Can I Go Tanning With Diabetes?

Diabetes and Tanning

If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes or are susceptible to cold sores, be aware that these conditions can be aggravated through exposure to ultraviolet radiation from tanning devices, sunlamps, or natural sunlight. In addition, your skin may be more sensitive to artificial light or sunlight if you use certain medications, for example, antihistamines, tranquilizers or birth control pills. Your tanning salon may keep a file with information on your medical history, medications, and treatments. Make sure you update it as necessary.

Protecting Yourself

Limit your exposure to avoid sunburn. If you tan with a device, ask whether the manufacturer or the salon staff recommend exposure limits for your skin type. Set a timer on the tanning device that automatically shuts off the lights or somehow signals that you’ve reached your exposure time. Remember that exposure time affects burning and that your age at the time of exposure is important relative to burning.

Knowing your Tanning Lotion

Some suntanning products don't contain sunscreen. It only takes a few bad sunburns to raise the risk of skin cancer, and skin damage builds up over years even when no burning occurs. This is why sunscreen, which blocks UVA and UVB, is recommended. The FDA has expressed concern about suntanning products without sunscreen, and encourages consumers to check the labels for SPF protection.

Sunscreen is regulated by the FDA as an OTC drug. Look for products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. The higher the number, the better the protection. Sunscreen should be liberally applied to skin 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and then every two hours after that.

Tanning Salons

It's true that most sun lamps emit mainly UVA radiation, and that these so­called "tanning rays" are less likely to cause a sunburn than UVB radiation from sunlight. But, contrary to the claims of some tanning parlors, that doesn't make them safe. UVA rays have a suspected link to malignant melanoma, and, like UVB rays, they also may be linked to immune system damage.

Tanning Safely

We urge you to find out more about self tanning. You can self tan with a Sunless tanning lotion. Sunless tanning lotion is a tanning lotion that gives you that great tan without the dangers of UVA and UVB! Find out more about Self Tanning!

Are You at Risk for High Blood Pressure?

Do you know what the risks are of high blood pressure? How do you know if you are at risk? There are many different causes for high blood pressure. In this article you will find out if you are at risk and how you can help prevent and control your high blood pressure.

Your blood pressure is high if it is over 120/80, which is the normal level of blood pressure. There are many everyday lifestyle habits that raise your pressure that you might not be aware of. One of those is being overweight. If you are overweight you are at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.

Try to start a healthy diet or start exercising. Even losing a measly ten pounds can help you drastically and keep your blood pressure normal. Physical inactivity is also another lifestyle habit that causes many Americans to develop high blood pressure.

If you are not very physically active, consider starting to be. You can easily adapt exercise to your everyday routine; you just have to plan it out. Try to do at least thirty minutes of exercise a day. This will help lower or control your blood pressure.

Many people are not concerned with what they eat, yet they want to be healthy. These two do not go together. If you want to stay healthy, you have to watch what you eat. Having unhealthy eating habits can cause high blood pressure as well. Try to eat less salt or sodium and more vegetables and fruits.

Using tobacco products is a great risk for developing high blood pressure. Smoking is a very common habit among the world and many of these people might have high blood pressure and not even know it. There are many ways to help rid the habit of nicotine or use of any tobacco product. 

Every one is stressed at some point during their lives. You might be stressed every day or just once in awhile. Whatever the case may be, you can still develop high blood pressure through stress. If you find yourself stressed more often than not, consider some relaxation techniques. Meditation is a great way to start. If this doesn't work, consider something different.

Drinking alcohol also causes high blood pressure. Do you drink quite a bit? More than two drinks for a man and more than one for a woman can raise their blood pressure. If you drink more than this, consider cutting back. Once again, if you are addicted to drinking, or smoking, you can find many ways to help you quit.

These are very common lifestyle habits that cause high blood pressure. If you are at risk for high blood pressure or already have it, consider purchasing a home blood pressure monitoring device. This can help ensure that whatever habits you are changing or modifying are working.

Sometimes this change is not enough. You might have to use medication or incorporate medication with your exercise routine, etc. The best way to know this is to visit your doctor. Ask any and all questions you might be concerned about. They will happy to assist you in helping you have a healthier and active lifestyle.

Natural Remedies for Menopause

Do you believe that you are suffering from menopause?  If you are, you should know that you are not alone.  As uncomfortable and as life altering as many of the menopause symptoms can be, it is a natural occurrence that many women experience, typically around the age of forty.  As hard as it can be for some women to associate menopause with good news, there is.  That good news is that it is relatively easy for you and other women to treat the symptoms of menopause and you can do so with many natural remedies, also commonly referred to as home remedies.

Eating properly is an ideal way to relieve many of the common symptoms of menopause.  For some women, it can be difficult to change their eating habits at this point in their lives, but many are pleased with the results.  Foods rich in calcium and vitamin D are recommended.  Although vitamin supplements can be taken, many menopause sufferers find the best success when adding additional calcium rich foods, such as milk and cheese, into their diets.  Lots of water should be consumed and caffeine consumption should be limited.

