In the past, vitamins have been available in a dizzying array of multi-colored tablets and capsules. These days, those little round or bullet-shaped miracle pills have had to make way on pharmacy and nutrition center shelves for their liquid counterparts.

You may have heard of some of these products, such as Vemma, VitaComplete and LiquiVive. If so, you may be wondering if there really are any advantages to taking the liquid form of supplements and if liquid supplements are an improvement over traditional pills.

One of the main benefits of getting your vitamin supplements in liquid form is the absorption rate. Various studies indicate that the rate of absorption of liquid supplements can run as high as 98 percent. In other words, the body derives the necessary nutrients from the supplement almost as soon as the product is ingested.

Pills, on the other hand, are much more difficult for the body to digest. The absorption rate is much lower, somewhere in the neighborhood of about 5 to 10 percent. When your body absorbs nutrients faster, you experience higher energy levels and increased overall health. The fact that liquid supplements are more easily digested is an added boon for the body.

It’s common for people to be hesitant about taking supplements, often because the idea of swallowing large pills is somewhat intimidating. Images of gagging, choking and painful swallowing associated with past pill experiences often prevent us from getting the nutrients we need from supplements. However, if you are like most people, your diet doesn’t provide all the nutrients and vitamins you need. The result is that you aren’t as healthy as you could be. That’s where liquid supplements come in. Because they are in liquid form, these supplements can either be taken as-is or mixed in with your favorite beverage or cereal.

Liquid vitamin supplements are jam-packed with antioxidants such as vitamins A, E and C. When you don’t get the recommended amount of these kinds of vitamins, you are more susceptible to poor health. Taking vitamin supplements that are rich in antioxidants has been shown to be one of the best defenses against cancer. An easy way to get all of the antioxidants your body needs is to get them through liquid vitamin supplements.

You may be asking yourself how liquid supplements compare with traditional vitamins in terms of cost. Think of it this way: Because traditional vitamins are absorbed into the body so slowly and all that is not absorbed is expelled, money is literally going down the drain. You also should remember that when pills are not absorbed by the body, they remain in small chunks in the body until they are expelled. As long as these chunks remain in the body, they run the risk of getting stuck, a potentially serious health hazard.

In short, liquid vitamin supplements are beneficial in a number of ways. They provide a very effective, easy, safe and inexpensive way for you to provide your body with all the daily nutrients and vitamins it needs. Your body will use the supplements to remain in good, working order for as long as possible.

I love this, no more pills for me. http://supplement.pinurl.com

As we age, our sensory systems gradually start to decline. Because our brain requires a minimal amount of input to remain alert and functioning, sensory loss for older adults puts them at risk for sensory deprivation. Severe sensory impairments, such as in vision or hearing, may result in behavior similar to dementia and psychosis, such as increased disorientation and confusion. Added restrictions, such as confinement to bed or a Geri-chair, increases this risk. With nothing to show the passage of time, or changes in the environment, the sensory deprived person may resort to repetitive problem behaviors (calling out, chanting, rhythmic pounding/rocking) as an attempt to reduce the sense of deprivation and to create internal stimulation/sensations.

This article is the second in a series of three articles that discuss the prominent sensory changes that accompany aging, and considers the necessary behavioral adjustments or accommodations that should be made by professional, paraprofessional, and family caregivers who interact with older adults. Though the medical conditions are not reviewed in depth, the purpose of this article is to introduce many of the behavioral health insights, principles, and approaches that should influence our caregiving roles. This article addresses age-related changes in hearing.

HEARING

A. The changes in hearing that accompany aging include:

1. Presbycusis: a type of hearing loss that is more common in men, especially for high-pitched sounds. Men have more trouble hearing high pitched voices, and have poorer sound discrimination (e.g., for letters s, z, t, f, g). Decline typically begins after age 60, and increases up to 80% for those over age 80;
2. Screening out background noises is a common difficulty.

B. How the hearing impaired can be impacted by caregivers:

1. Raising the volume of our voice also raises pitch of our speech, usually making it harder to understand. Recommended: lower your pitch of voice;
2. Background noise (TV, vacuums, plane flying overhead) interferes with hearing and understanding. Recommended: wait for a quieter time to get our point across;
3. Hearing loss creates more social withdrawal and reduced interaction due to the high level of frustration of the person, and annoyance with others who speak too quietly or indistinctly;
4. When the TV is too low and hard to hear and understand, there is a possibility of friction and bickering with others who are also watching;
5. In many cases of hearing loss, there is an increase in suspiciousness and paranoia, anger and bitterness at the frustrating situation, and helplessness to control the situation. This often contributes to depression and a sense of resignation;
6. There is a tendency for the hearing disabled person to agree with what everyone is saying, just to reduce the frustration and disappointment. Recommendation: ask the person to repeat back what was just said to verify the communication.

C. How changes in hearing affect persons with dementia:

1. Difficulties with comprehension and understanding of communication are further compounded, increasing his or her withdrawal and isolation;
2. The use of hearing aids requires more support and motivation, persistence in the face of unpleasant sounds, and care for the device. Recommendation: remind the dementia person to wear the hearing aid, help him to turn it on, clean and change batteries, and store it safely.

