How to Live Happily on 75 Percent Less

By Rick Newman , On Tuesday December 15, 2009, 2:37 pm EST

Nine months after getting laid off, Catherine Goerz once again became part of the rush-hour commute--in a way she'd never anticipated.

To pick up extra cash, Goerz took a temporary job handing out fliers touting the benefits of public transportation in the San Francisco subway system. Occasionally she'd bump into people she knew from her former job as a creative producer for a Bay Area communications company. "They're in their corporate clothes," she recalls, "and I'm in this silly T-shirt and hat. 'Cathy, is that you?' they'd ask. 'What are you doing here?' Ugh."

The Great Recession--which is technically over, economists insist--may be morphing into a broader epoch: the Great Humbling. Millions of Americans who felt prosperous just a few years ago are now coping with long-term unemployment, sharp cutbacks in living standards, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and a deep sense of failure. That could persist for years. "This is not like earlier recessions, where things fell, then they bounced back to where they used to be," says Dennis Jacobe, chief economist for the Gallup polling organization. "We haven't seen this before. It's the only time this has happened since the Great Depression."


For many disenfranchised workers, the "new normal" is demoralizing. But some have found fresh career paths, clarified their priorities, and discovered that they're more resourceful than they once thought. After absorbing the initial shock of being laid off, 37-year-old Goerz decided it was the chance to pursue a long-time goal: Filming a documentary. She traveled cross-country with friends and produced a short film called RE:Invention, about creative ways people were toughing out the recession. After a screening at a local film festival, she won a small grant that helped her fund a longer version, which she hopes to finalize soon.

The grant covered only a portion of the production costs, however, with nothing left for living expenses. So Goerz survives on monthly unemployment insurance payments, supplemented by odd jobs and freelance projects. It adds up to just 25 percent of what she earned when employed full time. That has required severe cutbacks but also triggered new discoveries. "My quality of life has not changed at all," she says. "I think it's improved because I'm exploring what I want to do. When I see postings for full-time jobs, something inside me says, 'No, don't do it.' I want to make sure I am making the right choice."


Goerz may be at the vanguard of a historic shift in American attitudes. Researchers studying long-term trends among American consumers believe that a 20-year spending binge, fueled by easy credit, is over for good. "Smaller things now make the bigger statement," according to a new report on consumer trends by the Futures Co., a market-research firm. "The infatuation with having it all--and having it all at once--will give way to putting priority only on what's most important."

The first step is learning to be comfortable without the customary trappings of middle-class life. Many laid-off workers resist abrupt cutbacks at first, to preserve a sense of normalcy. Goerz did the opposite. She received just two weeks' severance when she lost her job in December 2008, and her income fell from about $8,000 per month to $1,900. She put $5,000 in a savings account for emergencies and used the rest of her savings to buy a certificate of deposit, so she couldn't withdraw the money if she wanted to. That meant she'd have to live on no more than what came in every month.

Unnecessary spending on jewelry, clothes, makeup, handbags, movie rentals, music downloads, vacations, taxi rides, and most conveniences stopped. She'd love to buy a new MacBook to help with networking, building a personal website, and promoting her film, but instead she nurses a wheezy old Dell laptop, using programming tricks learned from friends to keep it kicking. When Goerz met a potential client about some freelance work recently, she freshened her outfit with a $10 designer blouse from a consignment shop. Instead of going to a salon for highlights, she squeezes lemon juice into a spray bottle, dilutes it with water, and squirts that onto her hair--a $1 trick she learned as a teenage lifeguard.


Food had been a big part of Goerz's budget, so instead of spending $10 on lunch every day and going out to dinner four nights a week, she's cut back to two homemade meals per day--a late breakfast and an early dinner. Her diet is more healthful now, and there are other benefits: "I can wear clothes from three years ago, when I was on this huge fitness kick. Suddenly, I have a whole new wardrobe."

Goerz still goes out with friends once or twice a month, but always economizes: "My strategy for going out is to eat only half of what I order and bring the other half home. Then I turn that into two more meals, since I keep fluffing it up with more rice or something else." Goerz laughs as she says this, aware of her extreme thriftiness. "I stretch everything," she chortles.

A close circle of friends helps compensate for the spartan privations. One friend who loves to cook hosts a weekly Monday dinner for Goerz and half a dozen others, who usually show up with a couple of bottles of fine wine--one remaining indulgence. Many of Goerz's friends are also out of work, and even those with good jobs seem to have caught the thrifty vibe. "Even people who don't have to cut back are doing it," she says. "It's a new kind of consciousness. They seem to be thinking, 'I don't need all this.' "

Most Americans can live without the proverbial daily latte and a few other niceties, but economic data and anecdotal reports suggest that it's a much bigger struggle to accept permanent lifestyle diminutions, save considerably more, and break with familiar spending habits. Goerz attributes her transformation to lessons learned from other crises she survived: getting laid off in 2001 amid the dot-com bust, a recent family death, getting robbed while traveling alone in India seven years ago.


Still, she's not sure how long she can live on a reduced income. Her health insurance premium recently quadrupled, to almost $400 per month, after a government subsidy expired. She lives with three roommates, which keeps her rent at an affordable $871 per month. But she craves her own place, which would obviously cost more. "I have this niggling fear that I'm screwed," she says. "Will I ever be able to buy a home or a car? That's my biggest motivation to succeed financially: to get my own place."

Goerz fosters an outside hope that the debut of her documentary might lead to paying work in the film industry and a fulfilling new career. But she also knows that she may end up back in corporate America, sacrificing some of her freedom for comfort and stability. So she's also looking for jobs in her old field, hoping to find a perfect fit. Even if her income goes back up, however, she hopes that her new lifestyle sticks. "I'd want to save money like crazy," she says. "I'd like to experiment with keeping my frugal ways." Today, that sounds like a novel idea. Tomorrow, it might be mainstream.

Natural Tips for Gray Hair, Hair Loss, and Dandruff

By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Tue, Dec 08, 2009, 3:44 pm PST
Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity
by Dr. Maoshing Ni a Yahoo! Health Expert for Alternative Medicine


It seems that the U.S. Presidency comes with an unpleasant side effect: gray hair. Less than one year into his term, President Obama's hair has turned visibly gray. It happened to his many predecessors, too. Did you know that the condition of your hair actually reveals a lot about the level of stress in your life? Chinese medicine attributes many hair issues to a decline in your vital essence, brought on by stress, overwork, physical and emotional strain, an unhealthy lifestyle, and too much alcohol.

While stress reduction is at the forefront of most of our minds these days, what can you do if your hair woes are already showing up on your head? Read on to find out the best ways to remedy graying hair, hair loss, and dandruff, and learn how to get a shiny, healthy head of hair!

GRAY HAIR
Here are recommendations for graying hair:

* Eat for hair health. The Chinese have long discovered that black sesame seeds, black beans, and walnuts reverse graying. For healthy and shiny hair, eat foods everyday that are rich in essential fatty acids and omega-rich nutrients: flaxseed oil, sesame oil, olive oil, virgin coconut oil, avocado, beans, nuts and seeds.
* Chinese herbs for graying hair. "Shou wu" (also called "fo-ti" or polygonum root) is a hair nurture supplement available in Asian herb stores, used to restore hair growth and reverse graying. Rich in vitamin E and the B-complex vitamins, Shou wu has many other health benefits: It supports healthy estrogen profiles in women, stimulates red blood cell production, builds your immune system, maintains healthy cholesterol levels, and improves intestinal regularity.
* Color your hair naturally. If you want to dye your hair, use the following natural colorants: Henna works well for shades of light brown and red, coffee or black tea may be used by brunettes, and chamomile and lemon juice can color light hair.

