Weight loss teas promise to boost your metabolism, burn away stomach fat, and even "teatox" your body.

What tea marketers don't tell you is that drinking these brews might also be associated with more missed periods, unplanned pregnancies, and permanent gut damage.

Social media influencers can make thousands (or even tens of thousands) of dollars promoting these teas as fundamental weight loss strategies. But Instagrammers and YouTube stars are not required to vet, understand, or even actually drink the things that they post about.

It turns out the heart-healthy teas that you might actually want to drink, which are scientifically-linked with good health outcomes, are both cheaper than a "teatox" detox tea and much safer for your body in the long run. Here's what to know.

Actress Jameela Jamil has been a vocal opponent of weight loss teas. Her online petition to end celebrity promotions of "toxic diet products" on social media has garnered more than 244,000 signatures. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Detox teas don't do much in the way of helping people lose weight.

"If you want to 'curb your appetite' eat some damn green vegetables or have some nutritious natural vegetable soup," The Good Place star Jameela Jamil, who started a body-positive #iweigh movement on social media, said on Instagram last year, railing against the diet tea industry.

Jamil is correct that detox teas are not a science-backed way to lose weight. At best, they may lead to more urination and bowel movements, and at worst, they can do serious harm.

Instagram told Insider that it recently began blocking weight loss product ads to Instagrammers under age 18. The platform also promised to remove from the platform any content that "makes a miraculous claim" about diet or weight loss.

"I've been working with Instagram all year towards this," Jamil said on her Instagram page after the new policy took effect on September 18. "If you're under 18, you will no longer be exposed to any diet/detox products, and for all other ages; all fad products that have bogus, unrealistic claims will be taken down and easy to report."

People drink tea at a Taoist temple tea house. Szechuan Province, China. Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

There is good reason why tea is considered the most popular drink in the world (after water).

In places around the globe where it's not always safe to drink out of the tap, making a well-boiled tea from leaves or ricewater can be a great way to stay hydrated, without getting any waterborne illnesses.

But not all tea is created equal. Green tea is one of the healthiest options, studies suggest, because it may help lower blood pressure and is rich in plant chemicals called flavonoids.

Flavonoids are not unique to tea; they're also abundant in fruits (especially citrus), veggies, chocolate, and wine. The way that these plant chemicals work inside humans is still something of a mystery to science, but researchers have discovered that they tend to be associated with better vascular health, and what look like decent heart health benefits (hold the milk for best results, and go easy on the sugar).

Weight loss claims about teas are more contentious. Many of the studies that people use to bolster diet tea claims have been done in mice, not people.

Some scientists are intrigued by appetite-regulating chemicals called catechins that are especially common in green and oolong tea varieties.

There is evidence that, at least for some people, drinking catechin-rich green tea can help burn more fat. But experts treat these findings with caution, as the studies tend to be small, the effects minimal, and the results not entirely conclusive. (Some research, for example, has only been performed on small groups of men, while other results find ethnic differences to the benefits of tea-drinking.)

Another issue with bigger, population-based studies is that tea-drinkers tend to have healthier lifestyles overall, making it difficult to tease out how many of the observed health benefits researchers see in them are really from the tea they drink.

It is also possible to drink too much tea, no matter what kind. The plant chemical oxilate, abundant in tea, can prompt kidney trouble, if you consume glasses upon glasses (like, really a lot, say, 16) every day.

iStock

Some teas aren't "diet" at all, they're just emptying out your insides. Literally.

Many teas contain laxatives and diuretics, all-natural or not. Some of these teas are designed, quite simply, to get things moving out the back end, while others perpetuate dangerous myths about how they can prompt rapid weight loss.

"The 'weight loss' caused by a laxative-induced bowel movement contains little actual food, fat, or calories," the National Eating Disorders Association says on its website. "If the chronic laxative abuser refuses to re-hydrate, they risk dehydration, which further taxes the organs and which may ultimately cause death."

