1. Carry Your In-flight Meal

Avoid your airline’s packaged meal and carry fresh fruit, cheese, nutrition bars and dry food that won’t smash, leak or stink up the airline. You can also think of boiled eggs, cheese with whole wheat toast, jerky, charcuterie, bean and grain salads with veggies and a vinaigrette dressing.

2. Drink Plenty Of Fluids

Avoid coffee and tea while flying and take in plenty of water and fruit juices. Try to grab a cup of milk when you can. Avoid alcohol and soda-based drinks in order to minimize jet lag and other travel-related health conditions.

3. Avoid Eating At Street Outlets

Part of the charm of traveling is to experience local food. So sample a bit here and there and check how your system reacts. If you perceive any adverse reactions, don’t put yourself through the guinea pig routine to find out which food your body doesn’t like.

4. Give The Mini Bar A Miss

Stock your hotel room with fresh fruit,  fiber cookies, granola bars and other healthy food stuffs. Doing so will keep you full during those in-between meal times when you’re tempted to attach the junk in your room’s mini bar.

5. Avoid Eating Fast Food

Fast foods are high in calories and fat, in particular. What’s more, by grabbing fast food in a hurry, you’ll be missing out on experiencing the local food culture. Eat at healthy outlets favored by locals and tourists alike; a small family-own inn or bakery can offer you more return for your money in terms of health.

6. Don’t Skip Breakfast

Breakfast should be your biggest meal of the day; your body gets most of its starter energy from your breakfast. If your hotel offers a complimentary breakfast, take full advantage of it and choose options such as eggs, bacon and whole wheat toast, high in carbs, protein and fiber.

7. Choose Healthy Options At Restaurants

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that the food choices you make don’t make a difference to your overall vacation and post-vacation health. They do; whenever you order something, evaluate what you’re doing to your body and then give that nod to the waiter.

8. Avoid Sugar Rich Foods

You’re already in high spirits, vacationing away to your heart’s content. Why on earth do you want a sugar high as well? Feel that sugar tooth acting up? Don’t pick up a pack of sugary baked goods or chocolates; pick up some fresh sweet fruit like strawberries, blueberries or peaches. They work just as well!

9. Eat Healthy Snacks In The Car

Families with kids get bored after the first few miles of driving and eating becomes a pastime. Be sure to take a cooler full of sliced fruits, cheese, and small whole wheat sandwiches layered with avocado, turkey or chicken meat. Your family will feel full and will be less inclined to reach into the bag of chips.

10. Eat Before You Leave For The Airport

Most of us rush through the packing and commuting process, getting to the airport just in time, hungry, irritable and crabby. This is when we are most inclined to grab those sugar rich cookies from the airport coffee shop. Plan ahead and squeeze in a healthy meal before you leave.

11. Go Vegetarian

If you’re not sure of the meat quality, just don’t take the risk. Keep a small knife handy to chop veggies and a plastic bowl to make a quick and filling salad. Throw in some nuts and a dressing and you’re done.

12. Keep An Eye On Food Portions

If you don’t have a healthy food choice in front of you, watch your portions. Keep in mind you’re just eating to stave off the hunger till you get a better, healthier food option.

13. Opt For Mexican Food At Airports

Mexican food is by far the least junky; you’re sure to find a hearty serving of beans on rice or with tortillas. Definitely a more filling, healthier option than fried wings and junky sugar cookies.

14. Research Food Options At Your Destination

Look for restaurants close to your hotel, note their timings and the kind of cuisine on offer. Know where the closest grocery stores, farmers markets and gas stations are. If you can check your hotel’s menu online, study all the healthy options beforehand so you don’t have to order the wrong thing while hungry.

15. Look Up Starbucks Outlets

Starbucks stocks many healthy options such as protein plates, veggie trays, fruit cups, packed, oatmeal with nuts and dried fruit. They also stock nutritious, dense nut bars at the counter as well.

This article is written by Teena from adventure gift ideas Company Adrenaline that offers more than 2000 experience gifts ideas for men and women all across Australia.

