What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is defined as an irresistible urge to consume alcohol. People suffering from alcoholism are very well aware of the dangerous effects alcohol could have on their bodies, but still they are unable to resist the urge to consume it. They will usually drink beyond acceptable limits and will be in an inebriated state most often, causing embarrassment and inconvenience to the people with them.

Most people who consume alcohol have more than they can manage. This is seen in alcohol drinkers who lose control of their senses when they have one drink too many. Such an overstepping of limits is called as alcohol abuse. People who abuse alcohol are having more alcohol than their body allows them, but they have not yet come totally under the control of their alcohol habit. However, if they continue drinking for long, then they will not be able to resist alcohol and will become totally addicted to it. This situation is called as alcoholism.

Both alcohol abuse and alcoholism are social vices apart from being detrimental to the person’s health. They can be eliminated only by exercising control and being determined.

Why is Alcoholism dangerous?

Ethyl alcohol – the alcohol which is used in all alcohol products – is a liquid that immediately dissolves in the human blood. Hence when alcohol is consumed, it doesn’t take much time to reach all parts of the human body. Due to this, the nervous system of the person is affected and he/she may lose responsiveness to external stimulus. This is when the person is said to be inebriated.

Constant alcoholism will interfere with the functioning of all the vital organs of the body. The major organs affected are the liver, brain, heart and kidneys.

Liver is perhaps the most seriously affected in the long run. With prolonged alcoholism, the liver may develop cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver tissue. Once cirrhosis sets in, it is very difficult to return the health back to normal.

In the stomach, alcohol can cause several gastric problems which may interfere with digestion. At the same time, each time a person has alcohol, it numbs his/her nervous system. In due course, the person may lose some or all of the fundamental senses.

What are the Symptoms of Alcoholism?

Generally people who are alcoholics can be easily identified even in a crowd. The habit shows some characteristic symptoms. These are as follows:-

A person with the habit of alcoholism will have all the trademark drunkard’s characteristics – red eyes, unkempt hair, mouth reeking of alcohol, unsteady gait, etc. But there are several people who mask these signs well.
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Alcoholics usually set specific times for their drinking sessions. These could be before dinner. If alcohol is not available one particular day, they may become very cantankerous.

Even during the time they are not drinking, alcoholics would not be able to focus on the work at hand. This would sour their business and family life.

Over time, alcoholics build a resistance to alcohol. For this reason, they will keep increasing their intake so as to feel the effects of the alcohol.

How can Alcoholism be avoided?

For an alcoholic, avoiding alcohol could be a very difficult task. The withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism may be very severe. So it is not advisable for a hardcore alcohol to stop drinking entirely. Instead, the alcohol should be carefully phased out.

The following steps can be taken to reduce alcohol intake:-

The person must be made to take interest in constructive hobbies and sports.

Love and affection from family members and friends could strengthen the resolve of the person to give up alcoholism.

Attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous will show the alcoholic how people have managed to kick their boozing habits. This will create a very positive outlook in the alcoholic.

Instead of alcohol, other drinks with less alcohol in them can be used, such as wine and cocktails. Eventually even these can be stopped.

How can Alcoholism be controlled with Simple Home Remedies?

There are many home remedies to reduce the effects of alcoholism. The following are some of them:

Fruit juices are very effective in lowering the effects of alcoholism. For removing the effects of a hangover, the juice of a lemon or orange will be very effective. Eating an apple or banana helps to flush out the toxins from the body which collect due to alcoholism.

Both grapes and dates are very beneficial in reducing the urge to consume alcohol. If alcoholics are kept on a diet of only grapes for a couple of weeks, then most likely the temptation to drink will be totally gone.

Introduce many other drinks in the person’s diets so that the craving for the alcoholic drink is reduced.

When the person feels the urge to consume alcohol, having a glass of carrot juice will help to reduce the temptation.

Tom alter
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/alcoholism-herbs-and-ayurvedic-remedies-symptom-of-alcoholism-and-other-treatments-106660.html

REAl evidence, I already know what they do, so for example any tests that have been carried out?

