Human bodies are exposed to various environmental toxins from birth. A toxin is described as a poison produced by an organism that causes disease. Environmental toxins also consist of the toxins from alcohol, cigarette smoke, medicinal and recreational drugs, caffeine, heavy metals, exhaust fumes, pollution, pesticides, and preservatives.

Sometimes, bodies become congested with these toxins due to various causes like short-term heavy exposure, lifestyle, or even a poor diet and alcohol or drug excesses. Some other causes of this exposure are food poisoning and accidental drug intake.

Detoxification, popularly known as detox, is the general term for removal of toxic substances from the body. Though the removal of these substances is one of the natural functions of the kidney, liver, intestines, lymph and blood, it can also be achieved by dialysis.

The primary path is the liver, where this waste is transformed into bile. Bile contains a vast majority of the body’s waste matter like dead blood cells and the body’s metabolic waste and breaks down fats and lubricates bowel movements.

In some cases, the body cannot dispose of the toxins as quickly as they are generated or injected. The result of this combined with various other factors such as unsolved emotional issues, strain, or another disease can seriously affect the immune system of the human body. .

Some of the symptoms are dizziness, tiredness, fatigue, nausea, lack of appetite, headaches, hives, rashes, increased body odor, mild skin outbreaks, and presence or worsening of allergies.

This exposure to toxins combined with various other factors affects the heart and cause strokes or heart attacks in extreme cases and may also lead to cancer and diabetes. Some other illnesses caused are Osteoarthritis, Emphysema, and Cirrhosis.

Though detox is a simple way to cleanse the body of the various toxins it is not a way to overcome any serious addictions like drugs or alcohol dependence.

The elderly, small children, or people addicted to drugs or alcohol should undergo the process of detoxification only under the care of a qualified health care professional. Nursing and pregnant women should avoid detoxification unless under the care of a qualified health care professional.

One of the most common, and surprising, effects of following the Atkins diet is appetite suppression. Many followers of the plan report that the between meal hunger pangs they used to experience fade away very quickly. This makes it easier to stay on the diet and continue to lose weight. While other diets have their followers starving between meals, the Atkins diet offers relief from constant hunger. The Atkins diet, with its specific combination of foods and ingredients, has powerful appetite suppressing effects.

The first key component is the amount of protein in the Atkins diet. Protein, more so than carbohydrates, has the power to satiate hunger. If you’ve ever eaten a carb heavy meal and then felt hungry afterward, you know that carbohydrates don’t have much staying power. Protein, when combined with a small amount of healthy fats, can keep you feeling full for long periods of time.

One of the most powerful appetite suppressing foods on the Atkins diet are eggs. Eggs are a great form of quick and easy protein. A recent study showed that eating eggs for breakfast would actually stave off hunger pangs through the rest of the day. The research concerned two groups of women. One group ate eggs for breakfast and the other had a breakfast of bagels and cream cheese. The calorie count for both breakfasts was exactly the same. The subjects kept track of what they ate the rest of the day and answered questions about their levels of hunger and satisfaction throughout the day. The results showed that the women who ate the eggs for breakfast felt more satisfied throughout the entire day. They ate less at each meal than the women who were in the bagel group.

Eggs contain about 6 grams of protein each. This helps to even out blood sugar and produces a feeling of satisfaction. Both of these factors help to curb cravings. Egg yolks also contain lutein and xenazanthin. These nutrients have been shown to have incredible effects on eye health. So it’s important to eat the whole egg, and not just the white. Eggs contain choline that is important in brain functioning and memory. These nutrients are just an added benefit to the appetite suppressing qualities.

Broccoli and cauliflower, two of the acceptable vegetables on the Atkins program, also have appetite-suppressing effects. These vegetables are very bulky and they help make your stomach feel full. When your stomach feels full, it will actually create a chemical response in your body. Your body will reduce its appetite because it believes that your stomach is full of high calorie foods. This will happen regardless of what is in your stomach. You can achieve the same results with water and psyllium husk fiber. Both broccoli and cauliflower provide bulk in your diet and are essential vegetables on the Atkins plan.

