Mediterranean diet linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes

A Mediterranean diet mainly consists of high consumption of vegetables, fruits, beans, olive oil, whole grains and fish.

Previous research has strongly suggested that there are numerous health benefits from following a Mediterranean diet. Late last year, a study suggesting that middle-aged women may have a longer lifespan and better health if they follow the diet, while another study suggests the diet may reduce genetic stroke risk.

According to the study investigators from Spain, research has shown that weight-loss interventions, such as a low-calorie diet, are effective for the prevention of diabetes.

But they note there is limited information as to whether changes in diet that do not lead to weight loss, or involve reduction in calories or increased exercise, have the same effect.

To find out, the researchers analyzed 3,541 men and women without diabetes aged 55-80-years-old who were at high risk for heart disease - a condition known to be a risk factor associated with type 2 diabetes.

All participants were randomly assigned to one of three diets. The first was a Mediterranean diet in which subjects were required to consume 50ml of extra-virgin olive oil each day. Some participants followed a Mediterranean diet alongside 30g of mixed nuts each day, while the remaining subjects followed a low-fat diet. During a 4-year follow-up period, the participants following the Mediterranean diet were given guidance by dietitians. They were instructed to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, beans, and fish, and to avoid red or processed meat, butter and candies.

The investigators note that none of the subjects were told to reduce their calorie intake or increase their physical activity.

At the end of the follow-up period, the researchers found that 273 participants had developed diabetes. Of these, 101 were from the low-fat diet group, while 80 were from the Mediterranean diet group with additional extra-virgin olive oil, and 92 were from the Mediterranean diet group with extra nuts.

Acai berry - Six ways this superfood can change your health

If you've never heard of the acaiberry, you're missing out on the enormous benefits this superfood offers.

Acai berry contains anthocyanins and antioxidants - elements that have been linked to a slowing of the body's aging process. Studies indicate that acai berry has 10 times more antioxidants than grapes and fully twice as many as blueberries, making it extremely beneficial for those of us trying to thwart the aging process.

How does a boost of energy sound?  Acai berry is known to increase energy levels, and that's a plus considering the willy-nilly, hectic pace of life these days. There are times when we can all use some help maintaining enough energy to fulfill our daily life obligations (both at work and play). That is especially true for those of us who work a non-traditional shift, like day-evening, or evening-night shifts (we're pretty much designed to be awake during the day and asleep at night). Studies indicate regular Acai berry supplementation can boost your body's energy levels; increased energy levels mean more work gets done, making you more productive and valuable.

Keep your ticker ticking better. Acai berry has been found to improve overall cardiovascular health by improving the flow of blood and other nutrients to the heart and other organs. Acai berry is rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, which are known to lower levels of bad cholesterol in the body. It's well known that bad cholesterol can accumulate in the form of plaque along the walls of your arteries and if not properly treated (or prevented in the first place), can eventually block blood vessels, causing stroke, heart attack or even sudden death. Acai berry also contains anthocyanins, the same substance found in red wine (which has also been shown to improve cardiovascular flow and function).

Good for hearts - and minds. Data shows that acai berry is good for both body and mind, by balancing the body's nervous system. "Most neuro-psychiatric problems arise from the imbalance of the nervous system," "Depression is also prevented if the stability of the mind and body is maintained. When the physical body is stable and functioning properly, the mind is also in harmony to the body preventing mental health problems..."

Take the extra pounds off. When eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet, acai berry can contribute to weight loss by boosting both metabolism and your energy levels. Also, the antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids are much safer than many of the so-called "diet pills" and other products. What's more, acai berry is not known for harmful side effects.

Keep the extra pounds off. Once you reach your diet goals, you want to keep the pounds off; acai berries can help because, again, they work to increase metabolism in a way that is healthy and not harmful. Increased metabolism means food is digested faster and, thus, less likely to create fat stores.

Though research is limited, "Acai berries are widely touted as a so-called superfood, with proponents claiming that they are helpful for a variety of health concerns, including arthritis, cancer, weight loss, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, detoxification and improving general health," says registered dietician Katherine Zeratsky.

