7-Day Mayo Clinic Diet

According to a study conducted at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 86 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese by the year 2030. Numerous diet plans have been proposed to combat the growing obesity problem in the United States. One such diet plan is the 7 day Mayo Clinic Diet.

History

Numerous versions of a "Mayo Clinic diet" have circulated around the Internet over the past few years. This has created confusion, as many people believe that the "Mayo Clinic diet" is associated with the not-for-profit medical practice known as the Mayo Clinic. This is not, however, the case. The Mayo Clinic has never endorsed or described a particular diet. Rather, the Mayo Clinic has discussed approaches to healthy eating and lifestyle changes that can result in healthy weight loss. This is discussed below.

7 Day Mayo Clinic Diet

According to Every Diet, an online database that lists various diets, the 7 day Mayo Clinic Diet requires that you adhere to the following schedule. On Monday, eat as much fruit and fruit juices as possible, except bananas. On Tuesday, eat all the vegetables desired. On Wednesday, eat both fruit and vegetables. On Thursday, eat 5 bananas and drink 5 glasses of whole milk. On Friday, eat 4 steaks (3 oz. each) with unlimited green vegetables. On Saturday, eat 4 steaks (3 oz. each). On Sunday, eat 4 steaks (3 oz. each) with unlimited green vegetables. It's worth repeating that the Mayo Clinic has gone out of its way to state that it does not endorse this diet. Moreover, it is strongly recommended that you consult a doctor or dietitian before beginning a diet such as this one.

The Actual Mayo Clinic Dietary Recommendations

The Mayo Clinic has created a Healthy Weight Pyramid that it recommends you use to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The Mayo Clinic points out that there should be no severe restrictions or extreme hunger involved in a diet. Moreover, the Mayo Clinic recommends that any diet should be coupled with exercise. The Mayo Clinic notes that by following the Healthy Weight Pyramid and remaining physically active every day, you can safely lose weight at a pace of 1 to 2 pounds per week.

Health Benefits of Fennel Tea

The herb fennel has a long and colorful history. In ancient times, it was considered to be a sacred herb capable of curing nine separate instances of illness. Fennel is indigenous to the Mediterranean area and, since the Middle Ages, has been grown near monasteries.

History

The United States is now one of the leading producers of fennel but it the herb got its start in in the areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The Greeks called fennel "marathon." The herb grew in abundance in fields where a historic Grecian battle was fought. That battle was later dubbed "The Battle of Marathon."

Introduced to the United States in the 1800s, fennel is a hardy perennial.

Folklore

Legend has it that snakes ate fennel to promote the shedding of their skin and to hone their vision. It has long been thought that fennel also helps improve the vision of humans and has a restorative and rejuvenatory effect on humans. Fennel apparently contains properties that are akin to amphetamines (speed) that stimulate the human system. Puritans reportedly ate it because it suppressed their appetite during times of religious fasting and it also helped keep them awake. Legend also has it that tucking a sprig of fennel into a horse's harness will discourage flies.

In medieval times, fennel was thought to be a treasured herb that treated disease and that brought good fortune to those who had it in their possession. People would put fennel in their keyholes to ward off evil spirits.
Fennel was believed to cure many different medical problems including snakebites, toothaches, earaches and colic. The Romans, like the Puritans, consumed fennel to control their weight.

Fennel definitely plays a role in Greek mythology. This herb was cherished by the Greeks and Romans not only for it's culinary joys but its medicinal aspects as well as the powerful legend that "knowledge" was reportedly given to mankind by the gods in the form of a coal-filled fennel stalk.

What is Fennel, Exactly?

Fennel is an herb that is green and crunchy like celery and tastes like licorice and anise. According to WH Foods, fennel forms in a bulb from which long stalks shoot out. The stalks have feathery green leaves. The fennel seeds are produced from these leaves. All parts of the fennel plant are edible. Fennel has long been popular with Italian and Mediterranean cooks. Fennel is available from the late fall until the early spring.

Numerous Benefits

Current opinion is that fennel tea helps relieves the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including gas and bloating, because it soothes the gastrointestinal tract; however, too much fennel may have the opposite effect and cause spasms, so be careful about how much you consume.

Fennel stimulates milk production (lactation) and has the same impact on the body as does estrogen. It can also be helpful in treating premenstrual and menopausal systems as well as jump-starting a shrinking libido. Many claim that drinking fennel tea is an effective treatment for conjunctivitis (eye infection).

If all of the claims about fennel are true, we should all be consuming it on a regular basis because fennel is an excellent source of Vitamin C and Vitamin B. It is beneficial to the immune system and may reduce cholesterol levels, is an excellent source of fiber and may prevent colon cancer.

Anethole found in the fennel oil reduces inflammation, so it would be good for arthritics. Anethole is thought to reduce recurrence of cancer. Research has shown that the "tumor necrosis factor" in humans is actually shut down when anethole is consumed.

If you have bad breath, drink some fennel tea, which reportedly freshens your breath. Fennel is also considered a good remedy for colds and can be used as a diuretic if you are full of fluids.

Warnings

Pregnant women should avoid drinking fennel tea because it can act as an uterine stimulant. Do not apply fennel directly to your skin because it can irritate skin. Drinking copious amounts of fennel is not recommended because it can cause hallucinations and make your muscles spastic. Because fennel can disturb the nervous system if too much is consumed, discuss the consumption of fennel with your doctor or someone who is well-versed in herb usage.

How to Improve a Cabbage Soup Diet

The cabbage soup diet is a quick way to lose weight. It has strict rules though, so it's easy to go off track. The best way to stay on the cabbage soup diet is to change it around in order to suit you. Follow these tips to improve a cabbage soup diet.

Instructions

1

Drink at least 12-16 glasses of water every day. This will help to flush out the fat from your system and can even clear up your skin while keeping your body hydrated. Add lemon to your water to give it flavor.

2

Buy a good multivitamin to take during your diet. A diet like this lacks the daily vitamins and minerals that your body needs.

3

Vary the cabbage soup recipe according to your taste. Adding spices or herbs may help it taste better.

4

Take along plastic containers or a thermos for when you are away from home. You will be less likely to cheat if you have the cabbage soup around you at all times.

5

Exercise at least 30-40 minutes at least 3 times a week. This will help to keep up your metabolism. Vary your workout so you stay focused and motivated.

6

Make a big pot of cabbage soup and store it in containers so that you can grab and go. Making multiple servings and storing them in the refrigerator or freezer is less time consuming than making it daily.

How Can You Break a Sweat Walking?

Walking is a reliable exercise. Not only does it get the blood pumping and increase cardiovascular health, but it can also be a highly effective weight-loss aid. Moderate intensity exercise -- around 50 to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate -- is often referred to as the "fat burning zone" because 85 percent of the calories burned during exercise at this intensity are calories from body fat. Breaking a sweat during a walk is a good indication that you're in "the zone." If you are having trouble breaking a sweat while walking, these techniques might help.

Instructions

1

Take a walk outside. Although treadmills in the gym are convenient and easy to use, walking outside is often more challenging because you're walking on uneven ground and your body has to compensate accordingly. If it's chilly outside, your heart rate also increases above normal to help keep you warm, burning additional calories.

2

Pump your arms. You will often notice fitness walkers pumping their arms in an exaggerated motion. This increases activity and boosts your target heart rate. It also helps keep your muscles and joints loose.

3

Increase speed. The easiest way to break a sweat walking is to simply walk faster. The average person walks comfortably around three miles per hour. Speeding up to four miles per hour -- a brisk pace -- will challenge your muscles and get your heart pumping even faster.

4

Climb a hill. Walking up a steep slope or hill puts more demand on your muscles and lungs and will help you break a sweat more easily. When planning your walking route, be sure to incorporate hills and slopes to add an extra challenge.

5

Carry some weights. A 5-lb. dumbbell in each hand or ankle or wrist weights will force your body to lug a bit more weight on its walk and your heart rate will spike to accommodate that extra effort.

6

Train using intervals. Try jogging for 30 or 60 seconds to get your heart pumping, then walk for the next five minutes. Like boiling a pot of water and then putting it on to simmer, you will need to exert less effort to maintain the same elevated heart rate once you've reached your fat burning "zone."

7

Mix things up. One of the biggest risks with moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise, like walking, is that your body will get used to it and you heart won't have to work as hard to keep you moving at the same pace. This is why you should constantly challenge your body with unexpected changes in your routine -- using weights one day, hills the next and upping your speed between the two.

