World of Health

Guest Post

In Britain, obesity has become a growing health problem for many people. With so many people suffering from with obesity problems, many opt for different kinds of weight loss procedures. Many obese people will be advised by medical professionals to consider a gastric band procedure to reduce their body weight.

Nevertheless, a gastric band procedure is just the beginning on a path to a healthy and happy life. The weight loss results will have to be maintained and in order to do this an individual will have to eat a healthy balanced diet and make sure they participate an active lifestyle with plenty of exercise.

As the stomach is reduced dramatically, the individual will no longer be able to eat the same sized portions they did before the operation. Every meal counts and should contain nutrients and vitamins the body needs to fight disease, repair muscle and grow.

Five Healthy Tips You Should Consider After A Gastric Band Operation…

Move those feet

Walking is a perfect exercise for someone recovering from a weight loss operation. It is not too strenuous and you can walk for a long period of time without really noticing the distance you have covered. This is great for burning calories and can be done when going to the local shops or walking the dog.

Food

The types of foods you eat are so important for you to maintain the weight loss results after surgery. Liquids with a high nutritional value are recommended during the primary stages after surgery. Try eating foods that have a low calories count and are packed with a healthy abundant of vitamins and nutrients.

Chew more

This may sound a little odd, but research has found that the longer you chew your food, the brain thinks that you are eating more than you actually are and feel full up quicker. This trick is an old one and will stop those unwanted cravings from returning.

Drink Plenty of Water

Make sure you hydrate your body with liquid. A recommended amount would be around 2.5 pints a day. This is advised throughout the day and alongside meals.

Part of Your 5 a Day

Make sure you eat a balanced diet that includes fruit and vegetables. Did you know that all fruit and vegetables can be included in your five a day portion? During the early stages after surgery you could liquidise your fruit in the form of smoothies to make sure you get your daily recommended amount.

Emotional Eating

Many people eat for many different reasons. Some people eat because they feel sad or find that it provides a comfort to fill out the void in their life.

Recognising why we eat is half the battle and by getting to the emotional side of eating we can then defeat the physical side of eating.

If you know you will overeat during certain periods of time, like in the evenings or after work when you are too tired to prepare a meal, make a note and make sure you have healthier alternatives close at hand. Remember, you should start these healthy recovery steps after 2 weeks.

Closing Words….

A gastric band provides an individual with quick weight loss results. But this is only a small part of your weight loss journey. Diet, exercise and aftercare are just as important as the surgery and many people need to realise this if they are to maintain their new figure. If you feel that you are interested in having cosmetic surgery then you must realise that surgery is only the beginning.

An Advertorial Feature

To truly heal depression, your whole lifestyle needs to get in on the act. You may’ve been prescribed medication – SSRIs are the most common – but it’s worth acknowledging that while this can significantly improve your mood, it doesn’t automatically cause you to adjust your own habits.

And if you seek lasting freedom from depression, anxiety, or the wrong sort of stress, you will need to examine your habits – honestly & without judgement – & perhaps make some changes.

From unhelpful thought patterns to burning yourself out at the gym, there are dozens of things you can tweak & adjust in order to create a lifestyle that supports your recovery. Here, we will focus on food.

Don’t worry – I’m not about to suggest a sudden, drastic change of diet. This can be so daunting that it doesn’t work at all. Instead, simply commit to making small, permanent changes over the next few months. Keep practising each one until it becomes a habit. It may seem insignificant at the time, but – when you look back in a year – you’ll recognise what substantial progress you’ve made.

Some unambiguously good foods

Researching healthy food can leave you in a headspin – there’s so much conflicting advice. But some foods are definitely better to eat than avoid:

Oily fish. Scientific studies agree that communities whose diet includes lots of oily fish (herring, mackerel, pilchards, salmon, sardines, trout, fresh tuna) tend to experience less depression. As far as we know, this is because these fish contain Omega 3, which is a natural anti-depressant.

Vitamin B foods (meat, turkey, tuna, brewer’s yeast, bananas, whole grains, lentils, tempeh, beans). Tests show a significant reduction in depressive symptoms when patients eat the vitamin B complex, which includes several different B vitamins that often work together.

