Archive for July, 2011
July 27th, 2011 | 
Author: The weight loss industry is rife with controversy. If we’re trying to slim down not only are we faced with a plethora of misleading statements thrust across the internet and the shelves of pharmacists and health stores but we’re dealt countless warnings about the potential harmful effects of many of these products.
So how do we determine which products are not only effective, but safe, and which ones could cause us harm whilst possibly not even achieving the desired results?
One of the first things to remember is that the words ‘herbal’ and ‘natural’ do not always mean ‘safe’. Most weight loss supplements, whether purchased online or at the local pharmacy, are not subjected to the same tests as products considered as medicines.
This means that the pleasant package for a supplement extracted from are a rare plant found on the plains of Northern Africa could in fact be very dangerous. Due to the limited testing the product has been subjected to, those taking it are effectively acting as guinea pigs.
However, there are a number of weight loss supplements that are not only natural, but are proven to be safe. The acai berry for instance is now one of the most popular slimming aids on the market. While exactly how effective it is may be debatable, studies have shown that it does contain properties that if combined with a healthy diet and exercise programme, can aid weight loss.
In addition, disregarding the potential for allergic reactions or vitamin overdose, the acai berry side effects are nil. We know this because it has been consumed for many thousands of years and has been named as simply a member of the berry family – albeit a particularly healthful one.
Yet while the acai berry side effects are near non-existent, this is not the same for most other slimming aids available today.
A common ingredient in many weight loss supplements is ephedra. Ephedra is essentially a mild amphetamine and it works by reducing the appetite. However, like other amphetamines it makes users jittery, awake (at all hours), nervous, dizzy and can cause severe heart problems – including death. Ephedra is illegal in many countries but can often still be obtained over the internet. Despite the life threatening side effects, people continue to take it.
What makes ephedra even more dangerous is the fact that those consuming it will be eating very little and most likely, partaking in minimal exercise. This combined will cause muscle wastage and that could include the heart. Therefore even more pressure is placed upon the heart and the dieter is at a highly increased risk of a stroke, seizure or heart attack.
Are such risks actually worth it, all in the name of a slim body? Disregarding the risk of death and other serious problems, if you lose weight in this way you may be thin, but you won’t look good. You will appear tired, withdrawn and very unhealthy.
Another weight loss supplement that has been scientifically proven to have an effect is Xenical (also now available over the counter in a weaker form called Alli). Xenical works by preventing the body from absorbing fat properly. However while this will undoubtedly help with weight loss, some fats are vital to our health and excluding them from our diets is not akin to a healthy body or an effective weight loss programme.
In addition, those fats have to come out somewhere, and this ‘somewhere’ results in a very unpleasant and embarrassing side effect. Again – is the additional weight loss really worth the trouble?
The truth is that there are few safe and effective weight loss supplements. Those that are proven to be safe tend to have less of an impact than those which may cause us harm.
However this fits with the age old truth that diet, exercise and slow, steady weight loss are the best route to go. The acai berry side effects are non-existent; however its benefits include more than merely weight loss. Perhaps then one of the acai berry side effects is actually positive – it is full of vitamins that are vital to the health of our body, and this is the key that many dieters fail to pick up. We shouldn’t just want to be thin; we should want to feel alive and full of health. Many of the most ‘effective’ slimming aids will do just the opposite, making us look and feel unhealthy and potentially placing us in grave danger of death.
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The Daily Mail reports that a record number of overweight and obese people are falling back on slimming pills to get in the right shape. Men and women who are clinically obese basically have no other choice but to take help from weight loss medications for bringing their body weight back to a healthy limit. Although experts still maintain that medicinal weight loss treatment is not an alternative to regular exercise and balanced diet, but slimming pills may provide a relatively risk-free and quick-action solution to excess body weight. Xenical orlistat is a medically approved weight loss medication with impressive track records.