The one bad thing about acai berries is that in order to eat them fresh, you have to live in a region where they grow. That's because they are perishable within 24 hours of being picked. Lucky for Americans they can be freeze-dried, powdered and put into supplements.

Where does the acai berry rank on a list of superfoods? For Dr. Nicholas Perricone, noted dermatologist and nutritionist, the acai is number one.

"Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, acai tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature's perfect energy fruit. Acai is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Although acai may not be available in your local supermarket, you can find it in several health food and gourmet stores (often in juice form). A new product featuring the unsweetened pulp is now also available, and I highly recommend that you choose this form of acai," he says.

Eating chocolate 'reduces body fat level'

Despite being high in calories, chocolate might actually encourage lower levels of body fat, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Granada, Spain measured the body fat of nearly 1,500 adolescents from around Europe between the ages of 12 and 17 years.

They found that regardless of their sex, age, diet and how much they exercised, subjects who ate lots of chocolate tended to be slimmer than those who did not. According to Magdalena Cuenca-Garcia, the study's lead author, this could be down to the fact that chocolate is rich in healthy flavonoids, especially catechins.

"These compounds have important antioxidant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive effects and can help prevent ischemic heart disease," she explained.

However, the researchers stressed that chocolate can still be unhealthy if not eaten in moderation.

"As they say, you can have too much of a good thing," they said.

Drink Water, Lose Weight

One of the most familiar pieces of weight-loss advice is also among the simplest: Drink lots of water. It makes you feel fuller, for one, so you don't eat as much junk later on (and maybe you won't drink sodas or other sugar-filled drinks).

Now, a new study adds some scientific heft to that advice. People who drank more water, researchers found, stayed slimmer than those who drank less. The study followed more than 120,000 people for about two decades, checking in on their lifestyle habits and weight every four years.

Overall, people in the study gained a small amount weight during each four-year span. But each cup of water a person drank per day meant they gained, on average, nearly three-tenths of a pound less during that time. The more water they drank, the less weight they put on – a noteworthy finding for a study that, for most participants, spanned a large chunk of middle age.

Fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, on the other hand, made participants gain more weight; each cup per day led to half a pound and four-fifths of a pound more weight gain in four years, respectively. Subbing water for a sugary drink, then, would likely have an even bigger impact, says An Pan, a public health researcher at the National University of Singapore who helped lead the study. Swapping a 12-ounce soda for a large glass of water every day would lead to a 1.25-pound smaller weight gain over four years.
If you tire of constantly sipping plain water, the researchers found that coffee had a similar slimming effect, too – though unlike water, it's easier to drink too much joe, which can have some downsides.

Tamoxifen Citrate

For on cycle Gynecomastia prevention and post cycle therapy (PCT) needs Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) often fills the role of both for many performance enhancers across the board. For decades Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) has been a staple in many cycles in both men and women and for good reason; it works, it works well and is in most cases very well-tolerated.

By its mode of action Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) functions of the basis of two hormones; estrogen and testosterone; discouraging one while promoting the other. Belonging to a class of medications known as Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM’s) Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is not an anabolic steroid in any shape form or fashion; it does not perform in the traditional anabolic nature; although it can provide a secondary anabolic effect by its method of testosterone stimulation.

For its testosterone stimulating properties this will be and is the main reason any anabolic steroid user will supplement with Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and this will occur during the PCT period for men. When we supplement with anabolic steroids our natural testosterone production is suppressed and once the cycle is complete it is imperative that we once again stimulate natural testosterone production. This is very important to our overall health, as a well-functioning endocrine system is more than necessary; however, it is also imperative to maintaining the gains made while on a cycle of anabolic steroids. While Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)therapy will not return natural testosterone production to its normal state during PCT use it will send you well on your way. A common misconception is that with a good PCT program our natural testosterone levels are normalized by this simple 3-4 week process; unfortunately this simply isn’t true. Assuming no more anabolic steroids are applied it can take several months for normal levels to be obtained even withTamoxifen (Nolvadex) therapy; however, without therapy such normalization can take up to as much as a year or more depending on the individual at hand.

