America is overweight! Unbelievable but true, one out of every third American is overweight and that’s enough to proof the authenticity of the statement. According to the reports of a recent survey 34 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 to 74 years are overweight, and an additional 27 percent are obese. About half of all women aged 20 to 74 are overweight or obese.

What is Exactly Obesity?
Obese and overweight isn’t one and the same things. People suffering from obesity have a huge amount of extra fat, not just little bit extra body fat. An obese person is easily prone to serious health hazards.

Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity has several causes, but basically it is an imbalance between energy in (how much calories obtained from food) and energy out (how much calories expended in the basal metabolic rate and physical activity) as with adult obesity. Parents are the first school of children; it is their responsibility to inhibit healthy habits in children’s mind. They should teach children about the perilous consequences of obesity, it is their duty to implant the importance of being fit. Some vital lessons which has to be provided to children are-
1. Keep away from junk food.
2. Avoid high cholesterol or sugar level food.
3. Provoke them to play outdoor games.
4. Tell them the importance of regular exercise.

Hazardous Obesity
Obesity gives birth to serious diseases like type two diabetes, heart diseases and stroke; it also leads to cancer and premature death. The risk of diabetes is significantly related to obesity, the risk of morbidity, mortality and chronicle illness are serious threats associated with diabetes. The condition has worsened in the recent times, obesity and diabetes are responsible for around 300,000 deaths in U.S alone, and there has been a concurrent increase in diabetes related to obesity. Obesity is responsible for health havocs such as:-

Cancer
Being overweight may increase the risk of developing several types of cancer, like cancers of the colon, esophagus, and kidney, uterine and postmenopausal breast cancer in women.

Hyperlipidemia
High cholesterol is caused by the build up of excess fatty substances in the artery walls.

Sleep Apnea
Fat stored in the neck and throughout the body can produce substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation in the neck may be a risk factor for sleep apnea.

Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease occurs when fat builds up in the liver cells and causes injury and inflammation in the liver.

Gallstones
Being overweight and eating a diet high in fat, particularly saturated fat, is a major contributor to the formation of gallstones.

Osteoarthritis
In addition, people with more body fat may have higher blood levels of substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation at the joints may raise the risk for osteoarthritis.

Diabetes
Over 80% of people with diabetes are overweight or obese.

David Turner, an associated editor to Epharma.md, is a contributing author to the http://www.epharma.md for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit http://www.epharma.md/article/weight_loss/index.html for more information on Weight Loss related issues. Or write to him AT david.turner001@gmail.com. Any comments and /or suggestions will be highly appreciated. Please note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice.

Experimental approaches in sensory substitution are beginning to provide access to arbitrary live views from a camera.

Access technology such as screen readers and Screen magnifiers enable the blind to use mainstream computer applications. Almost 10 percent of those deemed legally blind, by any measure, have no vision. Screen reader choice is contentious: differing priorities and strong preferences are common. Recent versions of Microsoft Windows come with the rather basic Narrator. Most legally blind people 78 percent do not use computers. The movement towards greater web accessibility is opening a far wider number of websites to adaptive technology, making the web a more inviting place for visually impaired surfers. Increasingly, screen readers are being bundled with operating system distributions. The primary audience for such applications is those who have difficulty reading because of learning disabilities or language barriers. This interpretation is then represented to the user with text-to-speech, sound icons, or a braille output. The console-based Oralux Linux distribution ships with three screen-reading environments: Emacspeak, Yasr and Speakup. Nevertheless functionality remains limited compared to equivalent desktop applications, the major benefit is to increase the accessibility of said websites. A screen reader is a software application that attempts to identify and interpret what is being displayed on the screen. The open source GNOME desktop environment long included Gnopernicus and now includes Orca. Linux distributions for the blind include Oralux and Adriane Knoppix. Later versions of Microsoft Windows include an Accessibility Wizard and Magnifier for those with partial vision, and Microsoft Narrator, a simple screen reader.

Only a small fraction of this population, when compared to the sighted community, have Internet access.

Web browsers, word processors, icons and windows and email programs are just some of the applications used successfully by screen reader users. Further, using a screen reader is, according to some users, considerably more difficult than using a GUI and many applications have specific problems resulting from the nature of the application. There are also open source screen readers, such as the Linux Screen Reader for GNOME and NonVisual Desktop Access for Windows.

The latter developed in part by Knopper who has a visual impairment. Screen readers can be assumed to be able to access all display content that is not intrinsically inaccessible.