D. Warning signs of changes in functioning due to hearing loss:

1. More avoidance of social situations and withdrawal
2. Less small talk
3. Shorter attention span or tendency to daydream, wander
4. Blank looks
5. Asking you to repeat, making inappropriate responses
6. Arguing or blaming others, more irritability

GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR CAREGIVERS

The following general principles will guide caregiving approaches with older adults who have diminished sensory function. Increased sensitivity and insight to the needs of these individuals improves their quality of life and improves our effectiveness:

1. Observe his or her behavior, and look for cues and signs of pain or discomfort;
2. Help the person work through the emotional impact of the sensory changes, allowing expression, acceptance, and support of the grief and sadness accompanying these losses;
3. Do not try to fix the unpleasantness; acceptance and support goes a longer way toward healing than a quick fix or a patronizing attitude;
4. Reduce excess disability by maximizing whatever functioning is still left, such as proper eyeglass prescriptions, or functioning hearing aids;
5. Consider assistive devices (phone amplifiers, large text books, headphones, and the Braille Institute for a variety of useful visual aids).

Approaches for Impairments in Hearing:

1. Get his attention before speaking to him;
2. Face him or her directly, not from behind;
3. Eliminate as much background noise as possible;
4. Speak slowly and clearly, keeping your hands away from your face, and avoid chewing or eating when talking;
5. Allow an adequate amount of time for a response;
6. Do not talk as if the hearing impaired person is not there;
7. Provide opportunities for interaction that require little conversation e.g., cards, walking, cooking.

Even with normal aging, functioning of our five senses is not like it was when we were younger adults. This article offers caregivers who work with hearing-impaired older adults some insights into the special needs and adjustments that will turn unpleasant, frustrating situations into more caring, helpful, and sensitive interactions. The next article in this series addresses age-related losses in touch, taste, smell, and facial expressiveness, and what steps can be taken by caregivers to support the person experiencing these changes.

Copyright 2008 Concept Healthcare, LLC

Joseph M. Casciani, PhD, is a geropsychologist who has devoted his professional career to working with older adults and their caregivers. His company, Concept Healthcare, http://www.cohealth.org, offers online resources to integrate behavioral health approaches in the health care of older adults.

There are plenty of weight loss programs available out there. They’ll tell you that you need to eat one thing but not another; they’ll tell you that you should do one exercise a certain amount of times. All of their advice and guidelines do make a bit of sense, however, something that all of these programs lack is a key that will help you to unlock your weight loss success: you have to love yourself.

No matter what weight you are at currently, you have to realize that you can do better by loving yourself first and then following a weight loss plan! You have to love yourself in order to stay disciplined for the goal of reaching your ideal body weight, physique, and fitness level.

To start a successful weight loss program, first you must accept your body as it is right now, with whatever flaws you think it has or however many pounds overweight you think you are. Accept your current body for what it looks and feels like. If you can love your body now, you can love it after you lose the weight! And you’ll feel even better about losing the weight too!

Second and equally important, lose weight for the right reason. Lose weight because it is for the benefit of your own health and well-being, not because of what others may think about you or your body. Ignore those who might criticize you. Don’t let them influence the way you feel about your own body. Go out and socialize! Enjoy life without worry!

Set your weight loss goal for yourself. This requires a little bit of selfishness, but it has to be done if you want to see success. Do you think Aunt Molly really cares if you do or don’t eat her 90th birthday cake? Stop making excuses. Stop trying to find excuses. Just set that goal and aim for it no matter what happens.

Distractions will always be part of your life, but the key is learning how to efficiently use your time and avoiding distractions that don’t directly contribute to your goals. You may have to stop watching American Idol for a season…so what! Is watching a T.V. show more important to you than achieving a worthy, long-lasting goal?

Once you learn to love your body the way it is, you will be able to naturally and more easily lose the weight that you want because everything that goes into losing weight, like dieting and exercise, will come more easily to you. Soon enough, loving yourself will make your weight loss program turn you into a healthy and, most importantly, happy individual!

James Wong lost over 40lbs. just by using The Secret 2 Fat Loss. You too could lose weight as easily as he did. Find out how burn fat and lose weight at http://www.TheSecret2FatLoss.com

Sometimes, a lupus flare-up comes suddenly and without warning. You may see a butterfly rash over the bridge of your nose and swelling, or you may experience headaches, dizziness, a fever and pain in various locations. According to the Lupus Foundation, there are some things that you can do to prevent a flare-up.

Always take your prescribed medication, never miss a doctor’s appointment (even if you feel fine), avoid sulfonomide drugs (typically used to treat bronchitis or urinary tract infections), decrease your exposure to sunlight and use sunscreen, get lots of rest and do not smoke. The good news is that 80-90% of the people with this condition can still live a normal life span, with treatment.