Treat yourself, nicely

You may not even notice it, but if you regularly mistreat yourself, you may often be angry at yourself – at least on a sub-conscious level – for doing so. If you have internet access, or even just a TV, it’s pretty hard not to notice that sugar doesn’t help people.

Consumed regularly, it causes diabetes, painful teeth & gums, wrecked complexions, obesity, & sends your emotions spiking from high to low, as your body constantly scrabbles to balance your blood sugar level. As a method of subduing psychological pain, sugar does a very short-term patch-up job, & does nothing to permanently improve your life.

Getting “off” sugar is surprisingly easy. As soon as you start eating lots of protein & vegetables, the sugar cravings dwindle away. You’ll feel happier about eating proper meals because your body won’t be saying “enough calories already!”.

It’s also helpful to replace sugar with something helpful. By helpful, I mean that you can afford it, it’s not going to damage you in the long run, & it gives you a genuine sense that you’re treating yourself with respect. These days, I buy myself flowers instead of the 500g of milk chocolate that used to be my habit. The gratitude I feel towards myself each time is twofold: I get some nice flowers; I didn’t hurt myself.

It might seem small & maybe even silly to you now, but it really does feel different.

Suzie Saw* has experienced episodes of depression since her early teens, & now manages it using a carefully honed blend of cognitive behavioural therapy, meditation, excellent friends, plants & flowers, lots of vegetables, & Star Trek.

* A writer, not a psychiatric professional. Please seek medical advice if you suspect you or a loved one is suffering from depression.

Being healthy is important to maintain, not only physical, but mental health too. A healthy lifestyle ensures a long, fulfilled life and all you need to do is follow these 5 simple rules.

1. Exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle. However, this should suit your lifestyle; if you don’t enjoy running, why run marathons? If yoga doesn’t appeal to you, why stretch yourself into crazy positions. Choose exercise that you enjoy, otherwise it’s totally pointless. Use walking your dog for an hour everyday or use a zumba class as your weekly social with your friends. There are fun ways to keep fit, promise.

2. Eat healthily. Make sure you eat a balanced diet; this includes making sure you get your vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, essential fats and protein. Find new and interesting ways to get your 5-a-day into your daily meals, try adding blueberry’s to your cereal and lots of vegetables into your stir fry.

3. Do things that make you smile. Make sure you do something each day that you ˜want™ to do. Whether that be have half an hour to yourself to read a book or dance to your music with it turned up loud. It’s important for mental health to stay positive and to not let the everyday grind get you down.

4. Stay away from alcohol and cigarettes. Of course, this sounds harsher than it seems, but with cigarettes there are absolutely no benefits. They are linked lung cancer and a number of other health problems, not to mention making you smell, tainting your teeth and using up cash that could be spent on nicer things. With alcohol, make sure you drink in moderation. However, if meeting your friends for an after work drink makes you smile, then do it, just not every day.

5. Monitor your health. Make sure you know your body’s norms, so that if anything is slightly odd or strange you notice straight away. Even if it’s something as small as noticing your nails are weak or your skin’s dry. There are supplements and methods to fix these small body problems which you are able to obtain from http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/.

The Department for Health announced this week that the British population should ‘move more and eat less’ in order to tackle the rising obesity problem in Britain. This may sound like an obvious message to promote to the general public, however, the fact remains that we Brits have an ever expanding waistline and we don’t seem to take note of these vital messages!

The government’s biggest challenge will not be promoting public health messages and press releases but encouraging people to actually put its message into action. Most of us spend our working day sat down in front of a computer, with virtually no physical activity, and commute to and from work by car. This leaves us precious little time to fit the required level of activity that would help keep us at a healthy weight. We all know we should exercise more but, with limited time, it is often difficult to find the motivation.

The key to any successful and sustainable exercise regime is to make it part of your daily routine and make sure it is an activity you enjoy and do not find a chore; otherwise the novelty will soon wear off!  The local gym or a running club might be fine for those who take fitness seriously but, for others, the very thought of squeezing in to a tight lycra outfit and running on the treadmill next to a fitness fanatic is enough to bring them out in a cold sweat. Moreover, gym membership can be an expensive mistake, with most gym contracts tying you in for around £50 per month for 12 months. TGI data conducted a research study and found that only 27% of all gym members regularly go to the gym!