HAIR LOSS
Hair growth is affected by the hormonal system, in particular the androgenic hormones, which include testosterone and a derivative of testosterone called DHT. It is normal to lose around 100 hairs each day, which are replaced within days. However, as we age, our hormone levels fluctuate and start to decline. This reduces the stimulus to the hair follicles and results in hair loss. In Chinese medicine, hair loss is thought to be caused by activities that deplete your vital essence: stress, physical and emotional strain, an unhealthy lifestyle, and alcohol--all of which hasten your hormonal decline.

Here are some hair replenishing remedies:

* Ginger juice helps hair loss. Massage your scalp with fresh ginger juice. Squeeze a 1-inch chunk of ginger root in a garlic press to yield juice. Rub the fresh ginger juice into affected part of scalp. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse it out--or leave it on overnight to stimulate the hair follicles.
* Arbovita replenishes hair. Apply the Chinese herb arborvita to stimulate follicles, improve blood flow, and strip away root-clogging oils. I have used this herb for my patients over the last twenty years with very good success. It is found in Hair Tonic, a topical solution. Other Chinese herbs traditionally used for hair loss include eclipta, shou wu, ginger, and sesame. For a natural herbal blend that combines all these herbs to nourish hair follicles and promote healthy hair, try Hair Nurture Formula.
* Stimulate blood flow. Try this Dao In Massage exercise, which I recommend to all my hair-loss patients. This local stimulation can help invigorate blood circulation. Sit comfortably on a chair. Using the tips of all 10 fingers, gently tap the head all over, stimulating the scalp for about one minute. Begin with light force and gently increase to moderate strength. Then massage the scalp with both hands for 2 minutes, gently at first and then more vigorously taking care not to pull out hair. Straighten the fingers of your right hand, and with the palm side of fingers gently tap all over the scalp 36 times. Repeat with your left hand, another 36 times. To get the best results, do this exercise twice a day.

SCALP PROBLEMS
It's normal to have some degree of dandruff. Your scalp undergoes regular regeneration and dead skin is shed to allow new skin to grow. This flaking can become worse when hormonal imbalances, stress, and improper diet come into play. Dandruff is at its worst during winter and fall, when the air tends to be dry.

Remedies for scalp issues:

* Apply aloe gel. Squeeze aloe juice directly from the stem of the plant and massage into the scalp once a day, preferably before bedtime, for an entire month. You can get better results by leaving the aloe on overnight and rinsing it out in your morning shower.
* A baking soda head scrub. In the shower, wet your hands and scrub baking soda vigorously into your scalp. After rinsing it out, massage Tonic Oil- containing the oils of wintergreen, eucalyptus, and menthol-into your scalp. Leave this on for 10 minutes before shampooing.
* Soak your scalp in green tea. Prepare a mild green tea, and soak your scalp in it for 10 minutes, shampooing out with olive oil, avocado oil, or hypoallergenic shampoo.

For extremely flaky dandruff and dry skin, I often recommend to my patients our Exquisite Skin Chinese herbal formula.

TIPS FOR SHINY, HEALTHY HAIR
Whatever your hair issues, these will boost your overall hair and head health:

* Nourish your hair. For shiny hair, mash a ripe avocado, massage it into your hair and scalp, and leave it on for 1 to 2 hours once a week.
* Brush bad hair days away. Be like a renowned Chinese empress who had a full head of beautiful hair at the end of her long life, the result of a daily 500-stroke hair brushing. Using a natural-bristle brush, spread your hair's natural oils with full strokes from the scalp down the to tips, 100 strokes every evening. Studies show steady massage and brushing over time stems hair loss, promotes hair growth, and generally improves hair quality.
* Less stress. For all hair and scalp problems, a daily program of stress reduction exercises and meditation can help regulate your energy and strengthen your essence.
* Go natural. Eliminate hair care products that contain harsh chemicals, which can damage hair roots and strip vital nutrients from the follicles. Use only products with natural ingredients.

I hope this article finds you with a full head of healthy hair! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

--Dr. Mao

Healthy Detox after Overindulging

By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Tue, Nov 24, 2009, 11:22 am PST

Stuffed with stuffing, filled with turkey, crammed with cookies, and saturated with alcohol. Now what? Holidays call for celebration, and many of us know the consequences that come from overindulging in alcohol and food. Sometimes, despite out best intentions, we overdo it. This holiday season, detoxify and recover naturally with the tips that follow.

FOOD OVERLOAD
Chinese medicine views proper digestion as the most essential component in living a long and healthy life. Your digestive function is made up of numerous organs all working together to break down, absorb, and process all of the nutrients in the food you eat. Without healthy digestion, you can become malnourished and toxins will build up in your body, leading to degenerative diseases and rapid aging down the road.

Indigestion is caused and made worse by overeating--especially rich, fatty, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, and acidic foods. These remedies will get your digestion on the right track.

ONE HOUR AFTERWARD:

Walk it off
After a large meal, take a 10- to 20-minute stroll. Aside from the proven benefits to your heart, walking is the perfect gentle exercise for promoting digestion and encouraging cleansing of the lymphatic system. Walking helps food move along the digestive tract, improving digestion and absorption. For added benefits, walk while massaging your abdomen with your palms, in a circle around your belly button.

Herbal tea brings relief
Relieve that feeling of fullness with herbal teas that target your digestion: Steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage, and basil and in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating. Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger tea are other good choices for settling the stomach. Also, look for Chinese herbal formulas like Indigestion for digestive support and cleansing.

THE MORNING AFTER:

Start with apple cider
Apple cider vinegar is traditionally used to remedy digestive distress, support liver detoxification, normalize digestive juices, and reduce intestinal bloating. Mix 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar with 12 ounces of warm water, and drink in the morning on empty stomach. Feel free to add a little honey or maple syrup. Lemon water will also help.

Eat right to lighten up
These meals will help your body recover from overindulgence.

• Breakfast: Eat oat bran cereal, brown rice, or any other whole grain cereal (as long as it is unbleached and does not contain any added sugar or chemicals.) Pair with unflavored soy milk.
• Lunch/Dinner: Eat any combination of beans, brown rice, oat bran, vegetables, and organic chicken, turkey, or soy-products.
• For a powerful Super Cleanse Broth, simmer any combination of the following ingredients for an hour: collards, Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, cabbage, dandelion, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, watercress, seaweed, shitake mushrooms, cilantro, garlic, leeks, fennel, anise, fresh ginger, and turmeric. Drink 8 ounces twice a day.
• A popular herbal formula among my patients is Internal Cleanse, a special combination of natural herbs to detoxify, clear the mind, promote emotional balance, and ease digestion. For more information, click here.

Try a detoxifying exercise
This movement is from Liver Cleansing Qi Gong, a body-mind exercise that was designed by ancient Chinese physicians to help stimulate the liver and drain the excess toxins from the body:

1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart in front of a tree. Inhale while raising your right leg and exhale while placing your right foot on the ground in front of you between your body and the tree.
2. Inhale while raising both arms from the sides until they come together over your head. Exhale while lowering your hands in front of your face. Visualize green light running down your face as your hands move down to your chest.
3. Inhale as you move your hands to the right rib cage over your liver. Exhale as you move your arms down your right abdomen and right leg, as if pushing down and out with your hands. Visualize the green light moving the toxins out of the liver, down the liver meridian on the inside right leg, and out the big toe.

