Losing weight is a popular New Year’s resolution for a lot of people. Unfortunately, a lot of people are taking the wrong steps whenever they are planning to lose weight. And just how bad is obesity worldwide?

Obesity is a serious problem in the US and other parts of the world. What exactly is the definition of obesity? If you have a BMI of 30 and above, you are considered obese. According to statistics made by CDC, 2 in 3 adults in the US are considered either overweight or obese. In addition to this, 1 in 3 adults is considered obese.

There are a number of causes why people become obese. The reason mainly is that people are eating too much while moving so little. Once you become obese, you become prone to having a heart attack and even cancer.

Now, it is important not only to exercise but to also have the right meal and supplements. One of the most popular supplements in the market today is Branched Chain Amino Acids. There’s a lot of hype behind BCAAs. However, does it really help in your weight loss goal? Here are reasons why it does help.

BCAAs can help build damaged muscles

One of the reasons why you need BCAAs is to help the rebuild muscles. Branched chain amino acids are found in the 35% of the muscle proteins. Once you have built your muscles, it is easier to control the body’s metabolic rate. Muscles burn more calories than fats.

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So why not take whey protein? Whey protein takes a bit of time in order to reach your muscle fibers. As for BCAAs, it goes directly into your skeletal muscles. This makes it the perfect drink whenever you are also working out. It helps reduce muscle catabolism especially if you take it in the middle of your workout. In fact, BCAA can be absorbed by the body in just 30 to 40 minutes.

Good for a caloric deficient diet

For athletes that need to lose weight, it is crucial that they maintain their muscle mass. However, consuming food with other macronutrients can jeopardize the weight cutting process. That’s where BCAAs enter the picture. BCAAs can help provide the necessary amino acids to help maintain muscle mass without adding additional calories.

Leucine is important in building muscle and losing fats

Based on research, the most important branched chain amino acid is leucine. A high ratio of leucine in your BCAA can help your body build muscle at a faster rate. It can also help you lose fats faster in the process.

Provides energy

There are instances when those who are on diet tend to feel sluggish due to the caloric deficient diet that they have. One of the things that BCAAs provide is a chance to keep your body’s energy level up.

Losing body fat can be challenging. There are many factors at play whenever you are going to shed fats the right way. It is important to not catabolize the muscles if your goal is to still maintain functionality. The use of BCAA is a great way to improve your physique.

Learn More with our Informative Articles in the Health Category

When your child complains about a headache, your natural instinct tells you to call the doctor immediately.  However, there will be instances when you can’t get professional help right away and so the best course of action is to deal with it first at home while a physician can’t be reached or is unavailable at the moment.

There are many ways of providing relief to a child who’s complaining about a headache.

Talk to your child reassuringly.  A headache can definitely upset a young child because he doesn’t know what to do.  All he knows is that he is in pain and just wants it to go away.  Tell him you are there to make him feel better.  If he tells you he doesn’t want to miss a day in school, try to listen.  Understand why he says so and tries to talk him into staying at home to rest.

Once you have contacted your family physician or pediatrician, describe to him the nature of your child’s headache.  He will ask questions about your child so be as detailed and accurate as possible with your answers.   By doing so, you will be helping your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and thus select the best relief for your child.

The following treatments offer relief for a mild headache among children:

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen

There are many over-the-counter pain relievers available for kids nowadays.  Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are two of the commonly used pain and headache medicines.  But follow the doctor’s advice regarding which headache medicine to buy and the exact dosage to administer.

Cold packs

Dip a clean cloth in cold water.   Wring it dry and apply it on his head where it hurts.  You may also take a clean cloth, wrap ice in it, and apply it on his head.  If you keep a gel pack in the freezer, wrap it in a thin cloth and apply on the head to ease the pain.  Use only cold packs as heat can aggravate a headache.

