Weight loss – a healthy approach

Weight loss – a healthy approach

Weight loss can be achieved by balancing a healthy level of physical activity with eating a nutritious diet. Crash diets, fad diets and ‘yoyo’ dieting do not help you lose weight. They can also cause stress and increase the likelihood of binge eating.

Eating a balanced, nutritious diet and being physically active is the best way to stay healthy and help reduce your risk of disease. To maintain a stable weight, your energy (kilojoule) intake needs to equal the energy you use. If you use more energy than you consume, you will lose weight. On the other hand, if you eat more than you use, you will gain weight.

The sensible answer to losing excess body fat is to make small healthy changes to your eating and exercise habits. These changes should be things that you can maintain as part of your lifestyle – that way you will lose weight and keep it off.

Don’t skip meals

Skipping meals is not recommended. In fact, if you skip meals you may find you eat more when you do eat and this may lead to a larger stomach capacity. Studies show that stomach capacity can increase if large individual meals are eaten. This can then increase the amount of food you need at each meal before you feel ‘full’. This is not a reason to starve yourself if you’re trying to lose weight.

‘Yoyo’ diets will slow your metabolism

Many people who need to lose weight try crash dieting, which is a short-term solution that will increase your body fat levels in the long term. Continual cycles of dieting, weight loss and weight gain are called ‘yoyo’ dieting. Yoyo dieting does not help you to maintain a healthy body weight. Your body responds to these periods of semi-starvation by lowering its metabolic rate.

When you lose weight, you lose fat and muscle. Muscle burns calories but fat doesn’t. So, when you then stop dieting and eat normally again, your body will burn even fewer calories than before because the relative amount of muscle in your body has decreased and your metabolic rate is slower.

This kind of eating pattern can also affect your general health – just one cycle of weight loss and weight gain can contribute to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, regardless of body fat levels. That’s why it’s important to maintain the weight loss.

Think about when and why you overeat

Some of the factors that can lead to weight gain include:

• Night eating
• Social eating
• Habitual eating.

If you can avoid unplanned or habitual eating, and keep to regular meals and snacks, this will help you to lose weight. You could also try to eat less food at each meal and increase the number of high-fibre, high-carbohydrate, low-saturated-fat meals and snacks you eat throughout the day.

You should try to find healthy ways to cope with stress or emotional upsets.

A healthier approach to food

You can lose body fat by making a few easy changes to your eating habits. It will help you lose body fat if you:

• Avoid yoyo diets.
• Eat a wide variety of food from all food groups. Check that you eat from the following food groups every day – wholegrain bread and cereals, vegetables, fruit, milk and dairy, and meat, fish or legumes and where possible choose low-fat varieties.
• Reduce your intake of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt. Make soft drinks, lollies and snack foods an occasional ‘extra’. Most adults should eat no more than one or two ‘treats’ a day. If you are overweight or inactive you may need to limit treats to less than one a day.
• Try to balance an ‘extra’ food with extra exercise. The more energy you burn, the more treats you can afford to have. Remember, you should only add extra foods after you have covered your nutrient needs with choices from the healthier food groups.
• Cut down on saturated fats and alcohol.
• Try to eat more fresh foods and less processed foods.
• Avoid using food for comfort, such as when you are upset, angry or stressed. Explore other healthy ways to cope with these feelings.

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating includes information about how much and what types of food you need to eat to maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise is important to weight loss

Exercise prevents muscle loss. So it is important to exercise when you are losing weight. Exercise will protect your muscles and keep your metabolic rate ticking over at a healthy level. The number of people who are overweight and obese is increasing every year. This is because we have become more sedentary (inactive). For most of us, physical activity is no longer a natural part of our lifestyle so it must be structured into our daily schedule.

Get moving – it will give you energy

Some people feel too busy or too tired to exercise regularly, but exercise will actually increase your energy levels and help you to feel less tired. Exercise does not have to be overly strenuous to do any good. Even moderate amounts of physical activity of about 30 minutes a day can speed up the metabolic rate and aid weight loss.

The amount of energy you ‘burn up’ depends on your age, your gender and your activity level. Young people burn more energy than older people. Men burn more energy than women. More physically active people burn more energy than your average couch potato!

A healthier approach to exercise

The best approach to increasing the level of physical activity in your life is to take it slowly. You can increase your activity levels by simply increasing movement throughout the day. The human body is designed for movement and any physical activity brings benefits. Moderate intensity exercise – walking, gardening, cycling, and even mowing the lawn – has been shown to help reduce body fat.

Other suggestions for a more active lifestyle include:

• Play a sport that you enjoy.
• Walk instead of taking the car on short trips.
• Get off the train, bus or tram one stop early and walk the rest of the way.
• Play more outdoor games with your children.
• Walk the dog.
• Take stairs instead of lifts.
• Choose exercise activities you think are fun, rather than those you think are ‘good’ for you.

Type of help available

If you have been a chronic crash dieter for a number of years, you might need professional help to reintroduce you to a healthy way of eating. If you are overweight, over 40 years of age or haven’t exercised regularly for a long time, check with your doctor before you start any exercise campaign. For inspiration on healthier cooking, have a look at the recipes section of the Better Health Channel.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Dietitians Association of Australia Tel. 1800 812 942
• Recipes on the Better Health Channel.

Things to remember

• Yoyo dieting makes you gain more weight in the long run because it lowers your metabolism.
• Obesity rates are on the rise because the Australian lifestyle is becoming increasingly inactive.
• Any type of regular physical activity, no matter how moderate, can help you to lose body fat.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Weight_loss_a_healthy_approach?open

Cinnamon Tea for Weight Loss

By Maggie Lynn, eHow Contributor

 

Cinnamon Tea for Weight Loss

Cinnamon tea is easy and inexpensive to make; all you need is water and cinnamon. It may also be a key to weight loss for some people. Add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon or place two cinnamon sticks in a cup of boiling water. Let it sit for half an hour, sieve out the clumps of cinnamon, and enjoy. For the best results, drink this tea first thing in the morning and before you go to sleep at night.

Benefits

• There are many benefits to consuming cinnamon beyond weight loss. Adding cinnamon to your diet can lower the risk of diabetes and lower bad cholesterol. It can also calm an upset stomach and reduce the risk of ulcers. Cinnamon has a positive effect on memory and may help the brain function on a higher level. Sprinkle cinnamon on your breakfast toast or cereal in the morning and see if you perform better at work.

Variations

• Cinnamon tea is also touted as a weight loss remedy when made with other ingredients. You may get better results with this recipe for Cinnamon and Honey Tea. Create a regular cinnamon tea and add 1 tablespoon of pure honey after the tea sits for half an hour so the boiling water does not destroy honey’s beneficial properties. It is recommended to drink all cinnamon teas both before bed and first thing in the morning.

  Honey can aid in better digestion. This natural sweetener keeps the blood sugar level constant so there is no “high” or “crash” as there is with sugar. Honey’s vitamins and minerals nourish the body and help keep bad cholesterol levels down.