The rest have some vision, from light perception alone to relatively good acuity. While Apple Mac OS X includes VoiceOver, a more feature-rich screen reader. Comming year medical volunteer Anthony Loeff is testing software for blind people Screen readers are a form of assistive technology potentially useful to people who are blind, visually impaired, or learning disabled, often in combination with other AT such as screen magnifiers. A persons choice of screen reader is dictated by many factors, including platform and the role of organizations like charities, schools, and employers.

The Macintosh OS also comes with a built-in screen reader, called VoiceOver.

There’s recently been a LOT in the weight loss news concerning green tea.

Green tea’s weight loss effects have been causing more and more people to start sipping the ancient Japanese brew.

But just how does green tea help you lose weight? And does it really work or is it all just hype? This article gives you the real facts about drinking green tea to lose weight.

Advantages of Drinking Green Tea for Weight Loss:

1) Green tea revs up your metabolism

A study reported on in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that green tea extract resulted in a significant increase in energy expenditure (a metabolism ‘boost’).

The researchers also concluded that that over a 24-hour period, green tea extract increases the metabolic rate by 4%. These effects are probably due to the high concentrations of catechin polyphenols found in green tea. These work to help intensify levels of fat oxidation and thermogenesis (the rate at which your body burns calories).

2) Green tea inhibits fat absorption and helps glucose regulation

Experts tell us that the catechins in green tea help to inhibit the movement of glucose into fat cells. Green tea may also act as al glucose regulator. It helps to slow the rise in blood sugar after a meal. This prevents high insulin spikes (lots of insulin promotes fat storage) and the subsequent fat storage.

3) Green tea may help reduce appetite

Scientists at the University of Chicago found that green tea caused rats to lose up to 21 percent of their body weight. Rats injected with a green tea extract lost their appetites and consumed up to 60 percent less food after seven days of daily injections. This may have something to do with the blood sugar regulating effects of green tea.

4) Green tea can help you save calories on your morning brew.

We are a nation hooked on our java. Be it the regular double-cream, double-sugar standard or that mocha, dappa, frappucinno, the calories we ingest just to get our morning caffeine is wreaking havoc on our waistlines.

If you want to save mega-calories in the morning but still get your caffeine fix, try substituting green tea for coffee. Or have a green tea in the afternoon instead of that 700 calorie mocha-chillate dream. You’ll definitely notice the difference in your waistline after a few weeks.

So there are 4 ways that green tea can help you with weight loss. But how much do you actually have to drink to get these amazing metabolism boosting effects?

Experts vary but the general consensus seems to be that 3 - 5 cups of green tea per day is optimal. Doing this can help you burn an extra 70 calories per day which amounts to 7 pounds per year. Pretty good for not exercising or cutting calories, right?

However, 3 - 5 cups can be a lot for some people, so you might also want to consider green tea extract, green tea pills or a green tea patch.

Disadvantages of Drinking Green Tea For Weight Loss:

#1) Green tea is not a magic bullet

While some people will tell you that green tea is the be-all-end-all for weight loss success, I think the keyword here is balance. You’re not going to eat 5000 calories a day, drink a cup of green tea and make it all go away - it just isn’t going to happen. A healthy diet and increased exercise will go a long way in helping you lose weight and keep it off.

#2) Be cautious of the caffeine if you have health problems

For some people that have heart troubles, high blood pressure or stimulant sensitivities, the caffeine in green tea may not be the best idea. If you’re worried about the caffeine from green tea, try taking green tea extract. Most green tea extract is made from decaffeinated green tea so you can still get the weight loss benefits without the caffeine.

If you think the caffeine may be a problem, make sure to consult your doctor before starting green tea for weight loss. Also make sure to consult your doctor before starting green tea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Bottom Line: Green tea helps you with weight loss by boosting your metabolic rate, regulating your blood sugar, suppressing your appetite and giving you something else besides that high calorie, high sugar coffee beverage to drink in the morning. While it’s not the magic bullet, it can definitely give you a boost in weight loss and in your overall health!

Kathryn O’Neill is a contributing writer to Diet and Weight Loss Reviews.

For more free weight loss tips and diet reviews, visit http://www.FreeToBeThin.com.

Reprint rights: All links MUST BE CLICKABLE.

MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.

FACT: Fad diets are not the best way to lose weight and keep it off. Fad diets often promise quick weight loss or tell you to cut certain foods out of your diet. You may lose weight at first on one of these diets. But diets that strictly limit calories or food choices are hard to follow. Most people quickly get tired of them and regain any lost weight.

