Learning to Maintain Hair Health After Years of Unhealthy Habits

Many of us take for granted the hair we have on our heads. I, for one, often do not think about my hair at all. But as I age and grow older, I realize that signs of aging can show in my hair just like they can on the other parts of my body.When I was younger, I would always eat big juicy cheeseburgers. This may seem innocent or not like a big deal, and for a while it wasn't, but they added up quickly. When we think fattening foods such as cheeseburgers, we tend to think belly fat, thigh fat, and other obvious areas such as that. But, believe it or not, the first sign I saw of unhealthy eating was in my hair!At first I didn't believe this was the case because it's so counter-intuitive. But after a number of consultations with doctors and health practitioners, I realized that my poor hair health indeed stemmed from my constant consumption of burgers (and other similar fatty foods). I run a lot so I was able to keep off the pounds around my belly, but I was not able to prevent the signs of poor health habits in my hair. Not only did I get dandruff (which I never had before in my life), but also my hair was consistently flat and dry, even after showering.This may not come as a shock to those knowledgeable about hair health, but it was definitely a big surprise to me. I never would have imagined something like this happening in my wildest nightmares, yet it was very real and it was happening.


Another mistake often made in regards to hair health involves one of my close friends, a woman with long blonde hair. She never used the right kind of shampoo, often going out of her way for many years to buy the cheapest shampoo she could find in a given store. She got what she paid for and I can tell you, it was not much. She picked the wrong products and as a result lost a lot of the color in her hair.A final tip I have for you is to ask for help when you need it. I used to be the kind of person who didn't want to ask for help and I was proud of this. But then I realized not asking for help is a weakness, not a strength. Don't sit around waiting while things get worse. Take action, reach out for professional treatment, and improve your hair and health while there is still time.While the damage to my hair is not irreparable, I certainly could have made things on myself a lot easier had I made healthier choices while taking a few simple preventative steps.

Consumer Health Alert: Fish Oil VS Squid Oil - Which Omega 3 Is Better?

20 years ago I told all of my patients without exception to take fish oil. It has the right kind of anti-inflammatory fats that are getting scarce in our food.But there's a problem with using fish oil as a source of anti-inflammatory oil today: Fish oil is increasingly polluted.Search the Web, you'll see for yourself dozens of articles about unsafe levels of industrial compounds, PCBs, and mercury in these oils. That includes lawsuits, customer reports and damning studies.I read a study from a group of scientists that tested about 300 streams across the U.S. In those streams, 100% of the fish had mercury contamination.1 More than two thirds had more mercury than the Environmental Protection Agency says is safe.To bypass this problem, I went looking for other sources of these healthy anti-inflammatory fats.I discovered one source in squid oil (also known as calamari oil or calamarine oil).What Makes Squid Oil Special.Squid oil is at the top of my list of Omega-3s because this anti-inflammatory oil comes from sources that are not been exposed to pollution in the first place.Squid, you see, come from only the deepest, cleanest waters in the ocean.Why is location of where the source is found so critical? Because pollution doesn't mix evenly in water. It stays close to the surface where many of the fish used in fish oils swim.But I discovered a source of squid oil from squid that live deep off the clear waters of Argentina. They swim up to 1,600 feet below the surface. That's five football fields deep, well BELOW the mercury, PCBs and toxins. This keeps them clean.Squid oil is a potent source of anti-inflammatory fats, and that could be one of the best things about it. The high concentration of these fats gives greater benefit for heart and brain health... more than any fish oil ever could.What You Need To Know...If you're looking for a pure, clean source of healthy fat in an anti-inflammatory oil, here are the things you should be checking:1) Do your due diligence. Check for any reports of pollutants from the source of your anti-inflammatory oil.As a general rule, the bigger the fish it comes from, the more mercury and other heavy metals will be in there. A large fish that's lived longer has had more time to accumulate high levels. The EPA finally has a database that lists the fish and toxic levels vary depending on the state and their standards. Go to http://water.epa.gov to check the advisories in your state.


