Bad Breath is an embarrassing problem. Bad Breath is usually caused by the breakdown of proteins by bacteria somewhere in the mouth. Bad breath is not contagious. Bad breath is a problem that is shared by millions of people across the country. Chronic bad breath, known as Halitosis, does not come from the stomach. Although there is no way of knowing for sure, most adults probably suffer from bad breath occasionally, with perhaps a quarter suffering on a regular basis. The only odor that comes from the stomach is when you burp. Food odors are transitory and should not be confused with bad breath. Human’s sense of smell has the ability to adjust to odor. Health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene.

Food eaten such as garlic and spicy foods once absorbed into the body can release odor through the lungs when you breathe.Therefore, most people with halitosis are not aware of their bad breath.Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad Breath is usually caused by the breakdown of proteins by bacteria somewhere in the mouth. If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Tobacco products also cause bad breath.

Symptoms of Bad Breath

1.Poor dental hygiene.

2.Infections in the mouth.

3.Respiratory tract infections — Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes (“swollen glands”).

4.External agents Cigarette stains on fingers and teeth.

5.Dry mouth.

6.Systemic (bodywide) illnesses-diabetes, lung disease, kidney failure or liver disease.

Treatment of Bad Breath

1.Use a tongue cleaner and clean right to the back of the tongue.

2.Use a mouthwash is recommended. The best time to use it is just before sleeping.

3.Drink plenty of fluids, avoiding too much coffee and alcohol.

4.Clean your mouth after eating dairy products, fish and meat.

5.Chew sugar-free gum, especially if your mouth feels dry.

5.Eat fresh food and fibrous vegetables.

6.Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic.

Eating disorders also called is Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia. Eating disorders is important to recognize that each factor plays a role in predisposing, precipitating, or perpetuating the problem. Anorexia nervosa compulsive eating are the most common among such young children, but there are cases of bulimia being reported. It is usually begins at the age of fourteen or fifteen, with another peak in incidence in eighteen year olds. It is estimated that 40% of nine year olds have already dieted and we are beginning to see four and five year olds expressing the need to diet. It’s a shame that children so young are being robbed of their childhoods. Children raised in a dysfunctional family are at a higher risk for developing an eating disorder. In a home where physical or abuse is taking place, the child may turn to an eating disorder to gain a sense of control. Children may also develop eating disorders as a way of dealing with the many emotions that they feel, especially if they are raised in a home that does not allow feelings to be expressed. Children who are compulsive eaters are usually using food to help them deal with feelings of anger, sadness, hurt, loneliness, abandonment, fear and pain.  There are many serious complications of anorexia, including fainting from low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, being intolerant to cold, constipation, decreased energy, changes in mood, anemia, kidney failure and osteoporosis (brittle bones).

Eating disorders can cause heart and kidney problems and even death. Genetic attributes and it is more common in children who have a first-degree relative with an eating disorder. Children are at a risk for developing an eating disorder if the parents themselves are to preoccupied with appearance and weight. Eating disorder risk factors is purging behaviors (vomiting or using diuretics (water pills) or laxatives to lose weight). Restrictive eating patterns, which can lead to a failure to gain weight or to being underweight and can include skipping meals, fasting, or eliminating entire food group
s. Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycles) or delayed onset of puberty and menarche. Parents may first suspect a problem when they discover large amounts of food are missing from the pantry or the refrigerator, though it’s hard to imagine one child could have eaten so much. Mothers with eating disorders may have a difficult time feeding their infants and young children and will further effect the child.  Often the family environment will be less cohesive, more conflicted, and less supportive. People with bulimia may be anywhere from underweight, to normal weight, to overweight. It is estimated that as much as 3% of college-aged women have bulimia. Other signs found in teens with eating disorders include having dry and brittle hair, losing hair, and having muscle wasting.