The Atkins diet focuses on eating small protein balanced meals a few times per day. This will help keep your blood sugar stabilized and avoid carbohydrate cravings. With high carbohydrate diets, you are riding the wave of carbohydrate highs. After you eat, you feel great and full. Then a few hours later, you come crashing down and are hungrier than you were previous to eating the carbohydrate. This cycle continues and, over time, you will eat more and gain weight. The protein, fat and vegetable meals of the Atkins plan put your blood sugar back in balance. They provide just enough of each type of food, with a proper amount of carbohydrates (from the vegetables). The vegetables provide quick carbohydrate energy, and the protein gives the meal staying power. This combination helps suppress your appetite.

The Atkins diet is actually a craving control diet that can help suppress your appetite. If you’ve had a problem with carbohydrate cravings before, this new way of eating will help control those cravings. The more you eat on the plan, the better your cravings will be controlled and the easier it will be to follow the diet.

What is the best source for hair loss help? The Yellow Pages doesn’t have a place where you can simply look up “hair loss doctor”, and someone who specializes in hair loss is hard to find. Constantly people are doing research and looking for better ways to treat hair loss. So when you need hair loss help you should make sure you select someone who is up to date on the most recent research and advances in the field.

The Internet
Educating yourself is the best place to start and the internet is the best place to go for your education. Since hair loss has a lot of new information coming out, the library probably has out of date information.
Make sure your sources are reliable as with any information you get on the internet. A site called “Bob’s Miracle Hair Growth Treatment” should tell you to take the information with a grain of salt. Health education and medical sites are the best places to look for information.

Your Barber or Hairdresser
Those who have training in ways to treat and prevent hair loss are the hair care professionals. To make your hair appear thicker and fuller they will be able to recommend products to you. When you go to get your next haircut you will be surprised at how much hair loss help you can get.

A Trichologist
Many people have never heard of a trichologist. They are a hair care professional with a special training in hair loss treatment. The reason for wanting to talk with one is pretty much self-explanatory.

The Drugstore
The drugstore is a place to find lots of hair loss help. To get some suggestions for products you can talk with the pharmacist and find products to purchase that are specifically made to help hair loss.

Your Primary Health Care Practitioner
For hair loss products that you cannot get on your own you can see your primary care physician or nurse practitioner. The cause of your hair loss can also be diagnosed. To decide if there is an underlying problem causing your hair loss your doctor might order some tests and do a physical exam. Your doctor may then prescribe medications or they may refer you to a specialist once the test results come back.

A Dermatologist
The closest thing to a medical hair care specialist that you can find is a dermatologist. There are not many dermatologists who specialize in hair loss help, but there are a few. You will probably wait several months before getting an appointment and many of them are located near larger population centers. Dermatologists are well trained and even if they don’t offer specialized hair loss help they can still treat most people who are losing their hair.

A Board Certified Hair Restoration Surgeon
Typically these types of surgeons are plastic surgeons with additional training in hair restoration surgery. Hair transplants is what they perform. You can sometimes get cosmetic and medical hair loss help at complete clinics.

Some detective work is required to find hair loss help. Ask questions and educate yourself. Always talk with someone who can help whether it is a barber, hairdresser or your primary health care provider. Ask around and call a few dermatologists to find what experience they have in treating hair loss. You will find the best hair loss help if you know what you are looking for so you should be your own advocate.

Hyaluronic acid, a key component of human tissue, aiding the body’s flexibility, mobility and moisture retention is a popular component of many anti-aging products but can also provide a wealth of benefits in the medical sphere. Recently, in an attempt to find effective treatment methods for arthritis, scientists have found a strong association between levels of Hyaluronic acid and severe knee and hip arthritis known as osteoarthritis or OA.

The study, conducted by researches from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University Medical Center, utilized a diverse subject base of blood samples from 753 white and black American men and women. This research is part of the hope that early identification and intervention can improve outcomes for people with OA, a common cause of pain and disability among older Americans. The findings suggest that measuring levels of Hyaluronic acid could allow doctors to help prevent joint destruction before it can be measured on an X-ray image.

In a similar vein, Hyaluronic acid injections have been prescribed by doctors for over 20 years as a method for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. Hyaluronic acid is thought to restore elasticity to the synovial fluid that surrounds the knee joint, which is depleted in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, there is continued debate as to the efficacy of these treatments. Recently, French researchers compared the safety and effectiveness of the NRD101 Hyaluronic acid knee injection with an orally administered drug, Diacerein, shown by past research to have a structural benefit in hip osteoarthritis.

