Energy drinks have become prevalent in recent years. You see them everywhere. They are in convenience stores, grocery stores, and on college campuses. The popularity of energy drinks come from the claims of enhanced performance, increased energy, and even improved concentration. The promoters of these energy drinks make claims that can be extremely enticing. But are these claims true or just marketing ploys?
Most energy drinks are comprised of caffeine, alternate stimulants like guarana and ginseng, vitamins, amino acids, and hefty portions of sugar. The quantity of caffeine included in the energy drinks is usually equivalent to that of a cup of coffee. Coffee usually contains an average of 80mg of caffeine per cup. The quantities of caffeine and sugar account for the expected energy burst.
The companies promoting the energy drinks claim that the drinks are ideal precursors to demanding athletic activities or plunges in performance capacity. However sports nutritionists warn that energy drinks are detrimental for athletes. The levels of caffeine and sugar cause the body to slow the rate of water absorption. In addition, caffeine acts as a diuretic. The combination can cause the consumer to become severely dehydrated. For persons engaging in demanding physical activity like weight lifting, aerobic exercise, or athletics the results can be dangerous and can actually impede performance and progress.
The stimulants in energy drinks can be powerful. The energy drinks can increase the heart rate and blood pressure. Blood pressure increases can be extreme enough to cause palpitations. The energy drinks by themselves are generally not considered dangerous. But the energy drinks should not be consumed immediately prior to engaging in physical activity. And keep in mind that many of the energy drinks available mix a variety of ingredients which haven’t been thoroughly studied to determine if any possible long-term side effects may occur.
You already know smoking is bad for your health. And you probably have already considered quitting smoking a multitude of times. But you find that you don’t have the will power to quit. Maybe the reason you haven’t quit yet is that you don’t know the extent of the damage smoking does to your body. Of course you know that smoking increases your risk of lung cancer and of heart disease. But are you aware of how much smoking increases your risk of these diseases and others?
Smoking causes lung cancer. This is not a news flash. But did you know that smoking causes 90% of the lung cancer deaths in women and 80% of lung cancer deaths in men. Your risk of death from lung cancer if you are male is 23 times higher than non-smoking males. Women’s risk of lung cancer is increased by 13 times for smoking women. That is a substantial increase in risk. The leading cause of death in the United States today is coronary heart disease. Smoking increases the risk of developing coronary diseases by up to 4 times that of non-smokers. Smokers’ risk of stroke is double a non-smokers risk. Developing peripheral vascular disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels is increased by 10 times in smokers. Chronic lung disease is also caused by cigarette smoke. The percentage of deaths attributed to this disease by cigarette smoke is 90%. Your risk of developing the disease is ten times that of a non-smoker.
Smoking is bad for your health. The majority of people that smoke already realize the truth of that statement. But smoking is actually bad for your life. Your chances of dying from chronic diseases are substantially increased. Your quality of life is significantly altered. And your life span in general is considerably shortened. Quitting smoking will decrease the risk of developing these chronic conditions. The earlier you quit, the longer body has to repair itself. If you have found it difficult to quit in the past, perhaps understanding how significantly you impact your body will give you renewed inspiration.
Vegetarian diets and lifestyles have been gaining in popularity in recent years. The reasons people choose to become vegetarian vary. People choose vegetarianism for health reasons, moral reasons, and even environmental reasons. Whatever the reason, becoming a vegetarian does have substantial health benefits. Vegetarian diets can promote weight loss and reduce your risk of common diseases. Vegetarian diets can also prevent illnesses common in animal foods.
Vegetarians have a reduced risk of many common diseases. Heart disease, high blood pressure, some cancers, obesity, some forms of diabetes, and even osteoporosis are among the diseases that are affected by vegetarian diets. Vegetarian diets are much lower in saturated fats and cholesterol. These are contributing factors in many of the previously mentioned diseases. A proper vegetarian diet is high in folate and anti-oxidant vitamins.
Animal foods can carry many dangerous bacteria. Salmonella and e. coli are among the most prominent. These illnesses can be deadly if not identified early. Even when the diseases are diagnosed, the illness caused by the bacteria is severe. Stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration are symptoms attributed to the dangerous bacteria. Vegetarian diets significantly reduce the risk of exposure to the illnesses caused by the bacteria most common in animal foods.
Choosing to become a vegetarian can be a healthy alternative. The benefits are numerous. It is important to research the foods you will need to replace the animal foods in your diet. Not all vegetarian diets are healthy. If you do not eat properly, your body will be deprived of essential nutrients and you may not fully benefit from the change.
The summer is over and most people will begin to relax their skin care regiments. Since the weather will be getting colder, many people think the sun is no longer an issue of concern. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The sun is just as dangerous to your skin in the colder months as it is during the warmer months. The dangers of the sun are many. Your skin needs protection from the various hazards. UV rays from the sun are the number one cause of skin cancer. There are three central types of skin cancer. These include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The most serious of the three types is melanoma which is responsible for the majority of all skin cancer deaths. Exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun for prolonged periods or from limited but cumulative intervals can cause skin cancer. Sun exposure will also cause cosmetic damage to your skin. The exposure of your skin to the sun’s rays damage the elastin in skin. Damage to the skin’s elastin will result in sagging and stretching. The consequence will be wrinkles. It will also cause freckles, age spots, and discoloration to the skin. Since most people tend to expose their skin to the sun to enhance their appearance, it would seem that the damage being caused to the sensitive epidermis would be of paramount importance.
The lesson here is not to neglect your skin during the colder months. Remember to continue using sun block and sunscreen throughout the year. Many skin products and some make up products already contain sunscreen. Perhaps you should make sure the new products you purchase offer this protection. It would be regrettable to spend your summer adhering to all of the experts recommendations and then to disregard them for the remainder of the year. This could be a deadly mistake.
Question: What are some tips for staying motivated in doing an exercise program and not quitting after a couple of weeks?
Answer: Motivation is a key factor in the success of your exercise program. Without motivation, you will find yourself making excuse after excuse as to why you cannot exercise. Motivation is not one universal incentive, but instead it is dependent on the individual. What motivates you may not motivate someone else. So how do you find what will help you remain dedicated?
The first suggestion I would make is to remember the rule of threes: 30 minutes, 3 days, 3 weeks. Try to adhere to a 30 minute exercise program. Perform the program at least 3 days per week. And stick to the program for at least 3 weeks. Studies suggest that most individuals will quit within the first three weeks. People who continue their program after three weeks are less likely to quit. It becomes part of your routine. If you can remind yourself of this statistic, it might help you keep on track.
Finding someone to exercise with can also help you stay motivated. You will be less likely to find an excuse to miss a day of exercise if you have made prior arrangements with your exercise partner. You won’t want to let your partner down. It is also a chance to socialize and will seem less like a chore if you are doing it with a friend. And if you treat your work outs as a competition, it will drive you to work harder. This could help both of you attain your goals at an accelerated pace.
Keeping an exercise journal is also an excellent source of motivation. A journal will allow you to record your success. Use a journal to record the number of exercises you performed. Include in the entries the amount of weights, repetitions, and sets you complete. For cardio exercises, record the time and distance you completed. You can measure your arms, chest, waist, and thighs to track your progress. And keep track of the number of days you exercised. Many people find just the act of entering another day of exercise in their journal as motivation.