Beyond PCT needs Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is often used as a means of Gynecomastia prevention while on a cycle of anabolic steroids. Many anabolic steroids of an androgenic nature, such as testosterone will convert into estrogen after administration. Estrogen is an essential hormone for proper bodily function in-terms of sexual function, immune system and muscle growth, we do need some; however, as these levels increase it can become quite problematic. Many of the most commonly associated side-effects of anabolic steroid use are due to this conversion process brought on by the aromatase enzyme and as levels increase side-effects rear their head. A very common misconception is that Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) decreases estrogen in the body in the same fashion as many aromatase inhibitors; this is not true. While it will not reduce estrogen Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) will block it from binding to the receptors thereby preventing side-effects such as Gynecomastia. Generally 10mg every day of the medication will prove to be useful for this end; however, for many no amount will be enough and only an aromatase inhibitor will prove to be effective.

While Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) was not created with performance enhancing in mind it is just that for which it is used most commonly and without question it has proven to be one of the most useful tools in the arsenal of any performance enhancer. Available in both tablet and liquid forms you simply drink there really aren’t too many downsides to this medication; in-fact, most well-planned cycles, be it for on cycle or PCT use will include Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) in them at some point and time as it is a highly necessary medication for most any athlete.

Beat acid reflux naturally

Acid reflux or gastric esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common conditions affecting Americans today. This condition is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest that has coined the term "heartburn." An anti-inflammatory lifestyle has been shown to beat acid reflux naturally.

Upon eating, food naturally passes from the throat to the stomach through the esophagus. The esophagus contains a group of muscle fibers in the shape of a ring that prevent food from moving backward from the stomach to the esophagus. These muscle fibers make the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

If the LES is not closing well, it allows for food, liquid and hydrochloric acid to leak back into the esophagus. The inner esophageal tissue is not designed to handle the strong acidity, which inflames the region. This causes the characteristic heartburn sensation. Chronically damaging, the esophageal tissue often results in esophageal cancer and other more serious conditions.

The most common risk factors for GERD include anything that obstructs the esophagus or stomach region such as hiatal hernia, pregnancy, and scleroderma. Other proven risk factors include obesity, smoking, and alcohol usage. Many prescription medications list GERD as a common side effect so this should always be considered.

The popular belief is that acid reflux is due to an excessive amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. New science has revealed that this is not the case. GERD is most often caused by too little hydrochloric acid being secreted by the stomach.

During digestion the stomach secretes acid to lower its pH to around 1.5-2.5 range. More protein in the meal results in a greater need for stomach acid. Individuals with non-obstructive acid reflux are often not able to get their pH low enough. The LES is known to be a pH sensitive valve that initiates closure when pH drops under 3.0. When the stomach does not have enough acid, the LES remains open and acid can spill into the esophageal region and damage the tissue.

Many people use antacids to relieve the pain of heartburn. This covers up the symptom (reducing acidity) but only makes the problem worse by decreasing the acidity. This process limits the body from effectively digesting the food. This causes further stress on the enzymatic system of the pancreas as well as the other digestive organs. Antacids, processed foods and many medications deplete the body of critical b vitamins and trace minerals that are necessary to create a sufficient supply of stomach acid.

An anti-inflammatory lifestyle incorporates a diet rich in phytonutrient dense vegetables, healthy fat and clean protein sources. Healthy fat sources include coconut products, avocados, olive oil, & purified omega-3 fish oil supplements. Healthy protein includes wild-caught fish, grass-fed red meat and free range poultry and eggs. Anti-inflammatory herbs such as turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, oregano & garlic are also powerful aids. Non-processed pink salts, sea vegetables, sea algae and cereal grasses should be used regularly to provide an abundance of critical trace minerals.

Individuals should avoid eating excessively large meals. Food should be eaten at least 2 hours before bed to allow gravity to push food through the system. Digestive enzymes and probiotics are particularly helpful at enhancing the digestive process. Raw apple cider vinegar with the fermented mother intact is rich in acetic acid, digestive enzymes and good bacteria. 2 tsp of raw apple cider vinegar in water before a high protein meal is particularly helpful at lowering stomach acid to prepare for digestion. It is also helpful to use apple cider vinegar to marinate meat, as a salad dressing and on grains such as rice.