Three hundred one patients were randomly assigned to receive three courses of NRD101 injections, each involving one injection weekly for three weeks, every three months, along with a placebo capsule; placebo injections and diacerein twice daily; or placebo injections and capsules. Symptoms were evaluated both by patients and clinicians, and X-rays were performed to evaluate the effects of treatment on the knee structure at the beginning and end of the study. Patients in all three groups reported improvement of their symptoms and few patients dropped out of the study, which suggests injections are a feasible approach to treating knee osteoarthritis. However, the doctors did conclude that further studies were needed to evaluate other treatment approaches using this route of administration.

Furthermore, based on research by the publication American Family Physician, although clinical experience and studies of available Hyaluronic acid injection products including hyaluronan and hylan G-F 20, are inconclusive, they appear to produce beneficial effects with minimal adverse reactions in a significant number of patients. Thus, although research is ongoing into the benefits of Hyaluronic acid knee injections, it is clear that the injections are at present a viable alternative to orally administered arthritis relief.

The quest for cheap health care products has led many customers to the doors of pharmacy shops based in Canada. While there has been some hue and cry in the United States over the safety issues pertaining to the drugs imported from Canada, many states of the US have already gone ahead and tied up with Canadian pharmacies licensed by Canadian provinces and governed by the laws and regulations of that country.

The justification given for such a move is to make health more affordable and to ensure that much needed drugs are made available to the customers. States like Wisconsin have already short listed pharmacies based in Canada to provide mail order drugs to people back home. The short listing process included a visit to study the pharmacy's facilities as well as the protocols used for filling prescriptions. The applicable Canadian laws were also studied to gain better insight into the measures adopted to ensure regulation of the industry and to discourage compromise on quality for commercial gains.

Tying up with licensed pharmacies in Canada will definitely help in curbing the import of drugs from unlicensed firms there. It will also discourage sales of spurious counterfeit drugs. It will also mean that licensed Canadian firms can concentrate on doing business with assured business margins, without worrying about competition from unlicensed pharmacies. These unlicensed vendors will then be forced to obtain license if they are to stay in business.

Some US firms have now launched a service which allows customers to verify the credentials of Canadian pharmacies before purchasing drugs from them. These firms provide information about the legal status of a pharmacy online. Pharmacies interested in going through this verification process are to first approach these sites and fill in a form that certifies that they are operating within the framework of laws of applicable jurisdictional laws. These pharmacies should comply with laws in both the city from where they are operating and the area where they are selling their products. The verification agency will then independently investigate the pharmacy and find out if the details furnished in the form submitted are true or not. One being cleared, the pharmacy website will be allowed to display a seal which indicates certification by the verifying agency.

Many licensed pharmacies in Canada believe this is another step in increasing the customer base in US. These pharmacies can look forward to a entering into a long partnership with many customers and enhancing the trust factor in their relationship. Once a customer is assured of the quality of the product he is ordering, he can go ahead in confidence by being assured about the business credentials of the company he is dealing with.

The licensed Canadian firms now want to increase the volume of business and transactions carried across the border. At the same time they don’t want the reputation of licensed Canadian pharmacies being soiled by the unlicensed ones selling drugs of inferior quality.

The oldest and most commonly used method of drug testing is the urine drug test. Urine drug testing is usually the most inexpensive and quickest method of screening for drug use. Some benefits of urine drug testing are that the tests are minimally invasive and safe. Results are often returned within 24-48 hours and many employers appreciate the quick turnaround time.

With dozens of testing labs in every city, convenience is often a factor in choosing urine tests. Testing centers are usually near to the particular company and the visits are often short. The prospective employee just needs to sign in and sign a few releases and then urinate in a cup. In most cases, the employee is able to partially close the restroom door in order to maintain some privacy. Since many urine tests can detect masking agents, the need to urinate in full company is virtually eliminated. The entire process usually only lasts 20 minutes and employers can have the results within hours.

Although urine drug testing is the most common of pre-employment drug screenings, many creative scientists have developed tools to beat these tests. A vast array of products are easily obtainable online and in specialty shops. Some cases have even been reported of people purchasing urine from a “clean” associate and using the clean urine in their own drug test. The clean urine is stored in a thin plastic bag, boiled, strapped to the leg and passed as urine.