Fad diets may be unhealthy because they may not provide all of the nutrients your body needs. Also, losing weight at a very rapid rate (more than 3 pounds a week after the first couple weeks) may increase your risk for developing gallstones (clusters of solid material in the gallbladder that can be painful). Diets that provide less than 800 calories per day also could result in heart rhythm abnormalities, which can be fatal.

TIP: Research suggests that losing to 2 pounds a week by making healthy food choices, eating moderate portions, and building physical activity into your daily life is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. By adopting healthy eating and physical activity habits, you may also lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

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MYTH: High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are a healthy way to lose weight.

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FACT: The long-term health effects of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet are unknown. But getting most of your daily calories from high-protein foods like meat, eggs, and cheese is not a balanced eating plan. You may be eating too much fat and cholesterol, which may raise heart disease risk. You may be eating too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which may lead to constipation due to lack of dietary fiber. Following a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet may also make you feel nauseous, tired, and weak.

Eating fewer than 130 grams of carbohydrate a day can lead to the buildup of ketones (partially broken-down fats) in your blood. A buildup of ketones in your blood (called ketosis) can cause your body to produce high levels of uric acid, which is a risk factor for gout (a painful swelling of the joints) and kidney stones. Ketosis may be especially risky for pregnant women and people with diabetes or kidney disease.

TIP: High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are often low in calories because food choices are strictly limited, so they may cause short-term weight loss. But a reduced-calorie eating plan that includes recommended amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat will also allow you to lose weight. By following a balanced eating plan, you will not have to stop eating whole classes of foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetablesand miss the key nutrients they contain. You may also find it easier to stick with a diet or eating plan that includes a greater variety of foods.

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MYTH: Starches are fattening and should be limited when trying to lose weight.

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FACT: Many foods high in starch, like bread, rice, pasta, cereals, beans, fruits, and some vegetables (like potatoes and yams) are low in fat and calories. They become high in fat and calories when eaten in large portion sizes or when covered with high-fat toppings like butter, sour cream, or mayonnaise. Foods high in starch (also called complex carbohydrates) are an important source of energy for your body.

TIP: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating 6 to 11 servings a day, depending on your calorie needs, from the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta groupeven when trying to lose weight. Pay attention to your serving sizesone serving is equal to 1 slice of bread, 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal, or cup of pasta, rice, or cooked cereal. Try to avoid high-fat toppings and choose whole grains, like whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, and bran cereal. Choose other starchy foods that are high in dietary fiber too, like beans, peas, and vegetables.

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MYTH: Certain foods, like grapefruit & celery, can burn fat and make you lose weight.

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FACT: No foods can burn fat. Some foods with caffeine may speed up your metabolism (the way your body uses energy, or calories) for a short time, but they do not cause weight loss.

TIP: The best way to lose weight is to cut back on the number of calories you eat and be more physically active.

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MYTH: Natural or herbal weight-loss products are safe and effective.

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FACT: A weight-loss product that claims to be “natural” or “herbal” is not necessarily safe. These products are not usually scientifically tested to prove that they are safe or that they work. For example, herbal products containing ephedra (now banned by the U.S. Government) have caused serious health problems and even death. Newer products that claim to be ephedra-free are not necessarily danger-free, because they may contain ingredients similar to ephedra.

TIP: Talk with your health care provider before using any weight-loss product. Some natural or herbal weight-loss products can be harmful.

For free advice, tips and education about weight loss, fitness and dieting visit Weight Loss Information at http://www.effective-weight-loss.info

Body fat forms when calories are converted into fat and stored for future energy needs. The human body is very efficient at forming and storing body fat. Since it’s your main protection from starvation, human physiology is set to save and store fat rather than burn it for energy.

And this is the problem: long term weight loss is almost impossible because body fat is so difficult to lose.

Forming Body Fat

Extra calories (calories not needed for immediate energy) are converted into fat. This newly formed fat is then stored for future energy needs.

Fat stored for the future is called body fat.

Your top priority is to lose body fat when dieting to lose weight.

It makes sense…you’re overweight because you eat more calories than are needed to supply immediate energy needs. Any extra calories are quickly converted into fat and then are stored as body fat.

The amount of body fat you store is a direct reflection of the amount of “extra” calories you eat each day. So, if you want to lose weight, attack body fat and get rid of the stuff keeping you overweight.