Foods That Help or Harm Your Sleep

If you could pick the right foods to help you get the best sleep possible, wouldn't you? And if you knew which foods would hinder your restful slumber, wouldn't you avoid them? Now's your chance to learn which foods to eat, and which to steer clear of for a good night's sleep.

We've all heard of warm milk's magical ability to send us off to dreamland. Do you know why it's true? Dairy foods contain tryptophan, which is a sleep-promoting substance. Other foods that are high in tryptophan include nuts and seeds, bananas, honey, and eggs.

Carbohydrate-rich foods complement dairy foods by increasing the level of sleep-inducing tryptophan in the blood. So a few perfect late night snacks to get you snoozing might include a bowl of cereal and milk, yogurt and crackers, or bread and cheese.

If you struggle with insomnia, a little food in your stomach may help you sleep. But don't use this as an open invitation to pig out. Keep the snack small. A heavy meal will tax your digestive system, making you uncomfortable and unable to get soothing ZZZs.

As if you needed another reason to avoid high-fat foods, research shows that people who often eat high-fat foods not only gain weight, they also experience a disruption of their sleep cycles. A heavy meal activates digestion, which can lead to nighttime trips to the bathroom.

It's no surprise that an evening cup of coffee might disrupt your sleep. Even moderate caffeine can cause sleep disturbances. But don't forget about less obvious caffeine sources, like chocolate, cola, tea, and decaffeinated coffee. For better sleep, cut all caffeine from your diet four to six hours before bedtime.

Here's the catch-22 with alcohol: It may help you fall asleep faster, but you may experience frequent awakenings, less restful sleep, headaches, night sweats and nightmares. If you're consuming alcohol in the evening, balance each drink with a glass a water to dilute the alcohol's effects. For a good night's sleep, the better bet is to avoid alcohol four to six hours before bedtime.

Sorry Atkins. Protein, an essential part of our daytime fare, is a poor choice for a bedtime snack. Protein-rich foods are harder to digest. So skip the high-protein snack before bedtime and opt for a glass of warm milk or some sleep-friendly carbs, like crackers.

Yes, staying hydrated throughout the day is great for your body, but curtail your fluid intake before bed. You're sure to have interrupted sleep if you're constantly getting up to go to the bathroom.

Nicotine is a stimulant, with effects similar to caffeine. Avoid smoking before bedtime or if you wake up in the middle of the night.

Avoid these six foods that could trigger acid reflux

Acid reflux or heartburn is a fairly common digestive problems that is annoying and uncomfortable, but not serious unless it becomes chronic. Then it's called GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), which gets to the point of seriously irritating the esophagus.

Symptoms include chest pains, upper chest or lower throat burning sensations, spontaneous regurgitation, and nausea. These symptoms are the result of stomach acids coming through a not fully closed lower esophagus sphincter and flooding the esophagus.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or spastic colon obviously effects the lower end of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It usually shows up with lower abdominal cramps, constipation, diarrhea, or a weird combination of both with irregular, sporadic bowel movements and stool consistencies.

Foods that are common triggers for IBS and acid reflux

Both gastrointestinal ailments can be triggered by certain foods or food groups, of which six are common to both and should be avoided if you're prone to acid reflux or IBS:

1. Fried foods, especially those fried with hydrogenated oils containing trans-fatty acids. These are your common fast food and restaurant varieties.
2. Meat and dairy, especially fatty meats from factory farms, processed meats, and big dairy pasteurized milk. Some do well with raw milk and cheese and some meat from grass fed free range livestock without antibiotics and growth hormones.
3. Processed baked goods, including most packaged breads, pastries, cakes, and cookies. They contain refined sugar and bad fats as well as refined, bleached white flour. Sometimes they may contain MSG or HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). If you are acid reflux prone or suffer from IBS, you may get around this by purchasing baked goods directly from a bakery you trust or make your own with excellent whole ingredients. Sourdough and/or sprouted wheat, wheat substitutes, such as buckwheat, spelt, or other grains used in baked goods without harmful additives may also be tolerable. Read your labels and ask the right questions.
4. Coffee and alcohol, both can create acidic responses from the lower esophagus sphincter and the ileocecal valve (ICV), which is the sphincter between the large and small intestines that opens only briefly and shuts most of the time to keep the small and large intestinal fluids from mixing. ICV syndrome, the ileocecal valve remaining open too long, may be the most overlooked basis of many IBS issues and other more serious digestive diseases. All the other recommendations regarding foods and eating habits are relevant for ICV syndromes. Apparently, most chiropractors and some and naturopathic doctors (NDs) understand ICV syndromes more than most MDs.
5. MSG and artificial sweeteners: Sorbital may not be as neurologically dangerous as aspartame and other artificial sweeteners. But it does stimulate IBS symptoms.
6. Non-soluble fiber foods Yes, we all need fiber. But non-soluble fiber alone can cause IBS problems. 

