of fish oil come some risks, most associated with taking too high doses of fish oil or having dangerously high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in the blood. Some of these risks can include:

? Thinning of the blood and reduced ability of the blood to clot.

? Increased risk of bleeding.

? Too large doses can increase glucose levels in persons with already elevated blood sugar levels.

? In excess, fish oil may suppress the immune system.

? Increase the occurrence of nosebleeds and easy bruising.

? Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and belching.

? Poisoning from heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins and pesticides.

Experts and nutritionists are convinced that the health benefits of fish oil far outweigh the risks. However, many warn that fish oil shouldn?t be taken with blood-thinning medication such as warfarin or aspirin and shouldn?t be taken by anyone with bleeding disorders or uncontrolled hypertension. It is highly advisable to consult a physician before supplementing a diet with fish oil.

EPAs, DHAs, efficacy and the FDA

In September of 2004, the FDA announced they would allow a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease for conventional foods that contain EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as outlined in FDA?s “Interim Procedures for Qualified Health Claims in the Labeling of Conventional Human Food and Human Dietary Supplements.” Notwithstanding inconclusive research at the time of release, the FDA said it would exercise its enforcement discretion with respect to the following qualified health claim:

“Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of [name of food] provides [x] grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content.]”

In 2000, the FDA announced a similar qualified health claim for dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The FDA recommends that consumers not exceed more than a total of three grams per day of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, with no more than two grams per day from a dietary supplement.

Be sure to shop at www.vitacost.com for all your essential fatty acid and fish oil needs!

References

1. Supplement from the sea: the fat from fish oil can benefit your heart, eyes, joints, and brain. Tom Weede. Natural Health. Oct 2007 v37 i9 p105 (2).

2. Omega medicine. Is fish oil good for what ails you? Bonnie Liebman. Nutrition Action Healthletter. Oct 2007 v34 i8 p1 (5).

3. The government?s big fish story: Pick the perfect fish oil supplement. Men’s Health. July-August 2007 v22 i6 p158.

4. Fish oil and brain development. Alan R. Gaby. Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine. Oct 2007 i291 p49 (2).

5. Effects of fish oil supplementation on myocardial fatty acids in humans. R.G. Metcalf, M.J. James, R.A. Gibson. Alternative Medicine Review. Sept 2007 v12 i3 p307 (1).

6. Essential fatty acids. Douglas Dupler and Teresa G. Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.

7. Mighty omegas (ways to score more essential fats). Nancy Duncan. Women’s Health. Dec 2006 v3 i10 p47.

8. Essential fatty acids and eicosanoids: their role in preventing inflammation, cardiovascular disease and cancer. James Meschino. Dynamic Chiropractic. Dec 3, 2007 v25 i25 p28(3).

9. Fish oil. Mai Tran and Teresa Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.

10. On call: Fish oil revisited. Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.

11. By the way, doctor: How much fish oil should I be taking? Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7032.shtml

Maximizing Muscle Gain And Fat Loss Just Like The Professionals

By: Ben Kong

A colleague of mine recently earned his ‘Pro Card’ (A designation to be able to compete in the professional ranks for cash. Generally you have to win your weight class at a national championship) in the premier natural bodybuilding federation the WNBF. This federation attracts the best natural athletes on the planet as it has by far the toughest drug testing policy in natural bodybuilding plus prize money that is significant by bodybuilding standards.

Whilst surfing various forums and sites for contest results and pictures I also read various posts by detailing the diet and training secrets of some of the best professional natural bodybuilders on the planet for maximizing muscle gain and fat loss.

Guess what the best of the best, world-class physiques do to build muscle and lose fat?

1. They learn as much as they can and continuously research how the human body works and over time refine their understanding of their own unique muscle growth and fat loss physiology.

2. They eat clean and they are specific. Sweet potato, beef, chicken, vegetables, good fats and plenty of water. All day, every day in the right amounts and at the right times for their body to keep their body fuelled and burning fat constantly.

3. They train smart. Once they know how their body works they create a training program that stacks up with the science of muscle grow adapted to how their body responds best.

4. They get their final edge with intelligent and rational supplementation. The pros of the WNBF know the handful of supplements that works and stick to them. They have everything else in line as well and know that supplements are not a miracle answer for deficient training and diet.

That’s it! A simple four step process for developing the body of your dreams. Yes, there’s effort and discipline involved but what everyone needs to understand is, once you get your body to the level where you’ve treated it to clean, functional eating for a period of time, you can relax a little, say over any festival periods it’s not a problem to get get your body back into pristine condition again because there’s not much work your body’s got to do to eliminate any excess toxicity that’s built up over a short space of time.

You don’t have to become a world champion body builder to join the fitness elite - the term ‘fitness elite’ means knowing exactly how to work with your body in an intelligent, holistic way, so you can sculpt your body to your own specifications at will, naturally. It’s not rocket science, it’s biology! How you can transform your body and enjoy all the wonderful fruit that comes with it, if you don’t take the time first to understand the very basics of what it requires to enable it to transform most efficiently? Impossible and downright insane.

To get your best body ever, it doesn’t get any better than following in the footsteps of those with world class physiques. Ultimate Body Success was created from the very same foundations that built and continues to build the best bodies on the planet but most importantly allows YOU to do the same.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_6996.shtml

Laying a Good Foundation for Health

By: Paula Muran

In the western medicine world, we have lost touch with the basic concept of true healing. We substitute a band-aid for a cure and wonder why we don’t feel better. People get ill for many reasons. Each diseased state tells us that we are ignoring some part of self, and change is necessary. While many factors contribute to healing, and it happens on many levels, all require attention throughout the entire healing practice. Ignoring the body-mind (emotions and thoughts) would not provide adequate and long-term good health.