Treatment of eating disorders is slow and difficult (and sometimes requires hospitalization) and should be overseen by a mental health. Exercise is also an important part of everyone’s life and we need to help our children become involved in physical activity. Patients with anorexia also require nutritional and medical intervention to make dietary. Do not criticize your own or your child’s weight, shape or size.  Different types of therapy can help treat binge eating disorder. For example, family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy teach people techniques to monitor and change their eating habits and the way they respond to stress. Family therapy includes the whole family in the process of helping the individual. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines the approach of helping the individual change their self-defeating thoughts with changing their behavior. Counseling also helps patients look at relationships they have with others and helps them work on areas that cause them anxiety. Weight-control programs are helpful for some people affected by binge eating.  The medical treatment of bulimia has concentrated on antidepressants , particularly fluoxetine, which has been found to decrease binge eating and vomiting for about two-thirds of bulimic patients.

Many of the people that come to Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers are seeking someone to help them with muscular pain and chronic tension from Myofascial Trigger Points. They’ve heard that Trigger Point Therapy is a great way to naturally relieve their pain and restore function.

Trigger Point Therapy is used when Myofascial Trigger Points are present in a person’s muscles. Myofascial Trigger Points, usually just called Trigger Points, are hyperirritable spots in a muscle associated with a palpable “knot” or “taut band” in the muscle tissue. Trigger Points are painful on compression and can refer pain and tenderness to other areas. Trigger Points are usually ischemic and often cause an entire muscle to be painful, too tight, weak, and more easily fatigued. Trigger Points can be caused by overworking or overstressing muscles, direct trauma to muscles, or even sustained chills. Trigger Points can be either the cause or a contributing factor of a wide variety of painful conditions.

Trigger Point Therapy directly targets the trigger points and the muscles in which they’re found. In Trigger Point Therapy the Massage Therapist carefully seeks out the trigger points in a muscle wit
h their fingers and uses specific compression techniques, friction strokes, and stretches which make the trigger points release and seemingly melt away. The release of the trigger point usually results in a rapid decrease or complete elimination of muscular pain. Trigger Point Therapy is a versatile technique and is often employed to treat low back pain, TMJ pain, headaches and migraines, whiplash, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, hip pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. Trigger Point Therapy can be used by itself as a stand-alone treatment, or it can be used during a Swedish massage, Sports massage, or Medical massage and as part of Neuromuscular Therapy or Deep Tissue Massage procedures.

Trigger Point Therapy does have a reputation as being a painful therapy to receive. However, despite its reputation as a “no pain, no gain” type of technique Trigger Point Therapy can be quite comfortable to receive. Some clients may experience some mild discomfort during the treatment. This mild discomfort is often described as a “good pain” that rates low on a standard pain scale and is actually welcomed by most clients. Try Trigger Point Therapy. You have nothing to lose except your pain.

Depression is a very real and treatable illness. Depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. Depression is very common and affects as many as one in eight people in their teen years. Depressed mood is generally situational and reactive, and associated with grief, loss, or a major social transition.  Sadness is a part of being human, a natural reaction to painful circumstances. All of us will experience sadness at some point in our lives. Depression, however, is a physical illness with many more symptoms than an unhappy mood. Depression affects people of every color, race, economic status, or age; however, it does seem to affect more females than males during adolescence and adulthood. It is usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder. Depressive disorders come in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as heart disease. This pamphlet briefly describes three of the most common types of depressive disorders. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence.

Another type of depression is bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. It is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). There is no single cause for depression. Many factors play a role including genetics, environment, medical conditions, life events, and certain thinking patterns that affect a person’s reaction to events. Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. This condition is seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It usually happens during the winter. A less common type of SAD happens in the summer. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time. Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness. Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed. Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”. Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions. Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping.

Ayurvedic Herbal Home Remedies for Depression Tips

1.Add some fresh Rose petals to a cup of boiling water. Add sugar and drink whenever feeling depressed.

2.An Apple eaten with milk and honey is very good to uplift a mood. Good Home Remedy for Depression.