Avoid overeating. Stop at 75 percent percent of your capacity. Chewing more and eating consciously and more slowly helps determine when to stop.

Never go to sleep or lie down after a meal. If you must rest, lie on your left side. But it's better to take a walk, which assists your digestion. Try eating three or four small meals instead of one or two big meals.

Apple peel compound may help fight obesity

Those who peel an apple before eating it may be discarding a helpful tool for fighting obesity. A study involving mice finds that a compound in apple peel called ursolic acid may curtail obesity by increasing muscle mass and boosting calorie burning. In addition to the weight control benefit, it may also deter fatty liver disease and pre-diabetes.

In the research all the mice were fed a high fat diet, but only half of them received food augmented with ursolic acid. Although the half that received the ursolic acid ate more, they gained less weight. Additionally, the investigators found they burned more calories, had more muscles and displayed greater endurance than the group who did not receive the compound. Furthermore, their blood sugar levels were near normal and they did not incur obesity related-fatty liver disease.

The mechanism of action responsible for the obesity-fighting benefit appears to be two-pronged. Author Christopher Adams explains that since muscle tissue is a good calorie burner, the muscle-building effect of ursolic acid may account for part of it. While the researchers were aware of this effect from prior research, they were surprised to find this compound also increases a substance called brown fat, which is a superb fat burner.

Adams notes that because of brown fat's healthful properties, scientists are endeavoring to discover how to increase it. Some research has associated greater levels of brown fat with reduced levels of obesity, along with improved blood sugar and lipids, indicating this substance can assist in weight management and in preventing diabetes.

Earlier studies show apple peels are richly abundant in antioxidants and polyphenols. Also, eating an apple a day lowers the risk of lung and colon cancer.

Adams intends to study the effect of ursolic acid on humans to determine if it is as beneficial for them as for mice. If this proves to be the case, the next step would be to ascertain the number of apples a person would need to eat to experience the positive effects. In the meantime, eating an apple a day seems like a good idea, but it is best to choose the organically grown ones to avoid insecticides and wax present in the peel.

Cialis increasis testosterone.

Like Viagra, Cialis also is used to treat erectile dysfunction. What’s the difference between the two? Although Viagra and Cialis both work by inhibiting an enzyme called phosphodiesterases, which increases vasodilatation, there are pharmacologic distinctions between Viagra and Cialis, being that Cialis has a longer half-life (17.50 hours) compared to Viagra (4.0–5.0 hours) and Levitra (4.0–5.0 hours), resulting in longer duration of action14 which is partly responsible for Cialis being dubbed "The Weekend Pill." Cialis’ molecular structure differs significantly from Viagra; one of the benefits of Cialis is there are no visual side effects like Viagra and an absence of effect of food on absorption. Nitric oxide is a hot topic of debate in bodybuilding, as NO-producing supplements are always one of the top-selling products. Being in touch with many bodybuilders and powerlifters, many swear that by taking Cialis, they get better pumps in the gym and can recuperate from exercise faster.

Many suspect its enhanced nutrient delivery or some other mechanism. Cialis demonstrates similar vasodilator (blood pressure-lowering) effects in healthy subjects when compared with Viagra in studies of 10mg or 20mg doses (mean systolic blood pressure reduction, of ~4.3mg). Many of the experts in sports will attest that nitric oxide only increases performance in environments with low oxygen availability, such as high-altitude training or areas with high air pollution.  If there are no performace-enhacing effects, then why were Olympic athltetes using it? There have only been a handful of studies on the performance-enhancing effects of Cialis and sports performance, and none yielded beneficial effects.