Drinking laxative-laced teas regularly can lead to laxative dependency, effectively shutting down a person's colon, and potentially damaging their liver, too.

Some of the other serious side effects of laxative useinclude fatigue, rectal bleeding, dizziness (often associated with dehydration), and weakness. That's why doctors recommend laxatives should only be used to treat constipation now and then, and not every day.

Dieters who've tried one celebrity-endorsed "teatox" have complained to outlets including Vice and The Daily Mail that they were missing periods and getting pregnant while on birth control.

Green tea, on the other hand, is generally considered fine to drink during pregnancy, as long as sippers stick to a cup or less per day. (The caffeine in green tea, just like coffee, is linked with more premature babies and lower birth weights, when drank with abandon.)

If you enjoy a little green tea, it can be a great and inexpensive way to stay warm, get some caffeine, and maybe even help regulate your appetite.

But tea can be dangerous when people use it to avoid eating real food. Diet teas don't work, and you'll stay far healthier eating a balanced diet, rich in nutrient-dense plants, without the gut-bomb diarrhea-inducing diet cleanses.

See the rest here:
The weight loss' teas you've seen on Instagram are a scam, but there are teas with appetite-curbing benefits - INSIDER

She slowly eased her way into exercise

Once I was 215 pounds, I kind of felt like I was just going to be stuck there forever, Dukes says. My mindset was really poor and I didnt enjoy exercise and I couldnt honestly even think of what life was like before I packed on the weight, because I felt very stuck in my body.

She says she didnt exercise at all.

And it felt very hard for me to move my body, she says, and frankly, I also felt very embarrassed to go to the gym. I felt like I didnt know what I was doing.

To get started, she set a goal for herself: In the beginning, it was just move my body every day, do a little bit more than I did yesterday.

Dukes signed up for a gym membership. Every day, she worked out on the elliptical for 20 minutes.

In the beginning, 20 minutes on the elliptical felt like I was dying each day, she says.

That eventually became a lot easier because my body got stronger. I built up my endurance and my strength, and so thats when it became more fun, she says.

She adds, I found I was able to do a lot more than I was beforehand because it made me want to try new things.

After about six months, Dukes says she had lost about 30-40 pounds. She started to do more high-intensity training with weights.

Losing weight can be difficult, but its important not to fixate on the end goal, says Dukes. Its easy to look at how far we have to go and feel very discouraged by that, she says.

She says to focus on one day at a time.

Focus today on making good nutrition choices, moving your body, and then tomorrow, doing a little bit more, she says. Maybe drink a little more water, get a little more activity in. Maybe rather than taking the elevator, take the stairs. Just do a little more, because all of those healthy habits compound over time, and they snowball into big results.

She says its also important to focus on having a healthy mindset.

Its not some diet or some weight loss kick that youre going to be on, says Dukes. Just make the decision to be healthy and never stop. If youre making those health decisions every day, its going to compound.

Dukes says losing weight feels amazing.

I never thought I would be in the shoes I am in today, but losing the weight has completely changed my life, she says.

She says her weight loss isnt about the weight on the scale or being able to fit into a smaller size.

Just genuinely loving how you feel and what you look like and having the confidence, it changes everything in life, says Dukes.

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How this woman lost 75 pounds: Gradual lifestyle changes were the key to her weight loss success - NBC News

Teens and young adults with anorexia are at risk of life-threatening illness even if their weight falls within a "normal" range.

That's the conclusion of a new study that looked at "atypical anorexia," or cases in which patients show all the symptoms of anorexia with the exception of low body weight. In the past, these cases were considered less severe than typical anorexia cases, but the new study found that both types show the same signs of severe malnutrition. "Patients with atypical anorexia are just as sick, medically but they may be even sicker, psychologically," said Dr. Neville Golden, a professor of pediatrics at the Stanford School of Medicine and co-author of the new study. Although recognized in the diagnostic manual for mental health disorders, the DSM-5, atypical anorexia may remain underdiagnosed, Golden said.