ALCOHOL OVERINDULGENCE
The liver is one of the hardest working organs in your body and performs a wide variety of functions. Its most important ones include the processing of nutrients, the production of bile to help in digestion of food and eliminating wastes, and cleansing the blood of toxins such as drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous substances.

The liver has the ability to regenerate itself, but the effects of alcohol eventually wear down the liver. I strongly suggest that you keep your drinking to a minimum for the longevity of your liver and your health, but on that rare occasion when you overindulge, consider these remedies.

ONE HOUR AFTERWARD:

Ginger tea to the rescue
Ginger is an ancient Chinese remedy to minimize the symptoms of hangovers. Ginger has been found to soothe the digestive lining and balance gastric juices, making it a great remedy for overeating, too. This remedy is even more effective if you drink it in between alcoholic beverages.

Cut a 2-inch piece from fresh ginger root, and thinly slice. Bring three cups of water to boil in a pot. Add the sliced ginger and reduce heat to a simmer. Brew for about five minutes. Then strain out the ginger and sip the tea slowly. You may also add honey to taste.

Drink up!
Water, that is. Though this is hardly a secret remedy for combating a hangover, it bears repeating. Alcohol dehydrates your system, so drinking plenty of water will help combat some of your unpleasant hangover symptoms, rehydrate your body, and flush out toxins. Drink a few glasses of room temperature, filtered water after a night of holiday extravagance.

THE MORNING AFTER:

Start with lemon water
First thing in the morning, drink one lemon squeezed in 12 ounces of warm filtered water. Lemon activates your liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move the roughage that stays behind in your intestines. Throughout the day, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water to flush your system.

Detoxify with herbal tea
Chinese traditional medicine uses natural substances to help support the healthy functions of your liver, lymphatic system, bowels, urinary tract, and skin. Try these herbs in teas to cleanse and prevent a buildup of toxins and wastes in your body:

• Chrysanthemum flower is traditionally used to cleanse the liver and neutralize toxins.
• Hawthorn berry is used to cleanse the blood of plaque and other toxins.
• Turmeric supports the detoxification process in the whole body by increasing bile production and releasing and eliminating toxins. Simply put a tablespoon of the spice in a pot and stir over medium heat for five minutes.
• Milk thistle protects and restores the liver, due to its content of silymarin.
• Dandelion root has been found by studies to enhance the flow of bile, relieving liver congestion, which in turn aids the body in detoxifying.
• Popular among my patients is Hangover, a Chinese herbal remedy that is helpful for relieving symptoms of hangover.

Heal your aching head
If you wake up with a "morning-after" headache, try this herbal tea to reduce head pressure: Boil 2 tbsp each of chrysanthemum flowers and mint leaves in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes. Drink throughout the day until your headache subsides.

I hope this article helps you recover from the effects of overindulgence! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

--Dr. Mao

10 Winter Skin Care Tips

By Susan Davis
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

For many people, the cold clear days of winter bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks. They also bring uncomfortable dryness to the skin of the face, hands, and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just a general tight, dry feeling: They get skin so dry it results in flaking, cracking, even eczema (in which the skin becomes inflamed).

"As soon as you turn the heat on indoors, the skin starts to dry out," Bonnie LaPlante, an esthetician with the Canyon Ranch resort in Lenox, Mass., tells WebMD. "It doesn't matter if you heat your home using oil, wood, or electricity. The skin gets dry."

Sound familiar? Read on to get WebMD's top 10 tips for boosting your winter skin care regimen, so that your skin stays moist and healthy through the winter months.

1. Seek a Specialist

If you go to your local drugstore, you'll be hard put to find a salesperson who can give you good advice. That's why going to an esthetician or dermatologist even once is a good investment. Such a specialist can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skin care regimen, and give you advice on the skin care products you should be using.

But that doesn't mean you'll be stuck buying high-end products. "Inexpensive products work just as well as high-end ones," says David Voron, MD, a dermatologist in Arcadia, Calif. "In fact, the extra price you pay for the expensive stuff is often just for packaging and marketing. What's most important is how your skin responds to the product -- and how you like its feel, not how much money you paid for it."

2. Moisturize More

You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer. But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine. Find an "ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based.)

But choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils, like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil -- or butter -- is controversial, because it can clog facial pores. And vegetable shortening, LaPlante says, is a really bad idea. "It would just sit on the skin," she says. "And it would be really greasy."

You can also look for lotions containing "humectants," a class of substances (including glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) that attract moisture to your skin.

3. Slather on the Sunscreen

No, sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun -- combined with snow glare -- can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time.

4. Give Your Hands a Hand

The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.

5. Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks

Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.

6. Hook Up the Humidifier

Central heating systems (as well as space heaters) blast hot dry air throughout our homes and offices. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home; they help disperse the moisture more evenly.

7. Hydrate for Your Health, Not for Your Skin

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking. In fact, it's a myth. Water is good for your overall health and "the skin of someone who is severely dehydrated will benefit from fluids. But the average person's skin does not reflect the amount of water being drunk," Kenneth Bielinski, MD, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., tells WebMD "It's a very common misconception."

LaPlante agrees. "I see clients at the spa who drink their 10 to 12 glasses of water a day and still have superdry skin. It just doesn't do that much."

8. Grease Up Your Feet

Yes, those minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

9. Pace the Peels

If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.

10. Ban Superhot Baths

Sure, soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. "You're better off with just warm water," LaPlante advises, "and staying in the water a shorter amount of time."

A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy, Bielinski notes. So, too, can periodically reapplying your moisturizer. If those techniques don't work, go see a dermatologist. "You may need a prescription lotion to combat the dry skin," Bielinski says. "Or you may have a condition that isn't simply dry skin and that requires different treatment."

NFL Week 10 Schedule

The Panthers host the Falcons in week 10 in an important NFC South match up. Carolina needs to win these home games, especially in games against teams in their division. Green Bay hosts Dallas and each team may be in the thick of their division races and each needs to win this game. Can the Eagles and their solid D keep the Chargers' offense from lighting up the scoreboard? In one of the marquee games of the season Indianapolis hosts New England. Can you say AFC Championship game preview? Manning vs. Brady is always great TV, as this is a game that can't be missed.

Bye Week: NY Giants, Houston

• Thursday, Nov. 12
• 
  
• Chicago at San Francisco 8:20 pm
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• Sunday, Nov. 15
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• Atlanta at Carolina 1:00 pm
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• Denver at Washington 1:00 pm
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• Buffalo at Tennessee 1:00 pm
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• New Orleans at St. Louis 1:00 pm
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• Cincinnati at Pittsburgh 1:00 pm
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• Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets 1:00 pm
• 
  
• Tampa Bay at Miami 1:00 pm
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• Detroit at Minnesota 1:00 pm
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• Kansas City at Oakland 4:05 pm
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• Dallas at Green Bay 4:15 pm
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• Seattle at Arizona 4:15 pm
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• Philadelphia at San Diego 4:15 pm
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• New England at Indianapolis 8:20 pm
• 
  
• 
  
• Monday, Nov. 16
• 
  
• Baltimore at Cleveland 8:30 pm

NFL Week 9 UPDATE

Teams with Byes: Bills , Jets , Browns , Raiders , Vikings , Rams

Final Arizona 41 Chicago 21

Final Cincinnati 17 Baltimore 7

Final Tampa Bay 38 Green Bay 28

Final Indianapolis 20 Houston 17

Final Jacksonville 24 Kansas City 21

Final New England 27 Miami 17

Final Atlanta 31 Washington 17

Final New Orleans 30 Carolina 20

Final Seattle 32 Detroit 20

Final San Diego 21 NY Giants 20

Final Tennessee 34 San Francisco 27

Final Dallas 20 Philadelphia 16

Foods That Burn Calories!