3.Powder the seeds of 2 green cardamoms. Add to 1 cup of boiling water, add sugar and drink this tea twice a day.

4.A neutral immersion bath for one hour daily is also helpful in the treatment of depression.

5.Relaxation and meditation are also effective measures in the treatment of depression. The best method of relaxation is to practice shavasana or the dead pose. Meditation involves training the mind to remain fixed on a particular external or internal location. Mediation helps to create balance in the nervous system. Effective Home Remedy for Depression.

6.Diet has a profound effect on the treatment of depression.

7.Morpheme Memocare is a combination of brain boosting herbs like Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Vacha, Mulathi and others, which guards against stress, depression and improves learning ability in a natural way

8.Lying down, in a dark room, maybe getting a 1/2 hour of sleep,will always make you feel better.

9.Another domestic remedy for depression is a tea made of Indian basil (tulsi) and sage. Use 1/4 teaspoon tulsi and 1/2 teaspoon of sage per cup of hot water; drink twice a day.

10.Blanch 5-7 rosemary leaves in a boiling cup of water, add honey, wait 3 minutes and drink.

11.Warm avocado leaves and put them on forehead.

12.Cook and eat: white rice with lily bulb, palm and tulip (add nothing more).

13.Cook 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal to 1 cup of rice milk or soy milk, boil and stir for a minute on law temperature. Can add nuts, almonds, dried fruits, maple syrup or honey.

14.Blanch mint to make tea and drink.

15.Stir 1 teaspoon of lavender leaves to a cup of boiling water, cool and drink 3 times daily.

16.Eat: Nuts, cheese and a spoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water.

17.Eat at least 5 bananas a day, Reduce to one in time.

18.Eat a lot of pumpkin seeds.

19.Various yogic asanas such as halasana, paschimottanasana, sarvangasana, shavasana, shalabhasana, vakrasana, bhujangasana and pranayamas like kapalbhati, bhastrika are highly beneficial in the treatment of depression.

20.Cook 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal to 1 cup of rice milk or soy milk, boil and stir for a minute on law temperature.

It is every man’s desire to establish and to maintain a good
relationship with his partner. Building a strong relationship though is not an
easy task. For, several key elements must interplay and several conditions must
be met in order to have a lasting relationship with somebody. When it comes to
relationships especially marriage, sex is an integral part.

But there are various reasons that can cause the sexual life to ruin and one of
the most disasters popular these days is erectile
Dysfunction. It is the known as inability to achieve or maintain an
erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. In enduring erectile disorder a man
has never been able to sustain an erection long enough to accomplish a
satisfactory duration of penetration. This inability should be treated when it
get started because the Lifelong insufficiency is relatively rare disorder, but
it has been predictable that half or more of the male population has had some
experiences of erectile insufficiency.

So you need not to worry for anything if cialis is there just trust on
cialis for happy sexual life. Taking into the fact that the sexual activity is
ought to provoke a growth in the heart’s work, your doctor should definitely
wheth
er Cialis is or is not good for one’s heart.In the case of the heart
disease named ‘left ventricular outlet obstruction’ from valvular issues or
heart muscles enlargement side effects may appear: fainting, strokes or
headaches. Patients who have suffered of heart diseases: anginas, heart failure
or strokes, recently, should not take Cialis as long and painful erections may
appear. This condition is extremely serious and needs urgent medical attention.
In the case of an erection which lasts for more than 4 hours medical attention
is needed.

 

If you decide to buy cialis, then there are several things
you have to know. One of these important things is that you should definitely
not take cialis if you are taking at the time several medications that might
interact with this one. You should not, under any circumstances, buy cialis and
take this medication if you are also taking nitroglycerine, isosorbide
mononitrate or dinitrate, or if you take an alpha blocker. These medications
combined with cialis may lead to some unwanted side- effects such as dizziness,
fainting and could lead to serious problems as a stroke or even a heart attack,
due to the fact that these combinations can cause a low blood pressure. So make
sure that you are not using any of these drugs until you buy cialis

 

Most people are not fully aware of the impact of their daily experiences at work and at home on the quality of their lives. Experiences are dealt with differently from person to person. People simply see things differently, which is why there is such as thing as the Principle of Individual Differences. Same schedule, same set of people, same destination — but all with a different take or perspective on a situation.

