Weight loss is a constant topic of conversation-this amazing new diet or that one. Personally, I’m in favor of using resources already found in nature to promote health and well-being in general, and I think that weight loss should be no exception. So if you are overweight or obese, here’s what nature has to offer.

Helpful Nutrients -

First, you should take 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. Calcium is involved in the activation of lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats so the body can use them. Choline and inositol, taken in accordance with the instructions on their labels, also help the body burn fat. Coenzyme Q10 is necessary for energy, and coenzyme A improves the effects of coenzyme Q10 and metabolizes fat; these should both also be taken according to their labels.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), taken as directed on the label, inhibits an enzyme that helps to produce fat. Gamma-amino-butyric acid suppresses cravings and also has antidepressant qualities. A multivitamin and mineral complex with potassium is important because obesity and nutritional deficiency are actually part of the same syndrome. Potassium is necessary for the production of energy; sodium and potassium levels must be balanced.

A vitamin B complex is needed for proper digestion. Vitamin B2 is necessary for efficient calorie burning, B3 lessens sugar cravings (but don’t take this one if you’ve got liver problems, high blood pressure, or gout), B6 boosts metabolism, and B12 is required for digestion and absorption.

Helpful Herbs -

Alfalfa, corn silk, dandelion, gravel root, horsetail, hydrangea, hyssop, juniper berries, oat straw, parsley, seawrack, thyme, uva ursi, white ash, and yarrow are all useful in tea for their diuretic properties.

Aloe vera juice enhances digestion and cleans out the digestive tract. Amla assists in increasing lean body mass and reducing fat, and astragalus increases energy and enhances the absorption of nutrients. Borage seed, hawthorn berry, licorice root, and sarsaparilla give a boost to the adrenal glands and the thyroid. Don’t use licorice if you have high blood pressure or for more than a week at a time, though.

Butcher’s boom, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, ephedra, ginger, green tea, and mustard seed are all thermogenic herbs, which enhance digestion and help with fat metabolism. Green tea is becoming widely known for its ability to assist with losing weight, and I can tell you from personal experience that if you did nothing to diet but drink copious amounts of green tea (unsweetened is best, but if you must, I recommend stevia or honey), you’d probably drop some pounds right there.

Fennel removes mucus and fat from the intestinal tract, and is an appetite suppressant, as are guarana and kola nut. Siberian ginseng helps move fluids through body and also reduces the stress of the adjustment to new dietary habits, but you shouldn’t use it if you have hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, or any type of heart disorder.

General Advice -

My recommendation is to visit a licensed herbalist for a program of herbs specifically designed for you and your body. In general, though, remember: it’s not so much about the number of calories you consume as about eating the right foods, a variety of whole foods with a balance of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and good fat. You’ll be amazed at the difference it all can make.

HealthSource would like to present you with a limited time complimentary consultation, a $179.00 value. To Find the closest chiropractic office near you, go to http://www.healthsourceofwestmonroe.com or call 1-888-977-6734 today.

The research on obesity is clear: even moderate weigh loss has a positive impact on a variety of medical risks. Losing weight, though, isn’t all that easy. It seems that the brain is hard wired to encourage us to eat the very things that are worst for us. Keeping in mind the potential benefits may help some stick to their commitment to lose weight during this new decade.

A Decreased Risk of Heart Disease -

With nearly a million Americans dying each year from heart disease and another 1.25 million suffering from non-fatal heart attacks, it is clear that obesity is a serious problem. The larger your body the harder your heart has to work to pump blood about.

Additionally, a diet that contains high levels of saturated fat increases the likelihood of elevated cholesterol. Cholesterol creates plaques along the arteries which further increases your chances of a heart attack. Losing weight takes some of the burden off your heart.

A Decreased Risk of Type II Diabetes -

Diabetes is a devastating disease. While on the surface it may not look like much, internally diabetes stresses and damages organs, Diabetes increases the incidence of heart attack, stroke, gum disease, peripheral neuropathy and much more. Losing weight helps control blood sugar levels.