By Jennifer Nichol

Eat Foods High in Fiber

Celery and cabbage have long been touted as "calorie burning" foods, simply because the energy used to digest these foods is greater than the energy, or calories, ingested by eating the foods. An added benefit of these foods is that they are fibrous and filling, which means you will feel satisfied faster and on many fewer calories that other food choices. Keep in mind, however, that you don't want your caloric intake to be too low to cause a drop in metabolism. When your metabolism drops, you will retain more weight as the body responds to what it thinks is a period of malnutrition.

Vitamin C is also believed to be a calorie burner and a weight loss booster. Foods that are high in Vitamin C and also high in fiber and low in calories include oranges, tangerines (fresh, not canned), grapefruit (which are 90 percent water!), limes and lemons.

Eat Low-Fat Dairy Products

Recent studies have been pointing to the fact that dieters who eat at least two to three servings of low-fat dairy products a day, like cottage cheese and yogurt, lose weight faster, keep it off longer, and lose more weight in the belly area than dieters who don't include dairy products in their diets.

Easy lunch additions include single-serving sizes of low-fat string cheese, individually wrapped low-fat cheese wedges, milk cartons (not just for elementary school cafeterias anymore) and even fat-free sour cream in place of other condiments.

Choose Foods Rich in B12

Eggs, milk, low-fat cheese and cereals that have been vitamin-enriched are all good sources of vitamin B12. Some sources state that B12 increases the body's fat-burning ability. Every gram of fat equals 9 calories, so when you burn fat, you burn calories, too. Vitamin B12 is also known to fight fatigue and speed up the metabolism, which are benefits that can give a boost to any dieter.

For more about burning up calories and losing weight, check out livestrong.com/eat-well/.

About this Author

Jennifer Nichol has been a contributing editor of food and wine for Inside Roseville Magazine and was editor of Piper Jaffray's eFinance Weekly. A fresh food and healthy living advocate, Nichol is currently writing a book about raw living and the art of meditative exercise.

Top Diet Myths Exposed

More from RealAge.com

• How Your Diet Affects You
• The ‘Age Less’ Diet

If you're so committed to losing weight that you refuse to eat a baked potato for fear of eating empty carbs, you might be missing out on important nutrients and backing your diet into a corner. Open your mind to the truth behind these diet and weight myths and learn how to enjoy some of your favorite foods again.

Myth 1: Potatoes and bread are fattening.
Actually: It's just the opposite. Starchy vegetables and bread (whole-grain bread, that is) are quality carbs needed to fuel every part of you, from your brain to your muscles. What gets you into trouble is how you eat them: Smear butter on a slice of whole-wheat bread or deep-fry potatoes and you can double, triple, or quadruple the calories.

Myth 2: Drinking a glass of water before a meal curbs appetite.
Actually: Yes and no. Water tames appetite if it's incorporated into food, such as soup, or a thick drink, like V8 100% Vegetable Juice. Apparently, when water is bound to food, digestion is slower, explains Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet.

That's why women in one study found chicken-rice soup more satisfying than chicken-rice casserole and a glass of water -- even though the soup had 27% fewer calories! One exception to this rule: It's easy to confuse hunger and thirst, so if you find yourself craving something -- but what? -- drink a big glass of water and wait a few minutes. You may find that's what your body really wanted.

Myth 3: Shellfish is high in cholesterol.
Actually: On the one hand, it's true: Just 3 ounces of shrimp delivers more than a third of your daily cholesterol. But there's a surprising flip side to this story: Shrimp is low in saturated fat -- the kind that becomes artery-clogging bad cholesterol -- and has a smidgen of heart-healthy omega-3s. In fact, University of Southern California researchers discovered that eating shellfish, such as shrimp, every week reduced heart attack risk by 59 percent!

Myth 4: The occasional burger and fries won't kill you.
Actually: It depends on your definition of "occasional." If occasional means every Friday night and then some, well, you may be pushing it. But if it means every few months, and you're fit, and you've got good numbers (i.e., weight, waist size, cholesterol, blood pressure), AND you're chowing down on vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and other nutritious fare most other days, hey, you'll live. But few of us are that perfect. If you do occasionally indulge, offset the effects of a fat fiesta with a brisk 90-minute walk afterward.

Myth 5: Women naturally gain weight after menopause.
Actually: While you can blame a lot of things on hormones (everything from acne to PMS), in this case, slowing down physically is far more likely the cause. Study after study has found that older women who exercise regularly and vigorously can maintain their figures.

Myth 6: Diet soda is worse than the real thing.
Actually: We all would be better off switching to water, diluted fruit juice, and green tea rather than drinking soda -- diet or regular. Both types increase kidney and heart disease risk, plus they contain acids that erode tooth enamel, inviting cavities.

Final Fact (this one's no myth): Maintaining your weight, waist, and body mass index at a desirable level can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.

Avoid Ingrown Hairs

Tips for keeping your face smooth and pain-free after every shave

As the shaving expert for grooming guru King of Shaves, Diane Wood knows how to keep your mug looking good. Here are her five secrets to keeping painful ingrown hairs at bay.

GET PREPPED
Wrap a warm towel around the face and neck for about a minute before shaving. As your hair absorbs the hot water

, it will become softer and easier to cut.

STEER CLEAR OF PROBLEM AREAS
In you notice an area with skin irritation

, don't shave over that spot more than once. Running a blade over again will make it sore.

TAKE THE WEEKEND OFF
Give your skin a break from time to time. Shaving over ingrown hairs will aggravate the problem even more and cause skin infections

.

GO COLLARLESS
A high-collared shirt can trap sweat and oil, both of which clog pores. Stiff collars also rub against the sensitive skin on your neck, causing added irritation.

AND CORDLESS
Avoid electric razors. They slice off hair in several directions. This makes your hair more likely to become ingrown, growing back into the follicle.

A MAN'S HAIR

You spend lots of time trying to get the hair on your head looking just right. Every thought about the shampoo and conditioner you are putting on it? If it's getting gray or your looking for a change you may have thought about dying or coloring your hair. And if you have male pattern baldness, your may be interested in ways to keep it.

Facts on Foods That Speed Up Metabolism

By Lynn Harris

Revving Your Engine

Metabolism is a process that breaks down carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the food you eat to make the energy your body needs to build and maintain itself. Proper nutrition keeps your body functioning well, but the right foods can also speed up your metabolism. The amount of calories you eat, your genes and the amount of calories that you burn while eating and exercising determine your metabolism. The body breaks down carbohydrates, then fats and finally proteins. The food that you eat makes up 5 to 10 percent of your metabolic rate.

Stocking Your Cupboard

Foods that speed up your metabolism are vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, fish, healthy fats and whole grains. Look for these vegetables when shopping: spinach, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, cabbage, beet roots, assorted beans and dark, leafy vegetables. Any type of fresh fruit is good for you, but try eating blueberries, melons, apples, citrus fruits and tomatoes. Skinless poultry and eggs are excellent sources of protein. The omega 3 fatty acids in fish boost your metabolism by burning up to 400 calories a day. The enzymes in your body that burn fat increase while those that store fat decrease. If you are not a fish eater, take omega 3 capsules that contain a minimum of 300 milligrams total of EPA and DHA. Eat healthy fats like nuts and peanut butter. Whole grains found in brown rice, cereal, barley and oats speed up your metabolism as well. Consume foods with B vitamins, magnesium and fiber to increase your metabolism.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Portion control is still important. Just because these foods are good for you doesn't mean that you can go overboard. Eat several small meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. A good habit to start is reading the Nutrition Facts Labels on food containers. These labels tell what a single serving size is and the nutrients found in that serving.