Homemade Hearty Beef Soup

Homemade hearty beef soup is a great meal for the colder months of the year and offers a healthy but filling alternative to other meal options. Hundreds of beef soup recipes are at your disposal--many of which call for the same ingredients--but yours can stand out from the others based on the way you prepare it. If you cook the soup for two hours instead of five, your family or guests will notice. It is important to allow the ingredients enough time to come together and add flavors to the soup. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Ingredients

This recipe calls for cubed beef, beef broth, chopped onions, sliced carrots, sliced celery, cubed peeled potatoes, canned tomatoes, sugar, salt, black pepper, crushed rosemary, ground thyme, ground marjoram, frozen peas, and other ingredients you may wish to add. The amounts of each ingredient are up to you. Soup allows for creativity in that you can add various amounts of a wide variety of ingredients to suit your taste. You should, however, have an idea of what ingredients occupy more space in the soup before throwing your soup together.

Preparation

Preparation of this soup will be much easier if you have a food processor because there are so many ingredients. If you do not have a food processor, give yourself enough time to chop and dice the ingredients. In a crock pot--after ingredients are prepared as they should be--add meat, onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and beef broth, adding seasonings to taste. If, after all ingredients are added, the soup is too thick, add more beef broth; if it is too thin, add more beef and vegetables. Soup is a flexible meal to make, enabling you to tweak it as you go.

Cooking

In making vegetable beef soup, give yourself enough time. The best soup has time for its ingredients to simmer and mix. If you have to work, mix the ingredients in the morning and let the soup cook in the crock pot all day while at work. This is a popular way to prepare soup or stew. Turn the crock pot on medium-low in the morning and, by the time you get home five to eight hours later, it should be ready. Stir well at the end of the cooking process and serve.

Nutritional Concepts of the Diet Source

Nutritional Concepts is a manufacturer of diet and nutrition supplements and the maker of the Diet Source. The Diet Source is a vitamin and supplement kit aimed to promote weight loss and overall good health. The standard kit includes a 28-day diet menu, exercise program, resistance program recommendations and a month's worth of supplements. There are four different formulations in each month's supply. Each of the four formulations targets a different component of health and weight management: appetite control, digestive health, water balance and muscle building. The formulas are intended to be taken as directed daily.

Suppressing Appetite

Nutritional Concepts says "The Diet Source Is Different - Most generic diet formulas provide you with thermogenic ingredients to help you burn a few extra calories. Others may offer ingredients that work on your appetite. The Diet Source provides all of this and much more!" Their combination of products is designed to work together to address a dieter's main areas of concern.

Thermolean is designed to curb your appetite. It is also intended to boost metabolism. Thermolean is formulated with energy boosters to fuel workouts and keep you from crashing throughout the day.

Digestive Health

Cleanses have become a popular aspect of dieting. Proponents of cleanses claim that the colon is full of toxins and waste that are poisoning your system. Cleanses are designed to rid the body of these toxins, promote regularity, reduce bloating and give you more energy.

The makers of Diet Source encourage proper digestive health to optimize body sculpting. Bio Cleanse is the supplement designed to promote digestive health. Fiber from whole foods is incorporated into this formula to maintain regularity and cleanse the colon. Bio Cleanse is formulated using fiber from whole foods including fruits, vegetables and oats.

Water Balance

Hydrobalance with Potassium is designed to maintain water balance. Water balance is one of the keys to optimizing body function. Hydrobalance reduces water retention and helps you see weight loss results faster. Diet Source is formulated using "natural herbs not often found in the American diet." The formula has added electrolytes and potassium.

Building Lean Muscle

The final component of the Diet Source supplements emphasizes muscle development. Nutritional Concepts designed Omega Lean to work in conjunction with its resistance plan to help the dieter gain muscle while also losing fat. According to Nutritional Concepts, Omega Lean "helps address unwanted fat stores by providing ingredients to support lean muscle mass while helping you reduce these fat stores."

Cardiac Diet Menu Foods

When a doctor prescribes the cardiac diet for a patient, it's usually because he is at high risk for a heart attack, according to the Cardiac Diet website. The diet can benefit people who aren't at risk, though, as a preventive measure against heart disease. Rules for choosing cardiac diet menu foods include options with reduced fat, a large amount of fruit and vegetables, low-sodium products and foods prepared in healthy ways, like broiling, roasting, baking or steaming.

Meat, Poultry and Seafood

One of the main rules of the cardiac diet is to greatly reduce saturated fat, which increases the risk of heart disease and raises bad cholesterol. Though animal products produce the highest levels of saturated fat, this diet permits three ounces of lean cuts of meat three to four times per week. Trim visible pieces of fat on meat products before cooking or eating. Beef cuts, such as eye round and top sirloin, and pork tenderloin, represent good selections for the cardiac diet. Lean, white pieces of chicken are permissible in the diet if the skin is removed. Chicken thighs, drumsticks and breast meat contain the lowest percentage of saturated fats. Add fish, like salmon and mackerel, to the cardiac diet for variety and the additional benefit of protection they offer from heart disease with their omega-3 fatty acids.

Whole Grains

Whole grains provide a healthy variety in the cardiac diet. They still maintain the wheat and germ refined grains lose during processing, so they provide nutrients like fiber and protein. Eat whole grains in the form of wild and brown rice, wheat and nine-grain breads, unsweetened bran or whole wheat cereal while on the cardiac diet.

Fruit and Vegetables

Fruit and vegetables compose a large part of the cardiac diet. Attempt to consume five to nine servings per day, suggests Decatur Memorial Hospital. Fruits and vegetables offer a good source of antioxidants, nutrients that prevent free radical damage to the body as it uses oxygen, and help prevent heart disease. Good choices for a cardiac diet menu include broccoli, spinach and kale, which also provide beta-carotene and vitamin A. Fruit choices can include apricots, strawberries and kiwi.

Fats

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are heart-healthy options to use in the cardiac diet These fats lower bad cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats include olive, peanut, canola and sunflower oil. Polyunsaturated fats include most nuts and seeds, soybean oil, safflower oil and fatty fish like tuna and trout.

American Heart Assosiation Before Surgery Diet

While there are many "before surgery diets" that are purportedly recommended by the American Heart Association, the truth is that many of these diets are fraudulent. Although it is a good idea to lose a few excess pounds before you undergo any surgery, there are right and wrong ways to accomplish this goal. What follows are the true recommendations from the American Heart Association about dieting---whether you are scheduled for a surgery or not.

AMA and Fraud Diets

The Cabbage Soup Diet is one of the more popular AMA fraud diets, and it recommends you subsist on nothing more than cabbage soup for a seven-day period to drop weight prior to surgery. The AMA notes that this and other fad diets are ineffective at keeping off weight long-term and can compromise your health by depriving your body of required nutrients.

Real AMA Diet Recommendations

Reasonableness is the key to any successful diet, and the AMA understands that fact. The AMA prescribes a balanced diet consisting primarily of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy to help you lose weight in a safe and effective manner. Eschewing the assertions of fad diets everywhere, the AMA states that the only way to lose weight for good is to eat less and exercise more.

Increase Consumption of Nutrient-Rich Foods

The AMA's recommendations revolve around two key principles---eat more foods that are nutrient dense while simultaneously removing foods from your diet that are nutrient poor (i.e. "junk" foods). Thus, eliminate consumption of empty-calorie items such as soft drinks, snack foods and desserts while increasing your consumption of lean meats, fruits, vegetables and fiber.

Increase Omega-3 Consumption

Recognizing the proven weight-loss power of omega-3 fats, the AMA recommends consumption of fish at least twice a week on your diet. In addition to obtaining your omega-3 fix from fish, consider also purchasing an over-the-counter fish oil supplement, taking 5 to 10 g daily. Fish oil has been shown to have fat-loss properties, in addition to helping guard against coronary heart disease.

Do Not Neglect Exercise

Although some diets suggest that you can lose weight without exercise, the AMA-recommended diet does not fall into that category. You should be aiming for at least 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity at least four days per week---but exercising every day certainly is optimal. This will help prepare your body for surgery, if applicable, as you will be in better physical condition and better able to make a rapid recovery.

How to Determine Ayurvedic Dosha

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means science of life. Rishis, or ancient seers in India helped codify this healing art and science about 900 B.C., by writing what they knew about nutritional guidelines for different body types and specific ways to treat disease and prevent illness. Colleges and universities in India still offer undergraduate to doctoral degrees in Ayurveda.Dosha refers to your mind and body type. Similar to the three body types in Western medicine of ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph, Ayurveda has Vata, Pitta and Kapha.To best determine your Ayurvedic dosha, you would consult a licensed Ayurvedic practitioner or physician. In lieu of that, you can still learn a great deal by noting your inherent physical, mental, emotional and psychological traits to help you determine your dosha.