You’ll Live Longer -

Cultures where the dietary pattern involves low fat choices have longer life spans. New research conclusively shows a connection between low weight and longer lifespan. The research even indicates that eating too little, essentially deliberately “starving” oneself, can, over the long term extend ones life. Now, we are not suggesting that you stop eating entirely, but, losing some of your extra pounds is a good thing all around.

Your Joints will Thank You -

The pressure upon joints that have to bear too much weight causes deterioration and pain. Chronic back problems, painful knees and hips are often the result of obesity. You can help your joints by losing even as little as 10% of your current body weight. Doing so will decrease your chances of developing osteoarthritis or of needing to have joints replaced as you age.

Higher Energy Levels -

Think about carrying around a 25 pound barbell all day. You would never do it, would you? But when you carry excess weight around with you the results are much the same. By losing weight you reduce the work your body has to do each day and that translates into more energy for other things.

It is also well documented that overweight people are more likely to have sleep problems resulting from apnea. Even a modest reduction in weight will help you get better, more restful sleep.

We all know that obesity is a serious problem. For most overweight people the desire to lose weight is present – it is the ability to commit to a regimen for the long term that is so difficult. With our growing understanding of the changes in the brain chemistry that encourage us to eat poorly and excessively, it is hoped that more people can be helped when battling their weight.

HealthSource would like to present you with a limited time complimentary consultation, a $179.00 value. To Find the closest chiropractic office near you, go to http://www.healthsourcenorthfield.com or call 1-888-977-6734 today.

If you or anyone you know has ever tried to lose weight, then you have heard this plea: “Why is weight loss so difficult?” The challenges involved in weight loss are significant and can generate immense frustration for individuals who try repeatedly to lose those extra pounds. The problem transcends geography, race and economic barriers, and although the solution seems simple, it is anything but easy.

The math is clear. Eat less than you burn each day and you will lose weight. This is an established fact and plenty of research supports the fact that it doesn’t particularly matter how you restrict your food intake because calories are the real issue. As long as you ingest fewer calories than you burn, the weight will come off. The reality isn’t quite as simple.

Lifestyle and Availability Changes -

In the last century how we get our food and the types of food available have changed dramatically. Whereas just two generations ago most people still had some connection with where food came from, today we drop by the supermarket and pick up the latest prepackaged item. The food in that box is highly processed for palatability and extended shelf life, not nutrition.

In addition to our disconnect from food and its source, people are increasingly sedentary. Few people work out in the fields for hours each day. Most adults work at a desk, staring at a computer for hours and then drive home, exerting little energy from day to day.

The combination of highly processed foods and low levels of activity has created part of the problem. The rest of the challenge relates to how food is designed to create cravings and affect the brains reactions.

Food goes High Tech to Entice -

Dr. David Kessler, formerly the head of the Food and Drug Administration, has directed a great deal of research in his lifetime. Lately he has focused his energies on understanding just what drives people to overeat, and concomitantly, what makes it so hard to lose weight and keep it off. While he was researching his new book, “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the American Appetite” he discovered a number of disturbing trends.

Food manufacturers, it seems, discovered that the combination of three items, fat, sugar and salt, make food virtually irresistible. This isn’t just because these items taste good; it is because having them, especially in combination, actually creates changes within the brain, not dissimilar to those seen in drug addicts. Additionally, because these highly palatable and addictive foods are now available 24/7, we have created a situation where people are bombarded constantly by encouragement to eat.

Low Tech Solutions to Weight Loss Challenges -

The solution, says Dr. Kessler, is relatively simple, but simultaneously extremely difficult. Learn to recognize the foods that have been prepared to create that chemical response in the brain and avoid them completely.

Once you avoid these highly palatable foods for long enough, your brain will diminish its response to the stimuli provided by memories associated with it. Eventually you can reprogram your brain to some degree. At that point, not only will you be eating better, but weight loss will be much easier.