"The assumption is that doctors in the community are not recognizing it," he said. The oversight may place patients at risk of cardiac arrest, bone degradation and even death, Golden and his colleagues found.

The new study, published Nov. 5 in the journal Pediatrics, shows that there's no connection between an anorexic patient's weight and the actual severity of their condition. In the end, the number on the scale matters far less than the sheer amount of weight patients lose over the course of their illness both normal-weight and underweight patients fare worse the more weight they drop.

Related: Understanding Weight: BMI & Body Fat

"There's no weight or BMI that equals [an] eating disorder," said Dr. Casey Cottrill, the medical director of the eating disorders program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, who was not involved with the study. Over the last five to 10 years, the number of normal-weight people hospitalized for anorexia treatment has spiked, she said. Recent studies estimate that one-third of patients admitted to hospitals for anorexia treatment are of normal weight. In both atypical and typical cases, the signs of malnutrition appear the same, but patients of normal or above-average weight may suffer longer before being noticed.

In light of this, doctors must watch for signs of disordered eating and malnutrition in all patients, regardless of size, Cottrill said.

Although atypical anorexia has gained recognition, still, "when one thinks of malnutrition, one thinks of low weight," Golden said. To learn whether low-weight anorexic patients actually fare worse in clinic, Golden and his colleagues organized the largest, most comprehensive assessment of normal-weight adolescents with anorexia to date.

The study compared 50 teens and young adults with atypical anorexia with 66 patients who met the traditional diagnostic criteria, meaning their weight fell below 85% of what would be expected for their height and age. The participants ranged in age from 12 to 24 years old and received treatment for their disorders during the study. More than 90% of participants were female. (Anorexia is about 3 times more common in females compared with males, according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).)

The authors compared the patients' current weights, histories of weight loss and vital signs; and found that regardless of participants' weight at admission, those with more dramatic weight losses appeared more severely ill.

Patients who lost a large amount of weight, fast, displayed the lowest heart rates among those in the study. In fact, for every 2% increase in the rate of weight loss per month, patients' heart rates measured 1 beat per minute slower in the hospital. A dangerously low heart rate points to a larger problem: poor nutrition leaves the heart with too little fuel to pump properly while also forcing the body to break down heart tissue for much-needed energy, according to NEDA. Clinicians usually hospitalize patients whose heart rates clock below 50 beats per minute, as their condition can quickly deteriorate into complete heart failure, Cottrill said.

Related: What Is Mental Health?

Patients with atypical and typical anorexia showed similar dips in other critical measures of health. Both groups had dangerously low blood pressure and became dizzy when moving from lying down to sitting up or standing. Both groups showed deficiencies in key electrolytes such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium nutrients that help vital organs like the heart running smoothly. The patients who lost the most weight, or had been losing weight for an extended period, had the lowest electrolyte levels.

All female patients who had begun menstruating stopped having regular periods, meaning their bodies were no longer producing enough estrogen to maintain their normal cycles. Without estrogen, the growing patients' bones could not absorb calcium as they should during puberty, Cottrill said.

Overall, both groups of patients appeared similar on all counts except one. Those with atypical anorexia actually ranked worse on a questionnaire designed to measure the severity of their eating disorder psychopathology. The poor scores suggest that those with atypical anorexia may be more fixated on losing weight, restricting their food intake and burning off calories than those with typical anorexia. Anecdotally, the patients seemed "very fearful of getting back to their [original] weight," Golden said.

Future research should investigate the best treatment for cases of atypical anorexia, particularly cases in which patients are overweight or obese, since very little data exists in this area, Cottrill said. Weight gain normally comes along with both the physical and psychological treatment of anorexia, but with overweight patients, it's difficult to gauge how much weight they need to regain. More research must be done on how different bodies react to malnutrition and how best to treat patients of different sizes, Cottrill said.