In some cases, the negative views about one’s situation can even cause health problems. Some people can experience excessive fatigue for thinking negative thoughts aside from undergoing physically stressful activities. Excessive fatigue is having a general feeling of weakness or energy loss, both physically and mentally. A lot of factors are crucial in getting this type of condition. Aside from strenuous physical activities, allergies, bacteria, viruses, and chemical toxins can also harm and weaken the body. Emotional stress due to frustration, melancholy, and other negative factors are also linked to becoming physically weak and stressed out.

Exhausted people, or ones that have excessive fatigue often display symptoms that reflect what they really feel. Waking up is a hassle, always feeling run down and stressed, tired for no particular reason, dragging themselves to get through the day, being dependent on coffee, tea, or high energy drinks for vitality, struggling to keep up with daily activities, or simply not having fun anymore. These are some of the usual manifestations of fatigue. Other signs include not being able to bounce back from any illness or stress, a decrease in their sex drive, and simply being
too tired to enjoy life. A bad relationship, abuse, anger, mental instability, inferiority complex, bitterness, guilt, shame, envy, jealousy, laziness, fear, and arrogance are just some of the negative emotions that a person deals with everyday. These conditions may increase excessive fatigue in a way that the person will not function as well as they do before.

According to health studies, there are three characteristics that define excessive fatigue. Increase in irritability, having a demoralized feeling, and feelings of weakness, lack of energy, and excessive fatigue.

In experiencing these kinds of situations, the person needs proper emotional healing. Since all these stressors makes the person feel bad and low, they will need help in revitalizing and gaining enough energy to feel good again. Emotions can easily bring a person down.

Emotional healing is healthy for both mind and body, since these two are in some way connected to each other. Since every person has a unique personality and perception of things and ideas, it is advisable for personalized treatment in coping with emotional healing. Proper therapy and consultation is key in developing good and healthy thinking. Detoxification, removal of initial stress indicators, and balancing of mental health is substantial for such healing process. Relief from such negative factors can be time consuming, but patience is a virtue. A balance in emotions will always be regarded, and optimism is always the best way to see life. Beating fatigue and negative emotions require balance, and a strong commitment to haivng a positive

outlook.

Living with high cholesterol symptoms isn’t easy, or fun, especially if your doctor has put you on a special diet. High cholesterol is a condition that can eventually lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. When people speak of high cholesterol numbers, they’re referring to the concentrations of HDL or LDL cholesterol in the blood.
Why Worry about High Cholesterol(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Cholesterol.html)?

Maintaining a normal cholesterol level is important for optimal health. While cholesterol is needed for normal body function, too much of it causes damage to arteries and blood vessels. Cholesterol builds up on artery walls like a plaque and blocks the flow of oxygenated blood to necessary tissues and organs. There are two main types of cholesterol: HDL (high-density lipoproteins) and LDL (low-density lipoproteins). HDL is considered “good” cholesterol. It serves to keep arteries open by ridding the blood of excess cholesterol that would otherwise form plaque in our arteries.

High Cholesterol Symptoms and Numbers

But what exactly is high cholesterol? Normal cholesterol levels hover around 200 mg/dL or under. If your cholesterol reading is anywhere from 200 to 239, you should consider finding ways to lower cholesterol, and if that number goes over 240 then high cholesterol symptoms will probably be very noticeable and should be dealt with as a matter of urgency. A high reading for HDL is good, because it indicates that levels are productive in removing the bad cholesterol from your blood. A normal cholesterol reading for HDL is 60 or above. If it’s 40 or below, it means there’s not enough HDL in your blood and you may be considered at ‘risk’ from high cholesterol symptoms(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Cholesterol.html), and of stroke or heart attack.

