3 Bad Diet Mistakes To Avoid At All Cost

Even though there is so much information available about weight loss, the same diet mistakes are being made over and over every day. We are not talking here about little slipups where you ate a slice of pie that was not on the plan, but big mistakes that lead to failure to lose the weight that you want to lose. Understanding these errors can help you develop the attitude that will lead to permanent weight loss for you.

1. The All Or Nothing Attitude

All or nothing dieters will often pick out a complicated diet that is almost impossible for them to maintain. Before beginning, they will search the kitchen for anything that does not fit the plan and throw it in the garbage. They are planning to be the perfect dieter, and so they will be, for one day, three days, seven days or even a couple of weeks. Then, inevitably, something happens that means they cannot keep to the diet one time. Immediately the whole thing is ruined in their eyes and the diet is over. They go to the store and buy all the things that went into the garbage last week and proceed to gain back all the weight that they lost, as fast as possible.

If you are this kind of dieter you need to ask yourself some tough questions. Do you really want to lose weight permanently, or just lose a few pounds so that you can enjoy putting them back on again? The way forward is to make small changes to what you eat so that you have a slow but steady weight loss.

2. The Attitude of Sacrifice

Another common mistake is to view your diet as a period of sacrifice. You do not allow yourself the foods that you enjoy most while you are on your way to your target weight. You may have a great diet plan and be very successful in losing weight, but what happens when you reach your goal? You have not learnt to eat 'bad foods' in moderation so as soon as you start, you are likely to go out of control. It is better to include a little of everything in your diet and learn to enjoy it in small quantities. Yes, even chocolate!

3. Goal Failure

Setting achievable goals is vital in any weight loss plan. Goals should be clear, realistic and set out in writing. While you probably do have an ideal weight in your mind, unless you are only very slightly overweight it is probably too distant to be useful. A more useful goal would be to lose two pounds per week for the first five weeks and then one pound per week after that. Some weeks you will lose more and some less, some weeks you may even gain, but if you track your progress on a graph you will see that ups and downs are natural and do not stop you progressing steadily toward your major goal.

If you have been making these mistakes, do not worry. The most important point in dieting as in so many other things is to move on. Learn from your failures as well as your success and do not use a mistake as an excuse for giving up. The only way to achieve your goal permanently is to make a commitment to become a healthier person. Remember that eating normally includes eating more some days and less others. Learn to enjoy food in moderation and you have every chance of avoiding these bad diet mistakes.

The Sun and Your Teenagers

Your Teenager's Health Series : The Sun and Your Teenagers

Only one third of teens questioned between the ages of 12-18 said they used a sunscreen when out in the sun. Neither were they concerned about the ultraviolet rays they are exposing themselves to on the beach or in a tanning bed. Many of these same teenagers admitted to getting a bad burn at least once in the previous year. They also said it was worth the burn to be able to get a tan after the burn healed.

Spending time is important because we valuable Vitamin D from the sun. It also causes premature aging, skin discoloration, sagging cheeks, and skin cell damage. It also causes one of the most deadly forms of cancer, Melanoma. This cancer has been linked to longtime sun exposure to teens and children. Over 8000 people died of skin cancer last year and the numbers are expected to rise each year.

Tans are a sign that your skin is being damaged by the UV radiation that is part of sunlight. Different skin types have various degrees of protection. Teens with blonde or red hair have the least protection; those with black hair and dark skin have the most natural sun protection. That doesn’t mean they can’t burn or they will avoid skin cancer.

What do we tell our teenagers about protecting their skin from the sun? First, we can keep them informed about what damage can be done by too much time in the sun. Tell them to treat the biggest organ of their body kindly. That will keep them looking healthier and more beautiful as the years go by.

What about fake tans? Fake tans that are skin dyes can be rubbed, or sprayed on the skin and they will last about three to six days after application. The uses of these agents to look tan have not been fully proved safe, so be careful about using them. If skin turns an ugly orange, it will stay that way for several days. Applying a fake tan is considered healthier than baking under a tanning bed or the sun.

Tanning beds are not considered safer than sunbathing on the shore. Tanning beds can, also damage anything the sun can damage. Most states have laws preventing young teenagers from using a tanning salon. Ultraviolet rays can also damage eyes while in a tanning bed. If you are tanning, please remember the importance of wearing the protective goggles. Never should anyone tan without eye protection!

Skin protection while out in the sun is important. One step is to stay out of the sunlight during peak hours of eleven in the morning until three in the afternoon. That’s when the sun’s rays can do the most damage to skin. Even hazy cool days where you don’t think you are getting sunrays are dangerous. Because it is cool, the temptation is to stay in the sun longer and use less protection. Even if you don’t feel hot, the sun can be causing damage to your skin.

If you are planning on being in the sun for a longtime, wear the right clothes. Long sleeves, long pants, and collars with a tight weave are the best protection. Wearing a hat will help the neck, ears, temples, nose, lips, and face. Those are the most common places to find skin cancer. Be sure the hat has a brim that goes all around the head. Wrap around sunglasses are important to protect the eyes and give the best protection.

Sunscreen is also important to help block out UV rays, but it won’t keep all the rays filtered out. Use an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 and use SPF 30 if you have fair skin. Most damage happens just by doing every day activities, like walking back and forth to your car or going to lunch. It’s important to wear sunscreen every day.

Carefully choose your sunscreen as some lotions and gels can dry out the skin and cause irritation. If you are going swimming, a waterproof sunscreen is important but should reapplied every two hours. Use a lot of sunscreen! It’s recommended you use about one teaspoon sunscreen for each limb and a half of teaspoon for the face, ears, and neck.

Apply sunscreen on clean, dry skin at least 20-30 minutes before sun exposure.

Use Of Steriods by Teenagers

Your Teenager's Health Serise : Use of Steroids by Teenagers

The use of steroids is headline news right now both in the United States and worldwide. Big names if professional sports have rumored, or admitted to using steroids to bulk up their bodies and improve their game. Our teenagers look up them as role models and it’s sad to see them letting our teens down. When they see their favorite athlete using steroids, they believe if it’s all right for these stars, it’s all right for them too.

Few realize what some of the terrible side effects are for those who use anabolic steroids. Some teenagers discover too late and their damage is irreparable or they are dead. Yes, it is that serious!

Anabolic steroids are a synthetic substance that promotes the growth of skeletal muscles and are related to the male hormone testosterone. There are over 100 known steroids that have been developed since first discovered in 1930. They were found to be effective in building skeletal muscle in laboratory animals and were first used by weight lifters, and bodybuilders. It caught on with other athletes and is so prolific it has been know to affect the outcome of sports.
The lawful medical uses of these steroids are used to treat some impotence, delayed puberty, and help the body fight wasting diseases like HIV infection. These steroids are illegal in the United States but are smuggled into the country and sold by drug dealers. The use of steroids can effect a good portion of a teenager’s body.

Users of steroids use injection as a means to getting the substance into the body. They often are not careful and use non-sterile injections or share needles with other abusers.
Manufactured steroids are often made in environments that are not sterile and this puts the user in added danger. Hepatitis B and C, HIV, and other viral infections can be injected into the body with non-sterile needle. Infections can form at the injection sights and cause abscesses to form. A potentially fatal side effect is endocarditis. Bacterial infection causes the inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

Steroid use has been linked with liver tumors and blood-filled cysts in the liver. If they rupture as they sometimes do, they cause internal bleeding, another potential life threatening condition.
Steroids also affect the cardiovascular system. Misuse can cause heart attacks and strokes. These can affect all athletes, even teenagers. There have been many reports of teenagers who have died of taking steroids. These steroids decrease the good levels of cholesterol, and increase the good cholesterol. The use of steroids can increase the risk of blood clots that can stop the blood flow to the heart or brain and become fatal.

Steroid use can cause problems with the skin, such as acne and cysts. It can also cause oily skin and hair. In the hormonal system, steroids can cause both irreversible and reversible damage. Some of the side effects that can be reversed if the user stops taking the drugs is: reduced sperm count and shrinking of the testicles. Some of the changes made by these drugs cause side effects that are not reversible.
Male-pattern baldness and breast development in men are NOT reversible. Breast development is caused by a disruption of normal hormone balance.
For young women who take steroids they take on masculine traits. They lose their body fat, breasts decrease, and the skin becomes coarse. Excessive growth of body hair, but thinning of scalp hair is two other changes that sometimes not reversible. The young woman on steroids might also have an enlarged clitoris and deeper voice.
Steroids affect the musculoskeletal system by releasing hormones that tell the body to stop growing. Puberty and adolescence are when the levels of sex hormones spur the growth spurt that occurs during this time. If it is artificially released in to the body, it can cause the bones to stop growing and the user could be locked in to the height they already have reached.
Talk to your teens about the dangers of steroid use. Be open with them, and be aware of any changes in their body that is not consistent with their age. You may save their life!

