Kidney Infection Symptom

Kidney Kidneys are the main vertebrates? emunctories (that lead out all final products of metabolism). Vertebrates for example like snail also have organs fulfilling a similar secretory function and sometimes they are called kidneys but they differ from vertebrates? kidney for their structure and evolutionary descent.

Function. The main function of kidneys is to move out of organism water and final products of metabolism. Vertebrates? the main such product is urea. It is a principal final nitrogenated product of protein disassimilation (protein metabolism). Birds and reptiles? principal product of protein metabolism is uric acid. It is a insoluble matter and it is a white paste in excrement. Human uric acid also forms and moves out by kidneys (its salts are urates).

Human kidneys move out about 1-1.5 liters of urine in 24 hours. Though these numbers can vary strongly. On increase water consumption kidneys answer increasing production of more dilute urine. And so they keep up normal water content in organism. If the water consumption is limited kidneys make for saving it in organism. And they use as little as possible water for urine formation. The urine volume can decrease till 300 ml per day and the concentration of moving out products will be accordingly higher. The urine volume is regulated by antidiuretic hormone (ADH) also known as vasopressin. This hormone is secreted by posterior lobe of pituitary gland (it is a gland that located at the base of brain). If an organism needs to save water ADH secretion increases and the urine volume decreases. And vice versa when there is a plenty of water in organism ADH does not educe and so daily urine volume can reach 20 liters. Though urine excretion doesn?t exceed 1 liter per hour.

Structure. Mammals have two kidneys which located in abdominal cavity on both sides of backbone. Total weight of both human kidneys is about 300 gr. or about 0.5-1 % of body weight. In spite of their small size kidneys have rich blood supply. During 1 minute about 1 liter of blood run through renal artery and come out by renal vein. Thus in 5 minutes blood volume equal to the total amount of blood in the whole organism (about 5 liters) goes through kidneys to eliminate products of metabolism.

A kidney is covered with connective tissue membrane and serous tunic. On kidney?s slit one can see that it is divided on two parts. They are called cortical and medullary substance. The most part of a kidney consists of huge number of superfine gyrose tubule which are called nephrons. Every kidney has about 1 million of nephrons. The total nephrons length of both kidneys is about 120 kilometers. Kidneys are responsible for liquid formation that finally becomes urine. The nephrons structure is the key to understanding his functions. On the one side of each nephron there is a distension. It is a round formation that is called renal corpuscle. It consists of bilaminar so called Bowman's capsule which include capillary net that form a glomerule. The rest part of a kidney is trichotomic. Twisted part that is the nearest to glomerule is called proximal convoluted tubule. Then thin-walled straight part that turns round sharply and makes loop so called Henle's loop. It is distinguished (in series) descending part, turn and ascending part in it. A tortile third part is a distal spiral tubule which is run (with other spiral tubules) into a receiving tube. Urine goes from receiving tubes to renal pelvis (in fact it is a dilated end of ureter) and then further along the ureter in an urinary bladder. Urine is led out from an urinary bladder along an urethra in certain terms. Cortical substance includes all glomerules and all gyrose parts of proximal and distal tubules. Henle's loops and receiving tubes which are located between loops are in medullary substance.

Urine formation. In glomerule water and attenuated in it substances go out from blood through capillary wall under the influence of blood pressure. Interstices of capillaries so small that stop blood cells and proteins. Therefore glomerule works like filter that let pass only water without proteins but with all permeates in it. This liquid is called ultrafiltrate, glomerule filtrate or primary urine. It is undergo control while going through other parts of nephron.

In a human kidney the volume of ultrafiltrate is about 130 ml per minute or 8 liters an hour. As the total blood volume of a man equal about 5 liters it is evidently that the most part of ultrafiltrate should be absorbed back into blood. If to assume that about 1 ml of urine is formed in a human organism per hour so the rest 129 ml (more than 99%) liquid of ultrafiltrate is necessary to return in bloodstream before they will become urine and will go out an organism.