Instructions

1

Start by noticing on a very gross physical level your body weight and bone structure. Vatas are generally slim, small-boned and slight. They express dryness and movement: dry hair, skin, nails and a tendency towards constipation. They are supreme multitaskers to almost a hazardous degree: talking on the phone while driving, and eating and using a GPS device to find that new bakery where she is running 15 minutes late? What? Who has time to notice the traffic light has turned yellowshe cannot be that late.

2

Observe if you are more of a medium build and athletic. You have a solid foundation of energy and love to run, bike, ski, swim, surf or garden, hike and walk your dog at a fast clip. Pittas can get hot under the collar and tend to be achievement-oriented.

3

Sleeping is the favorite pastime of mellow and big-hearted Kaphas. They move and talk slowly and deliberately. During earthquakes and other natural disasters, the Kaphas calmly remind people to put on their heavy shoes, find their wallets and move to the exits, while other people panic or scream. Heavyset and sometimes overweight, Kaphas have a legendary sweet tooth.

4

Assess your energy patterns. Vatas tend to be insomniacs with irregular eating and sleeping habits: they fly but later can crash and burn. Pittas steam ahead but also can bull doze over their co-workers in order to achieve a goal. Athletic and eager to meet challenges and surpass goals, Pittas in overdrive can result in stress headaches or hypertension if they are very Type A.Kaphas have stamina but do not like to exercise. If healthy, Kaphas can keep up with anyone but the point is that they are not interested in sprinting to the finish line. If unhealthy, Kaphas can become stagnant and sluggish.

5

Understand that learning about Ayurveda can provide you with tools for better self-care, not as a way to "categorize" you or judge yourself harshly. The goal of Ayurveda is to understand your natural instincts and to work with nature to improve your healthy.Be aware that you may be a Vata-Pitta or even a Vata-Pitta-Kapha. Your basic dosha profile will not change.

6

Learn more details by checking Sources below. Determining your dosha based on these broad categories of body type, body build, energy levels and personality traits is a starting point. As a complex subject (yourself), learning how Ayurveda can help you reduce your insomnia (Vatas), reduce your impatience (Pittas), or help prompt you out of stagnation (Kapha), you can read trade journals or take informal dosha quizzes that can help give you insight to yourself.Rather than hard and fast rules, consider Ayurveda as a way to consolidate information you already know ab

Nutrition in the Cabbage Soup Diet

The cabbage soup diet appears on many websites and blogs throughout the internet. While the recipe for the cabbage soup may vary slightly from one source to another, the basic concept of the diet remains the same. Dieters are encouraged to eat as much cabbage soup as they like during a seven-day period along with a strict selection of other foods to achieve fast weight loss. This diet is deficient in key nutrients such as fat, protein and carbohydrates and is not considered nutritious by the U.S. Department of Agriculture dietary guidelines.

The Facts

The cabbage soup diet claims to help dieters achieve dramatic weight loss. This is done by following a strict meal plan that allows unlimited servings of cabbage soup. The soup consumed during the cabbage soup diet usually contains green onions, green peppers, canned tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery, cabbage, packaged soup mix, bouillon cubes and vegetable juice such as V8.

Time Frame

The cabbage soup diet is a seven-day plan featuring unlimited amounts of cabbage soup along with specific foods which vary from day to day. Fruits, excluding bananas, are allowed along with the soup on the first day. The second day allows soup, vegetables and one baked potato. Day three consists of fruits and vegetables, excluding bananas and potatoes, and cabbage soup. Bananas are allowed on day four along with skim milk and more soup. On day five, dieters can consume up to 20 oz. of beef, up to six tomatoes and cabbage soup. Cabbage soup along with unlimited beef and vegetables make up day six. The last day of the diet allows brown rice, vegetables and unsweetened fruit juice in addition to the cabbage soup.

Features

The cabbage soup diet is simple and easy to follow, but results will vary dramatically from person to person. This diet does involve a specific amount of calories, and several days are severely lacking in protein, carbohydrates and especially fat. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 20 percent of calories should come from fat to avoid negative changes to HDL cholesterol and inadequate vitamin E intake. Days one, two, three, four, and seven contain little-to-no fat.

Considerations

Due to the unlimited eating allowed on the cabbage soup diet and no concern for calories, a dieter could inadvertently consume more than his required daily caloric intake and gain weight. While this diet may be successful for some people, the cabbage soup diet is not a long-term solution to weight management because it does not encourage positive lifestyle and diet changes.

Warning

According to the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital, the cabbage soup diet is not considered healthy or safe. The cabbage soup diet has been attributed to the this medical center, but the organization refutes these claims.

How do I Cook Chicken Hearts?

While chicken hearts are more often used as side ingredients to flavor things like gravy, they can also be cooked into soups, stews or curries or served as the main course. If you are cooking chicken hearts to serve alone, marinating and grilling them produces a flavorful and delicious final product. You can find chicken hearts in the meat section of your grocery store, often packaged along with the liver and other chicken gizzards. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Grilled Chicken Hearts

1

Pour 2/3 of a cup each of soy sauce and sherry into a resealable plastic bag. Add a half tablespoon of bottled diced garlic and a teaspoon of both black pepper and ground ginger to the bag.

2

Add 2 1/2 pounds of chicken hearts and seal the bag with most but not all of the air out. Use your fingers to evenly distribute the mixture over the hearts and place the bag in the refrigerator for two hours.

3

Skewer the chicken hearts on kabob sticks and wrap the exposed ends with aluminum foil to prevent charring.

4

Place the skewers on a hot grill and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. The chicken hearts will be a deep golden color when they are done.

Chicken Hearts in Soups or Stews

5

Melt enough butter to coat the bottom of a hot pan. Sprinkle chicken hearts with salt and pepper.

6

Pour the chicken hearts evenly over the hot pan, and saute until golden brown.

7

Stir the sauteed chicken hearts into your preferred soup or stew.

Chinese Medicine for Breathing Problems

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an holistic approach to health that is practiced in a variety of ways. Acupuncture, herbal treatments with natural medicinal plants, massage, nutrition, meditation and certain forms of exercise are all methods used in TCM. What these methods have in common is a shared underlying Chinese theory of health, designed to strengthen, regulate and balance a person's life force, or qi (pronounced "chee"). TCM is helpful in the treatment of many health issues, including breathing problems. People of any age can benefit. What follows is a brief description of some of the modalities available.

Qigong

Think of qigong as breathing exercise. Most of us are in the habit of breathing in a rather shallow way. Qigong teaches one to breathe more deeply, from the abdomen, improving health by not only delivering oxygen to all the body's systems and organs, but by increasing energy and vitality, as well. Inhaling fresh air is equated to taking in qi, the life force.

In addition to promoting deeper breathing, qigong involves gentle movements, or sometimes no movement, just standing in place and focusing on the breath. It promotes a form of meditation that relaxes and calms, said to benefit the emotions and nervous system as well as the lungs and the entire body.

To read more about qigong, follow the link to The Qigong Research and Practice Center listed under Additional Resources below.

Acupuncture

In acupuncture and related practices like moxibustion and acupressure, points along the body's meridians, or energy channels, are stimulated. With acupuncture, this is accomplished with the use of very fine, thin needles inserted into the skin. Moxibustion uses an herb burned over the same points, and acupressure simply presses on them.

Tui na, or Chinese massage, is a another way to stimulate points on the meridians. (A link to an article on this subject, titled "TCM Health Info, Tui Na (tuina)--Chinese Bodywork Massage Therapy," is included in Additional Resources, below.)
A visit to an acupuncturist about breathing problems will involve a whole-body diagnosis. The body can have many types and sorts of imbalances. The practitioner decides on a treatment course based on the specific pattern shown by the client.

Chinese Herbs

Herbal medicine is a powerful method of healing. With western drugs, the aim is typically to control symptoms. Herbologists seek to halt the disease process. Rather than using antibiotics to kill bacteria, for example, herbs can be used to strengthen a person's resistance to infection, thus preventing another sinus infection.
Another purpose for medicinal herbs is to nourish and balance the body, again with the concept of the interconnectness of various body systems in mind. The Chinese medical theories behind the use of herbs will always seek to treat the deep causes of a condition. This approach improves organ function and builds the immune system, in addition to treating the original complaint.

There are thousands of herbal remedies in the Chinese medicine formula. A practitioner should be consulted regarding their use.

Diet

In Chinese theory, different foods have different energy qualities that range from cold (celery) to hot (chili powder). Other specific qualities of foods relate to specific organs and bodily systems.