What is IBS?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a disorder involving persistent discomfort and concern in those who have it. IBS is characterized by its related symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and cramping. IBS doe not cause permanent harm to the intestines or lead to more serious conditions such as cancer.

Who Gets IBS?

IBS affects more women than men. Symptoms usually show up between the ages of 35 and 50. There is no cure for IBS, but the symptoms can be brought under control with dietary adjustments, medications and stress management.

Stress and IBS

Stress, a feeling of being mentally or emotionally overwhelmed, angry or anxious, is a contributing factor to IBS. It is important to note that stress does not cause IBS, but it does worsen some of the symptoms. Persistent stress can stimulate colon spasms in those with IBS. The colon is partially controlled by the autonomic nervous system, meaning nerves in the colon are affected by stress.

The “Butterfly” Effect

These specific nerves control the normal contractions of the colon necessary for digestion. When a person is stressed, these contractions become more frequent than necessary. The result is abdominal discomfort. It is very similar to what some people call “butterflies in the stomach” or abdominal cramps.

IBS and the Immune System

Those with IBS may feel discomfort even when they are only slightly upset or nervous due to the heightened sensitivity of these nerve fibers in people with the condition. Some research has suggested a connection between IBS and the immune system, which could explain why stress has such an impact on this disorder. Therefore, stress management is often among the suggested treatments for IBS.

Causes of IBS

A specific cause of IBS has not yet been discovered. Recent research suggests that the condition may be linked to bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. One study on IBS found increased occurrences during a woman’s menstrual cycle. This suggests that reproductive hormones may play a role in aggravating IBS symptoms, accounting for the increased occurrences in women.

Serotonin and IBS

One theory suggests that some people are just naturally more susceptible to stress, meaning their colon is likely to respond with increased contractions resulting in extreme discomfort.
A common and well-tolerated treatment for IBS is anti-depressant drugs. The agents in Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) including fluoxetine and paroxetine, are effective in reducing frequency of symptoms and abdominal discomfort regardless of whether the person is suffering from depression or not. Improvements were seen in stool frequency, abdominal pain, and bloating.

Celiac Disease and IBS

Researchers found that a significant amount of those with IBS also had celiac disease, a condition in which the body cannot digest gluten. People with this disease cannot eat foods such rye or wheat without becoming extremely sick. A blood test is required to determine if this disease is present in those with IBS.

Whatever the cause of IBS is, one thing is certain: IBS is being diagnosed more often today than even just ten years ago. The reason may simply be that many of us do not know how to handle stress or that there are more stressful situations in life today than ever before. Maybe it is a combination of both factors. However, it is safe to say that it is also more important than ever to find better ways to cope with stress.

Donna Savage is a nutritional counselor with a family history of digestive problems. IBS Symptoms can be painful and hereditary, but with proper diet and stress reduction techniques, can be managed and even resolved.

So step back from the gunk of the day to reflect, relax and focus on stress relief.

• Stress Relief 1: Recognizing the Problem

Have you ever been in a situation wherein you seem to be down in the dumps
and really tetchy, then something as minute as your secretary spilling a drop of coffee on your carpet can make you explode like a time bomb?

Sometimes we get really stressed out, bad tempered, or really glum without even knowing why. In this case, it is best to backtrack and figure out what could have happened within the past few days.

This way, you will be able to zero in on the most significant causes of your bad mood. Being able to recognize the sources of your problems can help you figure out how to fix the underlying troubles with some bust the stress activities.

• Stress Relief 2: Zeroing in on the Real Deal

Stress is caused by many factors, and anxiety can make a bad mood seem like the seven plagues that happened to Egypt. It is best to focus on the real deal that has been causing our problem. Question yourself regarding the major thing that’s been causing your bad mood, which you’re somehow avoiding.

For example, instead of getting extremely irked at your pet dog for bringing in the daily newspaper in bits and pieces, recognize that the real problem is because of the looming deadline of your paperwork.

Being able to zero in on the real deal can help reduce the pressure and let you focus on it more proactively.

• Stress Relief 3: Chill

The easiest thing that you should do first to tone down that bad mood would be to breathe. Then follow these steps:

1. Go to a quiet place.

Tip: The bathroom is the most private place to run to
if you’re in the middle of a busy place.