Warnings:

• Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of the cinnamon tree native to Sri Lanka. Ceylon cinnamon is sometimes referred to as “true cinnamon.” It is fine, crumbles easily, is less aromatic, and is made only from the inner bark of the tree.

  Cassia is regularly sold as cinnamon and is made from the entire bark of the tree. It is stronger and somewhat bitter compared to Ceylon. It contains a chemical called coumarin that can be toxic if taken in large quantities. Small amounts of cassia will not cause any problems. If large doses (about 1/2 teaspoon) are taken regularly, it may be unsafe. Avoid more than a sprinkle of cassia cinnamon if you are pregnant. Ceylon, “true cinnamon,” contains hardly any coumarin and is considered safe.

Read more: Cinnamon Tea for Weight Loss | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5267874_cinnamon-tea-weight-loss.html#ixzz2EWAazeiR

The Victims of Violent Crime

The Victims of Violent Crime

Interviewing victims – A better way

by Frank Ochberg, M.D.

Interviewing victims of crimes or natural disasters is an essential part of the job of the journalist. Reporting the human cost of such events is even more important than counting up the property loss. But, we are told, in some cases, reporters add to the stress of the victims of trauma. In the rush to get the story and meet the next deadline, reporters sometimes ignore the feelings of people who have already suffered greatly.

We are not alone in this failing. Police officers, ambulance attendants, emergency room personnel, and even doctors have been accused of the same thing: adding to the suffering of victims of trauma. There are few among us who have not wondered if there might not be a better way to gather the information needed to report the human consequences of unhappy events.

There is.

Research into the effect of traumatic events on the victims of those events have turned up a number of valuable social lessons. We are learning how to prepare ourselves for such events, how to treat those who have endured such events. And, of particular interest to journalists, how to mitigate the effects of the trauma. In other words, there are ways we can become a part of the solution rather than continue to be part of the problem.

 

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The Victims of Violent Crime

The victim of violent crime suffers from injury and injustice. To serve that victim with professional skill, journalists and those who work in the fields of law enforcement, criminal justice, social service, health, and mental health must understand the variety of wounds, physical and psychological, that victims bear. We must recognize the stigma attached to victims in our society, the isolation, ostracism, and humiliation they often feel, regardless of their innocence. We must know that, despite billions spent on courts, corrections, police, probation and parole, the victim is relatively neglected, with few programs directed toward his or her needs. In fact, our systems of justice frequently require the participation of victims, re-victimize the victim, and offer no compensation for lost wages and personal inconvenience. Professor Martin Symonds, a psychiatrist and deputy chief of the New York City Police Department, coined the term “second injury” to describe the wound that a victim suffers when treated insensitively by individuals and institutions in the aftermath of victimization. The second injury may, indeed, be more traumatic than the first.

Why has the victim been so neglected? There are many reasons. Crime is defined as an offense against the state, and has been since the eleventh century, when the feudal concept of “the king’s peace” replaced the tribal practice of compensating the kin of injured parties. Courts serve the king rather than the clan, and the rise of nations signaled a decline in the rights of victims. Increasingly burdensome procedures forced government institutions to expend more and more effort on administering justice, crowding the court dockets, and squeezing the victim into a passive witness role. To avoid participating in a system that offers little gain and requires considerable risk, most victims refuse to report crimes. This contributes to victim neglect.

http://victims.jrn.msu.edu/public/articles/ochberg.html

Furthermore, our society places great emphasis on achieving, prevailing and winning. Victims are losers, and loser status evokes more scorn than sympathy. Victims are therefore neglected by family and friends. And many people, including the victim, find it difficult to believe that bad things happen to good people. They assume or imagine some contribution by the victim to the crime. If the victim is somehow to blame, he or she deserves the injury and requires less concern. Finally, we avoid victims out of fear – it could very well happen to us (perhaps it has) and we would rather not have to visualize and feel the victim’s pain, outrage, and impotent anger.

Medical doctors are not taught to recognize and treat victims of crime any differently than victims of accidents. Until recently, psychiatrists and psychologists had no special classification to aid in diagnosis and care for crime victims. Incest was believed by Sigmund Freud to be a universal taboo, and more often the hysterical fabrication of a neurotic woman than the true reporting of a sexual assault. Now we recognize that girls seldom lie about father-daughter incest, and estimates of incest cases in the United States number 15,000,000.

For several reasons, we are beginning to understand victimization and give the victim a better opportunity to heal with dignity and respect. I believe this is due to a combination of historic events in the last decade. The end of the Vietnam War allowed the voices of the veterans to be heard clearly. Many suffered victimization syndromes. They were traumatized and felt like losers. Further, the rise of political terrorism has caused us to collaborate across professions and across nations. We have discovered the “Stockholm Syndrome” and other patterns of victim reaction. And the women’s movement has forced male-dominated professions to recognize the rape trauma syndrome, as well as to re-evaluate father-daughter incest and to shelter battered women without stigmatizing them as mentally ill.

Sufficient clinical observations have allowed the American Psychiatric Association to define Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in its diagnostic manual. Moreover, the Task Force on Victimization of the American Psychiatric Association believes that victims of violent crime suffer a particular, severe form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Major mental health organizations are currently studying victimization, including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the World Federation of Mental Health. President Reagan’s Task Force on Victims of Crime reported unequivocally on the outrage of victim neglect, and the steps necessary for all concerned sectors of our society if we are to stop victimizing victims and being an era of true justice.

 

Victim Defined

There are many forms of crime victimization and considerable variation in victim reactions. From a clinical point of view, a victim is someone who has been deliberately harmed by another person, has been lowered in dominance, and has suffered. The suffering may include pain, rage, depression, loss of mental or physical capacity, and shame to the point of humiliation and self-imposed isolation.

Acute victimization describes a single episode, usually sudden, unanticipated and shocking.

Chronic victimization describes repeated trauma, seen usually in domestic situations where one family member dominates and preys on another. Incest and spouse abuse are common examples. And for some people, such as the poor, the elderly, and the disadvantaged, victimization becomes a tragic way of life. Forced by economic necessity to live in high-crime areas, they absorb repeated trauma. The chronic victim usually shows less visible rage and suffers from a desolate state of resignation.

Group victims are relatively rare, but not uncommon in military combat, POW camps, and terrorist and hostage situations. These victims may benefit from therapy sessions facilitated by a skilled intervenor.

Although one victim told me, “Once a hostage, always a hostage,” I believe that victim status is a transient, normal and stressful state of being that begins with the traumatic event and lasts until survivor status is achieved. There is no sharp dividing line between these conditions, but people who have been victimized can usually describe a turning point, when they felt more whole than fragmented, more hopeful than hopeless, more healed than wounded. Victim status includes several usual symptoms and may include some relatively uncommon conditions. Before discussing these, it is wise to re-emphasize that a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is common among victims of violent crime, and this is no cause for alarm or embarrassment or blame. The news reporter, police officer, nurse, friend or relative who recognizes this will not be insensitively impatient, will not say, “Stop feeling sorry for yourself,” and will not pester a victim with clichŽs calculated to evoke self blame.

