Regardless of what the reason is for you becoming overweight there are plenty of herbal weight loss supplements to help you lose the excess weight. By the way, if you stick to the simple tips below you will find that you'll be able to start dropping the extra weight very soon.

Now before beginning you are going to discover that you need dedication and you will will need to really want to lose weight. You may have found some diet plans that can help you to slim down, but you might have also tried weight loss programs before but couldn't stick with them. For people with the dedication and the desire to lose weight, the suggestions that you will discover below will be able to assist you with your goals. You will notice that the dedication you have stands out as the determining factor to whether you will or will not be successful in your weight loss targets.

The first thing you need to do is to stop eating at all of those chain restaurants and in particular the fast food places. The foods you receive from the fast food places, typically have hardly any nutritional value and are generally loaded with calories. These foods have so many calories that you may well end up eating all the calories you are allowed to eat per day in only one meal. Also while some of the restaurants may use healthy eating principles, most of them still make use of processed foods that will cause you to put on pounds. If you want to go out to eat try a nice family owned restaurant which tends to make their food from scratch.

Your calorie consumption is additionally going to be a large thing when it comes to slimming down. Remaining within the right calorie range will be simple enough when you know how many calories you should be eating. Ladies should be consuming 1,300 to 1,600 calories everyday and guys should be eating 1,500 to 1,800 calories each day. When you eat these volumes of calories you will find that you will not be reducing your weight, but you will additionally not be gaining extra weight anymore. Staying with a calorie intake level everyday is going to take a lot of dedication on your part.

Also, you'll want to begin getting physical exercise. By getting physical exercise daily and consuming the appropriate amount of calories you'll be able to start reducing your weight. When you find yourself burning calories with physical exercise, and you are ingesting the right quantity calories you will notice that you will be having a calorie deficit within your body, and that is how you will lose the weight. Consequently if you have the right amount of determination and dedication to follow the plan above you will have absolutely no choice but to lose weight.

There are several aspects to pharmacology that all interact within the whole. The properties and composition of various drugs is an elementary function of this science. It includes the study of how these drugs interact with natural physiological functions as well as how they interrelate to other drugs. It encompasses the toxicology of chemicals and compounds and the effects these poisons have and how some can actually be used for beneficial purposes.

Drug therapy and medical applications of drugs is a further aspect of pharmacology. It is in this critical science that it is determined what use can be made of a chemical or herbal substance in the cure or prevention of illness or disease. Here is where dosages and combinations are tested to find the most effective use for the drugs that are produced.

There are times when it is unknown exactly how a drug works on the body to achieve the desired effect. However, many drugs are still approved because of their ability to work on a problem. Within the field of pharmacology it will still be studied so that when its pathology is finally discovered, new and better forms can be produced.

While pharmacology deals with the chemicals used to treat illness it is essential for the practitioner to have a very in-depth understanding of the body and how it works.

Through the increased understanding of biochemistry and cell biology it is possible to construct chemicals uniquely designed to affect specific neural transmitters or the chemical receptors on the cell's surface. These "designer" drugs can be very powerful at pinpointing one specific part of the body for treatment and prevent unwanted side effects from creating worse situations than the original disease.

Even one's genetic make-up can effect the performance of a medicinal drug and how it reacts to a specific body type. Pharmacogenetics is a growing subset of pharmacology which studies the variations in particular groups to determine how severe these fluctuations are and if there is some aspect of genetic science that can improve the overall usefulness for everyone.

With the new genome mapping techniques available pharmacology can now target specific genes in the DNA of an individual and develop individualized cures for more of the hereditary conditions that plague humanity.

Since most medical compounds are designed for specific effects it is possible that even a slight variance in the structure or dosage can create a different effect. Therefore pharmacology is heavily regulated. Development of new medicinal drugs can take years in the development and testing stages before it will be approved for use on human subjects. Most of pharmacology is research.

It has been noted that sometimes there will be only one new drug produced and approved out of thousands of chemicals tested. The process can take years to complete and it is for this reason the drug manufacturers will sometimes limit their research to only those areas that have a high demand or will obtain patents for exclusive production as a means to recoup the money spent on research.

In order to enlarge the penis naturally you need to do 4 simple things. But if one of them is missing it becomes a much harder task and one that takes much more time. These things speed everything up. They're natural work with our bodies and are the most powerful enlargement methods I've ever encountered. Seventy five percent of adult females communicate they would like their significant other to possess a more attractive penis. Nearly all men are not able to have full and complete making love for in excess of three minutes without cumming.

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How penis exercises work? The specific mechanism depends on the exercise in question but basically what makes exercises effective is the ability of our organisms to adapt to environment. For example when a bodybuilder lifts weights his or her body tries to adapt to the weights growing stronger muscles.

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I have collected information for a long time about the magic and benefits of those foods from which one only needs small amount to provide the body with the minimum recommended intake of minerals & nutrients, Super Foods. Most of the foods listed below are available at the natural health store down the street from you, but you can order online at http://shop.organicbeautyfood.com
I am not a doctor, so don't take this text as the total truth. Each individual may respond different to these foods.

I am happy to present below some of the "medications" that your doctor will rarely prescribe:

10 SUPERFOODS

1. Blue-Green Algae, Spirulina and Chlorella: Blue-green micro algae, and its cousins spirulina and chlorella, grow on inland waters throughout the world.This primordial food is visible as greenish scum on still lakes and ponds. The Aztecs ate it as a staple food, dried and spread on tortillas. Africans of the Sahara region also use dried spirulina with grains and vegetables. These algae are high in protein, carotenoids and minerals. Beware, however, of claims that they can provide vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets. Nevertheless, the high mineral and protein content of the various algae make them an excellent super food, a good supplement to the diet and a useful product for the treatment of a variety of health problems.