2. Concentrate on your breathing.

Tip: Take deep breaths with your nose and exhale through your mouth. It restores your body’s natural, calm state.

3. Organize your thoughts.

Tip: One way of doing so would be to create a pie chart which can give you a picture of all the stressors.
Recognizing these problems helps you get a clearer picture of how to address to them.

Tip: Jot down your problems in a list and create step by step solutions on how to handle them. You can also
create a list of specific anti stress activities in order to help increase your mood, such as planning for the week ahead and creating a budget plan.

4. Exercise

Tip: something as simple as taking a brisk walk to something as strenuous as taking laps at the local pool can really boost your mood.

Edyta is helping people to combat stress. Discover the best anti stress activities via her free report. Click this link to get her FREE Stress Relief Download! ]]> http://www.healthinsider.com.au/stress-management/banish-bad-moods-with-these-easy-steps-goodbye-stress/feed 0 http://www.healthinsider.com.au/general-health/never-say-huh-again http://www.healthinsider.com.au/general-health/never-say-huh-again#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:06:54 +0000 admin http://www.healthinsider.com.au/?p=150 Today there have been a lot of great changes made in the advancement of hearing aid technology. This is great news for anyone who has any type of hearing loss, no matter how big or small that hearing loss may be. One of the biggest and most exciting changes has to do with their wireless capability.

According to hearing aid reviews the wireless capability of hearing aids will allow you to stay connected with devices that you find to be important to your lifestyle. For instance, you can now stay connected while you use a mobile phone that has Bluetooth technology or while you are watching television or listening to some music. This is because these hearing aids come equipped with a small remote control that transforms the hearing aid into a rich sounding stereo headset. This will allow you to be able to stream television, IPOD music and other types of audio sources directly into your hearing aid. You don?t even have to take your hearing aid out in order to be able to do this.

There are also some hearing aids that come with a rechargeable battery unit. This is great news for people who have dexterity problems or limited vision that would cause you to struggle if you ever had to change a battery. With this type of a set up you will no longer have to worry that there won?t be someone around to help you change your hearing aid battery and thus you?ll have to go without being able to hear until you can find someone to do this task for you. Of course, this is something that many people were faced with having to deal with in the past but this is another great change that has occurred in the advancement of hearing aids today.

Clearly there are a lot of great advancements that have taken place in hearing aid technology over the years. This is why there is so much to celebrate for those who have to wear a hearing aid today. While you may still find yourself concerned as to whether or not you will be able to enjoy these advancements yourself because of how much power you may require from your hearing aid, rest assured that even the strongest powered hearing aids now are available with these great features. Of course, you will still want to take some time to talk over these things with a hearing specialist in order to make sure that you are properly fitted with the best hearing aid for you. This can only be done once he has conducted a hearing test so that he has the information he needs in order to determine what the best hearing aid is going to be. Nevertheless, you can now rest assured that you no longer have to live in fear that you are going to be stuck using one of the old fashioned hearing aids that simply will not meet your needs. So, don?t put off getting an appointment with a hearing specialist today.

Mary is a blogger for HappyHealth.net, a health lifestyle community for active adults. HappyHealth also provides hearing aid reviews and other product reviews.

But, doing the deed when you are most fertile is essential too. If you and your partner have an active intimate life, the chances are that you will get pregnant sooner or later. If you add an ovulation tracker to the mix, it is likely to happen sooner. So, how do these ovulation calendars work

The user inputs data about their menstrual cycle, including the number of days your cycle normally takes to complete and the date of your last period. If you, by any chance, already know how many days you have between ovulation and menstruation (the luteal phase), an ovulation calendar is especially likely to give you the right information. Your chosen ovulation tracker will then give you the date you are expected to ovulate. Some online ovulation calendars also send you an email three days before, and on the date of your expected ovulation.

One way to make an ovulation calendar even more effective is to start using ovulation predictor kits some days before the ovulation calculator tells you you will be fertile. Ovulation tests – which you should take in the afternoon, by the way – work by detecting the luteinizing hormone, and will give you totally accurate information. With an ovulation calendar, you won’t have to take (expensive!) ovulation tests all the time, just around your expected ovulation date. Good luck!