HealthSource would like to present you with a limited time complimentary consultation, a $179.00 value. To Find the closest chiropractic office near you, go to http://www.HealthSourceOfPearland.com or call 1-888-977-6734 today.

Headaches are insidious. It is not so much that they are the worst pain in the world, although they can be pretty awful, but what type of pain they are and where they are located. While any level of pain can interfere with concentration and functioning, for whatever reason, an ache in the head is far worse and more detrimental to efficient functioning than one of equivalent intensity in the shin or arm. As a rule, this applies even to physical activity.

Numerous Causal Factors -

At the same time, it is also often difficult to avoid getting hit with a pain in the skull. While there are steps that can be taken, they take a level of deliberateness that is not always easy to manage, or even to notice that we need to do so. For example, some of the causes of headaches are: too little sleep, too much sleep, eating too much of the wrong food, not eating enough of the right food, getting the right amount of sleep (but in the wrong position), dehydration (ironically there are a number of fluids that can be drunk that will lead to dehydration and headaches), allergies to any number of things, etc. The list, in essence, is virtually endless, which can make for a difficult experiment in trying to find out what is causing the pain.

This can add to your stress. Stress is also a cause of headaches. It may also be a combination of different factors, not to mention that some factors may cause pain on some days and not on others, meaning that something that works might not work all the time. Again, it should be noted that stress is a major cause of headaches!

You Are Not Alone -

The many issues in finding why your head hurts and how to adjust your life to make it stop are so complex that they are likely to make a person decide it is far easier to take drugs, even if that means lots and lots of drugs, just to avoid the well, headache, of sorting it all out. This is especially true because it is very difficult to get clear and consistent advice about what to do. As much as our friends and officemates can be a great source of sympathy, they are also conduits of advice that may or may not be useful.

There are practitioners of treatments who want to do more than write a painkiller prescription – with an additional prescription for when that one upset your stomach. They use traditional or “folk” practices to help you determine whether you need to change your diet, your exercise regimen – or start one – or if the problem is deeper and if chiropractic treatment might be the answer you’re looking for. It is far easier to determine what is causing the problem if you have someone to help you analyze your life to find the source. It should also be noted that the simple act of seeking help for a problem, even if it does not immediately make it go away, can significantly reduce the stress of dealing with the pain all alone.

HealthSource would like to present you with a limited time complimentary consultation, a $179.00 value. To Find the closest chiropractic office near you, go to http://www.HealthSourceOfLincolnEast.com or call 1-888-977-6734 today.

If you experience occasional neck pain, then you will want to try yoga for neck pain. A few targeted exercises can help relax your neck and relieve the pain in the comfort of your own home.

When to See a Doctor -

If you experience any of the following then skip the yoga and go directly to a doctor or chiropractor for treatment.

” The pain lasts more than three days
” The pain is severe
” The pain is a result of an injury
” The pain is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
” The pain radiates down your arms, back or legs

If you are not experiencing any of the above symptoms then you can feel safe trying yoga for relief.

Yoga Exercise #1: Neck Stretches -

The key to all yoga is correct breathing. Therefore, it is important to maintain proper breathing throughout all the exercises. For neck stretches, do the following:

” Sit on the floor with your back straight and your head in line with the back
” Exhale while lowering your chin to your chest
” Inhale and bring your head back up
” Repeat the process 5 times
” Exhale lowering your head to your left shoulder
” Inhale and bring your head back up to a neutral position
” Repeat on the right side
” Repeat the shoulder series 5 times

Yoga Exercise #2: Neck Circles -

Neck circles are done slowly over the course of several breaths. In addition, only roll your head forward not backward:

” Exhale and lower your chin to your chest.
” Inhale and roll your head to the left shoulder
” Exhale back to the center
” Inhale and roll head to the right side
” Repeat the sequence 5 times

Yoga Exercise #3: Shoulder Shrugs -

This exercise loosens the muscles around the neck, relieving built up tension. Again, follow the breathing pattern for best results.

