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Many states have a ban on indoor smoking yet amazingly more college-age students are hanging out in smoke-filled lounges. It’s called Hookah smoking and it’s a dangerous trend that is growing more popular among adolescents. Made famous by the pipe-smoking Caterpillar in the 1951 animated Disney film, Alice in Wonderland; hookah pipe smoking has since been glamorized by the media and other forms of popular culture.
The use of hookah water pipes originated in India, but is much more widely accepted as a Middle Eastern custom. After making its way to the states in the 1960′s and 70′s, hookah found its niche; strategically gaining appeal by marketing to the college-aged crowd. Unfortunately, in recent years, the smoke has spread to high school students (despite laws that limit the purchase of tobacco to those over the age of 18) who have become preoccupied with this risky habit.
With nearly 10 hookah lounges within a 10-mile radius of San Diego State University alone, it’s obvious that inhaling flavored smoke is a popular activity among the college crowd. John Smith, a former hookah enthusiast, gave me an inside look at the hookah lounge phenomena. He explains that hookah lounges work similarly to a restaurant, “You go in, pick a flavor, order it and then they mix it for you and bring it to your table.”
Not only can you find ways to participate in hookah through lounges and bars, many people eventually purchase their own water pipe for party entertainment as well as household recreational use.
Sadly, there are several myths that sugarcoat the risks associated with the smoking of water pipe tobacco, which mislead its users about this hazardous craze.
Myth #1: “Smoking water pipe tobacco is good for you because it has fruit in it”
The fruit flavoring in Hookah tobacco known as “shisha” is just that; flavoring. Therefore it provides no nutritional benefit. Some may argue that the places in which they purchase their shisha use all natural fruit as opposed to flavoring. However, that doesn’t eliminate the fact that while smoking, you are inhaling cancer-causing chemicals.
Myth #2: “It makes me feel relaxed”
How does smoking make Smith feel? “Relaxed.” Yes, like smoking cigarettes, smoking hookah can provide relaxing sensations. Unfortunately, smoking for relaxation is counterproductive. Smoking has been linked to cases of hypertension and high blood pressure, and in no way does that exclude hookah smoking.
Myth #3: “At least, I’m not smoking cigarettes”
Believe it or not, the flavored shisha contains even more nicotine than its cigarette counterpart. In fact, studies have shown that hookah tobacco contains nearly 1.25 mg more nicotine than cigarettes. One cigarette usually lasts only 10 minutes in comparison the average hookah session can last several hours. Smith claims to have smoked at most two times a week for up to three hours at a time. In terms of tar and nicotine, that’s comparable to six packs of cigarettes per week.
That’s associated with chemical dependence, but the psychological dependence could be even more damaging. So, while many people use hookah smoking as a method to unwind after a long day, the biological and recreational stimuli that accompany this activity could become addictive.
Myth #4: “The water filters the smoke and takes out any chemicals”
The water jar located at the base of the Hookah is intended to cool and humidify the smoke before it travels through the hose into the smoker’s mouth. While this does eliminate the risk of burning the lungs, it does not take into account all of the carcinogens found in the tobacco such as tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals associated with cancer.
In comparison to cigarettes, hookah users can be exposed to 36 times more tar and approximately 15 times more carbon monoxide.
Myth #5: “I’m not smoking the entire time, I’m sharing it with my friends”
While that may be true, social smokers like Smith are exposing themselves to dangers other than tobacco such as diseases associated with the sharing of mouthpieces. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, sharing mouthpieces during hookah smoking can lead to infectious diseases such as hepatitis and tuberculosis.
Unfortunately, believing these myths has only added to the appeal of hookah smoking as a trendy popular social activity. As with any decision you make concerning your health, it is important to be informed of the risks and benefits to your body.
Editor’s Note: John Smith’s name has been changed to protect his identity.
The Komen 3-Day Race for a Cure started in San Diego this weekend. Live Fit Magazine’s Phoebe Chongchua caught up with some of the hikers and survivors to see what inspires them to do the 60-mile hike.
Sadly, many female widows know this all too well–women live longer than men. Now, researchers are searching to understand why. The answer may be in their genes, according to a new research paper published in the Journal BioEssays.