Over the course of a prolonged session of vigorous intermittent or continuous exercise, the muscles turn over a lot of glycogen (a complex of glucose, water and potassium stored as fuel in the muscles) and the body loses electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium).

Despite being popularly depicted as a great evil, sodium (as obtained from salt) is the most abundant mineral in the human body, and terrestrial herbivores such as elephants (whose natural environment in short on sodium/salt) go to great troubles to manoeuvre their colossal bulks into tight caves at night to obtain "salt licks".

Of course, lots of people are mostly inactive and yet spend large parts of each day ingesting more carbohydrates than their bodies have room for. I can’t be bothered to cite any specific examples right now, but there’s plenty of evidence that repeatedly overconsuming carbohydrates in any form can damage your health, but there’s also plenty of evidence that muscles well stocked with glycogen perform better during vigorous exercise, and that consuming readily utilized carbohydrates (especially glucose) not long after such training (or even during it if it’s prolonged) helps with recovery from exercise and spares skeletal muscle from being broken down (most of the amino acids in skeletal muscle can be converted into glucose when blood sugar levels are dropping too low).

Thus, there is evidence that readily utilized carbohydrates are helpful around vigorous training for those who are not repeatedly overconsuming carbohydrates anyway. That doesn’t mean that any given hypermarketed and excessively expensive "sports drink" is any better than any cheaper and more "natural" concoction (e.g. a bit of milk mixed with water and glucose powder and a pinch of mineral-rich sea salt). Tacky "Sports Drinks" are not necessary around vigorous training, but glucose and electrolytes are very helpful.

Probably one of the most appealing honeymoons for most people is a trip to a tropical Caribbean island. And one of the easiest ways for the soon to be newlyweds to plan their after wedding trip is to look at all inclusive Caribbean honeymoons. There is one little problem though.

How do you choose which Caribbean island you want to spend your honeymoon on? After all, there are over 7000 Caribbean islands that you can choose from. Well not all 7000, not all of them are inhabited, but that’s still a lot of possible destinations to choose from. And each of these islands, whether big or small, has its own cultural flavor that will have an appeal for just about everyone. And the best part is almost all the islands boast at least one all inclusive resort that is ideal for a honeymoon.

There are three easy steps to follow when it comes to planning an all inclusive Caribbean honeymoon.

1. Choose an Island – As mentioned above there is a lot to choose from but somewhere in that group of islands is one that will be a perfect fit for the newlywed couple. With such a wide diversity of islands available no matter what the couple likes to do they will find one that fits what they are looking for. Of course all of them are great if you like lounging on the beach, enjoying water sports and just plain relaxing.

If you are looking for the total Caribbean honeymoon experience then Jamaica may be the way to go. It is a big island with large cities that offer everything more metropolitan areas are known for, including shopping and clubbing until all hours of the morning. You can also get away from it all by taking hikes in lush tropical forests and climbing warm cascading waterfalls with deep plunge pools for swimming. Jamaica also has an abundance of all inclusive resorts that make honeymoon planning very simple.

If intimacy and seclusion are more of what is needed then any of the number of smaller islands will fit the bill. Culebra and Dominica are two such islands that are off the beaten path. There isn’t a whole lot to do there other than enjoy the warm Caribbean waters and lounge the days away in blissful peace with each other.

2. Choose an All Inclusive Resort – Just as there are many islands to choose from so are there resorts to choose from. One thing to look for is adults only or couples only resorts that cater exclusively to couples getting away for romantic holidays. You can also be assured that if you do choose a couples only resort that you will not have to deal with families and rambunctious kids during this romantic time together.

3. Get packing – Once the reservations are set and the trip is paid for all you have to do is get your bags packed and ready to go. That’s the beauty of all inclusive Caribbean honeymoons; everything is included in the price of the package. This includes meals, drinks, resort activities, beach privileges and water sports, entertainment and a whole lot more.

Taking all inclusive Caribbean honeymoons is easy. The hard part is figuring out which island to go to and then ultimately which resort offers the amenities and activities, or lack thereof, the newlywed couple is interested in. But no matter which island and resort you choose taking a Caribbean honeymoon at an all inclusive resort is one of the most romantic and intimate settings you can find.