For example, I added fish oil to my anti-inflammatory oil, and it's from one of the last clean sources on the planet. It's a species of pollock from the frozen Bearing Sea that the American Heart Association and even the FDA list as safe.32) Look for purity. There's a difference between "safe" amounts of toxic metals and "none."Some products may be safe, but are they pure? My anti-inflammatory oil passed every EPA test with flying colors. But on top of that, it's so clean and pure that our Consumerlab.com report found no heavy metals at all.Not only are there no traces of mercury or heavy metal, there are no chemicals and no solvents.And it's cold-filtration process of purifying the healthy fat is so efficient that it packs even more anti-inflammatory fat. There's 115% of what the label says.3) See if there's a COA. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a certified copy of the results after an independent evaluator tests a supplement. All reputable companies will have a COA for their products - as I have - and they should be willing to prove their product is pure.4) Ask questions. Rely on companies you trust. Many "big name" supplements are made from the same cheap, synthetic and possibly polluted ingredients in the "no-name" supplements.For information, please go to: http://www.alsearsmd.com/2014/04/which-is-better-fish-or-squid/1. Gorman S. "Mercury Tainted Fish Found Widely in U.S. Streams." Reuters. reuters.com. Retrieved Nov. 11, 2013.2. "Fish 101." American Heart Association. heart.org. Mar 20 2013. Retrieved Apr 10, 2014.3. "Fresh and Frozen Seafood: Selecting and Serving it safely." U.S. Food and Drug Administration, fda.gov. Updated October 31 2013.By Al Sears MD

Anti-Aging and Detox Supplements

There are many great supplements that help you to stay healthy and prevent aging. In this article we are going to discuss two of these supplements:TA-65 supplements along with Apple Pectin. The first anti-aging supplement uses Nobel Prize winning technology to prevent the cells from aging by using what has become known as TA-65 which lengthens Telomeres.TA-65 SupplementsIn 2009 three scientists made a major discovery when they found how chromosomes are protected by what has become known as Telomeres and how we can prevent these Telomeres from shortening so that we can prevent aging. These scientists include: Dr. Elizabeth H Blackburn, Dr. Carol W Greider and Dr. Jack W. Szostack. As a result of this breakthrough in anti-aging these scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize.Today, new supplements are available for immediate use in the market place along with other similar supplements from TA Sciences which use TA-65 to lengthen the Telomere. This revolutionary technology has opened up the market for anti-aging. As baby boomers grow older - we want to live healthier and have an active life.TA-65 has broken the mold when it comes to anti-aging. In what has become known as the "fountain of youth" supplement. As baby boomers age they want to continue to enjoy life by continuing to do as they always have. More information can be found on TA 65 Supplements with good videos and relevant anti-aging references to studies along with the three Nobel Prize winning scientists on various websites.


Pharmaceutical Grade Apple PectinAnother breakthrough in maintaining your health comes with Apple Pectin. Dr. Michael Nobel of the Nobel Prize founding family has never endorsed any product on the market until the Fukoshima disaster affected so many people in Japan. He looked at all supplements with Apple Pectin and found that Pharmaceutical Grade Apple Pectin had enough quality to endorse and support. This supplement flushes metals, toxins and even nuclear waste such as Celsium 137 out of your system. It is currently being used in Japan after the Nuclear disaster.As a result of the Nuclear Disaster Dr. Michael Nobel has visited Japan on numerous occasions and continues to study the effects of the event. He has explored multiple options for helping out the people of Japan in order to effectively flush out the C-137 that causes deformities among their children and has found that Pharmaceutical Grade Apple Pectin is the best product on the market to flush toxins out of the system.This advanced supplement has helped the Japanese people to deal with the Nuclear aftermath. The results of Pharmaceutical Grade Apple Pectin has helped out not only the Japanese after Fukushima but also many other health enthusiasts who want to live longer and healthier lives.