It seems that women live longer for many reasons including the fact that they tend to have a stronger
immune system. This makes them have a lower incidence of cancer. Men have a
“two- to five-fold greater risk of developing the disease,” according to Fox News.
This may lead to a verbal boxing match, but researchers also believe that women live longer than men because they tend to be better able to survive trauma and may get less seriously ill from viral and bacterial infections. Some reports indicate that women are tough and are as much as 14% more likely to survive a traumatic injury than men.
The paper from the Ghent University in Belgium found that women live longer than men, in part, thanks to two X chromosomes which seem to be the reason they have greater immunity to diseases.
Short strands of RNA (which are related to DNA and can carry important biological effects) are the key to greater health and are encoded on the X chromosome. These micro-RNAs can act as a silencer (causing it to become inactive) on immunity genes on a man’s X chromosome, according to the research. This leaves men in a weak position to fight off disease. However, women have a back-up. The second X chromosome that women carry helps them compensate should their first X chromosome and immunity genes be silenced.
The new research lays to rest the centuries-old saying that called women the “weaker sex”. It appears men can’t compete with the extra X chromosome that women carry, which is why researchers believe women live longer than men.
“We believe this is due to the X chromosome which in humans contains 10 percent of all microRNAs detected so far in the genome,” said Claude Libert from Ghent University.
Many questions still remain and certainly lifestyle and environment are influential on how long any of us will live regardless of whether we’re a man or a woman. But for now, researchers are confident that genetic makeup plays a role in the reason why women live longer than men.
Editor’s note: photo credit Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Battling the bulge can seem like a never-ending fight but if you want to lose weight faster, don’t fight it. What? You say. Yes, resistance to your weight will keep you locked into the weight you don’t want. The saying “what you think about grows bigger” applies to your weight too.
So, if you want to lose weight faster, think about it less. However, when you do think about losing weight, think and make healthy choices. Here are a few suggestions.
Park it and walk. Many of us live close to retail stores and restaurants but, somehow, when it comes time to head off to dinner or the store, we automatically jump in our cars and make the whole 10-minute drive. Just think, we could’ve made a healthier choice–opted to tie the sports shoes and get in a brisk walk.
This goes for shopping malls as well. Ever find yourself circling a parking lot because you don’t want to park more than 20 feet away? Or how about this one. You head to the gym but are discouraged because all the front-row parking is taken. Yeah, it’s kind of habit for many of us. We want to park in the closest spot and at the same time we want to lose weight faster than we have been. A bit of a catch-22, I’d say!
Skip the cart. Bring the reusable bags. When you go shopping give your body a bit of a workout. A lot of women, especially, tend to skip lifting weights as they age; yet this is vital for strong healthy bones and muscles. It’s also important to build muscle to lose weight faster. Muscle increases your metabolism and causes you to burn fat and lose weight faster. Carrying your groceries around the store and to the car can help you keep the muscle you have. No, it’s not going to replace the weight-lifting workout but it does help. Those bags can get heavy. So, don’t overdo it but do pile it in and give those biceps a shopping workout.
Find time to meditate. You want to lose weight faster and I’m telling you to sit on your bottom? Go figure! The body needs rest and relaxation. If you’re over-worked, stressed out, and completely worn out, you won’t lose weight faster. In fact, you’re likely to add weight faster.
Good, strong, healthy workouts are vital but, make no mistake, so are good, long, restful periods. So, when your body is telling you it’s time to relax–just do it! Sometimes it’s your mind that really needs the break and it’s very important to not put off those needs. Mental breaks will keep you tuned up and ready to give it your all during your next workout which translates into helping you to lose weight faster. Frame of mind matters just as much as doing the exercises.
Get outside for your workout. Gym exercises are fantastic but nothing beats the great outdoors. When you exercise outside your body is forced to constantly adjust to the exercise. If you’re hiking, for instance, the terrain is never the same. Those subtle changes cause your muscles to respond differently each time you hike. Just don’t be lazy; pick up the pace, break a sweat and work that body!
I love doing about an hour beach walk and hike. You never know what you’ll see. What you run across is enough to make you get hooked on the great outdoors for your next workout. And the more you’re happily hooked, the more you’ll lose weight faster!