Cigarette Smoking and Teenagers

Your Teenager's Health Series : Cigarette Smoking and Teenagers

Why do people start smoking and continue smoking? Most of them start when they are teenagers for many reasons. They want to look “cool,” fit in with their peers, and are more likely to smoke if their friends and family smoke. Most adult smokers started smoking before they were 15 years old. Smoking creates an “image” that many teenagers associate with smoking. It’s being tough, cool, sexy, attractive or as a form of rebellion.

Why do they continue to smoke? They continue to smoke because it is habit forming. The chemicals, especially the nicotine reduces the withdrawal symptoms between cigarettes. Smoking is an addiction.

Teenagers can quickly become addicted to the nicotine habit. They begin smoking because their friends smoke, and continue to smoke especially in certain situations. Teenagers smoke if they are talking on the phone, after eating, with caffeine products or alcohol, and just sitting around with their friends. They don’t necessarily notice a “craving” just smoke automatically in certain situations.

Stress also can cause a teenager to smoke, or if they are angry, depressed, or bored. It gives them an emotional boost if their feelings are unbalanced. Third, it is physically addicting because of the nicotine in the cigarette smoke. This nicotine addiction starts immediately after a teenager starts smoking regularly. Teenagers are aware of the dangers, but increasingly more are starting to smoke in their early teens.

What does smoking do to your body? It damages small blood vessels, restricts the flow of blood to hands and feet, and could even cause gangrene and amputation. If you smoke you are ten times more likely to die early from stroke or heart disease. Smokers suffer from severe bronchitis and emphysema more often than non-smokers.

Smoking affects your breathing and you don’t have to have bronchitis or emphysema. There is a decrease in lung capacity and a smoker will have a harder time with physical activities such as swimming, jogging, playing sports, or working out in an aerobics class.

Smoking is the main cause of throat, lung, and mouth cancer. It really does harm your body! What else does smoking do? It makes you smell bad. Smoke clings to your hair, clothing, and especially your breath. Think about kissing an ashtray, that’s what it is like to kiss a smoker. If you are a smoker, chances are, you’ve gotten used to the smell of the tobacco and don’t even notice it anymore. Remember other people can still smell it.

Smoking turns your fingers and teeth yellow, makes your skin age faster, and affects your complexion. As well as the health concerns, think of how much money you would save by kicking the habit.

The good news in all of this is your body can repair itself quickly if you stop smoking. Nicotine will leave your body in less than two hours; the deadly carbon monoxide leaves the body’s blood stream after twelve hours.

All other by-products of nicotine are gone within two days! It only takes two months for the circulation in your arms and legs and even better news, your lungs start to repair themselves in about three months. After a person has stopped smoking, they will notice their sense of smell and taste returns, you enjoy your food more, and your skin will lose the grayish cast that all smokers’ skin has.

Best of all, your body will be free of stale tobacco smell, and your chances of getting heart disease or skin cancer starts to fall.

Maybe your teenager thinks they are immune to all of these symptoms by smoking “light or filtered” cigarettes. There is no evidence of any kind that shows a reduction in health risks by smoking light cigarettes. They are just as addictive as a regular cigarette, they will still cause heart and lung disease and they still contain as much nicotine and tar. You aren’t saving your body from health risks by smoking these cigarettes.

The important thing to do is to talk to your teenagers, keep lines of communication open, and try to point out the dangers in pre-teens and teens beginning to smoke.

Teenagers, Take Care of Your Ears!

Your Teenager's Health : Teenagers, Take Care of Your Ears!

We know teenagers and young adults like their music loud. Yes, they like their music loud! Concerts, clubs, and personal audio equipment with the music cranked up as loud as it will go are normal for most teenagers and young adults.

Did you know that three out of five teenagers report a ringing in their ears after attending a concert? Many of these teenagers didn’t realize the loud music could cause permanent hearing loss. Forty three percent of teenagers report ringing in their ears and other related hearing problems after attending a concert or socializing at a club. Most of the teenagers interviewed said they would consider wearing earplugs at concerts and clubs to avoid lifelong hearing loss.

Reports from the medical profession say that hearing loss can be cumulative, so a slight hearing loss in childhood could turn into a permanent hearing loss as a teenager or an adult. Many teens because of lack of information don’t consider hearing loss as a big of a problem as alcohol or drug abuse.

Your teenagers need to know how the ear works and helped to understand that hearing loss may not show up for years after they’ve been exposed to loud music. Hearing loss doesn’t happen immediately so they believe their ears are not being hurt.

The ear works by sound waves from voice, music, or any other source entering through the ear canal and then travels down to the eardrum. The eardrum is the entrance to the middle ear and as the sound enters; it causes the eardrum to vibrate.

Three tiny bones then send those vibrations to the inner ear. In the inner ear, thousands of little hair cells boost the noise signal and focuses it more clearly, which then sends the nerve signals to the brain along the auditory nerve. That is how you hear sound.

Damage is done to the ears by the loudness of the noise and how long you are exposed to it. Even a little increase in noise level that you probably wouldn’t even notice will hurt your ears worse.

How loud is too loud? If you are unable to carry on a conversation over the noise, it’s too loud and could be dangerous. If you have been listening to something that leaves a ringing in the air after it’s over, you are in danger of permanent hearing loss.

The most common exposure to noise enough to cause permanent damage comes from amplified music, such as concerts, clubs, and through your own earphones. Most teenagers will turn their electronic devices up as loud as a rock concert and their car stereos cranked as high as it will go.

Short-term effects of the loud music include, ringing in your ears, reduced ability to hear, speech harder to understand, and a fullness feeling in your ear. These will often go away after a few hours but in some cases may take a few days. If you are exposed to loud music regularly, it can and will cause permanent ear damage.

What do teenagers need to do to prevent permanent damage and to take care of their ears? The first is to stay away from loud, prolonged noise. In particular, if you are going to clubs don’t stay long, don’t go too often, and try to stay away from the speakers. The clubs is where much of the damage is done to ears.

If you are running chain saws, lawn mowers, or any other loud power tool, your ears should be protected. You need to do the same if you are driving a tractor. Stay as far away as possible from explosions or gunfire. For your ears protection, turn down the sound on your portable audio equipment. Studies proved that 25% of the music listened to by personal electronics are loud enough to cause ear damage and hearing loss. Keep these electronics at a sensible level.

One final item of note; if you have ringing in your ears for more than 12-16 hours after you’ve been exposed to loud music as at a rock concert or a confined club, you should talk to a doctor or an audiologist.

Most teenagers say that if they were aware of the potential damage they could be doing to their ears, they would wear earplugs. Teenagers, you are being warned, wear earplugs to protect your hearing!

Teenagers and Sleep Deprivation

Your Teenager's Health Series : Teenagers and Sleep Deprivation

Many of our teenagers are not getting the sleep they need to stay healthy. Many are falling asleep in class, driving while sleepy, and even falling asleep while doing homework. Studies show that only 20% of our teenagers are getting the sleep they need. Sleep deprivation affects all areas of a teen’s life.

Teens not getting enough sleep are more prone to depression, have more impaired driving, and are more likely to get lower grades. There are startling statistics that give us a pause as parents of teenagers. Here are a few of those statistics.

Nearly 30 percent of teenagers say they are too tired to exercise

Most parents believe their teenager is getting the proper amount of sleep

Teenagers who don’t get the sleep they need get lower grades

Over 30 percent of our teenagers have two or more caffeinated drinks a day which affects sleep

Electronics in the bedroom are a sleep detriment

Over 50 % of our teens admits to driving while drowsy

Oversleeping is the primary cause of missing school or arriving late

Teenagers who don’t receive enough sleep at night report they are unhappy, tense, and nervous

These statistics are alarming especially the statistics on driving! This not only affects the teenagers but also others are in danger as well. Is society partly to blame? Over 50% of today’s teenagers go to bed at 11PM or later and many have to get up by at least 6:30 to get ready for school. It’s perfectly natural for a teenager to feel more productive and alert later at night. That means they want to sleep later in the mornings.

Unfortunately, in many school districts that are consolidated it means our teens have to get up even earlier to catch the school bus. They may have a 30-minute ride to school and often times it is longer.

Some school districts have made some concessions and changed starting time for school to be later. This allows those students that have to travel a distance to get to school, a little extra time to sleep in the morning.

How can parents help insure their teenager is getting the proper amount of sleep? They first have to be aware of their sleep deprivation. The statistic that says 90% of parents believe their teenager is getting the needed sleep is an indication they need to know what their teens are doing when they are supposed to be sleeping.