Ultrafiltrate contains a lot of valuable substances (salts, glucose, amino acids, vitamins and so on) which an organism can?t lose on a substantial scale. The majority of them are exposed reabsorption in proportion as filtrate goes along proximal nephron tubules. For example glucose reabsorbes till it disappear from filtrate at all (till it concentration reaches zero). As the glucose transfer back in blood where its concentration is higher goes against the density gradient so the process needs additional energy and it is called active transport.

As a result of glucose reabsorption and salts from ultrafiltrate the concentration of solutes decreases. Blood turned out to be more concentrated solution than filtrate and it is draw water from tubules. It means that water passive follow actively traveling salts. It is called passive transport. With the help of active and passive transport 7/8 of water and solutes are absorbed back into from the contents of proximal tubules. And the speed of filtrate volume decreasing reaches 1 liter per hour. So now inside tubules liquid include mainly slag as urea. But the process of urine formation hasn?t finished yet.

The next segment is the Henle?s loop. It is responsible for the creation of very high salts concentration and urea in filtrate. In ascending part of loop an active transport takes place. At first they are salts which gather round an interstitial fluid of medullary substance where as a result a high salt concentration is created. And because of it part of water from descending part of the loop (pervious to water) is drawn off and immediately goes to capillary. At the same time salts gradually diffuse in it and reach the highest concentration at the curve of loop. This mechanism is called countercurrent concentrating mechanism. Then filtrate goes to distant tubules where other substances can transform to it due to active transport.

Finally filtrate gets into discharging tubules. Here it is determined what quantity of liquid will be made out extra and therefore what is the final urine volume. It means the final or secondary urine volume. This stage is regulated by presence or absence of ADH in blood. Discharging tubules are located between numerous Hentle?s loops and goes parallel to them. Under the influence of ADH their walls become pervious. As the salt concentration in Hentle?s loop is very high and water have a tendency to follow salts the water in fact is drawn out discharging tubules. And it leaves a grout with high concentration of salts, urea and other solutes. This grout is the final urine. If ADH is lacking in blood so discharging tubules stay low-permeability for water. Water doesn?t go out of them and the urine volume stays large. So it turned to be diluted.

The main kidney diseases. Renal calculi are sediments of salts in kidneys. They are formed under high salt concentration in urine or increase of urine acidity. It means under conditions that are conductive to salt crystallization. The main types of calculi are oxalates, phosphate or urates. Small calculi (sand) go out through ureters practically without any harm. Bigger ones may get stuck in ureters and it is accompanied by excruciating pain (renal gripes). Still bigger calculi stay in pelvises and cause pain, infection and kidneys dysfunction. The consumption large quantity of water decreases the probability of formation of calculi.

Renal calculi are eliminated by surgical treatment or with the help of lithotripsy (therapeutic use of ultrasound to shatter calculi to small pieces which can be moved out of the organism). Such method doesn?t make any harm to soft tissues of a kidney.

Renal insufficiency and hemodialysis. There are many causes as renal infection or destruction attached to diseases such as pancreatic diabetes which could lead to dysfunction of kidneys right up to renal insufficiency. On chronic renal insufficiency acid-base disequilibrium and accumulation of nitrogenous slag (urine first of all) in blood takes place.

Those who suffer from renal insufficiency could be treated with the help of hemodialysis (artificial kidney). Its principle lay in that blood from artery (usually from forearm) goes through artificial kidney apparatus and returns to the vein of patient. In apparatus blood run through microscopical tubules which are circled by thin plastic membrane. On the other side of membrane dialysis liquid is. If instead of dialysis liquid there was water this case all solutes (salts, sugar and so on) will be washed out of blood plasma. It means that all solutes went out through membrane to water. To avoid it liquid grout that contains all those components and in those concentrations as blood plasma (but those which should be removed for example urea) is taken for dialysis. At the time of hemodialysis these solutes go out of plasma so in the vein of patient entire blood returns. Hemodialysis could have been run for years. While visiting dialysis center regularly patients still keep on living normally.

Kidneys and urinary infection. Kidneys infection (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis) and urinary infection (cystitis) occur more often at women (in view of anatomic peculiarities). More than usually women with slowed immune system suffer.

All about Kidney infection.