Andrew Bicknell
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/all-inclusive-caribbean-honeymoons-122999.html

Zero carbs. Fat flush. No dessert. Sound familiar? Losing weight is hard enough as it is, and all the fad diets that come and go make choosing a natural weight loss program much more confusing. There seems to be no consistent source of information. However, you can make real changes without excessive hunger and discomfort. Simply commit to a healthy diet to live by daily.

First, it’s important to understand the basics for good nutrition. The body’s three primary nutrient needs include protein, fats, and carbohydrates. The trick is choosing the right low-fat proteins, unsaturated fats, and whole-grain carbohydrates in reasonable portions. Even if your goal is not natural weight loss, the basics for good nutrition are essential to a healthy diet:

· Enjoy plenty of low-fat protein with every meal. Protein is key to muscle growth and reduces feelings of hunger. As a result, it gives you plenty of mileage to get to the next meal without having to snack. Chicken and fish are leaner than red meat and tend to be good choices. If you take advantage of organic or local farmer sources, the flavor is superior and there are no injected growth hormones. Don’t forget bean dishes, plus vegetarian chicken, burgers and bacon. Those with high cholesterol can obtain protein from egg whites.

· Treat yourself to five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. This sounds like a lot, but a serving is actually fairly small. Also, the closer a fruit or vegetable is to its natural state, the more nutrients are delivered to the body. All-natural juices are also a great way to get more servings in per day. Fruit satisfies your sweet tooth while reducing sugar cravings. Organic fruits and vegetables are much healthier and you will be completely overwhelmed by the difference in flavor.

· Indulge in whole grain carbohydrates. Don’t completely eliminate carbohydrates! Reduce them, yes, but don’t eradicate them. Trade refined flour carbohydrates for whole grains. Once eaten, carbs are metabolized into blood glucose, which every cell uses as a primary energy source. As a matter of fact, glucose is the brain’s only source of fuel! However, if you eat more carbs than your body needs, it converts the leftover glucose into fat. Enjoy whole-grain wraps, multi-grain crackers, hearty breads and long grain, wild or basmati rice.

· Fulfill yourself with reasonable portions. You should never eat until you’re stuffed–nor should you ever get up from the table hungry. Your stomach can hold about one quart of food and beverage, an amount that would fit in your cupped hands. The trick to fulfillment is to slow down! Savor your food, and chew each bite 30 times. Not only is this the first crucial step in digestion, but it allows your stomach and brain to register when you’re full. Don’t interfere with your body’s ability to enjoy food by watching TV, working, or worse yet, driving. Sit down, relax, and enjoy your meal.

· Drink 8 to 16 glasses of water every day. Maintaining hydration is a key component of overall health. Also, water flushes away fat and transports nutrients throughout your body.

· Treat yourself in moderation. Never eating another potato chip or piece of cake again is completely unrealistic. However, they should not be staples in your diet. Figure out what you can’t live without, and treat yourself to it occasionally.

· Take high-quality vitamin and mineral supplements each day. No matter how healthy a diet, our food will not provide 100 percent of all the vital nutrients that our bodies need daily. Ensuring that you have all the bases covered by taking a multivitamin will go a long way toward a long and healthy life.

Maintaining a healthy diet to live by daily is not difficult when the basics of good nutrition are observed. Protein and fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone, with a few whole-grain carbs thrown in. The ratio of protein should always exceed that of carbs. This will stabilize your blood sugar and eliminate snacking between meals. Although you can jump start weight loss on a low-carb diet, you should enjoy at least one serving of whole-grain carbs every day.

“Healthy” food does not mean bland. The problem with the typical American diet is that it consists of highly refined foods full of synthetic ingredients. Also, portion sizes are out of control. When you start enjoying a healthy diet daily, you will regard highly processed foods as poison, boring and bland. Those who are beginning a natural weight loss program should also cut out the following killers.

· Red meat – If you want to enjoy red meat occasionally, that’s ok. However, avoid the fatty cuts such as rib-eyes and go for a lean filet.