Depending on the needs of an individual, recommendations will vary as to the types of foods a person would do well to consume to promote good breathing, while extreme diets should be avoided.

Generally, white and light foods, like radishes, white meat and white mushrooms, are considered to be good for the lungs. Dairy products may cause phlegm if not tolerated well. Pungent foods like garlic and onions may help clear congestion caused by the common cold.

What is Treated?

The WHO (World Health Organization) lists hundreds of conditions that can be treated with acupuncture. Some of the conditions that effect breathing are infections; colds and flu; bronchitis; asthma; eyes-ears-nose-throat; and sinus infection. Patients with lung cancer could find acupuncture useful to strengthen their immunity and reduce the side-effects of conventional medicine.
People who do not respond well to prescription drugs or conventional western medicine may find that the whole-body approach of TCM can bring relief to many hard-to-treat health issues. Seeking relief for a breathing problem with TCM could lead to better overall health.

TCM is best considered as being complementary to western medicine rather than as its replacement. Always also see a physician or other conventional health care provider. While TCM boosts the effects of modern health diagnosis and treatment, the best approach is to utilize both, especially for serious problems.

What Is Barley Grass Good for?

Barley grass was considered a sacred gift from the gods in ancient Greece and Egypt due to its highly potent nutritional powers. It was also the first grain cultivated for cereal, according to Prescription Desk. The grain offers a number of internal and external health benefits, and is a source of protein and fatty oils when added to foods. Does this Spark an idea?

Lowering Cholesterol and Reducing Heart Disease.

Taking barley grass reduces "bad" or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as it contains A-glucan, which is also found in oat bran. According to Web MD, 0.4 g of barley per day will lower LDL cholesterol by 14 percent; 3 or 6 g of barley grass will reduce cholesterol by 17 and 20 percent, respectively. Barley capsules also have the ability to lower blood pressure in high cholesterol patients. Barley can lower triglycerides as well, and increase healthy or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the body by 9 to 18 percent.

Reducing Heart Disease Risk

The FDA also asserts that any food product containing at least 0.75 g of barley per serving can reduce the risk of heart disease when included in a diet that is low in cholesterol and saturated fats. The grain can be crushed into a powder and added to water or fruit juice, or included in hot or cold breakfast cereals or breads.

Cancer Prevention

Web MD asserts that barley grass can help to prevent cancer of the stomach. And, according to Drugs.com, barley shields tissue cells from carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents. The method by which barley protects the body is not completely known; however, medical professionals believe it may have a lot to do with barley grass's high chlorophyll content and antioxidant abilities. Chlorophyll inactivates cancerous organisms in the body, and an antioxidant in green barley juice called superoxide dismutase defends the body against free radicals and radiation.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

Cerophyl, a dehydrated form of cereal grains that includes barley, was deemed "accepted food" by the Council of Foods of the American Medical Association in 1939. Cerophyl contains essential vitamins like B12, along with B1, B2 and B6. Vitamin B12 is particularly crucial to vegetarians, as many people who don't eat meat are deficient. High concentrations of beta carotene are present in barley grass juice, as well as minerals like potassium, magnesium and calcium. Digestive enzymes and amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, are abundant in barley grass as well.

Possible Uses

Barley grass may be an effective treatment for bronchitis, but insufficient evidence is available at this time, according to Web MD. Barley grass contains hordenine, an alkaloid that promotes peripheral blood circulation. Drugs.com states that barley grass can boost immunity and energy and may serve as treatment for HIV infection, although evidence to support this claim is lacking.

What Is the Life Span of a Shih Tzu Dog?

Shih Tzu dogs were originally bred as companion animals for Chinese royalty. The word itself means "lion," alluding to the lion-shaped face of this energetic, outgoing dog. The Shih Tzu breed was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969.

Features

Standing 8 to 11 inches tall and weighing under 20 pounds, the Shih Tzu is considered a toy breed.

Time Frame

A Shih Tzu has an average life span of 12 to 14 years, although this figure varies based on the individual health and characteristics of the dog.

Considerations

Shih Tzu dogs have a number of genetic problems, including but not limited to hypothyroidism, respiratory problems, intervertebral disk disease, renal cortical hypoplasia and Von Willebrand disease. These can significantly decrease the expected life span of a dog.

Solution

While there is no definitive way to determine how long your dog will live, a proper diet, an exercise routine and veterinary medical care contribute to canine longevity.

Fun Fact

In June 2009, a Shih Tzu from Florida by the name of Smokey was declared the oldest living dog, at the age of 23.

About the Rice Diet Program

The Rice Diet is acclaimed for its rapid weight loss benefits and is also used to treat diabetes, congestive heart failure and hypertension. It isn't a fad diet, as it has been around since 1939, and was developed by a medical researcher at Duke University. Today people pay thousands of dollars to spend a month or more at the Rice Diet Clinic in Durham, NC, but if you have neither the time nor the money to do so, you can always follow the basic Rice Diet plan on your own. Add this to my Recipe Box.

The Facts

On the first day on this diet, you must follow the basic rice diet, eating 2 starches and 2 fruits for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the other 6 days you may eat 1 starch, 1 non-fat dairy item and 1 fruit for breakfast and 3 starches, 3 vegetables and 1 fruit for lunch and dinner. Each starch serving can consist of 1 slice of bread, 1/3 cup of cooked rice or beans or 1/2 cup of cooked pasta. Fruit servings can be 1 medium-sized fruit, half a banana, or 1 cup of sliced or chopped fruits, berries or grapes. Vegetable servings amount to 1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup uncooked and dairy servings can be 1 cup of nonfat milk or yogurt or 1/2 cup of cottage cheese.

Fluid intake should be about 48 to 64 ounces of non-caffeinated beverages per day. It is permissible to drink wine on this diet, but 3 ounces of red wine could be exchanged for 2 fruit servings, so would reduce overall food consumption. Artificial sweeteners must be limited to about 2 packs of sweetener per day, or the equivalent.

On the Rice Diet, exercise is also an important component of the program, as it is with any sensible weight loss regime. At the Rice Diet clinics the preferred form of exercise is yoga, which is also accompanied by meditation and journaling for complete mind-body wellness experience.

Features

All foods consumed on this diet must be fat-free. The goal is for you to consume 5 grams or less of fat per day, with about 20 grams of protein. You'll also need to limit your sodium intake, as sodium can causes your body to swell up and retain water. Your daily limit of sodium is150 milligrams a day.

Time Frame

Patients at the Rice Diet Clinic are advised to spend from 4 to 6 weeks at the facility, where they adhere strictly to the Rice Diet regime as well as exercising daily and being counseled to support them in their weight loss goals. If you are following the program on your own you can set your own time goals, but you may wish to plan to spend no more than a month or so trying to follow the diet as it is a very strict plan.

Benefits

Patients on the Rice Diet report losing around 5 lbs. per week or 20 lbs. per month. The diet will also improve your health, as reducing the amount of fat in your diet will lower your cholesterol and reducing salt can lower your blood pressure. Lower weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels will reduce strain on your heart, making you look and feel much healthier.

Risk Factors

If you suffer from a chronic illness such as diabetes, you should definitely consult your doctor before beginning the program. Patients at the Rice Diet Clinic lose weight under medical supervision, a wise precaution for any serious dieter. In fact, if you have any type of chronic condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, you should make sure your doctor understands and approves of the diet and advises you of any modifications you may need to make or precautions you should take.
Consult your doctor, as well, if you are taking any types of medications, as this diet should not be followed by anyone taking diuretics of any type. Blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin may need to have their dosages adjusted, as may medications for hypertension and diabetes, particularly as you lose weight on the diet.

The diet can also be difficult for dieters to stick to. The food can be pretty bland, and takes time to prepare. It isn't very convenient for the busy dieter--the strict rules pretty much preclude your being able to eat out for the entire time you're on the diet. This diet is great for people with a lot of willpower, time, and a high tolerance for monotony, but if you are just looking to drop a few pounds in a relatively painless fashion you may need to look elsewhere.

Tomato Soup Diet

When it comes to weight loss, diet recommendations come from everywhere. Weeding through them takes considerable work. You must search out the truth, debunk the myths and choose a plan that works for you. The tomato soup diet is one alternative. Before you try it, though, you need to know what it is and what sort of results you can expect.

The Diet

The Tomato Soup Diet is a short-term diet plan based on the Souper Soup Diet, a diet plan introduced by author Lillie Ross. The diet is closely related to the cabbage soup diet and other soup-based diets.