2. Bee Pollen: Bee pollen has been popularized by famous athletes who take it regularly for strength and endurance. It has been used successfully to treat a variety of ailments including allergies, asthma, menstrual irregularities, constipation, diarrhea, anemia, low energy, cancer, rheumatism, arthritis and toxic conditions. A Russian study of the inhabitants of the province of Georgia, where many live to 100 years and a few to age 150, revealed that many of these centenarians were beekeepers who often ate raw, unprocessed honey with all its "impurities," that is, with the pollen. Bee pollen contains 22 amino acids including the eight essential ones, 27 minerals and the full gamut of vitamins, hormones and fatty acids. Most importantly, bee pollen contains more than 5,000 enzymes and coenzymes. It is the presence of enzymes, many of which have immediate detoxifying effects, that sometimes provokes allergic reactions in those taking bee pollen for the first time. If this happens, start with very small amounts and slowly build up to a tablespoon or so per day. Some brands are more easily tolerated than others. Avoid pollen that has been dried at temperatures higher than 130 degrees. Bee pollen can be taken in powder, capsule or tablet form.or in raw unprocessed honey mixed with cereal or spread on toast.

3. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. This energy tonic contains protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, B12 and E, essential fatty acids and is naturally rich in:
Vitamin C which helps maintain tone of blood vessels and promotes good circulation and is essential to the health of the adrenal gland which supports our body in times of stress.
Amino acids which are chains of atoms constructing protein in our body.
Enzymes, which are the life-principle in every live, organic atom and molecule of natural raw food, rejuvenate aged tissues and promote healthy skin.
Germanium which is a mineral that some health authorities claim therapeutic benefits for: immunodeficiency, pain, cardiac disorders, circulatory disturbances and eye problems.

4. Garlic: Garlic is one of the earth's greatest health tonics and does indeed have scientifically-proven medicinal properties. It contains a substance called Allicin, which has anti-bacterial properties that are equivalent to a weak penicillin. It is a natural antibiotic and is useful in treating everything from allergies to tonsillitis. Garlic contains many sulfur compounds which:
detoxify the body
boost the immune system
lower blood pressure
improve circulation.
Garlic has also demonstrated anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant effects.

Garlic: Garlic has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help scavenge free radicals; particles that can damage cell membranes, interact with genetic material and possibly contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of conditions including heart disease and cancer.

Free radicals occur naturally in the body but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoking and air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging particles. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause over time.

Garlic can stimulate the production of glutathione, an amino acid which is known to be a very potent antioxidant and de-toxifier and the smooth muscle relaxant adenosine, also found in the herb, will lower blood pressure.

Today people use garlic to help prevent atherosclerosis (plaque build up in the arteries causing blockage and possibly leading to heart attack or stroke), reduce colds, coughs and bronchitis.

Garlic has been used to treat:
Atherosclerosis: Studies suggest that fresh garlic and garlic supplements may prevent blood clots and destroy plaque. Blood clots and plaque block blood flow and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Blockage of blood flow to the heart, brain and legs, can lead to heart attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease (PVD). People with PVD experience pain in the legs when they walk and move. If garlic does reduce the build up of plaque then strokes, heart attacks and PVD may be less likely to occur in people who eat garlic or take garlic supplements.

High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure: A number of studies have found that garlic reduces elevated total cholesterol levels and lowers blood pressure more effectively than placebo. However, the extent to which garlic is effective is small.

Diabetes: Garlic has been used as a traditional dietary supplement for diabetes in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Preliminary studies in rabbits, rats and limited numbers of people have demonstrated that garlic has some ability to lower blood sugars. More research in this area is needed. (See Notes regarding some concern about using garlic with certain diabetes medications.)

Common Cold: A well-designed study of nearly 150 people supports the value of garlic for preventing and treating the common cold. In this study, people received either garlic supplements or placebo for 12 weeks during "cold season" (between the months of November and February). Those who received the garlic had significantly fewer colds than those who received placebo. Plus, when faced with a cold, the symptoms lasted a much shorter time in those receiving garlic compared to those receiving placebo.

Cancer: Test tube and animal studies suggest that garlic may have some anti-cancer activity. Observational, population-based studies (which follow groups of people over time) suggest that people who have more raw or cooked garlic in their diet are less likely to have certain types of cancer, particularly colon and stomach cancers. Dietary garlic may also offer some protection against the development of breast, prostate and laryngeal (throat) cancers. However, these types of cancer have not been as extensively studied as colon and stomach cancer.

Tuberculosis: Numerous test tube studies have demonstrated that garlic extract inhibits the growth of different species of bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the organism responsible for tuberculosis. Very high concentrations of garlic extract were needed to slow down the growth of M. tuberculosis in these studies, so some experts are concerned that these levels may be toxic to people. While further research in people is needed, one animal study found that garlic oil also inhibited M. tuberculosis and reduced lesions in the lungs of these animals.

Intestinal Parasites: Laboratory studies suggest that large quantities of fresh, raw garlic may have antiparasitic properties against the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, which is the most common type of intestinal parasite. Garlic for this purpose, however, has not yet been tested in people.

Important Note:
Garlic can irritate the digestive tracts of very young children and some sources don't recommend garlic for breast feeding mothers. In addition, some individuals are allergic to garlic.

5. Hempseed oil or Black Currant Oil: These oils contain a fatty acid called gamma-linolenic acid or GLA, which the body produces from omega-6 linoleic acid by the action of special enzymes. In many individuals the production or effectiveness of this enzyme is compromised, especially as they grow older. These oils have been shown to increase liver function and mental acuity. Malnutrition, consumption of hydrogenated oils and diabetes inhibit the conversion of omega-6 linoleic acid to GLA.