There are no truly obvious high cholesterol symptoms, except when levels get dangerously high, and to determine if your cholesterol is high, the best way is to have a simple blood test performed by your doctor or health care provider.
The best way you can treat high cholesterol or lower cholesterol readings is to change your diet and perhaps take herbal supplements and vitamins that your body may be lacking. One of the best things that you can to do lower cholesterol is to quit smoking and decrease the amount of fatty foods in your diet.

Nutritional Supplements to Lower Cholesterol(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Cholesterol.html)

As with anything, talk to your doctor or health care provider if you are considering natural vitamins, minerals or herbs to help lower cholesterol, and don’t discontinue any medications he has prescribed. Studies have shown that the use of Vitamin B3, or niacin, has helped to lower cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol, while at the same time increasing high cholesterol numbers for HDL, the good stuff. Niacin is available in both dietary supplement forms as well as by prescription from your doctor. However, be advised that the American Heart Association recommends that patients use the prescribed form of niacin, so ask your doctor about that.

Another natural ingredient that has shown to lower cholesterol is artichoke leaf extract, as it reduces the formation of cholesterol in the body. Still other natural ingredients such as oat, barley and rye fiber, as well as peas and beans, may help to prevent life-threatening high cholesterol symptoms. Including at least 10 grams of fiber in your diet on a daily basis is a good way to naturally protect your heart and to ensure that your LDL levels remain low.

A well balanced, nutritious diet, in addition to adequate amounts of exercise will go a long way to lower cholesterol in those whose blood tests show mild to moderate increases in LDL levels. On occasion, doctors may prescribe medication to alleviate high cholesterol symptoms, but this often takes time. Try going the natural route first, and if that doesn’t work, then consider other options. Using natural supplements and foods will provide your body with the safest methods to lower cholesterol, as well as saving you money on prescriptions. Ask your doctor and see if you both can’t come up with a treatment plan for your high cholesterol that will serve you best.

Keeping fit is not only important for your general health, it can make you feel good and look great at the same time. One great way to keep fit, is by using a home treadmill – you will be able to burn calories, get in shape, and improve your general health without even having to leave your home.

Many people understand why getting a treadmill is important, however once they have read treadmill reviews and took the plunge they then fail to get the most out of their treadmill. This article explains how you can ensure that you get the most out of your exercise treadmill once you have took it home and your honeymoon period is over.

When you were reading treadmill ratings and reviews, before buying your home treadmill, you may have noticed that some treadmills come with inbuilt monitoring equipment. This will include a function to measure your heartbeat, time how long you have been on the treadmill and some will even have the ability to make, and help you implement, specific exercise regimes. The regimes may include going at certain speeds, climbing certain gradients, or even burning a specific amount of calories. These regimes are inbuilt for a reason; to help you stay motivated and ensure you get the most out of your treadmill. Therefore, one great way to ensure you get the most out of your treadmill is to follow the regimes and decide which one you want to do, and how frequently you wish to do it, You could even decide that you will work your way up to completing more challenging regimes, once your fitness improves.

As well as using the inbuilt monitoring equipment, there are also other ways to ensure that you get the most out of your recent treadmill purchase. One means of doing this is to contact a professional trainer and have them work with you, either at home or, at the gym. Although you bought your treadmill so you can work at your own pace, at home, that does not mean that a bit of extra help could not pay off in terms of keeping you motivated and measuring your progress.  

When working on your home treadmill, ensuring that you get the right hydration and nutrition is vital to achieving exactly what you are looking to do. As everyone should know by now; when you fail to drink enough water you will not be able to push your body anywhere near its full potential. Just like with water, food is also vital in ensuring that you are able to get the most out of each treadmill session that you participate in. A few hours before you get on the treadmill you should ensure that you eat a light snack that is unlikely to leave you feeling bloated, but one that also fills you with the energy necessary to push your body as far as it can go. The same goes for water; you should be drinking water regularly throughout the day and ensure that you have a water bottle beside you when it comes time to get on the treadmill and push your body to the limit.