Adjustable Beds - How They Help Your Health

Adjustable bedsFor those people that have ongoing back problems and other health issues it is always good to find a way of making life easier and whilst making life easier for daily tasks is a good start, many people forget that a lot of time is spent sleeping and this can also be improved. If the correct sleeping position is found then in can work wonders in helping to ease heath problems and pains.To help ease pain during sleep, an adjustable bed will help to change the sleeping position to one that offers comfort and relief. To do this an adjustable bed allows the incline or decline of the head or legs to find the most suitable position.An adjustable bed offers versatility and when it is set up correctly the bed can be shaped so that it best fits the shape of the body helping to ease back pain and other issues. This can help those people that suffer with sciatica which is a problem where a nerve is trapped in the back, by offering support to the lower back. Setting the bed up into an incline position helps to lessen the pressure on the back which is caused by compression which means that further damage to the back will be prevented.Other sleeping related problems such as snoring and sleep apnoea can also be helped by using an adjustable bed. When the windpipe closes during sleep it causes snoring, and this is often caused by the weight of the neck restricting the space within the windpipe that the air passes through, resulting in the snoring sound. With a slight adjustment in the sleeping position to an upright position, the weight of the neck is shifted downwards and not onto the windpipe, this will result in a better nights sleep for all. Adjustable beds are important for those with sleep apnoea, which is a condition that causes an individual to stop breathing at certain intervals throughout the nights. This has a huge impact on the amount of sleep and the quality of sleep that an individual has but it is also extremely dangerous. By altering the position using an adjustable bed, it can help in the same way as it does with snoring, especially those who suffer with obstructive apnoea.


Digestion problems often occur at night, and this is made worse by laying flat and sleeping in that position. By adjusting the bed to an upright position it helps aid digestion and the processing of foods but it is never a good idea to go to bed on a full stomach. An upright sleeping position will help ease the pain caused by acid reflux which is the stomach acid moving back up the oesophagus and can be extremely painful.For those people who suffer with swollen limbs an adjustable bed will allow the limbs to be elevated to a level higher than the heart so that the fluid has a better chance of draining away. The same effect can be achieved using pillows but they often get lost during the night which is why an adjustable bed is more beneficial.

Chronic Inflammation Has A Bad Track Record

In a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, chronic inflammation is associated with type 2 diabetes, cognitive impairment, brain atrophy, and cardiovascular disease as well as periodontal disease. These are all health ailments that can make your life miserable, costly and shorter.Inflammation is also the precursor to cancer. Chronic inflammation refers to an area of the body that is either constantly inflamed or has recurring inflammation. The body sends white blood cells to the area to fight off the inflammation. This weakens the immune system if it can't be healed by the body. Typically, the use of anti-inflammatory medications is used to fight off the inflammation.According to the study, "there is an association between elevated interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and subsequent disease in a large group of healthy, middle-aged individuals." IL-6 controls cytokines (cells of the immune system which carry signals locally between cells) and inflammatory areas. These conditions can affect the brain and muscles.The study was designed to track the process of aging in a group of individuals who did not have a history of cancer, stroke, or myocardial infarction (heart problems or a heart attack). At the end of the study, the results were quite amazing. It showed inflammation had a direct result on the health of the test subjects including periodontal disease.


At the end of the study the results were:

721 (23.7%) of the 3044 participants met standards for successful aging

321 (10.6%) had cardiovascular disease

147 (4.8%) had died from non-cardiovascular causes

1855 (60.9%) had the normal aging characteristics
The results showed, "Individuals who had elevated IL-6 levels had a 47% reduced likelihood of successful aging compared with those who had normal IL-6 levels."What all that means is those with lower levels of IL-6 aged normally, and those with higher level suffered from health issue such as periodontal disease caused by chronic inflammation.The result showed 60% of the test subjects had normal aging since they didn't suffer from chronic inflammation. This study also shows how you can stop or slow periodontal disease by keeping your inflammation down. Periodontal disease starts with inflamed gums and if not cared for, the attachment of the gums to the teeth are destroyed, forming a pocket that furthers the difficulty of curing the disease.Keeping inflammation down also leads to less chance of diabetes, heart problems, and will allow the body to gracefully age, according to the study by Ricki Lewis, PhD.