So what about dancing as a fun and active way of keeping fit? Regular viewers of BBC 1’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ will know that the professional dancers on the show are far from overweight and have extremely tightly toned physiques. The celebrity contestants on the show also seem to have taken advantage of the health benefits of dancing. All of the female stars from last year’s show radically changed body shape by slimming down and toning up. Pamela Stephenson said of the 2010 competition to the Daily Mail, ‘Strictly Come Dancing is the best fat club in the universe,’ after losing over two stone. Felicity Kendall and Patsy Kensit also slimmed down by two dress sizes. It is not just the women either; former Eastender Ricky Groves shed over two stone when he took part in 2009.

So which sort of dancing is a good choice? Latin dancing such as the Argentine Tango seems to have much better results than slower types of dance such as ballroom and swing. Tango is much more energetic with its fast paced movements. The high energy nature of the dance not only burns more calories and raises the heart rate; the bending, twisting and lunging moves of the Tango are fantastic for toning up legs and bums, as well as helping improve flexibility and posture.

The social nature of the tango with its group style dancing classes can make it an extremely fun way of keeping fit as well as being a social event as you can learn as a group with friends or make new friends at the Tango classes. This will keep you going back time and time again! The rhythmic nature of the music can be addictive, and further good news is that many Tango dancers also find it an extremely therapeutic way of also improving their general mental well being. This is because to dance the Tango successfully, the dance requires intense concentration to ensure mastering the quick footwork; meaning that you can completely focus and shut off from the stresses and strains of busy daily life.

One of the best ways today of getting a message across is to release a hard hitting short video that is thought provoking, maybe slightly shocking but really gets the message across. Long used as a marketing medium, other ‘commodities’, such as charities, are also using videos to get their point across, and a new short video from Cancer Research UK certainly pulls no punches.

This animation deals with something most of us have, belly fat, aka a spare tyre. Most of us think nothing of it, despite moaning occasionally the majority of us have a flab on our bellies than any other part of out bodies. These fat cells are far from innocent though, as this video explains.

These seemingly innocent fat cells quickly turn into something called ‘active fat’ which can be very dangerous and the cause of such diseases as cancer, type 2diabetes and heart disease. Three leading health charities have got together to tell us how to beat these vicious active fat cells and this is the first video in a series.

The first step is to get an accurate waist measurement, and it explains exactly how to do this as many of us are confused as to where we should actually measuring. The video tells us that your waist should be measured between the bottom rib and the hip to achieve the most accurate measurement.

It also gives the website address www.activefat.org to check where our waist measurements place us in terms of health, and there are also lots of other help and advice on there regarding fighting back against active belly fat. This is video isn’t pretty, and its not meant to be, as it gets across the message of the possible results of carrying around this belly fat and not doing anything about it.

The hormone oestrogen “fuels” a large proportion of breast cancer cases, and overweight women tend to have higher levels of oestrogen, heightening their risk of developing and dying from breast cancer, according to Will Williams, scientific advisor for the All About Weight organisation.

Mr Williams was commenting on an Oxford University study funded by Cancer Research UK, involving thousands of post-menopausal women, which has revealed “just what a huge influence your weight has on your risk of developing breast cancer”.

Mr Williams warned that the study “quantifies obesity as being the most important of the three modifiable risk factors for breast cancer – the other two being alcohol and smoking”.

In the British Journal of Cancer the study researchers explain that one in eight women in the UK develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and it has been ascertained that in most cases the cancer is down to hormone levels. Women with high levels of oestrogen and testosterone have a far higher risk of breast cancer – and the levels of these hormones are increased if there is too much fat stored in the body.

“It was found that women with a BMI (body mass index) of 25 or more had higher levels of hormones and also a higher risk of certain breast cancers,” said Mr Williams.

It is not only overweight women at risk, according to Mr Williams. The excess fat carried by men also disrupts hormones, reducing levels of testosterone, and therefore overweight men are also at higher risk of developing breast cancer.

