Does Smoking Cause Wrinkles?

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Is it a myth or fact that smoking causes wrinkles? Fact. For a brief explanation by a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, go to http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/smoking/AN00644

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Copyright: © 2009. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org
Shu Chan 陳樹中 Terence Chan LIU

SMP Walk - Harnessing Power of Your Mind for Healing

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An extremely important lesson about a very simple way to harness the power of your mind and your forgotten ability, especially if you or someone you know is facing a health crisis - http://stanzo.blogspot.com/2009/08/facing-uncertainties-part-4-harnessing.html

This is especially important where your doctor can only give you the treatment, and now it's - wait and see. Wait and see how your body reacts to the chemotherapy. Wait and see how your body reacts to the surgery, and hope that the body keeps the condition from coming back. In these common "wait and see" situations, you can significantly improve your chances by harnessing the power of your mind with SMP-Walks.

Also, you may use SMP-walk to engage your mind to achieve the physical shape you aim to be. You can do SMP-walk while you are walking on the treadmill, spin cycle or stationary bike, or the elliptical. (Now there's no reason to be bored when you are on a cardio machine.)


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Copyright: © 2009. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org
Shu Chan 陳樹中 Terence Chan LIU

Two Simple Things to Achieve Desired Fitness

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Now that you understand the power of your mind (from the reading at http://stanzo.blogspot.com/2009/08/facing-uncertainties-part-3.html), let's apply it to achieving our desired fitness levels. I am suggesting two simple things for you to do which will greatly improve your chances for success in achieving your desired state of fitness:

1. Visualize daily. Health, fitness, and appearance improvement starts with the mind. It doesn’t matter if you have all the knowledge in nutrition science and exercise science if you don’t habitually keep in mind what you want your physical self to become. This was clear to me after coming across numerous nutrition science professors who are not in shape. You must routinely visualize in your mind how you want your physical self to be. A good time to do this is when you are in bed at night waiting to fall asleep. At this time, you could also say your prayer. (I recommend this not only because of my spiritual belief, but also because I know of studies showing the effectiveness of prayer. Although the studies are mostly on the effect of prayer on recovery of diseases, it also can apply here in terms of altering your physical fitness.) So this is item #1 – visualize your intended fit self, and pray. It doesn’t cut into your busy schedule since you can do this while you are laying in bed at night waiting to fall asleep.

2. Schedule in your workouts (or any habit which you have not performed at an ideal level). For example, schedule in x workouts each week. The variable x depends on wherever you are at right now. For example, I’ve slipped recently and have only been working out 2 days a week. Therefore, I will plan a workout 5 days per week. (My workouts right now have been scheduled on afternoons. I will probably change it to mornings on Monday and Friday and see how that works.) If I fall short of my plan and end up only working out for three or four days this week, I am not going to beat myself up. But I am also not going to be completely satisfied. This is why many fail. They either are too hard on themselves (because they didn’t achieve the ideal), or they are overly satisfied even though they didn’t reach the ideal (or the best point they can be). If I end up working out three days this week, I would not beat myself up because I’ve done better than the last two weeks. However, I also wouldn’t be overly satisfied because I have not reached what I set out to do (5 days a week) or the ideal (which would be working out 6 days a week). The key is being balanced in your emotional reaction.

So, this is pretty simple. Making it simple and making it easy to become "automatic-pilot" is why I am in better shape (and look younger) than most people my age (although having the nutrition and exercise knowledge also helps). In summary, it’s two items:

1. Visualize (every night at bed time) your-fit-self you intend to be
2. Schedule your workouts.

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Power of the Mind (in Facing Uncertainties 1,2, and 3)

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On my STANZO blog (a blog of life lessons), I’ve recently posted an entry about the power of the mind. If you haven't already read it, find it at:

http://stanzo.blogspot.com/2009/08/facing-uncertainties-part-3.html

It is part 3 of the “Facing Uncertainties” series. This is one of the most important series of lessons I am sharing. These lessons are directly related to health, especially if you, or someone you know, are facing a health crisis. For part 1 and 2, go to:

http://stanzo.blogspot.com/2009/06/power-of-uncertain-part-1-opportunities.html

http://stanzo.blogspot.com/2009/07/facing-uncertainties-part-2-do-not-fear.html

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Milk Thistle for Some Liver Conditions

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Milk Thistle is a flower often used as an herbal, popularly taken in pill form. The pills are made from the active ingredient silymarin, extracted from milk thistle flower. There are studies showing milk thistle’s effectiveness in improving the conditions of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, but some experts criticize these studies as poorly designed. Unlike chronic hepatitis, there is a complete lack of evidence for acute viral hepatitis. Expert at the renowned Mayo Clinic strongly opposes the use of milk thistle for acute viral hepatitis, a potentially life-threatening disease.













Other conditions that milk thistle is traditionally used for, but lacking scientific support, include – acute liver injury, amiodarone toxicity reactions, antibacterial, asthma, bad breath, bleeding, bronchitis, constipation, diabetic nerve pain, dyspepsia, eczema, fatty liver, gallbladder disease, gallstones, hangover, hemorrhoids, hyperthyroidism, immunomodulator, immunostimulant, inflammation, ischemic injury, liver protection, loss of appetite, malaria, menstrual problems, nutrition (dietary supplement), physical work capacity, plague, psoriasis, radiation toxicity, snakebites, spleen disorders, sunscreen, tumors, ulcers, varicose veins. Generally, I do not recommend the use of milk thistle for these conditions because of lack of evidence.

In some cases of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, it may be worth the risk in taking milk thistle. However, you must speak to your doctor to make such a decision. Note also that there may be unknown interactions between milk thistle and medications you may be taking. Speak to your doctor and/or pharmacist before taking milk thistle.

The range of milk thistle dosage as used in studies and traditionally are as follows:
Silymarin: 230 – 600 milligrams per day divided into two to three doses has been studied
Silipide: 160 – 480 milligrams per day in silybin equivalents has also been studied

Keep in mind that the dosage, potency, and quality of milk thistle product vary from brand to brand. As is true with most CAM (Complementary Alternative Medicine), it is not regulated by the FDA. If you do decide to use milk thistle, it is best to go with a well-known brand.

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