Rest and sleep

Bring your child to his room or a quiet place.  Turn the lights off, keeping the room dark and comfortably cool.  Mild to moderate headaches will subside once your child is rested.  Keep gadgets away from him so he won’t be tempted to use them in case he feels a little better

Hydration

Give him plenty of liquids.  Water is the best but if he likes to drink fresh fruit juice, you may offer it to him too.  Just remember not to give him any food or drink that contains caffeine as this will only aggravate the situation.

Watch out for other symptoms

Has he developed a high fever?  Is he feeling weaker or has he suddenly developed vision problems?  Does he appear disoriented?  Be on the lookout for these other signs as these could point to more serious health issues.  Call your doctor when any of these occurs and follow his advice.

Find more info here http://www.bentham-open.org/types-of-headaches/

Millions of people around the world suffer from all types of headaches, and migraine is just one of the top complaints among headache sufferers.  What is so bad about a migraine is that it can be extremely bothersome.  You can’t work.  You can’t even go through your usual daily routine.

Are you suffering from a migraine attack?  If so, you may have taken medications just to ease the pain despite the known side effects.   While effective as a treatment for headaches, some drugs can cause sleepiness, general weakness, dry mouth, and dizziness.  Some drugs may even cause weight gain, over time.

Study on cannabis and migraine sufferers

There are more and more studies revealing that cannabis can be reliable for migraine and headache cures, apart from other ailments.

One study explained why cannabis works effectively against a migraine.  Cannabinoids found in cannabis effectively binds with the body’s endocannabinoids.   These receptors are predominant in the human brain but persons with a migraine have limited levels of these receptors, making them more prone to pain and enlargement of blood vessels.   Studies conducted on lab animals reveal that whenever there is a high level of endocannabinoid activity in the brain, pain signals from the brain are fewer.

A prestigious university specializing in Pharmacy studied cannabis and the healing it can offer to people with a migraine.  More than a hundred participants who suffered from migraine attacks were given cannabis through ingestion and inhalation.  The results were promising.

About 40 percent of the subjects who have a migraine said they have felt better after taking cannabis.  Also, the incidence of migraine attacks went down to around 5 as against 10, when cannabis was still out of the picture.  In addition, more than 80% of the participants claimed that each passing month of taking cannabis, migraine attacks have declined.   Their capacity to work and function as an individual has improved.

It is interesting to note that inhaled cannabis (according to participants) delivered the fastest relief for a migraine versus those taken orally.

Inhaled vs ingested cannabis

Inhaled cannabis is taken through smoking or vaping.  Ingesting edible cannabis, while also effective, may not offer faster relief.  Moreover, oral cannabis may induce vomiting among migraine sufferers.  Even if you smoke or vape cannabis and then throw up eventually, you have already absorbed cannabinoids, components of cannabis that’s critical to migraine treatment.   Migraine sufferers who have gastric issues will also fare better with inhaled cannabis.

Dosage   

The dosage will vary of course depending on your age, weight, and severity of a migraine but professionals advice to take a very low dosage initially, gradually increasing until you feel relieved.  Take note of your symptoms and the point at which they have improved.  If your migraine is more of the chronic type, then a higher dosage may offer quick relief.

While cannabis proves to bring relief to migraine sufferers, they also have side effects, as it is with many drugs in the market.

There are many factors that bring on a dull, throbbing headache.  Tension from the workplace, arguments, and even the traffic situation can give you a full-blown headache.

But don’t worry.  These headaches are your body’s natural reaction to stress.  Tension triggers a contraction in the muscles near your head and down to your neck, resulting in a tension headache.  Constricted blood vessels that become dilated could result to migraines.  Throbbing headaches may result from a sinus condition.

But do you know that these types of headaches can be relieved by items that may be lying around in your own kitchen?

Let’s take a closer look.

Oil of thyme and rosemary

Take a few drops of oil from herbs like rosemary or thyme and gently rub on your forehead repeatedly.  Rubbing on both temples will also offer relief.   Stay calm and sit in a quiet place in your home while letting the oil do its job.  About seven years ago, a study revealed that carvacrol, an essential component of rosemary and thyme, acts as an inflammatory.

