Mediterranean diet may also help stop diabetes
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Published by Jacqueline | Filed under News, Views & Trends

From Yahoo Health News: A Mediterranean diet rich in fruits and vegetables -- already known to protect against heart disease -- also appears to help ward off diabetes, Spanish researchers said on Friday.

The study published in the British Medical Journal showed that people who stuck closely to the diet were 83 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who did not.

Common Myths about Women’s Health — Part II
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Published by Jacqueline | Filed under News, Views & Trends

Think weight gain is an inevitable part of aging? Figure exercise is a waste of time if you can’t devote an entire hour to physical activity? Convinced statin drugs are the only way to reduce cholesterol levels? Based on an article by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP at Women to Women, here’s how to separate fact from fiction when it comes to several common myths about women’s health -- Part II!

Myth: The older you get, the less sleep you need.
Fact: After about the age of 50, women spend less time in deep REM sleep and spend more time in stage I and II (lighter sleep). This doesn't necessarily mean we need less sleep, but it does mean that we are definitely more prone to waking up due to light, noise, night sweats, and other sleep disruptors. To make sure you are getting maximum rest and not just sleeping less because outside factors are keeping you up, take special care to create a relaxing and quiet sleep environment, exercise earlier in the day, and refrain from eating just before bedtime. Here are some special tips if you suffer from insomnia.

Myth: Statin drugs are the best way to control high cholesterol levels.
Fact: Depending on your cholesterol levels and family and personal health history, you most likely can achieve an improved lipid profile through natural means. Start with your diet and eliminate processed and refined ingredients (including trans fats, fat “substitutes”, high fructose corn syrup and other chemicals), limiting carbohydrates, eating fresh whole foods from the source as much as possible, and getting adequate amounts of healthy fat. Add in exercise and you've got the recipe for reduced LDL cholesterol levels. Also, two supplements that are known to help with cholesterol levels are red yeast and fish oil. Here's more from Women to Women on the Truth About Cholesterol and Fat.

Myth: You need to exercise 30–60 minutes per day to have any impact on health.
Fact: Good news for the gym-phobic, this myth is not true. For health benefits without a lot of time expenditure, try “bursting”. This exercise method has you bring your body to an extreme quickly and repeatedly — to the point where you’re breathing so heavily, you might not be able to talk. If you exercise in bursts, you may not require more than 20 minutes three to four times a week to improve your health. Work your way to bursting for one minute (run, bike, and some other intense exercise) and then try to "burst" 3 or 4 times during a 20 minute workout. Studies show that this form of exercise might actually be better at warding off osteoporosis. More on bursting.

Episode 36: Snacking without gaining weight
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Published by Health Promotion Board, Singapore | Filed under News, Views & Trends

It is about 10 am and you are feeling hungry. You walk towards the vending machine and are about to choose a chocolate bar. But, you stop yourself and decide to ignore your hunger pangs. By lunch time, you are so hungry that you eat more than you normally would.

Common Women’s Health Myths — Fact or Fiction? Part I
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Published by Jacqueline | Filed under News, Views & Trends

Think weight gain is an inevitable part of aging? Figure exercise is a waste of time if you can’t devote an entire hour to physical activity? Convinced statin drugs are the only way to reduce cholesterol levels? Based on an article by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP at Women to Women, here’s how to separate fact from fiction when it comes to several common myths about women’s health.

Myth: Menopause results in permanent weight gain
Fact: You might gain weight, but it's probably only temporary.
As estrogen levels begin to drop during perimenopause and menopause, the body relies on fat cells to produce low levels of the hormone. This estrogen helps protect your body from the abrupt hormonal transitions of menopause (think of it as softening the landing of free falling estrogen levels). During this time your body might store more fat (and make it more difficult to lose fat). Once the body has adjusted to less estrogen, oftentimes weight goes down again.