· Burger-and-fry fast food – Fast food is absolutely the worst thing you can eat. The buns alone are nothing but high-fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oil, both of which clog arteries. If you have to eat fast food, opt for fresh sandwiches on whole-grain breads or wraps.

· Refined carbohydrates – Any store-bought white food such as doughnuts, bagels, white bread, snack crackers, and potato chips will make you gain weight faster than almost anything.

· Dairy products – Dairy products tend to be very high in fat. If you can’t live without them, limit them to the low-fat and organic varieties. Considers substitutes such as olive oil or natural yogurt.

· High-fructose corn syrup – If you read a few labels, you’ll be amazed to see how often this is a top ingredient. Corn syrup is engineered to be 80 percent fructose and 20 percent glucose -that’s twice the fructose of regular sugar. Fruit’s natural fiber allows a sustainable absorption rate throughout all cells. Alternatively, high-fructose corn syrup is absorbed rapidly, and it must be metabolized in the liver. This excess causes weight gain.

· Alcohol – Limit yourself to three drinks per week. Your liver puts fat metabolism on hold to process alcohol. Also, alcoholic drinks like margaritas and beer are high in caloric content.

Diet is just one factor in the equation for weight loss. The other key element in a successful weight loss program is daily exercise. You should engage in 30 minutes of aerobic activity every day. Choose something that you enjoy such as walking, bicycling, hiking, swimming, or any team sports. It is easier to keep exercising daily if the activities you choose are fun. After all, exercise is a way of life -just like eating a healthy diet.

Looking great is one perk of regular exercise, but the most powerful benefits are to your health. Aerobic activity strengthens the immune system, is the number one stress buster, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, boosts self-confidence, and will even improve your sex life!

These key principles will help you start your successful weight loss program. It’s now up to you – begin a nutritious diet, take a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement and exercise daily.

Edward Sample
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/a-healthy-daily-diet-for-weight-loss-105774.html

also all the sugar is unhealthy

I’m in two minds!

Thank you

During a workout – or any physical activity for that matter – water is the best liquid to drink. Most trainers are now telling their clients to drink a glass of milk after "cool-down" and to skip the sports drinks.

We all know the familiar story; you go through your teenage years and are quite active, maybe you play a little sport on weekends. Because of your high activity level and age your metabolism is also high so your weight is not a problem. Unfortunately this makes you complacent and you develop a taste for fatty junk food. You develop a habit of unhealthy eating because your metabolism helps you burn off most of the calories from the junk food and so the negative effects remain unnoticed.

As you move into adulthood your priorities change and you give up sports and focus more on work and social activities such as parties and drinking. You notice that you have some extra body fat but by now you’ve programmed your lifestyle habits into your subconscious and weight loss is still not a major concern. As you get to your 30’s or 40’s however you have a considerable amount of body fat and you start to see the health problems associated with your unhealthy lifestyle.

What you have unwittingly done in your life to date is set the snowball effect in motion, accumulating all the little unhealthy lifestyle habits along the way until the snowball has not only gained speed but has also become bigger year after year, and so have you. Like a large snowball rolling down a mountain, your health and body fat appear to be out of control and unstoppable.

The Good News

The good news is that you can use the snowball effect in a way to achieve health and weight loss by making incremental improvements to your lifestyle across multiple areas. This will cause your new weight loss snowball to grow and gather speed and lead you back to health. The most important thing to realize is that while you may not see immediate results from the slight changes to your lifestyle, the combination of incremental improvements across multiple lifestyle areas over time will achieve the weight loss you’re looking for.

Here is a list of things you can do to start your new weight loss snowball rolling:

1. Get Active – To burn off some of the body fat and strengthen your heart you need to do some form of exercise. A good starting point is walking as it is a low impact, low risk activity. Start out with a short walk at first and aim to walk farther and for longer each time. Once you have improved your fitness a little incorporate some star jumps, perhaps stop half way through your walk and do some star jumps and then complete your walk.