Olivia blogs about fertility, pregnancy and babies at Trying To Conceive. Her blog also has a message board for women who are trying to get pregnant.

What is the Controversy?

The new research addresses the claims made by the UK’s NHS that 1400 lives are saved annually as a result of the screening policy. The authors of the report have identified that while screening does save lives and allow for earlier diagnosis than self checking, the amount of false positives and treatment undergone unnecessarily as a result of over diagnosis actually brings into question whether screening women across the board does more harm than good.

What are the Statistics?

Routine breast cancer screening has been offered in the UK since 1988, and is at present available to all women aged 50 or over. In 2002 the World Health Organisation released an estimate that the screening reduced breast cancer deaths by around 35%.

The new European study, however, discovered that over a ten year period, for every 2000 individual women in the screening programme (that is, at present, every woman over 50), two would be correctly diagnosed and their lives would be saved, but ten healthy women would undergo invasive and unnecessary treatment. It is estimated that a further 200, that is 10% of the sample, would go through a period of anxiety or suffer trauma due to a false positive.

Professor Turns Down Screening

Prof. Susan Bewley of King’s College London, who specialises in complex obstetrics has herself declined screening. In a letter to the UK’s Cancer Director, Prof. Mike Richards, she expressed that the distress accompanying a positive test result and the decisions a woman would be forced to make regarding treatment on a lesion which “may or may not be cancerous”, sometimes involving “mutilating surgery” were coming to light.

Professor Richards responded to Professor Bewley to say that although the current evidence was that for every misdiagnosis two and a half lives were saved (in contrast with the evidence in the new report), he intended to lead a full review and, should the results lean in favour of the screening being more harmful than beneficial, make recommendations to the UK National Screening committee and the government for changes.

Professor Julietta Patnick, who heads up the UK Cancer Screening Programmes, has gone on record as saying this review, which will be carried out with the help of Cancer Research UK, is welcome. She said that the NHS screening programme has always been adaptive to the very latest evidence, research and technology, and that in the past, where suggestions for improvement backed up by solid research have been made, changes have followed.

What is the Current Advice for Women Invited for Screening?

At present, while Professor Richards conducts the review, the advice from the government for UK women currently included in the screening programme is that they should undertake their screening as normal. It should be noted that while the choice about whether to have the screening is a personal one, until the review has been carried out the current evidence still shows that screening promotes early diagnosis, which is vital when it comes to successfully treating breast cancer.

1. Blondes are Dumb
Blondes aren’t dumb. There are a lot of very smart blonde women—just go to a graduate program in any university and you’ll see a number of blondes. Studies have shown that men constantly rank blonde women as appearing less intelligent than her darker-haired sisters.

This is a total male fabrication, however, as women rank blondes the same as other women. Although we don’t really know where it comes from, the Dumb Blonde stereotype is definitely one of the craziest (and least accurate) ones.

2. Long-haired Men are Dirty Hippies
Not only are they dirty hippies, they’re also lazy, rebellious, addicts and potheads. The stereotypes surrounding long-haired men are multiple and really hurtful. Even though long hair on a guy is a rarer sight than, let’s say, a red-haired girl, having long hair and being a guy can still put you in certain stereotypes.

Stereotypes about long hair on men is all about what’s “proper” for guys to wear, but it’s still silly to identify a guy as a pothead simply because he has longer hair. Societal pressure is hard to break, so kudos to you if you dare to wear long hair!

3. Redheads Are Horny
Yes, we know that red is the color of passion and sex. Despite sporting a fiery mane, not all redheads are actually interested in having sex with everyone they meet. They’re just like any other girl, really. Making such an assumption can be dangerous!

Even though less than 3% of the population is a natural redhead, it doesn’t make them extra-confident by default. Some redheads are actually quite shy and don’t really like the attention their hair color gives them.

4. Bald Guys Are Losers (or Heroes)
Whether he’s the geek without a girlfriend (or, oh my god, still a virgin!) or the slick used sales car guy with a toupee or a comb-over, bald men tend to be represented as more or less losers. They’re usually fat, can’t attract women and have geeky pastimes.