While a romantic candlelit dinner with soft music won’t hurt to get you in the mood, eating certain foods can indeed foster a desire for intimacy and play a major part in your sexuality.
Research has shown that some of the best-known edible aphrodisiacs contain certain vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy reproductive system—and perhaps a healthy libido. Medical science can’t guarantee that ingesting these foods will increase your desire—and certainly what works for one person may not work for another—but it could be a lot of fun for you and your partner to experiment with these tasty treats.
Barring any food allergies, I highly recommend that your next romantic dinner include some of these items:
Almonds/Nuts: A symbol of fertility throughout the ages, they are a prime source of essential fatty acids, providing building blocks for hormone production. The aroma of almonds is purported to arouse passion in women. For a special after-dinner treat, try serving almond paste, also known as marzipan, in the shape of suggestive fruits.
Asparagus: Asparagus contains high amounts of vitamin E, considered one of the sex hormone stimulants, as well as potassium. Vitamin E increases blood and oxygen flow to the genitals and potassium is important for healthy sex hormone production. The suggestive shape of asparagus can help get you in the mood, too. To achieve the optimal aphrodisiac effect, I always recommend that you include this delicious, healthy vegetable in your diet whenever you can.
Avocado: Because of its shape, the ancient Aztecs named this fruit ahuacatl, or testicle. Virgin Aztec girls were forbidden from going outdoors during the harvest of avocados. Avocados contain high levels of folic acid, which helps to metabolize proteins, providing the body with more energy. They also contain vitamin B6, which increases testosterone production, as well as potassium, which helps regulate a woman’s thyroid gland.
Bananas: This popular fruit contains bromelain enzyme, believed to increase libido in men. It also contains high amounts of potassium and B vitamins including riboflavin, which increases the body’s overall energy levels.
Carrots: Carrots are rich in vitamin A, a nutrient needed for sex hormone production. For men, vitamin A is vital for sperm production.
Celery: Celery contains a powerful substance known as androsterone, which is an odorless aphrodisiac found in male perspiration that has been shown to be a sexual stimulator in certain women.
Chili: Capsaicin, the spicy substance that gives chili peppers their kick, as well as curries and other spicy foods prepared with them, stimulates nerve endings to release epinephrine, a chemical that causes increased heart rate and possibly triggers the release of endorphins, natural opiates released from our bodies that cause a pleasurable feeling and natural high.
Chocolate: If you’ve ever wondered why you receive an ornate box chockfull of utterly decadent chocolates on Valentine’s Day, your partner may know more than you think. Chocolate has been shown to contain a stimulant, phenylethylamine, which induces a sense of well-being and excitement that is conducive to lovemaking. The natural caffeine in chocolate also provides an added boost by giving you more energy.
Eggs: Eggs have long been considered a symbol of fertility. In ancient Greece, the use of sparrow eggs as an aphrodisiac was prevalent, and the sparrow is also associated with Aphrodite. In India, the Kama Sutra lists sparrow eggs as a potency builder. In many Asian countries, fertilized eggs are also thought to strengthen libido. Eggs are also a good source of cholesterol, a needed element in the production of sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Recent research on eggs suggests that consuming them in moderation does not increase the risk of heart disease.
Figs: A halved fig is thought to resemble a female’s vagina and is traditionally considered a sexual stimulant. Figs are very high in amino acids, which are critical to increasing libido and boosting sexual stamina. For a man to break open a fig and eat it in front of his lover was once considered a powerfully erotic act. In Italy, fresh Black Mission figs are served in a cool bowl of water and decadently eaten with the fingers to “set the mood.”
Garlic: The “Heat” in garlic is said to stir sexual desires. Garlic has been used for many centuries to boost immune functions and cure conditions from the common cold to heart ailments. Make sure you and your partner eat it together—and in moderation, to equalize the sometimes strong aroma effused from the skin after consumption.
Mangoes, Peaches, and Strawberries: All of these are high in vitamin C, important for making sex hormones and chemical neurotransmitters for the brain.
Oysters: Oysters have long been considered the food of love. As legend has it, the famous lover, Casanova, ate dozens of oysters a day, once even seducing a vestal virgin by sliding slippery suggestive oyster from his lips to hers. Oysters contain high amounts of zinc, a mineral used in the production of testosterone and sperm production. They also contain dopamine, a hormone known to increase libido.