2. Eat Healthier – Gradually replace high fat and high sugar foods with healthier alternatives. First start with perhaps one meal a day and progress from there. After a while you will be more accustomed to healthy food and will make better food choices.

3. Eat Smaller Meals – It is better to have more frequent small meals than three large meals, so try cutting down your portion sizes and have a piece of fruit between meals.

4. Cut out Sugar Drinks – Eliminate soda drinks from your diet as they wreak havoc with your blood sugar, add body fat, and interfere with your hormonal system.

5. Reduce Alcohol – Alcohol has the same effects as soda drinks on your body so try to reduce your consumption as much as possible.

6. Drink lots of Water – Water helps eliminate all the body’s byproducts and is needed to flush the body of the waste associated with weight loss. It also helps give you that full feeling so sip a glass of water when eating.

7. Get Plenty of Sleep – It has been noted that a large proportion of the people who get inadequate sleep are overweight. This can be attributed in part to the effect that sleep deprivation has on the body’s hormonal system among other things.

8. Eat Slower – Most westerners eat way too fast, which leads to poor digestion and overeating. Eat slower and savor your food and you will feel fuller on less food.

There is no quick fix when it comes to weight loss, but if you make gradual improvements across a number of areas, the combined effect will put the brakes on the obesity snowball and have your weight loss snowball rolling before you know it.

You may interested in these articles:

How to achieving healthy weight loss

The South Beach Diet Review

Low Carb Diet Plan – sometimes eating more can be better!

Raj Kumar
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/weight-loss-and-the-snowball-effect-123390.html

Where the old one was overly gummy, the new one is light and flavorful. There are three flavors — Strawberry Star Fruit, Dragonfruit, and Mandarin Orange. Of the three, the first two are definitely my favorites. It is not exceptionally sweet, but it is sweet-enough.

All Sport Naturally Zero is highly recommended.

Duration : 0:2:28

Technorati Tags: Atkins Diet, Bowulf, drinks, electrolyte, Low Carb, product, replacement, reviews, Sports

Economic downturn of 2008 notwithstanding, the U.S. market for nutritional supplements is poised for healthy growth, with sales forecast to climb 39% from 2007 to 2012.

Packaged Foods
Apparently, all is well with the nutraceutical industry and it knows very little about recession. While many other industries are experiencing all time lows in profitability margins, some nutraceutical products are actually gaining wider popularity. It seems the recession is teaching Americans the value of low-cost, preventive healthcare. More people are lining up for vitamin supplements and various other health supplements to meet their health needs as an alternative to expensive conventional medicine. All said and done, in spite of the global financial crisis and its effects on our economies, the bottom line is that people still need to eat and keep healthy. So the nutraceutical industry manages to keep afloat in spite of all odds.

Global is the word for nutraceuticals. With many ingredients being imported from all parts of the world, contract manufacturers face a tough challenge keeping track of new research on herbs, nutrients, botanicals and formulating innovative products through in-house research in order to produce a superior, quality product that not only conforms to the newly installed FDA GMPs, but also meets rising demands of today’s consumer.

Upward Trend
Just how well is nutraceutical manufacturing thriving? Information Resources, a Chicago-based market research agency, reported an 8 percent growth in the sale of vitamins for the last quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. During October 2008 to March 2009, Vitamin Shoppe noted that 20 percent of their customers were first time buyers of supplements like probiotics, glucosamine/chondroitin, probiotics, multi-vitamins, omega 3s, and herbal extracts.

Why are profits soaring upwards for health supplement companies when the economy continues its spiraling trend downwards? A story reported in the April 4, 2009 edition of New York Times may help us to understand why. It expresses the sentiments of most Americans today. Here is what 40-year old Jacqueline Kreiss, a presently unemployed hairdresser and make-up artist, said when asked why she was buying vitamin supplements:

“I don’t have health insurance, so I can’t go and see a doctor because it’s very expensive. The economy just really put me backward, so I started relying on the vitamins.” When asked whether the vitamins worked for her, she said she felt very energetic and strong. In her words, “I feel I’m in full form to go out there and get a job.”

