The Side Effects of Caffeine

Caffeine is a white crystalline xanthine alkaloid stimulant drug that acts as a stimulant drug. This bitter alkaloid is part of chemical mixtures found within insoluble complexes guaranine which is found in guarana, theine which is found in tea, as well as mateine which is found in yerba mate.

Caffeine is found in different quantities within leaves, beans, and even some fruit. For the most part humans use caffeine that has been extracted from cherries of the coffee plant as well as the leaves from the popular tea bush. Occasionally you can find caffeine as a source from the kola nut, guarana berries, Yaupon Holly, and yerba mate.

There is great debate regarding the pros and cons to caffeine, as well as it's effects on the body. For starters caffeine is first and foremost a central nervous stimulant. Because of this caffeine can help to fight off drowsiness thus increasing the ability to focus needed attention. Some of the most popular drinks that contain caffeine are tea, coffee, energy drinks, and even the common soft drinks. Because of this these drinks are very popular among most all people. In fact caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. Here the debate often turns to the fact that caffeine is also not regulated in most parts of the world. Statistics show that more than 90% of North American adults consume caffeine on a daily basis.

The group that I would like to discuss regarding possible negative effects in particular is that of body builders and weightlifters. Caffeinated drinks are also very popular among this group. Besides possible nervousness, anxiety, tremulousness, insomnia, muscle twitching, respiratory alkalosis, stress, gastrointestinal problems, adrenal exhaustion, premature aging, headaches, and heart palpitations, caffeine can also be very constricting when it comes to blood flow and muscle growth, the very thing that a bodybuilder and weightlifter strive after. In fact caffeine limits blood flow and this is exactly what you don't want. When the blood flow is restricted muscle growth is stunted. This is definitely the last thing that you could want if your goal is to grow your muscles.

For this reason it is suggested that when taking a muscle builder of any kind, such as a creatine, that you chose one without the stimulant caffeine. In fact there are many supplements that you can take to help build muscle that have no trace of stimulants like caffeine. Caffeinated muscle builders have been shown to reduce the benefits of different creatines and NO2 by constricting blood vessels. As a vessel constrictor it significantly decreases the ability to get the benefits of a lot of ingredients found in supplements. For example if you are taking caffeinated creatine, it will actually decrease the likelihood that the creatine will effective reach you targeted muscle group. Because of this it is extremely important that you don't use any blood constricting supplements that contain caffeine.



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Yoga and Weight Loss

As a yoga instructor, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is, "Can yoga help you lose weight?" The short answer is yes, for many reasons. Yoga goes along way in promoting a healthy weight loss. Yoga asana is excellent for burning calories while stretching, toning, and strengthening muscles but that is only one piece of the puzzle. We have to look at diet as well. What, how much, and even why we are eating is an important part of the "weight loss" picture. First, let's look at what we are eating. A diet high in fats and sugars will, not only pack on the pounds, but wreck havoc on the systems of the body. Mom was right, eat your fruits and veggies! If you want to feel your best, look your best, and be at your best... eat your best. Mother nature has a delicious bounty of whole foods to choose from, eat up! For optimal health, there's no better choice.

Next let's look at why and how much we are eating. Stress plays a huge role in overeating. It also determines how and where fat is stored in the body. Yoga asanas, breathing exercises, and meditation reduces stress and lowers cortisol levels which will aid in weight loss. Habitual eating can also be a problem. Eating mindlessly as if the auto pilot has been switched on without thinking or even tasting what we are putting in our mouths, that's habitual eating. Then there's emotional eating. Eating when we feel hurt, anger, or depression. Ever hear the expression, "It's not what you're eating but what's eating you," that's emotional eating. Yoga practice helps you to become mindful in the moment. You become connected to and aware of your body and emotions. You will learn to discerne true hungrer from habit and how to re-direct habitual and emotional eating toward effective methods of healing. When you are hungry, you'll make healthier choices, taste and enjoy your food better, and lose weight.

A yoga practice that includes dietary modifications, breathing techniques, and meditation can help you lose weight. Think of the process as a journey of transformation and self-discovery. It will take time and patience. These positive changes are sustainable, unlike those quick-fix fades that feed the cycles of bad habits and ill health. There is a fresh start, a new beginning in everyday. Don't get hung up on where you were or what you did five minutes ago. Don't waste time thinking about what you will do five minutes from now. In this moment, make the choice to be your best right here, right now. Be Well!




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What Can You Do to Prepare Yourself For a New Swine Flu H1N1?

If you want to know how to avoid Swine flu, read these steps you should use for prevention.

This type of influenza can be spread between humans, without direct contact with sick swines. Generally spoken, humans have low immunity level for this type of virus. Swine influenza behaves similar to normal human flu. Steps that we can implement to prevent getting normal flu, can be also used for Swine flue prevention. In some cases swine flu can reach epidemic level, and these things you can do for your protection:

- Be informed: First of all, you should get up-to-date information about flu pandemic from the "WHO" or "CDC". First one is a public organization for international health, and this organization is monitoring the spread of virus among humans. There are 6 levels of pandemic and epidemic alerts. Worst pandemic levels are five and six, which means that virus infection is spreading worldwide among humans. Second organization is in US, and also takes steps for prevention and protection people from swine flu.

- Avoid sick people: Next thing you should do is to avoid people if you suspect that they're infected, because of symptoms they have. Those people can be infected by swine flu, and have same symptoms like they have a normal human flu. Sick signs are: coughing, fever, sneezing, and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea. You can be infected by virus, but have no such symptoms. You can be healthy up to 2 days after getting infection (that is called incubation period - the time elapsed between exposure to a pathogenic organism and when symptoms are first apparent). In between you can be able to spread virus, even if you think that you are healthy. Virus can survive longer in children body, up to 15 days. Swine flu virus can stay in adults body up to 7 days after symptoms are gone. If you doubt you have such symptoms contact your doctor.

- Be informed about medications: You must know what medication you should take if you get sick. In first one or two days you feel symptoms, you can use antiviral medications. For now, medications you can use for flu prevention are "Seltamivir" and "Relenza". You can take vaccines for flu, but not for swine flu. They cannot protect you completely if you are infected with H1N1 flu.

- Avoid risky places: Try to avoid places in which you know that some cases of swine flu have appeared. Try not to touch your nose, mouth and eyes with bare hands. Wash your hands often, with soap and hot water, or if water is not available use alcohol cleaners or alcohol based gel for hand cleaning. You should buy food and water supply for longer period of time, and in this way you can lower chance to get infected in public. If you must go in public, try to go in periods of time when traffic is lower.

- Be quick: You should be informed about what you can do if you get sick. Remember that first two days of getting symptoms are very important and find out what you should do in that way. Try to contact your doctor for tips what you can do to stop spreading flu, and how to fight with flu. Try to be less in contact with other people, do not go to work or to school, and try to avoid spreading swine flu virus among other people.

Take these steps every day, and your chance to get swine flu will be very low. Readmore...