With drug testing laboratories beginning to test for masking agents, synthetic urine was developed. The urine often comes in powder form but may also come in liquid, ready-to-use form. The powder is mixed with water and comes with a container with a thermometer attached. The temperature is guaranteed to stay fresh for up to a few hours. This synthetic urine contains all of the properties in which a lab tests. Certain body temperatures and chemicals that are normally present in human urine are detected and it can be very convincing.

Although urine drug testing is easily accessible, minimally invasive and relatively inexpensive, many employers understand that it is also the easiest to evade. Because of the variety of methods used to cheat on urine tests, many employers decide to utilize sweat, saliva or hair follicle drug testing in its place. These other methods may not be as convenient or inexpensive, but are generally more reliable.

If you've lost weight too rapidly or if you've followed a very low calorie "starvation diet" in the past, then you may have damaged your metabolism. Once this occurs, it can become extremely difficult to achieve any further loss of body fat at all. If you've ever experienced a "weight loss plateau" where the scale won't budge, even when it seems like you're working hard and doing everything right, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. The good news is, metabolic damage can be "repaired." All it takes is the right combination of metabolism-stimulating exercise and metabolism-stimulating nutrition (NOT just a "diet"), all done consistently over time

The big irony is that most of the diet programs that claim to help you get rid of excess weight, only end up making it harder for you in the long run because they use harsh metabolism-decreasing diets and not enough exercise (almost never any weight training).

It may take a little longer if you've been a "diet dummy" and you've really messed things up with severe starvation dieting, (especially if you've lost a lot of lean body mass), but it's never hopeless. Anyone can increase their metabolism.

Most people get an almost immediate boost in metabolic rate when they make a few important changes to their eating and exercise routines. However, the results are not going to be "overnight." Give it a little time...

Within 3 weeks your metabolism will already be more efficient. Within 6-8 weeks, it's burning hot. Give me 12 weeks of consistent diligent effort, sticking with all the metabolism boosting strategies I teach, and your metabolism will become like a turbo charged engine, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that.

What's most important for upping your metabolism is CONSISTENCY in applying the nutrition and training principles every single day.

That includes:

• Meal frequency: eat 5-6 small meals per day

• Meal timing: eat approximately every 3 hours, with a substantial breakfast and a substantial post workout meal.

• Sufficient Caloric Intake: maintain a small calorie deficit and avoid starvation-level diets (suggested safe levels for fat loss: 2100-2500 calories per day for men, 1400-1800 calories per day for women; adjust as needed)

• Food choices: Select natural, unprocessed foods with high thermic effect (lean proteins like chicken, turkey, egg whites and fish are highly thermic, as are all green vegetables, salad vegetables and other fibrous carbs)

• Cardio training: Push up the intensity a bit if you really want to get a metabolic boost. Walking and low intensity cardio is fine, but higher intensity is more metabolism-stimulating

• Weight training: The basic exercises that include the largest muscle groups or even call into play the entire body as a unit (squats, split squats, deadlifts, stiff legged deadlifts, overhead presses, rows and full body core exercises) will have a much greater metabolism-stimulating effect than isolation exercises (concentration curls, crunches, calf raises, etc)

Omega 3 fats are polyunsaturated fatty acids that cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be obtained from external sources. Research has shown that omega 3 fatty acids may help to prevent numerous diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, certain types of cancer and many others.

There are 3 types of important omega 3 fatty acids:

* Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) * Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) * Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

EPA and DHA are the most beneficial ones. ALA is converted into EPA and DHA in the body. However, older people and people suffering from diabetes or schizophrenia may lack the ability to convert ALA into EPA and DHA. In these cases it's more advisable to obtain omega 3's from sources that are rich in EPA and DHA.

One of the richest sources of EPA and DHA is cold water fish, such as salmon, herring and mackerel. However, there is a also a risk associated with increased fish consumption due to poisoning from heavy metals and other contaminants such as PCB's and dioxins. For these reasons, the FDA recommends to limit the total dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish to 3 grams a day.

ALA can be obtained from flaxseed oil, walnuts and various plant sources.

Here are more sources of omega 3 fatty acids:

* Shrimps * Walnuts, brazil nuts, hazelnuts and pecans * Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli * Eggs * Houmous * Sesame seeds and Tahini (this is a paste made out of sesame seeds) * Soybeans - soybean oil * Tofu

Recommended daily doses for omega 3's are: ~ 650 mg of EPA and DHA and 2.22 g of ALA - as published by the National Institutes of Health.

