Measuring and Monitoring Your Bodyfat: Improves Overall HealthWritten by Anthony Ellis
With so many diets and fads being offered on market today, it is no wonder why people are not just confused about weight loss and health, but in many cases, actually doing their body more harm than good. Unfortunately, one of aspects of dieting that you see most often is reduction or elimination of fat. The problem is that body needs a certain amount of fat to function but without going over a healthy level. As you will see in this article, knowing what right level is and how to monitor it are crucial to overall health and wellness.Studies have been able to link certain conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure with high levels of body fat. The key is to ensure your body has enough fat to function properly but not too much, whereby disease could become a problem. The best way for a person to determine level of body fat is by measuring it on a consistent basis with a simple tool called a caliper. In a matter of minutes, you will know exactly how much body fat you are carrying around with you. With this information, you will then be able to adjust your diet, cardio exercises, and weight training to bring fat-to-muscle ratio in line. Keep in mind that there are several options, one being a body fat analyzer. Additionally, there is skin fold test whereby waist to hip ratio measurements will be taken, circumference measurements, hydrostatic weight, near infrared analysis, bioelectrical impedance, total body potassium determination, and a test recently offered called plethysmographic measurement, which is based on principle of air displacement. All of these tests are good indicators of your current fat-to-muscle ratio. Now, if you want to go through a professional to determine your true body fat level, you have two excellent options, both being accurate. The first is Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and second, Hydrostatic Weighing. With DEXA, a full body scanner is used that reads and differentiates between bone mass and soft tissue mass. This type of scan can be completed in about 20 minutes and is painless, providing accuracy within a 2% error margin. Many insurance companies will cover cost of DEXA but if not, you can have scan performed for around $100.
| | Genital Warts Natural and Alternative Treatment RemediesWritten by S.A. Smith
Have you been diagnosed with genital warts caused by HPV virus? If so, your physician has probably advised you of more conventional treatments available such as pharmaceutical ointments, cryosurgery (freezing), electrocautery (burning) or laser treatment. While many people undergo these types of treatments, some opt for a less invasive natural solution by visiting a Naturopathic doctor. While there is no cure for hpv virus, there are specific natural treatments that may help reduce and eliminate warts over time.TOPICAL TREATMENTS Before resorting to medically invasive treatments many people are choosing to try alternative treatments that may naturally help reduce or eliminate genital warts. Many holistic treatment resources advise that different remedies will work for different individuals so it may take a little trial and error to find one suited to your needs. Experiment with applying following directly to infected wart areas: Goldenseal: considered to have natural antibiotic properties and may destroy many types of viral infections. Tea Tree Oil: strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial aromatherapy essential oil. Aloe Vera: healing and soothing properties. Garlic Oil: or even raw garlic is believed to promote white blood cells ability to fight infection. Sour Apple Juice: it is believed beneficial effect is from magnesium in apple Most of these topical treatments have not been clinically proven as an effective treatment for genital warts, but have shown to have positive benefits is related studies or in fighting other types of viral infections. Other notable mentions for natural topical remedies also include; cabbage juice, banana skin, chickweed, dandelion juice, rubber plant, and pineapple juice. HERBAL IMMUNE BOOSTING SUPPLEMENTS Antiviral herbal remedies taken internally to boost body’s natural ability to fight viral infections include following supplements: Echinacea: known for its ability to boost immune system, is important in treatment of genital warts. Astragalus: used in Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years, Astragalus is known to improve body’s ability to fight off viral and bacterial infections, such as Human Papilloma Virus, by boosting body’s immune system. Astragalus has been taken as a supplement by people undergoing chemotherapy to help restore their tired immune systems.
|