It is important for parents to question their teens about their sleep habits. Be alert, if your teenager is having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning you should ask them about their sleep habits. Most teenagers getting enough sleep should be able to get up without too much prodding. If it seems harder to get your teen up, you should find out why.

The mention of electronics in the bedroom is one indication a teen is probably not getting enough sleep. If they have a computer in their room, television, Internet, and using the telephone these too keep a teenager awake. Your teen needs to be told that drinking caffeine can keep them awake at night and not to drink a drink with caffeine after noon.

Keep a regular schedule both through the week and on weekends. Teens should have at least nine hours in bed each night.

Sleep deprivation also has negative impact on emotions, risky behavior, and fluctuating emotions. It’s important to recognize the lack of sleep in our children and help them make changes as early in their teens as possible.

Many schools are trying to help the sleep problem by educating pre-teens and grade school children on the importance of getting enough sleep. Teaching the importance of sleep to high school biology classes is another way to educate our teens about the importance of sleeping. A children’s book discusses why the brain needs a good nights sleep.

Parents can help their child grow up to be teenagers who get enough sleep by being consistent in their bedtimes. While they are small, if you teach them the importance of getting enough sleep, you will likely have fewer problems when they are teenagers.

Parenting Emotionally and Physically Healthy Teenagers

Your Teenager's Health Series : Parenting Emotionally and Physically Healthy Teenagers

Rearing emotionally and physically, healthy teenagers in today’s technology will be an adventure for parents. With the many forms of media available, cars to go from place to place, and the cash flow they have available, there are many more temptations for them to give in to.

National attention is focused on teenagers as it nears the anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings. Another plot just uncovered at another high school makes us search for clear-cut answers on ways to talk to our teens. Why are they feeling so overwhelmed, depressed, angry, and stressed out? Large numbers of our nation’s teens are being medicated teen suicides are up. How can we help them? How can we intervene before our young people from withdrawn pupil to angry shooter?

Looking for answers for these questions, one of the things we need to realize is our teens need an environment where they are understood and loved. They need affirmation for their self-esteem, and guidance for how to react to the pressures of the world.

We need to let them be aware that everyone has weaknesses and we should be able to admit them without fear of reprisal. Too often, parents and school officials deal with teenagers in a judgmental, critical, and suspicious manner. That is exactly the opposite of what they need for a healthy and normal development.

Teens need to develop who they are, learn what motivates them, and allow them recognition for the different people they are. They need guided and led through to develop becoming self-regulating, self-sufficient, and self-motivated. In their teenage years, they are breaking away from authority figures and trying to find out who they are as a person.

As parents, we need to bring our children up with our values and morals, but allow them to develop their own values and morals as they are breaking away from parents. If teenagers can see their parents with values based on love and acceptance and in a positive home influence, they will develop similar values.

If the home doesn’t give the teen a sense of values, they look next to the school system or their Church if they are involved in a religious group. Counselors help teenagers deal with their swinging emotions, hormonal changes, and peer pressure they feel.

It may hurt us as parents, but it’s normal for our teenagers to take risks, break rules, and to experiment. It’s in their nature, while they are trying to discover who they are, to break rules or question authority. There is a difference between experimentation, and self-destructive behavior.

How can we as parents and counselors of today’s teenagers help them to find their own identity and become mature responsible adults?

One of the things we can do is to give them an atmosphere with no shaming, judgment, no blaming and surround them with a positive attitude. If we feel we are being judged, it makes us all feel bad. We don’t have to be a teenager to feel those emotions. On the other hand, look how negatively affects our teenagers who are already running on stress and hormones.

If a teenager confides in you, you need to honor that confidentiality. Make it clear that you have to report abuse or if they are a danger to themselves or to those around them. Teens who have an adult they can trust are fortunate. If you have a teen that trusts you, keep that trust by not gossiping about what they tell you.

One other important thing to remember is, don’t overreact. You may hear something that will make you fearful, they already know what your reaction will be. They don’t need sermons or censorship; they need open communication and helpful advice about handling the situation they are in. If they are sexually active, instead of moralizing to them, help them to understand birth control and preventing sexually transmitted diseases. An adult can help them determine if the relationship they are in is loving and respectful, or if it’s damaging to their emotional health.

You can raise a teenager who is emotionally and physically healthy, by loving and positive encouragement. Guidelines and rules are not harmful, it’s how you reinforce and give them out that will decide the results.

Helping Your Teenager Stay Healthy

Your Teenager's Health Series : Helping Your Teenager Stay Healthy

The habits your teens are picking up right now may be the cause of their death when they are older. Acquiring habits in the teen years may cause cancer, heart disease, and stroke, as they grow older.

The best way to help your teenager make good choices is to talk to them. If you are open and honest in discussing the dangers of smoking, drinking, and drug abuse, you will help them to withstand the peer pressure they face every day. Keep your lines of communication open. Take the time to talk to them when they signal they want to. You can start the topic in a gentle way, with no condemnation or accusations and receive good results.

Advise them to stay away from tobacco products. Give them the information on second hand smoke. Let them know that using any tobacco product is dangerous, even the use of smokeless tobacco. They are getting information about smoking from TV ads, but they need the reinforcement of a parent to make it real.

Make sure your teenager is getting regular exercise. Take part in their sports events if they are involved in school sports. Encourage them to ride their bike to go to a friend’s house. Make physical activity a regular part of your family time; bike riding, hiking, or even walking the dog will be an encouragement to keep them active.

Be sure they are eating a healthy diet at least at home. Provide nutritional snacks so they won’t overload on sweets, fats, and sodium. It’s much easier for them to keep a healthy eating lifestyle if it begins when they are still in their teens or even younger. You can’t always keep them from getting fast food while they are out, but if they are home, you can encourage them to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat snacks. Yes, teenagers and even children can develop high blood cholesterol levels.

Advise them to always wear their seat belts in the car. In most states, it is a law that is beginning to be strictly enforced. There have been many cases on record of a life being saved by a seat belt. Strictly, enforce wearing seat belts by the driver and all passengers in their car. Set the example; wear yours every time you get in the car as well. Going right with that, is telling them to never drink and drive, or to get into a car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs.

If your teenager is involved in skateboarding, motorcycling, or bike riding, remind them to always wear protective headgear.

Tell them to never swim alone, and the dangers of diving into shallow water.

If they are sexually active, be sure they know the importance of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases and avoiding pregnancy. Remember to tell them the “safest” sex is no sex.

Watch for unusual patterns in your teen. If they have always been a good student and suddenly their grades are slipping, ask questions. If they are gaining or losing a lot of weight, ask questions. If they are unusually quiet or look sad or depressed, talk to them.

As a parent or guardian, be sure they have regular visits to a doctor. A trained professional can discover if your teen is the right weight, height, and if they have normal blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Their doctor can also make sure that their vaccinations are up-to-date. These are important for teens as well to reduce the risk of getting diseases such as hepatitis, tetanus, and mumps.

Some interesting facts about our teenagers are:

Teen boys don’t use seat belts as often as young women

Teen boys are more likely to get into a violent situation

They are more likely to use smokeless tobacco products, use drugs, smoke, drink, or have multiple sexual partners.
Young women have a couple of special risks such as; they try to lose weight in an unhealthy way like bulimia or anorexia. They are more likely to try to commit suicide.

The top killers of teenagers today are car accidents, homicide, suicide, and deaths related to illegal drug or alcohol use.

The teen years are hard both on them and on you as parents. By keeping communication open and being sensitive to their moods, you can help them to stay healthy.

Emotional Health And Your Teenager

Your Teenager's Health Series : Emotional Health and Your Teenager

Teenagers are facing a time of transition from childhood to adulthood. There are many pitfalls along the path, and they often over overwhelmed with the emotional and physical changes their bodies are going through. They are struggling with being dependent on their parents but have a strong need for independence. This alone causes parents and teenagers alike to suffer emotionally.

Teenagers also have the added pressure from friends to pick up bad habits or to fit into a certain group. Add that to the pressure from parents for excellence in schoolwork, sports activities, and often hold down a part-time job. These years are when teenagers begin to find their own individuality.

There are some signs that you should look for that your teenager might be involved in inappropriate or destructive behavior. Some of the signs to look for are:

A change in sleep patterns
Sudden weight loss or gain
Trouble concentrating and therefore lower grades
Angry, agitated, or restless behavior
Long periods of sadness
Lack of motivation
Loss of interest in usual enjoyable events
Apathy or extreme fatigue
Low self-esteem
Lack of caring about people or possessions
Contact with law enforcement
Change in eating habits

These are obvious signs that your teenager may be struggling. It is a worry for parents when their teenager shows signs of rebellion or displays signs of destructive behavior.