There are five types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs; discoid lupus, which affects the skin; sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is characterized by skin lesions; drug-induced lupus that develops after a drug reaction; and neonatal lupus that affects newborns. Lupus signs include: fatigue, fever, weight loss/gain, joint pain/stiffness/swelling, butterfly rashes on the cheeks, skin lesions that worsen with sunlight, mouth sores, fingers and toes that turn white or blue in the cold, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, easy bruising, anxiety, depression and/or memory loss.

The Lupus Foundation says there are no two cases of such a condition that are exactly alike. Signs may emerge gradually or come on suddenly, and can be mild or severe. Most people have “flare-ups” or episodes. To test for lupus, your doctor will ask you some questions, run a standard physical, take urine and blood samples and perform an electrocardiogram.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) manifests itself as an inflammation, with rashes and scarring on the face, ears and scalp. The lesions may be inflamed, scaling or crusty in appearance, with the centers lighter and the rims darker. A small percentage of these patients have internal organ failure too, but usually symptoms are primarily skin-related.

Cortisone ointment or injections can be helpful in treating the flare-ups. Drugs like Plaquenil, Aralen, Imiquimod, Quinacrine, Accutane or Soriatane are sometimes prescribed but should be carefully monitored for side effects.

Dealing with this condition can be an emotional ordeal. Sometimes sufferers encounter depression, anxiety, fatigue and high levels of stress. Learn all you can about systemic lupus erythematosus to help yourself cope. Reading about new treatments and research being done can give you a sense of hope.

Be open with your family and friends about how you are feeling and let them know how they can help. Meditating, writing in a journal or simply making time for yourself through rituals or routines can make life more enjoyable as well. For sufferers of this condition, it’s empowering to connect with others who are experiencing the same life events. You can check the Lupus Foundation or Arthritis Foundation websites for the nearest chapter.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our portal at http://arthritis.akainfotips.info/ for more great information on lupus, and leave a comment at our blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/health-beauty/.

Some people can enjoy walking the beaches or jogging along the coast while other people really need the rigidity of San Diego personal training to really get going. One of the major benefits of San Diego personal training is that it helps you stay on track because you always know that there is someone counting on you and waiting for you to show up for your session. For many, this creates a sense of obligation that ultimately transforms into something that is a part of your life and you enjoy doing it each week. There are so many reasons that signing up for San Diego personal training is beneficial and here is a list of some of these great reasons.

1. Lose weight for the summer. It is a fact that has been proven for decades that physical exercise and fitness is directly related to weight loss. Raising your heart rate is what ultimately results in burning fat from your body. So, burning calories equals burning fat, which is a goal of many people in America today. If you work out and burn more calories than you take in through food during the day, then you will lose weight. It is also important to take note that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you are doing exercise that builds muscle, then you may not lose pounds on the scale. Do not let this discourage you because although you do not see it on the scale, your physical health is improving.

2. Prevent Disease. There are diseases that have been shown to be directly related to exercise. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke have been proven to decrease drastically in risk by incorporating exercise into you daily or weekly schedule. These are risks for anyone, but if any one of these diseases is in your family, then you will benefit greatly from signing up for a San Diego personal training program.

3. Improve your state of mind. Anyone who has been around during the last fifty years knows that exercise increasing endorphins. Endorphins are produced by the pituitary gland and during any type of strenuous activity or excitement. Endorphins resemble opiates in their ability to produce a sense of well being. So, by exercising regularly or even semi regularly, it increasing the endorphins in your body which works to improve your mood overall and make you a much happier person day to day.

To know more about San Diego personal training please visit our website at http://www.sdpersonaltrainers.com

Have you ever thought about getting a personal trainer? San Diego is a city where everyone goes to the beach during the summer and everyone wants to look great in that new bathing suit. Man or woman, this is something that you have dealt with at one point or another as a San Diegan. Friends and family members are constantly planning and hosting bonfires, beach parties, barbeques and birthday parties in this city and it is almost imperative to be in good shape for all of them. It is human nature to want to be thin and beautiful as a woman or muscular and shapely as a man, so it is nothing to feel bad about. Once you have made the decision to take control of your life and improve your personal health, the next step is to find a personal trainer. San Diego is loaded with gyms, spas and health clubs, all of them bursting with licensed and professional trainers to assist you every step of the way.

Typically, the very first thing you will do with your personal trainer is to set your goals. This is the foundation for everything else so it is definitely something you should spend a good amount of time on. You should think about what types of outcomes you want from working with a personal trainer in San Diego. Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to increase your endurance or are you happy with your weight and just want to tone up and define your muscles? Each goal that you set will have a different course of action to achieve it so this is why your personal trainer must know before planning anything else.

After you have your trainer have set your personal goals you are ready to design a workout. This is the part that will make you so happy you have hired a personal trainer. San Diego trainers know that most people want to look great in their swimsuit at the beach and feel good about themselves. Remember, you are not the first person that has come to a personal trainer for these reasons so they have a lot of experience and success achieving these things. The only things you need to worry about are communicating your goals to your trainer and exercising the self discipline that is necessary to stay on track with the workout that he or she designs for you. Put your faith in your trainer and the results will come.

To know more about personal trainer San Diego please visit our website at http://www.sdpersonaltrainers.com