In addition, when treating obesity, doctors must learn how to help people lose weight sustainably, without resorting to drastic measures, Golden said. By monitoring patients more closely, perhaps physicians can catch poor habits before they fester into a full-fledged eating disorder, he suggested. The first step, of course, is to raise awareness of what disordered eating looks like.

"I think there's a lack of awareness of atypical anorexia nervosa, even among clinicians," said Dr. Avinash Boddapati, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in the Northwell Health network, who was not involved with the study. As a psychiatrist, Boddapati said he can address the underlying emotional distress and harmful coping mechanisms that lead to disordered eating. But to tackle the problem head-on, pediatricians and parental guardians need to work together to monitor signs of atypical anorexia.

"The big take home message is to focus, not just on the weight, but on the rate of weight loss," he said.

Psychiatrists can also screen for rapid and extensive weight loss in their patients, "even kids [who fall] within a normal weight range," said Dr. Peng Pang, an adolescent psychiatrist at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. First, mental health professionals should ensure that their patients are physically stable, and refer them to a hospital if their health may be compromised, said Pang, who wasn't involved with the study. Then, once the patient's vital signs are restored, psychiatrists can work with patients to find new, sustainable coping mechanisms.

"Regardless of the body weight, I think the message is that you have to intervene, immediately and aggressively," Pang said.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Teens with Anorexia May Be 'Dangerously Ill' Even if They Are Not Underweight - Livescience.com

Dr. Sophie Jacob provides more than just your average Chiropractic care in Tucson. She is your partner in wellness. If you suffer from chronic pain, need to lose weight, or desire to live a healthier life style it all starts with Dr Jacob.

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Losing "stubborn" fat is hard and as you get older - it just gets harder and harder. You might go to the gym five days a week, sweat on the treadmill for an hour, and see maybe a pound or two drop in a month. Is that really worth your time? Or... imagine going to a medical facility, laying down, spending 25 minutes relaxing, then getting up and finding out you've lost two inches around your waist. Which do you prefer? What if you could keep doing that and losing more and more fat until you looked like you did years ago? If you have any interest in this and how it works when it comes to inch loss, you should stop what you're doing and call the office for an appointment immediately. This new treatment technology - now available in Tucson - uses a special light therapy to trick your mitochondria (in your fat cells) to release their fat content. ULTRASLIM is now cleared for prescription use in the United States as the only noninvasive treatment for immediate fat removal without dieting, exercise, or pills.This treatment is safe and painless! If you eat better, drink plenty of water, stay away from sugars, and carbohydrates, this can lead to permanent fat loss without surgery. Here's a heads up. If you have tried liposuction in the past - you know that when you"regain the weight" it goes to different places-making your body look distorted and then unfortunately, you're back to where you started, only worse. With this technology we don't destroy your fat cells. What we do is we simply drain the contents of the fat cells so you lose the inches and look good again.

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Her patients love her. Successful weight loss happens here. - KGUN

GORGING on McDonalds five times a week, Jessica Dotson's weight began to spiral out of control.

The "fussy eater" spent thousands on McNuggets guzzling 20 at a time with a side of large fries.

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The mum-of-two said it was only after having her second baby that she realised she needed to change her ways - for the sake of her kids.

Her weight had spiralled to almost 18st and her blood pressure and cholesterol levels had rocketed.

Doctors warned the 26-year-old she was heading for a heart attack if she didn't shed pounds.

So, determined to stick around for her kids, Jessica started an intermittent diet plan in February - cutting her calorie intake in half.

And the results soon started to show, as she lost a staggering 7st in just nine months.

Now weighing in at 10st 3lbs, it means Jessica has dropped eight dress sizes, from a US 22 to 6 - the equivalent to a UK 26 to 10.

Jessica, from Talladega, Alabama, US, said: "I feel confident now.

"I'm not there yet because I was so big for so long.

"It's still hard to see myself as smaller. That's something I have to work on because it's a major, drastic change.