” Inhale and bring your shoulders up as high as comfortably possible
” Exhale while lowering your shoulders slowly
” Inhale as you roll your shoulders up and forward
” Repeat 5 times
” Exhale as they go down and backwards
” Repeat the rolls 5 times

Yoga Exercise #4: Chest Stretch -

This exercise will loosen your chest and shoulder and melt away the tension. You will want to start in a standing position with your hands laced behind your back.

” Exhale as your bend forward
” Inhale as you raise your hands as high as comfortably possible.
o Do not unlace your fingers
o Hold for 3 or 4 breaths
” Exhale as you slowly lower your arms.
” Repeat the process 5 times
o You do not have to return to the standing up position until you are through.

When Yoga Does Not Work -

If you have tried the above stretches and they do not help, then you will want to visit a qualified chiropractor. A chiropractor can tell if the neck pain is associated with a misalignment in the neck, pinch nerve, or muscle spasms. Look for a chiropractor that can give same day appointments and who will greet you in a friendly manner.

HealthSource would like to present you with a limited time complimentary consultation, a $179.00 value. To Find the closest chiropractic office near you, go to http://www.healthsourceofdiamondbar.com or call 1-888-977-6734 today.

Both waking up and going to sleep with back pain day after day, and month after month, make it easy to start desperately searching for a solution. More than likely you’ve already tried over the counter pain pills, home remedies and hot baths only to find a minor temporary relief. Having easy to find facts about various back pain solutions can help make one of the most stressful times easier.

Prescribed Back Pain Solutions -

Thousands of Americans will admit to hating doctor’s office visits. We dread hearing the condition that our body has grown into, needles to confirm what they see in blood tests, and dreaded moments spent waiting on the results.

With prescription back pain medication a person may initially feel as if they’ve found a quick outlet. With a swallow of usually one pill, the strong pain killer can begin working in as little as 30 minutes. With the help of these pain killers, for weeks at a time the reason for the back pain’s presence isn’t even seen as important, and unintentionally an individual may start caring more about the relief in the here and now versus both the present and future.

This is why, for chronic back pain, prescribed medication may not be the only or best solution. Chronic back pain is a pain that can last for up to 3 months at a time and relapse before randomly returning again at a persistent pain level. Most prescription pain medicine is at the most prescribed for 6 months, leaving another half of the year to endure pain.

Surgical Advancements for Back Pain Relief -

Some of the procedures that are now available to relieve back pain through surgery sound like music to the ears. The thought of being able to get back to a pain free life after a few uncomfortable weeks just may be a perfect option.

For others, the thought of being operated on is hard to accept. Many people would like nothing better than to avoid “going under the knife” to get back pain relief.

Most often, the actual surgery is a process of removing parts of a spinal bone to relieve what often feels like a pinched, or painful pressure. Another surgical method could be removing an entire disk before joining vertebrae together – this can alleviate jolting back “sting” pain and/or traveling pain that goes from the lower back to the back of the thighs.

Finally, a Reinvented Third Option for Back Pain Relief -

For years we laughed at television sitcoms that showed someone going to a medical office for back pain, and getting treated with wrestling type procedures. Yet in reality, chiropractic health practices have gotten where they are today only after many years of research and medically scientific methods.

Today, chiropractic concepts include getting care that will change your entire life, not just your workday. There are even chiropractic health offices that have message therapists, medical chiropractors, and possibly a bariatric chiropractic physician working under the same solution-finding roof.

Visits may not always be planned, so it’s good to find a local office that offers same day appointments. Soon you can be answering personal questions, getting x-rays, and undergoing a non-invasive examination.

Knowing your options for back pain solution is a great way to get started on getting your life back on the pain free track.

HealthSource would like to present you with a limited time complimentary consultation, a $179.00 value. To Find the closest chiropractic office near you, go to http://healthsourceofnormal.com or call 1-888-977-6734 today.