Beet juice is also effective in providing those suffering from menopause with relief.  This natural remedy for menopause has been proven successful on a number of occasions.  Although you will find some variances when researching beet juice and menopause, most recommend consuming around sixty milliliters a day, two to three times daily.  Sugar can be added for taste, although this additional step is optional.  

Soy is also an ideal and natural way to reduce or treat menopause symptoms.  Soy is an ideal method of treatment for many, as it comes in a number of different formats.  For example, soy foods, such as soy milk can be purchased.  Drink mixes are also available for purchase both on and offline.  

As for natural herbs, black cohosh is recommended for those suffering from the symptoms of menopause.  Black cohosh, like many other natural remedies for menopause has been proven effective in many studies; however, other additional studies have had inconclusive results.  With that being said, many claim that black cohosh can help to reduce hot flashes.  Hot flashes are one of the most common symptom complaints from menopause sufferers.  In addition to hot flashes, black cohosh has also reportedly helps with sweating, another common menopause symptom.

Another natural way to relieve the symptoms of menopause involves getting proper exercise.  Aerobic exercises have been proven in numerous studies to help with hot flashes.  Although aerobic exercises are recommended, it is important not to underestimate the important activity of walking.  In keeping with exercises, many women suffering from menopause have seen success with yoga.  Although there are many disputes associated with the claim of yoga, there are a number of yoga postures which claims state that they specifically target many menopause symptoms, including hot flashes.

In addition to hot flashes, insomnia is another complaint made by those suffering from menopause.  If you are finding it difficult to fall asleep at night and if you are suffering from menopause, there are a numbers of steps that you can take to see relief, steps which should make it easier for you to fall asleep at night.  These simple steps involve creating a nighttime routine for yourself, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and sleeping pills, as well as keeping your bedroom at a cool and comfortable temperature.  Although not as natural as the above mentioned natural remedies for menopause, these steps may be able to help you get a good nights sleep, even when suffering from menopause.

The above mentioned steps and natural remedies for menopause are just a few of the many that you may want to try, if you find that your menopause symptoms are unbearable.  As a reminder, although these natural and home remedies have proven successful for many, there are no guarantees that they will provide you with relief.  However, since these remedies are natural, typically no harm can from giving them a try, as long as you keep your allergies, should you have any, in mind.

The Antioxidising Benefits of Green Tea

People have been drinking green tea for centuries now. This is probably one of the oldest beverage preparation in history. Have you ever wondered why people drink green tea until now? Well, studies have proven that drinking green tea has a lot of health benefits. For one, it is well known to have antioxidising benefits. The animal kingdom needs oxygen in order to survive and that includes the humans.

Body processes need oxygen. This element is abundantly found in the air and with proper intake, it burns the glucose and fat present in the body to supply the needed heat and energy. So you see, oxygen is an essential element needed by the body but anything in excess is harmful and too much oxygen can also have negative effects. 

The byproducts of oxidation are free radicals. Sometimes, other molecules interact with the free radicals and so these molecules are also turned into free radicals which can disrupt the normal functioning of the said molecules. If this continue to happen, it could lead to tissue damage and finally, cell destruction. 

There are even times when the abnormal functioning of molecules can lead to certain degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, artherosclerosis, cancer, heart diseases, and Parkinson's disease. Humans are quite fortunate because their bodies are equipped with the right defenses in order to prevent the free radical's harmful effects.

By eating a lot of fruits and vegetables which contain antioxidants, the free radicals are prevented from causing any harm to the human body. Aside from fruits and vegetables, you can also get antioxidants from green tea. As you can see, by drinking green tea and eating the right amount of fruits and veggies, you can prevent diseases and cell damage. 

The tea plant or Camellia Sinensis is popular for its antioxidants which fights diseases. The Chinese people have been using the tea plant for centuries and you can usually find green tea in every household. The Chinese believe that the tea is a very healthy beverage whic promotes good health and well being. Aside from China, green tea is also widely used in Thailand, India, and Japan.

Traditional Chinese and Indian medicines usually contain green tea because it can serve as a stimulant, an astringent (to heal wounds and control bleeding), as a diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), and an agent that can improve the heart's health. Green tea is rich in polycatechins which is responsible for the many health benefits. The tea also contains other ingredients which further enhance its antioxidising properties. 

Catechins are powerful antioxidants. Aside from it, green tea contains vitamins C, E, and A. It also has properties which makes it anti-carcinogenic, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, and anti-microbial. Green tea is well known to prevent cancer because of the antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate. 

Now that you know the benefits of drinking green tea, don't you think it's also time that you start taking it? Let healing wonders of green tea improve your overall health. There are now a lot of green tea products sold in the market at very affordable prices. aside from the green tea drinks, you can also find health supplements which contain extracts of green tea. For optimum health and well being, try to incorporate green tea to you diet.

If you're trying to lose weight or you simply want to maintain your current weight, it would also help a lot if you make it a habit to drink green tea before, during, and after meals. But always remember, too much of anything can also be harmful. So just take green tea in the right amount.