GLA-rich oils have been used to treat:
cancer
premenstrual syndrome
breast disease
scleroderma
colitis
irritable bowel syndrome
cystic fibrosis

6. Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega-3s. Just 1 teaspoon contains about 2.5 grams, equivalent to more than twice the amount most people get through their diets. Flaxseeds also contain omega-6 fatty acids in the form of linoleic acid; omega-6s are the same healthy fats found in vegetable oils.

One of the EFAs in flaxseed oil, alpha-linolenic acid, is known

My wife has insomnia, after drinking mangosteen juice (2 ounces twice a day) for 2 days, she's already asleep by 11:30 pm.I usually have migraine in the afternoon, after drinking mangosteen juice (2 ounces twice a day) for 4 days, I am totally headache free.

I was so amazed with the results so I did some readings and research. Here's what I found:

Mangosteen has been used by traditional practitioners of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Africa for its varied medicinal applications. These applications include:

antimicrobial agenttreatment for skin diseasesanti-inflammatory agentanalgesic (pain reliever)antidiarrheal treatmentgastrointestinal aid

Dr. J. Frederick Templeman, a primary care physician, board certified in the US & Canada, with over 20 years clinical experience and a medical director of Phytoceutical Research states that the human body is a remarkable creation, capable of caring for and repairing itself - but only if it receives the necessary nutrients (raw materials) to do so. When a state of disequilibrium occurs, we can only assist the body in its efforts to restore optimal health.

There are a variety of measures we can utilize to help our bodies recover from illness. Improved diet, stress relief, and increased physical activity are a few things that can make a tremendous difference in our state of health. Sometimes even these are not enough.

Supplementation also plays a critical role in assisting the body to both prevent and combat disease. Which supplements should we take? Well, each of our bodies is different, so each of our needs is slightly different as well. If you think of your body as own personal laboratory, and you "experiment" with different supplements to achieve better health, you will soon be able to determine which products your body can use most effectively.

Dr. Templeman feels that natural supplements offering the broadest range of phytonutrients to the body are those you should consider first. In this regard, the mangosteen fruit possesses a wide range of phytonutrients, including xanthones. But xanthones are only half the story. The fruit also contains catechins and proanthocyanidins, both classes of polyphenols shown to have great nutritional value for the body. Mangosteen also possesses polysaccharides and sterols, two groups of compounds also thought to possess a variety of potential health benefits.

Dr. Templeman adds: "If you are in poor health, or are simply looking to lower your risk of disease, I encourage you to experiment with the mangosteen fruit in the laboratory of your own body to determine how it will put this amazing fruit to use."

In addition to what I've learned, the bulk of the nutrients comes from the pericarp or rind of the mangosteen fruit.

Here are some interesting research and results of preclinical studies which provide the evidence that these nutrients can be used by the body:

Atherosclerosis. Cathecin research on mangosteen has demonstrated the following in the area of atherosclerosis (the process of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood) building up in the inner lining of an artery. The buildup that results is called plaque.):

Decreased liver production of LDL and VLDL (bad cholesterol)Protection of the LDL molecule from free radical damage (antioxidant effect more potent that Vitamin C)Decreased amount of absorption and digestion of dietary factsNormalization of endothelial cell function in the artery so that adhesion substances are not formedInhibition of the growth factors that cause smooth muscle cells in the walls of arteries to grow abnormally and form plaqueInhibition of bacterial proliferation in the mouth that leads to gum disease and the possible infection of arterial plaqueDampening of the inflammatory response, which leads to plaque rupture and triggers the coagulation cascade that produces the deadly blood clotInhibition of thrombin-induced clot information (the coagulation cascade)Xanthone research has revealed the following properties:

Antioxidant activity (surpassing that of Vitamin E) that protects LDL particles from free radical damage in laboratory studiesAntibacterial action to prevent the infection of plaquesAnti-inflammatory activity capable of dampening the inflammation, which can lead to plaque rupture

Proanthocyanidin research has revealed the following properties:

Antioxidant activity to protect LDL particles from free radical damageAntibacterial effectsNormalization of endothelial vasolidatory function in the arteries through the increased production of Nitric oxideAntithrombotic (anticlotting) effectAnti-inflammatory effect to lessen the probability of plaque ruptureRegulation of adhesion molecule production by endothelial cells

Sterol research has revealed the following properties:

Normalization of lipid production to prevent the excessive formation of LDL

Polysaccharide research has revealed the following properties:

Antibacterial effect

Cancer. Cathecin research in the area of cancer has revealed:

Protection of DNA from damage by free radicals and other mutagensRepair of damaged DNA before cancer beginsInhibition of the inappropriate production of growth factors which promote cancerInhibition of the proteolytic enzymes, which cancerous cells produce to invade normal tissue and to mestatasizeProtection of skin from UV damageInhibition of the production of pro-inflammatory mediators which promote cancer growthChemoprotection (by unelucidated mechanisms) from many different types of cancerAnti-tumor effect by the induction of apoptosis or cell death in cancer cells

Xanthone research in the area of cancer has revealed:

Protection of DNA from damage by free radicalsInduction of apoptosis (cell suicide) in tumor cells of several types of cancerAnti-tumor efficacy (in vitro) of garcinone E (a mangosteen xanthone), surpassing the effect of five commonly utlized chemotherapy agents

Proanthocyanidin research in the area of cancer has shown:

Inhibition of the production of protein-dissolving agents produced by cancer cells to invade normal tissue and to metastasize

Inflammation. The body's non-specific response to virtually all insults (such as infection, trauma, radiation damage, allergen irritation, etc.) is inflammation. Characterized by swelling, redness, heat and pain, most inflammation is short-lived and an important part of the healing process. However, too often inflammation does not shut off when it should and can continue for weeks, months, or years (chronic inflammation). When this occurs, the inflammation itself (which can be painless and therefore silent) becomes a serious health threat.