What can you as a parent do to help your teenager? There are several ways to help them but one of the most important ways is to keep the lines of communication open. Provide a safe and loving home environment, accepting them for the person they are becoming, and develop a relationship where your teenager feels they can talk with you.

It’s important for you to be open, honest, and direct with your children so they can learn to be that way with you. You should be teaching your teenager responsibility for their belongings and respect for your possessions. Make them take responsibility for household chores. Both young men and young women need to know the basics of housekeeping, laundry, and cooking. They will soon be away from home either at college or living in their own separate household and they need preparation for that.
Allow them to make decisions that are age appropriate to them. They need to develop assertiveness and independence. The only way they have the ability to do that is to allow them to make some of their own decisions.

Also, teach them the importance of accepting limits. All through their lives, they are going to have someone setting limits on them, from marriage responsibilities, work, and the legal system.

It’s important to help your teen develop a positive body image especially as they relate to food. A positive body image helps give your teen a higher level of self-esteem, and they become more confident in their daily life. Part of a positive body image is the issue of weight. Many young women have problems with their weight and their image because of what the media displays as what “ideal” bodies should look like.

Be careful about what your teen is watching on television or seeing in the magazines, they bring home. They are often overwhelmed with how good someone looks because they are so thin. This can happen not only with young women, but also teenage boys can have problems with negative self body image as well.

Encourage them by complimenting their actions by telling them what they do are more important than how they look. Encourage healthy eating by limiting snack foods and providing healthy snack foods for them to nibble on. Make dinner time a fun time and encourage your teenager to choose healthy snacks while grocery shopping. Smoothie recipes are a great way to encourage your teen to be in the kitchen and eating something healthy.

Encouragement, love, and open communication are all vitally important to your teenager’s mental and emotional health. Be open and let them know you are willing to talk about whatever is on their mind. Your attitude is important to your teenager’s emotional state. Love, even if it means tough love, and be sensitive to the changes that your teen is going through at this time of their development.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Teenagers

Your Teenager's Health Series : Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Teenagers

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome has not yet been determined. Research has been looking into it for a longtime. Some think that an infection can cause it, but there is no definite medical proof. The two main groups of people at risk for having chronic fatigue syndrome is those between 15 and 20 years old, and between 33 and 45.

Two thirds of the sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome are women. Those are typical years for CFS but it can occur within any group and in any society. Some people have CFS and are not diagnosed.

This illness causes disabling tiredness that is severe and happens after any physical or mental activity. Sometimes rest will ease feeling tiredness, but even if they get a full night of sound sleep, they may still feel tired and exhausted. A teenager who suffers from CFS will have muscle aches, pains, and difficulties with memory and concentration. Some will have pains in their stomach as well.

Chronic fatigue syndrome can last anywhere from three to five years, but some experience a much longer lasting illness.

Teenagers with chronic fatigue syndrome can have the feeling of tiredness after even low levels of physical or mental activity. They may also experience sore throat, tender lymph glands, headaches, and just a general feeling of being unwell. They may become dizzy when they stand and experience some sensitivity to some foods that never bothered them before. They may also become more sensitive to smells, bright lights, alcohol, and cigarette smoke.

There isn’t one specific sign that will a doctor the teenager they are examining are suffering from CFS. Many have been misdiagnosed or thought to have other problems such as thyroid problems, eating disorders, drug or alcohol use, cancer, depression and kidney disease.

These other ailments will need to be ruled out before a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is handed down. Blood tests, and other concentration tests should also be done. MRI’s are rarely needed for the diagnosis. These are expensive and probably won’t tell the doctor anything new.

What is the difference between depression and CFS? Teens who have CFS still want to take part in activities with their friends and still can enjoy them. Depressed teens don’t get pleasure from activities they use to enjoy and stay away from people. They have to push themselves to do things. Teens suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome want to do their normal activities but are usually exhausted afterwards.

It’s difficult for teens with CFS to attend school and many schools are trying to be as helpful as possible with these teens as well as other teens with disabilities. They may have fewer classes each day, work more at home, or are given extra time to get their assignments in. Some also are tutored to help them keep up with their classmates.

Counseling and support groups can help teenagers who are going through this difficult period of their life. A counselor can provide both information and support not only for the teen but also for the entire family.

Here are some ideas that you and your teenager can do to ease symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Try to get them involved in some activity every day. Spending time in bed will not help!

Keeping a regular sleep routine can also help. Avoid staying up excessively late and sleeping in the next morning.

Keeping a normal daytime routine is also important. It’s important teenagers paces themselves and avoids extra physical or emotional stress.

Help them keep in contact with their friends. It’s important for them to feel involved and not become loners and withdraw from the world around them.

Teens with CFS should avoid being around smokers and second hand smoke.

As a parent you can make sure, your teenager is getting a nourishing and balanced diet.

Some of your family and friends will not understand a sufferer of chronic fatigue syndrome. It would be helpful to find some literature so they can learn about the disease and help them to give the support the sufferer needs. They won’t look sick, so sometimes it’s hard for others to know how bad they feel.

Backpack Safety for Teenagers

Your Teenager's Health Series : Backpack Safety For Teenagers

Children start carrying backpacks to preschool. Three years old and encouraged to bring a backpack to school! This sets up a pattern that is followed all through school. Sure, the little girls look so cute with their pink princess backpack as they get on the bus, but the bag normally comes home as empty as it went.

Backpacks can be useful for school-age children and useful for teens. They come in many sizes, shapes, and colors and allow teens to express their individual personalities. They’re also practical with the many compartments that help them tote notebooks, books, papers, lunches, and the many other items that teens need to carry.

Backpacks are considered safer to carry than a shoulder bag or purse because the strongest muscles in the body support the backpack. The shoulder muscles, back muscles, and the abdominal muscles are used to support the weight of a backpack.

It’s recommended that teens carry no more than 15% of their body weight in their backpack. They can cause muscle and joint strains, and back pain if the backpack is too heavy or not used in the right way. Shoulder, neck, and back pain can result in carrying a too heavy backpack. When your teen is carrying a pack that is too heavy, they may overcompensate by bending at the hips, or arcing the back to be able to carry it. This compresses the disk in the spine to compress and teens could start having back and shoulder pain.

Teens sometimes try to carry their whole locker with them during school. They either don’t have enough time to go to their lockers between classes. On the other hand, they just don’t want to visit their locker. They may also have personal belongings, laptops, DVD players, and CD collections.

If your teen wants to carry their backpack over their shoulder, they may end up with more problems. It can cause them to lean to one side to compensate for the added weight and cause them to develop upper and lower back pain, neck pain, and strain their shoulders. Improper use of the backpack can also encourage poor posture. Girls are more at risk for backpack injuries because they are smaller and try to carry loads in their backpack that are too heavy for them.

Tight narrow straps can interfere with circulation when they dig into shoulders and can cause nerve damage. Weakness in the teen’s arms and hands, tingling, and a numb sensation can also be caused by too tight, too small straps on a backpack.

Those large backpacks can also be a hazard to other people. Your teenager probably doesn’t realize how big their pack is and it can harm someone, especially in confined spaces, like the aisles of a bus. They’re also a tripping hazard and injuries have been reported by other teens falling over backpacks that are extending into aisles either in classrooms or buses. The risk of falling for someone wearing a backpack is greater because your sense of balance is altered, especially while climbing stairs.

Some hints to helping your teen avoid physical problems and still carry their essentials in a backpack. First, buy a backpack that is lightweight to start with. Leather may look cooler but they will add extra weight that your teen doesn’t need to carry. A lightweight canvas or nylon bag is recommended.

They should be equipped with two padded, wide shoulder straps that won’t dig into their shoulders. A waist belt can also help by spreading the weight more evenly over the body. It also doesn’t hurt to find one with a padded back that will give them extra carrying comfort. In addition, a backpack with multiple compartments is good for dividing the weight more evenly.

Some teens that carry, a lot of belongings sometimes will use a pull behind pack similar to pull behind carry-on luggage. These may ease the back pain but are harder to get upstairs, or roll outside. Some schools discourage use of rolling backpacks because of the tripping hazard they present in the halls.

As a parent, if you are aware of the health dangers involved in carrying a backpack, you can be proactive in finding the right one for your teen and making sure they don’t overload it.

The Power Of Super Foods

These 10 top nutritional performers can transform your diet -- and possibly your life.

It's come to this again: A New Year and a wincingly honest appraisal in front of the mirror. And even if the scale doesn't show it, January can make the excesses of the last few weeks -- OK, months -- feel like armies of fat globules occupying your body.