The diet features unlimited quantities of tomato soup for most meals. The basic recipe calls for mixing equal parts canned tomato soup concentrate and water. Two cans of soup mixed with water produces six cups of soup. Homemade versions vary from one dieter to the next. Most of the homemade soups are based on combining ripe tomatoes with water and seasonings.

You are allowed to supplement the diet with other foods, like fruit, vegetables, chicken and beef, but the soup is the main component of most meals. A sample menu for the Souper Soup Diet--http://www.lillieross.com/soup/soupmenu.html--provides information on foods you can use to supplement your tomato soup diet.

The Results

The Tomato Soup Diet brings results. After all, tomato soup is low in calories and has nearly no fat content. Also, soup fills the stomach. The Mayo Clinic says foods that are dense make you feel full faster than less dense foods, even if the dense foods pack fewer calories.

In just one week, many dieters lose 10 to 15 pounds on the Tomato Soup Diet. The weight loss, though, is not tied to any unique properties of the soup. Instead, weight loss is a result of limited calorie consumption. Some dieters report regaining lost weight after stopping the diet. This sometimes results from binge eating following this highly restrictive diet.

While only a short-term option, the Tomato Soup Diet might be a viable option for someone seeking quick weight loss. For example, a boxer might try it as a means of making weight for a fight. You also might use it to help tame eating habits before beginning a long-term healthy diet.

Considerations

Based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommendations for daily eating, the Tomato Soup Diet lacks sufficient nutrients, such as protein and calcium, which are necessary for a healthy lifestyle. While it might work as a short-term solution, it does not represent a smart choice for prolonged dieting. Restricting nutrients can lead to the loss of muscle mass and bone density. The Tomato Soup Diet also can result in fatigue and has the potential to bring about health problems if dieters stay on the plan for more than a week or two.

The American Dietetic Association calls soup diets a fad. It says no diet based on a single food can reverse weight gain from inactivity or overeating. The association recommends consulting a dietitian for help with weight loss.

How to Do the Avocado Diet

Known by some as the alligator pear, the avocado has been shunned by dieters for all the wrong reasons. Even as it is true that the avocado is a fruit that contains more than 30 grams of fat and is rightfully considered laden with calories, it was recently vindicated. It came to light that the fat contained within the fruit was the good kind of fat that is associated with lowering cholesterol levels and not of the bad, artery-clogging variety! This is encouraging those following a heart-healthy diet to build an entire dietary regimen around this fruit. Follow these easy breakfast and dinner suggestions, and you will learn how to do the avocado diet yourself.

Instructions

The Avocado Diet for Breakfast

1

Collect the ingredients you need for this breakfast dish. You need slices of whole wheat bread, a small avocado, a couple of slices of lean turkey lunchmeat, a sliced tomato, a lettuce leaf, and some cubed melon. Augment this breakfast with a tall glass of low-fat or non-fat soymilk, or rice milk.

2

Toast the whole wheat bread slices in your toaster. When the bread is finished, set them aside.

3

Cut open the avocado and scoop out the meat with the spoon. Discard the seed and the outer shell.

4

Place the avocado meat into the bowl. Use the potato masher to gently mash the avocado until it is creamy. It is not necessary to add salt since the lunchmeat is usually salty, but this is up to you.

5

Wash and slice the tomato.

6

Spread the mashed avocado onto the bread slices, and top with the lettuce leaf, lunch meat and sliced tomato.

7

Cut a couple of slices of melon into cubes, and serve them alongside the sandwich. This is a satisfying sandwich, and by using avocado spread instead of butter or mayonnaise, you are not only saving calories and reducing the saturated fats that you usually consume in the morning, but you also increase your intake of phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins.

The Avocado Diet for Dinner

8

Assemble the ingredients for this dinner. You need a small avocado (thinly sliced), a large carrot (thinly sliced), some fresh spinach and fresh kale, a hardboiled egg (sliced) and some walnut pieces. A salmon fillet or other piece of grilled or poached fish rounds out the repast. Since this dinner is rich in protein and fat, it will be a satisfying meal that prevents the late-night munchies.

9

Take your knife and carefully cut a small avocado in half on your cutting board. Spoon out the meat of the avocado, and remove the seed. Discard the seed and skin. Thinly slice the avocado. Place the slices in a bowl.

10

Wash and thinly slice a large carrot. You might find that it is easier to purchase pre-sliced, ready-to-eat carrots. Even as they are more expensive, they do cut down on the preparation time of your dinner salad. Place the sliced carrot in the bowl with the avocado slices.

11

Boil an egg in your pot for about 12 minutes. Rinse it under cold water and remove the shell. After it has a chance to cool, cut it into thin slices and add it to the bowl with the avocado and carrot.

12

Wash and rinse your fresh spinach and kale leaves. Since spinach is notorious for containing a lot of sand, make sure you wash it a couple of times to remove all of the debris completely. To make life a bit easier, you could opt for prewashed and prepackaged spinach, which can be found at your supermarket. Pat dry the spinach and the kale leaves, rip them into bite-sized pieces, and place them in the bowl.

13

Toss in the walnut pieces, and round out the salad with an olive oil spray or vinaigrette of your choosing. This salad is filling, and because of the avocados fat content, your body will absorb all of the fat soluble vitamins contained in the individual ingredients, namely vitamins A, D, E and K.

14

Poach a fillet of fish in the microwave, and serve it alongside the salad.

Hypertension & Weight Loss

Hypertension is a serious condition that can lead to a heart attack and stroke. According to the National Institute of Health, obesity greatly affects your chances for hypertension and a weight-reduction program can greatly lower blood pressure. In order to effectively lose weight and control hypertension, there must be a lifestyle change.

Effects

Since obesity elevates blood pressure, weight loss of as little as 10 pounds can significantly reduce your systolic and diastolic numbers. To take off the pounds, lower your calorie intake and start exercising daily. Also include healthy choices in your diet such as fruits, vegetables and low-sodium foods.

Time Frame

Pounds should be taken off moderately to increase the chance of keeping it off. Set attainable weight-loss goals such as one to two pounds a week. If your doctor approves, check your blood pressure at home in between medical visits. Record your weight loss and pressure readings regularly to monitor your progress.

Misconceptions

To clarify the difference between obesity and overweight, a BMI (body mass index) must be considered. Obesity is defined by a BMI of equal or over 30, while overweight begins at 25 to 29.

Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings are 140/90mmHG or higher and not to be confused with pre-hypertension readings that starts at 120/80mmHG.

Benefits

When your blood pressure is controlled, you live a healthier lifestyle. Lowering your blood pressure and losing weight minimize your chances of heart disease. With every pound lost, you can lower your blood pressure by 1mmHg.

Warning

Get regular checkups with your doctor and consult him before starting any weight-reduction program. Weight loss alone may not be effective in controlling hypertension and your doctor may prescribe medication.

Can Wine Cause Heart Palpitations?

Especially during the holiday season, many people experience concerning heart palpitations in conjunction with wine consumption. When evaluating heart palpitations that you suspect may be caused by wine, it's important to understand and weigh three factors: what a palpitation is, when cardiac arrhythmia is dangerous, and when the heart-healthy benefits of wine consumption may outweigh temporary, benign palpitations. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Symptoms

Palpitations are recognized by some common features: you will feel an irregularity of the heartbeat, an "uneasy" feeling in the chest, or a "flip-flopping" sensation. Sometimes it feels as though the heart pauses for a moment before continuing. It is not uncommon for the palpitations to be associated with lightheadedness, and some people even lose consciousness.

What Causes Palpitations

What we perceive as palpitations are generally premature cardiac contractions. We feel the difference in blood volume from beat to beat. What happens is essentially this: the heart beats once and then follows that beat prematurely, giving the heart a split second longer to fill with blood before beat number three. When the heart beats for that third time, the "extra" blood makes the heart contract harder.

Wine and Palpitations

Wine is, of course, alcohol. Alcohol affects the heart in many ways. Though it's certainly not the only substance that causes heart palpitations in some people (such as caffeine-containing beverages, chocolate, allergy medicine, cold medicine), it's a common cause of the palpitations that bring worried patients to the emergency room.

More Serious Effects

Wine can cause a more serious phenomenon in the heart than simple palpitations, so it's important to report any feelings of cardiac arrhythmia to your doctor and be honest about alcohol consumption. When you drink a greater volume of alcohol than normal, you can precipitate a condition called atrial fibrillation. Many times, the condition rights itself naturally when you return to your normal level of alcohol consumption. If it doesn't self-correct, atrial fibrillation can cause dangerous, stroke-causing clots to form.