Myth: Stress makes you gain weight -- especially during menopause.
Fact: True!
Adrenal glands factors into menopausal weight gain. As hormone production in the ovaries begins to wind down during perimenopause and menopause, the adrenals contribute small amounts of estrogen and other sex hormones to help ease the transition. If you are under chronic stress (and these days, who isn’t?), the adrenals use all their time and energy to produce more and more cortisol, leaving less reserve for manufacturing sex hormones. Over time, this “cortisol dominance” leads to deposition of fat in the abdominal area and a hormonal imbalance which will lead to more weight gain, fat storage, and increased menopausal symptoms.

The key to successful weight management during menopause is to reduce stress and follow a healthy diet. This will give your body the best opportunity to function normally and navigate its own way through menopausal changes.

Myth: If you eat a low-fat, low-calorie diet, you will lose weight.
Fact: You might lose in the short-term, but you'll probably end up gaining it all back -- and then some!
Low-fat, low-calorie diets will trigger your body to store fat because it thinks it is experiencing famine. Also, low-fat, low-calorie diets set the stage for hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, food cravings, and binges. Yuck! What’s the best diet to follow for weight loss? According to this article, think Mediterranean (lots of veggies, heart healthy oils, not a lot of processed carbs) and you can’t go wrong!

More myths coming up shortly in my next post!

Great Singapore Sales 2008
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Published by B.A.B. Girl | Filed under Closed

It’s The GREAT SINGAPORE SALES!!! To join in the fun and to reward all fanatic shoppers out there, B.A.B. is offering an ADDITIONAL 10% OFF ALL LISTED PRICE (except Sets / Sale Items).

What does that mean? It means SAVE $$$ or BUY MORE with LESS!

FROM 28 May - 28 Jun 2008 ONLY!

If you are a member:

• On non-Birthday days = List Price - 20%
• On Birthday week (+/- 7 days) = List Price - 30%

» Click here to start shopping now!

Guide To Buying The Plus Size Clothing
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Published by Women's Interests: Plus Size Articles from EzineArticles.com | Filed under News, Views & Trends

Plus size women have a much harder time finding nice work outfits than others. It is important to recognize what is acceptable in your workplace and work from there. In a business casual environment a nice pair of trousers and a sweater or blouse will work well. In a business environment dark colored suits with colored accents are more appropriate. As more and more businesses go to a more "casual" workplace this article will focus on such.

Dressing Up The Plus-Size Teen
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Published by Women's Interests: Plus Size Articles from EzineArticles.com | Filed under News, Views & Trends

Experimenting with their looks and being open to a plethora of apparel choices in the market are just some of the perks of being a teen. Admittedly, buying trendy clothes can be hard when you live in the suburbs. The big cities are the surest places of finding plenty of specialty shops for the plus sized. Most of the large retail brands present in these cities are better stocked too and offer a wider range of styles.

Making Plus-Size Swimwear Work For You
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Published by Women's Interests: Plus Size Articles from EzineArticles.com | Filed under News, Views & Trends

Shopping for swimsuits can be a tough challenge to the plus size woman. You may think that a conservative one-piece alone would be perfect to hide a bulging tummy but it could actually draw more attention on your midsection. Worry no more with these pointers on buying plus size swimwear.

The Plus-Size Woman’s Fall Trend Report
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Published by Women's Interests: Plus Size Articles from EzineArticles.com | Filed under News, Views & Trends

It's that time of the year again to bring out your coats, jackets and scarves. If your fall wardrobe is so last season, better get those shopping shoes ready as we walk you through the latest trends for plus size fall wear.

Empowering Plus Size Women Through Fabulous Clothing
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Published by Women's Interests: Plus Size Articles from EzineArticles.com | Filed under News, Views & Trends

Plus size women today realize that they can feel and look beautiful with the assortment of trendy clothing available to them. Shopping for clothes, whether in department stores, boutiques and the Internet can be likened to one big, no pun intended, treasure hunt. There is always something precious and exquisite to discover in every nook and cranny.