Water To loose Weight - 5 step Guide

You’ve probably heard it from the elders, parents, grandparents,aunts , Uncles etc, now doctors are Saying it too-  drink plenty of water to aid you lose more weight. The water per se may not cause weight loss , but when adopted properly can help / aid in weight loss. Does water really help loose weight ? Yes is the answer. Drinking water acts as an appetite suppressant,  boosts your body metabolism and keeps you hydrated and healthy .
     Make sure you’re drinking the recommended eight to ten, 8 ounce glasses per day to keep yourself hydrated and encourage weight loss.

1.  Drink water before your meals

           Because water is an appetite suppressant, drinking it before meals can make you feel fuller and therefore reduce your food intake which in turn leads to low calorie intake.
          Health resource website WebMD states that drinking water before meals results in an average reduction in intake of 75 calories per meal. Drinking water before just one meal per day would cause you to ingest 27,000 fewer calories per year.  So three meals a day would result in 81,000 calories less. So what are you waiting for, Drink a glass of water before each meal.

2. Replace calorie-filled drinks with water

  Say good bye to the Colas and juice, replace them with water to help you lose weight. Add a slice of lemon to the water. A glass of water with lemon is a recipe for successful weight loss because the pectin in lemons helps reduce food cravings. Give up those soft drinks for just a few weeks and see the difference.

3.Drink it cold

According to the  WebMD, drinking ice cold water helps boost your metabolism because your body has to work harder to warm the water up, therefore burning more calories and helping you to lose weight. Also, cold water is just so much more refreshing than water that’s warm.

4.Hit the gym

Because drinking water helps prevent muscle cramping and keeps your joints lubricated, you can work out longer and harder. Just another way keeping hydrated with water helps you lose weight.

5.Get enough Water that is Required daily.

   Follow the “8x8” rule recommended by most nutritionists If you want the water you drink to help you lose weight, Drink eight to ten,glasses of  8-ounce capacity per day for weight loss and to maintain an ideal weight. You might need to drink more water if you are in hot and humid place or exercise heavily. you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day.
        How do you know if you’re getting enough water? A general rule is to check the colour of urine. You’ll know you’re well hydrated if your urine is clear or very light yellow in color. The darker your urine, the more water you need to drink, especially if weight loss is your goal.

WHAT IS AN ALLERGY SHOT (IMMUNOTHERAPY)

Allergy shots (patient information)

Allergen immunotherapy was introduced by Leonard Noon 100 years ago and is the only disease-modifying treatment for allergic individuals (Allergy, 2012).

If you have allergies, you may be wondering if allergy shots are the best treatment for you. Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions.

What exactly is there in the allergy shots?

Allergen extracts are manufactured from natural substances, such as pollens, insect venoms, animal hair, and foods. More than 1,200 extracts are licensed by FDA.

How do allergy shots work? 

After allergy testing, typically by skin testing to detect what allergens you or your child may react to, a health care professional injects the child with “extracts” - small amounts of the allergens that trigger a reaction. The doses are gradually increased so that the body builds up immunity to these allergens. Allergy shots work like a vaccine.

There are two phases of administration of allergy shots (immunotherapy): build-up and maintenance.

The build-up phase, ranges from 3 to 6 months, and involves injections with increasing amounts of the allergens. The frequency of injections is once or twice a week. Sometime more rapid build-up schedules are used.

The maintenance phase begins when the most effective dose is reached (maintenance dose). Once the maintenance dose is reached, there are longer periods between injections, typically every 2-4 weeks.

Who administers the allergy shots?

An allergist / immunologist, often referred to as an allergist, is the most qualified physician to test which allergy you have and tell you if allergy shots are right for you. The safest approach is to be seen and treated by a board-certified allergist. You can find an allergist here:http://www.acaai.org/allergist/Pages/locate_an_allergist.aspx

Who needs allergy shots?

Children or adults who don't respond to either over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications, or who suffer from frequent complications of allergic rhinitis, may be candidates for allergen immunotherapy - commonly known as allergy shots.

Allergy shots are recommended for patients with allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis and stinging insect allergy. They are not recommended for food allergies.

Before a decision is made to begin allergy shots, the following issues must be considered:

- Length of allergy season and the severity of your symptoms
- Whether medications and/or changes to your environment can control your allergy symptoms
- Your desire to avoid long-term medication use
- Time: allergy shots require a major time commitment. The duration is typically 3-5 years, and the shots often require brief clinic visits every 2-4 weeks.
- Cost: may vary depending on your state and insurance coverage

Immunotherapy for children is effective and well tolerated. It prevents the onset of new allergies. Allergy shots are the only treatment that prevents the progression from allergic rhinitis to asthma.