Although not a disease per se, chronic inflammation has been implicated in the development of many health problems including cancer, arthritis, diabetes, skin disorders, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases (such as MS, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's), lung disease, inflammotory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis), ulcers, gastritis, GERD, allergy, kidney failure and even psychiatric disorders like depression, autism and schizophrenia. And this list is not complete because other illnesses have been shown to involve inflammatory states as greater or lesser causatory or exacerbating factors.

Cathecin research in the area of inflammation shows:

Ability to chelate iron and copper, two metals frequently involved in the production of free radicalsExcellent antioxidant activity that even exceeds the antioxidant power of vitamin C

Xanthone research in the area of inflammation shows:

Antioxidant capability which exceeds that of vitamin EAll 43 mangosteen xanthones have antioxidant capabilityThe capability of blocking the most common inflammatory cascade (arachadonic acid to prostaglandin E2) at the genetic level (COX-2 blockade)Antioxidant effect in an animal experiment that equaled the power of the drug dexamethasone and exceeded the effect of the drug Indomethacin

Proanthocyanidin research in the area of inflammation shows:

Effective inhibition of the proinflammatory enzyme COX-2 (again at the level of the COX-2 gene)The ability to inhibit the formation of copper-linked free radicalsChemoprotective effects on cells threatened with inflammatory damage

(Ref. - Mangosteen, the gift your body deserves by J. Frederic Templeman, M.D.)

The above mentioned illnesses are only a few of what mangosteen can do and help our body. You may do your own research by searching mangosteen in the internet or you may visit http://www.mangosteenmd.com.

To sum it up: XanGo (Xangosteen in Singapore) juice is a food supplement that has an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-tumor and cancer prevention properties. It also strengthens the body's immune system. Backed by research, and experiences/success stories of doctors and ordinary people, http://www.mangosteenexperiences.com.

Should you need more information, visit http://www.mangosteen.sawit.net

“Soy foods can stimulate the growth of oestrogen-dependent tumours and cause thyroid problems.” (7)

“Boosting your Soy intake could reduce your risk of breast cancer.” (5)

“A British Government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased risk of cancer.” (8)

Confused?

This article on soy will examine the following:

- History of the humble soy bean

- It’s role in the Asian diet

- It’s role in the Western diet - where is it lurking

- Critical questions regarding its safety

- The guinea pigs

Soy Beginnings The soy plant was initially used as ‘green manure’ or a cover crop plowed under to enrich the soil, and it became known to the Chinese as ‘the yellow jewel’. Soy did not become human food till late in the Chou Dynasty (1134-246 BC), after the Chinese developed a process of fermentation to make it into soy paste, called miso, with the run-off liquid called soy sauce. Tofu came after miso and in Japan, and China it was rarely served as a main course except in monasteries where it was eaten with miso or fish stock. Around 1000 A.D fermented soy foods, natto and tempeh entered the food supply. Modern soy products such as soy-protein isolate and concentrate made using highly processed methods were unknown in Asia till after World War II. Furthermore neither soy milk nor infant formula is traditional in Asia. The first person to manufacture soy milk was actually an American missionary and physician Harry Miller. “Claims that soybeans have been a major part of the Asian diet for more than 3,000 years, or ‘time immemorial’ are simply not true.” (6)

Soy in the Asian diet According to a spokesman for Cancer Research UK “There’s a lot of research that countries with a high intake of soy in their diet, such as Japan, tend to have lower rates of prostate cancer and some other types, with the active ingredients in soy thought to be isoflavones.” (1). Sounds very compelling, however let’s elaborate how much soy is actually in the Japanese and Asian diet. According to the soy industry’s own figures Asians eat very little soy; around 9.3 to 36grams per day in China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Taiwan. In comparison a cup of Tofu is 252grams, or soy milk 240 grams (6). More importantly the quality is hardly comparable, with the Asian countries generally eating their soy already fermented like miso soup, not as tofu, sausages or meat replacement foods. According to Sally Fallon from Weston A Price foundation (leading independent health group) approximately 65% of Japanese calories come from fish while in China the same percentage from Pork. So it is far from the backbone of their diet (8).

Soy in the Western diet Apart from the obvious where else is soy lurking? Research estimates that soy is present in 70% of all supermarket products and widely used in Fast Food chains. Soy is used to bulk out and bind many processed foods such as sausages, lasagne, beef burgers and chicken nuggets (food firms can then put a higher protein value on them). Even the husk is used for fibre in breads, cereals, and snacks. The big one is in vegetable oil- soy is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world and is used in margarines, salad dressings and cooking oils. Food labels simply list soy oil as vegetable oil As well as that 90% of the 200 million tonnes of soy produced annually is used to feed animals (3).

Soy and the Thyroid According to Mary Shomon editor of http://www.thyroid-info.com (9) “Soy products increase the risk of thyroid disease. And this danger is particularly great for infants on soy formula…More than 70 years of human, animal and laboratory studies show that soybeans put the thyroid at risk.” Dr. Mike Fitzpatrick, an environmental scientist and phytoestrogen researcher who has conducted in-depth studies on soy, particularly the use of soy formulas published in the New Zealand Medical journal. Dr. Fitzpatrick makes it clear that soy products can have a detrimental affect on both adults and infants. In particular, he firmly believes that soy formula manufacturers should remove the isoflavones -- that part of the soy products that act as anti-thyroid agents -- from their products (2) How do researchers induce thyroid cancers in laboratory animals? They use thyroid-inhibiting foods like soy in combination with thyroid boosting drugs like Synthroid. (6) How much soy can impair thyroid problems? Perhaps as little as 30 mg or less than a glass of soy milk. (4)

Soy and reproduction Here is an interesting fact. Tofu is consumed by Buddhist monks to reduce libido. Humans and animals appear to be the most vulnerable to the effects of soy estrogens prenatally, during infancy and puberty, during pregnancy and lactation – all the major phases of hormonal shifts with growth and development. How powerful can soy be to the hormone system? One landmark study showed “that as little as 45mg of isoflavines could alter the length of a premenopausal woman’s menstrual cycle.” (4) Obviously it’s harder to find a cause and effect relationship as there are many potentially triggers to hormonal imbalances and reproductive problems. However in animals this has been more thoroughly tested. According to Dr Mary Enig (world renowned lipid and hormone specialist) female pigs can only ingest it in amounts no greater than 1% during lactation phase or face developmental problems in the piglets (8).