5 Diet Fitness Tips You Can Use Today

Are you ready to live a more powerful life by taking control of your weight and physical condition? If so, here are five ideas that can start you on the path to a healthier, slimmer body today.

1. Stop using remote controls. Remote controls are the bane of a prospective weight loser. They may be remarkable gadgets by themselves but from the weight loss point of view, they just aren't very helpful.

They really encourage us to take a laid back kind of attitude towards life itself. In fact if remote controls were not there, the television would not have become so popular. It is because of remote controls that people can remain where they are and switch from one channel to the other. And they only have to twitch a finger muscle to achieve this.

Now, I have nothing against multi-channel television sets but what I strongly advocate is that you get up from where you are and change the channel of the TV each time you want to do so.

2. Try massaging your partner on a regular basis. This is a fun way to lose weight. It is something that can give your partner a lot of pleasure and at the same time can give you a lot of exertion there by leading to weight loss.

The attitude should of course be you scratch my back I will scratch yours. It should not be a one sided effort or else the interest will soon dwindle.

In fact, it is a good idea if couples take up weight loss routines together. They can keep watch over each other, help control those urges to eat and motivate each other to stick to the routine.

There are a lot of things that couples can do together that can help them to keep physically active...

3. Try breathing exercises. You might be surprised to know that breathing exercises too can lead to weight loss. If you are doing the breathing exercises properly, you will find that you can exert a lot of pressure on the muscles around the mid section.

You can feel a tightening of these muscles each time you breathe in or breathe out. So go ahead and breathe properly, it is good for you.

4. Join a dance class. Dancing is a wonderful way to burn off those extra calories. It is true. When you dance you are in fact burning away a lot of calories. Of course we are not referring to the slow ballroom kind of dances in which one person actually leans on the other one for support. We are talking about fast dances.

The best way to do it is by joining a jazz or hip-hop dance class because they will really work you out. I would suggest that you wait for a couple more pounds to vanish before you think of becoming a ballerina.

5. At the very least, do things like fetching, turning things off and on by yourself. Often when we come back tired from work, we tend to get others to do simple chores for us. These things are no big deal. They are things that we can very well do for our selves but we don't.

That is why we often ask our kids to fetch us this or take away that.

Training your pet is a wonderful thing indeed. It is quite remarkable how some people get their dogs to fetch them something. But the fact is that while you may be making sure that your dog is getting a lot of exercise, you are neglecting your bit of the story!

James B. Allen is the publisher of Power Living Press. He invites you to come learn more about living a healthier, wealthier, more beautiful and more powerful life TODAY by visiting:

http://www.PowerLivingPress.com

Lung Cancerthe Ultimate Destiny of All Smokers!

BRONCHOGENIC CARCINOMA :

A number of benign and malignant tumours occur in the lungs but the primary lung cancer, commonly termed bronchogenic carcinoma, is the most common. The lung is also the commonest site for metastasis from carcinomas and sarcomas. A histologic classification of various benign and malignant tumours of lungs as recommended by the World Health Organisation

It is the most common primary malignant tumour in men inindustrialised nations and accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths in both sexes. Currently, the incidence in females in the United States has already exceeded breast cancer as a cause of death in women. Cancer of the lung is a disease of middle and late life with peak incidence in 5th to 7th decades, after which there is gradual fall in its incidence.

ETIOPATHOGENESIS

1. Smoking

2. Atmospheric pollution

3. Occupational causes

4. Dietary factors

5. Genetic factors

6. Chronic Scarring

TUBERCULOSIS

Tissue response in tuberculosis represents classical example of chronic granulomatous inflammation in humans.the causative agent is tubercle bacillus or Koch�s bacillus called Mycobacterium tuberculousis causes tuberculosis in the lung and other tissues of the human body. The organism is a strict aerobe and thrives best in tissues with oxygen tension like in the apex of the lung.

Mode Of Transmission

1. Inhalation of organisms present in fresh cough droplets or in dried sputum form an open case of pulmonary tuberculosis.

2. Ingestion of the organisms leads to development of tonsillar or intestinal tuberculosis. This mode of infection of human tubercle bacilli is from self-swallowing of infected sputum of an open case of pulmonary tuberculosis, or ingestion of bovine tubercle bacilli from milk of diseased cows.