“Scientists now accept that fat tissue is not a benign energy store, as was previously believed. When you carry a lot of fat it functions as a very active endocrine organ, which means it produces hormones and other signalling molecules that promote inflammation. This not only contributes to a variety of health problems, but also can make it easier to keep gaining weight, and ever harder to lose it.”

Losing potentially deadly fat is, however, possible at any age, and the benefits extend into all realms of life beyond improving health and lowering the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease according to  Mr Williams.

“To lose weight you must consume fewer calories than you expend. This means a low calorie diet has the largest effect on weight loss initially, but exercise also has a vital role to play,” said Mr Williams, who is a registered dietitian.

He explained that the best approach to losing weight was to keep motivated, and this needs a structured programme balancing a low calorie diet with supportive mentoring and appropriate physical activity.

“As the pounds drop off, so motivation and health improves – it’s a win-win situation,” he said. “I hope the latest breast cancer research will encourage all those people at risk to take that first step towards a healthier future.”

For more information about how to lose weight quickly, safely and successfully visit www.allaboutw8.co.uk.

An Advertorial Post

If you want to remain healthy or get back into shape, then exercise is usually the best remedy prescribed by doctors. If you want to avoid any health problems then a workout is a great solution to tone your figure and build your confidence.

Irrespective of the workout programme you use to stay active, whether this is television-based pro training regime or recommended by a health publication, you can stay on top of your game with the following workout tips.

When beginning your weight loss project, it is important to focus on your long-term goals and what you want to achieve from your calorie-burning fitness programme. By setting a reachable target, this will certainly help to motivate you as you put the effort in.

Try to stick to a routine, enabling your body to become accustomed to the challenging sessions as well as the periods of rest in between. Be good to your body as you plan out when you will be going jogging or attending your aerobics classes.

Be sure to drink plenty of water to remain fully hydrated during your workout. This is crucial as it will aid you in burning those calories even quicker as well as keeping your body working as it should. An intake of a glass of water every half hour is recommended.

As well as sticking to a fitness regime and watching what you eat on a daily and weekly basis, there are other things you can do to keep your weight in check. One of the most popular means of reaching this target in recent times has been weight loss pills. This is because these weight loss tablets can work with your body to reduce body fat and along with regular exercise and a balanced diet, can help to speed up this process.

Exercise balls are one of the most underrated fitness tools on the current market. Not only are they cheap to buy, they are also extremely easy to store in your home and let’s face it, these are important factors when you are buying exercise equipment for use within your home.

Not only can exercise balls help you to develop great muscle tone across your whole body. There are so many other benefits that can be achieved using this simple piece of fitness equipment. By using a low impact workout you can also help to improve your cardiovascular system and overall body flexibility.

Many people also use an exercise ball as a health aid to assist with back problems as the ball supports your lower back as you do your exercises. Some people with back problem find that they are prescribed an exercise ball to carry out their recovery program. Physiotherapists have been using exercise balls as a treatment aid for years.

You may have heard of a birth ball? They are used by many pregnant women in the lead up to their due date. The birth ball is exactly the same as an exercise ball other than the material is slightly thicker (to support the extra weight presumably). Many pregnant women find it very uncomfortable to sit in the later stages of their pregnancy and the ball allows their weight to be distributed evenly and it also supports their lower back. Many women find that the only time they are comfortable is when they are sat on their ball. This is mainly because the exercise ball helps to promote good posture and this goes for everyone, not only pregnant ladies. Birth balls are basically an expensive exercise ball and you will find that many pregnant women simply use exercise balls instead.

Before you begin using your exercise ball there are a few very important things that you check first:

• Ensure the exercise ball is inflated to the correct size for your height and weight (your instruction booklet will provide you with the details)
• Check that your hips are level with or just slightly higher than your knees when you sit on the exercise ball
• If you are over the prescribed weight for the exercise ball do not put yourself at risk by using it. There are stronger balls available (similar to birth balls) and these can help with any of the exercises you wish to carry out.
Exercise balls can be used for a wide variety of fitness programs including the following:
• Weight Training – the exercise ball can be used as an equivalent to a weight bench and it will add difficulty to the movements and will make your leg, bum and abs muscles work extra hard.
• Abdominal Training – many people choose to do twists, crunches and other popular exercises on their exercise ball. These types of exercises put more pressure on your muscles so this can help with developing a six pack or when working on your abs.
• Yoga and Pilates – the majority of Pilates and yoga guides out today are heavily reliant on you having an exercise ball. They will show you relaxation techniques to use with the ball as well as workouts.