Losing While You Eat

Know the caloric content of the foods that you eat. Nutrition Facts Labels tell the number of calories in a serving also. There are negative calorie foods that burn more calories during digestion than the foods contain themselves. For most people, a healthy number of calories per day is between 2,200 and 2,800 depending on their sex and size.

Balance It Out

Eating the right foods to speed up your metabolism and supplement your diet by incorporating other good habits. Drink plenty of water during the day. Six to eight glasses is a good goal. Exercise at least three times a week. Use free weights to help stimulate your metabolism by building muscle tone.

About this Author

Lynn Harris is a freelance writer who has worked in health insurance and benefits for two and a half years. She writes on topics such as health issues concerning expectant mothers and young children, in addition to fitness and exercise. Lynn keeps herself fit by incorporating healthy eating, various forms of cardio and strength training into her daily life.

Find out more about this topic, and all things health and fitness at Livestrong.com.

How Men can Protect Their Scalp From the Sun

Men who are bald or who have bald spots or thinning hair or even a receding hairline have to be especially careful in the summer months when the sun is beating down to ensure that their scalp is adequately protected. The scalp is particularly vulnerable to both the UVA and UVB rays of the sun, and this is especially the case for those with a minimum of hair on their heads. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that more than 90% of malignant skin cancer is due to excessive exposure to the sun with little if any SPF protection.

What is SPF?

SPF stands for “sun protection factor” and it shows up as a number on the sunscreen bottle such as SPF 15, SPF 30 and SPF 40. The SPF number will let you know how much protection you will receive from UVB rays which are the light rays from the sun that are most damaging to skin, both on a short term as well as long term basis. UVA rays are harmful as well as they can encourage the development of cancer and they cause wrinkles on the skin. To be as well protected as possible, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that contains the ingredient avobenzone (Parsol 1789) or zinc oxide.

How much sunscreen is necessary?

It is highly unlikely that you would ever overdo an application of sunscreen. As a general rule of thumb, apply approximately a teaspoon to your head and neck and then apply another teaspoon to your bare scalp and ears. Sunscreen must be reapplied to be effective so reapply every two to four hours that you spend outdoors and more often if you are in the water.

Hats are where it’s at

A bare scalp and thinning hair requires a hat for added protection. Always choose a hat with a wide brim all around that will protect your head, neck, sides of your face and your ears. A baseball hat will protect the top of your head but not the rest of it. The fabric of the hat makes a difference too. Choose a fabric that has a tight weave and therefore will not make it easy for light to penetrate through it.

Pay attention to your scalp

Be your own skin specialist on a regular basis by doing an inspection of your scalp as well as your ears and neck on a consistent basis to check for any suspicious, bumps, lumps, growths or moles. Be particularly wary of moles that are more than one color and those that are raised or are asymmetrical in shape or ones that have irregularities in the borders and finally those that are as wide as, if not wider than a the eraser on the end of a pencil. If you find any of these then schedule a visit to your doctor right away. It might be wise to have a yearly check up for moles with your doctor or dermatologist, not just on your scalp but your entire body.

Did you pig out at the cookout? 6 Food fixes that beat bloat fast!

by Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief, PREVENTION

Lately I’m all about what to eat (as opposed to what not to eat) to look and feel great, and I’m also all about enjoying myself on vacation. So this July 4th weekend, go ahead and have that burger, beer, macaroni salad and whatever else is on the menu at your mid-summer fete, and then make the necessary diet adjustments AFTER the party. Here, 6 simple swaps that will help you lose a little water weight and keep calories in check:

1) Season Food Without Salt

Smart Swap: Add zing to your meals with salt-free seasoning blends such as the Original and Italian medley Mrs. Dash instead of salt, salt-based seasonings, and highly processed foods. The reason? You may be attracted to your saltshaker, but water is, too. When you take in higher than usual amounts sodium, you’ll temporarily retain more fluid, contributing to that sluggish feeling, a puffy appearance, and extra water weight. Yuck.

Get your sexy summer body and your confidence back!

2) Thirsty? Stick to plain H20

Smart Swap: There's nothing like a nice cold carbonated beverage when you're hot and thirsty but plain old tap water is a better way to stay hydrated—those tingly bubbles just end up in your belly, causing it to puff out more.

Try these simple, belly-flattening beverage alternatives

3) Up the protein, lower the carbs

Smart Swap: Use one slice of whole grain bread for your sandwich at lunch instead of two, and swap snacks like pretzels for nuts or seeds. At dinner, try to stick to lean protein sources and, if you must have a carb, try something made with whole grains like quinoa or brown rice. Unless you’re running a marathon this weekend, loads of high-carb foods like bagels, bread, pasta, pretzels, and cereal will just boost bloat. The science-y reason: as a backup energy source, your muscles store a type of carbohydrate called glycogen, and every gram of glycogen is stored with about 3 grams of water. But unless you have a vigorous exercise routine, you don't need all this stockpiled fuel. When you decrease the carbs, you'll temporarily train your body to access this stored fuel and burn it off. At the same time, you'll drain off excess stored fluids.

Get loads of healthy warm-weather recipes and meal ideas!

4) Cook your veggies

Smart Swap: Eat veggies, just eat them cooked—steaming is quick and easy. Fruit is gorgeous and plentiful right now so indulge in moderation. When you’re trying to watch your weight it may be temping to fill up on a grapes, but if you want a flat belly filling it with all that volume is counter-productive: A half-cup serving of cooked carrots delivers the same nutrition as one cup raw, but it takes up less room in your GI tract. The same goes for fresh fruits: Compare the size of a few grapes to a few raisins. Big difference! While you’re at it skip those notorious gas-causers like broccoli and cauliflower and cook up green beans, mushrooms, and squash—which is bountiful right now anyway.

5) Season food with belly-friendly flavors

Smart swap: some people love their food four-alarm spicy (I’m one of them)! Feel the heat for one night, then lay off the barbecue sauce and garlic for a few days while debloating. Give dishes a flavor boost with in-season fresh or dried herbs like dill, basil, mint, sage, tarragon, and rosemary. You can also use curry powder, lemon or lime juice—all perfect with fish or chicken. Try to avoid Black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, Chili powder, hot sauces, onions, garlic, mustard, barbecue sauce, horseradish, catsup, tomato sauce, vinegar; Spicy foods can stimulate the release of stomach acid, which can cause irritation.

Spice up your dinner with these delicious, 30-minute chicken recipes

6) Satisfy an oral fixation with seeds, not gum

Smart Swap: If you chew gum by habit or just like to bite down on something crunchy, reach for some nuts, like roasted or raw unsalted sunflower seeds. You probably don't realize this, but when you chew gum, you swallow air. All that air gets trapped in your GI tract and causes pressure, bloating, and belly expansion—none of which are swimsuit-friendly.