Many men, myself included, are looking for a safe and effective way to boost their natural testosterone.  Increased testosterone levels have many benefits, especially for men who are over 35.  It will make you not only look better, but feel better as well.

So, what are the safe, legal and effective ways that we men have to boost our natural testosterone levels?

I want to take a look now at 8 popular testosterone enhancing sports supplements.  You may or may not have heard about all 8, but do you know if they actually work?  This article will answer that question for you.

Here are the 8 testosterone boosters we will be looking at:

1. ZMA

2. Tribulus Terrestris

3. Fenugreek

4. Activate by Designer Supplements

5. 6-OXO

6. Avena Sativa

7. Tongkat Ali

8. Yohimbe

ZMA – ZMA is a designed mineral formula comprised of zinc monomethionine aspartate, magnesium aspartate and vitamin B-6.  They are combined in specific ratios to supposedly maximize the effectiveness of ZMA.  A 1999 study showed increases of up to 30% in free and total testosterone during an 8 week study of NCAA football players.  However, this study was conducted by one of the owners of the company that holds the patent on ZMA.  Not completely unbiased.

ZMA may have helped testosterone levels because the mineral zinc and magnesium play important roles in the production of anabolic hormones, especially testosterone.  The study participants were shown to have borderline deficient levels of both minerals at the beginning of the study, so raising their levels to normal could have accounted for the rise in testosterone.

I wouldn’t rule out ZMA completely, most people in the U.S. are deficient in both zinc and magnesium.  The additional zinc and magnesium could bring your levels up to normal and thus help your natural testosterone production.  8 out of 10 stars!

Tribulus Terrestris – This is a weed that grows in temperature and tropical climates and has been used for centuries to increase libido in males.  Does it also increase testosterone levels as many supplement companies would have you believe?  That depends on who is taking it.

Tribulus terrestris HAS been shown to increase testosterone levels by as much as 30%, but only in individuals who have low testosterone levels to begin with.  It will raise your levels to normal, but it will not raise them if you already have normal testosterone levels.

So, tribulus terrestris is partially useful as a testosterone booster.  If you are overtrained, if you are on a low calorie ‘cutting’ diet or if you are recovering from steroid or prohormone use (as part of PCT) tribulus terrestris can be useful n raising your testosterone levels.  Don’t expect that it will give you super high test levels or significantly increased libido.  6 out of 10 stars!

Fenugreek – Fenugreek is an herb found primarily in Indian food.  It has historically been used by nursing mothers to increase milk production.  Studies on fenugreek are scant, but it has been shown to decrease blood sugar levels of type II diabetics.

Recently, fenugreek has found its way into bodybuilding supplements as as testosterone enhancer.  There is no proof at all that this is true.  Because of it’s effect on blood sugar levels it could be useful as a cutting supplement used to lower blood sugar and insulin spikes.  2 out of 10 stars!

Activate – Activate is a fairly new product from Designer Supplements that cla
ims to increase free testosterone levels in the body.  The active ingredient has been trademarked under the name Divanil and is an extract of the stinging nettle plant.

Your body has both free testosterone and bound testosterone.  Only the free testosterone is of use to you in building muscle.  So, you may have high testosterone levels, but if all of it is bound it is useless to you for muscle building.

Your body controls the amount of free testosterone through a protein called Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG).  The SHBG binds to your free testosterone making it unavailable for muscle building.  Activate works by inhibiting (decreasing) the SHBG in your body.  This means more of your testosterone is free to help with your muscle building.

There are no studies confirming the rise in free testosterone levels, but there are studies showing that lignans from stinging nettle extract inhibit SHBG and user feedback is almost unanimously positive.  I myself have used Activate several times and find that it increases focus in the gym, hardens my muscles and also increased libido.  10 out of 10 stars!