Omega 6 fats also belong to the group of essential fatty acids and both, omega 3's and omega 6's are necessary to keep your body healthy. However, it's important to provide both in the right ratio. Ideally, the ratio between omega 3 to omega 6 should be somewhere around 1 to 3 or 1 to 5.

Unfortunately, in typical "western diets" there is a massive overload of omega 6 and a lack of omega 3's. Ratios between omega 3's to omega 6's are as high as 1 to 50, which might be one of the causes for numerous diseases including arthritis, depression and cardiovascular diseases.

To reduce the risk of these diseases, make sure your diet contains sufficient amounts of foods rich in omega 3 fats and to reduce the consumption of saturated fats.

To give you an idea what omega 3 fats can do for you, below is a list of some of the numerous health benefits provided by omega 3's. These findings have been verified by thousands of scientific studies carried out over the last few decades.

Magnesium sulfate is MgSO4. In the natural state it is found in the hydrated state, with seven molecules of water of crystallization. In this form it is called as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate or Epsom salt and has the chemical formula MgSO4.7H2O. On heating up to 250°C, it loses all its molecules of water of crystallization and falls into a dry amorphous powder. Magnesium sulfate is a colorless and odorless powder, and is highly soluble in water.

Magnesium sulfate is an extremely versatile drug and has a variety of therapeutic uses. Magnesium sulfate taken orally can act as a laxative. When taken intravenously or intramuscularly, it can reduce the convulsions during labor and even halt premature labor. It can also be applied locally in the form of creams to treat inflammation of the skin and conditions such as ingrown nails.

Magnesium sulfate is used as a cure for a certain case of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure in women called preclampsia. It can also be administered when the condition of preclampsia aggravates and becomes the more chronic condition of eclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is administered intravenously to such patients. It can reduce the convulsions during eclampsia.

Excess dosage of magnesium sulfate can cause nausea, dizziness, severe constipation and vomiting along with muscle weakness and lethargy. It can also pass through the placenta and enter the bloodstream of the infant. However, magnesium sulfate is soluble in water and so its level within the body returns to normal within a few days.

Caution must be used when the person is already taking other drugs. Magnesium sulfate can react with ritodine and terbutaline and cause severe complications such as pulmonary edema and other cardiovascular problems. However, taken under the prescription of the physician, it is a mild to very effective drug for most of the problems mentioned above.

Besides therapeutic uses, magnesium sulfate also has some industrial uses. Due to its high affinity for water, it can be used as a dehydrating agent in organic syntheses. It also finds use as a bath salt in floatation therapy.

The human body is resilient and at the same time, so fine-tuned that it adapts itself to different conditions by adjusting to the changes brought by the onslaught of unknown chemicals and other foreign bodies. It reacts to the same substance differently according to the quantity. In medical terms, dose is defined as the amount of a prescribed drug taken under the supervision of a medical practitioner for certain conditions in the body.Overdose of a drug happens when it is taken exceeding a threshold, setting negative reactions in the body. This situation is corrected only when the drug intake is stopped or by taking alternate medicines under the consultation of medical practitioner to subside the effects.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight against the damage caused by free radicals. As vitamin E foods are fat soluble, even high amounts of vitamin E can’t be taken without increasing the cholesterol intake, leading to higher chances of cardio-vascular diseases. A vitamin E supplement can be taken as an over-the-counter drug, which means it can be bought without a prescription, and the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has set tolerable Upper Intake level of alpha-tocopherol at 1,000 mg of for adults 19 and older and decreased quantities for other age groups. Exceeding these limits may be toxic to the body.

A meta-analysis that combined the results of 19 clinical trials of vitamin E supplementation for various diseases, including heart diseases, reported that the increased risk of death was associated with a level of 2,000 IU per day. Also, a few side effects have been noted in adults taking less than 3,000 IU of alpha-tocopherol daily.

There is no conclusive evidence for the Upper Intake Level of vitamin E and hence the level is a “recommended” one. It would be useful to note that in the normal concentrations found in the body, vitamin C and beta-carotene are antioxidants, but at higher levels, become pro-oxidants. It is not known whether the same applies for vitamin E. Hence, the recommendation for utilizing vitamin E for disease prevention is to take many servings of vegetables and fruits and not to over-supplement.