Soy and the environment Soy was previously considered a good source of protein which attracted vegetarians looking for meat alternatives. But it’s a double whammy for environmental and health conscious vegetarians as the effect of soy farming on the environment is dramatic. It is predicted that 10,000 hectares of forest every year in Argentina (20 football fields an hour). If this continues at this rate in fives years time the country’s native forests will have disappeared. Similar scenarios are being played out in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia all thanks to companies like the genetic engineering giant Monsanto. The World Wide Fund for Nature published a report recently calculating that 22 million hectares of forests and savannah in South America (an area the size of Great Britain) will be wiped out by 2020. Crops have also triggered soil erosion, and the widespread use of pesticides and chemicals are destroying some of the world’s most delicate habitats. (3).

Soy Business Soy is traded as an international commodity, like oil and gold. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry. "The reason there’s so much soy in America is because they [the soy industry] started to plant soy to extract the oil from it and soy oil became a very large industry. Once they had as much oil as they did in the food supply they had a lot of soy protein residue left over, and since they can’t feed it to animals, except in small amounts, they had to find another market." (2)

Conclusion So Soy’s reputation as a health panacea is now badly blemished. It still has some supporters, but it is important to examine their background to ensure they are not just PR mouthpieces for a very powerful Soy industry. Big Soy, like big pharmaceutical, has been a powerful force shaping an attitude to nutrition and health. Given the mounting evidence that does not support Soy as a health food I believe we need to be very nervous about accepting big Soy spin as nutritional gospel.

Your 3d Coach

Craig Burton

References

1. BBC News 2004, Soy stops cancer and Baldness, 14/11/2004

2. http://www.mercola.com/2004/jan/21/soy.htm, Soy: Is it healthy or is it harmful

3. Anthony Barnett, The Observer, They hailed it a wonder food, 7/11/2004

4. http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/articles/Shadow.htm, Sean Carson, The shadow of Soy or, How I stopped loving and learned to worry about the bean

5. www.thehealthierlife.co.uk, Soy Health benefits: why boosting your intake of soy could reduce your risk of breast cancer

6. www.thewholesoystory.com, Whole soy story: The dark side of America’s favorite health food. Daniel, K, T

7. New Zealand Medical Journal (vol 113 Feb 11 2000) Soy Formulas and the effects of isoflavones on the thyroid.

8. www.westonaprice.org, Myths and Truths about soy food

9. http://www.thyroid-info.com, Mary Shomon editor.

Swati Sugandh

Rape is not a simple crime. Worse than murder, it is scar the victim has to carry his or her's whole life. Defining rape is moreover not simple. The Oxford Dictionary defines rape as the crime, committed by a man, of forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with him without their consent and against their will, especially by the threat or use of violence against them. Rape is not only about physically damaging, it is emotionally traumatizing and more psychologically involved with a deep impact, that will be proved later in the cases dealt with below. Thus, that makes the whole yarn about rape even more complex.

Legally, its definition varies the world over, from countries having very lenient perspective on the crime to countries with exhaustive laws of all aspects of rape, to very strict laws. In some extreme cases, rape is meted out even as a punishment. For instance, in Pakistan, the Mukhtar Mai Case made headlines around the world in 2002. Mukhtar Mai’s adolescent brother was accused of sexually assaulting a young woman from another clan. A tribal council ordered that Mai be publicly gang-raped as punishment in order to shame her family. Moreover, historically rape has been used as a weapon of war. Rape seems to have been used differently by different social or cultural groups over time. Hence rape is viewed in multiple perspectives.

Referring to statistics, and focusing on the endless surveys, there is a very dangerous picture that gets etched. A particular survey indicated that at least thirteen per cent of females above the age of eighteen had been victim of at least one rape; not considering rape attempts at all. It is a huge social, cultural, and criminal stigma that has been there since mankind has been evolving.There are different patterns of rape that we will see in the cases studied below. Firstly, anger rape that is characterized by physical and verbal abuse, while the action is taking place and debasing the victim to take out the frustration in order to discharge the anger and using sex as a weapon.  Secondly, power rape, Sex becomes a way to compensate for power rapist’s underlying feelings of inadequacy and feeds his concerns of capability, strength, authority and mastery. The power rapist relies upon verbal threats, intimidation with a weapon, and only uses the amount of force necessary to suppress his victim.  Thirdly, sadistic rape, generally involves torture and self-possession. The victim's injuries will be primarily focused on the sexual areas of her body; there may be damage of these areas. In some cases, sexual gratification may not be the mail goal, or even an aspect of what the rapist wants. Sometimes it may be about showing dominance and control. Sometimes to just cause fear and suffering, or any other such analogy. The rapist uses some type of instrument or foreign object to penetrate his victim. That effectively means that nearly every eighth or seventh female has been a victim of at least one rape in her life.  