Victim Symptoms

Victims may have difficult recalling the first few moments of victimization. During a traumatic event, denial operates as a coping mechanism, shielding the individual from a rational appraisal of danger, and allowing an automatic set of adaptive reflexes to operate. The autonomic nervous system is activated, causing adrenalin to flow, the heart rate to increase, pupils to dilate, and blood to rush from the gut to the large muscles. Trained individuals find their powers of concentration increase at times of crisis and danger. But by definition, the victim is the loser in a struggle and no amount of mental or physical ability can alter that fact. When the reality of victimization breaks through, the victim is aware of physiological changes, injuries, and loss. This may follow a protracted or a brief period of frozen fright.

At first, the victim literally does not know what is happening. Then he or she may deny reality, unconsciously acting to survive through struggle or total resignation. When the victim says, “No, no, no, this isn’t happening,” he or she already knows that it is. Frozen fright keeps the body inert, while the mind thaws and begins to rationalize. Frequently the follow-up thought focuses on self-blame: “I was so stupid!” The assailant has fled, the damage has been done. But rather than take whatever steps are needed for health, safety, or recompense, the mind ruminates, rationalizes, tries to undo, and explain at once. Events are replayed. “If only I had done this, not that . . .” is said or thought a hundred different ways.

Feelings of disgust and defilement may emerge, even in crimes that are not explicitly sexual. Personal space and dignity have been invaded. The desire to wash, change clothes, restore a sense of self is understandably stronger than the desire to preserve evidence. Shame is intensified by disgust and becomes self-loathing.

A mortified victim needs reassurance, but may seek to avoid all human contact and react impassively to questions and to expressions of concern. Crying, retching, shivering and screaming are understandable and automatic reactions in states of extreme duress. Expressions of rage, hatred, and vengeance are later manifestations or are ways of avoiding recognition of deep hurt and humiliation. Rape victims will often experience a phase of despair and a phase of bitter anger. One cannot predict that the other will follow.

In addition top these feelings, which are particularly true of victims, the traumatized individual can be expected to have recurrent, intrusive recollections of the event, in dreams and when awake. These people may fear that the images will obliterate their ability to concentrate. Concentration often is impaired and may cause some deficits at work or in household responsibilities. To avoid negative feelings, the traumatized individual may unconsciously and automatically void all feelings, entering a state known as psychic numbing. And it is common to have startle reactions (being easily frightened by sudden noises or movements), to have attacks of anxiety, and to phobically avoid reminders of the crime scene.

An unusual reaction, known as the Stockholm Syndrome, occurs relatively frequently among hostages and may account for some paradoxical responses in rape victims. The assailant demonstrated lethal power, immobilizes and infantilizes the victim, but does not kill. A primitive survival instinct takes over. The victim does not identify with the aggressor, but experiences a strange, positive attachment which may, in fact, be described as love. I believe the feeling is not love, but is the infantile precursor or love – a form of deep gratitude for life which we vaguely recall from early childhood when our parents removed the hunger, the wetness, the immobility that characterized our complete dependence as infants. The Stockholm Syndrome was recognized long ago, but was first introduced in the medical literature after the events in a Swedish bank vault, when Kristin, the victim, fell in love with Olsson, her captor.

Implications

What are the implications for each of us who come in contact with victims on a regular basis? Knowing how victims may feel does not mean we know how a given victim does feel. But it never hurts to say:

• I am sorry this happened.
• I am glad you were not killed.
• It was not your fault.

Symonds believes that these three simple statements are the cornerstone of decent interaction with victims. On the other hand, saying, “I know how you must feel” is often perceived as patronizing and wrong, even when coming from a fellow victim.

Predicting some possible victim reactions is useful. I often explain to victims what other victims have experienced, particularly the feelings of self-blame, the fears and the concentration difficulties. This reduces fear and shame, by showing how normal the reaction is, and restores a sense of control. The unusual and frightening emotional state is, in some measure, predictable. And it will run its course.

Victims need practical help in addition to compassionate understanding. Giving practical, useful information in a straightforward manner is important:

• where medical attention is available,
• what self-help groups exist,
• compensation services, if applicable, and
• anticipated steps in criminal justice procedures.

The timing and sequencing of information giving is important as well. For example, where there is no immediate danger of re-victimization, it may be unwise to concentrate on security advice. This feeds the victim’s propensity for self-blame by implying negligence in crime prevention. But a revisit to a victim of a house break-in, with security advice that is requested and valued, will do much to enhance the psychological recovery process, while reducing risk and improving community relations.

Victims should not be treated as mental patients or assumed to require psychiatric services. In fact, few credentialed professionals have training or experience with victims. Journalists are advised to develop a roster of reliable professionals who are known to the police department and who are interesting in helping victims. The American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Organization of Victim Assistance can help locate skilled professionals. Nonprofessional crisis intervenors have often learned through practical experience, night and day, to serve the psychological needs of victims and their families. Rape crisis centers, hot lines and shelter are often of great assistance, but are not of uniform quality. The self-help organizations have given great solace to mothers of murdered children, victims of drunk drivers, and others afflicted in traumatic victimization.

When symptoms are severe and incapacitating, such as hallucinations, depression with suicidal thoughts, alcohol or drug abuse, professional counseling is advisable. When physical changes occur – weight loss, abdominal pain, bloody stools, palpitations, shortness of breath – medical evaluation is indicated. And symptoms enduring beyond six months warrant professional attention.

News people are not expected to function in the role of the physician, but a good journalist is a good social worker, a good crisis intervenor, and a good advertisement for a compassionate community. Sensitivity to the needs of victims is a critical aspect of professionalism in the field of criminal justice. Justice is hollow when victims are neglected; democracy thrives when its citizens are respected at times of crisis and need.

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This article first appeared in Police and the Community by Louis Radelet, Macmillan Pubishing Company, 198

 

 

 

 

7 Helpful Tips to Stop Binge Eating

by HENRIK EDBERG

 

Weight loss, the million dollar question, how do I lose weight? Well I got to ask you, how did you gain the weight in the first place?

Being overweight isn’t the real problem, it’s just a symptom of overeating. Forget dieting and exercising.

In order to lose weight and keep it off you need to get to the root of the problem. If you are overweight and are trying to just exercise or diet then you are trying to cover up your unconscious overeating with a bandage. Underneath the bandage the overeating habits will still be there. And even if you were to lose the weight, you won’t be able to keep it off unless you take a deep look at why you eat.

Binge eating is the most common overeating mechanism. Binge eating is simply eating too much food. Often people binge eat to deal with stress, fear, anger or other tough emotions. A common binge eating episode is eating a whole tub of ice-cream at the end of a stressful day. Another common binge eating episode is dieting and crashing. This was my biggest problem when it came to weight loss. I would diet extremely, eating too little, and I’d be able to keep it up for a few days. However on the 6th or 7th day I would crash, and binge eat – basically eating all the fatty sugary foods I’ve been avoiding.

