Smoking cessation: New ways to quit.

By now, even the tobacco companies agree: smoking is bad for your health * very bad, in fact. Cigarettes are the most hazardous, but cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco also contribute to tobacco's terrible toll. And secondhand smoke is an important cause of death and disability in people who never light up.

We are making progress. Over 45 million Americans have quit, and many communities prohibit smoking in public places. But more than 20% of adults still smoke, and the habit remains more prevalent in men than women. Tragically, thousands of teenagers take up smoking every day.

We can do better. Fortunately, there are more ways to kick the habit than ever before.

The hazards of smoking

Tobacco is responsible for one of every five deaths in the U.*S. That adds up to over 435,000 lives lost each year, and over 8.5 million Americans suffer from chronic illnesses caused by smoking. All in all, the average nonsmoker lives about 14 years longer than the average smoker. And the worldwide burden is truly staggering. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking will kill about 650 million of the world's 1.3 billion smokers alive today.

Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease. About 20% of all cardiac deaths are caused by smoking.

Between 80% and 90% of all patients with emphysema owe their lung disease to smoking. Chronic bronchitis and pneumonia are among the other lung diseases that are increased in smokers.

And there's more. Smoking contributes to many other health problems, ranging from cataracts, sinusitis, and dental disorders to aging skin, heartburn, diabetes, osteoporosis, and two issues of special concern to men, bladder cancer and erectile dysfunction.

The more you smoke, the higher your risks * but even a few cigarettes a day will harm your health. "Light" and "low-tar" cigarettes are no safer than high-test brands. The only truly safe dose of tobacco is zero.

Secondhand smoke and community controls

More than 126 million nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. Each year, about 3,000 of them die from lung cancer and about 35,000 to 60,000 die from heart disease caused by exposure to the more than 4,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke. And secondhand smoke also causes 150,000 to 300,000 respiratory infections in infants...

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How to improve sexual health

Do you know the most important factor in good sexual health? It's your mind. Studies involving men and women have shown that it is the mind that determines sexual performance and drive more than anything else. Men and women were given a placebo and told that it would increase their libido and performance; the majority stated that they saw a significant increase in those areas which show us that it is the mind more than a pill that is responsible for the change.
There are also a number of foods that are said to directly affect sexual performance due to their aphrodisiac influence. These foods include ginseng, bananas, figs, asparagus, eels, oysters, and rhino horn which supposedly increases sexual appetite.

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Calcium Protects Against Cancer

by: Veronica

Every woman with a head on her shoulders knows about the importance of calcium for strong bones to prevent osteoporosis, a serious disease affecting older women. I myself have been a long time consumer of low-fat dairy products for this very reason (plus I love cottage cheese with almost anything). But now we have an added reason to wolf down the calcium.

New research has shown that women with higher intakes of calcium appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the GI system (this is from the February 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine).

The Institute of Medicine currently recommends 1,200 milligrams of calcium for adults age 50 and older, and the 2005 dietary guidelines for Americans recommend 3 cups per day of low-fat or fat-free dairy products. In the study, the decrease in risk for women was with intake of up to 1,300 mgs per day, after which no further risk reduction was observed. In both men and women, dairy food and calcium intakes were inversely associated with cancers of the GI and one-fifth of men who consumed the most calcium through food and supplements (about 1,530 mg per day) had a 16 percent lower risk of these types of cancer than the one-fifth who consumed the least (526 mg per day). For women, those in the top one-fifth of calcium consumption (1,881 mg per day) had a 23 percent lower risk than those in the bottom one-fifth (494 mg per day) with a most pronounced decrease for colorectal cancer. So what is it about dairy that is so protective against cancer?

Dairy is relatively high in anti-carcinogenic nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and conjugated linoleic acid. Calcium has been shown to reduce abnormal growth and induce normal turnover among cells in the GI tract and breast and it binds to bile and fatty acids, which may reduce damage to the mucous membrane in the large intestine. So the bottom line is: even if you’re dieting, be sure to include that lowfat dairy to protect yourself against disease!

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Natural Remedy for Hair Loss

There are many causes for hair loss. With every different cause, there is a different way to deal with the loss. Some of the contributing factors for hair loss are hereditary reasons, poor nutrition, diseases of the blood, diabetes, heart disease, and hormonal problems.

Hair loss is a major problem for many women and men. The loss or thinning of the hair can be caused by infection or irritations as wells as the causes listed above. It can also be caused when women go through menopause or pregnancy due to the changes in their hormones. For men, they lose their hair, as they get older.

When you first starting noticing the hair loss or thinning, look at the nature of the problem and consult a professional for assistance and treatment options. There are some topical creams such as Monioxidill to help the hair regrow. It does not replace all the hair but it does increase the thickness of the hair. Propecia is a medicine for hair loss, which is more effective than Monioxidill.

Protein is necessary for proper hair growth. The hair follicles need the protein to produce hair and regrow hair. Deficiency in protein is one of the leading causes of hair loss and thinning. Adding protein, vitamins and minerals to the diet help increase the possibilities of hair growth.

When the diet is poor the hair will suffer. To increase the health of the hair, eat a well balanced diet as well as use oil massage to the scalp for added benefits. The massage oils provide extra nourishments to the hair and scalp. Some of the beneficial oils to use include almond and coconut oils. They will increase the lacking nutrients for the hair.

Diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure and heart disease affect the hair growth also. Improving your health conditions will improve the health of your hair. If you suffer from any of the listed conditions and are being treated for them, you are on the road for healthier hair with your treatments.

Adding a balanced nutritional diet will improve the health of your hair. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits will plenty of whole grains in the diet. Avoid sugary and fatty foods in the diet. Limit the high fats and cholesterol, which not only affects the health of the hair but also your overall health. Changing your current diet to one that is healthy will increase your chances of having healthy hair. Refraining from consuming alcohol, caffeine, and sugars are one of the leading causes of poor diets that will affect the production of healthy hair. The new healthy diet will increase the blood flow and circulation for the scalp and hair.

Jason Ladock

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Men's health

Men's health

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