India with all its diversity and vibrancy, different languages, different cultures, different social and cultural environments can help us find some answers we search to study what exactly leads to rape. Delhi the capital of India and Bihar a state of the Indian republic in the north of India are places where these incidents have found to be occurring in a lob-sided manner when compared to other parts of India. Delhi leading to be called the rape capital of India, while Bihar got the infamous name- Rapistan for the same reasons. Case studies from these two regions should therefore make for some interesting insights into our understanding of rape.

Delhi as the capital of India, over a predominantly Punjabi culture has a high influx of people from all over India, primarily from the northern states as people migrate towards better opportunities and living conditions.  Delhi with rapid urbanization and growth, high rates of education and intense access to media resulting in a heavy western influence in schools, still has high rape rates that are increasing. The urban spaces of Delhi are not friendly to women at all.
According to the most recent National Crime Records Bureau annual report, Delhi has the highest crime rate of 357 percent amongst mega cities in 2006. The previous year figures show that Delhi is risky for women. It has the highest rate of crime against women, 33 percent rape cases, 23 percent molestation cases, is the highest for any metro city. But this does not find proof in Delhi. Delhi has high literacy rates. People here are highly aware.  It has stronger government and less corruption. Up to ninety percent of the cases which happen every twenty four hours are solved and rapists prosecuted. Thus there in theory should be less of rapes. But a case contrary to this is in place. What could be a possible reason for all this could be as in the rape case explained earlier, high amount of sexual frustration in the youth culminating from the fact that, Delhi has a heavy western influence. This pours out itself in manners, one of which is rapes.

Bihar on the other hand now, is one of the most underdeveloped states in India. It is known for corruption, mis-governance and illiteracy which have successfully thwarted the state’s growth in terms of civil and economic growth, educational growth as well as cultural and social growth leading to high levels of stigma in society, high levels of backwardness and deep penetration of superstitious belief. One factor that speaks loudest about the state of affairs in Bihar is the huge divide in the literacy rates in the state between males and females, both being low as well. Another factor is the sex ratio which is the most skewed in the country. The sex ratio of 911 for the composite state, Bihar and 907 after the division (Bihar and Jharkhand) state, recorded in 1991, is much below the national sex ratio of 927. At the Census of India 2001, sex ratio of Bihar at 921 is still lower as compared to the national sex ratio which is 933.

By interviewing the rape victims themselves we get a greater sense of how women from diverse backgrounds seem to reflect similar psychological consequences of rape. And moreover understand the pain they went through which is sometimes forgotten when these incidents are overtaken by the media.

Being able to take an interview with a person who has gone through this ordeal is a daunting task in itself and questioning the victim is a much graver task.  The incident itself has been a very depressing incident and asking the victim to relive the experience is something that should not be warranted off a victim. So questions to be asked have to be sensitive to the incident and take into account the victim’s background, not making the victim uncomfortable at any point of time.

The NGO which I found in Bihar was one which I selected was doing exceptional work at a very micro level, which I believed had maximum impact. It dealt with helping victims of rape to cope up with their drowned confidence of being a female figure, get back to leading a normal life and give them counseling and in some cases vocational skills to get over the trauma.

Through these NGOs I was able to meet three victims of rape incidents. These case studies are similar in that they were not reported to the police and remained at the level of NGO support. These cases are different in that we are dealing with women from different socio-economic backgrounds however there is a stark similarity in their psychological response to the rape. One was in Delhi, and the other two in Bihar. One of the two in rural Bihar and the other in Urban or by international standards semi-urban parts of Bihar, which is its capital Patna, located at the very center of the state. What is strange about these three incidents is that they are completely different in reason of the crime, the psychology behind them, and in many other factors.

Under directions of the NGOs I was only allowed to ask few questions after they went over the case study of the victim. I went through a lot of case studies in this regard. This process gave me one important realization, more than just rape, some of which are reported, there are a lot more cases of molestation, rape attempts and other atrocities on women and children across different places in India. The problem is much more deep spread and stronger than we can anticipate by our flow of knowledge which comes from the media.

One of the many cases I read through in Bihar was one of the most typical cases of rape in the region. This was a case where three ‘adivasi’ or tribal girls who worked as bonded labors were raped. This was in a rural part of Bihar where these three girls worked in a brick kiln in the Nalanda District, under imaginably bad conditions. These women through the day, under the heat of the sun or the blistering cold, they work long hours at very low pay. These women and children, who work here, live in nearby temporary huts and are offered very little amenities. Thus this all leads to there being no security, in any manner and living conditions below the poverty line.

The huts are 3'x6'x3' which is a used for all purposes like cooking, sleeping, etc. There are no doors. They have made up doors made from straws and wood to keep away dogs. There is no provision for a protection at this kiln. Anybody can enter and leave without any hindrance. There is even no arrangement for toilets or bathing places for any of these laborers. No basic needs are met. All of this results in girls going to the fields for toilet purposes and end up being teased by local boys. There is absolutely no privacy for bathing and being watched by boys roaming around. These women are constantly under threat of

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Though previously regarded as a childhood diagnosis, ADHD can continue throughout adulthood. Four percent of American adults are estimated to live with ADHD.

ADHD management typically involves some combination of medications, behavior modifications, life-style changes, or counseling.

The most common symptoms of ADHD are:

* Impulsiveness: acting before thinking of consequences, jumping from one activity to another, disorganization, tendency to interrupt other peoples’ conversations.
* Hyperactivity: restlessness, often characterized by an inability to sit still, fidgeting, squirm Ines, climbing on things, restless sleep.
* Inattention: easily distracted, day-dreaming, not finishing work, difficulty listening, and motor clumsiness.

ADHD and its diagnosis and treatment have been considered controversial since the 1970s. The controversies have involved clinicians, teachers, policymakers, parents and the media, with opinions regarding ADHD that range from not believing it exists at all to believing there are genetic and physiological bases for the condition and also include disagreement about the use of stimulant medications in the treatment. Most healthcare providers accept that ADHD is a genuine disorder with debate in the scientific community mainly around how it is diagnosed and treated.