What's the get-healthy, get-thin new you to do, especially now that low-carb is over?

Don't despair. This year's version of New Year's salvation lies in the concept of "superfoods" -- the current darlings of healthy-eating bestsellerdom. It's eating lots of blueberries and avocado, spinach and, yes, dark chocolate, although not necessarily on the same plate.

The premise is that certain foods are nutritional powerhouses, and should be piled into grocery carts and lunch boxes. Blueberries bubble with cancer-fighting, heart-healthy antioxidants, avocados ooze with the same good fats that olive oil has, and spinach, well, spinach has it all, as Popeye always knew.

Current superstars are tea and dark chocolate, both brimming with antioxidants. (As soon as coffee makes the list, it will be nirvana.)

The claims about these foods made by food marketing professionals and in popular books like "SuperFoods Rx," by San Diego opthamologist Steven Pratt (William Morrow 2004, 336 pages, $24.95) tend to create the impression that "superfoods" are the nutritional equivalent of the fountain of youth and will save you from cancer, heart disease, diabetes and every other scourge of good health.

That's probably not true.

But that doesn't mean superfoods should be dismissed.

The fact is, there's every reason to eat them.

Good nutrition

The antioxidants in blueberries are good for you. Avocado's monounsaturated fats are healthier than, say, the saturated fats in butter. A little bit of dark chocolate does contain micronutrients that help lower blood pressure and do other good things for the heart.

It's called nutrition, a concept dietitians have been trying to sell for years. Now, suddenly, it's trendy.

Food companies find the superfoods concept irresistible for advertising. But that doesn't mean that Dole, the fruit and vegetable giant, was wrong when it called Brussels sprouts a superfood in a holiday publicity pitch to food writers. The sulfurous brassicas do contain lots of vitamin C and some other useful phytonutrients, and they're very good for you.

Pratt, and co-writer Kathy Matthews, have probably done the most to popularize the concept. Pratt noticed the connection between good nutrition and health when patients suffering age-related macular degeneration improved when they started eating more nutritious foods.

Their "SuperFoods Rx," with 300,000 copies in print, spotlighted "14 foods that will change your life," and made the case for each as an ingredient that "can help you extend your lifespan." The book summarizes research studies on the beneficial effects of various foods, pulling together the good news from the torrent of conflicting reports about nutrition that flood the media.

For example, tomatoes, especially processed or cooked ones, have tons of cancer-fighting lycopene. Turkey breast is an exceptionally lean source of protein; it has much less saturated fat than chicken. And drinking tea -- green or black -- delivers a potent dose of antioxidants.

This month, the authors are coming out with a follow-up called "SuperFoods HealthStyle," which updates research on the first 14, and adds another dozen or so.

New to the list are apples (for fiber), kiwis (for vitamin C), and the avocado and dark chocolate previously mentioned.

A lot of this is common sense, or at least not exactly news. But here's the thing: Even though people know what's good for them, they don't always know how to work these foods into three meals a day.

Pumpkin, for instance, shows up around the holidays, usually as pie, but then disappears for the rest of the year -- depriving you of its fiber, potassium and most of all its carotenoids, the antioxidants prevalent in orange and dark-green foods.

To offer some fun and delicious approaches to using 10 "superfoods," The Chronicle's Roving Feast columnist Marlena Spieler has devised the accompanying recipes.

Think 'whole'

The thing to remember, as both Pratt and nutritionists like the Bay Area's Jo Ann Hattner emphasize, is that superfoods are really just a way to think about adding whole foods to your diet. Most of them are fruits and vegetables; oats, a whole grain, are also on the list.

All of the superfoods would fit neatly into the federal government's prescription for healthy eating -- if they're eaten in appropriate amounts.

One ounce of dark chocolate may be good for you, but more is not merrier -- at least nutritionally. Chocolate -- and likewise olive oil -- has so many calories, you really should eat only a little at a time.

The other thing is, the superfoods list means people are likely to be eating lots of blueberries while ignoring all their berry friends, like raspberries and boysenberries, as well as other red fruits like cherries. But that would be a mistake.

The other berries may not have quite as many anthocyanins (antioxidants) as blueberries, but they have some and are likely to contain other micronutrients whose value simply hasn't yet been studied as much yet.

More to come

"When you look at the list of superfoods, it's the ones that have had the most research," says Hattner, a San Francisco registered dietitian who teaches nutrition at the Stanford School of Medicine.

"There are so many foods that there are benefits for but we haven't studied it."

Many food-specific studies are paid for by a crop board or commodity group, she points out, adding, "the poor celery stalk hasn't had it yet.

"You don't want to eat just blueberries because you may miss out on other nutrients in other fruits that you need as well," Hattner says. And Pratt covers the point in his books, listing "sidekicks" to each superfood that should be consumed to round out the diet.

Whole foods will always be better than trying to get the same nutrients through supplements, Hattner says. Foods deliver many nutrients, not just the ones science has pinpointed.

And the nutrients are delivered in combinations that may give them more power than any one alone -- a concept known as synergy.

For example, Hattner says, current research shows that consuming vitamin E and lycopene together -- avocados with tomatoes, say -- enhances their antioxidant effects. The oligosaccharides in onions also boost tomatoes' lycopene.

That's likely to be the next nutrition frontier, according to Hattner, who says, "I think the future of food would be combinations of foods."
Glossary of terms

The language of superfoods can be confusing, because many of the terms for nutrients overlap. Here is a basic glossary:

Antioxidants. An umbrella name for many substances that retard the body's normal process of oxidation, meaning a reaction to oxygen that releases "free radicals" that damage cells and break the body down. Digestion releases free radicals from food. Antioxidants help prevent this and also are thought to destroy free radicals and slow oxidation, reducing allergies, heart disease, cancer and aging effects. Dozens of antioxidant nutrients have been identified so far, and there are likely many more. Many vitamins have antioxidant effects, including A (which is a carotene), C and E.

Flavonoids.These are the best-known antioxidants -- think tea and dark chocolate -- among a group called polyphenols. You also see the word flavonol, which is a subgroup of flavonoids. Relatives are anthocyanins (which give blueberries their fame).

Carotenoids. These are the pigments that protect dark green, yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables from sun damage -- and they work as antioxidants in humans, too. Beta-carotene is the best known -- it's also called vitamin A. Other famous carotenoids -- there are dozens -- are lycopene and lutein.

Vitamins. Nutrients considered essential to health; a shortage of vitamins can create health problems.

Phytonutrients. Plant-derived compounds that are believed to improve your health, but aren't essential to your health. This includes many antioxidants.

What's so super about ... ?

Apples. According to "SuperFoods Lifestyle" author Dr. Steven Pratt, different varieties of apples have different phytonutrients, but they all have tons of antioxidants, including flavonoids and other polyphenols, and fiber.

Avocados. Avocados have the same thing going for them that olive oil does: healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. These are the "good fats," and they appear to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate and antioxidants up the ante. And Pratt cites research showing that avocado helps the body absorb more nutrients from other foods -- the tomato in the same salad, for instance.

Beans. They haven't gotten the same media buzz as blueberries, but some beans have even more health-promoting antioxidants. They also have as much cholesterol-lowering fiber as oats, and lots of lean protein. All of that is good for your heart. They also are rich in B vitamins and potassium. This category includes both dried and green beans.

Blueberries. Frozen do the trick as well as fresh, and they're easier to find in winter. For such tiny fruits, they deliver a huge wallop of antioxidants of many kinds, including anthocyanins and other polyphenols, and carotenoids. They also have fiber, folic acid and vitamins C and E. And they taste good with very few calories.

Dark chocolate. The magic word here is flavonoids, the same kinds of antioxidants that make tea so potent a health brew. Research shows flavonoids have a role in helping lower blood pressure and in keeping your arteries from clogging -- both good news for your heart. Only dark chocolate does the trick, not milk or white. And the more cocoa solids the better -- look for the percentage on the label.

Kiwis. Vitamin C, vitamin C, vitamin C -- kiwis are loaded in this antioxidant, which also makes oranges a superfood. Kiwis rival bananas in potassium, pound for pound. And flavonoid antioxidants abound in the skin, which is edible but best if you rub the fuzzy stuff off first.

Oats. Kings o' fiber, oats also deliver protein, potassium, magnesium and other minerals, and phytonutrients, including antioxidants. Their cholesterol-lowering powers are well known, and all that fiber is also believed to help stabilize blood sugar. Oats' combination of nutrients appears to have more healthy effects than if each nutrient were consumed separately -- which seems to be true of all whole grains. And, they're inexpensive.