3. Inoculation of the organisms into the skin may rarely occur from infected postmorten tissue.

The author is the owner of a Successful Weight loss program. Also the author maintains a blog on General Medicine.

Issues in Diagnosing Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is a common respiratory disease that causes inflammation of the bronchial mucosal membranes. Unlike chronic forms of the disease, acute bronchitis has a rapid onset and generates more intense symptoms. However, acute bronchitis doesn?t have a recurrent character and thus its generated symptoms don?t persist in time. Due to the fact that the clinical manifestations of acute bronchitis are unspecific, pointing to various types of respiratory diseases, sometimes it can be difficult for doctors to quickly find the correct diagnosis. Thus, doctors usually perform additional tests in order to confirm the presumptive diagnosis. However, even laboratory tests can sometimes fail to reveal conclusive evidence of acute bronchitis. Considering this fact, the majority of patients with suspected acute bronchitis are commonly diagnosed after they receive elaborate physical examinations.

Most symptoms of acute bronchitis are outwardly visible. The disease generates symptoms such as mucus-producing cough, chest pain and discomfort (intensifying with deep breaths), wheezing, difficult, shallow and accelerated breathing. Sometimes, these manifestations of acute bronchitis can be accompanied by mild or moderate fever. The presence of high fever is an indicator of complications, suggesting severe infection with bacteria or mycoplasmas. Prolonged, intense fever may point to spreading of the respiratory infection at the level of the lungs (pneumonia).

Mucus-producing cough is usually the most revealing symptom of acute bronchitis. Although the presence of cough is not sufficient for diagnosing acute bronchitis, the intensity and the frequency of this symptom are major indicators of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis. Cough is usually the first symptom to occur among people with acute bronchitis, intensifying within the first days after the period of incubation. Some patients with acute bronchitis may have this symptom for less than two weeks, while others may be confronted with cough for more than six weeks. If this symptom persists for more than 8 weeks, it may point to chronic bronchitis.

The texture and the color of the expectorated mucus are major indicators for the seriousness of the disease. For instance, the expectoration of clear, colorless mucus may disclose infectious forms of acute bronchitis. By contrast, abundant expectoration of yellowish or dark-colored mucus may point to bacterial infection of the bronchial membranes. Blood-producing cough usually points to severe forms of acute bronchitis, suggesting that the lungs are also affected by the disease. The majority of patients with acute bronchitis may experience an exacerbation of cough during the night or in the first hours of the morning.

Although doctors often perform laboratory analyses of mucus samples, tests such as Gram staining aren?t very accurate in revealing traces of bacterial infection. Even in the cases of serious infection, most laboratory tests may only reveal the presence of benign bacterial flora at the level of the respiratory tract. In spite of medical progress and the wide range of medical techniques available nowadays, the presence of acute bronchitis in patients is rarely revealed by routine laboratory tests. Thus, acute bronchitis is usually diagnosed according to the results of more elaborate physical examinations.

Radiography, spirometry and pulse oximetry are rarely used in the process of diagnosing acute bronchitis. These tests are recommended to patients with complicated forms of acute bronchitis that involve spreading of the disease at pulmonary level.

More informations about acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis can be found by visiting http://www.bronchitis-guide.com/.

What is Edema and Can Adjustable Beds Really Help?

There have been quite a few articles written about how an adjustable bed can assist with the symptoms of an affliction called edema. I have not seen, in any of these articles, any mention of exactly what edema is and how an adjustable bed can possibly help. Most articles I have researched on the subject only make a general and vague connection between the disease and the bed. This article is intended to clarify both shortcomings and shed a little light on a possible easing of someone?s ailment.

Edema is the medical term used to describe an accumulation of fluid between cells in the soft tissue of the body. Edema can develop in any part of your body. The fundamental cause may be much more serious than the accumulation of fluids. Often times, edema is an early warning sign for a much more intense illness such as: Cirrhosis of the liver ? Diabetes - Vena Cava Syndrome ? Allergies ? Infection ? AIDS.