• In one study, 14 healthy young males were given a 20mg dose of Cialis or a placebo and performed a maximal exercise test on a treadmill. The study found that a single dose of Cialis had no effect on exercise performance, exercise tolerance or cardiopulmonary responses.
• The second study involved three “all-out” sprints to determine if Cialis could increase anaerobic threshold. The study found no significant differences in peak power, average power or fatigue index compared to a placebo. One positive finding noted was that Cialis decreased the time to reach peak power. Cialis did not have an effect on peak power, but time to peak power output was reduced. Only to sports that need to reach maximum power output in a few seconds could Cialis administration be beneficial.

Bodybuilders are known for bringing cutting-edge pharmacology to the forefront of science. If NO (nitric oxide) products really don’t work, then why do so many people use them? Given that the second study reported that the author claimed that Cialis may increase peak force, the powerlifters who swear by Cialis increasing performance may be onto something that research has not discovered yet.

Based on the research, acute dosages of Cialis do not have performance-enhancing effects, but new research suggests that Cialis increases testosterone! Researchers had participants perform three 30-second “all-out” sprints to exhaustion and measured testosterone and cortisol responses to exercise. They found that only after Cialis and exercise did testosterone increase, however Cialis also increased cortisol levels. Cialis also lowered the DHEA to cortisol response. The study demonstrates that Cialis increases the “stress” response to the body, but also has some testosterone-enhancing effects as well. It’s interesting that a large dosage of caffeine, which is a weak, non-specific PDE inhibitor, also caused an increase in testosterone and also an increase in cortisol. So it seems that Cialis has both positive and negative effects on muscle. Cialis does not directly stimulate testosterone secretion per se, meaning it does not stimulate LH release or SHBG release directly. This is not the first study to find that Cialis raises testosterone:

• In a study of 74 patients with erectile dysfunction treated on demand with 50mg of Viagra or 20mg of Cialis for three months, basal levels of total testosterone and free testosterone were at the bottom of the normal range that was reversed after treatment in both groups. Testosterone increase in Viagra-treated cases was significantly lower than in those treated with Cialis, suggested to be due to the higher frequency of full sexual intercourse in the Cialis-treated group.
• Another study reported that the increase in testosterone from taking Cialis is mediated by a reduction in estrogen demonstration that Cialis may have anti-estrogen actions. It was pointed out that the T/estradiol ratio was associated with long-term Cialis treatment. There was no increase in LH levels from Cialis, demonstrating that Cialis did not directly increase testosterone, but indirectly increased testosterone by lowering estrogen.
• One of the primary reasons that many older men have problems “rising to the occasion” is that they have excess estrogen levels. Furthermore, in men with hypogonadism, a low dose of clomiphene citrate (Clomid) is effective in improving testosterone:estrogen ratio, thus giving more long-term benefit for the management of erectile dysfunction in hypogonadal patients. It seems that based on the current study, Cialis has similar actions to Clomid by improving T:E ratio.

12 Possible Heart Symptoms Never to Ignore

Heart Disease
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of U.S. men and women, accounting for 40% of all U.S. deaths. That's more than all forms of cancer combined.
Why is heart disease so deadly? One reason is that many people are slow to seek help when symptoms arise. Yes, someone gripped by sudden chest pain probably knows to call 911. But symptoms of heart problems aren't always intense or obvious, and they vary from person to person and according to gender.

Heart Disease Warning Signs
Because it can be hard to make sense of possible heart symptoms, doctors warn against ignoring any warning signs, toughing them out, waiting to see if they go away, or being quick to blame them on heartburn, muscle soreness, or other less serious, noncardiac causes. That's especially true for men and people over 65, as well as for people with other cardiac risk factors, such as high cholesterol or blood pressure, obesity, smoking, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease.