Binge eating is something I personally dealt with for years. Which is why I wanted to give you 7 tips to stop binge eating, or avoid binge eating in the first place.

1. Do NOT diet.

Dieting doesn’t work. I’ve tried all the diets. I would be able to keep a diet up for a few days. But then I would have a day where I would crash, and binge eat. Rather than trying to diet to lose weight, try to slowly improve your eating habits. Instead of eating 5 junk foods a day, try eating 4 for the next 7 days. Once you have done that successfully then trying eating 3 junk foods for the next 7 days etc.

2. Eat fatty or sugary foods in controlled moderation.

Do not deprive yourself of foods you crave. Otherwise you will keep increasing your craving for that food. One day you will crash and binge on that food. Eat fatty and sugary foods you craved in controlled moderation. Control the portion size. It’s not a good idea to order a whole large pizza for yourself if you only plan on eating 2 slices. Rather it’s better to order a personal sized pizza.

3. Understand that weight loss is HARD.

Commercials for weight loss products make weight loss look so easy. It’s NOT. Loosing weight and keeping it off is one of the toughest goals one can achieve. However you can achieve it slowly over time. Trying to lose weight too quickly by eating very little or exercising for extremely long sessions will not work. It will lead you to crashing and binge eating.

4. Forgive yourself.

There will be days where you are too week to say no, and will binge eat. It’s ok, forgive yourself. Don’t let the feelings of guild creep in. Don’t try to be a perfectionist. You are NOT perfect. Rather forgive yourself, and move on. If you let feelings of guilt and disappointment creep in, you probably will feel overwhelmed, give up, and binge eat some more.

5. Tell a friend.

Tell a trusted close friend of family member about your binge eating or overeating habits. More often than not they will be very supportive. They will even ask you what they can do to help. Request that they ask you every now and then about your progress with improving your eating habits. This will help you stay accountable with your commitment to stop binge eating.

6. Read up on how to stop binge eating.

If you can’t stop binge eating, and this is a very serious problem for you then make a commitment to get it handled. Read everything you can find about the subject. You can start by reading many of the tips articles I have on my website How To Stop Eating.

7. Team up with others who are trying to stop binge eating.

 

http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2008/08/26/7-helpful-tips-to-stop-binge-eating/

A GREAT BLOOD PRESSURE CHART

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Date Rape Drugs

Date Rape Drugs
Drink spiking has been on the increase and is most dangerous.  You ladies, should never leave your drinks unguarded in public places.   Beware!   cheers!  

What’s the difference between drunken sex and date rape?

If a woman says yes, it’s not rape. If a woman is drunk and says yes, and has no regrets later, it’s drunken sex. If a woman is drunk and says yes, but later has regrets, it’s date rape.

When people think of rape, they might think of a stranger jumping out of a shadowy place and sexually attacking someone. But it’s not only strangers who rape. In fact, about half of all people who are raped know the person who attacked them.

Most friendships, acquaintances, and dates never lead to violence, of course. But, sadly, sometimes it happens. When forced sex occurs between two people who already know each other, it is known as date rape or acquaintance rape.

Date Rape

Even if the two people know each other well, and even if they were intimate or had sex before, no one has the right to force a sexual act on another person against his or her will.
What are date rape drugs?

These are drugs that are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include inappropriate touching, vaginal penetration, sexual intercourse, rape, and attempted rape. Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can’t remember what happened. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim’s knowledge. There are at least three date rape drugs:

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride)

Although we use the term “date rape,” most experts prefer the term “drug-facilitated sexual assault.” These drugs have been used to help people commit other crimes, like robbery and physical assault, and have been used on both men and women.

What do the drugs look like?

GHB has a few forms: a liquid with no odor or color, white powder, and pill.

Rohypnol is a pill and dissolves in liquids. New pills turn blue when added to liquids.
However, the old pills, with no color, are still available.

Ketamine is a white powder.(special K)

What effects do these drugs have on the body?

The drugs can affect you quickly. The length of time that the effects last varies. It depends on how much of the drug is taken and if the drug is mixed with other substances, like alcohol. Alcohol can worsen the drug’s effects and can cause more health problems. Also, one drug � GHB � can be made by people in their homes, so you don’t know what’s in it.

Girls and women are most often raped – one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her life. Guys can also be raped, though: 7% to 10% of rape victims are male.

You may hear some people say that those who have been raped were somehow “asking for it” because of the clothes they wore or the way they acted. That’s wrong: The person who is raped is not to blame. Rape is always the fault of the rapist. And that’s also the case when two people are dating – or even in an intimate relationship. One person never owes the other person sex. If sex is forced against someone’s will, that’s rape.

Even though rape involves forced sex, rape is not about sex or passion. Rape has nothing to do with love. Rape is an act of aggression and violence.

Healthy relationships involve respect – including respect for the feelings of others. Someone who really cares about you will respect your wishes and not force or pressure you to have sex.

GHB can cause these problems:

relaxation
drowsiness
dizziness
nausea
problems seeing
unconsciousness (black out)
seizures
problems breathing
can’t remember what happened while drugged
tremors
sweating
vomiting
slow heart rate
dream-like feeling
coma
death
can’t remember what happened while drugged
lower blood pressure
sleepiness
muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control
drunk feeling
nausea
problems talking
difficulty with motor movements
loss of consciousness
confusion
problems seeing
dizziness
confusion
stomach problems

Rohypnol

Rohypnol can cause these problems:

Clonazepam and Alprazolam

These two drugs are taking the place of Rohypnol abuse in some areas of the United States now. Clonazepam is marketed as Klonopin in the United States and Rivotril in Mexico. Alprazolam is marketed as Xanax. These drugs offer very similar affects compared to Rohypnol when used and when abused can cause dependency and addiction

Ketamine can cause these problems:

hallucinations
lost sense of time and identity
distorted perceptions of sight and sound
feeling out of control
impaired motor function
problems breathing
convulsions
vomiting
out of body experiences
memory problems
dream-like feeling
numbness
loss of coordination
aggressive or violent behavior
slurred speech

Here are some things teen girls and guys can do to protect themselves against date rape drugs:

Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.
Don’t drink from punch bowls.
Don’t accept drinks from others.
Only drink from containers you opened yourself.
Don’t drink things that taste or look funny.
Don’t drink alcohol or use drugs.
Go to parties with friends and watch out for each other.
Be clear about your standards and limits, and avoid people who pressure you to change them.
Stay away from people and situations that make you feel uncomfortable.
Don’t go off alone with anyone you don’t know well.

If Date Rape Happens . . .

Get help. Don’t isolate yourself, don’t feel guilty, and don’t try to ignore it. It is a crime and should be reported.

Get medical attention as soon as possible. Do not shower, wash, douche, or change your clothes. Valuable evidence could be destroyed.

Get counseling to deal with the emotional trauma.

If you think you’ve been assaulted while under the influence of Rohypnol or GHB, seek help immediately, try not to urinate before providing urine samples and, if possible, collect any glasses from which you drank.