The symptoms of edema include redness, heat and tenderness in the affected area. There may be swelling and fluid in an individual arm, ankle, leg, abdomen or in your fingers. You may have puffiness in your face or around your eyes or notice that your shoes never seem to fit like they used to. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult your physician.

Swelling involves the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body structures. It is caused by excessive buildup of fluid in the tissues. This buildup can lead to a rapid increase in weight over a short period of time. This weight gain can occur within a few days to a few weeks. Swelling can occur throughout the body (generalized) or it may be limited to a specific part of the body (localized).

Localized swelling can include: Ankle, feet, and leg swelling - Swollen gums - Swollen glands - Facial swelling - Swelling in the abdomen - Scrotal swelling - Joint swelling - Breast enlargement. Slight edema of the lower legs is a common occurrence in the warm summer months, especially if a person has been standing or walking more than usual.

Generalized swelling, or massive edema (anasarca), is a common sign in severely ill people. Although slight edema may be difficult to detect, especially in an overweight person, massive edema is very obvious as swelling takes on absurd proportions. Edema can be an indication of a chronic and progressive medical illness.

Edema may be generally described in one of two ways: Pitting edema -- When you press a finger against a swollen area for 5 seconds and then quickly remove it, an indentation is left that fills slowly. Nonpitting edema -- When you press a finger against a swollen area for 5 seconds and then quickly remove it, no indentation is left in the skin.

Common Causes of edema include: Too much salt or sodium intake ? Burns ? Sunburn ? Malnutrition - Too little albumin in the blood (hypoalbuminemia) ? Pregnancy - Nephrotic syndrome - Chronic kidney disease - Heart failure - Thyroid disease - Liver failure from cirrhosis - Acute glomerulonephritis - Nephrotic syndrome ? Certain Drugs ( Androgenic and anabolic steroids, Antihypertensives, Corticosteroids such as prednisone (causes sodium retention), Estrogens, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Calcium channel blockers)

One of the main options recommended by medical experts for easing localized swelling and prevent skin breakdown from chronic edema, is the use of a pressure reducing mattress and to keep your limbs elevated above the level of your heart when you lie down. That is what an adjustable bed is specifically built to do. The link between an adjustable bed and edema is justified due to it?s functionality.

You could try to prop pillows and other soft materials under yourself but with an electric adjustable bed you will be able to effortlessly position your body to attain an optimal comfort and swelling-reducing level. Just pick up your remote control unit and push the buttons! If you or a loved one suffers from edema and are considering the purchase of an adjustable bed, I hope you find this article useful. An old Portuguese saying , roughly translated, says it all Whomsoever has health, has it all!

Emmanuel DeFreitas is the administrator for Adjustable Bed Center providing detailed information on electric, medical, cheap, and used adjustable beds, as well as adjustable airbeds and adjustable bed reviews. http://www.adjustable-bed-center.com

Roles of Parents in Teenage Obesity

Obesity has been an unending medical nightmare for man through the ages, especially in communities and societies where the standard of living is good enough. But in recent times, there seems to be a turn of events. What we are experiencing now looks like an obesity epidemic in children. And in most cases, we all seem to miss the point. There is so much noise about losing weight and not about preventing weight gain in the first place, which is the problem.

Parents play a vital role in the weight of their children; it's really part of parental care. Understandably, obese parents tend to have obese children. Not just because of the genetic factors, but because it is more likely that these parents will pass down their poor eating and sedentary lifestyles to their children. Children are always very close to their parents and in most cases, see them as role models. They are therefore more likely to followthe habits, norms, attitudes and beliefs of their parents. If this is understandable, what about parents that aren't obese?

The first problem or cause of obesity in children is over eating. Children love eating and eating junk foods. Any diet that deprives children of junk food is very likely to fail. And because parents condone their children's eating habits, they become part of the cause of obesity in their children. As part of parental love and care, parents must learn to criticize children's eating habit and teach them at an early age to eat just enough food for satisfaction. Making children eat slowly is an effective way to curb excesses in eating. Food getting into the stomach takes about 20-30minutes to stimulate the satiety center of the brain that brings the sense of fullness. Eating slowly, therefore, will help children to eat to satisfaction without overeating.