According to a study published yesterday that was funded by the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Mental Health Children taking stimulant drugs such as Ritalin to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are several times as likely to suffer sudden, unexplained death as children who are not taking such drugs. The study’s lead author, Madelyn Gould, a professor in child psychiatry and epidemiology at Columbia University, said she agreed with the FDA’s advice.

Doctors have speculated about such a connection in the past because stimulants increase heart rate and have other cardiovascular effects. Physicians are currently advised to evaluate patients for cardiac risks before prescribing the drugs, and FDA officials said yesterday that those guidelines do not need strengthening in light of the recent study. About 2.5 million children in the United States take ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall.

“This study reports a significant association or ’signal’ between sudden unexplained death and the use of stimulant medication, specifically methylphenidate,” the study researchers concluded, referring to the chemical name of Ritalin. “While the data have limitations that preclude a definitive conclusion, our findings draw attention to the potential risks of stimulant medications for children and adolescents.”

Since an experimental study comparing the risk of sudden death among children taking medications with those not taking medications would have had to include millions of children to generate a useful scientific result, Gould and a number of colleagues conducted what is known as a matched case-control study: They obtained information about 564 children in the United States who died suddenly and inexplicably between 1985 and 1996. The researchers evaluated how many of the children who died had been taking stimulant drugs by asking their parents and caregivers and by reviewing medical documents.

For every child who died suddenly and inexplicably, the researchers also found another child closely matched in terms of age, sex and other variables who died in a traffic accident. Taking a stimulant drug is unlikely to have played any role in a child getting killed in an accident. If stimulant drugs had nothing to do with sudden, unexplained death, then the number of victims on stimulant drugs who suffered such deaths and the number of victims on stimulant drugs who died in traffic accidents ought to have been about the same.

Gould found that 10 children in the group that suffered sudden, unexplained death had been taking stimulant drugs, whereas only two children in the group killed in traffic accidents were taking such medications.

Robert Temple, director of the Office of Drug Evaluation at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA, said that the study had been well conducted, but that he was concerned that not all parents may accurately recall whether children who died were taking stimulant drugs. When a child dies suddenly, he said, it is natural for a parent to pay close attention to all the medications the child was taking at the time and to report that to researchers. By contrast, he said, parents whose children die in traffic accidents may be less likely to note whether their children are taking medications — and less able to report it years later.

In an editorial accompanying the study, Benedetto Vitiello of the National Institute of Mental Health said that ADHD itself might have increased the risk for sudden, unexplained death. If that were the case, he said, it would explain why more children taking stimulant drugs found in the group that unexpectedly died than among the children who died in traffic accidents.

The researchers who conducted the peer-reviewed study acknowledged that its design precluded definitive answers, but they said that they had taken care to eliminate each of these potential confounders. They did not consider cases of sudden death in which children had asthma or cardiac abnormalities — conditions known to be associated with ADHD — because those factors might have independently raised the risk of sudden death. They also included one child who died in a traffic accident who seemed to have been abusing amphetamines, rather than taking an ADHD medication.

In a press briefing called on short notice yesterday, FDA officials said that given the seriousness of ADHD and the rarity of sudden death  Which strikes fewer than 1 in 10,000 children ? the benefits of the drugs outweigh their risks. Agency officials urged parents to discuss concerns with doctors rather than deciding on their own to discontinue a child’s Medication.

Endocardial cushion defects, more commonly known as Atrioventricular (ATRIOVENTRICULAR) canal or septal defects, include a range of defects characterized by involvement of the atrial septum, the ventricular septum, and one or both of the ATRIOVENTRICULAR valves.

These defects can be classified by several methods. A distinction generally is made between partial and complete defects. A complete Atrioventricular septal defect indicates the presence of both atrial and ventricular septal defects with a common Atrioventricular valve. A partial defect indicates atrial septal involvement with separate mitral and tricuspid valve orifices.

Atrioventricular canal defects arise from abnormal development of the endocardial cushions. In these patients, the superior and inferior cushions do not close completely. An interatrial communication is left at the lower portion of the atrial septum. This is called an ostium primum defect. The failure of the endocardial cushions to fuse results in an abnormally low position of the Atrioventricular valves and an abnormally high position of the aortic valve. A portion of the ATRIOVENTRICULAR valves originates from the endocardial cushions, and their improper fusion results in anterior and posterior components to the mitral valve leaflet.

Pathophysiology

Predominant left-to-right shunting of blood through the heart occurs in these patients. In patients with partial defects, this occurs through the ostium primum atrial septal defect. When a complete endocardial cushion defect is present, a large ventricular septal defect as well as valvular insufficiency may develop, resulting in volume overload of both the left and right ventricles associated with heart failure in early life. In patients with long-standing pulmonary overload, pulmonary vascular disease may develop and congestive heart failure (CHF) symptoms may improve. This improvement is a poor prognostic indicator because it heralds the development of right-to-left shunting and irreversible pulmonary hypertension (ie, Eisenmenger syndrome).

Frequency

United States

The frequency rate is about 3% of children with congenital heart disease. Sixty to seventy percent of these defects are of the complete form. More than half of those affected with the complete form hAtrioventriculare Down syndrome.

International

The frequency rate is about 3% of children who hAtrioventriculare congenital heart disease.

Mortality/Morbidity

Patients with only ostium primum atrial septal defect and minimal insufficiency of the left Atrioventricular valve (ie, mitral valve) do well without treatment during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. During adulthood, these patients develop symptoms of CHF and atrial arrhythmia.