Crystal Infomation

Crystal Infomation By Kellie the crystal deva

STUDY OF THE CHAKRAS
The word ‘chakra’ is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘wheel’.
If we were able to see the chakras (as many psychics, in fact, do) we would observe a wheel of energy continuously revolving or rotating. Clairvoyants perceive chakras as colorful wheels or flowers with a hub in the center. The chakras begin at the base of the spine and finish over the top of the head. Though fixed in the central spinal column they are located on both the front and back of the body, and work through it.

Each chakra vibrates and rotates at different speeds. The root or first chakra rotates at the slowest speed, the crown or seventh chakra at the highest. Each chakra is stimulated by its own and complimentary color, and a range of gemstones for specific uses. The chakra colors are of the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The size and brightness of the wheels vary with individual development, physical condition, energy levels, disease, or stress.

If the chakras are not balanced, or if the energies are blocked, the basic life force will be slowed down.
The individual may feel listless, tired, out of sorts, or depressed. Not only will physical bodily functions be affected so diseases may manifest, but the thought processes and the mind may also be affected. A negative attitude, fear, doubt, etc. may preoccupy the individual.

A constant balance between the chakras promotes health and a sense of well being. If the chakras are opened to much, a person could literally short circuit themselves with too much universal energy going through the body.
If the chakras are closed, this does not allow for the universal energy to flow through them properly which may also lead to dis-ease.

Most of us react to unpleasant experiences by blocking our feeling and stopping a great deal of our natural energy flow. This affects the maturation and development of the chakras. Whenever a person blocks whatever experience he is having, he in turn blocks his chakras, which eventually become disfigured. When the chakras are functioning normally, each will be ‘open’, spinning clockwise to metabolize the particular energies needed from the universal energy field.

As already mentioned any ‘imbalances’ that exist within any chakra may have profound effects upon either our physical or emotional bodies. We are able to use our quartz crystals and gemstones to re-balance all our chakric centers and once the chakra has been properly balanced then our body will gradually return to normal.

The reason why crystals and gemstones are wonderful and powerful healing tools are because of what science calls its piezoelectric effect. (You can see this effect in the modern quartz watches). Crystals and gemstones respond to the electricity that is coursing through our body, and if the energy is sluggish, the constant electrical vibrations of the stones will help to harmonize, balance, and stimulate these energies.

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THE SEVEN MAJOR CHAKRAS
FIRST CHAKRA-ROOT
Studying the individual chakras begins with the root chakra, called Muladhara in Sanskrit. The root chakra is located at the base of the spine at the tailbone in back, and the pubic bone in front. This center holds the basic needs for survival, security and safety. The root chakra is powerfully related to our contact with the Earth Mother, providing us with the ability to be grounded into the earthplane. This is also the center of manifestation.
When you are trying to make things happen in the material world, business or material possessions, the energy to succeed will come from the first chakra.

If this chakra is blocked an individual may feel fearful, anxious, insecure and frustrated. Problems like obesity, anorexia nervosa, and knee troubles can occur. Root body parts include the hips, legs, lower back and sexual organs. The colors used for this chakra are red, brown and black. The gemstones are Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, and Black Tourmaline. NOTE: A man’s sexual organs are located primarily in his first chakra, so male sexual energy is usually experienced primarily as physical. A women’s sexual organs are located primarily in her second chakra, so female sexual energy is usually experienced primarily as emotional. Both chakras are associated with sexual energy.

SECOND CHAKRA-BELLY (SACRAL)
The next chakra or second chakra is often referred to as the belly or (sacral). It is located two inches below the navel and is rooted into the spine. This center holds the basic needs for sexuality, creativity, intuition, and self-worth. This chakra is also about friendliness, creativity, and emotions. It governs peoples sense of self-worth, their confidence in their own creativity, and their ability to relate to others in an open and friendly way. It’s influenced by how emotions were expressed or repressed in the family during childhood.

Proper balance in this chakra means the ability to flow with emotions freely and to feel and reach out to others sexually or not. If this chakra is blocked a person may feel emotionally explosive, manipulative, obsessed with thoughts of sex or may lack energy. Physical problems may include, kidney weakness, stiff lower back, constipation, and muscle spasms. Belly body parts include sexual organs (women), kidneys, bladder, and large intestine. The main color used with this chakra is orange. The gemstones are Carnelian Agate, Orange Calcite and Tigers Eye.

THIRD CHAKRA-SOLAR PLEXUS
The third chakra is referred to as the Solar Plexus. It is located two inches below the breastbone in the center behind the stomach. The third chakra is the center of personal power, the place of ego , of passions, impulses, anger and strength. It is also the center for astral travel and astral influences, receptivity of spirit guides and for psychic development. When the Third Chakra is out of balance you may lack confidence, be confused, worry about what others think, feel that others are controlling your life, and may be depressed.
Physical problems may include digestive difficulties, liver problems, diabetes, nervous exhaustion, and food allergies.

When balanced you may feel cheerful, outgoing, have self-respect, expressive, enjoy taking on new challenges, and have a strong sense of personal power. The body parts for this chakra include the stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and small intestine. The main color for this chakra is yellow. The gemstones are Citrine, Topaz, and Yellow Calcite.

FOURTH CHAKRA- HEART
The fourth chakra is referred to as the heart chakra. It is located behind the breast bone in front and on the spine between the shoulder blades in back. This is the center for love, compassion and spirituality. This center directs one’s ability to love themselves and others, to give and to receive love. This is also the chakra connecting body and mind with spirit. Almost everyone today has a hard, hurt, or broken heart, and it is no accident that heart disease is the number one killer in America today. Deep heart hurts can result in aura obstructions called heart scars. When these scars are released, they raise a lot of old pain, but free the heart for healing and new growth.
When this chakra is out of balance you may feel sorry for yourself, paranoid, indecisive, afraid of letting go, afraid of getting hurt, or unworthy of love.

Physical illnesses include heart attack, high blood pressure, insomnia, and difficult in breathing.
When this chakra is balanced you may feel compassionate, friendly, empathetic, desire to nurture others and see the good in everyone. Body parts for the fourth chakra include heart, lungs, circulatory system, shoulders, and upper back. The main colors used are pink and green. The gemstones are Rose Quartz, Kunzite, and Watermelon tourmaline.

FIFTH CHAKRA-THROAT
The fifth chakra is referred to as the Throat. It is located in the V of the collarbone at the lower neck and is the center of communication, sound, and expression of creativity via thought , speech, and writing. The possibility for change, transformation and healing are located here. The throat is where anger is stored and finally let go of.
When this chakra is out of balance you may want to hold back, feel timid, be quiet, feel weak, or can’t express your thoughts.

Physical illnesses or ailments include, hyperthyroid, skin irritations, ear infections, sore throat, inflammations, and back pain. When this chakra is balanced you may feel balanced, centered, musically or artistically inspired, and may be a good speaker. Body parts for the fifth chakra are throat, neck, teeth, ears, and thyroid gland.
The main color used is light blue. The gemstones are Aquamarine and Azurite.