6-OXO – This is a product developed and trademarked by Ergopharm.  The active ingredient is 4-etioallocholen-3,6, 17-trione.  There have been several studies to date that validate 6-OXO as a testosterone booster.  These studies while small have shown average free testosterone increases of 126%.  Longer term studies are still underway, but initial reports are positive.  9 out of 10 stars!

Avena Sativa – Please don’t believe the hype behind avena sativa.  Avena sativa is the scientific name for wild oats.  Tasty and a good source of carbohydrates to be sure, but a testosterone booster?  No way!  There are no studies or historical evidence that avena sativa does anything to increase testosterone levels.  0 out of 10 stars!

Tongkat Ali – Tongkat ali is an extract from the root of the Eurycoma shrub found mainly in Malaysia and Indonesia.  It is also called Longjack and Eurycoma Longfolia.

Traditionally it has been used as an aphrodisiac as well as a libido booster in SE Asia.  Studies confirm that it works very well, increasing both sexual function and endurance as well as libido.

Researchers are unsure how Tongkat ali works, but they believe that it both increases testosterone production and increases free testosterone.  Like a 1-2 punch.  Common effects from Tongkat ali are increased well being, better body composition, increased libido and increased focus and aggression.

Tongkat ali does take some time to start working so it may take up to 2 weeks before you start to see its effects.  You also need to make sure you are getting an extract of the root powder and not just root powder.  The extract is more expensive, but necessary.  8 out of 10 stars!

Yohimbe – Yohimbe has been used as a testosterone booster as well as a fat loss aid.  While it does aid in fat loss through several mechanisms, there is no proof that it boosts testosterone levels.

It is likely that people believe it increases testosterone because it does increase libido, however the libido increase is not due to a testosterone increase.  Yohimbe works partially as a vasodialator which means it opens up blood vessels, especially those in the lower extremeties such as the genetalia.

Yohimbe has also been shown to have several negative and possibly dangerous side effects and many physicians advise their patients not to take yohimbe because of these side effects.  3 out of 10 stars!

There is an interesting article in the September 5th issue of Time magazine. This particular article covers a spectrum of opinions about mixing Christianity with Yoga. Even, if you don’t agree with a single opinion, it’s a good read, as long as you remain objective.

Over the course of time, I have been lucky enough to teach, or practice, with someone from every known religious denomination so the statement by a Professor Tiwari at the
Hindu University of America, where he states that, ”Yoga is
Hinduism,” is surprising, coming from a scholar. Possibly, this statement was taken out of context, but fundamentalism exists, to a degree, in every form of religion.

If some Christians want to practice Yoga to make a closer connection to God, who are any of us to criticize it? Isn’t one of Yoga’s purposes, the union of self with a Supreme Being? So what is the big deal?

Truthfully, many fundamentalists are all about division – keeping the masses divided, at war with each other, and preferably, in a “holy war.” They fear the unity of mankind, letting go of power, and world peace. They don’t want to loosen their grip on their followers, so they squeeze a little more.

So if a Christian group wants to practice “Son Salutations”, or “PraiseMoves,” give them a break. Yoga is practiced in sectarian atmospheres by a variety of different religions. Nobody has a monopoly on Yoga. Yoga is a complete health maintenance system for mind, body, and spirit.

There is a typ
e of Yoga for everyone, and some people want a little more spiritual flavor than others. Since Yoga has been around for at least 5,000 years, there is a very big variety to choose from.

As for skeptics who “point the finger” at each other – “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone…” It might be best if we all practice a little more mindfulness, and loving kindness, before we decide to criticize things we don’t understand.

Yoga is “out of the bag.” It is no longer practiced by a particular group. Therefore, Yoga is a public treasure, and not a genie that we will confine to a bottle. No matter how many people try to patent, or copyright, Yoga, it will be practiced within every corner of the earth.

So, please read the article in Time magazine and enjoy it, but take the time to remain objective. Recognize motives and words for their hidden agenda. Most of all, remain in good relations with your fellow man.

Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org