Heart Disease Risk Factors
'The more risk factors you have, the higher the likelihood that a symptom means something is going on with your heart,' says David Frid, MD, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. 'People often don't want to admit that they're old enough or sick enough to have heart trouble. Putting off treatment for other medical problems might not be so bad, but a serious heart problem can mean sudden death. It's better to go in and get it evaluated than to be dead

Anxiety - Heart attack can cause intense anxiety or a fear of death. Heart attack survivors often talk about having experienced a sense of 'impending doom.

Chest Discomfort - Pain in the chest is the classic symptom of heart attack, and 'the No. 1 symptom that we typically look for,' says Jean C. McSweeney, PhD, RN, associate dean for research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing in Little Rock and a pioneer in research on heart symptoms in women. But not all heart attacks cause chest pain, and chest pain can stem from ailments that have nothing to do with the heart. Heart-related chest pain is often centered under the breastbone, perhaps a little to the left of center. The pain has been likened to 'an elephant sitting on the chest,' but it can also be an uncomfortable sensation of pressure, squeezing, or fullness. 'It's not unusual for women to describe the pain as a minor ache,' McSweeney says. 'Some women say the pain wasn't bad enough even to take a Tylenol.' Women, more so than men, can also experience a burning sensation in their chest, rather than a pressure or pain. 'Sometimes people make the mistake that the pain comes from a stomach problem,' says Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City and another expert on women's heart symptoms.

Cough - Persistent coughing or wheezing can be a symptom of heart failure -- a result of fluid accumulation in the lungs. In some cases, people with heart failure cough up bloody phlegm.

Dizziness - Heart attacks can cause lightheadedness and loss of consciousness. So can potentially dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities known as arrhythmias.

Fatigue - Especially among women, unusual fatigue can occur during a heart attack as well as in the days and weeks leading up to one. And feeling tired all the time may be a symptom of heart failure. Of course, you can also feel tired or fatigued for other reasons. How can you tell heart-related fatigue from other types of fatigue? 'If you don't feel well and all the wind is knocked out of your sails, don't try to figure it out on the Internet or from a book,' says Goldberg. 'Wasting time is dangerous.

Nausea or Lack of Appetite - It's not uncommon for people to feel sick to their stomach or throw up during a heart attack. And abdominal swelling associated with heart failure can interfere with appetite.

Pain In Other Parts of the Body - In many heart attacks, pain begins in the chest and spreads to the shoulders, arms, elbows, back, neck, jaw, or abdomen. But sometimes there is no chest pain -- just pain in these other body areas. The pain might come and go.
Men having a heart attack often feel pain in the left arm. In women, the pain is more likely to be felt in both arms, or between the shoulder blades.

Shortness of Breath - People who feel winded at rest or with minimal exertion might have a pulmonary condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But breathlessness could also indicate a heart attack or heart failure.
"Sometimes people having a heart attack don't have chest pressure or pain but feel extremely short of breath," Goldberg says. "It's like they've just run a marathon when they haven't even moved." During a heart attack, shortness of breath often accompanies chest discomfort, but it can also occur before or without chest discomfort.

Sweating - Breaking out in a cold sweat is a common symptom of heart attack. 'You might just be sitting in a chair when all of a sudden you are really sweating like you had just worked out,' Dr. Frid of the Cleveland Clinic says.

Weakness - In the days leading up to a heart attack, as well as during one, some people experience severe, unexplained weakness. 'One woman told me it felt like she couldn't hold a piece of paper between her fingers,' Dr. McSweeney says."