Pumpkin: Recent neurological research has shown that the aroma of pumpkin pie is a sexual stimulant, increasing penile blood flow in men by 40 percent. (Unfortunately, this same response in blood flow is not seen in women.) Pumpkin seeds are one of the best vegan sources of zinc, which for men is crucial for potency and in preventing prostate problems. Zinc is also a critical factor in boosting the immune system in both men and women.
So, the next time you want to get you or your partner “in the mood,” serve some of these foods to see what the possibilities are!
What can fish do for you? So, Bugs Bunny says it’s carrots, but a study reports yet another good reason to eat fish. The report shows that for women whose diet was rich in omega-3 fatty acids (commonly found in fish) were at significantly lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
The Harvard Women’s Health Study followed 39,876 women in midlife. In 1993 at the start of the study, all the participants filled out detailed food-frequency questionnaires and after about 10 years of follow-up, it was discovered that 235 of the women had developed macular degeneration. This is a progressive eye disease that is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly.
However women who reported eating one or more servings of fish per week, according to the analysis in Archives of Ophthalmology, were 42 percent less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (A.M.D.) than those who ate less than a serving each month. The data was adjusted by researchers for other factors such as smoking which can lead to the disease. It appears the most benefit comes from eating dark-meat fish: think salmon, sardines, bluefish, swordfish, and mackerel. Canned tuna also produced good results.
The lead author and associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. William G. Christen, told The New York Times, “We know that inflammatory processes are involved in A.M.D., and the omega-3 long-chain fatty acids do have an anti-inflammatory effect”.
The next time you think “I wish I were a size 2″, consider this. The average US woman’s weight is 168 pounds.
So if you’re wanting to lose weight, unsatisfied with where you are today, here’s a tip. Embrace your weight and looks in this moment. Be thankful for where you are right now. Then make a plan for change but one that comes from a supportive, loving attitude.
You can achieve your ideal weight but you cant achieve your dreams from an attitude of dislike or a feeling of lack.
The more we concentrate on resisting something like our weight, the more the problem persists.
Embrace your body physique as it is today but plan for tomorrow. In other words, dreams and goals are vital to living well but fueling them with a hatred for where you are today will only drive a wedge between where you are and what you want to achieve.
There is certainly no short supply of diets on the market. Everywhere you look it seems a new diet I popping up and its originator is vying for a stake in the marketplace.
For the first-time ever, U.S. News, with the help of 22 health experts, has ranked diets.
The panel of experts included nutritionists and specialists in diabetes, heart health, human behavior, and weight loss.
The panel was tasked with reviewing detailed assessments prepared by U.S. News of 20 diets and rating each diet in seven categories, including short- and long-term weight loss, ease of compliance, safety, and nutrition.
Here are the 20 Best Diets by Name:
Atkins
DASH Diet
Eco-Atkins
Glycemic Index Diet
Jenny Craig
Mayo Clinic Diet
Medifast
Mediterranean Diet
Nutrisystem
Ornish Diet
Paleo Diet
Raw Food Diet
Slim-Fast
South Beach Diet
TLC Diet
Vegan Diet
Vegetarian Diet
Volumetrics
Weight Watchers
Zone Diet
Best Diets by Category
Low-Carbohydrate Diets
Atkins
Eco-Atkins
Medifast
Paleo Diet
South Beach Diet
Low-Fat Diets
Ornish Diet
TLC Diet
Low-Calorie Diets
Medifast
Nutrisystem
Raw Food Diet
Slim-Fast
Balanced Diets
DASH Diet
Glycemic Index Diet
Jenny Craig
Mayo Clinic Diet
Mediterranean Diet
Nutrisystem
Slim-Fast
Vegan Diet
Vegetarian Diet
Volumetrics
Weight Watchers
Zone Diet
Best Diets Overall
Click to read more about the specific diets.
See the latest natural products from ice cream to seaweed baths to edible skincare! Live Fit Magazine takes a look at the Natural Products Expo 2011. The Expo is a great place to sample new foods, earth-friendly products, see books and DVDs, and talk with experts in the field.
Video produced by Live Fit Films.
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