A 42-year-old working in the financial sector of Los Angeles reports that she takes a combination of herbal ingredients to support “calmness”. And the list goes on. There is definitely a growing interest in herbs and nutritional supplements as seen in the rising sales of nutraceutical products against a backdrop of economic uncertainty.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, personal care products registered a 5.65 percent rise in sales in December 2008, when compared to the previous year. Consumer preference was towards natural personal care products.

Global sales of nutraceutical drinks have risen by 9 percent according to Zenith International’s 2009 Global Nutraceutical Drinks Report with North America having the largest share, 47 percent in volume, followed by Japan.

Another sector that has seen upward growth is sports nutrition, with energy drinks and high-protein formulas being the most popular along with proteolytic enzyme formulas. More people are seriously turning to preventive health measures such as diet, exercise and health supplements in an effort to avoid conventional medical treatments with its skyrocketing costs.

Not all sectors have experienced such jubilant growth, however. Organic foods and functional foods that are higher priced have seen a slump. Trends show that consumers would rather pay for natural/herbal supplements which target their specific health needs, rather than pay extra for organic or functional foods. The general perception is that health supplements provide more health value than organic or functional foods. It’s a matter of taking health into your own hands and being penny wise rather than pound foolish in these difficult times. Health supplements are seen as being penny wise against a doctor’s visitation which could prove to be pound foolish in hindsight.

Private Label Contract Manufacturing Stays on Top

We see more sales in private label manufacturing especially as the public continues to perceive private label brands as equal in quality to major selling brands which are often more expensive. Many chain stores have introduced innovative products that help people bite the economic crunch and stay on top of health issues. It is interesting to note that private label’s unit market shares rose 1.8 percent in the recession of 2001-2003, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association. Current statistics are likely to show even more favorable results for private label manufacturing.

Popular private label supplements include multi-vitamins particularly Vitamins C, D, E and K, probiotics, fish oil, anti-aging agents, green tea, diet and weight management products, anti-stress, sleep aid products, eye-health products, personal care products, fiber-based products, bone health products, sugar-control products, glucosamine/chondroitin and coenzyme Q10. “Free from” products are also being received well by consumers. For instance, gluten-free, or “free from bovine sources” are in popular demand, as are kosher and vegan products.

More Trends
Trends are moving towards products that are more convenient to use and eco-friendly. Individual sachet packaging, or easy-to-swallow gel capsules instead of tablets. Over-packaging of products can be seen as being wasteful in an economy that is sensitive to good stewardship of our earthly resources.

Global competition is a key concern. With countries like China and India aligning themselves to cGMPs and selling quality products at a fraction of the price, small and large key players in the nutraceutical industry may be forced to move their operating plants to third world countries in order to stay competitive.

What’s Cooking in the Nutraceutical World?
Hemp-derived supplements are creating a buzz. Hemp oil is believed to be a good source of omega 3 and omega 6, amino acids and antioxidants. Use of hemp supplements may benefit diabetics, those with respiratory illnesses, or suffering from arthritis. They are also believed to provide a sense of mental wellness.

According to the April 2009 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, research shows a combination of fish oil and walnut can help to reduce the risk of heart disease.

In December 2008, Rebaudioside A (reb A), a natural sweetner made from stevia plants, received a status of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. Reb A has very little calories and is ten times sweeter than normal sugar, and now can be used as a general purpose sweetener at 95% purity or above. This is great news for nutraceutical companies who can now formulate sweeter products with very little calories.

The recession has brought in a sense of global competitiveness. Start-up companies have bore the worse brunt. Albeit, many companies have cut down on controllable costs and lowered their prices to benefit the public, but at the end of the quarter, there is still a silver lining surrounding a dark cloud for the nutraceutical industry. Backed by scientific research, both the medical profession and consumers are now finding nutritional supplements are a better option for health. Unhealthy lifestyles and an aging population all contribute to the global growth of this industry. A new ray for an even better future awaits nutraceutical manufacturing as new healthcare reforms from the Obama administration, seek to encourage the use of complementary and alternative medicines.

Kevin A
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/popular-manufacturing-trends-in-todays-global-economy-937706.html