This article explains a few things about weight loss programs, and if you're interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don't know.

The race to fitness is on and a lot of people are getting into the band wagon. Some people do it to achieve a sexy body, some people just do it because they are embarrassed with the body they have now, while others do it simply to remain fit and healthy. As such, many fitness programs are out in the internet, in gyms, spas and fitness centres all over. Some are too expensive to afford that one may even lose weight just by trying to work out the money needed to pursue these fitness programs.

One may not have to go to the gym or the spa or any fitness center and spend much just to slim down to obtain that longed for sexy body. There are many books available in the bookstore which offers weight loss programs which are convenient and for free, of course the books are not though. These weight loss programs, or diet plans are gaining immense popularity with so much publicity, testimonials and reviews that one may be confused which exactly to follow. So before choosing which weight loss plan to follow, try reading these summaries about the most popular diet programs out today.

Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins. This weight loss program encourages high protein diet and a trim down on the carbs. One can feast on vegetables and meat but should fast on bread and pasta. One is also not restricted against fat intake so it is okay to pour in the salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. However, after the diet, one may find himself lacking on fiber and calcium yet high in fat. Intake of grains and fruits are also limited.

Carbohydrate Addict's Diet by Drs. Heller. This diet plan advocates low carbohydrate eating. Approves on eating meats, vegetables and fruits, dairy and grain products. however, warns against taking in too much carb. "Reward" meal can be too high on fats and saturated fats.

Choose to Lose by Dr. Goor. Restrains fat intake. One is given a "fat" budget and he is given the liberty on how to spend it. It does not pressure the individual to watch his carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafood’s is okay. A go signal is also given on eating vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss plan is fairly healthy, good amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats. Watch triglyceride levels though; if high, trim down the carbohydrates and tuck in more of the unsaturated fats.

The DASH Diet. Advocates moderate amounts of fat and protein intake and high on carbs. Primarily designed to lower blood pressure, the diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Some dieters think it advocates too much eating to procure significant weight loss.

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there's more to weight loss programs than you may have first thought.

It's a fact: Many Boomers plan to work in some capacity in retirement. When they reach the big six-o, they won't automatically switch into the role of typical traditional retiree. It's is not part of their life plan.

They will not fade into the sunset to play bingo, shuffleboard, or waste time and money gambling at casinos. They exercise, are in fabulous good health, and will work to stay that way.

That means an increasing number of 60-plus year-old men and women do not think, look, or live like their parents at the same age. However, judging by images and portrayals of seniors in TV ads, these folks do not exist, even though their numbers are increasing.

For example, TV ads pitching supplemental Medicare insurance for seniors, depict only typical retirees: grandma kissing the baby; grandma blowing bubbles with the grandkids; grandma and grandpa strolling along the beach holding hands; grandpa playing ball with the grandkids.

Those ads generate a positive response from those who identify with the images and portrayals. And that's okay. But where are images of "new" retirees who look and live differently? Many of them are also on Medicare and are candidates for supplemental insurance.

People have the right to live the way they choose to live. But I am bothered by the almost exclusive portrayal of seniors in the same way they were portrayed 25 years ago.

Showing traditional seniors as the norm to the exclusion of the "new" productive young vibrant seniors perpetuates the stereotypical idea that traditional aging is the acceptable or only way to age. Worse, it gives midlifers a "license" and even a subliminal mandate to accept a traditional sedentary, non-productive lifestyle as they age.

In Don't Stop the Career Clock, Dr. Helen Harkness defines the new stages of aging that many midlifers are adopting as their framework for living:

• First Midlife: 40-60 • Second Midlife: 60-80 • Young Old: 80-90 • Elderly: 90 and above • Old-Old: 2-3 years to live

The media needs to acknowledge that "Harkness adopters" -- those in their "second midlife", and the "young old" resent the out-dated, antediluvian portrayal of how "old" people are and how they live, and frankly, I don't blame them. It's time for corporate America and the advertising industry to catch up with reality. The earth is not flat and 75 is still young to those who don't fit into the traditional "old" mold.

In the recent years, natural supplements have gained a lot of popularity in improving health and overall well being. Naturally, you can also find supplements beneficial for your memory improvement.