Wine Heart Benefits

Wine is definitely not all bad news for the heart. Research suggests that moderate red wine consumption has a range of heart-healthy benefits. The antioxidants found in red wine (such as polyphenols, arthrocyanidins and resveratrol) can help to boost HDL ("good cholesterol") while preventing LDL ("bad cholesterol") from forming. Wine seems to have an anticoagulant effect, preventing the formation of blood clots (when consumed moderately).

Mediterranean Heart Diet

The Mayo Clinic recommends a Mediterranean diet based on a 2007 study that showed both men and women lowered their risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Similar to the American Heart Association's diet, the Mediterranean diet's major components include eating lean proteins, high fiber and healthy fats and consuming a moderate amount of red wine. Find out more about the Mediterranean diet that can prevent high cholesterol and heart disease.

Fats

The Mediterranean diet promotes the use of healthy fats and suggests limiting or totally avoiding saturated and hydrogenated oils. The use of monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are greatly encouraged. These fats include canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil and sesame oil. The Mediterranean diet suggests using only olive oil. Polyunsaturated fats have both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce cholesterol levels and are not made by the body. These fats include vegetable oils, walnuts, salmon, trout, herring and mackerel.

Diet Components

Most of the meals in the Mediterranean diet are full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nuts. Proteins are generally lean meats, fish or shellfish. The Mediterranean food pyramid indicates that red meat should be eaten only a couple times a month. Fish or shellfish can be eaten twice a week. Dairy products typically include low-fat cheeses such as goat or feta. Salt should be replaced by herbs and spices. Grains make up the whole lower portion of the food pyramid and include breads, white rice, potatoes and pasta. Choose a fibrous grain like rye bread, whole wheat pasta, couscous and brown rice.

Alcohol Consumption

The consumption of alcohol is a much-debated topic in regard to the Mediterranean diet. Red wine is a good source of the antioxidants flavonoid phenolics found in the grape's skins and seeds, which increases HDL levels. HDL is considered the good cholesterol that removes bad cholesterol. The debate is centered around the fact that alcohol consumption can increase triglycerides, which are blood lipids that encourage weight gain. In fact, The American Heart Association suggests that people should not start drinking because of the diet. However, if you do drink and want to follow the diet, one glass of red wine for women and two for men are the suggested amounts. What type of red wine? A study by the University of California at Davis showed that cabernet sauvignon has the most heart healthy benefits.

Soup Diet for Heart Patients

The soup diet was supposedly designed by a hospital to help cardiac patients lose weight fast just before surgery, and it has been referred to by many hospital and other names. No medical center, however, endorses it, "The New York Times" reports. Its main component is an extremely low-calorie vegetable soup, which is eventually supplemented with a limited selection of other foods. Its intended to trigger substantial (10 to 17 pounds) of weight loss per week, but it isnt safe to adhere to for more than a week.

Composition

Although numerous variations of the soup have been touted over time, according to the Lose-Weight-With-Us website, the basic recipe calls for a handful of different vegetables (the chief one being cabbage), to which other ingredients are added over several days.

The dieter can eat as much soup as desired and can add fruits and vegetables during the first three days . Beef is added on the fifth day, and brown rice and fruit juice appear on the seventh day. (See the first link in the References section for a specific list of ingredients and cooking instructions.)

Limitations

Dont plan on maintaining this regimen for more than a week because the diet is extremely low in calories and nutrients. Following it for more than seven days will lead to serious malnutrition. In "The New York Times" article, dietitian Paula Posner criticized the diet, saying, "... theres no balance. Not enough protein on a regular daily basis and it doesnt change your habits. Accepting the diet as an only short-term weight-loss approach may not be hard for many people to accept, in any case. The American Heart Association, which disapproves of the diet, points out that severely food-restricting diets are so monotonousthat its almost impossible to stay on them for long periods.

People with diabetes or other dietary requirements should consult a doctor before embarking on the diet, Lose-Weight-With-Us warns. The soups high salt content also may make it unsuitable for people with high blood pressure.

Results

If followed faithfully, this very-low-calorie diet will cause loss of 10 or more pounds during the week you're on it, but much of this represents loss of water and muscle, not fat. Also, that rate of weight loss isn't sustainable because very-low-calorie diets cause the body to go into starvation mode. To conserve calories, it slows the metabolism and begins storing the calories as fat, rather than burning them for energy. Because the diet doesn't teach dieters how to eat right, as people resume a more normal diet, they quickly regain the pounds they lost, a LoseWeight.intervalinc.com article says.

How Does the Sacred Diet Work?

What is the Sacred Diet?

The Sacred Heart Medical Diet is a 7-day eating plan that is designed to cleanse the body of impurities. In addition, this diet also causes those who follow it to lose 10 to 17 lbs. and experience a burst of energy. It is a diet that was supposedly developed at the Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital for overweight patients to help them lose weight rapidly before they went into surgery.

One of the bases of the diet is soup. To make the soup, mix 3 large green onions, 1 to 2 cans of stewed tomatoes, 1 large can of non-fat beef broth, 1 bunch of celery, 2 cans of green beans, 2 lbs. of carrots, 2 green peppers and 1 package of chicken noodle Lipton Soup mix. Cut up the veggies into small pieces. Place in water and boil for 10 minutes. Simmer the soup until the vegetables are tender.

The soup is the main food of the diet, because you can eat it any time you are hungry. In fact, it is recommended that you eat as much of it as possible, since it will cause you to lose more weight.

You cannot consume ANY alcoholic beverages while you're on this diet.

What Does the Sacred Diet Consist of?

On the first day of the diet, the dieter should only consume fruit and soup. Any fruit can be eaten, except for bananas. Cantaloupes and watermelon are lower in calories than other fruits, and are recommended.

On the second day, eat all vegetables--no fruit. That means all and only vegetables--raw, cooked or canned. For dinner, have a baked potato with butter.

On the third day, eat as much soup, vegetables and fruit that you want. By day three, you should have lost 5 to 7 lbs. if you followed the diet.

On day four, consume bananas and skim milk. Drink all the milk that you can, eat the soup and consume at least 3 bananas. This part of the diet will give your body the potassium and carbs that it needs.

On day five, you can have beef and tomatoes, and soup at least once (the beef can be substituted with chicken). Eat only 10 to 20 oz. of beef and a can of tomatoes. Or you can have up to 6 tomatoes that day.

On day six, you can eat beef and vegetables as much as you want. Eat the soup at least once.

On day seven, eat brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice and vegetables. Eat all of that until you are full, stuffed even. Don't forget to eat the soup.

If you have not cheated, you should have lost 10 to 17 lbs. on this diet by the end of the seventh day.

Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water with this diet. You can also have black coffee, unsweetened fruit drinks, cranberry juice and skim milk.

How Does the Diet Work?

This diet works fast because you are burning more calories than you are taking in. The soup is a mix of ingredients that will burn fat.

As with any diet, there are pros and cons. This diet is healthy and can benefit one's health since it consists of lean proteins and fresh fruit and vegetables. However, it is drastic. Once the diet is over, dieters have to be extra careful not to binge on unhealthy foods and not to return to bad eating habits.

How to Cope After Gall Bladder Surgery

Recovering from Gallbladder surgery is different for everyone, but the bottom line is that even with the laparoscopic method, your organs must be rearranged in order to get to the Gallbladder, which causes bruising, swelling and discomfort. These steps will help you cope with the pain and discomfort experienced after Gallbladder surgery.

Instructions

1

Take the pain medication. This isn't the time for "being a man" or "toughing it out." Your doctor prescribed them for a reason.

2

Have someone on hand to help you at all times. Whether it be a spouse, family member or friend, you need someone to assist you with everything from sitting up in bed to sitting down on the toilet as your abdominal muscles will be very sore. From a laying position, have them place one arm behind your back to lift you into a seated position while you hold onto their other hand or arm. From a seated position, have the person stand in front of you, place both your hands on his shoulder and slowly use your leg muscles to stand.

3

Eat low-fat and fat-free foods only. Until you know how your digestive system will handle heavier foods, stick to mild, bland and light foods.

4

Eat small amounts of food several times a day. Keeping nourished will help stave off nausea sometimes associated with pain medication. Eat small portions to avoid feeling full, which will place pressure on your internal organs and cause pain.

5

Drink hot liquids if you feel any chest and/or shoulder pain in the hours and days following surgery. This pain is caused by the air that was puffed into your belly during surgery in order to create more space for the surgeon to work. It is not cause for alarm.

6

Take short walks. Walk around the inside of your house at first and then work up to outdoor walking. This promotes healthy blood circulation, which in turn promotes healing.