Parents should also learn to build the right eating habit in children from an early age. Eating the right type of food to avoid overweight is a key instrument in avoiding childhood obesity. Implementing a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grain and other healthy food types will allow your children to enjoy eating good food without the dangers of overweight. Cooking together and eating together as a family will make eating enjoyable enough without the need to overeat. The ease and availability of fast food restaurants is another cause for concern. Most parents award their children's brilliant performance or a job well done with a trip to a fast food restaurant. It's not wrong to take children out once in awhile, but it is parts of parents' care to limit such outings to within a reasonable limit.

The sedentary lifestyles and reduced activity in most children is another cause for concern. Children spend hours on end watching TVs or playing video and computer games. The digital generation we live in today has not help matters. The number of hours spent daily in these sedentary activities pile up gradually and is a sure precursor to weight gain. Parents can create a healthy active lifestyle in their children by leading active lifestyles themselves and taking their children along. Biking, taking an evening walk together or swimming are activities that parents can do with their children. It is better for parents to encourage their children to take up some type of sports, dance, martial arts or any form of activity that will cut down sedentary living styles in their children.

Obesity is perhaps more psychologically tormenting for teenagers than for adults. They don't have the intelligence to make all the right decisions. It is part of your parental responsibility to guide them towards a better living. Their happiness at the end will bring you the joy and satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Parental Control.

Eat Healthy for Life

Let?s not talk about diets. Diets are punishment ? like being sent to bed without dinner. Diets take some of the fun out of living. Many diets or supplements are harmful to your health or even dangerous, if you have certain risk factors.

Forget any past diet failures and push aside any guilt or shame you harbor about your weight. It?s time to look forward; not back. You have the whole future in front of you to get better every day. It's time to eat healthy.

This is not a short term fix. Isn?t your health more important than your weight? Let?s be sensible and talk about eating healthy for life.

Don?t get me wrong ? diets do help many people lose weight ? for a time. Almost any restrictive diet can give one a jump start on weight loss; and many people are so encouraged by the rapid weight loss that they are motivated to stay on the diet.

Studies have shown that the only diets that work are the ones you stick to. That why the majority of people who successfully lose weight on a restrictive diet run into trouble when they move to the maintenance phase. So again I say, you need a plan to eat healthy for life.

As with most things in life, there?s no ONE solution that suits everyone. When choosing to eat healthy, a plan for the rest of your life, you want to find one that YOU can live with.

If your choice of plan starts with an initial (less than nutritious) restrictive phase, consider what supplements you ought to take during that phase. Also be sure that the maintenance part of the program meets generally accepted nutritional guidelines or that you can make it do so with minor adjustments or supplementation. You definitely need to think long term when choosing to eat healthy.

What We?ve Known All Along

With all the diet programs, books, ads and fads these days, it?s easy to lose sight of some really basic facts of some very convincing long term health studies that can guide us to healthier eating.

1.Calories In vs. Calories Expended

The human body is a marvelous machine. It can be pushed to great lengths, like pre-exam all-nighters, or to perform amazing feats, like running marathons or scaling mountains. But it is a machine. It needs to be cared for and properly maintained.

The more it is abused or pushed to the max, the greater the chance that parts will break down prematurely or beyond nature?s ability to repair them. Like any machine, it needs fuel to operate. Give it improper or insufficient fuel and it won?t run as well, if at all. Give it too much fuel and that will gum up the works. Now here?s where the analogy breaks down.

With a man made machine, excess fuel simply overflows and makes a big mess. Unfortunately, the human machine has the amazing capacity to create unlimited new storage tanks for excess fuel ? even to the point of death. Further, once that excess fuel is stored, it is difficult to dislodge ? but not impossible. That?s the Calories In part of the equation.

The fuel you take in is burned by every single movement you make: breathing smiling, kissing, walking, dancing, chewing and even digesting your food. The more you move, the more fuel (calories) you burn.

The part of your body that has the ability to move other parts is muscle. Ergo the more muscles you have and the more you use them, the more calories you burn. In fact, every ounce of muscle you add increases your basal metabolism ? the rate at which your body burns fuel.