Butterbur extracts

Migraine relief can be obtained from butterbur, a well-known herb.  Even doctors who are experts in the treatment of a migraine admit to recommending it to many of their patients with headaches.  Petadolex is chiefly made of extracts of butterbur and is available over-the-counter.   Three separate studies have shown that the herb does lessen the incidence of migraine attacks.  If you have a headache, take butterbur twice a daily.  Initially, start with a two 75-mg dosage every day and continue doing so for a month.  Afterwards, you may reduce intake to two 50 mg of the herb daily.

Ginger root tea

Do you know that the common ginger in your pantry can also help alleviate your migraine?  Ginger can prevent prostaglandin synthesis.  This miracle root can even arrest feelings of nausea which migraine sufferers also complain of.

Make a tea out of ginger by putting slices of ginger in two cups of water.  Simmer in a covered pan for about half an hour or more.  Cool and sip the ginger tea.   Relax and enjoy this wonderful tea.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a relaxing tea that can easily calm and offer relief for tension headaches.  Chamomile tea bags are found in almost all stores.  Pour boiled water into a cup and dip the tea bag for about 10 to 15 minutes.  If you wish, you could add raw honey to make an enjoyable drink.

Peppermint essential oils

Many naturopaths claim that peppermint foot baths offer some remedy to headaches.  It works by drawing blood from your head to your feet thus lessening pressure on blood vessels near the head.

The aroma given-off by peppermint oils also has a soothing and calming effect.

Sometimes, the best cures for headaches are just lying around your house.  Your kitchen may have a wealth of herbs that can help ease that headache.  Try looking around your pantry before going to your drugstore.

Also visit https://treatheadaches.com for more helpful information.

Any eating disorder can be serious and can be fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a patient’s behavior to eating. People with such illnesses often have obsessions with food, body shape and weight which can be excessive and can lead to severe complications brought about by excessive attempts of patients to manipulate their body. Eating disorders tend to start at adolescence age not only due to puberty factors but may also be due to societal factors that impact a person. These conditions can also be carried to adulthood if not detected or treated earlier.

One of the most common eating disorder is Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia is an obsessive compulsive eating disorder. People with bulimia have the tendency to consume large amounts of food in a short period of time. People affected by this condition can take up food that may exceed to 3,000 calories in an hour only to throw them up after.

Bulimia is a condition similar to Anorexia since it is also a mental illness concerned about resistance to gaining weight. Unlike anorexia, a bulimic patient does not resort to eating less to any. Instead, a person with bulimia is caught in a cycle of taking in a large quantity of food which is regarded as “bingeing” and then “purging”, that leads to vomiting which can be induced by taking laxatives or diuretics in order to prevent gaining weight.

Bulimic patients feel that they have lost control of their eating and evaluates themselves according to their weight and form. Unlike anorexia, bulimic patients often have their weight at a normal healthy range however the mental state worsens the situation. People who suffer this condition tend to get intimidated and guilty about their eating behavior. People in this condition eat excessively and as quickly as possible to feel happier and fill whatever hole they feel inside but feel emotionally upset and guilty afterward thus resolving to take laxatives or force themselves to throw up whatever food they ate.

Like anorexia, bulimia causes patients to have very low self-esteem that may result to self-harm. These kinds of disorders do not only affect the patient’s health but as well as their relationships. Some may experience symptoms such as tiredness, the feeling of bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, irregular menstruation (for girls) and more. While depriving your body of food is bad for the body, forcing your body to take in food beyond their limit is not beneficial to health as well.

When a patient is vomiting excessively, it can develop to problems with the teeth and laxative misuse can lead to heart complications. In some instances, bulimia can start developing from anorexia but not all cases.

Since mental illnesses need to be seriously addressed, the family and friends of the patients must continuously give their family member suffering from this condition support to help them recover and have the will to correct their eating patterns and instead eat healthily.