Weight Loss SupplementsWritten by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN
Drugs stores and health food shops have shelves that are overflowing with weight loss supplements that claim to burn body fat, block fat absorption, inhibit carbohydrate metabolism, boost energy, suppress appetite, flush out excess water weight, and control dietary cravings. But do these products really work as they promise? And is there any danger to giving them a try? Read on to learn more about weight loss supplements.Weight Loss Supplements The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, a clearinghouse for information on natural brand-name products, lists more than fifty weight loss supplements and 125 proprietary weight loss products. According to a recent survey reported in Journal of American Medical Association, approximately seven percent of Americans use over counter weight loss supplements. And of those who do use these products, almost thirty percent of them are young, overweight women. Weight Loss Supplements--The Risks Some weight loss supplements help to control appetite, but they may have serious side effects. Other can become habit forming, and still others do nothing at all. Here's a look at risks associated with common weight loss supplements. Stomach Fillers: Weight loss supplements that contain bulking agents such as fiber-based products, are known as stomach fillers. These products absorb liquid and swell in stomach, reducing appetite. Guar gum is a common ingredient used as a stomach filler, however this ingredient can cause obstructions in intestines, stomach, or esophagus. Avoid any dietary supplement that contains guar gum. Appetite Suppressants: Some weight loss supplements are appetite suppressants, and they may contain amphetamine derivatives that are highly addictive. They also lose efficacy when used over long periods, so dieters are forced to take more and more pills to achieve results. Appetite suppressants that contain amphetmine derivatives are a high-risk method of weight loss. Some products however contained researched clinically studied mild suppressants and can be used safely such as Slimirex™. Ephedra, also known as ma huang, is another popular appetite suppressant ingredient found in many weight loss supplements. However, in some cases ephedra can cause heart palpitations, heart attacks, and stroke. The Food and drug Administration urges caution for anyone who is considering a weight loss supplement that contains ephedra. People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart trouble, neurological disorders, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism should not use ephedra. And completely avoid any product that contains both ephedra and caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration considers these two ingredients to be a "deadly combination."
| | Eye Care: The Construction and Characteristics of Contact LensesWritten by Carter McIntosh
People make choice to wear contact lenses rather than eyeglasses for a variety of reasons. For some, vanity is guiding influence, while others don’t care for weight of glasses as they rest on face. Still others prefer to use eye care products that can’t be as easily broken. Loss, too, is a consideration, since most people don’t remove their contact lenses and put them aside when they’re away from home environment, whereas glasses have often been removed and inadvertently left on a table or some other handy surface.There are a few basic types of contact lenses which are available to public, first of which is hard contact lens. These are made from a strong polymer plastic and are easy to keep clean since they don’t absorb foreign material from either eye or environment. As a result of firmness of product, however, they can take time to adjust to and shouldn’t be left in eyes overnight. This will cause cornea to become oxygen deprived – and cornea needs oxygen flow to remain healthy. Vision is usually crisper with this type of contact lens, as opposed to softer variety of lenses. Another common type is soft contact lens. These are made from a softer plastic – called hydrogel – which makes them more comfortable to wear, but are less durable than those of hard lens line. The water content in soft contact lenses is higher than that of hard lens - from 25% to 79% - allowing a better flow of oxygen to cornea. Due to fact that material is highly porous, infections and eye irritation are more common. This happens when dust, protein and bacteria cause contamination of lenses, which are pressed against surface of cornea.
|