How effective are allergy shots?

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), about 80-90% of people with allergic rhinitis will see their symptoms and need for medications drop significantly within a year of starting allergy shots.

How quickly will I feel better?

For many people, a decrease in symptoms is seen during the build-up phase, within 3-6 months. For others, it may take as long as 12 months on the maintenance dose.

How long should I stay on allergy shots?

Once the maintenance dose is reached (it takes 3-6 months), allergy shots are continued for 3-5 years. The decision to stop should be discussed with your board-certified allergist. Some people may have a permanent reduction of their allergy symptoms (the best outcome). Others may relapse and then a longer course of allergy shots can be considered.

What are the risks of allergy shots?

There are two types of adverse reactions that can occur with allergy shots.

Local reactions are common and are described as temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. This can happen immediately, or several hours after the treatment.

Systemic reactions are not common, and are usually mild and respond quickly to medications. Signs of a systemic reaction include increased allergy symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose or hives. Rarely, a serious systemic reaction called anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis) can develop, with swelling in the throat, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, nausea or dizziness. This reequires treatment with epinephrine (EpiPen).

Most systemic reactions develop within 30 minutes of giving allergy shots. You should you wait in your allergist office for 30 minutes after your injections.

Is there an alternative to allergy shots such as drops, etc.?

Some doctors are buying extracts licensed for injection and instructing the parents to administer the extracts using a dropper under the adult or child’s tongue. While FDA considers this the practice of medicine (and the agency does not regulate the practice of medicine), parents and patients should be aware that there are no allergenic extracts currently licensed by FDA for oral use.

Can you treat food allergy with allergy shots?

Allergy shots are never appropriate for food allergies. However, it is common to use extracts to test for food allergies so the child or adult can avoid those foods.

References

Allergy Immunotherapy, Allergy Shots. ACAAI.
Allergy Relief for Your Child - FDA Consumer Info.
Allergy Shots: Tips to Remember. AAAAI.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2011, 7(Suppl 1):S5. 
Image source: Pollen from a variety of common plants. Dartmouth Electron Microscope Facility, Dartmouth College

6 Tips for Asthmatics to Manage Allergies During Springs!!!!

• After the winter we have had-- like most of you-- we are ready for the warmer spring weather.  After a week of our wish being granted we remembered some of the pitfalls of the gorgeous spring temperatures: pollen, pollen and more pollen.  If you have asthma and allergies this can mean a huge increase in asthma symptoms.
  
  Early in the spring tree pollens can wreak havoc on asthma symptoms.  Some of the most common include ash, birch, cypress, elm, hickory, maple, oak, poplar, sycamore, walnut and western red cedar.  In later spring the grass pollens like bermuda grass, orchard grass, red top grass and timothy grass kick in and trigger flare ups in people allergic to grasses.
  
  Allergies can result in additional inflammation in the airway of asthmatic patients, which is why most emergency rooms see an increase in visits due to asthma complications in the spring.  Additional symptoms of spring allergies can include: sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose or throat, watery eyes, wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing.  While allergies are not contagious, they can definitely make you feel like you have a nasty illness.
  
  If allergies are aggravating your asthma it is important to treat and prevent those reactions to decrease your airway inflammation.  Here are a few tips to get your spring allergies under control.
  
  Keep up with your asthma medications.
  
  If winter doesn't produce any issues for your asthma, you may need to hit the pharmacy and refill your asthma medications in preparation for spring.  Be sure to have a rescue inhaler on hand in case it is needed.  Reducing airway inflammation with the use of a maintenance medication like Flovent, QVAR or Advair can help prevent asthma attacks.
  
  Get tested for allergies.
  
  If you suspect that allergies might be a trigger for your asthma you may want to consider being tested.  An allergist can help you to determine exactly what you are allergic to and tailor treatments to those specific issues.  Allergy tests may include blood tests or skin testing.
  
  Take allergy medications.
  
  If you have spring allergies your physician may recommend that you start taking an allergy medication a week or so before the season begins and continue it throughout the allergy season.  Antihistamines like Claritin or Zyrtec can be taken daily to prevent reactions.  Some people may also do well with steroid nasal spays to reduce the sneezing, coughing and sinus drainage that can aggravate asthma.
  
  
  Consider allergy shots.
  
  Once you have been tested for allergies your physician may decide to start you on an immunotherapy shot to reduce your body's reaction to allergens.  This therapy can take some time -- up to three or more years--so it is best to start it as soon as possible.
  
  Avoid high pollen hours.
  