One pound of fat contains 3500 calories. If you cut 250 calories from your daily diet and burn another 250 calories with exercise, you can lose one pound in a week!

The most efficient way to eat healthy operates on both sides of the equation. Monitor your fuel intake of course; but just as importantly, get moving to burn that fuel. And better yet, build new muscle to boost your metabolism ? the rate at which YOUR body burns fuel. This way you?ll burn more calories every hour of every day for the rest of your life.

2.Secrets of the World?s Healthiest Populations

Global epidemiological studies have identified some unusually healthy populations and linked their health to diets that differ in significant ways from the typical Western diet.

Japan, which has some of the world's lowest rates of obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes has a diet which is very rich in carbohydrates. The Japanese enjoy rice, vegetables, beans, and fruits at most meals.

They have a diet that is very low in saturated fat and red meats, but high in fish which contain protective omega-3 fatty acids.

Other recent and very interesting studies lead to more healthful eating tips. The Mediterranean food pyramid is based on research showing low rates of heart and other chronic disease in certain countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea compared to the West.

Research has isolated key dietary habits that are believed to account for the difference. (Monounsaturated) olive oil is the preferred fat and fat consumption (at 40% of total calories) exceeds the American Heart Association?s recommended max of 30%.

Whole grains and pastas form the base of the pyramid, so this is not a low carb eating style.

The choice of proteins in order of preference is cheese and yogurt, fish, poultry, eggs and (last and least) red meat. Further, proteins are grouped at the top of the pyramid so they account for only about 15% of daily caloric intake.

It?s also important to note that the Mediterranean lifestyle incorporates more natural physical activity ? as distinct from the Western variety of mandatory exercise. You know, the ?I just gotta get to the gym today? or ?I have to miss my weekly tennis game Saturday. Now what can I do?!? variety.

If you?re interested in following any low carb plan, limit the time you follow the restrictive phase and take the information above into account when you plan your maintenance program.

3.Health Risks of Long Term Restrictive Diets

In choosing to eat healthy for life, be sure to consider well-founded dietary advice such as recommended by the American Cancer Society for optimal cancer prevention:

Eat five or more (optimally nine) servings of fruits and vegetables daily; include fruits and vegetables at every meal and for snacks. Aside from the fact that many fruits and vegetables are good diet food because they have low calorie density (high water and fiber content), these foods are loaded with phytochemicals which work to prevent illness, cancer, and other diseases.

Choose whole grains in preference to processed grains and sugars. Choose bran, whole wheat bread, brown rice, oats, and whole grain cereals as well as beans and legumes.

Limit consumption of red meats, especially processed meats and those high in fat.

Current estimates are that nearly 33-50% of cancers can be prevented through a eat healthy diet. The recommendations above come from hundreds of research studies which show a link between cancer prevention and a high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Hundreds of studies also support the link between a high fat diet, high intake of red meats and increased incidence of cancer

4.Magic Pills

Don?t be taken in by some of the full page ads you see with before and after pictures that promise weight loss just by taking some magic pill. In some of them you can even tell that the same head has been pasted onto the fatter body or the faces look dissimilar enough that you think, ?That?s NOT the same person?.

If you?ve read this far you know about the calories in, calories out equation. Sorry, but it?s simple math and simple physics. A pill alone will never do it.

However, that doesn?t mean that there are no little magic pills that can help you lose weight in the context of a healthy eating and exercise plan. There is a lot of exciting research showing that certain supplements can boost and sustain your metabolic rate as you age, increase muscle tone and even help the body develop more muscle, such as Green Tea Extract or DHEA.

Weight loss often results when people switch their focus from dieting in order to get thin to choosing foods for health. This is especially true if they also pay heed to the other side of the calories in, calories out equation and get moving.

Common sense strategies, yes, but these are the only ones proven to work long-term. Now, are you ready to Eat Healthy for Life?

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.

Jean Bowler is a life long fitness freak. She was a ballet dancer and teacher, a private fitness trainer and more. Visit her site, http://www.ageless-beauty.com for advice on diet and nutrition, skin care and more.