Xenical orlistat is prescribed for people with body mass index (BMI) scores of 27 or above. It can be taken to treat severe to morbid obesity, even though surgical treatment is generally recommended for people who are morbidly obese with body mass index higher than overweight conditions. Xenical, when taken on a doctor’s recommendation, can help prevent about one-third of dietary fat from being consumed by the body. When taken for 3-6 months, this medicine can significantly decrease an individual’s body weight, helping him/her to maintain an optimum level of fitness and good health.
Apart from aiding in weight loss, Xenical slimming pills are also found effective in decreasing the levels of bad cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin. This medicine can also delay the progression of type 2 diabetes. Freedom to eat foods that contain a moderate amount of fat is an additional benefit of taking orlistat capsules. The fact that this medicine blocks approximately one-third of dietary fat can give you the opportunity to indulge in toothsome fiestas with your friends once in a while. But you should always act on your doctor’s advice and set achievable weight loss goal to let Xenical orlistat work for your benefit.
Trying to quit smoking? Millions of people are trying just as you are. The success rate is still disappointing as far as smoking cessation is concerned. But with your determination and medical help, you can succeed in your endeavour and stop smoking for good. Talking of medical help and Champix varenicline is one of the most effective smoking cessation medicines available on the UK market.
Get out of the vicious cycle of smoking with Champix
You find it difficult to resist the desire to smoke because cigarettes contain nicotine – a substance that excites certain receptors in the brain, triggering release of a chemical known as dopamine. The effect of dopamine is pleasurable, but short-lived. This is why you crave for more cigarettes, and the vicious cycle of cravings continues, taking you slowly but surely to death.
The target area of varenicline is the nicotine receptors in the brain. The active ingredient of the medicine binds to the nicotine receptors and prevents nicotine from stimulating them. Another crucial job Chantix does is it restricts the release of dopamine, reducing your craving for more cigarettes.
Champix for you
Varenicline is available only on prescription. So if you are an adult and want to get out of the deadly nicotine addiction, talk to your doctor. A lower dose of the medicine is recommended for people with kidney problems. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or if you are on insulin therapy or taking medicines for asthma, tell your doctor. Champix is not recommended with other smoking cessation treatments.
Post-Champix phase of your life
You may have to wait for about a week to experience the difference Champix brings to your life. It is like getting the chance to enjoy a new lease of life as your health will improve significantly once you quit smoking.
You can have a fulfilling sex life if you have herpes, though it may be a little more complicated than it used to be before the diagnosis of your condition. Now you need to be careful every time you have sex that you do not pass on the infection to your partner. Some precautions can be taken to reduce the risk of transmitting the herpes virus to your partner.
When you are going through an outbreak of herpes, it’s always advisable to abstain from any sexual activity. But it is also not completely safe to have sex while there are no signs and symptoms of herpes. It’s all up to an individual to decide how and when they are intimate with their partner. What most people do not understand is that sex isn’t only about intercourse; some intimate instances may involve touching, kissing, and getting cosy. So you can try some innovative ways to get intimate with your partner.
When you have sores or blisters around the genitals and anus or you think you are about to get a herpes outbreak, it is recommended to avoid sexual activities such as vaginal sex, oral sex, or anal sex. However, it is safe to have sex between outbreaks with the use of latex condoms. Condoms, though not a full protection against herpes infection, can help reduce infection to some extent. Dental dams can be used for oral sex. To get well-versed with the pros and cons of having sex with herpes, you should consult a doctor before trying anything new. It is also believed that physical intimacy is not the only way to express love for your partner. You can inspire yourself and your partner to think of something creative to express love without mouth-to-mouth or genital-to-genital contact.
An antiviral approach to control herpes outbreaks
Though there is no complete cure for herpes, an effective genital herpes treatment is possible with the help of antiviral medications. Valtrex and Famvir are antiviral medications used for treatment of initial and recurrent outbreaks of herpes. To treat an outbreak and prevent further outbreaks, Valtrex 500mg can be taken for 5-10 days. Famvir can be taken at the first sign of an outbreak to suppress and prevent another outbreak within 24 hours. You can buy Famvir 125mg, 250mg, and 500mg online from registered clinics.