But then you have the opposite: the bald action hero a la Bruce Willis or Vin Diesel. They’re sexy, confident and strong. Is there a space for the ordinary, moderately successful bald man with a family, a dog, a house and a car? Do you have to be either a loser or a superhero when you’re bald?

These are only a few hair stereotypes; you’ll also find that brunettes are reliable but boring and that black-haired women are shy, secretive types with a penchant for the arts.

The truth is, none of these are true or real. They’re just easy ways to classify people for those who are too lazy to talk with others. If you want to get that hair replacement to avoid baldness stereotypes, go for it; just do what feels best for you. Most of all, be comfortable with your choices and be proud of what nature gave you! ]]> http://www.healthinsider.com.au/hair/4-crazy-hair-stereotypes/feed 0 http://www.healthinsider.com.au/weight-loss/good-health-diet-and-lifestyle-will-help-weight-loss http://www.healthinsider.com.au/weight-loss/good-health-diet-and-lifestyle-will-help-weight-loss#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:31:36 +0000 admin http://www.healthinsider.com.au/?p=124 Good Health for weight loss

Have you ever considered how a good state of health affects your weight? Yes, we do encounter a lot of information regarding how to lose weight through this and that, but have you thought about how these methods affect your health? Today, we will discuss an interesting topic in regards to good health for weight loss.

As you can see, healthy weight loss methods are considered as one of the best ways to lose weight; they are safe, reliable and cheaper than most programs. And if you dig more to it, you will realize that the outcome of such methods is to keep you in good shape and in health. So basically, forming a good health is what you need. You don’t need to learn more about other weight loss techniques. What you want is having a good and fit body that helps you achieve far greater things, with weight loss being just a part of it.

Focus on your body

This is actually one thing that helps you realize what you need for your body. Do you easily tire out? Do you tend to lose your breathe through simple activities? Can you wear your pants easily? All these are questions that focus on the health of the body. Losing breath just by doing simple activities can be a sign that you need to lose weight and protect your heart. Take into consideration these signals and take corrective actions.

Healthy diet

A healthy diet does not only contain lower calories but also provides your body with a lot of nutrients. This makes you a whole lot better in productivity and warding off diseases. Try to be consistent with your diet and it’s about time to reconsider your unhealthy ways of eating. Limit your daily calorie intake and gradually avoid food items that contain too many calories and additives, which are detrimental to your health. These include but not limited to: fast food, sweets, processed foods and alcoholic beverages. The more you get away from those unhealthy habits, the more you realize how great it is to have a healthier body.

Give more preference to fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, lean meat, sea food, legumes and nuts. You should also consider taking the good source of fat from olive oil instead of corn oil or sunflower.

Healthy activities

Lying around the whole day will get you in trouble. We take energy from food to become more productive and without exercise and physical activity the only thing we achieve is storing calories in the fat reserves.

How do you solve this problem?

To solve this problem you just have to become more active. Spend more time with your friends and family, go for hiking, outing or camping and be consistent with your daily runs or even brisk walks. Remember that moving is the key. Also try to set regular cardio or aerobics. If you are the one who loves dancing then get hold of those groovy music. You can certainly lose weight through these methods and at the same time maintain fitness.

Good rest and relaxation

We all need some decent rest and relaxation periods in order for the body to function well. So try to give yourself a good night sleep, engage into activities like yoga and plyometrics to relax tension of the body or have a good afternoon nap (power nap). The secret is to make your body clock function well and efficient.

Positive thinking

To have good health, one must have a positive outlook of life. The more you grow and develop, the more you get better and look better. Always see the positive things in life and stay away from activities or moods that pull you down.

Article by Alex Chris. If you enjoy reading this article you may also like Alex’s latest article on how to to use a calorie counter to lose weight.

1. What Are You Getting Into? – Laser eye surgery is done with laser technology that cuts the flap around the cornea and begins to reshape it to correct any vision. It’s known as a refractive surgery that has a high percentage of positive results that can be experienced within 24 hours. The pain after-wards is minimal due to the evasive way the procedure is done. A mandatory consultation will need to be completed prior to surgery to determine if you are a candidate or if other methods can be tried first.