SIXTH CHAKRA- THIRD EYE
The sixth chakra is referred to as the Third Eye. It is located above the physical eyes on the center of the forehead. This is the center for psychic ability, higher intuition, the energies of spirit and light. It also assists in the purification of negative tendencies and in the elimination of selfish attitudes. Through the power of the sixth chakra, you can receive guidance, channel, and tune into your Higher Self.

When this chakra is not balanced you may feel non-assertive, afraid of success, or go the opposite way and be egotistical. Physical symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, blindness, and eyestrain. When this chakra is balanced and open you are your own master with no fear of death, are not attached to material things, may experience telepathy, astral travel, and past lives. Sixth chakra body parts include the eyes, face, brain, lymphatic and endocrine system. The main colors are purple and dark blue. The gemstones are Amethyst, Sodalite, and Lapis Lazuli.

SEVENTH CHAKRA-THE CROWN
The seventh chakra is referred to as the Crown. It is located just behind the top of the skull. It is the center of spirituality, enlightenment, dynamic thought and energy. It allows for the inward flow of wisdom, and brings the gift of cosmic consciousness. This is also the center of connectedness with the Goddess (God), the place where life animates the physical body. The silver cord that connects the aura bodies extends from the crown.
The soul comes into the body through the crown at birth and leaves from the crown at death.

When this chakra is unbalanced there may be a constant sense of frustration, no spark of joy, and destructive feelings. Illnesses may include migraine headaches and depression. Balanced energy in this chakra may include the ability to open up to the Divine and total access to the unconscious and subconscious. The main colors for the crown are white and purple. The gemstones are Clear Quartz Crystal, Oregon Opal, and Amethyst.

THE EIGHTH CHAKRA-THE TRANSPERSONAL POINT is located several inches above the center of the head is the Transpersonal point. Place a hand there and a tingling sensation in the palm identifies the center. Its color is clear and is activated by selenite or zircon. Through the Transpersonal point the soul is manifested into matter, it carries the individual’s reasons to incarnate into this lifetime. Other names for this center include “Soul Star” and “Heavenly Chi”.

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CLEARING GEMSTONES AND CRYSTALS
Sometimes a stone or crystal you are strongly drawn to doesn’t feel good, or a stone that felt good previously doesn’t feel good now. The stone or crystal may need to be cleared. Clearing is necessary before using any stone for healing. The clearer the energy of a healing stone, the more powerful it is. Crystals and healing gemstones need to be cleared as soon as they are purchased as well as clearing after every healing. A cleared, ready crystal feels positive and bright, tingly and cold to the touch. A crystal that needs clearing may feel hot, heavy or drained. There are a number of ways to effectively clear crystals and gemstones.

1. SMUDGING- A quick way to cleanse your healing stones is to smudge them with burning cedar or sage. Smudging is an excellent way to make sure your stones are purified. Simply hold the burning sage or cedar stick while passing your stone through the smoke. I usually do this a couple times to ensure cleansing. I also like to cleanse my stones by smudging after every healing.

2. MOONLIGHT- Moonlight is another way of clearing your gemstones. Simply place outside from the Full to the New Moon. Waning Moons are good times to clear crystals, to dispel old energies, but any time works. The amount of time used varies with the sensitivity of the healer and the amount of material from which the stone needs cleansing. Try hanging your gemstone necklaces in a tree where the moonlight can cleanse them.
(I personally do not recommend ever placing your crystals and gemstones in the sunlight, many stones tend to fade their colors in the sun. Also internal fractures may cause your stone to crack or break if placed in the sun.)

3. OTHER METHODS THAT WORK WELL- Burying your crystal in a cupful of dried herbs will also clear it. Suggested herbs for this are rose petals, sage, frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. You can usually find these at low cost at many co-ops or herb stores. This is a gentle way to clear crystals, and a pleasant way, but it does take longer than sea salt.

Crystals may also be buried into the Earth. This is especially helpful when you feel deep cleansing is needed. Outdoors, simply dig a hole the size of your crystal into the Earth, place your crystal again point down, and cover with soil. The amount of time needed is personal choice. Be sure to place a Popsicle stick or some other marker to insure you fine your stone again!!! For apartment dwellers, use a flower pot to bury your stone in.

The Sacred Breath- Some like to use this method of ‘blowing away’ any negativity from the stone, simply hold the stone in your hand and blow on it, while blowing ask your higher self to cleanse the crystal.

Finally, if you are in a hurry and feel that your crystal needs to be cleared, you can easily run them under cool tap water. Make sure the points are facing down the drain to run the negative energy right down the sink!!! NEVER USE WARM OR HOT WATER, THIS WILL FRACTURE OR BREAK YOUR CRYSTALS. Visualize the crystal as sparkly, tingly, cold, and belonging to the healer.

I also feel it is good to energetically smudge my client before starting the ‘laying on of stones’ process.

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PROGRAMMING AND DEDICATING STONES
After you choose and clear your gemstone or crystal, it is a good idea to dedicate it or program it. The purpose of programming a crystal or gemstone is to focus its abilities on something you specifically need, thereby magnifying the stone’s intent through your own. The purpose of dedicating the stone to a high level healing energy or Goddess (God) is to protect it from negative energy. A crystal or stone that is programmed and dedicated in these ways becomes much more powerful and useful as a tool.

This is a very simple process. Hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and sense its energy. With the stone being newly cleared, the energy will feel stronger and even more appealing that before. As you sense this energy and appreciate it, ask quietly to be connected to the deva of the crystal or gemstone. Though not animate, stones are living things and the deva of the piece is the stone’s life-force energy. Once you feel you have sensed what you can from the energy, think of what you will be using the stone for. Think of these uses, then quietly ask the gemstone if it is willing to act in the way you wish. The crystals energy may increase with a yes or seem to disappear with a no. If the stone accepts your intent, state in your mind that it be so. Once a stone is programmed, it will hold its intent until you or someone else reprograms it.

To prevent any negative energy from attaching itself to your crystal you may with to dedicate it. To do this, simply hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and state clearly in your mind: “Only the most positive high-level energy may work through this healing tool”. Focus on your intent for awhile, then end your sensing (meditation) with “SO BE IT”. The stone is now dedicated.

You may also choose to dedicate your gemstone or crystal to a specific healing energy, for example, to a Goddess of healing. There are many healing goddesses, including Isis, Yemaya, Diana, and White Buffalo Calf Woman. For stones programmed for protection, Hecate or Kali are strong protection Goddesses.

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LAYING ON OF STONES
The technique of using crystals and gemstones on the receiver’s body for healing is called laying on of stones. It is a powerful method of cleansing negative energy, clearing and balancing the chakras, effecting emotional release, and bringing light and healing into all the aura bodies. Cleared, programmed, and dedicated stones move the receiver’s vibration into alignment with the planet and the universal grid. This results in a freeing of life force energy in the chakras and aura, a healing of the Body of Light, and a transformation of negative or dis-ease into health.