Spinach. What doesn't spinach have? It's loaded with lutein (great for eyes) and many other carotenoids, which are healthful antioxidants; plus other antioxidants like coenzyme Q, in serious doses; plus several B vitamins plus C and E; plus iron and other minerals; plus betaine, a vitamin-like nutrient research suggests is good for your heart. And with almost no calories, you can eat as much as you want. Also good for similar reasons: kale, chard and other dark leafy greens.

Walnuts. All nuts have been rehabbed as good-for-you foods, for their healthy fats and micronutrients. A few go a long way, though, as they are calorie bombs. Walnuts' main claim to stardom are their omega-3 fatty acids, which fight heart disease. Other goodies: plant sterols, which lower cholesterol, and lots of antioxidants.

Yogurt. Nutritionist Jo Ann Hattner says if she could pick only two superfoods, they would be yogurt and tea, because their health-giving attributes have been known for centuries. Yogurt's claim to fame is live cultures, also called probiotics or beneficial bacteria. They are what turns milk into yogurt (but some commercial yogurts are heated to kill the cultures after they do their work, so be sure to read the label). In your gut, they fight bad bacteria, aid digestion, help metabolize food and generally tune your system up. Yogurt also is a good source of calcium and protein.

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Carol Ness at cness@sfchronicle.com.
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Relieve Stress By Dumping Limiting Beliefs

Throughout your life, you have formed a set of values and meanings to make sense of the world you live in. These values and meanings constitute your beliefs and your beliefs are what you hold to be true about life. Your beliefs are at the core of your existence and you wouldn't be the person you are now without them.

Beliefs are very important. The only reason you act and behave the way you do is because of your beliefs. For example, people who believe in God will act in a way conducive with their belief - praying or going to church for example. If you don't believe in a God, it is very unlikely you'll pray to one.

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Discover How To Change Your Beliefs So You Can Use The Law Of
Attraction To Obtain What You Want In Life!
====================================================

This pattern follows in most areas of our lives and here are three very powerful beliefs that can hurt you and spoil your quality of life. They are beliefs common to stress, anxiety and depression and they underpin these illnesses. Do you hold any or all of the following beliefs:

1. I'm helpless and hopeless. I can't do anything, things are totally beyond my control and there's no point in trying to do anything about it because nothing I do ever works. This is a very powerful and limiting belief. If you believe that you are helpless, then you will act accordingly because you won't take action to change things. Why would you if you strongly believe it is a hopeless cause? Helplessness is learned and it is also flawed. Many people are blind to the power they possess and a belief in helplessness keeps them in the dark. But just as helplessness is learned, it can be unlearned.

2. Nobody loves me. I'm an effort to be with, I bore people and I never have anything interesting to say. It's much better if I stay alone and don't inflict myself on others and spoil their happiness. OK, it was very hard for me to write the last few lines because they're exactly what someone I loved dearly said to me on many occasions when we were due to socialize with friends. Hearing such words cuts you to ribbons, my word it is such a destructive belief. If you believe this, you will act accordingly by isolating yourself from others. You'll find excuses so you don't have to go out and when you do, you will sit in silence and try to melt into the background. And as you won't be engaging with others, this belief will be re-enforced.

Another aspect: people who believe this will put themselves down when others question them. So, someone says "you're quiet tonight, are you OK?" Will get a "well, that's me, I haven't really got anything interesting to say so I'll keep quiet and not bore anyone." Honestly, I've seen this happen many times. Even when they've been loved, even when they've had family and friends who loved them and enjoyed their company, this belief blinded them to all of it. Can you see how the belief comes first no matter what is happening in reality? In other words, it is THE BELIEF causing the harm, not others. Not family, not friends, but the belief and if you strongly believe this, nothing will convince you otherwise until you start to question and test this belief.

3. Finally, perhaps the most limiting belief of all. Be honest with me here when I ask: Do you believe it is wrong to be blissfully happy? The obvious immediate reaction is "yes, of course!". But stop for a second because this is important. Very few people truly believe this. They see others struggle in life and believe that it is wrong to be happy while others suffer. Feeling happy makes them feel guilty. Also, you may hold a deep-seated belief that there has to be suffering in life, that somehow, suffering brings enlightenment. If you are happy, then you're selfish and this is wrong because the happiness of others comes before yours and you must sacrifice your happiness for the greater good. But you have a right enjoy a happy life. There is no value in suffering and there is nothing to feel guilty about in being happy. Believing otherwise will mean you will act in a way that spoils happiness and continually robs it from you.

Please examine the beliefs you hold. Question their validity and if they're making you stressed, anxious or depressed, then please understand they can be unlearned and replaced with better ones.

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Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of
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5 Ways To Relieve Stress This Weekend

In today's busy world, stress is a real problem for many people throughout the week. There is so much to do both at work and at home and it's so important for your health to keep stress at bay. Here's how to make the most of your weekend so you can relax and enjoy living and relieve stress as you do.

Listening to music is another great stress-buster and certainly beats watching the garbage dished up on TV these days. Music can inspire, soothe, calm, and excite you and it is one of the greatest pleasures life has to offer in my humble opinion. So why not take in some live music? Whether your tastes lie in classical, opera, jazz, blues or R&B, you'll be able to find somewhere that caters to your taste. Or, you could just schedule some time to sit down and listen to your favorite CD's in the comfort of your home - maybe have a relaxing soak in the tub as you do? It's such a great way to relieve stress, so make it a part of your stress-busting weekend.

How about involving all of the family in your weekend of stress relief? A picnic is a great day out for all of the family. Zoos, theme parks, the beach, the lakes are places all of the family will enjoy but you don't have to venture afar to enjoy a picnic. You could enjoy a picnic in the comfort of your garden, maybe even fire up the barbecue while you're at it? Your picnic, your call, just make sure all the family are involved in preparing the food so they feel part of it.

Why not take full advantage of the free time the weekend brings by doing something new? You could visit a new town or village, a park, a museum, or even a new restaurant or a coffee shop. You could go watch some sport, or even take up a new sport or hobby. This will broaden your horizons and will keep life fresh and interesting as well as helping to relieve stress.

Why not spend a cosy night indoors with your lover and cook a special dinner? A great idea is to try different cuisines - be as exotic as you dare! This is time for indulging your relationship so leave the stressful stuff like work elsewhere. Make the effort to dress for dinner and have candles and relaxing music in the background to create a nice ambience. I know one couple who've done this at least once a month for more than 30 years and they say it's one of the main reasons for their success. Try it, I have and it is a great way to bust stress and improve your relationship.

Take a timeout and spend a day or two completely away from the firing line. Go somewhere tranquil, somewhere you can take walks or cycle rides to take in the scenery and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the place. Lakes, a beach, a park, the countryside - whatever you enjoy. Just leave your cares and worries behind and enjoy the peace and tranquillity.

You can use these tips to help you make the most of your weekends and relieve stress as you do. Why not give them a try this weekend?

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Taking Manic Depression Seriously

Manic depression or Bipolar depression is actually considered as one of the worst type of depression that people usually suffer from.

Characterized by sudden and extreme changes in their mood, Manic depression is said to be called as such because manic = mania refers to the 'ups' while depression refers to the 'downs'.

A lot of people actually experience erratic changes in their moods, some times, these so-called mood swings may not just be caused by PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) or stress. Doctors actually have diagnosed mood swings as a common symptom of depression.

But when these so-called mood swings have gone to utmost absurdity, from getting irked even by the littlest or simplest of thins like not getting your favorite ice cream flavor, this may not be just a sign of brattiness, but when getting irked means you'll cuss and swear on the ice cream vendor and throw absurd tantrums, this may already be the start of Manic depression.The so-called 'manic' or 'ups' in Manic depression is described as to be the times when a person suffering from Manic depression may experience overly high periods, consisting of heightened energy, a sudden outburst of euphoric mood, extreme irritability, thoughts racing as well as aggressive behavior.

According to therapists, someone suffering from Manic depression may have these so-called manic 'periods' wherein sudden outbursts of euphoric and elevated mood swings may actually go through this for as long as not just a day, in can actually go on for as long as one week, even longer than that.

When it comes to the so-called 'low' or 'down' periods, as its name suggests can actually bring someone who is suffering from Manic depression may experience very similar symptoms to those who are suffering from actual depression. People who are suffering from Manic depression may actually experience episodes showing a depressed state of mind - a feeling of worthlessness and being unloved may start to corrupt the individual's mind. Various symptoms, showing guilt, extreme sadness, anxiety attacks, feeling of not belonging, extreme pessimism and obvious loss for pleasure. According to therapists, an individual who is depressed. consistently for more than a week can officially be diagnosed as someone who is suffering from Manic depression.