2. Are There Any Risks? – Naturally, with any surgery there are going to be risks. It’s important to know what they are before having the procedure to insure that you are prepared. However, studies have shown that less than 1% of patients have had continuing issues due to the surgery. This has been since the year 2000 when laser eye surgery was originally introduced into the armed forces. Most cases include people who suffer from dry eyes before the procedure since this is often a side effect. This is why it is recommended to use soothing eye drops after surgery in order to prevent future vision altercations.

3. What Are The Side Effects? – Even with a high percentage of cases being effective; there are side effects involved with this refractive surgery. As mentioned before, experiencing dry eyes is very common for most patients as well. And it’s very normal to sparingly suffer from double vision. Some cases have also had issues with seeing in the dark due to glares from bright light. Regardless of having the ability to see 20/20 or better; these are symptoms to be aware of prior to having laser eye surgery.

4. Is It Foolproof? – Unfortunately, there isn’t any surgery in this world that is a guarantee. However, there have been major published research articles from many American Academies that have resulted in an average of 90% success and satisfaction in cases from a variety of controlled studies. If your result falls into the remaining 10%; there are additional surgeries and methods that can be performed to correct the issue.

5. What Is The Average Cost? – This, of course, varies depending on the surgeon, quality and equipment used. When initially being quoted; expect the price to change a bit since there are additional taxes and fees that are always added at the end. The price range is typically $1000 – $3000 per year; so make sure to weigh out the different options that are available. The goal is to get the same services for less money; so take into consideration the surgeon and equipment offered. Also, there are additional prescriptions and checkups after-wards that add to the overall cost and should be planned as well.

Because this surgery is an in-and-out procedure; most people don’t consider it to be serious. Regardless of a high percentage in cases being successful, there are always additional risks and information that should be known before making the final decision. Besides; you’ll feel better that you did when it’s over.

The Acai Berry is a small, sweet berry with a chocolate-like after taste. There are many health benefits associated with the Acai Berry. Weight loss is just one of those benefits; although perhaps the most appealing one.

Small Changes, Lasting Results

It’s all too easy to get caught up in a big health kick, and try to make too many lifestyle changes at once. Instead of trying to change your entire life in one go, most people would benefit more from making small change that they’ll be able to stick to in the long term.

For example, don’t resolve that you’ll hit the gym three times a week and go jogging every morning if you’ve never worked out before, or even had a gym membership. Start with smaller changes – such as taking the stairs instead of the lift, or walking to the corner shop instead of taking the car.

Small changes are even more important when it comes to your diet. If you cut out all chocolate and sugary drinks in one go, you’ll probably find that you do really well for a couple of months, but it’s likely that you’ll end up binge-eating if your willpower cracks. So, why not limit yourself to treats only at specific times? Or, swap out your coffee shop double-chocolate, whipped cream, caramel concoction for an Acai Berry smoothie? This way, you get the benefits of the Acai Berry weight loss properties, and you’re swapping calorie dense, but nutritionally void food for something healthy and wholesome.

Once you’ve stuck with the small changes for a few months, you’ll find that they become a part of your routine – you’ll look forward to your Acai Berry shake the way you look forward to your current treat and you won’t even think about that walk to the shops any more. Today, that walk might feel like exercise, but in a few months it will just be something that you do as a matter of routine. At that point, it’s time to add some more small healthy steps. The Acai Berry weight loss benefits should have started working for you, and if you’ve lost a little weight and have more energy from your increased activity levels, you may be ready to try adding in some more energetic exercise, or perhaps swapping your white bread for wholemeal bread. Whatever you do, just remember to keep the changes small, and don’t make too many changes at once. Long term changes are better.

This post was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Which Acai Berry, the home of independent news on Acai Berry weight loss products. Amy writes on subjects relating to health, fitness and wellbeing. ]]> http://www.healthinsider.com.au/weight-loss/taking-the-first-step-to-a-healthier-lifestyle/feed 0