Reversing the Calorie-to-Fat Formation

Protein is the key component in reversing the conversion of calories into fat. Luckily, it’s very simple. Drink protein shake supplements with a 50:50 ratio of casein to whey protein.

Drink them during times of fasting over 3 hours (for most people this occurs twice…after waking up in the morning and in between lunch & dinner).

The shakes raise the blood levels of certain amino acids, the building blocks of protein. When the amino acid level reaches a threshold, it signals the brain to start mobilizing body fat and burn it for energy.

Perfect! You lose body fat by drinking Optimized Protein Shakes.

You can lose more body fat by making three changes to your diet.

1. Eat 5-6 Smaller Meals per Day

2. Eat A Lean Source of Protein with Each Meal

3. Eat Healthy Fat, Like Omega-3 Found in Certain Fish

Combined with the protein shakes, you’ll lose body fat and and the weight that comes with it.

To Healthy Living!

Michael A. Smith, MD

Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content rich website dedicated to your weight loss success. Quickly becoming known as the net’s primary resource for weight loss issues, his RSS Feed and News Blog are received by thousands of e-zine websites, medical centers, and individuals. The interactive content is original and informative, challenging readers to act and maximize their weight loss efforts.

Visit Dr. Smith’s website at: Diet Basics from the Weight Loss Professional

To Healthy Living!

It’s right about that time -the shoulder season of dieting. A
time when we’re no longer obsessed by our New Years resolutions
and the looming bathing suit season is still too far off. We’re
stuck between a rock and hard place because it’s hard to find
the motivation to get on to a weight loss diet when there’s
nothing particularly motivating us to get moving.

If you’re looking for some springtime dieting inspiration to get
back on track with your healthy eating regime or exercise plan,
think about the meaning of the spring season. Spring is the time
of year when little flowers peek through the melting snow and
new birth begins. Let these little miracles quietly happening
around you to compel you to make a positive diet change in your
life.

The key to experiencing a new-found motivation in your dieting
lifestyle is action. Find an activity or diet program that
you’re interested in and commit to it. For example, is there a
cause or charity preparing for a walk-a-thon, 5-mile run or
half-marathon in your city? Is there an aerobic class or walking
group you can join?

Once you’ve selected the right activity, it’s important to
commit and stick to it because without a commitment you’re not
likely to reach your greatest potential. Something that may help
you commit is the group of people you meet or the friends which
accompany you to the fitness class, walking group or tennis
club. Finding a community of people that will be there every
week will help motivate you to participate knowing you have a
group of people waiting for you.

Finally, once you’ve found an activity and group of people to
keep you enthused, try telling your friends or loved ones about
your new-found motivation. Not only will you inspire others to
recommit to their health with your example, but the act of
telling people is an indirect way to keep you accountable.

Just like the new growth that naturally occurs in the
springtime, find a healthy burst of energy in your life. Amaze
yourself and others with the zest for life you’ll find in
discovering a healthy activity or weight loss program and
committing to it through community and accountability!

You just can’t beat fiber for its heart health, weight loss, and energy producing qualities.

Dr. Glenn A. Gaesser, professor of exercise physiology at the University of Virginia and author of Big Fat Lies says, “I consider fiber almost the “food of the Gods; it’s that important to our good health.” Especially heart health. Fiber will lower cholesterol and make you feel full with fewer calories.

Fiber is a special form of carbohydrate. It slows down digestion, which in turn slows the movement of carbs (in the form of glucose) into your blood stream thus stabilizing blood sugar. For this and other reasons, including fending off hunger pangs, fiber plays a leading role in the two leading low carb diets…Dr. Atkins and the South Beach Diet.

Fiber binds up the fat we eat and carries it out of your body before it can attach to your thighs, belly or other unwanted locations. The best sources of fiber are vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes and nuts. Beans should be a staple in your diet. Try to include them at least four or five times per week. You can cook up a batch in the crock-pot and freeze the leftovers in plastic containers.

Starting your day with a high fiber cereal will keep your energy level high all morning. My personal favorite is old-fashioned oatmeal, which takes less than 2 minutes cooking in the microwave. Stir in a tablespoon or two of cold pressed flax oil or virgin coconut oil, mix in a few frozen or fresh berries and sprinkle on some Splenda and a small amount of half and half. It’s a great way to start the day and it’s umm good!

If you combine dietary fiber with fat you can further reduce the speed at which food leaves your stomach and thus the rate at which glucose enters your bloodstream. For example if you are going to eat an apple have a slice of cheese with it.