In spite of being one of the most common, yet severe type of depressive disorder, Manic depression, according to doctors can actually be treated. There's no reason to worry too much about it, just follow the proper procedures that the therapist will instruct you to do, take the proper prescribed medications as well as the proper dosage in order to help you (or your friend or love one) overcome Manic depression before it becomes too late. Also, individuals who are suffering from Manic depression should always be able to see their therapists on a regular basis so as to be able to release their pent up emotions to some one who can interpret and understand what they're going to a lot better as compared to "normal" people.

Although positive results for a Manic depressive patient can still be achieved from natural alternatives, a proper and a more lasting relief from Manic depressive symptoms can still be best acquired through seeing cognitive behavior therapists. Contrary to some beliefs, when it comes to psychiatric treatments, psychiatrists, preferably cognitive behavior therapists are still the best ones to consult for Manic depression, as well as the ones who'll most probably be able to cure Manic depression.

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If you'd like to know more about the advances made in treating depression,
stress and anxiety without taking powerful anti- depressant drugs, you can
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Vitamin For Hair Loss - Will It Help?

Even taking your vitamin for hair loss, a certain amount of hair will fall out every month anyway. So don't be concerned by normal shedding.

Problems arise when the shedding of hair is greater than the regeneration. Some things are associated with greater hair loss:

1) heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and lead.
2) sudden weight loss
3) increased stress
4) excess copper (oral contraceptives can result in excess copper)
5) underactive thyroid gland
6) a diet low in B Vitamins
7) women can lose more hair after childbirth

Also, bleaching, perming and some colour treatments will cause a lot of hair breakage.

Its important to understand these causes so you take the correct approach - you may not need a vitamin for hair loss. You may need to correct thyroid activity, or deal with heavy metals.

If you're concerned about excess hair loss, it might be a good idea to find out what's causing it.

A Checklist

Are there hereditary factors?
Are you taking any medications that might have hair loss as a side effect or that prevent absorption of any vitamin for hair loss you are taking?
Are you under a lot of stress lately?

How many of these vitamins and nutrients are in your vitamin for hair loss?

Folic acid - may delay the onset of grey hair, and is helpful in preventing hair loss. 500 - 2000 mcg (that's micrograms) per day

Paba - some evidence from the 1940's that it can help return grey or white hair to its original colour

Biotin, Pantothenic acid, & niacin - these B vitamins are associated with hair health.

Silica - can be associated with hair loss. Supplementation of silica or silica rich herbs like horsetail are recommended more when hair follicles are still alive. 30 -50mg per day

Zinc - associated with greyness and poor hair growth. May be beneficial for those with male pattern baldness, as it inhibits an enzyme associated with converting testosterone to DHT (which is a metabolite whose high levels are believed to be associated with this type of baldness) 15-50 mg per day.

MSM - organic form of sulfur important to hair, skin and nail health

A good vitamin for hair loss will combine all or most of these ingredients.

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This article taken from :
http://www.vitaminstohealth.com
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Exercise and Hypertension

It seems as though many Americans are living a life that leads to high blood pressure or hypertension. As people age, the situation gets worse. Nearly half of all older Americans have hypertension. This disease makes people five times more prone to strokes, three times more likely to have a heart attack, and two to three times more likely to experience a heart failure.

The problem with this disease is that nearly one third of the folks who have hypertension do not know it because they never feel any direct pain. But overtime the force of that pressure damages the inside surface of your blood vessels.

However, according to experts, hypertension is not predestined. Reducing salt intake, adopting a desirable dietary pattern losing weight and exercising can all help prevent hypertension.

Obviously, quitting bad habits and eating a low fat diet will help, but the most significant part that you can do is to exercise. And just as exercise strengthens and improves limb muscles, it also enhances the health of the heart muscles.

Heart and Exercise

The exercise stimulates the development of new connections between the impaired and the nearly normal blood vessels, so people who exercise had a better blood supply to all the muscle tissue of the heart.

The human heart basically, supply blood to an area of the heart damaged in a “myocardial infarction.” A heart attack is a condition, in which, the myocardium or the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen and other nutrients and so it begins to die.

For this reason and after a series of careful considerations, some researchers have observed that exercise can stimulate the development of these life saving detours in the heart. One study further showed that moderate exercise several times a week is more effective in building up these auxiliary pathways than extremely vigorous exercise done twice as often.

Such information has led some people to think of exercise as a panacea for heart disorders, a fail-safe protection against hypertension or death. That is not so. Even marathon runners that have suffered hypertension, and exercise cannot overcome combination of other risk factor.

What Causes Hypertension?

Sometimes abnormalities of the kidney are responsible. There is also a study wherein the researchers identified more common contributing factors such as heredity, obesity, and lack of physical activity. And so, what can be done to lower blood pressure and avoid the risk of developing hypertension? Again, exercise seems to be just what the doctor might order.

If you think that is what he will do, then, try to contemplate on this list and find some ways how you can incorporate these things into your lifestyle and start to live a life free from the possibilities of developing hypertension. But before you start following the systematic instructions, it would be better to review them first before getting into action.

1. See your doctor
Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. If you make any significant changes in your level of physical activity — particularly if those changes could make large and sudden demands on your circulatory system — check with your doctors again.

2. Take it slow

Start at a low, comfortable level of exertion and progress gradually. The program is designed in two stages to allow for a progressive increase in activity.

3. Know your limit

Determine your safety limit for exertion. Use some clues such as sleep problems or fatigue the day after a workout to check on whether you are overdoing it. Once identified, stay within it. Over-exercising is both dangerous and unnecessary.

4. Exercise regularly

You need to work out a minimum of three times a week and a maximum of five times a week to get the most benefit. Once you are in peak condition, a single workout a week can maintain the muscular benefits. However, cardiovascular fitness requires more frequent activity.

5. Exercise at a rate within your capacity

The optimum benefits for older exercisers are produced by exercise at 40% to 60% of capacity.

Indeed, weight loss through exercise is an excellent starting point if you wan tot prevent hypertension. Experts say that being overweight is linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension, and losing weight decreases the risk.

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The Tell-Tale Symptoms Of Depression

People who may be suffering from depression or manic disorders actually exhibit or show each and every kind of symptom of depression that doctors will tell you that depressed people have. Sometimes it’s actually quite easy to overlook such symptoms and not be able to help one’s self or others who are suffering from depression for that matter.

There are actually a lot of symptoms of depression that depressed people may actually posses but they don’t have to suffer from each and every one of them before you actually help them get diagnosed and be treated for this illness. Also, since symptoms of depression actually vary, the time of their "attacks" varies as well.

Here are some common examples of symptoms of depression:

Prolonged period of sadness or not feeling "up to it," people who are always feeling not in the mood, who’d rather mope around the house and feel sorry for one’s self is the best example for this symptom of depression.

Feels hopeless, perennial pessimist: speaking of feeling sorry for one’s self, another common symptom of depression is when a person actually feels like he/she has nothing to look forward to in his or her life. As for being the perennial pessimist, those who show this symptom of depression are usually very negative about things, again, the feeling of hopelessness comes in to mind.

Guilt-driven, loss of self-worth and helplessness: other symptoms of depression that can be easily seen on people who prefer to mope around all day long are these. Whenever a person feels so guilty over something, that actually makes one a very sad person who feels like he or she doesn’t deserve to be happy. Thus, the loss of self-worth, if that person feels like he or she isn’t worthy of being happy or enjoying one’s self then that’s clear tell-tale symptom of depression. Helplessness also contribute to being depressed, when assuming that things won’t simply go your way, it’s already a clear saying that you have absolutely no hope in your body at all.

Isn’t interested in finding or taking pleasure; just dropping the hobbies as well as the other things that one used to enjoy: this tell-tale symptom of depression just shows how depressed a person can be, if one is actually too sad to take pleasure even in the very things that one loves then that person is seriously lacking something, rather, that person might well have caught the depression bug.

Fatigue, always tired: people suffering from depression, since they’ve lost whatever interest in life that they may have had before are actually lacking of physical energy at all times, if one would prefer to just mope around, probably won’t even eat not get enough sleep, a depressed person may well be on their way to not just a mental illness but depression can actually be terrible for one’s physical health as well.

Having trouble concentrating, having bad memory and is indecisive: a person who is suffering from depression easily gives away this tell-tale symptom of depression. Wherein one’s lack of interest with regards to the outside world or for just about anything for that matter can lead to that person’s inability to lose track of things and actually not be able to remember things that happened or what other people said. Lack of interest actually makes depressed people very inattentive.