Physical symptoms like headaches, swollen glands, sneezing and colds, including more serious diseases like cancer, communicate that there is a disturbance in the emotional fabric of our being. Negative emotions like fear, doubt and worry stop the normal flow of energy. These emotions undermine us, and over the course of our lives cause unexplained and crippling diseases that end up controlling us.

The physical body falls apart because we fall apart emotionally. Recent scientific studies have shown that emotions sabotage everything—from simple success to kidney failure. When we don’t care for the “whole self,” the physical body simply mirrors those effects. Over the course of time, emotions like fear, anger and confusion take their toll. Repressed anger diminishes the functions of the liver. Hopelessness and despair play havoc with the gall bladder. Fear plays havoc with the kidneys, relationships and success. Confusion on the other hand, keeps whirling thoughts spinning, creating a cloud of chaos around us and we become imbalanced and ungrounded. Head colds for instance, are a direct result of emotional confusion. Long-standing negative emotional beliefs deteriorate the entire physical being. A constant string of repetitive negative words weaken and actually exhaust the physical body.

To heal we must feel. We must identify the root emotional cause of the disease. This process lays down a new foundation for good health and begins with a new attitude about being healthy. Any negative emotion causes us to stay stuck in a false perception about our self.

How do we identify negative emotions? The easiest way to identify negative patterns is to see them in family members and friends. Examine other people’s behaviors. Notice all the things you like about them and all the things you don’t like, especially the things that make you angry, envious or jealous. The people around you are actually reflections of you. What you see in another person that bothers you or angers you is a part of yourself that has not yet been loved and healed. Begin by criticizing your dearest friends. By doing this practice of looking at the faults of friends and family you get in touch with the parts of you that are out of balance and seek healing. This simple exercise offers you an opportunity to look deeply at your own emotional concerns and patterns. Once you locate personal limitation it’s time for change.

Emotional patterns are created when you place a judgment upon an experience. To change, we must stay conscious of our feelings in situations. Stay calm, make no judgment—simply feel the energy. For example, let’s take anger because anger is one of the most profound emotions and is easily felt. Imagine yourself in an angry situation; stay completely present and deeply feel the anger. Don’t judge it—simply feel it. Now, love the feeling that anger produces. Anger can be motivation. It can be passionate. Change the negative charge that anger produces; begin to embrace and love the feeling of anger instead of repelling it.

Next begin to dialogue with the anger. Yes, that is correct, strike up a conversation with anger. Ask it questions like, “What are you teaching me?” or “Why am I so angry all the time?” Permit the answers to come into your conscious mind. As they do, you realize what the true issue is. Sometimes in that moment of realization the anger pattern can release. Other times it might take a few more conversations for the anger to release. This method allows the energy constriction caused by anger and other emotions to release. Any blocked energy begins to flow giving the physical body a chance to heal.

Even though healing begins with the emotions, the physical body must be strong enough to support the emotional body.

Supplements: Supplementation is important because food chemicals, pesticides and a hurried lifestyle play havoc on our systems. Take no more than five different supplements daily. I prefer liquids including Green-Magma and other green drinks. If you don’t feel immediate results, they are not working.

Water: Only 5% of the American population gets sufficient water each day. Diet drinks, high corn-syrup drinks and coffee do not count towards proper hydration; in fact these drinks cause gastrointestinal inflammation, kidney and liver problems and an acidic environment. To properly hydrate drink at least half of your body weight in purified water by the ounce each day. For example if you weight 150 lbs. you need 75 ounces of purified water daily. Exercise: The number one killer today is a stagnant lymph system caused by a lack of exercise. Take a walk around the block or take a yoga, chi-kung or Pilate’s class.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7156.shtml

Tips To Get Beautiful Nails - For A Beautiful You!

By: Darren Brent

Not just your face but even your hands say it loud when you need to get that perfect impression in a board meeting or on a special person. Your perfectly manicured nails look good and say it loud about how well you maintain yourself. However, nail care is essential for both men and women and few tips that will help you get that perfect nails sitting at home. So, say good bye to expensive salons and French manicurists.

If you devote a little care even once in 15 days your nail will look beautiful, giving you an edge over the others in today’s world of competition.

1. Get a basic nail kit that has the necessary tools but is not prohibitively expensive as brand names do not mean great nails! Nail kits are available at every drug store so you can find one that suits you easily.

2. Wash your hands with a herbal based soap and lukewarm water and let it dry. When the nails are soft, they are easy to cut and file. However, be careful as improper filing can weaken the nails. Use a nail file and shape up your nails according to our desire with easy, gentle strokes. File from the side to the middle along the edge of the nail for the best results. Do not apply pressure on the top which will cause then to crack and break.

3. If you apply nail polish, do not put a thick coat and leave it. Beautiful, well manicured nails require 2 to3 coats of nail polish applications to give them that smooth, glossy finish.

4. As with hair and skin, nails also require attention. A well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water keeps the nails shiny and smooth while dehydrated nails look chipped and dry too.

5. Regular nail care is important and occasionally do apply cuticle oil to moisturize and soften your cuticles and nails. This will help the nails to look fresh and smooth, even without nail polish.

6. Never use alcohol based lotions or nail polish removers as they tend to weaken the nails and dehydrate them. The chances of fungi and other microbial infections increase when the nails are cracked and brittle. Always go in for natural, organic nail care products to safe guard tour skin and nails.

7. Unhealthy habits of biting nails also lead to unhygienic nails and spoil the look of the hands. So, if you are prone to it, give it up! If you follow these tips, you will have healthy, beautiful nails and hands in a short time span.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_7131.shtml