7

Follow up with your doctor. He will want to see you one week after surgery and again approximately 5 weeks later.

8

Follow your doctor's orders regarding bathing. Your stitches need time to heal and washing them too soon can damage them.

9

Take anti-diarrheal medication if you are having trouble digesting after the first month. This can last for weeks, months or years, although some people never have any digestive issues. Be sure to tell your doctor in your follow-up visits.

How to Meditate for Kapha Ayurveda Mind-Body Type

There are 3 mind-body types in Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old science from India. Ayurveda, literally, science of life, provides guidance on diet and how to treat diseases. Kaphas are cow-like in the best sense: steady, calm, good-natured, slow to act but also slow to anger. Deliberate in their speech and generally patient, Kaphas draw small children to them. Meditation with pranayama (breath work) can help Kaphas jump-start their slow metabolism and allow them to observe themselves in a non-judgmental way.

Instructions

1

Sit comfortably in a chair so that your spine is elongated and tall. With feet flat on the floor, keep the chest well-lifted. Do not let the body sag as it will make you sleepy. Continue with breath work that is heating and can boost agni fire, the digestive fire needed to reduce kapha stagnation . Ayurveda believes ama, or toxins, build when we overeat and cannot digest properly.

2

Practice kalabhati breathing which translates as breath of fire. Inhale through the nose and exhaling through the nose with a short exhale to make a short snorting sound. As you do that, draw the belly button in powerfully. Practice 3 to 5 rounds. Continue with the full kalabhati breath. Inhale through the nose and exhale sharply through the nose as you draw the center of the belly inwards, in a pumping action. Continue to pump the breath and exhale through the nose making the snorting sound until you need to inhale once more. Only do 7 to 10 rounds.

3

Continue with the full kalabhati breath. Inhale through the nose and exhale sharply through the nose as you draw the center of the belly inwards, in a pumping action. Continue to pump the breath and exhale through the nose making the snorting sound until you need to inhale once more. Only do 7 to 10 rounds.

4

Rest by taking several recovery breaths of normal inhalations and exhalations. Kalabhati is designed to create this internal agni fire for digestion. At the same time, it also exercises the abdominal muscles, rectus abdominus.

5

Proceed into meditation: close the eyes, breathing normally in and out through the nose rhythmically. Picture in your mind a spot in nature that you find inviting and invigorating. It may be a ski slope for sledding or a woody path to jog to a quiet pond. Fine tune your visualization by adding the sounds and scents of the scene around you. Allow all of your senses to be involved while you enjoy your respite in nature. Remain here for 15 to 20 minutes.

6

End your meditation by bringing your mind back to your present surroundings: feel the chair you are sitting in, the floor or cushion below your hips. Stretch through your arms and legs to activate your awareness fully and deepen your breath. Open your eyes and return to the rest of the day.

How to Pray a Novena to the Sacred Heart

The Sacred Heart represents Christ's love for mankind as demonstrated in His redemptive sacrifice.

Instructions

1

Know that between 1673 and 1675 Christ appeared the French nun Margaret Mary Alacoque, encouraging devotion to His Sacred Heart and He made twelve promises, including peace, consolation and other blessings, to those who practiced this devotion. The devotion was championed by several saints and popes and Pope Leo XIII consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart in 1899. The Sacred Heart is depicted as being wrapped in the crown of thorns and appears either on its own or hovering in front of Christ's chest. Say this prayer for nine consecutive days, nine Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays or every hour for nine hours.

2

O my Jesus, you have said:
"Truly I say to you,
ask and you will receive,
seek and you will find,
knock and it will be opened to you."
Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...

Mention the purpose of your prayer.

3

Our Father,
who art in Heaven,
hallowed by Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amen

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end
Amen

Sacred Heart of Jesus,
I place all my trust in you
Amen

List of Monuments in France

How to Lose 10 to 17 Pounds a Week

Most doctors and nutritionists agree that fast weight loss is not the best solution for getting your weight under control. Losing 10 to 17 pounds in a week is possible, but sustaining your weight after a quick fix can be extremely difficult. As such, the Mayo Clinic suggests a weight-loss goal of 1 to 2 pounds per week, with an emphasis on making diet and lifestyle changes that you'll be able to embrace and maintain. However, if you're focused on losing more than 10 pounds in a week, it's important to undertake healthy methods that won't endanger your physical well-being.

Instructions

1

Make major dietary changes to shock your system, cutting out unhealthy, high-fat foods and replacing them with low-carbohydrate foods and lean sources of protein.

2

Omit most sugars from your diet, including sugary drinks such as soda and fruit juices, and replace them with water and tea. Water, in particular, is important during weight loss, since it can help stave off cravings and help flush toxins from your system.

3

Burn more calories than you consume each day, and you'll lose weight. This simple mathematical equation is the one key fact of weight loss. Avoid not eating altogether; depriving your body of the nutrients it needs will hinder your ability to work out, which is another key to rapid weight loss.

4

Exercise every day, focusing on cardiovascular activities such as running, swimming, bicycling, jogging and cross-country skiing. The goal is to work out for longer periods of time, so avoid trying to go all-out in terms of intensity. The objective is to prolong your workout and sustain your energy for 30 to 60 minutes per session.

What Is Sesame Oil?

Sesame oil is a cooking oil that is produced from sesame seeds. The oil is a traditional ingredient in many types of Asian and Indian cooking, where it has been used for centuries. In the United States, sesame oil was once only carried in specialty Asian grocers, but is now widely found in many large grocers. This increase in availability is due to sesame oil becoming increasingly popular for its medicinal benefits and nutritional value in addition to its uses in ethnic dishes. Add this to my Recipe Box.

History

Sesame oil dates back to 600 B.C. when it was a commodity in Assyria as a luxury cooking oil. The Assyrians also used the oil for medicinal purposes and for salve, and because of its high price, it was seen as a status symbol. Because of this, Assyrian legends told that when the Earth was formed, the oil of the sesame served as the wine of the gods. Evidence of sesame oil use is also found in ancient India, where it was considered sacred and utilized in Hindu rituals. Sesame seeds and oil did not arrive in the United States until the late seventeenth century. In the modern day, sesame oil is produced in India, China and Mexico.

Characteristics

Sesame oil is produced by pressing ripe sesame seeds. Much of the work to extract the oil cannot be done mechanically, meaning that workers must be employed for the process. The oil ranges in color from pale gold to a deep amber brown. The darker varieties are obtained from seeds that have been toasted before they are pressed. The lighter varieties have very little flavor while the darker varieties have a strong nutty taste.

Types

The golden variety of sesame oil is sometimes referred to as gingelly or til oil and is typically used in Indian cooking. The very pale variety is sometimes referred to as cold-pressed and is used as an agent for frying rather than taste. This type is most common to Burma, where it is known as hnan zi. The dark variety is found in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cooking and is added to impart its nutty flavor. The Chinese refer to sesame oil as ma yau, and the Japanese and Koreans call it goma abura and chan keh room, respectively.

Benefits

Sesame oil contains many nutritional benefits and is believed to serve a variety of medicinal purposes. One cup of sesame oil contains a little over 3 grams of vitamin E and 29 micrograms of Vitamin K, which accounts for 15 percent and 37 percent of a person's daily needs based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Sesame oil contains mono and polysaturated fats, which lower cholesterol, and the Inter-American Society of Hypertension reports that it can also lower blood pressure. In India, sesame oil has been used to treat hepatitis, diabetes and migraines for many years. A study done at Maharishi International College in Iowa showed that sesame oil is an effective treatment for gingivitis, and Naturalholistichealth.com claims that sesame oil can be used to treat psoriasis, dandruff, head lice and yeast infections. The site also credits sesame oil as a possible sunscreen and report that it can be used to heal minor abrasions and cuts.

Considerations

The American Heart Association recommends that no more than 10 percent of a person's diet come from polyunsaturated fats, meaning that though sesame oil has many health benefits, it should only be used in moderation. Sesame oil can also loosen stools, so it should be avoided by people who have problems with chronic diarrhea. Long term usage of sesame oil for medicinal purposes has not been fully studied, so it should be approached with some caution. Additionally, people with allergies to nuts may also develop a reaction to sesame oil and should try to avoid it.

Diet Tips for Teenagers

There's the banana diet, the cabbage diet, the Atkins Diet and hundreds more. It seems like every time you turn around, there's a new diet guaranteed to help you lose weight. Friends and family may even claim to have lost weight with one of them. The truth is, the only way to maintain a healthy body is to eat right and exercise. Temporarily changing your diet only hurts you in the long run. Make your changes permanent; simply eat real foods and keep moving.