The best day for weight loss

by Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief, PREVENTION, on Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:03pm PDT

I know, I know, the first day of the workweek is tough enough but stay with me on this. Loads of studies show that Monday is really the best time to kick off any get-healthy regimen for this simple reason: it represents a clean slate, which is vital when it comes to embracing a smarter lifestyle plus there’s always another one right around the corner. Not convinced? Here are a few more reasons Monday is the greatest day when it comes to your health:

It’s a fresh start

Just like Friday always begs the question: what will I do this weekend? (i.e., eat, drink and be merry), Monday just naturally lends itself to a more practical point of view—it’s the day you assess your workload, appointments, grocery shopping. Take stock of the week ahead with your new healthy habits in mind and plan accordingly.

The secret to loving your workout

It’s a ‘trigger’ day

Studies actually show that when it comes to embarking on any healthy activity, if you have a so-called trigger day—a set date or reminder—you’re more likely to follow through. Even better? Monday rolls around every 7 days, as opposed to say, once year, like Jan 1st, so even if you get off track, another Monday is just around the corner.

It’s proceeded by 48 hours of free(ish) time

This matters because you have two free days to prepare, and launching into a new healthy routine without planning sets you up for failure—how can you eat healthier if there’s nothing healthier in the house to eat? Use these days to grocery shop, dig out your workout clothes, write up a schedule, give your junk food to the neighbors. Whatever it take to get you into the healthy living mindset.

Burn calories all weekend.

What motivates you to stick with a diet and exercise plan? Looking good in a bikini? Feeling great naked? Just wanting to be healthier?

GUY Wisdom

Boost Your Metabolism

A University of Wisconsin study found that when men performed three "big" exercises, their metab-olisms were elevated for 39 hours afterward. In fact, scientists in the Netherlands calculated that men who lifted weights twice a week for 18 weeks burned an average of 9 percent more calories a day beyond what they expended during exercise--enough to lose 25 pounds in a year.

Fight Off Heart Disease

Researchers at the University of Michigan reported that men who completed three total-body weight workouts a week for 2 months lowered their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by an average of 8 points. That reduces your risk of stroke by 40 percent and of a heart attack by 15 percent.

Lift For Happiness

In a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, scientists discovered that men who performed three weight workouts a week for 6 months not only built muscle and lost fat, but also improved their scores on measures of tension, anger, and overall mood.

Drink To Your Biceps

Now you can build muscle at the office. French researchers found that men who drank small amounts of a shake containing 30 g protein every 20 minutes for 7 hours boosted muscle growth more than those who downed the entire drink in one sitting. Want to try it? Mix 30 g whey- protein powder with 16 ounces of water and sip on it during your workday. Besides giving your muscles a steady flow of raw materials for growth, whey protein has been shown to improve immune function. We like Optimum Nutrition 100 percent whey protein, available at www.optimumnutrition.com.

Elevate Your Sex AppealL

You brush your teeth twice a day, shave every morning, and get your hair cut every 6 weeks. But the places you neglect to groom leave a lasting impression on women in your life. A bad one. So tend your lawn, men.

The Instant Turnoff: Dry elbows and feet

Repel Factor: "I don't want a guy's rough, sandpapery skin touching all the places I spend hours on making soft and lovely," says Kate, 27.

The Fix: Slap a moisturizer on the rough spots after you shower. But opt for a hand cream rather than a body lotion. "It has a richer formula that penetrates deeper into the skin," says Brian Boyé, Men's Health fashion director. Try Kiehl's Ultimate Strength hand salve ($13).

The Instant Turnoff: Chapped lips

Repel Factor: "There's nothing worse than a guy going in for a kiss with dry skin hanging off his lips," says Kerri, 24.

The Fix: Make a habit of applying lip balm twice a day, even when your lips aren't chapped. The best times: "In the morning after you eat and at night before bed," says Pirooz Sarshar, cofounder of the Grooming Lounge. We like Brave Soldier Lip Defender SPF 15 ($8, groominglounge.com).

The Instant Turnoff: Neck hair

Repel Factor: "If it looks like a reverse beard, I head in the other direction," says Kristen, 23.

The Fix: Hair on the neck grows just as fast as facial scruff, so don't rely only on your barber to trim it. When your hair is dry, lift it off your neck and shave any hair that's creeping below the hairline, says Vaughn Accord, a men's grooming specialist at Bumble and Bumble in New York City. Work it into your morning routine twice a week; a regular razor works best.

The Instant Turnoff: Ear hair

Repel Factor: "Once I catch sight of it, I can't look away," says Jaclyn, 23. "And I don't mean in a good way."

The Fix: A certain amount of hair is nature's way of keeping bad things out of your ear canal, but most women have limits to what's acceptable. "It's tough to see in a bathroom mirror, but you should take inventory every time you shave to keep it under control," says Accord. Invest in a Panasonic Nose and Ear Hair Groomer ($20, panasonic.com); it'll clean you up in seconds.

Save Your Skin

Korean researchers found that fish oil may help prevent wrinkles. When the scientists treated skin with eicosapentaenoic acid (an omega-3 fat in fish oil), then exposed the epidermis to light, the number of collagen-destroying proteins dropped by 75 percent. For more on the health benefits of fish oil, see "The Government's Big Fish Story," in this issue.

Gotta Wear Shades

Along with protecting your eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays, sunglasses can help you avoid jet lag, according to Scottish researchers. In a study of 1,000 international travelers, those who wore sunglasses for the first few hours of the morning after arrival recovered from jet lag up to 3 days sooner than fliers who skipped the specs. Choose shades that wrap around your eyes and offer 100 percent UV protection, say doctors at Henry Ford Hospital, in Detroit.

Beat Baldness

Flax may halt a receding hairline. In a recent study, Taiwanese scientists gave a daily 50 milligram (mg) dose of lignans--disease-fighting compounds found in flaxseed--to 10 men who were losing their hair. After 6 months, nine of the 10 men showed slower hair loss. Lignans are found in the flaxseed's shell, so buy ground whole seeds in your supermarket's health-food section. Taking 11/2 tablespoons provides the lignans you need.

Grab Her Attention

Your scent will stick in her memory as much as anything you say or wear, according to a Cornell University study. So choose a cologne she'll remember. Not sure what the ladies like? These three scents have stood the test of time: Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani, Eternity by Calvin Klein, and Dolce & Gabbana by Dolce & Gabbana. Have a female friend help you pick the one that fits you.

Extend Your "Smileage"

The sharper you look, the more trustworthy you look, according to a recent Rice University study. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that smiling people are thought to be more trustworthy than those with straight faces. Self-improvement doesn't get much simpler.

Shine On For Years

A brighter smile could mean stronger teeth. American Dental Association researchers found that teeth-whitening products containing "amorphous calcium phosphate" can cut down on enamel damage and tooth sensitivity by 40 percent, compared with other whiteners. Ask your dentist about Nite White and Day White whitening systems ($40).

Do the Ingredients in Energy Drinks Work?

By: Heather Loeb

Apparently, it doesn't take a biochemist to formulate an energy drink. No, according to Starbucks, any guy off the street is qualified. At least that's whose opinion mattered most when the coffee giant recently created the ingredient list for its own concoction.

"There are many energy ingredients on the market, and B vitamins, guarana, and ginseng are the ones our customers are most familiar with," says Ruby Amegah, product-development manager for the team behind the Starbucks Doubleshot Energy + Coffee. Which perhaps in large part explains why the company chose them: It's smart marketing.

Trouble is, by letting consumer research influence ingredient lists, energy-drink companies are helping popularize exotic-sounding compounds that even scientists don't yet fully understand. The approach has worked: Last year, Americans spent $4.2 billion on these supposedly high-octane elixirs. And that's probably why manufacturers haven't strayed far from the best-selling recipe they used when the first energy drinks took off a dozen years ago. It's a formulation that includes a hefty dose of caffeine and sugar combined with smaller amounts of seemingly obscure substances, most notably guarana, ginseng, and taurine.