  The morning tends to have the highest pollen counts.  It is best to avoid being outdoors between those peak hours of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.  Staying inside in the air conditioning and recycling the air in your vehicle can help limit your exposure to pollen during those peak hours.  Check out the Weather Channel's allergy tracker tool to determine the pollen levels in your specific area.
• 
  Shower at night.
  
  While it may seem small, showering at night can make a big difference in your allergies.  During the day pollen and other triggers latch on to your skin, clothing and hair.  Taking those clothes off immediately upon returning inside and showering-- including washing your hair-- can dramatically reduce the allergens on your body.  If you don't shower at night those allergens will be in your bed to cause reactions while you sleep and even on future nights.
  
  Allergy season can be miserable, but with a few of these tips you can make it through with the least amount of symptoms and irritation to your asthma.

5 Tips To Build Strong Bones!!

1. Look beyond the dairy aisle. Limit milk and dairy foods to no more than one to two servings per day. More won’t necessarily do your bones any good—and less is fine, as long as you get enough calcium from other sources. Calcium-rich non-dairy foods include leafy green vegetables and broccoli, both of which are also great sources of vitamin K, another key nutrient for bone health. Beans and tofu can also supply calcium.

2. Get your vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a key role along with calcium in boosting bone health. Look for a multivitamin that supplies 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day. If your multi only has 400 IU of vitamin D, consider taking an extra supplement to get you up to 1,000 IU or 2,000 IU per day. Some people may need 3,000 or 4,000 IU per day for adequate blood levels, particularly if they have darker skin, spend winters in the northern U.S., or have little exposure to direct sunlight. If you fall into these groups, ask your physician to order a blood test for vitamin D. Read more about vitamin D in the vitamins section of The Nutrition Source.

3. Get active. Regular exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise such as walking or jogging, is an essential part of building and maintaining strong bones.

4. Be careful about getting too much retinol (vitamin A). Don’t go overboard on fortified milk, energy bars, and breakfast cereals, all of which can be high in bone-weakening vitamin A. Many multivitamin makers have removed much or all retinol and replaced it with beta-carotene, which does not harm bones.

5. Help your kids build strong bones. Youth and young adulthood is the period when bones build up to their peak strength. Helping youth lead a bone-healthy lifestyle—with exercise, adequate calcium, and adequate vitamin D—can help them keep strong bones through all their adult years.

7 healthy ways for a healthy life!!!

It is not only important to monitor what you eat or drink but also how you time it all. If we discipline ourselves towards a better lifestyle, maintaining good health won’t be such a task. It is World Health Day today. It is a good reason to take complete responsibility of inculcating healthy habits into our life.

Follow these 7 changes to your lifestyle to feel better and live healthier-

1) King’s Breakfast: Most people don't feel like eating much at breakfast. However, ignoring or skipping breakfast sets a bad rhythm for the rest of your day and weakens your immune system. Having breakfast is a must and the ideal breakfast is one which is low in carbohydrates and has a good portion of protein. For people short on time, a seasonal fruit with raw nuts and a little yogurt can be a good option. Eggs and Milk can also do wonders.

2) Water Intake: Inadequate water causes dehydration and can lead to a number of problems. Most common ones are headaches, dry skin, impaired sleep, joint problems, poor concentration as well as digestive disorders. Best way to address this problem is to keep water handy wherever you are. Try to drink about two liters of water each day. More, if its hot outside or after workouts.

3) Sleep Well: Sleep time is rejuvenation for your body. If you don't get enough sleep, you will deprive your body the time to recover and tackle whatever the next day has to offer. Try to be in bed earlier and get at least 7 hours of sleep daily, sleep also helps in maintaining circadian rhythm and also boosts memory and immunity.

4) Physical Training: A good mix of aerobic as well as strength training is quite important for your health. You feel more energetic and productive when you physically work out. People who exercise regularly are generally happier than those who are inactive.

5) Stress Releasing: Stress is a major factor in inducing various forms of illnesses. Stress increases the amount of free radicals generated in the body and may cause hypertension and diabetes. Try to give yourself some time every week to do things that you enjoy – like reading, meditation or enjoying the outdoors.

6) No Self Medication: Often one wrong medicine causes much more harm than any medicine at the right time, does good. Try to avoid popping pills without doctor’s recommendation. Many side effects or reactions to an existing medication or condition can lead to uncalled for problems and complications later. Don’t rely on sources like chemist or a relative to guide you, they might not look at the right details due to lack of knowledge. Say no to self medication.

7) Avoid Fried junk foods : These are the sources of saturated fatty acids the main culprit in causing obesity and heart problems, instead feast on baked items.