Such supplements are produced from natural occurring substances and people have been using them in different ways for hundreds and maybe even thousands of years.

Beneficial effect of natural supplements on overall health has been well proven by time and millions of users.

1) Gingko Biloba Extract seems to be the supplement that has the greatest impact on memory improvement. The effect that Ginkgo Biloba has on a body is that it improves the blood flow through out your body as well as your brain.

Blood is actually, among other things, an oxygen transportation tool for your body and when your brain has regular, steady oxygen supply it functions much better.

On the todays market, you can find hundreds of different brands offering Ginkgo Biloba Extract. In addition, they all proclaim that their product is the best. I would suggest you keep with the well-known, reputable producers.

2) Rosemary is also one of memory improvement supplements. Rosemary is often used as spice and if you visit Mediterranean, you can find it at every step growing wild.

Mediterranean diet is, with the recommendation of WHO, THE best diet you can have. As an herbal supplement, Rosemarys effect is interesting in a way that it actually seems to stimulate the brain functions directly.

This is a great benefit for memory improvement. As with Ginkgo Biloba, you can find hundreds of labels on the market so stick with the ones you know and trust.

3) Green tea - usually most of naturall supplements beneficial for memory improvement help with your overall health condition as well. Good example of this is green tea.

Green tea has over the last ten years emerged as natural help in curing many ailments and health problems. Green tea along with the Black tea is believed to have a helpful effect on brain functions and if consumed in moderate doses appears to be beneficial for memory improvement.

4) Ginseng is also related with memory improvement. Very often connected with significant energy improvement as well as overall body revitalization, Ginseng also seems to have a significant effect on memory improvement.

As with the Ginkgo Biloba and Rosemary keep with the labels you know and trust.

For those of you who have just recently began to feel memory loss signs, probably because of stress or age, natural supplements can be the best cure as well as prevention for this problem.

Natural memory boosters have less side effects then regular memory improvement medication as well as positive effect on your overall health condition.

We desire to look and feel younger as we age. This is natural, but can we do anything about it?

There are some serious options that you could consider. Most of these may require surgery. This article will focus on other natural ways to remain young and fit.

Exercise: An active lifestyle will likely extend your life and make it more enjoyable.

You have to exercise to stay young and healthy. Go for a stroll, to the gym, or workout at home. Just get moving. If you go for walks try various routes. The changes are also good for your mind plus you won't get bored.

Get outside in the fresh air among the trees and plants. Linger in your garden or at the park. Plants have good vibrations that can benefit you.

Diet: Eat a balance diet but don't super-size. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink green tea and pure clean water. Watch your calories. Restricting your calories can extend your life. There are studies that prove this.

What you eat can have an impact on the way you look and age. Some of the foods you eat can make a substantial difference.

Carotenoids are antioxidants in orange foods. They help fight free radicals. Foods that contain carotenoids can reduce sunburn, cancer and wrinkles. These can include carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and cantaloupe.

Omega 3 fatty acids are the good fats found in fish. A good choice is Carlson's fish oil. It has lower mercury content than most other fish.

If you consume enough lycopene you can reduce sunburn. It works as a mild sunscreen. Tomatoes contain lycopene. Lycopene is also found in red peppers and tomato sauce.

Lutein is found in spinach and kale. Lutein is beneficial for your eyes.

Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals which can help reduce wrinkles. Some to include in your diet are, prunes, olive oil, beans, apples, green tea and other vegetables.

Decrease portion size if you want to stay young! Take the phrase "Super Size" out of your vocabulary. A small drink at a fast food restaurant is larger than a super sized one was when many of you were younger.

Eat your breakfast. That is probably your most significant meal of the day. You need a well-balanced meal to start your day off right.

You definitely want to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fresh and organic are best if you can manage it.

Beware of the "White Foods". White bread, rice, refined sugar and even potatoes to a degree are poor choices. Most refined foods are empty calories with artificial vitamins added back in. Don't fool Mother Nature! Eat as naturally as you can. You won't be able to do that very well eating out.

Eat a variety of colors. Include fruits from all the rich colors of the rainbow. Each color packs its own specialized power.

Many call blueberries "Brain Food". It's not just fish anymore. Other berries that are drenching with beneficial antioxidants are acai, noni, strawberries and bilberries.