Equipose 200

Boldenone Undecylenate has become a very popular steroid with athletes and bodybuilders due to the fact that it has very low side effects and has anabolic properties which promote a steady gain in quality muscle mass over time. GP Bold 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) was tagged with the name Equipose® when it first became available as a veterinary steroid and was widely used in racehorses. Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate), as it is often called, can be effectively incorporated in both "cutting" and "bulking" cycles due to the well balanced effects of this anabolic substance. GP Bold 200 (Equipoise) aromatizes very little, and therefore produces almost no estrogenic side effects such as water retention or "gyno" (the development of female tissue under the nipples in males resulting in unattractive and often painful lumps in this area), and therefore is a favorite among bodybuilders who are looking to make solid gains without the extra bloat, or are nearing contest. Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) also dramatically increases protein synthesis and red blood cell count meaning that nutrients are transported throughout the body much more effectively. Because of this, Equipose® is able to make much more use of less food, enhancing its capabilities as an effective hormone to use when "cutting" and a bodybuilder is trying to reduce calories to get into contest shape. Also, the increased red blood cell count caused by Boldenone Undecylenate also increases oxygen transportation throughout the body, thus giving athletes and bodybuilders much more endurance and the capability to endure cardio sessions for much longer periods of time, which obviously makes Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) even more popular among those looking to shed bodyfat. Users of  Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) also report a dramatic increase in vascularity, which can also be attributed to the oxidizing benefits of Equipoise. Bodybuilders using Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate)  in a cutting cycle often look to stack it with an oral steroid such as Stanozolole or Oxandrolone to further increase anabolic activity while keeping estrogenic side effects out of the picture. Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) also has properties which make it very favorable amongst Bodybuilders looking to incorporate it into their bulking cycles. Users of Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) often report an increase in appetite and the ability to eat more food easily when trying to gain weight in the offseason. The mild nature and steady gains produced by Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) also make it very effective for those looking to do longer cycles (12-20 weeks ), where as most users note a continuous gain in muscle mass and strength over this time and credit the steroid with helping the muscles maintain a more defined, vascular tone throughout bulking . Bodybuilders looking for size often stack Equipoise with other anabolic drugs such as a testosterone preparation (GP Test Enanth 250, GP Test Cyp 250, GP Test Prop 100 etc.) and/or Deca-Durabolin . Bodybuilders looking to bulk might also incorporate an oral compound into this stack such as GP Oxan or GP Methan. Women bodybuilders are also fond of Equipoise due to its mild nature and low androgenic properties. The most often side effect of the drug being an increase in libido, women find that the drug rarely causes any masculizing side effects when kept in a reasonable dosage range. Male bodybuilders generally buy Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) in doses of 300-800mg's a week for 8-20wks, depending on goals, while women bodybuilders often find a dosage of 50-100mg's a week to be very effective for making quality gains while keeping side effects to a minimum. Equipose 200 (Boldenone Undecylenate) has a long half life (7-10) days and is most commonly injected twice per week to keep blood concentrations as steady as possible.

No More Reflux!!!!

For years, Majed Khalifa's severe reflux prevented him from sleeping at night and, because of his disease, he couldn't even drink coffee to help him get through the day. He was taking medication for gastroesphogeal reflux disease (GERD), and when it stopped working, he decided to try something new.

Dr. Pat Reardon, surgical director of the Reflux Center at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, performed a new minimally-invasive outpatient surgery that ended years of severe discomfort in a matter of hours.

"I literally felt 100 percent better as soon as I got home," Khalifa said. "I haven't had a reoccurrence of reflux symptoms since the surgery and it's been more than a month."

GERD is a chronic, progressive disease that affects millions of people. It results when a bad valve at the lower end of the esophagus gets pulled open too easily from the pressure down below the stomach. The opening of the valve allows the contents of the stomach to wash back into the esophagus causing heartburn, regurgitation, loss of sleep and, in some cases, dietary restrictions.

The new LINX® Reflux Management System from Torax Medical was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to combat GERD. The system, composed of a small implant made up of intertwined titanium beads with magnetic cores, is designed to prevent the bad valve at the end of the esophagus from opening. The magnetic attraction between the beads allows the food to go by when you eat. The magnets then snap back into place to prevent the valve from being pulled open from below by the stomach.

Coffee and green tea may help lower stroke risk

Green tea and coffee may help lower your risk of having a stroke, especially when both are a regular part of your diet.

• People who drank at least one cup of coffee daily had about a 20 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who rarely drank it.
• People who drank two to three cups of green tea daily had a 14 percent lower risk of stroke and those who had at least four cups had a 20 percent lower risk, compared to those who rarely drank it.
• People who drank at least one cup of coffee or two cups of green tea daily had a 32 percent lower risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, compared to those who rarely drank either beverage. (Intracerebral hemorrhage happens when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds inside the brain. About 13 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic.)