The process may be done with clear quartz crystals only, colored gemstones only, or a combination of both. The stones may be used alone or with a hands on healing (ie;Reiki). The stones are placed upon the receiver’s body from feet to head. The healer then begins using her hands as usual starting at the head and moving toward the feet. (Use gemstones with colors matching each chakra’s color. The stones can be in any form—faceted, raw, tumbled, eggs, or beads.) Energy in this type of healing needs to move in one direction through the body, either Earth to sky or sky to Earth. If the energy is Earth to sky, all the gemstones that have points are placed with the points turned towards the receiver’s crown. The effect of this direction is to move the receiver’s energy to a higher vibration or more spiritual level. If the direction is from sky to Earth, it is the opposite, with the crystals pointing toward the feet. This direction moves life force energy from crown to feet for grounding and rooting into Earth.

To begin, the receiver lies on her back on a padded floor or massage table, with pillows under her head and knees for comfort. The space should be quiet, comfortable, and warm. Use only stones that have been dedicated to positive energy and programmed for healing. Invite spirit guides and angels into the session if you wish.

Start by placing a clear quartz crystal above her head and below her feet. In the right hand place another crystal and in the left hand place a rose quartz gemstone. (my personal method). Then go chakra by chakra, moving from the feet to crown and placing the appropriate colored gemstone for each center. (Be sure you have your healing stones spread out where you can reach them easily.) There may be stones that you are drawn to for a particular reason, let yourself be guided, there are no real rules. You cannot do it wrong. A stone that is not needed for the session or is inappropriate for the receiver’s energy will roll right off or roll to another place where it is better utilized. Allow this to occur. If the receiver feels uncomfortable with a particular stone, remove it, the energy is not right for her needs.

When the stones are all in place, the healer has two options. She (he) can go to the head and begin a hands on healing. Be sure to cover the stones with your hands carefully in order not to scatter the gemstones. While your hands are covering each chakra over the stone, visualize the bright color of the gemstone entering the chakra, making it appear bright, balanced, centered, and healthy. Do this visualization until you feel confident to move to the next chakra. Be sure to flick fingers to release any negative energy before going to the next center. End with a complete brushing of the aura.

The other option a healer has once the stones are placed is to sit beside the receiver and simply wait, allowing the gemstones and spirit guides to do the healing. As the receiver’s chakras and aura absorb and are balanced by the crystal and gem energies, the stones begin to roll off one by one. When all the stones are off, or the receiver feels finished with those that remain, the healing is over. End with a complete brushing of the aura and allow the receiver to lie quietly without the stones. Ask for feedback and discuss anything that you feel should be discussed. While she is doing this, the healer can gather up the stones from the table or floor and clear them again before putting them away. Put them into your protective box.

A laying on of stones healing can be quite intense. There is often a major energy shift during this type of healing. More frequent emotional releases, past life and this life trauma openings and other transformative events. The healers role in this is to wait for the release to end and to be entirely non-judgmental. After a session, there may also be a physical detoxification process that can continue for up to a week. Be aware of what is happening and again, allow it. The changes are always positive and are usually gentle.

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TABLE OF CHAKRAS AND GEMSTONES

FIRST CHAKRA—-Red
red Garnet
smoky quartz
black obsidian

SECOND CHAKRA—Orange
carnelian
orange calcite
tiger’s eye

THIRD CHAKRA—Yellow
citrine
topaz
golden calcite

FOURTH CHAKRA—Pink and Green
rose quartz
kunzite
watermelon tourmaline
jade
adventurine

FIFTH CHAKRA—Light Blue
aquamarine
azurite
sodalite

SIXTH CHAKRA—Blue or Indigo
lapis
blue fluorite
sugilite
clear quartz

SEVENTH CHAKRA—Violet or Clear
amethyst
Oregon opal
clear quartz

RECLAIM YOUR RIGHT TO HEAL
A final thought…the ancient healers knew that the body is more than what is seen. They respected the wholeness of the body, emotions, mind, and spirit, saw the goddess (god) within all Being, and treated their patients with respect and caring. Healing was a three way agreement between healer, goddess (god) and the person being healed, and healing was an active choice. Such partnerships and participation are missing in today’s modern medicine, along with the concepts of wholeness and respect. Anyone can heal, and anyone can choose well-being. By learning and using the ancient skills of healing, many diseases of the body, emotions, mind, and spirit are preventable, or are easily transformed before they become matters for the allopathic medicine. The skills of the ancient healers are available, powerful and very much alive right now. Please use these tools, it is our right!!!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brennen, Barbara Ann, Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing through the Human Energy Field. New York; Bantam Books, 1987.
Gardner, Joy, Color and Crystals; A Journey Through the Chakras. California; The Crossing Press, 1988.
Melody, Love is in the Earth; A Kaleidoscope of Crystals. Colorado; Earth-Love Publishing House, 1995.
Stein, Diane, Healing with Crystals and Gemstones. California, the Crossing Press, 1996.
Stein, Diane, The Women’s Book of Healing. Minnesota, Llewellyn Publications, 1987.

http://www.neatstuff.net/avalon/texts/know-how.html

What are the health implications of the greenhouse effect? Planet Green – greenhouse gases

Planet Green – greenhouse gases
There is a strong negative correlation between greenhouse gases and air quality. As greenhouse gases increase, smog levels increase. People with asthma and other ongoing lung problems are especially at risk from rising ground-level ozone. Also of concern is something called particulate air pollution. This results in particulate matter (a mix of very small drops of liquid with small particles), which when breathed in can deeply penetrate the lungs.

Similarly, a general rise in average temperatures doesn’t bode well for a number of segments of the population. The elderly, people with heart problems, asthmatics, young children and those living on the streets are especially exposed and vulnerable to increased heat, which is seen when greenhouse gases increase.

In 2008, a scientist from Stanford used computer modeling and the latest and greatest in environmental process data to draw a direct correlation between increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and human mortality. The study contended that for each increase of 1 degree Celsius that’s caused by carbon dioxide emissions, about a thousand deaths would result each year in the United States and about 20,000 deaths globally. It would also result in a great increase in the number of incidences of asthma and other respiratory ailments .

http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/health-implications-of-greenhouse-effect

10 Surprising Health Benefits of Beer

10 Surprising Health Benefits of Beer.

By Lisa Collier Cool
Jan 09, 2012

Day in Health
by Lisa Collier Cool
Beer drinkers rejoice: Your favorite brew may be healthier than you think. For years, wine drinkers have indulged without guilt, reveling in the news that red wine can help protect against heart disease. Recent research shows that beer can also be good for what ails you, from reducing risk for broken bones to helping warding off diabetes and mental decline. It can even increase longevity, a large study suggests.However, the key to tapping into beer’s benefits is moderation, meaning just one 12-ounce beer per day for women and two for men. Heavy drinking ups the threat of liver damage, some cancers, and heart problems. Bingeing on brewskis can also make you fat, since a 12-ounce regular beer has about 150 calories, while light beer has about 100.

Here are 10 surprising—and healthy—reasons to cheer about your next beer.