"I can do more stuff with my kids. I get more active with them, and buying clothes is a lot easier too."

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Jessica said she had suffered with a high blood pressure while she was pregnant with her first son.

She experienced the same problems during her second pregnancy, but soon realised her weight was partly to blame.

"When I went to my six-week postpartum checkup from having my daughter, I was like at this rate I could have a heart attack," Jessica said.

When I went to my six-week postpartum checkup from having my daughter, I was like at this rate I could have a heart attack

"I had just had a baby, I had two kids, I needed to do something where I could be around for them."

After researching her options, Jessica said she opted to try intermittent fasting.

Also known as the 16:8 diet, favoured by Friends star Jennifer Aniston, the plan involves eating within an eight-hour window and fasting for 16 hours a day.

A summary of studies, published in the Annual Review of Nutrition in 2017, found that 11 of 16 trials into the method reported some weight loss.

The idea behind it is simple, by restricting the hours of the day you can eat means you restrict calorie intake.

The plan has been found to improve blood pressure, and also reduce a person's risk of cancer and heart disease, as well as reducing inflammation.

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For Jessica, the diet plan meant cutting her 3,000 calorie-a-day diet in half, meaning she was eating just 1,500 calories.

"I was basically eating fast food before," she said. "I could eat a 20-piece chicken McNugget box and large fries by myself.

"It was basically gluttony, just eating and eating.

"I had McDonald's nearly every day. Food was my coping mechanism, so whenever I got upset about something I would just eat."

As well as cutting calories, Jessica made an effort to include more veg in her diet.

The mum-of-two, who works as an admin clerk, said: "I'm a very picky person. I don't eat a lot of vegetables, I should be taking vitamins to supplement those veg I'm not getting.

"Before, it was fast food. Even if I wasn't eating out I was cooking something greasy at home.

"I still find pleasure in my food, it's my main thing."

JESSICA'S DIET OVERHAUL

BEFORE

Breakfast: Pancakes with sausage, or pop tarts

Lunch: McDonald's (usually a 20-piece McNugget box with large fries), noodles or macaroni

Dinner: The same, depending on what had been for lunch

Snacks: Pop-tarts, nachos, chocolate, chips

AFTER

Breakfast: Bacon and eggs

Lunch: Chicken and vegetables, occasionally a McDonald's (usually a six-piece McNugget box with small fries)

Dinner: Small portion of macaroni with green beans

Snacks: Small snack of around 100 calories, such as a Slim Jim jerky snack or packet of crackers

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While diets have failed for Jessica in the past, she said the key with fasting is that you don't have to exclude many foods - rather, cut down.

She said she's switched fizzy drinks for diet options and water, but tries not to deprive herself of anything.

"If I tried other diets they would fail, because I would want to eat something - and eat it," she said.

"It's been all about moderation and self-control.

"Sure you can have a piece of candy, but you have to eat that one piece and not the whole bag.

"It's involved a lot of self-control and self-determination."

As well as intermittent fasting, Jessica started dancing to YouTube fitness videos, to build up the confidence before joining the gym.

And she still treats herself to a McDonald's every now and then - though she's swapped the 20-piece McNugget meal for a six-piece meal with small fries.

"I've saved a lot of money," she admitted.

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"I've gone from going once a day to maybe twice a week, something like that.

"It's now more of a treat, I've saved probably $35 a week.

"I do feel pleased with what I've done. My blood pressure problems are gone. I don't have high blood pressure anymore."

Read more here:
Weight loss: McDonalds addict sheds 7st in months WITHOUT giving up her favourite meal - The Sun

Knowing how to go about weight loss can be very difficult.

With so much information out there it can be confusing to know where to start.

But if you are wanting to shed body fat it is important to go about it safely,

There are an endless amount of diets out there which claim to help you lose weight fast.

But sometimes the science behind these diets is questionable, and some may even put your health at risk.