If you have children you will find that they absolutely love your exercise ball. They will want to be out playing with it all the time. They may have 10 balls of their own but the exercise ball will seem giant to them and will prove a great exercise incentive.

If you want to improve your overall muscle tone, and your abs and / or develop a 6 pack then an exercise ball is for you and the best bit is that there are a multitude of videos freely available on internet sites that you can use to provide you with detailed workouts to ensure you get your desired results.

Although an exercise ball cannot build up your fitness in the way a treadmilll could, it can help you tone up for summer quickly.

Your diet and the amount of exercise you do are the two most important factors that affect your weight. Food supplements and slimming products may help you lose weight but the serious pounds will only drop if you take serious care of your diet and you begin to take regular exercise.

Watching your diet doesn’t equate not eating, calorie counting or overloading on reduced fat products in order to allow for occasional indulgences such as Pringles and biscuits, it needs perpetual self-check and balance. However, as it is very likely that you’ll be tempted to buy sliming products, below we provide some basic advice that will help you choose better.

Before you acquire them

Consult your doctor. It is very likely that they will advise you to avoid them, but if you explain that you are determined to use one behind their back, they may recommend some or at least tell you what to avoid. Your doctor can check and understand the ingredients of each slimming product on the internet and advise you as to whether they are particularly suitable for you. You may for instance suffer from hypertension, headaches, low blood pressure, stomach upsets and so on and certain ingredients may be harmful.

Choosing the shop

It is advisable to choose a store that you trust and where you can openly discuss with the staff.

The Label

The product you acquire should contain the following information. If it doesn’t it may be illegal:

• Name and description of the product, e.g. pill, liquid etc
• Weight of the product
• Ingredients and amount % per serving
• Any ingredients that may cause allergies
• Sell by date
• Recommended usage (RDA)
• Warnings
• Barcode

Usage

Once you’ve acquired it, keep it out of the reach of children and preferably in a dark and dry place. If you begin to have any side effects such as high fever, trembling, dizziness, instability, nervousness, itching, diarrhoea, consult your doctor immediately and never be afraid to admit that you are using slimming products. Your life is more important than your doctor’s opinion of you.

We all know that we should eat healthier and make wise food choices. We’ve been told the importance of eating a diet that has plenty of lean protein, is moderate in carbohydrates, is low in fat and cholesterol yet also includes the right fats. That is a lot of information to keep straight and sometimes we just want to reach for the first tasty thing we see regardless of whether or not it is good for our bodies. The good news is certain foods are not just tasty but actually quite indulgent and are full of health benefits.

Oysters might bring to mind holidays near the sea or special romantic occasions. Oysters are known for their aphrodisiac effect because they are rich in amino acids that can increase levels of sex hormones. Their high zinc content can also contribute to the production of testosterone but oysters can improve more than just your sex life. Oysters are rich in iron, calcium and vitamin A. Eating oysters can improve vision.

Oysters are low in fat, cholesterol and calories yet high in protein. Eating a diet that is high in protein helps a lot of people control their appetites helping them to control their weight. In addition, the protein in oysters is high in tyrosine, an amino acid that helps the brain handle stress and regulate mood. With so many benefits, it sounds like your doctor should write you a prescription for oysters but that won’t be necessary. Oysters are a wonderful addition to gourmet gift baskets and a delectable treat to share with your special someone.

Salmon is another delicious food that perfect for gourmet hampers or or a special occasion and also has many health benefits. Salmon is also a great source of protein and although it is higher in fat than other types of fish, the Omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of a healthy diet. Omega 3 fatty acids help the brain function properly and help combat depression bipolar disorders. Getting enough omega 3 fatty acids also helps protect against heart attack and strokes and reduces the risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Eating salmon is a delightful way to get a healthy dose of healthy Omega 3 fatty acids. Eating right can be quite enjoyable and your body will thank you.