Facts You Must Know About Your Green Tea

During ancient times, the Chinese have studied and proved the medicinal properties and benefits of green tea. It is found that green tea has many health benefits compared to other food or drinks. It is used by the Chinese people to cure simple headaches to depression. Green tea had been used as medicine for 4,000 years proving only that it is one of the most common remedy among many illness.

Facts about Green Tea

• Reduces the risk of having cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells especially on the colon, pancreas, rectum, bladder, esophagus, and   stomach without harming healthy cells

• Helpful for those who have rheumatoid arthritis

• Reduce the risk of having hypertension and elevated blood pressure

• Reduces the cholesterol level in the body

• Increases metabolism

• Helps body to fight viruses and bacteria by improving the defense action of the immune system

• Reduces the process of thrombosis which helps reduce heart attacks and strokes

• Green tea also helps destroy free radicals

• Helps in reducing fatigue and stress due to its calming action

• Fights cardio vascular diseases

• Green tea is also known for its antibacterial anti viral properties

• The secret of green tea is its catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin (EGCG) which is a powerful anti oxidants

• EGCG is twice as powerful as reservatol whose action is to lower the incidence of heart disease

• Green tea comes from Camelia sinesis plant

• What sets green tea apart from other tea is the way it was processed, green tea leaves are steamed which prevents the important contents from being oxidized

• By contrast other tea brands are made from fermented tea leaves; as a result the other components are converted into other compounds that are not as effective as that of green tea

• New evidence suggests that green tea helps dieters by eliminating fat from the body and helps the body burn more calories compared to caffeine or a placebo

• Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay 

• The bacterial actions of green tea can help prevent food poisoning

• Wide variety of beauty products now contains green tea are available in the market that claims to have great effect in beauty and wellness

• Green tea capsules are now available in health stores for those who don’t want to drink tea

• A cup of green tea contains caffeine level of 20 to 70 milligrams

• There are several kinds of green tea that are available in the market they differ on the amount of caffeine content

Harmful effects

To the present study and research green tea have proven a lot of benefits and medicinal properties but when it comes to harmful effects of green tea had been reported to contribute to insomnia or difficulty of sleep experienced by users. Green tea is advised to be taken at least 3 to 4 cups daily and not to be taken as substitute for water.

Caffeine is the ingredient found in green tea that contributes to sleeping difficulty but its caffeine contents is less compared to that of coffee and black tea. Other components of green tea must also be controlled for it can contribute to liver problems.

For pregnant mothers and for  under medications it is important to ask your doctor before consuming the beverage for some components of green tea might have reactions with other compounds found in medications.

Benefits of the Carbohydrate Counting Diet

The carbohydrate counting diet groups foods into three main groups:  carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.  You dietician will provide you with the number of carbohydrates you can have in a day and how that is divided up amongst your meals and snacks.  Your dietician will also educate you on how you can determine the numbers of carbohydrates are in some of your favorite foods by reading food labels.

The biggest benefit of the carbohydrate counting diet is that it does not eliminate any foods.  A diabetic can choose any food they wish to eat as long as they only eat enough of it to meet their carbohydrate needs.  The trick to this is to choose wholesome foods that will fill you up longer.  The same amounts of carbohydrates that are in a small handful of potato chips are not equal to the two slices of bread you can have instead.  But it is nice to know that if you really want to – once in awhile – you can treat yourself.

Another benefit is keeping a consistent amount of carbohydrates in your body.  This can help regulate your insulin needs and control.  If your body has the same amount of carbohydrates to process at the same times each day it will be beneficial to your health and blood glucose readings.

When you choose a carbohydrate counting diet it is important to make sure you are doing it correctly.  If you don’t you can too much or too little and both situations can be detrimental to your diabetes.  Have a dietician teach you how to properly count carbohydrates and closely monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure the diet it working for you.

As with any new diet, give it time for you to adjust and learn how to plan your meals 

properly.

Adjusting your Diabetic Diet for Special Occasions

Birthday parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more are holidays and special occasions that are centered on food.  For most people these are times to anticipate the celebration and the eating.  For a diabetic it can be a stressful time, you want to partake in all of the good food too but most times it is not made with a diabetic in mind.  If the frequency of these events is not too often, you can adjust your diet for special occasions so you too can have some of the treats available.

The hardest part about preparing for a special occasion is if you do not know what is going to be served. If this is the case, a quick call to your host or hostess can be made. Most people will not mind you asking especially if you have dietary needs that need to be taken into consideration. Once you do know what is being served, plan your meals for that day accordingly. You may want to have fewer carbohydrates with your breakfast and snack to make up for the extra ones you will have at a birthday party where pizza is being served.

Another option for special occasions is to offer to bring a dish for everyone to share. Make it something that you enjoy as a treat but still follows the guidelines for your diabetic diet.

For family favorites and traditions, be creative and look for ways to make the same dishes with less fat or sugar.  You can do this by substituting regular sugar for sugar substitutes or choose whole wheat flour instead of white for the extra fiber content.

During the holidays and other occasions, closely monitor your blood sugars.  Even with extra care, the change in your diet can still result in a blood sugar that is too high or low.