Here the NHS have shared 12 tips to help you lose weight safely.

These are perfect to use alongside the free 12 week diet and exercise plan .

1. Dont skip breakfast

Skipping breakfast means youll be missing out on important nutrients, and could leave you hungry and snacking throughout the day.

2. Eat regular meals

Eating regularly helps you burn more calories throughout the day, and you wont be as tempted to snack on fatty and sugary foods.

3. Eat plenty of fruit and veg

Fruit and vegetables are high in fibre, low in calories and fat, and contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.

4. Get more active

Keeping active is essential to losing weight and keeping it off, as you will burn off excess calories.

5. Drink plenty of water

Sometimes you could think youre hungry, but you are actually thirsty.

6. Eat high-fibre foods

Eating foods which are high in fibre can help you feel full. Eat fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice, pasta, beans, peas and lentils.

7. Read food labels

Get used to working out the calories in a food item and see if it fits into your daily calorie allowance.

8. Use a smaller plate

Using a smaller plate can help you eat smaller portions. Keep in mind it takes 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain its full.

Eat slowly and stop eating before you feel completely full.

9. Dont ban foods

If you ban foods, especially the ones you like, it will only make you crave them more.

Keep them as an occasional treat.

10. Dont stock junk food

Avoid temptation by not stocking the cupboards with crisps, chocolate, biscuits and sweet fizzy drinks.

Keep the cupboard stocked with fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn and fruit juice.

11. Cut down on alcohol

Alcohol is full of calories, so having a glass of wine everyday can add up.

12. Plan your meals

Plan out your breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks for the week.

This will make it easier to stick to your calorie allowance.

Excerpt from:
The 12 NHS weight loss tips which can help you shed body fat safely - Daily Star

Spa days are often seen as a special occasion that we fit in when we have the time, or as a treat on birthdays, however some spa amenities are now being recognized in the medical community for their health benefits.

From preventative care to treatments complimentary to medical therapies, Lakuita Satterfield-Byrd and Kristal Darensburg-Rabb of The Facemaker full service salon in Huntsville, explain how massage therapy and skin care are more than just pampering luxuries.

When you meet someone, the first thing they look at is your face, so you want to have a nice appearance, a nice complexion, you want to have a nice glow when youre meeting someone, so coming in and getting facials and facial treatments helps the body overall, The Facemaker esthetician and massage therapist Lakuita Satterfield-Byrd said. Youre well rounded when you have a better complexion, you feel better about yourself, your skin is glowing and clean.

Satterfield-Byrd notes that her chemical peel facial is very popular, as are her deep cleaning and dermaplaning facials.

Chemical peels are my specialty, I like corrective skincare I like how different people come in and have acne, hyper pigmentation and I have different peels that corresponds to help with those issues, Satterfield-Byrd said.

Monthly facials can provide anti-aging benefits, acne treatment and prevention and sensitive skin treatments for rosacea and eczema.

Acting as the protective layer of our bodies and our largest organ, it is important to take care of our skin and facials can help reduce trips to the dermatologist. Facemaker massage therapist Kristal Darensburg-Rabb added that starting out with a daily regimen that is customized for your skin is essential in preventative skin care as everyones skin is different, a tip she learned from her colleague and go-to esthetician Satterfield-Byrd.

A licensed esthetician of two years, Satterfield-Byrd is qualified to analyze clients skin and help create daily skin regimens to follow, but her expertise extends beyond the face. Body wraps aid in weight loss, and Satterfield-Byrd said she has had up to six inches in total body weight drop off of clients by helping drain excess fluids from the body.

Its just amazing how taking care of your skin with exfoliation of not only your face, but your whole body, having the mud extract all of the impurities from your skin and then the combination of the massage can reduce your pain level, The Facemaker massage therapist Kristal Darensburg-Rabb said, recommending that clients benefit from a spa package including a massage and facial once a month.