1. Stronger Bones
Beer contains high levels of silicon, which is linked to bone health. In a 2009 study at Tufts University and other centers, older men and women who swigged one or two drinks daily had higher bone density, with the greatest benefits found in those who favored beer or wine. However, downing more than two drinks was linked to increased risk for fractures.For the best bone-building benefits, reach for pale ale, since a 2010 study of 100 types of beer from around the word identified these brews as richest in silicon, while light lagers and non-alcoholic beers contained the least.

2. A Stronger Heart
A 2011 analysis of 16 earlier studies involving more than 200,000 people, conducted by researchers at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura, found a 31 percent reduced risk of heart disease in those who quaffed about a pint of beer daily, while risk surged in those who guzzled higher amounts of alcohol, whether beer, wine, or spirits.
More than 100 studies also show that moderate drinking trims risk of heart attacks and dying from cardiovascular disease by 25 to 40 percent, Harvard reports. A beer or two a day can help raise levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol that helps keep arteries from getting clogged.

3. Healthier Kidneys
A study in Finland singled out beer among other alcoholic drinks, finding that each bottle of beer men drank daily lowered their risk of developing kidney stones by 40 percent. One theory is that beer’s high water content helped keep kidneys working, since dehydration increases kidney stone risk. It’s also possible that the hops in beer help curb leeching of calcium from bones; that “lost” calcium also could end up in the kidneys as stones.

4. Boosting Brain Health
A beer a day may help keep Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia at bay, researchers say.
A 2005 study tracking the health of 11,000 older women showed that moderate drinkers (those who consumed about one drink a day) lowered their risk of mental decline by as much as 20 percent, compared to non-drinkers. In addition, older women who downed a drink a day scored as about 18 months “younger,” on average, on tests of mental skills than the non-drinkers.

5. Reduced Cancer Risk
A Portuguese study found that marinating steak in beer eliminates almost 70 percent of the carcinogens, called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) produced when the meat is pan-fried. Researchers theorize that beer’s sugars help block HCAs from forming. Scientists also have found that beer and wine contain about the same levels of antioxidants, but the antioxidants are different because the flavonoids found in hops and grapes are different.

6. Boosting Vitamin Levels
A Dutch study, performed at the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, found that beer-drinking participants had 30 percent higher levels of vitamin B6 levels in their blood than their non-drinking counterparts, and twice as much as wine drinkers. Beer also contains vitamin B12 and folic acid.

7. Guarding Against Stroke
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that moderate amounts of alcohol, including beer, help prevent blood clots that block blood flow to the heart, neck and brain—the clots that cause ischemic stroke, the most common type.

8. Reduced Risk for Diabetes
Drink up: A 2011 Harvard study of about 38,000 middle-aged men found that when those who only drank occasionally raised their alcohol intake to one to two beers or other drinks daily, their risk of developing type 2 diabetes dropped by 25 percent. The researchers found no benefit to quaffing more than two drinks. The researchers found that alcohol increases insulin sensitivity, thus helping protect against diabetes.

9. Lower Blood Pressure
Wine is fine for your heart, but beer may be even better: A Harvard study of 70,000 women ages 25 to 40 found that moderate beer drinkers were less likely to develop high blood pressure—a major risk factor for heart attack—than women who sipped wine or spirits.

10. Longer Life
In a 2005 review of 50 studies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that moderate drinkers live longer. The USDA also estimates that moderate drinking prevents about 26,000 deaths a year, due to lower rates of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These benefits appear to apply in other countries as well, with an earlier study reporting that, “if European beer drinkers stopped imbibing, there would be a decrease in life expectancy of two years—and much unhappiness.”

The Truth About Shisha Smoking

The Truth About Shisha Smoking

Shisha may not offer the same taste, or smell, of regular cigarettes but don’t let that fool you. Shisha (or waterpipe) smoking may end up being more harmful for your health than most people realise. Way, way more harmful.

Misconception About Shisha
While cigarettes are universally considered harmful, shisha doesn’t usually appear on our radar as a potential health hazard. Says Dr K Vijaya, Director, Youth Health Division, Health Promotion Board, “Many consider shisha smoking to be an occasional social activity and hence, not harmful. The tobacco used for shisha smoking is often flavoured which masks its danger and increases the appeal of shisha smoking to youth and young adults.”

This social nature of shisha smoking may even lead to addiction, she says. “In a study conducted by Maziak W et al (2004), authors noted that as shisha smokers receive comparable or higher doses of nicotine compared to cigarette smokers due to the social nature of the activity, addiction can set in. However, there has been no published study on when this addiction comes about and whether shisha tobacco is more addictive than cigarettes,” explains Dr Vijaya.

The main culprit for causing addiction is nicotine, which is found in shisha tobacco as well as regular cigarettes. This substance is as addictive as drugs like heroin and cocaine, according to Dr Vijaya, and shisha smokers have been shown to receive similar or even higher doses of nicotine. She says, “Shisha smokers reportedly suffer from many, if not all, of the indications of nicotine dependence. These include craving for nicotine fix, anxiety, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and irritability.”

More Dangerous Than Cigarettes
With sweet scented flavours like apple, grape or peppermint, shisha smoke certainly doesn’t smell or taste like your typical harsh cigarettes. But beneath that innocent fragrance, the smoke it produces is just as harmful — containing tar, carbon monoxide and nicotine just like cigarette smoke.

Dr Vijaya explains further, “Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemicals of which 400 are poisonous and at least 69 are cancer-causing. Besides measuring concentrations of three of the constituents of cigarette smoke – tar, carbon monoxide and nicotine – there are no ISO standards to measure the concentration of the rest of the constituents of cigarette smoke. Similarly, studies have revealed that smoke released into the atmosphere when shisha tobacco is burnt contains tar, carbon monoxide (from incomplete combustion of the shisha tobacco as well as the charcoals used to burn the tobacco), nicotine, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals. However, concentrations of the ‘heavy metals’ and ‘cancer-causing chemicals’ are not known.”

What Shisha Can Do To You
Dr Vijaya lists the various health risks posed by shisha smoking:

a. Cancer Threat
The charcoal used to heat tobacco in the hookah increases the health risks by producing high levels of carbon monoxide, metals, and cancer-causing chemicals. Even after it has passed through water, the smoke produced by a hookah contains high levels of toxic compounds, including carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and cancer-causing chemicals. Hookah tobacco and smoke contain numerous toxic substances known to cause lung, bladder, and oral cancers.

Irritation to the mouth from exposure to tobacco juices increases the risk of developing oral cancers. The irritation by tobacco juice products is likely to be greater among hookah smokers than among pipe or cigar smokers because hookah smoking is typically practiced (with or without inhalation) more often and for longer periods of time.

b. Heart disease
Hookah tobacco and smoke contain numerous toxic substances known to cause clogged arteries and heart disease.

c. Flu
Sharing of smoking pipes increases risk of tuberculosis and flu.

d. Second-hand smoke
Second-hand smoke from hookahs poses a serious risk for non-smokers, particularly because it contains smoke not only from the tobacco but also from the heat source (e.g., charcoal) used in the hookah.