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Posts Tagged ‘science’

Is Organic Meat Truly Healthier?

April 17th, 2010

More and more of us are changing to organic foodstuffs under the premise that they are much better for us. On the whole this is true, but where meat is concerned it’s rather a grey area.

The whole point of organic produce is that you are eating natural food as nature intended; no additives or pesticides and farmed by trainer farmers who know their stuff. You should be able to buy this and feed it to your loved ones with a completely clear conscience.

So if they can do such a good job with the fruit and vegetables, how come that the meat side of it is, shall we say, a grey area?

One of the greyest areas concerns wild fish. If it is wild, the USDA says you can sell it as organic, yet there is still a very high chance that it may contain mercury and other chemicals.

The official regulations regarding the welfare and living condition of the animals that organic meat comes from also seems open to debate.

Yes, we all grateful that the guidelines for their feed is so strict. It is very reassuring that we aren’t consuming their antibiotics, or hormones etc but I personally want to know about their living conditions.

So what can we, as the consumers, do about it? Well overall, organic is a better choice than non organic. There are better options however. You can look for meat that has labels on saying it has been approved by the RSPCA and other such bodies which have thoroughly checked out the welfare of the animals prior to slaughter.

The authorities have been tip-toeing around these issues long enough, we as consumers have the right to get them addressed immediately. The areas such as the fish, living conditions and welfare need strict guideline putting in place. Secondly, we also have a right to know that organic means organic, and not some authoritative representation of it.

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Lose Fat Using This Elementary Approach

March 22nd, 2010

I always find the topic of dieting and losing weight to be an interesting one. It seems like there are always people coming out with new books and videos that promise to change the world, all with a different scientific theory behind them.

Some of them are even said to trick the body into thinking it’s doing something that it’s not, thereby affecting your metabolism and other factors.

What’s funny about these plans isn’t the fact that I think they’re bogus, because I do happen to believe that many of them can and will in fact work. This isn’t the issue here.

What I find interesting is the fact that everyone out there is looking for some kind of a shortcut. Some easy or fast weigh to lose weight.

There’s one surefire way to burn fat and lose weight, and I find it funny that so few people choose to stick to the basics, instead opting for complicated plans that make things much harder than they need to be. If you eat less calories than you burn, you’ll experience weight loss.

It’s really that easy, and I find it amusing that so many people look for ways around it. As long as your caloric output is greater than your intake, your stored energy, more commonly known as fat, will be put to work and slowly go away.

Limit the number of calories you take in on a daily basis, and try to make sure that everything you’re eating has nutritional value too. Eating bad foods will make it harder to lose weight, so keep it healthy and the foods that you eat will have a positive impact on your overall health.

At the same time, stay active! Exercise as much as you can, as you’ll burn calories as you do this. If you want to get to the finish line more quickly, exercise often.

The key to this all is doing it on a daily basis without fail. Live by these rules and you’ll be thrilled with your results.

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Fade Stretch Marks: Is It Possible?

December 27th, 2009

Are there ways to fade stretch marks? The answer is affirmative. Make stretch marks disappear? Unfortunately this is still a no. Despite the many advances in skin care technology, no treatment has yet successfully made these often than not embarrassing stripes totally disappear. However, there are now many available treatments to make stretch marks appear less conspicuous and ease associated signs (such as skin dryness) that may arise with having these marks.

Basic Facts About Your Skin and Stretch Marks

Causes

The human skin is the largest as well as the most elastic organ. It can spring back to its original state. However, there are instances when the skin becomes too overstretched damaging the epidermis. The epidermal layer is responsible for secreting collagen and elastic fibers, two substances that are give skin its elasticity. Below are common causes of stretch marks:

- Sudden Weight Change – When one rapidly gains weight, the skin is not given adequate time to adjust to the added mass, thus, the skin becomes overstretched. These stretch marks become more evident when one then loses the weight as they now have more texture. – Pregnancy. Common sense tells us that stretch marks occur in the abdominal region as the body accommodates the growing child. – Growth spurts. Puberty may cause certain individuals to experience rapid growth in height and muscles. – Bulking of muscles. Stretch marks associated with athletes in particular bodybuilders.

Appearance

- Stretch Mark Color – Initially stretch marks are seen as red to pinkish to purple in color that eventually become a more permanent silvery-white – Shape – crooked bands or lines or stripes that vary in length and width appearing mostly as wavelike streaks – Texture – can be flat, depressed, ridged/bumpy, or glossy

Associated Symptoms

- Dryness – Itchiness – Thickening or raised skin – Pain – Tenderness

Common Location for Stretch Marks

Generally, stretch marks are seen in areas of the body where weight gain is most evident namely:

- Abdomen – Thighs – Hips – Breast – Upper arms and axillary area

Treatment

Intervention of Cosmetics

- Chemical peels and laser treatment – these work by removing the scarred topmost layer of the skin allowing newer and healthier skin to emerge using laser or chemicals that are acidic in nature – Microdermabrasion – exfoliates the topmost layer of the skin using very small crystals – Skin removal – usually done to those people who have loss dramatic weight resulting to excess skin Nonsurgical Intervention – Topical medications – include lotions and creams that are massaged into the skin. These topical creams share similar ingredients such as vitamins A and E. Tretinoin-based cream is said to be effective in fading stretch creams. Keep in mind that since topical medications are not as aggressive as surgical ones more time is required for results to show. An added perk to topical treatments is the alleviation of other symptoms (such as creams give added moisture to dry skin). – Shift to Healthy Lifestyle – healthy and clean living is recommended to keep one’s weight stable and in check. A balanced diet will provide one sufficient nutrients essential for healthy skin.

Nothing is as effective as these tips on how to prevent stretch marks. Better yet, find out how smart people really get rid of it without undergoing laser for stretch marks!

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