Exercise

Modern recommendations are for at least 20 minutes of exercise each day. Try walking to school or to a friend's house, or taking regular hiking trips, instead of going to the movies. Pick up a stationary bicycle at a yard sale, or take your bicycle to the park. Even if you're just cranking up the music to dance in your bedroom, you're still in motion. That's important.

Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods are believed to be the reason that Americans are the fattest in the world. Processed foods tend to be high in calories and low in nutrition. They are made with ingredients that are treated at high temperatures and mixed with preservatives and chemicals to maintain texture and color. Whole foods advocates encourage us to avoid processed foods. Even if you're hooked on fast-food restaurants, you can usually order salads and fruits at those places. The youtube.com video "How to get fat without really trying" explains the dangers of processed foods.

Water

Probably the most important ingredient for weight loss is water. Your body needs water to carry oxygen in the blood for energy and for the health of your organs. Drinking water ensures that your stomach acids are able to digest your food properly, extracting the nutrients that keep you from getting fat. Water has no calories and can make food fibers expand, helping you feel full longer. Beverages with calories generally do not provide enough nutrients. The exception to this would be some juices, such as vegetable juices and orange juice, but some can be high in sugar. Soft drinks are high in calories and are one of the worst beverage choices you can make.

Side Effects of Cabbage Soup

Cabbage soup has long been a staple in many cultures, especially those in Eastern Europe. Cabbage soup is cheap, filling and can be spruced up with onions or other inexpensive flavorings. The concoction is also a popular mainstay of the cabbage soup diet, a low-calorie crash diet that people still follow today. Cabbage soup on its own has several side effects, with more severe and additional effects for those who are following the diet plan.

Dizziness

Dizziness, weakness and headaches may be a side effect of cabbage soup if its the main staple of the diet. Cabbage contains a lot of fiber and some nutrients, but it is lacking in protein and low in carbohydrates. If other foods containing the daily recommended dosage of protein and carbohydrates are also consumed, the cabbage soup should not produce a lightheaded or woozy feeling.

Stomach Cramps and Gas

Lots of fiber, which is found in cabbage soup, can sometimes produce stomach cramps, a stomach ache or abdominal pain. Cabbage soup may also build up a lot of gas. Gas is often accompanied by bloating and a swollen or extended stomach.

Diarrhea

Cabbage soup is ideal for flushing out the system, which means lots of cabbage soup may mean lots of trips to the bathroom. Cabbage works as a detoxifier, ridding the body of toxins and unnecessary substances, but detoxification can come with the price of diarrhea. Cabbage is watery and filled with fiber, which allow it to readily move through the digestive system.

Other Warnings

The American Heart Association says that fad diets, such as the cabbage soup diet, can not only give you a host of side effects but can also undermine your health. Any diet that does not include exercise is circumspect, the association says. The cabbage soup diet, in particular, leads to rapid weight loss because it flushes out the system while the main food intake is low-calorie fruits and vegetables with a bit of protein thrown in. The main weight loss seen is due to water loss. Once someone starts eating a regular diet after the cabbage soup stint, the weight may be quickly regained.

Sacred 2 Does Not Start

"Sacred 2" is an action-based role-playing game for the computer. Released in 2008 by Ascaron, the game requires an Internet connection in order to play, for security purposes. Sometimes, the Internet connection and other factors can prevent "Sacred 2" from starting properly. However, Ascaron has gone out of business since the game's release, so there is no official support for problems. You can still resort to basic troubleshooting and fixes.

Instructions

1

Temporarily disable your firewall while you play the game. Press "Start." Type "Windows Firewall" and press "Enter." Click "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" and click "Off." Consult the documentation of your firewall if you use a third-party program as each one is different.

2

Double-click the "Steam" icon on your desktop. Click "Games." Right-click "Sacred 2" and click "Delete local content."

3

Right-click "Sacred 2" again. This time, click "Install."

How to Do the Thrive Diet

The Thrive diet, created by triathlete Brendan Brazier, is a vegan diet that enables athletes to perform at their top level. However, anyone can follow the Thrive diet, not just athletes. It's based on whole foods and the idea of nutrient-dense foods--foods that pack a large amount of nutrition into a small number of calories. It's not a suitable diet for those that insist on eating meat and junk food. But the Thrive diet can help you feel better and avoid the degenerative diseases that often come with age.

Instructions

1

Eliminate meat, dairy and other animal products from your diet. These foods often contain a high number of calories and fat per gram and provide relatively little nutritional value in the form of vitamins and minerals.

2

Stock your kitchen with nutrient-dense foods. Primarily, you should purchase fresh produce. Start by buying foods that you know you like to eat, which will help you to stick with the diet. As time goes on, you can try new foods and experiment with new recipes.

3

Aim to eat a high percentage of raw foods. According to Brazier, cooking destroys some of the digestive enzymes that are naturally present in food. Raw food is easier to digest and retains more nutrients. Brazier's book Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life, includes several recipes to make this easier.

4

Incorporate legumes into your diet. Legumes are a valuable source of vegetable protein. You can use them in salads or cook them in stews.

5

Make Thrive energy bars for on-the-go snacks and meals, using recipes for energy bars made of whole foods. You can make these ahead of time and easily take them with you wherever you go. This ensures that you will always have something to eat when you get hungry.

6

Incorporate exercise for best results. Because Brazier is an athlete, you can expect his diet plan to recommend a hefty amount of exercise. If you are new to exercising, start slowly to avoid injury.

Mantras to Cure Depression

Mantras have been used since ancient times in many types of religions. A mantra is a powerful incantation, prayer, meditation, chant or word you say repeatedly to achieve a particular goal. One of these goals can be for depression, a psychological condition that affects your feelings, behavior and sense of well-being. If you have depression, discover how mantras may help bring you to a better, uplifted state of mind.

Background

When you use a mantra, you repeat a syllable or prayer mentally, out loud as a prayer or as a song to communicate with God (or whoever you consider a higher power). You can also listen to mantras.

One example of a mantra is using Catholic rosary beads, combined with prayer and Hail Marys. Another example is repeating a Biblical prayer. A popular mantra in Buddhism is, "Om mani padme hum." In Hinduism, mantras are chanted or sung as well as spoken. Mantras have spiritual meanings and purposes to help with success, peace, wealth, healing and more, including depression. Some of the same mantras are used for a variety of purposes.

According to Thomas Ashley-Farrand, author of "Healing Mantras: Using Sound Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity and Healing," "Mantras, or simple chants, are short phrases packed with energy and intention--specifically designed to generate powerful sound waves that promote healing, insight, creativity and spiritual growth. "

When you're depressed, mantras allow you to experience positive feelings for healing. Mantras keep you calm and relaxed so your meditations or prayers are deeper and more fulfilling.

Depression

Everyone feels sad or blue at one time or another, but depression is different. Although common, depression is a serious illness, and treatment is usually necessary. Many who are depressed do not seek treatment.

Be aware that the cause of depression is unknown--it can be genetic, appearing to run in families, environmental, psychological or biochemical. The good thing is depression is highly treatable and there are a variety of ways to treat this disorder, from drugs to herbs, diet, therapy and methods like mantras.

Healing Mantras for Depression

Write down your intentions before starting your mantra the first time. In this case, you may write that you want to feel uplifted, joyful and full of positive energy every day. State exactly what you want the mantras to do for you.

Repeat this specific mantra to heal depression: "Om Bhoginyei Namaha," pronounced "Om Bhoh-geen-yei Nahm-ah-hah." The direct translation is of the Hindu goddess Shakti, "Salutations to the She who has the experience of perpetual bliss."

Another very powerful healing mantra is: "Ra Ma Da Sa, Sa Say So Hung." Use this mantra to heal depression, activate and balance your chakras (the energy centers of your body), and transform your body into a healthy one mentally, emotionally, spritually and physically.

Repeat your mantras, as often as you wish, silently, out loud or both. Designate 20 to 30 minutes daily to speak or mentally say your mantras, if you desire to. Many spiritual disciplines perform mantras for 40 days although positive results can happen several days earlier.

Mantra Sources

Listening to mantras is a good way to get started. It allows you to hear the correct pronunciation or you can listen to it instead of speaking it. Download mantras to help remove negative patterns leading to depression. Some downloads are available free of charge on the Internet. Purchase mantras also on CD online or in music stores. Most available are Vedic mantras, the language of the Vedas in the Hindu culture.

Buy a good book with a variety of mantras to use, including those intended for depression. Some books also have CDs attached.

Find a therapist who is familiar with using mantras for healing depression. This therapist can work with you, proving encouragement and other ideas for healing.