Fiber works in concert with fat, prolonging the elevation of the hormone during digestion, which keeps you satisfied longer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The cardiologist looked up from the treadmill report and grimly stated, “You are a walking time bomb. You need to go to the hospital immediately.” Two days later a heart surgeon sawed open Gene Millen’s chest and stitched in bypasses to six clogged arteries.

“A six way heart bypass isn’t a record” said Gene, “but it’s not bad for a skinny 59 year old with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. The villains and heroes in the heart attack melodrama may surprise you as they have me.”

Gene Millen reviews new research on heart attack risks that are more dangerous than high cholesterol… and how natural supplements and heart vitamins can send them packing! Check out The Heart Health website at http://www.heart-health-for-life.com

Need a free article for your newsletter or website? Go to…

Several factors influence lung cancer survival rates. The type of cancer, the stage it is at when diagnosed, and the overall condition of the patient all play a role in determining survival. Cancer survival is usually expressed in terms of a five-year survival rate, which is the percentage of patients with cancer who survive at least five years after their cancer is diagnosed.

Studies have shown that five-year survival rates among non-small cell lung cancer patients vary by stage. Stage 0 patients have the best survival, of close to 50 percent at five years. Approximately one-quarter of stage II patients survive to five years, as compared to eight percent of stage III patients and only two percent of stage IV patients. In general, small cell lung cancer tends to proceed more rapidly to terminal disease. Ten to fifteen percent of patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer, and between one and two percent of those with extensive-stage cancer, survive to five years.

Estimates of cancer survival do not reflect current treatment advances that may lead to better chances of survival, because they are typically calculated for a five-year period that does not include the previous year. Further, each patient responds to treatment in a unique way; aggregate estimates do not account for individual factors that may improve or worsen the likelihood of survival.

The overall number of deaths in the United States from lung cancer rose throughout the 1980s, and began to drop for men in the 1990s. However, a similar decrease has not been observed among women. Over fifty thousand current and former smokers have been enrolled in the National Lung Screening Trial to find out if chest x-rays and CT scans taken before the onset of lung cancer symptoms may improve early diagnosis and therefore survival.

Lung Cancer provides detailed information on Asbestos Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Stages, Lung Cancer Survival Rate and more. Lung Cancer is affiliated with Asbestos Exposure.

This article will give you 5 more tips to turn your body into a lean muscle-building, fat-burning machine. In case you didn’t read the last 5 tips, the basic overview was to increase fiber intake, frequently drink water, eat a complex and healthy breakfast, increase calcium intake, and eat several small meals per day (as high as 8-10). Ready for more? Good! Keep reading…

#6: Eat carbs early in the day

Meals that contain larger amounts of carbohydrates should be eaten earlier in the day. This means that much of your whole grain and fruit consumption should occur before noon. The body’s metabolism is highest earlier in the day, so this is a great time to be supplying your muscles with energy in the form of glycogen (carbohydrates), while also ensuring that many of the carbohydrates you consume will be burned for fuel, rather than deposited as fat stores. Many families tend to have the biggest meal of the day in the evening, ironically at the time when the body is least in need of energy and the metabolism is lowest. The practical application would be to make breakfast bigger and dinner smaller. So try it out - prioritize eating carbohydrates early in the day, and focus on decreasing carbohydrate portion size as afternoon and evening approaches.

#7: Eat the right kind of carbs
While carbohydrates are important for providing energy and giving your body the ability to burn fat, you must choose the right carbs. Simple carbs like sugar and processed flour tend to be rapidly absorbed by the digestive system, which causes a release of the hormone that encourages fat deposit - insulin. Furthermore, the quick energy release that is followed by a rapid decrease in sugar levels will cause you to crave more food, which is why many people on a typical American diet are *always* hungry! So no matter what percentage of your diet is made up of carbohydrates, you must choose complex carbs that are slowly absorbed and digested, thus producing a long term source of energy that keeps you fuller for a longer period of time. Whole grain flours, vegetables, oats, and unprocessed grains, such as brown or wild rice are great choices, and also include many other compounds important in maintaining a high metabolism and proper digestive function.