But do these beverages really energize your body and sharpen your mind? Or should you can the energy drinks for good? To help you separate the science from the sales pitch, we analyzed five key ingredients in the market's most popular potions.

Caffeine

What is it?: A chemical compound that stimulates your central nervous system. Most energy drinks contain between 140 and 170 milligrams (mg) of caffeine in a 15- or 16-ounce can.

Does it work?: Java junkies certainly think so. As for the science, an Austrian study showed that men who swallowed 100 mg of caffeine had a bigger boost in brain activity after 20 minutes than those who took a placebo.

Plus, a new University of Chicago study found that a 200 mg jolt made fatigued people feel twice as alert as noncaffeinated participants. "Caffeine indirectly affects many different neurotransmitters," says Andrew Scholey, Ph.D., an herb and nutrition researcher at Australia's Swinburne University of Technology.

Is it safe?: The most caffeine-packed energy drink contains the equivalent in caffeine of about two 8-ounce cups of coffee. If downing that much joe doesn't make you jittery, then quaffing a can shouldn't pose a problem. Of course, if you combine that with other caffeinated beverages throughout the day, then the sum total stimulation could cause headaches, sleeplessness, or nausea.

On the other hand, if you're not a regular coffee or cola drinker and you battle high blood pressure, the occasional energy drink could be trouble. Researchers in Finland reported that the caffeine in two to three cups of coffee can cause BP to spike by up to 14 points.

Glucose

What is it?: Sugar. Sucrose, another ingredient you'll often see on energy drink labels, is a combination of fructose (the natural sugar found in fruit) and glucose. Many energy drinks contain 50 to 60 grams (g) of glucose or sucrose in a 16-ounce can.

Does it work?: Your body runs mainly on glucose, so topping off your tank with the sweet stuff should theoretically provide an instant boost. And in fact, a recent study in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that men who guzzled a 6 percent glucose drink were able to bicycle 22 minutes longer than those who went sans the extra sugar.

Where glucose won't help, however, is with the fog of fatigue from too little sleep. A 2006 British study determined that sleep-deprived people who drank liquid glucose exhibited slower reaction times and more sleepiness after 90 minutes.

Is it safe?: Dumping empty calories down your gullet is never a great idea, and some energy drinks contain nearly as much sugar as a 20-ounce soda. Then there's the fact that a sudden infusion of glucose can cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to skyrocket, signaling your body to stop incinerating fat. A 2006 New Zealand study reveals that caffeine combined with even the 27 g of sugar in, say, an 8.3-ounce Red Bull may be enough to temporarily inhibit your body's ability to burn lard.

Guarana

What is it?: A South American shrub. One seed has a caffeine content of 4 to 5 percent, while a coffee bean has 1 to 2 percent. The amount of guarana in a 16-ounce energy drink ranges from a minuscule 1.4 mg to as much as 300 mg.

Does it work?: Yes, if you don't set the bar too high. A study in the journal Appetite reports that people who took 222 mg of guarana felt slightly less fatigued and were up to 30 milliseconds faster on a reaction-time test than those who popped a placebo.

Some scientists attribute guarana's effect solely to its caffeine content, but Scholey isn't so sure. His team found energizing effects with doses just under 40 mg, which contain very little caffeine. That means there's probably something else in guarana that produces a stimulating effect on its own or that bolsters the effect of the caffeine, he says.

Is it safe?: Scientists at Florida's Nova Southeastern University recently conducted tests and concluded that the amounts of guarana found in most energy drinks aren't large enough to cause any adverse effects. That said, there's still a question mark regarding the safety of higher levels, which could conceivably be consumed by downing a few energy drinks in a brief time span.

Ginseng

What is it?: An extract made from the root of the ginseng plant. Panax ginseng is the species most commonly used. The ginseng content in energy drinks typically ranges between 8 mg and 400 mg in 16 ounces.

Does it work?: Not if you're hoping for energy to burn. A recent review in American Family Physician determined that ginseng doesn't enhance physical performance. But there is an upside: It may boost your brainpower. Scholey and his colleagues found that people who swallowed 200 mg of the extract an hour before taking a cognitive test scored significantly better than when they skipped the supplement. They also felt less mental fatigue.

Ginseng may work by increasing the uptake of blood glucose by cells in the brain and elsewhere, says Scholey. However, the right amount is essential—only two of the eight major energy drinks we examined contained that optimal dose of at least 200 mg.

Is it safe?: Since the amount of ginseng in an energy drink is minimal, harmful effects are unlikely. And while there have been some reports of negative side effects from ginseng—diarrhea, for example—Scholey points out that those occurred in people taking 3 g a day.

One caution: If you're on any medications, check with your doctor before knocking back an energy drink. Ginseng has been shown to interact with blood-thinning drugs like warfarin, potentially altering their effectiveness.

Taurine

What is it?: One of the most abundant amino acids in your brain, where it can act as a neurotransmitter—a chemical messenger that allows your cells to communicate with one another. You'll find anywhere from 20 mg to 2,000 mg of taurine in most 16-ounce energy drinks.

Does it work?: Scientists aren't sure, but it doesn't seem likely. When taurine is dumped into your bloodstream—when you down a Red Bull, for instance—it can't pass through the membranes that protect your brain, says Neil Harrison, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

But even if it could, Harrison's research suggests that taurine might behave more like a sedative than a stimulant. When he and his team applied the amino acid to the brain tissue of rodents, they discovered that it mimicked a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a chemical that slows brain activity.

Is it safe?: Taurine is probably fine in small doses, but chug too many energy drinks and the picture becomes less clear. According to a recent case report from St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, three people had seizures after drinking approximately two 24-ounce energy drinks in a short period of time. However, the researchers don't know whether to blame the taurine or the caffeine, or what role preexisting health conditions may have played.

The fact is, there's been little research on taurine consumption in humans, so it's impossible to conclude whether it's safe to consume in high doses. Of course, there's no strong evidence to support its role as an energy booster, either.

Popular Dieting Lies, Myths, and Scams Exposed

It seems that almost with each passing day a new diet plan or product is introduced to the public that promises to be the final solution for people who are looking to shed some pounds. Some new marketing angle or concept that is touted to have finally unlocked the secret that everyone has been looking for. The secret formula or product that will finally do the trick.

Why Not Give It a Try?

What’s the real deal? Wasn’t the last one supposed to be the ultimate diet plan or product? Then you see the testimonials, the before and after pictures and the gears in your head start to turn. “Hey what have I got to lose but excess weight”? “Maybe I can try it for a week or two and if I lose some pounds, what the heck”!!? So you shell out your money and give it a try.

They All Want You to Buy

The truth is that if you are not happy with the way you look or how much you weigh, you are dead center in the cross hairs of some of the slickest, most unscrupulous marketers on the planet. By the way, they are most likely also the same guys that sold you the last diet plan or product that you tried that didn’t work. They know that you are vulnerable and yearning to look and feel your personal best.

Hey Look It’s FDA Approved!!

They went back, got a new name for their company and they will do it all over again next year with a new face on their latest business hustle. As long as they are not marketing a drug, making medical claims and are careful with their wording and promises, getting FDA approval is as easy for them as it is for the people selling apples at your local fruit stand, so don’t be fooled by that moniker.