Top Yoga Poses For Fighting Aging And Staying Young

While getting old might not seem so bad mentally, after the age of 18, it seems like a downhill task physically. You begin to lose balance, flexibility, and strength especially once you get to the age of 30. The pains and aches seem to pop out of nowhere. If you are looking for an excellent way to keep your body in great shape, and look and feel young, then yoga might be the answer. It is a low-impact way to gain strength, flexibility and remain healthy. Above all, you can do it anywhere, anytime. Here are some of the top moves for anti-aging:Equal standingAccording to top yoga experts, this pose enables you to gain awareness of postural tendencies. To perform this pose, stand on the yoga mat barefoot, and put together, with your arms hanging on their sides. Pay attention to your feet and the distribution of your bodyweight. Without lifting your feet's soles, gently move forward, backwards, and to each side, and then back to center again. To take things o higher notch, try closing your eyes and realize how your balance shifts. You can even try standing in front of a large mirror to see and feel how you look.Tree pose


According to top fitness experts, balance becomes notorious more difficult as you age. Hence, Yoga masters designed the tree pose to help you maintain you balancing abilities. Start in an equal standing pose, and then shift most of your bodyweight to one leg and foot. Clasp your hands in a prayer position in front of your chest. Come onto toes with the other leg and open its hip and leg. Take several breaths in this pose then switch to the other leg and repeat the move. You can add more challenge by looking up towards the ceiling or holding your hands above your head.SquatThis is an excellent pose to help you develop strong thigh muscles, which in turn will prevent injury and pain in the knees as you age. Start by standing straight, feet together and hands at their sides. Sit back as if you are going to sit in a chair, while keeping the feet and knees together. Go as far as you can safely go, ensuring the knees stay behind the toes, and your back is straight. Reach the arms in front of you and look straight ahead. When you are more experienced, you can try other variations of this move.

How To Build Collagen Naturally In Aging Skin

If you're looking to drop a decade from your face, there is a little insider secret you must know. No diet or cream will produce sustainable results if it is not geared towards boosting natural collagen synthesis. Your skin is only like an outer-wrapping, at the base of which is a more concrete structure. Collagen is the cornerstone of this underlying structure. It is a structural protein that gives the skin its firmness and shape. It is also responsible for skin elasticity, strength, texture and tone.When you are young, collagen is produced in abundance in the body. This accounts for the fresh and radiant look of your skin. But as the body ages, the connective tissue starts breaking down. Also, its production dwindles. As a result, the skin loses its firmness and elasticity and takes on a dull and sagging appearance. It is followed by the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, under-eye dark circles and age spots. Hence, if you want to put off aging for a while, your aim should be to reinforce this collagen structure.Here's how you can restore collagen naturally.Eat the right foods -One can increase the synthesis of collagen by supplying the body with essential anti-aging nutrients such as Vitamin C, Lutein, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B3 and hyaluronic acid. These nutrients restore the lost vitality of the skin. You should eat the following:• Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale and citrus fruits. They are rich in Vitamin C.• Nuts, vegetable oils namely flaxseed oil, canola oil and avocados. They contain a copious amount of Vitamin E.• Salmon and Tuna are animal sources of high-quality unsaturated fat and hence are beneficial to the health of the skin.• Soy products provide genistein, an isoflavin. This compound inhibits the enzymes that breakdown collagen fibers. In doing so, it improves the quality of new and existing collagen fibers.


• It will also help to have green tea and berries. We've clubbed them together because of a common ingredient. Both are an abundant source of Flavonoids, antioxidants that shield the cells against damage by free radicals.• Carrots and cantaloupes can also be included in your diet for the skin-friendly beta-carotene they contain.Supplements -While diet is the best source to get your vitamins, you can also use supplements to make up for a deficiency in the body. There are vitamin C, K and E supplements available in the market for use. They are available either in pill or powder form. When using supplements, make sure you buy from a reputed manufacturer and follow the proper usage instructions.Topical Solutions -Topical solutions are by far the safest and the most convenient anti-aging solution on the market. There are chemical based and natural variants. The latter is better as they are made of natural extracts of fruits, vegetables and herbs. They work by hydrating the skin and reducing blemishes and wrinkles. On the whole, they improve the texture and clarity of your complexion. They can either be bought over-the-counter or with a prescription.Skin Care -Proper skin care can also play a crucial role in putting off the ugly signs of aging for a while. Try as much as possible to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. When you step out, make sure you wear sun block or protect the skin by layering clothing. Also, follow a proper skin care routine with regular cleansing, toning and moisturizing.