#8 Eat fat
For the past several decades, mainstream Americans have been shifting to low or no fat diets, with the general result being an *increase* in obesity and chronic disease, and a decrease in health and fitness. In the meantime, world populations such as Eskimos, that consume as much as 70% of their diet from fat calories in whale blubber and fish, have one of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world. While this may seem ironic, there are some very good reasons. Typically, to replace calories that are not provided by dietary fat, carbohydrate consumption increases. Increased carb consumption leads to a faster burning energy source, which tends to contribute to cycling blood sugar levels, use of muscle tissue as fuel, low energy, and decreased metabolism and hormone production. In addition, many Americans will replace saturated fat, such as butter, with a trans fat, such as margarine. Trans fats are *much* worse for the body than saturated fat. So it is important to choose the right kinds of fat. Most animal fats, and many vegetable oils, are high in cholesterol, which contributes to heart disease. However, mono-unsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, nuts, fish oil, and various seed oils, can help lower cholesterol, reduce risk of heart disease, and enhance your body’s ability to burn fat as a fuel source. So try to eat fish several times a week (or supplement with fish oil), cook with olive oil, and try to eat at least a handful of a healthy nut (like almonds or walnuts) once per day.

#9 Avoid sugar substitutes

Artifical sweeteners, such as Aspartame, still taste sweet (that’s why they’re sugar replacements!). When the taste receptors on your tongue taste this sweet substance, your digestive systems begins to produce compounds that prepare your body to use the “food” that your brain thinks you are consuming. The hormones produced in the digestive process are still present once this fake food enters your small intestine, but no actually energy release or satiety occurs, which leaves you with a gut full of digestive hormones that need food to break down and make the brain crave even more food, this time the real stuff. This is why studies have shown that consumption of diet soda products are associated with obesity! If you’re really serious about burnign fat, ditch any sugar substitute foods or diet drinks that you currently consume. I guarantee that once you overcome the initial addiction withdrawal, you’ll feel a hundred times better.

#10 Eat like a car

Your body runs on fuel. If you put too much fuel into the gas tank, an overflow occurs, and in the body’s case, this means fat deposition. I realize that the idea of limiting calories is very simple, but sometimes the approach is wrong. Never give yourself a certain “number” of calories per day. You’d never take your car to the gas station and fill up if you didn’t plan on driving it, and the same goes for your body. If you have a light day of activity (”low mileage”) or a sedentary day (sitting in the garage), you should sometimes not even be consuming 50% of the calories you’d normally consume, because your body doesn’t need them. For instance, on a typical day, I consume 5000-6000 calories (based on my metabolism and amount of activity), but on a weekend of travel, where I am either sitting in a car or airplane, I often consume as little as 1000 calories per day! If your body doesn’t need the fuel, there’s not a necessity to put it in your mouth. On the other hand, there will be some days where I consume up to 8000 calories, simply because that is how many I actually burn through with my activities! So if you’re on a set diet of, say, 2000 calories per day, don’t be afraid to vary as needed.

I’d like to finish by encouraging you to keep at it. Switching to a healthy diet can be unbearable at times, but the longer you stick with it, the easier it gets. It’s just like exercise - you can bring yourself to a maintenance phase where moderate to high physical activity becomes easier, but the initial work is pretty difficult. If you’d like to more information about diet and nutrition, or exercise, you can e-mail me at elite@pacificfit.net to ask questions.

Head trainer Ben Greenfield runs the online training website Pacific Elite Fitness, and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sport Science and Exercise Physiology, as well as certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA-CPT & CSCS). For over 6 years, Ben has coached and trained professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes, and helped hundreds of individuals achieve their personal fitness goals. For more information on online personal training and fitness, contact Ben at elite@pacificfit.net.

The method know as 3d ultrasound is used when a woman is in early pregnancy, it can provide 3d pictures of the fetus. Most of the time these pictures are rapidly captured and combined and animated to produce a 4d ultrasound scan.

Three dimensional scans works in a similar way to the normal scanning methods except that the ultrasound scanning waves are sent from multiple directions. The ultrasound pulses can be reflected back then captured to provide info to construct a 3d picture in in a similar manner to 3d movies. 3 dimesional ultrasound was started by stephen smith and olaf von ramm.

It is important to understand that sonologists everywhere have always pictured 3d images of the body in their minds while carrying out 2d scans. However, until recently it was almost impossibel to do this type of reconstruction on on patient information using ultasound scanning. With the introduction of baby scans for the first time allowed us a peek into the thinking of a sonologist and allowing us to reconstruct the images on the ultrasound machine.

The 3d/4d ultrasound image should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. There is no data to suggest any harm due to 3d ultasound scanning, its use in non-medical situations should be undertaken with an understanding of the risks that may exist.