The Truth About Boosting Your Metabolism

No diet food or product can permanently boost your metabolism. Boosting your metabolism is one very common claim of many diet products or plans. It’s a great hook, because every dieter knows that the higher a persons metabolism, the more calories they will naturally burn. However; you “are” genetically predisposed to have a certain metabolic rate.

How to Lower Your Metabolic Rate

Certain conditions and processes and products such as pills, illness or exercise can “temporarily” raise or lower it but basically your ancestors are the ones that left you with your metabolism, because you inherited it from them. The real irony, is that the best way to lower your metabolism is to go on a fad diet, because your body will automatically slow it down, just like it did centuries back when your distant ancestors ran short on food.

Grape Fruit, Vinegar or High Acid Diets

There is nothing that you can consume that will “burn off” fat. Every now and then another “grapefruit” style diet appears over the horizon with it’s promise that if you consume one food product or another, it will somehow “burn off” fat. Unfortunately, your digestive and biological system are just not that simple. There is no “little furnace” in your tummy that can be “stoked” to burn off fat.

Dangerous and Extremely Unhealthy

However; if you consume only certain foods for instance and nothing else, your body can be tricked into temporarily shedding weight. The Atkins diet is a prime example of this but along with the “temporary” weight loss comes malnutrition, possible permanent internal organ damage and extreme food cravings that make these types of diets almost impossible to stick to.

Eat Cookies and Chocolate Shakes to Lose Weight !?

“Goody” or cookie diets have always been around and the diet shakes were the first. What a wonderful concept for a person with eating issues that need resolving! The diet shakes and other “goody” makers replace the sugar with an artificial sweetener and the thick cream with cellulose, which is the same thing that paper is made from. These diet products and plans are designed and marketed by only the most cynical of diet scam artists.

Indigestible Edible Oils

Indigestible, edible oils actually made the headlines when they were first introduced. Scientists and food manufactures had been working to discover this holy grail of dieting for decades and they were rewarded with international publicity when they finally found it. Then their next task was to find a way to sweep the people that began to use them under the rug, because what they had to say wasn’t good.

You Don’t Want These Side Effects !

If you don’t mind being doubled over with extreme stomach pain and a never ending bout of extreme, uncontrollable diarrhea then dig in, because these oils always come in junk food products like potato chips and brownies. Also, the amount of oil that they can replace is minimal at best, lest the people who eat them mind spending their days sitting on a toilet bent over in pain or walking back and forth from their bedroom changing their underwear.

Drink Up and Lose Weight

Liquid diets also have come and gone over the years. The reason that they work, is that any liquid tends to contain a minimal amount of calories. That is unless it contains alcohol, sugar or oil. So they replace the sugar with artificial sweetener, the oil with cellulose and of course leave out the alcohol and presto you have a liquid diet product.

The Joke Is On You

The real joke, is that you can get the most effective liquid diet product for free right out of your tap. it’s called water, because that is mostly what you are buying when you purchase a liquid diet product. By the way, once you buy the liquid diet product, it will also come with a food restriction plan, because that is what is really responsible for any weight loss.

Flushing Away Excess Pounds

Laxatives will have you losing weight in the time that it takes you to go to the bathroom and it doesn’t get much faster then that. However; it won’t be fat that you will be losing but water and the more you take them the worse the case of dehydration you will have. They do help to flatten your stomach though, because they completely vacate your lower intestinal tract which helps to perpetrate the illusion of weight loss.

They Just Don’t Work

The people who use laxatives for dieting assume that the faster the food they eat is eliminated, the fewer calories their digestive system can absorb. However; the problem is that calories are absorbed from food in the stomach and the small intestines, so by time food is where a laxative can have an effect on it, (the lower intestine), it has been fully digested. Besides, laxatives are addictive and once you begin using then your digestive system loses it’s ability to function naturally.

Replacing One Problem with Another

Prescription diet pills do work fantastic if you don’t mind being strung out on drugs. They function by causing you to run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off, while at the same time completely eliminating your appetite. Besides, a doctor that really has your best interest in mind won’t prescribe them, because he or she knows that they are temporary fix that can leave you a totally addicted basket case.

Another Temporary Fix

Non prescription diet pills also work but nowhere near as good as their prescription cousins. They use caffeine and or ephedrine, both of which are mild stimulants and appetite suppressants. They both also cause stomach and headaches and you fast develop a tolerance to them, meaning that you will have to gulp them by the handful in as little time as a few short weeks.

Not At All Worth the Risk

Ephedrine has also been directly linked to sudden heart attack and permanent heart muscle damage. The real scary thing is that you will most likely get no prior warning of impending problems if you develop any. What this means is that if ephedrine is causing problems for a persons heart, their first symptom is all too often sudden death. Bear in mind that even perfectly fit professional athletes have dropped dead from taking ephedrine.

Not a A Diet a Cardiologist Would Recommend

The Atkins Pyramid

High protein diets such as the Atkins or liquid protein diets work by tricking your system into shutting down it’s system for storing fat on your body. This is why you can eat all the meat and eggs you want on these diets and still shed the pounds. However; these diets have been linked to organ damage and take a week or so to begin to work. Also these ultra high cholesterol diets are a possible one way ticket to the cardiac ward at your local hospital.

People Actually Do Buy Them !

Topical creams, lotions or sprays that are touted by their marketers to effect a persons weight can be described in one word and that word is “scam”. Fortunately, the people who market them are generally decent enough not to insult your intelligence with any phony explanations of how their products supposedly work. The “only” thing that you can apply to the surface of your body that “will” effect your weight is a piece of tape over your mouth.

Just Another Diet Product Scam

Then there are the diet products that supposedly absorb and hold fats in your digestive system after you consume them. Unfortunately for their makers your stomach uses hydrochloric acid, (which will dissolve steel) to digest your food. What this means is that the only thing that can survive passing through your digestive system without being dissolved is glass. So once again, only one word is needed to describe them and that word is “scam”.

Riding Up and Down On the Diet Roller Coaster

Fasting works great. Eat nothing and your body is forced to live off it’s stored fat. In fact, if you can stick to a total fast you can literally lose pounds in a day! Unfortunately your body reacts to a fast by going into “starvation mode”. Your metabolic rate will plummet and won’t come back up until the pounds you lost are packed back on. This is why fasting and sudden weight loss is always followed by sudden weight gain.

The Most Delicious Diet Plans

Mediterranean or other “regional food” diet plans are the latest angle that diet plan marketers have pulled out of their hat. Most all of them do in fact work, as long as you stick to them. Authentic Greek, Chinese and Japanese food is delicious and generally low in fats, processed starches and sugar, so there is absolutely nothing wrong there.

Why Pay When You Can Get Them for Free ?

They also tend to be high in fiber and contain lots of healthy fruits and vegetables. However; if you are foolish enough to pay for one of these plans, a good percentage of the fat on your body is between your ears. that’s because you can easily find loads of great delicious low cal recipes from all four corners of the planet right on the Internet free of charge.

Not a Magic Bullet

So start browsing and start munching but save your money for the new clothes you will need once you shed some weight. However; be aware that just because a recipe is Greek or Chinese, doesn’t mean that it will magically work. So skip the baklava and and twice fried sweet and sour pork and you will be OK.

A Boost For Regional Eateries!

Or better yet, start scouting out local regional eateries and let them do the cooking. Ask the waiter or waitress what their low cal dishes are and they will be glad to help you out. No doubt Greek, Japanese and Chinese restaurateurs have also heard of this latest diet fad, are surly tickled pink and have a list of all their low cal favorites all ready for you to brows through.