Patients with septal defects and mitral valve insufficiency develop CHF early in life, with high rates of morbidity and mortality if the valvular insufficiency is pronounced. Patients with a complete defect develop CHF in infancy, with frequent respiratory infections and poor weight gain.

Race

No racial predilection is apparent.

Sex

Girls are affected slightly more frequently than boys.

Age

Endocardial cushion defect is a congenital defect present at birth. The severity of the symptom complex and presentation is dependent directly upon the severity of the defect and the presence of mitral insufficiency.

Clinical History

An infant may be relatively asymptomatic. In severe cases, patients hAtrioventriculare a history of poor feeding, chronic upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, and poor growth. The mother may notice difficulty with crying, frequent pauses during feeding, and nasal flaring. As the child grows older, the more common manifestations of CHF may develop, including Atrioventricularersion to activity and play, easy fatigability, dyspnea, and edema.

Physical Partial defects present with the physical findings common to atrial septal defects. The second heart sound is widely split without respiratory variations. A systolic ejection murmur may be heart at the upper left sternal border. A low-pitched early diastolic rumble may be heart at the lower left sternal border and is related to increased tricuspid valve flow. A murmur of mitral insufficiency may or may not be present. Additional findings in complete endocardial cushion defects relate to the ventricular septal defect and valvular insufficiency. Poor physical development, hyperinflated thorax, bulging precordium, Harrison grooves, mild or intermittent cyanosis, and stigmata of Down syndrome (eg, oblique palpebral fissures, large protuberant tongue, short and broad hands, simian crease, inner epicanthic skin fold) Arterial and jugular venous pulse - Water hammer pulse, dominant v wAtrioventriculare in the jugular venous pulse Precordial movement and palpation - Systolic thrill, palpable impulse in the second and third intercostal space representing a dilated pulmonary artery, prominent heAtrioventriculare at the left sternal border Auscultation A single first heart sound is heard, which may be a relatively soft fixed splitting of the second heart sound. A systolic murmur of a ventricular septal defect can be heard as well as the systolic murmur of mitral insufficiency. Pulmonary hypertension is associated with a loud pulmonic component of the second heart sound. Causes Genetics The characteristic pattern of the malformation has been attributed to trisomy 21 and Down syndrome in some cases. Some evidence exists that a critical region of chromosome band 21q22 may contribute particularly to the cardiac malformation in this syndrome. Other chromosomal abnormalities also can result in Atrioventricular septal defects, in particular, deletion of 8p, partial 10q monosomy, partial 13q monosomy, ring 22 14 q+, and 1p+3p-. In most cases of significant chromosomal aberration, Atrioventricular  septal defects are associated with other noncardiac congenital defects. However, isolated ATRIOVENTRICULAR septal defects can be transmitted in families as an autosomal dominant trait. Linkage analyses hAtrioventriculare suggested a locus for autosomal dominant Atrioventricular septal defects on chromosome 1p but no specific gene defect has yet been identified. Growth factor aberrations: In the developing fetus, cardiac tissue formation is dependent upon appropriate growth factor stimulation including transforming growth factor beta and platelet-derived growth factor. Alterations in the concentration or efficacy of these factors during embryogenesis can contribute to the cardiac malformations. Differential Diagnoses

Atrial Septal Defect
Mitral Regurgitation
Ventricular Septal Defect

Workup Laboratory Studies CBC count: Blood tests determine the presence of polycythemia in a potentially cyanotic condition. Prothrombin time/activated partial thromboplastin time (PT/aPTT): In children with cyanotic heart disease, the coagulation profile may be abnormal because of associated polycythemia. Electrolytes: This test detects any abnormalities incurred with treatment of CHF. Imaging Studies Chest radiography This test is a good general screening that shows cardiac enlargement, particularly of the right atrium and ventricle. The main pulmonary artery usually is prominent with increased pulmonary vascular markings. After pulmonary hypertension develops, a reduction in pulmonary vascular markings is observed. Echocardiography M-mode shows diastolic movement of the mitral valve with enlarged right ventricle and paradoxical motion of the interventricular septum. Two-dimensional echocardiography is highly reliable in identification of septal defects. Echocardiography identifies the absence of the interventricular septum. Findings may include right ventricular dilatation and paradoxical motion of the interventricular septum. The extent of septal defects as well as the left-to-right shunting and degree of valvular insufficiency can be determined as well as an estimate of pulmonary artery pressure. Lack of displacement of the left and right Atrioventricular valves is a characteristic finding in this condition. Prolonged diastolic contact between the anterior mitral leaflet and the interventricular septum also may be noted. Associated defects that may require attention also can be detected. Abnormalities in the Atrioventricular valves can be identified reliably. Transesophageal echocardiography clearly identifies Atrioventricular valve morphology. MRI: This test readily visualizes the deficiency in the ventricular septum as well as Atrioventricular valve morphology. Cardiac catheterization: This test is indicated when clinically significant questions remain unanswered after a comprehensive noninvasive evaluation. If other lesions are suspected or if operative planning cannot be performed adequately after noninvasive testing, then catheterization should be undertaken. Left ventricular angiography in the frontal plane shows an elongated left ventricular outflow tract, called a "gooseneck deformity," which is characteristic of this condition. Catheterization should involve quantitation of the shunts and valvular insufficiency and calculation of pulmonary vascular resistance. Aortography may be performed to determine whether a patent ductus arteriosus is present. Other Tests Electrocardiography The typical ECG in patients with partial Atrioventricular septal defects shows first-degree Atrioventricular block and left axis deviation (because of late left anterior fascicular depolarization). Patients with right ventricular dilatation usually hAtrioventriculare partial or complete right bundle-branch block. Complete Atrioventricular block and atrial fibrillation commonly occur in older patients. See Medscape's Atrial Fibrillation Resource Center. A prolonged PR interval accompanied by biventricular or left ventricular