Darensburg-Rabb and Satterfield-Byrd are both licensed massage therapists of 11 years, their careers often intertwining across Texas before simultaneously landing at Facemaker in Huntsville. The duo offers popular options such as Swedish relaxation massages, deep tissue, hot stones, aromatherapy and therapeutic massages, however they are widely experienced and offer more specialized options such as prenatal, lymphatic drainage and oncological massage as well.

Darensburg-Rabb trained with Tracy Walton & Associates, a teaching system based in science and complementing medical practice integrating massage therapy into professional healthcare. The four day oncology massage intensive course teaches massage therapists how to safely help past and present cancer patients.

I learned a lot in dealing with cancer patients It was very emotional, there was a lot of crying in the training because they actually put us in the position of a cancer patient, Darensburg-Rabb said, adding that she will not charge a cancer patient and encourages clients to engage in her pay-it-forward program benefitting cancer patients.

Darensburg-Rabb and Satterfield-Byrd both participate in continual-education which is mandatory for their licenses learning new techniques to better help clients recover from what ails them.

In todays time, massage therapy is recommended through the medical world in the past it wasnt it was looked at as a treat or a luxury, but now it is viewed as a part of healthcare, Darensburg-Rabb said.

Satterfield-Byrd added that she has clients ask for invoices that they can turn in for their taxes and health insurance companies. Its not just something where people say, oh, Im going to go get pampered today, people are really needing massage therapy, Satterfield-Byrd said.

Massages are being used as a preventative measure by helping ease muscle pain and partner with chiropractors and physical therapists as a first step of treatment, helping to loosen muscles and increase blood circulation in preparation for more intensive therapies.

Its like an instant recovery, they get up and say, oh my gosh, I can move my neck! Oh my goodness, I can move my shoulder, my lower back, and for me to help people like that, it just brings me joy, Darensburg-Rabb said.

Clients who have undergone back or rotator cuff surgeries come in with complaints of muscles locking up and titanium plate discomfort often benefit from their services, though Darensburg-Rabb adds that not all benefits are physical.

Having a relaxing moment away from cell phones, computers and taking a step back from the stresses of everyday life is emotionally therapeutic. Darensburg-Rabb says that it is her duty to take away emotional stress or pain that her clients may be feeling.

Its part of the release of their stress theres been times that at the end of the massage or during that they start crying because the release of what theyve been bound with is coming out of them, Darensburg-Rabb said.

Stress can take a physical and emotional toll on our bodies and skin, and while massages and facials are no cure-all treatments to larger medical problems, the preventative benefits they provide are compelling argument for indulging in a monthly treatment.

Its good for arthritis, fibromyalgia, insomnia, high blood pressure, its so many things in between getting your facials and your massage, everything marries together for a health benefit It is no longer a luxury, it is almost mandatory, just like brushing your teeth.

See the article here:
Self care can lead to better overall health - Huntsville Item

Ageing is inevitable and is influenced by many things but keeping active can slow ageing and increase life expectancy. Evidence shows that ageing alone is not a cause of major problems until you are in your mid-90s. And strength, power and muscle mass can be increased, even at this advanced age.

So here are my top exercise tips for people in their 60s and older, at different levels of fitness.

If you fall into this group, you are in the minority. You are robust, likely to be a super-ager and you are doing wonderfully. You are certainly optimising your chance of living longer and ageing successfully.

Generally, this is when you reap your reward from a lifetime of keeping active. With your healthier metabolic, skeletal, cardiovascular and immune systems you can probably outperform people decades younger.

Keep up the kettlebells, spin classes, rowing, triathlons or manual work such as gardening whatever you like to do. You can keep challenging yourself physically. Mix your routine up a combination of aerobic and resistance work as well as an activity to challenge your balance is ideal.

Read more: Five brain-boosting reasons to take up martial arts at any age

Maximise health benefits by swimming outdoors and as part of a community. You might want to try sea swimming although its not for everybody.