There are actually more symptoms of depression that can actually help you see if a person (or you) needs to be brought to the doctor to get some help when it comes to depression: lacking sleep, sleeping too much or waking up at wee hours of the morning are all symptoms of depression (if it happens on a daily basis), appetite loss as well as eating too much may show one’s lack of enthusiasm for life. Be weary of sudden weight loss or weight gain in those around you. Being suicidal, talking about death, about wanting to die is another clear indication that that person is depressed. Being restless and irritable and physical symptoms that are usually brought about by poor mental health such as headaches, digestive disorders and various body pains.

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The Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin

Do you know that Vitamin C is the ultimate anti-aging vitamins?

Remember when vitamin C was hailed as the best, and maybe only, cold remedy? Then it became the Rodney Dangerfield of vitamins: It didn’t get any respect. The nutrient’s glory days of curing scurvy-riddled sailors via juicy citrus fruit seemed to be the only thing keeping its reputation afloat, particularly after a massive research review found C to be virtually useless for fighting colds. But don’t believe it. The truth is that scientists have taken a fresh look at C—and have found lots of new ways it can help you stay healthy and look and feel younger.

Here’s the latest on what C can really do for you.

1) Prevent Wrinkles

You can’t pick up a beauty product these days without the label touting its antioxidants. There’s a good reason: Antioxidants—like vitamin C—help turn back the clock. An October 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who ate foods rich in vitamin C had fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those whose diets contained only small amounts of the vitamin. C helps form collagen, which smooths fine lines and wrinkles, according to Patricia Farris, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University in New Orleans.

The key seems to be C’s ability to fight free radicals, a by-product of cell metabolism in your body. Free radicals are thought to attack proteins, fats, and DNA—and break down collagen. C also seems to guard against ultraviolet rays from the sun, which can lead to freckles and a mottled complexion. “Vitamin C does some repair and firming on the skin,” Farris says.

What to do now: Use a topical vitamin C treatment daily after you wash your face and before you slather on moisturizer or sunscreen so it penetrates the skin. Farris recommends La Roche-Posay Active C facial moisturizer or SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic topical antioxidant treatment.

2) Protect Your Heart

Experts continue to argue about whether antioxidants like vitamin C can prevent heart disease. But some of the evidence is highly persuasive. When Finnish researchers looked at studies involving nearly 300,000 people over 10 years, they found that taking more than 700 milligrams of C supplements daily reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 25 percent. And a recent study from Harvard Uni-versity researchers hints that women who take a combo of 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily and 600 IU of vitamin E (another antioxidant) can cut their risk of stroke by 30 percent. It’s possible that people who take vitamin supplements simply have healthier lifestyles than those who don’t, which could explain this finding. It’s also possible, experts say, that C enhances the functioning of endothelial cells (which line the inside of all blood vessels), slowing artery clogging and lowering blood pressure.

What to do now: Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, which are full of vitamin C as well as other healthy nutrients, and consider taking C and E supplements. Experts say there are essentially no risks, but first check with your doctor.

3) Keep Cancer At Bay

A diet full of vitamin C–rich fruits and vegetables isn’t just good for your heart, it may also lower your risks of bladder, esophagus, stomach, and lung cancers. Even though more research is needed to find out which compounds in fruits and veggies do the trick, researchers say the association is strong. Someday, C may also be used to treat cancer. High levels of C given intravenously seem to be toxic to cancer cells (studies on vitamin C taken orally showed no effect on cancerous cells). Intravenous C appears to trigger the formation of hydrogen peroxide, which kills some cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed, says lead study author Mark Levine, MD, chief of the molecular and clinical nutrition section and senior staff physician at the National Institutes of Health. Levine says doctors at the University of Kansas Medical School and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia are trying this therapy on cancer patients.

What to do now: “Strive for five or more fruits and vegetables daily, in a rainbow of colors,” Levine says. “It’s where the most benefit is.

4) Boost Brain Power

Pairing vitamins C and E is smart for another reason: It may lessen your Alzheimer’s risks by as much as 64 percent, according to research in the Archives of Neurology. Just 500 milligrams of C and 400 IU of E appear to be enough. The brain’s high fat content makes it especially vulnerable to free radicals, but these antioxidants may act as shields, says study author Peter Zandi, PhD, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Some studies suggest that vitamin E does its job reducing free radicals in the body, but then its capacity is depleted,” Zandi says. “Vitamin C may recharge E.”

What to do now: Try taking C and E supplements, and talk to your doc about your risks for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

5) Save Your Eyesight

Vitamin C can’t prevent the need for reading glasses around age 45. But anti-oxidants, including C, help prevent one of the leading causes of blindness: age-related macular degeneration (AMD). More than 3.5 million Americans are thought to be in the early stages, and the disease strikes more women than men. A major clinical trial sponsored by the National Eye Institute showed that a daily supplement of 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 15 milligrams of beta-carotene, 80 milligrams of zinc, and 2 milligrams of copper reduced the risk of moderate or severe AMD-related vision loss by up to 25 percent. The antioxidants neutralize damage to the retina caused by, you guessed it, free radicals.

What to do now: If you’re at high risk for AMD (you’re overweight or have a family history), check to see if your multi-vitamin contains the study’s amounts of C, E, beta-carotene/vitamin A, zinc, and copper. Chances are, its C and E levels fall short, but additional supplements will do the job. (Caveat: Don’t follow this advice if you smoke; this level of beta-carotene may up your lung-cancer risks.)

6) Help You Live Longer

You’ve probably heard that green tea boosts the body’s defenses against toxins. That’s important because toxins are thought to contribute to cancer, heart attack, stroke, and lots of other maladies. In fact, one to two cups a day may reduce a woman’s risk of dying by about 20 percent, Japanese researchers say. What’s the vitamin C connection? Citrus juices (lemon, lime, orange) may supercharge the immunity-boosting power of green tea. A new Purdue University study found that mixing citrus juice with green tea allowed 80 percent of the tea’s anti-oxidants to stick around after simulated digestion, making the pairing healthier than thought, says study author Mario G. Ferruzzi, PhD, assistant professor in Purdue’s department of food and nutrition.

What to do now: Add at least an ounce of citrus juice to your green tea—or try Tazo Lemon Green iced tea or SoBe Green Tea 3G. Both drinks are stocked with vitamin C.

By Rachel Grumman

Fight Aging: The Real Secrets to Staying Young

Scientists in search of the Fountain of Youth share their findings. You can try these tricks today.

“With aging, we’ve always studied things that decline,” says Changiz Geula, PhD, research professor of neurology at the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. But now she and other experts are looking instead to unlock the secrets of the “superaged,” those lucky individuals who seem to stay vital well into their 80s and beyond. Here’s some of their latest research, with advice on how you can add years to your life.

1. Stop Eating So Much.

In Okinawa, Japan—home to some of the world’s oldest people—centenarians stop eating when they’re 80 percent full, says The Blue Zones author Dan Buettner, who studies longevity all over the planet.

They’re onto something: Scientists at St. Louis University found that, while both exercising and eating less led to weight loss in the study’s volunteers, cutting calories also lowered production of T3, a thyroid hormone that slows metabolism. The researchers believe that lower T3 levels may also slow the aging process.

2. Make Love.

Women who enjoy sex live longer, says Mehmet Oz, MD, professor and vice chairman of surgery at New York Presbyterian–Columbia University and co-author of YOU: Being Beautiful. In fact, doubling your amount of satisfying sex can add up to three years to your life, he says. “Sex gives you the Zen moment you can’t find throughout the day otherwise.”

3. Use Your Brain.

Dr. Geula, who has studied 80-year-olds who perform at the same level as people in their 50s on neuro­psychological tests, has found that the superaged have fewer brain tangles—deposits of protein linked to Alzheimer’s—suggesting that their brains have some sort of protection that normal brains don’t. While scientists puzzle this out, there’s a lot you can do to keep your own synapses firing. Learn Italian, take up the cello—even driving a new route to work can wake up sleepy brain cells.

4. Pour Yourself Some Merlot.

You’ve probably heard a lot about resveratrol, a compound in red wine and grape juice that seems to slow aging. One recent study found that resveratrol-fed mice had stronger bones and better motor coordination, and showed fewer “old age” problems like heart disease, inflammation, and cataracts. The jury is still out on whether resveratrol has the same effect on humans, but nutritionists say drinking red wine in moderation does have heart-healthy benefits.

5. Lose The Muffin Top.

In one large study published last year, researchers who tracked 6,583 people for more than 30 years found that having significant belly fat in midlife can nearly triple your risk of dementia.

6. Eat More Plants.

In his study of centenarians, Buettner found the longest-living people tend to eat less meat and more beans, soy, and nuts.

From Health Magazine