But watch out for chronic overloading, that is, diversify your exercise programme by incorporating cross-training. For example, if you are a runner, incorporate cycling or swimming to avoid overloading any part of your body.

Recovery after strenuous exercise is slower as you age and can take up to five days. So exercise smart.

You are doing well, so keep going. Long-term consistency is the key for benefits. You dont necessarily have to join a gym, just keep building meaningful physical activity into your day. For example, walk briskly to the shops to get your groceries, keep up gardening and be active around your house. Even repeating simple stair climbing is a great exercise.

If you are suffering from hip or knee pain, walking may be painful, so try cycling or water-based exercise instead.

Coupling physical activity with social engagement can optimise its benefits, so try yoga or a dance class. Incorporate some outdoor exercise for an added mental health boost.

Read more: What science tells us about successful ageing

The main thing is to avoid long periods of sitting. Also, ideally, continue to do the exercise you enjoy. Try to steadily build up your level of aerobic exercise at a level where you build up a sweat and feel slightly out of breath.

Often strengthening and flexibility exercises are neglected, so try to include these type of exercises where possible.

You may be managing complex chronic conditions, which make it more difficult to exercise. Or it may be that exercise is not a habit for you. If you have several chronic conditions, you may need clearance from a doctor to exercise and specialised exercise advice from a physiotherapist or other exercise professional.

If you are experiencing three or more of the following: unplanned weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, weakness of grip and physical inactivity you may be considered frail, which will leave you vulnerable to even minor health stresses. But it is never too late to build more physical activity into your daily life.

Read more: Cancer and exercise do mix

Even reducing time spent sitting and doing a little exercise will have major health benefits, doing any type of activity at all is better than none. Even chair-based exercises or practising sit-to-stand can be a great start.

Feeling a bit out of breath with exercise is normal and some initial aches and joint pain are fine. But if you ever feel chest pain or severe discomfort, you need to see a doctor straight away.

If you have a set-back such as a chest infection or fall which results in a hospital admission, get up and moving as soon as is safely possible. Even a few days of bed rest can result in major decreases in strength and fitness.

If you have surgery scheduled, being as active as possible before being admitted to hospital and start moving as soon as possible afterwards will help your recovery. It may also prevent complications that could prolong your hospital stay.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, keep active, even during treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and during recovery. If you have other common chronic conditions, such as heart or lung disease, keep as active as your condition allows.

Just remember, whatever your state of health, its never too late to reap the benefits of being more physically active.

Read more here:
How to stay fit into your 60s and beyond - The Conversation UK

My 16-year-old daughter hates having milk. How can I inculcate milk in her diet in some other source? What are some good sources for calcium?

You can help her get her milk intake by making her fruit smoothies, chocolate malt and getting her a cereal that she likes or enjoys. Other than milk; cheese, yogurt, cereals, chia seeds, fortified cereals and sardines are great sources of calcium.

I have really bad consistent back pain. I have been thinking about starting supplements. What do you suggest I take?

Its important to get yourself checked first to make sure theres no underlying cause for your back pain. For supplements, I highly recommend collagen peptides. Theyve proven to show excellent results for hair, skin and specifically joint health.

I cannot take medicines/pills whole. Will I ruin any of the properties if I crush them?

It shouldnt make a difference to break down normal tablets into halves but make sure not to crush capsules or slow release tablets since they have the drug inside the capsule and the capsule is meant to be broken down by your gastric juices for slower release and maximum effect.

There is a lot of buzz about poultry chicken having bad effect on your health.Is it true?

There has been no research on humans to prove the negative impact of commercial chicken on your health. My clients have safely consumed up to 500g of chicken everyday for years for weight loss and their health, hormone profiles and other reports just got better as they lost weight, including clients with PCOS and other hormonal disorders. That being said, I know some people that are allergic to commercial chicken and do fine with organic chicken.

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ASK A NUTRITIONIST | EXPERT ADVICE - Mag The Weekly Magazine